October at Experienced Goods
By Jennie Reichman
September and October are sneaky months. All through June, July, and August, I luxuriate in a kind of summery amnesia, gardening, grilling, sewing floaty dresses, sometimes complaining about the heat but grateful for the vibrancy and beauty of a Vermont summer. In July, winter is just a rumor. But September hits and the leaves are turning in earnest, school is back in session, and I start to think about when to put the snow tires on my car. This year the prospect of cold weather is both exciting and a bit fraught: I am in the process of investing in a new woodstove (thank you, Friends of the Sun!), which will necessitate a learning curve but will result in delicious, efficient heat. Could I have started this process in June? Yes! Did it even cross my mind? Nope, I let October creep up on me instead.
At least September eased me into autumn with one of my favorite annual events. I am a member of the committee that plans and puts on the Marlboro Community Fair, and since March we have met monthly to organize and create this wonderful celebration of our town. I have been a part of this for 9 years now, and every year it takes me by surprise when suddenly the fair is only 2 weeks away. On Fair day, all of our planning pays off, the whole thing comes together, everyone has a great time and then in 6 hours it's over. Tents are dismantled, the portable stage is closed up tight and moved back into the woods where it lives all winter, tables and chairs are folded and stacked, parking stakes and tape pulled up. We all breathe a sigh of relief mixed with a little sadness that another fair has come and gone. For all of our planning and organizing, the true heart of the fair is the community itself and how people step up on the days before the fair to volunteer in so many ways. The fair would not exist without this community support and enthusiasm. When we celebrate together, we remember that we can depend on each other and that we are connected.
One such annual celebration in this region is the Brattleboro Literary Festival. Experienced Goods (EG) has become a part of this amazing gathering of literary voices through the creative genius of Kate Trzaskos, executive director of the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance and a weekly volunteer at EG. Kate loves fashion and has an excellent sense of style; she dreamed up the concept of a fashion show in which the models wear outfits that reflect the colors and designs of the covers of some of the books featured in the festival. Models walk the runway in their snappy togs, holding the book they are representing. In the months leading up to the festival, Kate can be seen combing the racks for a great dress, the perfect vest or accessories that pull the whole look together. It's been fun helping her on her quest, manifesting the clothes that will convey the magic of a great book. The show is called Books To Looks and is happening on Friday, October 17, at 118 Elliot at 6:45 pm.
Halloween is fast approaching, and costume shopping has reached a fever pitch at EG. So far my favorite has been the young man planning to dress up as Edward Scissorhands because he just saw the movie for the first time. I do hope he stops by the store and shows us the finished look! That goes for anyone in costume; we’d love to see what you’ve created, especially if the components came from Experienced Goods! If costumes aren’t your thing, we have lots of cozy fall clothes on the racks, and remember (dare I say it?) that the holidays are not far off. Shop early, shop often, get a jump on that gift buying now so that come December you can sit back and roast your chestnuts. In the meantime, savor this glorious New England autumn and enjoy spooky season! ~ Jennie Reichman