Every year, the dining scene on Cape Cod rearranges itself with openings, new concepts and fresh starts in familiar locations.

• Prepare to dig in at some of the spots we're most excited to try this season.

Upper Cape

Falmouth has two notable arrivals: Hooked Bar & Grill at 159 Main St. operates as a walk-in-only coastal tavern serving daily at 11:30am with a menu running from tuna tartare to smash burgers.

Across town, The Deck at The Coonamessett opens this month at the Coonamessett Inn.

• Expect an open-air seasonal spot offering small plates and drinks.

In Mashpee, The Rock Wood Fired Pizza is hiring ahead of a summer opening at 35 South St. in South Cape Village.

• Kohinoor Indian Restaurant is already operating at 681 Falmouth Rd., serving South Asian street-style chaats, tandoori curries and South Indian dosas.

Mid-Cape

Hyannis has two additions. Boteco do Manolo at 1070 Iyannough Rd. brings Brazilian comfort food like steaks, feijoada and hearty mains to the Mid-Cape near the Shaw's.

Cape Cod Creamery is opening a fourth seasonal location near the Hy-Line ferry terminal at Hyannis Harbor, targeting the island summer crowds.

West Yarmouth has two debuts at the Uncommoner Hotel:

• Cafe Arcana opens mornings with locally roasted coffee.
• Gypsy Sol takes over at night with craft cocktails and small plates. Both spots have a tarot theme.

Lower Cape

Chatham is getting two new concepts this season: TK's Sports Bar opened last month at 1077 Main St., serving pub fare including ribs, pizza and a signature clam chowder empanada.

• Beacon & Buoy, led by Melissa Ramsay, is taking over the former Chatham Cut space at 1200 Main St. as a combined cafe, restaurant and provisions shop in June.
• Dennis Port's most talked-about opening is Backyard by Foley's at 645 Main St., a massive outdoor venue anchored by a sail-covered bar. It'll have a game zone, live music stage and rotating food trucks.

💭 Thought bubble: Deehan here. I got the pork carnitas fajitas the other day at Sea Bird Cantina in South Wellfleet. Not bad for Tex-Mex 2,400 miles from the border.

• They serve "New York style pizza" there under the Paesans Pizzeria brand. I haven't tried it yet, but I've been waiting for a decent slice in this town for like 20 years.

Keep reading: What's new on the Outer Cape

Boston announced when roads will be shut down to vehicle traffic for the 2026 Open Streets Series that turns busy neighborhoods into car-free events running from August through October.

Now in its fifth year, the series is back in three familiar neighborhoods and adds Roslindale for the first time.

The schedule:

• Aug. 2 — Jamaica Plain
• Sept. 12 — Mattapan
• Oct. 4 — Allston-Brighton
• Oct. 18 — Roslindale (new)

All events run 10:30am–3pm, with streets closed to vehicles from 9am to 4pm.

Zoom in: Food trucks, live performances, games, face painting and space for local businesses to expand onto the street.

🏛️ Lee Pelton announced he will step down from the Boston Foundation later this year, ending a five-year run leading the $2.6 billion philanthropic group. (Boston Globe)

🏗️ Harvard's Faculty of Arts and Sciences could lay off up to a quarter of its staff this summer as part of an administrative overhaul aimed at closing a $365 million budget hole. (Harvard Crimson)

💸 An undercover probe found MassDOT workers in Charlestown appeared to clock out hours before their reported shifts ended. One employee earned $240,000 last year largely through overtime.

• MassDOT placed seven employees on administrative leave. (Boston 25 News)

🗳️ The Boston City Council rejected a non-binding resolution calling on councilors and Mayor Wu to roll back salaries, with opponents saying the roughly $329,000 in savings would barely dent a $20 million budget gap. (Universal Hub)

Soccer's most-watched event on Earth is coming back to the United States for the first time in 32 years, and this time it's bringing 47 countries with it.

Why it matters: For one glorious month, fans around the world stop to watch the same thing, and you'll finally get to be there for it. Add in Lionel Messi's likely last dance and a tournament playing out in your backyard, and even the most casual fan has reason to tune in.

By the numbers: The 2026 World Cup runs June 11 to July 19 across 16 host cities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

• 48 teams (up from 32).
• 104 matches over 39 days.
• Three host countries, a first for the men's tournament.

The favorites: Spain, France and England headline the sportsbooks, with five-time winner Brazil and reigning champ Argentina right behind.

• Norway is the buzzy dark horse, finally back on the World Cup stage after a 28-year absence with Erling Haaland, one of the most lethal strikers on the planet, leading the line.
• Messi will be 39 by the final. Soak it in.

The intrigue: This World Cup looks different from the ones you remember. The larger field means a brand new round of 32 before the bracket reaches the round of 16.

• Mexico also becomes the first country ever to host or co-host the men's tournament three times.

How to watch: Fox and FS1 will have every match in English, and Fox One will stream them all. Telemundo and Universo will carry the Spanish broadcast, with Peacock streaming that feed.

The bottom line: For 39 days this summer, the world's biggest party is happening on your couch, in your bars and down the road. You won't need to be a soccer fan to feel it.

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