Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire
First Sundays of the month at Alameda naval base, hundreds of people come to sell old stuff. Hundreds more come to shop and mingle. Items for sale are supposed to be 20+ years old.
Address:
2100 Ferry Point map
Alameda, CA 94501
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Worth waking early...
I adore the Alameda Antiques Fair - this is worth waking early to beat the crowds. If you're an amateur photographer, you'll be amazed at the care and consideration that at least 75% of the vendors put into staging and setting up their wares to display for sale.
You can find just about anything there (don't pay more than $12 for a Wagner cast iron skillet, btw -- there are so many people selling them and you CAN find them cheaper). There's just so much -- you might want to bring a GPS so you can retrack your steps and find things to compare.
Last trip I ended up with a fantastic antique cribbage board done with inlay/marquetry showing a bunny with a bag of food and two chickens... totally cute and funny and only $5. My sweetie got a set of irregular, aqua hand blown Italian stemware for $20
It's a great place to meet and talk with vendors and get some great deals - there are some snobby/rude vendors out there but you just smile and walk away. It's a good place for a slow, 5 hour walk. Happy shopping!
Jenn's keywords: fair, flea market, antiques, pottery, dishes, household goods, clothing, furniture
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Cool, local antique flea market
Very good alternative to malls and chain stores, even though some of the stuff people sell is 50 year old chain store crap.
My only complaint is that one can't hop on a train to get to this venue... people drive from all over the bay area by 1s and 2s to park in the biggest parking lot i've ever seen (besting even walmart or ikea's neverlands) with shuttles to drive people (more) from lot to entrance.
this ranting aside, it's a good fun cacophony of professional store owners and private people striving to sell off all manner of wares. whatever has been made since the industrial revolution is on sale here. original photos of native americans. watering cans. kitchen knives. coins. toys. books, belts buckles, cable car bells and lights, stirrups, knick-knacks of every kind. and there's probably a fan club for every thing on sale (in the world, somewhere).
the fresh ocean breeze helps clear out the smell of 1000 garage sales and burning kettle korn. make sure to bargain!
Ken's keywords: flea, market, fair, goods, used, bargain, alameda, oakland, furniture, clothes, art, knick knacks, kitchen, toys
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