Poking around Mellwood

As you would expect, Isaac and i are rubbing off on each other, infecting each other with verbal expressions (I find myself saying "Let's do this" like a high school jock), food preferences (Isaac warming up to my view that Chickfila's breakfast menu is superior over other mealtimes) and our hobbies. He has thoroughly converted me in terms of entertainment - watching endless crime dramas, thrillers and shows set in 19th century England. One way I'm rubbing off on him these days is with the past time of antiquing.

Interestingly (and not so relevant), antique shops and thrift stores are almost non-existent in South Korea. Isaac says it is because the older generation is very superstitious about objects holding remnants of their former owners. I'm not sure exactly why, but I can vouch for the absence of such places. I only saw a handful of stores selling used goods while in Korea, and they were all vintage clothing shops in hip parts of Seoul.

Wondering through displays of old things, usually with no set goal, occasionally leaving with a grungy knick-knack - there is nothing innately Isaac about it. But recently it seems like he is coming around, provided the place is air-conditioned and we are not too hungry.

We visited such a place this weekend, called Mellwood Antiques. It used to be a meat packing plant, yet now it is beautifully air-conditioned and feels charmingly historic, not grungy or gross.

You enter below the yellow M (shown in the closest building shown above) and find yourself in the antique mall. It is home to over 100 antique dealers and contains less of the lower end junky items (like Happy Meal toys from the 80s).

Wandering around and looking at the old stuff was fun, but what made this place feel unique (other than the glorious AC) is that the building is still transforming. Like a snake shedding its skin, parts of it are still flaky, rusty and untouched.

Some old photographs from the building's former days.

 This place has too much room and too many buildings for just antiques. One floor is sectioned off into small pieces, rentable spaces for artists. Large rooms with tall, dreamy windows are rented out for special events. A martial arts school, specialist gyms, restaurants, craft shops and a hat shop. If an old fashioned millinery can survive anywhere these days, surely it is here in Derby City, where it's an annual event for women to wear unique hats.

The the right - this is the second floor just above the antiques mall - where we could spy on artists working and some people setting up for a wedding. It still looks very much in the midst of transforming, doesn't it? The industrial ceiling and floors clashing with the wall's fresh paint.

Below are shops nestled on the backside of the building we first entered.

Here I am wanting to pose with the oldness.

Just as I was admiring this delightfully dated view above us, Isaac commented on the humming of high voltage power lines coming from overhead too. I love how we can have such different thoughts and reactions about the same thing.

It wouldn't be Louisville without that effortlessly green grass and a horse statue or two.

Just wanted to share this cute place we visited recently. It's located just east of downtown Louisville, still close by the river, making it an easy place to stop by and kill some time.