by Sasha Milena
Last Sunday I took a short drive up the 710 freeway to Pasadena, CA where thousands of vendors awaited me. The Rose Bowl Swap meet in Pasadena has been taking place for the last 40 years and when I arrived I could see why.
The event (yes, it is that big I have to call it an event) happens on the second Sunday of every month. There are tons of vendors from vintage clothes to mid-century furniture. There were so many great booths to explore and I am sure I will be back next month. It is always good to be prepared when you plan on shopping for an entire day. In order to have an optimal shopping experience, please follow these tips and you will have the tools and strength to shop like never before:
1. Get there early.
· There are different admission prices based on the time you get there
· General admission begins at 9 a.m. and is $8
· VIP admission is from 5a.m. to 6 a.m. and watch out because if you do go this early you will get run over by Japanese tourists running at full speed with shopping carts. Not kidding!
· I recommend the express admission which begins at 8 a.m. and is only $10. You beat a lot of the late crowd and avoid a tourist stampede
2. Bring Sunscreen and Water
· When you get home at the end of your shopping event you want to be able to enjoy all your treasures. You do not want to be lying in bed in pain, pouring Aloe Vera all over your burned skin and admiring your finds from afar wishing you could play.
3. Cash is KING!
· Bring lots of cash. Even if you don’t plan on buying a large item just be prepared because there are so many once in a lifetime shopping opportunities and the ATM fees are not so friendly.
4. Bring a friend
· Shopping is always way more fun when you have someone to share it with. When rummaging through piles of clothes, “Oh, look at this great skirt!” or when you see something so strange you just can’t keep your mouth shut: “What the heck is that?!” It’s also great to have a friend around when you want a price to change, “Oh, ________(fill in the blank with your friend’s name) I love this 1950s Samsonite suitcase, but $70! That is way too much!”
Well, folks what have we learned here today? I’ll give you a hint: You do not want to miss the next Rose Bowl Market in October.
Rose Bowl
1001 Rose Bowl Dr
Pasadena, CA 91103-2813
(626) 577-3100
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