November 26th 2020: Thanksgiving Lunch from Boston Market, Medford

Today, we decided to have a Thanksgiving lunch from the Boston Market location in Medford,

getting 2 helpings of the Market Feast for 3, a Thanksgiving special, consisting of Sliced Roasted Turkey Breast and Half Signature Rotisserie Chicken, with Mashed Potatoes And Gravy, Vegetable Stuffing, Sweet Corn and Sweet Potato Casserole, Dinner Rolls, Apple Pie and Pumpkin Pie).

The meal was more than enough for everyone, and really good too. Even the sweet potato casserole and pumpkin pie weren't too strong on cinnamon for me.

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

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

May 19th 2019: Buddha's Birthday in Saugus

Today is apparently the birthday of Buddha, so we went to Thiền Viện Vạn Hạnh at 370 Essex Street in Saugus to participate in the activities at the temple.

After leaving the temple, we decided to grab some custard puffs for a party

from Arthur's Pastry Shop in Medford at the High Street location.

Pretty good stuff from this place as always.

March 30th 2019: Pastries and Tea in Medford

While in Medford today, we decided to check out Arthur's Pastry Shop, an Italian bakery in Medford on Main Street, the other location being on High Street. We got the Tower, Cream Puffs

and Anise Biscotti.

The cakes were really good, although the spice in the bread was way too much for our liking.

Might come back again for the cream puffs, but definitely not anything anise related.

We also got the Matcha Green Tea Lemonade from the new Starbucks located within the Target on Salem Street.

Really dilute, and nowhere as good as Bar Pa Tea in New York.

February 22nd 2019: Dinners in Waltham and Medford

On the way home today, I was feeling really hungry, so we decided to stop at Bistro 781, a pretty new and upscale bar restaurant in Waltham.

We got the Cauliflower Tacos (Corn Tortillas, Crispy Cauliflower, Avocado, Mozzarella, Cumin Toasted Sunflower Seeds, Honey Sriracha, Shaved Purple Kale),

and the 1/2 DOZEN OYSTERS (Cocktail Sauce, Cucumber Agrodolce).

Very fresh oysters, and a delicate combination of flavors for the tacos. A little on the expensive side though.

We were not satisfied though, so we decided to head to Zam Zam Restaurant, an Indian restaurant in Medford,

We got the Chicken Achari (spicy and sour curry),

which was a good portion for both of us, and delicious and tender too, although I would not recommend eating the pickles as they are too strong in flavor. Good day for eating out, really.

June 18th 2018: Back in Burrillville

This morning, I started out with a Cream Filled Maple Bar from Demet's Donuts, a breakfast place in Medford.

It started out tasting good at first, but then a plasticky layer started to form on my tongue that literally made me gag and lost my appetite. Definitely not coming back again.

Later after work, passing through Sudbury,

Buddy Dog Humane Society

it was back to Burrillville RI,

Lapham Pond, 1537 Victory Highway

Burrillville High School

Union Pond

Episcopal Conference Center

where I resumed my hike at the Black Hut Wildlife Management Area from where I left off last week. The path I took here today is shown below in pink.

Way too overgrown for me to get anywhere near the water body here.

Next, Glocester RI,

Shingle Mill Pond, 357 Pine Orchard Road

Smith and Sayles Reservoir

Pavilion at Kent Field, 1109 Putnam Pike

Chepachet Union Church

Glocester Manton Library

Town Hall,1145 Putnam Pike

Betty the Learned Elephant Potato Head

Spring Grove Beach,
Colt Street and Spring Grove Road

Harmony Childcare and Learning Center

Harmony Lodge

where I went on a hike at the Sprague Farm Town Forest. The path I took here is shown below in pink.

None of the water bodies here were of any note though.

Next, Smithfield RI,

Waterman Reservoir

St. Philip Church

Tucker Quinn Funeral Chapel

649 Putnam Pike

Greenville Baptist Church

Old Temple Lodge #18, A and F M,
609 Putnam Pike

Fire Department

St. Thomas Episcopal Church

William Winsor Elementary School

Greenlake Beach

going for a hike at the Ken Weber Conservation Area, where the Cascade Brook Falls reside. The path I took here is shown below in pink.

Unfortunately the brook was bone dry this time of year. Guess I have to come back again another time.

Next, the Cricket Field in Johnston RI, a pretty nice park

on the Woonasquatucket River,

I then ventured into Providence RI

St. Thomas the Apostle Church

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

Blessed Sacrament Church

St. Peter's and St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

Our Lady of Lourdes Church

St. Adalbert's Church

Atlantic Mills

before heading to North Providence

Allendale Baptist Church

for dinner at Ethan Anthony's Back Nine Restaurant, located at the Louisquisset Golf Club.

I got in just before they closed the kitchen, so I was able to order my Buttermilk Fried Chicken (coconut milk, mango nappa chili slaw, sweet chili gochujang drizzle, potato roll).

Pretty good actually, especially with the Korean sauce. Might come back again to try the other interesting stuff on the menu.

With that, an end to a productive day in Rhode Island.