New antiques emporium opens in Campbell
“There’s really nothing quite like it in our area,” says Patrick Mayberry, one of nine vendors at the exciting new vintage marketplace called Montebello Road.
The Campbell emporium opened Nov. 4 — just in the nick of time for the holidays — and has already drawn lots of folks including interior designer, author and TV personality Nate Berkus. He was in town scouting for goodies at the shop as well as along San Jose’s Antiques Row on West San Carlos Street. And if you are wondering: The celeb made numerous purchases.
The mercantile is the culmination of the dreams of owner Robin Hamnett. This is an environment that forces you to think creatively. Warning: You need to have your head in swivel mode, or you’ll miss out. Believe me — you do want to take it all in.
I admired vignette settings of tabletop wares and player piano rolls ingeniously used as wall coverings. I spotted a neat group of globes, garden statuary, cool “mantiques,” seltzer and soda bottles, even a bathtub brimming with colorful tin cans.
And one of the best ideas to repurpose old, don’t-know-what-to-dowith-them objects came from dealer Donna Boss. She fashioned early napkin rings into amazing cuff bracelets.
Montebello Road is south of the Pruneyard center in a former military surplus shop at 2045 S. Bascom Ave., Campbell. Holiday hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Details: 408558-9533.
Historic homes
You can make merry at these historic home tours and antique shows this season:
• Galindo Home, 1721 Amador St., Concord. The 1856 Victorian farmhouse, reconfigured in the Queen Anne style in 1880, will be festooned with holiday decor 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 3, 9-10, 16-17. Admission: $5. Light refreshments served. Gingerbread House Boutique opens 11 a.m. Dec. 9-10 at adjacent Concord Events Center. Free admission. Details: www.concordhistorical.org.
• Santa Clara Historic Home Tour, 6-10 p.m. Friday and noon-5 p.m. Saturday. The tour’s 39-year tradition continues with three private residences and the Madison Street Inn. A bonus venue is the rarely opened Ricard Memorial Observatory (1928) on the Santa Clara University campus. Tickets: $30 general, $25 seniors (60+) and youths (6-21). Details: 408-249-7905, or buy tickets at sc-hometour.com/ tickets.html.
• McConaghy House, 18701 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward. This 1880s Stick-Eastlake-style home will be decked out for tours, visits with Santa, reading of classic stories plus holiday craft making, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 9 and 16. Selfguided tours: $3-$5. Free cider. Details: 510-5810223, www.haywardareahistory.org. (House is not wheelchair-accessible.)
Shows, sales
• PENPEX Stamp Show, Community Activity Building, 1400 Roosevelt Ave., Redwood City. Fifteen stamp dealers, plus the U.S. Post Office onsite Saturday and Dec. 3. Details: Free admission; 10 a.m.5:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 3; www. penpex.org.
• San Jose Super Toy, Comic and Collectible Show, Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Road, San Jose. Hunt for presents for the Star Wars or Wonder Woman aficionado on your gift list. This Dec. 9 show-sale will feature more than 200 vendors. Special guest: horror film actor Bill Moseley. Admission: $15 at 9 a.m., $10 11 a.m-4:30 p.m., $4.50 for kids under 12. Details: 408-809-4457, or www. timetunnelnews. blogspot com.
• Marin Indoor Antique Market’s 33rd annual Christmas Show, Dec. 9-10.Marin Center Exhibit Hall, 10 Avenue of the Flags, San Rafael. Hours, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 10. Admission: $8. Free parking and return privileges. Details: 415-383-2252, www. goldengatesgows.com.
• Happy Dragon Thrift Shop, 245 W. Main St., Los Gatos, is an upscale resale shop supporting EMQ Families First. Donated merchandise changes weekly, so you never know what you’ll discover. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Upcoming sales: On Dec. 11-12 all goods half price; on Dec. 13 pay $5 for a bag full of merchandise. Shop then will close for remodeling and reopen Jan.
4. Details: 408-354-4072.
• Lace Museum, 552 S. Murphy Ave., Sunnyvale. The talented volunteers have been busy creating their famous lace-covered ornaments. Prices: $5-$25. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Special hours Dec. 15: 7-9 p.m. Free admission; donations welcome. Details: 408-730-4695, www.thelacemuseum.org.