Perrys Music Center

For more than 35 years, the music gurus, instrument-repair specialists, and educators at Perry's Music have equipped aspiring musicians with acoustic and electric instruments of all kinds. Visitors pick out a shiny new or gently used guitar, mandolin, or ukulele from brands such as Seagull or Godin, studying how to create beautiful music with them during sessions with knowledgeable teachers. Parents looking for a rewarding afterschool activity enroll their teens in Rock 'N' Roll University, where students learn to practice and record with band mates, write their own songs, and tackle the difficult second-album slump.

The blond-wood walls of the Perry's emporium bristle with acoustic and electric guitars, banjos, and accessories, whereas the shelves show off row upon row of new and used amplification and PA equipment. Amateur and professional musicians bring in their instruments and electronics for repairs at the hands of an in-house amp and guitar technician, and monthly acoustic open-mic nights find crowds of music lovers singing, playing, jamming, and making new friends.