This past weekend, some friends and I decided to check out the cheap furniture scene around Middletown. Driving down Wash, our first stop was Jimmy D’s Antiques. Our initial attraction was the random shit accumulated on the lawn in front of his store. Its like a yard sale on steroids: a 6ft pirate girl statue, 5 rows of old movie theatre seats, old iron gates, and old style coke vending machine, just to name a few. We drive in and start looking around what seems to be an over-priced junkyard. There are piles of stuff outside, some larger items priced steeply and smaller ones lie scattered, seemingly forgotten. Jimmy DiCaprio greets us and automatically recognizes us as college kids. This guy is a diehard salesman and can be a little abrasive. He is more than chatty and instantly offers me a deal on this 1978 ‘Champale’ light up sign.

“I could sell it for 30 bucks on Ebay but I’ll give it to you for 15 since it rained last night.” He enthusiastically invites us into his woodfame piled high with collectibles for all ages. I’m inside looking around a dusty asbestos-ridden house full of some awesome stuff, and before I know it I have $75 worth of stuff set aside (after the special discount of course). You can pay with paper or plastic, but be warned, Jimmy’s credit card machine is a little sketchy since the receipt printer is busted. It was an afternoon well spent, and we all left content with our purchases. To name a few: antique end table ($35), 5 depression era French-made wine glasses ($30), rusty Underwood typewriter ($25), classy croquet set missing a ball ($20), antique clay whiskey jug ($10), and a small Pabst metal tray ($20).

To get there, drive down Washington St. in the Route 66 direction away from Middletown until it becomes Meriden Road (the road starts to look more like a highway) and it will be on the right hand side. The full address is: 228 Meriden Rd Middlefield, CT 06455.

Also check out Goodwill this year for last minute dorm goods. Saturdays are big delivery days… Found this awesome red velvet/corduroy couch for $85!