The owner of Persnickety Toys (13 Eagle St., 413/662-2990, 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Thu., 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Fri.–Wed.) got so sick of driving to specialty stores for non-mass-produced toys that she opened her own shop.
The one-of-a-kind folk-art objects at Widgitz (16 Eagle St., no phone) include country scenes painted on saw blades by a local barber.
Tucked into an unassuming storefront, Tangiers (45 Main St., 413/664-4444, tangiersnorthadams.blogspot.com, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Mon.–Fri.; 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sat.) is a treasure trove of post-ironic gifts, along with a massage parlor and tanning salon.