Wendell: The Great Woodhaven Yard Sale

The Great Woodhaven Yard Sale returns on Saturday June 11th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain date Sunday, June 12th, same times). Sponsored by the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association, the community-wide yard sale usually sees 40 to 50 participating households.

If you’d like to be one of those households, you can register for free by emailing the WRBA at [email protected] or calling and leaving a message at 718-296-3735.

For those of you not familiar with the Great Woodhaven Yard Sale, here’s how it works: instead of scattered households all over the neighborhood holding their yard sales by themselves on different dates, a large organized group holds their yard sales collectively, on the same exact day.

The Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association advertises the yard sale far and wide, and distributes maps of Woodhaven with little flags indicating all of the yard sale locations. And for those who are interested in taking it to another level, they encourage members advertise some of the items they plan to be selling on the WRBA’s Facebook page.

The maps encourage people to come to Woodhaven because they know that there are going to be plenty of yard sales to check out. In previous years, we received reports of people coming from New Jersey and Connecticut to browse the goods put up for sale by residents. In one case we had a person come from Maspeth by bus, bring all the stuff he bought home, and come back on the bus to check out other houses.

Another advantage of the Great Woodhaven Yard Sale is that you don’t have to walk around town, illegally putting up flyers advertising your individual sale. The Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association will advertise your sale for you by including it on their map and distributing it to many interested parties.

One year, my wife and I visited about 3 dozen different yard sales and found some great stuff. We looked for clusters of flags on the map, indicating concentrated areas where we could hit 5 or 6 houses on the same block. We heard the same thing from other shoppers, so if you want to boost your potential for sales, try to create your own cluster by asking your neighbors to join.

And it’s always interesting to see some of the old gems that people have stored away for years, taking up space in their basement. If you’re a frequent watcher of shows like Antiques Roadshow you know that people don’t always know the value of their own belongings. It could be that the $5 item you just purchased is worth hundreds of dollars or more!

Now that you’re sold on the idea, let’s repeat how you can become part of the Great Woodhaven Yard Sale (Saturday, 6/11; rain date the next day). You can register by sending an email to [email protected] or by calling and leaving a message at 718-296-3735.

There is no fee for registering, but you are required to give the WRBA your name and phone number (in case they need to reach you) and the address where you will be hosting your yard sale (must be in 11421). Here is an important point: they will put a flag on the map indicating your location, but they do not put your address or any other information on the map.

Now, even if you’re not planning on being a participating household we hope that you’ll help advertise this event by word of mouth. Tell your neighbors, tell your family. And tell your friends in Richmond Hill and Glendale and Ozone Park and beyond to come to Woodhaven for the biggest yard sale of 2022.

Ruhling: The Woman in Retro

From the color-coordinated racks of clothing, Lisa Ferrari-Sullivan pulls out a 1940s sundress and holds it up to the light streaming through the front windows of her new shop, Pimbeche Vintage.

She points out its flamboyant green-rose floral print, its contrasting yellow piping, its perky front bow and its metal zipper.

Although the dress is at least 80 years old, it looks as gorgeous as it did the day it was made.

For Lisa, who is wearing a kaleidoscopically colorful 1980s Guy Laroche cotton top and 1980s Gitano jeans, retro fashion is much more than mere window dressing.

It is, she says, a really good way to recycle and repurpose, which she has been doing her entire life.

Lisa, model tall with long black hair that she tames by tying it back in a ponytail, was born and raised in Wallingford, Connecticut, which she calls a “lovely little suburban town that I always wanted to get out of when I was young but that I now am nostalgic about.”

She gets her own sense of style from her mother, who she says is “extremely fashionable.”

Lisa adds that her mother was in her early 20s – nearly three decades younger than Lisa’s father, a World War II combat veteran and first-generation Italian-American she met while he was working for the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic.

“She was always well dressed but on a shoestring budget,” Lisa says. “She was Latinx, she was exotic, and she was the talk of the town. I was in awe of her. She didn’t look like the other Connecticut moms.”

As a youngster, Lisa borrowed her mother’s clothes to play dress up and came to love vintage clothing, which she subsequently began collecting.

At first, she frequented thrift shops then switched to estate sales and online auctions.

“I love 1970s clothes,” says Lisa, who was born at the beginning of that fashion-forward era. “They are carefree and bohemian – it was anything goes. People used clothing to express themselves.”

When it was time for college, Lisa didn’t major in fashion – she has a degree in business management from Southern Connecticut State University – but she knew she wanted to make her career in New York City.

“I had a friend who had a job here,” she says, explaining what prompted her to move. “My first job, in 1998, was as a receptionist at Thierry Mugler.”

Lisa climbed the fashion industry ladder, eventually becoming a national sales director for a succession of major fashion houses.

Around the turn of the century, she got married, moved to the Astoria area and had two daughters, who are now 14 and 11 and sometimes help her out at Pimbeche Vintage.

“After my first daughter was born, the showroom I was working at closed down,” she says. “I wanted to stay home, but I didn’t want to stop working —  I had been working since I was 16. My side hustle was selling vintage clothes.”

She started selling online and about eight years ago began setting up at the Brooklyn Flea in Dumbo and Chelsea.

“I originally did it with my mother, but she had to drop out to take care of my father,” Lisa says. “I used the money I made through the years from the flea markets to fund Pimbeche Vintage.”

Pimbeche, which, by the way, is French for “snobby girl,” carries women’s fashions, including jewelry, shoes and handbags, from the 1940s to the early 2000s.

“I love selling pretty things,” Lisa says as she puts the sundress back on the rack. “But I also want to help the environment. I have a strong passion for sustainability.”

Pimbeche Vintage is still a work in progress.

Lisa, who wears vintage when she’s in the shop, is working on a website and soon will add live online sales.

As she’s talking about her plans, a customer walks in.

After searching through the racks, she selects a prettily patterned cotton dress and heads back to the dressing room to try it on.

Lisa smiles.

“The Astoria community has been amazing,” she says. “People come in to browse, to buy and to talk. I’m grateful that they want to support small businesses like mine.”

Nancy A. Ruhling may be reached at [email protected];  @nancyruhling; nruhling on Instagram, nancyruhling.com,  astoriacharacters.com.

JOHN HILDERBRANDT

John Hilderbrandt passed away on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at the age of 49. Beloved Brother of Robin (Roger) Van Aken, Cheryl (Anthony) Martinkat, Steven Hilderbrandt and the late Denise Hilderbrandt.  Loving Uncle of Kristen, Lauren, Gabby and Nicole. In Lieu of Flowers, memorial donations may be made to: American Diabetes Association.  Funeral Service held at Papavero Funeral Home on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 from 3-8 PM. Private Cremation followed at Fresh Pond Crematory, Middle Village, NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Avenue, Maspeth NY 11378.

GREGORIO LORINO

Gregorio Lorino passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at the age of 92. Beloved Husband of the late Vera Lorino. Loving Father of Maria Karaduzovic. Cherished Grandfather of Ismael, Gregorio, Sokol and Michael and Great-Grandfather of Gregorio, Gianna and Aria. Mass of Christian Burial offered at St. Margaret’s Church on Monday, May 16, 2022 9:45 AM. Interment followed at Linden Hill Cemetery, Ridgewood NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Avenue, Maspeth, NY 11378.

MARY T. SAVINO

Mary T. Savino passed away on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at the age of 99. Beloved Wife of the late David Savino. Loving Sister of Catherine Belloni and Daniel Ferriso. Dear sister-in-law of Joan Ferriso. Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and friends. Mass of Christian Burial offered at St. Bartholomew Church on Monday, May 16, 2022 at 9:30 AM. Interment followed at Calvary Cemetery, Woodside NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Avenue, Maspeth NY 11378.

IDA CORSINI

Ida Corsini passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at the age of 98. Beloved Wife of the late Gerard Corsini. Loving Mother of Gerard Corsini, Edward Corsini & Joseph Corsini, mother-in-law of Rita, Josephine & Pat. Cherished Grandmother of Gerard, Christina, Nicholas, Rachel, Duanne and Dayna and Great Grandmother of Gerard, Diana, Jonathan, Timothy, Nicholas and Anthony. In Lieu of Flowers, memorial donations may be made to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Mass of Christian Burial offered at Transfiguration Church on Saturday, May 14, 2022 9:30 AM. Private Cremation followed at Fresh Pond Crematory, Middle Village, NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Avenue, Maspeth NY 11378.

EDWIN E. SILVERIO

Edwin E. Silverio passed away on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at the age of 30. Beloved Son of Ines and Emilio.  Loving Brother of John, Joanne, Julie, Dennis, Evelyn, Luis, Soribel and Jordy. Also survived by many loving aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Religious Service offered at Papavero Funeral Home on Monday, May 16, 2022 at 8PM. Funeral Services held at Papavero Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 10:30 AM Interment followed at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Maspeth NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Avenue, Maspeth, NY 11378.

HELEN CAIAFA

Helen Caiafa passed away on Monday, May 9, 2022 at the age of 92. Beloved Wife of the late Cono A. Caiafa. Loving Mother of Louis Caiafa and Nancy Riggio, mother-in-law of Annemarie and Julio. Cherished Grandmother of Ashley, Nicole, Brittany and Amanda and Great-Grandmother of Declan. Dear Sister of Frank Catapano. Mass of Christian Burial offered at St. Mary’s Church on Saturday, May 14, 2022 9:00 AM. Interment followed at Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, NY under the direction of Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27 Grand Avenue, Maspeth NY 11378.

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