Long ago, we used to spend our weekends antiquing, but as the house filled up and my daughter arrived, this pastime fell by the wayside. I still love to look at old things, but the Shoreline isn’t rife with antique shops the way it was when I moved here in 1999 (wow!). Now that I’m an empty nester, I crave that frisson of discovery; something with history and patina that you’ll never find at Crate and Barrel or West Elm. One of my top stops is Old Beautiful (what a great name!) in Clinton. The owner, David Perrelli, has a rigorous eye and aesthetic and displays artful collections of flint glass, earthenware jugs, ironstone, shaker baskets, samplers, and so many more exciting finds. It’s an apt jaunt pre-Thanksgiving for glass compotes, gravy boats, terrines, and odd bits of silver. (I’m a girl who loves a compote, and I’m not quite sure why, but I’ve amassed a bit of a collection). The prices are reasonable, and if you spy that 19th-century flip-top card table, please take a pass. I’m thinking on it! https://www.oldbeautifulantiques.com Monday and Tuesday – By chance or appointment Wednesday through Sunday – 11:00 – 5:00 Good idea to call ahead: 860-664-0018 109 East Main Street, Clinton
