Everett’s own Short Path Distillery specializes in gin, rum, and whiskey, but trying out different spirits isn’t the only thing to do in the tasting room. The local spot also hosts a regular trivia night, during which the community is invited out to test their knowledge on a wide variety of subjects. There’s another trivia night at Short Path Distillery coming up on Thursday, July 25th—but you can participate any Thursday night.

Trivia begins at 8 p.m. sharp, so make sure you and your team are in place and ready to go by then (preferably with a few craft cocktails in hand). You can also grab some light bites from the bar or BYO pizza or other takeout food. Then get ready to answer questions about everything from Hollywood to the earth’s geography as the trivia master doles out eclectic questions. On a warm night, you can sit out on the patio and still participate in the fun.

If you think it’s too late to start planning a summer vacation, think again. If you’re both flexible and efficient, you can still steal off to a far-off (or nearby) destination before Labor Day. Just follow these expert tips to pull off the summer vacay of your dreams.

1. First things first: figure out airfare. If you’re planning on going somewhere that requires a flight, start by searching for deals on airfare. You might actually pick your destination depending on the cost of a flight. Check out travel websites or go directly to airlines’ websites to see if they’re running any specials and if any of the highlighted spots appeal to your interests.

2. Think about where you want to go, but don’t get locked into a single destination. If you’re not into the idea of choosing a destination randomly, start by coming up with a few potential ideas. Then scour the internet for deals on travel to those specific destinations. If you allow for some flexibility when it comes to the dates you fly, you should be able to score a deal even with a more limited scope, destination-wise.

3. Try a road trip. Don’t want to deal with booking flights at all? Opt for a vacation spot that’s within driving distance. Not only will taking a road trip save you some money, but it will also probably save you some time. Even if you’re on the road for a while, you won’t have to deal with getting to and from the airport, getting through security, and doing everything else that eats up time during air travel. That leaves you more time to relax!

4. Ask an expert for assistance. Maybe the idea of taking on one more thing stresses you out. If this is the case, don’t skip your vacation entirely, just ask for some help! A good travel agent will be able to take care of all the planning for you and find the best deals along the way.

8 Tips for Planning a Last-Minute Vacation [Islands]
5 Tips for Booking a Last-Minute Vacation [Reader’s Digest]
5 Tips for Booking Last Minute Travel [Forbes]

Handmade pastas and classic Italian entrees? How will you decide? Come hungry and try to do both when you visit newly opened Casarecce in the North End. They make the pasta shapes and stuffed versions in house daily for bucatini vongole, smoked mozzarella ravioli, and spaghetti carbonara. Then it’s on to veal saltimbocca and the like, and that doesn’t even take into account appetizers like bruschetta and oven roasted meatballs. Plan to arrive early and linger over multiple courses and fine Italian wine, or bring a few friends or a date that doesn’t mind sharing so you can try as many specialties as possible. 

Casarecce has only been open a few months, but has the menu and understated atmosphere that makes it feel like it’s been on Hanover Street for ages. Bostonians love a good, authentic Italian meal, so Casarecce is bound to be a neighborhood fixture for years to come. Make your reservation on their website, and preview the menu so you can start looking forward to your meal.