travelrene

I really appreciated the ideas for activities at night. I also hope to spend some time browsing in bookstores in Boston or Cambridge. Does anyone have a favorite to suggest? I'm especially interested in cookbooks. Also, any unique gourmet food shops, or antique shop ideas would also be helpful.

bookhall

You might do well to track down a copy of the Book Hunter Press guide to New England used book stores.

They do a nice job in evaluating them, and it can be a real time-saver if you're in a strange area with limited time available.

karens

I love used book stores, and I can't exactly place the name, but I think it was Brattle Books

travelrene

Oops, I didn't see the posting and posted again. Sorry. Where is Brattle books located?

mamadadapaige

a lot of the bookstores are disappearing (amazon??). anyway, on the gourmet food shop front, there is a wonderful cheese shop called formaggio kitchen. they have two locations, one in the south end (tucked away a bit) and one in cambridge (on Huron Avenue, I believe). this is also a little tucked away.

the South End, is where all of the best restaurants are. there is just one after the next. most recently we went to Toro, a tapas restaurant and really enjoyed it. I also had Sunday brunch recently at Tremont 647 - not only was the food excellent it was also very reasonably priced. our all time favorite is Aquitaine. and we always enjoy drinks and appetizers in the bar/lounge at Mistral.

for antique shopping, try Charles Street in Beacon Hill. At the end farthest from the Public Garden there is a gourmet grocery store called Savenor's.

Krista

For used bookstores, my favorite is Brattle Bookstore near the Boston Common see:
http://www.brattlebookshop.com

For other used bookstores in New England and the Boston area see:
http://www.mariab.org/

Have fun! K.

Anonymous

Since the OP did not specify "used," we mustn't leave out the New England Mobile Book Fair in Newton, one of the least-mobile emporiums I have ever seen.

http://www.nebookfair.com/

wyatt92

A great bookstore is Brookline Booksmith in Coolidge Corner. It was just named the best in the annual Boston magazine best of Boston.

djkbooks

For cookbooks, my favorites are the "Bargain" tables at Borders or Barnes & Noble. Anything of interest on the regular shelves I order online when I get home as the discount far exceeds S&H (especially with Amazon "supersaver" (free) shipping).

tondalaya

Downstairs at the Harvard book store in Harvard Sq. area on Mass. Ave.

escargot

Aside from the chains, Trident Booksellers & Cafe can be fun to stroll thru, and it's open till midnight, which is good for a night owl like me - it's on 338 Newbury St.
the link to their site is
ttp://tinyurl.com/plq4y

Here's a link to new and used bookstores in Cambridge you might find useful:
http://tinyurl.com/p3zal

escargot

Maybe you want to consider going on the North end Market tour - the link is
www.northendmarkettours.com

this sounds right up your alley and is wonderful - I know it's not a book store, but it's all about tasting, visitng shops, learning about food, recipes, I think you would enjoy it. I knwo it isn't at night, but you should check out this link anyway. I thnk the latest tour is around 3pm and they last about 3 hours.

brandie346

I rememeber a mystery-genre only bookstore on Newberry St. Anyone know if it's still there?

dfrostnh

I was going to recommend the north end tour, too. Before the tour I had never eaten fresh figs or fennel before. Bought some figs to bring home from a pushcart vendor at Haymarket. The shops we visited had some interesting ingredients both fresh and canned.

Anonymous

The mystery-books store on Newbury Street was Kate's; not sure if it's still around.

escargot

oooo, dfrost....that's where I got my fig recipe from too - stuffed w/ marscapone, wrapped in prosciutto, a bit of rosemary olive oil and on the grill they go.......eating them brings back memories!

dfrostnh

please, escargot, I've plateaued on my diet with all the wonderful summer foods available right now. I started the diet the weekend we went on the tour. I had planned to eat sensibly. HA! Well figs are good for you, I'm sure, but I went back to the pastry shop, the deli place (sorry, can't remember the correct name but the place with the $100 balsamic vinegar), and had to have more lemon slush.

seetheworld

Escargot, do you take out the seeds from the figs before stuffing? Those stuffed and grilled figs sound perfect for a dinner I am having this weekend!

gomiki

escargot....that sounds so good. Would you share the recipe?

sistahlou

Well while waiting to here from escargot....

I slice em, snip off the ends and stuff them with a fine gorganzola then toss them in the oven to bubble. Meanwhile I trim proscuitto, the best you can find, and freshen it with the best olive oil you can find, and lay it on a platter. Top it with the figs and drizzle with a reduced balsamic vinegar.....ooohhhlalaaaaa!