Your typical upper-middle class department store, featuring a broad selection of clothing, perfume, cosmetics, electronics, and home supplies. Macy's warrants a visit during the holiday season when they deck their walls and create their classic Enchanted Village on the top floor. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard. Public restroom: Each floor has at least one bathroom; ask any clerk. Halloween fun: Oct. 25th at 2pm is the 2nd annual Halloween Pet Costume Contest at Macy's sponsored by Kiss 108fm.

Consistently rated Boston's best for finding the must have video of the night, Non- Netflixer's can find just about anything at this boutique and independently run film store with a brother location in the South End. Make sure to check out the great specials and deals they offer throughout the week as well. Interesting and creative categories of films are rampant throughout the store.

Bohemian-cool meets French countryside chic in the girlie-girl paradise of Anthropologie. From floral dresses and exquisite jewelry to cheery housewares and vintage-style furniture, every item here is timeless and unique—a perfect place for gift-hunting. Intricate embroidery and bold prints add to the appeal. But quality comes at an (often steep) price (t-shirts $40+, toiletries $10-20, skirts $70-180, jewelry $38-180). Sales racks on the third floor offer more affordable items without sacrificing the Amelie-esque cuteness. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

Black Ink - the home of "unexpected necessities" which also has a Harvard Square location - is a bright, meticulously organized wonderland in Beacon Hill. The store convinces you random goods like a Learn to Knit Puppet Kit, fake sushi sets, a Big Boy piggy bank, or iron-on camp merit badges ($8.50 for 6) are essential additions to your life. Stop in if you need a quirky gift for a friend (like a Magic 8-Ball or a baby Buddha statue), unique greeting cards ($2.25-3.50), or just feel like treating yourself. Merchandise changes frequently.

Expertise without attitude? Yep, it's possible. Brookline Liquor Mart, a wine and spirits staple located at 1354 Commonwealth Ave. in Allston, is one of the larger stores of its kind. But, die-hard patrons have come to expect more than just an extraordinary range of products and services at BLM. For this emporium serving up stellar potent potables since 1934, it's all about service minus the snobbery. “I tend to look for the good things in any bottle of wine I try—the grape flavor, the color, the (real) value of the bottle," says Roger Ormon, BLM's wine manager. "I'm not just interested in fancy or expensive wines. I can get just as excited about a fantastic $15 bottle of wine as I can about the finest vintage from Bordeaux.” BLM is lauded for its convival Saturday wine tastings and expanded calendar of wine-related events, such as their upcoming "Celluloid and Wine" film series perfect for oenophiles. Also, BLM Wine + Spirits specializes in crafting wine cellars as well as offering appraisals on existing cellars. And, extending their "expertise without attitude" approach online, they've launched a new internet sales department perfect for that last-minute gift for a colleague or friend ... or even yourself. For store president Lisa Miller Ryan, it's been a life-long passion to maintain the family tradition of selling the best product and educating wine drinkers for more than half a century. In fact, her father Burton J. Miller is CEO and chairman. "I cut my teeth in the wine business," Ryan says. "I probably took my first steps down the aisle of the store.” Still not sure? Don't pop a cork. Let the knowledgeable team at BLM guide you with their "Vineyard Picks" e-newsletter here.

French Dressing was a much needed and welcome addition to Beacon Hill. Stumbling across this tiny gem of a lingerie store on River Street (just off the beaten path of Charles and Chestnut) one will be delighted to discover this store offering the widest assortment of hanky pankies to beautiful chemises. A must visit for that special someone. Do not forget to check out their thong of the month club!

a-m-a-z-i-n-g beauty products. Clean, natural, and often "girly-free", kiehls get's straight to the point. "Hands dry".. "Here's your lotion". Afraid to you get your man-friend some much-needed beauty products? This is your stuff- with a great male-oriented label.

La Perla is a high end lingerie store with a location between the Theatre District and the Back Bay. With items ranging from bras and undergarments to nightgowns and stockings. La Perla's price tags keep this store in the very high end range.

_

From premium candles to pajamas to handsoaps and the perfect hostess gift, Aunt Sadie's has it all. Although her candles are shipped all across the country, this is a proud South End mainstay where neighborhood locals and tourists come to shop.