The Cat Vintage had our Alameda Point Antiques Faire debut this past Sunday, August 6th. It was so much fun! The Cat set up a mini version of the store at the faire. The event opens at 6 am for early bird vintage shoppers. Please disregard our less than enthusiastic smiles, we are thrilled in this photo! Just very sleepy.
The Alameda Point Antiques Faire
The Alameda Point Antiques Faire is an enormous collection of over 800 vendors. All of this is packed into a one day antique and vintage extravaganza. The event takes place on the first Sunday of every month at 3900 Main St. in Alameda. Alameda Point Antiques Faire starts at 6am for early bird shoppers to look for the creme of the crop in vintage and antique offerings. Trust us, if you are looking for the best antiques and vintage Northern California has to offer you won't want to miss this monthly event. The faire is mostly a cash only event, due to the fact that there is almost no cell phone signal. There are ATM's on the sides of the aisles in case you find something you cannot leave without!
The Cat Vintage at The Alameda Point Antiques Faire
We set up a mini storefront of The Cat Vintage at the Alameda Point Antiques Faire and the response was amazing! A few shoppers even let us know they had heard about The Cat's storefront before. The set up included lots of "groovy" retro 1970s mushroom decor, vintage ashtrays, odd kitschy art, and a selection of Barbie-inspired vintage clothing. Shoppers snagged a ton of great small items that they shared sweet stories about what caught their eye about the different pieces they took home. The Cat had a great time ourselves! We love to scour the faire for any amazing cats we can add to our cat museum collection.
10 things to know about shopping at The Alameda Point Antiques Faire
The Alameda Point Antiques Faire can feel a little overwhelming in the best way if you haven't been before. You will enjoy the faire the most if you are prepared. Here are 10 things we wish we had known at our first Alameda Antique Faire.
- Bring cash
- The faire does not have good reception, so vendors cannot bring credit card machines and Venmo may or may not work. Most vendors only take cash. There are ATM's on the perimeter
- Bring water
- You will do a lot of walking, probably in the sun, so stay hydrated!
- Bring a rolling cart to carry your items
- You will enjoy your time shopping if you aren't carrying all your finds on your shoulder. Plus - some of the best things are too big to carry!
- Wear sunscreen and a hat
- Most of the faire is in 100% sun all day. Protect your skin!
- Haggle, but not too much
- Most vendors are open to a bit of haggling. However, don't over do it. These people start setting up their booths at 4am and work hard to bring all their goods to the faire. Don't be surprised if the vendor doesn't budge either.
- Your phone will not work
- If you are with a group of people make a meet up plan. Most cell phones will not really work at the faire.
- Sellers know the value of their products
- Your phone will not work, so don't bother trying to find an Ebay comp on an item at the faire. Most of the vendors are very experienced and know the value and market for their item already.
- If see an item you think you want, remember the stall number
- See something you want to think a little more on? Look at the ground and take note of the booth number. The booth are labeled in easy alphabetical and numerical locations at the faire. This way when you decide you must have it, and want to run back you can get there fast!
- Don't sleep on stuff - it will get bought up quickly!
- Don't hesitate too long on whether or not you want to buy something. Antiques are not easy to come by. We see people think too long only to get disappointed when they find out the item just sold to someone else.
- Come with an open mind - you never know what you'll find!
- The Alameda Pointe Antiques Faire is filled with thousands of unique and amazing antiques. Enjoy just browsing for fun, and if you are looking for a specific type of item it is sure to be there...somewhere.
Photos from the Alameda Point Antique Faire Shot on a Sony Cybershot
We love our retro Sony Cybershot cameras. These cameras add such a nice glow to everything, especially with the haze of a hot summer day at the antique fair. Plus, they're fun to just point and shoot. There is a lot to be said about about these early 2000's relics. Jessie took her original Sony Cybershot around the antique faire and took some quick picture while on the hunt for more vintage cats. Enjoy these photos and visit The Cat Vintage at the next Alameda Point Antique Faire!
