January 1st 2013: A New Year in Cambridge

Today was New Year's Day, and it was hard to find restaurants which were open today. Thankfully, El Potro Mexican Bar and Grill in Somerville was open for business, so I decided to head there for brunch after having woken up late today after my late night yesterday.

Like most other restaurants in Somerville, the restaurant was pretty small town style with a casual feel, although it was pretty colorful Mexican style in terms of decor.

Restaurant Decor

For the $20 I had to spend, I decided to get the Tortilla Soup and the Enchiladas Trio, consisting of a mole enchilada, cheese enchilada, enchilada Verde with rice and refried beans garnished with pico de gallo, guacamole, and sour cream.

Enchiladas Trio

Tortilla Soup

I was a little disappointed with the soup as it was pretty bland, although I enjoyed the enchiladas, especially the mole one.

After my brunch, I headed to several places in Cambridge to visit them.

First Church of the Nazarene

Cambridgeport Baptist Church

Beth Shalom

Massachusetts Avenue Baptist Church

St. Mary's of the Annunciation Church

St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church

Inman Square Fire House

Area IV Youth Center

Sennott Park

St. Augustine's African Orthodox Pro-Cathedral,
137 Allston Street

First Reformed Presbyterian Church

Cambridge City Hall Annex,
344 Broadway

First United Presbyterian Church,
1418 Cambridge Street

Islamic Society of Boston

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Vellucci Plaza,
Hampshire Street and Cambridge Street

I then parked in the MIT area, and started my exploration of the university campus and the University Park at MIT complex.

At Hill Building

MIT Museum

Green Building

1 Cambridge Center

Stata Center

Stata Center from behind

Whittaker College

Picower Institute

Media Lab Complex

1 Broadway

Wiesner Building

EG&G Education Center

Sloan School of Management

Sculptures at MIT

Fish Sculpture, 5 Cambridge Center

University Park Common, University Park@MIT

35 Landsdowne Street

40 Landsdowne Street

At 88 Sidney Street

University Park Common

The Jackson Building

While in the Kendall Square T-Station area, I tried to look for the Cambridge Center Rooftop Garden, but was told by the staff at the Boston Marriott Cambridge that it was closed for good. After doing some research I now know where it is exactly, and will come back to find it again next time.

Boston Marriott Cambridge

4 Cambridge Center

The sun was setting as I did my explorations, and the views of Boston across the Charles River were stunning.

Boston in the sunset

Finally, it was too dark to take any more pictures, so I headed back to my car, taking pictures of the Christmas decor on the roads as I went.

Christmas Decor

With that, I looked for a restaurant that was open today, and found it in Bistro 20, an upscale western cuisine restaurant in the town of Sudbury. It was pretty empty today, but I can assume how full it would be on a regular day.

For the $40 I had to spend here, I decided to get the Minestrone Soup, the Eggplant Tower appetizer, lightly breaded and layered with ricotta cheese, mozzarella, tomato & red pepper coulis, and the Rack of Lamb for my entree, with Vin brûlée and blueberry sauce, and asparagus and warm cannellini salad on the side.

Minestrone Soup

Eggplant Tower

Rack of Lamb

It was an excellent meal to say the least, and I was stuffed at the end of it all. The Eggplant tower was surprisingly good especially since I don't really go for tomato sauces.

With that, my long vacation break finally came to an end. Back to work tomorrow.