DAYTRIP:
Providence’s East Side & West End
Crisscross the Creative Capital for vintage duds; you’ll never look better.
FROM LEFT:
Nostalgia has a
collection of vintage
clothing, jewelry and
accessories. For funky
clothing and cool
sunglasses, visit
Rocket to Mars.
10 a.m. Fuel up in Fox Point at the Coffee Exchange, the neigh- 2 p.m. Hop in the car and head over Point Street to the West
borhood’s longest-running coffee shop with fresh-roasted beans
and Knead doughnuts up for grabs. 207 Wickenden St., Provi-
dence, 273-1198, thecoffeeexchange.com End, where you should stop for a smoothie or some vegan noshes
at the Grange (designed by Rhody vintage icon, Kyla Coburn;
read all about her on page 52). 166 Broadway, Providence,
831-0600, providencegrange.com
11 a.m. Head a couple of doors down on Wickenden to NAVA,
a funky little boutique with a sizeable stash of vintage clothing,
including denim (in sizes that fit!) and flirty dresses. Don’t forget
to look down; the vibrant vintage rugs are for sale, too. 197 Wick-
enden St., Providence, shopnava.com
Noon: Cross Wickenden and head to Nostalgia Antiques and
Collectibles to browse a fun collection of vintage costume
jewelry. Upstairs, poke through dealer stalls for more funky
accessories, handbags and clothing through the decades. Furs,
denim and menswear are also at the ready — formalwear, too.
236 Wickenden St., Providence, nostalgiaprovidence.com
1 p.m. Stroll around the corner to Togs on Brook, which seems
like a traditional “pre-vintage” consignment shop at first. But
don’t be fooled: The side room conveys the shop owner’s
innermost aesthetic with midcentury duds in punchy colors
and prints, including a mustard yellow silk blouse from the 1970s
that caught my eye and my wallet. 17 Brook St., Providence,
274-1200
3 p.m. Backtrack a bit on Broadway to raid the denim at Rocket
to Mars. Most pieces — including a once-in-a-lifetime pair of
jeans with leather and embroidery detailing — aren’t labeled by
size, so try Ruth Meeter’s neck trick (page 53). Cool scarves and
retro glasses also catch the eye here, in addition to covetable knick-
knacks and housewares up for sale. 144 Broadway, Providence
3:30 p.m. Cross the street to Halls on Broadway, less-curated
than its neighbor but just as chockfull of treasures. Those with
tiny hands are in luck; Halls’ stock of dainty vintage gloves is
truly impressive, as is its coat collection. That real camel wool
coat with cuff sleeves and sweet sunburst stitching for $45? Yep,
mine now. 145 Broadway, Providence, 272-0000
4:30 p.m. Hop back in the car and head down Broadway to White
Buffalo for a nice selection of wearable vintage clothing for
men and women. The shop is also stocked with new items,
including made-in-shop essential oil rollers and soy candles.
267 Broadway, Providence –C.N.
For thrifty deals for a good cause,
visit the Woonsocket Cat Sanctuary’s seasonal indoor yard sale on Saturday and Sunday
mornings from April until December. All proceeds support the no-kill cat shelter.
266 Mendon Rd., Woonsocket, woonsocketcatsanctuary.weebly.com.
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