this is just a quick, instagram version of sunday in the city, because as you can see — i visited the alameda flea market, and after four+ hours of wandering every aisle, alas i did not find much to speak of. a cute bespoke bag, a black tin box to stash stuff bedside; some metal filing bins for the office, and another lamp to which i added a filament bulb to and threw into the collection. it was sunny and glorious out, and very very crowded. i thought everyone would stay home watching some football game, but instead they were swooping up the scores at the flea!

mon dieu! with my travels out of town, i totally forgot i made a visit to the marion house book blog last week. where is my head? in paris, france apparently! visit the marion house book for a peek at my obsessions with paumes paris brocantes book. bon voyage!

hey, bay area — some smashing, big news! i’ve been waiting to hear when this was going to launch, but i just found out the all-new candlestick park flea market starts up tomorrow morning, bright and early at 6am! the flea market is a spin-off from some former folks running the alameda flea market, and will be held the 3rd sunday of every month at candlestick park — and they have a one year contract, so hopefully it just gets bigger and bigger! set your alarm clocks! here’s more information.

today lara from the always full of eye candy, piewacket, is taking y’all on a sublime southern flea market journey.

Scott Antiques Market, a once monthly event in Atlanta is a massive indoor/outdoor flea market that draws dealers and shoppers from all over the southeast and then some. John Collier brought his bull and  a collection of custom  furniture made from reclaimed materials, all the way from Altoona, Pennsylvania. No bull!

this weekend colleen from designing dna has gathered together some gracious contributors for a very special online flea market. We all remember the devastation left in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. But did you realize that the aide agencies have long gone, even though there are families who are still struggling and homeless?

this weekend, beginning 12pm eastern time, designing dna will host an online flea market auction throughout the weekend, to contribute to Samaritan’s Purse’s charitable goal of re-building 30 homes in New Orleans and 10 in Atlanta.  It’s an international blogging, hop and shop, flea market! so, pop on over to designing dna, shop online for some great flea market finds, and help out some very deserving folks in need at the same time.

San Telmo is the oldest Buenos Aires neighbourhood, with charming cobblestones streets and old colonial buildings, the antique shops and tango houses make it a must to see place if you visit Buenos Aires. I love going there for coffee any week day, but every Sunday the gorgeous flea market is most attractive thing.

This Flea market is very high quality, created by architect Jose Maria Peña, who directed the city museum for years and years. he is retired now, and La Feria de San Pedro Telmo depends on the museum support, which organizes several market fairs all through the year. that is also one reason it is so interesting, the museum insures that the flea market stands have to carry things only from before 1970.

I love buying the old linens (I have a glorious bed sheet from there), and old French bags and hats. I try to buy things I can use or wear — I am not the kind of woman that just collects things, you can find beautiful jewels, and some day I hope to buy an aquamarine cocktail ring there, bijoux and ton of other little trinkets. Visit here, for more about San Telmo Flea market.

i love hats, and own many. problem is, i rarely wear them, because i guess sometimes they make me feel a bit self-conscious. not many of my friends wear hats (unless you count the male friends, or girls who wear beanies when it’s chilly here in san francisco), but i want to wear my hats!

[ hat on sienna miller via mrs. french's bliss. ]

mrs. french had a post on bliss yesterday about wearing and choosing the right hat, and it got me thinking, gosh darn it, i should really wear my damn hats — it’s that time of year when the fog rolls in and just ruins any hairdo i’ve got going on anyway, so it’s perfect timing for hats. the hat up top is one of my favorites, found via the alameda flea market and a gift from my friend joni who bought it for me since i was down to my last flea market dollar. mrs. french, i say we wear hats and we wear them proudly!

[ i love this one mrs. french was considering from j. crew. ]

[ *hat photo at top courtesy of sfgirlbybay. ]

Hello, sfgirlbybay readers! I’m Lynne from Tea for Joy, and I’m happy to be helping out here with a few British-themed posts. I live in London, so today I’m sharing with you a recent excursion. Last week, I managed to persuade a friend to drive me out of London to the bi-monthly Sunbury Antiques Market. At 6:50am, we were some of the last to arrive.

I didn’t have much money to spend so these are some of the items I liked but managed to restrain myself from buying:

Vintage trunks – a little too musty for my perfectly-ironed lavender-scented linens.

But why did I convince myself that my IKEA metal containers would suffice when I could have replaced them with these much cooler French ones?

And both of my initials were available.

No matching pairs – but it’s never stopped me before. I’m always the one buying single teacups (without saucers) at car boot sales because I think they must be lonely.

I live in a dreary palette of grays and browns, so these wouldn’t work.

So, which is preferable? Coming away almost empty-handed when you know your car-driving friend will never be persuaded to get up at 6am on a Tuesday again, or buying things you don’t really need and actually can’t afford?

[ for more fun brit-flavored posts be sure and visit lynne at tea for joy.  thanks lynne!! ]

Maison Rêve, one of Mill Valley’s most charming French home furnishing shops is hosting their monthly Flea Market Brocante is this Saturday, June 27th from 8am – noon. If you’re in the bay area, I recommend bringing your friends (and a big satchel!) and rummage through a trove of vintage treasures! The Maison Rêve Flea Market Brocante has great finds this month – from kid’s dressers, weathered tables, iron beds, to charming French accessories, café mugs, lovely dishware, weathered cabinets, vintage pillows, storage baskets and buckets, and much more! Visit the Maison Rêve Blog for more details, and arrive early for the best vintage finds! And if you’re not able to make it…visit the Maison Rêve website, because as they like to say “some people dream in French”

Columbia Road Market is kind of insane. Nowhere on earth have I seen so many people jostling for space to sell, and buy, beautiful plants and flowers. We got a little lost trying to find this spot, tucked away in a somewhat residential neighborhood. I think the best way to find it is to head down Brick Lane and then just ask people with flowers in their hands where to head next, but here’s some directions to help you on your way. It’s such a wonderful way to spend a Sunday – especially if sunny…and there’s a ton of great little shops, bakeries and cute cafes lining Columbia Road, that you’ll want to meander into those, too. Columbia Road is certainly not just for plant life.

Bits of Columbia Road.

Borough Market was definitely one of the highlights of our trip, and I’m so glad we made it there. There are just tons of great smelling aromas in this historic location tucked under some railway lines, and Borough Market has occupied its present site for 250 years – since 1756! From sausage makers, to coffee brewers and bakers of about every delicacy you might desire, this is a great way to get fed and enjoy the samples provided by many of the vendors at the same time. We tasted fudge, cheeses, fresh fruits and pastries, and didn’t come away a bit hungry. It’s truly a don’t miss! Here’s some directions to help you find Borough Market just across the Tower of London Bridge in Southwark. It’s held every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The very tasty Borough Market.

Then there’s the wacky, crowded and crazy Portobello Road Flea Market which happens every Saturday. Wedged in between vendors selling their antiques and vintage bric-a-brac are fruit and vegetable stalls, with everyone happily squeezing along the hugely crowded Portobello Road. There’s great shops all along the road, too and if you end up at the very end you’ll hit Golborne Road where you can stop into George’s Portobello Fish Bar for a bit of fish ‘n chips (it’s reportedly one of Jamie Oliver’s favorites). Or head back towards the entrance off Chepstow Villas and grab a yummy cupcake at the Hummingbird Bakery.

Hummingbird Bakery and food stalls squeeze in
amongst the antique dealers on Portobello Road.

Lastly, we hit the charming Covent Garden Market with it’s pretty arched iron and glass market halls filled with mostly new shops and cafes. On Mondays, antique dealers take over with some new, and sometimes very old vintage trinkets out back in what they call the Jubilee Market. I found some wonderful vintage tins here, but mostly just enjoyed the people watching. Lots of characters here, both buying and selling.