If you love indie music with your heirloom tomatoes, head to the Bottle every third Saturday afternoon from noon to 4 p.m. The concert hall morphs into an intimate organic food and gift bazaar, complete with DJ. Up for grabs: cheese, meat, fruit, candles, yarn, baked goods, and booze from the lounge bar.
Empty Bottle Farmers Market, Empty Bottle, 1035 North Western Avenue, at Cortez Street (773-276-3600 or emptybottle.com). Admission, free.
You’ve heard it’s where the chefs shop. Lure their secret ingredients to your kitchen with a visit to 30-plus tents brimming with sustainably grown products from local farmers and purveyors. Each market features a chef cooking demo. Held Wednesdays and Saturdays, May through October, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Green City Market, Lincoln Park, between Clark Street and Stockton Drive (773-880-1266 or greencitymarket.org). Admission, free.
With historic boulevards as the backdrop, this gathering spot has a real community feeling. Along with produce, bread, and the usual fixings, you can grab lunch from local businesses and buy treats from indie artisans. Open Sundays, June through October, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Logan Square Farmers Market, North Milwaukee Avenue, at Logan Boulevard (773-489-3222 or logansquarefarmersmarket.org). Admission, free.
This no-frills, multiculti flea has been around for decades. Vendors of all nationalities and walks of life unload treasures used and new. Bargaining is not only allowed but expected, so wear your haggling hat. Also take your appetite; the street taco vendors are exceptional. Open Sundays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Maxwell Street Market, 800 South Desplaines Street, at Polk Street (312-745-4676 or explorechicago.org). Admission, free.
Whether you need fresh flowers or dog treats, this market delivers. Along with having one of the better selections of organic goods in the city (don’t miss Seedling smoothies and Green Cuisine vegetarian fare), it’s located right off the Damen Blue Line stop. Held Sundays, June through October, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wicker Park and Bucktown Farmers Market, Wicker Park, North Damen Avenue, at Wicker Park Avenue (explorechicago.org). Admission, free.
Get a monthly fix of indie designers, shopkeepers, chefs, bakers, confectioners, florists, and other creative types at this curated food and fashion mecca. Go for the exclusives, stay for the food samples, and save room for lunch in the cafe and a complimentary cocktail crafted by the likes of Femme du Coupe or Bittercube.
Dose Market, River East Art Center, 435 East Illinois Street, between Peshtigo and McClurg Courts (dosemarket.com). Admission, $8 in advance; $10 at the door.
Sift through vintage vinyl. Eye art deco tables. Rake in midcentury kitsch of all kinds. The once-monthly, weekend-long market is everything you’d expect from thrill-hunting. And more, considering there’s free furniture delivery (with purchases over $200) throughout downtown Chicago.
Randolph Street Market, Plumbers Hall, 1340 West Washington Boulevard, at Ada Street (312-666-1200 or randolphstreetmarket.com). Admission, $8 in advance; $10 at the door.
Make the trek to this far southwest suburban spread, where up to 200 vendors hawk vintage jewelry, furniture, china, and books, plus tons of fun oddities that raise the trash-or-treasure question. It gets major points for salvage cred (you’ll love the reclaimed yard ornaments and tables made from old barn doors).
Sandwich Antiques Market, Sandwich Fairgrounds, 1401 Suydam Road, at Eva Lane, Sandwich (815-786-3337 or antiquemarkets.com). Admission, $5.
A mobile barber shop, food, and drinks make this monthly flea as much about socializing as shopping. With new digs at the Aragon Ballroom, it hosts 150 vendors that spread out everything from vintage bar carts to retro cocktail dresses to Hollywood Regency lamps.
The Vintage Bazaar, Aragon Ballroom, 1106 West Lawrence Avenue, at Winthrop Avenue (thevintagebazaar.com). Admission, $5.
Croissants and crepes keep this market French-y; however, you’ll find treats from nearly every corner of the globe. Gourmet pastas, curries, sushi, cheeses, soups, and kosher fare are just some of the appetizing options. Consider lunch covered. Open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Chicago French Market, 131 North Clinton Street, between Washington Boulevard and Randolph Street (312-575-0306 or frenchmarketchicago.com). Admission, free.
Collect all kinds of interesting junk after a day at this far west suburban flea. Around for 45 years, it’s packed with never-knew-you-wanted-it gems, from vintage glassware to costume jewelry to porcelain figurines. Held the first weekend of every month.
Kane County Flea Market, Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 South Randall Road, between Route 64 and Route 38, Saint Charles (630-377-2252 or kanecountyfleamarket.com). Admission, $5.
Held one weekend each spring and fall, this emerging favorite deals in designer clothing and jewelry from eras gone by (Halston, Chanel, Balenciaga), as well as current styles from local talents. If you’ve ever lusted after cat-eye sunglasses or retro hair combs, this is your place.
Modern Vintage Chicago, Plumbers Hall, 1340 West Washington Boulevard, at Ada Street (312-666-1200 or modernvintagechicago.com). Admission, $8 in advance; $10 at the door.
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