Scavenging is a fine form of leisure this Labor Day. Enjoy the Hunt.

The Flea is open as usual for Labor Day Weekend. Note: The Fort Greene market happens every Saturday outdoors; One Hanson is on Sundays indoors on 3 floors. Both are open 10am-5pm.

When you find one of the items above, which can be hidden in any vendor booth, it's yours, absolutely free! Then we post your photo with the generous vendor here on the blog on Monday. Only one winner per calendar month. Items posted every Friday around Noon.

From left (click to enlarge):
1. Saturday: Late '70s "Don't Squeeze the Charmin" T-shirt, size small. Vintage

2. Sunday: Aromarific bag of soap potpourri, including bay leaves, rosehips, star anise and hibiscus, scented with lemongrass and orange. New/Handmade

The Flea has a great community vibe every weekend, and we hope to add some substance to that feeling in the coming months. (Know of a school that wants to raise money with a rummage sale? Let us know!)

For now we'd just like to let you know about a cool campaign our friends at the Brooklyn Community Foundation have going on. Their Brooklyn Do Gooder Awards will celebrate everyday Brooklynites who make a difference with their generosity, creativity, spirit—basically average folks who make the borough a better place in some tangible way, big or small.

We're helping BCF find these fine folks, so if you want to nominate a Brooklyn Do Gooder—who will receive $5000 to reinvest in Brooklyn's nonprofit community—drop them a line. The person should be working in one of BCF's five grantmaking areas: Arts for All, Caring Neighbors, Community Development, Education and Youth Achievement, and Green Communities. You must know someone! Click here to make a nomination; they're due September 30.

Starting in October the public will vote on the nominees, five finalists will be determined, a VIP panel will take it from there, and the winners will be honored Nov. 3 at the Palm House.

What: HNH BBQ's's Beef Brisket Sandwich. It's moist and tender, savory and peppery, filling but not nap-inducing. Splatter your choice of white onions, sliced pickled jalapenos, or BBQ sauce (which, by the way, is NOT how they do it in Texas where HNH originated). This sammy is served on a perfect soft roll. Dennis just launched HNH; he's the chef at An Choi, the heralded banh mi joint on Orchard St., by day.

How much: 7 bucks, with your choice of condiments. Add a buck for a big side of potato salad.

What else: Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage Sandwich, a Meat Plate that comes with Brisket and Sausage and a side, which lately is the potato salad: a lush mayo/mustard mix with soft red-potato chunks. That's pretty much it.

When and Where: Every Saturday in Fort Greene.

What: Kevin of Regan + Smith Antiques comes down from Hudson, NY, with unique and antique furniture, home objects and even functional treasures, like this enormous Le Creuset Green Enamel Saucepan. Every home cook knows the value of a large cast iron pan that'll last a lifetime, especially when kept in mint condition like this one.

What else: Wall hangings, metal furniture, iconic classic artifacts, unusual glassware, fun vintage toys, kitchenware, weird books, all of it. Travel to their Warren St. shop upstate for more upscale goods, or find Kevin with his weekly Flea batch.

How much: This pan goes for hundreds new but Kevin will let you walk away with this gently used one for a mere 40 bucks.

When+Where: Every Sunday at One Hanson, many Saturdays in Fort Greene (check the layout) and online at reganandsmith.com.

Grub Street posted the list (click to enlarge) of recipes and foodmakers in The New Brooklyn Cookbook that's out next week, and it's jammed with Fleasters. We're proud to have so many cool folks in one place.

Among our peeps featured in the tome: Salvatore Bklyn Ricotta, Lunetta (where Dave Pizza Moto is chef), Diner (their Sons & Daughters stand at SummerStage ruled, and stay tuned for some Roman's-Flea news later this week), Early Bird Granola, The Good Fork, Hot Bread Kitchen (who once Flea'd and we still love), Eagle St. Rooftop Farms (where Ben of Brooklyn Grange got his start), and Mast Bros. Chocolate (old-school Flea, still pals). Way to go, folks!

And hey, did you know that Asia Dog, Choncho's Tacos, Pizza Moto, and Crop to Cup Coffee will all be upstate slingin' grub at the awesome All Tomorrow's Parties festival this weekend? (Or that Senor Flea and his Treehouse pals are DJ'ing from midnight to 3am there Saturday night?) Crazy.

Excellent Scavenging, Hunters.

Check back at noon Friday for this week's items.

From left (click to enlarge):
Saturday: Mei-an (right) is, and we quote, "a Jersey Shore girl who is NOT as portrayed on TV." Brooklynites totally get it, Mei-an. She was lucky enough to find the cool concrete birdbath, which will, presumably, be going to the boids (to perpetuate a Brooklyn stereotype).

She's with Don Wood of Fat Dog Fabrication, which is named for Don's, well, fat dog, who's often at his booth. Cute pooch. Don is a carpenter and fabricator here in Brooklyn who works with concrete, wood, and metal, repurposed when possible. He makes these cool birdbaths, side tables and benches, dog bowls, wooden robots, and more that combine those materials with a slightly Japanese/Noguchi sensibility mixed with a sleek contemporary look. Don's a fun-loving guy and he's really taken a liking to the customer interaction at the Flea; his vibe has added a lot since he joined the market a few months ago. We're lucky to have him: B5 in Fort Greene.

Sunday: Krista (left) and Eric (right) are on their first vacation from Sonoma County in 10 years, and on their second day they went to the Flea (which sounds biblical). Krista was dutifully planning their subway trip online, saw the sparkly earrings on the Flea site, and totally snagged them. Ironically, they had done a scavenger hunt at the Met the day before, where they found multiple items but were offered nothing for free. Manhattan prices! Also, they dug the Flea.

Amy (middle) is the brains behind Birdhouse Jewelry (birdbrain?) with hubby Alan (the brawn?). Ask your friends/officemates/cool family member: where'd you get those earrings/ring/bracelet? Bet they say Birdhouse a lot. Amy's booth is always packed with newcomers and regulars, who can't resist her styles, which are constantly updated and perfectly suited for the everyday. Amy's also the market's biggest promoter and fan; she just loves the friggin' Flea! She's been with us since Day One, and we're grateful for that. C7 in Fort Greene, G-46 at One Hanson, every week (without fail).

There's also this cool video profile on Shft.com about how the Flea is an inherently sustainable enterprise. Senor blabs about said topic, as does Silas Finch, a converter of found junk into timeless art who's also very articulate. Peep it.

Cool cool.

Note: The Fort Greene market happens every Saturday outdoors; One Hanson is on Sundays indoors on 3 floors. Both are open 10am-5pm.

When you find one of the items above, which can be hidden in any vendor booth, it's yours, absolutely free! Then we post your photo with the generous vendor here on the blog on Monday. Only one winner per calendar month. Items posted every Friday around Noon.

From left (click to enlarge):
1. Saturday: Window-ledge-size "Birdbath For One," concrete. New/Handmade

2. Sunday: Turquoise swag earrings: 18K gold-plated silver chain with
amethyst briolettes, simulated turquoise cabochons, and purple glass pearls. New/Handmade

What: Mauren of Dulcinée brings the delicate feminine flare to the Flea. Her carefully handpicked selection of women's vintage spans classic cotton to soft silk dresses, plus blouses, skirts and pants from the late 1800's up to the 1980's. Mauren had a great shop on the LES for a long time before she Flea'd too.
What else: Pair a lovely and comfy blue cotton dress with Italian leather boots from the '70s—they knew how to construct the leather!
How much: Although everything Dulcinée sells is in mint condition with no stains, broken buttons or sticky zippers, nothing is priced higher than 200 bucks—even the boldfaced designer pieces that will appreciate in value over time.
When+Where: Every Saturday in Fort Greene and online at dulcineenyc.com. Sundays at One Hanson starting in September too.

Nice Hunting out there!

Check back at noon Friday for this week's items.

From left (click to enlarge):
Saturday: Marco (right) is a New Yorker originally from Italy. He spotted the vintage glasses—the well-fed duo of the Hulk from 7-Eleven and Jabba the Hut from Burger King—at around 9:45 (before the Flea is technically open, folks), saying "his child" is going to be thrilled. Marco hits the Flea most Saturdays, and although he and vendor Dan are both wearing red striped shirts they have never before met.

Mr. Dan Treiber (left) and his wife Reina bought the house Dan grew up in on City Island in the Bronx a few years ago. After a few months of Fleaing he swears that 75% of what he sells still comes from his attic—the pile of Star Wars stuff alone is neverending. (Don't worry he kept all of his personal favorites.) Under the descriptive vendor name dAN's Parents House, he sells all manner of '80s toys, old keys, postage stamps, and the vending machines that are fast becoming his hallmark. Stop by for a gumball—or, leave him a stack of love letters to add to his burgeoning collection/public project.

Sunday: Martin (second from right) lives in stylish Crown Heights North, had been to the Flea before, and plans to place the cool leather gun holster on the mantel in his apartment. (This is the kind of use we were hoping for.) He was in a rush so we couldn't even get his lady friends' names. Martin is a user-experience designer, on the computers and such.

Wendy (right) has a shop down in Schuylkill Haven, PA, called Rough + Tumble Vintage, and she's been doing the Flea since April '09, threading the clothing/accessories/stuff needle with a slightly country/western vibe. A fella named Don Hume makes the holsters in Oklahoma, and Wendy's got loads more where they came from. (Four people thought they had found the Hunt item on Saturday in Fort Greene, but were told they'd jumped the gun.) Find Wendy every darn Saturday in W10, and every Sunday at One Hanson (check the layout 'til she finds a regular spot). Heeya!

Giddyup!

Note: The Fort Greene market happens every Saturday outdoors; One Hanson is on Sundays indoors on 3 floors. Both are open 10am-5pm.

When you find one of the items above, which can be hidden in any vendor booth, it's yours, absolutely free! Then we post your photo with the generous vendor here on the blog on Monday. Only one winner per calendar month. Items posted every Friday around Noon.

From left (click to enlarge):
1. Saturday: Incredible Hulk (7-Eleven, 1977) and Jabba the Hut ('83, Burger King) drinking glasses. Vintage

2. Sunday: Leather gun holster, made in Oklahoma by Don Hume. New/Handmade

What: Fort Greene designer (and vendor since Day One) Nina Z's Swedish-made platform clogs, sandals, and boots with leather tops. Each shoe is handmade with gently treated leather and natural wood, with tacks applied by fifth generation clog-making hands.
What else: Grab yourself a pair in red, black, beige, or brown; polished or matte; high or low heel; braided or solid; buckled or slip; winter or summer; dainty or sturdy—whatever style, the solid construction will make these shoes lifers.
How much: $85 to $225, a steal considering the import, the materials, and the individual attention to each pair.
When+Where: Every Saturday in Fort Greene (W32) and online at ninaznyc.com.