This Is What Community Looks Like: Opening Day at Little Flea

Diverse. Creative. Entrepreneurial. Supportive. Fun. A few words to describe the flea scene on opening day. The summer-like weather served as a perfect backdrop as a great number of Lawrencevilleans and visitors descended unto the market from very early hours. Little Flea was literally jumping! Some folks even stayed the day, conveniently splitting time between Little Flea and the great shops and eateries in the neighborhood.

Little Flea Opening Day, 2010 Season.

Brewer's Row debuts at the new Cultural Space at Little Flea. Rustbelt Americana at its best!

A Lawrenceville family spending early afternoon at Little Flea.

For more pics, checkout the photo album at our Facebook page.

The fleafun continues this Saturday. Hope to see you there.

Little Flea Cultural Corner Line-up

Here's the Cultural Corner line-up for opening day, Saturday, April 3. We've assembled a group of top local talent that is simply awesome! There's something for everyone. And this is just for week 1.

11 a.m. - Seán O'Donnell
Seán O’Donnell, a Pittsburgh-area native, started playing the bagpipes at age 7, and his obsession with music spread from there. After learning his first guitar chords from his father, he began spending unhealthy amounts of time making layered, two-track recordings on his parents’ multi-deck cassette player.

Today, his original recordings combine a DIY ethic and influences spanning decades and genres, but can be vaguely pinned down in the psych-folk vein. In his live performances, Seán trades in whistles and bells for passionate vocals and a distortion pedal. Imagine the Clancy Brothers covering the Violent Femmes, and you’ll start to get the picture.

UPCOMING SHOWS
Saturday, April 10, 2 p.m., Lawrenceville Little Flea
Wednesday, April 21, 9 p.m., Howler's
Wednesday, May 12 5 p.m., Backstage Bar and Grill

More info
sean@monkeycorner.net, 412.298.8782
Website | MySpace


12pm - Istvan Medgyesi
Istvan is a Do-It-Yourself multi-instrumentalist /singer /songwriter/performer who loves to play music for the sake of playing music. When not playing, he's involved with environmental sustainability and various social justice and outreach programs.

His act incorporates a wide variety of musical styles on various instruments. You’ll hear traces of American roots music, Caribbean, Eastern European, and Indian influences, as well as different folk styles played on guitar, banjo, auto-harp, and sitar.

UPCOMING SHOWS
Apr 8 2010 5:00pm. Ligonier Tavern Ligonier, Pennsylvania
Apr 9 2010 8:00pm. Cebars 185th w/ Oldboy Euclid, Ohio

More info:
MySpace

1 p.m. - Brewer's Row
Brewer’s Row takes their name from an attic practice space just steps from a neighboring Pittsburgh brewery. The Steel Town natives’ roots are recognizable in a repertoire of bittersweet melodies bound by layered choruses. Taking influence from the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Patty Griffin, the resulting sound has been described as “Rustbelt Americana”.

UPCOMING SHOWS
4.17.2010, 9PM - The Thunderbird Cafe. 4023 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA (Lawrenceville)
4.24.2010, 9PM - The Park House. 403 East Ohio Street, Pittsburgh, PA(North Side)
5.2.2010, 7:30AM (!) - The Pittsburgh Marathon

More info
Website | MySpace | Facebook


2 p.m. - Jess Sides
Jess is an extraordinary singer/songwriter. Uplifting, inspired, and from the heart. This is what life and music is all about for Jess.

"My original music is about staying up and finding love (especially self-love) while coping with the paradox of living a meaningful life. It is a mixture of alot of influences. R&B, Soul, Rock, Folk, and Pop, and Classical influences. Every song is new, fresh, and exciting."

UPCOMING SHOWS
Apr 3 2010 10:00p Fodi’s Bar, Shaler, PA
Apr 10 2010 12:00P LittleFlea, Lawrenceville Pittsburgh, PA
Apr 16 2010 6:00P Happy Hour @ BeerNutz (O’Hara), Pittsburgh, PA
Apr 17 2010 7:30P Keynote Cafe--with Milquetoast (Boston) and JWP (local) Jeannette, PA

More info
Website

So, it's settled: you've got a rendezvous with Lawrenceville this Saturday. Support local vendors, artists, and the Lawrenceville business district. Act Locally!

ABOUT THE CULTURAL CORNER @ Little Flea

Every Saturday, the new Cultural Space at Little Flea presents local Western Pennsylvania artists who come out to share their talents with the community. From live music, dance, and spoken word to art exhibits, performance, and educational/wellness workshops, now at Little Flea you are sure to get your recommended daily dose of arts and culture.

The Cultural Space is a great opportunity for artists to promote and share their art, products and services with our diverse audience. Artists are invited to perform and/or give workshops for half-hour or hour sets. Participation is always free, and you are welcome to pass out flyers, sell products (CDs, books, art) and collect tips/donations.

Apply today at lawrencevillelittleflea@gmail.com. FYI: April is booked.

The Story of Stuff: Little Flea 2010 Season Opens Saturday, April 3

As a consumer society, in some way or another, we are constantly dealing with stuff. Today we understand that the stuff of life -- those objects of desire and necessity -- have a life of their own, a lifetime that, for good or bad, may very well outlive ours. Slowly but surely, as we learn more and more about the not so bright side of our faulty systems of production and consumption, an empowering public discourse and pragmatic solutions are springing up all over the place to address some of these issues in small and big ways.

At Little Flea, one of the things we want to do is to tell the story of stuff and to help ease in a small, but effective way our complicated relationship with the stuff around us. What's best is that we can do it together. So, together we recycle our stuff among us: some finding use for them as is; others seeing potential for creative re-use or upcycle, imbuing new life into once destitute, forgotten objects. Ultimately, our mission is to contribute to the sustainability of our community by providing a space for local vendors, artists, and neighbors to gather and share, as well as to serve as a modest economic catalyst for entrepreneurs and our growing business district at large.

The first, full-fledged Lawrenceville Little Flea season kicks off this coming Saturday, April 3, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the corner of 36th. + Butler St. A curated environment made to fit our eclectic neighborhood, the market features a rotating variety of flea fare, handmade goods, food and cultural activities.

As we mentioned in the previous post, this season we are expanding the scope and breadth of cultural activities to enhance our mission. Every Saturday, the new Cultural Corner at Little Flea presents local Western Pennsylvania artists who come out to share their talents with the community -- from live music, dance, and spoken word to art exhibits, performance, and educational/wellness workshops. The Cultural Corner will come alive at 11 a.m.

Make Lawrenceville part of your Saturday plans! See you at the flea.

We'd like to leave you with The Story of Stuff, the acclaimed film by Annie Leonard that takes us on an eye-opening animated journey through the different life cycles of the products we voraciously consume.




Photo: visitors shop for recycled art pieces by Braddock artist Victoria Hruska

New This Season: Cultural Corner at Little Flea

On opening day -- Saturday, April 3 -- Little Flea will introduce new and exciting additions to the market. For example, this season we are expanding the scope and breadth of cultural activities to fit the overall sustainability mission of our quirky neighborhood flea market.

Every Saturday, the new Cultural Corner at Little Flea presents local Western Pennsylvania artists who come out to share their talents with the community. From live music, dance, and spoken word to art exhibits, performance, and educational/wellness workshops, now at Little Flea you are sure to get your recommended daily dose of arts and culture. You'll be moving -- we'll all be moving -- as together we turn Little Flea into one living, breathing organism.

We've got an awesome line-up so far, with new folks joining every day -- from well-known professionals to the up-and-coming and the recreational talent. Sneak-peak coming next week.

Come to Little Flea and experience community!

Perform at Little Flea

The Cultural Corner is a great opportunity for artists to promote and share their art, products and services with our diverse audience. Artists are invited to perform and/or give workshops for half-hour or hour sets. Participation is always free, and you are welcome to pass out flyers, sell products (CDs, books, art) and collect tips/donations.

Request an application for the Cultural Corner at lawrencevillelittleflea@gmail.com

Photo: Stephanie and Bob Miller sing "Here Comes The Sun" after the welcome passing of a rainstorm one fine Saturday afternoon at Little Flea, September 2009.

Little Flea's Calling All Vendors... and Buskers!

We're excited to announce that the Little Flea 2010 season officially kicks-off on Saturday, April 3. With that in mind, here's an invitation for all you vendors and buskers in Lawrenceville and across the city to come join this unique urban flea market known for its quality goods and quality people.

Due to its small size and location, Little Flea is a curated environment made to fit our eclectic neighborhood, and features as a result a rotating variety of flea, thrift, craft, food and entertainment. Make sure you don't miss out - request an application today at lawrencevillelittleflea@gmail.com.

Photo: Lauren Seiple and Sarah Alessio oversee their Tent of Goodies at last year's Little Flea season finale, in November. Yeah, that's right, November!

Where Did That Naughty Little Flea Go?

Though it still lays quite dormant, Little Flea is stirring, dreaming up new adventures for the upcoming flea market season. Soon enough the warmer weather will wake us all, so it's time for us to gear up for some flea fun on Butler St. We've already begun work behind the scenes. Teaser: there will be a few significant improvements that will make this season's Little Flea better than the last. Look for details in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, go on and listen to Miriam Makeba sing our adopted anthem and dream of springtime, but not for too long -- you should also start some serious prepping, especially if you're planning to become a vendor. We'll start recruitment pretty soon and will be looking for dedicated and creative entrepreneurs to join last year's "pioneers". Want to get a head-start? Pre-register right now: request an application at lawrencevillelittleflea [at] gmail.com and submit it to us asap (new online form coming soon).

Despite having an awesome first-run last year, Little Flea wants to be better. This time around, we'll have many more months at our disposal, enough to transition from being the "best pop-up flea market" in Pittsburgh to becoming a mainstay in the community, as a catalyst for local entrepreneurs and a great spot for Lawrencevilleans to hang out. Come join us!

Little Flea to kick off in late March/early April.

One More Time: Last Little Flea of the Season?

Back after a three-week hiatus (due to bad weather), Little Flea is setting up Saturday for what could well be the last time before going into hibernation. New and old vendors will be on hand with their incredible treasures. (Alas, Victoria Hruska can't make it!) There may even be some music to dance to! (Btw, interested buskers should get in touch with us immediately.) So, let's come together and have us some flea fun as we "lively up" the neighborhood. Pets welcome.


SAVE THE LAWRENCEVILLE LIBRARY! Stop by the Little Flea community table and pick up a Sustain Our Libraries poster. This fundraising effort is a collaboration between Jude Vachon and Mary Tremonte, with all proceeds directed to the CLP. For a nominal $15 donation, you can have one of these silkscreened lovelies for your window. Make checks out to Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh; identify operating costs or Lawrenceville branch in the notes section. Can't make it down this Saturday? Posters are also available at Equita (3609 Butler St). Don't forget your checkbook!

Much love to those who have filled their windows with messages of support and shouted in the streets to keep our branches open! Here's to the good fight!