June 2008
June 25, 2008
Merhaba!
Senor Flea has been outta site for a bit, it's true, getting some much-needed R+R in lovely Istanbul. (An intercontinental tessekur erderim to the weather deities for keeping ze Flea dry last week!) Not that the Flea would ever rest, mind you.
The antik shops in Turkey are just mind-boggling: when a tile or postcard or chair is old here, it's Ottoman old, centuries old, multiple empires old. But a stroll through the antik centers of Istanbul is not so different than our little Brooklyn Flea, complete with chaotic piles of "stuff" whose order is known only to the "eccentric" proprietor, who seems mildly interested (at best) or oblivious (more often) to a customer's existence/interest.
The crop of shops in and around Faik Pasa Yokusu in the Cukurcuma neighborhood were our faves, many of which just pile their wares out on the sidewalk/street (above) but then when you step inside their troves of credenzas, lanterns, jewelry, silver, etc., are revealed. Got lost for hours. (Senora Flea makes a cameo here.)
Similarly, the Asian side 'hoods of Uskudar and Kadikoy host antik bazaars jammed with treasures, older cranky men, and of course dust. There are also restoration workshops inside these mini-malls, where our faves included massive entrance doors and giant decorative teapots (below), and awesome transistor shortwave radios (that dealer was too mean for us to risk a photo, sorry).
Today, off to the Grand Bazaar for trinkets galore. Now that's a market!
June 13, 2008
Flea or Busk
As the market establishes itself as a destination, it allows Senor Flea to tap into his inner impresario and add some bells and whistles to your Sunday shopping pleasure. Folks loved watching the Rising Star Fife + Drum Band from Mississippi march through the Flea a couple weeks ago, and we'll be introducing more of the "expect the unexpected" this summer.
To wit, this Sunday Swedish duo Wildbirds and Peacedrums will make the Flea one of the stops on their Brooklyn-wide busking tour, setting up outside the Lafayette entrance around 1pm for a little musical entertainment. We'll see how it goes, so show your support for free Flea fun by coming to check them out.
Later in the afternoon, we'll welcome another marching band--Red Baraat(above)--which has its roots in the North Indian marriage-procession tradition. They're a big mobile dance party of horns, double-sided dhol drums, and generally upbeat revelry, and you're encouraged to join the fun as they march around the Flea. (They're also playing a gig Saturday night at Drom on Avenue A.) Thanks to boomBOOM Presents for hooking that one up.
Also, make sure to stop by the Still Hip Brooklyn booth (W28, near the backstop) this week to get you or your kinder's face painted.
What other kinds of fun stuff would Fleagoers like to see?
June 12, 2008
What's the Dill?
So much good food at ze Flea every week, but like a good dinner there's always room for more.
If you're sweet on folks like Kumquat Cupcakery, Nunu Chocolates, or Whimsy + Spice, you'll be downright savory on Rick's Picks, the renowned pickler of beets, asparagus, green beans, and more. We're proud to have Rick join the Flea fray this Sunday, and encourage customers to cast their hard-earned pearls before his brines.
Rick started pickling a decade ago using herbs from the Grand Army Plaza farmer's market, and still lives blocks from ze Flea. He's a gas to rap with, and damn if his Smokra (pickled okra with smoked paprika, right) ain't like nothin' you've tasted before.
Many may have noticed the debut last Sunday--through the humid haze--of McClure's Pickles (right), sampling Bob's more straight-ahead but no less artisanal garlic or spicy pickles and his stunning relish (no ketchup there!). McClure's is a new-school family operation, with Pickle HQ in Detroit and Bob holding it down in the BK.
Bob and Rick are professional cousins, and we're pretty sure there's room for two picklers in the Flea's pod. A jarring experience to be sure!
June 11, 2008
The Right Stuff
One of the coolest things about digging through Flea stuff is plucking that treasure from the heap and learning about its little story. Every item's got one.
Eva from Film Biz Recycling has launched this new non-profit to crack down on the huge amount of waste that film productions create, and everything she sells is culled from some stage of the making of a film. All those sets, all those props, all that wood--all those treasures!--Eva is giving them a new lease on life through Film Biz, which returns for a second go-round at the Flea on Sunday.
She did gangbusters the first time out right, finding new homes for donated rolls of fabric, dishware, a blender, floor lamps, and tchotchkes of every stripe. She'll be in B11 this week, and when you buy from her it's a good deal that's also a do-good!
June 10, 2008
Gift Ideas Galore
Father's Day is so impossible to shop for--there are only so many gadgets and sweaters on this planet. So we offer this predictable solution: Flea.
Jean-Paul, the dapper Frenchman from the Rue St. Denis men's-vintage booths by the bleachers, always has timeless fashions that will usher your pop's wardrobe at least into the late 20th Century, perhaps with a bit of pizazz to boot. S7/8.
Similarly, Conrad from Tutek will be back this week with slightly more preppy Brooks Brothers-style vintage men's clothes and accessories (and a few killer records). Check the layout on Saturday for his location.
Mike from Mohawk Studios up in Hudson, NY, makes these cool metal bugs, spiders, and scorpions with railroad spikes for bodies (thoraxes?) and spare nails for legs that are awesome desk-side conversation-starters for the office dad. They're like $15-$20. He's in W3 every week.
Abby from Flubber Gallery in B15 specializes in vintage toys and figurines to inspire a little walk down Memory Lane (above).
Fred and Camille from Silver Fox up in Albany are back this week, and among their unearthed treasures are a batch of antique iron gates from London (right). There's nothing dads like better than spinning a yarn about where an item in their house is from, so get the story and give dad a new garden piece or workshop decoration. L14/15.
Counter Evolution's tables and countertops made from recycled bowling lanes are about as Father's Day as it gets, and Jim is in L9 every Sunday showing off his craftsmanship. Feel free to ask him about his moonlighting duties as a singer-songwriter too.
Martin Brewer has comfy old-man chairs and ottomans for a steal. He's in the W30 rows, and used to have a vintage shop called Tangerine on 5th Avenue in the Slope until 2002 when it started getting bougie. Just don't take Senor Flea's Stevie Wonder records before he does!
If none of that fits the bill, you know you've got record vendors and foodstuffs galore to choose from, including newcomers Alex of Unbreakable Records, Mast Bros. Chocolate (from Williamsburg), and making his long-awaited debut Sunday, Rick's Picks pickles, beets and string beans!
Now put that in your (pop's) pipe and smoke it.
June 6, 2008
Fab Does Ze Flea for NY mag
Fabiola 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, 2008
All Hail Port-a-Potties!
We've brought in tchotchkes, chocolatiers, and Eames chairs, but something tells Senor Flea that the most welcome new attraction at ze Flea will be--yes, it's true--the 2 portable toilets you'll now find outside the Clermont gate every Sunday. Sparing no expense, these heads will also feature luxury hand sanitizer.
We struggled with providing facilities for an outdoor flea market that charges no admission but does have yummy pupusas, cupcakes, and coffee. (Plus, starting this week, homemade McClure's Pickles and Calmer Sutra's "wet chai" tea.) Ultimately, popular demand won out, so from now on Fleagoers can accomplish the 3 S's at the market: shop, sample, and, well, you know. Happy trails!
See What Happens When You Flea?
Last week the Times ran a story on Foley + Corinna, the LES chic boutique that started out as one gal selling some clothes at the Chelsea flea markets, and is now a multimillion-dollar international business. (The ladies of F+C have been spotted at the Flea a few times, their Design Director is a regular, and now one of their wholesalers will be a vendor next Sunday, June 15.) It just goes to show that selling at the Flea is fun, naturally, but more importantly a good career move.
To wit: Tuesday's Daily Candy featured jewelry designer Bonbon Oiseau's classy money clips (right) as a Father's Day gift idea (she'll be in E29 Sunday), and that was like the 5th Fleaster to get the Candy treatment in the last couple months.
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!