BIG BARN BONANZA (#2) - ITS COMING, ITS COMING!!

This past weekend John and I rented a 14 foot U-Haul and loaded her down with "stuff" that is no longer needed at our house and we dropped it at "the barn"!  That's right!  Its almost time for another BIG BARN BONANZA!  I spent the afternoon yesterday at the barn, starting the set up for the sale.  The tentative date for the sale is the first weekend of May (5th and 6th).  And you just better block out the WHOLE weekend because its Millstadt's city-wide yard sales day on Saturday, it's Freuhlingfest in Maeystown on Sunday and I heard a rumor that there's going to be a flea market at the Waterloo Fairgrounds that weekend (maybe just Saturday, not sure)!  I'll be bringing you preview photos of items in the sale over the next month to whet your appetite!  Here's your first teaser!

I spy a pair of car ramps, a milk can, Christmas tree, bowling ball, golf clubs, dog crate, commercial steamer,  store clothing rack, a wine stand, hamper, tv and 12 feet more of good STUFF (including antiques)!

YIPPEEE! YARD SALE ACROSS THE SOUTH!

That's right, baby.  It's that time (almost) and I'm counting it down.  A week from Wednesday I head to Tennessee to take in The Yard Sale Across the South, also known as the Highway 127 Sale, also known as The World's Longest Yard Sale.  I just call it a whole lot of fun!  The sale runs for over 650 miles from the Ohio/Kentucky border down through Alabama.  I've already been 3 times but each of those times was concentrated on about a 45 mile stretch north and south of Lexington, Kentucky.  This time we're headed in to the north part of Tennesee and the south part of Kentucky.  We'll be spending a lot of time in Jamestown, TN, the capitol of the sale and where it originated.

I've been "squirreling" my mad money away for over a month now and have a nice nest egg for spending.  I've made my list and I'm checking it twice.  My friend, Kathy, is emptying out their Honda Element, all but the front seats, so we can fill it with our treasures.  Kathy and I have been "antiquing" together since we got out of college.  We've been to numerous flea markets throughout the Midwest.  We've visited the Sandwich (IL) Antique Market, the Heart of the Country Antique Show in Nashville, TN, we've covered The Covered Bridge Festival in Brown County Indiana too many times to count and visited many an antique mall and shops all over the place.  On our list to still visit:  The Pasadena Rose Bowl Flea Market in California, Round Top in Texas and Brimfield in Massachusettes.  And last of all we have dreams of visiting the markets in France and England.  I've made it to the Covent Gardens Market in London and another market over there (the name escapes me at the moment) but there is more to explore!

Back to the yard sale across the south, it starts on Thursday and we plan to be there when the stalls open.  We plan to shop all day Thursday and Friday and either come home Friday night or Saturday.  It just depends on how long it takes to fill the Element!  I'll fill you in on what treasures I found when I get back.  Got anything you'd like me to keep an eye out for?  A friend of my sister's wants me to keep an eye out for an old trumpet to make a lamp out of but I'm to pay no more than $20.  What do you want?

Gypsy Caravan

Don't forget to check out the Gypsy Caravan flea market this Monday, Memorial Day, on the UMSL campus in St. Louis.  Its a really great flea market in our backyard.  And proceeds benefit the St. Louis Symphony.  Held rain or shine, and I've been there in the rain!

GET OUT

Ok, its a BIG weekend folks, lots going on!  

Saturday is the village wide yard sale in Millstadt scheduled for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. but I'm sure if you're an early bird you'll find some yard sales open before 8:00.

Bon Vivant Wine Shop in Columbia is holding a wine tasting this Saturday with 4 wines from Jorge Ordonez Imports:

Eguren Protocolo Blanco VdlT Castilla, Spain 2008 $7.50 (2007 vintage on sale $6.49) 

Fournier Urban Uco Torrontes Cafayate - Salta, Argentina $8.75

Muga Rioja Rosado, Spain 2008 $12

Muga Rioja Reserva, Spain 2005 $24

Also on Saturday, Raven Moon will be performing from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Columbia branch of newly opened First National Bank of St. Louis for their customer appreciation day.  There'll be free barbecue brats and hamburgers and more.  Bring a lawn chair.

And if you miss that performance don't forget to catch the Raven Moon concert at the Espenschied Chapel in Mascoutah this Sunday at 2 p.m.

Rock on with local band Morland Drive at the Valmeyer Corner Pub this Sat. night from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Maeystown Freuhlingfest is Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Shop for antiques and plants for your garden while enjoying entertainment, food and a wine garden.  If you don't et your fill of shopping there you can head across the river to Lindbergh High School's Flea Market (on Lindbergh in South County).

The Monroe County's Farmer's Market has opened for the season.  You'll find it open in Waterloo on Saturday mornings on Mill Street next to the Courthouse and on Thursday afternoons in Columbia on the Ace Hardware parking lot on Main Street.

Fourth Street Bar & Grill is having a benefit poker run for Erica Sanders on Sunday, May 3rd.  Erica is a local girl that was involved in a very bad car accident and she has a 12 year old son that she needs to take care of.  The run will start at Bobecks in Waterloo and leave there by 12:00 p.m. and end at Fourth Street Bar & Grill in Waterloo where food will be served.

I'm hoping to hit the yard sales and Maeystown and just maybe the Lindbergh Flea Market.  Get out there and enjoy SPRING!  (It will be gone before we know it!)

HEAD'S UP

We've experienced some spring-like weather and now its back into the deep freeze. But that taste of spring got me thinking of the upcoming shopping season. The season of flea markets, festivals, rummage and yard sales. So I thought I'd provide with a list of a few that I know are coming up.

Kicking off the season is St. Paul Lutheran's annual rummage sale in Columbia on Sat. 3/21. The sale usually gets under way around 7 a.m. Sometimes they have an "early bird" entry at 6:00 a.m. for a $5 charge. I've contacted a friend of mine that goes there for details but I haven't heard back from her yet. Maybe this will be her reminder since she's a reader too. I'll try to remember to make a mention of it next week too (and have more details by then).

In May, Bloomington, IL starts their monthly flea markets back up for the season and they run through November. They are held the 3rd Sunday of the month. Parking is free but admission is $5.00 and while I don't usually like admission charges to go buy things from people this is one place where I say "go ahead and pay", it's well worth the price of admission. The sale runs from 8:00 to 4:00. I believe they have an early bird but its like $20 or $25 and I have never felt it was worth that amount of money. Some vendors are still trying to get set up at the regular start time.

Also in May is Maeystown's annual Fruhlingfest. It is the 1st Sunday of the month. It's a garden and antique festival and one of my favorite "close to home" shows to attend. Great food, great shopping in a great setting.

At the end of the May is one of the greater St. Louis area markets, The Gypsy Caravan. It is held on Memorial Day. I'm not sure of this year's location but I'll be getting back to you with that and other details. Its moved around over the years and the last time we went it was on the campus of UMSL.

The last one I have on my radar for spring/early summer is The Lafayette House Tour and Antique Fair to be held Sat. 6/6 and Sun. 6/7. This makes a great outing for the day to the Lafayette Square area in St. Louis. I have been numerous times. For $15 to $20 a person you can take in the house (and garden) tour of about 8 homes. You can catch brunch, lunch or dinner at one of the many restaurants in the neighborhood. Then stroll around the park and check out the antique offerings. There's also sometimes carriage rides and an old time baseball game to watch in the park. Again, I'll have more details closer to the date.

Let me know if you know of any happenings, festivals and shopping events coming up this spring and summer and I'll pass them along.

Mark your calendars and start planning your outings.

GET OUT

Take your pick this weekend, there's a lot going on.  It's Mardi Gras baby!  Head down to Soulard, I've always wanted to go but this is one event I have never been to.  If you have, let me know your experience.  Did you get any beads?  How'd you get them???  They're celebrating Mardi Gras here in Columbia too, with a dinner dance at Turner Hall with Second Generation Swing providing the music to dance to.  Doors open at 5 p.m., Dinner at 6:30, dance at 8:30. Tickets are $20 per person and includes fried chicken, black beans and rice and King Cake with a cash bar.  The evening is being sponsored by the Celebration 2009 Committee of Columbia, celebrating their 150th anniversary this year.  Advance tickets can be purchased at Ron's Pharmacy, Conrad Press and Conrad Travel.  There's also a Chicken & Beer Dance at the Hecker Community Center Sat. night from 8 to midnight.  Music by Freefall (We went to this dance last year and had a great time and the band rocked).  Tickets are $12.50 in advance and $15 at the door.  For tickets call 61-473-2970.  Price includes music, free chicken, "draft" beer and "draft" soda.

Tomorrow Night the Van Dells are performing at The Falls, doors open at 6:00 p..m.  The Van-Dells is touted as the nation's #1 Rock and roll Review.  Cost is $55 per person and includes dinner, open bar and show.  Advance tickets are required so call 888-538-7778 to reserve yours.

There's also some shopping opportunities this weekend.  The Belleville Flea Market is Sat. and Sun. from 9 to 4 each day at The Belle Clair Fairgrounds in Belleville.  Free parking and free admission.  Asselmeier & May is holding a major Antique Estate Auction on Saturday at 9:30 a.m., previewing starts at 8:00 am.  The sale is held at the VFW Hall on Rt. 158 in Millstadt. For more info check out their website at www.amantiqueauctions.com.   Voss Brothers Action Auction will be holding a sale at noon Sunday, Feb. 22 at 5874 B Road in Valmeyer.  Sale includes tools, collectibles, household and other misc. items.

Have an Eventful Weekend!