Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Snowman Soup and City Liquidator Mugs: How to Combine for a Magical Winter Treat

City Liquidators has the perfect idea to keep you warm (and very amused) for the wintertime. Stay with us here...

See this wall of mugs (for great prices in the $5 and less range)?


And these delicious ingredients to something super mysterious?


Well prepare yourselves folks... it's about to get real in here. We have a super cool recipe from Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama to show you that is so adorable, it will make even the toughest of you melt. 
 
 
It's called Snowman Soup, and the recipe is below.
 
Ingredients:
  • hot chocolate made using GODIVA hot cocoa and warm milk
  • marshmallow creme
  • mini marshmallows
  • candy eyes (found in the cake and cookie decorating section of the store)
  • candy mustaches (also found in the cake and cookies decorating section of the store)
  • orange candy coated chocolate (or any other orange candy)
  • chocolate wafer straws
  • snowflake sprinkles
Steps:
  1. Make your hot chocolate with Godiva hot cocoa and warm milk (or with whatever you'd like).
  2.  Then turn that boring old hot chocolate into “Snowman Soup” by adding a dollop of marshmallow creme and some mini marshmallows.  
  3. Then add the candy eyes, orange candy nose, and candy mustache to the sticky marshmallow creme to build a snowman.  
  4. Finish it off with a wafer straw and some snowflake sprinkles.  ENJOY your Snowman Soup!
Stay warm out there everybody and let us know how you like the mugs and/or how your recipes turn out. We'd love to hear your stories!



 

Monday, December 29, 2014

City Liquidators' Mosler Safe: A Historic Tale

We here at City Liquidators love safes. All of them are sturdy and reliable, but one of our most noteworthy was manufactured by the brand, Mosler Safe Company (for photos of our safe, scroll to the end of the post).

The Mosler Safe Company was a 19th century security equipment manufacturer founded by Gustave Mosler, and was most famous for their safes and bank vaults. The company survived and prospered for most of their 134 years from 1887 to 2001, when they claimed bankruptcy. Even though they went out cold in the end, during their golden years, their safes and bank vaults were in 80% of the world's banks, and in countless homes and companies on top of that.


 Originally founded in Cincinnati, Ohio as the Mosler-Bahmann safe company, it didn't take long for the work to become too much for the small space. About 4 years after the company was founded, they had to relocate to a bigger manufacturing plant in Hamilton, Ohio in 1891, where they remained til the end of the company's life in 2001. There they gave jobs to over 1,000 local residents and stood as the pillar of the local economy for many decades. 



According to a big-time history buff from Hamilton, Ohio, "Their products had a reputation of being some of the strongest and most secure in existence and their wealth of individual, international and government contracts indicated that people believed in that reputation" (SafeAndVault.com). Several vaults installed in Hiroshima's Mitsui Bank building even survived the atomic bomb that U.S. troops dropped on the city on August 6, 1945. Even the Teikoku bank's vaults and contents survived while the entire building was decimated. After that, their products were admired for being "stronger than the atomic bomb" (Wikipedia.com).



According to SafeAndVault.com, "In the late 1950's [1957], Mosler took their products to Yucca Flats nuclear testing grounds [in Nevade] to recreate this show of strength. They placed a Mosler Century steel vault door and concrete vault with various contents in the blast zone and the vault survived intact despite being subject to pressures of 48 tons per square foot!"


After the news of that spread, the Mosler Safe Company's business was booming. They made doors for missile silos, the vault that used to hold both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, and a giant panic vault for the U.S. government in case of nuclear war and the destruction of Washington D.C. during the height of the Cold War.

(The giant panic vault in West Virginia for the U.S. government. Photo courtesy of http://safeandvault.com/faq/115-gsa-containers/705-mosler-safe-company)

In 1967, the founding family sold off the business to American Standard Companies, who then sold it off in 1986 to Mosler managers and outside investors. Then, sadly, in 2001, Mosler claimed Chapter 11 Bankruptcy (reorganization under the bankruptcy code to keep the business alive and pay back creditors over time. But because of the large amount of debt he was in, he closed the business shortly thereafter.



The Mosler name is now pieced apart between Chubb-Mosler and Taylor Safes, Ltd. in Canada, and a small successor company in the U.K..


But if you're like us, there's nothing like the old and traditional products of the world. We have just one of this historic company's safes left and if you want to own a piece of history, you can for only $699 at City Liquidators.
Our Safe





Call our main store at 503.238.4477 for delivery or more info. You can also stop by our main store, where it resides, at 823 SE 3rd Ave., Portland, OR 97214. Happy Monday!
 
References
 








Friday, December 26, 2014

Get the Look: Sophisticated Home Office Space

If you're like us, you need to work in a separate space from home to get any work done. Or at least a separated space from the rest of your home. This home office E2 Villager set in a Cherry Finish from Aspen Home is here in the store today and would go just perfectly in that extra room of yours.

 

Here's how to get the look:
1. The Dual T Desk. Item #: I20-380-CHY.


Dimensions: 84"W x 48"D x 30.5"H.
Price (for both this and #2): $1449.90.
Smooth leg design allows this desk to fit against any wall and gives you plenty of space to spread out your work while the ergonomic curvature of the desk encourages good posture. The 4 AC Adapters built into the desk along the wall-side edge makes it easy to plug your computer, charger, etc in and get to work quickly and efficiently.

Dimensions: 84"W x 14"D x 45.5"H.
Monitor Area: 78"W x 11"D x 19"H.
Price (for both this and #1): $1449.90. 
 This spacious corner hutch features a lift-up top to hide cords and chargers, three mail slots, a single drawer for hiding office accessories from plain view, and a center surface for even more display area. Touch Lighting is a nicely added feature to this piece and will keep your work nicely illuminated whenever you need it. Made from sturdy hardwood with cherry veneers and finish, this will be a smart addition for any office.

 
Dimensions: 60"W x 24"D x 30.5"H.
Price: $429.
This charming and accessible writing desk features a convertible pencil drawer that has a flip-down front, which stows away writing utensils or a keyboard. It's coated on all sides with a smooth cherry finish, so it doesn't matter which way this desk is facing, it will be presentable anywhere.


Dimensions: 66.25"W x 48"D x 30.5"H.
Price (for both this and #5): $769.90.
With this L-Shaped Desk's spacious work area and simple 5-legged design, it is easy to place it in any corner and have plenty of room to get things done. The unique curved edge brings not only a sleekness to the design, but promotes good posture during productivity. 4 AC Outlets are placed along the flat edge to allow you to plug things in to your heart's content and prevents your work area from being too restrictive to what you bring to it. It even has a felt-lined drawer and pencil tray to keep you clean and organized. Your set would not be complete without this lovely desk.

5. E2 Class Villager Corner Hutch. Item #: I20-370CH-CHY.

Dimensions: 39"W x 39"D x 7"H.
Price (for both this and #4): $769.90.
This corner hutch features a lift-up top to hide cords and chargers, three mail slots, a single drawer for concealing office accessories, and a center surface for more display area. The center area fits most laptops and there are full-extension drawers with stainless steel ball-bearing drawer glides. Between the English dovetail drawer construction and the cherry-finished solid wood veneers, you can't go wrong with this wonderful piece.

6. E2 Class Villager Open Bookcase (x2). Item #: I20-333-CHY.

Dimensions: 32"W x 14"D x 72"H.
Price: $399.90 each.
This bookshelf with a warm cherry finish has 3 adjustable shelves and 1 fixed shelf. Its clean, defined edges and detailed carvings on its turned legs makes this piece a classic in any home office. Constructed from hardwood solids and cherry veneers, this bookshelf is both sturdy and durable enough to hold your heaviest books and is a wonderful and smart addition to your workspace.


Dimensions: 18"W x 23"D x 39.5"H.
Price: $269.90 each.
With its five-star base design and wheels, this chair will keep you mobile at your desk while you're getting work done. The leather seat keeps you comfortable while the leather vertical side panels keep this chair from harming any other furniture or itself when accidentally bumped up against other surfaces. A gas lift lets you adjust your height anywhere between 20 and 22 inches. With supreme craftsmanship and comfort, this piece just adds the cherry to the cake that is this perfect set. 

We hope this helps! For more info on these pieces or for questions, call the City Liquidators Office Furniture dept at 503.238.4477 today!

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Gingerbread House Creating with City Liquidators

Your family wants to build a gingerbread house this year, but doesn't want to do the same old thing? Why not make one from scratch? It doesn't take too long (1 hour and 30 minutes) and it might be fun! But where should you go to pick up the candy or your last-minute baking supplies?

Look no further than your friendly neighborhood City Liquidators! We may not be open Christmas Day, but we're still open Christmas Eve, just for you.

So while you're making your list, here's a recipe below to help you courtesy of the Food Network. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!
Gingerbread House Recipe

Total Time:
1 hr 30 min.
Prep:
1 hr 15 min.
Cook:
15 min.

Yield:
One recipe of dough makes one.

Level:
Easy.


Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature.
  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar.
  • 1/4 cup light molasses or dark corn syrup.
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon.
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger.
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cloves.
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda.
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour.
  • 2 tablespoons water.

For Assemblage and Decoration:
  • Melted white chocolate or Royal Icing (recipe follows).
  • Gumdrops, licorice and peppermint, as desired.
Royal Icing:
  • 1 pound (3-3/4 cups) powdered sugar, sifted if lumpy.
  • 1 to 2 large egg whites, or substitute 4 teaspoons packaged egg whites and 1/4 cup water.
  • 1 teaspoon almond extract, vanilla or lemon juice.
Directions
Gingerbread House:

  1. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and baking soda together until the mixture is smooth. Blend in the flour and water to make a stiff dough. Chill at least 30 minutes or until firm.
  2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  3. Cut out the following paper patterns for the gingerbread house template:
    1. Two rectangles, 3 by 5 inches, to make the front and back of the house. 
    2. Two rectangles, 3 by 5 1/2 inches for the roof. 
    3. Two pieces for the ends of the house, 3 inches wide at the base, 3 inches to the roof line, and slanted to a peak 5 1/2 inches from the bottom. 
    4. Four smaller rectangles, 1 1/2 by 1 inch for the roof and sides of the entryway. 
    5. And one piece, 2 inches wide at the base, 1 1/2 inches to the roof line, and slanted to a peak 2 1/2 inches from the bottom for the front of the entryway.
  4. Roll gingerbread dough out to edges on a large, rimless cookie sheet. Place paper patterns onto the rolled out dough. With a sharp, straight edged knife, cut around each of the pieces, but leave pieces in place.
  5. Bake at 375 degrees F for about 15 minutes until dough feels firm.
  6. Place patterns on top of the gingerbread again and trim shapes, cutting edges with a straight-edged sharp knife. Leave to cool on baking sheet.
  7. Place royal icing into pastry bag with a writing tip and press out to decorate individual parts of house, piping on decorations, windows, door, etc., as desired. Let dry until hardened.
  8. Glue sides, front and back of house together at corners using royal icing. Place an object against the pieces to prop up until icing is dry (it only takes a few minutes).
  9. Glue the two roof pieces to the pitched roofline of the house. Then, similarly, glue the sides and roof of the entryway together with icing. Attach the entryway to the front of the house.
  10. Continue decorating the house, glueing on gumdrops, licorice and peppermint, as desired.
Royal Icing:

Mix all of the ingredients together using an electric hand mixer, until the icing is smooth and thin enough to be pressed through a pastry bag with a writing tip. Add more lemon juice, if necessary.

Adapted by Food Network from a recipe courtesy of Beatrice Ojakangas.

Monday, December 22, 2014

An 1800s Physician's Chair is....Here at City Liqs?

If you wander around our warehouses, you will notice that some things may stick out as being out of the ordinary. Every so often you'll stumble onto something like this 1800s physician's chair and wonder... what is that doing here and what is the story behind it?

Well we may not be able to tell you why it's here. It seems that things just seem to appear here sometimes, but we can definitely tell you the story behind it.

(Photo of our chair for sale at City Liquidators)

Surgical chairs, like this one, date anywhere from around 1870 to 1920s. Operating tables of early- and mid-1800s were just simple wooden planks, most likely with restraints for the chest and limbs. These were needed because there wasn't any anesthesia for surgeries. So, in a terrifying way, this caution was more for the comfort of the surgeon than the patient. (Melnickmedicalmuseum.com)

(Wooden Operating Table c. 1830. Photo courtesy of http://www.thegarret.org.uk/collectionfurniture.htm#1990158)

 As the types of surgeries increased and anesthesia was brought into use, operating tables became more convertible. They started to serve as not only operating tables, but examining chairs as well. As a result, more space was saved and function became more concealed to look like parlor furniture. It turns out that people were uncomfortable with mounting a table, so doctors would sit them in a chair and leisurely tell them to lay back as the nurses helped adjust it. This was much more relaxing for the patient and put them at ease. (artsci.case.edu)

(Photo courtesy of artsci.case.edu)

For all practical purposes [the chair] is really no better than a common table; but any patient would sit in the chair without nervous agitation, while some become greatly alarmed at being requested to mount a table. The patient once seated, is told that the chair is only a couch, and she is requested to lean back and extend it horizontally by her own weight, with perhaps a little assistance from the nurse who stands at the back of the chair. I am almost afraid to write these little things, but I do it only for my younger brethren, who many need to learn the importance of educating their patients to feel that everything is being done that delicacy and propriety require on an occasion so trying to a sensitive nature.

J. Marion Sims, Clinical notes on uterine surgery. 1st Am. ed. New York, 1873, 22.

Once medicine hit the 20th century, doctors were able to cure more diseases and fix more injuries, so there was no need to dress up exam rooms anymore. There was less to fear. On top of that, aseptic protocol in surgery ruled out the use of upholstered furniture and wood furniture in favor of austere exam tables, and sterile, enamel-on-metal, and glass furniture. (artsci.case.edu).


(Photo courtesy of bls.gov)

If this subject has caught your interest, the chair is for sale for $699 here at City Liquidators in Portland, Oregon. 

(Our chair, once again, for sale at City Liquidators)


It would be great for a tattoo parlor, movie set, theater play, or even a piece in an eclectic home collection. It is all cast iron and hand-carved wood and is from the late 1800s. If you're interested in this rare piece of history, call our main store dept at 503.238.4477 and speak to us today!



References



Friday, December 19, 2014

Sofas and Loveseats, What's the Difference? And What the Heck is a Davenport?

Our Featured Product

Our special living room set today is featured below with both a sofa and a loveseat in the mix. to purchase any or all of these pieces in the set (or just ask questions), you may call the City Liquidators Home Furniture department at (503) 230-7716.

Prices
  • Sofa- $699.
  • Loveseat-$699.
  • Armless Chairs-$279 apiece.
  • Ottoman-$279.

Sofas vs. Loveseats, Who Cares! I'll Just Order the Whole Set and Then It Won't Matter.

But what happens if you aren't buying a whole set? What happens if you have to choose between a sofa and a loveseat, risking getting exactly what you want or something slightly different than what you were expecting.

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Well we're here to help! So check out the information below.


Sofas and Loveseats, What's the Difference?

Sofas are designed to seat multiple people. The term 'sofa' is generally used in the United Kingdom and Ireland, while the term "couch" is usually used in the North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Why do we say 'sofa' here? No idea. But don't worry. Either one you ask for here, we'll understand your lingo and show you to the sofa/couch of your choice.

SOFA




While sofas are designed for seating multiple people, loveseats are designed to seat only two. These are built for couples and/or best friends, which is where all the "love" comes from.

LOVESEAT
  

Cool! Now What the Heck is a Davenport?

If you've ever gone furniture shopping with a parent and/or grandparent, chances are that you've heard this term. A Davenport may be referring to one of three things; a regular sofa, a sofa bed, or a small writing desk.


Davenport: The Sofa/Sofa Bed

A Davenport can refer to a sofa or a sofa bed for those born around 1900 or grew up in the WWII era, catching the term and meaning from their parents. 

Davenports were originally a line of sofas designed by the A.H. Davenport Company, which focused on custom-made furniture. Developed by the founder, Alfred Henry Davenport, the series of sofas were originally built with wooden frames of oak and mahogany and were available in several styles and can still be found at select antique stores and auction houses today.



Davenport: The Writing Desk 
The second use for the term Davenport is for a small British writing desk. It has a slanting top that can be lifted up. This desk also has drawers and cupboards that open on the side instead of the front. 

(Mathematician John Couch Adams sitting at a Davenport desk. Photo is courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davenport_desk#mediaviewer/File:John_Couch_Adams_2.jpeg).


The Davenport was originally commissioned by a Captain Davenport in the 18th century by sheer coincidence. There is no information on him, so we're not sure if there's any relation to A.H. Davenport of the sofa-makers. It might just be purely a coincidence. But if you're looking for one of these desks and not a sofa, we highly recommend mentioning "desk" along with the word, Davenport, otherwise you will get quite the big, comfy sofa surprise.


Now What Should I Do?

Come by our store, City Liquidators, and pick yourself up a Davenport (sofa) of your very own!





References

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Healthy Snowman Recipe on Festive Plates

Going grocery shopping but your kid wants to build a snowman? Well you can do both with this Ranch Spread Snowman from Taste of Home on one of our festive holiday plates, which range from only 99 cents to 2 dollars!       


Plates



 Recipe

 

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 20 min. + chilling
MAKES: 21 servings

Ingredients
  • 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened.
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened.
  • 1 envelope ranch salad dressing mix.
  • 1 tablespoon spicy brown mustard.
  • 1 garlic clove, minced.
  • Assorted decorations: small pitted ripe olives, pretzel sticks, and sweet red and/or orange pepper.
  • Assorted crackers and vegetables. 
 
Directions
  1. In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the dressing mix, mustard, and garlic; mix well. Shape into two balls, one slightly larger than the other. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
  2. Remove from the refrigerator 15 minutes before serving. On a serving plate, stack the small cheese ball on top of the larger ball to make a snowman.
  3. Cut ends from olives to make small circles; attach to snowman for eyes and buttons. Insert pretzel sticks for arms. Cut top hat from pepper; place on top of snowman. Trim pepper to make a nose; insert into face. Serve with crackers and vegetables. Yield: 2-2/3 cups.
 
 Nutritional Facts

2 tablespoons (calculated without decorations, crackers, and vegetables) equals 122 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol, 374mg sodium, 3g carbohydrates, trace fiber, 2g protein.


Happy Holidays!

Monday, December 15, 2014

The First Perm

Happy History Mondays, everybody! Today we're going to go over one of the most mysterious things in our store;
This machine has captured the imagination and awe of each and every one of us here at City Liquidators. First impressions of it being a medieval torture device by many of our family here has pushed us to delve into the history more and, now that we know, we want to share it with you!

First thing's first, let's take a walk back in time. The year is 1906 on the 8th of October in London, England. A German hairdresser named Karl Nessler (aka Charles Nestle) was demonstrating the first permanent wave for hair in a local beauty salon in front of an audience of well-known hairstylists of his day.


The first person to invent a procedure for curling hair was actually a man named Marcel Grateau. In 1872, he invented a pair of crimping tongs that first had to be heated by a gas flame before being used on hair to create more of a wave than a curl.



Women loved this at first, but then curling became a huge trend and they were looking for other styles and means to execute them. Plus the crimping style only worked on longer hair and styles were getting shorter every year.

Nessler first tried his perming process on his wife, Katharina Laible, in Paris before they were engaged. He burnt her hair and scalp twice, causing her to lose all her hair. Luckily for him, she still said yes and they lived happily ever after with few to no incidents and a lot of patience.

Back to London 1906 at the salon, Nessler was demonstrating the effects of his machine and how it worked (after having it patented, of course). It consisted of a group of rollers, which he wrapped and curled the hair around, connected to a machine that heated them with electricity while keeping the rollers away from the scalp by distributed weights. He then applied caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) and the hair was heated for many hours. The process took 6 hours and then voila! Perfect permed hair! By the time the 1930s rolled around, the system was constantly improved and became this:
So swing by our store, City Liquidators, today and check out this cool piece of history! It may not be for sale, but you're free to check it out while shopping. Enjoy!





Friday, December 12, 2014

Cuddle Up on Our Loveseats This Holiday Season!

It's that time of year again, folks! It's cold and dreary outside, meanwhile you and your loved one are inside snuggled up by the fire with a nice hot cocoa, a blanket, and a good book. Why not spend that time curling up on one of our luxurious loveseats? They're just waiting to be by your side.

Our "Claremont" loveseat is elegantly designed with a rich upholstery fabric with a rich finished showood frame and thick luxurious cushions that will make you feel pampered beyond belief. For only the price of $879, this lovely piece can be yours!
















 


 Or if you have a flare for the bright side, try our Ashley Ledger Loveseat in bright red and ring in the holidays right. You can't go wrong with the mixture of contemporary design and plush comfort that will greet you with a nice warm hug every time you need to relax. Then there's the added bonus... it reclines! For only $579, this cheerful piece could be yours in no time!











For more cozy loveseat options, visit our store's loveseat page at: http://cityliquidators.com/detail.php?t=Home&Item_ID=36500-86.

For the future, we will be updating Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, so stay tuned!