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Community Corner

Wandering The Woodbury Antique Trail

Picturesque Woodbury offers an abundance of antique shops.

Woodbury is the quintessential New England town, with it's white-steepled churches, flag-lined Main Street and restored colonial homes. This beautiful town is a destination spot for antique lovers from all over the country.

Although this town may look like a sleepy village, the people hanging their shingles here are anything but old fashioned. From vintage porcelain to 20th Century modern, the shops that line Main Street boast experts of in a range of specialties.

The Shops

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One day is not enough to see all the shops that Woodbury has to offer. So before you go, check out a map and the Woodbury Antiques Dealers Association website to decide which shops match your interests.

Main Street is divided into Main Street South and North, with the division occurring right in the middle of the northern historic part of town.

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As you begin to work your way north on Main Street, is one of the first shops you encounter. This extensive collection of French Canadian antiques is housed in a rambling red barn. The shop's pieces have a rustic feel, some with softly rubbed hues in green, blue and red. Art and pottery pieces round out the collection.

Continue up toward town, and you'll find another expansive barn called the . Carole Winer has established her three-level shop as a source for French and American antiques, as well as a few reproductions. Country Loft has a romantic feel to it, with chandeliers and art hung beautifully throughout the post and beam structure.

and Woodbury Antiques and Fine Art reside right next to each other and are both worth a visit.

The first specializes in American antiques and folk art.

"A lot of our clients are looking for original surface or faux grain pieces," Meg Kocian DePasqua said. This style is popular with young people because the young families don't have to worry about scratching polished surfaces, she noted.

For a change of pace, stop at , the charming schoolhouse building that houses a small collection of 20th Century furniture, art and accessories.

Up on Main Street North tucked away behind a house is G. Sergeant Antiques. This shop is located in a picturesque barn with several rooms impeccably staged mainly with American and European pieces from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The second level, with its soaring ceiling and decorative paneled wall, displays more furniture and art, as well as a collection of antique porcelain.

With so many shops to see, it can be overwhelming to narrow down your selections. Andrew Rowan of G. Sergeant Antiques offers three pieces of advice that the shop follows.

"We look for three things," Rowan said. "First, we make sure the piece is of the period it's representing. Next, that it is intact, with no major apologies [repairs]. And last, that the piece is distinctive in some way."

Rowan described antiquing as an intellectual pursuit.

"And it's a great way to pass on wealth to the next generation," he added.

The Food

Shopping works up quite an appetite. And next to being the antiques destination of Connecticut, Woodbury also has a fine foodie scene.

Right in the midst of the Main Street action is a local favorite, the . This eatery welcomes diners with a handful of booths and wooden tables and chairs. The menu offers classics such as the club sandwich, tuna melt and BLT, with salads and homemade soups also available. Don't skip dessert - the chocolate cream pie is delicious.

Restaurants farther south on Main Street include , which is famous for its doughnuts. The 1950s-style diner has booths and plenty of counter seating, where customers linger over coffee and the weekend paper. This restaurant serves traditional fare with a homestyle twist, such as banana walnut pancakes for breakfast and chicken pot pie with huge chunks of chicken and brown gravy. Go over the top for dessert with a slice of Dottie's chocolate or coconut cream pie, or the unique doughnut bread pudding.

For a more formal lunch, visit the , run by renowned chef Carole Peck who also owns the neighboring Zeeburger. Across the street, also offers a delicious menu.

Woodbury has more to offer than just antiques and tasty bites, so if you stay for more than a day, try to get out and enjoy the beautiful surroundings at Flanders Nature Center and Glebe House.

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