I had enough time to step into some antiques places on Charles Street this afternoon. I went to a vintage clothing and accessory shop called ‘Artifactory’. I visited their Davis Square (Somerville) store before and was underwhelmed, but this one had a pretty good selection of actual vintage clothes (not just last season consignment like Second Time Around), and the prices were reasonable. I could have picked up a courdoroy Christian Dior bombardier-style jacket in good condition for about $20 less than a similar jacket at The Gap, but I wasn’t in the marker for new clothes today :-( Still, it was really fun to look through the 1920s dresses while listening to Cole Porter (De Lovely). I wanted to stay to listen to more 1920s/30s tunes and pretend that I was in Midnight in Paris, but I had chores to do :-(

 I finally stopped into Savenor’s . I’ve been avoiding it for years because I thought it was strictly an old-style butcher shop - probably with meat hanging around the store and pig snouts under a display case, but it was actually a cool little market with much more than just meat. Also, for their location (at the end of Charles St. by the river) their prices weren’t shocking, and the meat they did have was cleanly packaged. Most items were priced the same as they are at Shaw’s (which is ridiculous…it’s Packard’s Corner not Monaco…bring down the prices!). If I really knew how to cook, I could make some seriously gourmet meals from their ingredients…oh, yes quail eggs, thinly sliced veal, white asparagus…I’ll need these to make…?? But even for someone like me they had an interesting selection of pasta sauces, olive oils (now that I can’t get out to Wellesley just to shop at Gustare’s…I’m putting that pretentious dog to shame…), British chocolates and candies (Maltesers!!), and rolls from Clear Flour Bakery in Brookline…which you can buy per roll - nice when you’re ‘cooking for one’.

 I also stopped in at a little store called ‘Top Shelf’ to grab a couple of flowers for an empty Pellegrino bottle in my room… I cheaped out on buying a vase…and I got a few glasses of sparkling water out of it…win win :-D