September 27th 2020: Checking Out Some Buildings in Weston, Waltham and Medford

 Today, I checked out some buildings in Weston, 

Weston Community Center

Waltham 

Old Church, 15 Fiske Avenue

and Medford.

Brooks Elementary School

Finally got these buildings off my list.

Recommended Places to Visit: Medford

Recreation

Cemeteries
Oak Grove Cemetery
230 Playstead Road

Gyms
Boston Sports Club (chain)
70 Station Landing

Parks
Mystic River Reservation
Mystic Valley Parkway near Locust Street

Mystic Lakes Park

Mystic Valley Parkway and Pine Ridge Road

Park at River's Edge
200 River's Edge Drive


Shopping Malls
Meadow Glen Mall
Mystic Valley Parkway and Locust Street

Station Landing
Fellsway and Mystic Valley Parkway


Arts Performances
Condon Shell
Mystic Valley Parkway near Winthrop Street


Hiking
Recommended:
Middlesex Fells Reservation: Skyline Trail
~90 South Border Road


Museums
Medford Historical Society
10 Governors Avenue

Beaches

Wright's Pond
Elm Street near Sturges Street


Architecture

Bridges
Wellington Bridge
~240 Fellsway

Revere Beach Parkway Bridge
110 Revere Beach Parkway

Monuments

Hastings Heights
Allston Street and Laurel Street

Whole Foods Planet Globe
300 Middlesex Avenue

Royall Park
George Street and Main Street

War Memorial
~85 George P Hassett Drive

Memorial
~52 Forest Street

Honor Roll Park
Winthrop Street near Brook Street

Places of Worship

New Life Baptist Church
320 Boston Avenue

Kurukulla Center for Tibetan Buddhist Studies
68 Magoun Avenue

North Prospect Union Church
144 North Street

West Medford Baptist Church
59 Boston Avenue

St. Raphael Church
514 High Street

Congregational Church of West Medford
400 High Street

First Baptist Church
29 Oakland Street

St. Clement's Church
71 Warner Street

Grace Church Episcopal
160 High Street

Unitarian Universalist Church of Medford
147 High Street

St. Joseph Church
114 High Street

New England Baptist Church
30 Salem Street

Community Baptist Church
470 Fulton Street

St. Francis of Assisi Church
441 Fellsway West

Assembleia de Deus
15 Marion Street

First Community United Methodist Church
55 Otis Street

Schools
Tufts University
419 Boston Avenue


Historical Buildings
Marcus Fonzi Condominium

92 High Street

Old Gleason School
160 Playstead Road

East Cambridge Savings Bank
9 Playstead Road


Town Facilities

City Hall
85 George P Hassett Drive

Historical Society
10 Governors Avenue

Fire Station 3
280 Salem Street

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Indian
Zam Zam Restaurant
42 Riverside Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Chicken Achari


Chinese
Chilli Garden
41 Riverside Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Rabbit on Bone with Black Bean Sauce
Beef Tongue with Peppercorn Oil
Sliced Beef, Omasum and Tendon
Sweet Sesame Dumplings

Korean
Chung Ki Wa (closed)
27 Riverside Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Seasoned Tofu
Korean Beef Tarta
Jok Bal
Daegu Maeun-Tang

Italian

Salvatore's (chain)
55 High Street
Recommended Dishes:
Polenta Fries
Steak Tips
Short Rib Ravioli

Regina Pizzeria (chain)
44 Station Landing
Recommended Dishes:
Napoletana Pizza
Giambotta
Calamari Siciliana

Lantana Cafe
417 Salem Street
Recommended Dishes:
Ornesto Chicken
Lemoncello Mascarpone Cake

Bistro 5
5 Playstead Road
Recommended Dishes:
Strawberry Tiramisu
Seared Pork Belly
Gnocchi
Duck Duo

Real Gusto
24 High Street
Recommended Dishes:
Crochette
Pasta al Pesto
Profiterol

Tried:
Western

Boston Market (chain)

38 Riverside Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Market Feast for 3

Breakfast
Medford Square Diner
38 Riverside Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Mushroom Asparagus Swiss Omelette
Mango, Banana Pancakes

The Magnificent Muffin and Bagel Shoppe
491 High Street
Recommended Dishes:
Orange Burst Muffin

Italian
Wellington's Pizzeria
22 Riverside Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
X-Tudo Pizza
House Crab Cakes

Eddy's Place
301 Salem Street
Recommended Dishes:
Steak Tips
Florentine Pizza

Dino's Pizzeria
62 Lambert Street
Recommended Dishes:
Nutella Pizza
Potato Bacon Green Onion Ranch Pizza

Annie's Pizzeria
213 Middlesex Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Hawaiian Mess
Ricotta's Mess

Pizza Days
364 Boston Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Hawaiian
Cheese Bacon Burger
Pizza Carne Amorasso

Raso's Bar and Grille
209 Mystic Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Papa's Tripe
Crispy Fried Calamari

Pastalina's Restaurant
454 Salem Street
Recommended Dishes:
Veal Cutlet Special
Braciolettine Alia Marsala

Dessert
CB Scoops
453 High Street
Recommended Dishes:
White Chocolate Oreo Delight
Chocolate Truffle Mini Bomb
Toffee Caramel Pretzel
Maine Black Bear Ice Cream


Arthur's Pastry Shop (chain)

509 High Street
Recommended Dishes:
Custard Puffs

Arthur's Pastry Shop (chain)
382 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
The Tower
Cream Puffs
Anise Biscotti

Starbucks (chain)
471 Salem Street
Recommended Dishes:

Matcha Green Tea Lemonade
Matcha Green Tea Latte

Danish Pastry House (chain)
330 Boston Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Bear Claw

Demet's Donuts
199 Mystic Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Cream Filled Maple Bar

Caffe del Mare
219 Middlesex Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Mixed Berry Gelato


Brazilian
Oasis Brazilian Restaurant
373 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Brazuka Specialty
House Sampler

Gula's Bakery
295 Salem Street
Recommended Dishes:
Coconut Rocambole
Sugarcane Juice
Goiabada Special Pancakes


Indian
Zaika Taste of India
3850 Mystic Valley Parkway

Recommended Dishes:
Fish Makhani
Goat Curry


Deli
Tasty Gourmet
321 Boston Avenue

Recommended Dishes:
Love Me Tender Sandwich
New York Combo Sandwich

Simple Fare Delicatessen
460 High Street
Recommended Dishes:
Frutti di Mare
Eggplant Parmigiana


Chinese
Dim Sum Cafe
679 Fellsway West
Recommended Dishes:
Japanese Dumplings

Korean
Sura BBQ (chain)
27 Riverside Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Steamed Egg
Bean Paste Stew
Scallion Pancake
LA Short Rib
Pork Short Rib
Peach Ripieno
Prime Brisket

Japanese
Asia Palace (closed)
442 Salem Street
Recommended Dishes:
Mango Tango Roll
Seafood Salad
Avocado Salad
Fat Boy Salad
Spring Rolls
Pad Thai
Rainbow Roll
Dragon Roll
Spider Roll
Sushi and Sashimi Combo
Scallop Hokkaiyaki

Shanghai Moon
442 Salem Street
Recommended Dishes:
Vegetarian Special
Baked Salmon Maki
Scallop Hokkaiyaki
Soft Shell Crab

Nagoya
38 Riverside Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Scallion Pancake
Nagoya Gekikara Ramen

Nijiya
442 Salem Street
Recommended Dishes:
Miso Soup
Takoyaki
Chicken Yakitori
Shrimp Shumai
Mackerel Nigiri
Back Draft Maki
Seaweed Salad
Agedashi Tofu
Spicy Crab Hand Roll

September 25th 2020: Two Takeout Dinners from Shrewsbury

 Today, I had dinner from two places in Shrewsbury. Firstly, we got the Artipeggio (Roasted eggplant, marinated artichokes, roasted peppers & mozzarella cheese)

and the Marsala (Cutlets sautéed with mushrooms and spinach in a sweet marsala wine demi-glace).

from Amici Trattoria,

and the Stuffed Chicken Messina (Oven roasted chicken breast stuffed with Italian cheeses, baby spinach & sundried tomatoes, topped with a mushroom marsala sauce and served with mashed potatoes.) 

from Jimmy's Tavern and Grill.

I wasn't too much of a fan of the peppers in the pizza, although the pasta was pretty good, and the chicken got a little dry after a while, even with the marsala sauce.

September 24th 2020: Jimmy's While Working

 Today, I had to work late, and got a free dinner from Jimmy's Tavern and Grill in Shrewsbury in return. I got the Seafood Savannah Pie (lobster, shrimp, scallop and salmon baked in a port wine mushroom cream sauce with gruyere cheese, cracker crumbs, sherry and Idaho Baked Potato) and Loaded Baked Potato, 

which was actually pretty good because of the cream sauce.

September 19th 2020: Cha Feo, Boston

 Today, after checking out the house temple Chua Lien Hoa in Randolph, 

we decided to check out the new bubble tea place on 248 Newbury Street in Boston, Cha Feo, where they were having a buy one get one free promotion.

We got the Avocado Smoothie Cheezo Tea and Watermelon Ice Tea,

which were not bad considering we asked for no sugar, and they used real fruit, rather than powder. Really busy street today though.

September 12th 2020: Center Springs Park, Manchester CT

 This morning, we decided to check out Center Springs Park in downtown Manchester CT at the corner of Bigelow Street and Main Street. Nice park, 

with the Cheney Rail Trail located at one end of the park.

My main goal here was to look for the waterfalls here, which were really hard to find, being fenced off, but thankfully I found a path on the way back to the lower falls, which were nothing but a trickle,

The main upper falls were not any more special either, being marred by graffiti.

From here, it was on to West Hartford CT,

VFW Hannon-Hatch Post 9929,
83 South Street

passing through Hartford

Korean United Methodist Church

Broadview Community Church

St. Lawrence O'Toole Roman Catholic Church

Memorial Baptist Church

St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral

Cedar Hill Cemetery

and Newington CT.

Church of Christ Congregational

Our destination was the KT Bakery, a small Vietnamese place in West Hartford.

We ate outside of course,

getting their specials for the day, Bun Mam

and Mi Kho,

which came with a side of soup.

Very authentic and delicious, although with a touch of MSG.

We got the Che Ba Mau for dessert,

and several mooncakes and Banh Pia to go.

Pretty good meal, and desserts too. 

September 9th 2020: More Takeout from Viet Citron, Burlington

 Today, we decided to get takeout from Viet Citron in Burlington,

Butterfield Pond,
673 Lowell Street

getting the Beef Pho Dac Biet (Ballerz Special, Ultimate bowl of beef pho: 24 hrs rich beef bone marrow broth, rice pho noodles, topped w/ beef shank, sirloin, eye round cut, tripe, beef tendon. Comes with a box of fresh veggies, hoisin and siracha)

and the Banh Mi (Artisan Vietnamese baguette, pickles, jalapeños, cilantro, signature aioli, garlic soy reduction and crispy pork belly).

Delicious as always, especially with the crispy pork.