New York

Lately, I have found that most thrift stores don't leave you feeling very thrifty. Beacon's Closet and Amarcord (both located in Williamsburg) are great for finding a nice old cardigan (which I have done), but one must be prepared to overpay for it, so to speak (which I have also done). The solution: don't shop in Williamsburg; go to Queens! Queens is cheaper, and Long Island City has one of the best thrift stores I've ever been to. It's called Just Things. Technically, it does just have things. But it has cheap things. Beautiful things: jewelry, hats, porcelain, clothes, shoes, records, antiques, etc, etc., and it's been in the neighborhood for thirty years. Just the other day, I happened upon a beautiful wooden box for a friend's birthday, and it was cheap! It's not a hip thrift store; it's just a thrift store--something that's becoming harder and harder to find.

Photo:  Tommy Rudnick