July 24th 2021: Spending the Day in Lexington

 Today, we decided to spend the day in Lexington, 

Maria Hastings Elementary School

Lexington High School

Center Recreation Complex

Hayden Recreation Centre

Lincoln Park, 100 Lincoln Street

getting breakfast at Via Lago, an Italian restaurant in town which I went to for dinner a long time ago. This time, we got The Porky Egg Roll-Up (with cheese and bacon)

and the Banana Walnut Bread.

Pretty good actually, although a somewhat simple menu for breakfast. Dinner was definitely better.

For lunch, we went close by to Love at First Bite, a new Thai restaurant in town. We got the Khao Soi Salmon (Northern Thai curry over egg noodle, scallion, and cilantro. Served with lime, shallots, Thai chili, mustard green, and crispy yellow noodle),

the Indonesian Fried Rice (Stir-fried jasmine berry rice with shrimp, onion, and red curry paste. Topped with BBQ chicken),

and the Thai Iced Tea Pop,

getting the Pad Thai Noodle (Stir-fried rice noodles with egg, bean sprouts, scallions, and chopped peanuts)

and Hawaiian Fried Rice (Stir-fried jasmine berry rice with Shrimp, Chicken, curry powder, egg, onions pineapple, mango, raisins, scallions, and cashew nuts) to go.

The food was very well presented, with the ice cream pop on top of the drink being a pleasant surprise. Food wise, the noodles were delicious, especially with the Salmon. The fried rice was not bad, although the flavor for the Hawaiian version was a little strong st at times. Overall, a nice day hanging out in Lexington.

July 23rd 2021: Company Lunch at O'Connor's Restaurant, Worcester

 Today, after getting a Caramel Frappucino (Caramel syrup meets coffee, milk and ice for a rendezvous in the blender, while whipped cream and buttery caramel sauce layer the love on top.) from the Starbucks in Worcester,

I had a company lunch at O'Connor's Restaurant and Bar in town, where we had the New England Clam Chowder,

the Crunchy Coconut Shrimp (8 panko coconut fried shrimp served with a side of sweet chili dipping sauce) and Buffalo Chicken Fingers (10oz. buffalo seasoned fried chicken fingers, side of blue cheese dressing),

the Lucey's Baked Corned Beef Shillelagh Sticks (flaky puffed pastry sticks stuffed with corned beef hash, paired with Colman's honey mustard dip),

and the Buffalo Bleu Cauliflower (flash fried buffalo style, topped with bleu cheese crumbles, and a side of blue cheese dressing)

for appetizers. The appetizers were all surprisingly good, especially the beef sticks and the cauliflower. Unfortunately, my main dish, the Chicken Schnitzel Saltimbocca (panko crusted twin chicken breasts stuffed with prosciutto, provolone and fresh sage, pan fried and topped with a lemon sauce. Served with loaded Irish spuds and fresh vegetable medley),

was a bit on the dry and salty side. Overall though, really good time hanging out with people at the restaurant.

July 22nd 2021: BLVD Kitchen and Bar, Marlborough

 Today, after spending sometime at the pretty nice Ellsworth McAfee Park in Northborough,

we decided to go have dinner at BLVD Kitchen and Bar, a really nice restaurant

located within the Hilton Garden Inn Marlborough Hotel. 

Very limited menu, from which I got the BLVD Slaw Burger (angus beef patty, applewood smoked bacon, vermont cheddar, blvd slaw, pickle, stone ground mustard, grilled bun).

Nice presentation, and pretty good flavors I must say. Very good meal here to say the least.

July 18th 2021: Breakfast in Malden, Lunch in Winchester

 Today, while in the new City Hall Plaza area of Malden at 215 Pleasant Street,

we decided to get some bites from the new Tous Les Jours location across the road.

We got the Coconut Cream Bread,

the Pain Aux Raisin,

the Crispy Almond Pastry,

the Green Tea Croissant,

and the Matcha Frappe.

Pretty good food from here as always.

For lunch, we decided to check out Mitho Restaurant, a Nepalese place in the town of Winchester which has taken the place of Cafe Piazza Dolce, which we visited once before in the past. The decor looks somewhat similar to before.

We got the Gundruk Soup (Cured sun-dried Mustard leaf blended with our tomato sauce and organic textured soy),

the Chicken Mushroom Tarkari (served with steamed basmati rice)

and the Lamb Tass (cast iron pan-grilled seasoned with dry-rubbed herbs and spices cooked to perfection and served with seasonal stir-fried fresh vegetables on olive oil and steamed basmati rice).

Pretty flavorful and unique, especially the soup. Definitely a better replacement for the Italian restaurant before it.

Very good day for eating in Malden and Winchester.

Recommended Places to Visit: Acton

Recreation

Water Bodies
Ice House Pond
131 Concord Road

Lake Nagog
558 Great Road


Biking
Assabet River Rail Trail
Maple Street and Stow Street

Waterfalls

Powdermill Dam

End of Old High Street

Events
Kite Flying Festival


Parks

NARA Park
25 Ledge Rock Way

Gardner Field

530 Massachusetts Avenue

Jones Playground

54 Martin Street

Goward Playground

486 Main Street

Arts Performances
Theatre III
250 Central Street

Candlepin Bowling
Acton Bowladrome
257 Main Street

Museums
Discovery Museum
177 Main Street

Acton Historical Society

300 Main Street

Hiking
Recommended:
Grassy Pond Conservation Land
Nagog Hill Road near Main Street

Nashoba Brook Conservation Land
~45 Davis Road

Acton Arboretum
10 Taylor Road

Will's Hole Bog
End of Nagog Park Drive

Assabet River Blue and Green Trail

311 Old High Street

Tried:
Pratt's Brook Conservation Land
119 Parker Street

Stoneymeade
45 Stoneymeade Way

Great Hill Conservation Land
54 School Street

Guggins Brook Conservation Land
Massachusetts Avenue and Birch Ridge Road

Jenks Conservation Land
390 Central Street

Nagog Hill
Nagog Hill Road, 42.500387, -71.439134

Robbins Mill Conservation Land
78 Canterbury Hill Road

Architecture

Schools
Raymond J Grey Jr. High School
16 Charter Road

Merriam Elementary School

11 Charter Road

Monuments

Davis Monument
Concord Road and Wood Lane

Places of Worship

St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish
89 Arlington Street

Church of the Good Shepherd
164 Newtown Road

South Acton Congregational Church
35 School Street

Mount Calvary Lutheran Church
472 Massachusetts Avenue

Faith Evangelical Free Church
54 Hosmer Street

Acton Congregational Church
12 Concord Road

West Acton Baptist Church
592 Massachusetts Avenue

St. Matthew's United Methodist Church
435 Central Street

Historical Buildings
Old St. Elizabeth's Church
543 Massachusetts Avenue

Country Manor Plaza
276 Great Road

Exchange Hall
2 School Street

Mill Place Condominiums
9 Central Street


Town Facilities

Town Hall
472 Main Street

South Acton MBTA Station
4 Central Street

Acton Water District
693 Massachusetts Avenue

Acton Memorial Library

486 Main Street

Fire Department Station 1

7 Concord Road

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Chinese

Spicepepper Garden

36 Great Road

Recommended Dishes:

Ma La Lamb

Peapod Leaf with Garlic Sauce

Zha Jiang Pork Noodle Soup

Seafood

Atlantic Sea Grill

77 Great Road

Recommended Dishes:

Berry Moscow Mule

Clam Chowder

Shrimp Scampi

Soup and Lobster Sandwich

Western

Le Lyonnais
416 Great Road
Recommended Dishes:
Chicken Livers
Vegetable Soup
Meringue with raspberry and vanilla ice-cream

Rapscallion Table and Tap (chain)
5 Strawberry Hill Road
Recommended Dishes:
Blackened Chicken
House Salad
Salmon Burger


Tried:
Breakfast
Spruce Street Cafe (closed)
5 Spruce Street
Recommended Dishes:
Brian Bridgesx
Napoleon
Donuts
Lemon Cannoli
Hazelnut Cannoli

Legend Cafe

5 Spruce Street

Recommended Dishes:

Blueberry Muffin

Wildeberry Smoothie

Raspberry Croissant

Western
Po's Ribs and BBQ
344 Great Road
Recommended Dishes:
Beef and Vegetable Soup
Ribs and Crabcake Combo

July 17th 2021: A Day Out in Acton

 Today, we decided to spend a day in Acton, 

Gardner Field

Merriam Elementary School

Jones Playground

Powdermill Dam,
End of Old High Street

Acton Memorial Library

Goward Playground

Acton Fire Department Station 1,
7 Concord Road

Going for breakfast at Legend Cafe, a small town cafe in the West Acton area of town.

We got the Blueberry Muffin.

the Raspberry Croissant

and the Wildeberry Smoothie.

The croissant was a little too sweet for my liking, although the smoothie and muffin were pretty good. Still can't beat the muffin from Jordan's Furniture in Avon though.

From here, I ventured in Maynard to check out the Assabet River Rail Trail bridge there at the end of Florida Court,

then back into Acton for a hike at the Assabet River Blue and Green Trail, where the path I took is shown below in pink.

Nice views of the Assabet River from the long boardwalk here.

After the hike, we decided to get lunch at Atlantic Sea Grill, a high end seafood restaurant with a market section. We got the Berry Moscow Mule (Absolut berry vodka, mixed berry puree, fresh lime juice, fresh mint, ginger beer),

the Steamers (broth, drawn butter),

the SOUP & LOBSTER SANDWICH (Fresh lobster salad, toasted croissant, mixed greens, served with a bowl of Clam Chowder)

 and the SHRIMP SCAMPI (shrimp, garlic butter, white wine, tomatoes, and scallions).

Very fresh seafood, great drink, especially the soup, which was richer and perhaps with wine added to it as well.

With that, a great end to a day of exploring the town of Acton.

July 13th 2021: Lunch and Dinner in Shrewsbury

 My colleague got some pizza from the Papa Gino's in Shrewsbury today, of which I got a slice of cheese and a slice of Boss Barbecue Chicken (Grilled Chicken, Smoky Bacon, Red Onions, Barbecue and Ranch sauces, & Signature 3-Cheese Blend).

Pretty good with the bacon.

For dinner, we decided to go to Bollywood Grill nearby, which I have been to several times in the past. This time around, we got the Gobi Pakora (Cauliflower floret / gram flour / spice / deep fried),

the Plain Naan and Lamb Tikka Masala (Lamb / Tomato / cream gravy).

The pakora were crispy and tasty, as was the curry with the naan and rice. Really good meal here after not having been here for quite some time now.