Antiques Roadshow: The Tour Ahead

As I write this, we’re in the middle of a January cold spell in New England, so I certainly don’t mind looking ahead to summer. And Antiques Roadshow has given me a good reason to do so: The program’s producers have announced the summer 2009 tour. As always, it presents a nice zig-zag pattern across the U.S., starting in Atlantic City on June 6 and ending in San Jose on Aug. 15. In between, Antiques Roadshow will roll into Raleigh, N.C. (June 27); visit Madison, Wisc., for the first time since 2000 (July 11); take in the “mile high” air of Denver, Col. (July 25); and set up camp in Phoenix, Ariz.

The summer tour taping will make up Antiques Roadshow’s 14th season on PBS, airing in 2010.

So how can you get into a show? Admission is free, but tickets are required. You can put your name in the hat by visiting the show's Web site (www.pbs.org/antiques) and clicking on the line “Apply for Tickets Now.” Applicants are selected at random; each name chosen will receive two tickets. Each ticket holder can bring two items for, as they say, a free “verbal evaluation.” For a complete list of rules, call 888-762-3749.

You can also apply for tickets via the U.S. mail. Just send a postcard to: “City Name” Roadshow (e.g., Raleigh Roadshow), Box 249, Canton, MA 02021. In addition, Antiques Roadshow is looking for large pieces of furniture within 50 miles of each tour destination. Furniture submission rules are available online or by calling the number above.

Hope to see you this summer!

P.S.: Antiques Roadshow’s 2009 broadcast season kicked off on Jan. 5 with the first of three programs taped in Palm Springs, Calif. Here’s how the rest of the season shapes up (check local listings for exact times):
Jan. 26: Dallas, Hour 1
Feb. 2: Dallas, Hour 2
Feb. 9: Dallas, Hour 3
Feb. 16: Wichita, Hour 1
Feb. 23: Wichita, Hour 2
March 2: Honolulu, Hour 1*
March 9: Honolulu, Hour 2*
March 16: Honolulu, Hour 3*
March 23: Wichita, Hour 3
March 30: Chattanooga, Hour 1
April 6: Chattanooga, Hour 2
April 13: Chattanooga, Hour 3
April 20: Grand Rapids, Hour 1
April 27: Grand Rapids: Hour 2
May 4: Grand Rapids, Hour 3
May 11: Hartford, Hour 1
May 18: Hartford, Hour 2
May 25: Hartford, Hour 3
* Encore presentation, 2007 season.