Catch this flea

By Aaron Short

Want to find a good deal in Greenpoint? Go to church.

After two postponements, the long-awaited Greenpoint Flea Market Bazaar opened on June 11 at the Greenpoint Reformed Church on Milton Street.

The market, open on Fridays, is the brainchild of Natasha Ryan and has received much encouragement from neighborhood organizations and blogs.

Crowds trickled in throughout the afternoon. For eight hours, customers browsed wares ranging from $1 vinyl jazz records to $300 Nepalese singing bowls, both of which had the purpose of soothing its owner’s soul.

Perhaps the best deals of the season were cotton sundresses of all shapes and straw hats, both for $5, from vintage dealer Jelly Roll Vintage. Meanwhile, DJ Bryant K sold classic LPs and spun Kool and the Gang’s “Jungle Boogie” and songs from the Jackson Five album “Maybe Tomorrow.”

“It’s the anniversary of his death,” said K.

The steal of the market may be the conversations with vendors who are longtime Greenpoint residents, including a man named Wilfredo, who said he was in a gang when he was younger and met his Polish wife when she used to be in a gang, too! They’ve been married over a decade.

His key to marital bliss? Mix up your dates a bit to keep the relationship fresh.

“Even if you’re going out, don’t go to the same place,” said Wilfredo. “Go some place new.”

Also, you can pick up a vintage Hamilton Beach milkshake mixer from Wilfredo for only $5 to make tasty strawberry smoothies for the next morning.

Tempting.

Greenpoint Flea Market Bazaar at the Greenpoint Reformed Church [138 Milton St. between Manhattan Avenue and Franklin Street in Greenpoint, (718) 383-5941], Fridays, noon-8 pm.