There are some excellent city shops, but watch out for the big box stores where guy selling you skis today is moving onto patio furniture next month.
It's impossible to get more than one season out of kid's boots. They're too big one year, perfect at baseball season and too small the next year.
It's amazing how short you can go. I've been telling people that the ski tip should come up to your nose.
Skip a year of buying skis and really get the right pair of boots that fit snugly. Boots have a much bigger impact on how well you ski.