The Toy Chest will make you feel like a kid again no matter what your age! I swung by Nashville…read moreafter a day spent at Brown County State Park and luckily got to drop into the Toy Chest before their 6pm closing. I had so much fun shopping for books for my niece, and even picked up some Smiskis for myself. They are the only authorized Smiski seller in the state of Indiana, so I'm happy I got to drop in. The prices are great and the staff are super friendly. It's definitely worth checking out!

Warning: Don't take your grandchildren, or you will come out broke! This is a cute little…read moreindependent toy store located in an old house in Nashville. The rooms are packed with higher quality toys for toddlers up to teenagers. There was an interesting assortment of books including early readers. They carry many Melissa and Doug toys. Expect premium pricing. The Toy Chest is an excellent place to pick up quality gifts while supporting a locally owned business. There is limited (free) street parking, so get there early or plan on walking.

We stopped into The Dragonfly Gallery in hopes of finding a unique gift and we were pleasantly…read moresurprised! I loved the setup of the store with an open upper level and a huge, beautiful staircase!! The store was well stoked, clean, and very organized. We were able to browse at our own pace without being hounded by pushy sales people, what a wonderful welcome that was!! We loved all the unique and quirky inventory. I thought the prices were just a tad expensive, but much better than shopping big box stores or ordering online.

Although focused on what might be perceived as women's interests, I, a guy, found stuff I liked…read more Yes, there are the shelves of scented candles (amazingly the scents are under control and I actually didn't sneeze). This is a great place for gifts. Lots of local handmade gifts, but also games, gloves, scarves, jewelry, and wine-bottle openers. No junk. Even the 50% off merchandise was interesting. There are a few duds, like garden seed kits with seeds graded for 2017, but there are some pretty interesting art objects, too. Cat lovers will like this place. Yes, I bought some Xmas gifts. Shhhhhh.

The Hoosier Artist Gallery is a cooperative of many talented artists. It was a treat to see so…read moremany varieties of beautiful handmade goods in one shop. Something for every taste and budget. A feast for the eyes.

I always stop in this gallery to browse the merchandise from local artists when I'm in Nashville…read more You won't find a bunch of country crafts here - these are the works of legit artists from ceramic vases to jewelry. The volunteers (the artists themselves) are always friendly and helpful should you need assistance. In the summer it is cool inside and always sparkling clean. Yesterday I bought notecards of painted woodpeckers and felted acorns to use as a photo prop. Note that there is a ramp up to the door facing the street but not the door facing the alley.

This is on my list of places I have to visit every time I return to Bloomington! They have tons of…read moregames, but I mostly check it out because of their unique used board game section. I have gotten a couple used games that normally would be too expensive for me to try, but their price convinced me to give them a go! Their staff is very friendly and is always eager to answer questions. Their games might be slightly higher than Walmart or Amazon, but I'm always happy to help out a locally owned business! Their location did move so just make sure to get their new address.

Always pop into game shops on my travels to see if any unique treasures await. Unfortunately very…read morehard to get certain Warhammer 40k stuff from the UK, but the manager and staff were very pleasant and helpful. They had MTG, D & D, paints as well as lots of puzzles and games. Conveniently on Kirkwood.

This shop is everything you would expect and more. First of all, the owner is fantastic. She is…read moreextremely knowledgeable and has literally every herb and crystal and candle and oil that you could possibly want. She has a black cat. She is fully legit and very kind.... and perhaps most important, she's generous with her knowledge. We stopped by because I wanted to get some uncommon herbs and some oils. The owner makes oils for many purposes and I can't wait to use them. This place has everything your witchy heart could desire. Top notch products, excellent pricing, and an expert owner. You really cannot get better than that. Go to this store immediately!

Everything I needed, and the service was friendly. Prices are affordable for the great things they…read morehave to offer.

This place might best be described as "off the beaten path". Not only literally (It's along…read moreJefferson St) but in the type of things you will find here. The website associated with the business lists gifts, cards, art, vintage, and curiosities. That pretty well covers it. The building, like many in Nashville, is a former home turned business. As you enter, there is a staircase that leads up (I'm not sure that area is open to the public). A couple of staff were having a conversation as I strolled through the house. I noticed miniature houses/rooms recreated by the owner who spent time as a curator of furnishings for a New York museum. I also found puzzles and pencils and a diverse group of items that may work as a gift or as a conversation piece in your home. I didn't see anything that screamed "buy me" while there, but it was an interesting place to check out. You never know what you will find. Review #2780

One of my favorite parts about visiting Nashville is stumbling across little locally owned shops…read moreyou weren't planning to visit...and Lakehouse Candle Company was exactly that kind of find. We were staying in a nearby cabin for the weekend when I realized I'd forgotten to pack a candle from home (yes...I'm one of those people ). We stopped in hoping to grab one, and I'm so glad we did. The shop itself is absolutely adorable--bright, organized, and full of incredible scents. Mandy hand-pours every candle herself, and narrowing down my choices was honestly the hardest part of the visit. Whether you like fresh, fruity, bakery, floral, seasonal, or woodsy scents, there's something here for everyone. The real test came once we got back to the cabin. I lit one that evening, and it burned beautifully. No tunneling, no overwhelming perfume smell--just a clean, even burn with a fragrance that filled the room without overpowering it. Exactly what I was hoping for. I also picked up a few of the handmade fire starters (sadly Mother Nature had other plans, and the hot, muggy weather meant no campfire this trip), so I'm already looking forward to trying those next time. One of the coolest things in the shop is Mandy's collaboration with a local potter. You can purchase one of the handmade pottery vessels and have your candle poured directly into it, creating a one-of-a-kind piece that's both functional and beautiful. But honestly, what made this stop memorable wasn't just the candles. Take a few minutes to chat with Mandy and Andrew. They're incredibly welcoming, genuinely kind, and the kind of people who make you feel like you've known them longer than the ten minutes you've been standing in their shop. Those conversations are what make small businesses so special. Needless to say, I left with more candles than I originally planned... ...and absolutely zero regrets. The next time we're back in Nashville, Lakehouse Candle Company will be one of our first stops.

Downtown Nashville is full of cute little unique shops around every corner. One of my favorite…read moreshops is Lakehouse Candle Company, a place that specializes in candles and scented items. This is a woman-owned business, and it offers hand-crafted candles created with quality ingredients, all made with care and attention. I visited for their Pour & Restore event, which had us creating our own candle, and then enjoying a gentle yoga session in the candle shop. During the Pour & Restore event, we first got to walk around and sniff all of the candles to figure out what we wanted our candle to smell like. I like natural scents, so I chose a herbaceous, clean scent. Then, we were led through a candle-making demonstration, where we got to mix our scent, pour our own candle, and come up with a name for our new scented candle. (I chose ILY, because that combination of letters is significant to me!) While we waited for the candles to set, we were led through a restorative yoga session right there in the store. It was a wonderful experience to lie on the mat and breathe in the warm and fragrant scents that were all around us. I was lucky to participate in the inaugural Pour & Restore event at Lakehouse, but if they offer this again and you have to opportunity, I highly recommend attending! Doing yoga in a candle store is way more relaxing than I could have imagined. And even if you don't do yoga here, you need to stop in and check out the candles. There are so many wonderful scents!

They closed their store near Target and have moved down the mall, now occupying the space formerly…read moreinhabited by Victoria's Secret. The same stuff, now a larger space, a slightly longer walk. Yes, the grand piano will be there. As of July 25th, they're doing a "soft opening" and a grand opening will happen in the near future. It's amazing how fast they rehabbed the old Victoria Secret space. Same good local-area artist works, clothing, wall art, jewelry, post/greeting cards, and more. Worth a visit and supports local artists.