February 15th 2025: Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, Londonderry NH

 Today, after passing by a few Bulldogs of Bedford statues in Bedford NH,

Trader Joe's

The Friendly Toast

Whole Foods

we headed into Londonderry NH,

Manchester-Boston Regional Airport

going to check out the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire. Pretty nice museum catering to kids.

After leaving the museum, we headed into Manchester NH for lunch, checking out The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, which apparently has many other locations across the country.

We got the Four Dip Combo (Tzatziki (Greek yogurt, labne, cucumber, garlic, dill), Hummus (Garbanzo Beans Crushed with Garlic, Olive Oil and Lemon Juice), Tirokafteri (Creamy Greek Feta with Spicy Roasted Peppers), Melitzanosalata (roasted eggplant, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic), Pita Bread),

the Australian Lamb Souvlaki Plate (served with side salad, Tzatziki and Pita plus French Fries)

and the Side Salad.

Pretty tasty I must say. Can see why they have so many locations. With that, we hurried home, before the snow storm came.

February 14th 2025: Two Museums in Worcester

 Today, after checking out Mamacitas West Boylston, a Mexican restaurant in West Boylston,

getting a delicious Cali-Mama Burrito (famous California Burrito with a Mamacitas twist. Asada, chihuahua cheese, french fries, guacamole, sour cream and homemade chipotle aioli sauce in a flour or wheat wrap),

I decided to check out two museums in Worcester, firstly the Blackstone Valley Heritage Center,

and secondly the American Antiquarian Society, which is more a research library than a museum.

I ended the day with a trip to Mochinut, a mochi donut place in town.

I got the Strawberry

and the Blueberry flavors.

A tad sweet, but at least I got to see two places in Worcester after that many years.

January 2nd 2025: Nautical Bowls, Shrewsbury

 Today, after my dental appointment, I decided to check out a new food place in Shrewsbury, Nautical Bowls. Pretty nice inside for a health food place.

I got the Paddle Bowl (Blue Majik, Mango, Coconut, Granola, Strawberries, Coconut Flakes, Honey),

Pretty tasty, I must say. I might actually come back again with family.

December 30th 2024: Disappointing Meal at Ming's Seafood, Malden

 After dropping off family at the airport today, we decided to have some dimsum at Ming's Seafood in Malden, this time getting the Sauteed Turnip Cake with XO Sauce,

the Shrimp and Chives Dumplings, Fung Zau (chicken claws in black bean sauce), Crispy Shrimp and Celery Rolls, Egg Tofu and Peapods Stem Rice Roll,

the Pork and Preserved Egg Congee,

the Fried Dough,

and the Steamed Rice Rolls with BBQ Pork

Really bland food this time around. Perhaps it was just the late time of day.

December 29th 2024: Big Meal at Cheesecake Factory, Natick

 Today, we took our relatives to the Cheesecake Factory 

in Natick at the Natick Mall, where the new Bosse pickleball courts have opened, for dinner, 

this time getting the Vegan Cobb Salad (crisp lettuce, grilled asparagus, avocado, roasted beets, green beans and tomato, cucumber, carrot, white beans, quinoa, farro, almonds and toasted pepitas with house vinaigrette),

the Miso Salmon (fresh miso marinated salmon served with snow peas, white rice and a delicious miso sauce),

the Pasta Carbonara (sphagetti with smoked bacon, green peas and a garlic parmesan cream sauce),

the Loaded Mashed Potato Omelette (mashed potatoes and crispy breakfast potatoes with bacon, grilled onion, cheddar and Monterey Jack Cheese. Topped with Sour Cream),

the Oreo Dream Extreme Cheesecake (Creamy Cheesecake layered with Oreo Cookies, Topped with Oreo Cookie Mousse and Chocolate Icing)

the Santa Fe Salad (marinated chicken, fresh corn, black beans, cheese, tortilla strips, tomato and romaine with a spicy peanut cilantro vinaigrette)

and the Bistro Shrimp Pasta (crispy battered shrimp, fresh mushrooms, tomato and arugula tossed with sphagettini and a basil garlic lemon cream sauce).

Not bad at all, and we had leftovers to go.

December 28th 2024: Trampolining and Candlepin Bowling

Today, with a cousin visiting from out of town, we decided to first check out the Altitude Trampoline Park, located within the Apex Entertainment Center in Marlborough.

Not bad, although we had to buy trampoline socks, as regular socks are not counted. Another souvenir I guess. 

From here, we headed to Sawyer's Bowladrome at 13 Blake Street in Northborough for some candlepin bowling.

The first time bowling for the little one, always a lot of fun, but we risked spoiling the old lanes by not resetting the pins often enough. Apparently not doing that taxes the machinery with too many balls, but wouldn't resetting add pins to the mix too? Not sure how that works. Anyway, probably not coming back again in case we pissed the owner off.