The best book, hobby & craft shops in Easton

UMBC Bookstore is where you grab course materials without the headache, then wander into racks of Under Armour gear, alumni swag, and spirit items that make your black-and-gold heart happy. They’ve got techcessories, graduation essentials, gift cards, and the Yum Shoppe for emergency snacks... because midterms happen.

From the Baltimore newsletter, October 21, 2026

Kraven's Comic Books and Collectibles is the kind of place you wander into for a comic and leave with action figures, trading cards, video games, and even vinyl. They also handle CGC/PSA/CBCS submissions, cleaning and pressing, plus disc resurfacing... perfect for reviving those well-loved stacks.

From the Cambridge newsletter, October 23, 2026

Bookseller chain stocking housebrand eReader, plus a broad selection of titles for adults & kids.

Flying Cloud Booksellers in Easton nails that sweet spot between buzzy bestsellers and lifelong-keeper classics, with thoughtful picks across fiction, biographies, design, food and wine, and the natural world.

From the Easton newsletter, October 23, 2026

Romance-Landia Bookstore is the local HQ for happily-ever-afters, stocking everything from Clean & Wholesome to Dark Romance, LGBTQ+, Hockey, and Romantasy, plus Blind Date with a Book picks and book boxes.

From the Centreville newsletter, September 24, 2026

Denton folks, when your dice need new luck or your deck needs that one elusive single, Portals Games & Comics delivers with board games, card singles, RPGs, minis, paints, manga and puzzles, plus a comics pullbox and friendly events just over in Easton.

From the Easton newsletter, October 18, 2026

Craving a proper crate dig this weekend? Byrdland Records keeps the bins packed with 5000+ new and used titles, turntables and gear, plus Saturday Spins with vinyl DJs, and even a New Columbia Record Club, all from the team behind Songbyrd Music House.

From the Washington newsletter, October 21, 2026

Need a creative reset this week? Merry Pin DC is part craft store, part café, part community hangout, stocking legit supplies and easy DIY kits, plus low-pressure workshops where you can learn a new skill, sip something tasty, and leave with a project you’re actually proud of.

From the Washington newsletter, September 29, 2026

MICA College Store is Baltimore’s art pantry, loaded with brushes, gouache and acrylics, sketchbooks, printmaking supplies, stretcher bars, and raw materials from fabric and foam to wood, plus student-made goods, tech, and MICA 200 merch. Perfect excuse to restock this week and actually start that project.

From the Baltimore newsletter, October 1, 2026

Baltimore Music Company keeps it all in-house with stringed instrument repair and restoration, Plek services, paint and finish work, and pedalboard/rig building that tames cable sprawl and tone chaos. Give your guitar or bass some love this week, your future gigs will thank you.

From the Baltimore newsletter, October 29, 2026

Need a new obsession that actually sounds good? Middle C Music is the neighborhood DC spot for instruments, sheet music, and the lessons to back it up, with private and group options for kids and adults. They also handle rentals and repairs, plus musician-approved gifts, and were named a Top 100 music store.

From the Washington newsletter, October 14, 2026

Whether you’re dusting off a trumpet, hunting a starter guitar for the kid, or finally booking those piano lessons, Music on the Hill has a legit neighborhood shop vibe with rentals, repairs, private and group lessons, plus summer camps to keep the momentum going.

From the Washington newsletter, October 28, 2026

Chain retailer carrying art & hobby supplies plus home decor (most offer classes & custom framing).

Georgetown University Bookstore is your local fix for course materials, notebooks, calculators, and tech, plus fiction, nonfiction, vinyl, gifts, and sleek diploma frames. This week, grab snacks and study essentials, pick up some Hoya spirit gear, then pretend you only went for a pen.

From the Arlington newsletter, October 31, 2026

Chain retailer carrying art & hobby supplies plus home decor (most offer classes & custom framing).

Looped Yarn Works in Dupont Circle has aisles of yarn, handy notions, and pattern-packed publications, plus knit and crochet nights, classes, and meetups. Drop in to stitch for a bit, get friendly help, then proudly tell your group chat you finally finished that sweater.

From the Washington newsletter, October 11, 2026

Wide-ranging gear store for reconditioned woodwind, brass and percussion instruments, as well as guitars and more.

From hand-painted canvases and DC-themed designs to diverse fibers, starter kits for both grownups and kids, and expert finishing, The Point of It All makes summer stitching stupidly fun. Grab a cute needle minder this week, then get lost in their Spring Market 2026 lineup.

From the Arlington newsletter, October 17, 2026

Som Records keeps the stacks deep with used, new, import and rare vinyl across rock, soul, funk, go-go, reggae, salsa, punk and more. Friendly, knowledgeable humans steer you to dollar-bin miracles and hard-to-find gems, plus it's Record Store Day approved, so this week's crate-therapy is basically guaranteed.

From the Washington newsletter, October 7, 2026

Whether your trusty fiddle needs a tonal adjustment or you’re hunting for a violin, viola, cello, or a freshly rehaired bow, Perrin & Associates Fine Violins has the know-how to make you sound like you actually practiced. Rentals, repairs, and instrument care tips to get you playing happier this week. Check it out.

From the Baltimore newsletter, October 15, 2026

Crate-dig your way through punk, indie, and hard-to-find vinyl, CDs, and cassettes at Smash Records, then snag a vintage band tee that still smells like a basement show. A very DC institution, equal parts record trove and rock wardrobe, perfect for refueling your playlist and your closet this week.

From the Washington newsletter, October 30, 2026

The Sound Garden-Baltimore is a sprawling indie record store Germantown collectors love, with over 100,000 hard-to-find new and used records, CDs, and DVDs, constant new arrivals, an artist-signed section, and the option to sell your vinyl, CDs, and movies when it's time to purge.

From the Baltimore newsletter, October 8, 2026

Chain for decorative paper, crafting supplies & quirky gifts, plus custom stationery.