September 5, 2008
Scavenger Hunt Items: September 7
Two items this week for treasure-seekers, including one that wasn't found last Sunday. Happy hunting!
When you find the item, which can be hidden in any vendor booth, it's yours, absolutely free! Only one winner per calendar month. Items posted every Friday at Noon.
Happy hunting!
From left:
1. Classic Jamaican cap, in beige. New
2. Cut glass candy dish, probably 1960's. Vintage
What's New?
We're gonna cruise through this week's newbies, as there are so many. And what with a packed-to-the-gills Flea this Sunday (totally full, which is great news for Fleagoers this fall), there is much prepping to be done!
We've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Victoria Hoffman and her trove of vintage quilts since she first inquired about the Flea back in May. She's finally ready to roll, and judging by the c. 1885 Log Cabin quilt (above) her booth is a must-see. C14
Martha McDonald is trekking down from Massena, NY, up near Montreal, with a lot of great stuff. To wit: "architectural antiques and a varity of antiques, not really large furniture, maybe the odd table or chair set, lots of collectibles, some vintage clothing, primitives, like old crocks, and sadd irons, also vintage fabric frames and dishes." Martha also referenced "pillars of all sizes," which is intriguing to say the least. Say hi to Martha halfway down the midway, and maybe buy her a cup of coffee--that's a long trip! W36
In a common vendor refrain, it's time for Daniel Goldsmith to part with his "two storage spaces full of western goods, art, small furniture, pocket watches, 1920's-'50s ladies watches, very good but used computer parts and some Hollywood stuff from movie sets that I collected over the years." Allow the Flea to help Daniel make a clean break with his past! Near the pupusas, E27.
Painter Glen Rumsey is in the midst of a series of bird-inspired paintings (somewhat in the vein of Flea vet John Murphy, B19), and we love the look of his work (right), as well as its decorative potential. W43
We didn't welcome Beantowner Liz Donovan of Doc and Gam's last time, so we'll do it now. She's got a nice eclectic, affordable mix for gals and guys, including preppy letter sweaters, jean jackets, flannels, and Pringle cardigans. Don't feel like fall yet, but it's a-comin'. W44
On the upscale tip, 25th St. Garage vet Marijo Hornung swoops in straight from Brimfield with his "high-line" vintage clothing and costume jewelry. Purses out, ladies! W35
We thank recent newcomer Harry Cooker, also of the Garage, for sending Marijo our way, and urge you to peruse his well-curated selection of antiques over on the Vanderbilt fence, which is becoming quite the string of top-notch stuff! V6
Rounding out the first-timers:
Anna Stumpf, Fran Varron and Leah Shuchter are all doing the household-goods cleanout this Sunday--i.e., bargain/mega-find alert! E26, W18/19, and W23, respectively.
ADC Pottery and Glass represents the ceramic work of three Brooklyn artists:
Ann Morris, Demetria Chappo and Camille Abbe. Their work focuses on wheel-thrown pottery (bowls, mugs, plates, platters, vases) and hand-built wall
hangings and pockets (art pieces, vases and planters for the home and
garden). W25
Last-minute addition Honor Bowman of Wing Nut Brooklyn makes headbands, hair clips, wedding veils, and cocktail hats, working with craft birds, silk flowers, pearls, buttons, feathers, and costume jewelry. Pretty! E35
So Baked
Before the weekly "What's New?" roundup, we wanted to shout out a couple of new foodies we're happy to welcome--warmly, like an oven.
The folks at Baked (above) on Van Brunt St. in Red Hook make their Flea debut Sunday, and we're excited to see what special goodies they pull out of their bakers' hats. Co-owner Matt mentioned whoopie pies and mini coca-cola and rootbeer bundt cakes, which sound like a promising start. They'll also have copies of their new book for sale. (Ask about their upcoming new location, in New Orleans' French Quarter!) E8, with the other foodsters.
Laura and Lorin are the two blondes behind Hot Blondies Bakery, whose blondie, butterscotch white-chocolate chip, and s'mores brownies are scrumptious (and big) enough to fell a man, baked or not. They're new to the baked-goods scene, and we like their chances. E5.
We would be remiss if we didn't proclaim the virtues of our stalwart fave (and cutie) Keavy, whose Kumquat Cupcakery remains a staple of many Fleasters' visits, and whose success we continue to hail. She rocks new flavors every week, pretty much guaranteed to knock your knickers off. E4, every week.
Where the Sidewalk Vends
Pretty much every Sunday there's a table or two set up outside the Lafayette gate for local (or not-so-local) organizations to promote themselves to savvy, diverse, friendly Fleagoers like you. Everyone from wind-power companies to local upstart charter schools to daycare centers to the Brooklyn Wolverines, Fort Greene's new high-school football team, have done awareness-raising in front of the Flea, and we curate that space just as acutely as the vendors inside the market. So stop by, hear 'em out, see what's up.
This week marks the first outreach effort of the Greene Hill Food Coop, the promising new community venture that's actively seeking organizers, supporters, and members. Senor Flea, who grew up packaging tofu with Mamacita and Hermano Flea at a Boston co-op in the '70s, can't say enough good things about the potential positives of Brooklynites coming together in the name of healthy/local/yummy food. Put the co in op yo!
The Fort Greene Indie Bookstore Initiative (right) is back for a third week of spreading the word (what else?) about their concept for a new local bookshop that emerges out of community wants and needs. We're all for this kind of '60s, Jane Jacobs-y stuff, and strongly encourage you to browse their offerings if you haven't already.
OK, consider this post tabled!
September 3, 2008
The Office
We have that fuzzy goldmine feeling about the double-booth that Amy May Phillips will be occupying temporarily, starting this Sunday. She and her partners (at the very cool furniture-design firm SMC Furnishings) just relocated to a huge turn-of-the-century factory building near the Finger Lakes--which happened to come with a trove of vintage furniture.
Among the goodies Amy mentioned: a bunch of Knoll chairs and tables ('60s–'80s) (pictured), loads of great Steelcase tables and chairs (same era), a couple of modern, wood/metal desks, and some wooden credenzas. A lot of the items are office furniture, which we've always thought looks just as nice at home typically. Amy said the stuff would be priced to sell too, which elevated her booth to can't-miss/blog status.
Look for Amy's name on the layout when it's posted (every Saturday at noon btw).
Let this font of furniture whet your appetite for the Flea's upcoming Furniture Festival, curated by Greenjeans, featuring up-and-coming local furniture makers and designers every Sunday in October. Woo hoo!
September 2, 2008
Finders/Keepers Week 8
Somehow or another just one of last week's 3 Hunt Items were scavengered. Maybe no one wanted to work too hard over Labor Day? The unfound 2 items will return at a later date.
Check back Friday at noon for this week's items.
Here's this week's happy camper:
Amy from Williamsburg (left) found the vintage key fob from Deb at Bonbon Oiseau Jewelry. Deb's over in E31, check the weekly lineup to find out when she Fleas.
August 29, 2008
Scavenger Hunt Items: August 31
More good stuff for you treasure-seekers this week. Happy hunting!
When you find the item, which can be hidden in any vendor booth, it's yours, absolutely free! Only one winner per calendar month. Items posted every Friday at Noon.
Happy hunting!
From left:
1. Classic Jamaican cap, in beige. New
2. Antique brass key fob, set with vintage brass horseshoe charm.
(Keys not included, but vendor will have them for sale). Vintage/Refurbished
3. Balm of Gilead face and body moisturizer: 100% natural, shea and almond body butter. New
August 28, 2008
What's New?
The calm of new vendors this week portends the post-Labor Day storm in store for Sept. 7. Look out for fall at ze Flea!
We love having Pascal Benichou among the Flea vendors--a real honor. Pascal displays his groovy handmade mosaic and steel tables alongside a rack of country-style artifacts (above), all of which are worth a look. But a chat with Pascal is also worth it: he's a former dancer with the Joffrey Ballet (among other companies), a sculptor, photographer (he has an opening in the E. Village in September), and a painter. Stop by and say "bonjour." E11
Susan Blank is the latest veteran of the 25th St. Antiques Garage to enjoy her Fleadom in Brooklyn. On a recent visit there Senor Flea especially loved her affordable picture frames, which fill a nice nook at the market. Welcome Susan warmly, she's old-school! V8
Ben Dzamba is a swell addition to the Flea's stable of next-generation collector/vendors--a nice young fella whose dad has been in "the business" for years. He's got great paintings, oddball treasures, some nice records, and a fun attitude. V7
Cuban-born, self-taught painter and mosaic artist Jorge Valdes (aka "JAVA") makes his debut this Sunday, and his work is unique and soulful. E21
Brooklynite David Markel will be selling mid-century decorative glass, mostly Italian items from the 50's and 60's (right). Looks like nice stuff. L9
Blue Marble + Rwanda = "Sweet Dreams"
So our pals Alexis and Jennie from Blue Marble Ice Cream--which sells their yummy grass-fed ice cream at the Flea every Sunday--are working on a humanitarian project that the Flea is down with: helping open an ice cream shop in Rwanda.
Following the genocide there in the previous decade, one of Rwanda's remaining resources is its many cows, and when Blue Marble's Jennie met Kiki from Huye, Rwanda, at a Sundance theater workshop earlier this month, the plan was hatched to bring happiness and joy to a nation in sore need of both by turning those cows' milk into yummy ice cream.
Recently the gals learned of an American Express funding initiative that the project is eligible for. If you have 30 seconds, please nominate "Sweet Dreams: The Power of Ice Cream" on the AmEx site by this Sunday, August 31--the top 5 vote-getters in 5 categories are eligible for the $2.5M in funding. The nominating process is really simple, takes less than a minute.
Just click here.
Thank you!
August 27, 2008
Wafels Are Back
Our fine friends from Wafels + Dinges make their long-awaited return to ze Flea this Sunday. Summer heat + Wafels wasn't a good combo, but now that fall appears to be upon us, let those irons be unshackled and let doughy, syrupy, creamy goodness reign over the Bishop Loughlin yard!
Follow your nose to that yummy wafel scent, or just head to the yellow tent in the back row by the school. Monsieur and Madame Wafel have promised an olfactorily stupendous new dough in the coming weeks--so keep those tastebuds standing at attention.