Old is the New Thing
Borrowed: a vintage inspired rental company
Renting table settings has always been a part of planning special events. Lauren Kreter, Wilton resident and owner of Borrowed – a vintage-inspired rental company, feels table settings should be as unique as each client. Borrowed offers mismatched vintage china, glassware and flatware to give every event a one-of-a-kind touch.
Kreter’s background is as an event planner – she worked with Tim LaBant from The Schoolhouse at Cannondale – but she found that the place settings were always basic white. In 20XX, her grandmother passed away and Kreter inherited six sets of her china. On a whim, she mixed the various patterns at her next event. The style was a hit and the idea for Borrowed was born. “It was a way for me to reuse and repurpose plates that weren’t going to get used,” Kreter says.
Her business flourished and now clients can choose a color scheme or design vibe and Kreter can design creative settings from the over 2,000 plates that she has sourced from Goodwill, flea markets, antique stores and auctions. “I store everything in an outfitted barn in Wilton,” Kreter says. Borrowed has provided plates and glassware to thousands of events from small weddings to fashion week in New York. Her table settings have appeared on tv shows such as Outlander (Starz) and Blindspot (NBC). Borrowed has also outfitted several local restaurants including Kawa Ni in Westport and The Spread in Norwalk.
Kreter says her most memorable event was the wedding of former SNL star Abby Elliot, who was a childhood friend of Kreter’s sister. “They brought us in, and it was so much fun. Martha Stewart had the exclusive so ended up on the front page of her magazine which was really cool,” she says. Borrowed recently expanded its offerings to include styling services. “People are wanting that special touch to their event and we can provide that,” says Kreter. “Every piece we own is unique and truly vintage, that’s what sets us apart.”
Georgetown Day
20 Years Strong
This years’ annual Georgetown Day is scheduled for Sunday, June 11, noon to 5:30 p.m. This event, which takes place on Main Street in Georgetown (Redding), CT, is free to the public and celebrates the historic village of Georgetown. “This year is particularly exciting for us because it’s our twentieth anniversary,” said Nic Palazzo, head of the all-volunteer Georgetown Day committee. “Also, in addition to all of the event’s other fun activities, we’ve added a second stage of local bands, which is sponsored by Nod Hill Brewery.”
The Georgetown Day Chili Cookoff is also returning with fifteen chefs vying for the title of best chili based on votes from eventgoers. Craft and artisan vendors will line the street selling handmade goods, and kids’ activities abound with the Playway, crafts by the Georgetown Volunteer Fire Company Auxiliary, and several touch-a-trucks. There will be multiple local food vendors, including Georgetown restaurants, Barn Door Restaurant, Grumpy Dumpling Co., and more. Arber Muriqi, owner of Barn Door in Branchville, said “Last year’s Georgetown Day was a wonderful day for us. We loved welcoming our favorite customers and new friends and are looking forward to being there again this year.”
Georgetown Village Restoration, Inc. (GVR), a nonprofit member organization dedicated to maintaining and improving Georgetown, organizes and hosts the event. The Georgetown Lions Club, Georgetown Community Association, and the Georgetown Volunteer Fire Company are also hosting. “We are grateful to our co-hosts and volunteers, and to our sponsors, especially Fairfield County Bank, our longest and leading supporter,” said Palazzo. “Georgetown Day is a special day in our community, and we can’t wait to celebrate the twenty-year anniversary this June.”
New Pond Farm To Hold Art Show
New Pond Farm Education Center, 101 Marchant Road in Redding, Connecticut will be hosting its 9th Art Show and Preview Party. This biennial event showcases the artwork of regional artists using the theme of nature and agrarian life inspired by New Pond Farm. The Preview Party will be held on Friday, June 2nd from 6-8PM, tickets are $50 each and include a $25 art purchase credit. Participants will have the opportunity to visit the art show and mingle with the artists while enjoying a signature cocktail, local wine, brew and festive bites. Our subsequent “Art Week” will run from June 3rd -11th with daily gallery hours of 11am – 5pm and will feature a silent auction, art demonstrations, plein air painting opportunities and activities for children and adults. Admission to the gallery, auction, demonstrations, lectures and classes is free. All art is for sale with proceeds to benefit our programs.
New Pond Farm Education Center is comprised of 102-acres of pastures, woodlands, and wetlands. Originally owned by Carmen Mathews, an actress of stage, screen and television, who wanted to share this beautiful setting with others and started a small residential camp for inner city children in 1975. By 1985, she opened the doors to her year-round environmental education center. In 1995, she bequeathed the land and building to the New Pond Farm Education Center and procured a conservation easement given to the Redding Land Trust. At present day New Pond Farm is a comprehensive education center and working farm which hosts over 5,000 children from neighboring schools each year for hands-on field trips and offers seasonal programming for children, adults, teens and families focusing on the five areas of environment, agriculture, local history, astronomy, and the arts.
We look forward to sharing this idyllic place where people can be immersed in its beauty and be inspired to become good stewards of the land. •
