My friend and I will be in NYC the end of April. We are leaving Sunday morning open between breakfast and our 2 PM play to spend time wandering around some flea markets.

Since we will only have about 4 hours, which one is the most popular? (not interested in furniture and large, expensive antiques)

The one on 39th between 9th and 10th would be the closest to our hotel in Times Square on 44th but the Chelsea market on 25th sounds good too--should we consider trying to hit both of them?

Try 39th st. and you might also go to the one on Amsterdam & 76 st. The Chelsea one is very popular, but a lot of furniture and antique bric a brac.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2008/03/30...DW0Qz2u94BWEzQ

What ARE you looking for?

We like to look at jewelry, crafts, garden ornaments, barrettes, childrens custom clothes--small items which would easily fit into a suitcase.

Where are the fun little boutiques everyone talks about? On Bleeker street, East Village or West Village? (We are not into teenage funky)

The one at Amsterdam & 76th meets your criteria.

I agree the stuff on Amsterdam sounds more your speed. There is no ONE location/area for "the fun little boutiques" paricularly with interests as varied as garden ornaments to children's clothes. It does sound like you might enjoy a walk through ABC Carpet & Home which has all of that, but is quite pricey (fun though).
http://www.abchome.com/

edgeny.com has a lot of one off jewelry & hair ornaments.

Sunday NY Times (3/30)has article re this topic. I think it was in the Travel Section.

Hit West 17th Street (between 5th and 8th Avenues) and you will be in heaven: Angel Street Thrift Shop, Housing Works, 17@17, and the greatest (and very reasonable) vintage jewelry store- Pippin. Here is an article about the area:

http://www.herebeoldthings.com/2007/...nment-hea.html

Thanks to everyone for your input. It's hard to know what will attract your eye until you see it. But we do know that we must be able to pack it in our suitcases which eliminates so many possible purchases.

Judy, there are plenty of Post Offices in NYC where you could just ship your treasures home!

There's been a lot of press this week about a new flea market - brooklyn flea -
from their site:
"Brooklyn Flea, the largest outdoor market in New York City, is opening in Fort Greene in April 2008! Every Sunday, starting April 6, the folks at Brownstoner.com, Brooklyn's best website about real estate and renovation, will bring together top sellers of new and vintage furniture, lighting, records, clothes, jewelry, crafts, and more at a 40,000-square-foot lot at Lafayette and Vanderbilt Avenue in Fort Greene."
here's the link:
http://www.brownstoner.com/brooklynflea/about/