Shopping A-Z

Antiques & Collectibles

No antiques hound worthy of the name will leave Boston without an expedition along both sides of Charles Street, with a detour to River Street (parallel to Charles, 1 block closer to the river).

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 or pick up a copy of the free monthly Gallery Guide, available at galleries and many businesses along Newbury Street.

The up-and-coming SoWa district -- short for "south of Washington Street" -- centers on Bernard Toale Gallery . The Back Bay and South End don't have a monopoly, either; real estate prices being what they are, artists tend to crop up in even the unlikeliest-looking areas.

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 there are so many more insignia to explore. Look like an insider with a T-shirt from the Emerson College Bookstore, 114 Boylston St. (tel. 617/824-8696; 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 or Green Line to Government Center).

Fashion

Adults--The Back Bay is New England's top destination for swanky boutiques and if-you-have-to-ask-you-can't-afford-it designer shops. Definitely check out the second level of Copley Place, but don't go anywhere until you've explored the retail fantasyland that is Newbury Street. Bring your platinum card to (take a deep breath) Chanel, 15 Arlington St., in the Taj Boston (tel. 617/859-0055); Ermenegildo Zegna, 39 Newbury St. (tel. 617/424-6657); Gianni Versace, 12 Newbury St. (tel. 617/536-8300); Hermès of Paris, 22 Arlington St. (tel. 617/482-8707); kate spade, 117 Newbury St. (tel. 617/262-2632); La Perla, 250 Boylston St. (tel. 617/423-5709); and Nanette Lepore, 119 Newbury St. (tel. 617/421-9200).

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. The online-only merchandise of the Boston Public Library (www.bpl.org) incorporates images from the library's vast holdings, including historic maps, photos, and even sports memorabilia -- and you don't have to take up space in your carry-on to get your souvenirs home.

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 Engine 33, Ladder 15, 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 B and C (tel. 800/343-5804, 617/568-2811, or 617/568-2800; www.sendlegal.com; T: Blue Line to Airport), do overnight shipping.

Markets

Massachusetts farmers and growers under the auspices of the state Department of Food and Agriculture (tel. 617/227-3018; www.mass.gov/agr) 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. Visit the website for a complete list of state-sponsored markets. In Boston, you can stop by City Hall Plaza on Monday or Wednesday (T: Green or Blue Line to Government Center) or Copley Square on Tuesday or Friday (T: Green Line to Copley or Orange Line to Back Bay). In Cambridge, head to Parking Lot 5, a block from Mass. Ave., in Central Square on Monday (T: Red Line to Central).

The Boston Public Market (tel. 617/263-3355; www.bostonpublicmarket.org) is the first major step in a drive for a permanent public market à la Philadelphia's or Seattle's. Open from mid-June through early November, it offers a tasty mix of farm products and specialty foods in two locations: Dewey Square, on Atlantic Avenue near South Station (Wed 11:30am-7pm; T: Red Line to South Station), and the pedestrian-only Northern Avenue Bridge, near Atlantic Avenue and the federal courthouse (Thurs 11:30am-7pm; T: Blue Line to Aquarium or Red Line to South Station).

The funky, fashionable South End Open Market (tel. 617/481-2257; www.southendopenmarket.com) operates Sunday 10am to 5pm from May through September in the parking lot at 540 Harrison Ave. in the South End (T: Orange Line to Back Bay then a 10-min. walk). It features numerous craftspeople as well as food merchants.

Toys & Games

Be sure to check out the gift shops at the Children's Museum, Museum of Science, and New England Aquarium.