While the turkey was cooking in the oven and the pies were cooling on the countertop, our family decided to go for a walk and enjoy the beautiful sunny day. Our journey led us to Juniper Canyon. The stretch of Juniper Canyon we explored is located between Juniper Street and Nutmeg streets; the entrance can be found at the bottom the giant dip (“17% Grade”) that Juniper Street takes as you head east from 32^nd Street.

My best friend is a thrift shop junky and has a North Park tip to share.  She swears by the Windmill Thrift Shop on University Ave.  It's close to the Bank of America at 3081 University Ave, (619) 291-2415.

She likes that it's small, well organized, and has a friendly staff.  But best of all, the prices are reasonable.  She nearly always finds little treasures when shopping there.  Everything from charming little chotchkies to regal victorian-era furniture.  One recent treasure she found is a mid-century salmon colored stool.  (To sit on or use as a foot stool.)  A favorite find was a sterling tiffany bookmark for 99 cents...in the shape of a maple leaf.    Wow, you can't beat that!  Also worth mentioning are several wonderful 40's era hats, gloves, and purses she's come across.

She occassionally finds interesting items at Pat's Corner (corner of 30th & Upas) as well.

Get out there and enjoy some North Park thrift shopping.

An illness in the family kept me from going out this week.   Next week, it's ON!

I stumbled across a fun little new store yesterday; Home Brews & Gardens on Thorn & 32nd.  The ground floor of what had been a dull and neglected apartment building has been transformed into a smart-looking new business & store front.  Nice surprise!

It's owned and operated by a couple of friendly young guys.  (Well, anyone under 35 seems "young" to me.)  They stock organic gardening fertilizers, tools, seeds, and lots of supplies for doing your own hydroponic garden.  And unlike Home Depot, you can have an actual conversation with someone who knows a little something and can even recommend what to plant in this season.  (I usually stand in front of those seed displays scratching my head and wondering what the hell to try next.)

They also carry "brew your own wine" and "brew your own beer" kits and supplies.  I wanna make wine!

The store's grand opening is on Sunday, 12/6, 12-6, with live music and demonstrations.  Plus they're offering 10% off all purchases for the month of November.

If you enjoy beer, wine, gardening, or all three, do yourself a favor and stop in; 3176 Thorn Street,  619-630-BREW, 

Hi.  Thanks for stopping by and welcome to My North Park blog.  The NPCA is committed to connecting neighbors and friends and people who generally like being in and around North Park--so we decided to start a blog.   I think you'll like our original cast of contributors.  The first blog post will go up in about a week.

Here's the deal, the blog brings together five different personalities, each distinctly representative of aspects of North Park:  young families, hip empty nesters, working professionals, and a few folks heavily into the varied arts, restaurants, bars and culture that North Park has to offer.