Six Degrees of Separation: Visiting Surburban Renewal an Antique Shop in Hastings- on- Hudson, New York

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This is a story about the theory of six degrees of separation the belief that everyone in the world is separated by everyone else by six links. Read my tale and see what you think.

So listen to this story. I am headed out the door one recent Saturday for a day trip to Westchester County, New York. Before leaving for the day, I am poking around on the internet to find some antique shops to visit.

I scan the list of several dozen shops covering many towns along the Hudson River and I settle on a shop called “ Suburban Renewal” in Hastings- on- Hudson. This shop sounds like my kind of place. Anyone who names an antique store “Suburban Renewal has to be cool in my book. I don’t remember ever visiting this area before.

The rest of the family is waiting for me in the kitchen and I am planning my antique road trip starting with a call to this one shop that caught my attention. The gal who answered the phone, the owner, “Fonda” was so nice and helpful promising me that she would send me to some of her favorite places nearby. She asked me to announce myself when I arrived to her shop. “Sounds like a plan “, I told her ...and the family was off to Hastings- on- Hudson.

Ninety minutes later I walk into “Suburban Renewal” and I am strolling towards the register to introduce myself to “Fonda” . I took one look at “Fonda” and gave out a scream.....”Fonda , is that you, Fonda from High School?” It was “Fonda”, with the same blunt Sassoon haircut she wore back in 1969, the same black eye liner and the same “Fonda” who had a very distinct lively and adorable handwriting with lots of curly letters and cute formations.

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You knew she was headed for a career in the arts.

After a busy life In advertising in New York City, Fonda now lives in Hastings on the Hudson and owns “Suburban Renewal”, an antique shop packed with goodies.



Surburban Renew is at 1 Main Street, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York (914) 478-9421

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com


Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

“Grapes”, A Classy Port Jefferson Metro-Retro Home Boutique

It has been over thirty years since I visited Port Jefferson, a charming village located approximately 56 miles east of New York City, in the northern part of central Suffolk County. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this tree lined seaside artsy community was alive and well with eateries, boutiques, galleries and historic buildings.

After a delicious lunch at “Z Pita” on Main Street, I headed to “Grapes” ( 138 Main St.) a classy yet quirky home gift shop with an eye catching purple painted vintage Hoosier Cabinet in one window and a fab cream and green enamel stove in the opposite window. Let me tell you that when I spotted “Grapes” from across the street, my retro nerve center was lighting up like the Manhattan electric grid that covers Times Square.

I knew as soon as I opened the door of this very cool boutique, that I was in my retro-vintage zone. Before I go any further, I want to be clear, this was not an antique shop, but it certainly had great “old stuff”. Perhaps one might describe “Grapes” as a charming shop that is styled with a “Metro Retro” or “Fresh Vintage” flair. Whatever you want to call “the look”, this trendy boutique combines country with urban ; forties with contemporary and mid-century with cottage creating a whole new take on home décor and entertaining.

“Grapes” , like similar stores that attract younger upscale shoppers has found a way to re-interpret vintage so that whimsy is “in” and classic is “out”. I am sure the average person would not think of “Grapes” as an “antique shop”, but there is nothing average about this store. Hand painted dinnerware, one of a kind pottery, handcrafted photo albums and so much more are all mixed with lots of “antiques and collectibles” in some wonderful unique and funky displays.

The best way of thinking about “Grapes” is that it is a specialty shop for the “thirty something” vintage voyeur who enjoys mixing moxie with martinis and serving drinks from a purple painted Hoosier cabinet.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com


Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

Whimsical Ways to Display Your Vintage Bangles, Beads and Baubles: Ideas for Vintage Jewelry Collectors and Dealers

Vintage and costume jewelry is very popular at this time as young gals are preparing for prom day and brides and bridesmaids are getting ready for the wedding season . It seems that dealers who adore collecting and selling vintage and antique jewelry also enjoy finding terrific ways to show off their gems.

Converting a Nursery Lamp into a Vintage Earring Display

When visiting Patti’s Antiques in Windsor, CT. I discovered a number of clever jewelry displays that are worth sharing. Of course I lean toward retro whimsy , so I was tickled to find an adorable vintage nursery lamp converted into a display for earrings. As shown in the photo, Patti attached costume earrings to the lampshade. How cute is this to see the edge of the shade trimmed with hanging earrings? The shade can also be pierced for adding plenty of earrings as well.


Using a Punch Bowl

The next idea I fell in love with was displaying a palette of coral necklaces, rings and bracelets inside a sparkling glass punch bowl set. The punch bowl cups made great compartments for a variety of vintage pieces.


Using Red Ribbons for Pins

There was even more display ideas to talk about. Patti, took broad width red ribbons and attached them to a simple white plastic coat hanger. She then pinned broaches on the ribbon in a vertical line. This is such a simple and inexpensive way to showcase vintage pins.

Oh my goodness, I am forgetting another brilliant idea I found at Patti’s Antique Shop. She hung costume necklaces from of all things, a rack used to hang candles.

The crisscross bars are great perches for hanging necklaces. The candle apparatus has a handy loop at the top to allow you to hang your display on the corner of a cabinet door.

You can find racks like this in candle making shops or online stores specializing in candle supplies. Handy crafts minded peole could also make a rack.


Organizng All Your Vintage Pearl Necklaces

One last sweet idea. Take a look at how Patti has organized all her pearl necklaces. We both weren’t sure what the wire rack originally was used for, but you get the idea.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com


Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

Go Green with Funky Flower Power Vintage Plastic Totes

Go Green with Vintage Plastic Totes

As everyone is going “green” and carrying re-usable shopping bags to the grocery store, I was wondering how cool it might be to show up at the supermarket with a funky flower power plastic tote from the sixties? Gosh.....vintage is so in right now. These mod vinyl bags are relatively cheap, so you could actually buy an assortment of bags and try out different patterns on different days.

Retro Style is Hot Even in Shopping and Beach Bags

During a recent visit to The Old Carriage Shop Antiques Center in Bantam, CT a haven for vintage clothing and jewelry I spotted one booth with a rack full of these sixties gems. Bright florals, paisleys and polka dots seemed to be the major themes of these colorful plastic shopping bags. Some bags had matching straps and other totes were fitted with a hard plastic handle.

I found a variety of sizes and styles offered for sale at around fifteen dollars. I was surprised to find these bags in really good shape. They just don't make shopping totes like they used too!

These Bags are the Real Deal...Not Reproductions

And even though you can find similar bags being reproduced and being sold as retro style vinyl bags...I can assure you..these treasures were the real deal.

Miami Beach Here We Come

Seeing these mod totes reminded me of how my grandma Esther Esther would schlep these plastic beach bags to Miami Beach during the 60’s. I have to laugh when I see the “twenty-something” crowd flocking to some of the same hotels and motels grandma stayed in back in the day. In fact many of these hotels were re-done and now make up the South Beach area where the Martini crowd has moved in and the Bingo Ladies are long gone.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and
Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com


Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.