What, if anything, do you collect? Nostalgia can be a big factor. Some people like iconic designs like the above display at Design Archives, a consignment shop for handmade and vintage items, located in the 300 block of South Elm Street. The store attracts quite a crowd, especially  on weekends when people come downtown to eat and spend time with friends. When we were in Design Archives recently a young couple (perhaps early 30s) was perusing the booths and stopped to look at the above items. One commented that his grandmother had a phone just like the red one. And the conversation continued about other items they’d seen in their childhood. 

Meanwhile, there were other young shoppers trying on vintage clothing, looking for sweatshirts with just the right slogan, and perusing vintage record albums. Even if you don’t collect anything, vintage stores are a way of connecting with the past and helping us realize just how much society has changed. The younger generations cannot fathom a time when conversations were tethered by a phone cord. Displays like the one above are such great conversation starters. If you had to write a short story based on the things you see in the above photo, imagine the possibilities. Other spots that evoke other times are Elsewhere Museum in the 600 block of South Elm Street, and Reconsidered Goods, located on Spring Garden Street behind the Food Lion on Market Street. We hope you had a good weekend, with some time set aside to nurture your creativity.

Happy Monday!