Shopping - Boston 2009 - page 201

Danish Country Antique Furniture Owner James Kilroy specializes in Scan-
dinavian antiques dating from the 1700s onward. In this mahogany-intensive neigh-
borhood, the light woods are a visual treat. You'll also see folk art, lovely Mora clocks,
Royal Copenhagen porcelain, and antique Chinese furniture and home accessories.
138 Charles St. & 617/227-1804. www.europeanstyleantiques.com. T: Red Line to Charles/MGH.
Marcoz Antiques The specialty here is 18th- through 20th-century European
pieces, mainly in room arrangements that make you suspect you've wandered into an
Edith Wharton novel. Lovely home accessories and textiles complement stately fur-
nishings, and the gorgeous jewelry is worth a visit on its own. 177 Newbury St.
& 617/262-0780. T: Green Line to Copley.
Upstairs Downstairs Antiques It's a cliché to say that antiques
remind you of your grandmother's furniture. Here that's less trite because the mer-
chandise displays are room arrangements that change with the seasons. From huge
sideboards to delicate side tables to books and doilies, it's more evocative than a
madeleine. 93 Charles St. & 617/367-1950. T: Red Line to Charles/MGH.
ART
The greatest concentration of galleries lines Newbury Street, at street level and above;
budget some time for exploring. Browsers and questions are welcome. Most galleries
are open Tuesday through Saturday or Sunday from 10 or 11am to 5:30 or 6pm. Exhi-
bitions typically change once a month, and the public is welcome at most opening
receptions. They generally begin after business hours on the first Friday or Saturday of
the month. For specifics, visit individual websites or pick up a copy of the free
monthly Gallery Guide, available at many businesses along Newbury Street.
The SoWa district —short for “south of Washington Street”—centers on Bernard Toale
Gallery (see below). The Back Bay and South End don't have a monopoly, either; real estate
prices being what they are, artists tend to crop up in even the unlikeliest-looking areas.
An excellent way to see artists at work is to visit during neighborhood open studio
days. Artists' communities throughout the Boston area stage the weekend events once or
twice a year. You might be asked for a contribution to a charity in exchange for a map
of the studios. Check listings in the Globe and Herald or visit www.cityofboston.gov/arts
for information.
Alpha Gallery The Alpha Gallery specializes in contemporary American paint-
ings, sculpture, and works on paper, as well as modern master paintings and prints.
Established in 1967, this is a family operation: Director Joanna E. Fink is founder
Alan Fink's daughter. Closed Sunday and Monday. 38 Newbury St., 7th floor. & 617/
536-4465. www.alphagallery.com. T: Green Line to Arlington.
Barbara Krakow Gallery This prestigious gallery, founded in 1964, is as cut-
ting-edge as they come. It specializes in paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints cre-
ated after 1945. Closed Sunday and Monday. 10 Newbury St., 5th floor. & 617/262-4490.
www.barbarakrakowgallery.com. T: Green Line to Arlington.
Bernard Toale Gallery One of the Boston area's most celebrated galleries was a
pioneer in the “SoWa” (south of Washington St.) section of the South End in the late
'90s. It shows exclusively contemporary art, in every medium and by artists at all
stages of their careers. Closed Sunday and Monday; closed August except by appoint-
ment. 450 Harrison Ave. (between Randolph and Thayer sts.). & 617/482-2477. www.bernardtoale
gallery.com. T: Orange Line to New England Medical Center or Back Bay, then 15-min. walk; or Washing-
ton St. Silver Line bus from Temple Pl. (Downtown Crossing) to E. Berkeley St., then 5-min. walk.

Finds