Expertise without attitude? Yep, it's possible. Brookline Liquor Mart, a wine and spirits staple located at 1354 Commonwealth Ave. in Allston, is one of the larger stores of its kind. But, die-hard patrons have come to expect more than just an extraordinary range of products and services at BLM. For this emporium serving up stellar potent potables since 1934, it's all about service minus the snobbery. “I tend to look for the good things in any bottle of wine I try—the grape flavor, the color, the (real) value of the bottle," says Roger Ormon, BLM's wine manager. "I'm not just interested in fancy or expensive wines. I can get just as excited about a fantastic $15 bottle of wine as I can about the finest vintage from Bordeaux.” BLM is lauded for its convival Saturday wine tastings and expanded calendar of wine-related events, such as their upcoming "Celluloid and Wine" film series perfect for oenophiles. Also, BLM Wine + Spirits specializes in crafting wine cellars as well as offering appraisals on existing cellars. And, extending their "expertise without attitude" approach online, they've launched a new internet sales department perfect for that last-minute gift for a colleague or friend ... or even yourself. For store president Lisa Miller Ryan, it's been a life-long passion to maintain the family tradition of selling the best product and educating wine drinkers for more than half a century. In fact, her father Burton J. Miller is CEO and chairman. "I cut my teeth in the wine business," Ryan says. "I probably took my first steps down the aisle of the store.” Still not sure? Don't pop a cork. Let the knowledgeable team at BLM guide you with their "Vineyard Picks" e-newsletter here.

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Herb Chambers Honda, located in Allston, is part of the greater Herb Chambers car dealership empire, that expands all over the state of Massachusetts. Herb Chambers Honda serves the residents of Boston in offering a wide variety of new and pre-owned vehicles ranging from Toyota's to Land Rover's, to Jeeps and Vespa's.

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Billed as a family thrift store, the cramped Urban Renewals in Allston organizes its piles of children's clothing, men's sports jackets and women's apparel by color. If you have the time to sift through the heaps of second-hand clothes, books and home goods, you’ll eventually stumble on a diamond in a rough. Happy hunting!

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This 10,000 sq. ft. store carries an alcoholic's fantasy of wines, beers, and liquors. Carding is strict, so don't bother going with any of your younger friends: every member of your group must have an ID to enter the store. Blanchard's carries over 30 varieties of half and quarter kegs, ranging in price from $45 for a half keg of Bud to $125 for a half keg of Guinness, plus a refundable deposit of $20 for the barrel and $30 for a tap (standard fittings only). Prices change frequently and special taps and fittings are differently priced, so call ahead to confirm the week's prices before making serious plans. Blanchard's won't deliver kegs to undergraduates unless they have Mass ID or a passport and are registered in the Blanchard's file; you must bring your documents and register in person. Delivery of kegs and cases of liquor to Harvard is usually free. There are no keg pickups. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

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Compared to the first-rate second-hand store Boomerangs in Jamaica Plain, there’s a lot of junk at the used furniture shop known as Cheap Chic in Allston/Brighton. However, less is not always more. The store is mostly geared toward students and you'll need to dig hard to find a diamond in a rough. If you don't have a car and need a table, desk, bookshelf, etc. give Cheap Chic a chance because they have a reasonably large inventory.

Mr. Music sells everything a music-enthusiast could want, from cords, stands, tuners, and strings, to a respectable selection of newly-released CDs for an astonishing $10-18. The store carries a wide selection of Airline, Dean, Epiphone, Fender, Gibson, Harmony, Hondo, Joshua, Kent, Phantom, Tacamine, Ventura, and other brands of equipment you probably haven't heard of. Bargains available on new and used guitars, amps, and basses. The store also sells a range of stereos, telephones, Walkmen, keyboards, and sheet music. The helpful staff won't fix stereos but do repair guitar amps. Inside the store is Ticket City , an independent ticket agency for concerts, sporting events, theater, and ballet. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.