As a former volunteer, I got to go to the pre- opening new thrift store at More Than Words. They…read moreare still selling books but have added gently used clothing for women, men and children and some shoes and bags. They also have some lovely household items including decorative pieces. I'm hard to fit but still found a gem and also found a perfect JCrew shirt for my husband. The place is beautifully organized and pricing - except for the highest end items- is uniform and easily displayed and very reasonable. I highly recommend this hidden gem!

More Than Words is a nonprofit bookstore that sells new and used books while supporting young…read morepeople ages 16-24 who are system-involved, including youth from foster care, court-involved backgrounds, housing insecurity, and more. The young people help run the store, learn job skills, and work toward personal and career goals--and it truly shows in the care and pride behind the space. The shop itself is small but mighty. I walked out with four excellent-condition used books (three of which had already been on my TBR list) and somehow also added two cookbooks because... no regrets. Everything was very affordable, and it felt good knowing my purchase was directly supporting youth in the local community. If you're near one of their locations (I believe there's another in the Boston area), I highly recommend stopping in or checking out their online storefront. Great books, great prices, and an even greater mission--absolutely worth supporting.

They had a broken 4 poster for 6 weeks, doesn't respond to calls, texts, emails. When I finally…read moregot ahold of him, he said he had 2 and 3 thousand dollar jobs; didn't when he would get to it...went to the shop and picked it up. Found a great guy, who responsed and fixed it quickly. The absolute worst.

Our 150 year old dining room table is ready for the next generation thanks to the work done at the…read moreBarn at 17. In fact additional leaves also were crafted to lengthen the table. They blend in as if they had always been there. We strongly recommend Dan and his shop to anyone who cares about restoration as much as does Dan. He is straightforward and has high standards and a lot of pride in his work.

The various art shows are wonderful and the classes are great. There's even a Gallery Gift shop…read morethat's open during the shows with handmade items like stained glass, ceramics, jewelry, wood and more. Plus there's free parking!

Right now, you can go to the Arts & Crafts Society to get your fix of handmade woodwork, pottery,…read morescarves, shirts, table runners, bottle stoppers, purses, jewelry boxes, vases, decorative plates, spoon rests, earrings, necklaces, watercolor paintings, and... I think that's about it. This month, the members have exhibited their wares - and everything's available for a very fair price. Perfect for getting that little "New England gift" for a family member. The staff is really friendly and talkative, asking lots of questions and giving you advice on how to make your own homemade things. Also, classes are available in everything from jewelry making to ceramics (hand building AND wheel throwing!), woodworking to knitting. Very nice, and perfect for those with too much energy.

Swampscott's Big Blue Bargains raises money for charity. They comb through the donations and don't…read moreput out any junk. The hours are limited, but it's worth a trip. I just want to correct what another poster said: Big Blue Bargains is located on Norfolk Ave in Swampscott and the back door of the former Clarke Elementary School (not the Middle School which is on a different street).

I almost want to keep this place all to myself, but I have to share whenever I find a great thrift…read moreshop. I went to Big Blue Bargains today for the first time. They're located on the backside of Swampscott Middle School and the friendly volunteers told me that they've been open for four years. They operate to raise funds for the Swampscott school system. This place is awesome - they have mostly clothes for adults and kiddos, with some small home goods and a smattering of other random items. I got some great stuff and all on the cheap - 2 pair of pants, 2 workout tops, a pair of boots, a backpack, and a couple small decorative items, all for about $20. I'll be visiting this store again, and I hope you will, too! Word to the wise, they're only open Wed mornings and Saturdays until 1 and they seem to be cash only (tho I didn't verify this).

I have taken two classes and one pottery series at FYA. I love that they make art accessible, I…read morehave been able to use their scholarship program for financial assistance. I enjoyed the two classes but the pottery class has been an amazing experience- I've seen myself improve during the short time I've been a pottery student (I made my first not crooked bowls last night!) and I think I could improve even more with more practice. I like how the pottery class allows for open studio time on top of the class time too, it makes it a better value for me.

We were in town for a short visit before heading out to boarding school. My son needed to finish a…read moresummer project and we were very lucky to find this place. Adam was a super volunteer, he is an experienced engineer and came out every weekend to help the kids and adults in the community. This place has everything you need and can be crowded on weekends. We hope to go back there soon.

Awesome place. Had a strange interaction with a staff member. Happy to share feedback if anyone…read morewants to reach out.

I'm reviewing the ILC as a volunteer teacher. This school is fantastic! I have been volunteering…read morehere for a few months and absolutely loving it. I am so impressed with the staff and students. The main focus of the ILC is their intensive English program for immigrants in the community. Students of all backgrounds can join the program (I believe there is currently a waitlist) and be placed into the appropriate level. I help out with the lowest level, where students started from basically zero English. The main teacher is amazing and I am truly impressed with how much the class has learned, all while having fun and creating a close community. There's also a computer lab where students do English practice while also learning computer skills. The ILC also offers other services, like an in-house social worker, workshops to teach other skills, etc. So happy we have an organization like this in Malden!

i'd definitely say that ILC is the best school to go. Awesome teachers, awesome staffs. ILC is GREATread more

November 2021 my 95 year old mother became a resident at Sutton Home for Women. I have been…read moreextremely happy with the care that she receives. The staff is more than wonderful; they go out of their way to make the residents happy and comfortable. Whenever my mom needs assistance with anything, someone is always there to help. The director, Barbara, is a godsend; she has gone out of her way to help my mom adjust with her new living environment. Barbara has helped me with many tasks as I live in another state and can't always be available when my mom needs assistance. Mom says the food is delicious and frequently there are delicious home baked treats for dessert. I especially like that the residence is small and has a homey feel. When searching for a residence for my mom, I looked at many places. I believe Sutton Home was definitely the right choice.