Boutiques

Warren is a waterfront village in the state's smallest county, tucked between Newport and Providence, and sometimes overlooked because of its proximity to those more recognizable tourist destinations. But with more than 16 miles of shoreline, abundant recreational opportunities, and a downtown bursting with restaurants, boutiques, antique shops, historic buildings, and a thriving arts scene, it's a tiny town with a lot going on and well worth a visit by couples, singles, and families.

Warren is a waterfront village in the state's smallest county, tucked between Newport and Providence, and sometimes overlooked because of its proximity to those more recognizable tourist destinations. But with more than 16 miles of shoreline, abundant recreational opportunities, and a downtown bursting with restaurants, boutiques, antique shops, historic buildings, and a thriving arts scene, it's a tiny town with a lot going on and well worth a visit by couples, singles, and families.

NEW YORK - Ahead of the holidays, Toys ‘R’ Us is opening FAO Schwarz boutiques in some of its stores and relaunching the iconic toy store’s website. The disclosure gives the first clear indication of Toys ‘R’ Us’ plan for the brand best known for the scene in the 1988 movie “Big’’ in which Tom Hanks danced on a floor piano. The largest US toy store chain bought the brand in May. FAO Schwarz has two standalone stores, one in New York and one in Las Vegas. This year, Toys ‘R’ Us will open 585 boutiques within its own stores branded with the FAO Schwarz name beginning...

Chef Lydia Shire's culinary career was celebrated by her many friends at "Art of the Table," a Tuesday-night champagne reception at Christofle boutique on Boylston Street. The party, which doubled as a benefit for the Grow Clinic for Children at Boston Medical Center, featured an eclectic display of photographs of tables decorated by Shire, who's best known as the chef at Scampo and Towne Stove and Spirits. Guests included Shire's chef pals Jasper White, Robert Sisca of Bistro du Midi, and Tim Lynch, who used to work with Shire at Harvest.

LISA PIERPONT AGE: "FOREVER YOUNG" OCCUPATION: FOUNDER/EDITOR IN CHIEF OF BOLDFACERS.COM RESIDENCE: BACK BAY > You've spent much of your life in Boston. What makes this city a good place to be? It's a world-class city with a small-town accessibility. It's extremely manageable. It's very charming. It's got everything: It's got history, it excels in certain industries, it's sophisticated, and it's very real. > What does style mean to you?

Louis kicks off its yearly summer sale on Wednesday, with men’s and women's Balenciaga , The Row , Marni , Proenza Schouler , Jason Wu , and others marked down 50 percent through Sunday. Also beginning Wednesday, St. John will have lots of spring pieces (some currently in-store, some from other boutiques) marked down 70 percent as part of a consolidation sale. Selection is limited, so it's best to stop in early. That sale ends on Sunday as well.

The perfect shop. Once in a great while you find one -- shelves of earthly delights that leave you open-mouthed and covetous. Back-street boutiques that awe and delight, more like museums than stores. Whether purveyors of Swedish antiques or African tableware, they are the nonconformists in a shopping mall world, all the more thrilling when the prices are as enticing as the goods. The only quandary remains what to buy, and for whom. But that's the easy part. The hard part is knowing where to look for these individualistic shops.

QUECHEE, Vt. -- For those who believe that upgrading one's software should involve floppy hats not floppy disks, there couldn't be a better spot than the shop formerly known as Fat Hat . Savvy shoppers head straight to the second floor of this barn turned clothing factory and boutique. That's where Max, a lumbering sheepdog-Airedale mix, usually hangs out amid the bargain racks filled with the previous season's offerings. It's OK to stock up. Joan Ecker's colorful clothes, many of them fashioned in soft fleece, are more about comfort and timeless style than...

BELFAST, Maine -- "Customers drive from all over to come here," says Michelle Walker , owner of Coyote Moon boutique . "I've even had people tell me they've moved to Belfast because of the store. " For those bedazzled by the environment she has created, it is easy to fantasize about living nearby. Coyote Moon tends to throw customers into a delighted trance. A waft of light incense greets them at the door. Paper lanterns float near the ceiling, jewelry and glassware gleam from shelves.

A SEASIDE CATCH Coming from the Midwest, I am continually shocked by how close together things are in New England. Especially from Boston, distances are short. So although my friend lives two states away in Maine, it was far from difficult to pop up to Portland for a visit. An easy two-hour drive up Interstate 95 or an equally quick train ride on Amtrak’s Downeaster will get you to this bustling and bohemian seaside city. At the heart of it all is the Old Port, with its cozy cafes, swanky boutiques, abundant seafood, and tempting consignment stores, including Shopaholics...

Kartell is running its semiannual sale through March 19. Chairs, tables, lamps, and more are marked down 15 percent, including the popular Louis Ghost chair (designed by Philippe Starck, originally $410), the Kartell Masters chair, and even colorful flat shoes designed for Kartell by Moschino (originally $119). The Kartell showroom is at 10 Saint James Ave., Boston, 617-728-4442. www.kartell.it DEALS GALORE IN ANDOVER There will be plenty of good bargains in Andover Friday and Saturday, as around 10 downtown shops band together for the Andover Boutique Blowout.

By Johanna Kaiser, Town Correspondent Two designer clothing boutiques are leaving Beacon Hill while their owners continue their businesses on-line or at other locations. Cibeline the women's clothing boutique owned by Boson-based designer Cibeline Sariano, closed over the weekend and Sara Campbell Ltd. is set to close before the end of the month. Sariano took to her blog last month to announce the shop at 120 Charles Street would be closed by January 29. "After ten wonderful years in retail, I have decided to focus my time and energy on new...

NEW YORK -Target Corp., the second-largest US discount chain, plans to install areas dedicated to Apple Inc.'s brand in some of its stores this year to boost sales of iPads and computer accessories. The concept will be tested in 25 locations and have a wider assortment of Apple products than the retailer currently sells, Dustee Tucker Jenkins, a spokeswoman for Minneapolis-based Target, told reporters yesterday. Target, which already sells Apple products and was one of the first major retailers to sell the iPad, said...

Shopping can be cathartic, competitive, and - especially with the holiday season upon us - chaotic. But rarely is it compassionate. The latter has been the aim of Phuni Meston for the past five years, ever since she and her late husband, Daja Meston, opened Karma, a socially minded artisan boutique in Newton Centre. Compassion has always driven the store's business model, Meston said. It shapes everything, from the fair-trade merchandise Meston sells to her support of nonprofits and her interactions with customers.

For New York's annual influx of holiday travelers, deciding where to stay is harder than ever. More than 2,700 hotel rooms were added to the city's inventory this year, with construction in not only Manhattan but also Brooklyn and Queens. From swank downtown offerings in SoHo, Nolita, and Chelsea, affordable options in Times Square, a hot boutique in Williamsburg, and rooms with a view in Long Island City, here are 10 of the newest spots to check-in, kick back, and enjoy the city's many diversions.

First Date Boutique in downtown Andover is offering 20 percent off all items through Oct. 30th. Find fall and winter dresses, tops, skirts, jeans, leggings, bags, and jewelry from BLANKNYC , JoJo Loves You , Alexia Admor , and others. (The discount also applies to already reduced pieces in the store's "Stood Up" sale section.) Mention the sale at the cash register to get the discount, as sale prices are not marked. If shopping online, use the code FALL IN LOVE.

An old-fashioned looking triangle of busy streets, Roslindale Village hums with restaurants, shops, clothing boutiques, bakeries, specialty grocery stores, and a small green park. Located south of downtown, beyond Jamaica Plain, Roslindale is off the beaten track and not easy to find without a degree in Boston driving. There’s a rail station but no subway stop, leading some to say that Rozy, as it’s affectionately called, is one of Boston’s lesser-known neighborhoods. However, residents and business owners prefer to think of it as Boston’s best-kept secret.

Tom Greene is an attorney and condo owner, part of the vanguard transforming Charlestown from tradition-bound hub of firefighters, churches, and pubs to an enclave of professionals, boutiques, and bistros. Stroll with him around the neighborhood, its narrow streets and sturdy frame-houses giving the feel of a colonial settlement, and Greene ticks off the latest properties to go for eye-popping sums, the developers making a mint off the deals. But come to a sloping lane of trim town houses and he stops short.

Wild Indigo Boutique is celebrating its first anniversary by offering 50 percent off artisan pottery, glassware, and more through the end of the month. Find Liz Kinder and David Changar pottery, Diane Markin picture frames and ornaments, Kitras glass pieces, and more. The store also carries a well-curated selection of clothes and accessories from local and international designers including Samuel Dong , The Kitchen Sink Bag , Tammy Child , and others, and will host a trunk show featuring local designer Daniel Hernandez 's latest pieces on Oct. 21st...

LISA PIERPONT AGE: "FOREVER YOUNG" OCCUPATION: FOUNDER/EDITOR IN CHIEF OF BOLDFACERS.COM RESIDENCE: BACK BAY > You've spent much of your life in Boston. What makes this city a good place to be? It's a world-class city with a small-town accessibility. It's extremely manageable. It's very charming. It's got everything: It's got history, it excels in certain industries, it's sophisticated, and it's very real. > What does style mean to you?