Sunday, November 15, 2009

Chelsea Antique & Collectible Flea Market

On mellow weekends when we didn't want to do anything in particular or get on a subway, we'd just stroll around our neighborhood. We'd often end up at the Chelsea Antique & Collectible Flea Market, which utilizes a small parking space on the corner of 17th Street and 7th Avenue every Saturday and Sunday. This isn't really the best photo; it was taken as the market was wrapping up for the day.


At this flea market, you can find a ton of jewelry, some nice but expensive furniture, paintings, old magazines and comic books, toys (which includes boxes of haggard looking naked barbie dolls), bags, cowboy boots, records and VHS movies. There's a hardware vendor that has a table covered with old tools, door knobs, and keys. One lady sells some cool vintage clothes and shoes. Another lady sells what many people might consider junk. She literally has about two large folding tables covered in heaps of old clothes that she probably just tosses out of garbage bags. If you don't want to go through the effort of digging through the clothes, some soiled and with holes, then she also has a rack of her nicer stuff. I walked away with a $3 blouse. Other stuff we've purchased at this flea include an old license plate and a wooden cross.

The Chelsea Antique & Collectible Flea Market doesn't have nearly as much selection as The Garage Flea Market (on West 25th between 6th and 7th) and it can be really hit or miss as far as finding stuff, but it's still a fun place to just wander around. This flea market is also at the end of the street where Housing Works, Angel Thrift Shop, the Rubin Museum, an antique alley and antique jewelry store are all located. It's also right next to a great dry cleaner/tailor shop where we've taken our coats to get fixed - the folks there are super nice and can give you recommendations on Korean food in Flushing!