Darby’s Estate Sale
Many of us prefer staying home with a good book, rather than heading out to scour weekly estate sales. That’s exactly what Maggie Mathey, the self-described “benevolent despot” of Darby’s Estate Sale (13832 Manchester, 314-260-7063, darbysestatesale.com), is counting on. A longtime collector, Mathey says, “My mother and I have spent untold hours doing it over the years, and our houses became so full that we decided we had to do something about it. We decided to open up this shop.” Regrettably, Mathey’s mother passed away in May, just before the dream became a reality. Today, the small store is packed to the rafters with such gems as a Victorian fainting couch, Eastern artifacts, school benches, birdhouses, and a solid-brass bed. “Unique is what we’re going for—I want things that you are not going to find anyplace else,” Mathey says. “I don’t want everyone and their brother to have the same things in their house that I have.”
St. Louis Builders Home & Garden Show
With spring finally on the horizon, it’s the ideal time to surround yourself with patches of green, jonquils in bloom, and the latest and greatest gardening gadgets. In other words, go to the 37th annual St. Louis Builders Home & Garden Show, held March 6 through 9. $10, $4 kids ages 6 to 12, free kids 5 and under. 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Thu–Sat, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sun. America’s Center, 701 Convention Plaza, 314-817-5624, stlhomeshow.com.
