For context, I rate products and businesses on a simple scale: 5 stars means I love it, 4 stars…read moremeans I like it, 3 stars is okay, 2 stars means I didn't like it, and 1 star means I hated it or think it's unsafe. 5 stars earned here. Wits End in Clifton Park is a really neat, very expansive store. Every time I go in, I feel like I could walk around for an hour and still not see everything. They have all kinds of decorations, and if you are looking for unique Christmas ornaments or special decor pieces, this place is absolutely worth checking out. It is not just seasonal either, there are gifts and decorative items for all times of year. They even carry clothing. The prices are not cheap, but the store has an upscale aura and I personally do not mind paying more for items that feel unique and well chosen. It does not feel like a big box store, it feels more like a specialty shop where you find things you would not see everywhere else. I have heard people say the staff walk around and watch customers closely. Honestly, I can understand why. The layout has to be a security challenge, there are multiple rooms, different levels, and even an upstairs. I would imagine shoplifting could be an issue in a store set up like this. For me, the staff have always been friendly and helpful. I actually wonder how they keep track of where everything is in a place that big, that alone is impressive. Around Christmas time it gets very busy, which says a lot about how popular it is. I usually make it in about once a year during the holidays, but you could shop here anytime for unique gifts. The only thing that feels a little off putting to me is the number of signs about broken ornaments and being charged 50 percent if something is damaged. I do understand why they have them, a lot of people do not watch their kids closely and accidents happen, and adults break things too. Still, seeing the signs all over the place does change the feel a bit. That said, it definitely does not stop me from coming in. Overall, I really enjoy this store and always find something interesting when I visit.

I've been going here every year for probably 6 years for Christmas shopping. I purchase ornaments…read morefor my family. This is the first year that they not only removed the price strip on the ornament tag and replaced it with a higher sticker price, but they also now charge you for the BOX THE ORNAMENT CAME IN. I also noticed they jacked up the price of some of the more affordable jewelry. I like to support local but next year I just will not be able to support this business and will purchase online from somewhere else.

Stopped in after we left the General store. This was a cute little gift store with a good…read moreselection on locally sourced artisan sourced gifts. We were there late in the day so really did not find much I was interested in but would love to come back in over the Holidays. They had a good variety of items which was nice but prices tended to be on the high end.

Such a super cute gift shop with a large variety of unique gifts. You can find gifts for babies,…read moreyour bestie, your mom, your favorite griller, your gardener, or even your pet. The woman running the store was so sweet and helpful without being pushy. Even the basic wrapping with a purchase, makes it feel like something special. The store is broken up into sections with different vibes/themes of gifts. Would definitely recommend stopping by if you are in the area and looking for a unique gift.

What a cute spot! Easy to find and a lot of parking made this an easy choice. The options were…read morenumerous and all the pastries looked divine. I chose a cranberry muffin and vanilla latte-both were tasty. The breakfast sandwich was received fresh and piping hot and was also pretty great. I can't wait to return to try more drinks and food.

What a cute store! Perfect for a Sunday outing in late summer/early Fall! We perused the vintage…read moreand boutique items for sale. Then we had lunch, listened to an acoustic guitar player and walked around the an art show. They serve their own food ( I had a pilgrim wrap with turkey, cranberry mayo and stuffing.) and also had a taco truck available. A great afternoon.

Lakeside Farms is such a treat! We ordered some pies ahead of Thanksgiving and decided to grab some…read morelunch while we were there. The place was packed, but the lines were always moving. Service was exceptionally friendly and they have something for everyone. They have a general store, fresh market and a gift shop. We perused all of them and took home some baked goods along with holiday decorations. My turkey sandwich was simple, yet delicious. I also enjoyed their selection of sodas and beverages with cane sugar.

Lakeside Farms is a cozy village spot to shop for produce, meats, pastries, and it is a nice place…read moreto have lunch. My hubby and I had different pastrami sandwiches and cider. We also had the potato salad. We were so full! We did not visit the apple barn or the gift store, so I cannot comment on those yet.

What a great country store. It's been in the area for many, many years, but this is the first time…read morethat I've ever visited. Tons of gift items and tchotchkes everywhere plus some really yummy looking baked goods. It took every ounce of my willpower to not indulge in the cider donuts or double chocolate cookies or pumpkin pie or apple fritters...etc. Attached to the adorable country store is an equally adorable café called Lunch Thyme. They only serve lunch as per the name. Locals remember when they had a big breakfast offering back in the day. New owners are running a lovely, clean, fresh and simple menu as of April, 2022. I had a turkey sandwich with a side salad and homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Iced tea was just right and the portions were "normal". Nothing too overstaffed and I really liked the condiments. I tasted the quiche, macaroni, salad and cheddar broccoli soup. Everything is clearly homemade and quite delicious. Friendly service, nice people, good food, chill vibe.

Once it was said to me: The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth…read more And then it was said to us: But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. Indeed, upon entering a new restaurant, we ask ourselves: Is it managed by The Wicked? Will they gnash upon us with their teeth? We choose to still take the risk. Will we will be gnashed to tiny pieces, or will we feast upon the fine goods of the earth? So, of course, this was the concern to be had top of mind upon entering Fo'Castle Farm and proceeding into the depths of Lunch Thyme. Indeed! Lunch Thyme is somewhat within the bowels, or--we might say--the entrails of Fo'Castle Farm, which is not to say that it is walled in and airless like a prison cell. The guest finds an open and welcoming space, a thick leather couch, many screened windows, and the vast smile plastered upon the face of the owner(s). Lunch Thyme welcomes its visitors into its warm and breezy arms. It offers a small but finely chosen selection of items. Quiche lovers, sandwich lovers, salad lovers, and soup lovers alike will find solace in the menu at Lunch Thyme. One can sample a roast beef sandwich on a tender ciabatta roll, a salad with roasted beets, or several juicy and meaty balls on a bread as if it were taken from Italy itself. And the prices. The prices, it may be said, are reasonable for the area: not a bargain per se, but nor does Lunch Thyme greedily tear away visitors' wallets to gorge itself upon their contents. In short, it is reasonable. That is it. That is it indeed. In a word, Lunch Thyme is reasonable.

This place is great but the front end help doesn't care about customer service. I was there today…read more(May 28 - noon) and whoever was working at the checkout was rude, impatient and could care less about delivering a terrific experience. I'm a Platinum customer and have been loyal for years. If Hallmark cares about sending the very best this person isn't helping you to deliver that message. Give it some thought they're not helping your business. Not sure I'm coming back when you're treated like this.

This is a nice Hallmark store. Admittedly, they are mostly of the cookie-cutter variety in that…read morethey have the same items, usually are arranged the same way, have the same prices, etc. However, this one was pretty convenient to get to when I lived in Clifton Park. The staff was always friendly, which is the most important thing in a store like this. One thing I missed about other Hallmark branches was the 40%-50% discount on Christmas ornaments the day after Christmas. Here, they offered a discount but it wasn't as generous. I suppose I shouldn't fault them for that, but I rely on those sales to decorate next year's tree!

Awesome place! So many different vendors and inventory to choose from! It's like a small mall!read more

There are 2 cool things about Artique Co-op: the variety that you get as a shopper, and the fact…read morethat they give all these local start-ups a place to set up shop. When I say variety, I mean reallly variety! Dog treats, melted glass bottles, light bulb ornaments, crocheted socks, amber jewelry, a clock that runs on water, a barber chair, pasta sauce, a heart made out of wine corks, fashion clothing designed just for you, Americana, hats for Saratoga track season, sparklers, polymer clay jewelry, and artwork made out of bent forks. What this translates into is that you KNOW you will find something when you walk in, because the interests are so wide. Regarding the start-ups, it's neat for them to have a place to launch their businesses while having some support or infrastructure at the same time. I wish there were more places like this.

Cutest apothecary shop I've ever been to. This was so similar to Schitt's Creeks Rose apothecary…read more You'll find local merchant items, candles, fragrances, artworks, sage, stones, skincare products, rugs, household items, there are so much to look at. As you walk into the shop, you'll also find a cute little cafe that serves pastries, coffees, lattes, teas. There's a small seating area with a couple of chairs and tables for people to work, study, or even catch up with friends. It's a great place to be around people if you're sick of wfh.

b. Inspired Home is a shop/boutique on a small strip on Nott St in Niskayuna; it's delightful,…read morecharming, and reminiscent of Provence, France. I purchased gorgeous hand towels & liquid soaps, gifts for a friend, The store owner, Anne, is friendly, and I told her of my excitement about my flight to see and gift my friend. She made sure to alert me that unless I was checking the bag, my gift of liquid soap would be rejected at airport security. If I was only using carry-on, she recommended the 4oz hand cream which my friend adored. I was so thankful because I would have had to throw out the beautiful French hand soap that I'd just purchased! Thank you for such a personable and kind experience. This shop takes me back to kinder, gentler days of healthy main streets filled with little boutiques curated individually to reflect the human sensibility of an individual, NOT a soulless corporation. b.inspired home is a truly beautiful gallery offering vintage and new treasures. In addition to such a nice selection, I was delighted to see original paintings by a local artist. I really liked the art and was surprised at the selection of magnificent pieces like one depicting Florence and another of Aix en Provence. Wandering between beautifully curated display tables, I could not help but sing along with French Icon, Edith Piaf playing in the background. How befitting in this boutique in Niskayuna which looks like a shop that I could have stumbled upon along the French Riviera. Merci Beaucoup, Anne. Thank you for bringing this gem to our community.

Captain's Treasures is a great non profit to support since it helps local people. One-hundred…read morepercent of the proceeds from CAPTAIN's Treasures supports programs for kids, families, and seniors. I stopped on a Wed. at 10:30 to donate clothing and home goods. There were no parking places in front. Since donations are dropped off in back, I found the last parking spot in back. Parking is inadequate. CAPTAIN's Treasures is a next-to-new shop that provides gently-used, quality clothing and home goods at great savings for families - all while supporting kids, families, and seniors in the community through CAPTAIN CHS's over 30 programs and services. CAPTAIN's Treasures also provides clothing and household goods at no cost to individuals or families suffering significant hardships, such as victims of domestic violence or theft, or who have lost their homes due to fire or other disaster. More than 60 dedicated volunteers help to operate the shop and organize the generous daily outpouring of donations from the community.

I have been shopping at CT for at least 11 years and the whole place is amazing. The volunteers and…read morestaff are so friendly and welcoming. They help me out on a weekly basis. I look for vintage items and I've found some of the most unique finds there. One time I found some cow dolls with frilly dresses on and I made a video of them dancing. It was a hit! You never know what you might find at Captain's Treasures. I have found Pyrex mixing bowls in the Americana design. I'm saving them for my daughter. I think the reason why I never reviewed the place before is because I'm afraid that everyone will find out about it! It's too late..the people I see shopping there love it also. Thanks Captain's!