We Got Fancy Stuff Too!

Just in case you were under the mistaken impression that the MV Big Flea was only about junk, I offer you the following: Over the last few weeks, we have acquired several (sniff, sniff), higher end items for your consideration.

I’ve already shared with you the lovely 19th century cane-seated rocking chair from the Shenandoah Valley. But those of you with more discriminating palates may also be interested in the Waterford Crystal, Lenox and Lladro porcelain, Indian jewelry and exquisite Chinese and Japanese pottery we’ve obtained.

We believe these items will fetch considerable sums in a well-advertised auction (I’m in my Leah and Leslie Keno mode). For this reason, we will most likely list them for sale on Craigslist or Ebay. If interested in a private viewing or price quote, please contact our Manger of Rare items, Lord East Cliff at 202.288.5124 or joseph.lamountain@gmail.com.

What We Want (According to Mein and Phoebe)

Community Leaders Promote MV Big Flea

We’ve hit the promotional jackpot this week! City Council members Justin Wilson and Rob Krupicka, The Campagna Center, Wake Forest Alumni Club of Washington, Alexandria Democratic Committee and Valley Drive Preschool have all agreed to promote the MV Big Flea to supporters.

Just this morning I received Councilman Wilson’s Council Connection newsletter (that’s him below). He urges constituents to put their treasures to good use by donating them to the Big Flea. Councilman Rob Krupicka has gone a step further, lending us his garage for storage! And the Alexandria Democratic Committee is promoting it through their weekly calendar. Many thanks for your important support!

We also appreciate the strong support of Alexandria’s Campagna Center. They’ve been helping kids in the city for more than 50 years, so their support lends vital credibility and visibility to the event. The center will soon send an email message promoting the MV Big Flea to more than 800 supporters in the area. Many thanks to CEO Karen Hughes, Board Member (and MVCS parent) Marcia Call and Marketing Director Bethany Nguyen.

Valley Drive Preschool has been educating kids in Alexandria for more than 50 years as well. Thanks to Diane Archer, Valley Drive families recently received an email message about the Big Flea. You can be sure that the baby strollers, changing tables, toys and other kids gear will be flowing our way. Thanks to Diane and Center Director Cindy Hodgkins for making it happen.

Serious props are due to DC’s Wake Forest Alumni Club. They have chosen us as a service project for the University’s Pro Humanitate Day on April 12. Several thousand alums will be asked to donate items, make a financial contribution or volunteer. The club will also promote the Big Flea in the weeks leading up to the event. Many thanks to club leaders Debran McLean, Emily Beeler and Catharine McNally.

Please let me know if you’d like to promote the MV Big Flea to your supporters. We can be reached at 202.288.5124 or joseph.lamountain@gmail.com

Weekly Haul: We Got it All!

Is this story starting to sound a little familiar? We were absolutely inundated this Saturday at our “now defunct” storage unit in Old Town. Channeling Fred Sanford seems to have done the trick.

Not only did a dozen families drop off their treasures at our storage unit in Old Town, we picked up monster-sized donations from half of dozen Alexandria families. We got so much stuff, we had to find a new storage facility!

Serious, serious props are due to volunteers Mike Grainger, Paul Moniz, Mimi Carter, Chris Ammon, Gordon Lubold and Marc Shulwolf. They donated their Saturday morning to collecting, sorting and storting the various treasures we collected. After three hours, I was worried everyone was getting burned out. But Mimi ordered pizza and soon everyone was smiling once again.

The best donations? Well, Becky Deku literally donated an apartment full of everything imaginable while Vickie Sayce contributed a storage-unit full of gear. Paige McIntosh gave again, including a triple jogging stroller; Ginger Vallaster gave a beautiful cherry dining room table.

Need more details? Lisa and Rob Krupicka gave their garage as storage and a kids’ adirondack table, among other things; Mary Karstens gave a desk and furniture; Jennie Gordon a headboard and lamp; John and Gretchen Donaldson a minivan filled to the top; Kristi Herrick, the Daziens family and many more gave generously too.

But let’s not leave out the buyers! After all, they ultimately make the Big Flea a success. Check out Selene Gorman’s purchase of awesome vintage luggage. Jeanette Valdes bought our funky hair mirror and Jack Starry, who grew up in Del Ray but now lives in Baltimore, bought our Sirius radio and receiver. We’ve sold more than $500 worth of stuff.

OK, I am exhausted. Next week our drop off location will be on East Alexandria Avenue, at the home of Rob and Lisa Krupicka. Visit this site again for the exact location and directions. In the meantime, many thanks for your support and keep those donations coming!

Jam Packed: Storage Space #1

I never thought it would happen. After just three weeks of collecting items for the MV Big Flea, our storage space is completely full. How full?  Click on the image above to see a video of the interior of our storage unit.

Thankfully, Mount Vernon parents Lisa Guernsey and Rob Krupicka have come to the rescue. I spent a little more than an hour this morning helping Lisa clear out some space in their two-car garage. For the next couple weeks, we’ll be collecting items at their garage on East Alexandria Avenue rather than our n0w-filled space in Old Town Alexandria.

I’ll post later on some of the fantastic items we received this week.

Selene’s Big Purchase

Fred Sez: “I’m coming…..Saturday”

OK, OK. We all know that Fred Sanford’s famous line was really “I’m coming Elizabeth.” But if Fred was alive today, we think he’d be telling all Alexandrians to come to this Saturday’s Big Flea Donation Day.

For some reason, I feel a special kinship with Fred Sanford. I guess it’s because he’s the only television character I know with a penchant for junk. Maybe one day I’ll aspire to be Leigh or Leslie Keno. But for now, Fred seems to be the spiritual leader of the MV Big Flea.

Come bring us a load of junk this Saturday morning. We’ll be at our storage facility in Old Town Alexandria from 9:30am to 12:30pm. After you have a cup of coffee, load up the car and bring it pur way! If you just can’t make it, give us a call and we’ll pick it up (sorry, no red truck)! You can reach us 24/7 at 202.288.5124.

This Saturday we’ll be at the end of the alley behind Pacers running shoe store at the intersection of King and Payne Streets in Old Town Alexandria. The alley is adjacent to 108 N. Payne Street if you want to use Google Maps or Mapquest for directions.

A Big Hand for 8 Hands Round

On Tuesday I spoke to the Potomac West Business Association (now the Del Ray Business Association) about the upcoming Big Flea. PWBA members have been supportive of our school PTA in the past and we’re hoping to build upon that in 2008.

After my brief remarks, one of the meeting participants asked if I could take a rocking chair off her hands, right now. I said yes, sight unseen, and boy was that a good decision!

Cynthia Gompert, owner of Eight Hands Round, had decided to get rid of a 19th century rocking chair built in the Shenandoah valley. Of beautiful shape and form, the chair retains its original finish, original cane seating and exhibits the flat head nails typical of that era’s construction (I’ve been watching too much Antiques Roadshow).

“This chair fell on me the other day,” Gompert said as she helped me load it into my car, ” so I decided it was time to get rid of it. You saved me a trip to the Goodwill.” Gompert, whose store is located at 2301 Mount Vernon Avenue, also said she may be willing to donate additional items to the cause.

Many thanks to Cynthia and the rest of the Del Ray Business Association for your support of the Mount Vernon Community School.

Another Great Day of Donations

Mount Vernon Community School PTA volunteers collected several carloads of contributions last Saturday for the April 26th MV Big Flea. We will be hosting similar “donation days” each Saturday leading up to the event.

The MV Big Flea is a giant flea-market fundraiser. You donate items and get a tax deduction. We sell them and keep the proceeds. The money is used to support after-school and enrichment programs of the Alexandria public school.

Donors streamed through our storage facility in Old Town all morning long bringing furniture, baby and kid gear, household items, collectibles and so much more. At the same time, volunteers Paul Beckman and Gordon Lubold picked up items from Alexandria families while Chris Ammon, Doug and Carter Rutherford helped sort and store.

But this week’s biggest donation came from Maryland. Reading our “Wanted” ad on Craigslist, Brian Pague decided to donate 40 gumball vending machines! Thanks to MVCS parent Jeff Hagler (and his truck), we quickly retrieved these items from a Silver Spring warehouse.

Alexandrians gave in great numbers: Terri DuBois Webster a set of solid bunk beds; Lisa Bourne a beautiful painted chest of drawers and other furniture; Heather Wombacher a brand-new Restoration Hardware firescreen; Louise and David Dauenheimer a sweet portable pool and vintage foosball game; Diane Archer a minivan full of kids gear.  There were many more.

Many others dropped by and contributed items to the event. We even made our first $350 in sales! With storage space at a premium, several larger items have also been posted on Craigslist. Sold this weekend was a large chest of drawers, oak filing cabinet and drop-leaf table and nearly 100CDs.

Cleaning out your attic or basement? Then give us a shout. We’re collecting items every Saturday in Old Town and would love to have your junque, treasure, or just plain leftovers. Contact Joseph LaMountain at 202.288.5124 or joseph.lamountain@gmail.com with questions or for more information.

Some of Yesterday’s Haul…

Could I possibly say the word “nice” any more times ?

Keeping it Real on a Saturday Morning

We’ve received dozens of calls and messages, all asking basically the same question: Who are the Men Behind the MV Big Flea? Rather than tell you, we decided to show you these dedicated men in action.

Backing up cars. Unloading stuff. Storing boxes in the rafters of a dusty building. Witty remarks. Yes, that is what Chris Ammon, Gordon Lubold, Paul Beckman and Doug Rutherford do best. I call it “saving our children, one box at a time.”

This is the first in an occasional series about the MV Big Flea. It won’t always be pretty. But our behind-the-scenes footage will give you an unparalleled view of these unsung heroes. Please be warned that some content may be unsuitable for children.

Spread the Word with our Flyer!

Promoting the Big Flea is now a snap thanks to a nifty new flyer released today. Easily reproduced on standard 8.5 x 11 paper, it’s perfect for posting in at work, church, your local coffee shop, club or anywhere else people congregate.

Here’s how you can help. Download and print a copy of the flyer. Separate with scissors the small tabs at the bottom of the page. Then tape or staple it where people will see it. It’s practically as easy as “lather, rinse, repeat.”

Special thanks are due to Bremmer & Goris Communications in Del Ray. Dennis Goris and Melinda Bremmer designed the funky logo that’s prominently featured on the flyer and this site. And they not only created it in record time, they provided their services pro bono. Thanks again.

We’re gettting ready for the second “drop-off date” of the year. We’ll be at our storage facility this Saturday from 9:30am – 12:30 pm and hope to see you there with a carload of treasures. Please contact me, Joseph LaMountain at joseph.lamountain@gmail.com or 202.288.5124 if you want to make a donation or have any questions.

A Major Contributor

With her donation on Sunday, Allyssa Kropp became the first person to make a contribution to both the 2007 and 2008 MV Big Flea. And to top it off, the stuff she’s given is great.

Kropp, an Army major, was raised in Maine and has lived in numerous places during her military career. After moving to a smaller home in northern Virginia, she realized it was time to downsize. But instead of a yard sale or Goodwill, she chose the Mount Vernon Community School PTA as her charity of choice.

Last year, Allyssa donated a wonderful antique church pew (which I would have gladly purchased myself if I had the space). She also donated two vintage green metal garden chairs, a few pieces of vintage wicker furniture, small household items and much more. So much more that it took 4 visits with my station wagon to collect it all.

Allyssa continued the trend in 2008 with another healthy donation. She donated nearly 100 compact discs and DVDs, a vintage “shabby chic” painted cupboard, a large African-themed vase, an Indonesian-style wooden screen and more. With friends like her, we’re guaranteed to exceed our 2007 totals.

To make a donation, please drop off your items at our storage facility this Saturday in Old Town between the hours of 9:30am and 12:30pm. You can also schedule a pick up using the form above or contact Joseph LaMountain at joseph.lamountain@gmail.com or at 202.288.5124.

Another Impressive Haul

Gordon Lubold and I spent the better part of the afternoon collecting items from a number of our neighbors in Rosemont and Del Ray. And boy was it worth it as we picked up several really great pieces of furniture and other items.

I’ve photographed some of the items below. My fave is the totally old skool oak file cabinet. It has a little bit of damage on the top, but it can be easily fixed with a little bit of glue. I’m even thinking of keeping it for myself (c’mon, there has to be some kind of benefit to all this work).

We also picked up a really nice painted cupboard, drop-leaf dining room table, chest of drawers, book case and more. As I was sorting through items, I noticed that we’ve also received some nice rugs, more ladies purses, a brand-new espresso machine, art deco lighting from the 1930s and some swinging suitcases from the 1930s.

Many thanks to Gordon for helping to haul all this stuff, even though he has a bad back. We’re also indebted to Allyssa Kropp, Laura Jarsulic, Leah Daziens (for the boxes we so desperately need) and Kristi Herrick for their generous contributions. To volunteer or make a donation, please contact Joe LaMountain at 202.288.5124 or via email at joseph.lamountain@gmail.com

Today’s Haul…

Wow, what a busy day! About 15 families and individuals came by our drop-off facility on Payne Street in Old Town Alexandria. We collected and sorted a ton of great items. We received a nice television set, DVD player, VHS player and several stereo systems. We also collected a mess of kids toys and clothing, two nice wooden chairs, several small appliances and boxes of other household items.

I’ve photographed and included in this post several of them items we received. My absolute favorite? A life-sized blow-up punching bag in the likeness of President Bush! That should go quickly in this neighborhood. We also received a really nice set of nesting baskets that were purchased in Nantucket a number of years ago, nice pottery and a vintage 1980s Guess handbag (“Wake Me Up, Before You Go-Go”).

Many thanks to Jason Bruno, Mimi Carter and Gordon Lubold for helping to collect and sort all this stuff. And many thanks to those of you who contributed, including Patty Brady, Karen Sosnoski, Lee Perkins, Lynn Rogerson, Elizabeth Maier, Chris and Michelle Byrom, Carol Lyons, Charlie and Karma Brown, Mary Longacre, Eileen Campbell and many more (whose names I forgot to write down).