Introducing the Downtown Flea

A treasure-filled trading post is set to debut at Broadway and Third.

The reasons treasure hunters go "flea-ing" are as numerous as the variety of goods available at a typical flea market, items that typically number in the thousands.

Prominent reasons, though? Finding something funky to fill out the den (a lamp shaped like a glowing log, say). Finding a one-of-a-kind gift for a stylish friend. And, around here? Discovering that perfect prop for a '60s-era television series.

And while Southern California is home to some of the finest fleas in the world, a fresh flea market is set for its downtown debut. It is, in fact, called the Downtown Flea, and it will open in several lots near Broadway and Third on Sunday, July 28.

Actually, make that the Broadway-Main-Spring nexus just a pip above Third. Phillip Dane, the visionary behind some of LA's biggest secondhand jamborees (including an early '90s one at Fairfax High), is the organizer, so count on it being large, colorful, and heavily be-food-trucked.

In addition to antique-y type goods and vintage-esque finds, indie crafts and wares will also be for sale on the tables. So call it a healthy mix of the past and the quirky new. Plus, bigger companies, like FleaPop, will have a presence in addition to individual sellers.

Oh, and speaking of quirky: The Downtown Flea will be holding a scavenger every month. The hunt involves visiting various booths and finding an octet of items. The upshot? Complete the scavenger hunt and nab $20 in Flea Bucks, which, yep, can be used around the market.

We want Flea Bucks because, in large part, we want to brag about having Flea Bucks all day. It's just fun to say.

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Admission to the Downtown Flea is five bucks. Oh, and it is set to be a fourth-Sunday-of-the-month thing, though a note on the flea's site hints at it going weekly.

A giant flea unfurling in the heart of our urban center's historic core? It's a delightful development, definitely.

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