Close to Home: Fall entertaining ideas, Junk Bonanza and more

Planning to throw a party? Bachman's will host a "Fall Entertaining Ideas and Inspiration" event on Wednesday evening at its flagship Lyndale Avenue store.

The event includes a self-guided tour of the Bachman's Fall Ideas house, a decorator show house featuring seasonally inspired home decor, as well as food and wine samples at inspiration centers located throughout the store. The inspiration centers will include: a fall gourmet recipe station, fall arrangements and centerpieces, tabletop options, miniature gardening, fall containers, and home entry decor.

The event will be held 5-8 p.m. Wednesday at Bachman's on Lyndale, 6010 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls. The cost is $10, which includes a coupon good for $5 off any purchase of $25 or more.

To reserve a spot, visit www.bachmansfallinspirationevent.eventbrite.com or call 612-861-7311.

If you're thinking about remodeling, there are a lot of real-life projects to check out next weekend. In addition to the Parade of Homes Remodelers Showcase, sponsored by the Builders Association of the Twin Cities, one local firm, Castle Building & Remodeling, is breaking away and planning its own tour.

The tour will feature 24 remodeled homes, most in Minneapolis and St. Paul, with a focus on "everyday" makeovers, such as kitchen and bath updates.

Tour-goers can register to win door prizes, including a $5,000 remodel grand prize, $2,500 in Cambria countertops and a $1,000 gift card from Warners' Stellian, as well as a number of smaller prizes.

Could you use some pointers on how to take care of your landscape this fall? Gertens is offering a free workshop on seasonal care of your lawn, shrubs, trees, tropical plants and perennials.

The workshop will cover fall maintenance and winter prep for lawns and gardens. Learn which roses need protection, how to prepare tropicals for wintering indoors, insect control, fall pruning and tree and evergreen protection.

The workshop will be offered three times, at 11 a.m. Thursday, at 6 p.m. Oct. 10 and at 1 p.m. Oct. 12.

Gertens is at 5500 Blaine Av., Inver Grove Heights.

Some like it vintage. If that's you, make your way to Junk Bonanza, returning for its eighth year at Canterbury Park this week. More than 140 juried purveyors from across the county will converge in Shakopee from Thursday through Saturday to showcase salvaged and rejuvenated junk, antiques and vintage and artisan-repurposed pieces, including furniture, home goods, lighting, garden accessories, jewelry, textiles and industrial pieces.

Junk Bonanza hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is $9; ages 12 and under admitted free. A $25 "Early Bird" pass for early admission on Thursday, plus repeat admission all three days, also is available. For more information, visit www. junkbonanza.com.

KIM PALMER