When it comes to high fidelity, no sound is as sweet as when a tonearm drops onto a heavy slab of 180-gram vinyl, releasing a cacophony of music deeply embedded in the waxy grooves. To assist local music lovers in seeking out those grooves, there’s a vinyl garage sale on the west side of Bend this weekend.
Twice a year, in spring and fall, Erin Giudice opens her garage full of records for public perusal. She estimates her album inventory to be around 8,000. Audiophiles can find nearly every genre of popular music, even the occasional Slim Whitman offering. Something for everyone!
In a recent email blast that goes to about 400 regular customers, Giudici listed some of the genres: “hip-hop, punk, new wave, surf punk, gangster rap, soul, funk, classic rock, jazz and much, much more!”
Specific artists she named included, “Queen, Beatles, Hendrix, Dylan, Duran Duran, J.J. Cale, Bowie, Def Leppard, Depeche Mode, Santana, Metallica, Zeppelin, Dead, Pink Floyd and rare blues.”
“Parents share this with their kids, which is great; it keeps them away from all the electronic stuff. What better way to spend the day,” Giudice exclaims. Sharing her love of music is what brings her joy. “You get to meet a lot of people in your community. How cool is that?!”
A big part of the fun of sifting through the dozens of boxes is recognizing album covers from a time long, long ago. Giudice says she gets a special thrill when she hears someone emote genuine excitement over finding a treasured LP from years ago. “It makes me happy to see them carry this stuff away, leaving happy.”
To stoke her audio stash, Giudice purchased the vinyl library from a radio station in Grants Pass. She also goes on record safari road trips down to her old stomping grounds of Orange County, California. For the sale this weekend, she will be assisted by her good friend Shana Davis.
Her garage is tucked away in an alley just off 12th Street, between Baltimore and Cumberland streets. Just follow the hand-painted signs — with actual 33 and 1/3 rpm records attached — that are well placed throughout the neighborhood. If you’re driving, park on 12th Street. DO NOT DRIVE DOWN THE ALLEY! It’s a narrow dead-end that will get you nowhere.
Bring cash for extra savings. Stop by, hang out and happy shopping.
This article appears in Source Weekly April 17, 2025.
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