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Aunt Sadie's Candlestix
Aunt Sadie's is famous for her namesake candles, it's true. But there is more to this little gift shop than wicks and wax. Besides the never-ending array of candles (summertime bestseller: Beach in a Can), look for bubble bath, smelly soaps, scented sachets and other sweet-smelling products.
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Beadworks
For the creatively inclined, Beadworks has all the components for making your own jewelry. Come here for the impressive selection of shiny gemstones, hand-painted beads and other delightful charms. Avid beaders agree that much of this stuff is overpriced; so treat yourself to a rare stone or a funky bead but look elsewhere to stock up on supplies. There's another shop in Harvard Sq.
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Berk's
Berk's is a little store with a great selection of shoes - half for your sensible feet and half for your fancy feet. Prices can be prohibitively high, unless you hold out for the awesome end-of-season sales. You know they're going on when you see tables on the sidewalks piled high with shoes.
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Best Cellars
The team at Best Cellars believes that everybody should drink and enjoy wine as much as they do. They are dedicated to teaching their customers, encouraging them to discover what they like and giving it to them at affordable prices. Enjoy nightly wine tastings ( to Monday to Friday and to Saturday) and prices under around US$15 . Cheers to that. Another store is on Boylston St in Back Bay.
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Bob Slate Stationer
This old-fashioned, family-owned stationary shop is packed with pens, pencils and paper, plus gift wrap, greeting cards and art supplies. It's been around since the 1930s, catering to Harvard students and other Cambridge writers and artists. Two additional, smaller stores are on Church St and on Massachusetts Ave near Porter Sq.
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Boston Antique Co-Op
This cooperative antique market is a collection of 40 dealers under one roof. Most of the merchandise comes from area estates, so there is a good collection of furniture and household accessories, especially fine porcelain and textiles.
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Boston Pewter Company
In the basement of Faneuil Hall, this specialty shop is pretty much what the name implies. Think tableware, picture frames and light fixtures, all crafted from the elegant metal. The collection is supplemented with other New England collectibles like scrimshaw, copper weather vanes and handblown glass.
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Boston Running Co
Note that this is a 'running company' not a sports shop. Here, former Olympic athlete and marathon record-holder Mike Roche brings his expertise to average-joe-runner. Using Video Gait Analysis (basically, he films you on the treadmill then replays in slow-mo), Roche will evaluate your stride and determine the best sneaker for you. All footwear and apparel meet his rigorous requirements.
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Bostonian Society Museum Shop
Run by the Boston Historical Society, the museum shop carries a good selection of souvenirs with the Americana theme: woven throws featuring flags, eagles and other all-American goodness; presidential prints; reproductions of Paul Revere's depiction of the Boston Massacre; patriotic themed coffee mugs etc. The most clever souvenirs are in the food aisle: Boston Harbor Tea, Stars & Stripes pasta and other treats to enliven your next July 4th cookout.
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Brattle Book Shop
Since 1825, the Brattle Book Shop has been catering to Boston's literati: it is a treasure trove crammed with out-of-print, rare and first-edition books. Ken Gloss - whose family has owned this gem since 1949 - is an expert on antiquarian books, moonlighting as a consultant and appraiser (see him on the Antiques Roadshow!).
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Brookline Booksmith
Year after year, this independent bookstore wins 'Best Bookstore in Boston.' Customers love the line-up of author talks, the emphasis on local writers and the Used Book Cellar in the basement. Extra long hours are also a perk. They also host laidback weekly readings and discussions with an impressive range of local and international writers.
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Build-A-Bear Workshop
Here's a cure for cranky kids. This fun store is 'where best friends are made.' Literally. Children can pick out the cuddly creature they like, stuff it, give a heart, dress it and create a personalized birth certificate. All furry friends come with a Cub Condo carrying case.
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Calamus Bookstore
Calamus - son of the Greek river god - was transformed with grief into a reed when his lover drowned. The character (and the namesake plant) inspired Walt Whitman's Calamus Poems , which celebrates gay love. And now, he has inspired Boston's biggest and best GLBT bookstore. With a full calendar of author talks and art exhibitions, as well as a regular electronic newsletter, Calamus is not only a bookstore but also a community center.
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Cambridge Antique Market
This old brick warehouse looks foreboding from the outside, but inside is an antiquer's paradise. With over 150 dealers on five floors, this antique market is a trove of trash and treasures. The constant turnover of dealers lends a flea market feel, guaranteeing that you never know what you will find.
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Cambridge Artists Cooperative
Owned and operated by Cambridge artists, this three-floor gallery displays an ever-changing exhibit of their work. The pieces are crafty - handmade jewelry, woven scarves, leather products and pottery. The craftspeople double as sales staff, so you may get to meet the creative force behind your souvenir.
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Cambridgeside Galleria
A shopping mall in the old-fashioned sense of the word. Three floors of Anywhere, USA stores include a gigantic Best Buy and a Borders bookstore. Sears and Filene's are the department stores that anchor the place down.
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Cardullo's Gourmet Shoppe
We've never seen so many goodies packed into such a small space. You'll find every sort of imported edible your heart desires, from caviar to chocolate. The excellent selection of New England products is a good source for souvenirs. Cardullo's newest gourmet 'treat' is flavored edible bugs - that's right, crickets, scorpions and ants, organically grown and charmingly packaged. That's got to be a good source of protein.
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Celtic Weavers
If you really wanted to vacation in the islands (the British Isles, that is), you may wish to bring home a souvenir from Celtic Weavers. Beautiful handmade sweaters, hats and blankets will keep the chill away on a rainy afternoon. Other items include expensive jewelry and fine china from Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
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Central China Book Co
Tucked into a basement in the heart of Chinatown, this little bookstore carries fiction, reference and children's books, as well as CDs and DVDs. The impressive inventory (over 100,000 titles) is almost exclusively Chinese language products.
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Cheapo Records
With tunes blasting out from its new digs, Cheapo Records lures in music-lovers to browse through its huge selection of vinyl and decent selection of CDs. And yes, they really are cheap-o. Don't come here looking for a new release, though. These are oldies but goodies: classic rock, R&B, jazz and blues.
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Chinook Outdoor Adventure
Chinook knows its market - selling warm, fuzzy fleeces to the Cambridge-Somerville area's young, active types. This adventure boutique features durable, comfortable and fashionable brands like Horny Toad, Icebreaker and Prana; sports sandals and boots are by Teva, Keen, Dansko and Ugg. Even your little guys (kids, that is) will stay warm in polartec blankets, hats and jackets.
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Cibeline
Showcasing the fashions of local designer Cebeline Soriano, whom you'll probably see working in her sewing room attached to the boutique. Her Hepburn-inspired styles include gorgeous gowns, classic jackets, fun and fresh skirts and slacks. An annual 'swap and shop' lets you clean out your closet and trade those clothes you no longer wear for somebody else's gently worn outfit.
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City Sports
City Sports is second only to the Red Sox when it comes to T-shirts spotted around Boston. This local chain was founded in 1983 by 'a couple of local joes' who didn't have anywhere to buy sporting goods. Now City Sports is up and down the East Coast (including five in Boston and Cambridge), selling sports apparel and footwear, with a limited selection of equipment. And with that ubiquitous City Sports T-shirt, they don't even need to advertise.
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Clayroom
Clayroom will sell you the pottery piece you've been dreaming of, but first you have to make it. The concept is simple: pick out a piece (platter, trivet or coffee mug); summon up your inner Picasso; and paint! The Clayroom takes care of glazing and firing, and your masterpiece is ready in four days. Great creative fun for anyone with an artistic eye.
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Clothware
When Clothware started way back when, it produced its own original line of clothing. These days, the boutique carries a variety of designers, but it remains true to the fashion ideals that won over its loyal customers: vibrant colors, clean lines and durable fabrics. This is fashion for notoriously unfashionable Cantabrigians, who value comfort over cool.
