Voices from the Flats – A Whale of a Garage Sale!
By Mudflatter D
All those props used in the “Everybody Loves Whales” film are on sale this week! While some were returned to LA, there is plenty left at the warehouse behind Spenard Builders Supply to entice practical-minded scavengers, like me. Remember, this movie loosely portrays an event in 1988, so don’t expect to find iPhones.
There are a few items of movie memorabilia to be had, if you look carefully. My favorite is the stationery from the big oil company executive, played by Ted Danson. Why? Because the address is on “J Street.” For you cheechakos who just fell off the turnip truck, Anchorage’s downtown streets run from A to P, but J was deliberately skipped. That’s a story for another blog, though. My second choice is the Greenpeace stationery.
If you are old enough to know what was in vogue in the 1980s then you probably had parents and grandparents who lived through the big depression of the 1930s, and they reminded you of those tough times–often. Who among us doesn’t need some really useful and cheap items while enjoying a free trip down memory lane–like waste cans, bookcases, packages of paper doilies, cake cooling racks, dishes, glassware, books, small reels of electrical cord, a set of silver service in a wooden case, mattresses, metal and wooden desks, a yellow stove, office stacking trays, brown towels, napkins, paper plates, Coleman coolers, lanterns, pillows, sofas, draperies and tons of pictures, whose frames are worth the trip alone.
A number of the items look like they came from my shed, or were sold at my last garage sale. Universal Studios could have saved a bunch of money if they’d come to my house first—I would have paid them to empty out my house. Wait, what was I thinking? I just bought back some of that stuff!
What you won’t find at the sale is a rare 1993 KAKM white coffee mug. That’s because I got it first, along with two small propane bottles (full), a black lacquered tray, a table cloth with the Alaska flag song printed in the corner, a pair of plastic sawhorses, a large lazy-susan (to use at the polling place where I work each election), an axe handle (yes, just the handle to a repair tool for a volunteer group I worth with), waste can liners, paint drop cloths, some of the items listed above like the doilies and a large Alaska flag.
I’m not getting paid to write this, so why should I care if the stuff gets sold? Because like my relatives, I don’t like to see things go to waste and end up in the land fill. Of particular concern are the metal desks and other metal objects. I fear they will not find a new home and there is no one available to take these leftovers to Alaska Metal Recycling (on King St) where they will earn the bearer a few dollars or will be accepted as a donation. I’m told that whatever doesn’t sell will go into the large dumpster at the warehouse. Do I hear someone offering to help?
The garage sale hours are truly set for the serious garage saler—7am to 4 pm—this week only. But I bet if you happen by later than 4 and see light streaming from under the door, someone may let you in. The address is 1801 W 47th Ave (corner of Harding and 47th).
I’ve been here since ’65 & somehow missed the story on why we don’t have a “J” Street… Damn turnip truck anyway…
If you find a phone that needs no electricity to run they are good for when the power goes out.
I love this! does anyone know what forms of payment they accept?
Just send the check to me! 🙂
Oh man, I wish I were in Anch. for this. I did buy up some cool stuff from the garage sale after “Limbo” was done being filmed here. I even have the halibut jacket worn by the main character, complete with the wardrobe tag still on it!
Yes—I am one of those that lived thru the great depression, and my poor family will have a hay-day getting rid of a lot of stuff when husband and I are no longer among the living.
One item they may fight over—–the solid maple butcher block from my grandfather’s grocery–purchased in 1904. Also an old “ice-box” that people use to store their “spirits”.
Maybe they can open up a museum?
I had to laugh – I took a bunch of stuff years ago to Value Village or whatever including a few large spice jars – then some time later, I got a Xmas present – you guessed it – “we got some more of these green jars to go with the ones you have!”
I did say thank you.
The jars did go back to the thrift store.
PS I am a hoarder… if it’s hard to take it in once, it’s harder the second time.
The J street mystery? It is rumored that it was skipped because city fathers thought the Scandinavians, of whom there were many at that time, would not be able to pronounce it.
Check the snopes link, it refers more to handwriting styles.
This is about Anchorage street names that took place in 1915.
D.C. apparently has another set of much older issues with J and I
I’m sorry, but parts of this made me laugh out loud. If I wasn’t so far away, I’d take a second look. 😉 Hope you are able to avert much of this away from the large dumpster.
On the lack of “J” street in WDC: http://www.snopes.com/history/american/jstreet.asp
I can send you some stuff out of my house Otter, if it will make you feel better!
It’s not the stuff, it’s the thrill of the hunt. That once-in-a-lifetime find for a fraction of it’s normal cost.
Upon reflection, it’s just as well I can’t get to the sale. I am, once again, putting boxes of “free stuff” in front of my house this weekend. How did I get all this stuff?
But in in California! This is torture! Why do you hate otters?
“I’m” in California. See how upset I am?