Chicago Antique Market

Harry Caray, Pure Class

If you’re in Chicago this weekend, stop by the West Loop for the Chicago Antique Market, an indoor air-conditioned and outdoor European-style urban antique market located in the historic and distinctive Randolph Street Market District at the beautiful Beaux Arts Plumbers Hall complex at 1340 W. Washington Street.

I visited the market during its opening weekend, and while I do love the Brooklyn Flea, the size, scope, and number of relative bargains found on Randolph Street dwarf fair Brooklyn’s quaint – and far more expensive – little market.

I love wood racquets.

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Julie Fernstrom of Andersonville’s English Cottage and Brimfield, named for the tartan as well as the famous Massachusetts flea market. She has a healthy stock of sumptuous plaid blankets and re-purposed mid-century modern furniture, much of which she’s reupholstered borrowing materials from her collection of blankets.

The Brimfield Tartan in all its splendor

This desk chair has been re-upped with a military-issue Faribault Mills blanket.

Not to be outdone a vendor from Madison, Wisconsin offered this Swiss Army Blanket Bench.

Ditka, Not a Shopper

For seventy more photos of my trip to the Chicago Antique Market, visit Flickr. And while there’s still time, make your way to the West Loop for some terrific bargains.