For the past couple of months, Mike Greenstein has been playing saxophone outside the Real Deal and iScream Works on Centre Street, surprising people unaccustomed to seeing live performances on this most quiet and suburban of Boston shopping streets.

Greenstein says he actually prefers playing in a neighborhood setting, rather than someplace like Harvard Square or downtown (and he says he's heard of some guy busking down by the Starbucks). When not playing for tips, he teaches music.