Although I have made frequent visits to Cambridge, MA, I have unfortunately never stumbled across borders into its neighboring city of Somerville, MA.  Now that I have become acquainted with Magpie, however, I can’t wait to venture into Somerville’s Davis Square! While Magpie draws their inspiration from the ever-burgeoning arts and crafts communities, they themselves have become a major inspiration to many. Their eclectic mix of gorgeous one-of-a-kind finds and ‘perfect gifts that are chock full of personality’ are sure to bring out the inner creative visionary in all of us!

Q: How would you describe your store aesthetic?
A: Hip handmade, DIY.

Q: Tell us a little more about Davis Square and why you love it so much!
A: Davis Square has a little bit of everything condensed in a 3 block radius. There’s a classic 100 year old movie theater, great restaurants, one of the few remaining candlepin bowling lanes in the country, cool bars, live music, theater, yoga, shopping, a tiny park, and in the middle of it all is a pedestrian area where street musicians play and people hang out eating locally made ice cream.

Q: Are there any fun or interesting facts that you could share with us about Magpie?
A: We carry works from over 700 artists, crafters, and designers.

Q: When not in your store, where is the next most likely place you would be?
A: At Goodwill trying to find a vintage score.

Q: Do you have any favorite restaurants in Somerville?
A: That’s a tough one; there are so many great ones in Somerville. But I’d have to say Highland Kitchen.

Q: If there is 1 thing someone must do when they visit Somerville, what would you recommend?
A: Visit Sacco’s Bowl Haven/Flatbread Pizza. It’s an amazing place where you can have a great pizza made in their stone oven, drink a local beer or two on tap, and then bowl a few games (or strings as they’re called around here).

Q: What is next for Magpie…are there any upcoming ‘can’t miss!’ special events or sales?
A: We’ve started an “artist of the month” program this year. We work with some of our favorite artists to design items specifically for Magpie and highlight their work for a month.

Q: Are there any blogs or magazines that you follow or draw inspiration from?
A: Design Sponge, Apartment Therapy, Hello Adorable.

Q: Where do you find all of your unique products?
A: Everywhere! A lot of artists contact us directly. I go to a lot of craft fairs. And of course there’s Etsy.

The votes have been tallied and Nashville just edged out Rome. So be on the look out this summer for the Nashville Maptote!

We’re incredibly excited about our recent collaboration with Urban Outfitters. Now you can find your favorite Maptote design printed on adult t-shirts. The t-shirts are made exclusively for Urban Outfitters, so find them on their website or a UO store near you.

Our Store Spotlight this week takes us to Catbird in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Since 2004, owner Rony Vardi “and her amazing technicolor dream team” have been hunting down the best of the “eclectic…glamour, strangeness, and sparkle.” If that’s not enough to make you wanna jump on the L and head over to the ‘Burg, then…well…you might be impossible to please, ’cause Catbird is awesome!

Q: Any fun facts about Catbird that we should hear about?
A: Our shop may be smaller than your closet. Also, it used to be a cell phone store…how unglamorous!

Q: Tell us about your neighborhood and why you love it?
A: We fully realize there are many, well-deserved reasons to poke fun of our beloved Williamsburg, but despite that I find it to be such a vibrant and exciting place to be. People take risks here – in the businesses they open as well as the clothes they wear.

Q: When not in your store, where is the next most likely place you’d be?
A: At home with my kiddos.

Q: Favorite restaurant in the ‘hood?
A: Oooh that’s so hard. I love Roebling Tea Room and Saltie – for some casual yet totally delicious dining.

Q: If there is 1 thing someone “must do” when they visit, what would you recommend?
A: Walk across the Manhattan Bridge. Or eat food from a truck. Or people watch at any of the cafés. Ok, that’s three things.

Q: Whats next for you/your store…. any upcoming sales/events?
A: We don’t ever have sales and our store is too tiny for events! But the blog and website are where we have the most room to expand and we are constantly adding new things and fleshing out new ideas there.

Q: What blogs/magazines do you follow?
A: I’m not very diligent in that respect, and I don’t want to leave out any friends, but I just looked in my history and today I read these blogs: The Selby, Into the Gloss, Cup of Jo, East Side Bride, Oh Happy Day, Dinner: A Love Story and We Could Grow Up Together.

Q: Where do you find all of your products?
A: Well, we make a fair amount ourselves. As for the rest? Everywhere. We stop people on the street, people email us, we trawl the web, we go to markets. Everywhere everywhere everywhere. And everywhere.

Q: What was your inspiration/motivation to open your store?
A: I have always loved coming up with projects and having different aspects to my life. I was at a stage in my life where it made a lot of sense to take a risk. We lived in a (tiny) rent-stabilized apartment in Williamsburg and a store front became available around the corner, where there was not much going on at the time, and I just dove in. It was sort of like, if I don’t do it now, when would I ever do it?

Q: How did you come up with the name Catbird?
A: I have an old Audubon poster called Birds of the Northeast that has a cute little catbird on it. It seemed like a mutable name that I could use no matter what form my shop took, and I knew that the first incarnation would be just that. It’s a word that looked good, graphically, and didn’t pin me down to one thing.

Visit Catbird in Williamsburg, blog, and online store!

Yay! Our Manhattan Double Wine Totes were recently featured in Wayfare Magzine (one of the most beautiful magazine’s i’ve seen in a while!).

This installment of Store Spotlight takes us to Tokyo, Japan! Having lived in Tokyo for a few months back in my glory college days, I have been especially stoked about this posting on Commune. Serving as part gallery/part cafe/part store, Commune definitely sets itself apart from your everyday cafe. Owner Mikuki Kawabe opened Commune in 2009 and has since been impressing everyone from the goods she sells to the events she hosts. Read more to find out!

Q: What is Commune’s aesthetic?
A: The look of my shop has wide windows on all walls. [It's] always widely open to everybody. I just want to have things I believe [to be] “nice”! It doesn’t have to already be famous or very indie, it just has to be something new and good…always.

Q: Any fun or interesting facts you’d like to share?
A: Commune is a gallery, cafe and shop. And also sometimes a small venue and club. There are acoustic lives every week and a DJ party every month! You never know what’s coming next!

Q: Tell us about your city/neighborhood.  Why do you love it?
A: Commune is close to Shin-Daita, which is very close to Shimokitazawa, where it is popular for many artists from several genres to live. From young students to old/mid-age people, they have all been active in the art community here. There are lots of venues, record shops, theaters, used clothes shops and etc. As you can imagine, it’s a very interesting place!

Q: If it weren’t for your store, where is the next most likely place you’d be?
A: If it’s in Japan, I would be in Kyoto teaching calligraphy. And if it’s anywhere in the world, I would love to live in Helsinki. I fell in love when I traveled there.

Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in your neighborhood?
A: City Country City. They serve great pastas! They also sell used and vintage records.

Q: If there is 1 thing someone “must do” when they visit your area, what would you recommend?
A: Oh, it’s hard to choose one , maybe I would say, “find delicious ramen!” There are lots of ramen shops in the area.

Q: Whats next for you/your store…. any upcoming sales/events?
A: YES!  Our next exhibit is called kiss♥KISS♥Kisu♥ by team-m (koem) of MMK. Check out all our events here!

Q: What blogs/magazines do you follow?
A: When I have the time….my friend’s photo blog. She is one of the most promising photographers in Tokyo. She also writes another blog that talks about her husband, who is a famous rapper in Japan (ECD), and their two sweet daughters. Sorry that one is only in Japanese.

Also, handmade craft artist Ebony’s blog: Hello Sandwich. She is from Australia and loves Japanese culture and Tokyo. Her blog is very useful when you want to know what to do or where to go in Tokyo! She knows more Japanese than me!

Q: Where do you find all of your products?
A: All over the world, especially in U.S., North Europe (Sweden and Finland) and South-east Asia. We also sell some goods made by artists that had exhibits previously at Commune.

If you find yourself in Tokyo, be sure to visit Commune! You can also follow Commune on Twitter, Facebook,  shop at the online shop, and read the blog!

It’s Valentine’s Day again and whether you despise it entirely or eagerly look forward to it, we’ve got a few Valentine themed favorites–even umbrellas!–that are sure to make everyone fall in love.

The most important part of Valentine’s Day? The sweets, of course. Valentine’s Day is like grown-up Halloween (i.e. CANDY OVERLOAD), so grab some classic candy hearts and fancy yet delicious chocolates, ’cause no one likes those mystery chocolate boxes. Impress your Valentine even more by being crafty with Crush soda…plus it gives them something with which they can wash all those sweets down.  Of course you can’t give candy without a card, so spice it up this year and give a Mapnote to your secret admirer.  Oh, and if you’re takin’ your Valentine on a date, look for a cozy, romantic place that’s doing a Valentine’s dinner special like our favorite James Restaurant in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn.

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

-MAPTOTE

Our Dopp Kits have been getting so much great press lately! Most recently you can find them featured in Everyday With Rachel Ray’s March 2012 issue. Thanks, Rachel Ray!

Starting this Monday (February 13th) Maptote will be at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center for the Pool Trade Show until February 15. Come by booth 303 to say hi and see all our new and exciting stuff.

Our store spotlight this week takes us to Toronto, Canada’s very own Drake General Store. Even though it serves as the hotel gift shop for the Drake Hotel, this isn’t your everyday gift shop. The co-directors of the General Store, Carlo Colacci and Joyce Lo, have been filling the General Store to the brim with an array of goodies since 2008. Find out more in the Q&A!

Q: How would you describe your store’s aesthetic?
A: Each of our stores are filled with a sense of whimsy and nostalgia; capturing inspiration from the classic general store, the museum shop and the flea market stand.

Q: Tell us about your neighborhood and why you love it.
A: We’re lucky enough to be in three very distinct and alive Toronto neighborhoods: West Queen West, Rosedale and Niagara. Each neighborhood has its own personality and we’re lucky to be member of each of them!

Q: When not in your store, where is the next most likely place you’d be?
A: The St. Lawrence Antiques Market

Q:Favorite restaurant in the neighborhood?
A: The Drake Hotel + The Harbord Room

Q: If there’s one thing someone “must do” when they visit your area, what would you recommend?:
A: Other than stopping by The Drake General Store, we would recommend: in West Queen West having a drink at The Drake Beer Garden, in Rosedale having a mouthwatering sandwich from Black Camel, and in Niagara visiting the hidden Ireland Park at the foot of Bathurst Street.

Q: Whats next for you/your store…. any upcoming sales/events?:
A: We have an in store and online sale going on through today, so hurry and stop by!

Q: What blogs/magazines do you follow?
A: The Drake General Store Blog, Apartment Therapy, Design*Sponge, Reference Library, Purple Diary and Opening Ceremony

Q: Where do you find all of your products?
A: We search high and low for our treasures! Secret can be found on our shelves.

Be sure to visit the Queen, Rosedale, and Bathurst locations and their online shop. Also, follow them on Twitter, like them on Facebook, and read their blog and vintage blog.