You’ll get the best of countryside and seaside next weekend with the SouthCoast Open Studio Tour. Artists in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts are opening their studios to the public again this year, this time Saturday and next Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The tour runs through Tiverton, Little Compton, Westport and Dartmouth and includes 30 to 40 individual artist studios and galleries along the way. You’ll travel down narrow lanes, visit small villages and meet the artists, from painters and glass blowers to jewelry makers and potters. Admission to all studios is free. Information and maps are available through www.openstudiomap.com and from Amy C. Lund, Handweaver Studio & Gallery, (401)816-0000, 3879 Main Road, Tiverton.

How’s your college student buying those textbooks? Try online this year, suggests a new survey. Campusbooks.com, an online bookstore started “by college students tired of paying outgrageous prices for textbooks” that now evolved into a comparison shopping Web site, says students now spend an average of $900 for textbooks. They suggest your student can save by comparing prices online. They claim an average savings of about half online, including an average price break of 38 percent even on new textbooks. Worth a look.

Speaking of back-to-school shopping, the Steve & Barry’s University Sportswear in the Silver City Galleria in Taunton is open in spite of the national chain’s bankruptcy problems. The clothes have special appeal to tweens (though clothes are for men, women and children), nothing in the store costs more than $20, and many items are frequently on sale for $8.98 or less — including Stephon Marbury’s “Starbury” basketball shoes and sweats, Bubba Watson golf shirts and shorts and jeans, shirts and shoes from Sarah Jessica Parker’s “Bitten” and Amanda Bynes’ “Dear” labels. The designer stuff is in addition to the store’s main fare, a full line of collegiate apparel featuring local favorites such as Providence College and Boston College. Call the Taunton store at (508) 884-9501 or check out www.steveandbarrys.com.

Scooping out wet dog food is enough to make you lose your own appetite. You can spare your cutlery the contact with the Scoop ’N Lid, a combination can sealer and food scooper. Dishwasher safe, it fits most small and large food cans. Available for $4.99 from www.retailpets.com or call (877) 364-8697.

This column rounds up local news involving stores, services and products. Send items three weeks in advance to What’s In Store, Sunday Lifebeat, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902.

— PAM THOMAS