What began as a bookstore in the 1940s has since morphed into Owl Shop (268 College St., 203/624-3250, www.owlshopcigars.com, 4 p.m.–1 a.m. Mon.; 10 a.m.–1 a.m. Tue.–Thu.; 10 a.m.–2 a.m. Fri.–Sat., noon–1 a.m. Sun.), one of the oldest cigar and tobacco shops in the country. Behind the kitschy-retro facade, you’ll come upon imported pipes and endless glass cases filled with smoking accessories. If you’re dying to partake, take a seat in the adjoining brick-walled café, have a drink, and puff away.

Step inside Casablanca Boutique (1146 Chapel St., 203/562-7700, 10:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Mon.–Sat.) to Arabic music and a collection of African masks, chunky bright gold jewelry, and belly-dancer costumes (on which alterations are offered for a small fee).

The New Haven outpost of Ten Thousand Villages (1054 Chapel St., 203/776-0854, http://newhaven.tenthousandvillages.com, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Mon.–Wed.; 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Thu.–Sat.; 1 p.m.–6 p.m. Sun.) is chock-full of fairly traded crafts from all over the planet. Pick up a hand-carved giraffe for the living room, a chunky necklace made of semiprecious beads, or hand-woven table linens.