Junk Bonanza

I mentioned on Friday that I was headed up north to check out the Junk Bonanza in Shakopee, MN.

My chauffeur for the week-end was the awesome Kim from NewlyWoodwards.  Kim and I survived 12+ hours in the car together.  That right there is a test to see whether a friendship will hack it or not.  I think I’ll still have lunch with her.  Yeah, I think so. Even if she didn’t let me nap in the car.

My hosts for the week-end were the lovely Cindy and Nick from The Flipping Couple.  These two are adorable.  Kim and I were greeted with our own bedrooms in their beautifully renovated house.  They fed us delicious meals.  Their dogs kept us entertained with ball playing and petting.  I highly recommend staying with the Flipping Couple if you’re in the Twin Cities.  I should write a review on Trip Advisor.

Now for the junk.  Hmmm, the junk.  I’m going to be honest.  I was a little disappointed.  Maybe I had unrealistic expectations in my head.  I was picturing many rows of booths with multiple vendors with a great variety in merchandise.  In reality, it only took us 1 hour to get through the entire place.  The booths were packed into 3 smallish buildings and there were a crap ton of people.  Part of my problem is that I’m not a fan of crowds.  It’s harder to bargain hunt when people are bumping into you left and right, blocking aisles, etc.  I figured the prices would be a little higher but most of the items weren’t in my cheapskate price range.

Overall though it was still entertaining.  I found some decent inspiration.  I didn’t find any bargains but I still enjoyed the junk eye candy. 

Can someone explain to me the obsession with creepy old doll heads?  There was an entire aquarium full of them in one booth.  (I’m sad I didn’t get that photo.  I was trying to pull Cindy away from them.)  But seriously.  Can someone explain this weirdness to me?

I really liked these diagrams.  I just couldn’t figure out a good place for one.

If the letter “S” (the first letter of our last name) was left, I would have owned one.  But no such luck.

I can’t say I won’t go back but I also won’t necessarily make a special trip for it.  Beings it only took us a little over an hour to get through, we had plenty of time to hit up the Mall of America and Ikea.  Yes, I made my maiden voyage to Ikea and it was everything I ever dreamed it would be.

Anyone else attend the Junk Bonanza?  Who wants to stay with the Germans?  How was your maiden Ikea voyage?  Do share.