Trenton, once known for the droves of workers who flocked to the iron and steel factories, is now often regarded as a high crime city left impoverished when the industrial jobs moved out in the 1980s. But a variety of artists have been working steadily over the past decade to revive and reinvent the city’s image by bringing culture back to Trenton.
One event that happens multiple times per year and which didn’t get canceled this October, despite covid-19, is the Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market (TPRFM) with the theme Halloween Market. It was held on October 10 and 11 at Cure Insurance Arena and featured food, culture, and masked, socially distanced individuals.
The flea market is what it sounds like, hundreds of booths with vendors selling everything from vintage records to sculptures, costume jewelry to hand stitched clothing unique to every designer. The event, which typically takes place five times per year has been ranked one of the best flea markets in America by the Huffington Post.
Joseph Kazemka, the flea market’s founder, studied advertising design at MCCC back in the 1990s and went on to a career in graphic design but didn’t get to finish his degree. He’s back at MCCC now but balancing his classes against not only his work with the flea market but also organizing the Capitol City Food Truck Battle, running his own punk rock hardcore label Hellminded Records, and serving as Event and Creative Director for Art All Night among other projects.
It was his work with Art All Night, another Trenton culture fest, that prompted Kuzemka to start the flea market back in 2013. He says he wanted to focus on the arts and promoting small businesses of which there were plenty at the Halloween Market.
Jen Tracy an artist and podcaster for the No Sleep Podcast, was there selling her horror themed watercolor paintings when two visitors passed by saying, “I wish I had more money to shop.” She sells her works throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Blacksmith Daniel Lapidow is another vendor who was at the event. He is a local and owner of Hebrew Hammer who has been working with Art All Night and The Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market for years. He creates custom metal pieces that range from sculptures to dice to horseshoes and Bataraangs (metal boomerangs shaped like bats). When not at festivals you can find him and his work on North Clinton Avenue in Trenton where he gives demonstrations and aids in historical reenactments.
Lapidow said of the event, “people know me in the area, so it’s the best show I do.”
Another vendor that stood out was Secret Squirrel Cookies. Michael Lipka and founder Paula Lopez started the business as a passion project during covid-19 and it grew from there. Lopez said she wants to spread her love and passion for fun, giant cookies.
When asked why they chose the Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market as their first venue Lopez said, “We wanted to get out and during covid. It’s really hard to find outlets for being in the public.” She went on to explain, “Cookies are one of those things you need to see and touch and feel.”
The market was full of people young and old from every walk of life, each sporting their personal punk rock anthem in their attire. Friends talked about their favorite DC or Marvel prints. Families devoured burritos beside the food trucks. A herd of nerds waited around for an open spot at an antiquities stand.
It was dangerous for anyone to come to the flea market hungry.
The heavy scent of Kielbasa from Cas’ Pierogi & Kielbasa lingered in the air. People inhaled lobster rolls from Cousins Maine Lobster in mere seconds. Others emptied their wallets for the juiciest slabs of pork roll at Johnny’s Pork Roll.
In the midst of this pandemic, Joseph Kazemka says he realized the importance of still hosting this event. After spending months locked inside our homes, it was clear people needed to de-stress, safely.
Kuzemka said, “By taking the artists and the makers we have here in Trenton, and bringing in artists from out of town, we wanted to create a really positive synergy that can impact the city.”
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Interested in TPRFM? The next big event is Trenton Wreck The Halls Flea Market coming this December. To learn more visit the TPRFM Facebook page.
