Savannah: Squares and Surroundings

There are twenty-two squares in the city of Savannah. The layout of these squares began with just four squares in 1733, expanding as a grid in the city with each being named in honor of a historic figure or event.

One of the more popular Squares is Chippewa Square, known for being the location of the famed park bench from the film Forrest Gump and the First Baptist Church also filmed in the movie (true story: the bench in the movie was just a prop, and is now at Savannah's Visitors Center).

And let's talk about how gorgeous the architecure surrounding the squares is....

Magnificent mansions, wrought-iron gates, ivy and moss covered walls (and stairs!)...the greenery, Spanish moss and live oaks are endless...add to that the clomp of horse-drawn carriage tours? It's like being on a movie set...

E.Shaver Books, recommended to me by Jamie, and where I ended up buying this book!

Cambridge: Antique Market

Location:

201 Monsignor O'Brien Highway, Cambridge, MA

Open Tuesday-Sunday 11am-6pm

Antique shopping or thrifting is not something I do a lot of, but I do enjoy it once in a while, especially when it's an outlet!

The Cambridge Antique Market is not an outlet, although with five floors of antiques, it's certainly got plenty to choose from. Having been there more than a couple of times before, I thought it would make for a perfect summer afternoon excursion with Ana and Alaina.

A few hours and dust-covered fingers later, we came away with a couple of scarves, a poster, some glass jars and a few tiny treasures, not to mention an appetite for pastries (but that's for a separate post)!

Here, an afternoon of thrifting.

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Boston: L.J. Peretti Co. Tobacconists & Cigar Merchants

Location:

2 1/2 Park Sq, Boston, MA 02116

http://www.ljperetti.com

Sounding like something out of Harry Potter, with the 2 1/2 Park Sq address, L.J Peretti's is a new discovery, for me, but an institution in Boston, having been in the city for over 140 years and has seen the likes of Bing Crosby, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau.

Alan and Ginnie, who I introduced to you before in Amsterdam, were visiting with us in Boston last week, and Ginnie stumbled upon L.J Peretti's on one of her walks and wanted to take Alan (a pipe smoker and tobacco connoisseur) there.

Naturally, I wouldn't miss seeing a new (to me) place in Boston. I felt like I was in a Diagon Alley world!

Where the tabacco gives an earthy-ness to the air and the lingering puffs of smoke hover lazily above. Where a smartly dressed man smokes a cigar in the afternoon, sitting on a leather chair that is both sturdy and familiar. Where tins of tobacco and hand-made briar pipes line the walls and cigar boxes blanket every last inch of the counter.

The star of the show, though, are the brass scales. As classic as you can get! 

I'm not a smoker, but after stepping into this historic society, I wanted to be a part of its world...and of course, anything with a "Co." in its name is a friend of mine!

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