Back Bay Hardware opened this morning at 7:30. By 10 a.m., most of the supplies were gone from the Newbury Street store as people in the neighborhood stocked up for Hurricane Irene.

"Everything sold out," employee Alphonse Bosqued said this afternoon. "Flashlights, batteries, candles, anything that's related to the storm - utility pumps, garden hoses." 

While it's important to be prepared for lots of rain, strong winds and possible power outages, it's also good to have the not-so-necessary supplies on hand.

Tip: Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale is now on shelves.

At Clarendon Wine Co, manager Brian Levine said he's seen a small surge in sales, but expects it to pick up later on.

"It think it's early. They probably won't start until tomorrow," he said on Friday.

The demand for beer and liquor tends to be last minute, when people all of sudden realize they need something do while they're home waiting out the weather.

"It's that way in snow storms too," Levine said. "You've got nothing else to do except stay in and drink."

And watch movies, assuming we don't lose power. 

Bosqued, at Back Bay Hardware, has Ocean's Eleven and Ocean's Twelve on the lineup.

Other good storm movies include:

• The Perfect Storm - for obvious reasons
• Shawshank Redemption - because it never gets old
• The Town - if you haven't already see this filmed-in-Boston movie, get on it.
• North by Northwest - if your looking for a classic
• The Day After Tomorrow - so you can be glad it's not winter

Having said that, if we do lose power you'll need some entertaining games, and a flashlight. Suggestions include:

• Scrabble - increase your vocabulary while you wait
• Apples to Apples - a classic if your hunkered down with friends. And beer.
• Chess - if it's just the two of you, now's a good time to learn the game, or perfect your skills
• Cards - the possibilities are endless

If you've got other suggestions on how to stay entertained during Hurricane Irene, please post them in the comments for all to enjoy.

Stay safe!