In many ways, Brooklyn Flea is a like any flea market, filled with odds and ends living up to the old cliche: “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” Yet its atmosphere is unique to the borough, a vibrant demonstration of post-gentrification Brooklyn. In that sense, it is exactly what you’d expect as you enter the Fort Greene area, reserved for Saturdays, or Williamsburg Waterfront, on Sundays. From kimchi filled hotdogs to vintage Yves Saint Laurent pumps, you can find almost anything.
The Brooklyn Flea is an ideal way to spend a lazy weekend. Take NY Waterway’s East River Ferry ($4 one way) to N. 6th St/N. Williamsburg and peruse the stands. Every Saturday features a Smorgasbord, where the choices include lobster rolls, pork sandwiches, individual pizzas and Mexican food in all shapes and sizes. Hit up the Brooklyn Soda Works stand for cucumber lime pop. Explore the Brooklyn Brew Shop and toy with the idea of making your own beer, appreciating the furniture that gives the flea its delightfully cluttered aesthetic.
Of course, what makes the Flea exciting is its abundance of stuff — good stuff, mind you, not just junk that fell out of your grandma’s closet. If you thought Beacon’s Closet was the holy trinity of thrift, finding old Nicole Miller dresses and Coach bags (affordably priced with linings still intact!) may change your mind. Skip the kitschy and obvious accessories of Urban Outfitters and search through Lego cuff links, an array of hip sunglasses, compass rings and jewelry made out of typewriter keys. And when you’re feeling tired, exit the Flea lot and lie out in the grasses of the newly renovated Williamsburg Waterfront, which offers the perfect picturesque view of Manhattan.
There are parts of the Brooklyn Flea that are overpriced, but what were you really expecting? Its effortlessness makes it a great day trip and gives flea markets a fresh perspective. With hundreds of vendors and countless visitors each week, this is as much an effort in community building as it is in selling.
Fort Greene Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 176 Lafayette Ave.
Williamsburg Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. East River Waterfront
Smorgasburg Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. East River Waterfront
