FIELD TRIP: PHOENICIA

Phoenicia is one of my favorite summertime spots upstate. It's a quirky little town with lots of personality and plenty to do. We just spent the afternoon there with a couple of our friends from Brooklyn...and let me tell you...there is no better way to spend a super hot day than floating down the Espous Creek on an inner tube.

So, if any of you are thinking of venturing up here this summer I highly recommend a stop in this gem of a town.  Here are some things you won't want to miss:

As previously mentioned: TUBING! I know it sounds kinda lame...but seriously...it is SO fun. Just trust me.  There are a few different places to rent tubes...but we've always gone to Town Tinker Tube Rental. It's right at the top of Main Street and is charmingly no frills. For instance, if you don't have water shoes...or don't want to buy them...they have a shack full of old canvas sneakers that you can rent for a couple dollars. And the photo of the old white bus at the top of this post? That's the tube taxi. You pile in there and a crazy old hippie drives you a few miles up the road to the launch point. From there you are on your own. The voyage will be relaxing at times and downright frightening at others...so be prepared. And when you see this bridge...

...stay to the left...and start praying...because I would say there is a 25% chance you're gonna wipe out. But even wiping out is kinda fun. 

SWEET SUE'S:  Jumbo sized super fluffy pancakes in a zillion different flavors?  Yes please!  This is definitely where you want to eat.  It's pretty much legendary.  Note:  A normal stack comes with three pancakes.  You will NOT finish three of these pancakes.  No matter how hungry you are.  Order two and thank me later. 

HOMER AND LANGLEY'S  MYSTERY SPOT:  One of my ALL TIME FAVORITE vintage stores.  This place is jam packed with all kinds of gems.  Clothes, records, books, housewares, collectibles, oddities(?)....pretty much anything and everything you've ever wanted.  It's all curated by proprietress Laura Levine who clearly has an eye for the amazing...and the...umm...unusual.  But no description of mine is going to do this place justice.  You have to go see it for yourself.  And while you're there give my regards to Petey the Piranha.

Other Phoenician delights worth mentioning:

The Nest Egg general store for old timey candy, trail maps galore, some hysterical dreamcatchers, a GREAT selection of moccasins and a big display of hippie gemstone pendants for $2.99 each. Mix and match till your hearts content.  Here are the ones I got...

And Justin picked up some new summer shoes...

The Phoenicia Library has a permanent book sale going on outside...even when they're not open!  50 cents for paperbacks and 1 dollar for hardcovers.  You just drop the money in a slot and go...honor system style!  

And before you head out of town you should definitely check out the time capsule that is the Phoenicia Pharmacy.  Stuff clearly isn't flying off the shelves here.  I would say about half of their merchandise has been there since the 70s or 80s.  And it is awesome.    

Below:  Some of their more modern stock.  And by modern I mean at least it's from the LATE 80s.

And if you need a place to stay while you're in town... 

KATE'S LAZY MEADOW is where it's at.  It's a few minutes away in Mt. Tremper.  Kate Pierson from the B-52s bought it years ago and restored it to its original mid century kitschy glory...vintage tchotchkes and all.  There are suites, private cabins, and airstream trailers available. LOVE. IT. ALL.

photo credits (from top to bottom):  bus and town tinker sign by nina westervelt;  bridge by AllisonLOL - found here;  sweet sue's and the mystery spot by me;  petey the piranha by laura levine - found here;  pendants, moccasins, and phoenicia pharmacy pics by me;  kate's sign found here;  airstream found here.  and as always: if i used one of your photos and you would like me to take it down or credit you differently please let me know.  i would be more than happy to change it. xx darbie