We happened upon this delightful independent bookstore after enjoying a late lunch at the…read moreMediterranean restaurant next door. It's brightly lit and beautifully arranged by theme, with lots of staff pick summaries/comments posted all around. Friendly staff and welcoming vibe. Great book selection of books!

This is such a cute and cozy bookstore! The River Bend Bookshop is set inside a refurbished old…read morehouse in downtown Gastonbury. It's an adorable New England town that looks like it was plucked straight from a movie. When you go inside, the store is so cozy. It's packed full of books and bookish merch, but so well set, there is plenty of room to explore. There are books in every nook and cranny, sorted by genre, with bookseller recommendations and plenty of signed copies. The booksellers are very knowledgeable and helpful too. If you are looking for a gift for an avid reader, they will definitely be able to help you find the perfect present. This is going to be a permanent stop for me every time I head through Connecticut.

I absolutely LOVE this store! There is a massive selection/variety of products. Many are unique…read more I'm not a massive shopper, and I don't shop because I think it's fun. I like to find. I like to find unique/quality things you don't get at Kohl's or Walmart or whatever. This place has the best stuff! Just a coment on a previous review I read recently where the person was complaining that staff offered to bring her stuff to the registers (she felt they thought she was stealing or something). No. They do it to convenience you. I have experienced it. Further, I had an armload of stuff yesterday. A staff member kindly brought me a basket b/c she saw it was a bit of too much to carry. I was pleased. Another great thing is that they let you use MULTIPLE coupons! I had a little over a hundred dollars worth of stuff, and I saved $30!

I absolutely LOVE this paper store. They're always soooooooo nice and I'm pretty sure they just…read moreknow me here as the Harry Potter girl because this is where I go for all things HP. Very clean, I've never seen this store looking disorderly, even during their busiest seasons. I'm sure I'll be back soon to see if there's any leftover clearance Christmas stuff.

This is such a neat spot on Pratt Street. For me, it's a perfect spot for buying a gift for the…read morecool person in your life. I popped in yesterday and bought some hilarious Birthday and Mother's Day cards as well as a trivia/card game. They have socks, kitchy kitchen stuff, lots of CT and Hartford themed t-shirts and much more. The layout is easy to navigate and the guy who was working on 4/8 was jamming out some sweet Prince tunes and he joked that he appreciated that me and my coworkers were singing along to it. Definitely check it out.

Hartford Prints is the cutest little shop! I went for their Heated Rivalry Day this weekend and it…read morewas so much fun. From author signings to charm bracelets at a GREAT price, color-your-own bookmark crafts, themed *complementary* drinks, $1 mini prints, flash tattoos, and even a loon calling competition. Such a creative and well-done event, love spots like this that bring the community together.

I love spending time in this pottery studio! The space is bright, welcoming, and always spotless,…read morewhich makes it nice to work in. All of the equipment is brand new and there's a great selection of glazes to experiment with. The teachers are not only skilled but also good at explaining techniques in a way that's easy to understand without making you do it their way....very much a try different things and see what works for you vibe. On top of that, staff and the owner are approachable and friendly. I also love that people in the studio are open to sharing tips and tricks--it feels like a supportive community where everyone helps each other grow. They also have many different classes and workshops so I cannot wait to try those next with friends! So happy this place opened in our community!

Bliss Pottery Place has everything potters and wannabe potters need to create ceramic art. The…read morestudio is nicely laid out, clean and well equipped. The best part of all are the people. Jaime and her team of instructors are unfailing kind, helpful and knowledgeable. Sign up for a class and be inspired!

I ordered several items for Christmas presents on November…read more18. I called Customer service on December 2 and was told the order would be re-submitted and sent out. I still have not received anything... and I need to mail it on to another state! What has happened?

This is a wonderful gift shop! I enjoyed visiting with the owner last fall when I stopped in. She…read morewas so thoughtful and kind! She took the time to gift wrap a pewter oil lamp for me which I really appreciated! I highly recommend her shoppe! She has owned it for many years and offers a great variety of beautiful gifts! DB, Bethel, CT.

Customer service is great, knows what I'm looking for and suggest nothing but the bestread more

My first experience with Omni Comics and Cards was a little over 18 years ago when it was in its…read moreold location up the street from where it currently is now. Omni was in its prime and extremely popular when it was in that particular location, Recently I made multiple trips to purchase some blaster boxes, one was a birthday gift for my little sister and the state of the store is absolutely appalling, boxes everywhere, trash all over the place, shelving units dismantled and strewn about the "back" area. I am surprised that they made no effort to conceal the disaster that the space has become from customers or heck, the fire marshal and the building department. the only navigable area is the small "sales floor" where their product is displayed and available to the public to purchase. I was also not impressed with the young gentleman who was at the counter who told me "why bother purchasing so and so products" because according to him, "they were not worth buying" and a "waste of money". I responded to his criticism and told him "it's not about value, but the thrill of the chase and finding the hidden gems" Anyways, that kind of attitude and demeanor is one of the many factors of why Omni has gone downhill. as for product, they have a really good selection of trading cards and other memorabilia at very reasonable prices. My hope is that they start to get more product in, clean up their mess and reassemble and stock the shelves to get it back to where Omni once was.

Glazed is such a gem! The staff are super helpful with tips and tricks, you really feel like you…read morecan create your wildest ideas. The space is huge, perfect for large gatherings or parties, and the selection is incredible, from decorative pieces to kitchenware and cute tchotchkes. I'm obsessed with my little duck and would definitely recommend for a fun outing.

Had the absolute best time and experience! Staff were helpful in explaining what to do, and made…read moresure to mention to not feel bad asking them questions. We came with a big group of 10 which we reserved the table, a few of us have never painted pottery before. Glazed had an abundance of options from plates to pet bowls, spoon rests, margarita glasses, holiday options, vases, you name it they have it! For beginners like me they also have stencils that one can use. Can't wait to pick up my finished piece!

Awesome work from Steve the owner! Steve does great work with reasonable prices. He does my wedding…read moreinvitations in stain glass.

The experience at this place is abysmal, the selection of books is fine and the toys for kids seem…read moregood, but the music? it was so loud that while I was trying to read I had to cover my ears to try and get some peace and quiet. It's all corporate pop and country songs, and it's incredibly annoying. it's a bookstore, how are people supposed to read a couple of pages of a book they're interested in if they can't hear their own thoughts? there is a reason that libraries are notoriously quiet places. This is a place of reading, not a supermarket. If I could suggest a music in case they actually read this and are dead set on playing music, please just play slow, quiet music. like some kind of Relaxed jazz, or just anything really.

Before switching over to Kindle, this was by far my favorite barnes and noble i went too. The staff…read moreis knowledgeable and helpful. The only thing I wish about this store is that a larger romance selection, but they definitely make up for this by having titles that Manchester doesn't!

Silver Dahlia is an accessory store for women. It is so filled with all sorts of nicknacks, you…read morewill be overwhelmed if you don't know what you're looking for. You'll find jewelry, hair accessories, Christmas ornaments, clothing, candles, home decor and more. The more you walk around the more you'll discover of what they have here. They also have a sale section by the front in the corner. The girls who work here, were all involved in private conversations, none of them were helping any customers. If you were to ask them something, you'd have to interrupt their important conversation. There were a few locations of this store, but now there's just this one left. It's easy to spend some time browsing through everything.

Fun store full of unique items! A great selection of gifts. I really enjoyed looking around and I…read morelove the things I bought!