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Friday, March 1, 2013

NYoy - brooklyn (winter) flea

I almost forgot that it is time for another post in my NJoy/NYoy series and this time I am taking you to the Brooklyn Winter Flea, which is going on every weekend throughout the end of March. In April the flea market moves back outside to its locations in Fort Greene and Williamsburg. The Winter Flea is housed in in the Romanesque Beaux Arts Bank Hall and the Art Deco Vault of the former Williamsburgh Savings Bank building in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn. We ended up at the flea market on a windy and freezing day when we had some time to kill and needed a place to warm us up. All in all we spent about an hour there and it was not nearly enough to check out every stall or all the gorgeous details of the building. It was built in 1927-29 to become the headquarters for the Williamsburgh Savings Bank and designed by the architectural firm Halsey, McCormack and Helmer in a modernized Byzantine-Romanesque style. Great care was taken to preserve the marble floors, carved teller stations, magnificent 63-foot vaulted ceiling and the iconic 40-foot mosaic of New York as a Dutch colony during the restoration of the Bank Hall and the Vault, both of which are now available for rent as event spaces. The rest of the building was converted to luxury loft condominiums in 2006-2007. Fun fact: The AIA Guide to New York City calls it "New York's most exuberant phallic symbol." I wish I could have spent more time in the building as well as browsing the goodies of the flea market. You know I like to find buried treasures. Are you into flea markets as well?

I have no plans for this weekend, so hopefully it will be a relaxing one. What are you up to this weekend? Going to a flea market maybe? Happy Friday and enjoy your weekend!





23 comments:

  1. I have ALWAYS wanted to go to the Brooklyn Flea! And I had no idea the building itself was so historical or gorgeous! I was just going to go for the vintage goodness (is this where they do the food market too, or is that something different?) but now that I know there are architectural wonders to behold, I'll definitely make it a priority to go! Did you end up buying anything? You're like a magnet for awesome finds in places like these! Have a great weekend, Nina. Not up to much, trying to catch up on my life since this week at work has just run me over! xoxo

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    1. The building is where they host the fleamarket in the winter months and yes they have a food court but I think in the summertime they have more food at Smorgasburg. I did buy a tea towel with a 2013 calendar printed on it. Got one last year as well...

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  2. Wow! I definitely have to visit this one! Looks great! I think I will be in NY by end of June. maybe there will be some time to stroll around.
    And yes, we are going to the flea market this weekend. It's the Alameda Flea Market, the biggest one in north CA. So pretty excited if I'm going to score any treasures.

    Happy weekend!
    Ana

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    1. How was the Alameda Flea Market? Did you buy anything good? I hope you'll be writing about it on your blog. Let me know when you come to NY, so we can hang out!

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  3. It's one of my goals to go to one of these some day. I always see your pics and then all the great things that people pick up there - jealous!

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    1. It really is hit or miss with a flea market and you have to be willing to dig through lots of stuff. But as you know I love digging through everything...

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  4. What a building, quite grand place for a flea market. I love flea markets, but never get out of the house on saturday or sunday early enough to get to find any good treasures.

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    1. I am not an early riser or at least I don't leave the house early enough to grab the best things but still find treasures anyways. Looking forward to spring and summer, it is always more fun to hit a flea market when the weather is better.

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  5. Oh my GOSH. So stunning, how could you ever leave?! What a stunning building, I would want to be there every weekend. You know, I had the dumbest realization yesterday as we were driving home from trying a new restaurant for dinner. We have tons of cute antique shops here in Norfolk that I NEVER go in. I'm not sure why, I guess I always assume they're out of my reach financially, but also, it's so high colonial here...I guess I figure they're not my "thing." So maybe, I should investigate further? Check my own little city out a bit? Who knows what I could find! ;) You've inspired me!

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    1. If they had let me I would've moved into the building ;) You should definitely check out the antique shops in your area, they might not what you expect them to be on the inside. You'll never know if you don't check them out...

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  6. Sadly, I've never been to the Brooklyn Flea. But I have been curious about it and wondered if it still went on during Winter months. This space is amazing. I'm so glad you took the time to photograph it. Thanks for sharing & enjoy your weekend too!

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    1. You should definitely go sometime. It is always fun!

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  7. i have yet to visit the Brooklyn Flea at this location but you've inspired me. Planning a trip soon!

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    1. Tina, you only have until the end of the month to visit this location, then the flea market will move outdoors again.

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  8. Ugh. I haven't been to a flea in FOREVER. You really make me want to go again.

    7% Solution​

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  9. aki, thanks for stopping by :)

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  10. Oh what an incredible building Nina (you never fail to give me a million reasons why I need to come back to NY)! I suck at finding good stuff at flea markets but that doesn't mean I don't love visiting them!

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    1. If you ever come to NY again, we should have a blogger meetup :) I'll share all my flea market secrets with you.

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  11. What an impressive building! And OF COURSE I went to a flea market this weekend (ok that's easy, I have one right in front of my door). I got there a little late and most of the good things were gone already but I found three nice glasses. I will probably go to NYC this year (we planned to go in march but had to cancel, but now october is the new plan!) and will definitely consult you for some fleamarket advice!

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    1. Oh, lucky you for having a flea market right at your door step! Let me know when you come to NY, I can share my favorite places with you.

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  12. Wow, what an amazing flea market! We've got the world (?) famous Pasadena flea market near to us. In fact, it's happening this Sunday. Hoping we can make a trip happen. However, we don't have any flea market that takes place in such an old, architecturally beautiful building.

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    1. Oh, I never made it to the Rose Bowl flea market when I lived in LA. It has been on my list forever. At least the weather in your neck of the woods is nice enough to have the flea market outdoors, here it is still to cold. If you make it to the flea on Sunday please share the experience with us.

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