Archive for the 'Shopping' Category
Fun at the Canton Barn
I’m always looking for new adventures to share and this weekend I found a great one in Canton. Every Saturday evening, the Canton Barn holds antique auctions, starting at 7:30pm. Now, this isn’t some high-brow, snooty affair. It’s downright low key and a darn good time.
The item preview begins at 5:00pm. Grab a pillow at the back of the room to hold your seat. Then get a slice of homemade pie (they usually have 8-9 different flavor selections) and wait for the fun to begin.
Richard Wacht, owner and auctioneer, does a great job quickly moving through items, in language everyone can understand. None of the garbled, fast-tongued guess-speak that usually is associated with auctioneers. If you want to bid on something, you just raise your hand during the bidding and throw your hat in the ring. Runners on the stage will acknowledge your bids and it goes back and forth until the highest bidder wins. Your name is taken down and you pay with cash or check at the end of the auction (no credit cards accepted).
Here are a couple of observations…
1. The majority of the crowd (about 100 people) appeared to be “regulars” and known by the staff. As first time visitors, and about 20 years younger than most of the patrons, we felt welcomed and comfortable with participating in the bidding action.
2. Several items went for, what I would consider, super deals. There were several items that had a “Pottery Barn flair” that went for well less than what they would cost at an actual Pottery Barn store. It was easy to feel losers remorse when you didn’t participate in bidding on an item because you felt it would go for far more than it did. I missed out on a nice dresser that went for $35 and a beautiful settee that sold for $40 because I assumed the bids would go much higher. They didn’t, so I lost out on those pieces. Fortunately there are unique things available each week.
3. There were collectibles and large pieces of furniture. If you look to collect certain items, or just need to furnish certain rooms of your house, you can find it at the Barn.
4. Buying a piece of pie was a good investment. My tummy thanked me.
5. Showing up to preview items around 6:45-7:00pm should allow enough time. We got there a little too early and had too much time to kill.
The hubby and I had a fun evening and will probably now make this a regular event. It easily beats staying home and watching a movie on the couch. Over the next couple of weeks I’m going to check out the Hartford-area auctions to see how they compare. Stay tuned…
Visit Your Local Farmer’s Market
I know a lot of you are thinking “Hey dummy, you should have written about this at the beginning of the summer.” I must admit that have been greedily enjoying heirloom tomatoes, organic fruit, and corn on the cob for weeks without writing about it. So sorry.
But in all seriousness, get out of your car and visit your local farmer’s market or farm stand. Almost every community has one on different days throughout the summer into the early fall. Go here to find one in your town in Hartford County. Happy, healthy eating!
My L.L. Bean Experience
This weekend I ventured East of the River to check out the new L.L. Bean in South Windsor. Yes, I know I’m a few weeks behind the grand opening, but I’m not a fan of crushing crowds and I needed a respite from the sweltering heat on Saturday. Any who, these are my observations about the store…
1. If you’ve been to the one-and-only true L.L. Bean in Freeport, Maine- brace yourself. The L.L. Bean at Evergreen Walk simply does not compare. Now, I’m not saying it’s worthless, it’s just a mini, mini version. So be prepared emotionally before you go.
2. It’s still super-crowded on the weekends. Bleh. You might want to try an evening after work or a weekday morning if you can’t handle throngs of people.
3. If you’re looking to buy an outdoor gadget/gear (fishing tackle, mountain bike, canoe, spelunking headlight, etc.) go to the store so you can check out the goods in person. If you’re looking to buy clothing, I would recommend sticking to the catalog. I heard several people complaining that they could not find their size in a specific color that they wanted. I heard one person mention that they drove all the way from Massachusetts but couldn’t find the flannel-lined jeans. Maybe because it was 95 degrees outside?
4. Vertically, there appears to be a huge amount of wasted space. The ceilings soar, but the merchandise is only on one floor. Why not put in a second floor if the main footprint of the building does not need to be changed?
5. The staff was knowledgeable and helpful. And friendly even though the place was overrun with visitors.
I’ll be interested to see how Cabela’s compares when it opens later this year in East Hartford.