Massachusetts seniors can swim with sea creatures, visit tropical islands and even inspect their childhood homes without leaving the couch thanks to virtual reality.

What's happening: Local senior living communities are using VR headsets and software specially designed for older people to show residents places and scenes they may no longer have the means or ability to visit in the real world.

Why it matters: The population of older Americans is growing faster than it has in over a century.

• At the same time, virtual and augmented reality technology is going mainstream, with tech giants like Meta and Apple behind consumer-grade headsets.

How it works: Senior living facilities contract with VR company Rendever for the equipment and training for the staff. Rendever's software allows a staff member to guide groups or individuals through a series of VR experiences meant to entertain or educate.

• The wireless headsets show a 360-degree image so users can move their head and take in a full scene that is much more immersive than traditional documentary footage.
• As the staffer leads the VR tour, they quiz users about what they're seeing and foster conversation about the scene or subject.

At Maplewood Senior Living in Weston, residents gather in the community's lounge area for regular sessions with the headsets.

• There was no hesitation about adopting the new technology among the septua-, octo- and nonagenarians in the group, who were enthusiastic about strapping on the headsets.

The intrigue: After a video that put them underwater among schools of fish, the virtual travelers saw donkeys on Santorini, highland cows in Denmark and quokkas on an island off Australia.

• Staff can monitor what they see and narrate along or just let users explore the virtual scene.

What they're saying: "I thought it was great to be right in the place that's usually described to you or you read about. But to actually be there was exciting," 95-year-old Maplewood resident Ginny Burns told Axios.

• She said the underwater scene was even more exciting than when she swam with dolphins in real life.

A beloved summer market returns to the Seaport this weekend.

Driving the news: The Seaport X Black Owned Bos. Market runs monthly on Sundays from May through October, and more than 60 vendors plan to participate.

What's new this year: A children’s play space and games.

• As in years past, expect drinks and food from the likes of Caribbean Latin fusion ZaZ Restaurant and music from DJ Slick Vick and KNSZWRTH.
• The idea is to create “a destination feel,” says Jae’da Turner, founder of Black Owned Bos.

When to go: The markets run noon to 6pm on the Seaport Common. Upcoming themes:

• "Fun in the sun": July 23
• “Back to school”: Sept. 24
• “Fall Fest”: Oct. 8.

Bonus: On Aug. 20, Black Owned Bos. is hosting a market as part of ZaZ Fest, which celebrates Afro-Caribbean culture.

🧾 Boston-based point-of-sale company Toast is adding a new 99-cent fee on online food orders over $10 starting July 10. Some restaurants had the new fee in place starting yesterday. (Globe)

• The extra charge is not clearly listed on the app's checkout screen and is categorized under the "taxes & fees" section.

Patriots' cornerback Jack Jones was in court yesterday for allegedly bringing loaded guns and ammunition to Logan Airport. (WCVB)

• Jones put two Glock 9mm handguns and additional magazines through the TSA’s X-ray machine, according to a prosecutor.

Route 128 in Manchester-by-the-Sea was closed in both directions yesterday morning to make way for a medical helicopter to land and aid victims of a crash. (NBC10)

Yesterday, we asked you to guess where our mascot Townie the Seagull had flapped off to.

• She's a seagull, so never too far from the water. Yesterday she was in Trilling Square, which is at the corner of Harborview and Park Lane in the Seaport.

Reader James C. was the first to reply with the correct answer. Congrats, James!

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Cusser's Roast Beef and Seafood in the Back Bay offers beer-battered fish of the day, pickled red onions, slaw and their house-special Thoreau sauce on corn tortillas.

• Two tacos are $13.

Why it's worth a visit: The white fish is meaty and a lighter alternative to the $17 fish and chips platter or the $12.75 rare roast beef sandwich.