Lord & Taylor - A Christmas Miracle, Home-style

I'm not sure how this got by me, but the Lord & Taylor in NYC has a relatively new "home" department on the 9th floor that is DIVINE.  It features just a few select designers like Calvin Klein, Jonathan Adler, and Ralph Lauren and I LOVE IT.  It's not overdone.  It's not overstocked.  It's tasteful.  It has bedding, furniture, housewares.  And most of all, there are some MAJOR sales going on right now.  Like they almost owed me money at the register.  It's on the same floor as the Christmas decor, which makes the whole thing a nice mix. 

Daffy's: The Fifty Dollar Fun Card Challenge

The good people of Daffy's posed a challenge to yours truly: They'd give me a $50 gift card that I could spend at any of their stores, if in exchange, I would recount my experience and talk about my purchases here on the blog only known as Guerilla Shopper.  I accepted their gentlewoman's challenge with enthusiasm and stormed the Daffy's on E. 18th St. near 5th Avenue - the downsized version of the old location around the corner, which is now H&M.

The photo above is everything I purchased for $50.  Four scented candles, water bottle, mini-umbrella (houndstooth!), and by far my favorite: the Kangol hat (only $17 in the men's dept).

I like Daffy's for their housewares, knick-knacks and men's/children's department.  The latter being really impressive, actually.  I don't find the women's apparel as intriguing, perhaps because the ladies are so thorough and on top of it as soon as new merch arrives in-store.

Also, Daffy's (formerly Daffy Dan's - how y'like me now!?): can you get a dimmer switch on your lights?  I feel like I'm in 7-Eleven (not a good feeling when trying on bras).

Dec. 26-Jan. 24: ABC Carpet & Home Winter Tag Sale

ABC Carpet & Home Winter Tag Sale

END OF SEASON CLEARANCE EVENT
ALL STORES, ALL FLOORS

December 26- January 24

Save up to 75% off original prices at all store locations. Save on select home accessories, jewelry, lighting, tabletop & decorative accessories, bedding & bath and modern, grounded & antique furniture, upholstery, sofas, chairs and sectionals, handmade oriental rugs, antique & vintage carpets, contemporary rugs and more.

ABC Carpet & Home

888 & 881 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
212 473 3000
Mon, Tues, Weds, Thurs, Fri 10-7, Sat 10-7:30, Sun: 11-7

Bronx Outlet
1055 Bronx River Avenue
Bronx, NY 10472
718 842 8770
M-S: 10-7 Sun: 11-6

Hackensack
400 Huyler Street
South Hackensack, NJ 07606
201 641 3400
M-Sat: 10-7, Closed Sundays

Delray Beach
777 South Congress Avenue
Delray Beach, FL 33445
561.279.7777
M-S: 10-6, Sun: 12-5

Oct. 7-12: abc carpet & home hackensack warehouse sale

Up to 75% off original prices on upholstery, antiques, theodore alexander, french heritage, traditional & modern furniture, lighting, textiles & accessories, bedding and organic mattreses, modern rugs, handmade orientals, needlepoints, aubussons, flatweaves, shags, mansion sizes, runners, remnants and more...

when: october 7-12

home: upholstery, antiques, theodore alexander, french heritage, traditional & modern furniture: dining, chairs, armoires, sideboards, bookcases, mirrors, office, beds, lighting, textiles & accessories, bedding & organic mattresses
rugs: modern, handmade orientals, needlepoints, aubussons, flatweaves, shags, mansion sizes, runners & remnants
wall-to-wall carpet: wool, sisal, seagrass, coir, berbers, designer & commercial carpet

abc carpet & home – south hackensack
warehouse outlet
400 huyler street
south hackensack, nj 07606
201 641 3400
m-sat: 10-7, closed Sundays
http://www.abchome.com/

Chicago's Porte Rouge: Closing Sale, May 2-3

I came across Porte Rouge when I was in Chicago last summer and loved loved loved it. Unfortunately it is closing down. But somewhat fortunately for the good people of Chicago there is a final weekend sale, May 2-3. They have really quality, classy selections of tableware, store fixtures, and antiques, including a vintage butcher block that has been hidden in storage for three years (I can't guarantee it's still there, however). Good luck and let me know if you get anything great (and how much you got it for)!

Peachfrog: Lots of Cool Stuff for Cheap

The New York Times Urban Eye just wrote about Peachfrog in Williamsburg:

"A trip to Peachfrog, a new emporium of liquidated and overstocked merchandise... The store carries men’s and women’s clothing, accessories and home furnishings guaranteed to be 70 to 90 percent off the original price."

It sounds like a fun shopping trip to take, albeit perhaps not a very sophisticated one. I shall check it out eventually and report back.

Guest Blog: Tracy Porter "Crazy Sale"

The contributions from GSNYC friends and family are at a fever pitch...read on:

So back in December I got a catalog in the mail. Tracy Porter. I was diggin' most of her stuff, but it was super expensive ... like $250 for a shirt. ... Today I was cleaning though a pile of papers & came across the catalog. I went online to checkout the website ... & they are having a crazy sale. Like jewelry that was $150-$300 is now about $25. ... It's all pretty big bulky pieces but I did find a couple of cute things ... & did a lot of gift shopping. Note that there are a lot of clearance items on the site which don't appear in the "clearance" section, so you have to poke around. I feel like she MAY be going out of biz b/c the site has a much smaller selection compared to what was in the catalog a few months ago. Anyway just thinking about GSNY & wanted to let you know :)

Case in point from GS: The pictured disco tunic was $265, now $28...is it possible?!?

Chicago: Porte Rouge Table & Home

Porte Rouge on W. Division in Chicago was one of the most exciting stores I encountered during my Wicker Park/Bucktown shopping tour. If I lived in Chicago I fear that I would spend all of my hard earned cash in here, for it is not cheap, but it is full of beautiful, quality housewares, cookware, teas and the like. If you have a wedding or shower present to buy, I highly recommend taking a look in here (even online). I'm actually lusting for the tableware again as I write this. Oh! and the antique old-style colored glass seltzer water bottles are divine (I think they cost about $95).

One of the most interesting items are the teas from Mariage Freres in France, which apparently is sought after from individuals and restaurants from all over the country.

I may become a grown up yet. Stay tuned.

Calypso Sample Sale - April 12-15

Run, don't walk to the Calypso Christiane Celle sample sale! I went to it in October and scored major deals, spending $100 and getting $1,500 worth of cool shit:

April 12-15

Thurs. - Sat.: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Sunday: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

378 Broadway (SE corner of White St.)

take: NQRW or 6 train to Canal St.

cash or credit; no try-ons

...and might I suggest not bringing any bags or purses with you [they will take them at the door], and wear as minimal clothing as possible (i.e. if it's not freezing, leave the coats at home and you can try to quickly try stuff on over your clothes).

New Daffy's on E. 18th St.

Earlier in the week I received an email that Daffy's was opening a new store on E. 18th St. near Fifth Avenue - right next to where the old crappy Daffy's was (it's now an H&M).

This new Daffy's is much more "concise," yet perhaps too much so - there were no clothes that were even in the ballpark for me. However, there was a cute little housewares section where I picked up the serving items pictured here, as well as a stainless steel tea kettle all for about $123.00. I may become a grown up yet!

I also stopped in my favorite store - Club Monaco - nearby, where I picked up a brown cashmere sweater for $29 (orignally $149)! They had lots of great new merchandise, but I was in serious sale mode and didn't even try on a non-on-sale item.

Home Depot: Pick Up Joint?

I visted Home Depot on 23rd St. by myself today. As I wondered aimlessly through the ground floor and lower level searching for various items - including the cash register at which to pay for them, I noticed and realized something. Among the couples shopping for fancy bathroom tile and the odd "old guy" looking to start his next project were: HOT GUYS. Now this is basically Chelsea, so while it is entirely likely that said hot guys are gay, it is at least possible that they are straight.

I've heard countless women ask the question, "Where can I meet guys in New York?" Bars, steakhouses, Yankee Stadium - these are the usual suspects. I've never heard anyone say, "Home Depot on 23rd St." And really, if you think about it, where else would a guy be shopping during the day on a Saturday or Sunday?

I think I may be onto something here ladies. Check it out for yourself...I mean, why not? Pull your best damsel in distress routine and let's see what you come up with. ;)