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Where: Manning House Mansion located on 450 W. Paseo Redondo, which is roughly 2 blocks northwest of Congress St. and west of Granada, downtown.
What: This is a new show for 2009. Don't confuse it with the show that was here! After rumored disagreements between show organizers and Manning House management (remember, organizing these gem shows is potentially quite lucrative), To Bead True Blue is now in a new location (click on preceding link) and Manning House has apparently gotten into the gem show-hosting business. Arizona Bead Dog will update this review after attending the show.
2009 update: It was a bad sign that Arizona Bead Dog could find covered parking at 1:20 p.m. It is always sad to see a venue that had so much life before be so empty of vendors. This is not to say that the vendors who were there aren't good to see; they are. In fact, Arizona Bead Dog recognized several vendors from last year. On the other hand, the list of vendors only totals 36. You'll find stone beads, Afghan, African, Tibet, interesting chain and vintage, leather goods, and a large bead supplier, button/button beads, baby clothes, unusual pens, finished jewelry, and someone who will string your bead purchases into a unique necklace. It is free and open to the public, so if you are in the downtown area, stop by. And the venue is lovely.
The venue probably would have "appeared" more lively had the organizer concentrated the vendors in fewer places in the mansion.
Parking: Downtown! But the Manning House has a paved lot behind it (directly west of the building), as well as a dirt lot north of the building, with attendants. Parking is free. Remember: On the weekends all metered parking is free, and since no one’s working, you can find spaces that aren’t more than a quarter-mile away. If you come during the week, be prepared to park further away and pay downtown parking garage fees. Another suggestion is to go to this show in the morning, when the parking's better, and save another venue with greater parking capacity for the afternoon.
Food: The Mansion has an upscale snack bar that offered practical sandwiches, and drinks.
Rest
rooms: In the Mansion.
2009 show
dates: February 3rd through 8th.
Show hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Shuttle routes: Citrine/Tanzanite.
For additional information: www.mhbeadshow.com.
(One vendor, Ajan Art, is in the Atrium rotunda with the fountain.)
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