Saturday, August 21, 2010

Went to SING SING TONIGHT WITH ITS MAYOR,FOOD,FUN NIGHT

THE STORE WAS ACTIVE TODAY....lost of people, but one one great purchase....most of the people didnt want anything, or werent ready to buy, or werent willing to pay a fair price. It was interesting to note, that half of the poeple who came into the store today...didt use English as their first language. 50% of the people were not Americans, or American born. This is not a negative statement....it might just be that Europeans (etc) have a great appreciation of art and antiques that todays younger generation. It just might be a cultural thing. And I am so happy that they come into the store.. Most of the people who sell me things, tell me their kids do not want their art and antiques and collectibles.
I only had one slight verbal run in with a customer....At the end of the day, a bunch of people came in with DOGGIE BAGS....which means, they just came from an early dinner from Scilian Sun or Kevins Thyme. DOggie BAg carrying people traditionally only stop in to take a quick look..they really dont come in to buy anything.....especially when them come enmasse. Truth to form, one of them priced a 19th century childrens push sled..in fairly good condition. I threw a quick cheap price of 225 at him.....he responded,"I will give you 100 dollars its all busted up.....i really didnt know what to say....I wanted to really say someting nasty....but i wated to calm down....finally I said.....calmly"I dont even hear offers like that" Not sure how it came over...nasty? firm? to the point?"
A lot of people brought things to sel me today..the Perve Psychologist was back with a few things....including a very nice CHINESE bronze vase, that was wired into a lamp...anotoher owman brought in a colleciton of antique small baskets, brass candleticks and about 8 fashion prints from 1850......bought them.... and three women came in with big plastic bagss filled with worthless silverplate.....wasted a lot of time opening the bags....nothingI wanted....and others brought in photos....or just came in to tell me what they have at home......Lots of people entered the door...to bad that Icant charge an entrance or exit fee!!!!
During the afternoon, I heard a great crash..something glass or porcelain broke into a thousand pieces.... None of the customers and employees came to tel me what happened....and I decided...not to even go and look and get upset...since I was in a faily good mood. What is interesting, i actually forgot about it until right now...almost midnight......so my blood pressure stayed low.....

Mid afternoon I got a call from my friend JIM, who is ot only a lawyer who looks like a HOLLYWOOD movie star at age 32///but who is very involved with politics in Westchester and Rockland COunties.. He invited me to dinner with him and the MAYOR of OSSINGING NY, his life time parter of 36years.... they were first taking me to the remnants of a METHODIST COMMUNITY.....what they used to be called a "CAMP" back in 1803.....the tents gave way to fancy tents on cement slabs, which eventually gave way to small houses in many styles. Some of the houses turned out to be miniature VIctorian Houses.....complete with fancy fretwork carvings...but not too much larger than playhouses that rich parents build for their children...The houses are big enough for adults to live in, but barely.....The reason for the tour is that one of the "TABERNACLES" or meeting halls, is being torn down on WEDNESDAY. Jim and the MAYOR thought I would salvage the glass and indow frames...originally built in around 1850...in buildings that look more like SWEDEN, than in the UNITED states. Then entire enclave seemed not in an American style. The entiure place reminded me more of Europe than America....The two Tabernacles were very delapedated..one ready to collapse... Johm and I felt the glass was not worth saving....the cost of retrival would supercede what it could be sold for. John took photos, outside and inside....If I can get hold of the photos....I will post them next week. The entire community...with no sidewalks, poorly maintain structures, buildings whose style do not match.. was really very quaint....cute....and very creepy.....A perfect setting for a horror movie.!!!
From the horror movie set....we went to a restaurant on the HUDSON RIVER.....traveling all over the town of OSSINGING.....was like driving in SAN FRANSCICO....the streets,roads...etc were extrememly steep, and driving took my full attention..both looking at the fantastic Victorian archetecture....and the difficult driving....We got down fro the top of the hills to the RIVER.....a wonderful restuarant built right on the dock of the river...The food was excellent....i had a simple dish of rigatoni, shrimp,chicken and scallops and vinegar peppers in a oilve oil and garlice sauce....hmmmm. JIM has smoked suck rissoto and side order of mussels in garlic sauce,,,JOHN and a guest of the MYOR from INDIA, an exchange student and vegetarian...had Portobello Mushroom burgers...with ozzerella nd roasted peppers....We all had the house salad.....with hardboiled egg, tomatoes, and mild curry house dressing.
The evening was most pleasant...and the converation was equally shared...no one dominated it...and we all enjoyed the company...A most pleasant evening....Good Friends, comradery, conversation and food. What more can anyone ask for. Those are the things that make me most happy.

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