The Stillroom

Well, as soon as we completed printing for the shopping guide, 2 businesses have left and another is open by appointment only.  This town is a tough one to do business in as of late.  Please be sure to keep in mind that LeNora Moore is leaving, My Living Room has folded up, Eden’s is open by appointment only during the summer.  Saxonburg Floral left but Saxonblooms is in the process of opening which is great.  I will publish that phone number as soon as I get it.

I also got word that the Saxonburg Farmer’s Market is going through some growing pains.  The market is still Tuesday’s at the VFW near Knoch High School but the time has changed and it is no longer in the mornings.  The new time is 5 to 7 p.m.  This allows people to grab some produce and other goodies on the way home from work.

I won’t say that the road construction on Main Street has been easy for anyone up there.  It is difficult for pedestrian traffic and the few gift shops that are left are really struggling in a way I have not seen in the nine years that I have been here.

They are making great time and I think they will finish ahead of schedule.  That’s my prediction anyhow.  These people are working so wicked hard in this summer heat and the end result will be great.  In the meantime, please keep in mind that there is The Chandlery, The Stillroom Gift & Tea Shop, The Second Time Around, The Artists co-op (Friday and Saturday) and The C. Matus Company Amish furniture and gift store.

The Stillroom is keeping the AC on, the music is flowing, the water fountain trickles, new gift ware is beginning to dot the shop shelves in addition to new tea flavors for late summer and fall so come in by way of Roebling Park, (take Water St. to State St. and head towards Main where you will find onsite parking for the shop.

Everyone screams for made in America, remember, Saxonburg is an American original!

So, the construction has passed State Street and it looks as if the work is four ten hour days so Friday is open traffic day in Saxonburg.  No waiting, no rolling backups and State Street is open.

Summer is clearly into the dog days and I love it.  Stay in, go out just don’t over do it and all will be good!

It looks as if they are creeping their way to the Main and State Street intersection.  Main Street is still open with minor back-ups as they dig, load and replace sewers.  State Street is open at Main and there is a one way, take turn traffic pattern at the end of State Street.   No bad back ups.  I really don’t think we will be seeing much activity today due to the heat wave. I will be closed for part of the morning today.  I thought this would be a great time to gear my attention towards my family.  Spur of the moment, kind of.  Need anything?  Check me out later in the day, say after one.  Keep cool!

The Main Street Improvement Project is in the first phase.  It looks like they are getting approximately fifty feet done per day.  They dig up the road in fifteen minute increments, load the truck to to haul away old pavement, dig the hole, replace the pipe and rough patch it back together.  Now, considering that we are in the dog days this week, that’s pretty impressive!  Also, after getting a feel for the first week, they are doing four ten hour days which leaves Friday and Saturday to navigate Main Street.  For the most part, if you follow the directions in the previous blog about coming in via 356 north or south until you see the Saxonburg 3 miles sign, that will bring you in right up to our door and it’s a pretty country drive through the cornfields and pastures.  It’s not like being stuck in Pittsburgh during rush hour.

A reminder also to please check individual shops for days and hours of operation to ensure a good visit, especially during summer and construction.  LeNora Moore is folding up and open only Thursday’s until liquidated and My Living Room Day Spa has also left the building.

It’s going to get ugly by next week but it’s just a temporary thing.  Noise, dust, inconvenience, the beginnings of a brand new infrastructure and finally, new sidewalks, new period lamp posts, benches, trees and a beautifully restored town with all of the charm that we know is here…even under the dust.

The Main Street sewer project is in full swing and here is how to avoid back ups on Main Street.  If you come in on Freeport Street from either direction off of 228, when you get to the old church, go straight towards Roebling Park.  Stop and go left. Stop and go left.  This will bring you right to The Stillroom Gift & Tea shop where we have on site parking.  You are basically just going around the block.  If you are coming from Butler, go to 356 south until you see the Saxonburg 3 miles sign on the right. That will bring you in behind Friedman’s grocery store and right to our parking lot.

The first project is sewer replacement and they are starting that a couple of blocks down from the core village district by the municipal building and Dollar General.  This is where you will find flag people directing you one way, each way.  Main Street IS OPEN to through traffic.  I have witnessed, however,  traffic backups from the Municipal Building up into the village.

Just a quick note that My Living Room on Main Street has folded up her business and it looks like LeNora Moore is on it’s way out as well.  She is open Thursdays only and everything is half off.

In the mean time, our restaraunts are open, there is still the C. Matus Co, Amish furniture store and more, The Chandlery Gift shop, The Stillroom Gift & Tea Shop, A Taste of Heaven Bakery,  The Second Time Around, and The Grey Wolf Gallery and the Artist Co op.   Please remember that we are here, hoping construction doesn’t take it’s toll on the few of us hanging in there through all of these improvements, which are needed.  It’s a double edge sword.  When it’s done, it will be fabulous

Anyone shopping at C. Matus, The Chandlery,The Second Time Around, A Taste of Heaven Bakery and The Stillroom, is welcome to park in our lot for a thirty minute maximum.  This will give you enough time to peruse any of the places above.  We have parking for three cars, side by side and The Stillroom will make it available during our hours of operation which is Wednesday through Saturday, 10-3.  Note that there is no construction on Saturday’s so that is an easy day to park on Main.  Until further notice…I will try to keep weekly blogs regarding updates on our much anticipated town improvements.

In the meantime, don’t let the heat get to you!  Stop in for a visit and relax in our cool space.  Much to look at, great tea selection, La Prima Coffee, La Peri Dolci Biscotti, vintage this, retro that, perfume oils, loose patchouli and catnip and like I said, it’s a cool space in more ways than one!

New tea flavor from Stash. It is iced tea weather and I love it. Divani Chocolates are flying off of the shelves and going into gift baskets. If you want to try it, you better get here soon! The farmers market at the VFW on Tuesday’s is growing (pun intended) and it’s a great time to explore and see the offerings expand as the summer days roll by us. Oh, we also carry the brand new Lavender Tulsi Organic Tea.
Tulsi has been around for like 5,000 years and blended with a kiss of lavender, this tea is sure to help calm the mind, body and spirit. (Just in case the most excellent Diviani chocolate fuels you up)! I swear the tulsi tastes like summer in my cup!

Sunday early, early summer mornings in the village are quiet. The only audible sound is the chorus of tweets and the occasional car. A huge difference from the work week when traffic starts early with delivery trucks to the grocery store, school buses, tractors, concrete trucks, commuters and everything in between. It is just like any other small city with activity all around. But Sunday, it’s just quiet for those first hours of the day. Best part of the week.

There is a lot happening with the Relay for Life on this beautiful summer day here in the village. Come on out and support a great cause while enjoying a day out in the fresh Saxonburg country air. The shops in the village will be donating a portion of their proceeds to this great cause so weather you shop or go directly to the fire hall grounds(where there will be great food, naturally) and plenty to do in the next twenty four hours, you will support saving lives. What a beautiful day it is.

We have lots of refreshing tea flavors from organic merry mint to meyer lemon to the soothing chamomile nights. OMG. These make the best iced teas, ever.

After a week of parades and old fashioned fun activities, the carnival is packing up this Sunday morning on Father’s day and getting ready to move on to the next small town. The smell of charcoal will be taking the place of grease fryers and when evening falls, the lightning bugs will come out of the grass and rise above us as they begin to take flight. Summer arrives this week and it is a special time, as is the beginning of each season here in southwest PA.

The beginning of summer signals time to blow the dust off of Woody Allen’s A Mid Summernight”s Sex Comedy
and enjoy this period piece of vintage Woody.

June Blooms is June 24th and 25th. Saxonburg in June bloom is one of the best times of the year to walk around the village and enjoy summer blooms that dot our little gift shops and streets.

The Relay for Life of Saxonburg area will be meeting at the fire hall grounds and takes place June 25th and 26th. The Saxonburg Village Shoppes will be donating a portion of their proceeds from any sales on Saturday June 24th to the Relay For Life

Also, on June 24 The Chandlery will be offering a “Fairies Pot Gardening” demonstration from 1-4. Refreshments will be offered.

I know we are not many on Main Street, but when you add us all up together, you can spend a nice day in the village and beyond! (Print the shopping guide Places to dine, places to shop, places to spend a night if the spirit moves you.

The Stillroom Gift & Tea shop is now so much more that just coffee and tea. We have added a cool vintage this, retro that collection of neat things and in spite of the small size of our corner of heaven, it is happily filled to the brim with everything from organic catnip to coffee beans! AND ALWAYS A GOOD SALE ON SOMETHING!

Remember the carnival is in town starting Monday the 13th through Saturday the 18th. A blast from the past and old timey fun complete with everything you expect from a traveling carnival! Lights, rides, barkers, drawings for cars and the air thick with hot grease from the fryers! It’s going to be a beautiful weather week so come out and support the local SVFD!