Our next big estate sale will open its doors from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 20-21 at 1616 Walden Drive in McLean, Virginia. The owner was a true collector and this estate sale is going to be a haven for people who love fascinating stuff. The house is also going on the market after we sell its contents and a realtor will be standing by to provide early information about the home. 

View an extensive photo album on our Facebook page. The list of items up for sale is too long to cover here but a partial list follows. Note that no one will be allowed to enter the home before 9 a.m. Shoppers arriving before 9 a.m. are welcome to stand in line.

ANTIQUES: RCA Victor television in its original wooden stand, interesting array of furniture including couches, chairs, dressers, mirrors, trunks, sewing machine with table. Many need some TLC and will be priced to move.

ART: High-end (and old) prints, drawings, busts, Buddha, African statuettes, paintings

AUTOGRAPHS: Extremely rare football program signed by Bear Bryant, Joe Namath and all the seniors on the University of Alabama's 1964 national championship team (includes letter of authenticity from JSA); Theodore Roosevelt signed document with seal; Willie Mays

COLLECTIBLES: American-made tin cat toy, signed cast iron, African musical instruments, movies on laser discs, all kinds of glass, a few military items (Army gas mask, etc.)

FURNITURE: Leather couch set, coffee tables, side tables, Asian-style coffee table, Hoosier cabinet

HOME DÉCOR: Sterling silver candle holders; lots of wildlife-themed items including vases, ashtrays, brass figures, taxidermy deer head; Budweiser beer lamps, Black Label beer lamp, small ship on top of bone, larger ship made in Hong Kong,

KITCHEN: China, glasses, plates, cookware, gold-plated flatware

JEWELRY: Eclectic mix of jewelry and gemstone, including nephrite jade, ametrine, amethyst, opal quartz, sterling silver, vintage costume jewelry, rosary, a variety of beads, and jewelry making supplies

LAMPS: Modern lamp in the form of a bull fighter, leaded glass lamp with beautiful orange glow, large banquet oil lamp with crystals, tall tension lamp with green globes, table lamps

MANCAVE: Bumper pool table, vintage fishing rods, 1950s Dr. Pepper cooler in excellent condition, vintage camping equipment,

RECORDS: Great range of artists including Aretha Franklin, Jim Croce, Beatles, Elvis, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, John Denver, Nat King Cole, Art Garfunkel, Henry Mancini, Tina Turner and a whole lot more

MISC: Old piano, Amipro Precision movie projector, snowboard,

Don't forget to check out the Orion's Attic blog and Facebook page for more details as they become available.  (Shoppers and homeowners alike loved the last Orion's Attic estate sale in McLean.) 

Orion's Attic raised more than $3,800 for Pyramid Atlantic at our second annual Upscale Yard Sale last weekend in Silver Spring, Maryland. Generous donors and shoppers came out in droves to support the nonproft contemporary arts center dedicated to the creation and appreciation of hand papermaking, printmaking, digital arts, and the art of the book. The sale pushed the total amount Orion's Attic has raised for the center to $6,901.07 and counting. 

"Orion's Attic is a special organization that cares about people and the bottom line," Pyramid Atlantic Executive Director Jose Dominguez says. "Since we began working with them, they have shown a real commitment to helping Pyramid Atlantic raise more money for its arts and education programs and they have delivered. They are involved the whole way from helping to identify the merchandise, to how to price it, to how to work with volunteers, to pick up, implementation of the yard sale and clean up. Wow!  I look forward to their yard sale every year because of the funds raised and because I have the opportunity to work with this great group of people." 

Orion's Attic worked with Pyramid Atlantic to host the sale of antiques, art, collectibles, modern furniture, silver coins and more. The Montgomery College Service Learning Collaborative, meanwhile, provided a massive high school volunteer force that enabled organizers to focus on fundraising. English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Students from Blair, Kennedy and Northwood High Schools all helped.

"I was at Blair yesterday and the students were talking about what a great time they had and how they made connections with what they've learned in school with the objects that were out for sale," colloaborative coordinator Jessica Wyatt says. "Pretty neat!"

Last Saturday's success also helped Orion's Attic reach another milestone: We have now raised more than $10,000 for Montgomery County charities during the past year or so. The other organizations include House With A Heart Senior Pet Sanctuary, IMPACT Silver Spring, and Silver Spring Town Center Inc.