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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRP 09-36; Whistle Stop Flea Market; Redevelopment Permits (RP) (3)9-^^^ 7d cnc4>-n7;-nQ/ fle WORLD'S BEST ets Sure, you can learn a lot about a destination by touring its museums and visiting its landmarks. But to find the heart of a place, spend a few hours at one of its flea markets. We picked the top five spots in the U.S. to get in on the action, plus 20 more worldwide. BY GIGI GUERRA For n years, folks like Andrew Marian! and Fanny Singer, from Sonoma, have come to California's Alameda Point Antiques & Collectibles Faire, for art and design objects ome of my greatest travel memories are about exploring the local markets—digging through the goods, chatting with vendors, feeling my way through the nuances ot a spirited negotiation. Each time, I walk away with an earful of native lore and insider info—on top of armfuls of awesome finds. Once, I picked up a pair of swingy silver earrings at a market in Uruguay and simultane- ously bagged a tip for the best spot to dance to candombe music, some- thing the seller insisted I do while wearing my newpurchase. It was just the kind of authentic encounter I'd never have found in a shop on the main drag. Each of these 25 markets will leave you with that same richness of experience—as well as heaps of quality souvenirs. Who needs another plastic snow globe, anyway? particularly leafy stretch of the ^five-state saie, .^leaoCovington, Ky 127 Corridor Sale WHERE & WHEN: From West Unity, Ohio, to Gadsden, Ala.; first weel<end in Aug. WHAT: For sheer variety, nothing tops the World's Longest Yard Sale, a bargain- hunter's paradise that meanders along 654 miles of scenic rural highway. Seasoned dealers in formal tents as well as locals unloading the contents of their attics set up shop roadside, hawking crocheted table linens, boxes of fishing lures, weathered iron bed frames, and garden statuary. There isn't one stretch of road that's consistently the best, so let regional attractions narrow your focus: In Tennessee alone, you can stay the night in a tepee or a log cabin and make a pit stop to pick wild blueberries at Pickett State Park. 127sale.com. BEST SHOT AT A BARGAIN: At a sale this vast, it's simply all about persistence. 58 Budget Travel BudgetTravel.com To allow for easier browsing, most of Brimfield's 21 fields are housed in large tents, arranged in a row beside a mile- long stretch of road Brimfield Antique & Flea Market Shows WHERE & WHEN: Brimfield, Mass.; six consecutive days each in mid-May, July, and September WHAT: A local auctioneer, Gordon Reid, started this outdoor market, now the country's largest, on a somewhat humbler stage back in 1959: his own backyard. Now, more thain 1 million visitors flood in every year to shop the peerless selection of affordable New England collectibles (weather vanes, decoys, and Nantucket baskets) and maritime accoutrements (brass lamps and ships' wheels) spread across more than 20 "fields" on either side of the town's main road, each containing hundreds of vendors. Three of the best fields are Dealer's Choice, known for its quality rustic furniture; Heart-O-The Mart, favored for hobnail glass- ware and intact grain sacks; and J&J Auction Acres, flush with high-end items like colonial cherrywood chests and convex mirrors. Even the food has a regional bent: Try the generously sized $10 lobster rolls, the fresh-popped kettle corn, and the Pilgrim Sandwich, a supersoft roll layered with roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mayo, brimfield.com. BEST SHOT AT A BARGAIN: The slower July and September markets may yield better deals than the crowded May outing, which serves as the region's antiquing-season opener. GIGl'S FIND "Hove how this portable radio is part gadget, part accessory: It swings closed into a ring shape you can carry around like a purse as it plays. I got it years ago at Brimfield for $15." September 2009 Budget Travel 59 Classic Americal highlight at this Midwl powerhouse of a market; ambitious shoppers can pay a small fee (usually about $10) to enter early and start staking claims Springfield Antique Show & Flea Market WHERE & WHEN: Springfield, Ohio; one week- end each month, excluding February and July. WHAT: Over the course of its quarter-century run, this busy market held on a county fairground has won a reputation as the heart- land's go-to source for all things folky and primitive, such as old metal pails, Shaker boxes, cross-stitched samplers, and calico quilts. Farmhouse antiques, like blanket chests, milk-paint cupboards, and sturdy rock- ing chairs also figure promi- nently, as do well-preserved dishware and tabletop items. During each year's three supersize Extravaganzas—in May, June, and September— the number of vendors swells to more than 2,500, some operating out of cattle barns and poultry houses. Visit the market's online discussion forum to connect with sellers, preview goods, and even post wish lists. springfieldantiqueshow.com. BEST SHOT AT A BARGAIN: Go in September, when dealers are trying to liquidate their stock for the winter 60 Budget Travel BudgetTravel.com Keisi Ammon, left, is one of a pool of vendors that changes weekly at the Brooklyn Flea. Founder Eric Demby always curates an interesting lineup—and posts regular updates on the market's blog Brooklyn Flea WHERE & WHEN: Brooklyn; Saturdays from mid-April through Thanksgiving. WHAT: In less than two years, this sale in a Brooklyn schoolyard has attracted a large enough following to justify a second location and seasonal spin-off events. Shoppers come for the mix of vintage clothing and jewelry, architectural salvage, and decorative objects like modernist table lamps and metal desk fans dating from the early to mid-1900s. Alongside the secondhand-goods sellers, you'll find booths from local designers of reclaimed-wood furniture, handmade shoes, and more. The food stands are just as diverse: Celebrated taco vendors, cheesemongers, and bakers all make weekly appearances, brooklynflea.com. BEST SHOT AT A BARGAIN: Many of the antiques vendors are willing to cut deals on their merchandise, but the proprietors of new goods tend to keep their prices firm. GIGl'S FINO "I bought this desk calendar for $30 at the Brooklyn Rea from one of my favorite sellers, Three Potato Four; the oumers come up from Virginia every couple of months to seU. Their stuff is the best- sort ofa happy- industrial meets old-school- classroom vibe." September 2009 Budget Travel 61 Above: A browser examines biological prints at Alameda Point. Right: Wheeled carts near the market's entrance are a boon to serious shoppers GIGl'S FIND "I grew up in Tkcas, where learning to play dominoes is a rite of passage. I've been collecting vintage sets fivm various flea markets over the years, including this one from Alameda Point." The Alameda Point Antiques & Collectibles Faire WHERE & WHEN Alameda, Calif.; first Sunday of each month. WHAT: The San Francisco skyline and the hills of Marin County serve as a cinematic back- drop for this 800-plus-vendor market on the main runway of a decommissioned naval base on San Francisco Bay. Organizers enforce a 20-year-minimum age rule for sale items, which guarantees you'll be shopping for real-deal relics (like French travel posters, Hollywood movie memorabilia, and early-20th-century Japanese pottery), not tables of tube socks and cheap electronics. The layout is clear and intuitive, with long, evenly spaced rows arranged in a grid; thoughtful touches like pushcarts for hauling heavy purchases, a porcelain-repair kiosk, and free parking with a shuttle service add to the appeal. There's even a handy printable map on the market's website, antiquesbybay.com. BEST SHOT AT A BARGAIN: Fewer sellers turn out from January through March, but those who do are often more eager to negotiate. SHOP EVERY MARKET LIKE A PRO ESTABLISH A GOAL Is getting first crack at the merchandise or paying the lowest price your priority? If you're aiming for both, hit the market when it opens and take stock of what you want; then return a couple of hours before closing, when sellers are most willing to barter. BRING YOUR SINGLES A healthy stash of small bills is essential—it pro- vides instant bargaining leverage ("Oh, I don't have a twenty, but here's a ten and a few ones"). Split the bills between two wallets, keeping one hidden so you always appear to be running out of cash. BUY IN BULK Another surefire cost- cutting tactic is to snap up multiple objects from one person—the more you buy, the better your chances of saving. Respectfully hem and haw over each item; vendors can quickly provide reassurance by lowering the price. DECIDE ON DELIVERY Finally, make sure you have a solid plan to get all of your purchases home. Airlines have varying size and weight limitations, so keep a list of shipping companies handy. Internationally, we recommend DHL for timeliness and reliability (dhl.com). 62 Budget Travel BudgetTravel.com Global Flea Finder No matter where you go in the world, there's a local market waiting to wow you. Here are our top picks in 20 cities across the planet. ATHENS Monastiraki Market No Sunday in Athens is complete without a stroll through the nar- row passageways of Monastiraki, where you can dig through piles of old coins and hand- painted icons—all with the Acropolis in view. BEIJING Panjiayuan Market The doors open at 4:30 A.M. at the chaotic weekend version of this daily bazaar, with more than 3,000 stalls displaying jade jewelry, ceramic teapots, and Mao posters. BERLIN Arkonaplatz The stately canvas-and- wood stalls lining this square each Sunday house an assortment of melamine tableware, textiles with geometric patterns, and glazed mid-century stoneware. BRUSSELS Sablon Antiques Market Prices don't skew cheap on the well-preserved lacework, crystal, and hotel silver in this quaint, orderly week- end market, but great quality is the payoff. BUENOS AIRES San Telmo Market Many of the embroi- dered textiles, estate jewelry, and chandeliers at this Sunday market in the city's tango district were brought over by the waves of Italians who immigrated to Argentina in the past 150 years. BUSTEHRAD, CZECH REPUBLIC Collector's Market An insiders' secret even among Europeans, this informal twice-monthly market—sellers often showcase goods in the trunks of their cars—is a standout source for Eastern European arti- facts like perestroika- era memorabilia. CAIRO Khan ei-Khalili Since the late 1300s, these dusty stone corri- dors have hosted an array of merchants with finely honed specialties: copperware, gold jew- elry, and carpets, in par- ticular. Now, new pieces mix in with antiques. CAPE TOWN Church Street Antiques Market This daily (except Sundays) market sells a wealth of small items like porcelain jewelry boxes, old postcards, and sailing maps. COPENHAGEN Bella Center Loppemarked Surprisingly affordable mid-century modern furniture and decor from the likes of Aalto, Wegner, and Saarinen fills this convention center's halls every March and August. LILLE. FRANCE La Grande Braderie de Lille Legend has it that this September event was once a forum in the Mid- dle Ages for the servant class to sell objects cast off by their employers; today, residents crowd the streets from a Saturday afternoon until midnight Sunday to unload their own Breton crocheted linens and ceramic mustard pots. LISBON Feira da Ladra Known as the "Thieves' Market," it dates back to the 12th century, when stolen goods made up the bulk of the stock; today's (legit) merchandise, set out Tuesdays and Satur- days, includes old cam- eras, stamp collections, leather-bound books, and transistor radios. LONDON Portobello Road Market The more than 1,000 dealers snaking up Notting Hill's main thoroughfare every Saturday are (unoffi- cially) divided by theme: Upper end for furniture and household wares and the lower for clothing and jewelry. MEXICO CITY La Laguniila Cuban antiques and centuries-old religious relics can be snapped up for practically nothing at this 500- year-old Sunday market that is, inexplicably, still under the radar for most out-of-towners. MILAN Navigiio Grande Antiques Market On the last Sunday of each month but July, sellers line this mile- long canal-side stretch with pristine vintage clothing and acces- sories, from designer bags to leather gloves. MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY Tristan Narvaja Beneath the chaos of this Sunday event (think caged tarantulas and blaring music) lies order: Each corridor has a distinct specialty, like records, used books, or leather goods—three of the market's strengths. MOSCOW Izmailovsky Market The hokey onion- domed facades on this suburban weekend market belie the gen- uine treasures you'll find here. Look for nest- ing matryoshka dolls, Soviet military regalia, and handmade Central Asian suzanis and rugs. NOTTING- HAMSHIRE, ENGLAND Newark International Antiques and Collectors Fair At the European equiva- lent of Brimfield, nearly 4,000 dealers gather six times a year on 84 acres in the British country- side, selling Victorian- and Edwardian-era items like parlor lamps and onyx jewelry. PARIS Porte de Vanves Less touristy and much more affordable than the famous Clignancourt market, this weekend affair is stocked with choice tabletop pieces (like Pernod carafes and bistro ashtrays) worth digging for SAO PAULO Praca Benedito Calixto Founded in 1987 by artists looking to sell their work, the Satur- day Praca Benedito Calixto market has evolved to comprise an even split of the new and the old; delicately fashioned porcelain dishware sits next to piles of retired metal store signs. TOKYO Togo Shrine Antique Market Arrive early at this first- Sunday-of-the-month gathering to have your pick of wooden kokeshi dolls, old sake sets, and exquisite kimonos, all laid out on colorful mats on the grounds of a Togo shrine, ta GIGl'S FIND IJi'llforlhc Jim iiispii-fd unit ij'ol'lliis //ATn.s hciuird rhilcli iiji'ir //('fj/'.s hue!,' Ill llll' Sahlmi ni(ii1:(i in /)'/ M.s'.s'('/.s. // irii.s 11 hdiiidiii aism" GIGl'S FIND "Tlifsr jildsS' mill phi.'^lic l>liiin)Hiri'iil Icul rials ClinicJ'l'nni I.n l.nfjnniiln niin1:cl in Mc.i icn ( 'il l! IJnsI lured llic colar nnd sl I'nnijc nii.rl lire oJ' nnderinls. 11 Ili id: 11 III id yo fnr Uie set of five." HOW TO FIND THEM It would have taken a whote page to tell you how to reach each of these far-flung markets. For location information, go to our online address book at BudgetTravei.com.