Here I've singled out establishments that I especially like and neighborhoods that suit shoppers interested in particular types of merchandise. Addresses are in Boston unless otherwise indicated.
Antiques & Collectibles -- No antiques hound worthy of the name will leave Boston without an expedition along both sides of Charles Street from Cambridge Street to Beacon Street, and a detour to River Street (parallel to Charles, 1 block closer to the river). Also see the listing for the auction house Skinner.
Art -- The greatest concentration of galleries lines Newbury Street (at street level and above); budget some time for exploring. Browsers and questions are welcome. Most galleries are open Tuesday through Saturday or Sunday from 10 or 11am to 5:30 or 6pm. Exhibitions typically change once a month. For specifics, visit individual websites, pick up a copy of the free monthly Gallery Guide at businesses along Newbury Street, or check with the Newbury Street League (tel. 617/267-7961; www.newbury-st.com).
An excellent way to see artists at work is to visit during neighborhood open studio days. Artists' communities throughout the Boston area stage the weekend events once or twice a year. You might be asked for a contribution to a charity in exchange for a map of the studios. Check listings in the Globe and Herald or visit www.cityofboston.gov/arts for information.
Books -- The Boston area is a book-lover's paradise. It's an important stop on most author tours; check the local papers or stop by any store that sells new books for details on readings and book-signings.
College Merchandise -- The big names are BU and Harvard (you'll see Boston College merchandise downtown, too), but why stop there? Look like an insider with a T-shirt from the Emerson College Book Store, 80 Boylston St. (tel. 617/728-7700; T: Green Line to Boylston); the MIT Coop, 3 Cambridge Center (tel. 617/499-3200; T: Red Line to Kendall/MIT); the Northeastern University Bookstore, 360 Huntington Ave. (tel. 617/373-2286; T: Green Line E to Northeastern); or the Suffolk University Bookstore, 148 Cambridge St., Beacon Hill (tel. 617/227-4085; T: Blue Line to Bowdoin).
Craft Shows -- New England is a hotbed of fine crafts, and the Boston area affords many opportunities to explore the latest trends in every medium and style you can imagine. Prominent artisans often have exclusive relationships with galleries; an excellent way to get an overview is to attend a show and sale. The best-known exhibitions, both in the Back Bay, are prestigious weekend events that benefit nonprofit organizations. Crafts at the Castle (tel. 617/523-6400, ext. 5987; www.artfulgift.com/catc) takes place in late November or early December at the Castle, an exhibition space on Columbus Avenue at Arlington Street; CraftBoston (tel. 617/232-7000; www.craftboston.org) takes place in mid-May, and will be held at Bostons World Trade Center from May 21-23, 2004 this year.
Fashion -- Newbury Street is ground zero for high-end boutiques and if-you-have-to-ask-you-can't-afford-it designer shops. Bring your platinum card to Chanel, 15 Arlington St., in the Ritz-Carlton, Boston (tel. 617/859-0055); Ermenegildo Zegna, 39 Newbury St. (tel. 617/424-6657); Gianni Versace, 12 Newbury St. (tel. 617/536-8300); and kate spade, 117 Newbury St. (tel. 617/262-2632).
An Outlet Excursion -- If you can't get through a vacation without some outlet shopping, the fact that you're traveling car-free doesn't have to stop you. Back Bay Coach (tel. 877/404-9909) operates daily service to Wrentham Village Premium Outlets (tel. 508/384-0600; www.premiumoutlets.com), a huge complex about 45 minutes south of Boston. Its dozens of outlet stores include -- and this is merely scratching the surface -- Anne Klein, Banana Republic, Barneys New York, Kenneth Cole, Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Reebok, Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger, and Versace. Shoppers leave Boston around 9:30am; the return trip departs at 4pm. The round-trip fare is $33, and reservations are required.
Gifts & Souvenirs -- Boston has dozens of shops and pushcarts that sell T-shirts, hats, and other souvenirs. At the stores listed here, you'll find gifts that say Boston without actually saying "Boston" all over them. Remember to check out museum shops for unique items, including crafts and games. Particularly good outlets include those at the Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of Science, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Concord Museum, and the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem.
Fired Up -- A good souvenir is something you'd never find anywhere else, and a Boston Fire Department T-shirt is a great one. They cost about $15 at most neighborhood firehouses. The handiest for out-of-towners are Engine 8, Ladder 1, on Hanover Street at Charter Street in the North End (off the Freedom Trail), and Ladder 15, Engine 33, on Boylston Street at Hereford Street in the Back Bay (near the Hynes Convention Center).
Flying Lobsters -- Why go to the trouble of sending a postcard? Send a lobster instead. James Hook & Co., 15 Northern Ave. at Atlantic Avenue (tel. 617/423-5500; T: Red Line to South Station), and Legal Sea Foods Fresh by Mail, Logan Airport Terminal C (tel. 800/477-5342 or 617/569-4622; T: Blue Line to Airport), handle the overnight shipping.
Jewelry -- Boston's best-known jewelry emporium is Shreve, Crump & Low.
Markets -- Massachusetts farmers and growers under the auspices of the state Department of Food and Agriculture (tel. 617/227-3018) dispatch trucks filled with whatever's in season to the heart of the city from July through November. Depending on the time of year, you'll have your pick of berries, herbs, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins, apples, corn, and more, all fresh and reasonably priced. Stop by City Hall Plaza on Mondays and Wednesdays (T: Green or Blue Line to Government Center), or Copley Square on Tuesdays and Fridays (T: Green Line to Copley or Orange Line to Back Bay).
