Come rain, shine — parked-in driveways and packed streets — the Linden Woods annual garage sale will be in full swing on Sat., June 2.

The event is more than a month away, but anyone who has lived and survived the annual sale knows — you can never have enough prep time.

I usually forget the date, thinking I can leisurely take my car out for a nice cruise to the store.

Except that I’m stuck in total gridlock on the crescents, bays and cul-de-sacs of Linden Woods. And everyone seems too occupied with the sale to think of anything else.

While I do enjoy a good garage sale — and I’m assuming all those who descend on my neighbourhood feel the same way — I’m more interested in hearing the stories of those individuals who are out for one thing, and one thing only: collectibles
Recently I met up with area resident Eamonn MacNeish, a 22-year-old actor. Having graduated from the Academy of Broadcasting acting school in 2010, MacNeish loves to partake in all things Hollywood — including collecting more than a thousand pop culture figurines.

"People either say ‘Aw this is amazing’ or ‘Wow, you really need a life,’ " said MacNeish about his basement display of toys ranging from the full collection of Toy Story characters to a $250 Heath Ledger figure. "I don’t open the package unless it’s a bobblehead — and if I get one from a collection, I need them all."

While MacNeish shops some specialty stores, garage sales are an important source of specialized finds.

"Oh, I love garage sales. I’m up at six in the morning ready to go," said MacNeish, who picked up a rare collectible at another community sale.

"I found a copy of the very first Amazing Spiderman comic and bought it for 10 cents," the actor exclaimed.

MacNeish will be out looking for toys at the Linden Woods garage sale, but being on the other side of the table is not in the cards.

"I’ve done it before and I didn’t want to part with anything, so all I had out [for sale] was a bike," MacNeish said. "I can’t sell this stuff."

Of course, for those who are planning to sell their goods on June 2 between 9 a.m. to 3 p.m, the Linden Woods Community Association is already advertising the event. The group is encouraging people to make signs and markers to direct traffic to the sales.

For more information, email Nikki Lam at nikkia.lam@scotiabank.com.

Daniella Ponticelli is a community correspondent for Linden Woods. You can reach her at daniella.ponticelli@gmail.com.