July 29th 2022: El Basha, Westborough

 Today, passing through Northborough,

411 West Main Street

we decided to have dinner at the Westborough location of  El Basha, the Worcester location of which I have been to a few times in the past. Pretty nice inside.

We got the Baby Lamb Chops (Full rack frenched)

and the Beef Stroganoff (Sautéed sirloin tips with mushrooms in a reduced cream and soy sauce).

The sauce for the beef was not bad, but the beef itself was dry. The lamb chops weren't even a full rack as stated, and was a little bland at times. Overall, not a good dining experience here, including the bad service. Definitely not coming back again.

July 22nd 2022: The Pearl, Boston

 Today, while in the Dorchester area of Boston, we decided to have lunch at The Pearl, a new seafood restaurant at the South Bay Center area. Pretty nice ambience, though small.

We got the White Lion Passion & Peach Bellini (Passion & Peach notes, light refreshing twist on a BELLINI), which came from a can,

the Mac & Cheese (Cheddar, blue cheese, Ritz cracker topping),

the Garden Salad (Crisp romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers, house vinaigrette,

the Wellfleet oysters (Sharp brine, plump meats, rounded seaweed finish)

and the New England Clam Chowder (cream, potatoes, clams, bacon, served w/ oyster crackers),

The drink and the salad were just alright, although the blue cheese flavor of the mac and cheese and the soup were enough to convince me that this place is pretty good. 

To ensure that my little one had enough to eat, we went next door to Totto Ramen, which we visited before, for a second lunch, 

getting the Fried Chicken Bun (spicy fried chicken patty, lettuce, with yuzu mayo)

and the Miso Paitan (Our original wavy noodles in our Chicken Paitan topped with finest Koji Miso and ground pork, half boiled egg, scallions, bean sprouts, onions and *char siu).

Not too bad, although the chicken was a little tough at times. 

An okay eating experience in South Bay I guess.

July 20th 2022: Happy Meal for the Hungry Soul

 My little one was literally dying from hunger, so I had to rush to get his favorite food, French Fries from the McDonald's on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, getting the Hamburger Happy Meal.

I did not know that there was the option of Apple Slices or Extra Fries, so when the teller asked me, I thought they were asking about the one side, so of course I went with the fries, so I ended up with two bags of fries. All the better for my little one I guess. Otherwise, nothing special about the burger.

July 17th 2022: Immersive Monet, Boston

 Today, we decided to head into Boston

Frieda Garcia Park

Liberty Mutual Tower 

to check out the Immersive Monet exhibit going on at the Lighthouse ArtSpace. Before the show started, we decided to grab a quick bite from the Flour Bakery location nearby, 

getting a Coconut Muffin,

a Chai Latte

and a Small Salad (greek chicken).

Nothing special this time around though.

The show itself was an interesting experience,

but overall, not my cup of tea, being like an Omnimax movie without the dizziness associated with it. At least my other half enjoyed. Definitely not coming back for the other shows.

For lunch, we decided to check out The Banks Fish House, a pretty upscale seafood restaurant nearby.

We got the Ginzosa Mimosa (bubbles, oj, yuzu sake, orange curacao),

East Coast Oysters (Island Creek, Duxbury, MA, Ninigret, Charlestown, RI, South Bay Blonde, Onset, MA, Unicorn, Damariscotta, ME)

the Scituate Lobster Benedict (SERVED WITH ENGLISH MUFFIN, HOMEFRIES, AND SIDE SALAD, spinach, saffron hollandaise)

and the Cuttlefish Ink Spaghetti (santa barbara uni, mussels, cherry tomatoes, basil, mint). 

Interesting flavors to the benedict and the spaghetti, while the oysters were fresh, although I did not take to the drink. Pretty expensive meal though. With that, an end to our experience of Immersive Monet.

July 16th 2022: Takeout from Lakeside Bar and Grille, Shrewsbury

 Today, we decided to get some takeout lunch from Lakeside Bar and Grille in Shrewsbury, getting the Moroccan Platter (Marinated grilled chicken, hummus, tabouli, feta cheese, imported olives, roasted red peppers. Served with grilled flat bread.), 

the Chicken Marsala (Tender chicken sauteed in marsala wine with mushrooms served over penne or linguini.)

and the Mac N Cheese (Our homemade cheese sauce folded with elbow pasta, topped with seasoned crumb and baked to perfection).

Surprisingly good this time around, especially the sauce for the mac and cheese.

Recommended Places to Visit: Charlton

Recreation

Museums
Charlton Sewing Center
12 Stafford Street


Water Bodies
Tucker Pond
Stafford Road near Tucker Road

Railroad Pond
New Spencer Road and Old Spencer Road

Wee Laddie Pond
65 Gould Road

Little Nugget Lake
69 Nugget Drive

Hultered Pond
57 Northside Road

South Charlton/Granite Reservoir
193 Partridge Hill Road

Lower Sibley Pond
Sturbridge Road and Capen Road

Snow's Pond
5 Cemetery Road

Hiking
Recommended:

Charlton Cow Tunnel

Boucher Drive and Old Worcester Road

Tried:
Capen Hill Nature Sanctuary
56 Capen Road


Scenery

Sunset View
Near 290 Dresser Hill Road

Architecture

Monuments

Town Common
Main Street between Burlingame Road and Old Worcester Road

Places of Worship
Federated Church of Charlton
64 Main Street

St. Joseph's Church
10 H. Putnam Road Extension

Hope Christian Fellowship
6 Haggerty Road

Charlton Baptist Church
50 Hammond Hill Road

Charlton City United Methodist Church
74 Stafford Street

Dams

Buffumville Lake Dam

End of Old Oxford Road


Historical Buildings
Old Dodge Chapel
81 Hammond Hill Road

Town Facilities
Harrington Healthcare at Charlton
10 North Main Street

Overlook at Charlton
88 Masonic Home Road

Town Hall
37 Main Street

Public Library
40 Main Street

July 15th 2022: A Few Quick Hikes in Oxford, Charlton and Spencer

 Today, I decided to go on a few quick hikes on the MidState Trail, first starting out with the Sacrarrappa Pond region in Oxford at the end of Lovett Road, where the path I took here is shown below in pink. This area is on private property though, so beware.

The view of the pond itself was obscured by tree cover, 

although the wetland on the other side was a pretty sight.

My next destination on the trail was the Charlton Cow Tunnel area in Charlton, where the path I took on the trail from Boucher Drive and Old Worcester Road is shown below in pink.

The cow tunnel under Route 20 was interesting enough, 

although the map was inaccurate for the other side of the trail, not going near the water body on the map at all. 

Next, I headed into Spencer to check out Moose Hill Reservoir, which is on the trail at 504 Moose Hill Road opposite Sugden Reservoir.

Turns out I visited this place before a long time ago, mistaking it for Sugden Reservoir.

Instead of hiking there, I did one on the Spencer Depot Rail Trail, where the path I took from 75 South Spencer Road is shown below in pink.

The main water body was swampy, although with nice views of the hills in the distance, 

but the other water body was nothing to look at.

For dinner, we decided to check out Double T's Tavern, a bar restaurant in the town of Marlborough,

getting the Steak Tip Sandwich (steak tips served with melted cheese and horseradish sauce)

and the Double T's Coconut Chicken Tenders.

The steak tips were burnt and hard to eat in a sandwich, but the chicken were actually really good and crispy, especially with the sauce. Overall, just alright though. With that, an end to a day of hikes in Oxford, Charlton and Spencer.