Growing up on Long Island, one of my favorite things to do on a weekend was going to the Flea Market. Roosevelt Field in Westbury, Long Island was there for many years (prior to that it was for Horse Racing!), then used for a time for Concerts---of which I went to also. The place was so big and while some of the vendors were there every week, the others changed often so you never knew what bargain you were going to find.
I miss it, it long ago moved away and what they call Flea Markets now are really inside malls with alot of vendors. The closest one now is by LaGuardia Airport in Queens, Long Island, at the old Acqueduct Raceway (all the raceways turning into Flea Markets--kind of sad). I have never been there and decided to take a ride; I had heard it was all new things and nothing like Roosevelt Field had been but I think I was longing for the old days on the Island.
Well, they were right. The place IS huge in the parking lot behind Aqueduct and lucky us, we hit all the traffic with people heading to the Met's game at Shea Stadium. Long Island is notorious for it's traffic and it always makes me laugh when I mapquest something and comes up as a 45 minute driving time.....expect to spend a few hours on the road.
I think I made it through about half the place before I realized that it just "repeats." The same exact things down the different rows but different vendors. And all new, no old treasures to find. Driving home I was a bit disappointed and remembered I had seen an earlier, small Flea Market that they have quite often in the town of Bellmore, Long Island. I love Bellmore with it's own Main Street and quaint restaurants and not quite flea-market-ed out, decided to stop---I am only about 20 minutes (real driving time) East of there.
It only has a few rows of vendors, they have many different handcrafted items which are unique and I love. But I parked on the Main Road this time and went in a way I don't usually go...I was surprised to see a Memorial there that I didn't know existed. It's also funny because I have done many Feng Shui Consultations in Bellmore and will usually stop to eat there, I am wondering how I missed it. But it was a nice Memorial and I'm glad Activerain taught me to carry my camera!
The old Aqueduct Raceway in Queens, New York -- Now the biggest Flea Market I am aware of
The old Aqueduct Raceway building when it was for horse racing in the background (They paved paradise)
They have SO many OTB's---would have been nice to have kept one open although I think Belmont Raceway still operates
Back on Long Island, lovely Bellmore, New York, a quaint little town
The Memorial I had somehow never seen
I thought this was a lovely tribute to our Vietnam Veterans in an unexpected spot
Bellmore, Long Island, New York Flea Market---smaller and kind of quaint, like the town
Once a year, Bellmore has a large fair where all the streets are closed and you can REALLY see the town. If you're lucky enough to be on the Island, don't miss it!
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