Greenflea flea market at M.S. 44

Columbus Avenue between 76th and 77th Streets
Sundays 10 am–5:30 pm (6 pm in the summer)

Since schools are less likely than parking lots to be decommissioned in favor of a new high-rise, partnering with a school's PTA helps give city flea markets some stability. Such is the case with the Greenflea at Middle School 44 on the Upper West Side.

This market is one of the larger in the city, claiming 200 to 300 dealers. In the summer, many of the craft vendors depart to sell at street fairs; the ranks swell again in the fall. I went down to scope it out in late July. I entered at 77th Street and wandered through the farmer's market, then I checked out the many booths on the playground. I estimated about one-third of the wares were vintage or collectibles, the balance being handmade crafts and jewelry. Along the 76th Street side there were some furniture dealers. Inside the school was a higher concentration of old things, including paper, silver and books.

Like other markets, this one has its own culture, including some die-hard dealers who are here for the company and the scene. The manager, Judy, told me that many of them are here even under the most inclement conditions. AM New York quotes Pat Haber, who comes down from her home in Tuxedo every week to sell.

"When you live upstate you don't have the variety of people you have in the city, so I love all the different people who go marching by," she said. "And there's an excitement–the haggling. It's just a nice experience."

There are plenty of good restaurants in the neighborhood for brunch, either on Columbus or Amsterdam; me, I can't go anywhere near the Upper West Side without stopping in at Levain Bakery for one of their famous chocolate-chip cookies.

 

Comments

[joan roberts]

Terrific pictures which make you want to buy, buy, buy!