3 Places to Spend Your Sunday at SoWa in 2021
3 Places to Spend Your Sunday at SoWa in 2021
SoWa stands for “South of Washington Street” and is Boston’s design and art district located thirteen minutes from The Upton (by walking). In the recent years, Boston’s art scene has shifted from Newbury Street to the SoWa neighborhood and the area is full of artist studios, boutique stores, vintage markets & more. There are so many destinations to visit within a very small radius making SoWa a wonderful, engaging area to explore. If you are interested in experiencing Boston’s art scene, we recommend looking at the SoWa calendar and checking out their monthly events. During the summer SoWa hosts a large outdoor farmer’s market featuring local producers. We didn’t include the outdoor market on this itinerary just because it is only in the summer, but if you are reading this during the summer it is definitely worthwhile to check out.
Check out the SoWa Vintage Market
Every Sunday (and select Fridays) SoWa hosts a mid-sized market offering all things vintage: clothing, furniture, jewerly, accessories, artwork, suitcases, cups, and the list goes on. Start your Sunday SoWa stroll here. The selection changes and if you live in Boston this might become a weekly staple for you. Keep an eye out for the vintage games section and enjoy the nostalgia of dinosaur figures. We bought a vintage sign of Boston here that we had framed and hung in the entrance of The Upton. They have a large clothing selection that is great for vintage fashion lovers or vintage resellers. Many of their home decor offerings come in full collections and you could definitely buy some awesome home decor here.
SoWa Vintage Market interior
2. Explore the SoWa artist studios
Artist directory for SoWa artist studios
SoWa is buzzing with creativity. Many Boston artists have their studios located there and have public hours when you can view and purchase work. If you recently moved to the South End neighborhood, this is the perfect place to fill up your walls with beautiful local artwork. There is a directory in the lobby of the building that has a list of every artist, an example of their work style, and their studio number. I recommend taking a picture on your phone of the studio numbers that you want to visit. Alternatively, stroll through each floor and enjoy the mystery of discovering new artists to love. Often times the artist themselves are in their studios. If you have trouble connecting with art, the opportunity to talk to the artist makes selecting pieces much more meaningful and easier. Many artists also do commissions too!
3. Shop at SoWa local businesses
Jewelry at Wyllo
SoWa is lined with local small businesses. I check out Stitch & Tickle and Wyllo every time that I am in the area. Stitch & Tickle is an independent lifestyle boutique that sells home decor, handmade leather handbags, ceramics, and more. This is a great place to buy yourself a gift, functional Boston sourveigner, or something for a loved one. Wyllo is a women owned and operated store that curates products from women owned businesses. The owner, Alyssa, is a jeweler and sells her own beautiful handmade jewelry. My sister bought two of her rings that she wears everyday the last time that she was here.