September 9th 2021: Eating at Polar Park, Worcester

 Today, we had a company gathering at Polar Park to watch the baseball game. Pretty nice new baseball park.

The food provided, though somewhat junk food, was actually pretty good, though in very small portions for a high cost. Nice to be able to hang out with friends, even though the game got rained out in the end.

September 7th 2021: Breakfast from Dunkin, Shrewsbury

 Today, we decided to get breakfast from Dunkin' Donuts at 36 Maple Avenue in Shrewsbury, getting the Munchkins including Pumpkin Munchkins,

 the Hash Browns

and the Maple Sugar Bacon Sandwich.

The new munchkin was just alright in my opinion, while the hash browns and surprisingly the sandwich were pretty good. Overall, pretty good for less than 10 bucks.

Recommended Places to Visit: Concord

Recreation

Fruit Picking
Verrill Farm
11 Wheeler Road



Arts Performances

Emerson Umbrella Center for the Arts
40 Stow Street

Parks

Harrington Park
Harrington Avenue near South Street

Cousins Park
Brown Street and Prairie Street

Boating

South Bridge Boat House
496 Main Street

Groceries
Debra's Natural Gourmet
98 Commonwealth Avenue

Museums
Concord Museum
200 Lexington Road

Louisa May Alcott Orchard House
399 Lexington Road

Concord Visitor Center

58 Main Street

Water Bodies
Warner's Pond
Laws Brook Road and Commonwealth Avenue

Macone's Pond
484 Lowell Road

Moses Pond
4 Wayside Road

Angiers Pond
74 Strawberry Hill Road

Bordens Pond (private)
200 Great Meadows Road

Hiking
Recommended:
Estabrook Woods
End of Estabrook Road

Punkatasset Hill
450 Monument Street

Walden Pond State Reservation
915 Walden Street

White Pond
Shore Street and Dover Street

Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge
Monsen Road

Wright Woods
Fairhaven Road and Fairhaven Hill Road

Hapgood Wright Town Forest
500 Walden Street

Old Rifle Range
End of Old Mill Road

Mattison Field
568 Old Road to 9 Acre Corner

October Farm Riverfront
End of Balls Hill Road

Tried:
Bear Garden Hill
636 Sudbury Road

Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
258 Bedford Street

Gowings Swamp
120 Meriam Road

Old Calf Pasture
240 Lowell Road

Newbury Field
1127 Lowell Road

Miller Farm

53 Powder Mill Road

Chamberlin Woods
Bateman's Pond Road and Hugh Cargill Road

Barretts Mill Conservation Area
Strawberry Hill Road

Architecture

Monuments

Monument Square
Main Street and Lexington Road

Places of Worship

Trinity Episcopal Church
81 Elm Street

West Concord Union Church
1317 Main Street

New Church of Concord
53 Church Street

Holy Family Parish
12 Monument Square


Bridges
Old North Bridge
~269 Monument Street near the Old Manse


Schools
Alcott Elementary School
93 Laurel Street

Thoreau Elementary School

29 Prairie Street

Middlesex School
1400 Lowell Road

The Fenn School
516 Monument Street

Town Facilities
Public Library Fowler Branch
1322 Main Street

Harvey Wheeler Community Center
1276 Main Street

Public Library
129 Main Street

Town Hall
22 Monument Square

Massachusetts Correctional Institution
965 Elm Street

Police Department
219 Walden Street

District Court
305 Walden Street

Fire Station 2
1201 Main Street

Post Office
34 Walden Street

Hanscom Airfield
701 Virginia Road

Historical Buildings
Wright's Tavern
20 Lexington Road

The Old Manse
269 Monument Street

The Concord Depot
86 Thoreau Street

Friend Block
65 Main Street

Colonial Inn
48 Monument Square

Milldam Square Condominiums
100 Keyes Road

Restaurants

Highly Recommended:
Western
80 Thoreau
80 Thoreau Street
Recommended Dishes:
Grilled Albacore
Brandade Fritters
Chickpea Tagliatelle
Sweet Potato Soup
Tres Leches Cake

Merchants Row
48 Monument Square
Recommended Dishes:
Crab Cakes
Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprout Bites
Pan Seared Scallops

Chinese

Asian Gourmet

794 Elm Street
Recommended Dishes:

Spicy Noodles in Soup with Beef Sirloin

Oyster Pancake

Salt and Pepper Fried Chicken

Noodles with Beef and Seasonal Vegetables in Sha Cha Sauce

Sauteed Water Spinach

Sliced Beef Wrapped in Scallion Pancake

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Sautéed Shanghai Bok Choy

Steamed Whole Fish with Scallion 

House Special Crispy Duck

Italian

Serafina Ristorante (closed)

195 Sudbury Road
Recommended Dishes:

Seafood Platter

Tuscan Sirloin

Tried:
Dessert

Bedford Farms Ice Cream (chain)

68 Thoreau Street

Recommended Dishes:

Peach

Red Raspberry Chip

Main Streets Market and Cafe

42 Main Street

Recommended Dishes:

Acai Bowl

Reasons to be Cheerful
110 Commonwealth Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Smooth Ginger
Cranberry Orange Sorbet
Apricot Frozen Yogurt
Brie, Apple, Arugula Crepe
Take Your Mom to Paris Grilled Cheese
Smoothie

Concord Teacakes
59 Commonwealth Avenue

La Provence
105 Thoreau Street
Recommended Dishes:
Gateau Concorde
Wild Mushroom Quiche


Italian

Papa Razzi (chain)

768 Elm Street
Recommended Dishes:
Rollatini Melanzana
Porcini Tortellini
Frutta al Forno

September 6th 2021: Spending the Day in Concord

 Today, while in the town of Concord,

Thoreau Elementary School

Concord Visitor Center

We decided to grab a bite from Main Streets Market and Cafe in the downtown area, which was really busy today.

We got the Acai Bowl (Acai Sorbet, bananas, mango, strawberries, blueberries, granola, shaved coconut, honey drizzle),

which was just alright in our opinion, the acai being a little melty. A historic town to say the least.

September 4th 2021: The Cottage, Wellesley

 While in Wellesley today, we decided to get lunch at The Cottage, a pretty upscale restaurant in town.

We got the De-Stress (fresh mango + strawberry juice, hints of blueberry and blackberry)

the ORGANIC ARUGULA Salad (red and yellow tomatoes, parmesan cheese, lemon-basil vinaigrette),

the PASTA (butter) with Sweet Potato Fries

 and Chocolate Ice Cream,

and the Combo (HALF SANDWICH (Tuna Melt (white albacore tuna, cheddar, tomato, bacon, griddled parmesan sourdough)) and BOWL OF SOUP (Classic Chicken Tortilla Soup (homemade, topped with white cheddar cheese, pico de gallo + tortilla strips))

I am not a fan of arugula, but the salad was not bitter at all, with the tangy sauce perfecting the dish. The drink was pretty good, as was the kid's pasta. The sandwich and soup had excellent flavor as well. Glad Captain Marden did not have a palce to sit.

September 2nd 2021: Second Time at the Hopkinton 110 Grill

 Today, while in the area, we decided to bring the family to the 110 Grill in Hopkinton, which we have visited once in the past.

This time around, we got the Strawberry Punch (Bacardi Dragonberry rum, pineapple, lemon, grapefruit and blackberry syrup),

the Firecracker Shrimp (LIGHTLY FRIED SHRIMP, TOSSED IN A SPICY SWEET CHILI SAUCE, GARNISHED WITH BROCCOLI SLAW),

the Clam Chowder (A creamy blend of chopped clams and potatoes with a touch of bacon),

the Fish Tacos (THREE TACOS WITH CAJUN SEASONED FRIED COD, RICE SALAD AND PICKLED VEGETABLES, SERVED ON WARMED TORTILLAS, FINISHED WITH SRIRACHA AIOLI) with Chilled Asian Noodle Salad,

the Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese (A RICH CHEESE SAUCE TOSSED WITH CAVATAPPI PASTA, TOPPED WITH BBQ PULLED PORK, ONION STRINGS AND BBQ CRUMBLES, FINISHED WITH BBQ AND RANCH),

the Kale Brussels Salad (SHREDDED KALE, BRUSSELS SPROUTS, BROCCOLI, CABBAGE, RADICCHIO, CARROTS AND GOLDEN BEETS WITH ARUGULA, TOASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS AND DICED GALA APPLES, TOSSED IN A WHOLE GRAIN MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE, TOPPED WITH GOAT CHEESE),

the Pulled Pork Sandwich (SLOW COOKED PULLED PORK, TOSSED IN BBQ, SERVED ON A PRETZEL BUN WITH COLESLAW, PICKLES, CHEDDAR AND CRISPY ONION STRINGS.),

and the Flourless Chocolate Cake (A WARMED GLUTEN FREE, FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE SERVED WITH A MIXED BERRY PUREE, FRESH BERRIES AND HOUSEMADE HOT FUDGE) for dessert.

The drink was just alright, though better than the Blood Orange Drop we had the last time. The Friecracker shrimp was not bad too, although the seasoning on the tacos was a tad salty. The Mac and Cheese was tasty though, and while the salad was a little on the bitter side with the raw brussels sprouts, the sauce made it okay, and the dessert was a little too dark chocolate for me. Overall, still a very good meal at this place though.

September 1st 2021: Second Time at 2Mauro's Cafe, Ashland

Today, while in Ashland, we decided to have breakfast at 2Mauro's Cafe, which we have visited recently.

This time, we got the West Coast Benedict (Toasted English muffins with baby spinach, sliced tomatoes, fresh avacado, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce) 

and the Fit N' Trim (Red quinoa, shredded potatoes, roasted corn, black beans and spinach topped with 2 eggs any style, avacado half, pico de gallo and cheddar cheese).

I was half expecting my plate to be some healthy dish and hence not go very well, but the Tex-Mex flavors were actually pretty good, as was the benedict as well. Another good meal here as expected.