Yesterday we ventured to the flea markets in Chelsea with the girls. The flea weekend markets in New York have gained immense popularity, and even on a Sunday have replaced the traditional morning church activity. Flocked by the masses on a chilly Saturday, we navigated through the antique strips along 28th St and 7th Av with eagle eyes, determined to find some rare gems. Flea Market activity is popular amongst young and old in New York, attracting the likes of artists and avid collectors, as well as tourists and passers by. There is something on offer for anyone, I guess...any individual going in without much intention could find something, as in the case of Marc, who ended up purchasing a pair of opera spectacles (although I actually haven´t seen them be put to use yet...)
I wouldn´t say that there is much variation in the type of product offered in the New York market manifesto, but certainly there is much more of it. In one particular warehouse, some of the best deals I found were, for example, current season´s Bally shoes in perfectly new condition for a third of the retail price, hipsters‐eat‐your‐hearts‐out poloroid camers for under $30, and I saw in one particular stall a collection of 80 belt buckles from the art deco period ‐never used‐ for $400. Mark picked up some original edition covers of the classic New Yorker publication magazines...and I found an antique gold telescope on a keychain for my papa for $10. I could literally have spent all day there, but there were surrounding hubs to discover that morning, including an insanely amazing jewellery store 2 stores down which was frequented by the likes of Zoie Deschnal among other raging whimsical startlets.
Mark and I didn´t continue with the group to the Young Designers Markets, but we still have plenty of time to check them out. There is, however, a common chain of second hand stores in New York called Housing Works, which often have a pretty good collection of brands like Brooks Brothers, so Mark and I wandered off to find the local store. We were pretty unimpressed with the collection on offer at the Chelsea store, although they did have some pretty unusual colours in the Melissa for Vivienne Westwood range of shoes.
Not sure whether it was jetlag or general sleep deprivation, but Mark and I fell into slumbermode when we got home around lunchtime. We woke up to a really nice sun setting in the early afternoon, and so after Marc met us home we decided to go and investigate the everspoken about High Line down on W23rd. The High Line is a recreational park transformed from an existing train track which was partly suspended through the sitting near the Meatpacking District. Despite all the grass being dead from the cold weather, the views were fantastic and particurly spectacular at 3pm sunset. I imagine it would be a very popular place in the summertime...and it is a very good example of New York´s use of rooftop attractions to create into recreational spaces and gardens, which I have seen a fair amount of so far.
The High Line was a really nice way to end the afternoon, and we celebrated the fine weather with a sneaky gin cocktail at Don´t Tell Mama´s with Ali and Allanah (a gorgeous little cabaret piano bar on W46th, hilarious entertainment well into the wee hours of the morning). Fun times.
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