Thursday, December 12, 2013

December 12th 2013: Freezing at the Frost Ice Bar, Boston

Today after work, I finally decided to check out the Frost Ice Bar in the Faneuil Hall area of Boston, the only bar/place in town where the temperature inside is almost always colder than outside, and everything is made of ice, including the drink glasses. Before that, I went with my friend for dinner at the Stockyard Restaurant, a steakhouse in the Brighton area of town.

This place is pretty big, with really cool Christmas decor and ambience, a mix between a bar and a steakhouse.


For food, we got a lot, to say the least. For appetizers, we got the Tuna Tartare (avocado, cucumber, chili vinaigrette, taro chips), and for our main courses, my friend got the Bone-In Ribeye (22oz char grilled), while I got the Shrimp and Scallop Capone (sun-dried tomato, roasted garlic, broccoli, asparagus, sherry cream, fettuccine), with sides of sauteed spinach, mashed potatoes and corn souffle.
Tuna Tartare
Bone In Ribeye 
Shrimp and Scallop Capone










Corn Souffle
Sauteed Spinach and Mashed Potatoes










The tuna was pretty good in my opinion, the oil at the bottom going pretty well with the tuna flavor, although my friend did not think it was that great, saying it was bland. We did enjoy our entrees though, especially my pasta. The corn souffle was interestingly good as well, together with the other sides too. Overall, a pretty good dining experience. A place I would come back to in future.

From here, we headed to the Frost Ice Bar. With my Livingsocial deal, we headed straight up to the third floor, where we were able to get into the bar immediately as there wasn't much people inside tonight, after putting on purple overcoats over our winter clothing. The interior was pretty nice though, with everything being made of ice, although I was still considering whether it might be made of plastic instead.



























This place only serves alcoholic drinks, and the "glasses" themselves are made out of ice, so one has to hold the glass with both hands in order to prevent the drink from slipping out of one's hands.

My friend decided to get the The Old North Ender (Reyka Vodka, Lemon Sorbet, Westport Rivers Sparkling Wine, Pallini Limoncello), while I got the Griswold (Old Ipswich Golden Marsh Spiced Rum, GTV Coconut Vodka, Licor 43, Pineapple and Cranberry Juices).
The Old North Ender (left),
The Griswold (Right)
Not being an avid alcohol drinker, I did not like either drink as there was too much alcohol taste in it. I had to give most of it to my friend in the end. However, I have to say that being in this bar is definitely an interesting experience. I recommend checking it out at least once, even if you don't drink.

With that, we were about to head back to our car when my friend realized she had lost our parking ticket, and out of fear that we would have to pay nearly a hundred bucks just to be able to get out of the parking lot, we went all the way back to the bar to try to find it, but to no avail. In the end, it turned out that she had forgot to check one of her hidden pockets in her coat, and the ticket had been there all along! I had given her the ticket earlier thinking that I was the forgetful one and would lose it, and it turns out she was forgetful too. I think I shall just keep the ticket in my car the next time.







Wednesday, December 11, 2013

December 11th 2013: Asian Trivia at Gari Sushi, Brookline

Today after work, I had a meetup event for trivia at Gari Sushi in the city of Brookline. My friend was interested in joining meetup events, so I decided to bring him to this one. The entire place was filled with our people by the time it came to order our food. I decided to try the Shoyu Ramen Noodle Soup with Crispy Katsu Pork (Premium Japanese wave noodle soup served with vegetables, egg) and the Oyster Katsu Maki (Fried oyster, avocado, mango with tobiko, ikura and spicy sauce), while my friends got the Nabeyaki Udon (Thick udon noodles served in a light broth with chicken, fish cake, white fish, squid, scallop, vegetables, shrimp tempura and an egg), the Fuji Salmon (Salmon with Fuji apple served with honey wasabi mayo), the Dragon Roll (Cooked shrimp, yellowtail, eel, cucumber, avocado, tobiko) and the Lobster Tempura Roll (Deep fried lobster salad roll served with spicy mango sauce) among others.
Lobster Tempura Roll
Ramen Noodle Soup










Fuji Salmon
Dragon Roll









Oyster Katsu Maki
Nabeyaki Udon











The Lobster and the Dragon Rolls were passed over to me as leftovers, so my pictures of them were not as good. I have to say my ramen was pretty disappointing, the pork not going down well together with the ramen. I'm not a fan of wasabi either, so the salmon wasn't for me either, although the presentation was pretty good. The rolls were not too bad though, especially the oysters in mine.

The trivia itself consisted of 12 questions, with its focus on Asia. My team only got 4 right, and I actually knew the answers to some of the other questions, and was kicking myself for forgetting until it was too late. Oh well. The team which got 7 right won in the end, although my friend and I could not stay till the end as we had to get to work early tomorrow. It was a fun time though to hang out with friends. I hope my friend decides to join the group in the near future.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

December 10th 2013: Dinner at Wicked Wings and Ice Cream, Leicester

Before bowling tonight, I went to have a quick dinner at Wicked Wings and Ice Cream, a small ice cream place with a dining area in the town of Leicester.

I decided to get the Sticky Sesame Wings, the Spicy Ranch Wings, the Spicy Fried Pickles, and a Cake Batter Sundae.
Cake Batter Sundae
Spicy Ranch Wings











Sticky Sesame Wings
Spicy Fried Pickles











The food was just okay at best. I didn't do well either at bowling tonight.

Monday, December 9, 2013

December 9th 2013: Dinner at Sake Hana, Westborough

Today after work,  I decided to  have dinner at Sake Hana, a Japanese restaurant that has taken the place of Hisa, another Japanese restaurant which I have been to in the past, in the town of Westborough. The decor looks pretty much the same before, and the menu was pretty interesting as well. Still, I decided to get the Pink Mussels (New Zealand Mussels baked with spicy mayo sauce) for an appetizer, and the Autumn of Alaska (spicy snow crab, crunch, avocado, soy bean wrapped salmon on top with pepper honey sauce) and Sake Hana (tuna, salmon, yellowtail inside  topped with spicy crunch king crab, avocado, caviar and gold leaf) Rolls for my meal.
Pink Mussels
Autumn of Alaska (bottom), Sake Hana (top)











The mussels were actually pretty good, and I just slurped up all the spicy mayo from the shell. The rolls were delicious as well, although I wasn't too much a fan of the pepper honey sauce, which was more wasabi than pepper.

Not a bad meal on a gloomy night though.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Recommended Places to Visit: Wellesley

Recreation
Water Bodies
Reed's Pond
50 Woodside Road

Abbott Pond
20 Fox Hill Road

Rockridge Pond
53 Hundreds Circle

Wight Pond
5 Hundreds Road

Farm Station Pond
75 Croton Road

Parks
Hunnewell Park
525 Washington Street near Town Hall

Washington Park
1 River Street


Beaches
Morses Pond
99 Turner Road


Museums
Davis Museum
106 Central Street


Hiking
Longfellow Pond
150 Oakland Street

Cochituate Aqueduct
99 Turner Road

Centennial Reservation
~138 Oakland Street

Rocky Ledges
Yarmouth Road near Sudbury Road


Architecture
Monuments
War Memorial
Washington Street in front of Town Hall


Places of Worship

St. Paul Parish
502 Washington Street

Wellesley Unitarian Universalist Church
309 Washington Street

St. John the Evangelist Church
9 Glen Road

Wellesley Hills Congregational Church
207 Washington Street


Schools
Wellesley College
106 Central Street
Town Facilities
Fire Station #1
100 Central Street

Fire Station #2
457 Worcester Street

Town Hall
525 Washington Street

Wellesley Free Library Main Branch 
530 Washington Street

Police Department
485 Washington Street

Wellesley Free Library Hills Branch
210 Washington Street


Historical Buildings
Annie F Warren Building
90 Washington Street

Sprague Clock Tower
Worcester Street and Washington Street

Old St. James the Great Church
900 Worcester Street

Old Fire Station
182 Walnut Street


Restaurants
Highly Recommended:
Western
Milestone of Wellesley
13 Central Street
Recommended Dishes:
Mediterranean Mussels
Mama's Moussaka


Italian
Alta Strada
92 Central Street
Recommended Dishes:
Spicy Green Beans with Prosciutto
Sweet Corn with Smokey Bacon and Tomatoes
Sicilian Tuna with Olives and Peppers
Mushroom Filled Lune
Tiramisu

Dessert
Susu's Bakery Boutique
575 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Carrot Cupcake
Macaroons
Gingerbread Men

Quebrada Baking Company
272 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Mushroom Cheddar Croissant
Yellow Christmas Cupcake
Mocha Bean Cupcake
Carrot Cupcake
Cream Cheese Cupcake


Deli
11 River Street
Recommended Dishes:
Smoked Turkey Delight
Italian Panini


Japanese
11 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Golden Nugget Maki
Curry Boneless Duck


Tried:
Dessert
5 Bites Cupcakes
141 Linden Street
Recommended Dishes:
Mudslide
White Hot Chocolate
Double Chocolate
Yellow Birthday
Red Velvet
Cookies and Cream


Dorset Cafe
352 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Bartlett Pear Hot Breakfast Pizzette
Citrus Scone
Hot Chocolate



Western
Maugus Restaurant
300 Washington Street
Recommended Dishes:
Baked Lamb

December 8th 2013: Learning About the Human Anatomy at the Body Worlds: Vital Exhibition

Today, I was to go see the Body Worlds: Vital exhibition, held at the Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Before that, I decided to check out a free water bodies in the town of Wellesley.
Reed's Pond, 50 Woodside Road
Abbott Pond, 20 Fox Hill Road








Farm Station Pond, 75 Croton Road
Wight Pond, 5 Hundreds Road
Rockridge Pond, 53 Hundreds Circle











Time was running short at this point, but as I was feeling extremely hungry, I decided to grab something quick from the Quebrada Baking Company in town, where I got a Mushroom Cheddar Croissant and 4 mini cupcakes (Yellow Christmas, Mocha Bean, Carrot, Cream Cheese).
Mini Cupcakes (clockwise from top left,
carrot, mocha bean, yellow christmas, cream cheese) 
Mushroom Cheddar Croissant




Not bad for breakfast.

The exhibition itself was pretty interesting, though at times it did feel a little gruesome to see all the different body parts. I definitely recommend going to one of these exhibitions at least once. An eye opener for sure. I never knew that if all the blood vessels in a human body were joined end to end, it would wrap around the world twice. Here are the pictures I took.












The Baseball Player
A Hand
























Nerve Leonardo
Digestive system












Circulatory System of the Head


Flamenco Dancer
Male Flamenco Dancer














The Fencer
The heart














The foot
Hockey Players














The Arm











Ballet Dancers
Main Arteries of the Body














After leaving the exhibition, my friends and I decided to get a late lunch at McCormick and Schmick's nearby. This time, we headed up to the second floor.

For food, my friend ordered the Clam Chowder and the Cedar Roasted Salmon (Berry Reduction, Roasted Vegetables), while I got the Shrimp and Andouille Mac and Cheese (four cheese sauce).
Clam Chowder
Cedar Roasted Salmon











Shrimp and Andouille Mac and Cheese
The chowder wasn't too bad, while I did not get a chance to try the salmon, which my friend finished. My Mac and Cheese was more of a pasta dish, but it was excellent to say the least.

Two of us decided to get dessert, with me getting the Chocolate Bag (white chocolate mousse with fresh berries topped with whipped cream), while my friend got the Creme Brulee (topped with fresh berries).
Creme Brulee
Chocolate Bag











Both were pretty good, although my "box" made of chocolate was a little lopsided. It was pretty hard and I gave up eating the box in the end.

After lunch, a few of us shopped around for a bit before deciding to call it a day. After sending my friend home, I decided to get even more food, going to Roggie's, a typical bar restaurant in the Brighton area, for dinner.

I decided to get the Beer Mussels and the Crown Burger (1/2 pound patty topped with pastrami). A huge pile of mussels arrived, on 2 different plates,

 and I somehow managed to finish it all, although I could barely touch the burger.

It wasn't anything special though.

With that, a day of seeing plastinated bodies came to an end. I'm glad I did not lose my appetite at all.


Saturday, December 7, 2013

Recommended Places to Visit: Harvard

Recreation
Museums
Fruitlands Museum
102 Prospect Hill Road


Water Bodies
Mirror Lake
End of Mirror Lake Road

Robbins Pond
Robbins Pond Road and Barnum Road

Williams Pond
Stow Road and Murray Lane 

Old Millpond
22 Old Mill Road
 Beaches
Bare Hill Pond
End of Pond Road

Beautiful Scenery
West Bare Hill Road near Still River Road



Hiking
Still River Road between Turner Lane and Prospect Hill Road

Ayer Road close to Mill Road

Ohlin Land
Ohlin Lane near Poor Farm Road

Pin Hill
47 Depot Road

Architecture
Monuments
Town Common
Ayer Road and Fairbanks Street


Schools
Hildreth Elementary School
27 Massachusetts Avenue

Immaculate Heart of Mary School
258 Still River Road


Places of Worship
Unitarian Universalist Church
9 Ayer Road

St. Theresa the Little Flower Church
15 Still River Road

Evangelical Congregational Church
5 Still River Road


Commercial Buildings

200 Ayer Road
200 Ayer Road



Town Facilities
Public Library
4 Pond Road

Town Hall
13 Ayer Road

Historical Society
215 Still River Road

Police
40 Ayer Road



Restaurants
Highly Recommended:
Western
Devens Grill
4 Ryans Way
Recommended Dishes:
Shrimp and Scallops Ravioli
Chocolate Explosion