Shopping in Boston or Cambridge
Part of visiting any area is spending some time shopping - looking for gifts for friends and family left at home, finding a memento that reminds you of the area, exploring what the region has to offer in arts and bargains, and just taking in the atmosphere. In Boston you don't have to go anyplace special to find a Boston or Harvard sweatshirt or a mug with a lobster on it. During warmer weather, you can find those items on just about any street corner that is frequented by tourists. There are a few shopping districts, though, that can be worth spending an afternoon exploring.
Newbury Street/Boylston Street/Copley Plaza
Boston's answer to Fifth Avenue is Newbury Street. The price tags and the designer clothing lines are reminiscent of New York, but the look of it, with its Back Bay brownstones, is distinctly Boston. You'll find designer shops, such as Giorgio Armani, many art galleries, restaurants with sidewalk seating where certain Bostonians go to see and be seen, and small shops with hand-crafted decorations and jewelry. The galleries alone are almost worth the visit with their impressive displays of artwork. Running parallel to Newbury Street, Boylston Street is also popular spot, although the stores tend more toward chains. Copley Plaza, a shopping mall connected to the Prudential building and the Westin and Marriott hotels, is also in the area, near the Boston Public Library. There you'll find more familiar store names including Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord and Taylor.
Downtown Crossing
This is the area where Bostonians used to go when they wanted to go shopping "downtown." The place has lost some of its flair. It used to be known the legendary bargains of Filene's Basement, but with all of the nearby businesses, the place is still a hub of activity. And even though many of the stores have familiar mall names - Tello's, Playless Shoes, and Nine West - the area is still where many locals do their shopping.
Harvard Square
Harvard Square in neighboring Cambridge isn't what it used to be; gentrification has hit it hard. A lot of the unique, small shops that once gave it its personality have been forced out by rising rents. But despite the changes, one thing remains - it's still Harvard Square, and Harvard University has a strong influence. Two aspects of the university - the academe and cultural diversity - are reflected in the nearby shops. The square has an unparalleled selection of bookstores. And to get a taste of other lands, you don't have to go any further than the "Out of Town" newsstand that sits in the center of the square. Its selection of newspapers from foreign nations has dwindled since the Internet started cutting into its market, but it is still a pleasant feeling to find print publications from Israel or Ireland in a neighborhood newsstand. Other things Harvard Square seems to do well are watches, chocolate, furniture, and maps. The atmosphere with its street performers and chess matches remains a draw, as does the Harvard paraphernalia. If you're going to buy a Harvard t-shirt or mug, you really should get it in Harvard Square. Plus, you can say you went to Harvard.
Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Like Harvard Square, many say the shopping area has lost much of its appeal of earlier years as chain stores have replaced local establishments, but the area is still worth visiting. There are still small shops where you can get things like Boston-themed socks, Red Sox memorabilia, or locally crafted jewelry. Among the highlights are the Christmas Dove, a New England business that transports you into a winter wonderland of holiday ornaments and decorations. And when you're done shopping, there are plenty of places to eat and drink - from the landmark Durgin Park Restaurant to the Cheers bar, designed to resemble the famous TV set. You can often catch performers in the streets, or you can tour historic Faneuil Hall.
Also ...
- Visit the Boston Globe Store at 1 School Street for anything "Boston," especially if it relates to sports. Merchandise ranges from books on the last time the Red Sox won the World Series (1903) to prints of "Make Way for Duckling," a children's story based in Boston.
- Mike's Pastry on Hanover Street in the North End has the best Italian cannolis. There is usually a big crowd and a long line, but it's worth the wait. If you look up on the walls, you'll see a picture of a famous visitor - a man who apparently knows his pastry, former President Bill Clinton.
- If you're in the mood for mall shopping, you might want to stop at CambridgeSide Galleria, a riverfront shopping mall in East Cambridge with more than 100 stores.
