Area flea markets excite shopper’s imagination

I firmly believe in the dictum 'One man's trash is another man's treasure,' so recently I set out to a few of our area's flea markets to see what I could find.

TRADER JACK'S

Just about anything can be found at Trader Jack's. The main building houses the mini-stores of regular vendors who offer everything from discounted grocery items to watch repair.

But the real action is out in the lot, where everything from antique tools to pepperoni rolls can be found. There is also a healthy dose of 'I cleaned out my garage yesterday' stuff.

Having an eye for collectibles, I could not pass up a circa 1980 McDonald's restaurant high-chair for $4. Fifteen romance novels from the 1930s were a steal at $10. (They still had their original covers!)

I could not leave without stocking up on shampoo and bags of potato chips at a dollar each.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free parking and admission. Kirwin Heights exit of I-79, Collier Township. Details: (412) 257-8980 or www.traderjacks.itgo.com .

THE ANTIQUES FAIR AT THE MEADOWS

The Antiques Fair at the Meadows is always a good bet for hunting down the next addition to any collection. The items at this once-a-month event are not often cheap, but bargains can be found at this dealer-heavy venue.

Spurred by last year's aluminum show at the Carnegie, I started my collection with an aluminum coffeepot from the '40s that I found for $20. I added to my quickly growing romance novel collection with a few more at a dollar each.

Always on the hunt for mid-century modern furniture, I spotted two Eames chairs for $75 each - a bargain considering how desirable Eames furniture has become in recent years.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. the last Sunday of the month from February through November. $3 admission per adult, free for children 12 and younger. Meadowlands exit of I-79, Washington County. Details: (724) 228-3045 or www.oldshow.com .

FLEATIQUE AT TOUR-ED-MINE

Like the Antiques Fair at the Meadows, Fleatique in Tarentum is once a month and has mostly antiques and collectibles. Vendors range from pros with standard fare to locals trotting out the cast-offs from their collections.

I prowled the lanes looking for additions to my 3,000-set salt and pepper shaker collection. I came up with a few nice finds for under $5 a set.

Hours: 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. every third Sunday of the month from May through October. $2 for parking and free admission. Exit 14 of Route 28, Tarentum. Details: (724) 224-7666.

WILDWOOD PEDDLERS FAIR

The bulk of this flea market is at the bottom of a hill. There you will find the four buildings that house all of the indoor vendors as well as an outside lot. The best deals can be had in the upper lots.

That is where the 'after the yard sale' sellers set out their wares. Their prices tend to be a little cheaper than the savvy sellers at the bottom of the hill.

I saw everything from the 'World's Greatest Shower Head' to a taxidermic-stuffed alligator. The indoor vendors have some of the best mix of housewares and junk I have seen, so it was a surprise to see that at least half of the spaces were blanketed off. It turned out that most of those vendors also had spaces outside to take advantage of the summer weather and traffic.

Hours: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. $1 parking, free admission. Wildwood Road (Yellow belt between North Park and Route 8), Hampton Township. Details: (412) 487-2200 or www.wildwoodpa.com .

WOODLANDS FLEA MARKET

I liked the layout of the Woodlands Flea Market. An open lot of out-of-the-trunk sellers is flanked by rows of storage bays, out of which regular vendors sell a variety of old and new merchandise.

I was told by an old salt that this flea market is no longer what it once was. Vendors and patrons were a little sparse. This was not discouraging advice, however, since I figured it might mean I could find some bargains there.

I did.

I bought a Jackie Chan video for $3 and two cartoon movie videos for a dollar each. But the real deal of the day was a $6 Cabbage Patch doll in perfect condition that I bought for my daughter. Doll in trunk, I happily sped off while eating one of the five peaches I bought for a dollar.

Hours: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free parking and admission. 526 Thompson Run Road, West Mifflin. Details: (412) 462-4334.

SUPERFLEA

The Superflea is just that. It is a super-sized flea market that is situated in and around the old Eastland Shopping Center. The indoor vendor's area is huge and offers everything from jewelry to Avon products.

The rest of the flea market is outside in the parking lot and has some of the most diverse offerings I have seen.

There are newer items such as knock-off running shoes and clothing. Produce vendors also set up here. There seemed to be some sort of watermelon pricing war going on, so I got mine for $2.99.

Vendors sell crafts here, too. I could not resist buying an airplane whirligig fashioned out of Pepsi cans for $5. And, of course, there is lots and lots of good junk. I found two picture frames for a quarter each.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Free parking and admission. Eastland Shopping Center, 833 East Pittsburgh, McKeesport Boulevard off of Route 30, North Versailles. Details: (412) 673-3532.

SPOTLIGHT 88 FLEA MARKET

This flea market was once a drive-in movie theater until a tornado wiped out the big screen 12 years ago. Everything is outside, and all of the lanes are nicely spaced for browsing. It has a nice country feel to it. There are a few food vendors, too, to add to a pleasant experience.

There were lots of used housewares and collectibles at good prices. A like-new upright vacuum was priced at $10. I bought quite a few books for under a dollar each. I left inspired - dreaming about the potential of a Hummel-like figurine collection.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sunday from April through December. Free parking and admission. Junction of Routes 588 and 65, North Sewickley Township, Beaver County. Details: (724) 538-8721.