Splurge Worthy: Shopping in New Bedford
http://www.newbedford360.com/articles/articles/31/1/Splurge-Worthy-Shopping-in-New-Bedford/Page1.html
AHA! (Art, History & Architecture)
AHA! presents 2nd Thursday year-round FREE nights of Art, History & Architecture programs in Downtown New Bedford with 37-venue partners.
Call us at 508-264-8859 or visit us at www.ahanewbedford.org.
The AHA! Project was formed in 1999 by a dedicated circle of cultural leaders, downtown businesses and individual artists. Since July of that year, the project has continuously presented its 2nd Thursday events. What originally included 14 venues now numbers 37 and spans eight galleries, three museums, The National Historical Park, City Hall and The Library, many of the downtown’s unique stores, restaurants and cafes as well as individual artist studios, a meditation center, several churches, The Bristol Building, The New Bedford Preservation Society and The UMass Dartmouth CVPA Star Store. AHA!’s mission is to collectively promote downtown culture and work towards greater sustainability of the downtown cultural scene and partner organizations.
AHA!’s articles on http://newbedford360.com are part of an expanding effort to bring more attention to the wealth of cultural events and experiences happening in downtown New Bedford.
By AHA! (Art, History & Architecture)
Published on 07/3/2007
If you are looking for the best in fine or funky art, antiques, jewelry, or maybe just a unique item that is NOT mass-produced, you will want to set aside time this summer for shopping in Downtown New Bedford. The following galleries, boutiques and eclectic shops are sure to contain a few “splurge worthy” items.
Splurge Worthy: Shopping in New Bedford
If you are looking for the best in fine or funky art, antiques, jewelry, or maybe just a unique item that is NOT mass-produced, you will want to set aside time this summer for shopping in Downtown New Bedford. The following galleries, boutiques and eclectic shops are sure to contain a few “splurge worthy” items.
Strolling through the cobblestone streets of historic downtown New Bedford and taking in the beauty of the architecture can be rewarding in itself. But when you pop in to the city’s galleries, boutiques and quaint shops, the experience is priceless!
Take the Tatlock Gallery as an example. This gallery, occupying a circa 1815 Greek Revival building, is poised on the corner (Water & Center Street) of one of the city’s most picturesque blocks. Tatlock’s range of art spans works in oil, acrylics, graphite and silkscreen. The eclectic mix includes hand-painted furniture, bronze wind-bells, and Nantucket baskets, as well as an assortment of greeting cards, frameable calendars, small prints and special edition books. Gallery Manager Jena Holt has an eye for what is special and takes great care in presenting local and regional artists.
Just down the street from Tatlock is the Wilson Gallery at 25 Center Street, featuring fine contemporary artwork. Visiting artists and artisans provide a unique collection of items ranging from fine art to textiles and pottery, while Ronald Wilson’s photographs put you in close contact with the natural world.
The more boutique-like venues on this block include “be jeweled” and “Blush Beauty Bar”. The “be jeweled” boutique is a visual feast of wearable art and includes everything from stylish affordable pieces to more special occasion gifts and splurges. The staff is friendly and glad to help you look and dream a little as you try on what catches your eye.
Blush Beauty Bar is the latest arrival in the New Bedford shopping scene. This cosmetics and skin care boutique features high-quality cosmetics, fragrances and skin-care products for both women and men with prices ranging from $5 to $150. The boutique also offers spa services, make-up application, on-location bridal or special event services, cosmetics application instruction, and after-hours parties, among other services.
Just up the street on the corner of Johnny Cake Hill and William Street is the New Bedford Whaling Museum housing a gift shop where you can purchase Maritime books, lovely gifts, educational toys for children and even an attractive quilted jacket or pair of whale slippers! Don’t forget that the New Bedford Art Museum and the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum also have museum shops. Often these small boutiques can provide the perfect gift that is hard to find in retail stores.
On the opposite corner of Johnny Cake Hill and William Street is the Arthur Moniz Gallery, featuring works of art by Arthur Moniz in graphite and watercolor depicting natural and rural scenes. The Moniz Gallery also carries artisan crafts, antiques and antique art.
Continuing East on William Street you will find more jewelry at The Pegasus Artisans shop and studio located at 65 William Street. Pegasus specializes in fine handcrafted jewelry and visitors are encouraged to stop in and learn more about the craft. Many locals work with owner Don Hoaglund to have wedding rings made. In this small shop there is a window into Don’s workspace.
Around the corner at 384 Acushnet Avenue is the Artworks! gallery, located in a historic 130-year-old building. Artworks! is a special place to experience the creative process, meet working artists and buy a work of art or make a work of art of your own! Right now the Teen Artist Internship Program show has an array of affordable art.
Also on Williams Street, a bit further east up the hill, is “Something Xtra” in the lobby of Gallery X at 169 William Street. At the “Something Xtra” shop you can purchase stunning contemporary works of art by local and regional artists in various mediums that are moderately priced.
Walking back down Williams Street, take a right onto Pleasant Street and walk a block south to Calico at 528 Street on the 2nd floor. This vintage and designer clothing and accessories boutique carries one-of-a-kind vintage that is hand-picked for quality and style. Their growing selection of designer lines include: Rebecca Turbow’s Safe, Nature vs. Future, and Guy Baxter of Los Angeles. Calico also stocks hand-painted tees and stationary, and accessories by local and regional artists.
Take a walk one block west on Union Street to Purchase Street and there you will find: Celia’s Boutique; the Crystal Garden, The Dolls Closet & The Green Lantern; and the one and only Elaine’s T-shirts shop. At Celia’s located at 800 Purchase Street you can find casual and sophisticated apparel. The Crystal Garden, Dolls Closet & Green Lantern at 772 Purchase Street are three specialty shops under one roof carrying everything from dolls clothes to collectibles and crystals to semi-precious stone jewelry and gifts. And, don’t leave town without the famous Black Whale merchandise that Elaine’s T-shirts at 778 Purchase Street carries.
This tour certainly covers the bases in terms of what shoppers can find in New Bedford. Come spend a summer day here and see what other little gems you’ll discover along the way. The experience is rewarding is many ways.
Strolling through the cobblestone streets of historic downtown New Bedford and taking in the beauty of the architecture can be rewarding in itself. But when you pop in to the city’s galleries, boutiques and quaint shops, the experience is priceless!
Take the Tatlock Gallery as an example. This gallery, occupying a circa 1815 Greek Revival building, is poised on the corner (Water & Center Street) of one of the city’s most picturesque blocks. Tatlock’s range of art spans works in oil, acrylics, graphite and silkscreen. The eclectic mix includes hand-painted furniture, bronze wind-bells, and Nantucket baskets, as well as an assortment of greeting cards, frameable calendars, small prints and special edition books. Gallery Manager Jena Holt has an eye for what is special and takes great care in presenting local and regional artists.
Just down the street from Tatlock is the Wilson Gallery at 25 Center Street, featuring fine contemporary artwork. Visiting artists and artisans provide a unique collection of items ranging from fine art to textiles and pottery, while Ronald Wilson’s photographs put you in close contact with the natural world.
The more boutique-like venues on this block include “be jeweled” and “Blush Beauty Bar”. The “be jeweled” boutique is a visual feast of wearable art and includes everything from stylish affordable pieces to more special occasion gifts and splurges. The staff is friendly and glad to help you look and dream a little as you try on what catches your eye.
Blush Beauty Bar is the latest arrival in the New Bedford shopping scene. This cosmetics and skin care boutique features high-quality cosmetics, fragrances and skin-care products for both women and men with prices ranging from $5 to $150. The boutique also offers spa services, make-up application, on-location bridal or special event services, cosmetics application instruction, and after-hours parties, among other services.
Just up the street on the corner of Johnny Cake Hill and William Street is the New Bedford Whaling Museum housing a gift shop where you can purchase Maritime books, lovely gifts, educational toys for children and even an attractive quilted jacket or pair of whale slippers! Don’t forget that the New Bedford Art Museum and the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum also have museum shops. Often these small boutiques can provide the perfect gift that is hard to find in retail stores.
On the opposite corner of Johnny Cake Hill and William Street is the Arthur Moniz Gallery, featuring works of art by Arthur Moniz in graphite and watercolor depicting natural and rural scenes. The Moniz Gallery also carries artisan crafts, antiques and antique art.
Continuing East on William Street you will find more jewelry at The Pegasus Artisans shop and studio located at 65 William Street. Pegasus specializes in fine handcrafted jewelry and visitors are encouraged to stop in and learn more about the craft. Many locals work with owner Don Hoaglund to have wedding rings made. In this small shop there is a window into Don’s workspace.
Around the corner at 384 Acushnet Avenue is the Artworks! gallery, located in a historic 130-year-old building. Artworks! is a special place to experience the creative process, meet working artists and buy a work of art or make a work of art of your own! Right now the Teen Artist Internship Program show has an array of affordable art.
Also on Williams Street, a bit further east up the hill, is “Something Xtra” in the lobby of Gallery X at 169 William Street. At the “Something Xtra” shop you can purchase stunning contemporary works of art by local and regional artists in various mediums that are moderately priced.
Walking back down Williams Street, take a right onto Pleasant Street and walk a block south to Calico at 528 Street on the 2nd floor. This vintage and designer clothing and accessories boutique carries one-of-a-kind vintage that is hand-picked for quality and style. Their growing selection of designer lines include: Rebecca Turbow’s Safe, Nature vs. Future, and Guy Baxter of Los Angeles. Calico also stocks hand-painted tees and stationary, and accessories by local and regional artists.
Take a walk one block west on Union Street to Purchase Street and there you will find: Celia’s Boutique; the Crystal Garden, The Dolls Closet & The Green Lantern; and the one and only Elaine’s T-shirts shop. At Celia’s located at 800 Purchase Street you can find casual and sophisticated apparel. The Crystal Garden, Dolls Closet & Green Lantern at 772 Purchase Street are three specialty shops under one roof carrying everything from dolls clothes to collectibles and crystals to semi-precious stone jewelry and gifts. And, don’t leave town without the famous Black Whale merchandise that Elaine’s T-shirts at 778 Purchase Street carries.
This tour certainly covers the bases in terms of what shoppers can find in New Bedford. Come spend a summer day here and see what other little gems you’ll discover along the way. The experience is rewarding is many ways.