Do Gooder Campaign

The Flea has a great community vibe every weekend, and we hope to add some substance to that feeling in the coming months. (Know of a school that wants to raise money with a rummage sale? Let us know!)

For now we'd just like to let you know about a cool campaign our friends at the Brooklyn Community Foundation have going on. Their Brooklyn Do Gooder Awards will celebrate everyday Brooklynites who make a difference with their generosity, creativity, spirit—basically average folks who make the borough a better place in some tangible way, big or small.

We're helping BCF find these fine folks, so if you want to nominate a Brooklyn Do Gooder—who will receive $5000 to reinvest in Brooklyn's nonprofit community—drop them a line. The person should be working in one of BCF's five grantmaking areas: Arts for All, Caring Neighbors, Community Development, Education and Youth Achievement, and Green Communities. You must know someone! Click here to make a nomination; they're due September 30.

Starting in October the public will vote on the nominees, five finalists will be determined, a VIP panel will take it from there, and the winners will be honored Nov. 3 at the Palm House.

By demby on September 1, 2010 3:00 PM | Comments (0)

New Brooklyn Cookbook

Grub Street posted the list (click to enlarge) of recipes and foodmakers in The New Brooklyn Cookbook that's out next week, and it's jammed with Fleasters. We're proud to have so many cool folks in one place.

Among our peeps featured in the tome: Salvatore Bklyn Ricotta, Lunetta (where Dave Pizza Moto is chef), Diner (their Sons & Daughters stand at SummerStage ruled, and stay tuned for some Roman's-Flea news later this week), Early Bird Granola, The Good Fork, Hot Bread Kitchen (who once Flea'd and we still love), Eagle St. Rooftop Farms (where Ben of Brooklyn Grange got his start), and Mast Bros. Chocolate (old-school Flea, still pals). Way to go, folks!

And hey, did you know that Asia Dog, Choncho's Tacos, Pizza Moto, and Crop to Cup Coffee will all be upstate slingin' grub at the awesome All Tomorrow's Parties festival this weekend? (Or that Senor Flea and his Treehouse pals are DJ'ing from midnight to 3am there Saturday night?) Crazy.

By demby on August 31, 2010 1:30 PM | Comments (0)

Finders/Keepers—Aug. 28+29

Excellent Scavenging, Hunters.

Check back at noon Friday for this week's items.

From left (click to enlarge):
Saturday: Mei-an (right) is, and we quote, "a Jersey Shore girl who is NOT as portrayed on TV." Brooklynites totally get it, Mei-an. She was lucky enough to find the cool concrete birdbath, which will, presumably, be going to the boids (to perpetuate a Brooklyn stereotype).

She's with Don Wood of Fat Dog Fabrication, which is named for Don's, well, fat dog, who's often at his booth. Cute pooch. Don is a carpenter and fabricator here in Brooklyn who works with concrete, wood, and metal, repurposed when possible. He makes these cool birdbaths, side tables and benches, dog bowls, wooden robots, and more that combine those materials with a slightly Japanese/Noguchi sensibility mixed with a sleek contemporary look. Don's a fun-loving guy and he's really taken a liking to the customer interaction at the Flea; his vibe has added a lot since he joined the market a few months ago. We're lucky to have him: B5 in Fort Greene.

Sunday: Krista (left) and Eric (right) are on their first vacation from Sonoma County in 10 years, and on their second day they went to the Flea (which sounds biblical). Krista was dutifully planning their subway trip online, saw the sparkly earrings on the Flea site, and totally snagged them. Ironically, they had done a scavenger hunt at the Met the day before, where they found multiple items but were offered nothing for free. Manhattan prices! Also, they dug the Flea.

Amy (middle) is the brains behind Birdhouse Jewelry (birdbrain?) with hubby Alan (the brawn?). Ask your friends/officemates/cool family member: where'd you get those earrings/ring/bracelet? Bet they say Birdhouse a lot. Amy's booth is always packed with newcomers and regulars, who can't resist her styles, which are constantly updated and perfectly suited for the everyday. Amy's also the market's biggest promoter and fan; she just loves the friggin' Flea! She's been with us since Day One, and we're grateful for that. C7 in Fort Greene, G-46 at One Hanson, every week (without fail).

By demby on August 31, 2010 8:00 AM | Comments (0)

Top 5 Again!

ShelterPop, AOL's home/design site, ranks its fave fleas in America in five categories today, including biggest (Texas Antique Weekend), most fun (Long Beach Outdoor Antique and Collectible Market; we beg to differ), and coolest newcomer (ze Flea). We are happy and humbled.

There's also this cool video profile on Shft.com about how the Flea is an inherently sustainable enterprise. Senor blabs about said topic, as does Silas Finch, a converter of found junk into timeless art who's also very articulate. Peep it.

By demby on August 30, 2010 4:00 PM | Comments (0)

Scavenger Hunt Items—Aug. 28+29

Cool cool.

Note: The Fort Greene market happens every Saturday outdoors; One Hanson is on Sundays indoors on 3 floors. Both are open 10am-5pm.

When you find one of the items above, which can be hidden in any vendor booth, it's yours, absolutely free! Then we post your photo with the generous vendor here on the blog on Monday. Only one winner per calendar month. Items posted every Friday around Noon.

From left (click to enlarge):
1. Saturday: Window-ledge-size "Birdbath For One," concrete. New/Handmade

2. Sunday: Turquoise swag earrings: 18K gold-plated silver chain with
amethyst briolettes, simulated turquoise cabochons, and purple glass pearls. New/Handmade

By demby on August 27, 2010 12:00 PM | Comments (0)

Flea Market Rap

Why doesn't the Flea have its own YouTube jam?!

By demby on August 25, 2010 3:00 PM | Comments (1)

Finders/Keepers—Aug. 21+22

Nice Hunting out there!

Check back at noon Friday for this week's items.

From left (click to enlarge):
Saturday: Marco (right) is a New Yorker originally from Italy. He spotted the vintage glasses—the well-fed duo of the Hulk from 7-Eleven and Jabba the Hut from Burger King—at around 9:45 (before the Flea is technically open, folks), saying "his child" is going to be thrilled. Marco hits the Flea most Saturdays, and although he and vendor Dan are both wearing red striped shirts they have never before met.

Mr. Dan Treiber (left) and his wife Reina bought the house Dan grew up in on City Island in the Bronx a few years ago. After a few months of Fleaing he swears that 75% of what he sells still comes from his attic—the pile of Star Wars stuff alone is neverending. (Don't worry he kept all of his personal favorites.) Under the descriptive vendor name dAN's Parents House, he sells all manner of '80s toys, old keys, postage stamps, and the vending machines that are fast becoming his hallmark. Stop by for a gumball—or, leave him a stack of love letters to add to his burgeoning collection/public project.

Sunday: Martin (second from right) lives in stylish Crown Heights North, had been to the Flea before, and plans to place the cool leather gun holster on the mantel in his apartment. (This is the kind of use we were hoping for.) He was in a rush so we couldn't even get his lady friends' names. Martin is a user-experience designer, on the computers and such.

Wendy (right) has a shop down in Schuylkill Haven, PA, called Rough + Tumble Vintage, and she's been doing the Flea since April '09, threading the clothing/accessories/stuff needle with a slightly country/western vibe. A fella named Don Hume makes the holsters in Oklahoma, and Wendy's got loads more where they came from. (Four people thought they had found the Hunt item on Saturday in Fort Greene, but were told they'd jumped the gun.) Find Wendy every darn Saturday in W10, and every Sunday at One Hanson (check the layout 'til she finds a regular spot). Heeya!

By demby on August 24, 2010 3:00 PM | Comments (0)

Scavenger Hunt Items—Aug. 21+22

Giddyup!

Note: The Fort Greene market happens every Saturday outdoors; One Hanson is on Sundays indoors on 3 floors. Both are open 10am-5pm.

When you find one of the items above, which can be hidden in any vendor booth, it's yours, absolutely free! Then we post your photo with the generous vendor here on the blog on Monday. Only one winner per calendar month. Items posted every Friday around Noon.

From left (click to enlarge):
1. Saturday: Incredible Hulk (7-Eleven, 1977) and Jabba the Hut ('83, Burger King) drinking glasses. Vintage

2. Sunday: Leather gun holster, made in Oklahoma by Don Hume. New/Handmade

By demby on August 20, 2010 12:00 PM | Comments (0)

What's New?

Where does all the vintage/antique stuff come from? Every week new vendors from the universe's bottomless well somehow find the Flea. God bless us.

This was the entirety Eddie Lopez's vendor application: "I have antiques to sell. I would like to try fort green if available." Truth to be told, these folks often end up becoming our best, most dedicated vendors, but the only way to tell is by giving them a shot and checking out their stuff in person. Eddie eventually got us a few photos, including the assemblage above, and here's hoping he develops into a lifer. E28, FG/Sat

Michael Zentman and his wife have been in the bizness for 20 years, vets of 26th St., etc. They do Midcentury design ('40s-'60s), lighting, small furniture, objects, art (right). We're psyched to see what they bring for their double booth. W1, FG/Sat

Eric Dargenio specializes in vintage eye- and sunglasses. He also donates lots of glasses to the Red Cross. Glasses are his thing. Reasonable prices, huge selection, nice guy. W17, FG/Sat

Aurelio is a pal of Sarah and Damian's (aka prized vendors All Seeing Eye Vintage), and his Tumblr reveals everything from Vision skate sneaks to Harley T's to duck-hunting jackets to Swiss-military saddle bags. Yum. He's called El Dorado Deluxe. W39, FG/Sat

Ambrose Bull is Diana's vintagey vendor name for her foundry patterns and architectural pieces, Midcentury China and glass, carnival/circus memorabilia, advertising displays, and more. She's done Chelsea, Upper West, Upper East—plenty of practice for the big stage in Brooklyn. G-33, 1H/Sun

Lager + Tangled Hair (right) also falls into the only-in-vintage name category. Here's some of what Kelly brought her first week: bound sheet music from the turn of the century (1900), an LP of the original King Kong score, Victorian vintage clothing, taxidermy (whose proceeds go to Wildlife Rescue), a chunk of a demolished Lower East Side building, and some tourist guides from the '20s and '30s. She's got furniture too. G-28, 1H/Sun

Food Zone:
Mama Mancini's is Daniel from southern Brooklyn's new meatball cart, which he's testing out/launching at the Flea the next two Saturdays only. They're his Bay Ridge Italian grandma's recipe—Mama Mancini's Sunday Sauce and Meatballs is the supermarket product name—and, well, we hope you like 'em! E3, FG/Sat

We can't wait to taste the "Ghost Pepper," purported to be the hottest pepper on the planet. Named for the Bhut-Jolokia variety, Jay Sheldon's Bhut Pepper biz came about after he moved to Bushwick from Kansas City with an MFA in Sculpture. That's about all we know, and really the only question is can you stand the heat? G-6, 1H/Sun

By demby on August 19, 2010 10:10 AM | Comments (0)

Collared!

The TV show White Collar filmed some scenes at the Flea's Sunday location at Skylight One Hanson, and the actors and location scout made this cool "On Location" webpage with info about the various high-class heist sites around the city where they shot. According to the location scout, apparently you can get everything from Maine lobster rolls to fish tacos at this fabulous Flea!

BTW: Did you know you can rent the bank where the Flea happens every Sunday for events? You totally can.

By demby on August 18, 2010 3:00 PM | Comments (0)