We Found YOU In Florence: Avery Berg of Folk Punk Band--THE ASH TRAYS

If you are a folk punk band looking for a washboard for your band, where do you go? Florence--the antiques capital of Colorado, of course.

Regular readers of this blog know that one of my favorite things to do (besides scare customers and decent folks strolling the streets of Florence) is to ask people what they are planning to do with something they found in Florence.

Florence has a marketing campaign: FIND IT IN FLORENCE.

But I like to find people in Florence and ask them what they found in Florence.

I'm liking what I find in the way of eclectic shoppers in our fair burg. Last time I found a chuck wagon restorer extraordinaire.

Ah, but this time I outdid myself. I often say that the most interesting people shop in Florence--and I can prove it on this blog.

This time I found Avery Berg of Canon City.

Yep, that's a vintage washboard Avery just purchased in Florence.

Naturally I asked him what he was planning on doing with it.

Turns out Avery is part of a folk punk band called The Ash Trays out of Canon City. And he decided the band needed to add some washboard playing to its repertoire.

In past blog posts I've noticed that there are some spots in Florence (in my opinion) that are the beacons of hippery. Mainly Outspokin' Bike Rentals and The Pour House. I've also noted that I am too ancient to be hip (except to break a hip)--but recognize creativity and hippery genius when I see it.

And even though I have not heard The Ash Trays play yet--I'm pretty sure we've uncovered another beacon of hippery in Fremont County.

I'm not sure what a folk punk band is. Hey, don't hate me. I came up during the era of Barry Manilow and The Partridge Family!

But I do know that if you look real close at Avery's hat, written on the bill is: Folk The System. And that I can appreciate.

Avery said the band just got started around December of last year and so far is playing primarily in Colorado Springs and Pueblo. No Canon City gigs? He said venues haven't opened up here yet.

Just my opinion, but that's a darn shame. I think Fremont County is ready to hear some folk punk music.

That's Avery and the band recording an album.

I went to The Ash Trays Facebook page and found their own description of what they do: "Washtubbin mountain town anarcho folk punk from Canon City Colorado. Banjo slingin degenerates burning a hole in establishment with dirty stoge fueled tunes."

Now if that description doesn't entice you, like it did me, then I don't what to say!

Avery told me he does vocals and plays the ukulele and banjo. And I know he also was on the successful hunt for a washboard. Cody Herrera also does vocals and plays the guitar and trumpet. And Nova Meek sings, plays the skin flute and does professional gut bucket.

The morals of the story? Get out and see and hear The Ash Trays. It sounds like they kick some Ash. And surely Canon City and Florence (the FUNkytown of Fremont County and a beacon of hippery) can host a venue.

And the last moral of the story? You never know when I will find YOU in Florence and ask you what you found in Florence and what you plan to do with it. And each time we do this on the blog, we prove that more talented and interesting people are in Fremont County that we could imagine.

I know you want to know more about The Ash Trays. Go to their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/theashtraysofcanon/

Who Says Antiques Can't Be Fun? ITO'S Japanese Restaurant

Who says antiques can't be fun? Hardly anyone I've ever known. Rather, working in an antiques mall can be fun.

This week--Confessions Of An Antiques Store Worker--is about a fun encounter I had recently.

A gentleman and his wife came into ye olde antique shop and announced they were from Woodland Park and come to Florence every six months or so, to find out what treasures there are.

But they hadn't been to Florence in over a year. It was a Monday and most every restaurant was closed. He said they were faint from hunger and could I recommend a place that was good--and, um, open.

Why yes I could! Ito's Japanese Steak House at 106 W. Main St. For those True Story Club readers that missed my review on Ito's, you may read it at: http://truestoryclub.blogspot.com/2015/04/eating-our-way-across-colorado-ito.html

                                      BENTO BOX AT ITO'S JAPANESE IN FLORENCE

The man found a book on an obscure subject in ye olde antiques mall that he thought he would never find in Florence, or most anywhere for that matter and then they went to Ito's.

The couple returned to ye olde antiques mall over an hour later and told me they came back just to tell me that Ito's was--FANTASTIC! And to thank me for the recommendation. My pleasure.

It turns out the lady had been a Japanese foreign exchange student many years ago--and was very familiar with authentic Japanese food. How did Ito's stack up? The miso soup--just like Japan!

She told me the owners of Ito's are actually Indonesian and they chatted about authentic Indonesian cuisine, and the lady from Woodland Park hopes they will add an Indonesian dish or two to the menu.

This couple, were world travelers. So I asked how this restaurant, tucked in a tiny, semi-isolated location stacked up. For those blog readers who missed my post--I asked one of my friends, also a world traveler, how Ito's stacked up. Here's that previous post: http://truestoryclub.blogspot.com/2015/05/what-first-time-visitor-thinks-of.html

The Woodland Park couple said they would be dragging every friend they knew to Ito's--it was that good. Actually the man said, "no dragging" would be involved after their friends ate at Ito's.

They marveled that such a world-class restaurant was in Florence. I didn't take offense. I knew exactly what he meant. Florence is a burg of about 3,900. But there is a lot of talent in this town, that is totally unexpected. NOT that we don't expect to find talent in small towns--we just don't expect such talent-based enterprises to get the attention (and revenue) they deserve due to a lower population base, and/or being located off a major thoroughfare.

This couple brought me a menu to thank me for helping them discover a jewel that not only was great in its own right--but also reminded them of their times in foreign countries.

I thanked them for the menu--and for reminding me about Ito's. It's been at least a month since I've been there--and that has to be remedied.

But here's something I did learn recently from another antiques dealer, who is a huge Ito's fan--Ito's makes a wicked green tea latte. My friend brought me one from Ito's--and yes, it was delicious!

Confessions Of An Antiques Store Worker: There's No Place Like Florence, Colorado

True story. Oh, wait that's the name of this blog. But true story. I was in Pueblo this weekend, browsing in the antiques district on Union.

Wait, before you call me a traitor to Florence the antiques capital of Colorado--where I live and work--let me explain.

This is only the second time  I've been to the antiques district in Pueblo in my entire life. The last time, I only had time to visit one store--and this time, browsed three of them. I was suitably impressed and even bought a few things. But deep in my heart, I was thinking I liked Florence, and not just because I work there and know a few antiques dealers.

I had a $5 vintage nut chopper in my mitts and was in the basement section of one of the antiques malls in Pueblo and getting ready to go upstairs and checkout, when I heard a voice.

"Ma'am? Are there any other places in southern Colorado like this?"

I turned around to see a middle-aged man with a sincere face. "I just love antiques and historical buildings. Are there more places like this? I am new to the area."

I was just ready to open my mouth and say," Well, let me tell you about this little town about 30 miles up the road called Florence."

But he continued," I know about Florence. I was just there. And wow--that town is, well... Just filled with historic buildings and antiques."

"Hmm," I replied," I just happen to live there and work in an antiques mall there. You do know Florence is the antiques capital of Colorado?"

He did not know that. But what he told me was the he had just relocated to Pueblo a few months ago from Washington State, where is HIS opinion there was no culture. At least in the section of the state he came from. He was wowed, delighted and enchanted by Pueblo's district and the beauty and uniqueness of Florence.

He said of Florence," Why it's so amazing. I've never seen so many antiques stores. You can stroll there and then just walk a few feet and be eating at Quincy's."

For those who don't know--Quincy's is a semi-new addition to Florence's Main St. It is almost always packed--and that is no wonder. The food is great and the prices are fantastic. And it's located in a historic building and decorated to warm the hearts of anyone who loves history and antiques.

This recent Pueblo transplant almost felt like he had dropped into an alternate universe filled with culture, historic buildings, beauty and antiques everywhere. He was eager to explore southern Colorado further.

I told him that Walsenburg was a fairly good bet with an antiques mall and few good funky shops and historic buildings. But I told him he already had really hit the goldmine with Pueblo's antiques district and discovering Florence. He agreed. He walked off thanking me profusely and with rather with a dazed and happy look on his face.

I guess us locals are rather used to all the culture and history and beauty in southern Colorado. It was fascinating to run into a stranger and newcomer who reminded me just how special southern Colorado is.

Who Says Antiques Can't Be Fun? A Leg & A Ho In Florence--The Antiques Capital Of Colorado

Who says antiques can't be fun? Certainly not me.

There are a few people in Florence--the antiques capital of Colorado--who seem to have a warped sense of humor. If you read a previous blog post, you saw just a sampling of window displays in honor the 88th annual Pioneer Days, slated for Sept. 18 to 20.

One of the most amusing windows was spotted at Legends and Lace with its sporting ladies and a gentleman caller getting ready for, ahem, a night of romance.

Then we went to Iron Gate Antiques Mall and spotted a window with some rather corny signs it. I noted there was a rumor a few more signs might pop up in the window. And I wasn't lying.

If you don't believe the level of silliness going on in the antiques trade (in select parts of Florence) breeze by the Iron Gate and Legends and Lace to see for yourself.

Since we visited the Iron Gate window last week--this sign popped up. GET A LEG UP ON YOUR SHOPPING. Sigh! How original!

That's an old dental or medical table (for sale) and a leg (yes, also for sale). And getting a leg up on the shopping refers to Junktique and Punktique on Sept. 18 and 19. Most people know about Junktique--and open air market replete with fine antiques, collectibles and plain, old junk and other fun stuff.

But Punktique is NEW! It's also an open air market, and caters to those interested in steampunk items. Now, a few weeks ago I did a search on the word--PUNKTIQUE. It does not come up that much, except in terms of an alternative music genre. So, (and you heard it hear first) the PUNKTIQUE open air market for steampunkers (and all those with tastes leaning towards neo-Victorian, industrial and gothic) in Florence, MIGHT well be one of the first such events in the USA. I say USA--because steampunk is much more popular in the UK and Australia and is starting to come into its own in the USA more.

Now, won't that be exciting--to be at one of the first punktique markets ever?

Back to the window display. Some of those window decorators at Iron Gate could not resist this one.

Oh, my goodness! Travesty upon the English language! Imagine getting a real antique HOE and imagining the pioneers might have been thinking about farm implements when they came up with the slogan: Westward Ho! What kind of crazed antiques dealers do they have in Florence?

See you at Pioneer Days and Junktique and Punktique. You won't know who I am. I'll have my camera. But I'll be in hiding. Why? Because as you might have guessed--I am the butcher of the English language responsible for these signs.

AND I also might see you somewhere in Florence--the antiques capital of Colorado--when I pop out of nowhere and ask to take your picture for our new feature: Will we find YOU in Florence?