Road trip makes it harder to steer clear

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If you saw my car, you’d be appalled. It’s not pink or anything, it’s just a mess. See, my job is the best of both worlds – I’m always interviewing interesting people, and I get to shop for a living. But this does not bode well for my automobile.

For starters, every journalist I know lives out of her car. It’s an occupational hazard. Whenever I have passengers, they have to sit carefully to avoid coffee cups that may or may not be empty, gum wrappers, soda bottles, maps, notebooks and the occasional Altoids tin. Then there’s the back seat, which is piled high with shopping bags. I’m still finding stuff I bought months ago. Oh, and I have two dogs, so the windows are covered with snout prints. The good news? Everyone who rides in my car leaves with a complimentary fur coat.

In other words, it’s really gross. But that doesn’t stop me from hitting the road once a month for retail therapy. I figure if all those clowns can fit into a VW bug, I certainly have room for a few more shopping bags.

And that’s how my recent journey to Searsport and Winterport began. With a full car, a credit card, and a spirit of adventure. Since Searsport is the new Midcoast Riviera, I decided to stop there first.

Let me just say, for the record, that the recently opened Left Bank Books is amazing. The reading selection is eclectic, much like my taste, and I noticed titles by many of my favorite authors and still others that piqued my interest. I ended up buying a sheet of wrapping paper that depicts an old map of Paris ($4, and very cool), a tiny notebook for my purse ($2.25), and a set of bookplates by Saturn Press ($6) so people who borrow my books won’t forget to bring them back.

I headed next door to the Grasshopper Shop, which is in the midst of a 25 percent off toy sale. I’m not in the market, but I did drool over the Echo scarves and Maine-made glass jewelry. I then stopped into Coastal Coffee for a scrumptious sandwich on Borealis Bread and a cup of homemade tomato soup. I love this place for its great food and friendly service. Feeling full and happy, I crossed the street to the Penobscot Marine Museum Store. If you’re looking for tasteful gifts, keepsake Christmas ornaments or interesting maritime memorabilia, this is the place. Of course, everything I wanted was a little out of my price range.

Not so at Waltz Pharmacy, where I found the most adorable Christmas ornaments for a whopping 80 cents each. I bought three, then trotted across the parking lot to Robertson Haberdashery, whose motto is “innovative arty-facts and clothing.” Part consignment shop, part antique store, part funky gift shop, the haberdashery has an interesting array of items. The clothing was lovely and in good condition, and the prices were equally good. Unfortunately, they don’t take plastic, so I’ll be back.

I’ll also be back to visit Silkweeds. I’ve heard so much about it, but the shop was closed to prepare for last weekend’s annual holiday sale. I peeked in the windows (yes, that was me – ShopStalker) and saw all sorts of goodies – homemade fudge, anyone? I also must return to visit Cranberry Hollow, which was closed both times I visited.

One of the hard parts about shopping on this stretch of Route 1 is that you never know whether or not some of these home-based businesses are open. I pulled into a few driveways only to find a shop closed for the season or nobody home, despite the “open” flag. And the list of antique shops along the stretch of road between Winterport and Belfast would take up the entire column, so I’ll save those for another day.

But I digress. I did take a detour in Stockton Springs to stop at Purple Fleece. Located down an out-of-the-way road, this yarn and weaving shop has a great selection of unusual fibers, and the fact that I finally found yarn I had been looking for since last winter made the trip well worth it. I wanted to hit Ikebana Ware for beautiful Asian pottery, but they were closed.

So I hopped in my increasingly stuffed car and headed to Winterport. First stop, Hillcrest Orchards, which also didn’t take credit cards, but I plan to return to buy apples, cider and candles. Winterport Winery was up next. I didn’t sample the fruit wines, but I can assure you they’re tasty. Instead, I headed to the gallery out back, where greeting cards by Rachael Anderson caught my eye. So did the selection of affordable, natural twig wreaths. I ended up buying a jar of Blueberry Bliss wine jelly ($5), made with Winterport’s blueberry wine. It’ll be a great holiday gift.

The next gift I bought was for me, however. I picked up a reproduction antique soap dish ($10) at Molly’s, which is among my all-time favorite shops. This boutique is filled with gifts from Maine and points farther-flung. Check out the hand-knit cashmere gloves, the luxurious toiletries, and the sweet baby goodies, which make a perfect present for a new mom.

At this point, I was already late for a meeting, so I stuffed my bags into the back seat and sped off to Bangor. I didn’t bottom out or anything, but when I got home, I decided it was time to clean out my car. I’d let you know how it went, but I’m still working on it.

Destination: Searsport, Stockton Springs, Winterport

Coastal Coffee, 25 East Main St., Searsport, 548-2400

Cranberry Hollow, 157 West Main St., Searsport, 548-2647

Grasshopper Shop, East Main Street, Searsport

Hillcrest Orchards, 560 Main Road South, Winterport, 223-4416

Ikebana Ware, Main Street, Stockton Springs, 494-2473

Left Bank Books, 21 East Main St., Searsport, 548-6400

Molly’s, Main Road, Winterport, 223-8838

Penobscot Marine Museum Store, 40 East Main St., Searsport, (888) 942-8384

Purple Fleece, 103 School St., Stockton Springs, 323-1871

Robertson Haberdashery, 20 East Main St., Searsport, 548-6459

Silkweeds, U.S. Route 1, Route 1, Searsport, 548-6501

Waltz Pharmacy, 18 East Main St., Searsport, 548-6242

Winterport Winery, 279 South Main St., Winterport, 223-4500

Shop notes

. Craft fairs abound this weekend, too. Check out the hand-knit, hand-spun, hand-quilted, homemade treats at the Holiday Bazaar organized by the Women of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Belfast from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13. The sale will feature a variety of accessories, novelty-yarn scarves, felted slippers, unique ornaments and table linens, and caricature artist Paula Carter will be on hand to create comic likenesses of people from photos or live sittings. The church is located at 100 Court St., Belfast. All proceeds will benefit New Hope for Women, Waldo County Preschool and Family Services, St. Margaret’s Medical Emergency Fund and Capital Fund. In Searsport, the First Congregational Church will hold its annual Christmas fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Among the highlights are “enchanting teddy bears, hosts of handcrafts, decorator birdhouses,” a boutique corner and a silent auction.

. The always-fantastic Incubator Without Walls MarketPlace will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Bangor Civic Center. The event, which features everything from jewelry and birdhouses to gourmet food and skin care products made by Maine microbusinesses, is free and open to the public.

ShopGirl would love to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions by e-mail to: kandresen@bangordailynews.net, by U.S. mail to: Kristen Andresen, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402-1329, or by fax to: 941-9476. Tune in to ShopGirl at 5 p.m. Fridays on WLBZ-2.