Sunday, October 28, 2012

October 28th 2012: Driving Around Boston in the Rain

Today, I had to bring my friend from Boston back to my place to stay the night as we have stuff to do tomorrow, so I decided to sightsee in the area. First, I decided to head to Athan's Bakery in Brookline to use a Groupon to get some breakfast. This bakery is actually pretty nice inside, with a cafe area inside as well.

Cafe area
Bakery area











For $20, I decided to get 4 desserts, one a baklava like dessert, the Bolero (milk chocolate mousse covered in almonds and milk chocolate ganache), the Noisette (hazelnut Patisserie cream, toasted hazelnuts with chocolate genoise, in a ganache covered dome) and the Framboise (raspberry and chocolate).
Bolero (top left), Noisette (top right), Framboise (bottom right)
I have to say, all the desserts were simply exquisite in taste. I definitely recommend this bakery to others.

Next, it was off to Boston to do some sightseeing there. First, I went to the Charlestown area.
Schrafft Center
Charlestown Working Theater

Teamsters Memorial Park,
Rutherford Avenue and Main Street
Hayes Square,
Vine Street and Moulton Street


Charlestown Firefighters Memorial Park,
Bunker Hill Street near Short Street

Church of Saint Francis De Sales
Old St. Catherine of Siena Church,
Vine Street and Moulton Street

From here, I headed to the Charlestown Navy Yard, with the intention of visiting the USS Cassin Young. Unfortunately, the battleship was still undergoing repairs, and would not be ready until next summer. With that, I decided to walk a stretch of the Boston Harborwalk, going from the Navy Yard all the way to Constellation Wharf
Anchors on Display
Boston Harborwalk




Massachusetts Korean War Veterans Memorial




Shipyard Park,
8th Street and Flagship Way Avenue

Charlestown Navy Yard Pier 4




Parris Landing
View of Pier 8 from Constellation Wharf
Snail Sculpture

It was at this point that it start to drizzle as the effects of Hurricane Sandy started to arrive. I decided to end mysightseeing in this area and proceed to the Massachusetts General Hospital area next. After managing to find a parking spot, I walked around the area in the rain, taking pictures of the surrounding buildings.
Shriners Hospital for Children
On finding the entrance to the Thoreau Path on Charles Street near Monsigneur O'Brien Highway, I decided to walk its path, stumbling across a rare white squirrel along the way.


White Squirrel











I thought at first that it was albino, but when I looked closer, its eyes were black. As it turned out, it is actually a rare form of the gray squirrel which has recessive genes, making it white.

After emerging from the path, I walked around West End a little more.
Bobby Orr Statue outside TD Garden
TD Garden

West End Place
Government Center Garage, Haymarket Station
Charles F Hurley Building,
Government Service Center









Cardinal Cushing Memorial Park,
1 Bowdoin Square


Massachusetts General Hospital










6 Bowdoin Square
Edward W. Brooke Courthouse

Old West Church









One Bowdoin Square





JFK Federal Building


Garden of Peace,
100 Cambridge Street
Church of Saint John the Evangelist Episcopal

Museum of Medical History and Innovation


Next I headed into the Financial District, parking near the Norman B. Leventhal Park on Franklin Street and Pearl Street.
Norman B Leventhal Park


At Angell Memorial Plaza,
Milk Street and Pearl  Street
Angell Memorial
John W. McCormack Post Office and Courthouse
Old Chadwick Lead Works Building,
184 High Street


Hilton Boston Financial District
New England Telephone and Telegraph Building

Next was the Seaport area, where I finally managed to get up close to the Bank of America Pavilion, which I had always seen from out at sea.
Boston Fish Pier in the distance
Bank of America Pavilion





Legal Seafoods Boston Harborside
Nearby was the Boston Marine Industrial Park, which I entered soon after. At this point, the rain was starting to get worse, and the winds were getting stronger too. This area is where Cruiseport Boston, the embarking point for most cruises from here, is located.
Rock Lobster Sculpture,
Northern Avenue and Haul Road
Pennypackers Food Truck











Boston Design Center
View from Dry Dock Plaza Park,
Tide Street and Northern Avenue

Cruiseport Boston
Exelon Power New Boston Generating Station


Jewel of the Seas
Arch III, Pappas Way and Summer Street



After passing the Summer Street Bridge into South Boston, I decided to take a walk on it to take some pictures. Little did I know that the wind was really strong that it nearly knocked me off my feet. I was also in constant fear the whole time that the road signs might fly out from their bolts and hit me. thankfully, none did.
Summer Street Bridge, South Boston




Boston Harbor from the bridge

From here, I headed toward the South End area.
Old Saint Augustine Church,
226 Dorchester Street
Best Western RoundHouse Suites

New Market Pizza
Next, I did some exploring of the Northeastern University area.
Stetson Hall Back
Stetson Hall Front




Fenway Center
Flame of Hope



Marino Center
War Memorial










Bird in Flight
Reclining Figure

George S and Ellen Kariotis Hall
School of Law

David Playing the Harp
El Gallo


Orb
Krentzman Quadrangle
Richardson Plaza

West Village Residence Complex



I passed by Wentworth Hall of the Wentworth Institute of Technology and the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral of New England in this area as well.
Wentworth Hall
Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral of New England


At this point, my friend called to tell me he was done with his activities for the day, so I went to pick him up. After doing so, we decided to head to Yoki, a Japanese restaurant in Cambridge, for dinner. This place is a little like Moksa in terms of upbeat, modern decor, although I think Moksa is better.
Restaurant Decor
With my Groupon, we got the Yoki Mountain, made of finely chopped crabstick, octopus, shrimp, avocado, and fresh cucumber tossed with Yoki’s spicy mayo and peach sauce, topped with scallion, tobiko, and crispy rice, all served over a fresh piece of lettuce, the New Zealand Mussel appetizer, baked with Yoki’s special sauce and served over fresh slices of cucumber, topped with tobiko, scallion, and sweet soy sauce, and finally the Teriyaki Beef, served with stir fried Soba noodles and fresh mixed vegetables on a hot sizzling plate.

Yoki Mountain
New Zealand Mussels
Side Miso soup and Salad




Teriyaki Beef
The Yoki Mountain was pretty artistic, coming in a martini glass, and it was as tasty as the mussels, while the beef was cooked just right. To say the least, I enjoyed my dinner today.

With that, we headed home in preparation for our activities tomorrow.

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