Score! Pop-Up Swap is New York’s version of an Australian swapmeet, with one main difference – there’s only an exchange of money for the entrance fee, after which you come with your trash, and leave with as much treasure as you like. In the words of co-founder Jenny Gottstein, “What’s not to love about a ’store’ where everything is free?”

Held at the leafy BKLYN Yard right by the serene-looking, yet extremely toxic Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, there was a lot of enthusiastic sorting and piling and gathering going on against the backdrop of DJs, good food and a well stocked bar, with proceeds going to the charity Global Inheritance, a non-profit that facilitates youth activism through music, art and pop culture.

For the uninitiated, this is how Score! works: as soon as you walk in, a happy helper takes your items from you at a drop off point. These are then sorted into various departments (for example, women’s/men’s clothing and accessories, children’s toys, books – which are meticulously divided according to categories including ’sci-fi,’ ’self-help’, ‘romance’, ‘electronics’ etc). After this, you are free to walk around and take what you love, with the leftovers donated to charity. Genius!

As expected, there was a flurry of activity going on around the ladies’ wear, the dudes were getting into things as well. Shirts seemed to be popular to dig through, with the odd jacket or two being tried on in between the trees. Thankfully there was no hip-and-shouldering amongst patrons and instead an emphasis on keeping it chill, whilst also having eyes on the prize(s).

Some were more successful in their quest than others (a few individuals walked out with big duffel bags packed tight with stuff), but when it comes to one’s taste in things’n’stuff, as they say, each to their own. Score of the day however goes go to the bright pink vinyl moon boots with wedge heel spotted walking out the door.

More at scoredatscore.com.





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