I've been waiting just for you...take me home!

There's something about an outdoor market on a sunny day that appeals to our most ancient selves: the anticipation of unlimited possibilities, the excited buzz of treasure seekers, an irresistible tingle when you spot something special that whispers, "You know I'm perfect for you...Take me home!"

That kind of exhilaration descends on the spacious parking lot at Magnolia Antiques & Home Interiors three times a year during the Marketplace at Magnolia event, next scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 19. This weekend, in fact.
Caryn Conway, owner of Magnolia's, dreamed up the Marketplace five years ago, and since then it's grown to be quite an attraction: sixty vendors displaying everything from furniture to pottery, jewelry to ironwork and art. She keeps the standards high: only antiques and collectibles are accepted. The event always sells out; at $25 per space, it's a great opportunity for sellers to make contact with buyers in a pleasant outdoor atmosphere, complete with homemade food and beverages. So far, in five years of operation, the weather has always cooperated beautifully.

Naturally, Magnolia's has something extra for the shoppers, usually a 20% off sale inside the store where 25 dealers have established a reputation as "The Best Antique Store in Sacramento" for the past three years.
Marketplace at Magnolia takes place 8am to 3pm the last Sunday of March, May and September, unless that date conflicts with a major holiday, so in that case it's best to call for information. Admission is free. Magnolia is only 15 minutes from downtown Sacramento, at 6458 Fair Oaks Blvd. in Carmichael, open daily 10am to 6pm. To be a vendor, or to find out more about the Marketplace, call (916) 973-8590.

Photos: Caryn Conway

Railroad Trains and Pretty Porcelain

August has always been the longest month for me, probably because I've had about all the summer heat I can stand and I'm starting to long for a nip of autumn chill in the air. My friend Sue in Oregon is already enjoying fall, with 53-degree mornings, but it doesn't happen here in San Carlos until October 15, when a miraculous annual change takes place (ask anybody if you doubt me). But this August I'm traveling, making one trip to Arizona, another to Oklahoma, and so the time seems to be flying. And blogging time is dwindling, especially when I'm on the road and away from Internet access.

Google map of the Niles District of Fremont, site of the historic train depot and the famous Niles antique row and the 44th Annual Antique Faire and Flea Market

But while we swelter through the month, the last Sunday in August is a date to look forward to in Northern California. The Niles Main Street Association is getting ready for their 44th Annual Antique Faire and Flea Market on the 31st. It's a big attraction for railroad buffs who can see the historic train depot and take a train ride, and antique shoppers who want a big selection in walking distance (200 vendors at the fair, plus more than a dozen shops).


If you go to Niles, you can also see one of the biggest fine porcelain collections outside of a museum, at A Moment in Time Antiques on Niles Blvd. Arlyne Meyer and her daughter Michelle have obtained a huge collection of Meissen, RS Prussia, Limoges and Nippon in complete sets and individual pieces...everything from chocolate pots to collector plates to oyster plates to full dinner sets. More than 2000 items, adorned not only with flower, fruit and berry motifs but the more rare and valuable portrait examples, beautifully handpainted on fine, translucently thin kaolin porcelain. Ornate forms, lavished in gold, signed by the artists and dating from the 1800s. Plus graceful figurines, lady head vases and retired Hummel. While it's been a slow summer at many antique stores, Arlyne reports record sales in June and July, which indicates a lot of people are finding their way to Niles, and that owner-operated antique stores with specialties like high-end porcelain are still doing well in this goofy economy.

Photos: just a few examples of the fabulous collection of RS Prussia, Meissen, Limoges and Nippon porcelain at A Moment in Time on Niles Boulevard, Fremont, CA