The Williamsburg Savings Bank at One Hanson Place is a fixture of the landscape from any vantage point in downtown Brooklyn and the surrounding neighborhoods, including Boerum Hill, north Park Slope, Fort Greene, and Prospect Heights. Its skinny clock tower informs commuters getting off at the Atlantic Terminal just how long it took them to get over the bridge, and runners emerging from Prospect Park and shooting down Flatbush Avenue can check it to see exactly how long they have to get back home if they want to be on time for work. The building's stately architecture lent some class to the view from my fire escape on Pacific Street, counteracting the neon signs of Chuck E. Cheese and "HOME EATER PRO" (once "Home Theater Pro-Line," before light bulbs got too expensive to replace).
But the exterior, nice as it is, does not betray the impressiveness of the design inside the building, which is now open to visitors as the Sunday location of the Brooklyn Flea. Once inside, you find yourself surrounded by soft pink marble, vaulted ceilings with detailed midnight blue and gold designs, doors and corridors framed by wrought-iron gratings. All that and the signs pointing you to "Life Insurance" and "Bonds" are enough to make you think you've stepped into a different era, but the feeling is enhanced by the fact that it's a flea market, so, naturally, you're surrounded by a lot of old stuff. Vintage boots, antique posters, assorted taxidermy - all things I would contemplate saving up for if I weren't dreading the task of transporting all the belongings I already have across the country in a few months. But even if you're not in the market for any retro knickknacks, it's an entertaining environment to walk around in for an hour or so.
The food offerings at the Brooklyn Flea, meanwhile, are entirely representative of Brooklyn in the present moment. At the McClure's Pickles table I sampled some Bloody Mary mix made with their spicy garlic dill pickles and some tomato puree, which was delicious, but probably too salty to drink in large quantities. There was artisanal chocolate flecked with sea salt crystals, and home-brewing kits with everything you need to make one gallon of your own lavender-flavored beer. Then, more pickles to rival McClure's: Rick's Pick's table was covered with jars of pickled okra, asparagus, red peppers, and green beans. I also finally discovered that Kumquat Cupcakes, which I had seen advertised on a cafe chalkboard near my apartment, does not refer to any kind of citrusy confection, but rather to an entire bakery operation. And their signature cupcake is hardly fruity: a maple pecan cake topped with creamy frosting and a piece of bacon.
I worry that Brooklyn’s bounty of historic buildings, inventive baking, and obsessive pickling has spoiled me; but I suppose I have to enjoy it while I can, and I’m glad I happened to stumble upon the flea market at One Hanson this weekend.
I'm thinking you might gather up the "Brooklyn posts" and make a small 'pocketbook'. They are little gems that give flavor to the area, as well as food. Until reading your posts I never wanted to visit, but next time I'm in NYC I'm crossing the river.
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