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Fantastic Finds – Everything Old is New Again …and Worth a Look! — May 29, 2018

Fantastic Finds – Everything Old is New Again …and Worth a Look!

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Everything old is new again! The old Discovery Shop in Chappaqua was good but I must say that I am enjoying its reincarnation all the more. I stepped into Fantastic Finds and it certainly lives up to its name. A 75% off Fall clothing sale was going on when I visited. I walked out with a couple of great buys; a pair of Talbot’s pants for $5 and a Tahari dress/duster for $7.50 plus a couple of other staples. But even without the sale, this is definitely one of the better upscale resale shops in the Westchester/Putnam area.  They carry men’s and women’s clothing, jewelry, scarves, handbags and other accessories. I think they have a excellent selection of brand name merchandise with some high end merchandise as well. Their Spring collection was excellent. They also carry household items such as small accent furniture, housewares, china (quite beautiful too), home décor, and musical instruments. I thoroughly enjoyed looking through the art. Actually, I had a great time browsing through the store, there was just so much to see.

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As far as pricing, I find it comparable and slightly cheaper than other UPSCALE shops that are similar to Fantastic Find.  All the merchandise is in PRISTINE condition and there are certainly gift quality selections to be found. I hope that the pictures tell a much better story of what Fantastic Finds is all about!

 

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What is wonderful is that all proceeds from sales at Fantastic Finds will benefit Support Connection, an organization that provides free, year-round breast and ovarian cancer support services. They rely on your donations to provide free programs and support services. 88¢ of every dollar donated goes directly to fund these critically needed services.

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Check out Fantastic Finds – I promise it’s worth the trip!

Fantastic Finds

400 King Street (former site of the Discovery Shop)

Chappaqua, NY

Phone:           914-238-9200

Email:             fantastic.finds@supportconnection.org

Shopping Hours:

Monday – Saturday 10 am – 4:30 pm.

Until next time,  Happy Shopping!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Housing Works Bookstore Cafe and Thrift Shop in SoHo — November 21, 2017

Housing Works Bookstore Cafe and Thrift Shop in SoHo

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One thing that you can count on with Housing Works is that they always carry above average merchandise. But what makes this Housing Works on Crosby Street in SoHo even better than most (if not the best) is the Housing Works Bookstore Café next door. If you have never been to the Housing Works Bookstore Café, I strongly suggest that you check it out. It is an absolutely wonderful bookstore with a great vibe. It is such a popular spot in SoHo but for all the right reasons – atmosphere – the books – the beauty of the mahogany walls – and of course, the café. They serve coffee, snacks and some light alcohol. The café won me over with the vegetarian options. Well done! If you are lucky enough to get a table (more often than not, you will)), you can sit back and flip through one of the thousands of mostly pristine condition books that they carry. They have a book special the first weekend of the month where books are 30% off which is a steal considering the books are already reasonably priced. And if you are a Housing Works member, you can add on another 10% off – who could ask for anything more.  Did I mention that the staff is phenomenal – welcoming, helpful and overflowing with graciousness and professionalism! I can’t say enough about this bookstore including the fact that all proceeds benefit the homeless and those affected by HIV/AIDS in NYC.

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Now for the Housing Works Thrift Store, I think they carry an above average variety of merchandise. The store is well organized and the displays are always nicely done. The staff is amazingly friendly and helpful. Also, the staff is honest when you ask opinions which I appreciate. I enjoyed looking through the selections and they do carry an array of sizes. My only wish is that they had more selections the day I was in but I figure they just sell out merchandise as soon as they stock it because of the popularity and location of this store.

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When it comes to accessories, in my humble opinion, I find that Housing Works carries the best jewelry. I have found some amazing pieces on my visits to various Housing Works. Not too long ago I found a pair of Elsa Perretti Tiffany sterling silver teardrop earrings that were an ABSOLUTE steal at $75 and a gorgeous choker for $10.00 at the Ninth Ave Housing Works. On this visit to SoHo, I found fun sparkly earrings 🙂 in a $2 basket that have become one of my favorites. I believe all merchandise in the windows is sold through online auctions.

The bottom line is that Housing Works may be a bit more expensive but it is worth it if you find something you love of good quality.

In case you are interested, here is the information on a membership with Housing Works:

https://www.housingworks.org/donate/membership

Housing  Works Bookstore Cafe
126 Crosby Street
New York, NY
(212) 334-3324
Monday – Friday  – 10 am – 9 pm
Saturday – Sunday – 10 am – 5 pm

Housing Works Thrift Shop
130 Crosby Street
New York, NY
(646) 786-1200
Monday – Saturday – 11 am – 7 pm
Sunday – 11 am – 5 pm

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!

 

TWIGS Thriftree Thrift Shop in Mount Kisco — October 19, 2017

TWIGS Thriftree Thrift Shop in Mount Kisco

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If you are a serious thrift shopper, you will notice a trend where hospital thrift shops have higher pricing than the standard thrift shop. On the upside of this, the merchandise most often consists of designer clothing and accessories. Such is the case for TWIGS Thriftree Thrift Shop in Mount Kisco which benefits Northern Westchester Hospital. I was impressed looking through the racks with clothing that you would see in Saks, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s or pricey boutiques. They carry men, women and children’s clothing and accessories. While they carry limited small home décor/housewares, what they do have is quality.

If you want to take a peek inside the boutique, please visit their website at https://www.twigsofnwh.org/take-a-peek-inside-the-boutique.

I can’t emphasize this enough, if you are looking for trendy/expensive clothing, you will pay higher prices – plus you will have to frequent the better thrift shops in trendy neighborhoods (Like St. Luke’s on Hudson Street in NYC) and those thrift shops associated with hospitals. Memorial Sloan Kettering Society Boutique was a perfect example as they carried the finest designer clothing and accessories. This even goes for furniture – the Society Boutique always, always had fabulous furniture that flew out the door as quickly as it came in. (Sadly, the Society Boutique closed last year.) I will say that every time I was there, there was someone obviously affluent going through the racks and more often than not, purchasing merchandise. It is something you see more and more when thrift shopping; everyone on every financial level is looking for that great find or unbelievable bargain.

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In addition, I find that hospital thrift shops carry quality evening wear and more formal than the standards. A good rule of thumb is do NOT wait until last minute before you have a special occasion, start looking a month or two beforehand and you may get very lucky.

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FYI – All profits from the Thriftree benefit the hospital. Volunteers also create layettes and make comfort pillows for patients. Donations are gratefully accepted, by appointment.

TWIGS

449 Lexington Avenue

Mount Kisco, NY 10549

(914) 666-6557 info@twigsofnwh.org

https://www.twigsofnwh.org/take-a-peek-inside-the-boutique

Hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday – 9:30 am to 4 pm

Wednesday and Saturday – 10 am to 1 pm.

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!!

Attic Sale Recap 2017 & Another Blockbuster Sale Coming Up In Irvington — September 29, 2017

Attic Sale Recap 2017 & Another Blockbuster Sale Coming Up In Irvington

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Once again, the Irvington Presbyterian Church Attic Sale did not disappoint.   This year I did exceptionally well for myself and I will give credit to the fact that I went on the first day of the sale (my first time) which may have made the difference. But then again, I have also done well when going on the second day when pricing is much better and there are still great selections.  Some of the items in my haul were a Lands End turtleneck for $4.00, a Kenneth Cole black wrap dress, a See by Chloe funky dress (I am loving it), a Marc by Marc Andrew tunic/dress – and each dress was $10.00. All the clothes were in pristine condition.  Talk about steals; it was a great score.  I did focus on the clothing FIRST. I took my time and went through the racks which were incredibly organized as is the entire sale. They have designated areas for furniture, books, shoes/handbags, jewelry/crystal, fine china, accessories and so much more. I scored a special edition Barney’s Lady Gag tote bag which is just gorgeous at the unbelievable price of $5 – YES $5. I just had to buy for my equally gorgeous niece who I know would love it. I just have to tell you that this sale is packed and there was always a line to get into the handbag room and the jewelry room – it really is growing in popularity every year for both sale lovers and collectors. I can’t emphasize it enough – this is a really great sale that should not be missed if you love these kinds of sales. All proceeds benefit multiple worthy charities in the Westchester area so all the money is helping others!

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Tote bag from Barney’s
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See by Chloe

If you missed the Attic Sale, the good news is that right next door to the Irvington Presbyterian Church is the Church of St. Barnabas. And….wait for it….St Barnabas is having their Fall Outreach Clothing Sale starting on Tuesday, November 7th. I have been to this sale as well and all I can say is these sales are both equally phenomenal and not to be missed. This sale includes fall/winter clothing, shoes and accessories for men, women and children – they also have a Christmas room and food is served in the café. The main purpose of this sale is to raise money to support the outreach efforts of the parish. Over the past twenty-plus years St. Barnabas has donated over $726,000 to charitable organizations throughout the area.

Here are the details:

The Church of St. Barnabas

15 N. Broadway, Irvington, New York

Telephone 914.591.8194

Tuesday November 7th through Friday, November 10th from 10 am until 7 pm

Saturday, November 11th from 10 am until 4 pm

Sunday, November 12th from 12 from 12 pm until 4 pm

See you at the sale!!

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!

August 17th is National Thrift Shopping Day — August 16, 2017

August 17th is National Thrift Shopping Day

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August 17th is National Thrift Shopping Day.  Most thrift stores celebrate with  significant discounts.

Why shop at thrift stores? According to the U.S. EPA, a whopping 85% of all discarded textiles – 13 million – end up in landfills every year.  Plus textiles and decomposing clothing release methane, not to mention the dyes and chemicals in the fabrics that can saturate the soil. Let’s recycle folks, donate to local thrift shops, your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, Humane Society, local hospital or church thrift shops– there are so many GREAT charities that NEED your donations. The money that these charities raise through their thrift shops help countless others gain a better quality of life and protect out little four legged friends. I think that is one of the best reasons to donate along with reducing our carbon footprint. Plus think of all the people that are able to clothe themselves and their families at a deeply discounted price. I think it is a win-win.

I just happen to LOVE thrift shopping for so many reasons. I love helping the environment and I like trying new styles at a fraction of the cost – if I don’t like it, I just wash the clothes and donate them right back. The key to thrift shopping is patience. If you have some time and go through the racks, you would be surprised at what you can find. You can’t go to a thrift shop think I need a little black dress and expect to find one in one visit BUT if you go to the RIGHT thrift shops, you may just find one. For example, I always say if you want something formal or fancy, try City Opera and Vintage Thrift East in the 23rd St area of NYC. With these two stores, there is a good chance especially with a freshly stocked store – you can put together a great outfit. If you are in the Connecticut area, Stamford Goodwill is one of my favorites as well, their dress section is fabulous. Don’t be afraid to ask when they put out the “new” stock – it sometimes is Wednesday/Thursday in preparation for the weekend. I am also learning to create my own styles. I once found a beautiful black ankle length sequined duster and I paired it with straight legged pants and a clingy top and I received oodles of compliments and it was something that I might not have necessarily worn in prior years. It ended up being a favorite outfit for special occasions.

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Life is complicated and chaotic at times and I find when I go thrift shopping I get such enjoyment out of finding that very special addition to my wardrobe at quite the price. I find it calming and relaxing and a great way to emerge myself in something that brings me great joy.  I have also met some pretty incredible people along the way.

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I look forward to telling you about my thrift shop visits – I have visited quite a few over the summer and I can’t wait to share my findings with you.

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!!!

TonionThrifting914

Vintage Thrift East – A Definite Favorite and Must See! — June 5, 2017

Vintage Thrift East – A Definite Favorite and Must See!

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Vintage Thrift East is a must visit. They have such a wide array of women’s clothes along with shoes, accessories, housewares and more. The store setup is spectacular and the displays are eye catching. There is so much to love about this shop especially how organized it is. The clothes are in excellent condition and priced accordingly (translation reasonable). If you like to create your own style, this is the place to shop because there they have such an eclectic selection of clothing especially in the women’s section.

I was impressed with the setup of the housewares section. I actually saw quite a few gift quality platters and dishes and vintage serve ware which was quite nice.

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The window displays are striking but the pleasant surprise is that the there is much more “window quality” pieces when you continue to browse.

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The men’s section is not as extensive as the women’s but certainly worth a look.

There is just so much to this store; it is going to require a few return trips 🙂

Vintage Thrift proceeds benefit the United Jewish Council of the East Side which is another good reason to shop there. Of course, donations are tax deductible.

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VINTAGE THRIFT EAST

286 Third Avenue, between 22 & 23 Streets

(212) 871-0777

SUN: 11:00-7:00

MON- THU: 10:30-8:00

FRI: 10:30-sunset

SAT: closed

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!

Scarsdale Congregational Church – Big Clothing Sale This Saturday! — March 9, 2017

Scarsdale Congregational Church – Big Clothing Sale This Saturday!

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The Scarsdale Congregational Church is having a HUGE clothing sale this Saturday, March 11th starting at 9 am.  I can assure you that the line will start forming at 8 am if not sooner. I called to confirm because of the weather and it is happening!!! This sale is right up there with the Attic Sale (one of my most favorite sales of all time) – and in my humble opinion, not to be missed!!!   Unlike the May Garage Sale and the November Fair, there is no $5 entry fee. They absolutely could charge an entry fee if they wished, this sale is that good. There are fixed (and very low) prices on clothing by category (men, women and children). I can assure you there will be plenty of high end designer clothing in pristine condition and very reasonably priced! The lovely volunteers give you a large plastic bag to hold your findings until you go up to the front and check out. Everyone is wonderful and it makes for a very enjoyable and successful clothing sale for both buyers and seller. I thoroughly enjoyed my shopping experience last year and I am looking forward to Saturday! Run, don’t walk to this sale!

Future sales at The Scarsdale Congregational are:

Garage Sale    Saturday, May 6, 2017                                    9:00 am – 2:00 pm

Fair                    Saturday, November 4, 2017                       9:00 am – 3:00 pm

In case you live in the Scarsdale area and want to donate for future sales, here are the rules (taken from the website):

  • We gladly accept donations of art, furniture (by appointment), estate items, jewelry, house wares, books, clothing, toys, linens and electronics*.
  • Donations,  must be clean, working and in very good condition. Clothing must be in season for the coming sale, (i.e. we are currently accepting spring and summer clothing only).
  • Kindly place all donations behind the partition on our Office Building Porch at 1 Heathcote Rd., Scarsdale between mid-August through the end of October, & mid-February through the end of April.
  • We do NOT accept dated technology,* skis, children’s car seats, videotapes, textbooks,  magazines or encyclopedias.
  • Furniture is NOT accepted on the porch. Please contact contact Colin at colinnewyork@gmail.com . Jewelry is accepted in the church office year-round.
  • Pick up your signed tax receipt in the box  on the left side railing of the Office Building Porch,  after dropping off your donation.
  • Call the office at 723-2111, extension 204, or e-mail us .

Church volunteers and staff have had to spend a lot of time dealing with unwanted donations, and we very much appreciate your help in complying with these donation rules.

*     Technology donation rules:

Televisions: LCD or Plasma Flat screen only.
Fax machines or copiers: NOT accepted.
Computers: Windows based systems must be Windows 8 or 10. Mac computers must be flat-screen iMacs, Mac Pros, Mac Minis, Macbooks or Macbook Pros only.
Monitors:  LCD or plasma flat panel only.
Printers:  Laser printers in working condition. New ink jet printers only.
Scanners:  USB scanners only.

Scarsdale Congregational Church
One Heathcote Road
Scarsdale, NY 10583

Phone: 914-723-2111

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!!!!

City Opera Thrift Shop Art Event — January 21, 2017

City Opera Thrift Shop Art Event

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If you love art, then you should not miss the City Opera Thrift Shop Art Event. They have a stellar assortment of sculptures, art books and artwork for sale.

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The art books are some of the best out there and all priced to sell. The artwork is outstanding and the sculptures magnificent.

I will let the pictures tell this story.

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As you can see, the works that are for sale are stunning.

The art book selections cover a wide variety of artists and their acclaimed works that will absolutely delight all art lovers.

The selections extend from all eras and genres.

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City Opera Thrift Shop has been supporting Opera for 35 years so what a great cause to support!

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I highly recommend this art sale, you will not be disappointed!

City Opera Thrift Shop

222 East 23rd Street

New York, NY

For shop hours and more information, please visit:

http://cityoperathriftshop.org/
A Trip To Long Beach Island That Amazes — July 14, 2015

A Trip To Long Beach Island That Amazes

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A wonderful friend invited me out to Long Beach Island in New Jersey a couple of weeks ago and it was a spectacular weekend all around – the company was outstanding, the weather cooperated and the food was absolutely delish!   And while there, lo and behold 🙂 to my surprise, I found a thrift/consignment shop 🙂 called Coastal Consignment & Salvage Co. Do not let the name fool you – this shop was so good that I am contemplating another trip there 🙂 even if it is just for a day. Their business card states “An LBI Experience” – and it truly was — the layout of the store, the quality of the merchandise, the pricing, the variety, all well above average. I think the reason for this is that they have very strict guidelines for donating/consigning and it shows in the exceptionally high quality merchandise.

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They only carry ladies’ clothing and it was all stylish and very much in fashion, the layout of the store was one of the best I have ever seen and the pricing ridiculously reasonable. They had beach themed home decor for sale along with beautiful vases, crystal, porcelain, you name it and all good pieces and high quality. The clothes were very chic and in a wide variety of sizes as were the shoes. All name brands, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Jones New York, Gap, Eileen Fisher too many to mention.There is a good variety of handbags from inexpensive to moderate. The shoe section is on the small side but what they have is AWESOME. They had a nice rack of jeans all sensibly priced. Great accessories as well! They also sell estate jewelry.

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I picked up two pairs Vera Wang pajamas in what looked like new condition for $12 each, a gorgeous black lace overlay skirt for $15 and a great Ralph Lauren stretch tee shirt (black of course 🙂 )for $10.

I hope that the pictures do this shop justice because it has definitely made may top ten and I don’t ever see it falling off the list.

So I must tell you if traveling to Long Beach Island in New Jersey, you must stop at Coastal Consignment! It was a GREAT shopping experience. 🙂

Coastal Consignment & Salvage Co.
511 North Bay Avenue
Beach Haven, New Jersey 08008
609.492.9400
www.coastalconsignments-salvage.com
Mon, Tues, Wed and Sunday – 10am-5pm
Thurs, Fri and Sat – 10am-7pm

A note about summer months – for the smaller thrift shops, always call first as most of the those shops close or have shortened hours during July and August (especially those affiliated with churches/houses of worship).

Until next time, HAPPY SHOPPING!!!!!

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