1360 Booths of Antiques, Jewelry, Vintage Clothing

avamac

avamac

Alumni
Thrice yearly in Portland Oregon, the biggest show west of Brimfield. The booths which range from 10x10 to 10x60 house multiple dealers or whole malls, since the waiting list for sellers is years long. This show is simply VAST and absolutely mobbed. Originally held in the stockyards, it now sprawls through 3 new climate-controlled buildings. Oct 26-27 but early admission on
setup Friday is recommended for serious buyers, and on that day dress in layers as the rollup doors will be open and winds will howl through . Walking shoes and comfy clothing a must. but spectacular jewelry or a fab hat is always recommended. Antiques are the thing here, but there's a strong showing in vintage clothing, accessories and spectacular costume and 'real' jewelry.

INFO AT http://www.palmerwirfs.com/

My partner wll be there with boys toys, our shop will be open in downtown Portland noon-6 for the duration of the show. 410 SW Oak.
 
Chris Palmer, the promoter, used to trot the Halloween show in a cow suit, complete with udder. I haven't done the new buildings....the old show was in tin sheds that were absolute killers. Take a 106 degree day in a tin building, add 100,000 people, and turn on 1400 or so spotlights. It was a special experience with incredibly grueling hours, which have since been cut back. Every show I get a bit nostalgic, but not enough to actually do it.....MAY go shopping though. There's more stuff than you could EVER imagine!
 
Oregon is on my "Places to Visit" list & a quick plane ride away...maybe I can meet you there someday Maggie!! Is it just a once a year show, Maryalice???

Bonnie
 
Here's their schedule.

Portland's the big one, 1360+ booths which translates to a zillion dealers. The July show used to sprawl outside and cover the miles of tarmac and extend to the racetrack. Don't know if that's still the case.

Clark County, a suburb of Portland, right across the Columbia, has 480 booths.

Puyallup is 9 miles east of Tacoma (Seattle), but a local once described it to me as 'the end of the earth'. I was there for an auto show; the local madhouse brought their population for a field trip, handed them cotton candy, and led them to my booth of Victorian whites. TRUE STORY. 425 booths.

Their website: http://www.palmerwirfs.com/default.htm


has full info and maps (IF you can get your Acrobat Reader to work--I can't)

a mailing list and a way to buy advance tickets.

First day buy-in has you there as the dealers are setting up. Grab a map as you come in if you are there on the first day...with the show building around and BEHIND you, you can get lost! The DEALERS get lost!

If you are there with other people, designate a meeting point. And note the show office--they will page your party, call a cab, work wonders for you.

Wear walking shoes; they rug it but it's still cement. And bring some cash for that occasional wanker who doesn't take checks. There's ATMs but they can be a football field away.

IF you have time/energy/money left, visit downtown....Lots of vintage shops and other trendy shopping.

Portland's a fairly large and really beautiful city. It's legal to skateboard on the street here; it's that kinda place. Great food. Fabulous music scene. A volcano right in town...Mt. Tabor; I live at its base.

100 miles to the Oregon beaches which are all accessible to the public...there's NO private beach in Oregon. 30 miles to the Columbia Gorge, an amazing place.

In the Gorge, Maryhill Museum, home of the Theatre de la Mode, the postwar French fashion dolls that saved the Parisian fashion industry.

SORRY...way too much coffee....here's the SCHEDULE!






Future Shows - 2007

October 27 & 28 - Portland Expo

November 10 & 11 - Puyallup, WA Fairplex

Future Shows - 2008

January 19 & 20 - Clark Co. WA Fairgrounds

February 2 & 3 - Puyallup, WA Fairplex

March 1 & 2 - Portland Expo

July 12 & 13 - Portland Expo

October 25 & 26 - Portland Expo

November 8 & 9 - Puyallup, WA Fairplex
 
Anyone going to the July show, next week-end?

I'll be there on Friday, to help a friend from Monterey, California. (Possibly Saturday)

He usually has jewellery, I'm not sure what else he'll have.

I can't wait! It will be a good learning experience for me. I might do a show one in the future.

I'm kinda scared, I don't haggle that well!!

Sandi
 
Anyone going who's a serious buyer should do the early buyin which lets you in during SETUP....Friday 8 am to 7 pm....a full 24 hrs before general admission. It's well worth the $30. Wear comfy shoes; this is a MAMMOTH show. The indoors is in modern buildings with A/C but the outdoors is on paving and can be a killer. Haggling is usually restrained, and confined to asking for a 'dealer price' or a 'can you do a little better?'. Chris and Chuck Palmer and their staff are fabulous...as is the city of Portland.
 
Are you going to be there, Maryalice?

I would love to meet you!

I'll be working with Antique Search and Rescue, out of Monterey, Ca.


Sandi
 
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