Our April Holiday Schedule

Studio 360's Kurt Andersen Films Podcast At Vintage Thrift

We know what you're thinking: how do you film a podcast? Well, like all those wonderful and wild things you find at thrift stores, there's a story behind this one too.

It begins with a coffee cup. A broken one, to be more specific — one whose purchase in its original, fully-functional form was wrapped up in a love story. You see, for Rob Walker, this rather insignificant vessel was forever tied to a trip he took with his now-wife many years ago, a fact he didn't realize until it shattered. And that got him thinking about the meanings we attach to objects, that, like his coffee mug, are rather insignificant in themselves.

Rob Walker and Kurt Andersen discuss the significance of objects at Vintage Thrift. Photo via Studio 360, Thomas Seely.

With collaborator Joshua Glenn, Walker enlisted dozens of best-selling and popular authors to compose  fictional stories that would give meaning to mundane, if unusual, items (This seahorse lighter comes to mind).  The insignificant objects and their stories were then auctioned off on eBay, and the results were surprising. One dollar trinkets were suddenly fetching upwards of $30 a piece! While the items have long found their way into new homes, you can read the collection of stories in Significant Objects.

Kurt Andersen of Studio 360 caught up with Rob Walker at Vintage Thrift to discuss the draw of thrift store oddities — and to hold a contest. They plucked three unusual objects from our shelves — a Marlboro Thermos, a creepy doll, and a very puzzling box — and have challenged listeners to come up with stories of their own. The made-up histories are published on Studio 360, and the winning story for each object will receive the priceless piece of "junk" itself. Contest ends at 11:59PM Sunday, April 8.

Kurt Andersen's "Studio 360" airs on WNYC 93.9 FM Saturdays at 4PM and Sundays at 11AM. Air times for other cities can be found under Stations Listings. Podcasts are available for listening or download here.

Refinery29 Editor-in-Chief Puts Vintage Thrift On Her List Of Ultimate Thrifts

via Refinery29

While it's safe to say that we adore all of our awesome customers, we've had a serious crush on Refinery29 Editor-in-Chief Christene Barberich for quite some time now. From her $40 thrift store challenges to unbelievable designer finds on eBay, this fierce founding mother of fashion has high-low style down-pat. That's why we're positively thrilled to see our name included on her list of ultimate NYC vintage and thrift shops out last week. Not only that, she went on to name us "possibly one of the best thrift shops in New York City." How sweet! Read Christene's complete how-to thrift guide here.

And in more rave reviews news, power blogger Monroe Steele (whose own pretty mug - and feet - have graced the style pages of Refinery29) highlighted Vintage Thrift as one of her top 10 thrift or vintage stores. While she says her list is in no particular order, she did place us first . . . and that makes us feel pretty good, too.

The Very Best of Spring Begins Now

New Auction Window: Celebrity Sightings

What better way to celebrate the dia del amor than with a roomful of love-ly faces?

Originally shown as part of the 1983 exhibition "Jewish Life in America: Fulfilling the American Dream" [American Jewish Historical Society], this week's auction is a testament to exactly that. Among the mounted portraits you'll recognize Jewish American notables Woody Allen, Bette Midler, Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein, Henry Kissinger, Liza Minelli, and Barbra Streisand.

Should Charlie Chaplin be your personal favorite, you can also pick up a 1970s ice bucket featuring his likeness in (what else?) black and white.

 Myriad brass and mirrored surfaces make up the rest of the display. There's a cubist standing lamp (pictured below), a double-columned brass table lamp, and a wonderful art deco style mirror.

 

 Other items up for grabs include a calfskin rug and vintage doughnut phone.

Auction ends Tuesday, February 21 at 8pm. Bids may be placed in person or by phone on the auction clipboard near the register.

Happy bidding!