Wednesday, September 15, 2021

September 15th 2021: Farewell Lunch at Tavern in the Square, Shrewsbury

 Today, we said farewell to one of my colleagues with a farewell lunch at Tavern in the Square in Shrewsbury. This time around, we got the Southwest Tots (bacon, fire roasted corn, chipotle ranch, cotija cheese, scallions, cilantro, lime) for appetizers,


while I got the General Tso's Chicken (sesame fried chicken, tempura broccoli, bang bang sauce. coconut jasmine rice).

The tots were crispy and tasty, and while the chicken was not necessarily to my standards of what General Tso's Chicken should be, it was actually pretty good in terms of flavor,especially with the crispy broccoli. Really good stuff from this place.



Sunday, September 12, 2021

September 12th 2021: Stoneforge Tavern, Raynham

Today, while in the town of Raynham, we decided to have lunch at Stoneforge Tavern, a pretty nice bar restaurant in town which has a linked restaurant right next door (Stoneforge Publick House), and another location in Easton.



We got the Red Sangria (Blends of wine, cordials, brandy, fruit juices, & fruit), which i did not get to try,

the N.E. Clam Chowder,

the Truffle Butter Scallops (seared scallops, truffle butter cream sauce, shitake mushroom bacon hash), 


which came with the House Salad (house blend lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, onions, balsamic vinaigrette),

the Rattlesnake Pasta (chicken, shrimp, tomatoes, spinach, Cajun cream sauce, penne) and  French Fries,

and the Big Cheese Brulee (a creamy brulee in a hand-fried cheesecake) for dessert.




The soup was pretty good, and the truffle flavored hash was delicious with the scallops. The pasta was not bad too, although a little salty at times. Unfortunately, the dessert was a downer, being a little hard and a tad sweet. Overall though, a really good meal here.


Saturday, September 11, 2021

Recommended Places to Visit: Andover

Recreation
Arts and Crafts
27 Main Street


Beaches
Pomps Pond
~170 Abbot Street


Dams
Stevens Street Dam
~5 Stevens Street

Balmoral Street Dam
Haverhill Street near Riverina Road

15 Dale Street


Water Bodies
Clark's Pond
Clark Road near Chester Street


Hiking
Recommended:
Lupine Reservation
Lupine Road and Central Street

Baker's Meadow
Reservation Road near Pilgrim Drive

Goldsmith Woodlands
South Main Street near Old County Road

Harold Parker State Forest
50 Harold Parker Road

Haggett's Pond
274 High Plain Road

Ward Reservation
End of Prospect Road

Merrimack River Trail
End of Raven's Bluff

Tried:
Wilkinson Reservation
175 Woburn Street

Pole Hill
End of Marland Street

Sunset Rock
End of Hammonds Way

Amy Gordon Taft Reservation
Wildwood Road and Sagamore Drive

Mary French Reservation/Hammond Reservation
16 Korinthian Way

Serio's Grove
49 Lowell Junction Road

West Parish Meadow
129 Reservation Road

Den Rock Park
End of Stirling Road

Doyle Link
End of Candlewood Drive

Moncrieff Cochran Sanctuary
85 Chapel Avenue


Events
Andover Day


Museums
Andover Historical Society
97 Main Street

Addison Gallery of American Art
180 Main Street



Parks
Central Park
Bartlet Street and Chestnut Street


Architecture
Monuments
Wood Memorial Park
Lowell Street and North Main Street


Places of Worship
Monastery of St. Clare
445 River Road

Faith Lutheran Church
360 South Main Street

St. Augustine Church
43 Essex Street

Andover Baptist Church
7 Central Street

Free Christian Church
31 Elm Street

South Church in Andover
41 Central Street

Christ Church
25 Central Street

Unitarian Universalist Congregation
6 Locke Street

First Church of Christ, Scientist
278 North Main Street

Sri Chinmaya Maruti Temple
1 Union Street

West Parish Church
129 Reservation Road

New England Bible Church
60 Chandler Road

71 Chandler Road

459 River Road

198 Haggetts Pond Road



20 Highvale Lane

Chapel at West Parish
210 Lowell Street




Schools
Phillips Academy
180 Main Street

Shawsheen School
18 Magnolia Avenue

333 High Plain Road

58 Beacon Street

80 Shawsheen Road

70 Shawsheen Road


Town Facilities
Public Safety Department
32 North Main Street

Memorial Hall Library
2 North Main Street


Commercial Buildings
Kiley Law Group
342 North Main Street




Historical Buildings
Andover Town House
20 Main Street

Nathan Frye House
166 North Main Street

Woodworth Cadillac
339 North Main Street


Restaurants
Highly Recommended:
Indian
Raagini Indian Bistro
209 North Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Strawberry Lassi
Goat Curry
Butter Chicken


Italian
7 Barnard Street
Recommended Dishes:
Greek Salad
Rigatoni Bianco


Breakfast
319 Lowell Street
Recommended Dishes:
Charcoal Latte
Tofu Scramble
Chicken Littles Pancakes
Acai Coco-nut Bowl


Western

Brasserie 28
2 Elm Square
Recommended Dishes:
Seared Foie Gras
Gianduja Chocolate Terrine
Sweet Potato Agnolotti


Japanese
Tokyo Steakhouse (chain)
560 South Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Onion ala Japanese Soup
Beauty on the Beach
Kiwi Scallop Maki



Tried:
Breakfast
Boston King Cafe
16 North Main Street
Recommended Dishes:
Smoothie
Corned Beef Hash

Shawsheen Luncheonette
3 Lowell Street
Recommended Dishes:
Barn Yard in the Corn Field


Thai
12 Post Office Avenue


Italian
Pizza Connection
38 Park Street
Recommended Dishes:
Big Mack Pizza

September 11th 2021: Spending the Day in Andover

 We spent the day in Andover today, 

See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil,
27 Main Street


High Plain Elementary School

West Elementary School

Andover High School

West Middle School

getting breakfast from Crack'D Kitchen and Coffee in town. It is pretty much a takeout place with seating.

We got the Charcoal Latte (Espresso, Charcoal Powder, Milk),
the Chicken Littles Pancakes (yogurt and apple juice),
the TOFU SCRAMBLE (Seasoned Tofu, Spinach, Kale, Avocado, Grape Tomatoes, Sweet Potato Hash, Quinoa Rice Blend)
and the AÇAI COCO-NUT BOWL (Açai, Banana, Strawberry, Coconut, Toasted Almonds, Cacao Nibs).
The latte was interesting in that it contained activated charcoal, but tastewise it was just alright. The acai was a little sour as well. However, the tofu was really tasty, as was the pancake. Overall, a pretty good meal to be had here, can see why they have a nother branch in New Hampshire.

Next while in the town center area, we stumbled onto the Kidcasso Art Studio, where we decided to give it a try by letting our little one do some arts and crafts.




Our little one got to etch a drawing on a styrofoam paper, then roll paint over it, before stenciling the drawing onto a piece of paper. Mini pompoms were then pasted on using glue as well as stickers. Overall though, not very exciting stuff, although our little one did have fun. 

From here, we had lunch at an upscale Italian restaurant nearby, LaRosa's, although it had the style of a cafeteria.

We ordered the GREEK Salad (Romaine, Crumbled Feta, Cucumber, Tomato, Kalamata Olive, Bell Pepper, Red Onion)

and the RIGATONI BIANCO (Beef, Pork, Veal, Mushroom, Sweet Cream).
The salad was okay I guess, although the pasta was pretty tasty. Overall, a pretty good meal here.

With that, a great day spent in the town of Andover.






Thursday, September 9, 2021

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.

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

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.


Monday, September 6, 2021

Recommended Places to Visit: Concord

Recreation
Fruit Picking
Verrill Farm
11 Wheeler Road



Arts Performances
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

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

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

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

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
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
195 Sudbury Road
Recommended Dishes:
Seafood Platter
Tuscan Sirloin


Tried:
Dessert
68 Thoreau Street
Recommended Dishes:
Peach
Red Raspberry Chip

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