Annie’s Blue Ribbon General Store A Modern General Store where Fun and Function reign supreme
Sandwich Box, $8.50
Bus Sandwich Box, $8.50
We’re going Back to School all week at Annie’s!! Today we’re featuring these adorable sandwich boxes. These are so cute I can’t stand it. The people seem to agree because they’ve been flying off the shelves. Get them while they last!!!!
Proud Parent Pouch-Preschool, $15.95
Don’t we all still love back to school time? The combination of the changing weather, new clothes, and school supplies never fails to excite me–even though I don’t have classes to prepare for. In fact, I might have a slight obsession with office supplies. I have very exacting standards regarding pens, I collect pencils, and I take enormous pleasure in the sight and smell of a new box of crayons. These days I can live out those halcyon school days through our fabulous collection of merchandise. So all week we’re highlighting some of our favorite Back to School items for kids and adults. Introducing, Proud Parent Pouches!! These are brilliant. They look like an over-sized (14.5″ x 22″) pencil pouch with a clear plastic panel and are perfect for storing papers, award ribbons, or any other keepsake . They come in Preschool, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade and have a handy grommet for hanging. Say goodbye to bulky shoe boxes full of report cards!!
Proud Parent Pouch-Kindergarten, $15.95
Proud Parent Pouch-1st Grade, $15.95
I am obsessed with these cool new backpacks– I need one for back to school (back to teaching this week!). I think this orange one is my favorite. Hurry- they are going FAST (sold 3 today!). MadPax Orange Half Pint Backpack- $45. Other colors available too- check out all our Back to School goodies online here.
Things are getting a bit nutty here in NYC, with everyone preparing for Hurricane Irene. Even though it is (hopefully) loosing some steam, I heard it the storm is the size of Europe and still packs quite a punch. Of course we are still open for biz- so come and see us before things get even nuttier tomorrow! Make sure you are stocked up on all the essentials- perhaps you need a flashlight? Get our Wood Torch for that stylish midnight rendezvous with that cute neighbor down the hall (isn’t everyone soo much friendlier in a State of Emergency???). Wood Torch (small)- $34.
The city of New York seems to be split between panicking and scoffing. I’m falling somewhere in the middle, but with the MTA shutting down service beginning tomorrow I will tucking in for some QT with the sofa and my cats. No worries-Annie will be here tomorrow for as long as weather permits for any Whoopee Cushion or Silly Putty-related emergencies (stock up!). Since I’m not in a danger zone, I might be hosting some evacuated friends which means….board games!!! No need to worry if power outages put the Wii out of commission. We’ll kick it old school with the classics! Stock up before Irene hits!
Clue, $22.50
Scattergories, $22.50
Rummikub, $16.50
Balloon Dog Salt & Pepper Shakers, $19.95
We meet some great people here in the shop. Our rainy Brooklyn morning was made a little brighter by the arrival of Suzanne Haring, an entertainer and balloon artist! She fell in love with our new Balloon Dog salt and pepper shakers as soon as she spotted them. The adorable little ceramic dog locks together with a magnet and easily breaks apart for use. So cute! And for our friends in California, check out The Soozi Show if you’re in the market for an entertainer for your next event. Thanks for the laughs, Soozi!!!
The Great Gatsby, $45
The good folks at New York Magazine were kind enough to include us in their latest Shop-A-Matic feature this week. They asked us to pick our favorite new item for fall, and we chose The Great Gatsby Novel Poster. We fell completely in love with the concept of these posters. The designers have taken the complete text of the novel and printed in legible (albeit small) tex, using negative space to create a silhouette image. Also available in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Pride and Prejudice!
10" Plates, $9.95
Well summer is winding down. Kids are heading back to school, and we’re all looking forward to jacket and boot weather. But there’s still time left for the joys of summer: picnics and trips to the beach! And for those occasions we introduce Preserve Plates and Cutlery! I hate to buy disposable plates because I feel like I’m destroying the environment (remember that commercial with the crying Indian?). But who wants to lug ceramic plates to the beach? Preserve products are made in the USA from 100% recycled materials (mostly take-out containers). And unlike most plastic plates they are completely reusable and dishwasher safe! That’s right, you can use them again and again before they wear out, and then recycle them again! So save the guilty conscience for that second serving of strawberry shortcake.
7" Plates, $6.95
Cutlery, $8.95
Cutlery, $8.95
Alligator Chopper, $32
I love to cook. I hate to chop. Partly to blame is a lack of knife skills, but equal to that is my general lack of patience. I’m not really a precise-measurement-kind-of-cook. I prefer to eyeball and improvise. so when it comes to dicing I tend to be, let’s say….relaxed. I start chopping onions with good intentions, then my eyes start burning so much I wind up hacking up the rest. And then I find a piece of onion the size of a silver dollar in my chili. I have a mandoline, but it’s kind of a pain to set up, and I live in constant fear of losing a finger every time I take it out of the cabinent. So when a customer suggested we look into these clever Alligator Choppers I was intrigued. Now that we have them in stock I must have one. My mind is racing with ideas for recipes calling for finely chopped veg. I may actually learn to enjoy chopping!!
Blue Ribbon Lollipop, $3.50
A great customer came in yesterday and bought eight Blue Ribbon Lollipops to send to her young family members getting ready to show their cows at the State Fair. I thought it was such a cute idea we had to share it. You don’t hear much about 4H here in the city, but I grew up showing horses in 4H, and my cousins used to show cats. We still laugh at my cousin Pat, who ruined his shot at first prize when he trimmed his cat, Potion’s whiskers so they wouldn’t tickle his face at night. Grandma Janet took one look at him and declared him, “No kind of Show Cat!”.
This time of year I always miss competing at the fair, and not just because of the amazing food. I’m talking about corn dogs and corn on the cob, maybe an elephant ear, not fried Kool-aid, or whatever the new thing is. So here’s to all the competitors at all the State Fairs around the country. Good Luck!!!
