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February 3, 2010
BFF of the Week: Amanda Buchanon
It was hard not to notice this group of excited ladies, snapping pics and showing off their new stuff. In the center, Amanda was holding up her newly purchased map from vintage postcard and print maestro (and professional cat massager!) Lon Black (booth #28, right up front) for her excited and giggling friends. We had to get in there.
What's your name?
Amanda Buchanon.
I see you bought a map of Brooklyn. Did you find your house? Are you from around here?
No, I live in Western Pennsylvania.
What are you doing in Brooklyn?
I'm visiting my friend who's an artist. She has a studio in Clinton Hill.
What are you going to do with your map?
I'm going to frame it and hang it. I have a framed photograph of the Brooklyn Bridge too.
Are you working a Brooklyn motif?
Not necessarily. I just like the antique look. I wasn't looking for it but I saw these maps when I walked in and then he gave me a great deal.
What else did you get here?
I also bought some McClure's Pickles and some of his [brand new] Bloody Mary mix. McClure was my mother's maiden name so I had to.
Perfect. You love your mom. You love pickles. It's a good tribute to both.
Bloody Marys, that's what I love. Grandma will get the pickles.
Thanks Amanda!
January 28, 2010
BFF of the Week
We got a regular Sam Adams on our hands....
What's your name and what did you buy here?
My name is Gary. I bought a mix to brew beer at home [from Brooklyn Brew Shop]. I have the kit already, which I bought a couple months ago at the Flea under the bridge.
So you're a regular?
Yeah, I've been a few times.
Do you live around here?
Park Slope.
What do you do?
I'm a doctor.
Are you a regular brewmaster as well?
Well, this is my third batch. I've been buying about one a month. I'm thinking about buying the home kombucha kit to make fermented tea.
When you brew, do you share with friends and family?
If they're daring.
Does it turn out great?
The first batch wasn't, but the second batch was great.
Thanks Gary. And enjoy your homebrewin'!
January 26, 2010
Vendor of The Week: Intaglio Prints + Maps
Anatomical diagrams, detailed floral prints, world maps, Brooklyn street maps from the '70s, and fruit innards are just some of the illustrious prints you can find at Intaglio Antiques every weekend for the duration of The Flea at One Hanson. Meet the folks (the cutest couple ever) behind it all, discover the source of their cheap thrills, and even meet a shopper.
What is your name and company's name?
Tunde Bodnar, and my company is Intaglio Antiques.
And what's your hometown?
We live in Southbridge, Mass. But I was born and raised in New Jersey.
What do you sell and how long have you been selling it for?
We sell antique prints and maps—all original. I have been in the antique business for 10 years and [my partner] Ralph has been in it for almost 30 years.
What's your specialty?
The gist is that these are all pre-offset prints, which means they are all engravings made from steelplate or copperplate. Off-set means mass-produced and photo mechanical, so these are all pre-photo mechanical.
What is your most memorable sale?
It's not spectacular, it's just when people buy something and they get so excited about it. Take the [City-use] Sanborn Maps, for example. The shoppers get very excited when they find their home or street.
What keeps you coming back to the Flea?
The shoppers are great, all the venues have been great. Eric and Rob do an excellent, excellent job promoting and organizing. Years ago I lived in New York, and now that I live in Massachusetts, I don't mind spending time in New York at all.
Is this your full-time job?
This is my full-time. Finding these prints and maps consumes about 80% of my time during the week. They are hard to come by and they are expensive. I get a lot of them out of Europe and it just takes a lot of time.
What do you do for fun?
This! This is my fun. I really enjoy this. [Addressing a buyer] Tell us, why did you buy these?
Buyer: They're gifts for my wife. She is a crafter and a writer and she has some old typewriters. I have bought her a few old Singers off eBay and I think she will really appreciate these. Plus, her grandfather was a typewriter repair man, so....
See? This is my cheap thrill!
Thanks Tunde and Ralph!
January 25, 2010
Slideshow January 24: Lights!
Winter lack of sun got ya down? Let the Flea light your way to happiness with lamps galore, from '40s antiques to newfangled microphone lamps. Stone cold lampin'.
January 21, 2010
Jess Bites Flea: Milk Truck NYC
Mmm...cheese.
What: Milk Truck Classic: Gruyere and cheddar on levain bread.
Meal/snack/drink: Kind of all of 'em! It's a great snack, perfect for sharing. Or, are you marvin? Don't share and add soup to your order.
Tasty with: Who doesn't love dipping a gooey and crunchy grilled cheese sammie in warm, thick tomato soup—just like ma made. Get a Tomato 4, made with San Marzano tomatoes pureed into unadulterated comforting goodness.
Where else: Soon to be truck-traveling (thus the name), but until then exclusively at ze Flea down in the vault.
How much: $5.50.
Locally derived or imported influence: The Classic is made with Wisconsin Cheddar: not exactly locavore, but come on—Wisconsin cheddar is the bester!
BFF of the Week: Athena Calderone
This week we found our BFF taking stock of her booty (snowshoe, catcher's mask, wicker basket) on her way out the door, but she was nice enough to give us a little tour of her treasures' sources—too bad for her because she was tempted into buying a deer head her second time around. Our mini walkabout led us to Gary (booth #24 every Saturday and Sunday—by the deer heads and the discoball) and Susan at Sage Antiques, where Athena found most of her stuff.
What's your name?
Athena Calderone.
Do you live around here?
I live in DUMBO. My husband and I recently bought a house in Amagansett we're renovating, so I'm just kinda of finding some nice treats!
What do ya do?
I'm an interior designer, and my eye just scans this place, it's so great. This is my first time at this location but I sort of follow you guys around to the different spaces.
What's your design company?
I have a partner, we are Rawlins Calderone Design.
Great, we'll look you up!
Thanks Athena!
January 20, 2010
Vendor of the Week: City Owl Vintage
This week we caught up with the couple behind City Owl Vintage, and learned about the "primitives" they sell, among other design-inspired antiques. You can catch City Owl each Saturday and Sunday for the duration of the Flea at One Hanson, in booth #26.
What's your name?
I'm Ashley and my husband is Jim, and and our business is City Owl.
And what's your hometown?
Brooklyn, pretty much. Same for my husband.
Where do you live now?
We live between Sunset Park and Park Slope.
What do you sell and how long have you been selling it for?
We sell primitives and industrial furniture decorative items. We've been doing it since April. Primitives sort of have a range, but basically, we sell handmade stuff that wasn't mass-produced. And we like to sell stuff that is really worn-out, and that was obviously not made by a professional or a factory.
What is your most memorable sale?
We sold a cabinet to someone from the band that was both of our favorite growing up—Galaxie 500. That was great!
What keeps you coming back to the Flea?
We really love the vendors here. Everyone is incredibly nice. And so are the shoppers. It's really just a pleasant experience while you're working.
Is this your full-time gig?
This is my husband's full-time job. I work during the week and do this on the weekends. During the week, I do interior design for a non-profit. I also do a lot of project management and office management for the non-profit. It's called The Open Planning Project. We develop tech tools and do a lot of advocacy work related to mass transit, bicycles, pedestrians, etc.
Do you have a website?
People can find us at cityowlvintage.com. You can also see us at cityowlvintage on Etsy.
People should know we also offer design services and source things for designers, and for people doing film sets and things like that.
Thanks guys!
January 14, 2010
Jean-Paul's Duds for Dudes
What is it about a French accent that makes everything sound a bit more chic? Even a sweater vest feels sexier when you buy it from a man called "Jean-Paul." Visit him at the Flea at One Hanson every weekend in booth #27.
What is your name and your company's name?
My name is Jean-Paul and my company is Rue St. Denis Clothier.
And what's your hometown?
I am from Paris.
Where do you live now?
I live in the East Village.
How come you came here from Paris?
Well, I actually came to travel and I was going to go to this country and then South America, and I came here and started working and never made it to South America!
What do you sell and how long have you been selling it for?
Two things: I specialize in old stuff, meaning I get clothes from stores that weren't sold back then, and then I also bring stuff from Europe. I have been doing it for exactly 20 years this year.
Congratulations!
Thank you.
What's your specialty?
My specialty is European stuff and men's clothes. I sell more men's clothes than most dealers in the market.
What keeps you coming back to the Flea?
It's well-organized, Eric is a very good promoter, and I like the vibe, especially compared to the Manhattan markets. I think it is more fun here and more New Yorker, actually.
What do you do for fun?
I go to the counrty and I do woodwork.
Would you ever want to sell your woodwork?
Oh no, I only do it for fun.
Do you have a website?
I do. And I also have a store in the East Village on Avenue B and 11th St. Find me at vintagenyc.com.
Anything else you want our fine readers to know?
My stuff is in mint condition. I clean or dry clean everything I sell. I cannot do it any other way because I'm a bit of a neat freak. Not a missing button, ripped lining, nor a stain. It is also really important I sell the right thing to the right person. I want everything to look and feel the right way. If it doesn't fit or look good, I usually mention it. People say, if you want to know the truth, ask Jean-Paul!
January 13, 2010
BFF of the Week: Lucia + Mateo
The vintage electric guitar might have stolen all the thunda at Phil Lanigan's Addicted to Vintage booth (teller window #1), because this vintage porn almost went unnoticed. Thank goodness Mateo and Lucia were hanging around the Flea to educate us on what Phil brings to the table!
Flea: What did you guys buy here?
Mateo: We bought pornographic novels.
Lucia: Mine is called "Rape of the Virgin."
M: Mine is called "Gang Banged Innocence."
For a mere 15 bucks? That's a steal. Are you going to read these together?
L: Yeah, actually. We will set up a group reading.
A book club if you will?
M: Yes. Sundays.
L: I'm also going to catch up on my reading on the subway.
M: Coffee shop for me.
Have you been to the Flea before?
M: First time.
L: Same.
Y'all from around here?
L: Yep. Two blocks away.
M: Yes, I'm near.
What do you guys do when your not schooling people on very inappropriate behavior?
L: I go to the University of Pennsylvania.
M: I go to Cal Arts.
Smarties. Enjoy your books!
Thanks guys!