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pressOctober 16, 2009In the News
Plenty o' news bites to go around of late, figured we'd do a little gray-day roundup. Not least among them is Lonely Planet, whose homepage splashes (above) on the Flea with an informative Q+A with Senor. Hopefully lots of global backpackers and adventure travelers will take heed! Some other cool hits: Stylecaster peruses the Fort Greene Flea, tries on a fur stole, ogles a turtle-shell purse, plays with a Stormtrooper action figure, visits Charlie the Child Swami. The Daily Obsession drools over Kumquat Cupcakery, like so many before them. Sweet. Heart Fish's Hijiri cruises the Flea, also extols the virtues of our new Design Co-op. NBC NY also digs the Design Co-op. The Voice's Robert Sietsema returns to the Flea food fold and discovers (relative) newcomers like Liddabit and Asia Dog. Also acknowledges the Salvatore ricotta "toasts" as out of this friggin' world. Senor is quoted in the Times Styles section as helping redefine the word "curate." Silliness. Longtime vendor Brooklyn Junior has opened a new shop of their own at Myrtle and Clinton. Congrats! NYU Local, the big U's unofficial news site, hearts the Flea. The Daily News gets hip to Boiled in Brooklyn's Goober Peas. Boiled peanuts, yum. (Unfortunately, Katherine and crew are done for the season we just learned! :-()
October 7, 2009MUGgin' for the Flea
Manhattan User's Guide (aka "MUG"), a top shopping blog, crosses the bridge for its latest "21 Under $21" feature, finding a range of items at the Flea as diverse as the market itself. To wit: maple marshmallows ($6, Whimsy + Spice), a vintage GE travel iron ($15, Reclaimed Home), Itty-Bitty Mieko Bowls ($19, Alyssa Ettinger), Gramercy Rail Pendant ($20, Citybitz), and, well, 17 more great things. Check it out.
October 1, 2009Lucky + GQ Japan + Vogue Tri-fecta
Madewell pal Lisa Schulner shouts out the Flea on Luckymag.com as one of her favorite vintage shopping haunts in New York City, which we appreciate. Not that Lisa wasn't a vendor last summer with hubby Michael (they were cutely called Morris + Tweed) and isn't 100% objective, or that the Flea and Madewell didn't team up over the summer, but still, it's nice to be in the (virtual) pages of Lucky. This Japan thing is getting weird. The Flea shows up in this month's GQ Japan (above, with Brad Pitt on the cover), in a big Brooklyn-heavy NYC feature. We bow politely toward Tokyo. And finally, commenter prezanon was correct that Alexa Chung digs the Flea in the new issue of Vogue, in a piece that only seems to exist in the print realm. Thanks Alexa!
September 30, 2009Vinylmania!
Charlie (above), who keeps the spirit of his old Vinylmania shop alive at the Fort Greene Flea every week, gets some well-deserved play in the Times story today about the afterlives of former record stores. Great read, including some other Fleasters like Rich of Etherea, who was at the Superstar DJ Record Fair. Meet Charlie in the flesh in his regular W3 spot on Saturday, and every Saturday after that. (Photo by J.B. Reed for the New York Times.)
September 24, 2009Wilde About the Flea
House hottie Olivia Wilde digs the Flea, according to her "25 Things You Don't Know About Me" feature in the new US Weekly. In addition to fleas, she's also obsessed with miniature horses (we're sure Flea vendors have these around), loves Kurt Vonnegut, and had a childhood crush on Slash. Sounds like a cool chick to us. Thanks Olivia! Also thanks to reader Diana for hipping us to the clip--and even highlighting #21 where the Flea shows up.
September 22, 2009Flea on the (New York) Map
The Flea shows up on the much-loved Neighborhood Map in New York mag this week, for being featured on Japanese TV twice now. Random but cool! We also popped up on the Times' The Moment blog yet again today, this time in a blurb on the cool Le Fooding Paris-New York foodie happening at P.S. 1 that our pal Alex is putting on this weekend.
July 29, 2009In the News
Here are some of our faves from the past few days: Those Extra 4 Inches (provocative name, fawns over Pierre Cardin dress find) Yummy in the City (loves Choncho's fish tacos, no-brainer) Urban Art + Antiques (hails Flea as "new breed" of market, attracting next generation of collector--i.e., you--likes Divine Chair Co. (right) and John Murphy (on cell in background)) Where the Style Things Are (nice bargaining tips) Going Back to Brooklyn (good eye for nice pieces in their snapshots) July 16, 2009News Week
On Monday evening, Mr. B and Senor waded into Manhattan (which is near Brooklyn) to receive one of the Municipal Art Society's annual awards, for a private venture in the public service that has activated/galvanized a community space. MAS has been around for 116 years, and is the granddaddy of NYC civic/urban planning groups, very much in the Jane Jacobs (a longtime member), neighborhood-centric mold. So for the Flea to be recognized by such a prestigious organization as such a young business--well, we're humbled. Time Out's roundup of the city's best fleas nicely names the (big F) Flea, also flattering. They say lobster rolls are the big draw at the Bridge, but we think it's the unstoppable force of the 100 best vintage/antiques/jewelry/handmade/art vendors in the region. Objectively of course. And in a tale of the tape in the NY Post this week (above), we essentially knocked out the much-touted Flea by the Sea in Coney Island. In 2009 the Flea has been often imitated but never duplicated--and we thank you for keeping it great. June 25, 2009WWD Flea
Frankly, the credit for this project goes to our smashing vintage-clothing vendors, who collect with reckless abandon every week just to clothe you in the coolest, most affordable duds. These folks literally criss-cross the country searching for the best stuff, which is the real reason why the Flea has become Fashion Central every weekend. The list goes on and on: Jellyroll, White Dove, Used+Abused, Rough+Tumble, Papushka, Cherry Vintage, Rue St. Denis, Vintagepimps, Dulcinee, Joan Van Hees, Hairy Mary's, Angels+Warriors, Anodyne, Go Bang!, 3Free Design, Gentleman's Outfitters, Funky Fanny's, Estate of Art, Martine's Dream, Collecther, Marilyn Hitchcock, Kelsi Ammon... April 14, 2009Fresh Press
April 13, 2009Shop, Yum, Fun!
The New York mag story on our fresh, exciting, inviting foodsters is online now. Check the print mag for an awesome full-page pic of newbie Early Bird Granola to open the Strategist section! Late-breaking additions to the food scene include Steve's Key Lime Pies returning to share with Amy and Perch! Design, authentic Greek baklava (using only honey, butter, and nuts) from the Likitsakos Yogurt folks, and Blue Marble to-go cups from their snazzy eco-tricycle. Who knows what these culinary kooks will cook up next! February 25, 2009Flea Food Bonanza
Food is so fun, Fleasters respond to it, and we're proud to help push forward such a vibrant (and growing) local scene. Come by Dumbo this weekend and sample our wares. To wit, the Salvatore Bklyn Ricotta gals will make a special appearance this Saturday only at 81 Front, purveying delicioso Mangia! November 12, 2008Getcha Turkeys Heah!
The fine folks from Greene Grape Provisions on Fulton St. will be taking pre-orders for their Tom Terrific Thanksgiving birds: heritage and free-range turkeys, geese, and capons. Just like in ye town squares of olde, stop by your local market (the Flea) and chat with the bird expert, who can tell you how big a fowl to buy, how to know when your goose is cooked, and just what exactly a capon is. (The expert is from top turkeys D'Artagnan.) They'll also have samples of the delish deep-fried that Myrtle Ave.'s Jive Turkey churns out. Now, Jive Turkey's birds are first come-first served for Thanksgiving--which is why the lines go around the block this time of year. Greene Grape has magically scored a few Jive boids for pre-order, and they're reserving some of those just for Fleasters like you. Come quick before those Toms are gobbled up! Also! Empire State cheese galore. Try an Old Chatham Camembert from, er, Old Chatham; Cave-Aged Tilset from Harpersfield; and Kunik Triple Cream and honey lavender fromage blanc from Nettle Meadow Farm in Warrensburg. Try some/buy some. November 5, 2008Moto Bene!
So when we heard about Dave Sclarow's mobile brick-oven Pizza Moto, we knew: a) that it would be huge, fast; and b) that the Flea had to have it. With "b" accomplished over the last month, "a" is upon us--witness today's New York Times Dining section profile on ze mobile maestro for evidence. Go Dave! On a day of grand exultations, add one more. October 24, 2008Brooklyn Flea Wins "Best Of" from amNY
October 18, 2008Best of '08 Opinions Voiced
The Village Voice Best of NYC 2008 issue came out this week, with some pretty good news for the Flea. We snared the Readers Poll choice for Best Flea Market (thank you to all who voted!), only to have the Voice's pick go to the fabled 25th St. Garage. Given, their pick felt like a sympathy move in deference to the Garage's planned closing next month. But in the end it was a doubly ill-informed choice, as the Garage is rumored to have been granted a stay (for a year or more) until the building planned for its location secures financing. (Economy downturns, it turns out, spell "up" for fleas.) The Flea is honored to have its own category in this year's poll, for best Brooklyn Flea booth. That accolade went, smartly and justifiably, to John Murphy, whose brilliant bird photos in hand-painted frames (above) have been a Flea destination since Day One. (John is in B19 most every Sunday.) For whatever reason, the Voice website doesn't add that Unbreakable Records, the vinyl-lovers hideout, garnered Readers Poll honors in the category, also well-deserved. Alex holds it down in E31 most Sundays, and he's bringing extra-special treats this week for all the newbies. Congrats to all! October 7, 2008(Country) Living Large
You can scroll through oodles of snazzy photos featuring Flea vendors of every stripe (plus a bleachers shot of Senor and Mr. B looking awkward) on the website. We haven't gotten our hands on the print version yet, unlike the multi-million-strong CL subscriber base. See what all the buzz is about this Sunday--we're full-up with awesome stuff yet again. And if you haven't visited in awhile, check out how we've, like, matured! October 6, 2008Village Voice Best of NYC--Flea Questions!Thank you to Alex of Unbreakable Records (he of the zillions of dollar records) for pointing out that the Village Voice 2008 Readers Poll features 3 Flea-related questions. Not only can you pick NYC's Best Flea Market (duh!), but there's a specific question for "Best Booth at the Brooklyn Flea." How friggin' cool. (The third question is about Best Bargain Spots, which is also a no-brainer for ze Flea. Objectivity who?) So head on over to the site and enter your answers by this Wednesday, Oct. 8. (You have to enter your name and email address to access the poll, and the Flea-related questions are on the third page of entries.) This just might be the second most important vote you make all year! September 11, 2008Record Press
Check back tomorrow for some exciting last-minute additions to the Fair. Time Out also has a "Subway Tour" focused on taking the G train to Classon Ave., which shouts out the Flea and awesome regular vendors like Brooklyn Junior and Counter Evolution, as well as local pals Tillie's and Choice Market. August 4, 2008Radio Radio!Just a quick note that Senor Flea will be on WNYC (93.9 FM) this morning from 11:40am 'til noon, live on The Brian Lehrer Show. (Brian himself is on vacation this week, which is a bummer.) We'll be talking about the community-building aspects of ze Flea, and generally buzzing about all things market-related, like the awesome Superstar DJ Record Fair we're lining up for Sept. 14. Stay tuned! Stream it live here. Update: here's the interview with Andrea Bernstein from this morning. Scan forward to the 9:10 mark to get to the Flea segment. (The bit before about the Monroe St. Market in Bushwick is definitely worth a listen too.) June 6, 2008Fab Does Ze Flea for NY magFabiola Beracasa, New York magazine's groovy fashion video reporter, did the Flea last week, check out her cool clip here. Senor Flea makes a brief appearance, as does Brian from Chop Summers, our periodic and mysterious Hungarian gypsy-inspired barter-only red-and-gold friends. Anyone know where Fab's snazzy gold bracelets are from? June 5, 2008See What Happens When You Flea?
Specimen Jewelry has been featured in Cool Hunting and NYLON magazine's recent spotlight on Flea jewelry makers. War Rug, who stuck it out through April's chilly, lean Sundays, had a nice feature on his fascinating and bizarre rugs in Time Out last month. Last but not least, several Flea vendors contributed to a massive sculpture (above) of vintage/found items that is decorating the BAM lobby during its annual Sundance Institute film festival (which ends this Sunday). If you're in the hood, check it out and witness the Flea's new role as community curator! May 12, 2008Pupusamania!
This Sunday (May 18), the first stand will open with grilled corn and fruits, and May 25 a larger stand with the storied huaraches and pupusas--made with love (and pounds of toppings) by Fernando and Rafael--will make its Flea debut. Senor Flea can hardly contain his culinary enthusiasm. We are grateful to Cesar and the Red Hook vendors for sharing their papusa prowess with our little mercado. And make sure to visit the full crew in Red Hook in full splendor starting in June! On an unrelated note, props to Cool Hunting for doing a day-long feature on some of our hippest vendors. Super-cool! Look for our first Flea Flickr sometime tomorrow. April 28, 2008Sounds of ze FleaWCBS Radio (880 AM) ran a cute audio segment last week highlighting some of the sounds and flavors of the Flea. Check it out. April 14, 2008Brooklyn Flea Goes Front-and-Center at The Times
March 27, 2008Flea Circus
With all this coverage pushing our interested vendors past the 750 mark, and April 6 a mere 10 days away, our posts here may be a bit sporadic. So let's get interactive: See the little guy up there to the right? (Yes, he's a flea.) We'd like to know what you think of this fella as our mascot, and to be one of our T-shirt and promo designs. Any and all thoughts are welcome. February 4, 2008Reaping the Benefits of Viral Marketing
The D*S post cultivated interest from vendors from NYC as well as Boston and Philadelphia: Chairloom, a Philly lady who reupholsters vintage chairs with beautiful textiles (see photo above); Merchant Army, an upstart antiques/collectibles outfit, also from Philly; Dirty Librarian Chains, an awesome jewelry line by a Brooklyn gal recently transplanted from Austin; and Studio Roxas, a groovy illustrator from Astoria. Keep 'em coming! You know how to reach us. Remember, we're particularly interested in hearing about purveyors of vintage items and antiques. |
Go to the Flea any Saturday or Sunday morning and you'll see tons of photographers snapping away closeups of all kinds of tchotchkes, necklaces, coffee tables, etc. (If vendors had a dime for every snapshot of their merch....) These folks, it's become clear, are known as bloggers, and they seem to write about the Flea on a daily basis. We love them for this, and will be rounding up fun posts every week from now on. (Have we created regular features and abandoned them in the past? Possibly.)
We like this one, just fits in with the Flea somehow. 
Some nice profiles of this Sunday's "Superstar DJ Record Fair" DJ/vendors in this week's issue of 
Last week the Times ran a 
To wit: Tuesday's Daily Candy featured jewelry designer 
Senor Flea is feeling a little discombobulado this week, what with the flea buzz approaching bee-swarm levels. But we would like to take a moment to thank the Academy, as well as the 
After just a couple of months of work, the response to the Flea has been overwhelmingly warm, positive, and far-reaching—in essence, it's all going according to plan so far [insert sinister cackle]. Our biggest wave of signups yet (70 and counting) followed the Friday announcement on