Pearl Art & Crafts Supplies
From gooey finger paint to the finest in oils, this is the place for artists of all sizes. The store offers multi-colored pleasures, like markers, crayons, and spray paint. The tools of the trade are all here, too, including paint brushes, drafting tables, and portfolios. There is also a wide selection of stationary and greeting cards. The three-story shop even carries Bob Ross brand art supplies and paint. You'll be making happy little trees in no time. 579 Masachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Artful Hand Gallery
A multi-year winner, and still the best place around for great handcrafted jewelry, hand-blown glass, terrific pottery, fabulous clocks, and other one-of-a kind items. Copley Place, Boston, MA .
Pearl Art & Craft Supplies
Bins of brushes, passels of paints, plus everything from buttons and beads to hand-printed papers and zinc plates for etching fill the two floors of this huge art-supply supermarket. And all art books are at least 20 percent off. 579 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA .
Brodney Gallery of Fine Art
Don't let the name put you off. The Brodney Gallery of Fine Arts has a whopping collection of estate, antique, and costume jewelry, in addition to the expected paintings and sculptures. Go in and browse—it's a feast. 811 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
The Society of Arts and Crafts
Great gifts for the hard-to-buy-for in the artists' haven. Everything from bowls to birdhouses is nicely displayed. 175 Newbury Street, Boston, MA .
Petrushka at ArtsEmerson
Master puppeteer Basil Twist's adaptation of Stravinsky's ballet about a tragic love triangle among a clown, a ballerina, and a Moor managed to convey humanity and grace in the movement of Japanese-style marionettes. One compact hour long, it begged for repeat viewings from both kids and adults. Unique productions like this during ArtsEmerson's inaugural season have proven that this organization should be central to Boston arts for years to come. 559 Washington St., Boston, MA 2139, artsemerson.org.
Institute of Contemporary Art
New director David Ross turned it around. Boston, MA
Institute of Contemporary Art
They're not afraid to expose any medium, from M.G.M. musicals to Christo's drapes. 955 Boylston St., Boston, MA .
Art Cliff Diner
This small diner's sharp take on breakfast basics keeps the crowds coming: cod cakes topped with poached local farm eggs and hollandaise; fluffy "drunken sailor" pancakes with real rum raisins; and specials like crushed Frosted Flakes French toast. Night owls should watch for the Art Cliff's food truck, which serves nocturnal delights like hot dogs and whoopie pies, often until 2 a.m. 39 Beach Rd., Vineyard Haven, MA 02568, .
Fort Point Arts Community
Pricey condos and global corporations may now dominate the Fort Point landscape, but this nonprofit’s commitment to the neighborhood’s long-standing arts scene remains just as strong as the day it was founded in 1980. With some 250 virtuosos producing the paintings, photography, and sculpture shown in its various galleries, the space (pictured) is a cornucopia of the city’s finest art. And in a time of social distancing, FPAC has stayed active with an art-lending program and public pieces, including floating installations in Fort Point Channel itself. Fort Point, fortpointarts.org. 300 Summer St., Boston, MA 02210, fortpointarts.org.
Bella D'Arte
Owner Robin Reiser serenades her customers on the piano and offers them complimentary wine and cheese in the cozy atmosphere of her North End salon. The haircuts and color are good, too. 298 North Street, Boston, MA .
Lanoue Fine Art
Local masterpiece-mongers tend to deal in one of two extremes: jejune still-lifes geared to designers who spruce up Back Bay sunrooms, or sprawling esoterica that cause poseurs to start lusting for home-display space. Hewing a noble path between pear paintings and "environments," Lanoue focuses on established artists who tackle traditional genres—portraits, landscapes, even floral studies—with modern flair. Though varied in style, the monthly exhibitions all balance craftsmanship with conceptual edge, requiring neither advanced degree nor audio tour to blow you away. 125 Newbury St., Boston, MA 2116, lanouefineart.com.
New Art Center
In Newton's New Art Center classes, weekend collectors can ponder the age-old question—What Is Art?—then study the intriguing works showcased in the late-1800s Universalist church. Should you find something lacking in any of the canvases, prints, or sculptures, you can improve the view by organizing your own exhibitions: The guest curatorial program lets interested parties help decide what goes on display. 61 Washington Park, Newtonville, MA 2460, newartcenter.org.