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A word about street vendors

By Linda Perney | amNY.com

A street vendor in Times Square sells American flags (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

If it's fair to say New Yorkers love a bargain, then it's also true to say they like a street vendor.

By their nature, these sidewalk sellers are itinerant. While the bad old days, when Rudy Giuliani was cracking down on them, are mostly over, you'll still find that some of the merch that's most in demand is kept hidden away, to avoid the trademark nazis who threaten our heroes with confiscation of their knocked-off goods.

This is largely a Manhattan phenomenon, with good prospects to be found from the South Street Seaport all the way up to Harlem, where the sidewalks are alive with independent souls looking to make a buck -- and bargain-hunters looking to save one. Herewith, a few suggestions on where to look.

In Harlem: 125th Street, moving west from Lenox Avenue. What you'll find: books, music, pocketbooks, jewelry, perfume, music and more.

On the Upper West Side: the west side of Columbus Avenue between 72nd and 80th Streets on weekends. What you'll find: books, costume jewelry, kids' stuff, sunglasses, pocketbooks (sometimes).

In Midtown: Check out the area around the Hell's KItchen market on weekends; another choice spot: the blocks along Lexington, near Bloomingdale's weekends and weekdays. What you'll find: pocketbooks (good knockoffs), costume jewelry; sunglasses.

In the Village: Broadway, from Third Street south to Houston (east side of Broadway). What you'll find: hair accessories, socks, costume jewelry.

In SoHo: West Broadway, near Spring Street (both sides of West Broadway). What you'll find: art (kinetic sculpture, prints), costume jewelry, pocketbooks, sunglasses. Also, on Spring Street, east to Broadway: pocketbooks, sunglasses, jewelry, T-shirts.

South Street Seaport: What you'll find: just about everything: sunglasses, jewelry, kids' stuff, scarves, clothes, T-shirts, souvenirs.

In Queens. On Jamaica Avenue, from 165th to 168th Street (Jamaica). What you'll find: clothes, books, fruit, in short, just about anything.