Autumn Hartford Antiques Show – October 31-November 1

We’re taking a quick break from the Halloween season. Around the office people are salivating for something new. And by something new, I mean something old.

For me, antiquing conjures up long, dreadful hours spent baking in the fiery sun during summer camping trips. You see, back when I was young my family and a group of our friends from Pampa, Texas made a habit of yearly camping excursions to some hot, woody place in middle of Texas (usually). Swimming in the river, playing cards in the motorless camper, drinking unlimited supplies of canned orange juice – it was all well and good.

But at least one day on every trip, “the women”, as the men called them, would go shopping. And in middle-of-nowhere joints like this, “shopping” really meant “antiquing”. If I was lucky, I’d have something to do that day (or could manage to dream one up on the fly), but in the unfortunate instance I was too slow on my game, I’d doubtless be dragged along for what my 8 year-old self knew was the most boring thing ever.

I carry the scars to this day. So understand it is with a great deal of courage and emotional turmoil that I satisfy a few of my fellow staffers and plug the brand new Autumn Hartford Antiques Show.

To start, this is the 1^st Annual Autumn Hartford Antiques Show, and it hasn’t happened yet, so we have no past experience of the event to build from. This is a plug only. That being said, we know our way around an antiques show, and developer Barn Star Productions has a sterling rep for top quality antiques shows in New England.

Expect variety, and expect the best. The vendor list has already topped one hundred, with unique pieces and friendly personalities coming in from all over the country. Find something for buyers and traders of any level, and talk one on one with large antique sellers and private collectors.

What are you looking for? Find silver, clocks, fine linen, signs, old books, tapestry, weavings, glass and, of course, hand-crafted furniture from two centuries back. Barn Star promises an eclectic mix of American and English antiques and collectibles, ranging widely in period and style.

One of the cool things about the Autumn Hartford Antiques Show is that it’s cheap, and there’s a whole lot of free to go with. Admission is only $10 at the door, and this includes parking, magazines, trade papers and unlimited re-admittance. Additional amenities include on-site café and concessions as well as shipping packages for those of you who score that lucky find.

The Autumn Hartford Antiques Show will be held at the Connecticut Expo Center in Hartford, Connecticut on October 31 and November 1, 2009. Parking is free to show guests. Learn a little bit more about it here.

They list a couple recommended hotels, and they’re fine choices, but for a comparable price we prefer the Crowne Plaza Hartford Downtown. It’s located just half a mile from the expo center and offers an elevated level of stay for the price. I think they call that more for less (or at least more for the same).

Whew! Got through it! Have fun!

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