Flea Market » Markets of New York

Weekend Market Picks, October 15-16, 2011 and Pumpkins!!!

I am very excited about this weekend! There some big events going on in the city’s markets, and it’s Pumpkin Season! Many of our regional farms suffered losses during the hurricane, and we’ve been worried about the pumpkins and squashes. So far, things are looking pretty good in the GrowNYC Greenmarkets! I spotted these plump specimens at the Tribeca Greenmarket last weekend, and we just finished the last bowl of butternut squash soup with toasted chestnuts. (Yes, it tasted just as amazing as it sounds!)

Also this weekend I am taking a wonderful bunch of ladies on a Markets Tour! We have a great agenda and a lot of ground to cover. I cannot wait to see what catches their eye, what peaks their curiosity, and what makes it back home with them. Pictures will definitely be posted.

Saturday and Sunday

Brooklyn Lyceum Fall Market: The Brooklyn Lyceum is a former bath house, and it is now a great performance space and market venue. The semi-annual artisan market takes place this weekend with a diverse collection of artisans selling jewelry, fine art, leather bags, tee-shirts and more. Buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win impressive prizes, including an iPad!

Crafts on Columbus: This is the final weekend of this lovely craft show beneath the beautiful tree canopy alongside the Museum of Natural History. The quality is high, and the designers are as talented as ever. You’ll recognize your favorites, and you will also find some exciting new artisans on Columbus Avenue!

Saturday:

Crafts in Chelsea: One of the most dynamic and exciting craft market events of the year! Over 100 local artisans will be showing their handmade creations along both sides of West 21st Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. Time Out New York has featured Crafts in Chelsea twice this week: Your Perfect Weekend and Sample Sales and Shopping Events!

Super!Market : There’s a new designers market in town! This promising boutique-style market will feature a curated selection of fashion, jewelry, and object designers, as well as snacks to nosh on while you explore. I’ve met the curators themselves, and they are very excited about this new venture at 268 Mulberry Street.

Sunday

Greenflea: If you’re heading uptown to Crafts on Columbus, then definitely cross the street and visit this treasure-filled neighborhood flea market! And the 79th Street Greenmarket is bunking with the Greenflea while Crafts On Columbus is taking place, so you can pick up some apples and kale for the week ahead!

New Amsterdam Market: Get tickets for this weekend’s Hard Cider Revival! Plus the lush fall bounty of regional food purveyors. This regional food market is fantastic year-round, but there is something extra special about it in the fall. Come see what I mean!

What are your market plans for the weekend?

Weekend Market Picks, October 8-9, 2011 and Metropolis Soap Company on Kickstarter!

This weekend weather is going to be gorgeous, which is lucky because there are many wonderful fall events going on in the city’s artisan, farmer, food and flea markets!

And let’s support our awesome friends at Metropolis Soap Company! They only have a couple more days to meet their goals for their Kickstarter Project! I love their vegan soaps because they smell wonderful, they come in such a great variety of scents, and my skin loves them. And I love this project because it a true market-based story. Not only do the markets of New York and around the world offer a wealth of experiences and products for us shoppers, they are are also tremendous incubators for new businesses. Metropolis is raising funds to cover the fees for the world-renowned New York Gift Fair early next year, which could really take their business to the next level. It is an important project and an inspiration to other aspiring artisan businesses! So please make a contribution share the link, and show some soapy love!

Saturday and Sunday, October 8-9, 2011

ID Pop Shop: As I’ve said before, this group of independent designers have come together for a full week at Chelsea Market to offer their fine work to smart pre-holiday shoppers! Come for design, come for gifts, come for inspiration. You’ll be glad you did! The market runs through Monday, October 11.

Park Slope Flea Market at PS 321: Enhance your visit to 7th Ave. and the Greenmarket by popping over to this quiet, lovely flea market between 1st and 2nd Streets. It is a long-established market, so if you are neighbor passing by every weekend, take some time to stop in and browse the tables. I’ve found some great clothing, vintage laces, old books and ephemera, and so much more!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket: I love this market because it is so full of energy, community, families, and nice dogs. And awesome famers too! And today, the Edible Brooklyn editors will be at the info tent signing copies of their gorgeous new Edible Brooklyn: The Cookbook, featuring recipes from local restaurants and a delicious food demo.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Astoria Market: The Astoria Market is well into its second year, featuring emerging artisans and designers from Queens. I always meet inspiring people making amazing things at this market. It also has a relaxed vibe, which is great for looking carefully at the items on each table. This Sunday is Oktoberfest at the Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden too! Crafts and Beer? Yes, please!

Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market Food Truck: Fleas and Food! Now we’re talking! Sunday is the October Gourmet Food Truck Bazaar at the Hell’s Kitchen Flea (on 39th St. at 9th Ave.) These food truck gatherings are great for trying some of New York’s most innovative food on wheels, all in one place! This weekend’s event features Rickshaw Dumpling Truck, Kimchi Taco Truck, Gorilla Cheese Truck, Two Pitas in a Pod, and Kelvin Natural Slush.

Brooklyn Night Bazaar: A night market comes to NYC! Finally! The Brooklyn Night Bazaar will take place at the Dekalb Market on Sunday from 5PM till midnight. It will feature over 70 independent merchants and food vendors, music, art, a beer garden, and even petanque (the French love child of bowling, shuffleboard, and horse shoes). The weather is supposed to be great, so bring a big sweater and a cozy friend, and step into the Night Bazaar!

Photo of the Day – October 6, 2011: The Krampus by Gino Sartori

Beware of Krampus, by Gino Sartori at the Greenflea

Who is this devil of a fellow? He is Krampus. ‘Tis Krampus who visits naughty children over the holidays in Europe, while St. Nick is busy plying all the wussy good kids with shiny trains, fluffy bears and chocolate Santas.

Geno Sartori at the Greenflea makes what might just be the most beautiful, colorful, detailed pop-up greeting cards available, using whimsical, vintage German ephemera. His handmade cards feature intricate pop-up flowers, sweet cherubs, and even brides and grooms. His Easter collections have sweet pop-up chicks and bunnies.

And then there’s Krampus.

I’ve been averting my eyes from green-eyed, red-tongued Krampus on Geno’s table for several years now. And then one day my awesome, funky friend Cici Andersen, Editor in Chief of Bangstyle.com, could not resist the charms of Krampus and took him home to LA. I saw the scary face in a whole new light, and now I think he’s groovy. Still scary, but very groovy, baby.

Come see Geno’s wonderful greeting cards every Sunday at the Greenflea Market on the Upper West Side, across from the Natural History Museum. His tables are inside in the cafeteria section of the market.

Weekend Market Picks – October 1-2, 2011 + Over the Moon Jewel

We are headed into a wonderful weekend full of fantastic market events! Several annual events are going on this weekend and some into next week. Hopefully we’ll get some crisp autumn air this weekend and less hair-frizzing humidity!

I am very happy to feature a wonderful jewelry designer, Barbara Wilkinson of Over the Moon Jewel! Barbara has a true eye for color and composition, and her background in art is evident in her designs. She creates pieces for a diverse array of styles and tastes, using brightly colored semi-precious stones and delicate pearls, happy hoop earrings and yoga-inspired charms, sterling silver and gold tones. She also makes sexy jewelry for men. Barbara will be at the week-long ID Pop Shop III, which runs Monday, October 3 – Sunday, October 10th inside Chelsea Market. Definitely go meet her in person and check out her beautiful designs!

Saturday and Sunday

URGENT – GrowNYC Hurricane Donation Collection: GrowNYC is working in all boroughs with City Harvest, Regional Food Bank, and Move for Hunger this weekend and next to collect basic food and products for communities affected by Hurricane Irene. 10% of the Greenmarket system’s farmers have lost all of their crops for the seasaon, and they and their communities need our help. Go to GrowNYC.org to see which markets have collection sites and the basic food and personal products needed.

Crafts on Columbus: This is the second weekend of Crafts on Columbus, which takes place next to the Natural History Museum. The this semi-annual craft market is a great way to get a jump start on your holiday market shopping because there is such a rich variety of handmade crafts here. The market skips next weekend and then runs for one more weekend on October 15th and 16th. (Columbus Avenue between 77th and 81st Street)

Madison Square Eats: This pop-up food market is filled with delicious local food purveyors and Flatiron neighborhood restaurants serving up pizza, tacos, crepes, chocolate, cupcakes, beers, and more! Madison Square Eats runs through October 21. Bring your friends! (West side of Madison Square Park between Fifth Avenue and Broadway, and 24th and 25th Streets)

Pompeii Flea and Craft Market on Bleecker Street: This market started right after 9/11 as a tribute by local artists and neighbors in the Village to the spirit of New York City. Now it is a staple of Bleecker Street on the weekends. Stop and browse through vintage bakelite jewelry, dichroic glass and crocheted metal jewelry, and much more! (Bleecker Street between Carmine and Leroy next to Our Lady of Pompeii Church).

Sunday:

Atlantic Antic - This New York Street Fair sets the gold standard for New York street fairs. Far from the affairs that block traffic and annoy the natives, the Atlantic Antic incorporates the local businesses in four Brooklyn Neighborhoods and provides literally blocks and blocks of food, music, and shopping from unique local crafters and designers, and lots of things for kids (pony rides!!!). Bring your appetite, your friends, and your walking shoes to this annual event.

Starting Monday through Sunday, October 10:

ID Pop Shop III: This is the third event for this new group of independent designers. This week-long market features some of New York’s most innovative and talented designers in fashion and lingerie, jewelry and accessories, body products, and more. It is located inside Chelsea Market, so go do your shopping at the ID Pop Shop and then grab a delicious bite to eat from the shops throughout the food market. (Chelsea Market on 9th Ave and 15th Street)

YOU ARE INVITED! Please come to Chelsea Market Baskets on Saturday afternoon from 3-7PM! I will be doing a book signing and enjoying the Food Network’s Food and Wine Festival in the neighborhood!

And to my friends in Washington, DC: Do not miss Crafty Bastards on Saturday! And let me know what treasures you find!

Weekend Market Picks – September 24-25, 2011 + Bar Suzette

Nutella Banana Crepe from Bar Suzette at Madison Square Eats

This weekend is jam-packed with exciting market events! The annual London Terrace Street Fair is on Saturday, and I am positively GIDDY about the 25th Annual Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Flea Market and Grand Auction on Sunday I’ve been waiting an entire year for both events!

The mouthwatering image is a nutella and banana crepe from Bar Suzette at Madison Square Eats. This month-long local food market in the Flatiron District is back today, September 23 with more delicious, local savory and sweet treats. Plus beer!

Saturday and Sunday, September 24-25

Crafts on Columbus: This outdoor craft market features fine local and regional artisans on the sidewalk of Columbus Avenue from 77th to 812st Street along side of the Natural History Museum. It also runs October 1-2, and then again on October 15-16.

Saturday Only, September 24

London Terrace Street Fair: It’s time again for the fabulous, annual London Terrace Street fair on West 24th Street between 9th and 10th Avenues in Chelsea. Imagine hundreds of people in the historic London Terrace building emptying out their closets, and there you have an incredible yard sale. Local artisans and food vendors are in the street as well.

Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket: This large GrowNYC farmers market is holding a Pickle Party with Rick’s Picks on Saturday! Meet pickling master Rick Field in the info tent at 11 am as he shows how how to make his famous Smokra, pickled paprika okra!

Agora LIC Market: This Long Island City market is holding its fourth event of the year, featuring crafts, food, family fun, in St. Mary’s Lot, 10-31 49th Avenue, between Vernon Blvd. and Jackson Avenue. I haven’t been able to make it to this market yet, so I’m aiming to check it out this weekend!

Sunday, September 25

Astoria Market: This indoor craft market in Queens is back on Sunday at Bohemian Hall. Stroll among the tables filled with handmade jewerly, t-shirts, toys, and fine arts, and you’ll definitely find a treasure to take home with you!

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Flea Market and Grand Auction: Hooray!!! Broadway turns out her closets onto the Shubert Alley and West 44th Street! You may find props, costumes, souvenirs, and playbills galore. And bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences in the live and silent auctions, including a chance to conduct the orchestra for Phantom, an onstage appearance in Mama Mia, and a pre-show “flight call” of Spiderman. Check out all the auction items! Giddy, I tell you! And proceeds go to fight AIDS.

Fairway Market and 92nd Street Y Street Fair: A shout out to my friend Strongman Steve Weiner, who will be doing a strength performance at this family event on Lexington Avenue between 90th and 91st Streets. Steve is seriously strong. He can roll up frying pans, twist horse shoes into hearts, and rip phonebooks vertically with his bare hands. Oh – and combo lift 1000 lbs.

And one more shout out to market veterans Nina Valenti of Nature vs. Future fashion design and Jason Laurits of Paste Graphic T-Shirts, who are hosting an Open Studio sale of their unique, lovely products during the DUMBO Arts Festival on Saturday and Sunday starting at noon at 10 Jay Street, #500 in DUMBO.

Have a great weekend and wish for dry weather! A few clouds are good, but no more rain for a while!

Photo of the Day – September 20, 2011: Antique Locomotive Smoking Caddy ca. 1860

On weekdays, the cafeteria tables and benches at PS 87 are filled with kids eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. But on Sundays, when the Greenflea pitches its tents outside, the cafeteria tables become an antiques market, laden with vintage treasures.

Glittering in a corner of the cafeteria in aisle 4 is the antique silver collection from Slope Antiques. Proprietors Susan and Richard Kurtzman lay out a fine collection of urns, trays, serving items, baby items, and other objects. I first met them while writing Markets of New York City; a photo of a Gorham and Co. mesh bag is on page 47. Their collection of vintage Tiffany silver makes me quiver. And I am in love with their sugar spoons and tea service items.

This past Sunday, Mr. Kurtzman showed me one of his personal favorite pieces, a silver locomotive smoking caddy. Handmade in Germany circa 1860, this detailed, lovely piece has both artistic and practical and features. If you look at the photo, the little rings around the outside hold up to a dozen cigarettes for your guests to select from. The two larger pots in the center of the locomotive hold wooden matches, which can be lit by striking them along the wheels at the back. Alternatively, right in front of the miniature engineer is a tiny lamp with a wick that can be lit to fire up a cigarette, or even for ambiance. Mr. Kurtzman believes there used to be a blue glass plume of smoke coming out of the chimney, but it probably came off as this amazing piece of art and craftsmanship traveled through the past 150 years.

You really must go see this piece for yourself, including the tiny rivets, the axles, and the engineer at the back, with his jaunty hat and mustache. Slope Antiques is at the Greenflea every Sunday. Let me know if you would like to contact them directly, and I will make the introduction.

Weekend Market Picks – September 10 & 11, 2011

Fine painter Richard Stalter with a lovely evening fair scene, which now hangs in my living room!

I hope you had an awesome summer, dodging earthquakes, hurricanes and floods! If anyone can explain what’s going on with this crazy world, I’m all ears.

In all seriousness, I want to send my best wishes to everyone who has suffered damages with this crazy weather, especially our regional farmers. Some of them have been hit very hard. What we can do to help is a) shop at the Greenmarkets more than ever and b) contribute what you can to the GrowNYC Hurricane Irene Relief Fund.

And now for our weekend plans!

This Weekend’s Market Picks:

Saturday & Sunday:

Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit: This semi-annual art show is in its 81st year! Stroll through the outdoor fair and be amazed at the quality and talent of the diverse fine WSOAE artists and artisans along the bucolic Village sidewalks. The image above is painter Richard Stalter. The painting in his hands appears in Markets of New York City. It reminds me of the county fairs we used to go to back in the day. My husband secretly got it for me as a gift last year, and I love seeing it every day.

Nolita Market: Get to the Nolita Market this weekend (Friday too) because it is going to be on hiatus for the following two weekends (September 16th-18th and Sept 23rd-25th) to make way for the San Gennaro Festival. There are some true treasures in this market. P.S. If my friend Joseph Callari decides to sing some Sinatra at Puglia’s during the festival, I’ll let you know!

Saturday:

Any Greenmarket in the 5 Boroughs! There are almost 70 GrowNYC markets in town each week this season. And now is the time to support our local markets and enjoy the bounty of this region. The flooding has been very bad for many farms, probably worse than we even know. So if you can’t make it Saturday morning, visit the GrowNYC site and see where the markets are throughout the week and the five boroughs!

Sunday, September 11:

Dekalb Market: This market venue and shops are open all week long, but their Fashion’s Night Out festivities have been moved to Sunday! Open Bar, food tasting and art, with a fashion show featuring local designers 66 Blackbirds, Hank & JoJo, Rubyzaar, Little Poco, Honeysuckle + Hearts, Harriets by Hekima.

Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market & Food Truck Bazaar: They’re at it again, those fabulous Hell’s Kitchen Flea people! Not only do they run a fantastic flea market, with recently added handmade crafts from the {NewNew} Etsy Artisan Group, they also bring out a great herd of food trucks! Everything tastes better from a truck.

New Amsterdam Market: The market is back from two weeks of hiatus, partially planned and partially thanks to a certain hurricane. They’re kicking off the fall season as beautifully as ever with a wonderful lineup of purveyors.

To wrap up on some outstanding news, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation announced a $250,000 grant award to the New Amsterdam Market to “increase outreach and marketing to expand the Market’s customer base and attract new vendors to public market located in East River Market District.” I knew this year would start turning around soon!

Some Things to Amuse You While I Go Eat BonBons

Hi!

I’m taking a few late summer days off before the fall season starts. In my absence, I invite you to explore the postings on the site and read about the amazing people, places and things at the markets.

Please mark your calendar for this event next week:

Markets 2.0: The Resurgence of Traditional Markets in NYC:

Join us for this panel event at the New York Public Library Mid-Manhattan Branch featuring SuChin Pak of the Hester Street Fair and Robert LaValva of the New Amsterdam Market, moderated by yours truly. It’s going to be a fascinating look inside this wonderful movement in the city. Thursday, September 1 at 6:30 PM.

And now, here are a few things for you to amuse yourself with while I’m reading cookbooks and guidebooks on the sofa, and munching on peach ricotta crostini:

Earthquake Damage at SchoolHouse Kitchen in Brooklyn:

If you know their Anytime Spreadable Fruit, you understand the tragedy of this image.

100 Images: Markets of New York City

Featuring the people, products and events in the markets over the last year.

Saturday Afternoon at the Hester Street Fair

I love love love how this video captures the spirit of this wonderful market on the Lower East Side. Love the song too (Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side by the Magnetic Fields) – it’s on my “River Running” playlist.

This is just the funniest dog video. Poor sweet boy.

I think 56M of the 57M views are mine.

I’ll be back soon! In the meantime, let me know what you found and ate at the Markets of New York City!

~ Karen Seiger, Author, Blogger, Market Enthusiast

Weekend Market Picks – July 23-24, 2011!

The image above is by Naima Rauam, a fine artist known for her images of the old Fulton Fish Market. She keeps this institution alive through her watercolors. You can meet the artist in person every Sunday at the Fulton Stall Market.

Here are this weekend’s Market Picks!

Saturday and Sunday, July 23 and 24

Dekalb Market: This weekend marks the Grand Opening of the new Dekalb Market in Downtown Brooklyn! This market combines artisans, food entrepreneurs, and agriculture, along with music and educational events. It is made from upcycled shipping containers, and I cannot wait to see how it turned out!

Better Than Jam Pop Up on Governor’s Island: Bushwick’s Better Than Jam Coop is running this year’s Etsy artisans coop on Governor’s Island! Take the free ferry to the island, where you’ll find many of the local market artisans’ work in this historical home-turned-handmade-boutique.

Saturday, July 23

Abingdon Square Greenmarket: This farmers market feels neighborly and intimate as it wraps around the lovely park in the West Village. In fact, it actually has 16 farmers and food vendors during the peak season now! Go and enjoy this sweet market for yourself while it’s bursting with the ripest fruits of the season!

Sunday, July 24

Fulton Stall Market: The Fulton Stall Market is just such a great place to hang out in the shade, grab a snack, and have a snack and a chat. The vibe is laid back, and there’s a great variety of things to choose from, including produce, meats, and other staples, as well as frozen pops, coffee, and handmade crafts. They’re right across the street from the New Amsterdam Market, and it’s easy and lovely to stroll through both!

Greenflea: The Greenflea is great on a weekend like this one because there is a lot of shade among the vendor tents, and there are also vendors selling inside the school. So don’t let the heat deter you from visiting one of the best vintage and flea markets in town.

I think we all agree that it’s hot in New York City. So let’s move along and talk about what we’re going to do this weekend, shall we? For starters, we’re putting a bottle of water in the freezer tonight so that it will be frozen for tomorrow. We’ll pull it out in the morning, slather on the sun block, bust out our floppy sun hats, and heading to the markets!

Weekend Market Picks for July 16-17, 2011

I am thrilled to feature the wonderful array of products from SchoolHouse Kitchen! I first tried their jams, chutneys, mustards and vinaigrettes at the New Amsterdam Market, and I cannot get over the flavors and the combinations they use. My current favorite is Cherry Blackberry Sage & Clove Spreadable Fruit, which is equally delicious on toast as it is as a marinade for chicken. They just brought out two new vinaigrettes that got rave reviews at the Fancy Food Show in DC last weekend: Poppyseed Vinaigrette Revival and the Coconut Citrus Vinaigrette. Yes, you read it right! They give a percentage of their proceeds to education charities, and all the products are made with high quality, natural ingredients. I have taken their motto to heart: Eat well, eat in moderation, and be adventurous.

And now for this weekend’s Market Picks for everyone who is staying in town this weekend of visiting New York City from far and wide:

Saturday & Sunday

Antiques Garage and the Annex: These two markets are located across 6th Avenue from each other, and it’s worth it to stroll through both locations. The Garage has two floors of diverse vintage and antique items, from books and prints to clothing and ship memborabilia, and everything in between. You know you love digging for treasures, and you should spend some time at the Annex – clothing, jewelry, records, and vintage everything. Manhattan

Essex Street Market: If you haven’t gone shopping at the Essex Street Market, go this weekend. And bring a tote bag! This market opened in 1940 when Mayor LaGuardia got all the street vendors off the street and into new market buildings. Today, you can find cheese, fish, meats, coffee, pastries, bread, handmade chocolates, and much more! Manhattan

Park Slope Flea Market: Have you been walking past this market for years, take the time to go inside and see all the wonderful things there. The Park Slope Flea is a classic flea market, with vintage clothing, homewares, furniture, and even artwork and sweet bonsai trees. Brooklyn

Saturday

Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket: The Grand Army Plaza Market is the largest one in Brooklyn, akin to the Union Square Greenmarket in size and variety of foods sold. But it’s a lot more laid back, with families, joggers from the park, and people strolling with their dogs, all browsing through the produce, bread, fish, and more. GrowNYC has textile recycling and compost collection every weekend too! It’s also a short walk from the Park Slope Flea! Brooklyn

Sunday

Greenflea: The Greenflea is back on the Picks List because it’s just so great. There are some amazing vendors there, including vintage, fleas, jewelry of all kinds, delicious market food, furniture, and this guy (Scott Jordan). Wander around the outdoor market, and then visit the vintage vendors inside the school cafeteria. Manhattan

It’s going to be a wonderful weekend, so head out to the markets and let us know what you bought and what you ate! And don’t forget to pick up something delicious from SchoolHouse Kitchen on Saturday at Smorgasburg and Sunday at the New Amsterdam Market!