The day I became a Vintage Junkee.

It was 6 years ago when fell in love at a first sight of an Eames chair. I just loved it's clean lines, sleek body and its mod style that most Mid century pieces have and of course the mid century culture itself. Also an avid diehard fan of the Mad Men series, I got addicted to the mid century craze and became a vintage fanatic.

I slowly got interested in collecting vintage pieces and started going to garage sales in my neighborhood and grab items that caught my eye. But soon, I learned to pick through the piles and see the potential and value of it. This immediately became my passion. To satisfy my vintage junking addiction, I started going to flea markets, estate sales and thrift stores in different NYC boroughs. For me the more disorganized the place, the better the hunt since you do not know what you will find underneath the pile. It could be an original vintage piece or just a glamorous fabrication.

Through the years of picking and buying. I accumulated vintage stuff. A lot of them. Its like a Hoarders: Buried Alive episode waiting to happen. But they are my own personal pieces, pieces that attracts me the most and pieces that I love. I find satisfaction and happiness in a great vintage find and curating them inside my home.

I love milk glasses, mid century wall decors and most of all vintage owls. Some of them are made by  Homco, Sexton , Dart ind etc..

As the pile grew and my storage became smaller . I decided to let go of some of my vintage finds and share it with other vintage junkee like me.

So, I started selling at ETSY. Come and visit my shop and start picking my personal finds here in my little town called  New york city :)

NYCJunkgirlshop

Some Louisiana cooking in Astoria!

When my friend Karen told me about Sugar Freak  in Astoria. She told me right away that I will really love this place since it screams of a mix and podge of anything old, vintage and collectibles. She then send me a link to check it out! She was right it was really in my alley ! Southern food with an eclectic vintage designs setting. Double yummm! 

The place really did not disappoint me. My friend really knows me that well. She knows that I am into vintage and a thrift store/ garage sale, i will say "fanatic"  but whoever knows me that well will say a different thing :)

I arrived early that evening and the restaurant is already busy.  They have out door dining , if you want to do an al fresco style this is also your place. That night the outdoor area was packed already with patrons.

As you enter the place, a non working vintage stove will greet you. It holds their menus and knick knacks that shows the restaurant personality. 

A colorful tin tray was glued to the wall that also holds their menu and a little flair of New Orlean adorn the other part of the wall!You got the mardi gras feel right away!

There were Formica tables and chairs that doesn't match but looks so good together. 

Exposed bricks made the place look cozy but yet classy. You can also see old milk bottles in a crate transformed as the restaurant bar chandelier. Love it!

We ended up in a booth. You will notice right away the hand made special menus that are hanged in a line and was hold by a clothes pin. But what stand out to me is the menu that said Popcorn alligator is back.Ooops, I think I am not ready for that yet :)

So we ordered some Jambalaya which consist of everything southern, it means fried :) From the chicken, oyster, cattle fish and more. Bu we did start with some popcorn okra with spicy ranch dressing on the side. It was really good, I recommend it for you to try it when you visit.The best part was the desert .Give me some of that chocolate bread pudding,please! It was best to share it with a friend so you don't feel guilty after the big meal .

Jambalaya to good enough to share. 

Some chocolate bread pudding. It is much sweeter if
you share it with your friend!

 

Popcorn Okra with spicy ranch dressing on the side.

All I can say that I really enjoyed my first official Louisiana experience and it was only a subway away where I lived! 

Do you have a favorite southern food?

Summer Beat in your neighborhood!

Eat meat , drink beer and be merry! A perfect summer celebration. 

Edible queens , a quarterly food magazine who celebrates New yorks food cultures in diverse boroughs is hosting The Summerbeat Eat Meat, Drink Beer! You must be 21 or older to enjoy !

Malaysian inspired Mussels. A taste of the tropics in your kitchen!

Malaysian Mussel 

I saw this recipe while watching Mad Hungry with Lucinda Scala Quinn in the Hallmark channel. Mussels and cocunut is a staple ingredient in some of the dishes in the Philippines, where i grew up. And watching this episode made me miss home and the memories of my childhood. The only foreign ingredient to me was the red curry paste. Did you know that there are a lot of variety of curry paste out there? Well, thats the first for me :)  So,  I just picked one that said red curry paste in one of those exotic spice stores and started cooking. Soon enough, this dish became a favorite in my kitchen , my daughter loves it. Just make sure that your mussels are really fresh. Now, the curry can really give you a little kick of spice.  I am sharing you this recipe and I hope you enjoy it as we did. Happy cooking!

Malaysian Mussel recipe

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons safflower oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced (2 tablespoons)
• 1/2-inch piece ginger, minced (2 tablespoons)
• 1 tablespoon red curry paste
• 1 cup coconut milk
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 pounds mussels, beards removed and scrubbed clean
• 12 cilantro sprigs, chopped
• 1 lime, cut into wedges

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When oil shimmers, add garlic and ginger and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
2. Stir curry paste into garlic and ginger and continue to cook 1 minute more. Add coconut milk, salt, and pepper to skillet and bring to a boil.
3. Add mussels to skillet, cover, and cook just until mussels open, 2-3 minutes. Transfer mussels to a large serving bowl with a slotted spoon. Pour coconut curry sauce over mussels, garnish with cilantro and lime and serve immediately.

Free Pre - K program in Elmhurst , Queens 11373

Keep our community clean and volunteer!

Children's Consignment Store in Maspeth, NY

On the Road Again Inc.

A store catered for your child's everyday needs. They have a large varieties of  books, toys, clothes, shoes, strollers, bikes, scooters, bassinets, children's furnitures, car seats, dvd's and more. Most of the items here are gently used. You can also find items that are still in their original packaging. It is a great way to save some money and reuse items again. More money in your pocket and another great way to help the environment.

If ever you decide to pass by you will definitely get a chance to meet Carol, the owner, an amazing and warm lady. She began to establish the store when her first born was a toddler and who is now 17yrs old. She loves managing this store because it has given her a chance to work and be with her own children at the same time. She also has expressed the delight in meeting new people and mostly the wonderful parents around the community. Most of her clients includes grandparents, teachers, daycare center operators, therapists and, of course, parents who are always looking for good deals in the neighborhood.

 


From board books, picture books, chapter books and other reading levels that will satisfy each child's needs. And there also some books for parents as well. You will also find toys and entertainment that will fit your child's age and interest.

  

You will find clothes and shoes that are in season, mostly gently used and some are even brand new or never worn before.

They are buying children's items for up to 40% of what they can sell it for in the store. They will always pay you in cash, no store credit here. So, if you have any items that you think could be worth something and in a good condition bring it to them and see how much you can get it for. I had the chance (a few times already) to bring some old books and toys that my son had outgrown already. The money that I got back from the items I  sold in the store had helped me pay for his new book and toys (also bought from the store). What a great way to recycle :) .

They buy items from Monday to Friday from 10am - 4pm and Sunday from 11am -to 4pm. They buy summer items during the month of March and  August are for the winter clothes.

~~ UPDATE~~

New Location

On the Road Again Inc.

65-01 Grand Avenue

Maspeth, NY 11378

718-417-7353

Mon - Sat 10am - 7pm

Sun 11am-5pm

Just 2 blocks up from the old location. It will be on opposite side of the street.

What items do you prefer to buy in a consignment store like this? Tell us about it.