Shopping Guide to Boston

May 25, 2006 10:26 AM | Comments (2) | Posted in boston_globe, boston, beacon_hill, zipcar, newbury_street, twins_on_yawkey_way, massachusetts_museum_of_contemporary_art, flat_of_the_hill, cambridge_side_galleria, harvard_university

Posh department stores and malls lie alongside thriving, one-of-a-kind independent stores in fabulous, one-of-a-kind Boston. And here’s a nice perk for your wallet: Massachusetts charges no sales tax on clothing purchases up to $175. The effects of the Tea Party continue to this day.

Boston Shopping Tips

 

 
1. Head to Newbury Street – If you can handle the in   scenes in Miami, Los Angeles or NYC, you’ll find the people watching   on Newbury Street interesting but not intimidating. The brownstone- and tree-lined   main drag is home to designer names like Armani, MJ, and Betsey Johnson but   you’ll find affordable trinkets at independent stores like Tibet   Emporium, The Hempest,   and one of the city’s best beauty shops, E6 Apothecary. Don’t   pass up the chance to dine outside, or try a local tea café, Tealuxe.   When you’re ready for more, check out our favorite spot to dig for gently   used designer goods, Second Time Around.
    
 
  Stop by Boylston Street – Parallel to Newbury, Boylston   Street offers access to Prudential   Center, a shopping concourse with favorites like Saks Fifth Avenue,   Sephora, and Lord & Taylor. The Pru, as locals call it, also has a Legal   Seafood branch, a local chain known for their seafood and clam chowder. Keep   walking and eventually you’ll reach the overpass that leads to Copley   Plaza (to avoid sounding like a tourist, it’s pronounced kop-lee), a complex   that houses a movie theater, the Westin Hotel, famous names like Neiman Marcus,   and a pampering emporium, Gretta Cole.
   
3. Hipster Yuppies Unite—Not far from Copley is the South   End. Best known for its fusion restaurants and picturesque brownstones the   ‘hood makes for an interesting mix of people. Mainstay boutiques like   Aunt Sadie’s sell great gifts but the burgeoning art zone, SOWA (South   of Washington Street), offers the best bargains; open studios are great places   to start an art collection. However, keep in mind the South End is one of   those areas that changes from adorable to barren in mere blocks.
   
 
4. Charming Charles Street—Beacon   Hill, arguably one of the most charming areas of Boston, is home   to a upscale restaurants and cafes and oodles of boutiques. But, it’s   main draw are many havens for aspiring sommeliers and antique collectors.   Though few clothing boutiques offer bargains, you can find fun books and accessories   at Flat of the Hill   and modern home goods at Koo de Kir.  
    
 
5. Fulfill Ivy League Dreams—Harvard Square isn’t quite   what it used to be but it’s still an entertaining destination with old   men playing chess at the Au Bon Pain, hopeful parents taking family portraits   on the in Harvard Yard, and street kids   camping out in ‘The Pit’. The main drag offers an array of clothing   and bookstores; forego B&N for the Harvard   Book Store, pick up fun gifts at Black Ink, and peruse the crowded   racks of the Oona’s, an old-school thrift shop. For small luxuries,   head to Brattle Street; Colonial Pharmacy is an area veteran with an extensive   selection of imported fragrances; Harnett’s has a great selection of wellness   products including natural beauty products; Burdick Chocolates offers a decadent   place to rest—gourmet sweets are always worth an extra penny. If you   have comfortable shoes, stroll Massachusetts Avenue from Harvard Square to   Porter Square. Along the way, you’ll find low-key clothing shops, great   Asian restaurants, and Barefoot Books,   a local favorite for children’s books.
    
 
6. Be Adventurous—It usually takes a new friend to break   our mundane fashion routine. Every Boston-area teen frequented The   Garment District in Cambridge’s Kendall Square during their   punk stage. If bins of $1 used t-shirts don’t excite you imagine racks   of funky vintage frocks and rooms full of amazing potential Halloween costumes.  
    
 
7. Be a Boston University student—Head to Packard’s   Corner via the B streetcar line. Stop at the Commonwealth Avenue Jasmine   Sola warehouse store and then head to the Allston branch of Boston’s   largest Asian supermarket chain, Super 88, for a bite. Shop for exotic food   from canned lychees to fresh fish and then prepare to be overwhelmed. The   food court houses about 10 kiosks proffering nearly every type of Asian food   imaginable including Korean Indian, Thai, Chinese, and Japanese. End your   day on a sweet note with an exotic Bubble Tea.
    
 
8. Something for the Fellas – Even if you’re not   a sports fan Red Sox memorabilia is a must. Head to Twins   on Yawkey Way for the goods and a peek at the park.
    
 
9. Boston is Very Cold -Try to avoid going for a huge shopping   excursion in the middle of winter. It’s much more fun to meander without   the threat of frostbite. The CambridgeSide   Galleria is a huge mall that’s within walking distance   of the Museum of Science, which has a large gift shop and an Imax Theater.
    
 
10. Rent a Car—Drive around everywhere when at all possible!   You can even try ZipCar for   day. Otherwise, master the “T”, Boston’s subway alternative.   Whatever you do, avoid the cabs, which are super expensive.
     

 
Boston’s Top Shop



Second Time Around

  Address: 76 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02116

  Phone: 617-247-3504

  Second Time Around boasts a selection of contemporary new and resale designer
  clothing. This store can be hit or miss, which explains why you’ll have
  to come back “a second time around.” When this store is hot, well…it’s
  really hot. Thanks to increased demand, they added locations in Beacon Hill,
  Harvard Square, and the suburbs. Known to sport Jimmy Choo, Seven and Rebecca
  Taylor on any given day, you must go with time on your hands to sort through
  the racks.



More Boston Information

· Boston Globe – The
Web site of Boston’s top daily.

· Boston Phoenix—A local
weekly newspaper with a great A & E section

· Weekly Dig—A weekly
with the scoop on the local underground music

· Harvard University—Tell everyone that you went to Harvard.

· Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts—Next
door to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, this grand institution has an impressive
permanent collection, a great gift shop, and often hosts international film festivals.

· Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary
Art—Gift shop with modern home wares

· Berklee College of Music—
A great resources for jazz and folk concerts

image courtesy of http://www.pbase.com/dellybean/image/50488368