"Look, here's an old map of the NYC subway system, " I say as I pick up a framed map that is leaning against a chained linked fence in a massive football field size parking lot in California. I did not expect to see this 3,000 miles from home. There's a sign that reads "Todo para $1.00...Everything for a dollar" but of course, that does not apply to the map. I still do not know how much that map would have been. I could not tell if it was an original or a print made last week in China. And I have a $2.00 rule. I am not paying more than $2.00 for anything today. "Next time, you have to dress grungier, Estelle. You look like you can pay more than a dollar." Come on, I did not don a ballgown and tiara for this outing; wearing blue jeans (that's as dressed-down as I get), a turtleneck sweater and a fleecy over- the- turtleneck sweater...did not even bring a designer purse. I tried to dress down. I really did.
My friend Dario is a devotee of this swap meet. He is an expert "Swap-meeter". His enthusiasm regarding this Swap Meet is infectious. Having heard about it from him for years, I am delighted to finally check it out. Notes to self: dress waaaay down when visiting the Alameda Swap Meet. Be ready to shop shortly after sunrise. Got it....
Meandering amongst the tables of teapots missing their spouts....tarps laid down on the asphalt with children's toys...rolling pins....laundry detergent...and vintage Skee Ball novelty games ( I loved Skee Ball when I was younger....the game where one would roll a ball up an alley trying to get the ball into a target wherein high points were earned depending on the difficulty of the hole reached...and then tickets were earned and I could trade those tickets for...a key chain worth 10 cents but cost $4.00 in quarters). This vintage Skee Ball game at the Swap Meet was desk size...a miniature piece of childhood at one table; a water cooler bottle at the next table followed by stereo equipment parts at the next. Oh and there is a farmers market there with local produce. Today the special seems to be blood oranges. They are beautiful.
I am thankful for the cup of coffee in my hand since oh, did I forget to mention it is 7:30 in the morning? We left the hotel at 6:30a.m. so we would not miss a moment of the deals to be found on this particular Friday.
"We have to stop at Edna's Donuts by George before we get to the Swap Meet", Dario tells me. "Edna's Donuts by George? That's the actual name? " I ask slightly confused. Oh, yes. That's the name. I guess we know who is in charge in this business. As long as they have coffee, it sounds good to me". Edna's Donuts is a blink and you would miss it shop in Hayward, CA. The smell of donuts assails us as we get out of the car. It's donut heaven. Donuts the old-fashioned way...as a matter of fact, yes, they have old-fashioned donuts, maple glazed buttermilk donuts, whipped cream filled donuts, jelly donuts. "Oooohh, I love jelly donuts. I'll have a jelly donut".
"Sorry, we are still filling the jelly donuts", I hear from the "by George" part of this operation who is in the back of the shop, doing just that...filling the jelly donuts. It is about 7a.m. I can not remember the last time I was anywhere so early that the baked goods were not ready yet. We get a whipped cream filled maple donut , a plain glazed donut and cups of coffee. I promise to use this as a taste testing moment. We say we will be back later for more depending on how the taste test goes....
Back at the Swap Meet, I learn things I never knew before. The lore around "underground" comic books. I never even knew underground comic books existed. Stories about Oswald the Rabbit who was the precursor to Mickey Mouse. I see flashbacks to the past all around me from cans of wooden Tinker Toys to record albums featuring The Platters and The Beach Boys. It is fair to say that there is something for everyone depending on what your interests are.
My search list was a short one....opera glasses and a retro-looking chrome/stainless steel toaster. In other words, I was not needing anything but if some things found their way into my tote bag and were a true bargain...great. If I came across a never-used blender and/or a large party size hot beverage dispenser that would be okay too. What I came away with was an electric wine decorker (come on, it digitally displays how many bottles can be decorked before the battery dies. Everyone needs one of these...) and an Oscar Meyer hot dog serving tray that I thought would make the perfect Valentines' Day gift for my Mom. She loves hot dogs. You mean it is not what every Mom dreams of as the perfect Valentines' Day gift? Someone should have told me before I gave it to her. :)
All that browsing and bartering (Dario did really well but what he purchased would be his story to tell) led to us working up quite an appetite.
"There's a great place I always go to called Ole's Coffee Shop. It's just down the road from here in Alameda", Dario tells me. The place has been there since the 1920's and it should be a national landmark. It has that authentic coffee shop feel. Napkin dispensers on the table that read "Drink Coke" on its sides. Waitresses that know what one will have for breakfast long before you get the words out....and that bring extra biscuits just because...and honey and butter to go with them. The biscuits taste like pancakes. That's how moist and dense they are. Between the waffles with strawberries and a pound of whipped cream and pancakes and biscuits and grits and home-fries and raisin bread and ham and eggs (In my own defense, I did not eat all the above-mentioned food...but I did see a lot of yummy dishes go by on their way to other tables) .....someone is going to have to roll me out of Ole's in a wheelbarrow. It is delicious...and there is enough food that we have to take some of it to go for the flight home.
Ah, the flight home. That maple coated whipped cream donut from early this morning was delicious. Yes, it passed the taste test. We make our way back to Edna's Donuts -made by George...and fill up one of their signature pink boxes with donuts.
Thank goodness, the jelly donuts were ready :)
My friend Dario is a devotee of this swap meet. He is an expert "Swap-meeter". His enthusiasm regarding this Swap Meet is infectious. Having heard about it from him for years, I am delighted to finally check it out. Notes to self: dress waaaay down when visiting the Alameda Swap Meet. Be ready to shop shortly after sunrise. Got it....
Meandering amongst the tables of teapots missing their spouts....tarps laid down on the asphalt with children's toys...rolling pins....laundry detergent...and vintage Skee Ball novelty games ( I loved Skee Ball when I was younger....the game where one would roll a ball up an alley trying to get the ball into a target wherein high points were earned depending on the difficulty of the hole reached...and then tickets were earned and I could trade those tickets for...a key chain worth 10 cents but cost $4.00 in quarters). This vintage Skee Ball game at the Swap Meet was desk size...a miniature piece of childhood at one table; a water cooler bottle at the next table followed by stereo equipment parts at the next. Oh and there is a farmers market there with local produce. Today the special seems to be blood oranges. They are beautiful.
I am thankful for the cup of coffee in my hand since oh, did I forget to mention it is 7:30 in the morning? We left the hotel at 6:30a.m. so we would not miss a moment of the deals to be found on this particular Friday.
"We have to stop at Edna's Donuts by George before we get to the Swap Meet", Dario tells me. "Edna's Donuts by George? That's the actual name? " I ask slightly confused. Oh, yes. That's the name. I guess we know who is in charge in this business. As long as they have coffee, it sounds good to me". Edna's Donuts is a blink and you would miss it shop in Hayward, CA. The smell of donuts assails us as we get out of the car. It's donut heaven. Donuts the old-fashioned way...as a matter of fact, yes, they have old-fashioned donuts, maple glazed buttermilk donuts, whipped cream filled donuts, jelly donuts. "Oooohh, I love jelly donuts. I'll have a jelly donut".
"Sorry, we are still filling the jelly donuts", I hear from the "by George" part of this operation who is in the back of the shop, doing just that...filling the jelly donuts. It is about 7a.m. I can not remember the last time I was anywhere so early that the baked goods were not ready yet. We get a whipped cream filled maple donut , a plain glazed donut and cups of coffee. I promise to use this as a taste testing moment. We say we will be back later for more depending on how the taste test goes....
Back at the Swap Meet, I learn things I never knew before. The lore around "underground" comic books. I never even knew underground comic books existed. Stories about Oswald the Rabbit who was the precursor to Mickey Mouse. I see flashbacks to the past all around me from cans of wooden Tinker Toys to record albums featuring The Platters and The Beach Boys. It is fair to say that there is something for everyone depending on what your interests are.
My search list was a short one....opera glasses and a retro-looking chrome/stainless steel toaster. In other words, I was not needing anything but if some things found their way into my tote bag and were a true bargain...great. If I came across a never-used blender and/or a large party size hot beverage dispenser that would be okay too. What I came away with was an electric wine decorker (come on, it digitally displays how many bottles can be decorked before the battery dies. Everyone needs one of these...) and an Oscar Meyer hot dog serving tray that I thought would make the perfect Valentines' Day gift for my Mom. She loves hot dogs. You mean it is not what every Mom dreams of as the perfect Valentines' Day gift? Someone should have told me before I gave it to her. :)
All that browsing and bartering (Dario did really well but what he purchased would be his story to tell) led to us working up quite an appetite.
"There's a great place I always go to called Ole's Coffee Shop. It's just down the road from here in Alameda", Dario tells me. The place has been there since the 1920's and it should be a national landmark. It has that authentic coffee shop feel. Napkin dispensers on the table that read "Drink Coke" on its sides. Waitresses that know what one will have for breakfast long before you get the words out....and that bring extra biscuits just because...and honey and butter to go with them. The biscuits taste like pancakes. That's how moist and dense they are. Between the waffles with strawberries and a pound of whipped cream and pancakes and biscuits and grits and home-fries and raisin bread and ham and eggs (In my own defense, I did not eat all the above-mentioned food...but I did see a lot of yummy dishes go by on their way to other tables) .....someone is going to have to roll me out of Ole's in a wheelbarrow. It is delicious...and there is enough food that we have to take some of it to go for the flight home.
Ah, the flight home. That maple coated whipped cream donut from early this morning was delicious. Yes, it passed the taste test. We make our way back to Edna's Donuts -made by George...and fill up one of their signature pink boxes with donuts.
Thank goodness, the jelly donuts were ready :)
Now I would even wake up that early for this experience! Sounds like a delightful Morning indeed! Eh, it's 11:30 pm and now I want a damn donut. Too bad George doesn't supply 7-11! :O(
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