September 13th 2025: Spending the Day in Malls

 Today, we started out in Auburn Mall in Auburn, getting the Korean Popcorn Chicken with Cajun Fries from Ghost Chicken

and the Fish and Chips Basket from Cap't Loui.

Not bad for relatively cheap. Later, we were at the Solomon Pond Mall in Marlborough, 

where the little one had some fun with slime at Slime Zone.

Not bad a day spent in malls.

April 14th 2024: Lunch in Marlborough, Drinks in Auburn

 Today for lunch we decided to check out Mosaka, a Japanese hibachi restaurant in Marlborough which has taken the place of Okami, which we visited once a long time ago. 

We got the Stir Fried Yakisoba,

the Dragon Roll (eel, cucumber inside, topped with avocado, tobiko, eel sauce) and Signature Roll (shrimp tempura, cucumber inside, spicy crabmeat, eel and spicy mayo on top).

The signature roll was not too bad, crunch on the outside, but the other one was just so-so, as were the noodles with its onions. Overall, still nothing special here.

Later on, while at the Auburn Mall in Auburn, 

we decided to get drinks, getting a Frozen Hot Chocolate from Cafe Amore,

An Iced Coffee with Boba from Tutti Fruiti

and a Tamarindo from Tacos Mexico.

The tamarind drink was just not to my taste, but the cold drink was not too bad, giving me my sweet dose for the day.

Recommended Places to Visit: Auburn

Recreation

Bowling
AMF Auburn Lanes
101 Southbridge Street

Ice Skating

Horgan Memorial Rink

403 Oxford Street North

Parks

Goddard Park/Auburn Pond
Auburn Street and Southbridge Street

Shopping Malls
Auburn Mall
385 Southbridge Street


Kids
Crystal Caves Family Entertainment Center
790 Southbridge Street

Museums
Auburn Historical Society
41 South Street

Water Bodies
Dark Brook Reservoir
Leicester Street and Bryn Mawr Avenue

Eddy Pond
Central Street near Sharon Avenue

Tinker Hill Reservoir

42 Tinker Hill Road

Stoneville Pond
~140 Oxford Street North

Pondville Pond
~375 Washington Street

Stoneville Reservoir
~168 Rochdale Street

Architecture

Monuments

Town Common
104 Central Street

War Memorial
Auburn Street near Southbridge Street

Water Street Memorial Park
Southbridge Street and Water Street

Kusy Park
Southbridge Street and Church Street

Prospect Street Memorial Park
Southbridge Street and Prospect Street

Veteran's Memorial Corridor
Southbridge Street and Washington Street

Town Facilities
Auburn VNA Health Network

191 Pakachoag Street

Auburn Sportsman's Club
50 Elm Street

Town Hall
104 Central Street

Public Library
369 Southbridge Street

Places of Worship

St. Joseph's Church
194 Oxford Street

First Congregational Church
128 Central Street

Faith Baptist Church
22 Faith Avenue

Bethel Lutheran Church
90 Bryn Mawr Avenue

North American Martyrs Church
8 Wyoma Drive

Pakachoag Church
203 Pakachoag Street

Hampton Street Baptist Church
81 Hampton Street


Restaurants

Highly Recommended:

Chinese
Yong Shing
90 Auburn Street
Recommended Dishes:
Monster Maki
Ma La Lamb

Western

Chuck's Steakhouse
10 Prospect Street
Recommended Dishes:
Chateau of Beef
Spinach, Tomato and Mushroom Quesadilla

Bentley Pub (chain)
602 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Coconut Shrimp
Fish Tacos

Tried:
Korean

Ghost Chicken
385 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Korean Popcorn Chicken

Cajun Fries

Breakfast
Frank and Nancy's
500 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
1 Egg and Kielbasa

Heritage Coffee Shop
567 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Meat Lovers Omelette

The Coffee Mug
286 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Hot Chocolate
2 Eggs, Hash, Toast, Home Fries

Uncle Mark's Diner
17 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Hash and Cheese Omelette

Seafood
Cap't Loui (chain)
385 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Louisiana Clams
Garlic Noodles

Fish and Chips Basket

Ronnie's Seafood and Ice Cream
871 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Lobster Roll
Clam Roll


Japanese

Jasmine Restaurant
711 Southbridge Street

Western

Kentucky Fried Chicken/Taco Bell (chain)

820 Southbridge Street

Recommended Dishes:

Naked Chicken Chalupa

Crunchy Taco

Beef Burrito

Major League Roast Beef and Wings

503 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Ace of Staff Wings
Route 20 Sub

Laneside Grill
101 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Coney Island Hot Dog
Loaded Fries

McDonald's (chain)

72 Auburn Street

Recommended Dishes:

Smoky BLT Double Quarter Pounder* with Cheese
4 pcs. McNuggets

Latin American
Tacos Mexico
385 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Fried Pork Gordita

Tamarindo


Italian
Brother's Pizza
850 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Maui Pizza
Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo

Auburn Town Pizza
69 Auburn Street
Recommended Dishes:
BBQ Chicken Pizza

Dessert

Cafe Amore
385 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Frozen Hot Chocolate

Coco's Tropical Ice
1 Swanson Road

Hershey's Ice Cream (chain, closed)
385 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Strawberry Fields

Edible Arrangements (chain)
385 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Fruit Smoothie

Tutti Frutti (chain)
385 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Caramel Iced Coffee

Iced Coffee
Original
Pineapple Sorbet
Taro

March 22nd 2024: 185 Bistro, Worcester

 Today, after checking out the Daniel Horgan Skating Rink in Auburn,

and getting a Butternut donut from the Honey Dew Donuts at 99 Gold Star Boulevard in Worcester,

I decided to have brunch at 185 Bistro in Worcester, a new brunch place that has opened up in the place of Mac's Diner, which I visited once in the past. Much nicer inside now. 

I got the Fried Buttermilk Chicken Benedict (with spicy chipotle sauce on our homemade bulky),

which was really tasty. A good shout out to my friend whose parents own this place now.

December 27th 2023: Rawson Mill Brook Reservoir, Shrewsbury

 Today, after checking out several water bodies southwest of Worcester,

Smiths Pond,
Gerald Court, Leicester

Tinker Hill Reservoir,
42 Tinker Hill Road, Auburn

Texas Pond,
149 Southbridge Road, Oxford

we decided to go for a short hike to look for Rawson Mill Brook Reservoir in Shrewsbury, parking at 318 Prospect Street. A new dam structure with a gurgling brook alongside the path, but nothing much else here.

 

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.

June 16th 2021: KFC, Auburn

 Today, we got takeout from KFC in Auburn, getting the Naked Chicken Chalupa Meal (Naked Chicken Chalupa (seasoned, Chalupa shell made of crispy, marinated all–white meat chicken and filled it with crisp lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese and creamy avocado ranch sauce), Crunchy Taco, Beef Burrito).

Pretty crispy chicken, and overall good meal for cheap. Haven't had Taco Bell for a long time.

October 4th 2019: Auburn Town Pizza, Auburn

I decided to get lunch from Auburn Town Pizza in Auburn today. Nice looking for a pizza place.

I got the BBQ Chicken Pizza,

which was actually pretty good, though nothing special. That's why this place is pretty popular.

August 23rd 2019: Buttonwood Park Zoo, New Bedford

This morning, after picking apples

and peaches

at Tougas Farm in Northborough, we got the Blueberry Pie Slice for food, which was pretty good as always.

From here, I headed to Auburn to collect my museum pass from the small Auburn Public Library,

then it was off to the town of Dartmouth, where we got the buffet lunch at Ayur Shri, a small Indian restaurant there.

A small buffet selection,

although they brought out Naan  (Plain, unleavened bread baked in tandoor) on request.

The buffer selection included Mulligatawny Soup (Traditional lentil soup flavored with herbs and mild spices), Chicken Curry (Boneless chicken cooked with spices in a thick tomato and onion base sauce), Chicken Tikka Masala (Boneless chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, roasted on a skewer then sauteed in tomato and cream sauce), Chana Masala (A North Indian specialty. Subtly flavored chickpeas cooked with ginger, garlic, herbs and spices), Saag Paneer (Spinach cooked with homemade cheese, fresh herbs and spices), Papadum (Crisp lentil wafers), Meatball Mughlai (dish named after the Mughal Emperor of India. Meatballs marinated overnight in spices and cooked in a rich onion sauce with cream, cashew nuts, raisins, herbs and spices),Tandoori Chicken (Chicken marinated in yogurt with freshly ground spices, lemon juice cooked in the tandoor), Vegetable Mango Curry (Mixed vegetables cooked in a rich onion sauce flavored with mangoes, cashew nuts, raisins, herbs and spices), White Rice (plain cooked basmati rice), Vegetable Biryani (basmati rice with herbs, spices, cashews, raisins, almonds and saffron), Eggplant Pakora (eggplant dipped in split pea flour and deep-fried), Mango Pudding (Mango and other fruits mixed with yogurt) and Himalayan Chai Tea (Traditional Nepali tea made with milk and spices).

Not everything was excellent, although some of the good dishes included the tea, the mango pudding, the pakora, tikka masala and mughlai curries.

From here, it was on to the main event of the day, the Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford. Small zoo I have to say, but one of the nicer ones too.

An interesting part of the zoo is the train which does not run on tracks.

Done with the zoo, we headed out into Buttonwood Park itself.

Our last stop for the day was Dartmouth Mall back in Dartmouth,

A pretty small mall I must say.

For dinner, we decided to stop at The Great American Pub, a bar restaurant in the town of Raynham. For food, we got the Baked Haddock and Shrimp Casserole with String Beans and Mashed Potatoes

and the GAP BBQ GOLDFINGER Pizza.

The food was decent I guess, but nothing special overall.