High-end highlights for holiday shoppers
Sally Socolich
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/22/HO1P1AEIU8.DTL&feed=rss.homeandgarden#ixzz0dr535vQw
Turkey may be on nearly everyone's mind this week, but once the leftovers are stashed in the fridge, the intrepid bargain hunter's thoughts turn to holiday shopping and the latest round of Bay Area warehouse sales starting Friday.
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In today's roundup, you'll find deals on art glass, tabletop treasures, holiday decor and more. Before you hit the road, check out the Web sites of the companies and events for a taste of what's offered.
Unless otherwise noted, checks and credit cards will be accepted and all sales are final.
Pizzichillo-Gordon Art Glass Studio
The goods: You can spend high or low at this studio sale, but your satisfaction is in knowing that you've probably saved 25 to 75 percent on a unique piece of glass - artwork that's been exhibited nationwide and internationally in galleries and museums. This year's sale offers a series of first-quality discontinued pieces at 50 percent off, plus samples, design prototypes, discontinued works and seconds, as well as first-quality, one-of-a-kind works.
Highlights: Small vases, bowls and tumblers $30-$90; jewelry $10-$90; and large, mostly one-of-a-kind vases and bowls $150-$600. A limited quantity of new, one-of-a-kind, gallery-quality work will also be available from $800-$1,200.
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Fri.-Nov. 29. and Dec. 5 and 12. 2680 Union St. Oakland. (510) 832-8380. quepasaglass.com.
Ciccia Bella-Mosaico
The goods: A very popular North Bay sale event returns this year. Inventory from the two divisions of this company adds up to lots of fun gifts at stocking-stuffer prices. Ciccia Bella's accessory line of eye masks, slippers and other items will be $3 to $10 - 75 percent to 90 percent off retail.
Highlights: The women's and girl's indoor slippers come in sizes S to XL (6-10 for adults) in styles that are funky (cowgirl-boot styles) or elegant (silk or rayon brocade flip flops or slip-ons). Mosaico's sparkling handmade treasures with mosaic designs include boxes, pens, bottle stoppers and more, all $3 ($15 to $50 retail). Note: Out-of-stock inventory on the Web site may be available at the sale.
10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sat.-next Sun. and Dec. 4-5. 1370-E Industrial Ave., Petaluma. (707) 782-0449. cicciabella.com. Note: Visa and MC over $75 only.
Forgotten Shanghai
The goods: Located in the San Francisco Design Center area, Forgotten Shanghai is having its first loading dock sale (on the side of its elegant showroom), where closeouts, discontinued showroom samples and excess inventory will be marked down 40 to 80 percent off retail. Its sale includes Asian antiques and collections of reinterpreted antique designs in contemporary finishes and colors.
Highlights: The $99 shelves filled with stools, antique baskets and buckets, bamboo ladders, less-than-perfect lacquered boxes, lacquered rice lamps, hand-carved and lacquered window screens for the wall; purses, silk fortune-cookie boxes, silk wineglass charms, silk and velvet scarves, silk down-filled pillows in fabulous discontinued colors, one-of-a-kind samples, silk bedding at 40 to 70 percent off retail. West Wind Furniture and accessories, collections of natural woven headboards, dressers, nightstands, coffee tables, entertainment cabinets, sofas, lounge chairs, lamps at 40 to 80 percent off retail.
9 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 3, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 4; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 5. 245 Kansas St. (at 16th Street), San Francisco; (415) 701-7707. forgottenshanghai.com.
Sonoma Tabletop
The goods: If you're shopping for a wine aficionado, Sonoma Tabletop, a manufacturer's outlet, is a sure bet for bargain gifts. The outlet is open all year, but during its annual sale you'll save up to 85 percent off retail on selected discontinued inventory, samples, seconds and overstocks.
Highlights: Handcrafted glassware $5 (retail $20), wine chillers $9 (retail $50); ceramic tableware, including dessert plates $1.75 (retail $10), dinner plates $2.50 (retail $15), large platters $9.50 (retail $45), and mugs $2 (retail $8). Wine accessories include decorative pewter stoppers $2-$3; stainless steel Penguin corkscrews $30 (retail $75), and wine charms $5 (retail $15).
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 4-6. 21660 Eighth St. East, Sonoma; (707) 935-9652. sonomatabletop.com.
Third Street Warehouse Sale
The goods: I'm in line early for a one-day marathon of frantic shopping. You can narrow your sights on gifts and plan some personal shopping by reviewing the event's Web site, which reveals the impressive list of participants: manufacturers, importers, distributors - most based in the cavernous buildings that make up the American Industrial Center. These and other vendors will be selling samples, seconds, overruns, past season and discontinued inventory at 40 to 70 off retail.
Highlights: Everything from custom-fitted computer cases to pet products, stainless-steel water bottles, unique clothing, jewelry, handbags, home accessories, and wonderful gift items.
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Dec. 5. 665 22nd St. (between Third and Illinois streets), San Francisco; (415) 561-9703. 3rdstreetsale.com.
Lunares
The goods: The Lunares Collections, featured on the pages of Elle Decor, Domino, Bon Appetit, House Beautiful, O Magazine and Food and Wine, encompass high-end tabletop and serveware items, gifts, home and office accessories, men's gifts and holiday ornaments. Seconds, samples and first-quality overruns will be reduced 50 to 80 percent off retail at its holiday sale.
Highlights: Signature oven-to-table sand-cast aluminum serving pieces such as plates and knives ($12 to $20), salad servers and bowls ($10-$50), candle holders ($2-$15) and ornaments $1-$10. Add some new stylish touches to your decor from a collection of rugs and quilts, leather pillows, frames, lamps, magazine trays and beautifully beaded holiday ornaments. Expect to unearth a few surprises from the "last chance" boxes priced at $1-$3.
3-7 p.m. Dec. 4 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 5. 2170 Folsom St. (between 17th and 18th streets); San Francisco. (415) 621-0764. lunareshome.com. No checks.
Tina Frey Designs
The goods: If you wonder who makes some of the really cool jewelry, decorative items and useful objects sold at the shops in New York's Museum of Arts and Design, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Guggenheim, the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston and others - it's Tina Frey Designs in San Francisco. You'll have a chance to buy her 21st century resin designs at 40 to 70 percent off retail (seconds, first-quality overruns, samples and discontinued inventory) when she opens her studio doors in December.
Highlights: Prices will range from $12 to about $160 (most pieces over $50) on a distinctive selection of vases, bowls/vessels, trays, jewelry (rings, bracelets, necklaces) in intensely rich colors.
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 4-5. 3150 18th St., (ActivSpace Building on the corner of 18th and Treat), San Francisco; (415) 223-4710. www.tinafreydesigns.com. No checks.
Mrs. Grossman's
The goods: Sale discounts of 30 to 80 percent below wholesale make the trip to Mrs. Grossman's warehouse sale in Petaluma a minor inconvenience for those contemplating scrapbooking before and after the holidays. Scrappers can stock up on "retired" stickers, nearly perfect "seconds" and current designs.
Highlights: Packaged giant stickers at 50 cents; a huge variety of stickers on rolls at $3 and strips at 25 cents; Bingo-to-Go and Stickerific activity kits for kids at $3.50, plus patterned crafting ribbons, Lezaire handcrafted paper albums and much more.
9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 5. 2198 S. McDowell, Petaluma; (707) 763-1700. mrsgrossmans.com.
Lot 26
The goods: This San Francisco-based home decor wholesale company is in the midst of a major product realignment - with fragrant consequences for holiday shoppers. Lot 26 is closing out its classy Botanics line of nature-inspired candles, fragrance diffusers, gift-boxed home fragrance sets and one-of-a-kind samples. Prices will be half off wholesale at $9 to $17.50.
Highlights: Products in the sophisticated Alchemy Collection are presented in a handcrafted heirloom-quality box to be enjoyed long after the contents are removed. (Note: These would pass muster as a guy gift.) Also, take a look at the limited number of designs from its new and innovative Studio line of adhesive decorative wall art. Closeout graphics will be priced $2-$10.
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 5. 277 Carolina St. (at 17th Street), San Francisco; (415) 552-2888. lot26.com.
For more sales, see Page M3
Today in Style: Six places to find local designer fashion, accessories and gifts.
-- See more Bargain Hunter sales on page M1
This article appeared on page M - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/22/HO1P1AEIU8.DTL&feed=rss.homeandgarden#ixzz0dr4ojsRE
Coast Starlight travels from Vancouver to San Diego with a stop in Davis. They offer a sr. discount and a free parking pass to park in the Amtrak lot for up to a week. The is a dining car and a sleeping car. I Googled Coast Starlight and there are many wonderful sites with pictures and opinions. 
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