NYC Markets, episode 3. In which I miss the Garage.

As it so often happens, Mari and I were watching TV one evening...

This time it was PBS that put a spring into our fleamarketing step with a sadly short-lived series called Market Warriors (20 episodes aired from 2012-2013) in which four "experts" competitively scavenged flea markets across the country for items to resell at auction.  A most endearingly familiar premise for fans of BBC's Bargain Hunt (one of our faves, with host David Dickinson), but nevertheless an entertaining hour for shopper-travelers like us who occasionally resell fleamarketed items ourselves at auction, fleamarkets, or the occasional we're-bursting-at-the-seams garage sale purge.  Market Warriors visited some of our favorite locales including First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Texas and the Antiques Garage in New York, and introduced us to still others such as the Randolph Street Antique Market in Chicago (a future episode, I promise) and the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena (an enormously-awesome and awesomely-enormous market experience that still looms large near the top of our list of markets to market).

all episodes are still watchable at

pbs.org/wgbh/market-warriors

Sadly, the Antiques Garage was closed as a fleamarketing venue last summer (shortly after our Easter weekend visit) and the edifice ultimately torn down (progress, I suppose), but this also led to an improved (progress!) Chelsea Flea Market as well as more dealers at the Hell's Kitchen Flea.  It also made it easier for us to fit two (instead of three) markets into a fun-filled Saturday fleamarket sandwich (with an actual Schnipper's sloppy joes sandwich between markets).

That's Mari inside the now defunct Garage--her smile stems partly from the sighting (and ultimate capture) of a honey-hued bakelite pin from a favorite dealer from whom I also liberated a tawny bakelite-handled pie server. Unfortunately, it's the only photo I have of the interior, but I have wonderful memories of (as well as a few souvenirs from) the amazing collections on display.

There are always

a few souvenirs.

One of my favorite vendors, upstairs, sold beautifully delicate one-of-a-kind Chinese collectibles and I have three hand-carved marble hand stamps and a snuff bottle (add snuff bottle collection to the growing list) purchased on various visits from the very knowledgeable and friendly proprietor.  I am hoping to find him again at the new Chelsea Market on our next return trip.

To the left is the original Chelsea Flea as it appeared during our last visit, but it has since been over- hauled (as a result of the closing of the Garage) and apparently now bulges with additional vendors and more antiques between 6th Avenue and Broadway at West 25th.  Like the Hell's Kitchen Market, Chelsea is open on Saturdays and Sundays, but there is now a $1 admission to help defray the cost of improvements.

I hope to present an update

as well as new photos

after a forthcoming fall visit.

Instead of exchanging cameras with fellow tourists (remember my rule about not giving your camera to anyone on their way to a pawn shop!) for this photo at Madison Square Park in front of the Flatiron Building, we were delighted to exchange cameras with long-time friends who drove up from Philly to spend this sunny spring Saturday fleamarketing with us.  The City is always a great place to meet new people, but even more fun to reconnect with good friends and other familiar favorites.

While I'm feeling wistful (and maybe a little peckish), allow me to put in a good word for a few foodie favorites while I have your attention.

We always look forward to sharing a tuna sandwich (on rye with tomatoes and crisp iceberg lettuce) and a side of fries at the Carnegie Deli.  The pleasantly piquant basket of pickles and cup of slaw are another reason we look forward to revisiting this New York "institution" despite it being an obvious temptation for tourists.  That reputation has been earnestly earned and that's why Carnegie remains permanently etched on our New York travel list along with a shared (to assuage the guilt and magically eliminate half the calories) slice of the 5th Avenue (candy bar) pie.  You'll need to share everything unless you are REALLY hungry, but be prepared for the three dollar sharing "surcharge" (also a New York institution).

If you have an odd number (referring to the number of people, not necessarily their personality) in your party, be prepared also to be joined by a (hopefully) friendly single stranger at the community tables (no seat is left empty in such a popular meeting/eating place).

visit carnegiedeli.com

for a careful examination of

the menu before your first visit

As a native New Yorker, I often feel it is my responsibility to introduce others to the pleasures, joys, and excitement of this bright bustling city (those include "the sights" as well as the bites).  Now that Mari feels at home in the City herself, she has had the opportunity to travel there twice (without me!) and introduce some of life's simple pleasures (smoky street hot dogs & crustily-toasty pretzels) to a couple of the gals and to her totally awesome sister (at right enjoying a simple pleasure with mustard).

More street smarts, tasty treats, (and perspicacious parentheticals) next time as we move uptown to the Sunday GreenFlea.