Best place to buy a spark-spitting nun and wash her mouth out with designer soap

A block from where Le Grand David, the David Copperfield of Beverly, wields his magic at the Cabot Theatre every Sunday, is a small chain of storefronts called collectively Casa de Moda. The store keeps expanding and gets more and more eclectic, though it's always been fun to poke around in, especially in October, when the self-proclaimed "Halloween Headquarters" fills up with all things costume, from racks of phony mustaches and fake blood to full-size togs to turn you into anything from a goth to a banana. Year-round, though, Casa offers a good snoop and a motley collection of reasonably priced goods, from its nice collection of ethnic and silver jewelry to toiletries ranging from Crabtree & Evelyn to a lip balm called Total Bitch. There are whimsical lamps and yoga gear, bedspreads from India and lanterns from Japan, sushi plates, bar accessories, hippie tea, games and crafts, playing cards decorated with the oeuvre of Toulouse-Lautrec, floating candles in the guise of olives and eyeballs, a small selection of world music, and a world-class collection of cards both artsy and amusing. The little plastic Sister is called Nunzilla and she walks while spitting sparks; if you like, you can wash her mouth out with a Swedish facial soap made from egg whites. There are even silk purses -- no sows' ears, though.

Casa de Moda, 272 Cabot Street, Beverly, (978) 922-8100; www.casademoda.com.