For many the term flea market isn’t all that appealing, but for me it holds a certain allure. I imagine rummaging through stalls of hidden treasures, losing myself in an open air market filled with ancient, vintage, gypsy magic. So, for once, rather than window shopping along the streets of my own neighbourhood where I can barely ever afford anything (sigh), I was looking forward to a little flea market frenzy this past weekend.
The first bit of information you should know is that Sunday is the day for flea markets. In terms of locations, it isn’t so straightforward. The three that sounded the coolest and that I was looking to hit are all at completely different ends of the city, which makes it difficult to do a tour all in one day. I would suggest avoiding my mistake and sampling them on different weekends.
After about a 20 minute drive west from downtown Ottawa we first visited the Carp Road location. The question here is, what items DON’T they have? There’s everything from antique dishes to ornamental candle holders, from bicycles to perfectly workable push mowers for no more than $25. And if VHS ever makes a comeback, they’ve definitely got you covered. For those who are driven toward the odd and eerie, there are very personal items for sale; military badges and medals, historical portraits of strangers – whatever floats your boat! Keep in mind that these were all displayed outdoors, before we even entered the so called marketplace.
Coming inside we were warmly greeted by Grandma Moses – Kemptville’s “Jam & Pickle Lady” selling a traditional line of, you guessed it, delicious jams, jellies, and pickles, made without additives or preservatives. The ‘Country Spring’ mustard and dill sauce isn’t exactly the accidentally hidden Monet or Picasso I was hoping to find, but it sure is tasty on a pork chop.
With shelves upon shelves of Barbies, and limitless toys for the children, it’s actually an ideal spot to find tons of gifts for little ones’ birthdays and holidays without breaking the bank. Plus, most of the items seemed to be in reasonable condition. Another item that could be a smart bargain is a set of golf clubs. We all know it can be quite an expensive sport to enjoy, but when you pick up a full bag for $45, it’s more of an incentive to get yourself out on the links. I even persuaded my boyfriend Jeff to let me try on a wedding set, as it’s sold for half of what it’s worth, and was said to be appraised by gemologists with the paperwork to prove it. With wide selections of video games, books, records, chests and clocks, it’s pretty much exactly what you would imagine, minus the magic – I think I over-romanticized that part. In actuality there’s a certain melancholy edge to the affair: the flea market as repository of faded dreams, abandoned hopes.
If all this shop ‘til you drop has got you craving something salty, head over a few steps away to Pong’s Poutine, where they offer all the usual chip wagon delicacies, along with specials such as pad thai, fish tacos, and fish n’ chips.
After a diet coke pick-me-up we made our way to The Rideau Carleton Raceway, a completely outdoor event (although it comes indoors in the cooler months), and a much smaller version of basically the same thing. I did end up scoring my only purchase of the day here – a pair of Betty Boop booty short underwear. Fret not, they weren’t used, just a home based business selling underwear – a little weird, but hey, I needed a new pair!
Another Sunday has come and gone, but this time I wasn’t just running around and cleaning the house – I was able to enjoy an entirely different spin to winding down on the weekend. If you’re down with poring through other peoples’ unwanted detritus, you never know what gems you might unearth on your own junk dive tour.
Hollie Davies lives in Wellington West with her boyfriend, wishes they owned Mog (the cutest outdoor cat on the block), is trying her hand here at immersion journalism, and is loving every minute of it in this gorgeous city called Ottawa. Catch up with her on tumblr.
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