hi there,

just curious if anyone has any input on the mission flea market...i saw that the alemany flea market moved effective 7/1/7 (and i'm not renting a car during my stay), so i might be more interested in trying to go to the mission flea market now.

thanks!

The flea market in Berkeley every Saturday and Sunday is very interesting and it's right at the Ashby BART station. You might want to try it..lots of African clothes, art, fabrics, etc, as well as the usual flea market goodies.

Nancy's suggestion is great and it's free. I buy from the produce and roasted nuts (peas and shelled pistachios) stands.

There is another one in Oakland every Sunday in Laney College's parking lot, take the BART towards Fremont and get off at the Lake Merritt station, it's a 3 minute walk, $1 admission. 4 times the size of Ashby and lots of bricbrac. Oakland Chinatown full of restaurants is 4 blocks away.

The Grand Dame of them all is on the 1st Sunday each month in the former Naval Air Base at Alameda Pointe, you can take BART to the Oakland 12th Street Station and change to a local bus. There is an early bird admission rate and $5 at 9 am. Between the hundreds of stalls on the tarmacs and hangars by the bay waterfront, one can easily spend a day, and there are some food vendors. It's billed as an Antique Faire so no bricbrac, I've bought scarfs, jewellery, glass objects, tea cups, silver spoons, shabby chic french cotton tablecloth, old french ricer and wired basket for eggs under $10 each. My prize find was a 90 year old miniature harp for $35 which is hanging in the hallway of my home next to a 6 foot wood and bamboo ladder made by hilltribes in the Phillipines I got for $17 at the Ashby Flea.

Thanks, Shanghainese, for reminding me about the Laneyn flea market..I had forgotten all about it.

Shanghainese,

thanks for the info. on traveling to alameda...i wasn't sure that would be feasible without renting a car. do you know how long it might take to travel there using the method you mentioned? do the BART and local bus run that early?

immensely appreciative,
lauren

There is a bus going to Alameda from Mission @ 1st bus station, bus O (letter O not zero). Check AC transit website for more info. This bus runs every day.