Like most major cities, Boston has lots of bridal and formalwear stores where you can order the dress that the bride has (gulp) chosen for you. Some good shops to check out are L'elite (264 Newbury Street, 424-1010, Hours: 10am-6:30 daily); Betsy Jenny (114 Newbury Street, 536-2610, Hours: M/Tu/F/Sat 10am-6pm, W/Th 10am-8pm, Sun 12-5pm); Priscilla of Boston (801 Boylston Street, 267-9070, Hours: M 10am-6pm, Tu-Th 10am-8pm, F 10am-6pm, Sat 9:30am-5pm, Sun 12pm-5pm); or, if you have a car (and lots of patience) try the very busy David's Bridal (890 Providence Highway, Dedham, 781-251-9100, Hours: M-F 11am-7pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12-6pm). There, you'll be rewarded with very low prices.

If the bride has allowed you to choose your own dress (lucky you), than you can saunter over to any one of Boston's many big-name department stores and look through various formal dresses yourself. You'll find a wide selection (and reasonable prices) at good 'ole Macy's (450 Washington Street, 357-3000, Hours: M-Sat 9:30am-8pm, Sun 11am-7pm). Across the street is the legendary Filene's Basement (425 Washington Street, 357-2100, Hours: M-Sat 9:30am-7:30pm, Sun 11am-7pm). If you have a little more money to spend, you can try Bloomingdale's (The Mall at Chestnut Hill, Newton, 630-6000, Hours: M-F 10am-9:30pm, Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 12-6pm). These department stores are also your best bet for finding a wide selection of accessories such as jewelry and handbags.

• more information about bridesmaid dresses

Where to Throw a Bridal Shower
or Bachelorette Party

Whatever your taste, whether an elegant ladies' tea or a raunchy girls' night out, Boston is sure to please. Here are some of Penelope's picks:

SPA DAY

With all the wedding madness, couldn't everyone in the bridal party use a soothing afternoon at a spa? Expect to pay an average of about $50 per spa treatment, but many spas do offer special packages, especially if you tell them it's for a bridal party. On the more expensive side, you can go to Boston's premiere spa, Candela (28 Arlington Street, 426-6999, Hours: M-F 8am-9pm, Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 8am-6pm); or escape the noise and crowds of bustling Newbury Street at ritzy Bella Sante (38 Newbury Street, 2nd Floor, 424-9930, Hours: Tu-F 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 12-6pm). Afterwards, why not grab a drink and chill with the girls at the oh-so-hip Armani Café, where black clothes and attitude are preferred but not essential (214 Newbury Street, 437-0909, daily till 10pm). Looking for a more down-to-earth (and cheaper) spa experience? Try the less pretentious Giuliano Day Spa (338 Newbury Street, 262-2220, Hours: M 9am-6pm, Tu-F 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-5pm, Sun 10am-6pm) or Daryl Christopher (37 Newbury Street, 424-0250, Hours: Tu-F 8am-8pm, M/Sat 8am-5pm).

BACHELORETTE DINNER

Boston cuisine, despite what you may think, is not limited to hot dogs at the Fenway and Boston clam chowder (or "chowdah" if you're a native Bostonian. . . ). These days, Boston boasts some top-notch restaurants. There are hundreds to choose from, and if you want to really sift through them all, Penelope suggests you check out the Boston section of Zagats.com. But here are some of her favorites, all tried-and-tested winners for groups of gaggling gal pals. Sonsie (327 Newbury Street, 351-2500, Hours: Daily till 1am) is one of the see-and-be-seen places in Boston right now, and also has great appetizers; Tapeo Restaurant and Tapas Bar (268 Newbury Street, 267-4799, Hours: M-W 5pm-10:30pm, Th/F 5pm-11:30pm, Sat 12-11:30pm, Sun 12-10:30pm) makes a mean sangria; and Rhythm & Spice Caribbean Grill (315 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, 497-0977, Hours: M-W 5-9:30pm, Th/F 5-10:30pm, Sat 4-10:30pm, Sun 2-9:30pm) serves up Jamaican specialties as well as great reggae after 10:30pm on Friday and Saturday nights.

Penelope also loves Boston's North End (its own "Little Italy"), home to an infinite number of adorable Italian restaurants and pastry shops. Walk along Hanover Street and you'll be sure to find something to your liking. Or, if you want a specific culinary destination, Penelope recommends having dinner (and trying the amazing fried calamari) at homey Pomodoro (319 Hanover Street, 367-4348, Hours: 12-11pm daily), and then heading over for gelato and cappuccino at Caffe Vittoria (296 Hanover Street, 227-7606, Hours: 8am-1pm daily).

Wanna avoid paying a steep bill at a restaurant? Consider these popular girls' night out dinner alternatives: How about a pot-luck dinner (and bring your own cocktail mixers) at someone's apartment? Or, during the summer, how about an al-fresco picnic in beautiful Boston Public Garden?

A POTTERY PARTY

At The Clay Room (two locations, one in Cambridge and one in Brookline, check out www.clayroom.com for store locations and hours), you can have a blast making pottery for the bride-to-be and for yourself. Hey, you deserve a new serving platter, too!

TEA TIME

For an exceptionally elegant bridal shower, how about high tea at the Ritz Carlton (15 Arlington Street, 536-5700), one of Boston's most beautiful and romantic hotels? Tea starts at $18.00 per person and is served weekdays at 2:30 and 4pm, and weekends at 1, 2:30, and 4pm. Enjoy yourselves, dahlings. . .

ON THE WATERFRONT

Enjoy Boston Harbor (sure, it's polluted, but it's still damn pretty, especially after that 3rd margarita. . . ) with the gals on a harbor cruise. Check out various prices and schedules at Bay State Cruises or Boston Harbor Cruises. Worried you might be queasy on the water? You can relax on terra firma but still enjoy the view by having drinks (and dinner) at Tia's on the Waterfront (200 Atlantic Avenue, 227-0828, closed during the winter). It's a popular (and crowded) spot on the weekends, so call ahead to make sure they can accommodate your group.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME

Boston wouldn't be Boston without its Red Sox. Is the Bride a sports fan? Treat her and the rest of the gals to a Red Sox game at the Fenway. Check out www.redsox.com for the season's schedule and ticket information. Go Red Sox!!!

LOOKING FOR A MORE RAUCOUS EVENING?

These ideas too tame for you? Don't worry, Penelope's got more. . .

If the bride likes to let her hair down and dance the night away, we suggest grooving to her fave 80s tunes at multi-floored Polly Esther's (262 Friend Street, 720-1966, Hours: Th-Sat 8pm-2am, Sun 9pm-2am). Is salsa more her style? Sashay over to Sophia's (1270 Boylston Street, 351-7001, Hours: Daily 5pm-2am), where Bostonians head for late-night Latin dancing (and tapas). Or, a great standby is the popular Avalon Boston Night Club (15 Lansdowne Street, 262-2424, call for hours)

Got the munchies after all that late-night dancing? Surprise the bride with a naughty cake (use your imagination. . . ) from Sweet-N-Nasty (90 Massachusetts Avenue, 266-7171, M-F 10am-7pm, Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 12-5pm). Then, bestow her with some, ahem, adult "toys" which she and her sweetie can enjoy during their private time, from Condom World (332 Newbury Stret, 267-7233, M-Th 11am-7pm, F11am-8pm, Sat/Sun 12-6pm) or from Hubba Hubba (534 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, 492-9082. M-Th 12-8pm, F 12-9pm, Sat 12-7pm).

What about strippers, you ask? Don't worry, even a prim and proper town like Boston can accommodate your naughtier requests. Call up the guys at Boston Strippers (354-5000). They do bachelorette parties all the time. Penelope hired a guy dressed like a cop (who said that "in real life" was a geologist. . . Sure) to bring a wayward bride into line. . . But keep it clean, girls. :-)

• more information about bridal showers and bachelorette parties

Where to Buy the Gifts

It's easy to buy engagement, shower, or wedding gifts if the couple is registered at any of the following major stores. Shop in person (or, even easier, online) at The Wedding List (119 Newbury Street, 266-5000, Hours: M-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12-5pm, or by appointment); Bloomingdales (The Mall at Chestnut Hill, Newton, 630-6000, Hours: M-F 10am-9:30pm, Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 12-6pm); Crate & Barrel (Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 742-6025, Hours: M-F 10am-9pm, Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 12pm-6pm); Macy's (450 Washington Street, 357-3000, Hours: M-Sat 9:30am-8pm, Sun 11am-7pm); Pottery Barn (122 Newbury Street, 266-6553, Hours: M-Sat 10am-7pm, Sun 11am-6pm); Restoration Hardware (711 Boylston Street, 578-0088, Hours: M-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 11am-6pm); Tiffany & Co. (100 Huntington Avenue at Copley Place, 353-0222, Hours: M-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12-5pm); Williams Sonoma (100 Huntington Avenue at Copley Place, 262-3080, Hours: M-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 12-6pm ); or Pier 1 Imports (1451 Beacon Street, Brookline, 232-9627, Hours: M-Sat 10am-9:30pm, Sun 11am-6pm).

For more unique gifts (for example, if you are tired of vases and place settings from couples' registry lists. . .) Penelope recommends two terrific specialty stores. Stone's Throw Gallery (1389 Beacon Street, Brookline, 731-3773, Hours: Tu/W10am-6pm, Th/F 10am-7pm; Sat 10am-6pm; Sun 12pm-5pm, M closed) has cool ceramics, clocks, picture frames and other housewares by local Boston artists. There is a wide range of items, and prices, too. Other funky gifts and home furnishings can be found at Jubilation (91 Union Street, Newton, 965-0488, Hours: M-Sat 10am-5:30pm. It's a little bit pricier, though.

• more information about gifts (and more unique gift ideas)

Where Else to Look

Still haven't found what you're looking for in Boston? For more information about Boston than you'd ever possibly need to know (including shops, restaurants, nightlife, and much more), we suggest you consult boston.citysearch.com, bostonnightguide.com, or bostonphoenix.com.