Lost World

It doesn't get much stupider than this— or more absorbing. Club into the booth and fire at the lizardy dino-creatures from the movie. Coolest moment: When T-Rex emerges out of the dewy fog, plucks you out of the Land Rover in its teeth, and shakes the bejesus out of your animated persona. Messiest moment: When the herbivores smother you in steamy feces. Jillian's, 145 Ipswich St., Boston, MA .

Papas Fritas

Many starry-eyed bands crawl up from the primordial soup of Somerville, but few are chosen. On the trio's latest Minty Fresh release, Helioself Papas Fritas consistently transcends the merely catchy to achieve solid Beatles-reminiscent pop you don't mind having stuck in your head all day. Papas Fritas has arrived.

Courageous Sailing

One way to minimize your exposure to E. coli is to sail on Boston Harbor instead of the Charles River, and Courageous Sailing is the best way to go for the bucolic-urban experience. Courageous offers easy access to Harbor Islands State Park, where with a little advanced planning you can even go camping. The only year-round sailing center in Boston, it merits its name because of its iceboating events and other cold-weather adventures. 1 First Ave., Charlestown, MA .

The Computer Museum

Now you can double-click before you buy. On June 29, this museum opened a wonderful gallery that houses 14 terminals, all of which have access to 50 unabridged CD-ROM titles for children, plus plenty of additional recommendations. Families can peruse all the latest software for kids 2 to 12 years old for as long as they like. The excellent selection is the work of author-experts Cathy Miranker and Alison Elliot. 300 Congress Street, Boston, MA .

Casablanca

Next to a terrific moviehouse and a great coffeeshop, Casablanca is your best bet for a bar where you can actually have a conversation. Faux Middle Eastern decor, amusing Humphrey Bogart murals, Billie Holiday on the jukebox, an eclectic assortment of Left Bank literati, and odd little rick-shaw-like seats contribute to an overall pleasant vibe. 40 Brattle Street, Cambridge, MA .

Dar Williams

Just off tour with folk legend Joan Baez, Dar Williams is now home in Belchertown savoring the critical success of her latest CD, Mortal City. When Williams originally moved to western Massachusetts from New York, she got a job with the Boston Opera Company and aspired to become a playwright or to direct operas. But the call of the coffeehouse was too strong, and Williams's modern folk style soon drew a following that recognized a new talent on the rise.

Cold Water Flat

Okay, so Paul Janovitz of Cold Water Flat is the brother of Buffalo Tom's Bill Janovitz. There's no sibling rivalry going on here. Buffalo Tom may have captured MTV and My So-Called Life, but CWF's new CD on a major label and opening appearances on Belly's worldwide tour last spring have garnered the group more than its fair share of attention. Look for them on Conan this fall.

Tower Records

One thousand publications await you, from audiovisual, business, and gay culture to photo, food, and fashion (in French and Italian), trains, travel, and woodworking. There's also a small but good selection of bestsellers and paperbacks; some are even discounted. You can browse to your heart's content, undisturbed, with plenty of room and good music. Hard to leave, and you can't do it empty-handed. 360 Newbury St., Boston, MA .

When toungue-tied former state representative Roger "Sparky" Goyette turned in his long-awaited 65-page report on the "marine biota," on April 1, 1988. Sparky, a former mechanic, has been hired at $30,000 a year by the House to research the environmental "project" after New Bedford voters threw him out at the polls.

Eastern Bakers Supply

Chartreuse colanders and French blue ramekins can dress up a cupboard. But if you really love cooking, you know kitchens should be more function than form. So make like local chefs and frequent Eastern Bakers Supply, a warehouse-style jumble of no-frills, serviceable cookware at cut-rate prices. The crowded aisles house pots, mixing bowls, tart pans, pepper mills, and oversize whisks, spatulas, and spoons. The options are limitless—so long as you're okay with stainless steel. 145 N. Washington St., Boston, MA 2114, easternbakers.com.

The Potted Geranium

Enthusiasts of eclectic home decoration adore the Potted Geranium, a cluttered catch-all craft and home accessories store. Need something to offset your dining room's midcentury modernity? Pick up a locally designed Mariposa aluminum bowl. Or maybe a hand-woven Kennebunk & Churchill throw. The constantly evolving jumble of merchandis—old and new, understated and bold—means you never know what you'll find, or find you suddenly can't live without. 188 Main St. (Rte. 28), West Harwich, MA 2671, pottedgeranium.com.

The Gifted Hand

You could go to Pottery Barn. Or you could go to the Gifted Hand and—gasp!—buy something original. This well-lit Wellesley gallery sells handmade ceramic bowls, contemporary blown-glass vases, and hand-woven chenille throws that you won't find anywhere on the mass market. Pick up a vibrant tiled mirror, antique gold compass, or engraved wooden picture frame and add some unhomogenized touches to your home. 32 Church St., Wellesley, MA 2482, giftedhand.com.

Koo de Kir

It doesn't take a very discerning eye to look at Sarah Cihat's reglazed vintage plates and know that they are cool. Knowing whether they'll look good on your dining room table paired with a particular Michael Aram eucalyptus-branch candlestick—now, that requires talent. Koo de Kir's straight-out-of-a-Dwell-spread salesclerks take the intimidation out of mod design with their friendly, helpful hints and advice, letting shoppers spice up their abodes with confidence. 65 Chestnut St., Boston, MA 2108, koodekir.com.

Boston Design Center

Those cracked tiles aren't going to fix themselves. But a visit to the Boston Design Center's 10 bathroom-focused businesses will. Once open only to professionals, the eight-story design mecca now offers 20 designers on call to walk you through showrooms—some classic, some splashy—filled with tiles, faucets, mirrors, tubs, and everything else you'd ever want in your WC. One Design Center Place, Suite 337, Boston, MA 2210, bostondesign.com.

Yale Appliance + Lighting

The location ain't Park Plaza chic, but kitchen-wise, this 20,000-square-foot space is virtually unbeatable. Inside, you'll find products including professional-quality Thermador and Viking ranges and glamorous wine refrigerators from Sub-Zero. The knowledgeable salespeople don't work on commission and will help you figure out what you really do and don't need for your kitchen and cooking style (which just might benefit from one of Yale's on-site cooking classes). 296 Freeport St., Dorchester, MA yaleappliance.com.