September 30th 2012: Nightlife in Boston

This morning was a little rainy, so after waiting for the rain to stop, we decided to have brunch at Jan's Kitchen at 580 West Boylston Street in Worcester, a pretty run of the mill breakfast place.

We had to sit apart for a while as there were still a few people eating, but by the time our food arrived, we were able to sit together. My friends got the Shaved Steak sandwich with Potato Salad and Belgian Waffles, while I got the Big Slam, which comes with bacon, sausage, eggs, toast, home fries and pancakes. I was actually supposed to get a 13 inch pancake, but the waitress warned me about it, so I decided to get 2 small pancakes instead. Apparently, if I had finished the large pancake, my picture would have been taken and put on the wall of fame.

13 inch pancake

Shaved Steak

The Big Slam

Belgian Waffles

Even with the smaller pancakes, I could not finish my meal. Oh well.

After a filling breakfast, we decided to head up Mount Wachusett in Princeton to see some views from the top, even on a cloudy day like today.

On the way up in my car at the first viewpoint, I took a few pictures of the fall scenery here.









I was surprised when we finally reached the top in my car, as the construction that had been here before was longer present, and in its place was a tall watchtower.

The new watchtower

Unfortunately, the ladder up was withdrawn and locked in place, so we could not go up.

The views from the platform below were still pretty good though.

Firefly (Photuris lucicrescens)

On the way down, we passed by the ski slopes with several great views.









From here, we headed into Boston to drop my friend off at the airport, before heading to the Courtyard Marriott Boston Downtown, where my other friend had a room for the night. After parking my car right next door, I walked into the hotel to check out the place, and it was pretty nice inside the hotel.

While waiting for my friends to settle into their room, I headed out and walked around to take some pictures.

Holy Trinity German Catholic Church

The Metropolitan Condominiums

We were to meet our other friends in Chinatown, so we walked there. While waiting outside Xinh Xinh Restaurant at 7 Beach Street, my friends decided to head to the Bao Bao Bakery and Cafe, a typical Chinese bakery, at 77 Harrison Avenue nearby, where they have pretty decent bubble tea. My friend got the Papaya shake.

After my friend arrived, we went into the Vietnamese restaurant, which was pretty small compared to the rest of the Vietnamese places nearby. My friend got the Pho Xe Lua, the typical large bowl of pho with all the meat available added in, while I got the Pho Sate Dac Biet (House Special Spicy Sate Rare Beef Noodle Soup). My other friend got the Goi Cuon Bo Nuong (Beef Vietnamese Spring Rolls) and the Goi Du Du (Papaya Salad with Shrimp).

Goi Du Du

Goi Cuon Bo Nuong

Pho Xe Lua

Pho Sate Dac Biet

I have to say that the soup did not taste like it had any MSG at all, which was very different than the other restaurants in the area. I have to say this is my new favorite Vietnamese restaurant in Boston.

After dinner, we decided to do a little bar crawling. Our first bar was the Sweetwater Tavern near the hotel. It was a pretty typical bar, where I decided to get the Eskimo, made of Smirnoff Ice, Cruzan Citrus, Mango and Sprite, on top of BBQ Wings to fill us up.

Restaurant Decor

BBQ Wings and Eskimo

After the wings were done, we headed next to the Beantown Pub, another bar on Tremont Street. Upon looking at the menu there, I could not resist but order the Chocolate Nachos, which had chocolate flakes and caramel in place of cheese and salsa. My friend also got the Baked Jumbo Pretzels with honey mustard on the side.

Chocolate Nachos

Jumbo Pretzels

The nachos were pretty good, although I would have appreciated more chocolate.

The next place we went to was Scholars Boston Bistro, which was surprisingly, but pleasantly, empty on a Sunday night. We were able to have the pool room all to ourselves, and we played a few rounds of pool there, although I still wasn't very good.

After the game, we decided to call it a night, and headed back to the hotel, passing by the Cutler Majestic Theatre at Emerson College.

When I approached my car, I realized that I could not park it there all night, so I decided to head home instead of staying the night.

With that, a fun day of exploring bars in Boston came to an end.

September 29th 2012: Showing My Friends Around Boston

Today, my friends were in town, so I decided to show them around Boston for a bit. After parking at the Boston Common Garage, we decided to get some breakfast from the Clover Food Lab food truck on the Boston Common, where I got the Popover, while my friends got coffee and their Egg Sandwich. I enjoyed my Popover, although it would have been better with jam.

Egg Sandwich

Popover

Next, we passed through the Boston Public Garden to get to the shops on Newbury Street, passing by the Emmanuel Episcopal Church.

We then walked to Copley Square, where I took a picture of the monument beside the Trinity Church

We then went inside the main branch of the Boston Public Library, visiting the exhibition shocasing Rafael Guastavino's architectural work, who designed the beautiful library building.

From here, we headed to the Top of the Hub restaurant at the top of the Prudential Center, where my friend ordered the Creme Brulee and the Organic Crisp Cucumber Mojito, while I got the assorted cookies for everyone.

Creme Brulee

Assorted  Cookies

Organic Crisp Cucumber Mojito

We sat there for some time enjoying the cookies and the views of Boston below, although the sweetness of the cookies soon became too much for us to eat more.









Going back down to ground level, I decided to bring my friends to walk along the Charles River Esplanade, where I took pictures of the Charles River and the Cecil and Ida Green Building in MIT












Walking all the way back to the Boston Common, we decided to do the Freedom Trail, passing through the  Granary Burying Ground and Suffolk University Law School on the way to Faneuil Hall Marketplace, where we decided to have lunch at the Salty Dog Seafood Grille and Bar at 206 South Market Street.

Franklin Monument,
Granary Burying Ground

Suffolk University Law School

In previous times when I passed by this place, I always thought it was a fancy place, but this time, when I actually entered it, it looked more like a seafood shack. I would say that the food we got was just average as well.

Crabcake Sandwich

Combo Platter

New England Clam Chowder

After our lunch, we continued on the Freedom Trail to the North End, passing through the Curley Memorial Plaza and the New England Holocaust Memorial

Curley Memorial Plaza,
North street and Congress Street

New England Holocaust Memorial

In the North End, I wanted to have my friends try out Mike's Pastry, but the line was so long that we gave up on the endeavor immediately. Continuing along, we passed by the St. Leonard's Church, where there is also a Peace Garden here.

St. Leonard's Peace Garden

I wanted to get to the other side of the church to take a good picture of it, entering the place, but not finding an alternate way out. The inside of the church was pretty nice though.












Finally out on Prince Street, I was able to take a decent picture of the church

On the way to the Paul Revere Mall on Hanover Street between Clark Street and Harris Street, we passed by 2 other churches.

Sacred Heart Italian Church,
10 North Square

St. Stephen's Church

Paul Revere Mall was a small walkway, with an impressive looking statue of Paul Revere on horseback.

Paul Revere

Fountain

At the other end of the mall is the famous Old North Church, with the St. Francis of Assisi Garden beside it.

St. Francis of Assisi Garden

Old North Church

Heading toward the Charlestown Bridge, I took a picture of the Residence Inn Marriott Boston Tudor Wharf.

On the eastern side of the bridge, there were nice views of the Charles River

After crossing the bridge, we passed by the City Square Park on the way to the Charlestown Navy Yard.

At the Charlestown Navy Yard, where the museums were free to visit, we headed to the USS Constitution first, where we had to go through an airport like check first before being able to get onto the ship. Pictures of the ship, nicknamed "Old Ironsides" because cannonballs fired at her always seemed to bounce off the thick walls of the ship, follow.

Cannons on deck

Powder kegs

The Dining Room

Looking out the back

At the wheel

Captain's room

The USS Cassin Young was right next door, but it was too late in the day for tours on it.

We then headed to the USS Constitution Museum next door, which talks about the 200 year history of the ship we were just on.

Ship with sails furled

Tailormade uniforms

Paul Revere

Ship with sails unfurled

Our final stop for the day was the Bunker Hill Monument. By now, it was too late to climb up it, but at least my friends had a chance to see it up close.

From here, we were so tired that we decided to take a cab back to Oishii, where we had plans for dinner. After an expensive cab ride where the driver did not know where he was going, we realized we still had some time before dinner, so we decided to visit Chinatown for a bit, heading through the Chinatown Park on Surface Road and Beach Street.

State Street Building

Chinatown Park

745 Atlantic Avenue

Heading back to Oishii, we waited a little for our friends to come before starting to order. First came the appetizers, namely the Konbu Cured King Salmon (Chilled corn dashi veloute, fresh strawberries, avocado cilantro mousse, smoked popcorn), where the meat just melted in our mouths, the Crispy Pork Belly (red miso, shiso, pickled shallots), the Salmon on Fire and 

Konbu Cured King Salmon

Crispy Pork Belly

Salmon on Fire

My chef friend gave us a few complimentary appetizers as well, the best of which was the fugu (puffer fish) appetizer, which was exquisitely different. The tuna tartare, which came on a large ice block, was too sour for me as always, though.

Fugu

Tuna Tartare

For entrees, we got the O-Toro on risotto, the Steamed Salmon which came with baby spinach, sauteed soba noodles and Red Miso Sauce, the Maki Covered with Toro (Spicy Mayo, Asparagus, Cucumber, bonito Flakes, Toro torched on top with gingery sauce and Jalapeno), and the Crispy Mango Maki (Crispy Tempura Flakes, Mango, Cucumber, spicy mayo, topped with tuna and mango, with fudachi and soy yuzu honey glaze) 

O-Toro

Steamed Salmon

The Maki Covered with Toro

Crispy Mango Maki

The best part of the night was to come with the desserts. We ordered 5 in all, but as it was my birthday, each came with a trick candle for me to blow out, and I had a hard time blowing each one out.

Red Bean Creme Brulee

Yubari Ice Melon and Green Tea Layer Cake

Coconut Sphere

Sesame Ice Cream Bonbon

The part I did not expect was the big cake my friend brought out for me, which he had made meticulously. That really made my night.

After dinner, we decided to head out for drinks, going first to the lounge at W Boston hotel, but it was too crowded, so we headed to Rock Bottom next door instead, where I got a Passion Fruit Mojito to pass the time.

After my chef friend got off work and joined us for a bit, we decided that we were all too tired, so we headed home for the day.

I'm just happy that all my friends came to town to celebrate my birthday with me.