Chicago My Kind of Town - Posh Revisited

So a couple of weeks ago I was back in Chicago for work and unusually had not allowed for any time in my schedule for “personal meandering”.  I was attending the National Restaurant Show and had two packed full 14-hour days scheduled.  Now, realize this tradeshow is phenomenal and really hardly constitutes working but it is huge and takes all of the two days I had scheduled to even come close to seeing it all.  Just imagine every kind of food sample you can imagine as well as kitchen equipment & supplies in 1,000,000 sq ft of exhibition space.  My feet are aching just remembering it….yes, I did wear cute shoes (not cute in a crippling painful way, but cute none-the-less).

And as a special bonus former President Bill Clinton was the keynote speaker!  Put politics aside he is a fascinating man with a compelling perspective of food as it relates to our politics, healthcare and the world at large.

Photography is definitely not my strength...but you
get the idea

Usually when I visit Chicago I like to stay right on Michigan Avenue with all of the hub-bub of its shops, restaurants & hotels.  I also tend to have an affinity for the historic, non-chain hotels – it’s a wonderful old city with wonderful old hotels.  This visit I decided to shake it up a bit and opted for the Embassy Suites on State St – I knew this was in a desirable location but really did no research to see where it was and what was around it.  I figured I had no time so it really didn’t matter.

Imagine my surprise when I looked out my hotel
window and spotted Posh (2nd storefront from
the left in this photo).

So, imagine my pleasant surprise when we arrived and I happened to spot my favorite spot from my last summer visit to Chicago…Posh (see earlier post here) right across the street from the Embassy…talk about serendipitous.  I just knew that somehow, some way I was going to sneak a few minutes away and pop in.  It took me a whole 24-hours before I found my opportunity but find it I did.

Phenomenal Selection of oil paintings at
great prices!

Vintage Fire King!  

I absolutely love this selection of reproduction vintage maps

And…..my opinion is officially the same as my first opinion.  I LOVE this shop! 

Enamelware...can't you just picture yourself making
coffee around a campfire with this?

On this trip I happened to be travelling with one of my colleagues and he was not so impressed.  His concern was that since this is a shop that mixes authentic vintage (he loves vintage) with reproductions you can’t really be sure what is old and what isn't.  My take is a bit different – I take it for what it is and pay what I would consider fair regardless to its authenticity of age.  I like what I like and it doesn’t need to be old or new to work in my house.  I’m not selling fine antiques here…just finding fun decorative items for my house. 

This so almost made it on the plane with me!
I love, love, love this pink Fire King!

Plan B in Rowley MA - Village Antiques

Ever have a day when the best laid plans for a girls day out just wash away with the rain and you have to move to plan B?  Well this was the case when a couple of weeks ago my best girlfriends and I had planned to spend a lovely spring Sunday morning at Todd Flea Market in Rowley MA.  It seemed like the perfect laid plan, breakfast, beautiful day walking the fields looking at goodies, girl bonding time…and then it rained L.

Luckily we’re not the kind of girls to let it rain on our parade so we headed off to the Agawam Diner to caucus over eggs & pancakes and formulate said plan B.  Now when I tell you the Agawam Diner was packed out I am not kidding…line out the door…sure sign of good food…and it definitely did not disappoint. 

166 Newburyport Turnpike (U.S. Rte 1)Rowley, Massachusetts
photo courtesy of Yelp

Although I had really not spent any time in Rowley (shamefully since it’s just around the corner from my house) I had done enough reading in local publications to know that there were several antique & consignment shops that were worth a stop & luckily I had included the information for these on my “shop bucket list”.  So off we went…

First stop was Village Antiques and I knew as soon as I walked through the door this was going to be good.  I barely crossed the threshold when I spotted a small stack of Woods & Burslem red transferware.  The only question was…were these plates my pattern, Colonial or the ever more popular English Scenery?  Well, they were Colonial!!!   I was so excited, I didn’t even hesitate they were mine! 

Woods Burslem Red (Pink) Transferware
Colonial Pattern

These dishes are the same pattern that my great-grandmother had when I was growing up and she was such a good cook that I am convinced that everything I make automatically tastes better on these dishes.  After my great-grandmother passed away her dishes were sold with the rest of her estate.  So when a few years later when I stumbled upon some in an antique shop I decided to make these my every day china.  Finding pieces in good shape at a reasonable price is not always easy but so gratifying when I do score a find.  These were a find.

How fun is this suitcase bar...I can think of plenty of
business trips I would love to take this on :)

Now, this was a great start to a really fun visit to Village Antiques.  Kate, Pam, Cheryl & I all loved the mix of items Village Antiques had and the shop owner was such a fun lady.  It was such a pleasure to support her business.

Love this FDR bust...I was so tempted!

This "unfortunate" lady really got us laughing

We visited several other shops this rainy Sunday..Salt Marsh Antiques, The White Elephant Shop & The WhiteElephant Outlet.  It was such a fun day!

And of course I spotted this fabulous
lamp...I just love the pop of color!

What Happens in Burlington...Mason Brothers Salvage

For over the last 20 years my Mom has been living in St Albans Vermont (for those who don’t know St Albans is almost as far northwest as you can get in VT before you reach Canada) and for the last 5+ she has been contemplating retirement and a move back to Maine.  Well, a couple of months ago it finally happened; she sold her house, retired and moved.

With the closing date rapidly approaching I headed up for a weekend to share my wealth of knowledge as it relates to packing & moving (I’ve certainly done my share!).  After 2 full days of boxes, tape and packing paper I hit the road to meander home and on the way visit some of my old Burlington haunts. 

My first apartment ever as an 18 year old was in Burlington and I took a year off from college and lived there when I was 21…Burlington is a wonderful place that holds warm phenomenal memories for me.  Some people say “what happens in Vegas…” well for me it’s “what happened in Burlington…”

My first apartment was in this old school on Pine Street
in Burlington VT...such good times happened here!

Most of my old favorite spots have long since closed or turned into some kind of chain coffee shop but I soon discovered a couple of new favorite spots.  My first stop, Mason Brothers at 11 Maple St/Five Corners in Essex Junction VT is an architectural salvage shop that I literally could have spent hours in.  There were so many pristine home pieces and parts that were cleanly and perfectly displayed.  No crawling through the dirt at Mason Brothers (my kind of place)!

Grate covers - these are so awesome!  I can think of so many
things to do with these...they would make great wall art.

If this had only fit in my car....

Not really my style but how cool is it these throne
like chairs are for sale at an architectural salvage
shop

Vintage light fixtures, cabinets, doors, bathroom fixtures, farm sinks, stained glass windows…oh my...even some unique vintage furniture pieces.  Mason Brothers has it all and more.

Heavenly cabinetry - they just don't make it like this anymore

I love this sink and how cool is it that the vanity part is this
gorgeous marble?

 It’s important when you have an older home to keep the integrity of the bones of that home and places like Mason Brothers really are key in providing products that allow for upgrades/renovation while retaining that integrity. 

If you can't find the perfect hardware here
it doesn't exist!

Again, I literally could have spent hours at this place and would likely have never seen everything.

Sweet Charitable Austin

You know those silly little city magazines & books that they leave on your desk in hotels that you are just too busy sleeping to read?  Well, while you all are sleeping I am reading them and while they are mostly full of advertisements and directions to the closest Marshalls they also often do offer some hint of a lead to somewhere I must see in whatever city I am in. 

This was how I found 26 Doors shopping center (26 "upscale" i.e. swanky boutiques & salons) in Austin and how I stumbled into the so fun Sweet Charity, a home accessory shop that not only sells beautiful items but also makes the world a better place J.



Sweet Charity
1206 West 38th Street, Ste 1101
Austin, TX 78705



Their stated mission from their website is:  “Sweet Charity is a project of the Seton Healthcare Family and is staffed by volunteers. Proceeds benefit the Sweet Charity Fund, an endowment that helps fund healthcare services for low-income families at the Seton Community Health Centers”  What could be better right – beautiful decorative items and helping the less fortunate.  It’s a win-win!

This fella greeted me when I came in the door.
I immediately knew it was my kind of place!

One of the things that I love about the south (and southwest apparently) is the love of decorating to excess for every holiday from Halloween to Labor Day and every holiday in between.  Decorated trees are not just for Christmas and one of the lovely ladies that happened to be working at Sweet Charity while I was visiting was chatting about all of the trees she decorates for the holidays.  She has them in every shape, color, style and apparently decorates every room in her home (as well as her daughters) with a different themed tree for Christmas.  It just sounds like such a winter wonderland…she should definitely start her own business!

This lovely Easer Tree was decorated with
the most beautiful glass egg ornaments
that just shimmered.

With this holiday spirit in mind I couldn’t help but just drool over all of the absolutely beautiful Easter decorations for sale at Sweet Charity.  Even if we had not been enjoying an early spring this shop would put you in the mood.  Colorful eggs & chicks oh my!

 


This chandelier was featured over a gorgeous farmers table with
the most beautiful white dishes...so fabulous!

There was a selection of beautiful picnic accoutrements, lovely serving dishes, as well as a whole wall of kitchen gadgets.  This shop’s clear mission is to make the world a more beautiful place and definitely does just that.

Love this decopaged galvanized steel tray!  You
can't imagine the contemplation that went on in
my head over this...in the end I decided I didn't
reeeaaallly need it...I'm still debating though.

Wall O-Gadgets



And you know me and
the lamps....LOVE!

Landscape Design With A Little Help From My Friends...

Sometimes I am just astounded by the wonderful FREE events that are offered in my community.  Last night at the local library hosted a Home Design Road Show – from an organization of lovely ladies called Women Design. 

Women Design is a collaboration of local women landscape designers, architects, interior designers and real estate professionals who get together to offer up free advice to fixer-uppers such as me.  It’s a fabulous idea!  They host the event and offer short consultations to whomever shows up – you just bring your photos, questions and any inspirational magazine clippings you might have.  It’s really a genius idea – I get awesome feedback and not only do I have a new resource if I decide to hire the project out but if all works as it should these professionals get referral business from those who I tell how great they were (and they were).

This year with the exterior of my house topping my never ending project list - painting, new front steps, raised bed garden removal, back yard total renovation, etc… the main question I had was “what on earth (no pun intended) do I do with the mess that is my yard?  A landscaper I am not…




This raised bed garden creates a border between my yard and my
neighbors...unfortunately it's in really poor shape with rotting railroad
ties and full of weeds (I've moved anything that is not a weed and
transplanted them to another garden already).
So, IT HAS TO GO!

 


These bushes abutt my house and line the driveway.
Unfortunately they also scratch the paint on my car
when I park too close & haven't trimmed the hedge...
So, THEY TOO HAVE TO GO

 


My back yard, over grown and full of weeds.  Not only
is there a wishing well behind those bushes but there
is an actual well below it.
Yes, you guessed it it all HAS TO GO



My sad front stoop - stairs are extremely
steep & close and not up to code.  Under
these wood steps are disintegrating cement
that will be replaced this summer!



 I arrived at the event about 30 minutes after it started and I was just one in a long line awaiting my turn with one of the landscape ladies when Heather Deschenes, from HND Architects had a few minutes free so I meandered over to her table to discuss my front stoop.  Holy cow she had great feedback!  I was really struggling on whether or not to go with stone steps or wood – Heather suggested a Azek composite decking product (i.e. no maintenance) that I think will look fab!  Heather also gave me the right questions to ask the building inspector for my town so I can make sure I’m all legal before we start the construction.  Her information was really invaluable.



The "inspiration" picture I brought - it's
actually one of my neighbors stoop.  Nice
but I needed help making it my own (don't
want to do a direct copy...)



The sketch I left with giving me basic measurements
as well as the perfect suggestion to go with a tapered
column instead of 2 straight ones as well as using
the composite decking material instead of stone. 



Once I was done with Heather I was back awaiting my time with landscaping and after just a short wait Susie Talbot from Forget-Me-Not Garden Services welcomed me to her table.  Now, by this time it was really toward the end of the evening so everyone had been hard offering advice for a couple of hours.  This didn’t at all impact my time with Susie – she was so pleasant and helpful.  She gave me some great advice on which plants will make it through a transplant and which just need a good whacking (whacking of course being the technical term).  She also made some wonderful suggestions on some border shrubs to replace some of the raised bed gardens I am removing.



Susie suggested California Privet to
replace the raised bed garden in my front
yard to create a natural border that is mostly
maintenance free



And peonies to replace the scratchy shrubs on
the side of my house/driveway.  I LOVE peonies
and Susie told me how to stake them so they
don't droop into the drive.  I am so excited
to make this change!



 This turned out to be such a fun evening and I got to spend an evening of receiving FREE great advice I have one piece of advice to pass on to you…if you see an announcement of any kind informing you that your community is hosting something similar to this – GO!  Now I just have to call the guy with the machines to do all of the digging in my yard and find a nice charity to donate some of the fully mature plants that I will not be using.