SHOPPING

Of course there's the tacky trinkets, the "Boston" keychains and the Cheers T-shirts to bring home, but the world-class city of Boston offers so much more. From designer duds and glittery diamond earrings, to funky vintage sweaters and toe rings, Boston has something to fit every style and budget. Naturally, you'll find your favorite and familiar department stores like Nieman Marcus and Macy's, but if you're willing to peek around the corner and go off the beaten path a bit, you'll discover a whole world of unique stores and boutiques to entice you.

Go for the bargains at Downtown Crossing, where you'll find the legendary Filene's Basement, as well as Loehman's and Marshall's. You'll find a place to buy shoes, records, books, and body lotion, as well as pushcarts selling headbands and watches. Macy's and Filene's anchor Downtown Crossing, but don't leave until you gawk over the stores selling wholesale diamonds, gold, silver and gemstone jewelry at the Jeweler's Building.

If you want to go a bit more upscale, pore over the designer fashions and galleries on Newbury Street. Nearby Copley Place and the Prudential Center offer upscale mall shopping. Bring your wallet and your fashion sense to these Back Bay shopping areas; you'll be tempted with pricey, exclusive items at every corner.

The tourist stop, Faneuil Hall Marketplace gives you hundreds of gift stores, specialty shops, and boutiques, clustered together in three lively, busy buildings. Uncover antiques on Beacon Hill, fabric in Chinatown, and, across the river in Cambridge, Harvard Square's got great bookstores and trendy shops. Just a short ride on the "T" is all it takes to shop Boston.

Most of Boston's shops are open Monday through Saturday, from about 10 until 7; many stay open late one night and most are open Sunday from 10 or 12 until about 6. (Call first to be sure.) Mall stores stay open every night until about 9 or 10 during the week. Just about everyone accepts major credit cards and traveler's checks.

Major Shopping Districts
Quincy Market and Downtown Crossing are just a few short blocks from one another; a quick "T" ride to Boston's Back Bay will bring you to the exclusive stores at Copley Place, Newbury Street and the Prudential Center. In Cambridge, most of the shopping is along Massachusetts Avenue in Harvard, Porter, and Central Square.

Boston
Boylston Street, in Boston's Back Bay, has over 100 stores including Talbot's, Eddie Bauer, City Sports, and F.A.O. Schwartz. On nearby Arlington Street, Heritage on the Garden (300 Boylston Street, 617-426-9500) offers designers like Hermés, Sonia Rykiel, and Escada. At the west end of Boylston Street the Prudential Center contains such stores as Lord & Taylor, Ann Taylor, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Copley Place (100 Huntington Avenue, 617-375-4400) is connected to the Prudential Center by walkways above
the street. There, you will find high-priced, high-end stores like Neiman Marcus and Gucci along with about
80 other tony boutiques and specialty shops. Charles Street, in Boston's elegant Beacon Hill, offers an array of antiques, eclectic gift shops and unique boutiques, in one of the nicest parts of town. Charles Street favorite shops include Elegant Findings Antiques, Seasonings, The Red Wagon, and Linens on the Hill.

Downtown Crossing
You can't say Downtown Crossing without mentioning Filene's Basement (426 Washington Street,
617-542-2011). Their automatic markdown system lets you can get an outfit at 25%, 50%, or even 75% off.
This is the stuff dreams are made of; you will love to tell the story of the fully lined wool suit you got
for just $50.00. You spend a whole day here if you want, exploring Border's books, The Body Shop, Parade of Shoes, Express, and the Eddie Bauer Outlet store, among many other stores.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Faneuil Hall Marketplace is a group of three buildings that are home to hundreds of clever specialty stores,
gift shops and boutiques. Get some great souvenirs like old street signs and "parking" tickets (though
you'll probably get one for free if you try to park here), at Boston City Store (617-635-2911). There's
also some of the best snacking around at Quincy Market. Adjacent is Marketplace Center, where you'll
find more familiar stores like The Limited.

Newbury Street
Newbury Street offers exquisite shops and exclusive boutiques, breathtaking art galleries and trendy
restaurants and cafes. You'll find the best in international fashion, jewelry, and antiques. Believe it or not, Newbury Street has one of the best thrift stores in the city, The Closet (175 Newbury Street, 617-536-1919). Newbury Street gets funky when you head up towards Massachusetts Avenue, to places like Tower records, Condom World and Urban Outfitters.

Cambridge
Mall rats will love the Cambridgeside Galleria (100 Cambridgeside Place, 617-621-8666), accessible by both
car and "T". Get your electronic gadgets at Best Buy your lingerie at Victoria Secret's and your chainsaw at Sears. The Galleria holds about 100 stores, plus some restaurants and fast-food joints.

Harvard Square
Follow the body-piercing and purple-dyed hair on the red line to Harvard Square, and you'll enter into a land of aging hippies, Ivy-league students, artists, and families. You'll find some of the best bookstores here including WordsWorth Books (30 Brattle Street, 617-354-5201), and Harvard Bookstore (1256 Massachusetts Avenue, 661-1515). The Cambridge Visitors Information Booth (Zero Harvard Square, 497-1630) supplies a map of all of the nearby bookstores. Harvard Square has exclusive boutiques like Sola for Men and Jasmine, as well as chain stores
like Crate & Barrel and The Body Shop. Go inside the Garage (38 John F. Kennedy Street), the Galleria (57
John F. Kennedy Street) or The Holyoke Center (1352 Massachusetts Avenue) for hundreds more stores. You've
also got to go to the Harvard Coop (1400 Massachusetts Avenue, 617-499-2000) a huge store featuring books,
stationary, sweatshirts, prints and CDs and more.

Porter Square
Take a bus or car west on Massachusetts Avenue toward Porter Square and you'll be rewarded with craft
stores, gift stores, and delicate boutiques, like Susanna (1776 Massachusetts Avenue, 617-492-0334).
Make sure to stop by Stereo Jack's (1704 Massachusetts Avenue, 617-497-4024) for one of the best used record stores around, serving up jazz and blues-on vinyl.

Central Square
From to hip specialty shops and discount dollar stores, Central Square is the funky side of Cambridge. It offers a variety of terrific furniture stores, like Crate & Barrel furniture (1045 Massachusetts Avenue, 547-3994) and items for the house at Bowl & Board (1063 Massachusetts Avenue, 661-0350). If you're not shy, head over to the sex store Hubba Hubba (534 Massachusetts Avenue, 617-434-9082).