Sunday, May 15, 2011

Brimfield Fair * Second Visit *

To get the best deal,
CASH works best  !
The show goes on
rain or shine
sun rise
to
sun set.
THE
BRIMFIELD FAIR 2011

I enjoyed my second trip to the Brimfield Fair Antique Show with three of my good friends.
It was an amazingly long day of fun !
This was the second to last day of this years first fair date, but by the size of the crowd and the traffic backed up for miles, everything was in full swing.  
After arriving early morning and parking conveniently on the edge of the fairgrounds, we began our trek --- A Treasure Hunting we go !
The temperature was hot, the roads dusty but that didn't seem to deter anyone in the crowd from moving on.  
There is something for everyone at the show.





Treasures small and large, familiar and strange, cheep junk and expensive 'antiques'. If you can't find it here at Brimfield, something is wrong!


We managed to find a few 'trinkets' for ourselves among the 'stuff', what fun!




After a long fun filled day we headed home -- into the exiting traffic !  Ahhhhhhhhh, but the day wasn't over..  After working hard in the fields, we were in desperate need of nourishment. 
The dinner bell rang !
Did someone say Legal Seafood ?







yes, that IS a martini !

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

*** Brimfield Fair ****

After a long cold winter of planning a spring 'daytrip',
 it's finally here. With an early wake up call I'm off to the...
 Brimfield Fair
Located near the Connecticut border, Brimfield is a sleepy New England town of 3,000 residents that was founded in 1731, the year before George Washington was born.  Brimfield's 35 square miles are situated in an open valley surrounded by wooded hills and apple orchards, near the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains. 
Brimfield's population escalates dramatically when the more than 4,000 dealers and tens of thousands of buyers pile into town. The Show(s) begin on Tuesday and run through Sunday.  While some fields open only on certain times, there are always many fields open no matter when in the Tuesday - Sunday period.  The Show runs about a mile along Route 20, on both sides of the road, extending several hundred yards back from each side of the road.  Most dealers opt to show their wares inside large and comfortable tents, and all fields are contiguously located next to each other, so seeing everything is an easy stroll.
DIRECTIONS:


From Points South: Travel north on I-91 to 291 East to Mass Turnpike entrance (Exit 6).  Take the Mass Pike East to Exit 8 (Palmer). Turn right after the toll booths and left at the first light (in Palmer) onto Route 20 East.  Proceed East approx 8 miles into Brimfield.  It's and easy trip, even I didn't get lost !

REMEMBER - NO PARKING ON ANY STATE ROADS OR YOUR CAR WILL BE TOWED!
 (FAIR WARNING)
To get the best deal, cash works best.

Bring lots of $$$$$$

This is what I've learned:

Brimfield Basics
* Bring cash, cash and more cash.
* Wear comfortable shoes and carry a backpack with another bag inside of it and a flashlight. Leave your hands free for foraging.
* Plan on rain and bring proper gear (a hat is better than having to lug an umbrella).
* Arrive before sunrise, Tuesday through Friday, when the pros are working the lots; Saturday is for lookers. The earlier you go in the week, the better, since some dealers sell at a few markets.
* Plan where you'll run when they open the gates. (Hint: make a beeline for the back of the field and work your way up.)
* Set a time and place to meet your companions in case you get lost or tired. Brimfield has no central meeting place or paging system, and the booths tend to blur together after a few hours.
* Write down booth numbers you plan to return to, especially if you've put money down on an item.

* The Show goes on, rain or shine, the Show runs sun-up to sun-down, rain or shine!


Treasures !........

and other things... ???? 
2011  BRIMFIELD ANTIQUE SHOW DATES 

May 10-15               July 12-17           September 6-11

Friday, May 6, 2011

* * * Sweet Honey In The Rock * * *

Presented by Celebrity Series of Boston
Rooted in a deeply held commitment to create music out of the rich textures of African American Legacy and traditions, Sweet Honey In The Rock possesses a stunning vocal prowess that captures the complex sounds of blues, spirituals, traditional gospel hymns, rap, reggae, African chants, Hip Hop, ancient lullabies, and jazz improvisation. 
Sweet Honey's collective voice, occasionally accompanied by hand percussion instruments, produces a sound filled with soulful harmonies and intricate rhythms.
For over 30 years, Sweet Honey In The Rock has moved audiences mightily, singing and singing their way across the epic landscape of African-American music and culture.
At every performance,
Sweet Honey In The Rock
delivers songs of hope, justice, love, and peace with a pure, smooth, fabulous sound as only these vocal masters can!
 ********************************************
Symphony Hall opened on October 15,1900.
 It was the first concert hall designed with acoustical principles in mind and is regarded as one of the two or three finest halls in the world. With the exception of the wooden floors, the Hall is built of brick, steel, and plaster, with only a moderate amount of decoration.