Shop-hopping on Newbury

Street Style

BLOW YOUR BANK ACCOUNT IN BOSTON WHILE UNCOVERING NEWBURY STREET’S TOP SHOPPING (AND DINING!) SPOTS.

Fifth Avenue. Rodeo Drive. Some shopping zones are so famous, they’re tourist attractions in their own right. And so it is with Newbury Street, Boston’s answer to the age-old question: “Where’s a good place to go shopping?’

The secret is, it isn’t all about the shopping. Th e real kick of  
Newbury Street isn’t the shopper’s high (which we all know comes and goes). It’s the vibe you get by just soaking up the street scene. It is an intriguing pastiche of urban life, with the “cool” quotient being kicked up a notch by the 200,000 or so college students who pour into the city. Regardless of what you’re in the market for, this is a prime place to shop, stroll and observe the local shops. Maybe it’s the way the warm lighting bounces off the brick, but, somehow, everyone looks a little more fabulous on Newbury Street. BY DIANE BAIR & PAMELA WRIGHT

FROM SWAMPY to Swanky

The eight blocks that stretch from Arlington Street and the Public Garden to Massachusetts Avenue are an architect’s fantasy of gorgeous brownstones dating back to the 1880s. Before that, Newbury Street was underwater as part of Boston Harbor. The two-mile stretch is part of Back Bay, a former swampland that was filled in during a massive landfill project that began in 1857. For more than 30 years, 3,500 carloads of earth were dumped into the swamp each day. From such humble—and smelly—beginnings, the Back Bay morphed into a desirable enclave of grand four- and five-story mansions. The retail pearl in this architectural treasure chest is Newbury Street, where the booty includes everything from Cartier to comic books.

What else is there, besides shopping? Gaze up into the big bay windows of these enchanting row houses and you might see giant abstract canvases hung for a gallery exhibition, or a big-name hairdresser blow-drying the locks of a local news anchor. There are also a bazillion day spas, as well as sidewalk cafes and eateries where you can nosh on something tasty. You can even look up your Yankee ancestors at the New England Genealogical Society Library (no. 101, www.newenglandancestors.org).

FAB Finds

Newbury Street is easy to navigate: Cross streets are lettered from A (Arlington) to H (Hereford), with Massachusetts Avenue at the very end. At the Arlington end, near the Public Garden, are super-posh boutiques like Burberry (no. 2, www.burberry.com) and Chanel (no. 5, www.chanel.com). But towards Massachusetts Avenue the mood is more “skateboarder” than “social register.”

Whatever your tastes may be, there’s no shortage of places to lay down your Benjamins on Newbury Street. Here are some favorites, none of which are available at your local mall.

First things first: If you’re visiting Red Sox Nation, you need to blend in with the tribe. The coolest thing in Sox-abilia these days is the Red Sox T-shirt, with the name of the beloved team spelled out in Japanese—a nod to Daisuke “Dice K” Matsuzaka. Get yours at Newbury Comics (no. 322, www.newburycomics.com).

If you’re in the mood to splurge on that perfect, close-the-deal outfit or suit, Alan Bilzerian (no. 34, www.alanbilzerian.com) will turn you out in something smashing, with a well-edited selection of luxe clothing from designers like Alexander McQueen, Yohji Yamamoto and Stella McCartney. This shop is favored by the Euro crowd, who know a few things about being stylish.

Just because you’re not a size zero doesn’t mean you can’t look fabulous. For proof, go try something on at Betsy Jenney (no. 114, www.betsyjenney.com). Jenney stocks perfectly fitted jackets by Philippe Adec and cute frocks by designers like Nicole Miller and Yansi Fugel, all made to fit actual women, not stick figures. (Check out the sales room for highly discounted duds from 50% to 75% off.)

Calypso (no. 114, www.calypso-celle.com) is one of those rare places where a mom and her teenage daughter can both find something wonderful to wear. The colors are fresh, and the styles look good on 14-year-olds and 40-year-olds alike.

The body products at Fresh (no. 121, www.fresh.com) sound good enough to eat, loaded with things like sugar, rice, milk and lemon. Husband-and-wife team Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg, cofounders of Fresh, stock the shelves with brown sugar body polish, sake candles, scents blended by Glazman, and a special line of products for men.

It looks like a bake shop, it smells like a bake shop, but those are T-shirts, not pastries, tucked behind the glass cases at Johnny Cupcakes (no. 279, www.johnnycupcakes.com). This bakery-themed boutique stocks tees with pop-culture themes: the Statue of Liberty holding a cupcake instead of a torch. Some are limited-edition, so you can be original and bring home a T-shirt that nobody else owns. On weekends, and other days at random, you get a free, delicious homemade cupcake with your purchase.

If you prefer clothing with a bit of history, or have Hermès taste and an H&M budget, try Second Time Around (nos. 176 and 219, www.secondtimearound. net), and The Closet (no. 175, 617-536-1919), consignment shops that deal in gently worn designer clothes for both men and women. If you’ve always coveted those $160 denims but couldn’t justify the price, here’s your chance. And someone else has broken them in for you.

You’ll need something to read, so plan a stop at Trident Booksellers & Café (no. 338, www.tridentbookscafe.com), a great little independent bookstore, where staffers are happy to recommend their favorites. They also host author signings, book readings and make a mean mac-and-cheese.

The great thing about Newbury Street is you can find little gems, block after block. Happy hunting!

NEWBURY STREET DINING

Eventually, you’ve gotta eat. Newbury Street’s outdoor eateries feel as languid as their Parisian counterparts—and the food is tres bien, too. You’ll find a taste of France at Bouchée (no.159, www.bbrginc.com), a French brasserie with a sunny patio and tasty steak frites. Armani Café (no.214 , 617-437-0909) offers sidewalk seating and a menu straight out of Milan. For an American twist on the bistro scene, try Sonsie (no.327, www.sonsieboston.com), where scores of pretty patrons hang out at the bar or people-watch discreetly through the long windows. For cheap eats, grab a pizza at Croma (no. 269, www.cromaboston.com) or a tasty, burrito at Boloco (no.247, www.boloco.com). And don’t leave town without a cup of the “wicked awesome” homemade ice cream and frozen yogurt at J.P. Licks (no. 352, www.jplicks.com).