Brooklyn Flea + Smorgasburg

Following our trip to Rye, we headed over to the winter (i.e. indoor) location of the Brooklyn Flea + Smorgasburg.  During Spring, Summer and Fall, these are outside, but move inside for winter.  If you've never been, it's basically a big flea market and food vendor paradise.

We started off in the Flea side.  It was pretty crowded and our group of six kept getting separated (which was bound to happen).  We managed to regroup before heading to the Smorgasburg part.  I love the flea because it's part flea market/yard sale/etsy shops.  They have some really vintage kitschy stuff, unusual vintage items, custom furniture (handmade of course) and normal etsy items (think hand knitted hats, pillows, etc).

I almost bought a winter headband/earcover, but ended up not getting it.  I won't lie - I kinda wish I had, I keep thinking about it!

One of our favorite booths was towards the end, near the food side.  I have no idea what the vendor name was, but they made cool pictures and unique pendants out of vintage maps.  They were really unique and very cool.  One of the girls got some cute pictures for her soon-to-be nursery and Ally picked up a fun Paris pendant.  I really wanted an Athens (Greece) one, but couldn't find any.  They said they are constantly making new ones, so I'll have to go back and check (maybe once it's warm again!).

They even had fun scrabble tile pendants!

The flea is fun, but Smorgasburg is my favorite part!  They have some great vendors with some interesting items.  Since we had just come from brunch, we were pretty full and contained ourselves (for the most part).

I love all things pickle so this was right up my alley

These were apparently savory / stuffed muffins

I purchased this for later.  It's A-MAZ-ING.

Fun table decoration at Butter & Stotch's table

Even though we were full, I could not pass up a homemade onsite s'more from s'more BAKERY!  I got the salted caramel version and it was sooooo good.  Warm and gooey and freshly made.  Yum.  Everyone should get one if they go.  Yes, they were that good.

so. good.

Can't wait until it is warm again and I can make another visit to the outdoor Flea + Smorgasburg and try some more vendors!

Brooklyn Flea + Smorgasburg
Location varies between winter and spring/summer/fall and on Saturday vs. Sunday
Check the website before you go!
http://www.brooklynflea.com/

Rye Restaurant

A few weekends ago, I made the {long} trek to Brooklyn to spend the afternoon with my friend Ally and some of her friends who were visiting from Boston.  Despite the subway conspiring against me (which is always seems to do when I go to Brooklyn), it was wonderful afternoon.

We started the adventure with brunch at Rye.  No one had ever been there, but it got decent reviews and could accomodate our group of six on short notice.

If you go, make sure to get some coffee.  We all started with the coffee and it was delicious.  All of our coffees came in different tea cups which I loved.  I could have had many cups... but didn't want to be bouncing off the walls all afternoon.

We started with an order of the homemade cake donuts and buttermilk biscuits for the table.  Unfortunately, our order somehow got lost and we ended up with these for dessert.  They were good though!

I went with a different choice for me for the entree - the Croque Madame.  I usually get Eggs Benedict, but I decided to change it up this time and it did not disappoint!  It was perfectly good and the ingredients were quality.

If you are in Williamsburg and looking for a brunch place, try Rye!

Rye Restaurant
247 S 1st Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211
ryerestaurant.com

Battle of Brooklyn 10M!

Changing up today's post by sharing an upcoming race in Brooklyn.  Would be great for those who didn't get into the NYRR Long Training run before it was full or just looking for a change of scenery.  For me, it's going to be my last long run before Dumbo!

(side note - I am not getting anything for sharing this race.  A friend of mine is organizing it and I am just trying to help spread the event and details).

So...about this race.  It's being put on by Jack Rabbit Sports and is the Battle of Brooklyn 10 Miler.  It takes place on August 18th in Prospect Park.

The race commemorates the largest battle of the Revolutionary War, which was fought on the soil of Brooklyn 237 years ago (who knew?  Seriously, I had no idea!).

If you don't want to run the whole 10 miles, they also have a 3 person relay option.

The first 1,000 people to register get a fancy Avex water bottle! I have drawers of race shirts, so I like the idea of something different. The Avex bottle features:

• A pop up spout that you can open with one hand
• Completely sealed when closed, so you don't need to keep it upright (I am pretty excited about this as I constantly have water in my bag and not having to worry about it spilling!)
• Completely dishwasher safe (as I am my own dishwasher, this is not important to me, but I am sure it is to others)

Plus, bag watch will be open from 6:30am - 11:30am for those in marathon training who need to add on some miles (or are slower runners).

As I said, a friend of mine works for Jack Rabbit (and is putting the race together) and she provide a coupon code for those interested in running the race. Use code J25EB to get $5 off your registration.

Maybe I'll see you there!