Recommended Places to Visit: Spencer

Recreation
Parks
O'Gara Park
95 Valley Street

Luther Hill Park/Lake Whittemore
End of Park Street

Beaches
Brooks Pond
Brooks Pond Road between Washburn Drive and Oakham Road

Hiking

Recommended:
Midstate Trail

15 Bond Street

Spencer State Forest
Howe Pond Road near Lyford Road

Sibley Farm
150 Greenville Street

Burncoat Pond Wildlife Sanctuary
Polar Springs Road

Spencer Depot Rail Trail

75 South Spencer Road

Water Bodies
Cranberry Meadow Pond
Cranberry Meadow Road between Jolicoeur Avenue and Briarcliff Lane

Browning Pond
Browning Pond Road near Browning Pond Circle

Thompson Pond
Thompson Pond Road between Westland Drive and Oak Lane

Stiles Reservoir
Chickering Road between Styles Avenue and Wilson Avenue

Sugden Reservoir
~50 Lake View Drive

Muzzy Lake
Maple Street and Adams Street

Buck Hill Pond
McCormick Road, 42.289366, -71.988072

Moose Hill Reservoir

510 Moose Hill Road

Architecture

Monuments

Bemis Memorial Park
West Main Street near Podunk Pike

Soldier's Monument
~193 Main Street

Vietnam Memorial Park
80 South Spencer Road

American Legion Post 138
175 Main Street

Places of Worship

Mary Queen of the Rosary Parish
60 Maple Street

First Congregational Church
207 Main Street

St. Joseph's Abbey
167 North Spencer Road

Hillside Baptist Church
472 Main Street

First United Methodist Church
161 Main Street

Schools
Wire Village School
60 Paxton Road


Town Facilities

Town Hall
157 Main Street

Richard Sugden Library
8 Pleasant Street


Historical Buildings
Old Fire Station
~157 Main Street

Old Building
239 Main Street

Old Ragsdale Kia
324 Main Street

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Breakfast
Kosta's Cafe
31 Pleasant Street
Recommended Dishes:
Hash Crepe Supreme

Deli
Five Loaves Bakery
13 Mechanic Street
Recommended Dishes:
Grilled Ham and Cheese

Western
Black and White Grille
206 North Spencer Road
Recommended Dishes:
Ribeye Surf and Turf

Spencer Country Inn

500 Main Street

Recommended Dishes:

Steak Au Poivre

Chicken and Shrimp Cajun Alfredo

Chicken Noodle Soup

Mexican
Mexicali Grill (chain)
117 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Mexicali Chimichanga


Tried:
Japanese
Yamato Asian Bistro and Sushi (chain)
62 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:

California Roll

Spring Roll

Shrimp Tempura

Bento Box

Chicken Teriyaki

Chicken Pad Thai

Vegetable Fried Rice

House Green Salad

Chinese
Chef Sau
148 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Sesame Beef

Hot and Sour Soup

Pork Fried Rice

Chicken Fingers

Breakfast
Charlie's Diner
5 Meadow Road
Recommended Dishes:
Eggs Blackstone

Dessert
Dippin Donuts (chain)
292 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Maple Glazed Donut

November 29th 2022: Quick Hike at Midstate Trail, Spencer

 Today, I decided to go for a quick hike on the Midstate Trail in Spencer, starting northward from 15 Bond Street. There is no official parking here, so beware. The rough path I took here to get to the water body is shown below in pink.

I could not find the trail at first, and trudged through the woods on what I thought was the trail, until I stumbled onto the trail itself. From there, it wasn't too long before I reached my target water body. Not too bad for a short hike.

November 25th 2022: Chinese and French in Newton

 Today, we decided to check out Ding's Kitchen, a Chinese restaurant in Newton.

We got their famous Fresh Coconut Chicken Hot Pot,

and the Steamed Salted Egg Yolk Lava Bun.

The food was not bad, but we got charged for the sauces and the tea, without being forewarned. Not sure we want to come back after that.

For dessert, we decided to check out Lakon Paris Patisserie in town,

getting the French Butter Croissant (Beurre D'Isigny Butter) and Almond Croissant

and the Rose Tea Latte.

The tea tasted weird paring rose water with milk, while the croissants were pretty good. Pity we missed those with filling as those are only made on the weekends.

November 24th 2022: Turkey Trot for the Memory, Shrewsbury

 Today, after taking part in the 2022 Turkey Trot for the Memory, a 2 mile walk in Shrewsbury, on this cold Thanksgiving morning, 

where we were provided with pies from Table Talk Pies in Worcester, of which I got the Old Fashioned Snack Size Cherry Pie, Old Fashioned Snack Size Pecan Pie and Chocolate Creme Pie,

we decided to go to the McDonald's in Auburn for more food, getting the Smoky BLT Double Quarter Pounder* with Cheese (fresh beef quarter pound patties, two slices of melty American cheese, thick cut applewood smoked bacon, fresh Roma tomatoes, shredded lettuce, smoky sauce and a toasted sesame seed bun.)

Not too bad actually, although I could have gotten the single patty instead.

November 21st 2022: Hiking in Shirley, Museum in Hopkinton

 After checking out the Hopkinton Historical Society in Hopkinton today,

I decided to go on a hike at the Valley Farm Conservation Area in Shirley, where the path I took to get to the water bodies here is shown below in pink.

Nice views of the ponds here, though the trails were slippery with all the leaves and my sneakers.

Recommended Places to Visit: Shirley

Recreation

Museums
Shirley Historical Society Museum
182 Center Road

Hiking
Recommended:

Valley Farm Conservation Area
Brook Trail

Tried:
Farandnear
159 Center Road


Waterfalls

West Main Street Dam

Walker Road, 42.55227139782069, -71.61989892422761

Water Bodies
Bow Brook Reservoir
49 Leominster Road

Phoenix Pond
Fredonian Street and Phoenix Street

Parks

Benjamin Hill Park
93 Benjamin Road

Architecture

Monuments

Old Fire Engine
8 Leominster Road

Whitney Park
Front Street and Phoenix Street

Giant Mohawk Statue
280 Great Road

Fredonian Nature Center
10 Fredonian Street

Town Common
Parker Road and Horse Pond Road

Places of Worship

St. Anthony of Padua Church
14 Phoenix Street

United Church of Shirley
4 Lancaster Road

Trinity Chapel Episcopal Church
188 Center Road


Historical Buildings

Phoenix Park
2 Shaker Road

Old First Parish Meetinghouse
41 Brown Road

President Building
17 Leominster Road

Engine Hall
1 Harvard Road

Town Facilities
T-Station
Ayer Road and Phoenix Street

Town Hall
7 Keady Way

Police Department
11 Keady Way

Hazen Public Library
3 Keady Way

Restaurants

Recommended:

Western

Bull Run Restaurant
215 Great Road
Recommended Dishes:
Locally Foraged Mushroom Bisque

Carlson Orchards Honey Crisp Blend Hard Cider

Shrimp and Scallop Scampi

Bull Run's Surf and Turf

Lemon Pound Cake

Tried:
Western

Piccolino's Restaurant
4 Mill Street
Recommended Dishes:
Seafood Chowder
Vermont Burger
Hawg Wings


Phoenix Bar and Grill
4 Ayer Road
Recommended Dishes:
Clam Chowder
New Orleans Crab Cakes
Sailor's Plate
Oven Baked Salmon

November 18th 2022: Imperial Buffet, Shrewsbury

 Today, we decided to have dinner at Imperial Buffet, a Chinese buffet place in Shrewsbury.

The fried stuff was not bad, but everything else was just so-so. Hope I don't get a tummy ache after this.

November 16th 2022: Dinner with a Colleague at Red Pepper, Worcester

We had dinner with my colleague today at Red Pepper, the best Chinese restaurant in Worcester. This time around, we got the Beef Noodle Soybean Soup,

the Wontons with Spicy Sauce,

and the Chongqing Special Hot Pot.

Really good flavors, especially the beef noodle soup. Glad my colleague liked his first Szechuan experience.

November 15th 2022: Lunch at Sonoma, Worcester

 Today, my colleague and I decided to have lunch at Sonoma in Worcester, this time getting the New England Cod Filet (baked with white wine and butter sauce, served with creamy garlic mash, carrots, Zucchini and Squash)

and the Roasted Pepper and Tomato (garlic roasted pepper and tomato soup served with a bread roll) soup.

The soup was a tad sour, although the fish was not bad, though a little on the burnt side. Too bad this place apparently is not open for dinner any more.

November 13th 2022: Fast Food in Norwood, Italian in Boston

 Today, while in Norwood, we had to grab some quick bites, getting Chicken McNuggets (made with all white meat chicken and no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.)

and the McRib (with seasoned boneless pork dipped in a tangy BBQ sauce, topped with slivered onions and dill pickles, all served on a toasted homestyle bun) from McDonald's,

and the 4 Pc. Chicken Nuggets (Bite-sized white meat chicken coated in crispy homestyle seasoned breading.) and BBQ Bacon and Cheese BK Royal Crispy Chicken (Crispy white meat breast fillet topped with southern-spiced BBQ sauce, crispy bacon and melty cheese on a toasted potato bun.) from Burger King next door.

Pretty good for the purpose they served, to fill our stomachs.

From here, we headed into Boston,

Boston Marathon Survivor Memorial,
755 Boylston Street

Apple Store Boylston Street

where we somehow managed to get a table at La Pizza and La Pasta within Eataly, albeit at the tabletop area.

We got the Lambrusco di Sorbara Vecchia Modena, Cleto Chiarli (Emilia-Romagna),

the Norcina (black truffle and mushroom cream, mushrooms, mozzarella di bufala from Napoli, sweet Italian sausage, fresh basil, extra virgin olive oil),

and the Cacio e Pepe (afeltra bucatini, Genuine Fulvi Pecorino Romano DOP, black pepper).

The wine was alright in my opinion, while the pizza and pasta were simple but pretty tasty. Overall, can see why people fill up this place all the time.

November 12th 2022: Uyghur, Americanized Chinese and Brazilian Cuisine in a Day

 After spending some time in Boston today,

Boston Harborwalk

EMK Institute for the US Senate

One Congress Tower

we decided to have lunch at Silk Road Uyghur Cuisine, a small place in Cambridge serving authentic Uyghur food.

We decided to get the Homemade Yogurt (with Walnut, Raisin and Honey),

the Naan (Uyghur Style Seasoned Bread),

the Bean Jelly (Bean Starch with Special Dressing Sauce),

the Lamb Noodle Soup (Lamb broth with noodle and sliced Lamb) 

and the Dry Fried Noodles (Dry Fried Hand pulled Noodles with Veggies and Beef).

Really interesting food, with Chinese noodles mixed with Persian flavors.

For dinner, we went to the Natick Mall,

but as all the main restaurants had long wait times, we decided to eat at the food court instead, getting General's Chicken, Crab Rangoons, Fresh Mixed Vegetables Fried Rice from Master Wok

and Picanha and Sweet Plantains from Terra Nossa Brazilian Grill. 

The chicken was salty and soggy, although the crab rangoon was alright but nothing special. The meat from the Brazilian place was not bad too, but otherwise nothing special. 

To end the day, we decided to get some chocolate from Laderach.

getting the Piemonteser (hazelnut, hazelnut gianduja), Truffes Cognac (cognac truffle filling), Truffes Kokos (Truffle filling, Batida de Coco), among other truffles.

Pretty good, and I like how they price by weight rather than by pieces. With that, an end to a day of touring museums and trying different cuisines.