Chelsea Antiques Garage flea market -- RIP
 

I go to this flea market, which was the best place in NYC for vintage jewelry, handbags, clothes, furniture, decor, at least twice a year. It had been open for 20 yrs, taking up two entire floors in an indoor parking garage on W. 25th St, btwn 6th and 7th, in Chelsea. Very friendly vendors in permanently rented spots, so I could always find my favorites. Hot in summer, cold in winter, but open year round on Sat. and Sun., rain or shine, totally protected from rain and snow.

This was not just any old flea. The vendors had been there long term, always had great new items every visit, and were so friendly. And they had established a nice community amount themselves. I had come to know several of them from numerous purchases and just shooting the sh*t with them during my visits during slow months.

This was such a great flea that I took the train or bus from D.C. to NYC just to go there. I stayed at the Four Points Chelsea on the same block as the flea on a lot of those trips. The front desk clerks knew I was headed to the flea and always wanted to see what vintage goodies I had gotten (I collect vintage jewelry).

I was not the only one. This flea was so great that the TV show "Flea Market Flip" made this one of two fleas in NYC where people on the show attempted to sell their repurposed items.

I headed to NYC this past weekend for a flea fix, checked into the Four Points, and arrived down the st. at the garage to find it closed. A former vendor who I immediately called told me a 52 story hotel is going up in the space after the garage is torn down.

Some of the vendors have moved one block down on 25th btwn 6th and 5th to the outdoor weekend flea there. So I shopped there, and commiserated with those familiar sellers on the end of an era at the garage. It will be rough going in cold or rainy weather in that outdoor space.

Remember the old Joni Mitchell song, "paved paradise and put up a parking lot?" This time the lyrics are "Tore down the parking lot and a beloved flea, and put up a hotel."

Manhattan is becoming another world.

I don't recognize it anymore.

It is starting to resemble Las Vegas.


So many tourists taking selfies in front of paintings at Moma and Whitney.

Tourists in t-shirts trying to get into Le
Bernadin so they can post photos on Facebook.

It is a city for tourists, the young, and the very rich.


Thin

I am not sure it is starting to resemble Vegas, but it certainly is true that the changes have been coming fast. Lower East side used to be pretty protected and "original," but now it is a young person's haven re the clubs, lots of hip hotels for the tourists, etc. Used to love Soho, but I avoid it now unless I am going to City Winery for music. Same for Union Square, except for the GreenMarket.

Thank God for the East Village and Central Park. And the rest of the antiques vibe in Chelsea, there are some very die hard great shops there. And Zabars.

It's still New York, but the times they are a changin.

There will be someone who thinks I am saying Zabars is in Chelsea, which of course it isn't. But it's one of those places that has not changed, Thank God.

The East Village is dramatically changing and daily. It is harder to get a cheap great meal, the rents have made sure of that. There are more and more soulless condos going up. Some buildings needed to be torn down but not all. I have been told that the narrow seafood restaurant on the corner of 2nd Ave and 14th is paying $30,000 a month rent. And the tiny new Wells Fargo branch near Union Square $96,000.

I did pass a store that I thought I would never see again. It is one of those that has a window that has not been cleaned since D-Day and in it are a tire, a hula woman lamp, and things without a name. In the past who was ever beyond the junk was either a drug dealer or they inherited the building. I hope this one stays.

The good change is that almost 30 years ago the NYPD had to bring their tank to remove the drug dealers and squatters from Tompkins Square Park and now it is filled with families and community events.

And rats!! We ate at Le Village this past Sunday night, next to Tompkins SQ park, and then tried to sit in the park. So many rats running right by us across the path that we left. In 5 min we saw about 15 big rats running very close to us, and we left. Other people were screaming as they walked into the park and the rats ran in front of them...I have never seen so many rats. There must be food they are getting in the park.

Oh, shades of Karen Black I could tell horror stories about Tompkins Square Park.

I remember the squatters and the police trying to evict them. It was front-page news at the Village Voice.

The buildings on E 9th St. were the toilets for the homeless. They would pull down their pants and take a dump right on the sidewalk.

Homeless drug addicts with no teeth would offer sexual services for $5.

There is a memorial fountain to the Slocum Disaster in the park.

Thin

There are a pair of hawks with 2 babies N a big nest on an apartment bldg on edge of Thompkins square park now. The parents swoop down and get rats in the park and serve them up to the baby hawks. Maybeif more hauls would do that, they could make a dentin the population...

http://evgrieve.com/2014/05/video-wa...-tompkins.html

Everybody has to make it in NYC as best they can, you gotta be resourceful.

Lots more on the hawks

http://www.gogginphotography.com/

We have walked past Le Village thousands of times and never eaten there. We like the place across the street Pylos. Unfortunately it now must mentioned in some tour books because it always filled from people outside the neighborhood.

Le Village is BYOB with no corkage fee, which is great. It is mostly vegetarian (with one duck entree and one fish)and is French style, which is interesting. Most food was pretty rich (goat cheese tart, although the polenta with it was incredibly good; truffle cheese pasta dish; eggplant dish, and the app with little pastas with truffle and sauce-- all very rich). The roasted Brussel sprouts with strawberries app was a hit and ALL 3 desserts were lick the plate good. We had a groupon for 2 apps, 2 entrees, 2 desserts, a very good deal for $59, and we just ordered one more entrée and 1 more dessert. I probably would not go back-- I like their other location, Le Sirene, much better and it is also BYOB wine no cork fee.

Thanks $59 bucks is a great price.

Here is my list of places in the East Village and afew that are not:

Here is a list I have posted a few times before and are mainly East Village. Unless otherwise stated it is inexpensive to moderately expensive

Favorite new place-Au Za'atar which very reasonably priced French-Mideastern

Our new favorite Ice Cream-Davey’s on First Ave. Strong flavors without being too sweet.

Indian-Brick Lane, Mitali, Saravanaa Bhavan. Brick lane great lunch buffet.

Inexpensive Italian- La Marca (3rd Ave. and 22 Street, only opened noon-10 PM, Mon-Fri) Great Value

Taiwanese Bao-The Baohaus

Burgers-Black Iron (also have wonderful onion rings and veggie fries), Paul’s (local divey spot), Corner Bistro (on everyone’s list, zoo on weekends), Brindle Room, Back Forty

Hip Filipino both owned by the same people Jeepney and Maharlikan (more expensive)

Pork sandwiches-Porchetta (that is all they offer and limited seating)

Medium priced Italian-Cacio e Pepe, Gnocco, Supper (cash only), Luzzos (Wood burning pizza oven), Perbeco, La Lavanga, Le Zie,

Eastern European- Veselka,

French Bistro- Casimir, Lucien (more expensive)

Greek-Pylos (little more expensive)

Tapas- Tia Pol, Nai, Café Mono (more expensive)

Dessert-Veniero's, DeRobertis for the frozen lemon thing and tortonis. Chikilicous

Brunches-Five Points, Blue Ribbon Bakery, City Bakery (18th off 5th), Cafecito (Ave C), Clinton Street Bakery (our favorite but must go during the week, weekend is a zoo)

Pizza whole pies-Motorino, Lombardi's, Gruppo,

Pizza by the slice-Artichoke (14th Between First and Second) Bizarre service with a line because the pizza is good and the management is goofy

Hole in the wall-Stage (next to Stomp) great cheap home made soups

French fires-Pomme Frites

Seafood-Mary’s Fish Camp (cramped, no reservations) Luke’s Lobster (just lobster rolls, limited seating) Aquagrill (very expensive)

Ice Cream-Cones on Bleecker, Il Laboratorio de Gelato, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, Cones and Sundaes (East 10th), Grom (Italian chain), VanLeewen, Davey’s

Chinatown-Big Wong. Joe’s Ginger, NY Noodletown

Dim Sum-Jing Fung, Golden Unicorn, Nom Wah on Doyers.

Jewish Delis-2nd Ave Deli, Katz’s (These are expensive for sandwiches but worth every bite)

Turkish-Turkish Kitchen (Very good values are the daily prix fixe lunch and Sunday buffet)

Expensive but great prix fixe lunches-Gotham, Tocqueville,

Thank you ImDonethere, I am keeping your list for next trips.

IMDoneThere, the price on the Groupon for Le Village has dropped to $49 from Sunday thru Thurs. Same deal. Limited time remaining, get it now.

http://www.groupon.com/deals/le-village-2

Thanks for the URL.