Comité des Fêtes fleamarket

So this morning I went to one of the biggest event in Paris, that's on twice a year! That is....The antiques & vide greniers in the 3rd arrondissement of Paris. The second biggest fleamarket after Porte de Clignancourt in the 18th. Called the Brocante de Printemps, the venue is a step away from Le Marais and Bastille. By the time all the vendeur spilled their stuff into the table, the whole area looks like a treasure box flipped inside out. Literally. I know my brother who loves vintage and antiques will go crazy if he was here, it's like a little kid who was lost in a giant toy store. He would spend hours and hours for sure.

You can find absolutely anything here, name it and I'm sure you will find it. There is a guy who sells vintage luggages, from Louis Vuitton to nameless brands in immaculate conditions. Not that I'd go for those stuff, but my brother would....I didn't particularly want to get anything in particular, because we have the exact market but in a quarter of the size in Melbourne with almost the same kinds of antiques (a quarter of the price tags too) but I thought if I did found anything I reaaaallllllyyyy like, then I'll get it. And that was just the story with me the whole time I was there. I was kinda subconsciously looking for a nice leather bag, and well I found a nice seaweed (more like very dark muted army green) leather Kenzo satchel that this french lady was selling. I've always been a fan of Kenzo, his collection are very understated yet each are very well thought of, elegantly chic, which is why the French lovveeeess his stuff. So all the time I kept circling the area, then after a few hours of rotating the whole place....in the end I thought, oh well, it's such a bargain and this is Paris after all. So I bought it! Happy, no regrets!

Les Marchés Parisiens

These are the list of what's happening in antique and produce markets around Paris from now 'til June 09. From this website.

Image of Paris market streets in 1912-1925, Paris à l'Ancienne

Antiques et Brocantes

03 Arrondissement

Comité des Fêtes fleamarket

On Sun, Fri, Sat From: Friday, May 29, 2009 To: Sunday, May 31, 2009

Huge fleamarket which spills onto the surrounding streets of Eugene Spuller, de Bretagne, Perrée, Debelleyme and Dupetit-Thouars, Place Turenne, Carreau du Temple and the Cour de la Mairie in the 3rd. Vintage items, trinkets, clothing, furniture, toys and treasures starting from one euro. Métro: Temple.

04 Arrondissement

Bastille Antiques Fair

From: Thursday, May 07, 2009 To: Sunday, May 17, 2009

Annual Brocante. La Place de la Bastille (Arr 4) Metro: Bastille

14 Arrondissement

Puces de Vanves

Every Sun, Sat

200+ professional brocanteurs from France and abroad present their wares and most recent discoveries. Trade and amatuer object hunters abound from 07:00 to 13:00 on Sangnier and to 15:00 on av Lafenestrer. On weekends all year round. On av Georges Lafenestre, av Marc Sangnier. Metro: Porte de Vanves. Tel: 06 03 46 10

Les Marché Alimentaires par arrondissement (pour la semain prochain)

05 Arrondissement
Monge Market

Every Sun, Wed, Fri

Produce market held on Wednesdays and Fridays from 07:00-14:30 and on Sundays from 07:00-15:00 at Place Monge (Arr 5) Metro: Place Monge.

08 Arrondissement

Europe Covered Market

Every Sun, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat

Produce market held Tuesday to Saturday 8:00-13:30 and 16:00-19:00, Sundays 8:00-13:00. At 1 rue Corvetto (Arr 8) Metro: Villiers.

12 Arrondissement
Cours de Vincennes Market

Every Wed, Sat

Produce market held Wednesdays 7:00-14:30 and Saturdays 7:00-15:00 at Cours de Vincennes, between boulevard Picpus and rue Arnold Netter (Arr 12) Metro: Nation.

Batignolles Market (organic)

8th arrondissement & 17th arrondissement
boulevard des Batignolles on the center divider strip between no. 27 & 35 (8th) and no. 34 & 48 (17th)
Métro Place de Clichy/Rome
Saturday

As quoted from here. "This delightful market specializes in natural and organic ("biologique") foods, both fresh produce and take-out dishes. With all the food crises lately, this is becoming more and more popular in France. You can also find raw silk blouses, mare’s milk, wine and sushi, all in the same space! This is a great market to visit to pick up a picnic lunch."

African Market Street Dejean

Every day from 9 am to 12 pm 30, except Sunday afternoon and Monday. Rue Dejean - Paris 18e. Rue Dejean - Paris 18th. M° Château Rouge. M ° Château Rouge.

Marché poncelet, Paris

Rue Poncelet, 75017 Paris

Tous les jours sauf le lundi 8H00/13H00 et 16H00/19H30

Nearest tube:

• Ternes (0.2 km)

So far...

The Bad, The Good and The Supposedly-Good

Yep I spent the whole Sunday checking the three biggest or 'so they called' the must-see of Paris 'flea' markets. Porte de Vanves, Porte de Montreuil and the famous Marche Saint Quen (the original flea of the fleas market ever to exist). Started the morning walking to Porte de Vanves as it is only 15m walking from where I am staying being in the 15th. It is exactly like Camberwell Market in Melbourne but bigger, more and more antiques. A lot more junk definitely and obviously more expensive as most of the objects you can basically find in Melbourne lot cheaper or any other cities beside Paris. However I was determined to get something as I love checking out stuff at flea markets and usually will get things I like for keepsake. Despite the thick crowd (As I've said early in my blog, I can't stand big crowds and usually flees the scene immediately), I managed to get these:
Marche aux Puces de la Port de Vanves is definitely The Good

a hummingbird brooch (for my mum)

a small peacock pin brooch (a gift...someone will pop into my mind) just in case...


and a silky camel coloured scarf with a black mini prints of a horse and a cart...(i thought it'd be cool for my brother..he has this thing with mini printed scarfs lately)

Then I decided to check Marche aux puces at Porte de Montreuil on the east side border of Paris and so far since being in Paris, I've crossed out a few districts not for future living. And today Porte d Montreuil is added to the list. I'm not going to go into lengths as to why and so on, but lets just say personally its not for me. Very bland and very second hand...also there were a lot of cheap electronics and gadgetries....well I know where to buy my pots, pans, and home stuf next time when I decided to live here...very cheap. If you've been to Pasar Baru in Jakarta, then Porte d M is def like Pasar Baru in a grander scale...The Bad


Lastly it was Marche Saint Quen, by time I arrived at around 3pm, I was already slightly irritated (afternoon slug) and wishing I could sit and drink my coffee. So instead I got a cafe au lait..a emporter of course (to takeaway) in a clear plastic cup and went to one of the recommended 13 markets there. Which was Marche Vernaison. Yes it was like how the travel guides and any other articles described it...picture perfect, touristy, highly over-priced, and from my own experience; everything else that comes with being commercialised. I'm sorry if I'm being too harsh but being exposed to antiques and vintage goods since I was a teenager I know if things are good or bad. This is The Supposedly Good.

But the way they decorate or furnished their little alley shops are very eye catching and interesting. That is what I appreciate since being in Paris, every window displays are works of art and I guess window shopping in Paris does feel my appetite, I am not entirely urge to buy the goods on the window because I feel awed and that is enough for me.