Inspiration

I was inspired the other day as my husband and were browsing home decor boutiques! I found some great pieces of restored furniture and home acessories, but with painful price tags. It had the realization that I can decorate my house more affordably and with the same flair that I love in my favorite stores...if I just to the leg work myself. Instead of paying $375 dollars for that refurnished entry way table maybe I coud buy it for half the price and restore it myself. The following list is of the california flea markets and stores that I plan to shop in the next year. I will blog about my adventures...what I'm looking for at each, what I find and how it looks once given some TLC and set in our home. I am also going to post before and after pictures of the rooms we decorate. In particular, our bedroom. See my next blog for more on this.

Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire
1st Sunday of every month
www.antiquesbythebay.com
2100 Ferry Point
(between Seaplane Lagoon & Trident Ave)
Alameda, CA 94501
BERKELEY - - Sat & Sun

Berkeley Flea Market.
Martin Luther King Way and Ashby. BART Station parking lot. Hours: 7am to 7pm. Free adm, limited parking, outdoor market, antiques, collectibles, lots of unusual and unique items here. Very trendy market. Where the "cool" folks shop. Space from $20. c/p Charisse, Community Services, 1937 Ashby Ave, 94703. (510) 644-0744. Fax (510) 540-6970.

OAKLAND
- - 1ST Saturday
Antiques Mart. Jack London Square at the watefront. Hours: 8am to 4pm. Outdoor market with approx 100 dealers. Antiques, collectibles. Snackbar, resroom, h/a. (510) 652-5728.


Pasadena City College Flea Market.
- - 1ST Sunday
1570 E. Colorado Blvd. Hours 8am-3pm. Parking can be difficult. Excellent outdoor market held on college's parking lot, a very fun and colorful market to attend either as a shopper or a seller. Good sales and good buys at this market. This market is operated by the college students and is always a pleasure to attend. One of my favorite stops. For information call, (626) 585-7906.

Omega Salvage
2407 San Pablo Ave.
Berkeley, CA 94702-2010
General Store 510-204-0767

PASADENA
- - 2ND Sunday
Rose Bowl Flea Market. Rose Bowl. Hours 9am-3pm. Admission charge $5. One of the country's largest and best attended selling events. This market has it all and is a surefire " don't miss" event if you are in the Pasadena area. Reservations recommended. Approximately 1500 vendors. Average attendance 30-40,000. This Market is heavy on antiques, collectibles, crafts & high quality items. Good variety of food. Many celebrity's and stars can be seen shopping this market. When the Cabbage Patch dolls were so hot they were unobtainable, I purchased a load of them from a Vice President of Coleco who was running a booth at this market. And Coleco was the company that was making the dolls. Sure liked running across that booth.) For more information c/p R. G. Canning, Box 400. Maywood, CA 90270. (323) 560-7469 or 587-5100. Fax (323) 560-5924. Email: rgc@rgcshows.com

ROSEVILLE
- - Sat & Sun
Denio's Roseville Farmers & Flea Market. 1551 Vineyard Road. Hours 7am-5pm. Parking can be difficult. Approximately 1,500 dealers in summer and increases to 2,000 in winter. One of the largest markets in northern California. Wide range of merchandise: Antiques, furniture, collectibles, crafts, new & used merchandise, housewares, electronics, sportswear, and much more. Food available, restrooms, ample parking. Plan for lots of walking. Many high quality dealers here with large well stocked booths and high grade and quality collector lines. This market is like a gigantic fun-filled festival. Plenty of restrooms, miles of walking, h/a. Space from $15 per day. Reservations recommended. c/p Ken Denio. 1551 Vineyard Road. 95678. (916) 782-2704.

SACRAMENTO
- - Tue & Fri
Auction City & Flea Market.
8521 Folsom Blvd. Hours 7am-5pm. Ample parking. Approximately 400 dealers. One of the area's original markets. Reservations recommended. Antiques, collectibles, stamps, coins, new and used merchandise, crafts, produce, toys. Good food, restrooms, h/a. Market also conducts several special events. Space from $20. Reservations recommended. c/p Emil Magova, 8521 Folsom Blvd. 95826. (916) 383-0880 or 383-0950..

SAN FRANCISCO
- - Wed & Sun
Aleman Flea Market.
100 Alemany Blvd. Intersection of Highway 101 South and 280 North.Hours 7am to 3pm. Free adm & ample parking. Outdoor market with some covered spaces. Antiques, collectibles, crafts, lots of new and "in style" merchandise. Very trendy market. Approx 100 dealers. Space from $30. Sanck bars, restrooms, h/a. c/p Sid Baker, 501 Cesar Chavez, Rm 109A, 94124. (415) 647-2043 or 285-5011.

SAN FRANCISCO
- - Sat & Sun
San Francisco Flea Market. 601 Tunnel Ave. Ample parking. Approximately 150 dealers. New merchandise, antiques, collectibles, trendy decorator items, crafts. Food available, restrooms, h/a. Inside and outside space available. (415) 467-4849.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
- - Sundays
Tahoe Flea Market. Elks Lodge. 2094 Hwy 50. Hours 8am to 5pm. Adm charge, free parking. Outdoor market. Antiques, collectibles, new and used merchandise, vintage clothing, produce, tools, toys, standard flea market items. Approx 100 dealers. Space from $12. c/p Randy Mundt, Box 10645. 96158. (530) 541-3967.


Urban Ore
900 Murray St
Berkeley, CA 94710

Mon-Sat 8:30am- 7:00pm,
Sun 10:00am- 7:00pm

VALLEJO
- - Sun
Napa-Vallejo Flea Market.
303 S. Kelly Road. Highway 29. Hours 5am-5pm. Parking charge $3. Approximately 600 dealers. Wide range of merchandise at this market. New and used merchandise, collectibles, antiques, new and used furniture, tools, toys, silver, glassware. Produce. Snack bars, restrooms, ample parking. This market is an endless sea of booths with miles of walking. Plenty of food here, restrooms. Inside & outside space available from $25. (707) 226-8862.