When in New York

WORDS & PHOTOS Megan Smith, www.dressedbystyle.com


There’s no denying that, when it comes to weekend hangouts, markets are the new malls. Now if there’s one market in the world worth dropping by, it would have to be the Brooklyn Flea in New York – arguably the original bazaar of cool.

Founded in April 2008, the New York City Brooklyn Flea has become one of the best reasons to leave Manhattan and cross the river. Hundreds of vendors curate a medley of intriguing items, ranging from vintage clothing and antique furniture, to household bric-a-brac, which might or might not have been raided from grandma’s basement. Keeping company with this fleamarket fusion is some first-rate arts, crafts, and jewellery artisans selling edgy, urban wares.

With such a diverse group of stands selling everything from checked bowties and vinyl records to retro suitcases crammed with vintage hangers, antler horns and old faded postcards of characteristic New York scenes, the Brooklyn Flea has become a neighbourhood institution. During the warmer months, the market takes place outdoors on an old basketball court in Fort Greene but during the colder, winter months it moves indoors to a cosier venue in Williamsburg, a nearby neighbourhood.

After touring the tables, quench your thirst with a homemade iced watermelon drink at the food bonanza bordering the market zone. With a selected group of food vendors selling a variety of treats, market-hungry visitors can choose from a smorgasbord of snacks, like spiced and roasted corn on the cob or freshly made tortillas. 

The unmistakable and tangible existence of a close-knit family vibe amongst the locals who support the Flea, and those that trade there, is clear to see: friends catching up over a takeaway coffee or store-holders sharing a joke across their wares. It wouldn’t be unusual to see a neighbourhood local drop down and demonstrate his “salutation to the sun” yoga position to a friend, in the middle of another friend’s stall. One gets a true sense of spontaneity and familiarity from both the visitors and the vendors of the Flea. 

In 2009, the Brooklyn Flea received a Certificate of Merit from the Municipal Art Society for creating an “exceptional contribution to the life of New York City”, and for “providing an alternative to big-box retail that embodies a private sector spirit while yielding generous public benefits”. Then Citizens Union praised the Flea in 2010 with its Community Leadership Award for “creativity in building forums for exchange – both physical and virtual – that are strengthening New Yorkers’ spirit of community”.

If you’re after an authentic New York experience, escape across the river and visit the Brooklyn Flea. It’s a little bit vintage-bazaar, and a little bit hipster-hangout. However, the Flea is well organised and carefully curated, leaving you with a bona fide sample of New York life at a grass-roots level.

www.brooklynflea.com