There are chaotic days. There are boring days.

And then, there are road trip days! So, when the promise of hours spent riffling through antiques in Atlanta, Georgia was waved beneath my nose like a tasty morsel, I took the bait, completely!

At forty-eight I still don’t know my way around the city.  It is one thing to set out on foot around town with a general idea of where you’re heading; it is entirely another to navigate around Georgia’s capital city, dodging idiots and taking back-roads to avoid road construction.  Needless to say, I laud the finesse of my driver.  Not only was it hot as hell in Atlanta this fine July day, the traffic was unbelievable.

I think for me the love of rummaging through old things began as a child.  Clearly I remember slinking away to my GrandMosie’s back bedroom to pull out her collection of Sarah Coventry jewelry.  It was the same in her closets –and thus began my love of vintage clothing.  She didn’t do away with anything.  My cousins and I tried on her dresses from the 30’s and 40’s and fought over her pointy crocodile pumps.  Another layer was added to my obsession when I began attending antique auctions with my parents.  Here, I fell hard for furniture.  A summer or so later, my sister, Suzanne introduced me to a salvage store in Cullman, Alabama –Southern Accents Architectural Antiques.  Forever since, I’ve been owned by this infatuation with all things rusted, antiquated, collected! Today’s destination promised to feed these passions, well.

Without scratch dent or even a bump, we arrived intact at Scott Antique Markets.  Mind the (s) in markets, as there are two!  The antique show is held the second weekend of each month.  Admission is $5 and tickets are good for the entire weekend.  I admit I cheated and checked out the website prior to our trip.  It boasts that it is the “World’s Largest Monthly Indoor Antique Show”, with over 3,500 booths filled with antiques and collectibles.  I couldn’t wait to wander around and get thoroughly lost!

The North Building is located at 3650 Jonesboro Rd; 3850 Jonesboro Rd, Atlanta, Georgia is the address of the South Building.

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*A few things that caught my eye~

Silver spoons, German.  My mother would have a fit for these…

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French posters and other poster art are a strange love.  I just can’t get enough of them!

A gorgeous disc music box marked, The Detmer Music House.  The sound was incredibly clear.

An entire section of nothing but stained-glass windows that made me want to purchase an old home to renovate.

WWII memorabilia –

Buy War Bonds, plant a Victory Garden, A Gallant Leader.  So many posters, pins, photos…

More of the same in Civil War memorabilia.  I would never get my Papa out of this booth.

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And…flags galore!

A rare 13 Star Centennial Era Flag, Circa 1875-1890 “Symbolic of the star arrangement used on our 1^st flag with 13 stars and 13 stripes.  Ordered by George Washington; made and designed by Francis Hopkinson a signer of The Declaration of Independence.”

“Bunting used in decorations during the last Confederate Reunion in

Birmingham, Alabama. – Mary J. Lanier”

And antique fishing lures! Literally there is something for everyone.  You could come with twenty people, head in different directions upon entering and never cross paths.

These gorgeous demijohns made into lamps were incredible, so large and rich in color. Italians know it is a sin to store wine in anything other than glass.  In Italy, demijohns are passed down from family to family; and they still fill them annually with their favorite local wines.

Tradition …

I can’t believe I didn’t get a  photo of the chandelier I fell hard for.The only negative thing about being a window shopper is not purchasing.  I always recognize what I should’ve bought by the time I return home.

The etched water glasses and a seascape painting with a rough, hewn wooden frame were sure purchases.

Could’a, Should’a, Didn’t…

…Until we arrived at 1811 Piedmont Ave!

And then, one addiction was followed by yet another!  I’d known in advance that we were going rummaging through piles of antiques in conditioned air.  A late lunch at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack, however, was a sweet surprise!

We arrived to find the line had not yet snaked its way around the building -or if it had, we’d luckily missed it!

Opening the door, we were immediately met by cold air and the lingering, seductive smells of Southern food; above the hum and drone of those feasting, Sam Cooke crooned.

“I was born by the river in a little tent/ Oh just like the river I’ve been running ev’r since/ It’s been a long time, long time coming…”       

I felt I had truly died and gone to heaven.  

The ribs were indescribably good.  We ordered ½ a slab –it and the sides combined were more than I could handle.  The meat fell from the bone and I don’t even think I touched the extra sauce they sent out!

And, the potato salad…I’d drive the two hours from Oxford, Alabama for it alone. We also ordered the Rum Baked Beans –they were divine as well.

...take a little of the potato salad on your fork, a little of the beans as well…

Talk about being bewitched~

I looked long and hard at the mac n cheese -the South’s favorite vegetable.  I also cast a wanting eye toward the collard greens; Lord knows I longed for them both.

But does this not make a second visit in the very near future necessary?!

Perhaps next time I’ll brave an evening visit for the live Blues!

*Due to severe cravings and BBQ withdrawals, this is a very delayed post. Please forgive! All I know is that I craved those ribs for two days after the fact and found it impossible to write about them; every time I made the attempt, I had to stop and find something lackluster to eat from the kitchen.

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ELIZABETH MOZLEY

@ElizabethMozley  &  @CentipedeYAread

And on Facebook – We Share the Same Sky, author Elizabeth Mozley

We Share the Same Sky, a memoir

https://www.amazon.com/Elizabeth-Mozley/e/B00J7KJWIU