January 7th 2014: Eating at the Bowling Alley, Auburn

Due to my car having a flat tire after hitting a pothole yesterday, I was forced to take a ride to the AMC Bowling Lanes in Auburn to go bowling tonight. As a result, I had to get my dinner from the place as well, at Laneside Grill. After looking at the menu, I decided to get a small Loaded Fries (A blend of cheese, cheese sauce, bacon and sour cream) and Coney Island Hot Dogs (Loaded with chili and cheese sauce and shredded cheeses).

The food was actually pretty good, though a mite unhealthy to say the least. Hopefully, I won't have to do this again next week though. Such a hassle to be without a car.

December 24th 2013: Dinner at Yong Shing Restaurant, Auburn

After work today, I thought there was bowling, so I decided to check out a nearby Chinese restaurant, Yong Shing, thinking it was just another takeout place. I was surprised to find it is actually pretty fancy, with both Japanese and Chinese cuisine. I decided to get the Ma La Lamb (Hot, Thin Slices of Lamb sauteed with fresh garlic and chilli sauce) from the Chinese menu, and the Monster Maki (Two Shrimp Tempura, Asparagus, avocado, mango, topped with seaweed salad, mango sauce and Thai sauce) from the Japanese side.

Ma La Lamb

Monster Maki

The lamb was pretty good, while having seaweed salad in my sushi was a different experience, and they definitely did a good job mixing the different flavors together, especially those of the mango.

Unfortunately, no one told me that the bowling alley was closed early for Christmas Eve, so effectively there was no bowling. Oh well. At least I had a good meal.

Recommended Places to Visit: Auburn

Recreation

Bowling
AMF Auburn Lanes
101 Southbridge Street

Parks

Goddard Park
Auburn Street and Southbridge Street

Shopping Malls
Auburn Mall
385 Southbridge Street


Kids
Crystal Caves Family Entertainment Center
790 Southbridge Street

Water Bodies
Dark Brook Reservoir
Leicester Street and Bryn Mawr Avenue

Eddy Pond
Central Street near Sharon Avenue

Stoneville Pond
~140 Oxford Street North

Pondville Pond
~375 Washington Street

Stoneville Reservoir
~168 Rochdale Street

Architecture

Monuments

Town Common
104 Central Street

War Memorial
Auburn Street near Southbridge Street

Water Street Memorial Park
Southbridge Street and Water Street

Kusy Park
Southbridge Street and Church Street

Prospect Street Memorial Park
Southbridge Street and Prospect Street

Veteran's Memorial Corridor
Southbridge Street and Washington Street

Town Facilities
Auburn VNA Health Network

191 Pakachoag Street

Auburn Sportsman's Club
50 Elm Street

Places of Worship

St. Joseph's Church
194 Oxford Street

First Congregational Church
128 Central Street

Faith Baptist Church
22 Faith Avenue

Bethel Lutheran Church
90 Bryn Mawr Avenue

North American Martyrs Church
8 Wyoma Drive

Pakachoag Church
203 Pakachoag Street

Hampton Street Baptist Church
81 Hampton Street


Restaurants

Highly Recommended:

Chinese
Yong Shing
90 Auburn Street
Recommended Dishes:
Monster Maki
Ma La Lamb

Western

Chuck's Steakhouse
10 Prospect Street
Recommended Dishes:
Chateau of Beef
Spinach, Tomato and Mushroom Quesadilla

Tried:
Japanese

Jasmine Restaurant
711 Southbridge Street

Western

Major League Roast Beef and Wings
503 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Ace of Staff Wings
Route 20 Sub

Brother's Pizza
850 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Maui Pizza
Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo

Laneside Grill
101 Southbridge Street
Recommended Dishes:
Coney Island Hot Dog
Loaded Fries

Dessert

Coco's Tropical Ice
1 Swanson Road

September 10th 2013: Joining My Company Bowling League in Auburn

Today after work was the first day of my company bowling league at the AMF Auburn Lanes in the town of Auburn. As a result, I decided to grab a small BBQ Chicken Pizza from Shrewsbury Pizzeria, a takeout place at 560 Main Street in the town of Shrewsbury, which was actually pretty good because they actually roasted the chicken pieces before putting them onto the pizza.

I have to say that the AMF Town and Country Lanes in Shrewsbury is much better than the bowling alley in Auburn in terms of technology and lanes, which are more run down in Auburn. I haven't bowled in a league for almost 2 years now, so I was a little rusty, but thankfully the first week is all about getting our handicaps, so failing to do well tonight was actually a good thing, as it brings up our handicap numbers. Hope we won all 3 games this week though.

September 9th 2013: Dinner at All Star Pub, Webster

Today after work, I decided to have pub food at the All Star Pub at 51 Thompson Road in the town of Webster. Before that, I passed through the towns of Millbury,

Dorothy Pond Recreation Area,
~216 Riverlin Street

Howe Pond, 55 Howe Avenue

Auburn

Pondville Pond, 375 Washington Street

and Oxford

McKinstry Pond,
Waite Street and Forest Street

Carbuncle Town Park,
~497 Main Street

before finally heading into Webster.

The place itself was typical, while the Home Town Hero (0.5lb burger served with homemade chipotle BBQ sauce, bacon, onion strings, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato) I got wasn't too bad, though nothing amazing. 

Another so-so day of sightseeing I guess.

August 15th 2013: Dinner at Drafter's Sports Cafe, Dudley

Today after work, I decided to use my groupon at Drafter's Sports Cafe, located at the Tri-State Speedway in the town of Dudley. Before that, I did some sightseeing in the towns of Worcester,

Iglesia Casa de Oracion, 21 Canterbury Street

Daniels Gymnasium

Warner Theater

Worcester Academy

Auburn,

Auburn Sportsman's Club

Millbury,

Ramshorn Pond, ~93 Davis Road

Oxford

Lowe's Pond, ~6 Huguenot Road

and Dudley itself.

Larner Pond, ~114 Charlton Road

Wallis Pond, 114 Charlton Road

Merino Pond Beach, End of Lakeview Avenue

Packard Pond, ~82 Carpenter Road

Finally at the dinner place, which was just a small bar area in the middle of an arcade, with the race track on the second floor.

With my groupon, I got a card with $20 of credit on it, so I did not need to use it all on food, although my waitress later told me they had made a mistake in doing this. I was thankful though, as I would have to order a lot of food, which was mainly appetizers on the menu. For food, I decided to get the Corn Dog Nuggets (Mini hot dogs covered with crispy sweet batter) with seasoned curly fries, and the Artie Style Wings (cajun seasoning drizzled with Buffalo sauce, crispy). 

Artie Style Wings

Corn Dog Nuggets

The corn dogs weren't too bad, although the wings were disappointingly lacking in sauce.

I still had credit on my card, but the arcade was already closed by the time I was done eating. Maybe I should give it to my friend who lives in Dudley.

August 14th 2013: Dinner at Tokyo Sushi, Springfield

Today after work, I decided to head to Springfield to have a groupon dinner at  Tokyo Asian Fusion in Springfield. Before that, I passed by a few places and waterfalls in Worcester,

St. John's Catholic Church

Quinsigamond Village Community Center

Revival Church Fountain of Life,
23 Coral Street

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church,
256 Hamilton Street

International Central Gospel Church

Heritage Baptist Church

Bethlehem Covenant Church

Quinsigamond United Methodist Church

Emmanuel Lutheran Church

Leesville Pond,
~234 Webster Street

Auburn

Stoneville Pond, ~140 Oxford Street North

Stoneville Reservoir, ~168 Rochdale Street

and Leicester

Greenville Pond, ~713 Pleasant Street

Clark's Mill Pond, ~137 Baldwin Street

before heading to Springfield.

The restaurant decor is pretty interesting actually,

 and the food I ordered with my groupon was quite unique with good presentation too, being the Crispy Duck Salad (Roasted boneless duck w. green mixed and hoisin sauce), the Tuna Amazing Roll (White tuna tempura, spicy tuna, avocado inside topped w. pepper tuna w. mango eel sauce & tobiko), the Chicken Cheese Maki (Deep fried chicken w. cream cheese, crab meat, and asparagus inside), the Lobster Spring Roll (Deep fried roll w. mango and lobster inside), and the Edamame Soup (Soybean paste w. tofu and seaweed).

Edamame Soup

Lobster Spring Roll

Crispy Duck Salad

Tuna Amazing Roll

Chicken Cheese Maki

In terms of taste, the salad was excellent, although the duck was not crispy at all, while the sushi was really good too. The soup was a little too spicy, but delicious as well. The other 2 were pretty disappointing, with the chicken maki being a little weird tasting, rescued by dipping in the soup, while the spring rolls were pretty simplistic. Overall, a decent dining experience worth driving all the way out here for.