Thrift Store Porn

I don't want this blog to turn into a "look what I found at the thrift store" bragging platform, but yesterday I hit the mother lode, and I need to share.

I stopped in at Alpha Thrift on Milpas to see if I could find the last item on our list to complete our new house-- the coffee table. And I saw this beauty:

It didn't have a price on it, so I asked the guy working near by.

"Oh, that one? Um, I think that was $39.99." 

I've been trying to work on my thrift store impulse-control so I don't end up on the next episode of hoarders, so I started to walk away. I got about 4 feet and the fear that someone else might swoop in and grab it overcame my body and I snapped back around. I stood in front of it staring. The guy came over again: "You could turn it over and see what it says." DUH!

I turned it over. There was a tiny little engraving... that said "Made in Denmark".

That thing was in the back of my car so fast, Usain Bolt would have been impressed.

Our new place is shaping up nicely! Thanks Alpha Thrift and you sweet, naive man that priced this table!

Oh and then I did some internetting and found out some official info about the table. Never again will I practice impulse control. Thank you Oh Mighty Gods of Thrift.

Block Party!

Santa Barbara had a little block party last weekend, thanks to the New Noise Festival. They closed off Arlington and set up a stage right smack in the middle of the street. Howlin' Woods was playing when I got there and hot damn,  it was a whole lot of fun. 

Dear Santa Barbara: 

More block parties please. 

Thank you,

Meghan

Music Monday

It's been a busy Monday around here, so let's just start the week off with one of the best songs ever:

Market, St. Helena CA

We stumbled upon this place when a casual walk down Main Street turned into Hunger Level DEFCON 2 in a matter of minutes, as it usually does with Andrew and me. Boy did we luck out. Not only did they have Racer 5 on tap, but I ordered the Chef's Daily Soup, Sandwich and Treat, which was a barbecue sandwich, butternut squash soup and a RICE KRISPIES TREAT. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Andrew got a salad or something. Whatever.

Market

1347 Main Street

Saint Helena, CA 94574

The Marshall Store, Tomales Bay CA

On day 4 of our trip, we made our way over to Tomales Bay for a leisurely, boozy, briney lunch at The Marshall Store. We sat in the sun next to the bay, sipped (?) wine and chowed on delicious oysters, all the while getting some of the best people watching that Northern California has to offer. If you go, I recommend the BBQ and the Chorizo oysters. 

The Marshall Store

19225 Route 1

Marshall, CA 94940

415-663-1339

Heath Ceramics

We took a little jaunt to the north country last weekend and I got to do all my favorite things, including a quick stop at Heath Ceramics in Sausalito.  Heath has been making handcrafted tile and tableware since 1948, and they are one of the last mid-century American potteries in existance. Their crew of about 60 employees makes every single piece by hand, right here at their Sausalito factory. 

Heath Ceramics

400 Gate 5 Road

Sausalito, CA 94965-2807

(415) 332-3732

There seemed to be some kind of high-tide flooding situation going on.