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Business & Tech

Great Escape: Adventures in Shopping

Discover your one-of-a-kind, "just-have-to-have-it" find at consignment, vintage and antique stores around Napa.

To outsiders, Napa evokes images of indulgent food and wine, luxury accommodations and high-end everything. The secret insiders keep, but not for long, is that every third Saturday from April through September, luxuries, little and big, can be had at less-than-lux prices at antique, vintage and consignment shops from Napa to Calistoga.

Offering a true escape from unadventurous retail and discount stores, the 3rd Saturday event happens at places in Napa like , ,  and Jessel Art Gallery/Clothes. These shops carry a wide-range of clothes, shoes, hats, jewelry, accessories, furniture, dishes, fine china and silver, and other absolutely one-of-a-kind stuff that harkens back to the past with fondness and nostaglia. Your special find could be a charmer from the early 1900s, or that kitschy 1980s piece you forgot all about and now just have to have.

Another local gem participating in the 3rd Saturday sale, affectionately known as the “Knotty Girl,” Lynne Robar’s shop features consignment jewelry pieces from local designers and antique jewelry pieces from exotic locales like East Asia and Africa. There’s also Rooster Antiques and , both of which take items only in great shape and are crammed full of everything from the whimsical to the practical.  Taking this adventure feels like time traveling, with equal parts memories and revelations about the past. And if the stars align, you’ll find that one item that is just meant to be in your present.

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All of Napa's consignment, vintage and antique shops offer adventure and great buys.  You'll find a list of the shops participating in 3rd Saturdays at Alice's and other places around town displaying the 3rd Saturday flier.  In St. Helena, stop in at Lolo’s, where you’ll feel like a star buying high-end fashions like Seven jeans and shoes by international designers like Escada and Prada, all at affordable prices. In Calistoga, Sugar Daddy’s Design and Consignment has furniture, women’s clothing and accessories.

Sure, there may be economical reasons for “thrift” shopping these days. But if you’ve never experienced the pleasure of “thrifting” to find that singular, perfect piece that has “you” written all over it and a price tag that says "take me home," then you have to check out these shops.  Maybe you love to wear a distinctive piece of jewelry, want a funky, fun, attention-grabbing cocktail dress, or need a fancy bag for special occasions.  Chances are you will never find something as exceptional or charming in a chain retailer as you may get lucky to find at a vintage, consignment or antique dealer. And when it’s at an awesome price, even better.

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If you’ve known the joys of the thrift find and need a fix regularly, head down to the recently established new location of near Uva on Clinton Street in downtown Napa. Owner Rhonda (Bruce) Jamison has marked down 50% all consignment items that came in 2010, and her selection features a ton of designer clothes and shoes all neatly arranged in her hip, well-appointed shop.  She also fills some of her racks with the best in gently used baby and kids clothes, and has some cuddly, one-of-a-kind kid friendly accessories, like hand-knit blankets.

Aside from 3rd Saturday, all of these shops are open regularly and many of them can be found on Patch.com.  Just search consignment, vintage or antique above.  To some, thrift shopping seems like a risk, but it’s one worth taking when the reward may be a treasure you’ll appreciate and may even pass on to the next generation.  And what an exciting way to go “green” and recycle, reuse and repurpose.  Most of all, adventure awaits through each shop door, whether you buy anything or not.

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