Updated 18:31, September the 22nd, 2008
| COMPUTER REPAIR |
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| Apple Store New York may be the Big Apple, but we’ve got the biggest apple in the country. We’re talking 20,000 square feet of every Apple product on the market, parked and ready for you to test drive it. We’re talking the Genius Bar, where people of stifling intellect (and surprisingly good social skills) help you with your iWhatever and offer free hour-long workshops. Make sure you reserve a one-to-one appointment online in advance. We’re also talking about huge lines every time a new iPhone is unleashed. There are also smaller Apple stores in the Cambridgeside Galleria and the Chestnut Hill Mall. 815 Boylston St., Boston. MBTA: Green E Line to Prudential. Mon-Sat: 8 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. 617.385.9400. |
| MicroCenter We went in looking for a 4 GB USB flash drive and not only picked one up for $13.99, but we also found “Resident Evil 4” for Wii for less than $30. At this superstore, the salespeople actually know where to find things, and the computer repair staff is equally reliable. Bring your sick machine to them, or call a hotline (800.207.3434) for on-the-phone support — it’s free 30 days after purchase. 730 Memorial Dr., Cambridge. MBTA: Red Line to Central, then 15 min. walk. Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 617.234.6400. |
| Geek Housecalls For a price of a little over $60 to start, these geeks will come to your place within 24-hours to fix your virus, crashed hard drive, or help install a wireless modem. 781.863.8111. |
| Geek Squad These guys are the closest thing to superheroes we have in this society. OK, maybe not, but these guys drive a cooler car than the Geek Housecalls mobile. Like their Geek brethren, they’ll come to your place and save the day by enabling you to get back to your work or downloading porno. 800.433.5778. |
| HARDWARE |
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| Connelly Hardware Looking for a new plant to spruce up your room? Or just wanna trash the awful fern your roommate clings onto for dear life? Try Connelly Hardware out in Brookline. They grow the goods, you plant ‘em. Oh yeah, they sell hardware too. 706 Washington St., Brookline. MTBA: Green Line to Washington Square. Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 617.277.7349. |
| Dickson Bros. If their storefront feels like it’s from the ’50s with the recessed door and friendly warm yellow letters, that’s because they’ve been in Harvard Square for more than 75 years. After dark, the window display looks like a teenage stoner’s bedroom when they turn on all the novelty lights they sell. Of course they have nuts and bolts, hardware and tools, paints and brushes, small appliances and house wares too. And they deliver! 26 Brattle St., Cambridge. MBTA: Red Line to Harvard. Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sun10 a.m.-4 p.m. 617.876.6760. |
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Economy Hardware Beware: A five-minute trip to buy nails and double-sided tape could land you with an inflatable rocking chair and a transparent shower curtain with the Periodic Table on it. Economy Hardware combines a traditional hardware store with contemporary accessories, furniture, and all sorts of stuff. Come prepared with a credit card — or your mom. That lava lamp won’t come cheap. 219 Mass. Ave., Boston. MBTA: Green Line to Symphony. Mon-Sat 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 617.536.4280. 144 Harvard Ave., Allston. MBTA: Green Line to Harvard Ave. Mon-Sat 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 617.789.5552. 1012 Beacon St., Brookline. MBTA: Green Line to St. Mary’s. Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 617.277.8811. 438 Mass. Ave., Cambridge. MBTA: Red Line to Central. Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m.-7 p.m. 617.864.3300. |
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TAGS Hardware TAGS Hardware offers 7,000 gadgets of all kinds, a down-home family feel, and most importantly, free popcorn! 25 White St., Cambridge. MBTA: Red Line to Porter Square. Mon-Sat 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. 617.868.7711. |
| 24-HOUR CONVENIENCES |
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| CVS OK, so not every CVS is open 24 hours, but for shaving cream, tampons or Twizzlers at 3 a.m., try hitting up the Boylston Street, Charles Street or Porter Square locations. If you’re in desperate need of meds, the pharmacy is open 24 hours, too. The Shaw’s right by the Porter Square CVS is 24/7 too. 587 Boylston St., Boston. MBTA: Green Line to Hynes/ICA. 617-437-8414. 155 Charles St., Boston. MBTA: Red Line to Charles MGH. 617-523-1028. 35 White St., Cambridge. MBTA: Red Line to Porter. 617-876-4037. |
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7-Eleven Offering Big Gulps and Big Bites (conveniently near the clubs, such as Aria, Rumor and, in Cambridge, the Middle East), Sevos is guaranteed to be open all hours. Suburbia never tasted so good. More than 10 locations in Boston and Cambridge. |
| Store 24 For pre-, post- or during-the-party munchies, Store 24 (aka “Stoh two-foh”) is most likely right around your corner. Steven Wright once asked the rhetorical question: If they’re open 24 hours, why are there locks on the doors? That’s because some of them close occassionally, so it’s best to double-check the hours at the location nearest you. More than 40 locations in Boston, Brighton, Cambridge, Charlestown and Waltham, among other areas. |
| LATE-NIGHT LAUNDRY |
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| Cappy’s Corner Where else can you score some cigs, buy motor oil, down a slice of pizza next door and wash your underwear all at the same time — it’s Cappy’s Corner and it’s freaking weird. The deli/pizza parlor/laundromat/candy shop/car supply store takes the something-for-everyone cliché literally. We love it. We don’t understand it, but we love it. 90A Westland Ave., Boston. MBTA: Green Line to Boylston. 6:30 a.m. - 2 a.m., 7 days. 617.247.8814. |
| CAR RENTAL |
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| Zipcar What the hell is Zipcar? It’s a super-affordable, ($7.65 per hour/$57.80 per day) and super-convenient way of renting automobiles (You can just park them in pre-designated places all over the city). Becoming a member is in better taste than using that handicapped plate you inherited when your grandma died. 25 First St., 4th Floor, Cambridge. 617.995.4231. 18 Tremont St., Ste. 605, Boston. 617.933.5070. |
| U-Save U-Save offers luxury cars and RVs, as well as a fine selection of Ford Focuses (if you can call those fine). It’s pretty much like any other rental place in town, except it doesn’t sock on a ridiculous under-25 surcharge (it’s only $10) and they also have U-Haul-style trucks — without the U-Haul-style attitude. 25 Harvard Ave., Allston. 866.264.7368. 70 Prospect St., Somerville. 800.272.8728. |