The unassuming storefront of Aunt Katie's Attic invites Route 5 drivers to take a break and come in.

The best kinds of places are the ones that you come across by accident, when you are driving for five hours to a small, rural town in the middle of upstate New York, where cell phone reception is scarce and the squatted cows on the side of the road tell you that its going to be a rainy week. It is during these monotonous journeys, when your legs are going numb from sitting so long in a cramped Volkswagen, that unexpected, roadside finds are the most refreshing. It was during a trip like this that I came across Aunt Katie’s Attic, along the never-ending stretch of Route 5 in Scotia, New York.

With just a $200 loan and a few left over estate sale pieces, Kate Halasz opened the consignment shop in 1995. After a full year of scrounging for additional items to fill up the shop, she began her search for consignors. To draw more people in to the eclectic joy that is Aunt Katie’s Attic, the store founded an annual outdoor flea market, which it continues to have each year. It is sixteen years later and Aunt Katie’s has just been acknowledged as Metroland Magazine’s (an Albany based publication) “Top Pick for Best Vintage/Antiques.”

From the outside, the shop doesn’t look like much. It is housed in a worn, barn-like building (that I see now only adds to its charm), and with just two cars parked in the front lot it would be easy to drive by it completely. Although the store did not exactly look promising, I am a treasure hunter by nature and decided to give it a try.

Inside Aunt Katie's Attic

The word  “attic” caught my eye, from the name on the big sign facing the highway. It said: “Aunt Katie’s Attic: Fun, Funky, Functional.” I have always considered an attic to be a spot for forgotten possessions, where underneath dust and cobwebs there are treasures just waiting to be uncovered. As I approached the door to Aunt Katie’s, I was about to find out just how right that sign truly was.

On the front porch, there were a few bigger pieces of furniture: wooden tables and chairs that would need to be refinished, a retro, white refrigerator that seemed a little unpractical, and some handcrafted shelving units. This was really just a taste of what was to come. I opened the door to the shop, which was kiwi green. I heard the wooden door signs clank as I shut it behind me. One said, “Leave your stress and worries out here!” and that is exactly what I decided to do.

Once inside I was completely overwhelmed by the quality and the quantity of the items positioned all around me. As far as I am concerned there are two types of junk in the world. There is “old sneakers, rusty nails” kind of junk, and then there is Junk, with a capital J.  Priceless junk. Objects that get traded in for newer, technologically advanced items. However, most times people don’t know the true value of what they are giving away. I have an eye for this type of Junk; I can find it in almost any location. For me these items are nostalgic and timeless, a flashback to the time of my parents, grandparents, and even my great-grandparents.

Some of the unusual wares for sale at Aunt Katie's

This is the kind of Junk that Aunt Katie’s contains. It is a building stuffed from corner to corner, ceiling to floor, with marvelous Junk, every piece smiling at me with a brilliant potential. The potential to be adopted, reused, and most of all re-loved. Like a child, I wanted to pick up each item and feel its warmth in my hands. I saw old Pyrex dishes like the kind my grandma still uses, antique gold lockets, a soup ladle with just the right tilt, vintage cookbooks and dress patterns from the 1930’s, old sewing machines, and even wire birdcages hanging from the ceiling. There were cookie cutters and embroidered aprons, costume jewelry, salt and pepper shakers, and jars of old glass milk beads. A particular favorite was the kit cat clock in bright turquoise that hung on the wall behind the register. Its eyes shifting from left to right, following me as I moved around the store.

As a consignment shop, each section of Aunt Katie’s is dedicated to the items of a particular vendor; I have had particular luck with the collections of Mark. Perhaps one of the best things about Aunt Katie’s is that there is always something new. Vendors are constantly updating and improving their collections. I have found that it is best to go into the shop with no expectations. That is when I come away with the most delightful pieces.

Aunt Katie's Attic's Entrance Door: "Leave Your Stress and Worries Out Here."

The atmosphere inside of Aunt Katie’s is snug and pleasant, like that of my grandmother’s house. All that is missing are those delicious chocolate jumbo cookies and a warm piece of fudge. The store even has two cats that bring a charm to the shop as they maneuver around even the most fragile items with delicate ease. So, don’t be surprised if as you are making your purchases, one of them brushes up against your leg to say “Hello.”  It’s simply part of the experience, an experience that you definitely will not want to miss.

Story and Photos by Claire Schmidt 

Tango at the Sunday San Telmo Fair

In the mid 1990s, young musicians began playing Tango music once again. This was a way of expressing their disdain at the growing globalization of North American music and recalling their national roots. Today, one can find a number of excellent Tango Nuevo groups playing in the San Telmo barrio of Buenos Aires. For an affordable and authentic evening, head to the Milonga (a Tango dance hall) at Avenida Independencia 572 at around 10pm for group dance lessons and/or at midnight for live music an dance until about 3am. Only 10-pesos (less than $3USD) to enter, and an extremely friendly 20-30 year-old bohemian artist crowd, it is a great escape from very popular Palermo SoHo.

Story by Oresti Tsonopoulos and Photo by Carolyn Balk

Typical Shanghai Temple

If you plan to visit Shanghai, you cannot leave until you have experienced the one, the only, soup dumpling. An iconic dish of Shanghai, the soup dumpling is the perfect bite of (usually) pork meat bundled up in a delicate wrapper and then steamed in bamboo baskets. However, do not dare to attempt eating them with a fork and knife, as I learned from my first failed attempt at trying to eat them. Each soup dumpling after preparation is filled with a savory broth, and to let it go to waste, or all over your shirt, would be a shame. But never fear! There is a technique to eating them. Carefully select a soup dumpling from the bamboo basket by taking hold of the top part of the dumpling. Then, place it in a spoon. Do not devour the soup dumpling whole or else your tongue will get very burnt. Instead, take small bites being careful not to let any of the broth spill away. Finally, the best part, slurp the broth out of the dumpling as loud as you want (don’t worry, it’s not considered rude) and when all of the broth is gone, gobble up the rest of the dumpling.

Soup dumplings are the perfect delicacy for a snack or a light meal and are easily found on the streets of Shanghai. I had my soup dumpling experience at Din Tai Fung Restaurant in the popular, leisure neighborhood of Xin Tian Di; however, there are countless soup dumpling restaurants to try. Regardless of where your first soup dumpling moment is, enjoying authentic Shanghai soup dumplings is an important Shanghai experience and tradition of the Chinese culture at large. More importantly, like other Chinese foods, soup dumplings provide a perfect opportunity to share and create new memories with family and friends over a great culinary tradition.

Story by Nora Chen and Photo by Olaya Barr

Over the past several years, my family has chosen Provincetown for our yearly getaways filled with fresh seafood and afternoons by the Atlantic. For those without a knowledge of Massachusetts geography, Cape Cod consists of the “flexing arm” that makes up the easternmost portion of the state, extending out into the ocean.

The Mt. Everest-sized sand dunes of Race Point Beach, Cape Cod.

Provincetown is at the farthermost tip of the Cape, accessed by a single-lane highway crawling with cars packed with kids, beach gear, and towing boats. Provincetown is without a doubt the most colorful town on the Cape. Known for its large gay population, festivals, artists, and busy town center packed with restaurants, boutiques, and the occasional drag queen, it is undeniably a lively place for those who can stomach the crowds and excitement.

Just three miles or so from Provincetown center, on the ocean side of the Cape, lies Race Point Beach. Sand dunes line many of the main roads leading to Provincetown, and the path to Race Point is no exception. The beach is accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles with permits, manned by daredevil drivers. The occasional in shape, brave soul attempts the trek by foot. My cousins’ Jeep, with much of the air let out of the tires, rolls up and over the initial mountains of sand with relative ease, stopping from time to time to let another vehicle leaving the beach pass by.

The real rollercoaster ride begins as the Mt. Everest of sand dunes appears in the windshield. The Jeep gets a running start and the tires begin to whirl up sand as the car struggles against the steep ascent. Three-quarters of the way up, we get stuck and have to slide down in reverse to start again. Usually making it over on the third or fourth try, after a significant amount of stomach-churning, we are rewarded by the long stretch of sand, lined on one side by choppy, chilly waves and enormous dunes on the other. The journey isn’t for the fainthearted, so unlike most Cape Cod beaches, we have plenty of room to park and spread out in the warm sand. Our afternoons are spent sunbathing, reading, wading in the frigid Atlantic, and watching for the occasional seal popping out of the water. It’s simple, beautiful, relaxing, and an oasis from the hectic world left behind the dunes.

Story and Photo by Rachel Simon

Outside the Louvre Museum

First and foremost, it is a must for any first-time Parisian visitor to tour the famed Louvre museum. Grab a friend, stroll through by yourself, or take a guided tour–whichever you choose, you won’t be disappointed. While you are there, yes, you must see the popular works such as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo; however, also be sure to browse through by yourself and take the time to discover what truly attracts you in the museums collection. In doing so, I discovered the La Jeune Martyre, my own personal favorite paining in the entirety of museum. Warning, be sure to block out a fair amount of time because lines leading into the museum can be quite long, especially during the summer.

Another fair-weathered outing is to visit the fabulous statue garden of the Musee Rodin. The famous collection includes The Thinker, The Kiss, and The Gates of Hell and the grounds surrounding the museum are lovely. Much quieter than the Louvre and with fewer crowds and more open space, the museum is a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Seine River at Sunset

The best way get a grand tour of the majority of the city is to take a boat ride on the Seine River. My personal favorite time for the trip is at sunset in order to enjoy the light reflections and the Parisian night-lights—especially the lights on the Eiffel Tower! The boat also plays music, great to do a little dancing if you are not too tired after sight-seeing the entire day!

Notre Dame Church at Dusk

While in Paris, visiting the Notre Dame is a must. In addition to viewing the beautiful Romantic architecture, make it a priority to climb to the top of Notre Dame. Though quite a hike (in extremely cramped stairwells), the view from the top is stunning—one can literally see the entire mass of Paris herself (it is wise to arrive early so as to avoid the crowds…it opens bright and early at 7:45)! While you are there, be sure to visit the Crypte Archeologique, which lies beneath Notre Dame and houses ancient Roman ruins and a diagram of the growth of Paris.

As a lover of fashion myself, I encourage you to visit one of the many markets of Paris. I myself visited the Marche de la Porte Vanves, which held a wonderful assortment of vintage clothes and jewelry as well as many other collectables and quirky knickknacks. However, others include the Rue Cler, supposedly the best, the St Germain, and the Rue Mouffetard.

Another fun little Parisian excursion is climbing the Eiffel Tower. Though crawling with tourists, the views are excellent and the feeling of being inside the Eiffel Tower itself is enthralling. Walking through the Champ de Mars, the field right by the Eiffel Tower, on a sunny day is a wonderful outing. Pack a picnic, take along some good friends, find a quiet spot away from the crowds, and enjoy.

As for food, nearly every restaurant you will find in Paris will have delicious food. Take a chance, choose a random side street café that suites your fancy, sip on a cafe au lait, and enjoy the wonderful people watching of Paris. As for dinner, be sure to get a reservation at Georges, a hip, contemporary restaurant located at the top level of the Georges Pompidou Center. The décor is very modern and intriguing, and the food amazing. Be sure to make the reservation for an early time so you can watch the sun set over the city—the view is breathtaking.

Eiffel Tower at Night

So ends my little tour of Paris. Granted, there are millions of ways to entertain oneself in this exciting city, however, these were just a few personal favorites that I wanted to point out. I hope you enjoyed the tour and bon voyage!

Story by Bailey Billups and Photos by Carolyn Balk