I used to be Martha Stewart.
Or, at least I wanted to be. I wanted to spend my days handmaking paper scrapbooks, growing begonias and wild roses, and “antiquing” — scouring flea markets for my ever-growing collection of handblown green glass bottles.
I know. Sick.
Thankfully, I’m so over that phase of my life. (I couldn’t keep a desk cactus alive to save my life.) And it’s been ages since I last went to a flea market. That is, until the new L.A. Flea Market opened up at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles last month.
Despite the fact that it was the hottest weekend to date in an unusually cool summer for us Angelenos, I had to check it out. Had flea markets changed since my last foray years ago? Would this one be different?
Smart shoppers kept the UV rays at bay under umbrellas.
There were plenty of celebs and dignitaries at the grand opening. Shoppers hobnobbed with the likes of Zooey Deschanel, Kelly Lynch, Kate Linder and Shenae Grimes. Bloggers and journalists alike snapped photos as they snapped up goods. Local deejay Rick Dees held a Hollywood Yard Sale, 460 vendors hawked their wares ranging from clothing to antiques to gourmet goodies, live music wafted throughout, and a kids’ area (rock climbing, go-carts) kept the young ones busy.
My favorite part of the experience were the food trucks — 20 in all — gathered in one area like some dream-come-true buffet. Mandoline’s to-die-for banh mi or a chili dog? Indian or pizza? I even ran into my old friend Debbie Lee, runner-up of last season’s The Next Food Network Star, at her newest venture, the Ahn-Joo food truck. (Read about it in our upcoming Fall 2010 issue!)
People lined up to try Debbie Lee's Korean pub food at her gourmet truck Ahn-Joo.
But it wasn’t all just narcissistic self-indulgence. The flea market’s non-profit section hosted the UCLA Blood and Platelet Center, North East Trees Organization, and Dalmatian Firehouse. (More organizations, including the Dodger’s Dream Foundation, are participating in future events.) And Homeboy Industries, which helps at-risk and formerly gang-involved youth to become contributing members of society through job placement, training and education, provided logistics and maintenance support. How cool is that.
The next L.A. Flea Market is this coming Sunday, August 29, and it sounds like it’s going to be better than ever. They’ve upped their amenities, including cooling stations, a beer garden, and a “Dodger Experience” where you can try their famous Dodger dog.
You know, I just may have to get into this flea market thing yet again.
DETAILS
When: Sunday, August 29, 2010. Thereafter: October 31, November 21, December 19, January 16 and February 20
Where: Dodger Stadium, 1000 Elysian Park Ave, Los Angeles, Calif.
Tickets: General admission is $5 starting at 9 am and includes free parking; preferred parking is $10; Early Bird tickets allowing 7 am entry are $10; V.I.P. tickets including early bird entry are $15; kids under 12 get in free. You can purchase tickets by emailing order@tix.com.
Info: www.thelafleamarket.com, 866.966.9495
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