Sunset Junque

Up for a day trip?

Just two hours from Chicago, Sunset Junque offers great fodder for anyone's sense of silliness, as well as genuine treasure-hunting opportunities. Architectural salvage, kitchy garden ornaments, lots of rusty metal objects and plain old junk abound.

Whenever our family travels to Michigan, we never miss the opportunity for a little detour to see what the proprietor of Sunset Junque has in store for us. Last weekend, I dragged my friend Mary over there. Well, "dragged" isn't really the right word. She actually went quite willingly. We had driven to New Buffalo to stay at her brother's cottage and enjoy the beach for the day. Since the beach isn't very enjoyable in 50 degree weather with light drizzle, we opted for a little road trip up the coast to the town of Glenn.

The poor lady named Josie manning the establishment was frozen stiff, trying to warm up by the light bulb, the only available heat source in the decrepit and musty shed that serves as Sunset Junque's main office. She wanted nothing more than to go home and curl up with a nice, stiff drink. She demonstrated remarkable patience as Mary and I perused the wares, took our time comparing the various types of aged terra-cotta finials and cast metal garden animals, and the kids ran around using old, rusty farm implements as swords (eeek...). In the end, she gave us generous discounts on two garden bunnies, a flying pig, a pair of those finials, and some miscellaneous metal railing. I'm sure it was with great relief that she bid us adieu as she pushed the gate shut behind us, and went home to enjoy a good book and her hot toddy.

Should you decide to take a trip to Sunset Junque this season, you may want to round out your day with a nice country meal, at Kalico Kitchen, just a few miles north on the Blue Star Highway. Chicken fried steak, cooked greens, corn bread & a tall glass of iced tea. Mmm...

Comments

[Kristen]

Oh my--I may need to drive there from Ohio!!! We may be heading to Chicago this summer so it just may happen!!