Have there ever been more beautiful words uttered than, “Summer’s here?” I mean, seriously, it’s like ushering in a totally new way of life…we’re not just peeling off annoying layers of clothes, we’re saying goodbye to months on end with no sun, no fun, and none of those delicious endless nights that can only happen when the weather gets warm …It’s time for flipflops, Frisbees, BBQs, trips to the beach, parties that go on for days, drinks to go with those parties, road trips, tan bodies, outdoor concerts, feeling that rush of hormones when a buff, bare-chested hottie walks by…Summer is the time to get the most out of life, to drink in every last bit of fun you can, to get a little naughty…There are SO many things that can make summer great that we couldn’t list them all ~ but here are just a few to remind you how to make summer the hottest it can possibly be!!

2010 Summer Music Schedule Hot Bands Abound!

By Jillian Locke

You want Classic Rock? Metal? Country? Hip-Hop? A blast-from-the-boy-band past? The 2010 summer music schedule is slated to span the best of the 1960s through the present, bringing some oldies, some goodies, and some “are you serious-lies?”

Let’s kick this off with some classics ~ Jethro Tull at the Bank of America Pavilion on June 15th, and the ultimate classic rock union, James Taylor and Carole King, at the TD Garden on June 19the and 20th. You can even catch JT and Miss King one night, then scoot over to the Bank of America Pavilion on the 20th and sail away with the jukebox heroes of Styx, Foreigner, and Kansas. The House of Blues will bow down to blues legend, BB King, on July 9th, and 80’s kings, Crowded House, on the 17th. Tying up the month of July, the most badass, long-lasting female rock outfit, Heart, will give an outstanding performance at the Bank of America Pavilion on the 28th.

The Backstreet Boys (whaaaa??) are taking their comeback tour to the Bank of America Pavilion on June 8th, while Lady Gaga, in all her flash-tastic, Madonna-esque glory, is set to ignite the TD Bank Garden on July 1st.

“This summer’s metal schedule is full of names you may have thought lost and gone, but NAY! For starters, how about a little Korn action, as they headline this year’s Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival on July 27th with Lamb of God and Rob Zombie at the Comcast Center. And let’s not forget our beloved Palladium, where prog-rock icons Dream Theater will touch down on July 10th, and Soilwork will terrorize on the 17th. July 20th will see the first annual Cool Tour at the House of Blues, featuring As I Lay Dying, Underoath, Between the Buried and Me, BLESSTHEFALL, The Acacia Strain, Architects, Cancer Bats, and War of Ages.

The Comcast Center is hosting a plethora of artists in the coming months, including Summer Jam on June 5th, Dave Matthews on the 7th and 8th, two glorious days in Margaritaville with Jimmy Buffet on the 17th and 19th, a down and dirty night with Lynyrd Skynyrd on July 1st, 311 on the 11th, Vans Warped Tour on the 13th, Tim McGraw on the 17th, the RETURN of Lilith Fair on July 30th (featuring veteran Sarah McLachlan and newbies Tegan and Sara), and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on August 19th and 21st. Capping the summer off – the monster of all metal fests – OZZFEST is set to obliterate Mansfield on August 24th, with the likes of heavy-hitting hooligans Rob Halford, Black Label Society, and Motley Crew flanking the legendary bat man!

The postponed Slayer/Megadeth show Slayer/Megadeth has been rescheduled for August 14 at The Tsongas Arena ~ this is a must-see of legends!!!!And for the last hurrah of summer, Aerosmith and The J. Geils Band will play Fenway on August 14th, and REO Speedwagon and Pat Benatar will be closing out the season at the Bank of America Pavilion on the 29th.There are WAY too many other shows to list, so check out your favorite venues, take all those pennies you’ve been stashing all winter, and prepare for a slammin’ summer!”

Drink This: Summer’s Refreshing Quenchers

By Leeanne Griffin

“Summer’s delicious temperatures are perfect for icy drinks: light beers, fruity cocktails, tart white and sparkling wines. Here’s what you should be pouring into your glass this season.

Beers: Fresh flavors rule in summer brews. Offerings by Sam Adams, Wachusett Brewing, Harpoon and Sierra Nevada are popular. Try Wormtown Brewing’s “Blonde Cougar” summer ale ~ we dare you not to giggle. If you’re at BeerWorks before a Sox home game, try the watermelon ale, garnished with a big chunk of melon.Wines: Chilled chardonnay and sauvignon blanc are favorites, but if you’re looking for something off the beaten path, check out a Gewurztraminer or Albariño. Sparkling rosé stars in Bocado’s cava sangria, made with limoncello, fresh raspberry puree and house-made lemonade.Cocktails: If you like ‘em sweet, here’s three fruit-flavored spirits for you: Pama pomegranate liqueur, X-Rated Fusion (with essence of blood orange, mangoes and passion fruit) and Veev acai spirit, made with the Brazilian superfruit. If not, there’s always the classic gin and tonic, and mojitos with plenty of muddled fresh mint.

Locally, check out the infused-vodka lineup at Allgos Sweets and Drinks (58 Shrewsbury Street), where they’re soaking everything from Twizzlers to carrots. And down the street at Mezcal, they’re doing an “hibiscus flip,” made with tequila, hibiscus liqueur, agave nectar and a whole egg, says beverage director Kevin Ludy. Mezcal also keeps its rotating margarita menu fresh ~ literally ~ with fresh-made syrups and squeezed fruits.

No booze? No problem: Whip up smoothies with frozen fruit, juice or yogurt or make your own “Frappuccino”-type drink with coffee, milk, ice and sugar. If you’re adventurous, try a fruit shake or “boba tea” with tapioca bubbles at a local Vietnamese restaurant. Stay cool!

The Summer’s Hottest Fashions

By Emily Kopec

Score these fresh-picked looks and instantly spice up your hot-weather wardrobe!Summer boots ~ Trade in your typical sandals for a fabulous pair of cowboy-inspired boots that hit a few inches below the knee. Look for soft shades of tan, nude, and taupe in a flat or cone heel. They add a really cool, unexpected element to those casual shorts and skirts, and they look damn sexy against bare legs. C’mon, who could resist?

Bright-rimmed sunglasses ~ After countless seasons of oversized, dark sunglasses, celebs like Christina Aguilera and Katy Perry are stepping out in retro-shaped shades with notice-me rim colors like turquoise and bright yellow. Equally zany and cutting-edge, this trend is for guys and gals who are fearlessly fun at heart.

The denim dress ~ Tried-and-true denim gets a feminine makeover as a flirty dress, perfect for both day and night. We’re not talking just denim details here, we’re talking a 100% pure denim dress. It’s all or nothing, Baby! Details like ruffles and built-in wide, high-waisted belts look especially hot.

Cork, rope and straw wedges ~ We’ve long known wedges are the best of both worlds – We get the sexy height of a high heel but our tootsies are much happier at the end of (and during) the day. And since ankle straps abound in this summer’s wedges, the comfort factor is sweetened even more. Does it get any better? Ladies, pick your wedge and rock it!All things polka dot ~ Whether it’s a silk blouse or a teeny-weeny yellow bikini (couldn’t resist), show your spots this summer, both big and small. Large, bold dots in classic shades like navy and red add a classic zing to an otherwise tired outfit, while a tiny dot pattern on a body-hugging dress gives it a fun and frisky feel. What kind of dot are you?”

Hot (and Close) Summer Getaways

By Leeanne Griffin

Is there anything better than summer? Get ready to lose layers of clothing, fling open the sunroof, and hit the road for some hot getaways. We’ve put together a roundup of great New England attractions within a few hours’ driving distance.

CT Wine Trail: Surprise! There’s great wine just south of Massachusetts. Made up of more than 30 wineries, the Connecticut Wine Trail spans the entire state. Pack a picnic lunch and head down for some tastings. Several vineyards are grouped within minutes of each other, making for easy travel.

Casino Action: There’s always something going on at Mohegan Sun and MGM Grand at Foxwoods, whether you love slots, fine dining or high-end shopping. Sample ceviche at Mohegan Sun’s Bar Americain and try to catch a glimpse of owner Bobby Flay. Or dance the night away with celebrity guests at Shrine, MGM’s hottest club. Check the casinos’ websites for midweek hotel-discount offers.

Beaches: The summer just isn’t the same without hot sand, crashing waves and tiny swimsuits. Beyond tried-and-true favorites like Cape Cod, Hampton and Old Orchard, there are beautiful stretches of sand in southern Rhode Island (Watch Hill, Misquamicut) and Maine (Ogunquit, Wells, Kennebunk, Bar Harbor). Slather on the sunscreen and get going!

Boston: Fenway, Newbury Street, Lansdowne Street, Public Garden, TD Garden, museums, arts, culture, breweries and fabulous dining. That’s just the tip of the iceberg for New England’s biggest city.

Outdoors: Hit a trail, strap on a bike helmet, climb a mountain, pitch a camping tent or launch a kayak. If you’re looking for spectacular waterfall views, check out Bash Bish Falls in southwestern MA., near the New York border.

Summer Wheels

By Sam Blier

The air is warm, the energy is high, and your wheels are dying to show what they can do. Nothing says summer quite like aimlessly cruising the nighttime streets, or heading out at the crack of dawn with your [semi-conscious] friends for the road trip of all road trips, the tunes pumping from the car stereo competing with the soundtrack of laughter, off-key singing, and lots of rumbling from under the hood. Read on as we break down the hottest summer rides out this year and give you a sneak peak into what’s going to make next summer even hotter.

Muscle car fans everywhere are enjoying the current renaissance of American iron. The venerable Ford Mustang has catered to the smoky burnout crowd for generations, having been in continuous production since 1964. The 2011 Mustang (out now) has improved in every category over the outgoing model, especially in the all-important speed department. The old, slow and boring V6 engine has been replaced by a brand-new, more powerful and more fuel efficient (31 mpg highway!) V6 made out of lightweight aluminum.

The best part, especially for muscle fans, is the return of the Mustang 5.0 GT. With the new V8 boasting over 400 horsepower, the ‘Stang has propelled itself back into the same weight class as its eternal nemesis, the Chevrolet Camaro (arguably the better looking of the two). Both cars are rear-wheel drive only ~ the way the car gods intended ~ and available with six-speed manual transmissions. The Mustang is available as a coupe or convertible, the nod going to the drop-top for open air summer cruising at its finest. Now before I start getting hate mail from Camaro fanatics, let it be known that Chevy has just announced that production of the Camaro convertible will commence in early 2011. Either car will carry you and three friends to any summer destination with good ol’ American speed and power.

For now, the Chevy soldiers on with its direct-injection V6 and small-block V8 engines, both providing enough power to back up the car’s aggressive looks. And speaking of looks, the Camaro just won the Ward’s Auto Interior of the Year award in the sports car category, proving that Chevrolet interiors have made exponential leaps in style and quality in recent years. Whether your Calvin sticker is relieving himself on a bow tie or a blue oval, the two most prolific combatants in the pony car wars are blasting their large caliber cannons right across each others bows. And in this war, we all win.

Now even if gas-guzzling, tire-shredding power isn’t your thing, you can still have plenty of stylish fun when the weather turns warm. Coming to a Honda dealer near you this summer is the brand-new CR-Z hatchback. This sporty hybrid is the spiritual successor to the cult classic CRX hatchback of the ‘80s and ‘90s. It’s less about pure power and speed, and more about spirited handling and plenty of fun in between fill ups. Thanks to the wide-opening hatchback, you’ll have plenty of room for all your beach gear. When it goes on sale, this stylish two-seater will be the only hybrid car available with a manual transmission, a must-have for driving purists. Although it won’t win many drag races, the CR-Z is built to carve corners and return gas mileage in the 30s, not a claim many cars in the $20,000 range can make.

So there are the cars that can put the extra heat in this summer…but If you demand high style, efficiency and nothing between your head and the summer sun, you’ll want to wait for the upcoming Mini Roadster.* A brand new model from Mini due out early next year, this compact, two-seater convertible should be a blast to drive with its turbocharged engine. Stock up on hairspray because you are not going to want to put the top up. Judging by the car’s trendy design, this will be the car to be seen in next summer (so put your name on the waiting list now before Heidi Klum claims your ride). In addition to its spiffy exterior, the chic Roadster will sport a unique feature called “Nature Guard.” This function informs the driver of the ideal gas pedal position in any driving condition to return maximum fuel economy. So when you’ve finally shaken the paparazzi, you can enjoy open-air motoring with computer-aided efficiency.

From nimble fuel sippers to tire-shredding muscle cars, there’s a stylish choice for every summer cruiser.

*Mini fact: Minis are still built in the UK but the company is completely owned and operated by BMW. It’s the company’s first foray into front-wheel-drive, and maybe not the last. They just announced that they’re looking into building a small, efficient FWD city car under the BMW brand.

Hottest Summer Books

By Annette Trossello

Nostalgic Summer Read
Summer Sisters

What girl doesn’t remember kicking off her sparkly jellies, curling up on the porch, and diving into a Judy Blume book? In addition to her teen and pre-teen novels, Blume also wrote several adult novels including Summer Sisters, one of my favorite summer reads. Summer Sisters tells the story of Caitlin and Vix, friends who spend every summer together on the Vineyard. Caitlin is rich, blonde, and perfect, while Vix is a shy wallflower who lives in a trailer with her parents and 3 siblings. The two go through life together from their first summer ~ when they sign the Never Be Ordinary pact ~ to their last summer ~ when one of them gets married. Summer Sisters is a great beach read that you won’t want to end.

Hilarious Summer Read
Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang

You may know her as the host of E!’s late-night comedy talk show “Chelsea Lately, “but Chelsea Handler has also written three books. Her most recent, Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang, is a collection of essays. You might want to read this one at home if snorting with laughter in public embarrasses you! With sarcastic wit, Handler shares stories about her work, love life, and wacky family.

Sci-Fri Summer ReadMockingjayThe third book of Suzanne Collins’s Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay, is due out August 24th and you may just see a Harry Potter and Twilight-esq crowd camped out for the final installment. This YA trilogy appeals to all ages and the first two books (Hunger Games and Catching Fire) were truly unputdownable. The trilogy takes place in a futuristic society which consists of a controlling government and 12 districts that each year, in punishment for their revolt 74 years ago, must choose a boy and girl to be sent to fight to the death in the Hunger Games. They are put in an arena and must fight for food, water, supplies, and the right to be the one who survives. With its social commentary, three-dimensional characters you will root for, and a plot that doesn’t slow down, the Hunger Games trilogy is a must read.

Hottest Summer Flicks

By Patrick Douglas

Looking at the lineup of 2010 summer flicks, there’s an obvious omission of a sure fire blockbuster…so far. We can always hope for diamonds in the rough, despite the rough coming in the form of questionable remakes of The A-Team and The Karate Kid. But who knows, there may be some last minute surprises from the studios, so let’s not give up hope…instead, let’s enjoy what they’ve promised us so far ~ after all, on a hot day, even the goofiest of movies, when paired with an air-conditioned theater and a large popcorn, can be just what we crave.June kicks things off with Get Him to the Greek, starring Jonah Hill as an intern who’s given the dubious task of getting a rock star (Russell Brand) to a concert in L.A. Toy Story 3 promises to be another groundbreaking hit for the series. Look out for the under-the-radar sci-fi flick Splice, directed by Vincenzo Natali (Cube, Nothing) and produced by Guillermo del Toro. Jonah Hex looks to capitalize on the recent comic-book adaptation craze, Adam Sandler and Kevin James team up again in Grown Ups, and Tom Cruise gets together with Cameron Diaz for the action romance Knight and Day (this is the movie that has scenes filmed in our very own Worcester Airport).

The strongest month of the summer looks to be July, with the uber popular third installment in the Twilight series set for an unusual summer release. Eclipse is followed by M. Night’s latest offering, The Last Airbender, based on a different kind of Avatar. What could be a pleasant surprise in the animation world comes in the form of Despicable Me (with Steve Carell).

Inception is a psychological thriller starring Leo DiCaprio and directed by Christopher Nolan. The kids will get a good dose of action with The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and Jay Roach follows up The Hangover with the Steve Carell/Paul Rudd comedy Dinner for Schmucks.

August wraps things up with a few possible gems. The Other Guys pairs Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell as a couple of detectives. Michael Cera continues to fascinate as a loveable nerd, this time in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. If you dig action, The Expendables gives you Stallone, Statham and Li all for the price of one. Things come to a close with the romantic comedy Going the Distance, with Drew Barrymore hooking up with the Mac guy/her on-again, off-again boyfriend (Justin Long).There are always a few great surprises to come out of summer movie madness. The only question is, which ones will stand out by the time football season kicks off?

Hottest Date Ideas

By Emily Kopec

Summer ~ what better time to bump up the creativity/sexy quotient of your dates! Here are just a few ideas that really will put the hot in hot weather!!

Fire up the grill. If you know how to work a grill, by all means, let the flames ignite. There’s something sexy about a guy (or especially a girl) manning the grill. It all goes down on your back porch with some cold drinks, a grill, and some sticky barbecue chicken wings. Now that’s hot.

Get physical. Whether you take a hike together (Purgatory Chasm in Sutton is a good spot), take a group boxing class, or just go bowling (for a fun change go candlepin bowling, developed in Worcester, MA, holler!), getting a workout together is good sexy fun. And when you’re competing, things get even hotter.

Sexy picnic at the park. Pack a basket of assorted fruit and hit a local park. Sound too innocent? Then don’t forget the blindfold! Gently blindfold your date and slowly feed him/her a bite of each fruit and ask them to guess what it is. I think every girl would secretly love her man to do this. 9 ½ Weeks, anyone?

Get an astrology reading together. Even if you’re not a believer in astrology, it’s fun to hear an astrologist reveal the compatibility between you and your date based on celestial bodies. For a first date, it can be a good ice breaker. To heat things up, ask the astrologist how sexually compatible you two are!

Hit a drive-in movie. Drive-in movie theaters may be scarce these days (the Leicester Drive In Theater is one local spot that’s still kickin’), but that’s even more the reason to visit this classic make-out spot. Be sure to load up on jumbo-sized boxes of candy, bring comfy blankets and pillows, and – duh – give that car of yours a good interior cleaning if you expect to get any action. Tip: a fruit-scented car freshener is a good finishing touch/aphrodisiac.

Ride a horse. For an adventurous couple, horseback riding can be an exciting way to share a brave and, let’s face it, sexy activity. (Just make sure you get the green light from your date first, because riding a horse isn’t for everybody). Exploring nature atop a beautiful, massive animal is a breathtaking and sensual experience…particularly when you happen to be in a straddling position.”

Hottest Workouts of the Summer

By Sarah Deschene

What type of workout is hot when it’s hot out? The type of workout that gets you tight, toned and ready for the hot summer outfits you can’t wait to wear!

To get real results this summer, get to cross training. Why stick to one type of workout when there are so many benefits to mixing it up. Here are some of my picks to get you that hot summer body:

#1. Pilates. A “Pilates Body” is a sexy body. Here is why Pilates works: Pilates is a form of exercise that trains your body to “work from your core.” “Core” refers to the muscles of the abdomen, lower back, and hip girdle. Yes, you can work your abs and lower back so many ways, but only Pilates targets the deeper core muscles that act as a girdle and tighten in around your waist! Pilates also tones and defines while lengthening, so you avoid that bunched up body builder look. (not that there is anything wrong with that look of course, if that’s what you’re into). Another big benefit of practicing Pilates is the mind/body connection that you develop. You learn to use your breath as a tool, you gain greater body awareness, drastically improve posture, and have an overall long, lean “Pilates Body” look. So grab your mat and head to a Pilates studio or Pilates class at your local gym to lengthen and strengthen your way to va-vaoom summer body!

#2. Spin. It’s a fact…you need cardio and a good diet to stay lean. What better way to get your cardio ~ and more out of your daily workout routine ~ than to sweat your way through a hot and happenin’ spin class? You can spin in the cold, the snow, the 100 degree summer days…you can spin anytime. It’s a great way to cross train as it is non impactive yet very intense. By working in and out of the seat, and varying the tension on your bike, you can tone, define, and even build muscle while getting your cardio quota in! You may have to do some work to find the right spinning instructor, but it will surely be worth it!

#3. Super High Intensity. The rest of the world is just now catching on…the harder you work out, the better results you get! Go figure. Ditch the hour long weight lifting routine you have going on at the gym and kick it up a notch with some powerful jumping lunges (lunge, power up and switch legs in the air), jump squats, weighted jumps on and off a bench… almost anything that takes explosive power. The key is to work to exhaustion. Don’t limit yourself to a number. Keep going until your body physically can’t go anymore. It might be worth it to hire a trainer to help you build a library of hardcore workouts to keep you challenged. I’m not talking about your typical group exercise classes here, folks!

Re-think your workout routine this summer, and integrate these methods of training into your daily exercise regime, and that sexy, drool-worthy summer bod you are working towards is as good as yours!

For complete workouts or to schedule Personal Training or Nutrition Counseling, email Sarah at sarah@corefitnessnutrition.com.

Sarah is the owner of Core Fitness and Nutrition, and is a Personal Trainer, Nutrition Consultant ACE ISMA NETA.

Summer’s Hottest Tech-Toys

By Tyler Jones

C’mon, we all know that summertime gives us carte blanche to act a little (or a lot) silly, indulging the little kid in us and having fun however we want. So here are so grown-up toys (NO, not that kind!) that will let you unleash your inner child and do just what summer is made for ~ Laugh, be goofy, be cheesy, and just chill!

Cheeky Monkey

An English bloke named Nick Donaldson invented a cute companion he calls Cheeky Monkey. Cheeky sits on a Velcro shoulder pad and has 16 different behaviors, each accompanied by some sort of sound effect or “monkey-ized” English phrase, all controlled by a small remote control ~ or you can just put Cheeky into auto mode and take your chances!. He can be made to look at you, wave and execute all manner of cute monkey moves, all on three AAA batteries. And admit it, you KNOW you’ll want to say, “Touch my monkey” to the first cutie who walks by! Cheeky and his cuteness run about $20.

Hot Wheels RC Stealth Rides

It’s OK, you can be out of your teens and still dig Hot Wheels ~ especially when they’re this cool (and small and light). A car or tank comes flat and slides out of its case, which doubles as its controller. Push the top of the car or tank, and the wheels pop down and you’re ready to roll. Press the car or tank gently down again and you get a flat vehicle ready to slip back into its case. It’s the size of a BlackBerry and weighs just 1.1 ounces.

Roboni-I

And if it’s OK to be into Hot Wheels, then it’s certainly more than OK to be into RC cars! Roboni-I is a two-wheeled RC car that can develop a mind and a personality of its own. Totally programmable via a PC (Mac to come) to play against other Roboni-i or against the clock, each vehicle has 16 sensors and 4 processors and can develop both reflexes and a personality. When plugged into a PC, the Roboni-i also connects to a virtual world for racing and play, then can bring what it learns from its online adventures to the real world. Roboni-i can roll on any surface all day on a single charge from six AA batteries. Eight games come in the package ($199.99), including soccer, along with one Roboni-i and a remote control.

Puppy Tweets

Every non-real puppy needs a Twitter account, right? Guys, I think you might want to just skip this one…but ladies, see that blue thingie hanging off the cute puppy’s collar? It’s a pendant with sound and motion sensors built in. You plug a USB 2.4 GHz transceiver into your PC or Mac. You then create a Twitter account for your pooch. Yes, for your pooch. Once activated, the pendant senses what Fluffy or Princess is up to from up to around 350 feet away and transmits one of 500 matching Tweets, including scintillating missives such as “I finally caught that tail I’ve been chasing and… OOUUUCCHH!” This whole concept is either hugely adorable cute or insanely ridiculous, but it’s definitely different. Both the blue and a pink version will be available in July for $29.99 from Radica, a Mattel brand.

Rockboard

This scooter really isn’t electronic, and that just may be a good thing. Rock up and down with your feet on the toggle board, and the thing boogies on. It can officially hold up to 200 lbs, but the company thinks it’ll likely support up to 400 lbs, and the downpipe telescopes for adult-sized riders. Right now, the $199.99 board comes in white and orange, but pink, blue, and an all-orange version are due later. That’s us attempting to stay on board – it’s a lot tougher than it looks and don’t try going up a hill.

Guitar Shirt

Don’t lug your axe to your next gig – just wear it: That’s the premise being this unique piece of interactive apparel. Just press the appropriate spots on the neck fret board attached to this t-shirt to strum your way through 14 power chords (minor chords are for wussies), which are then blasted through a battery-powered belt clip mini-speaker amp, that, we kid you not, goes all the way to 11. A magnetic pick sticks to the front of the amp, which includes a 3.5mm jack to let you output to a real amp. When you need to wash your wailing shirt ($29.99), the fret board strips off its hook-and-loop backing (not Velcro but an incredible simulation).

Sonic Slam (for summer days when it’s just too freakin’ hot to be outside and A/C is the only way to go)

Another wireless gadget from Radica, this is a paddle ball game without a ball and almost without a paddle. You get a handle and a racquet frame, but it’s hollow. As with Nintendo’s Wii, you’ll be hitting a virtual ball, which you’ll only hear thanks to the speaker in the racquet. Using motion technology, the racquets recognize both the speed of your swings and the distance between you and your opponent. You’ll hear the “whoosh” of the ball, voiced game prompts, sound effects and trick shots. It literally and figuratively sounds weird, but living room lamps and vases will stay safe.

Spin Master Air Hogs Vectron Wave

It looks like a skeleton skull cap with a built-in fan, but it’s actually a hovering, flying cap. It can be controlled via a traditional remote control, still, why not be a man and use your hand? Simply start its motor and slip your hand underneath to guide it around, or gently move your hand up to toss it up and into the wind or to a friend who can move their hand under it to toss it back. Also from Air Hogs: The first RC helicopter with “tail lock” technology, which means it needs no rear rotor. It’s also the first RC helicopter that fires missiles. Both flying objects will be around just as the winds kick up this spring for $24.99 each.