We have passed the Marathon Motor Works building many times - you can see it from I-40 - and I've always wanted to visit. It was just one of those cool old brick buildings that looked like it would be interesting to see closer up. This past weekend I had my chance. It sat vacant for years, after being bought in 1986 by a developer with a vision. Now it's a unique space for offices, studios, galleries, a jewelry store, even a coffee company. It's also home to the American Picker's newest store, Antique Archaeology. As a fan of the show, we had to go. The store was fantastic. Everything was essentially out of my price range, but they did sell things like mouse pads, mugs, stickers and t-shirts for those of us who don't have several hundred (or thousands) of dollars to drop on a dirty old piece of awesome furniture found in someone's barn in North Carolina. But I loved so many pieces I saw. And I loved the space they were in. I want to live in a place like this! This little girl on the left was standing with one of Elvis' microphones, pretending to sing. She had wavy black hair with a large yellow flower pinned above her right ear. Her face, the hair and her pose made me think she looked like a young Billie Holliday. The store had so much to look at, but there were so many people it was really hard to concentrate on each and every piece. I think visiting just after the doors open, on a weekday would be the best time. I am definitely going back. You never know when Mike or Frank or Danielle might walk in. Or someone even more famous! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 2012: Monday Is A Smash Hit 2011: Home At Last 2010: Wake Up In The Morning, Put Your Hand On Something Useful, And Take Care Of Yourself And Your Family* 2009: Copter 2008: Atchafalaya Whaaaaat?? 2007: There’s A Skirt On The Door For A Reason 2006: South Of The Beijing Border 2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!