Guide to the Ocean Grove Flea Market

It's time (Saturday, May 30) for the first of two annual gigantic flea markets in Ocean Grove, NJ, ...so ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.

I'll keep this post brief since it will only matter to those within travelling distance of Ocean Grove, NJ. You can click here, here, or here to see my posts from last spring's flea, with pictures. There are a few quick tips I can offer those of you making the journey:

THE EARLY BIRD GETS THE WORM...AND THE PARKING SPOT

This is probably sensible advice for any flea market, but parking is horrendous in Ocean Grove on a normal day. There are no car park lots and very few homes have driveways. (Bad combo for a shore town.) So...

PARKING

I highly recommend parking on Lake Avenue which starts at the northwest end of Ocean Grove and heads into Asbury Park. Then simply walk across either of the two Wesley Lake foot bridges (see image below, and click to enlarge. Or head over to Google Maps so you can get a good bird's eye view, and zoom in). So easy, and you'll get out of town quicker, too. I've marked the image below with red dots where parking may be best. Some of the spots have parking meters, but it's like six hours for 25 cents so those are good. And as you get closer to the beach parking will be tougher, and the city of Asbury Park has installed annoying computerized municipal meters which you need a degree in parkology to figure out. My advice: Stay away from those spots (marked by a number painted on the street). Plus the City doesn't deserve to make money off of such a boneheaded move. Putting meters in a town in transition that no one's coming to yet. Duh! But I digress...

If you know Asbury well, there's also a beachfront parking lot by the old Carousel building. The parking lot is adjacent to one of the Ocean Grove foot bridges, and a five minute walk to the flea. Follow directions to the Empress Hotel to find that lot. It's no longer free, but a couple of bucks to park there may be worth it (it's also the closest lot to the flea, and you'll be able to pop in Bodega, my favorite shore shop, on your way home!).

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

If you go to the web site for Moonstruck Restaurant in Asbury Park, they're actually on Lake Avenue in Asbury Park -- follow their directions, as parking in front of their restaurant is ideal. Plus you can end your day at their first floor piano bar with a cold drink and their Mediterranean Antipasto Platter -- big enough for two or three to share. 517 Lake Avenue, Asbury Park.

TRAIN

New Jersey Transit services the Asbury Park train station from NYC's Penn Station and many other NJ points. Visit their web site for the schedule. The train station (circled in my picture in orange) is about a 10 minute walk from the Flea Market grounds. If anyone needs walking directions from the train, click here to email me.

I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM...

While there's snacks a plenty at the flea, nothing beats an ice cream cone at Day's Ice Cream. Or better yet, stop mid-flea to cool off with one of their Italian Floats -- fresh iced tea with a lemon ice floater. 48 Pitman Avenue in Ocean Grove.

SO MANY VENDORS...

...so little time! Many, many homes in town have yard sales to capitalize on the added foot traffic, so if you get a chance do try to wander around. It's where I've found some of my best deals.

CAN'T CARRY WHAT YOU BOUGHT?

If you think you'd like to store your purchases for pick up on another day, I'm happy to let you stow your goods in the shore house attic. Or, just stop by at the end of the flea day for a cold drink and a rock on the porch. Email me...shorehousechic(at)gmail(dot)com...I'd love to meet up with other bloggers, and answer any questions you may have about le grand flea.

Good luck, and happy hunting!

Memorial Day weekend was a weekend filled with great sales and good times...I'll share my newest finds tomorrow. Tonight I'm off to my skirt class...Hopefully the sewing gods will smile upon my sorry self...