Boston Shopping Tips by Barbie2138

Name of Shop: Filene's Basement

Who can describe Filene's...the word MECCA comes to mind. I can imagine if you live in Boston, this place is a 'regular" stop. The appeal for the uninitiated lies in their system of automatic price reductions. I'd schedule my "date nights" around their markdown calendar!!!!!!!!!!!

What To Buy: Everything's in the basement!!!!!!! Bring a big empty box and visit the linen department!!!!!!!

What To Pay: Blow the whole budget and eat at McDonald's for the remainder of your stay!

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Theme: Department Store
Phone: (617) 348-7848
Address: 426 Washington Street Downtown Crossing
Directions: Take the (T) to downtown crossing. There are 9 locations in Boston. The downtown store is conveniently located (a ten minute walk) to the Doubletree Hotel where I stayed, also on Washington Street.

Name of Shop: Downtown Crossing

Lambert's is an old fashioned fruit, vegetable and flower stand within spitting distance of Filene's, (not that I would spit on the streets of Boston. Oh noooooooo.) So what's this have to do with shopping you might ask. Well, if you're going to spend an entire day in Downtown Crossing, who wants to stop for a snack. You can stock up on healthy fresh fruit for snacking and never break your stride. That's what I did. I also bought fresh flowers for my hotel room and fruit to have as breakfast in my room during my stay. The shop is full of yummies (avocados, berries, melons, etc.), very busy but the clerks are attentive and polite. I loved this place. Reminded me of downtown Miami but sadly no cafe' con leche'

What To Buy: The fruit is fresh. Pick whatever looks, smells good! Don't forget the flowers!

What To Pay: Prices are lower than those you'll find in grocery markets. I found them lower than produce prices in the south. What's up with that?

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Theme: Food and Drink
Address: Washington, Summer & Winter Streets
Directions: Red & Orange Lines, Downtown Crossing; Green Line, Park St

Name of Shop: The Garment District

The Garment District is a two story warehouse. On the first floor are shoes and clothes, piles and piles of clothes in the back on the floor. At first I thought; "No way will I find anything here." All I can say is something took over; call it my inner shopping demon. But soon after I had casually picked up a t-shirt, I was digging through mounds of clothes. This place is addictive. The first time you grab a Liz Claiborne or Eileen Fisher or Ann Taylor or Calvin and realize (MY GAWD) it's really a dollar a pound, you are HOOKED! Yes, the clothes are worn but ever so gently. I got a pair of Gortex snow boots on my first visit. The second time around, I went upstairs. It was Saturday and a clerk told me everything on Saturdays is half price. "Oh geez, you're kidding right!!!!" She wasn't kidding. Instead of paying the tourists sucker price for all those Harvard t-shirts come and get them here for $.50. Sweatshirts are a buck. The day I visited, there must have been twenty in the bin with the Harvard logo. I walked away with a linen jacket (Bloomingdale's) which had never been worn. Upstairs, the clothes are not a dollar a pound but the regular prices are also unbelievable and way below retail. The jacket was $9. I also got an Adrienne Vittadini purse for $3.50

What To Buy: The Garment District has a huge selection of everything from punk rock, glam to prairie home companion and Cape Cod cool; men's women's clothing, shoes, accessories and vintage. You will find what has just appeared in the Globe Sunday Magazine as the hottest on the street right here and not pay ridiculous retail prices. A designer label lovers paradise. Apparently the BackBay Nouveau Rich' love wearing it once and getting rid of it.

What To Pay: You could replace your entire wardrobe for under $50 in this place. I'm not exaggerating.

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Theme: Women's Clothes
Phone: (617) 876-5230
Address: 200 Broadway, Cambridge
Directions: Take MBTA to the Kendall MIT stop. Exit the station and go through the lobby of the Marriott. Make a left and head up Broadway. The Garment Center is about a half mile on the left.

Name of Shop: Faneuil Hall / Quincy Market

Faneuil Hall has vendors selling everything imaginable but the real treat here are the food stalls. You could spend a day and a sizable amount of $$$$ eating, drinking ale and people watching. It's where the tourists come and that's for a reason. The place is jumpin' wiith street performers and if you like people watching this is the place.

What To Buy: I buy anythingthat says Boston. I'm such a tourist.

What To Pay: A few bucks to a lot. It depends on your budget.

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Theme: Gifts