During a weekend
of college touring, I stayed with family friends who live in the Catskills. On
a typical day in the small town of Phoenicia, New York, it’s quiet, unless the
annual opera convention happens to be rolling through. In perspective, Main
Street Phoenicia looks tiny compared
to the immaculate landscape. The whole town almost feels like a secret, tucked
within the mountains, waiting for those to reveal its enchantments. None of the
stores really fit the cliché essentials of a typical small-town. Instead of a
diner there’s Sweet Sue’s, which serves, even in the shortest of stacks, generous
portions of fluffy pancakes, in flavors such as peach or raspberry. Next door,
there’s Nest Egg, the all-purpose card/fishing gear/pharmacy shop. Across the
street there’s even a mini art gallery. But the best store on the Main Street
strip is The Mystery Spot.
Homer and Langley’s Mystery Spot has an interesting tale
of origin: once upon a time there lived two brothers, Homer and Langley Collyer
who were renegade hoarders way before it was televised. Unfortunately, they
died by their collections, after being crushed by 136-tons of their accumulations.
The owner, Laura Levine was often told
this tale as a warning-sign for not cleaning her own room as a child, but
little did her mother know that she’d transform that clutter into The Mystery
Spot.
Before one even enters the Mystery Door, the entire porch
has boxes and racks to sort through, including The $1 Yard Sale In A Box, or, The Mistake Box---filled with things Laura regrets buying for the store.
Inside The Mystery Spot, clutter really
is abound, but by way of kitschy kitchenware, records, old magazines and clothing. Here I found an entire basket of gingham gloves---a
picnic's dream!
So many candy-colored tops!
I love all of the homemade signs that
follow you around the store. In the clothing room there are labels on the “cozy
autumn” section and “fancy party” one with doodles to match.
I’m wearing a pink paisley sleeveless kurta
that I got this summer in India. It is meant to be a top worn with some sort of
tight legging, but I had the side slits sewn closed so I can wear it as a dress, since
the fabric is really lightweight and perfect for the warmer seasons. I then accessorized it with this glass
evil eye necklace my aunt got me when she went to Greece.
I spent a lot of time in the record room,
which seemed to only be selling records that had rad cover sleeve artwork. I will
always find some friends in The Beatles.
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