Blog / Gifts & Novelties
Unique Places to Shop in Western MA: Museum Gift Shops
Smith College Museum of Art Shop Photo by Paul Shoul
For some, the museum gift shop is the best part of visiting the museum! The museum shop not only offers you an opportunity to take home a reminder of your visit, but also find unique items by other artists whose work could become your new favorite necklace, the next talking piece on your coffee table, or the best card you'll ever send. Don't miss all the fun gifts The Carle Bookshop offers at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and the unique and global artifacts at the Smith College Museum of Art Shop.
4 Unique Holiday Shopping Experiences in Western MA
Snow Farm Seconds Sale | Photo by Lynne Graves
If you're searching for a handmade gift but you don't have the time to make something yourself, turn to our local artists in Western MA! Visit Open Studios in Florence and Easthampton and special artisan sales like Seconds Sales at Snow Farm: The New England Craft Program in Williamsburg or Makers Market at the Parlor Room in Northampton. Meet the artists themselves, buy unique gifts for the holidays, and most importantly, support a booming local creative economy.
12 New Places to Eat, Drink and Shop in Western Massachusetts
Thornes Marketplace | Northampton
We usually reserve a post like this to celebrate a new year, but so many new and unique businesses have opened in our region lately that we just had to share now. Plus fall really is the most wonderful time of year in New England for exploring and trying new things. New businesses include BLDG 8 Brewing and the Florence Pie Bar as well as a handful of renovations and new stores in Thornes Marketplace.
Enter to Win Tickets to Columbus Day Weekend Events
Paradise City Arts Festival | Northampton
Mid-October is not only the peak of foliage season in western Massachusetts, but it’s also especially packed with things to do on Columbus Day Weekend. Since we’ve already told you about some of the awesome things to do this fall, we’d like to give you the chance to win tickets to attend a few of them! Up for grabs is a pair of VIP one-day passes to the 20th Annual Paradise City Arts Festival in Northampton at the Three County Fairgrounds (October 11-13) and a pair of full-access passes for the Northampton International Film Festival at the Academy of Music Theatre (October 10-12). Each is a separate prize so there will be two random winners notified on Wednesday, October 8, 2014. Click to read more and enter.
Unique Places to Shop: DIY Spaces
Knack: The Art of Clever Reuse | Easthampton
The world is truly becoming a more creative place when everyone you meet makes something in their spare time from jewelry to homemade bread. It’s relaxing and fun to create, but sometimes we need a little help, an extra item here and there, or maybe just the space to get something done. Art Alive in Amherst, Beehive Sewing in Northampton, and Knack in Easthampton are three new spaces in Hampshire County that focus on creative reuse and do-it-yourself crafting, providing opportunities to learn a new skill or make someone a unique gift.