Kate Glicksberg/Brooklyn Flea
DCL
"New merchandise is the cancer of flea markets." Joel Kaufmann?who ran the late, great Canal St. Flea Market in New York City where I sold vintage clothes in the early '80s?saw the writing on the wall. A quarter-century after Joel first made his prediction in my book Flea Market America , a virulent tube-sock strain of cheap wholesale goods has transformed far too many fleas from ad hoc recycling stations into outdoor Wal-Marts. And where's the fun (and the green) in that?
Fortunately, there are exceptions. Canny shoppers can still unearth relics and rescue cool old stuff from landfill at America's Top 5 markets, which remain true to their trash-and-treasure roots. These best-of-breed fleas also offer more than just recession-busting bargains. Whether they're ma-and-pa operations or big kahunas, they nurture a real sense of community within a thriving underground economy as diverse as America itself.
Brooklyn Flea , Brooklyn, NY
On the scene just over a year, Brooklyn Flea is everything a flea market ought to be: an affordable shopping adventure that's both a vibrant community hub and a great place to find good scores. Eco-chic fashion designers, reclaimed-wood furniture makers and other creative artisans share space with vintage and antique dealers and flea-for-all garage salers. Foodies flock here for the lobster rolls, artisanal grilled cheese sandwiches, flaky empanadas and other local treats. An instant hit with New Yorkers from all five boroughs, the Flea's expanded from its original Saturday market in Fort Greene to a Sunday market held under the Brooklyn Bridge. Founded by the team behind Brownstoner.com, Brooklyn Flea also takes top honors for its lively blog, where you can catch fresh-baked slide shows and vendor interviews.
Fort Greene Flea: Every Saturday from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. Brooklyn Bridge Flea: Every Sunday from 11 a.m. -6 p.m. Free admission.
Rose Bowl Flea Market , Pasadena, CA
Small is beautiful but size matters, too. Not for the faint-hearted (or directionally-challenged), this monthly mega-market offers a vast expanse of recycled merch, with 2,500+ vendors hawking everything from high end antiques to garage sale stuff. When I sold here back in the '70s, I scored a slew of cheap-chic finds I resold (at a hefty markup) later that day when the hordes arrived. If you're a serious shopper, get there early, and I do mean early; this sucker opens at 5 a.m. Pack a flashlight and study the map before you arrive; a fork separates the pricey antiques and collectibles from a motherlode of junk, where dig-and-delvers will be rewarded with bargains. Maintain a brisk pace (think L.A. freeway) and keep your eyes on the merch instead of the celeb shoppers (Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer and John Malkovich are regulars). But do take a moment to enjoy the panoramic views that frame the famous Bowl.
Second Saturday of every month, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Regular admission $8. Early bird previews from 5 a.m?7 a.m. ($20); 7 a.m. ? 8 a.m. ($15); and 8 a.m.?9 a.m. ($10).
Mower's Saturday Market , Woodstock, NY
Set amid a picturesque, tree-lined meadow just down the street from Woodstock's Village Green, Mower's may be the only market in America with its own drum circle. Proprietors John and Janine Mower pride themselves on an eclectic selection of merch from "antiques to zebras, from zithers to artwork" and pretty much deliver on that promise. Tarot card readers conjure the future while garage salers and vintage dealers recycle the near and distant past. Wares from Woodstock's fabled crafters abound. So do artisanal foods, from Amish pickles to gourmet veggie hotdogs (which shoppers scarf in weekly contests). Musicians both famous and obscure set up to play a stone's throw away from Levon Helm's digs. And you gotta love a market that offers both Free Hugs and a table of West Pointers selling raffle tickets to the Army-Navy game. Get a taste of the action at the Woodstock Fleamarket blog.
Every Saturday & Sunday from mid-May through November, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mower's also stages a Wednesday market from June through September. Free admission.
First Monday Trade Days, Canton, TX
Everything's bigger in Texas, which boasts the world's largest outdoor market. Spread over a ranch-size domain of more than 100 acres, Canton's historic market dates back to frontier times, when people traded animals and produce while waiting for the judge to see them on First Monday court days. These days, 3,000+ dealers gather to sell their wares from Thursday to Sunday before the first Monday of every month, drawing more than 300,000 visitors. Antiques, collectibles and handcrafts predominate, but you'll also find good deals on vintage clothes (especially Western wear) and all kinds of household stuff. This self-contained community has an RV park, restrooms with showers and a wheelchair-accessible civic center where the pricier dealers set up shop. A special guide is printed for each market event, and you'd be well-advised to buy it; this much merch can daunt even the hardiest shoppers, so don't even try to see it all. Take your time, and stop and smell the local color. This being Texas, there's plenty of that around, too.
Thursday through Sunday before the first Monday of every month, dawn to dusk. Free admission.
Georgetown Flea Market, Washington, D.C.
Just before Barack Obama won the White House, the Georgetown Flea Market made a little history of its own when it returned to its old stomping grounds after several years of exile in Arlington, VA. Affectionately known as the G-Town Flea, D.C.'s longest-running outdoor market served as the setting for Larry McMurtry's Cadillac Jack and colorful characters still abound. Beltway bohos, politicos and off-duty Supreme Court justices vie for bargains on antique armoires, while the wives of visiting diplomats go straight for the costume jewelry. Farm-fresh produce and artisanal foods round out the menu at a market with its own earth-friendly platform. Says G-Flea founder Michael Sussman: "Today, with the economy and the environment in such trouble, the market remains the perfect place to find a bargain and save the planet. Go green! Buy antiques."
Every Sunday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission.
