I first posted about Penny For Your Thoughts on June 1st of 2008, when the City Daily Photo bloggers' theme day was favorite local shop. I adore this store; there's no other place like it.Originally, the shop was run by two sisters. Now one has withdrawn and the other, Millie Wheatley, is the main operator. The store is loaded with eclectic vintage funk and locally-made products: beautiful and trendy hand-made clothes, gorgeous seashell mirrors, and imaginative jewelry by Zoe Kanemitsu, who was running things when I was there yesterday. I was happy to hear from Zoe that PFYT was busy last Christmas, when so many retail stores had their worst season in history. That's got to be due in part to the unusual stock and good prices, as well as the delightful people who run the place. It all makes for good atmosphere.
Making the place more unique than just the stuff, at Penny For Your Thoughts you can take a break from browsing and sit down to have a sandwich, a coffee or a locally-baked cookie, right in the middle of the store. The cookies are baked by Karen Hirsch of Apron Strings. I'm a big Karen fan; she walks her dog Gracie out at Hahamongna and she's fab. She also makes the adorable aprons they sell at PFYT. (Is there anything this woman can't do? Apparently not. She's going to be teaching a bread baking workshop at Penny For Your Thoughts on April 18th from noon to 3:30. You can either get over to the store and sign up now or wait until I post about it, but class size is limited so ya takes yer chances.)
I wasn't shopping yesterday, so I sipped a cup of coffee and sat in a comfy chair while reading my book. The music was quiet and the vibe was calm, oh yeah. Oh! Oh yeah! Hey! Next time I'll set up my laptop and work on a writing project, so I can properly report back as part of the Coffee Shop Quest!
I can already tell you PFYT is going to be the one to beat.
18 comments:
Very nice photo and earrings! Looks like it is a treasure trove.
It does sound like a wonderful place. I have some friends who'd go ga-ga over those pretty earrings.
Oh, I love shops like this ~ where you can potter around and find gorgeous things you don't see anywhere else. And coffee as well? I'd be there, too, Petrea!
"Treasure trove" is a good phrase for it, Cieldequimper. A little bit of everything.
Hilda, I like the earrings too, and now that I look at the photo I'm going a bit gaga over the picture in the background.
That's it, Shell, gorgeous things you don't see anywhere else. I sound like an ad! But if I can turn a couple of friends onto the place I know I've made people happy.
I'm heading out for coffee now, and it's too bad I'm too far from PFYT because I think I'd not only have a delightful coffee and snack, but would walk away with at least a few pairs of those pretty earrings and who knows what else! Fabulous looking place and I'm glad they're doing well in these tough times.
Hm. I'd choose the pair on the far end of the bottom row, teardrop glass with encircled clasps. Fun post, P. So you're signed up for breadmaking? Cool!
They have free WiFe, right? How many do they seat?
It's just too bad they're on the outskirts of the city and aren't centrally located in Pasadena.
I haven't worn dangly earrings in a long time because my hair is short, but these are tempting. Maybe the milky ones, third from left on top.
I'm not signed up for the class but I hope to pre-post about it with a picture of Karen's bread or oven or kitchen or something. We'll see!
They had free WiFi last I checked, but a WiFe is never free. And Mike, they're at 1365 N. Hill Ave, which is right about the middle of town. It's a great area, with a lot of cool shops including Motif, Cook Books, and Mitchell Books, a fab mystery bookstore at 1395 E. Washington.
Pfyt is closer even to the Non-City of AltaDena than Colorado Bl.
PS: I was just testing to see if you read every word! I agree with you, P, a Wife comes with a price.
Keep up your coffeehouse exploration, and thank you for your thoughts.
Pasadena has many centers, Cafe. Colorado Blvd. may be the center of town for you, but it's not the center for everyone.
I'll just observe that wives who are loved and respected rightfully command the center of a man's heart. Singling one sex out for jokes tells me you have yet to learn this, Cafe Observer. I wish you success in your lessons.
Other than that little interlude, this blog ROCKS!! Great photos, too.
I don't take myself as seriously as you do anonymous. I can laugh at myself, and each other! Female & male jokes have been a classic subject of humor. You read too much into comments.
No one is sacred enuf to be free of being the butt of a joke - even The Sacred.
Some don't even respect, or respond to, anonymous writers. Nevertheless, I still choose to show enuf respect to someone who hides behind anonymity & a computer from who knows where on this globe.
I've spent enuf time trying to understand the unknown. Gotta ck what's left in my dog bowl.
Oh, how have i missed this place?!
Thank you for all the great comments!! Please come by and visit us even if we're not centrally located. If you mention you saw us on Pasadena Daily Photo get a free delicious cookie by Karen.
Millie Wheatley
Hey Petrea, guess what..your ol friend Julie Pop is the one who makes all the seashell stuff and brought in alot of the fab vintage in the recent changeover of the store.. just thought you might want to give some props there, great to see and hear from you!
Hi Millie, hi Julie!
This is too, too cool. When Zoe told me an actress made the seashell stuff I thought, yeah, well, an actress is taking these photos, but I don't know everybody, so why ask her name? Zoe and I love your seashell stuff, Julie.
Millie, I'll call you regarding making an announcement about your cookie offer. I don't know how many people are still subscribed to this post to see your comment. Folks really need to try Karen's cookies. It's important.
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