NILES ANTIQUE FAIRE and FLEA MARKET

Date:  August 29                                                                                       Fremont, CA

 

  

 

I had heard about this event many year's ago and this is the first time that we have this particular weekend open.  There were other shows available, such as the Grover Beach Stone Soup Festival, the San Jose Italian Festival and the one day event, Salida Town and Country Festival.  I have heard quite a few good things about this event, so we are giving it a go.

 

We have to arrive there before 4:30am and set up in the dark.  I guess since this is an Antique Show, people like to get there early as they attempt to find their treasures out of other people's junk.  Actually, there are a huge number of legitimate antiques here and the potential buyers will be executing their keenest strategies. 

 

Their listing in Craftmaster says that attendance is 40,000 and I have heard elsewhere that is nearer to 30K.  Whatever it be, a lot of people attend this yearly event and I would expect to do decently by default, despite the poor shape of the economy.

 

Sunday, August 29.  I left my house around 3:30am with the intentions of getting to Niles before 4:00.  I figured that would give me enough time to set up enough by 6:00, the official starting time.

 

DROVE over to Hesperian and headed over to Tennyson (Hayward).  I was able to zoom through many of the green lights and as I approached Mission Blvd., I turned to my wife and asked her if she brought our 'money bag.'   She said "no, I thought you had it."  Oh my gosh.  I was in a hurry and really pressing for time, but now I had to go back home.  After a few "%(#&@)($'s" I quickly turned around and headed home.  I decided to get on 880 and drive over to Winton, as I figured that would get my home quicker.  Still dark out, of course.  As I approached the Winton Avenue exit (west), somehow I got distracted and drove past it.  More "$#&$(##'s."  Went down to A and did a loop-de-loop back up onto the highway and then off at Winton.  Caught some red lights and they were agonizing and excruciating to wait for.  I arrived home a few minutes later and pulled into my driveway.  I raced inside my house and grabbed the bag and I was off to the races.  Went back down Winton and headed up the highway to Tennyson and proceeded up to Mission Blvd. 

 

IT SEEMED TO TAKE FOREVER to reach Niles, but I was able to hit 40-50 miles per hour much of the way.  I exited Mission one street too early but followed Niles Blvd. down to where I saw 4-5 other cars waiting behind a barricade.  They made such a big deal telling us that the 'gates would close at 4:30.'  All I can say is WHAT GATES?

 

THERE WAS A TIME when my son and I were heading up to Infineon to watch the Indy Cars race.  We left home and drove down Highways 880 and then 80, exiting on Tennesse St. and drove toward Mare Island, which is a good shortcut that avoids a lot of the backup on Highway 37. (shhhhh)  As we drove down Tennessee I asked my son if he had the tickets for the race and he told me 'no.'  This time we had to turn around and drive 35 miles back home.  Fortunately, the Indy car races are not as popular as NASCAR and you can get there much later to get a decent parking spot.  So, that put us over an hour behind, but no big deal.

 

I ENDED UP HAVING TO WAIT approximately 40 minutes to enter the event.  After all this rushing around and getting totally stressed out getting there, I end up with this.  There were a bunch of people who arrived here before 3:00, but that's not for me.  I didn't realize that I would have to actually wait in line.  I guess that it could get quite congested if you let everybody in all at once since there was only enough room on the street for two cars, one in each lane.

 

WHILE I WAS WAITING, I decided to get out of my car and take a walk over and see where my space was and to find out what was happening with the congestion.  When I got to my space, I was totally shocked to see that it was only 5 feet wide and I had been squeezed out.  I pretty much freaked out.  I looked for the markings on the ground and saw that the person on the right was okay.  I saw that the vendor on the left set up her canopy five feet into my space.  There were numbers written on the ground designating where we were supposed to be and she thought (?) that was where she was supposed to put her canopy RIGHT on top of my number.  HELLLOOOO!  The other markings were plain and clear on the ground.  Can't miss them.  But she did.  Oh gosh, what a day.

 

I saw some people walking around as early as 5:00, when I arrived at my space.  Some had flashlights.  Might be your serious antique shoppers. How about something like this, so you can keep your hands free.  I guess they are called miners lights.  When we did a (defunct) show in Orinda a few years ago, I saw some joggers running along the sidewalks with those doohickies attached to their heads.  What else are they going to do in Orinda anyway?  Can you imagine 5,000 people walking around with these things?  Actually, there weren't quite that many people there at that hour of the morning.  Just a couple handfuls from what I saw.

 

PANCAKE BREAKFAST.  They had one of the local organizations cooking breakfast.  They were located all the way at the other end of the Market.  Only $5 which was a pretty good deal.  Pancakes, sausages and scrambled eggs.  Also, coffee and OJ.  One of the better breakfast deals at shows.  Other groups charge at least $6 at other events. 

 

FOOD.  There were a number of food vendors there and they were very spaced out.  No no no.  The booths were spaced out, not them.  I didn't get anything because the lines were too long.  I don't think I missed out.  Just ate the leftovers from out pancake breakfast.  Wanted to pick up something to drink but was not going to stand in line.  There were these kids walking around selling sodas for $.75 each and I got two Pepsi's from them.

 

PEOPLE JUST AREN'T LOOKING TO BUY my stuff early in the morning and there is no reason for me to be out there half asleep.  These antique shows just are not for me or mostly anybody else selling new merchandise.  

 

THERE WERE LOADS OF PEOPLE SELLING OLD STUFF such as plates, glasses, mugs, books, etc., and it was pretty obvious that these people cleaned out their closets, garages, storage lockers and brought the stuff on down.  There are a number of events that do cater to these sellers.  Or perhaps some of these were collectors of older items and were trying to make a profit on their sales.  Also there were a number of sports memorabilia dealers.

 

I DIDN'T DO TERRIBLE THERE and showed a profit.  Not too sure how all these other people made out with their old stuff, but I don't see anybody make a killing, but I am sure some of the closet-cleaners are happy they made some burger money.  That $150 booth fee is hard to swallow.  I will not be back in 2011.

 

  

 

 

 

URINE NATION WEEKLY REPORT

The canine family made its presence known and there were those mutts who had to drag their owners to the show.  Didn't see too many dogs until late morning. Must have had something on the Dog Channel.  I think I had some close calls as I did see some dogs sniffing in front of my booth.  I watched them and I was ready to attack.  Had one guy who was walking his dog in back of my booth.  Had the remainder of my pancake breakfast on a paper plate (covered up) and the guy let the dog go over and begin to sniff the outside with his ugly snouth.  "Get outa here," I said quickly.  The guy laughed.  He thought it was funny.

 

 

 

 

THE LIGHTER SIDE

 

BRING YOUR DOG OVER TO GRETCHEN MALKOWSKI'S DOG WASH in space 383 where you can get your dog washed for free from head to toe, nose to butt.  Get a thorough cleansing with her deep-cleaning K-nine grime and slime remover.  She is selling her amazing cleanser  at $23.99 for a 5-gallon container.  Works great.  Warning:  Do not use near cigarettes, cell phones or spark inducing gadgets as it may cause your dog to.... well, kind of explode.