Shopping the Brimfield Fair

This was Friday morning.  The Brimfield Fair is in a very small town in called Brimfield, next to the town of Sturbridge.  The Fair is on both sides of the main street.  Parking is in churches, peoples yards or driveways, and designated areas.  The fee for parking is very reasonable and the people very helpful.  

You've got to be very careful when driving.  Since the Fair is on both sides of the roads, there are crowds that walk next to the road, walk in the road and walk across the road.  Their eyes are on the next big bargain, not on the cars approaching.
I understand that mentality, totally!

I tried to capture the enormity of it all...  I don't think I succeeded. 

Daniela doesn't look it here, but she's really melting.  We picked the hottest day to go to the Fair.  The weather had been beautiful.  But no, not on this day.  I brought the heat with me from Atlanta!  The heat zapped our zeal to explore all the rows and avenues of this extravaganza. 
But I found this little watercolor painting.  It was 50% off, so for only $14, I was taking it home.  

 It's difficult to explain how big this Antique Fair really is.  It goes on and on and on.  

This was my favorite item but it was WAY, WAY out of my price range at $1800!  It did give me an idea for my mantle though.  

We had a great time, sweaty as it was, talking to the vendors, looking at all the goods.  But we were wiped out at the end of the day.  One thing I love about New England are all the great inns, restaurants and shops.  We found this restaurant called "The Copper Stallion".    

We couldn't figure out how to enter the restaurant or find the front door.  Picture two women pulling on locked doors, peeking in windows and staring dumbfounded at the people dining in the upstairs balcony.  Finally, we followed a group who looked like they knew exactly where to enter.

It was towards the back, around the corner of the red painted building.  Literally it was like walking through the back door into this great old house.  It had a great ambiance (sorry, no photos- too tired).  A great equestrian motif (I could just kick myself for not getting photo's).  And great food (I just wanted water, an ice cold beer and some cold hummus).

We would return the next night for dinner again.  (That's when these photos were taken, after a light rain.)  It was a great day at the fair.  But we decided for Saturday, we would skip the fair and hit the yard sales and antique stores instead.  If you get a chance to go to Brimfield, go!  It's a great experience.  Don't forget to bring good shoes, water, and a cart to carry your purchases.  And enjoy the surrounding towns, the great restaurants and the people.  

New England: it's a charming

place to be.

love,

Bernadine