Saturday, April 18, 2026

April 18th 2026: Spending the Afternoon in Manchester NH

 Today, we started out grabbing fast food from the Burger King in Shrewsbury,



 getting the Kids Chicken Nuggets Meal


and the Maple Bourbon BBQ Whopper Jr. 


A bit on the sweet side, but not bad, and not filling.

Next, after passing through Grafton, 

Grafton Police Department


we grabbed more bites from the McDonald's at 982 Grafton Street in Worcester,

getting the Double Filet-O-Fish


and the Derpy McFlurry with Berry Popping Pearls.

From here, it was on to Manchester NH

Old County Courthouse,
25 Market Street

20 Market Street

to check out the SEE Science Center. Small museum with two floors, but at least the little one had a lot of fun.

















In the same building, we also checked out the Millyard Museum.














For food, we headed to the Mall of New Hampshire,




getting a Buffalo Chicken Empanada from Cibao Kitchen

and Tots and Bad Sliders (4 Kings Hawaiian Rolls, Whiz, Bacon, Onions, Jalapenos Monky Sauce) from Bad Brgr, both located in the food court here.
Pretty good flavor on the burger, while the empanada was just so-so.

After our snack, we had a round of mini-golf at Aloha Mini Glow Golf. Simplistic with only wall paintings for decor. Not one of the better glow golf places.






Dinner was at MIU Cafe, a Vietnamese restaurant located on the outside of the mall.
We got the MY Quang  (a flavorful turmeric-infused noodle dish topped with shrimp, pork, quail egg and crunchy rice crackers, served with fresh herbs and a light broth),
the Bun Bo Hue (beef brisket, pork leg, gulin vermicelli in clear base soup, spicy),
the Banh Khot (crispy rice flour pancakes topped with shrimp, served with fresh herbs and a dipping sauce)


and the Pho Tai (a Vietnamese beef noodle soup with thinly sliced rare rib-eye in a rich flavorful broth).
The appetizer was really good, being crispy and tasty, but the noodles were just so-so. Overall, don't think we will be coming back again. 

With that, an end to an afternoon in Manchester NH.


Saturday, April 11, 2026

Recommended Places to Visit: Franklin

Recreation
Arts and Crafts
Sarapaan
21 East Central Street


Museums
Franklin Historical Museum
80 West Central Street

Children's Museum of Franklin
157 Cottage Street

Water Bodies
Spruce Pond
333 King Street

Spring Pond
395 Washington Street


Hiking
Recommended:
DelCarte Open Space
459 Pleasant Street

Tried:
Franklin State Forest
End of Forge Hill Road


Beaches
Chilson Beach
450 Beaver Street


Architecture
Monuments

Town Common
Union Street and High Street

Soldier Statues
Outside Franklin Senior Center at 10 Daniel McCaHill Road

Franklin Sculpture Park
Edwards Street near Panther Way


Places of Worship


Schools
Dean College
99 Main Street

Franklin High School
218 Oak Street

Remington Middle School
628 Washington Street


Town Facilities
Public Library
118 Main Street

Fire Department
40 West Central Street


Commerical Buildings
Hockomock Area YMCA
45 Forge Hill Road


Historical Buildings
Hayward Manor
195 Main Street

Franklin Landings
301 Union Street

Ginley Funeral Home
131 Main Street



Restaurants
Highly Recommended:
Indian
Guru Bar and Grill
30 Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Keema Naan
Shammi Kebab
Goat Musullam
Coconut Soup
Panir Koliwada

The Curry House (chain)
418 West Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Mango Lassi
Tomato Soup
Cucumber Salad
Garden Salad
Vegetable Pakora
Vegetarian Samosa 
Chicken 65 
Chicken Tikka Masala
Balti Kadai Paneer
Chana Masala 
Navrattan Korma
Tandoori Chicken 
Garlic Naan 
Rogini Naan 
Gulab Jamun
Kheer


Dessert
The Cake Bar
17 East Central Street
Recommended Dishes:
Mini Cupcakes
Cupcakes
Frosting Shots


Italian
Incontro Restaurant and Lounge (closed)
860 West Central Street
Recommended Dishes:
Pan Seared Lump Maryland Crab Cakes
PEI Mussels and Wellfleet Clams Fra Diavolo
Line Caught Cod


Tried:
Western
Cole's Tavern
553 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Buffalo Wings
French Dip
Baked Stuffed Shrimp

Spruce Pond Creamery
370 King Street
Recommended Dishes:
Double Baked Ice Cream
The Kite
Eggs-Ben-Edict


Mediterranean
Franklin Cafe (closed)
418 West Central Street
Recommended Dishes:
Waffles
Moussaka

Recommended Places to Visit: Northbridge

Recreation
Golf
Shining Rock Golf Club
91 Clubhouse Lane


Mini-Golf
West End Creamery
481 Purgatory Road


Water Bodies
Swans Pond
~481 Purgatory Road

Whitins Pond
Carr Road and Purgatory Road

Linwood Pond
670 Linwood Avenue

Carpenter Reservoir
321 Carpenter Road

Arcade Pond
Arcade Street and Main Street

Riley Pond
196 Castle Hill Road

Riverdale Pond
50 Riverdale Street

Meadow Pond
306 Douglas Road

869 Quaker Street

Museums
Northbridge Historical Society
17 Church Street

1 Memorial Square


Dams
Fish Pond Dam
Carr Road and Purgatory Road

Linwood Pond Dam
670 Linwood Avenue

Whitin Mill Dam
~23 Douglas Road


Hiking
Recommended:
Lookout Rock
Quaker Street between Forsythe Farm Road and Wolf Hill Road

Shining Rock
386 School Street


Architecture
Monuments
War Memorial
Providence Road and School Street

Whitinsville Common
Church Street and Linwood Avenue


Places of Worship
Schools
Northbridge Middle School
87 Linwood Avenue


Town Facilities
Whitinsville Social Library
17 Church Street

Whitinsville Post Office
44 Church Street

Northbridge Fire Department
1681 Providence Road


Historical Buildings
Cotton Mill Apartments
17 Douglas Road

Whitin Mill
~23 Douglas Road

Whitinsville Bank Building
8 Linwood Avenue

Aldrich School
14 Hill Street

Old Whitin Machine Works
~3 Whitinsville Road

Old Centre Congregational Church
Benson Road and Hill Street

Linwood Mill Apartments
670 Linwood Avenue

Riverdale Mills
130 Riverdale Street


Restaurants
Highly Recommended:
Western
Maison de Manger
670 Linwood Avenue
Recommended Dishes:
Pulled Pork with Slaw Crepe
New England Clam Chowder



Tried:
Breakfast
Peg's Diner
87 Church Street
Recommended Dishes:
Grilled Cheese


Deli
The Green Plate 
167 Church Street
Recommended Dishes:
Coleslaw
Buffalo Chicken Salad Wrap


Italian
Northbridge House of Pizza
2225 Providence Road
Recommended Dishes:
Meat Lovers
Hawaiian

Seafood
74 Providence Road
Recommended Dishes:
Clam Chowder
Clam Cakes
Bubblegum
Banana Split



Western

Rockdale Grill
91 Clubhouse Lane
Recommended Dishes:
Saute Shrimp

Jube's Family Restaurant
1227 Providence Road
Recommended Dishes:
Mr. Potato Head

91 Providence Road
Recommended Dishes:
Hawaiian Martini
Mediterranean Chicken


Thai
Divine Thai
123 Church Street
Recommended Dishes:
Winter Shrimp
Chilli Duck
Divine Fried Rice

April 11th 2026: Children's Museum of Franklin, Franklin

 Today, after having a Brazilian rodizio lunch at the fancy but expensiveAlma Gaucha in Worcester, 










we passed through Grafton,

Grafton High School

 

Grafton Middle School

and Northbridge

Northbridge Fire Department

before heading into Franklin

Franklin Landings

Ginley Funeral Home
to check out the Children's Museum of Franklin. Pretty small place in my opinion, glad I got in for cheap.



While in Franklin, we stumbled onto ladybug sculptures from the Ladybug Cultural and Historical Trail.
Library Ladybug

Zentangle Quilt Ladybug

Definitely coming back for the rest of them.







Sunday, April 5, 2026

April 5th 2026: Museum of Illusions, Boston

 Today, we started our day in Boston, visiting the Museum of Illusions












From here, it was on to the Tradesman Coffee Shop and Lounge, which is located within The Dagny nearby,


for a bite, forgoing the Fin Point Oyster Bar and Grille

which was having Easter brunch today.

The cafe itself is pretty nice,
where we got the Grilled Cheese (cheddar and swiss cheese, buttered pullman bread) and Cubano Sandwich (sliced pork, black forest ham, scallion, monterey cheese, dill pickles, chipotle aioli).
Definitely a better choice than Easter brunch.

From here, we went to spend the rest of the day in Cambridge, ending up in Bosso Ramen Tavern,
 
this time getting the LUNCH SET (COMBO), consisting of among other things Charshu Rice,


Unagiinu eel (eel, egg), Fried shrimp tartare Sushi and Charshu Wasabi Mayo (pork, kale)

Once again, really good sushi and ramen. With day, an end to a good day spent in Boston and Cambridge.



Friday, April 3, 2026

April 3rd 2026: Wok and Flame, Shrewsbury

 Today, we decided to try the new Chinese restaurant in Shrewsbury, Wok and Flame, which is halal as well. Decent interior for a somewhat takeout like place.


We got the Tsunami Chicken (jasmine rice, chicken, cabbage, carrot, onion, with garlic hot sauce),

which was just so-so in our opinion, if not a bit on the salty side.

Next, we went nearby to MOTW Coffee and Pastries, This time getting the Dubai Chocolate Cake and the Yam and Chai Tea.
Definitely a better meal than the rice. 

Finally, we headed to Nan Xiang Express for another shot, this time getting the Wontons in Spicy Peanut Sauce, Chive Shrimp and Pork Dumplings, Spicy Crispy Chicken Rice Bowl, Scallion Oil Noodle, Four Happiness Sponge Tofu, Cucumber Salad, Pan Fried Pork Buns, Beef Scallion Pancake
and the Chicken Soup Dumplings. 

Not too bad a day for eating out in Shrewsbury.