You should travel from far and wide to experience the visual fiesta of fair-trade arts & crafts at…read morethe Mansfield Art Center!! This is a truly local, small, family run business and the owners/shopkeepers have quite the tales to tell... The goods and crafts sold at the Arts Center are collected by the owners who have traveled to all these destinations around the world making connections with the artisans . The items here are more unique and vibrant than I see at a lot of boutique craft/jewelry shops and there is usually an interesting story the shopkeepers can tell about where the items come from/who made them. Just perusing the store feels like a trip around the world (or at least Epcot ) and is genuinely fun. Most locals know to come here for their Holiday gifts though I live in Boston and make a point to come every year! The store is typically open only seasonally as owners are traveling much of the rest of the year- so make it happen this Christmas season. Some good restaurants in nearby Willimantic, UConn on the other side, and the subtle beauty of the Quiet Corner of CT makes a stop here a lovely day trip. Check it out!

The perfect place to find a gift for almost anyone. I did much of my Christmas shopping here and…read moreeveryone loved their gifts. This is the place to find unique gifts and jewlery from all over the world. The owners go all over the world and come back with beautiful items to sell at a very fair price. I love the set up of this store also- differant sections for differant countries from India to Mexico to China. Also, the owners are so friendly. You will most definetly be offered free tea and maybe even cookies too when shopping.

This Art Center includes galleries and exhibits displaying unique and beautifully created works of…read moreart. They also offer various classes and learning as well as monthly Drawing opportunities. The Gallery Exhibits are free and open to the public and feature both local and regional artists works. They have a beautiful building, off street parking, and are handicap accessible. Their volunteers are very helpful and informative.

This art center is a hidden, but easy to find gem! Located on the corner of Rte 30 and Center Rd in…read moreVernon, the actual driveway and parking are off Center Road. The center has regular hours on Thursday - Sunday from 1:00 - 5:00. The website is www.vernonarts.org and will let you know about current exhibits, classes, and other events.

This gallery is a first class establishment. I purchased a very unique piece of art last month…read morethat is a one of a kind piece. The variety is great and the customer service is top notch. I will purchase again from this gallery and have shopped extensively in the area. I collect art from various cities and this is worth visiting.

The front of the store feels like an Artisan's Market. The walls and floor displays are covered…read morewith Art of different sizes from various artists. There were also nice pieces of stained glass, some pottery and even a framed sports jersey. The back of the shop had a large table where the piece you are having framed could be staged. A huge selection of framing material and mats were available to choose from. Ellen took a great deal of time to show me over a couple of dozen combinations of frames and matting materials that would work with my print. She explained why each piece would work for it's individual complimentary elements and gave me plenty of options. Once all the pieces were chosen she quoted me a price and her current wait time. Could I have gotten a better price at a chain store? Possibly, but her price was pretty good. Would I rather support a shop like this? Absolutely. I did have a tough time finding it at first. This shop is near the Chevy Dealer, and directly across from the Army-Navy Club. This is exactly the kind of shop I was looking for. It was friendly, local, and full of options with knowledgeable staff.

Beautiful art of all kinds plus the most impressive personal service for custom framing. Forget the…read morebig box framers. I have had expensive disasters despite supposed 50% off coupons. Let the staff here guide your choices within your budget. I own and have gifted EM Dougan art pieces and they stand the test of time with their beauty!

I took a beginner's clay class with a friend back in March- it was taught by the owner, Bree, who…read morewas knowledgeable, funny, and super sweet! The price for a 2 hour clay class honestly felt like a steal. Bree taught us all the basics- how to wedge clay and roll out a slab with the slab roller machine, how to slip and score, how to work with porcelain clay vs. stoneware clay- it was AMAZING how much she was able to fit into 2 hours, and she did it without rushing. She was patient and explained things very well, and gave a lovely tour of the entire studio. Plus, her dog is adorable and well behaved! I can honestly say that this is one of the best values for your time and money, and with the options to come back and choose a more advanced class if you think that you're ready to try something more difficult. This is definitely a hidden gem- support a local business and spark your creativity here! It's SO worth it!

From the owner: We are a fully functioning art studio. We teach weekly ceramic art clay classes and a watercolor…read morepainting class. Our Mission is to create an artist community in Rockville. Being recognized as an artist district by the state is one goal of our community of artistl. We have a full gallery and Studio 467 currently rents space to artist, has clay artist members, and teaches 13 different clay classes a week for adults and children. We also host private events, corporate team building workshops, other activities and events. Studio 467 in Rockville, CT is a 1930s industrial storefront retrofitted retail space, workshops & studios for artists, makers, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals seeking space to create, teach, learn and sell. Offering an oppurtunity to be part of the clay and art community.

Great place - interesting art displays, great gift shop with lots of unique items, and most of all…read morefriendly, knowledgeable and helpful staff. Really a great find in downtown Manchester!

From their website:…read more MCC on Main occupies 7,000 square feet of newly renovated, modern space adjacent to a core block of businesses on Main Street in the Manchester Special Services District. The space houses an art and video gallery, the entrepreneurship center, a small cafe with Wi-Fi access and seminar and conference rooms for classes and event-related programming. Since its opening, MCC on Main has brought a new level of energy and excitement to downtown Manchester. Its presence serves as the catalyst for creating partnerships between the arts, business, education, local government and non-profits. ************************ I have to say, I am so thrilled that MCC on Main is open to the public. I usually attend their live music and open mic events. With a very modest entrance fee of $5 for live events, and a modest bar (wine,beer,coffee, Italian pastries), you can't go wrong. Very clean and friendly staff!!!! I recently was their to see a Nu-Folk Group called "Them Damn Hamiltons"...The place was filled to capacity, 110 people, as the staff rolled out more seats for their guests. Seats are varied, from plush seats, wooden and comfy chairs. The best part: You can sit up close & personal with the entertainment!!! Where else can you do this? I love MCC on Main. What a great idea the President of Manchester Community College came up with!!!! Thank you!!! Please check this new Live Music/ Arts/ Educational Center out soon!!! You won't be dissapointed!!!!

This place is closed. We drove an hour here because the website said it was open. Apparently has…read morebeen closed for quite a while. Very deceiving.

Very nice little place! There's a side that's like a general store with lovely food items, soft…read moreladies pajamas :), and gifts. Other side is antiques and furniture. Great selection of oil lamps. There was a very sweet cat sleeping in a baby buggy. That was my favorite part!