Ten Favorite Places To Shop

Well... the avocado green appliances

With the smell of domestic violences

And the dusty Farberware

And the rusty dinette chair

In the lonely little thrift store

The hard luck little thrift store.... where I go.....

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The Lonely Little Thrift Store-- Jonathan Richman

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It's the Ten On Tuesday list time once again. This week was an easy one---ten favorite places to shop!

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1. The Phoenix
I so "heart" this resale shop in nearby downtown Wakefield.

It used to be more of a true thrift shop, with a jumble of artfully arranged objects from the 1920's through the 90's, with prices so low that it really felt like you were stealing. There used to be a 10 cent table(everything on it just 10 cents) in the basement when the original owners had the shop--two sisters in their 60's who looked so much alike I could not tell them apart. For a while I thought they were the same person and was shocked when one day the usually pleasant owner was short with me when I talked to her! I eventually figured out there were two of them. One was really nice and the other...not so friendly (maybe she was the buyer and the designated scourer and locator of old things for the shop, and usually in the back room for a reason?)

When I found out it was being closed because the sisters didn't want to run it anymore I felt sad about losing this shop. But luckily, it was taken over by some other owners--

a co-operative of several vendors, and while the prices are now higher and there are actually real vintage antiques in there, you can still have a great time just poking around in there and still come away with something special to wear (I recently bought two retro late 60's daisy brooches) or for the house(I have a weakness for teapots and old cookbooks from there). It is always like stepping into a museum of the 20th Century for me, as so many times I have spotted something I remembered from my mother's kitchen(plastic Tupperware salt and pepper shakers in white and pale green, or a 1970 Knox Gelatin cookbook), or a book I had forgotten about from my elementary school years. There is always a box or two of old postcards and family photos(which make me sad in a way that they end up in a shop instead of in a family photo album).

I think I need to do a Phoenix blog entry very soon......

2. Perennials

A resale clothing shop near my work--I like to check in often to see what's "new". It has a true boutique feeling in there, and I can buy gently worn(or in some cases, never worn) and carefully selected clothing, jewelery and accessories for at least half the original price.

3. online at Amazon

Books, music, perfume, etc.--I buy it all from here. I have been good lately, though, and haven't purchased anything there in a while...

4. online at Sierra Trading Post
great shoe and clothing selection and great deals!
tp://www.sierratradingpost.com/


5. Different Drummer
http://www.differentdrummerri.com/
There is so much jammed into this shop(which has been in business for well over 20 years in Wickford), and it is usually quite crowded so sometimes I get claustrophobic and have to reluctantly get out of there. But on days when it is a little less crowded, I like looking through their card and postcard selection, as well as all the artsy ceramic and glass pieces.


6. Spangles
Another shop in downtown Wakefield. Costume jewelery galore--I find something "I must have", at a reasonable price in there every time.
http://www.spanglesfun.com/index.html


7. Trader Joe's
Food shopping made fun and slightly adventurous.

http://www.traderjoes.com/


8. Pleasant Surprise
Apt name for this shop in Newport-- it makes me smile just to browse in this place.
http://www.brickmarketnewport.com/pleasant_surprise.htm


9. T.J. Maxx

I rarely buy my clothes at department stores for the regular retail price, preferring to hunt for it at reduced prices at this place.

http://www.tjmaxx.com/index.asp

10. Ikea
I have to drive miles in either direction to Massachusetts or Connecticut to get to the nearest Ikea , so I don't get there too often, but I feel an urge to make an Ikea road trip soon...

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Well, those were the immediate first ten places to come to mind. I could easily pick ten or twenty more...