Hell’s Kitchen Flea » Markets of New York

Revving up for 2012 Plus Market Picks For A Cold Wet Weekend!!

Pantera Azul - Not Your Average Mouse Pad

Hi Everyone!

It was an incredible holiday season at the markets! There were almost 50 market events throughout the city, and they were all filled with festive shoppers. I took a little hiatus to rest a bit, catch up on business, and write a couple of book proposals (more on that coming soon). The photo is my co-author Pantera Azul. Not your usual mouse pad, but much warmer and fuzzier.

I want to thank every single person who bought their holiday gifts in the markets. You have supported local artisan entrepreneurs and helped make sure that the creative community that is so important to the culture of New York City can continue to thrive for another year. And I’d be prepared to wager that your gifts were the best ones under the tree this year! Mine always are.

And I want to thank all the markets and market sellers who make my weekends so incredibly fun and inspiring! I’ve been visiting markets almost every weekend for the last three years, and I still find things that blow me away all the time. I can’t wait to see what 2012 has in store for this blogger!

This weekend there are several great market events going on:

Indoors:

Antiques Garage (Saturday & Sunday)
Artists & Fleas (Saturday & Sunday)
Brooklyn Flea (Saturday & Sunday)
The Market NYC (Saturday & Sunday)
Smorgasbrewery (Sunday only )
SUPER!market (Saturday only)

Outdoors (watch the weather and check the sites for updates):

Hell’s Kitchen Flea (Saturday & Sunday)
West 25th Street Market (Saturday & Sunday)

And of course, your year-round food markets:

Even though the weather looks bad this weekend, there are plenty of wonderful things to do in the Markets of New York City!

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!

Weekend Market Picks — And Yona’s Gourmet Delights!

Yona's Gourmet Delights Provides the Perfect Snacks for Market Shoppers

I’ve been munching on Yona’s Gourmet Delights for several years now. It never ceases to delight me to find Yona’s delicious borekas and mini-quiches at a market. You can purchase a bag of three, and they make for the perfect snack. Her tables are always my first stop at the Greenflea, and recently saw Yona herself at the 9th Avenue Food Festival with Oreo Cookie Cake, Strawberry Shortcake, and Carrot Cakes. Gigantic and sweet – just the way I like my cakes!

Here are my Market Picks for this weekend – June 11-12, 2011:

Saturday and Sunday

Renegade Craft Fair: The Renegade is like heaven on earth for hand made craft lovers. From the most whimsical to the finest design, every artisan at this event is seriously dedicated and talented. This is a juried event, and it is highly competitive to get accepted into. So trust me when I tell you to set a budget for the day, even though I know you will exceed it with no regrets.

Crafts at Lincoln Center: This wonderful outdoor American crafts show runs this weekend and next. 400 juried craftspeople from around the country bring their handmade treasures to Lincoln Center. The event features continuous entertainment, craft demonstrations, exotic and natural foods. And if you’re driving into the city, you can get a $2 discount coupon for parking in the nearby indoor garage.

Saturday Only

Artisan Market at Fort Greene Park: This sweet market features local artisans who are there in the shade of the black walnut trees outside Fort Greene Park, bringing their work directly to you. It is in its 7th year, and it continues to provide a venue for some remarkable designers, from ceramics, fine clothing designs and hats to handmade soaps and children’s toys. I’ve seen some remarkable products in this sweet market.

Fort Green Greenmarket: I always tune into the happy vibe at this farmers market. It is a distinct and unique feeling based on the great relationships between the market vendors and the community, who find true value and pleasure underneath the market tents. Neighbors stop by for fresh juice and a muffin after a run in the park, or they’ll bring their kids to pick up produce for the week. So go to the Artisan Market and pick up some delicious fresh treats at the Greenmarket just up the hill.

Sunday Only

Hell’s Kitchen Flea Food Truck Bazaar: Don’t have time to chase your favorite trucks around the city? Then come to this one-stop food truck shop for all your favorite treats! Kimchi Taco Truck, Rickshaw Dumpling Truck, Kelvin Natural Slush Truck, and The Cavity Shoppe, as well as the HKFM debuts of Coolhaus, Red Hook Lobster Pound Truck and Two Pitas in a Pod!

Hester Street Fair’s Sunday Summer Picnic: The Hester Street Fair is devoting Sundays to special food events, and this weekend is the first one! They invited over 20 food purveyors because of their picnicky food. How awesome is that? The idea is to come, grab a bite of something delicious, grab a seat, and chat with your neighbors. You can play ping pong and enjoy live music too. Can’t think of a nicer way to spend a Sunday!

Enjoy the weekend! And don’t forget your sunscreen!

Market Events This Halloween Weekend

It’s Halloween weekend! You can go to any artisan, farmer, food, or flea market in town and find a Halloween Wonderland. Here are a few highlights:

TONIGHT, Friday, 10/29

This is the last weekend to hang out at the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck for the season! Go to their party tonight to say so long to the Salty Pimp. 7pm-9pm, outside Destination Bar (13th and Avenue A; map).

Saturday 10/30

Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket: It’s a Pumpkin Carving Contest! Bring your carved pumpkin to the market by 10AM for the judging by a select and discerning group of market farmers. You could win a bag of market goodies!!

Saturday and Sunday, 10/30 – 10/31/2010

Brooklyn Flea: Val & Andy of Kings County Salvage are giving away a free pumpkin direct from Pennsylvania with your flea purchase this weekend! Ft. Greene on Saturdays, One Hanson on Sundays.

Chelsea Market: We stopped by Chelsea Market this morning to check out their fun, artistic, and super creepy decorations (see photos). The unbelievable pumpkins carved by Hugh McMahon are back this year, better than ever! Check out the 500 lb beauty. They’re holding their family event, Chelsea Market Mash this weekend. Music and lots of fun things for kids. 2PM – 5PM, Saturday and Sunday.

Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market: If you are in need of a killer Halloween costume, then hightail it over to the Hell’s Kitchen Flea. They’re ready for you: platform shoes, retro clothes, tons of accessories, and antique eyeless babydolls. I once saw what looked like a human skull there, but that’s a story for another day. 9AM – 6PM, Saturday and Sunday.

Hester Street Fair: Not just Boo, but Boo Hoo! It’s the last weekend of the season for the Hester Street Fair! If you couldn’t squeeze yourself into the Grub Street Festival, lots of those same food vendors will be there again this weekend. So munch away and then bring the kids to the Seward Park Cooperative’s Grand Halloween Carnival. 10AM – 6PM, Saturday and Sunday.

Sunday, October 31

New Amsterdam Market: Another gorgeous weekend planned at the New Amsterdam Market! Halloween harvest, jam making workshop, and wild foragers at the market this weekend. Have some apple cider and the first pumpkin pie of the season. 11am-4pm at the historic Fulton Fish Market. Rain or Shine.

I’m working on my groovy ’70’s gogo outfit, starring the most awesome circle dress by Sohung Designs at the Young Designers Market, gigantic hoop earrings, and loads of love beads. What is your Halloween costume?

Market Events and Highlights This Weekend

Looking for the perfect thing to do on a cool fall weekend? Visiting New York and want to see something really special? In addition to the amazing weekend markets, including the Brooklyn Flea, the Brooklyn Indie Market, the Hell’s Kitchen Flea, all the Greenmarkets and so many more, I highly recommend these events for shoppers, foodies, and explorers alike!

Saturday, October 16:

Crafts in Chelsea: The {NewNew} Artisan Group is taking over the bucolic block of 21st Street between 8^th & 9^th Avenues in Chelsea to bring their beautiful, innovative, and incredibly diverse designs to the street. Not to be missed! Saturday, 9AM – 5PM.

Grub Street Food Festival at the Hester Street Fair: Normally, Grub Street is virtual wonderland of food, leaving you drooling on your keyboard. But this weekend, Grub Street comes out in 3D!! Maybe even 4D, based on the amazing lineup of delicious local food purveyors. Sponsored by Grub Street, Hester Street, and New York Magazine. Foodies – get there early! 10AM – 6PM

Special Grub Shout Out: Brooklyn’s own Anton Nocito, also known as P&H Soda & Syrup, is raising $18,000 IndieGoGo.com in one month to launch his soda and syrups business in a big way. P&H sodas are made from local ingredients where possible, as well as organic or fair trade fruits, sugar and spices. Even Mayor Bloomberg would approve! Please click through and make a contribution to his project! Meet Anton at the festival and be a part of this awesome fizz!

Madison Square Market: This market is so lovely, with a wonderful variety of fine handmade designs and some of the best food in town, including great stuff for kids! And this Saturday is the Madison Square Park Kids Fall Festival! It’s a perfect family day in the park! The Madison Square Market runs daily 11AM – 8PM through 10/23.

Sunday, October 17:

Pickle Day: Sunday is the 10^th Annual NYC International Pickle Day! Held on Broome St. at Essex in the Lower East Side, it feature some of the greatest pickle, kimmchi, cheese, and other food vendors from all of the markets around the city – and a whole lot more! I recently had Ronnie Sue’s Dark Chocolates Pickle Bonbon. Seriously. If you love pickles, you will LOVE that bonbon.

The New Amsterdam Market: I am so happy that the market has become a weekly event. In addition to all the bounty from the fall harvest, Good Food Jobs is going to be at the market.

If you have a great event not listed, post it here as a comment!

See you at the markets!

Photo of the Day – July 21, 2010: Store With No Walls

Shiny clutch from Store With No Walls at the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market

Whether you are looking for a fabulous vintage designer dress and Ferragamo shoes, or a striking hat and a matching sparkly handbag, your first stop simply has to be Store With No Walls at the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market. This boutique en plein air is filled with carefully collected items, and proprietors Anthony and Janet will help you find the perfect pieces for you. I have seen everything from a Christian Dior trench coat to a fine selection of suits and sparkly dresses, as well as unique vintage purses, clutches, and jewelry. They have long-time celebrity clients, and stylists come by all the time for inspiration. Anthony and Janet select quality items and price them to sell.

As Janet says, “We will always have something here for you, whether you’re from Park Avenue or a park bench!”

Come to the Hell’s Kitchen Flea this Sunday, and I’ll be there to point you towards the vintage treasures at Store With No Walls!

Hell’s Kitchen Flea: West 39th St. between 9th and 10th Avenue, 9AM – 6PM Saturdays and Sundays

Photo of the Day – July 10, 2010: Hobbit Rare Books and Prints

Beautiful Prints from Hobbit Rare Books and Prints at the Antiques Garage

Looking for prints of ducks or quail to decorate your Hamptons library? Or Victorian images of palm trees to enhance the walls of your tiny apartment in the city? You need only go up to the second floor of the Antiques Garage to find multiple tables strewn with hundreds of old prints and books from Hobbit Rare Books and Prints. The subject matter is practically infinite, from birds and animals, to plants and palm trees, to architecture and history. Proprietor Arby Rolband is extremely knowledgeable about his collection, and he can help you find exactly what you seek. On occasion, he will bring a collection of rare artworks to the Garage, complete with history and provenance. He is also a font of stories about this particular market and the cast of characters that have wander through over the years.

Come and explore this wonderful antiques and flea market today — it is the perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon. I will be signing books here today from 12 -3 at West 25th Street between Broadway and 6th Ave.