Tchotchkes 'R Us
Randolph Street Market returns this weekend
06/21/2012 5:16 PM
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Sugar shack--At the May 27 Randolph Street Market, Matt Fera displays a sugar mold his wife acquired.
All shook up--Yes, Elvis lives, at least in 8-track tapes.
If you’ve been searching in vain for Elvis 8-track tapes, you’re in luck. Not because you have a working 8-track tape player, although they may be looking for one at the Smithsonian or the Chicago History Museum.
You can purchase Elvis 8-tracks for $5 each, and many other bizarre historical artifacts, right here in the West Loop this weekend. The Randolph Street Market returns for its second of five monthly appearances at 1340 W. Washington.
The market is open from 10 to 6 on June 23 and from 10 to 5 on June 24. It’s billed as “America’s largest urban antiques market.” It’s certainly one of the oddest.
There are lots of vinyl LPs available, vintage china, art deco furniture, stained glass and decades-old Illinois license plates. Randolph Street Market is like a giant garage sale, with booth after booth of antiques, collectibles and unusual items.
During the first 2012 Randolph Street Market on May 27, I saw people happily walking away with old highway signs, twin-lens reflect cameras (the ones that actually get loaded with film) and manual typewriters. There are live bands and food, too.
Admission is $10 or $8 in advance (the latter requires a PayPal account). Everyone who enters receives a $5 voucher that can be used on the purchase of an item $25 or higher from most of the vendors.