Meltdown at The Rose Bowl Flea

The Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena, CA, is one of my favorite flea markets. It is only held on the second Sunday of each month, so I try to plan my CA vacations around it whenever possible. What makes it so fabulous?  Well, for one, it's HUGE! Typically over 2500 vendors! And regardless of what I am searching for, I can usually find it.  So, this trip, we (yes, I always drag the family along with me) set out super early in order to get the best stuff - armed with our floppy hats, sunscreen, and bottles of cold water.  We had good traffic from L.A. and managed to get there right when the gates opened.

I was so excited to hit those stalls. I was on the hunt for vintage millinery hats and flowers.  I can just never get enough of them - plus, they are small enough to fit in my suitcase. :-)

Well, the party was over pretty much before it even started - within five minutes we we absolutely melting!  MELTING!!! It was soooo hot! We are talking well over 100 degrees with the sun beating directly down on us.

We had barely made it down one row, when I realized that the girls had to get out of that sun ASAP. Luckily, the husband volunteered to take them back to the air-conditioned car while I forged on. I am such a trooper.  :-)

I was completely miserable - I have never experienced heat like that before. I think my face must have been the color of a ripe tomato and my tank top was sopping wet. A normal person would have probably left immediately, but I had come so far and I was determined to find those flowers! So I tried to walk quickly (if you can even walk quickly in that kind of heat) down row after row, my eyes scanning for anything remotely millinery-esque.

Nothing.

Lots of really cool stuff, but not a single hat. Not one petal to be found.

I was just about to give up (i.e., faint) when I finally spotted them. There they were - piled up all prettily on a table - my millinery flowers! I nearly cried.

I scooped them up and made a bee-line for that air-conditioned car. I love you, Rose Bowl, but next time I'll be checking the weather report first!

XOXO

Jessica

Comments

[Pam]

Leaving California was not hard but leaving the Rose Bowl and Long Beach Swap Meet was the hardest things for me. My iPhone still has the alert for both swap meets and when it goes off I sigh. I'm in Southern Utah and they have nothing. Even hard sales are sad mainly stuff that is so used it's not worth even spending your money.

My husband and I would get up early and pay the extra dollars to get in early. We would see the same vendors and even the same buyers (at both swaps).

I look around my house and see all the wonderful items I have purchased at my two favorite swap meets and it makes me happy.

[Amy DeCesare]

Thanks for sharing the awesome photos for me, while I'm comfy at home. That looks like a super cool flea market! I live far far away in Pennsylvania, but my son just marched in the Tournament of Roses Parade this past January! I love seeing that sign, where he and the other band members had their photographs taken.

[Kelsea Echo]

Oh I'm so jealous you live close enough to go to this! Except for the scorching heat part... yikes.

I love that wooden shelf in your photo. Glad you found your flowers after all!

[Lisa Johnson]

I can totally relate to what you are saying. I was just recently on vacation in Southern California and I always try to plan my trip around the Long Beach Flea Market. I was all set to go, but backed out at the last minute as it was just too hot and I knew I'd be miserable. So glad you found your hats.
Lisa

[Hen]

Oh golly, this looks wonderful. I must make a pilgrimage...just from London! It's definitely not 100 degrees here. Thanks for sharing these super photos.
Hen x

[Sara's Sweet Surprise]

I know that heat all to well!! I lived right around the corner from the Rose Bowl. I never took opportunity to venture to the flea market. At the time my son was an infant so the heat was a huge determent. But, now I would have been right there next to you forging on. Nothing can keep a determined woman from her millinery.
I'm hoping to hit a few markets upon my return to S0-Cal.

Sweet wishes,
Sara

[kristen]

Poor thing! You came to LA during seriously the hottest heat wave I ever remember. It has been miserable!

[Maria at inredningsvis.se]

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[Stampin DAmour]

I was on the fence about visiting the {famous} Rose Bowl Flea Market, I think I will for sure now! Luckily, I will be visiting S.Cal in January...

I totally know what you mean about the HOT weather! The Phoenix area had EXTREME heat a few weeks ago...118 degrees!!! Whew! I thought I was going to melt!

Luckily, it's "cooled" down to normal temps of the low 100's here in Phoenix...LOL! :)

-pamela

[tammyCA]

Can you imagine the vendors loading/unloading in that heat? I will only go to the Rose Bowl when it is cooler weather...and, we've been having the worst heat wave this summer...2 weeks ago the temp sign at the corner station was 111...hate hot weather.

[kadee]

Oh, my gosh! Heat and humidity... go away! How I am sooo looking forward to the cooler fall temperatures. I love the fleas but not when it is that unbearable. Glad your perseverance paid off! Heading to Rose Bowl this November so it was a treat getting a preview of what to expect!

[{oc cottage}]

oh what a bummer! we did have quite a heat spell...i wanted to pack up and move to maine! ;}

m ^..^

[Natalie]

I love the Rose Bowl - if my husband and I even mention going the whole family wants to join us. We usually go every month from October - May. Luckily it is only 20 minutes away!!

[Pat C.]

I was riveted reading all about your "adventure"--and the accompanying pics made me feel as if I were there, melting in the heat, getting more and more discouraged by the minute, right along with you!! I even almost cried when you finally found your millinery flowers... I just love happy endings!; )

xoxo

xoxo