Updated 2008-09-11 07:11
Nurture your furniture need
You already know IKEA and Target and you already know you won’t be
doing much curbside and Craig’s List bedbug browsing. So where should
you go to pick up new home goods?
-
Start off on the Allston drag - Harvard Ave. is the Vegas Strip of
reasonable furnishings. For sleeping and all the other unmentionable
nonesuches you kids do, you’ll want the versatile Clic Clac. A much
nicer and much more comfortable futon, the Clic Clac acts as a couch,
fold-out bed and with its under bin, storage for games, blankets or
moldy sandwiches. Basics (151 Harvard Ave., Allston, 617-254-1060,
www.basiccarpetandfurniture.com) has the best selection of colors and
fabrics. Prices start in the $300 range. Also available at all four
Economy Hardware locations (www.economyhardware.com for locations),
which as far we can tell hide their hammers, screws and lightbulbs in
the back corner. - Ever try twisting and turning a boxspring up the windy stairs of a
fourth-floor walkup? Bag it and go the platform bed route. Check out
the options at Woodcraft Furniture (57 Harvard Ave., Allston,
617-789-3933, www.woodcraftfurniture.net), twin frames start at $135 up
through queens for $195. While you’re there, pick up a
stain-it-yourself desk ($89.95) or wardrobe ($229). Remember: this is
Boston, you might not have a closet.
- Culled from offices, corporate pads and maybe even some Red Sox players
high-rise apartments, the furniture at Cort Putnam (155 N. Beacon St.,
Brighton, 617-254-5455; 564 Mass. Ave., Cambridge, 617-354-3358,
putnamfurniture.com) is previously rented, slightly used and fully
sterilized. Think you can say that of a Craig’s List find? I doubt it!
| Dorm Décor |
|---|
| Anthropologie Girls who grew up in bedrooms flowered with Laura Ashley love this nationwide chain’s grown-up version of the feminine style. Adorably adorned with lace and detailed embroidery, home goods like throw pillows ($49-$98) and lampshades ($38-$128) will make you want to cozy up to your pretty pastel sanctuary. That’s kind of an expensive lampshade though, huh? 799 Boylston St., Boston. MBTA: Green Line to Copley. Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun noon-6 p.m. 617.262.0545. |
| Buckaroo’s Mercantile Dorm room shopping list: ceramic skull candle holders, Jesus band-aids and a toilet seat with Satan on it. They have it all here? Perfect! One-stop shopping at its best. 5 Brookline St., Cambridge. MBTA: Red Line to Central. Mon-Sat Noon-10 p.m.; Sun Noon-6 p.m. 617.492.4792. |
| Magpie This Davis Square boutique is the kingdom of the punk rock flea market. Here you’ll find handmade tote bags, stationery sets and magnets.They even have cuddly stuffed — uh, ‘animals’ in the shape of donuts and other delicious treats. 416 Highland Ave., Somerville. MBTA: Red Line to Davis. Sun-Wed, Fri 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thu 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 617.623.3330. |
| Museum of Useful Things While its aim is to remind us to appreciate the design of commonly used objects — a paperclip, for example — customers will delight even more in the thoughtful kitchenware like stainless steel espresso cups ($6) that’ll keep your fingers from getting burnt and your java hot for longer. This so-called Museum is a great place to discover all the stuff you never knew you needed: Never again will you waste valuable drinking time searching for a bottle opener — a wall-mounted version is only $4.50. 49B Brattle St., Cambridge. MBTA: Red Line to Harvard. Mon-Sat 11a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 617.576.3322. |
| Newbury Comics They don’t call themselves a wicked good time for nothing. This place is kind of like that scene in Disney’s “Pinocchio” where they overindulge and turn into donkeys. You can’t help yourself from becoming a jackass with all the temptations of huge posters, T-shirts, CDs, records, DVDs, imported rock mags, comics (of course) and other popculture absurdities. 332 Newbury St., Boston. MBTA: Green Line to Boylston. 617.236.4930. One Washington St., Boston. MBTA: Green or Blue Line to Govt. Center. 617.248.9992. The Garage at 36 JFK St., Cambridge. MBTA: Red Line to Harvard. 617.491.0337. 211 Alewife Brook Parkway, Cambridge. MBTA: Red Line to Alewife. 617.491.7711. |
| Nomad For more than 15 years, Nomad has imported handcrafted art, textiles and furnishings from Mexico, Central and South America, Africa and Asia, including whimsically decorated skulls and skeletons (averaging around $14) so you can celebrate the Day of the Dead in style. No passports necessary. 1741 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. MBTA: Red Line to Porter. Mon 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tue-Fri 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun Noon-6 p.m. 617-497-6677. |
| Oak One of the newest additions to the Newbury hood, Oak is a Mecca for all things handmade. From floral bedspreads to light switch covers made from comic book scenes and even hanging lamps made from recycled vintage Tupperware, the adorable wares in this super-cozy shop will infuse your cell-block-esque dorm room with welcoming warmth. 31 Gloucester St., Boston. MBTA: Green Line to Hynes. Tue: noon-7; Wed-Sat: 11-7; Sun: noon-6; closed Mon. 857.362.7311. |
| Urban Outfitters They are a chain, yes, but they’re still at least 66 percent cooler than Target. From shag carpets to chenille quilts, dorms across the city are decorated with accoutrements from this hipper-than-thou emporium, and for good reason. For better or worse, Outfitters takes underground mainstream. 361 Newbury St., Boston. | MBTA: Green Line to Hynes/ICA. Mon-Thu 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri-Sat 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun Noon-8 p.m. 617-236-0088. 11 JFK St., Cambridge. MBTA: Red Line to Harvard. Mon-Thu 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri-Sat 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun Noon-8 p.m. 617-864-0070. |
| Uncover bikes |
|---|
| Back Bay Bicycles Back Bay not only sells and rents bikes, they also take you on tours that make you look a lot cooler than the duck boats ever could. For $80, you can go on the same revolutionary ride Paul Revere did on horse while yelling, “The British are coming!” You can even come up with a customized tour to figure out where the hell you are in this weird new city. 366 Comm. Ave., Boston. MBTA: Green Line to Hynes. Mon-Fri: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun: noon-5 p.m. 617.247.2336. |
| The Bicycle Exchange Exchange. That means you can rent, and get a different bike each day. While this might seem excessive, it’s not a horrible idea to check in with these guys daily, as providing daytrip advice is part of their deal. They also fix up old clunkers without preaching or laughing at you. 2067 Mass. Ave. Cambridge. MBTA: Red Line to Porter. Tues-Sat: 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun: noon-5 p.m. 617.864.1300. |
|
Broadway Bicycle School These pro peddlers will fix your bike when it breaks, but more importantly, they will teach you how to fix it for the next time. Check out their basic class on fixing a flat, brake adjustment and sizing and replacing a chain. 351 Broadway, Cambridge. MBTA: Red Line to Central. Tue: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Wed, Fri, Sat: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thu: noon-8 p.m.; Sun: noon-5 p.m. 617.868.3392. |
| MyBike Not only will these guys come to your dorm to fix your bike, they’ll also come to your dorm and drop off a bike that you can rent for the whole semester. They’re kind of like drug dealers, but with bikes. No retail location; 617.232.2181. |
| Eastern Mountain Sports They’re called Eastern Mountain Sports. You’re in the east, and biking is a sport. Makes sense that they have bikes, right? 855 Boylston St., Boston. MBTA: Green Line to . Mon-Sat: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun: noon-6 p.m. 617.236.1518. |
| Ski Market What might not initially make sense, however, is that a place called Ski Market sells bikes. They’ve been selling them for over 30 years, so a name change probably won’t happen soon. Check out their site, as they often have free bike workshops. 860 Comm. Ave., Boston. MBTA: Green B Line to Boston University West. Mon-Fri: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat: 9:30 a.m.- 7 p.m.; Sun: noon-6 p.m. 617.731.610 |