Mr. Modtomic Is Blogcasting From The 2nd City This Evening After A Lovely Day At The Randolph Street Market Flea. I'm Doing So From The Cell Phone So I'm Gonna Keep This Brief, But Trust...It Was Worth The Five Hour Drive At 5 AM! Status: Explored!

After watching an episode of Market Warriors on PBS that featured the Randolph Street Market in Chicago I got in my head that I just HAD to get up there and see this flea for myself. Good thing this is a monthly flea market. It didn't take long for the next one to roll around...and consequently here we are!

By The Time I'm Done Posting Photos Of The Randolph Street Market Designer Flea You Are Gonna Feel Like YOU Drove Five Hours There And Five Hours Back! Status: Done Yet? Not Even Close!

First of all, sorry if you're getting sick of the Randolph Street Market flea. I just took SO many photos and they all seem to show a different facet of the flea's character and blah blah blah...really I just love that I was able to take so many good photos courtesy of the amazing wares and well curated vendors and I want to show you them All!

The Only Thing Mr. Modtomic Brought Home From The Randolph Street Market Was A Camera For A Friend...Although The Girlfriend Cleaned Up On Salt And Pepper Shakers / Vintage Costume Jewelry. All I Got Was A Bunch Of Photos! Status: A BUNCH Of Photos!

This Mamiya medium (edit - thanks Bopfish!) format camera has been on a friends wish list for a Long Time.  I've been looking for one for her for a Long Time.  Finally, I found one at the Randolph Street Market during our recent visit. I'm just hoping that the thorough once over we gave it means it'll be a working unit...otherwise it's just a cool display piece!  Look inside for about 50 more pics from the RSM flea!

Some Nifty Finds From Recent Times As Well As Earlier This Summer. A Couple Salem Biscayne Pitchers And A Mexican Handmade Bird. Status: Mystery.

I forgot all about the mixed metal bird art.  I picked up the larger Biscayne gravy pitcher a few days ago and the smaller cream pitcher has been hanging around here for a while.  Time I blogged about 'em all, wouldn't you say?

More Pics From The Randolph Street Market In Chicago. And Believe Me...This Isn't Even The HALF Of It! Oddly Enough Though, The Flea Isn't What I'd Call Huge...Or Even That Big. Status: Well Curated!

THIS is what happens when a flea can pick and choose who sets up.  Instead of wildly random vendors, you can see a focus develop.  It's not so narrow as to end up with just 25 buyers walking around either.  My guess, it takes a delicate touch and a spine of steel.  Don't know if I'd want that job!

Did I Mention That The Randolph Street Market Had A WHOLE Another Indoor Selling Area? Wanna Check It Out? Click On Through My Friend! Status: Feel That AC!

That's right, if shopping out on the blacktop parking lot gets a little too warm you can always take a few minutes to shop the indoor vendors.  Two and a half floors of climate controlled vintage shopping fun!

I've Got Real High Hopes For This Endeavour. I'm Not Totally Sold...Yet, But They Are Saying All The Right Things So Far. Spring Is Just Around Corner So We'll See How The St. Louis Swap Meet Turns Out Pretty Soon! Status: Anticipation!

I SO want to get excited about this, but having been right in the middle of the mid 90s thru mid 00s local music boom here in St. Louis, and watched great band after great band fail to get any traction in the wider market...I just can't bring myself to hold my breath.  But I hope I'm wrong!