Shop N Drop finds: Be the first on your block to own a miniature Brazilian oven

You never know what’s going to come in the door during a Big Flea Shop N Drop. I was particularly intrigued by this roughly two-foot-square propane oven range. Made by Semer, a Brazilian appliance company long-ago absorbed into Brastemp, a mark now owned by Whirlpool, it’s the cooking solution you never knew you needed. Some possible uses for this exotic appliance: Roast a chicken while camping! Enjoy a cup of tea without leaving your potting shed! (Might want to check local codes first.)

I have a hunch this item has great cultural currency and would love to hear about this range from anyone who’s Brazilian or has lived there.

Another Shop N Drop this weekend!

This weekend, MV Big Flea moves into a new space. Come christen it with your junk! That’s right, on Saturday, Jan. 21, you can drop off donations at our new warehouse at 3813 Mt. Vernon Ave., in the same shopping center as MOM’s Organic Market and CVS. The hours are 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and donation guidelines are the same as last time.

Early reports on the space are that the front door is “tricky” and lighting is not excellent. If you’re a lawyer, particularly one with a booming personal injury business, we strongly encourage you to let us carry your donations inside.

But remember, it’s not all donations at Shop N Drop! We’re selling as much as we can before the flea market, and Saturday will offer you an opportunity to purchase things before your neighbors get their paws all over them.

For example, this candid photo of the first President Bush, surely a rarity in Del Ray.

You really could own this bad boy. Also: It’s stamped “official”!

Another intriguing possibility: This car seat, which Big Flea legend maintains is a third row for a Honda CR-V.

You can pay upward of $900 for a new one of these, or just come down and make us an offer.

Shop. Drop. Shop N Drop!

It was beautiful, but it's over.

This Saturday, Dec. 10, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., is Big Flea’s first Shop N Drop of the season. For the moment, we’re taking stuff at 406 E. Mason Ave. You can make donations here, of course, but you can buy things, too.

Hey, can we talk about donations for a second?

The spirit of generosity with these things is often overwhelming. Sometimes so much so that we end up with stuff we can’t resell, like mattresses and upholstered furniture, or things that — we need to be honest here — no one is going to buy. That CRT monitor or your old tube TV? We just can’t seem to move those. That TV armoire that you can’t use now that you have a flatscreen? Maybe someday we’ll have the space to build a barn out of all of those, but for now, please, no.

Here’s a list of other stuff, compiled by a Flea operative, that for one reason or another, just isn’t right for Big Flea.

• Books
• Clothing/linens
• Chandeliers/ceiling fans
• Stuffed animals
• Building supplies
• Cribs, mattresses, and bed frames

Here’s something we could really use: A car. Last year we gave away a 1986 Volkswagon Cabriolet, and it would be presumptuous to assume we’d get another ride that sweet, but a flea market can hope, can’t it? And of course, mugs. Stereo equipment. Kayaks. Mid-century modern furniture. Ice cream makers. You get the idea.

See you Saturday!

Save the Date!

Our All Time Record!

And the Winner Is….

Congratulations to Janet Williamson!  She’s the winner of the 1986 Volkswagen Cabriolet raffled by the MV Big Flea.  We made more than $2,000 through the raffle and appreciate everyone who purchased a ticket (or multiple tickets).  Janet works in the front office of the Mount Vernon Community School and we’re glad to see the car “stay in the family.”

Walker, Bomar and Other Supporters Take Us Over the Top!

On Saturday, April 30 the MV Big Flea raised $29,619 through its annual flea marketing fundraising event. But thanks to a $1,000 donation from our long-time supporter Jen Walker of McEnearney we’ve now crossed the thirty thousand dollar mark, bringing our total raised to $30,619!

But Walker was not alone in providing generous financial support for the Big Flea. Weichart Realtor Bobi Bomar once again created a matching grant program that also raised $1,000 in donations for the Big Flea. Both also volunteered at the event and we can’t thank them both enough.

The Big Flea would also like to thank its other generous supporters:

* Gentle Giant Moving Company – provided a full day of moving donations from our warehouse to the Rec Center – WHOA!!! These folks totally rock! I can’t say enough about how super they are!!!

* Anonymous – A local real estate developer provided us with free warehouse space for us to store our items in Old Town. We literally could not have done it without his support.

* Seasons Culinary and Evening Star – the two food service providers did what they do best, provided super yummy lunches for hungry volunteers

* Jeremy Stewart of Weichert Realtors – provided a generous financial sponsorship for this year’s event

* Caboose Café and St. Elmo’s Coffee Pub – provided coffee and muffins to get our dozens of volunteers going each morning.

* BLT Shirt Printers – discounted our Flea tshirts and got them to us super fast!

* Whole Foods – provided bags for all to collect their goodies in

* Rubini Jewelers – appraised our jewelry donations and provided a display case that made selling and security much easier.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

MV Big Flea Sets All-Time Record

Saturday Morning Looks Like This

The Warehouse is FULL….Big Flea is this Saturday!

That’s right folks.  The event everyone’s been waiting for, the MV Big Flea, is this Saturday, April 30th at the MV Rec Center on Commonwealth Avenue in Del Ray.  Rain or Shine!

We’ve collected an entire warehouse of amazing items this year.  We’ve got furniture, baby stroller and kids gear, electronics, household items, collectibles, jewelry and more.  The photos below were taken a couple weeks ago and since then we’ve collected thousands of additional items.

The MV Big Flea doors open for early admission at 8am ($10) with general admission (free) starting at 9am. At noon, everything is half off and at 2pm everything left over is 100% FREE!  I hope to see you at the MV Big Flea on Saturday, April 30th with a fist full of cash!

We Love our Sponsors!

The Big Flea is a community-wide event and we could not succeed without the help of our generous friends in the business community.

Below is a list of organizations that have sponsored the MV Big Flea in 2011 as well as a list of our Community Partners.  These are the groups who provide a generous sponsorship each year and help fund our school’s education and enrichment programs.

We couldn’t do it without their support.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Big Flea Supporters
Jeremy Stewart, Weichert Realtors
Bobi Bomar, Weichert Realtors
Gentle Giant Moving Company
Caboose Café
Evening Star
Seasons Culinary
Whole Foods
BLT Shirt Printers, Inc

MVCS PTA Community Partners
Alexandria Hyundai
Bobi Bomar, Weichert Realtors
Del Ray Central Apartments
Elizabeth Lucchesi, McEnearney Associates
Christine Garner, Weichert Realtors
Monarch Title, Inc.
Your Dog’s Best Friends
Jennifer Walker, McEnearney Associates

Don’t Forget the Library Book Sale!

On Saturday, April 30th the Friends of Duncan Library will host their annual spring Book Blast & Kids Fun Fest.  The library is conveniently located next to the MV Big Flea at the Duncan Library, 2501 Commonwealth Avenue in Alexandria.

There will be thousands of books, CDs, DVDs for sale PLUS great performances and activities for the kids.  Rain or shine, join us under the big tent for an incredible day of books, music, dancing, food and fun!  More fun for the kids just added!

• 9a-1p Sweet Cheeks Facepainting
• 9a-2p Come jump & laugh in the moon bounce!
• 9-10:30 Kids build-a-book activity!
• 10:00 & 11 Hip Hop Fun with Lizsandra Maria from Art of Dance Movement
• 10:30a The Good Life Theater presents Joe Pipik’s BackPack Puppets
• 11:30a The Mr. B Show (Interactive musical fun)

If all of this weren’t enough, there will also be fantastic food from Rocklands BBQ, Rita’s Water Ice + crunchy munchy popcorn and perfectly pink cotton candy – YUM!  The Friends of Duncan Library Book Blast & Kid Fun Fest activities are underwritten by Jen Walker, “The Realtor for Del Ray.”

Please support our generous sponsors: The Paxton Companies, Jack Taylor Toyota, Rainbow Rentals, Rita’s Water Ice, Rocklands Barbeque & Grilling Company, Vocelli Pizza, Taqueria Poblano, Hard Times Cafe, California Tortilla, Sweet Cheeks Facepainting, The Mr. B. Show and The Good Life Theater presents Joe Pipik’s BackPack Puppets.

HURRY! Final Shop N Drop This Saturday!

That’s right my friends.  This Saturday, April 23rd, is the final Shop N Drop of the 2011 Big Flea season.  That means your final chance to visit our beautiful warehouse to drop off your gently used treasures and buy some things you really don’t need.

Our big event, the MV Big Flea, will be held the following Saturday on April 30th.  Everything we’ve collected will be for sale and PRICED TO MOVE.  We’ve got furniture, kids gear like strollers and toys, art work, collectibles, household items, electronics, sporting equipment and a whole lot more.

The 5th Annual MV Big Flea is Saturday, April 30th rain or shine! The doors open at 8am ($10 admission) with general admission (free) starting at 9am. Location: Mount Vernon Rec Center on Commonwealth Avenue in Del Ray.  At noon, everything is 50% off and at 2pm everything is FREE!  Be there!

Duncan Library Spring Book Fest Line-up Announced!

If you follow this blog, you definitely know about the MV Big Flea on Saturday, April 30th.  But did you know that the Duncan Library will be holding its Spring Book Fest on the same day, right next door?

Sponsored by the Friends of Duncan Library, the Spring Book Fest is a family extravaganza that includes fun children’s activities, great food, and thousands of books, DVDs, and CDs priced to move!  All proceeds benefit the important programs of Del Ray’s community library.

“This will be an incredibly fun community event,” said Cheryl Kim, Book Sale Committee Chair for the Friends of the Duncan Library.  “It’s not just a fundraiser.  We want it to be an opportunity for people to really connect with and celebrate their local library.”

Rockland’s BBQ and Rita’s Water Ice will provide great refreshments for the whole family.   From 9:30 am to 1:00 pm, Sweet Cheeks will do face painting for the children.  From 9 am to 2 pm, there will be a Moon Bounce!  In addition, there will be two performances:

• 10:30 am – The Good Life Theater presents Joe Pipik’s BackPack Puppets
• 11:30 am -  The Mr. B Show

Seating is limited for these performances, so it’s a good idea to arrive early.

The children’s activities for the Friends of Duncan Library Spring Book Fest are underwritten by the “Realtor for Delray” Jen Walker.

Other generous sponsors include: The Paxton Companies; Jack Taylor Toyota; Rainbow Rentals; Rita’s Water Ice; Rocklands Barbeque & Grilling Company; Vocelli Pizza; Taqueria Poblano; Hard Times; California Tortilla; Sweet Checks Facepainting; The Mr. B. Show; and. The Good Life Theater presents Joe Pipik’s BackPack Puppets.