LORD OF THE FLEAS

By LAUREN DAVID PEDEN
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Print  ReprintMay 8, 2004 -- Every flea-market shopper has a favorite-find story. For fashion designer Lucy Barnes, it's all about the 70's era hammered-wood-and mirrored- disc wall sculpture she scored at the Columbus Avenue market a few years back for $70. For jewelry designer Alexis Bittar, it's the 1880 Tiffany pendant he bought at the Chelsea flea for $500, which turned out to be worth $10,000. He also scored a gold scarab earring-and-pin set for $75 that he later sold for $3,000. But even without such “Antiques Roadshow”-style finds, shopping at these New York fleas is a perfect way to while away a summer afternoon - though it can also get plenty intense, if you're willing to bargain. “Look in every booth and dig,” advises Andy Spade, husband and business partner of handbag designer Kate Spade. “You never know when or where you'll find a great piece.”

Artists & Fleas 146 N. Sixth St., between Bedford and Berry streets, Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Open noon - 7 p.m. Sundays. DJs keep the joint jumping at this converted Billburg warehouse, home to cool, cuttingedge clothing, accessories and housewares designed by 35 to 45 local artisans, along with a smattering of vintage goods. Fashion-forward femmes will dig Nina Valenti's Nature vs. Future booth (think Helmut Lang-style designs at rock-bottom prices, from $40 for a sleek tank to $160 for a crinkled cotton/polyethylene jacket). Lint's silk-screened Brando T-shirts ($30-$35) and Panyc's colorful leather-and-Dring belts ($50-$100) and messenger bags ($140) appeal to guys as well. “The market is really rough looking - exposed cinderblock walls and concrete floors - but it's got a really good vibe,” says Elissa Ehlin, co-owner of nearby Kiln Design Studio. “The last time I was there, someone was selling Jerk chicken, rice and beans and other Caribbean food. It was awesome.”

Annex Antiques Fair & Flea Market At the corner of 26th Street and Sixth Avenue. Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday ($1 admission). This is the Chelsea flea - the grand doyenne of New York markets, where heavy hitters like Donna Karan, Anna Sui and Martha Stewart come to get inspired (which is designer codespeak for “steal ideas.”) “There is no comparison,” says Alexis Bittar, who sold vintage gems and shoes at the 26th Street market before launching his own upscale jewelry line several years ago. “I'll go there with people who aren't in the business, and they'll be like, 'Oh, there is so much crap here,' but if you know what you're looking for, there is amazing merchandise to be found.” On a recent expedition, we perused the ponyskin butterfly chairs ($200), crystal chandeliers ($100-$500) and Susan Walker's booth of costume jewelry, including a pretty blue floral cut glass brooch from the '60s ($35). A lot of dealer-todealer business is done here, so if you're in a mood to bargain, always ask vendors for the dealer's price. “A lot of times, they will give you a 50 percent discount,” Bittar says. “This might backfire if you ask and then don't have a tax ID number, but if you pay cash, they won't care.”

East Village Flea Market 12th Street and Avenue A. Open 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. This old-school flea is the place to go if you subscribe to the One Man's Trash Is Another Man's Treasure theory. “This is super junk, and you really have to sift through it, but I find the junkier the flea market the better the deals,” says Laura Begley, the style director of Travel + Leisure magazine. She's not kidding. During a recent visit, we spied tables of cheap baubles (a rhinestone pin set us back $2), used bicycles galore (we stopped counting at 30) and piles of well-worn Levi's (we scored four pair for $5 a piece). Lucy Barnes is a fan - She decorated her Perry Street boutique with kitschy 3-D nudie pictures that she bought here for $10 a pop.

Hell's Kitchen Flea Market West 39th Street between Ninth and 10th avenues. Open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. This brand-new market runs an entire block and boasts fresh produce, flowers and a live band in addition to the usual streetmarket fare. Antique bric-a-brac and sunglasses aside (what, you were expecting Manolos, maybe?!), you'll find Toaster Central's booth of working oldtime toasters (a pristine artdeco model from the '30s is $168), and intricate Indianinspired enamel earrings ($15) and necklaces ($25) from Thaya and Binny. Further down the block is Lizzie Tish's “wearable vintage” booth (all of it refurbished or dry-cleaned), including an elaborately beaded three-quarters sleeve top ($24) and a black-and-white Chanelstyle tweed suit from the '40s - still sporting the original tags ($40) - along with a plethora of spring coats and flirty chiffon frocks. Women with more modern sensibilities should check out Aksentz by Daria's ethereal fringed silk ponchoshrugs (from $40).

Columbus Avenue GreenFlea Market In the I.S. 44 playground, Columbus Avenue, between 76th and 77th streets. Open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sundays. This is where Cynthia Nixon comes to stock up on antique clip-on earrings (she doesn't have pierced ears). But even if you don't spot an Upper West Side celebrity, there's still plenty to ogle. Fortify yourself with a Martin's Handmade pretzel (4 for $1) near the playground gate, then browse such unique offerings as the ribbon belts by Saash ($45-$65), Esterphanie St. Juste's hand-knit mohair shrugs ($80) and bright cotton capelets ($75), and Sue Harmon's booth of fanciful, Sarah Jessica Parker-worthy vintage petticoats and prom dresses ($125-$1200). Coin, comic book and magazine collectors will also find plenty to covet (June 1943 Life, anyone?).

Greenwich Avenue GreenFlea Market In the P.S. 41 playground, Greenwich Avenue at Charles Street. Open 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Saturdays. Alongside the ubiquitous tube sock and Happy Basket booths, you'll find vintage furniture and clothing, plus all-natural avocado and oatmeal soap from the cleverly named “Don't Be a Dirtbag!” company ($5 a bar/five for $20), sweetly striped lavender-filled sachets from Pretty Things (five for $12), and Seram Staub's chic parachute silk-sheath dresses ($60), which are piped in boldly contrasting hues.

Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market 52 W. 116th St., between Fifth and Lenox avenues. Open 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily. Just steps from the #2 train on 116th Street you'll find this tented market, which sells mostly traditional wares from Africa, including soapstone coasters illustrated with zebras and elephants ($1 each), colorful glass bead necklaces ($20) and tribal masks ($28-$250). “My favorite stand there is Fatou's Corner, where I purchased a round leather and ponyskin patchwork wallhanging for $60,” says clothing designer Nicole Romano. Take that, ABC Carpet! We loved the wares at Sanna Kanuteh's booth (clothing, jewelry, shea butter), and the thick twisted gold hoop earrings ($10) sold by Kawsu Kajake. Representing NYC is Almighty e., makers of cool Tshirts ($25-$35) bearing iconic images of Nina Simone and Diana Ross