Brooklyn Flea and Time Out New York Present: Gifted: A Holiday Market

OK, so I'm pretty much pulling this all straight from the press release:

Gifted: A Holiday Market

4 Sundays: Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14 & 21

Brooklyn Masonic Temple, 317 Clermont Ave. (at Lafayette Ave.), Fort Greene (across from the Flea)

11:00am–6:00pm

http://www.brooklynflea.com/

Brooklyn Flea has partnered with Time Out New York to present "Gifted: A Holiday Market," featuring 40 vendors curated by Flea co-founder Eric Demby and Time Out Seek Editor Erin Wylie.

Gifted will take place inside the majestic auditorium of the Brooklyn Masonic Temple—a historic, gorgeous building located directly across the street from the Flea—on the 4 Sundays Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14 + 21, from 11am to 6pm.

(The “regular” Flea will continue at the schoolyard during this time; Dec. 21 will be the last date of the season.) The mix of vendors at Gifted is similar to the Flea: stuff you can only find there; folks selling beautiful, unique items they made themselves; vintage/antique objects that are distinctive and affordable; snazzy jewelry; cool, quality art; and of course yummy foodstuffs.

Highlights include: Layla, the gorgeous jewelry and Indian textiles shop in Boerum Hill; Acorn, the classy toy shop on Atlantic Ave.; Els Walleyn’s beautiful mohair teddy bears—all the way from Belgium!; Flea regular David Sokosh, who will be featuring amazing antique clocks (“the gift of time for Christmas”)...The full lineup is below; visit http://www.brooklynflea.com/ for images and weblinks.)

DJ Moosaka will provide holiday tunes from the stage, and surprise holiday-theme events will pop up every Sunday.

Make a connection with the person you’re buying from; support someone who lives in your neighborhood; give a gift there’s only one of. That's what 2008 New Yorkers want, right? Right.

For images, interviews, and all other info, contact Eric Demby: edemby@gmail.com; 917.579.7435.

Gifted Vendors (note that not all vendors sell every Sunday):
A.S.I.S.Els WalleynMilton CarterAcorn Toy ShopFlubber GalleryMollie DashAlison TauberHeartisansMoontree LetterpressAlyssa EttingerI LampeOrnaments + ObjectsBien HechoJaybird AntiquesPatrick KeeseyBirdhouse JewelryJezebel StationeryPerch! DesignBlue Canary VintageJohn MurphyPinecone + ChickadeeBrooklyn JuniorJonathan BlumPop JudaicaCastor + PolluxKatie DiamondReiter8David SokoshL is for LinenRick's PicksDavina FeinbergLaylaSara + Mike StraussDeadly SquireLocal LabelsSpecies by the ThousandsErica Weiner JewelryLon Black PostcardsSpecimenFact + FancyMarcie McGoldrickStudio RoxasFarfallaMarilyn HitchcockTreasures + PleasuresFine + Raw ChocolateMast Bros. ChocolateWhimsy + SpiceFoxy + WinstonMcClure's PicklesWinter Water FactoryGeralyn ShukwitMegan CedroWrecordsByMonkeyGreenjeansMelody's AddictionYova Design

Phew!

Brooklyn Flea Market is...

Eh.

I mean there were a few unique things, but most of it was stuff that you see at other flea markets. And not while not wildly overpriced, certainly not cheap. For example, there were some really interesting, seemingly high quality, vases and mirrors, but for $195 and $600 respectively? Come on! Also, I was hoping that Brooklyn would kick out more jams hard core-style - like a booth selling custom-made leather lingerie or something. But alas, there wasn't too much of that, with slight exceptions:

• Wrecords by Monkey - Handmade recycled record accessories (see pic.) - interesting decorated wrist cuffs made out of old records that made me feel wonder-womanlyish when I tried a few on.
• Mohawk Studios - Welding, fabricating and custom steel creations. If I had managed to make my apartment more urban-hard-rock, I would have bought some of this guy's stuff - interesting coffee tables, chairs and other creations that appeared to be a bit torture chamber-like. Oh and giant bugs made out of railroad ties and nails.
• Celle Adore - Perfumes that smelled 100% like girl. Uncommon scents.