This Saturday at the Little Flea Cultural Corner: Action Camp

Can't tell you how excited we are to have Action Camp at Little Flea this Saturday! They'll play at our little Cultural Corner for a full hour starting at 12 p.m. They are generally described as sounding "like the soundtrack of a David Lynch movie, only catchier," or better yet as "Post-Pop with roots in Surf, Electro, and Classical composition. It can be quiet then loud, slow then fast, live then electronic, but it's always drenched in reverb." By any definition, this duo is simply awesome. Don't miss this show!


Live @ the New Hazlett Theater from Action Camp on Vimeo.


Action Camp was originally formed in 2006 after a chance meeting of an unlikely pair. A classically trained, folk-rooted girl met an electro-minded punk boy while both toiling in the food-industry and a relationship akin to a well-weathered marriage began. A shared love of 50's doo-wop, dark pop music, and David Lynch movies is the glue that binds them and also the basis for their eclectic sound.


After playing in the Boston scene for 3 years and going through a few line-up changes, founding members Bengt Alexsander and Maura Jacob decided to relocate to Jacob's hometown of Pittsburgh, PA. Action Camp has since become an ever-evolving entity, incorporating both live and electronic instruments, a flare for the dramatic, and an intimate live show that welcomes audience participation. They invite you to escape from the everyday mundane into the surreal, where “female vocals waft like ground fog above an ancient forest floor [and] a bizarre sense of darker monster surf music slithers in the eardrums” (The Noise Boston).


They hope you’re along for the ride.

New Market Hours!

We're happy to announce that as of this coming Saturday, July 31 the new market hours will be 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. These new set of hours are a better fit for market shoppers and vendors now that we've reached mid-season. Little changes (sometimes) make all the difference.

See you at Little Flea on Saturday!

Green Circle Farm's List

Green Circle Farm introduced organic produce last week at Little Flea and it was a hit! We're happy to tell you that this Saturday there'll be more delicious organic goodness for your table. So, here's the long-awaited "list" from farmer Erika Peterson. Come and get it!

The List

• Organic, pastured chicken and beef (soy-free, GMO-free)
• Certified organic tomatoes, green beans, cantaloupe, patty pan squash, kale, cucumbers, zucchini

Green Circle Farm produces naturally pastured, soy-free, GMO-free, uncertified organic meats and eggs. Certified organic produce comes to you from Clarion River Organics farm.

Featured Vendor: Shernise Allen

A skillful glass artist, Shernise Allen creates beautiful, whimsical fused glass artwork, accessories and jewelry. Come meet her at Little Flea this Saturday. But first, learn about her approach to the craft, her work and her inspiration -- in her own words.

"The paradox fascinated me. Glass is a solid with the properties of a liquid. At room temperature it’s “frozen”. When heated, it becomes fluid.

Fusing glass involves heating it in a kiln to high temperatures typically over an 18 – 24 hour period. This process releases the fluid nature of the glass. The glass itself comes in a variety of colors and forms: powders, flat sheets with and without texture, dichroic or iridescent coatings (to reflect light), chips and shards (confetti), strings, noodles, rods. Certain metals (gold, silver, to some extent aluminum) and minerals (like mica) can withstand these high temperatures and can be infused into my glass creations.

I love working with glass because of the way the colors and textures interact with light. My inspiration comes mostly from abstract artists like Kandinsky, stained glass in cathedrals and from nature. Yet I have also found inspiration from a magazine picture, people’s clothing or even a greeting card picture. Said simply: life inspires me.

My pieces often take 4-5 firings. A variety of elements must be fired separately at different temperatures. The elements are then combined and fired one last time to complete and assemble the finished piece. Deciding how best to display the glass becomes the next challenge. Sometimes I know how I want to display the glass and that can shape my design and color choices.

If you look at my work and smile or giggle, you have caught my dual message. There is always beauty to be found in life; and we should keep our sense of humor. Hopefully each time you view one of my pieces you will find something new and wonderful to reflect upon and enjoy because that is how I approach life."

This Saturday at Little Flea: Featured Vendors

Each week we feature a small selection of our great vendors. Here's a sneak peek at who and what will be waiting for you this Saturday at Little Flea.

Lawrenceville resident Susan Banahasky returns this week with her great collection of household goods, antiques and collectibles.

Green Circle Farm had a fantastic reception on their first appearance at the market last week. This week, farmer Erika Peterson will be bringing organic chicken and beef -- and organic produce from Clarion River Organics! (Green Circle Farm produces naturally pastured, soy-free, GMO-free, uncertified organic meats and eggs.)

A favorite with shoppers, Prosper Ayimbota will have on display his own handmade Ghanaian djembe drums, masks and woodcarvings. His pieces were crafted at his workshop at the National Culture Center in Accra, Ghana.

Meet Shernise Allen who will have several of her beautiful, whimsical fused glass artwork and jewelry. "If you look at my work and smile or giggle, you have caught my dual message. There is always beauty to be found in life; and we should keep our sense of humor." More on Shernise and her work next week.

Lawrenceville-native Tina Wiktorzewski manages her always popular stall where she sells authentic, handmade Peruvian jewelry and accessories.

Victoria Hruska in New Documentary on Braddock

Back in May, we told you about Victoria Hruska's contribution to a documentary series on her beloved city of Braddock. Well, here's the first episode, and in it we get to see Victoria's home and hear a few of her wise words. Take a look!



We Are All Workers tells the story of Braddock then and now (with emphasis in the now), and includes the voice of native residents and a new generation of urban pioneers, led by Mayor John Fetterman, who are intent on bringing the city back. The film, produced in collaboration with Sundance and IFC, is part of a campaign by garment giant Levi's, who sponsored several city projects.

A favorite of the Little Flea community, Victoria will be joining us again this Saturday. Come meet her and get your hands on some of her wonderful eco-friendly creations.

This Saturday at Little Flea: Green Circle Farm

This week, we are proud and excited to welcome to the market our first farm! Green Circle Farm produces naturally pastured, soy-free, GMO-free, uncertified organic meats and eggs. Their animals are raised without antibiotics, hormones, pesticides, or herbicides. Hey, remember healthy animals make healthy food!

It's local, of course! Green Circle Farm raises pastured poultry at Mickley Organic Farms in Volant, PA, near Slippery Rock and raises 100% grass-fed beef at Willow Springs Farm, under the Green Circle Farm label.

So what will be on hand this week? On this occasion, the farm will be bringing you fresh chicken and frozen beef, pork, and lamb.

Come meet farmer Erika Peterson who will be happy to answer any questions at all about how or where the foods she sells were raised, fed, grown, or produced.

Every week, Green Circle Farm delivers its local farm products to select locations in Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh area -- and now you can also find them at Little Flea!

More farmers coming soon.

This Saturday at the Little Flea Cultural Corner

Little Flea is back at it again! Here's the Cultural Corner line-up for Saturday, July 10. You're all invited to come enjoy and support some great local talent.

12 p.m. - April Louise Childers

April Louise Childers is a violinist, born and raised in Wheeling, WV. She has played with several orchestras and is currently a member of the Washington Symphony Orchestra in Washington, PA.

In addition to performing classical music with the WSO and as a solo artist, she recently began experimenting with an electric violin and is now performing a variety of other genres including soft rock, pop, jazz, gospel, and Christian contemporary. This has proved to be an exciting venture and has broadened her musical repertoire immensely. Audiences become instant fans of the haunting sound of this relatively obscure instrument. While the delicate sound of the violin has endured as a favorite in classical music for centuries, the combination of the electric violin and modern songs add a sense of freshness and innovation which allows present-day audiences to thoroughly enjoy songs they know and fall in love with the sound of the violin anew.
More info:
MySpace | Facebook | april_louise_childers@yahoo.com

1 p.m. - Uke and Tuba

Uke & Tuba are Pittsburgh's finest ukulele/tuba duo (with dancers). And they openly welcome all challengers to this title. Uke & Tuba have performed their trademark blend of cabaret, performance art and punk rock everywhere from rock shows to a library, from house parties to Andy Warhol's grave, and from a wedding to a Girl Scouts day camp. They look forward to adding "flea market" to their long list of venues played (their last two attempts were rained out).

UPCOMING SHOW
July 10 @ 3 pm: Flea Market Spectacular at Future Tenant
July 16 @ 10 pm: Beaver Valley Bowl w/The Cellar Dwellers (Rochester, PA.)

More info:
Website | Facebook | MySpace | info@ukeandtuba.com

What Community Looks Like: June + July FleaScene

Little Flea season is well under way. Each Saturday unravels fascinating stories concocted by neighbors, artists and vendors as we mingle together for short moments or hours. Stories you just have to experience for yourself. The story of stuff -- too complex to tell straight in this medium. The last few weeks we've seen sweltering days, rainy days, and quite comfortable, balmy days. We've seen a disco ball (purchased at the market) rolling down Butler St. and witnessed an enormous, magical swarm of bees, swoop down on us, exiting as elegantly and swiftly as it had appeared. We've welcomed new vendors who were once visitors and visitors who'd just the week before were vendors, who sold out of stuff to sell but just can't stay away. We've listened to music as diverse as our neighborhood, played by astonishingly talented people who just feel like sharing it with the community. Can't say we're not enjoying ourselves. Come visit and stay awhile.

The following are a few snapshots from the last few weeks. For more, check out the photo album for a brief look at the latest editions of Little Flea.

At Chris's spot, the infamous disco ball before it was rolled away by it's new owner.

Alex Lindsay Roth. Remember that name. This 13 year-old left everyone stunned with her unbelievable voice and repertoire. Listening to her sing Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah was truly memorable.

Ken, a glass expert and collector, taking a break at his tent.

Paper art and cards by Kathryn Carr of Go Carr Go. 

Werner painstakingly assembles a paper vessel from one of his awesome, authentic 1960's German kits.

Celebrate Independence!

Every Saturday, Little Flea celebrates the independent spirit -- and this weekend is like no other. Come join us if you're (un)lucky enough to be stuck in the city. You never know what happy moments and treasures you will encounter!

The most fun part about the disco ball was watching the new owner try to get it to his car which involved hauling it in a little red wagon after the attempt to roll it failed. -- Tam Barker of Barker's Herbs and Heirlooms