Flipside Records

Flipside Records is the kind of gloriously cluttered record store that’s getting harder to find — a Berkley institution that’s been selling music since 1980 and treats a dig through the crates as the whole point. It’s full-service and then some: new and used vinyl (strong on rock, R&B, jazz, and local indie), CDs, plus a magpie’s hoard of retro video games, comics, collectible toys, stereo gear, and posters. There’s usually a shop dog, Seamus, supervising.

It’s a time capsule you can happily lose an hour in. We have it on our list as Berkley’s best lingering browse for music lovers and nostalgia-hunters alike — bring cash, bring patience, and flip through everything. You never know what gem’s in the bins.