Deacon Does Boston - The Shopping

Everyone needs a getaway weekend at least once in awhile, so this weekend, Deacon skipped town and headed north to Boston, where it just so happens that we found a college roommate and a town teeming with visitors in for the famed Boston marathon.

Four days later, there's lots to report. We explored town up and down until our feet ached, and have finally named Deacon's own 'Best of Boston' guide. If you're searching for the real thing, look over on Boston Magazine's website - it's apparently a big deal.

The guide is coming along slowly, so we'll start with the most important - SHOPPING!!

Four Days. Four 'Hoods. Top Three Picks For Each.

Conventional rules of wisdom say that you've got to spend at least some time on Newbury Street, Boston's main shopping drag, which is in many ways quite similar to what you'd find in Georgetown.

• Dress for a shop you wish was your own closet, packed with 3.1 Philip Lim, Adam, Vena Cava and more
  
• Oak for an Etsy-like selection of handmade goodies that's worth perusing time and time again
  
• Louis Boston for the coolest store you've ever seen (housed in an old museum), packed with home goods, art and designer duds you probably can't afford by the likes of Marni and Etro
  

Next, stroll through the Commons to hit the Beacon Hill area (so darn cute!). Don't miss:

• French Dressing for those times when what's underneath is just as important
• The Beauty Mark for a well-edited cosmetics selection, sweet staff, and a much-desired mini mani-pedi area
  
• North River Outfitters for prepster style by the likes of Lily Pulitzer and Vineyard Vines

We perused Cambridge, and thought it was a snooze-fest. The best of the bunch?

• Tess & Carlos for super-expensive yet we're-not-sure-why-because-it-just-looks-like-a-plain-white-tee finds
• Passport for a well-edited selection of stylish clothes and accessories
• Mint Julep for your standard boutique-y fare by the likes of Milly and Shoshanna
  

Closer to home base, we loved the quaint little shops tucked between bakeries and markets in the South End, where we found the likes of:

• Hudson for a covetable selection of home goods and decor items, plus a cool wall covered in old-time letters and photos
• Looc for what Boston Mag voted Best New Boutique in 2008, featuring names like Thread Social
• Tadpole for adorable kids merch - we wish there was a baby coming for a friend of ours!!