of "Flea beetle" existed in Moscow centuries. Last century similar trade started coming to naught slowly. Nevertheless the small markets remained and to this day, but only on the periphery. To the downtown the tradition was returned by the Museum Moscow which organized the market in the courtyard. Collectors, artists, bibliopoles, photographers and shopkeepers gather here once a month - and to prove to be, and to sell "wealth". However, it is a little buyers. Much more curious citizens and tourists. Some come simply to communicate and find friends on interests. Counters here are not present: trade spontaneously, on asphalt. Everywhere interior knickknacks, ancient tableware, ware, jewelry, badges, books... Price tags differ from tens to several thousand rubles.
From columns in the yard of the museum the Russian romances, and at "counter" of the pensioner Gennady - modern dancing hits sound. Here such contrast. Its old, Soviet radio receiver frayed by time for the present can catch a wave. Gennady sells rare things. Quickly bronze figurines disperse. As if in confirmation of his words conversation with the correspondent of "RG" is interrupted by tourists from China. Want to buy Dzerzhinsky's bust. Lenin missing the neighbourhood is not interesting to them. The pensioner estimated Felix at 2,5 thousand rubles, and bargained on 2 thousand. According to him, in tourist places similar figures stand in two, and even is three times more expensive. On the next bench visitors show interest to old cameras. Here the most known Soviet brands: "Change", "Zenith", "Kiev", "Seagull". Slightly at some distance - toys with which children played Soviet Union: dolls, characters of animated films, Olympic Roginsky Mikhail. From the childhood Korneychuk Denise became interested in greetings. At office - the sales manager, in life - the collector with unusual hobby. Here ten years collects toys from the kinder surprises - that were issued in the nineties." In the childhood I had the whole bag with such toys, - Korneychuk Denise remembers. - We exchanged them, and sometimes and sold for symbolical money. Over time my collection became puzzled, and already at conscious age I decided to collect it again".
the February flea market this time became part of a festival "Thaw: facing the future". Visitors of "Flea beetle" here can glance free of charge on an exhibition "The Moscow thaw: 1953-1968". In an exposition - pictures Nusberg Leo, Roginsky Mikhail, records of the well-known jazz concerts, film and photographic materials of that era. The part of the project is devoted to literature. It is possible to see the first editions of collections with original design and autographs Voznesensky Andrey, Yevtushenko Eugenia, Rozhdestvensky Robert. From funds of the Museum Moscow the sign subjects "thaw" are exposed: dresses and hats of the end of the 1950th - the beginning of the 1960th years, the Soviet posters, porcelain, furniture, the technician.