Elsie Kaye's is full of unique and beautiful gifts. From jewelry to kitchenware, there are so many…read morespecial finds. I attended a bead-making demonstration with the owner Holly. She showed us how to make several styles of beads and at the end let us each make 2 of our own. She offers several classes at her studio. I highly recommend visiting her studio to check out her classes or just top shop!

A bunch of friends and I met up at Elsie Kaye for a metal stamping party... oh my goodness, how…read morefun. (And we made some pretty awesome jewelry too.) What a different, interesting and memorable way to spend an evening. Holly is not only a perfect hostess... (fun, joyful, entertaining) but a great teacher and guide... and she is patient beyond measure. Her shop is gorgeous -- white fur rugs and a little jewel box of a sitting area -- and all the bells and whistles and glassblowing "things" to make magical little pieces of art. What a great place to spend time with friends and make some pretty cool memories... (Thank you Holly!)

My experience is only based on my 4 year olds birthday party…read more We recieved a flyer in the mail and my daughter said "I want my birthday here and I want my whole class to come (21 kids)" Plus she has friends from outside of class. So I looked into it and it seemed reasonable. 2 instructors, 2 hour 15 min party, pizza, juice, paper products all included. The kids would bounce on two seprate inflatabes and play several games. It sounds great! Pros: the kids had a fun time. Cons: There were 30 kids there and only one instructor showed up. The pizza took forever. The kids were given fruit punch in open cups and juice was flying everywhere. Hello? juice boxes!!!! It was a huge mess. Then to top it off...the kids were given a "goodie" bag with a bunch of promotional flyers in it with an inflatable soccer ball. I was told they would get the beach ball (which is great), but my daughter's party was not a promotional event for their buisness. I found it really tacky. The girl that ran the party was clearly overwhelmed to be in charge of a group of 30 kids and their parents. It was underwhelming to pay $250 for a poorly run party. We will NOT be back anytime soon. : - ( My advice: go to My Gym in Framingham or The Little Gym in Westborough or Pump it Up in Shrewsbury. We went to parties there that were much better.

I asked how competitive the league was, and I was told that it was more competitive than…read morerecreational. Coming from playing in college, this was a lie. It's fine that it was for beginners, but I do not appreciate not being told the whole truth. Volleyball was played on indoor grass made for indoor soccer, which by no means makes it suitable for a competitive player. The net was very loose and made it difficult to play on. Worst of all, was teams constantly forfeited so there weren't many games we played. Wish I could have my money back and that it was handled differently.

I had a very disappointing experience at the Boroughs Family Branch YMCA today. My group arrived at…read more12:15 PM for pickleball, adhering to the facility's 15-minute transition rule following the 11:15-12:00 Pilates class. While we were simply picking up a net to prepare for our time slot--without even entering the room yet--the Pilates instructor shouted at us, claiming she had the room reserved until 12:30 PM. Actually her class was done and she already packed to leave the front door. The room was completely empty. As long-term members, we were not interfering with her class or disobeying any regulations. Being yelled at in public for no reason was humiliating and unprofessional. This level of disrespect is not what I expect from YMCA staff, and it truly ruined our day. I hope management addresses this behavior, as instructors should maintain a basic level of courtesy toward members."

I had reviewed the Y in Westborough a couple of months ago. I joined to swim - to swim laps. The…read moreschedule says LAP SWIM, and a varying number of lanes are open depending on the time of day. Nevertheless, the staff doesn't seem to understand the meaning of LAP SWIM. They allow people to linger and stand around in the lanes while people wait to swim. I understand accommodations are made for the elderly and special needs people. If you're a serious swimmer, don't join. I would like a staff member to leave a contact number for a discussion.

My kidds love the summer programs. They also attend the winter and spring break session. Both…read moremy kids ask when they'll be going back. My daughter has even told me she wants to be a counsler there when she grows up. We'll be signing them up again next year.

i attended the karate program here for multiple years and had a very enjoyable experience! i'd…read morehighly recommend this facility to anyone who is interested in sports, martial arts, or physical fitness in general!

Great non-profit camp for kids 8-17 interested in LARP, gaming and meeting others with similar…read moreinterests. Heroes (campers) spend their days adventuring and exploring the grounds, making choices that will impact the story moving forward. It's an inclusive community for those wanting to get outdoors and bring the stories of literature, history, and myth to life (while swinging a foam sword). I've worked there several summers. It's home to many campers and staff, finding the magic of The Story School calls them back to answer the call of adventure! They also offer scholarships, sibling discounts, and multi-session discounts to make camp accessible. They are also hugely focused on inclusion within the LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent communities. I wish we could host camp all year!

From the owner: The Story School is an interactive, immersive, and inclusive nonprofit summer camp for heroes ages…read more8-18. Campers are transformed into heroes at this overnight eduLARP camp. Stories from history, mythology, and literature come to life in an engaging plot that reacts to the choices of the campers. Level up your character by solving STEAM puzzles, navigating moral challenges, battling monsters with foam swords, and making lifelong friends. In-person camp is a two-week overnight adventure. The Story School also offers online roleplaying adventures, D&D games for all ages, and birthday adventures to top it off. What adventure interests you? Contact us today!

Our family has had an incredible experience at Fitzgerald Community School, and we cannot imagine…read morebeing part of a more supportive, nurturing, and inspiring community. One of the things that had initially drawn us to FCS (and what I believe makes them so special) is its amazing nature-based curriculum. We had sought out opportunities for education outside of the "traditional" classroom setting and FCS is exactly what we hoped it would be. The opportunities for children to learn through exploration, outdoor experiences, and have meaningful connections with nature, create a rich and engaging educational environment that is truly unique. After spending this past year amongst this community, it became apparent that we absolutely made the right decision for our daughter. The unwavering support, love, and kindness shown by the learning coaches and staff is something I imagine would be hard to find elsewhere. Every member of the community is deeply invested in the well-being and success of each child. They meet students where they are, recognizing and celebrating their individual strengths while providing thoughtful guidance and encouragement in areas where they need support. They also work continuously to foster relationships among the community (cross classroom learning, "Friendship Fridays", etc.); to help each child grow not only as learners, but also as compassionate and capable individuals. Our daughter has absolutely thrived at FCS this past year, both academically and socially. Her confidence, resilience and curiosity has flourished and that was in no small part to her being surrounded by people who truly care about her growth and happiness. We are endlessly grateful for this remarkable community and cannot recommend the Fitzgerald Community School enough, to any family seeking an educational environment where children are genuinely supported, challenged, and celebrated, each and every day. We look forward to many years ahead at FCS.

If you are looking for a nature-based, whole brain / body learning experience for your child, I…read morehighly recommend Fitz! My husband and I were looking for a nature-based preschool for our son in Central Mass. A friend recommended Fitz and we fell in love with the program. The school has before care, after care, summer camp and holiday programs. It's our one-stop support system since we came from out of state. The property backs up to a nature reserve, and the kids spend hours outside learning and playing. The class ratios are small, and the different age levels interact with one another. My son loves having an older reading buddy and playing with older and younger kids. I love that my child is getting fresh air, sunshine, and learning through play. One of my favorite parts of the school is the support we got as parents. The owner of the school is an experienced child education consultant. She regularly hosts parenting classes and community events. My child is strong willed and stubborn, and the school taught me how to work with his personality so that everyone in our family is happy and harmonious. One of the core values of Fitz is preserving childhood. In this day and age of stress and sensory overload, I'm so glad there's a place my child can go where he gets to learn and just be a kid. Developing curiosity, relationships, and critical thinking are some of the positive traits we've watched our child develop at Fitz. The only "negative" I can think of is that once you experience this education model it's hard to go back. Once we learned that most of the public schools have 15 minutes outside per day, we re-enrolled for kindergarten. The school currently runs to grade 5. I'm so glad we found it.

Lilliput is a fabulous center, that both of my children have attended.( One currently enrolled for…read morethe 2018/2019 year). Their staff and curriculm are phenomenal, and my children have thrived in their care. Highly Recommended!! - Chrissy, a blessed mom of two.

I have joined my 3 years old son this year and Principal Linda and her colleagues were so nice and…read morewarm during the initial tour and Open house. Principal Linda's experience in the filed of education is equals to my age. I was a big fan of her ethics and principles. Linda and her daughters will be looking after the school so its family owned school( not a business). I am happy and impressed the way she evaluated my son and gave the suggestions for after school.She knows most of the kids name .Class rooms were bright and colorful with lot of educational toys and books. Finally i loved the tuition structure it was economical , for extended day care she charges per hour which is fantastic. I recommend to all the parents who are thinking to start their kids for the preschool.

Updated Post: June 2021 My family's time at Skribbles has…read moresadly concluded. My oldest graduated in August of 2016. My youngest just graduated in June 2021; she's been a part of the Skribbles family since infancy. Her vivacious and social attitude is credited in no small part to Tara's fantastic team. Through every classroom, every event, every improvement, there has been a thread of love and respect for the children and each other. We were very fortunate to have found this place and I hope they continue their great work for years and years. Thank you, Skribbles. We miss you all the time. Original Post: March 2016 I love Skribbles and my 4 year old loves it, too. This is his 3rd daycare location and he has definitely communicated what he does and doesn't like in a facility. Skribbles is tops. We've moved a couple times recently, so I've probably interviewed/visited at least 20 daycares in the New England area. Skribbles has a quality that you can't quantify with certifications, advertising or statistics; they really like teaching and playing with kids (They being the leadership and the staff) It is that "hunch" or "word of mouth" quality that is really hard to know without experiencing it. I certainly didn't know about it when we started out on this process years ago. I'm not sure how else to describe it; every place has a similar minimum standard. Every place keeps the kids supervised, fed and provides engagement. But, some places (I don't like) feel more like a business and treat the kids as a commodity. You don't see teachers really sitting down with the kids. A big tip off is you see teachers always talking to each other and not the kids. Great places, like Skribbles, the attitude is totally the opposite. When I first visited, in each room the teachers were sitting down with kids and actively participating with the kids, not just supervising, not just monitoring. It makes a difference to the child, it makes it a place the child wants to come back to again and again.

Your response raises a question that I think deserves a clear answer…read more We had two outfits belonging to Skribbles at our home that had not yet been returned. We acknowledge that, and we should have returned them sooner. But there were approximately seven babies in the classroom. Are you saying that having two of the center's backup outfits temporarily out of circulation was enough to leave the center with absolutely nothing clean and appropriately sized to put on an infant? If so, that raises a serious question about whether the center was maintaining an adequate supply of backup clothing in the first place. Massachusetts EEC regulation 606 CMR 7.11(11)(c) requires the licensee to have sufficient clean and dry clothing available to change a child whose clothing becomes wet or soiled. And 606 CMR 7.11(12)(a) requires educators caring for children under 2 years 9 months and/or children who are not toilet trained to ensure that a change of clothing is available for each child. So there seem to be only two possibilities. Either there truly was no clean clothing available in his size, in which case I question how that squares with the EEC requirements above -- particularly if two borrowed outfits being at our house was enough to exhaust the system. Or there was clean clothing available, in which case I would still like to understand why an infant was handed to his parent wearing nothing but a diaper. So, either you only had exactly 2 outfits that you could have put my son in, or your staff was in fact being petty. Which is it? This also was not a situation where we unexpectedly appeared at pickup. Skribbles called us and told us to come get him. No one said, "He has run out of clothing, please bring an outfit." Had anyone done so, I obviously would have brought one. Your response places considerable emphasis on the fact that some borrowed clothing had not yet been returned. We have never denied that. But forgetting to return two outfits does not explain why a licensed childcare center caring for a room of infants apparently had no other clothing available, nor does it eliminate the center's regulatory responsibility to have sufficient clothing available for children in its care. I also want to clarify that my concern is not dependent on proving anyone's motive. I described how the situation appeared to me at the time. Whether it was intentional or simply the result of inadequate preparation, the end result is undisputed: I arrived after being called for pickup and was handed my infant son wearing only a diaper, with no warning that I needed to bring clothes. That is the issue. And I'll add, you'd think if you were "so concerned with security and safety", you would have reached out to us to figure out what deficits we were concerned with that were not listed here. As of writing this response, they have not attempted to contact us to figure out what our concerns were. So take that as you will.