Packed to the brim- I mean literally- sometimes you can barely walk... full of crafty gifty gizmos…read morethis Park Ave located shop is a wonder. There is something for everyone on the list. A tad pricey, but you can expect quality and uniqueness you can't find anywhere else. I have shopped there on numerous occasions for gifts for others and of course myself. Good with returns, I had bought a dog collar and recieved a duplicate. Returned it no problem with the reciept. Staff can be a bit 'uppity' at times but the goods are worth it...

Artworks came across as colorful, whimsical and interesting and certainly satisfied my curiosity…read more The only negative I can say is that the person at the counter seemed somewhat detached and disinterested, not rising from the chair to interact with me or assist in any way.

Lovely museum with a variety of exhibits…read more I was very excited to view the new armor collection they have on exhibit. It's a vast collection with full suits of armor down to the smallest embelishment, cerfemonial or functional. Pieces include European and Asian examples. The exhibit is included with admission and has timed entry so be sure to book ahead to get your desired time slot. A small kids area in the exhibit has art supplies and books in case the adults are taking too long. Directly across from the armor exhibit we viewed the "Peaceable Kingdom" exhibit. Artists around the world have submitted works of their interpretation based on the original painting. Some artist included information explaining their thoughts working on the project. Many of the pieces are very insightful. A recreation of an Italian palazzo courtyard showcases a roman mosiac floor. Gorgeous. Also on this level is a 12th century Charter House moved from France. The museum has adorned this space with period stained glass from England and mimic candle light with electric candelabra to set the scene. A small cafe near the moasic floor offers sandwiches, coffee, tea, water, sweets, soft drinks, soup and salad. The gift shop is by the entrance on this side of the building and offers a large variety of gift items including note cards, ornaments, books, games, kitchen items, hand bags and more. On the next level up in the palazzo are a series of galleries flowing into each other displaying European art from the 11th century to the early 20th. Behind this area you will find egyptian art and more. One exhibit included a kiosk with more information about items in that collection and a comfortable sofa and seating. At the time of this review, the third level is being renovated. The fourth level is modern art (Andy Warhol and Christos for ex.) and collection preservation labs. Fifth level seems to be an event space. Free lockers are available in the coat rooms near the ticketing desk. Class rooms are located near the Lance St. entrance. See their website for available classes. A free parking lot for museum patrons is available across Lance St. There is a cross walk with wheelchair ramps on/off the sidewalks here. An elevator is available to the left of this entrance if you cannot navigate steps. Interior elevators move between levels as do staircases. Restrooms are on a couple of levels and have diaper stations. A water fountain (bubbla) is near the elevator and restrooms. A few wheelchairs are available on a 'first come' basis. Discounted entry is available, see website for details. Most definitely recommend. I very much enjoyed our visit. Plan to possibly spend a few hours. You can easily spend hours looking at all that armor. You can also make a quick run through if you are short on time. On a side note, the Salisbury Mansion is located behind the museum and well worth a look if you have time.

The Worcester Art Museum is packed with memorable exhibits, and I had a great time exploring them…read morefor 2.5-3 hours. I was able to make it through the entire museum at a leisurely pace. The Asian art section, especially the Japanese prints exhibit "Reflections of a Changing Japan: The Evolution of Shin Hanga" was a standout. The Roman mosaics taken from a floor of a home were definitely memorable. They're incredibly well-preserved and shows stories about life, mythology, and religion. I was amazed by the amount of skill and detail it must've taken to puzzle it back together after transporting it across the world. The ancient Egyptian exhibit was super cool, packed with statues, sarcophagi, and other artifacts. They also have some restored European and American oil paintings that were truly stunning, some looked insanely realistic. I spent the most time admiring this exhibit. I wasn't a fan of the contemporary art but one can say that I lack whatever it takes to fully appreciate it. It's a small museum but worthy of a visit.

I chose Lavallee Photography for my son's Senior Pictures. From the second we made the appointment…read moreto the arrival of our pictures, Warren Lavalle, the owner and photographer, was extremely professional. Prior to the photo shoot: I had some difficulty understanding the instructions provided by the high school as to the size (pixels) necessary for the yearbook. Warren went out of his way to contact both the high school and Jostens (yearbook) to get the specifics. This took the stress off of me since I had no idea what to ask (being unfamiliar with graphic design terms). During the photoshoot: The outside location at Green Hill Park, Worcester (they suggested) was perfect. We had a variety of shots with different shirts and scenery. The shots portrayed my son's personality very well. After the photoshoot: Not being computer savvy, I was having difficulty selecting photos from the software program. I called Warren and he took me through the process, step by step. Again, easing my frustration. The disc that he made for the school's use was hand delivered to me and professionally labeled with the instructions right on the disc. My photos arrived in a carefully wrapped and boxed package within 3 days of me placing my order. I was pleasantly surprised with such quick delivery. The photos are of high quality and reasonably priced. Whether it be a wedding, senior pictures, family photos, baby pictures, etc...I would highly recommend Lavallee Photography. I would definitely use them again. They go above and beyond what 's expected. Renee Sullivan

From the owner: Our business specializes in meeting the needs of our Customers. We have developed a large Wedding…read morebusiness because our customers demanded it from us. We also provide premium Portrait services, along with a large inventory of Landscapes, both local, and global. Everything taken by us.

I enjoyed the Vincent van Gogh Immersive Experience at the Mercantile Center, which preceded this…read moreexhibition, and decided to attend Monet: The Immersive Experience on a late Thursday afternoon. I assumed it would be fairly quiet at that time. When we arrived, we were greeted in the lobby area, which also doubled as a makeshift merchandise shop. We were the only people there, and after our tickets were scanned, it appeared we might be the only visitors in the entire exhibition. The experience begins with wall plaques outlining Monet's life, travels, and influences. It then winds its way through recreations of his studio and garden. The studio was somewhat underwhelming and arguably cheaply done. The garden, featuring two bridges over a projected pond, was more interesting, though the placement of the lights partially blinded the eye. The sound system had noticeable issues during our visit, starting and stopping, fading in and out, and generally detracting from the experience. It was quite poor and somewhat annoying. The highlight of the exhibition is the 360-degree Projection Room. This wall-to-wall (and floor) digital display creates an animated, immersive environment. Comfortable chairs and mellow background music make this a pleasant way to spend half an hour or more just relaxing. There were about six people in this very large room the entire time we were there. Unfortunately, the audio issues continued, and one of the digital projectors malfunctioned, projecting a message onto the middle of the floor that read: "The storage device is missing or damaged. Reinsert or use a new one." Overall, it's a fine way to spend an hour or so. Adult tickets run about $34, and the optional Virtual Reality experience costs an additional $5 on site, or about $10 extra if purchased as part of a VIP ticket online. I've heard that the quality of Monet: The Immersive Experience can vary by venue, since it's a traveling exhibition. Your experience may differ in larger cities that host the event, such as Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New York, Toronto, London, or Milan. Considering the Worcester presentation specifically, it was not bad, but not great. Three stars.

I'm not really an artsy person. I hated art class in school, both from a combination of lack of…read moretalent and bad teachers. Heck, I still draw stick figures for people. But, I have to say, this was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. While the experience is short, and probably should be about $10-$15 cheaper, I was very impressed with the experience, and it was a fun time. I did spring for the VR experience at the end, and it was a little underwhelming. I won't go as far as to say it was bad, but this was my first ever experience with VR, and it made me wonder what the hype was all about. It's basically akin to watching a cartoon, but you can turn your head to the sides and up and down and see more than you normally would. If you're an art lover, this is something you should do while they are still in the area. And even if you're indifferent like me, you should still have a good time.