October 17th 2026: The Banh Mi Place, Worcester

 Today, we decided to get a quick bit from The Banh Mi Place, a new Vietnamese sandwich place in Worcester. We got the Grilled Beef (House mayo, pâté, lemon grass grilled beef, house fish sauce, pickled carrots & daikon, cucumber, jalapeño, cilantro).

Pretty good I must say.

Recommended Places to Visit: Lexington

Recreation

Farms
Wilson Farm
10 Pleasant Street


Events
Lex Play Tunes


Water Bodies
Potter Pond
Potter Pond


Movies
Lexington Venue
1794 Massachusetts Avenue


Parks

Emery Park
Depot Square and Massachusetts Avenue

Center Recreation Complex

90 Worthen Road

Lincoln Park

100 Lincoln Street

Museums
National Heritage Museum
33 Marrett Road


Beaches
The Old Reservoir
458 Marrett Road


Hiking
Recommended:
Whipple Hill
Winchester Drive near Russell Road

Parker Meadow
Hancock Street near Coolidge Avenue

North Street Pits
North Street and Adams Street

Arlington's Great Meadows
End of Sheila Road

Chiesa Farm
54 Adams Street

Upper Vine Brook Conservation Area/Cotton Farm

137 Marrett Road

Tried:
Paint Mine
140 Grove Street

Poor Farm
199 Hill Street

Willard's Woods
63 North Street

Turning Mill Pond
End of Tidd Circle

Lower Vine Brook
End of Utica Street

Sutherland Woods
End of Sutherland Road

West Farm Conservation Area
Oak Street near Bruce Road

Architecture

Monuments

Lexington Battle Green
Massachusetts Avenue and Bedford Street

Hastings Park
Massachusetts Avenue and Worthen Road

Town Clock
Massachusetts Avenue and Depot Square

Lexington Arts and Crafts Society
130 Waltham Road

Riding Through History

Places of Worship

Chinese Bible Church of Greater Boston
149 Spring Street

Temple Emunah
9 Piper Road

Sacred Heart Catholic Parish
21 Follen Road

Community of Christ
1386 Massachusetts Avenue

Follen Community Church
755 Massachusetts Avenue

First Baptist Church
1580 Massachusetts Avenue

Hancock United Church of Christ
1912 Massachusetts Avenue

First Parish Church
7 Harrington Road

Church of Our Redeemer
6 Meriam Street

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
17 Meriam Street

St. Brigid Parish
2001 Massachusetts Avenue

Grace Chapel
59 Worthen Road

Pilgrim Congregational Church
55 Coolidge Avenue

Countryside Bible Chapel
480 Lowell Street

St. Paul Evangelical Church
451 Lowell Street

Trinity Covenant Church
7 Clematis Road

Lexington United Methodist Church
2600 Massachusetts Avenue

Schools
Lexington Christian Academy
48 Bartlett Avenue

Harrington Elementary School
328 Lowell Street

Fiske Elementary School
55 Adams Street

Lexington Children's Place

20 Pelham Road

Estabrook Elementary School

117 Grove Street

Bridge Elementary School

55 Middleby Road

Hastings Elementary School

7 Crosby Road

Lexington High School

251 Waltham Street

Bowman Elementary School

9 Philip Road

Commercial Buildings
Brookhaven at Lexington
1010 Waltham Street

Youville Place

10 Pelham Road

Town Facilities
Cary Memorial Library
1874 Massachusetts Avenue

Fire Department
45 Bedford Street

Hayden Recreation Centre

10 Lincoln Street

Boston Children's at Lexington

482 Bedford Street

Post Office

1661 Massachusetts Avenue

Historical Buildings
Supreme Council, 33°
33 Marrett Road

Cary Memorial Building
1605 Massachusetts Avenue

Old Depot
13 Depot Square

The Old Belfry
Massachusetts Avenue and Clarke Street

Marrett Square Mall
315 Marrett Road

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Thai

Love at First Bite

1710 Massachusetts Avenue

Recommended Dishes:

Indonesian Fried Rice

Hawaiian Fried Rice

Pad Thai Noodle

Thai Iced Tea Pop

Khao Soi Salmon

Western
Via Lago
1845 Massachusetts Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Pan Seared Sea Scallops

The Porky Egg Roll-Up

Roast Beef
Local Grown Zucchini and Parmesan Risotto
Cookies and Cream

Banana Walnut Bread

Artistry on the Green
2027 Massachusetts Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Chocolate Bombe
Watercress Vichyssoise
Warm Roasted Cauliflower Salad
Seared Sea Scallops

Korean
Dabin
10 Muzzey Street
Recommended Dishes:
Toban Yaki
Sam Sek Jun
Soft Tofu Geegae
Fish Egg Nabe

Indian

Royal India Bistro
7 Meriam Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Lamb Korma
Strawberry Lassi
Kabuli Channa 
Thali

Khushboo Indian Restaurant (closed)
1709 Massachusetts Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Lamb Masala Dosa
Lamb Dilrooba
Plain Naan


French

MA France

46 Massachusetts Avenue

Recommended Dishes:

Chocolate Almond Croissant

Vegan Chocolate Cake

Japanese
Daikanyama (chain)
43 Waltham Street
Recommended Dishes:
Sake Ochazuke
Green Tea Crepe Cake
Ginger Ice Cream
Sunny Maki
Ebi Chili

Chinese
Taipei Gourmet
211 Massachusetts Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Steamed Mini Juicy Buns
Oyster Pancake
Braised Lion Heads

Spinach with Rice Noodle

Seafood Noodle Soup

Soy Milk

Fish Fillet with Soft Tofu

Yangtze River Restaurant
25 Depot Square
Recommended Dishes:
Dimsum buffet

Beijing Chinese Dining

1709 Massachusetts Avenue

Recommended Dishes:

Mimosa

Beijing Pan Seared Noodles

Pot Roast Pork with Scallion Pancake

Formosa Taipei
315 Marrett Road
Recommended Dishes:
Spicy Noodles in Soup with Beef Sirloin
Braised Pork with Steamed Buns
Sweet Soy Milk 
Sweet Custard with Peanut and Ginger Sauce
Black Tea Bubble Tea

Deli
Wicked Bagel
171 Massachusetts Avenue


Dessert

Sweet Thyme Bakery
1837 Massachusetts Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Chocolate Mousse Cup
Caramel Pecan Tart
Key Lime Tart
Green Tea Cake

Cake.
1628 Massachusetts Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
RED CARPET
CHOCOLATE MADNESS
MIDNIGHT DELIGHT
CLOUDS OVER CHOCOLATE
For Goodness Cake
KARAT TOPPED
MOCHA EXPRESS
BLACK TIE AFFAIR
BERRIES and GOLD
Minuteman
Milk and Cookies

Tres Petite Creperie
1707 Massachusetts Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Orange Juice
Citron Crepe


Tried:
Indian
Bollywood Cafe
135 Massachusetts Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Mango Lassi
Nariyal Soup
Haderabadi Mirch Aur Baingan


Chinese
Ruyi Restaurant
27 Waltham Street
Recommended Dishes:
French Maki
Lobster Kaiyaki
Szechuan Lamb


Italian
Nick's Place
197 Massachusetts Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Sweet and Spicy Chicken Ranch Pizza
Honey BBQ Steak Tip Sub
Ziti Shrimp Alfredo
Pastrami Sub


Dessert

Rancatore's Ice Cream and Yogurt
1752 Massachusetts Avenue

Fruitee Yogurt
1707 Massachusetts Avenue

Starbuck's (chain)
1729 Massachusetts Avenue

Royal Pastry Shop
317 Marrett Road
Recommended Dishes:
Chocolate Cheesecake

Recommended Places to Visit: Sudbury

Recreation

Parks
Davis Field

195 North Road

Haskell Field

40 Fairbank Road

Heritage Park

299 Old Sudbury Road

Water Bodies

Stearns Mill Pond
Dutton Road between Pratts Mill Road and Moore Road

Willis Pond
End of Lakeshore Drive

Shopping Malls
Mill Village Plaza
365 Boston Post Road

Duck Soup

365 Boston Post Road

Museums

Sudbury History Center and Museum

288 Old Sudbury Road

Hiking
Recommended:

Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

End of Weir Hill Road

Wesiblatt/Tippling Rock
641 Boston Post Road

Haynes Meadow Conservation Area

End of 65 Blueberry Hill Lane

Hop Brook Marsh

End of Barton Drive

Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

End of Moore Road

Carding Mill Pond/Grist Mill Pond

72 Wasyside Inn Road

Cutting Pond
Arboretum Way and Cutting Lane

Bruce Freeman Rail Trail

206 North Road

Tried:

Lincoln Meadows Conservation Area

Lincoln Road near Weir Hill Road

Nobscot Conservation Land
End of Brimstone Lane

King Phillip Conservation Land
Old Sudbury Road near Wolbach Road

Davis Farm Conservation Area
211 North Road

Nobscot Scout Reservation
1 Nobscot Road

Lyons Cutler Reservation
Cutler Farm Road

Frost Farm Conservation Land

Frost Farm Village Road and Meeting House Lane

Architecture

Monuments

Mount Pleasant Cemetery
~330 Concord Road

American Legion Post 191
676 Boston Post Road

Target Painting and Contracting
708 Boston Post Road

Buddy Dog Humane Society
151 Boston Post Road

Meadow Walk

534 Boston Post Road

Places of Worship

Presbyterian Church
330 Concord Road

Martha Mary Chapel

72 Wayside Inn Road

St. Anselm Church
100 Landham Road

St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church
16 Great Road

First Parish of Sudbury
327 Concord Road

Sudbury United Methodist Church
251 Old Sudbury Road

Memorial Congregational Church
26 Concord Road

Our Lady of Fatima Parish
160 Concord Road

First Baptist Church
162 Landham Road


Schools
Israel Loring Elementary School
80 Woodside Road

Peter Noyes Elementary School

280 Old Sudbury Road

Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School

280 Old Sudbury Road

Willow Hill School

98 Haynes Road

Town Facilities
Goodnow Library
21 Concord Road

Fire Department
77 Hudson Road


Historical Buildings
Old Grist Mill
Wayside Inn Road between Prides Crossing Road and Dutton Road

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Thai
Riceberry
621 Boston Post Road
Recommended Dishes:
Spicy Lemongrass Beef Salad
Riceberry Pad Thai


Breakfast

The Farmer's Daughter (chain)

534 Boston Post Road

Recommended Dishes:

Chicken + Waffle Sammie

Benedict

Butterfly Pea Flower Latte

Chicken and Waffle Benedict

Fruit + Grains 

Tad's Chicken Salad

Apple Fritters

Brioche French Toast Square

Farmer's Choice

Mac + Cheese Please

Green Shakshuka

Western
Bullfinch's
730 Boston Post Road
Recommended Dishes:
Pork Osso Bocco
Calamari
Dessert Sampler
Chocolate Mousse
Creme Brulee
Warm Apple Crisp
Love Potion

Bistro 20
120 Boston Post Road
Recommended Dishes:
Minestrone Soup
Rack of Lamb
Eggplant Tower

Longfellow's Wayside Inn

72 Wasyside Inn Road

Recommended Dishes:

Mocha Raspberry Martini

Prime Rib of Beef

Yankee Pot Roast

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Indian
Soul of India
103 Boston Post Road
Recommended Dishes:
Lunch Buffet

Paani Pure Indian Cuisine (closed)
621 Boston Post Road
Recommended Dishes:
Thali Lunch
Chicken Tikka Masala
Lamb Curry
Naan
Vegetable Pakora
Mango Lassi


Japanese
Fugakyu Cafe (chain)
621 Boston Post Road
Recommended Dishes:
Gyoza
Duck Tataki 
Ika Tobikko Ae 
Chirashi
Rainbow Maki
Green Tea Creme Brulee

Lotus Blossom Restaurant (chain)

394 Boston Post Road
Recommended Dishes:
Gold Nugget Maki (If Available)

Soft Shell Crab over Egg noodles with Lemon Yuzu Butter

Tried:
Deli
Sudbury Coffee Works
15 Union Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Brie LT
Hot Chocolate
Reuben Panini
Honey Granola

Mediterranean
Twenty Nine Rustic Mediterranean
29 Hudson Road
Recommended Dishes:
Spaghetti ala Chitarra and Pork Shoulder Sugo
Pistou Provencal


Japanese

Oishii Too Sushi Bar
365 Boston Post Road

Italian

Franco's Trattoria
365 Boston Post Road
Recommended Dishes:
Pizza di Vongole
Italian Wedding Soup

Classic Pizza
730 Boston Post Road
Recommended Dishes:
Shrimp Scampi Pizza

October 15th 2026: Hiking in Lexington and Sudbury on the Way Home

 Coming back from the airport, I stopped by Lexington,

Post Office

going on a hike at the Upper Vine Brook Conservation Area. The path I took from 137 Marrett Road is shown below in pink.

The views of the water body from the platform here were pretty decent.

From here, it was on to Sudbury,

Willow Hill School

going on a hike at Frost Farm Conservation Land. The path I took from Frost Farm Village Road is shown below in pink.

Okay views of the open fields, but nothing much else here,

although there is a link to the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail, where there were decent views of the water bodies here along this stretch from 206 North Road.

With that, I called it a day, as it was time to go to work. Pretty productive day I would say.

October 13th 2026: Surf Seafood, Woburn

 Today, I met up with a college friend for dinner at Surf Seafood in Woburn. Pretty nice ambience.

I got the Shrimp Marsala (zucchini noodles, pan roasted shiitake mushroom, sweet onions, oven roasted tomatoes, marsala butter sauce), 

which was not bad, if not for the zucchini noodles, which I had hoped to be actual pasta. Wish that I had read the finer details before ordering.

October 12th 2026: Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich VT

 On the way back from Canada, we stopped by the Randolph Information Center in Randolph VT

before heading to Norwich VT

Ledyard Free Bridge

to visit the Montshire Museum of Science . Not too bad a museum,

with an outside area

and hiking trails to boot.

For dinner, we got takeout from Happy Dumpling in Lebanon NH, getting the Braised Spicy Chicken Noodles (chicken, potato, scallion, onion, green pepper, cilantro), Crispy Chinese Burger (housemade crispy flatbread, stuffed with beef, cilantro, green pepper, scallion), Taiwanese Style Popcorn Chicken (crispy fried chicken, special spice mix).

The chicken and the flatbread were pretty decent, although the noodles were just so-so. Should have added more spice I guess.