Editor's Pick: It's Thymes time

By John Ewoldt, Star Tribune

Last update: October 3, 2007 - 5:04 PM

It's Thymes time

The wait is over. The Thymes warehouse sale starts today and continues through Saturday. Shoppers love the deep discounts and the sophisticated scents, including body washes, lotions, hair care, soaps, candles, refresher oils, home fragrance, gift sets and travel kits. The locally owned company offers discounts of 50 to 75 percent. Items are marked from $1 to $10. Last year, soaps ($2) and gift sets ($10) were snapped up on the first day. Most items are overstocks, discontinued or scratch-and-dent merchandise. If you want to avoid the inevitable long checkout lines, orders can be picked up later. The sale is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 2000 NE. Summer St., Minneapolis, 612-338-4471, www.thymes.com. Cash, checks and credit cards are accepted.

Her Upscale Sale

Anna Shelander and the 15 other sellers who are part of MyUpscaleSale.com have the right idea -- hold a traditional garage sale but sell only the cream of the crop. Best of all, have a website with photos of many of the items to make the sale a perfect hybrid of technology and tradition. Items not pictured are still listed, so shoppers clearly know what to expect. The sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Piccadilly (70 Mahtomedi Road, Mahtomedi, 651-334-8258).

Architectural Antiques semiannual sale

Prices fall by 25 to 80 percent storewide during Architectural Antiques' fall sale (1330 NE. Quincy St., Minneapolis, 612-332-8344) Friday through Sunday. Few shops in the Midwest can rival AA's selection of vintage lighting, stained and leaded glass, mantels and built-ins, as well as wrought iron, urns, fountains and stone, mostly from 1870 to 1940. Stop by after 6:30 p.m. Friday for free snacks and drinks and a Parisian cafe band, the Twin Cities Hot Club.

More Trader Joe's to go around

At 9 a.m. Friday, Trader Joe's opens its third Twin Cities area location (at 8960 Hudson Road, Woodbury, 651-735-0269). Free samples, stickers and balloons for kids will be offered. Minnetonka might be the next spot where TJ's will drop anchor, according to the rumor mill.

John Ewoldt • 612-673-7633 or jewoldt@startribune.com. His articles are online at www.startribune.com/dollars.

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