Ten Thousand Villages — Local services in Baltimore

This store sells items made in the West Bank by a Palestinian family. When I asked the employee whether it was made by Palestinians, she refused to acknowledge that they were because “not everyone recognizes Palestine” and “she sees both sides.” She continued to explain that she refers to Palestinians as “Arabs” and Jews as “Israelis.” That is not seeing both sides. That is seeing Israel and choosing to erase the existence of Palestinians. It’s not political to simply acknowledge the existence of a people. It’s political to erase them. I’d encourage all who visit to purchase the Palestinian pottery and glass (both absolutely stunning) to support Palestinian business and to have conversations with those who work there to remind them that by simply refusing to acknowledge the truth that people exist and this is THEIR art contributes to oppression through...

You might think to go in here - I've passed this place dozens of times and never gone in (sorry), but finally we did the other day, and we were really happy we did. There are so many really neat little things in this shop, and the woman who was working there was very nice. From cute little things to decorate your house, to some clothing items and even to coffees from Africa, you can find a lot of handmade, well-crafted items, especially at this time of year, when you are maybe looking for something unique that you can't get at a Target or Amazon. Quick in and out, and come away with something original and...

This is a "must love" store because of the beauty of their items and the causes they support. If you want to offer someone a meaningful gift and not just more stuff, this is the place to shop. Definitely something for everyone, artfully arranged in limited space. It's a joy to just visit and see the artisans' works, smell the fair trade coffee, hear the chimes, think of children enjoying the toys, and imagine redecorating an area with the vibrant colors and patterns available. Make it a planned stop when you're heading towards...