Melrose Trading Post
A friend turned me on to the Trading Post a few years ago. Located in the expansive parking lot of the famous Fairfax High School (note-worthy alums include Demi Moore, Carol Lombard, Mickey Rooney, Phil Spector, and my personal favorite, the Red Hot Chili Peppers) at Fairfax and Melrose. It costs $2 to get in ($1 for students with a valid ID), but it goes to the student funds, so it's all good.
It's probably one of the most hospitable and do-able flea markets I've ever been to. It's organized well, with a wide range of vendors selling everything from furniture (there can be some real treasures) to records to vintage tees to old toys to random junk. My aforementioned friend likes to surreptitiously pocket old black and white pictures from someone's 1940s photo album. I've purchased tons of pretty good quality used records there, as well as a handful of books, handmade soaps, adorable original artwork greeting cards, and a really cool old map of Rome that is proudly displayed on the wall of my apartment.
They also offer refreshments--snow cones, popcorn, hot dogs, etc.--and a jazz band plays for part of the afternoon. It's the perfect lazy Sunday activity after hitting up a farmer's market. There's also the celebrity factor--I once had a rather bizarre chat with Parker Posey on a blisteringly hot winter day, and Damien from Mean Girls bought a Dr. Seuss alphabet book for my friend.
The Trading Post is every Sunday. I've never been there at the crack of dawn so I'm not sure what time it opens, but my guess would be around 9 or 10. It lasts until around 5 in the evening, but you should definitely get there around 1 and give yourself plenty of time to wander aimlessly through the stalls. Highly recommended for locals and tourists alike!
