Recommended Places to Visit: Paxton

Recreation

Water Bodies
Kettle Brook Reservoir #4
Reservoir Drive near Pleasant Street

Illig's Pond
19 West Street

Streeter Pond

467 Grove Street

Asnebumskit Pond

108 Holden Road

Hiking

Recommended:
Moore State Park
1 Sawmill Road

Thoreau's Seat
End of Asnebumskit Road

Tried:
Muir Meadow
Indian Hill Road and Pleasant Street

Architecture

Monuments

War Memorials
Richards Avenue and Pleasant Street

Worcester County Memorial Park
217 Richards Avenue

Places of Worship
First Congregational Church

1 Church Street

St. Columba Church
10 Richards Avenue

Public Facilities

Public Safety Complex
576 Pleasant Street

Richards Memorial Library
44 Richards Avenue

Restaurants

Tried:
Breakfast
Theo's Breakfast and Lunch
681 Pleasant Street
Recommended Dishes:
Zeus Burger
Chicken Fingers

Recommended Places to Visit: Rutland

Recreation
Kids

Alta Vista Bison Farm
80 Hillside Road

Museums
Historical Society
232 Main Street


Beaches
Rutland State Park/Whitehall Pond
2 Crawford Road

Turkey Hill Pond
76 Victoria Avenue


Biking
Mass Central Rail Trail
2 East County Road


Hiking
Recommended:
Thayer Pond
49 Miles Road

Water Bodies
Long Pond
Barre Paxton Road near Main Street

Moulton Pond
67 Pommogussett Road

Kenwood Pond
144 Kenwood Drive

Demond Pond
99 Pleasantdale Road

Muschopauge Pond
54 Muschopauge Road

Pine Hill Reservoir/Harrington Pond

98 Emerald Road

Cloverdale Street Pond

37 Sassawanna Road

Edson Pond

283 Pommogussett Road

Architecture

Public Facilities
Community Hall

250 Main Street

Public Library
280 Main Street

Places of Worship
St. Patrick's Church

258 Main Street

First Congregational Church
264 Main Street

Historical Buildings
Old Fire Station
~300 Main Street

Monuments

Town Common
Main Street and Pommogussett Road

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Western
Tavern on the Common (closed)
249 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Sirloin Gorgonzola Cream

Ladd's Restaurant
64 Barre Paxton Road
Recommended Dishes:
Lobster Pie en Casserole
Turkey Vegetable Soup

Center Tree Bar and Grill
249 Main Street

Recommended Dishes:

Crantini

Cajun Shrimp Alfredo

Capuccino Mousse Pie

Tried:
Food Trucks

Flippin the Bird BBQ

Recommended Dishes:

Hot Dog

Breakfast
Heavy Evie's Diner
2 Maple Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Shepherd's Pie
Garlic Bread


Chinese
Yang's Kitchen
249 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Wok Su Duck


Seafood
Still Four Corners
224 Barre Paxton Road
Recommended Dishes:
Clam Chowder
Whole Bellied Clams
Caramel Pecan Yogurt Ice Cream

Recommended Places to Visit: Holden

Recreation

Farms

Farm at SummitWynds

69 Summit Street

Events

Lavender Farm Fest

Breweries

7 Saws Brewing Company (chain)

1148 Main Street

Recommended Dishes:

Buzzsaw

Beaches

Eagle Lake
~100 Hilltop Avenue


Hiking
Recommended:
Trout Brook Conservation Area
332 Manning Street

Tried:
Oak Hill
Jordan Road

Potter Sanctuary
247 Paxton Road

Poutwater Pond
99 Sterling Road

Eagle Lake Wildlife Sanctuary
Causeway Street near Main Street

Asnebumskit Ridge
South Road


Waterfalls
Lovellville Falls
73 Mill Street

Water Bodies
Dawson Pond

205 Salisbury Street

Kendall Reservoir
Kendall Road and South Road

Chaffin Pond
513 Main Street

Bryant Pond
54 Bailey Road

Stump Pond
45 Causeway Street

Maple Spring Pond
Princeton Street near Cobb Street

Quinapoxet Reservoir
Princeton Street and Elmwood Avenue

Cournoyer Pond
Mason Road near Wood Street

Holden Reservoir #1
Reservoir Street near S Road

Holden Reservoir #2
Stonehouse Hill Road near Reservoir Street

Unionville Pond
645 Wachusett Street

Architecture

Schools
Holden Christian Academy
279 Reservoir Street

Mayo Elementary School

351 Bullard Street

Places of Worship

Immanuel Lutheran Church
346 Shrewsbury Street

First Congregational Church
1180 Main Street

Chaffin Congregational Church
155 Shrewsbury Street

First Baptist Church
1216 Main Street

St. Mary's Church
114 Princeton Street

Commercial Buildings
Residences at Holden Hills
1818 Main Street

Town Facilities
Gale Free Public Library
23 Highland Street

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Dessert
Stewart's Chocolates
1116 Wachusett Street
Recommended Dishes:
Cinnamon Bun
Tiramisu
Apple Pie 

Thai

Thai Island (closed)
456 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Massaman Curry 

Siam 9
456 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Pad Thai 

Thai House of Holden

680 Main Street

Recommended Dishes:

Drunken Noodles

Thai Iced Tea

Wonton Noodle Soup

Chinese
Wong Dynasty Restaurant
176 Reservoir Street
Recommended Dishes:
Kunbu Roll
Kung Pao Triple Delight
Seafood Soup


Western
Ethan's Family Restaurant (closed)

1 Princeton Street
Recommended Dishes:
Seafood Risotto
French Onion Soup
Prince Edward Island Mussels

Harvest Grille
1 Princeton Street
Recommended Dishes:
Greek Salad

The Local Tavern (closed)
680 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Pizza Special

Val's Restaurant

75 Reservoir Street
Recommended Dishes:
Greek Lemon Rice Soup
Atlantis Platter

Tried:
Deli
Specialty Sandwich Company

624 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
The Cuban

Goodhile's
1122 Wachusett Street

Recommended Dishes:
Egg, Bacon and Cheese Sandwich

Breakfast
122 Diner

1392 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Polish Benedict

Bagel Inn
785 Main Street

Recommended Dishes:
Sunflower Bagel with Cream Cheese

Dessert
Donut Kitchen
623 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Boston Creme Donut


Sweets N' Java

1207 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Caramel Hot Chocolate

Western
Flip Flops Bar and Grille (closed)

680 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Lobster Rav

Blue Plate Lounge
661 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Hot Pastrami Sandwich

Vietnamese

Pholicious Asian Fusion Restaurant and Bar (chain)

1062 Main Street

Recommended Dishes:

Jim Beam Milk Tea

Korean Fried Chicken Bao

Nha Trang Rolls

Holden Tonkotsu Black

Vietnamese Pandan Waffle

Mexican

Playa Del Carmen (closed)
700 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Playa Chimichanga 

May 31st 2024: Checking Out Water Bodies in Holden, Paxton and Rutland

 Today, while having some time to spend, I went to check out several water bodies, firstly in Holden,

Dawson Pond, 205 Salisbury Street

Then Paxton,

Streeter Pond, 467 Grove Street

Asnebumskit Pond, 108 Holden Road

and finally Rutland.

Pine Hill Reservoir, 98 Emerald Road

Cloverdale Street Pond, 37 Sassawanna Road

Edson Pond, 283 Pommogussett Road

Nice clear day for checking out water bodies.

May 25th 2024: More from Panera, Westborough

 Today at the Panera in Westborough, we decided to get the Lobster Roll,

the Mac and Cheese and the Tropical Green Smoothie.

Pretty good from this place as always.

May 26th 2024: Miller State Park, Peterborough NH

 Today, while in Peterborough NH, we decided to head up to the top of Pack Monadnock at Miller State Park, where we were allowed to drive up the auto road for 10 bucks. Nice views at the top,

where we were able to climb up to the fire tower,

Unfortunately, the sky was not clear enough to see Boston from here.

From here, we stopped by Ben's Sugar Shack in Temple NH,

getting their Maple Monster (maple soft serve ice cream served on top of a maple sugar donut, drizzled with maple syrup and topped with a maple cream cookie).

Not a bad end to a wonderful day for a pseudo hike.

May 24th 2024: Phoever Whatever, Worcester

 Today, we decided to check out Phoever Whatever, a new Vietnamese place in Worcester that has taken the place of One-Eyed Jack's at 433 Park Avenue, which we visited once a while ago. Nicer decor now.

We got the Basic Phoever Pho

the Mi Vit Tiem

and the Avocado Smoothie.

Not bad actually, although they might have used some unripe avocadoes may have been used giving it a slight bitter taste.

May 22nd 2024: Emma's Cafe, Sterling

Today, we decided to have brunch at Emma's Cafe in Sterling, which I went to once when it was still in Stow once when it was still in Stow. Nicer looking here, from what I recall.

We got The Antioxidants (avocado, spinach,blueberries),

the Pesto Chicken Panini (Fresh Basil, Provolone Cheese and Roasted Red Peppers)

and the Our Signature Turkey Chili (Low Fat Ground Turkey, Tomatoes, Red Beans, Black Beans, Onion, Jalapeno).

The drink and the sandwich were a tad bland however, and the soup was too sweet. Not as good as before, and not coming back again.

May 21st 2024: Checking Out Another McDonald's in Worcester

 Today, we headed to the McDonald's at 548 Lincoln Street in Worcester, which has a play area.

We got new stuff, getting the Bacon Cajun Ranch McCrispy

and the Frozen Fanta Blue Raspberry.

Pretty good for a quick bite between classes.

May 20th 2024: Farewell Dinner at Pho Sure, Shrewsbury

 With our relative leaving tomorrow, we decided to have dinner together at Pho Sure in Shrewsbury, this time getting the Always "Sonny" (taro smoothie, grass jelly and aloe vera),

the Lemongrass Chicken Salad Bowl (served with generous portion of iceberg lettuce, mixed green, tomato, cucumber, garnished with shredded carrot and cabbage, house ginger dressing),

and the Shrimp Plate (shrimp tossed in special sweet and sour sauce with a hint of chili).

Unfortunately, the food was a little underwhelming this time around, the shrimp plate being a little simplistic.

May 19th 2024: Mia Cane Juicery and Acai Bar, Worcester

 Today, we decided to check out the new Vietnamese drink and dessert place, Mia Cane Juicery and Acai Bar in Worcester. Pretty nice casual cafe atmosphere inside.

We got the OG (cane juice, calamansi), Coco Penny Latte (penny wort, coconut milk, coconut water),

the Acai Bowl

and the Biscoff and Cream Croffle.

Pretty good food from this place, especially the pennywort drink.

May 18th 2024: Second Time at Sachi, Westborough

 Today, we decided to have lunch at Sachi Japanese Steak House and Sushi Bar in Westborough, which we have been to once in the past. 

This time around, we got the Eel Cucumber Roll and Spicy Crab Salad Roll,

the Yakitori (grilled white meat chicken on skewers with teriyaki glaze and sesame seeds),

the Shrimp Tempura (delicate shrimp with crispy vegetables in light tempura batter, served with savory tempura sauce),

and the Pad Thai (dried rice noodles stir fried with eggs, green onion and bean sprout, served with lime and chopped roast peanuts).

Not too bad, although the sushi and chicken breast skewer had a lot to answer for, especially the dryness of the chicken meat.

May 15th 2024: JOMP Spring Gala, Worcester

 Today, before going to Mechanics Hall in Worcester for the JOMP Spring Gala, we decided to have dinner at Rice Violet, a Thai restaurant nearby which we visited once years ago.

This time around, we got the Pork Dumpling (Steamed pork dumpling. Served with Light Soy Sauce),

the Chive Dumpling (fried chive dumpling. Served with Ginger Sauce),

the Papaya Salad (Somtam, famous typical Thai green papaya mixed with chilies, lime dressing. Topped with peanuts. Served with a side of sticky rice),

the Pad See-U (stir fried with wide noodle, egg, carrots, broccoli and bean sprouts in sweet soy sauce)

and the Violet Fried Rice (fried rice with egg, onions, carrots, peas and scallions in home-made soy sauce).

The noodles and rice were really tasty, while the other dishes were not too bad too.

Mechanics Hall itself is pretty nice inside,

and the concert itself was pretty impressive, being made up of kids mostly.

Glad the little one enjoyed it too.

May 12th 2024: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner in Worcester

 Today, we started out with breakfast at Tasty Experience Bistro, a new Brazilian breakfast place at 162 Harding Street in Worcester. Pretty nice restaurant inside.

We got the Pineapple w/ Mint,

the My Toast (avocado, basil, fried egg, mushrooms),

and the Brazilian Experience (cuscuz with cheese, catupiry, dried meat, baked coalho cheese, baked banana, tomato, egg and honey).

Very nicely designed, with simple flavors.

Lunch was at the joint Papa Gino's and D'Angelo Grilled Sandwiches at 537 Lincoln Street in town,

getting the Lobster Roll

and the Chicken Broccoli Alfredo.

The lobster roll was pretty good and full of meat, although the pasta was a tad bland. 

Dinner was at Soho Express, which we visited once in the past. This time, we got the Orange Chicken (with noodles)

the Miso Soup and Green Dragon Roll (eel, cucumber inside topped with avocado).

the chicken was crispy and pretty good, although the soup and sushi were just so-so. Should have tried Pollo Centro up the road instead.

With that, an okay day of having breakfast, lunch and dinner in Worcester.