Haute Flea

gone are the days of roaming the flea market on avenue a and finding vintage t-shirts, old records and the guys from interpol sulking on a sunday afternoon. starting this weekend, though, there's marte on 3rd, a weekend market featuring clothing from designer jackie hates you, customized housewares from lightexture, snacks from georgia's eastside bbq and eton and plenty more. (marte, by the way, stands for manhattan artisan retail and trade emporiums.) "we are thrilled to host a continuous community event that will benefit both our school and the neighborhood," said school representative jodi friedman. "we are excited for people to get familiar with our school, p.s. 63-the hidden gem of the lower east side!"

in the coming weeks, marte will be hosted by select manhattan public schools that will also receive funds raised by sales. marte on 3rd will help p.s. 63 get much-needed air-conditioning units. other schools will get funding for arts programs and after-school activities. at each participating school, the parents association will team up with community flea, a division of this paper's parent company, manhattan media, to run the markets from summer through the holiday season, enabling the schools to use part of their space for students to sell their own goods. so shop till you drop-there's no buyer's remorse, since marte is a fundraiser for the host school!

june 5 and 6, p.s. 63 william mckinley school, 121 e. 3rd st. (betw. 1st ave. and ave. a), www.themarte.com; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., free.