In and Around Fitchburg, Massachusetts

First Thursdays and Chaibo

2010-05-07T10:36:00.004-04:00

Last night marked the premiere of the reinvigorated First Thursdays program in downtown Fitchburg, and the weather cooperated with warm sunshine. Pedestrians strolled along Main Street, enjoying the many free events. There were a lot of musical performances to choose from, including The Bella Birds at The Rabbit Hole. Admission to the Fitchburg Art Museum is free on First Thursdays, which is perfect for those who might want to check out a special exhibit they’ve not yet seen; last night, I explored an interesting collection of Finnish jewelry organized by the Helsinki Design Museum.

There were many other performances, gallery shows, art workshops, and other events occurring throughout the afternoon and evening, but I simply didn’t have the time to visit the many things that appealed to me! For more information about First Thursdays, follow the Twitter account or see the event blog for a complete schedule of activities.

The decision to pair entertainment venues with Fitchburg restaurants not located in the downtown area was a great one. Country Good’s BBQ outside Design at 639 seemed to be especially popular! Last night, however, my husband and I decided to try the new Chaibo café (13 Cushing Street, below Destare) for a casual meal.

I can’t imagine a more perfect addition to the downtown area. The coffee house décor, with brick walls, eclectic lighting fixtures, and cozy couches, lends an immediate sense of relaxation. With free WiFi and excellent food and beverages to choose from, it would be easy to settle in at Chaibo for hours, either productively studying or simply passing the time watching out the large windows to Riverfront Park across the street. Outdoor seating is available as well, although last night was a bit too windy to take advantage of that.

The vision for Chaibo apparently began when its owners decided that Fitchburg could use a good fondue place. I’ve actually frequently bemoaned the lack of a local fondue restaurant (Melting Pot is too far away and frankly, not very good for the price) and was therefore very eager to try this specialty item at Chaibo. Unfortunately, I never made it to dessert. The panini that I ordered, expecting a small sandwich given the reasonable price, was large, incredibly tasty, and accompanied by fabulous veggie chips, leaving me with no room for even a bite of cheesecake, let alone a pot of fondue. I look forward to future visits to try the fondue as well as the many other available items, including salads, specialty coffees, loose-leaf teas, fruit smoothies, and a variety of gelato and sorbets from which I have no idea how to choose only one flavor. There are also plans to add cheese fondue to the menu when colder weather approaches – if that happens, I will be there so often that the staff will tire of me.

Speaking of the staff, they could not have been more friendly. The café was said to have been at full capacity for the official grand opening ceremony earlier in the day, and things were still quite busy when we arrived. Working out the kinks for any new restaurant is challenging, but special kudos must be given to those who do so in the midst of a rush of customers. Yet the owner and other staff with whom we interacted were nothing but cheerful and accommodating. I look forward to many happy return visits, and I would highly recommend that anyone looking for a cappuccino, a casual meal, or a great dessert try Chaibo!

Regional Flooding

2010-03-15T19:17:00.003-04:00

I just took this photo from the Searstown Mall parking lot. Perhaps they should rebrand the mall again, this time as The Mall at Whitney Lake?

To those of you NOT being idiots like this person, I hope you and your homes are staying dry!

Yamato Japan

2009-11-12T15:15:00.005-05:00

A new Japanese restaurant opened this week in the Twin Cities plaza (at the site of the former Moose Creek coffee shop), and I had the pleasure of trying it last night. It's a wonderful addition to the area! The interior has been completely renovated in a warm, modern style, with approximately ten or fifteen tables and a small sushi bar seating area. Service was very friendly and efficient, and the food was fabulous. The menu features both sushi/sashimi offerings as well as an array of hibachi entrees. There is also a small selection of soba dishes.

My husband and I opted for hibachi and look forward to returning soon to try the sushi. Our soups were tasty, the salad ingredients fresh, and the entrees incredibly flavorful. We also couldn't resist the tempura ice cream (coated in pound cake for frying - SOOO good!), though there were some other intriguing-sounding desserts on the menu as well, including a mousse concoction with the amusing name "magic cube." Also worth mentioning, this is a BYOB establishment - one couple there had even brought their own sake cups.

In addition to appreciating the food and service, we were quite impressed by the reasonable prices. A multi-course dinner for two (with dessert and beverages) was only around $40, including tax and tip. The restaurant is also running a frequent diner promotion - for every $20 you spend at a single visit, you earn one stamp on your card. Once you've acquired ten stamps, you get a $30 gift certificate. Something tells me I'll have my first card fully stamped pretty quickly. :)

Although the restaurant is new and we were there on a Wednesday night, it was actually quite busy. We overheard two other tables talking about getting something different from their last visit, so the venue is already drawing repeat customers. I'm almost reluctant to spread the word about this place for fear it will become too difficult to get a table!

A restaurant website is listed on the take-out menus, but it's not currently functional. In case that doesn't change anytime soon, I've scanned in the menu and am including it here for reference (just click on the image above for a larger size). Enjoy!

Twitter

2009-11-03T16:52:00.002-05:00

Obviously, I've been pretty awful about updating this blog lately. There are so many fabulous local things I intend to post about - the farmers' market, Rabbit Hole, Marshall Farm, the list goes on an on - but I just haven't had the time. For anyone's who's interested, please feel free to follow me on Twitter...it's much easier to toss out quick comments in that format!

Frisbee Golf

2009-07-08T08:37:00.002-04:00

At last night’s Park Board meeting, I learned that efforts are underway to bring a disc golf course to Fitchburg’s Coggshall Park. For those not familiar with the game, the idea is to land your Frisbee in a basket using as few throws as possible. Just like with traditional golf, each “hole” features a different par, distance, and terrain. The New England Flying Disc Association (NEFA) offers a lot more details about the intricacies of the game; in addition to the many people who just play occasionally for fun, there are some pretty hardcore players out there!

This Friday, July 10, at 4:30 p.m., a trial run of the proposed Coggshall course will take place. The event is free and open to anyone, and a big crowd would be great to show support for developing a permanent course. Late-comers are welcome, as the organizers realize that not everyone can make such an early start on a weekday. Discs will be provided, unless you happen to be an experienced player who would prefer to bring your own. Being a spectator is fine if you’d rather watch a bit before trying yourself.

The 18-hole course will begin and end at the South Street entrance to Coggshall Park. This area of the park was chosen because the road in this section has been closed for a number of years, and there are few hiking trails around. Therefore, other park visitors are unlikely to be disturbed by the Frisbee golfers, and the players will be able to enjoy a course free of vehicular and pedestrian obstacles.

Friday’s game will be played using a portable basket, but if feedback from the community is positive, fundraising efforts will begin to install permanent baskets along the course. (Course maintenance is done by volunteers, but baskets cost several hundred dollars each – generally local businesses are asked to consider sponsoring a basket.) The installation will not require modifying the natural landscape in any way, as the purpose of disc golf is to make use of the existing terrain. And perhaps the best part? The plan is to make the Fitchburg course free. This is exactly the kind of activity that would be a great fit for our city, something individuals and families can choose to do at any time, outdoors and at no cost. If you can, stop by Friday to check it out!

[9/4/09 addendum: The 7/10 trial run was lots of fun, and the city has given approval to move forward with development of an 18-hole course. There's a dedicated group of volunteers who are working hard to get the baskets set up and to begin fund-raising efforts - as of early September, several holes are already cleared. For the most up-to-date info about the status of the course, the Coggshall NEFA forum thread is the best source of info...or you can head to Coggshall and check things out for yourself!]

Community 5K

2009-07-02T15:46:00.012-04:00

Every June, Sergeant Mark Jackson of the Fitchburg Police Relief Association organizes a 5K race, with all proceeds donated to a community cause. This year, the Friends of Coggshall group was chosen as the event's beneficiary. Sgt. Jackson recognized the strong need for support to help rebuild the Stone House, and his efforts were beyond impressive.

The race is based at The Cellar, which conveniently permits the use of a covered garage in case of inclement weather. As has been the sad norm throughout this "summer," the forecast called for rain on the day of the race, but luckily it held off for the afternoon. The day began with a 5K walk in the Main Street and Fitchburg State College area, along the same course the runners later used. A kids' "fun run" was also arranged. Runners ranged in age from 12 to 76 years, and the overall winner finished in 16:06. Participants celebrated with grilled food, beer, and a fabulous raffle that included running gear, gift certificates to local businesses, and even a limited edition print of a Stone House painting done by a local artist.

Sgt. Jackson and his team of volunteers put so much work into this event yet somehow managed to make it look easy. The numerous sponsors and participants also helped make for a great day. The race was just one more example of how people in Fitchburg come together to support the community. Now that I know about this annual event, I look forward to being a part of it in the years to come, and hopefully some of you will consider volunteering or participating as well!

Sonoma Princeton

2009-04-08T15:19:00.002-04:00

As part of my quest to visit all of the establishments that are part of the local Independent Restaurant Collaborative (earlier post here), I recently had the pleasure of dining at Sonoma in Princeton. Okay, I guess “recently” isn’t the best choice of words, as I went on Valentine’s Day and was only reminded to write this long overdue post because I just made reservations for a return visit. Time is flying by this year!

My experience at Sonoma was truly outstanding. Because my visit occurred on a popular restaurant holiday, I was prepared for the rushed service and drastically abbreviated menus to which I’m accustomed from past Valentine’s Day dinners at other establishments. I was thrilled to encounter just the opposite at Sonoma. Our server encouraged us to linger as long as we wanted, and we were presented with a lengthy specials menu in addition to the regular menu. My husband and I sipped complimentary glasses of champagne as we took in the pleasant, understated décor and the faint sound of an unobtrusive live string musician meandering around the two dining rooms.

Throughout our visit, we enjoyed friendly, knowledgeable, attentive (but not overly attentive!) service that is so difficult to find these days. Yet to be perfectly honest, we could have had the rudest server in the world and we would still be returning to Sonoma – the food is that amazing! It was nearly impossible to select only one of the many tempting menu options, though I suspect any of the choices would have been good ones. Having just spent time in the region earlier this winter, I was particularly drawn to the Mediterranean influences evident in many of the dishes. The wine list was quite good and offered numerous higher end choices, as well as several wines by the glass.

My chosen appetizer, the sautéed medallion of goat cheese and watercress, proved to be literally one of the best dishes I’ve ever eaten anywhere, ever. My husband was also quite impressed with his portobello and Crystal Brook Farm goat cheese tart. (Can you tell we’re big fans of Crystal Brook Farm goat cheese?) The grilled free-range chicken breast entrée, served over whole wheat pasta and fresh vegetables, was incredibly flavorful. All portion sizes were generous, but the prime rib special my husband selected was the most astounding – it was several inches thick and generated enough leftovers for two additional full meals. The only negative aspect of our entire visit was that we had no room left for dessert!

In honor of Valentine’s Day, the servers presented each woman with a long-stemmed rose at the conclusion of her meal. It was a nice final touch to end a perfect dining experience, and I can’t wait to return to Sonoma.

Pastaland

2009-02-10T09:11:00.002-05:00

Some time ago, one of the readers of this blog commented that I should try a place called Pastaland in Leominster. I really should have taken her advice sooner! Pastaland’s tiny storefront in a nondescript strip mall at 557 Lancaster Street (route 117) hides a first-rate operation run by a husband and wife team.

The couple makes fresh pasta from scratch and sells it directly to a steady stream of customers. The linguini I purchased over the weekend had literally just been cut, and the owner had to clean fresh homemade sauce from his hands before coming to help me with my order. The store is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, as the owners realize that many people prefer to purchase and cook their pasta on the same day to ensure optimal freshness. Pastaland also sells homemade sauce, meatballs, raviolis (I can’t wait to try the spinach!), and lasagna. The entire kitchen is visible from the counter, and it was fascinating to see the array of old-fashioned machines in use.

I’m thrilled to have discovered a source of outstanding, fresh, homemade pasta so close to home (and without the parking hassles of the North End). Prices are incredibly reasonable – for less than the cost of a single entrée at a low-end restaurant, Pastaland offers enough food to feed a family. So I’m hereby starting a new weekly tradition at my house: a stop at Pastaland to pick up ingredients for dinner. Many thanks to reader GTK for the recommendation!

Friends of Coggshall

2009-01-31T12:39:00.014-05:00

As anyone who reads this blog even occasionally knows, I'm a huge fan of Coggshall Park. I've spent countless hours hiking the trails, enjoying the free summer concerts, meeting others out walking their dogs, picnicking by the gazebo, and skating on Mirror Lake. It never ceases to amaze me that only a short walk from my house in a small city, I have available hundreds of acres for a peaceful retreat.

Needless to say, I was devastated to learn on Tuesday morning that Coggshall's stone house had burned down. Bob O'Connell, president of the Friends of Coggshall, emailed those of us who are active in the organization with the bad news; it wasn't until he subsequently forwarded photos of the burnt structure that it even seemed real. Everyone seemed to have a favorite story to tell, be it a childhood memory of warming up in front of the fire after a game of hockey on the lake or a more recent recollection of a wedding reception they had attended there.

It was a beautiful lodge, and it will be rebuilt. Unfortunately, it will be impossible to replicate the stonework and charm of the original structure, built in 1917. And it will no doubt take another century for the ivy to again cover the exterior walls.

Over the years, the Friends of Coggshall group has played an important role in helping to maintain the park. Recent projects with which they've been involved include ongoing landscaping efforts, installation of a new fountain, obtaining swans for the lake, annual sponsorship of the summer concert series, and purchasing a special fire response vehicle with off-road capabilities to allow the fire department to respond to forest fires in Coggshall or anywhere else in the city. One member even singlehandedly provided installation of a security system and webcam (no easy feat to run wiring through stone masonry)...if not for Unitil's failure to restore power to the park in a timely manner following the mid-December ice storm, the fire that claimed the stone house may have been prevented or at least detected at an early enough stage to limit the amount of damage.

The Friends of Coggshall resources are obviously going to be strained as the organization works to support efforts to rebuild the stone house and to restore its contents and surrounding environment. Now is a great time for people to consider becoming a part of the group, and I'm including a membership application here that can be printed out and mailed to the address on the form (just click on the image for the full-sized version). Personally, I was shocked when I learned that membership starts at only $10 - I've certainly gotten more than $10 worth of enjoyment out of all the time I've spent at the park, and I know many others feel the same way! Another way to support the group is to consider buying a sun catcher featuring a photo image of one of seven Coggshall scenes, available at The Most Office, Vincent's Florist, Mill No. 3 Farmstand, Fitchburg Federal Credit Union, and the mayor's office.

Coggshall Park is something that really sets Fitchburg apart from other communities, and I hope that many of you will consider helping to protect it. Thanks for reading!

[04/28/10 UPDATE: The Friends of Coggshall finally have a website, www.coggshallpark.org. Please consider checking it out for more information about the organization.)

Ice Storm

2008-12-18T16:33:00.012-05:00

Neither words nor photos can capture the scope of Thursday night's ice storm. The picture to the left was taken AFTER my husband and I had cleaned up several of the full-sized trees that crashed in our yard. (I'd just returned from a long vacation and hadn't yet had a chance to recharge my cameras' batteries, so I had to wait until I tracked down access to electricity before I could take any photos.) As is the case for so many people in Fitchburg and surrounding towns, we lost dozens of trees, and those trees that semi-survived lost massive branches and often their entire top halves, so it's not clear they'll pull through. Notice the white house on the right side of the photo? That's one of my neighbors' homes, one that never used to be visible from our backyard.

That also happens to be the home of the neighbor who shoveled my lengthy sidewalk and even cleared off my front stairs when it snowed yesterday while I was at work. I've written previously about the wonderful neighbors I've encountered since moving to Fitchburg, but the ice storm has really emphasized how lucky I am to live in such a caring community. Everyone truly came together to help each other in recent days. People offered to share generators, chainsaws, wood chippers, food, and even warm spots in front of fireplaces. When power returned to the lower half of our street more than two days before the upper half, those of us who remained without electricity suddenly found ourselves inundated with earnest offers to partake of warm meals, heated guest rooms, showers, and washing machines. City councilors traveled around checking on each and every house - at the time when my ward councilor, Dave Clark, stopped by, his own house was down to 34 degrees, but he was nonetheless putting the needs of his constituents above his own.

It's going to be some time before I can look out into my backyard without getting a little teary-eyed at the devastation. The number one reason I bought the house I did was because of the surrounding trees and the privacy they afforded our back yard. But it's comforting to know that the houses that I can suddenly now see out the windows are the homes of such supportive people who have demonstrated an amazing ability to pull together and make the most of a bad situation.

I'm hearing similarly positive stories from so many people in the area and would love to hear more about the experiences you had with your own neighbors in your community. Good luck to everyone as you move forward with clean-up, and my particular condolences to those who are still without power.

Fitchburg Freecycle

2008-11-14T11:59:00.002-05:00

Earlier this month, my husband and I finally tackled a long overdue basement clean-out. We discovered that we had quite a collection of household appliances that work fine but have been replaced with upgraded versions over the years. I’m not sure how we managed to get through a couple of moves since college without realizing we had multiple toasters, espresso machines, etc., but it was definitely time to do something about it.

Fortunately, Fitchburg has its own branch of the popular Freecycle network. The concept is simple: if you have usable items you no longer need, it makes a lot more sense to pass them on to someone else in the community rather than sending them off to a landfill. This can even save you money if you’ve got something like a computer or a dryer that would cost you money to throw out.

The Fitchburg Freecycle group averages around 300 postings per month and, in my experience, items go pretty quickly. Since members are local, it’s much less of a hassle to coordinate item pick-ups than it is when posting items in the “free” section of craigslist. And it's nice knowing that your items are going to others in your own community. I’d definitely encourage everyone to consider becoming a part of the group if you’re not already!

Sulin Orchard

2008-10-11T19:48:00.008-04:00

It doesn’t get much better than autumn in north central Massachusetts. Tourists flock out this way by the thousands (I can attest to this firsthand, as I had the pleasure of their company driving home from my job in Boston on Friday evening!), but we’re the lucky ones who get to live out here to truly appreciate every colorful moment. I spent today driving around with the top down, enjoying the foliage, and taking advantage of some of the local offerings that people living elsewhere can only buy from inauthentic, often pretentious markets at inflated prices.

I’ve written about some of my favorite spots in the past, such as Crystal Brook Farm, Wachusett Brewery, and Rota Springs Ice Cream, while others, such as Marshall Farm, are so much a part of my routine that I realize a post is long overdue, but today I had the pleasure of visiting Sulin Orchard (located at 885 Fisher Road in Fitchburg) for the first time. I learned of this orchard from a recent article in the Fitchburg Pride, and I won’t rehash here the history that was so well covered in the article. It was impossible to resist visiting a place that has been under the ownership of the same family for 100 years – that’s an impressive accomplishment for any business, but farms and orchards have been under particular pressure in recent years to sell off property for a quick and easy profit, and those owners who resist are certainly to be commended…and supported!

The orchard’s owner was hard at work when we arrived, but he quickly came over to supply us with a bag for pick-your-own apples. The orchard was a peaceful spot filled with well-tended trees bursting with bright red apples; there was even a picnic table nestled among the trees for those who wanted to linger. My husband and I realized that because Sulin Orchard is not located on a hillside like so many other orchards, all of the apples are exposed to a significant amount of sun, causing them to ripen quite nicely. In addition to apples, we stocked up on homegrown butternut squash and pumpkins as well as honey produced from onsite beehives.

My favorite discovery, however, was the Sulin Orchard Cookbook. I don’t know about your family, but special recipes in my family tend to be rather closely guarded, and we certainly don’t have enough to fill a 160-page book. Yet the Sulins have chosen to share an incredible selection of their family recipes that make the most of apples and honey as ingredients. I definitely don’t consider cooking to be one of my hobbies, but I just curled up with this cookbook and flipped through every page from front to back. I have no idea how to prioritize which recipes to try first, but some of the top contenders include fried apple rings, fruit and spinach salad, squash and apple soup, apple stuffed acorn squash, apple meringue, caramel apple nut pie, miniature apple turnovers, Dutch apple pancakes, applesauce brownies, apple hermits, any of several apple breads and muffins, maple pecan pie, honey spice balls, and the strawberry chocolate tart. I may just have to open to a page at random and go with that.

I’m off to the kitchen – I hope everyone is enjoying the season!

Brew Fest & Civic Days

2008-07-02T08:44:00.003-04:00

This weekend marked the start of Fitchburg’s Civic Days, and the Nashua River Brewers Festival was a great way to kick things off. Despite some unseasonably dreary weather, there was excellent turn-out for the event. The live music and barbeque perfectly complemented the variety of regional beers to sample. Given the success of this year’s brew fest, I expect this is something that will become a welcome addition to Civic Days’ annual events.

Tomorrow brings my favorite Civic Days event, the downtown block party. Last year’s event was unbelievable, with thousands of people strolling up and down Main Street enjoying dozens of different performances, admiring classic cars, and eating lots of great food. The evening ended with fireworks, shot from Crocker Field but clearly visible from the City Hall area of Main Street.

Of course, in addition to the array of events organized by Fitchburg’s Civic Days committee, we’re fortunate to have this week’s celebrations coincide with the Longsjo Classic (here's my blog post from last year). Be sure to head downtown to catch some of the races and to enjoy the kiosks that will be set up, including a rock climbing wall (and, if I’m remembering correctly, the current issue of the Fitchburg Pride includes a flyer with a coupon for a free climb).

I hope everyone has a great Fourth of July!

Local Landscaping and Gardening Centers

2008-06-19T17:31:00.003-04:00

Yup, I’ll admit it, I’ve been quite the blog slacker. I spent a good chunk of May in Tahiti and Australia, and it’s taken me some time to snap out of vacation mode. Fortunately, summer’s here at last, so at least I can relax in my hammock and pretend that the sound of the babbling brook in my backyard is actually that of waves lapping the shore of a motu off the coast of Moorea…

Along with summer come landscaping projects, which I’ve really come to enjoy. It helps that I have some very knowledgeable neighbors who are always willing to share tips! This is the start of my fourth summer in Fitchburg, and I’ve found some favorite local businesses over the years that have been a great source of supplies and advice for outdoor projects. I thought I’d mention a few here:

Romano’s Greenhouse – This is my first choice for hanging baskets (some of which I replant in ground pots), as they have lots of choices that combine multiple complementary plants. They also have a good variety of annuals, perennials, and vegetables. But one of the real highlights of a trip to Romano’s is the incredibly helpful, knowledgeable staff.

Cauley’s Garden Center – Located at 645 South Street, right across the street from Romano’s, Cauley’s has a particularly nice selection of annuals, along with rose bushes and some landscaping shrubs (they also have great Christmas trees in the winter). One of these days, my husband and I are planning to order one of their custom-built sheds as well, once he gets over the idea that we should build one ourselves.

Powell Stone & Gravel – If you need a dump truck full of anything (stones, topsoil, etc.), Powell’s the place for you. They also feature supplies for building walls, walkways, and patios. The one problem is that every time we order from them, it makes me think of dozens of other projects we should consider taking on too!

Fitchburg Agway – I don’t know that I’ve ever encountered friendlier staff anywhere. They’re always available to offer anything from advice to help loading your car. We also discovered that they have great rates on mulch, and they delivered it VERY quickly after our order was placed. I’d recommend signing up for their email list – I’ve found out about some amazing weekend sales that way (and was able stock up on things such as rhododendrons, hydrangeas, and holly bushes as a result).

Lakeview Nurseries – I could spend hours here, browsing the endless rows of annuals and perennials, and I’ve found their plants to be exceptionally healthy and robust. In addition, they have an amazing selection of shrubs and trees. This is a place that takes customer service very seriously; they hire a police officer to ensure a smooth traffic flow in and out of the lot, while staff members circle the nursery proactively asking customers if they can assist in any way.

Central Mass Garden Center (621 Chase Road, Lunenburg) – I find it hard to believe that this massive nursery doesn’t have a website, but I’m afraid I didn’t have any luck quickly trying to locate one. This center carries quite an array of annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees. I find them particularly useful for locating harder-to-find plants (but they could probably use to invest in more staff during busy times).

Grand Rental Station – The local branch of this chain is located on route 2A shortly after crossing into Lunenburg from Fitchburg. I’m astounded by the random landscaping items you can rent here. I’m normally not a fan of chains, but I haven’t found an independent alternative, and the service at this store is very friendly and personal. Whenever my husband starts insisting he needs some specialized tool that I know he’ll only use once, I now know to look into renting as an alternative. Fortunately, this means my already crowded garage doesn’t include items such as a stump grinder!

I’m sure I’ve left something out, but I’ll stop here. I’d love to hear others’ suggestions of landscaping/gardening centers worth checking out!

Ward Clean-Ups

2008-04-14T21:02:00.005-04:00

This weekend marked the beginning of the Fitchburg Clean-Up Corps’ annual “Operation Clean Sweep” spring cleaning efforts. The project kicked off in Ward 1, with other wards to follow in the coming weeks (if you’re not sure what ward you’re in, check the city’s ward map). All events are held from 8:00 a.m. until noon on Saturdays, rain or shine. This weekend, it looked like the weather would not be cooperating – the forecasters were all deeming Saturday a probable “wash out,” and I woke up to some pretty significant thunderstorms. It was a pleasant surprise when not only did the rain stop by 8:00, but the sun came out and temperatures reached 70° by lunchtime!

Of course, this is what Charlie Caron predicted would happen. Charlie has been coordinating the Clean-Up Corps on a volunteer basis for many years (I believe he said seven?). We all owe Charlie a huge thank-you for giving up so many Saturdays and countless hours of planning time to make this event such a success. His attitude is perfect: help to the extent that you can, as even stopping by for an hour can make a big difference. Thanks to donations from various organizations and individuals throughout the city, volunteers were provided with breakfast, lunch, and T-shirts in addition to supplies such as trash bags and gloves. We were asked to bring along whatever rakes, shovels, and other equipment we had available, but these items were also provided to anyone who didn’t have their own. Several large dumpsters were on site at the staging area. Residents were welcome to stop by throughout the morning to drop off hard-to-dispose-of items like televisions, appliances, paint, etc. at no cost.

The group of volunteers who helped out in Ward 1 consisted of a lot of hard workers. I met everyone from local politicians to our neighbors (including a VERY impressive team of a father and his son, who I’d guess was about 8 years old and who kept saying “can we do some more work now?”) to people from other wards who indicated that they try to come to as many ward clean-ups as possible. Some took on landscaping projects, such as reviving the small grassy area at the intersection of South Street and Electric Avenue, while others collected trash that had accumulated after a long winter. Those with trucks circled the ward to pick up what others had collected and to replenish our trash bag supplies. Street sweepers also worked their way through the ward.

Meetings held the Monday prior to each clean-up are used to identify particular target areas around the ward, and volunteers are also welcome to request that specific areas be addressed. My group cleaned up along some high traffic areas, but we also collected appliances and some tires that had been thrown down an embankment behind a school. Although the morning passed quickly, it was astounding to see the impact we’d had in such a short amount of time. Many thanks to all who took part…but I have to give a special thanks to Jim, who came over from Ward 6 and helped my husband drag a ridiculously heavy refrigerator down a steep embankment in the woods near our house and out to the street! I would strongly encourage anyone in the city to consider helping out in their own ward or others – next week will be Ward 5, with the meeting place on North Street near the FSC recreation center.

Public Service Announcement for Local Ice Cream Fanatics

2008-03-17T16:43:00.002-04:00

It's quite astounding to me the number of people who end up at this blog after running a search for one of several local ice cream stands. To all of those people, you'll be happy to know that both Carol's Dairy Bar and Rota Spring Ice Cream opened for the season this weekend. I failed to confirm what Carol's hours are for the early part of the season, but the staff at Rota Springs tells me they'll be open every day from noon to 9 pm. If you're not familiar with these places and need info about where they're located, etc., neither business seems to have a website, but you can find some details in my previous posts regarding Rota Spring and Carol's. Enjoy!

Waterfall in Coggshall Park

2008-02-18T16:47:00.003-05:00

Recently, there was a discussion on the Fitchburg Hometown listserv regarding a waterfall in the woods of Coggshall Park. I’ve spent many hours along the numerous trails in the park and was therefore surprised that I had not previously encountered the waterfall. I set out to find it this weekend, and it was definitely worth the hike!

The waterfall is not located along a trail, which actually makes it that much more rewarding when you find it. My husband and I took a rather circuitous route since we weren’t quite sure where we were going, hiking up the hill accessible by a trail just to the left of Mirror Lake’s outflow stream and then heading off to the right to go back down the hill to the outflow stream in an area that turned out to be downstream of the falls. For a more direct route to the waterfall, one could simply follow the stream from Mirror Lake for about 750 feet. Approximate GPS coordinates are N 42°33.383’, W 71°47.913, the location of which I’ve marked on a map here. Hopefully, the thick layer of ice that made this weekend’s walk quite an adventure has melted today and won’t complicate the journey of anyone else seeking the falls!

As was noted by the person on the listserv who posted a message about the waterfall, it seems likely to be seasonal. I’m sure that it’s quite impressive in the spring, but I personally favor the appearance of waterfalls in winter, with the water rushing down ice-covered rocks. The height of these falls was somewhere in the range of 25 to 30 feet – the photo above includes my husband and our dog to give some sense of scale. (Sorry for the poor photo quality – I brought along my underwater camera to be safe, but it doesn’t take the best shots!) Standing at the base of the falls, a second smaller waterfall could be seen coming down another hill to the left to feed the stream.

Does anyone else have suggestions regarding other interesting natural formations in Coggshall Park that can be found off the beaten paths?

Forward Momentum

2008-01-06T21:03:00.000-05:00

Earlier today, my husband and I attended the City of Fitchburg’s 2008 Inaugural Ceremony at Fitchburg High School. New mayor Lisa Wong was sworn in, as were members of the city council and school committee. Turnout for the event was astounding – we were surprised to have a difficult time even finding a parking spot. It was encouraging to see so much support and enthusiasm from the community, with estimates placing the crowd size around 500!

There has been a lot of talk about how the new mayoral administration represents impending change for our city. I view it somewhat differently though, as a unified, vocal, methodical effort to build upon the change that has already begun. I’ve lived in Fitchburg for just over three years, and it’s impressive to see how far the city has come in even that short time. So many people have invested their time, money, and energy in Fitchburg, and we owe them all a debt of gratitude for demonstrating firsthand how much we can accomplish and what the future potentially holds on a much wider scale.

It’s impossible to create an inclusive list of those who have initiated positive change over the past few years. In January of last year, Jason Lefferts and his staff brought us the Fitchburg Pride, offering our city a newspaper that has done a great job of highlighting our community connections and local business offerings. Ellen DiGeronimo, downtown coordinator, has reinvigorated efforts to optimize the beauty inherent in the Main Street corridor. And it was in fact at a Downtown Community Forum organized by Ellen and many others that I discovered just how invested Dr. Robert Antonucci, president of Fitchburg State College, and his students are in our city too. I had no idea until then that FSC students are routinely given class assignments related to brainstorming development opportunities, improving existing infrastructure, and surveying residents regarding how we’d like to see the city evolve – essentially, the FSC professors and students are acting as pro bono consultants on our behalf! Numerous others have publicly demonstrated their belief in Fitchburg: Katrina Burton has spearheaded efforts to increase entertainment offerings at Riverfront Park, the Straight family renovated the Johnsonia building to create impressive condos and apartments, and Chris Iosua and Lance Dellagono have opened Café Destare, an upscale martini bar. Other big projects are pending, including the development of a Coco Key Water Resort at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel.

The work of these people and so many others proves that individual efforts CAN yield important, positive results. We must also keep in mind that there are many ongoing projects that aren’t highly visible to those just passing through. For example, a number of historical, architecturally remarkable buildings in our city are in the midst of extensive interior renovation projects – only by talking to those “in the know” or by being fortunate enough to get a glimpse inside while walking down the street does one realize that the exterior is deceiving and does not reflect the changes to come. It’s a rather fitting metaphor for our city really, and Lisa Wong’s inauguration today was our opportunity to glimpse inside at where our current forward momentum has the potential to take us. But it is absolutely imperative that all of us help out, as we can’t rely on our elected officials to do it alone.

On Friday, I found myself riding home on the train with a rather talkative seatmate. He learned that I lived in Fitchburg and responded with the disapproving “oh, what’s that like?” comment to which so many of us are accustomed. I explained to him that actually, Fitchburg is a wonderful place to live. He indicated that he had in fact not visited the city in many years and had heard that we were in the midst of a bit of a revival, the pace of which was expected to increase with our new leadership. I encouraged him to come by sometime (Chris, if you’re reading, I’m pretty sure I convinced him to come check out Destare!), and he acknowledged that it was probably inappropriate for him to draw conclusions about a place based solely on an outdated reputation. Not everyone out there is reflective enough to recognize that change is happening and HAS happened in Fitchburg, but at least with today’s inauguration, we’ve got one more thing that has people talking about how far we’ve come and where we’ll go.

So to all of the residents, business owners, and elected officials (both outgoing and incoming) out there, thank you for all that you’ve done and for all that you’ll no doubt continue to do – there are a lot of us supporting your efforts!

Holiday Shopping

2007-11-30T12:27:00.000-05:00

This weekend, businesses in several north central Massachusetts towns are partnering to host Christmas in the Country, an event designed to highlight what a number of local stores have to offer. Participating local craft and farm shops will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on December 1st and 2nd to welcome those who are seeking a unique holiday shopping experience. It sounds like a great excuse for a scenic drive around the area! Anyone who visits all of the shops involved will be entered to win one of several prizes. Two of the thirteen participating businesses, Country Mischief and Hartman’s Herb Farm, will also be offering lunch. I put together a map of all the businesses involved for those who are interested – perhaps I’ll see some of you out there this weekend!

Kalimba Grille

2007-11-19T14:30:00.000-05:00

Jim Tully clearly isn’t a quitter. After unreasonable corporate policies forced him to close his Quiznos franchise at 89 Whalon Street in Fitchburg, he opened his own independent restaurant at the site. The result, Kalimba Grille, is a testament to what perseverance and a willingness to learn from experience can accomplish.

The food at Kalimba Grille is truly outstanding. The restaurant’s slogan is “the best burger in town,” but my husband and friends tell me that the Kalimba burgers are actually some of the best they’ve had anywhere, ever. I’m not a red meat eater myself, but apparently the secret lies in the all natural beef from Wolfe’s Neck Farm used to make the burgers. “The Kalimba,” consisting of two eight-ounce burgers, bacon, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion, and Kalimba sauce is highly recommended, and there are lots of other creative burger options too, like the garlic bacon burger and the Tuscan burger.

Fortunately, there are many other non-burger items to choose from as well. They’ve got an array of appetizers such as mozzarella sticks, boneless buffalo wings, onion rings, and jalepeno poppers – thanks to the sampler platter they offer, I’ve been able to try them all! My favorite choices at Kalimba though are the salads. The greens are actually green and fresh (something that’s sadly unusual at restaurants these days), and the grilled chicken breast that tops several of the salads has a wonderful smoky grilled flavor. Kalimba also features some great ice cream, perfect in the form of a frappe with your meal or in a warm brownie sundae for dessert.

Not only is the food at Kalimba excellent, but the service is prompt and professional. I’ve been consistently impressed by the staff’s friendliness. Kalimba also has a BYO policy, a large screen TV, and new booths (to replace some of the not-so-comfortable stools that Quiznos featured), making it a great spot to relax over a meal. I’m grateful that the owner decided to give Fitchburg another chance for his new business, and I hope everyone out there will go check it out for themselves!

Wyman's Wine Tasting on 10/28

2007-10-25T10:44:00.000-04:00

I'm supposed to be in San Diego right now for a conference but cancelled my trip due to the wildfires. However, some good came of it, as now I'll be able to attend Wyman's Liquors' annual wine tasting event! The event is being held at Wyman's 30 Pleasant Street, Leominster location from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 28th. Last year's tasting was outstanding - the event was very well-organized and featured a great variety of wines. I initially had some suspicions that its primary purpose was to win support for the ballot question pertaining to liquor sales in grocery stores, so I'm thrilled that Wyman's does intend to keep this as an annual event. Also worth adding, the associated warehouse sale involved 20% off ALL bottles of wine last year, which was an amazing deal. I hope many of you will have a chance to stop by on Sunday!

Fitchburg Autumn Festival & Forge-In

2007-10-14T12:37:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, I attended Fitchburg’s annual Autumn Festival and Forge-in at Riverfront Park. I planned to stop by briefly to catch a glimpse of the blacksmiths at work, but I was quickly mesmerized by their skill and ended up spending most of the day and evening down at the park!

The Forge-In component of the festival featured instructive demonstrations by Peter Happny, a well-known master blacksmith from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, who has been commissioned for a wide variety of projects ranging from the primarily functional (such as fencing) to the purely artistic (such as a firefighter statue). A recent article in the Portsmouth Herald chronicles some highlights of Happny’s career. I was blown away by Happny’s talent at the forge, but perhaps the more impressive aspect of the demonstration was his ability to keep a running dialogue with the crowd while never once pausing in his work. I have no idea how he didn't burn himself in the process.

The central focus of the day was a competition among more than a dozen blacksmiths. Each category of participants (novice, intermediate, and professional) was assigned a variety of items to make within a specific time limit. The photo above shows Carl West of Prospect Hill Forge in Waltham creating an outdoor Suffolk thumb latch (an old-fashioned multi-piece door/gate latch). West won the day’s professional competition and indicated to me that he had really enjoyed the opportunity to showcase his craft and receive recognition for the work that he does. He was one of a number of blacksmiths present who are involved with teaching courses. I'd like to someday take a class with West - I can only hope that his talent is as contagious as his enthusiasm!

In the meantime, however, I plan to start by taking a full-day beginner class at the Classical Blacksmithing School of Boston, located in Concord at Hammersmith Studios (don’t try to open the link in Firefox, as it for some reason causes the browser to crash - you’ll have to use IE instead). I’ll be taking the class because I was lucky enough to win it at the festival’s “chance auction.” Blacksmithing seems like an incredibly challenging craft, but I was inspired to give it a try after watching a number of Assabet Valley Vocational School students competing in the novice category…those teens were producing some amazing items!

Although the festival has been limited to the Forge-In events in past years, organizers this year decided to add some additional activities. A pumpkin carving contest offered children and adults the opportunity to either bring pre-carved pumpkins down to the park or carve them on the spot. The lit pumpkins lining the riverside were a great way to end the evening. The day also featured food vendors, art and antique kiosks, and live music from a 60s cover band. Many thanks to the participants and organizers for a fabulous fall event!

Café Destaré

2007-09-19T11:57:00.000-04:00

Café Destaré is an outstanding, long overdue addition to the city of Fitchburg’s bar/café scene. Located on Main Street, the café offers a multitude of martini and coffee selections along with desserts from the North End and some “light fare” menu items. The interior décor highlights the beautiful architecture shared by so many of our downtown buildings, with high tin ceilings, brick walls, and expansive spaces. The layout is very well done, with a bar area to the right when entering, a cozy collection of couches to the left, and an array of comfortable lounge chairs and tables in front of a performance area and wooden dance floor straight ahead.

I had eagerly awaited the opening of Café Destaré for some time, but I must admit, the place far exceeded my expectations. It’s quite refreshing to settle into such an upscale bar in the heart of Fitchburg. The extensive martini menu tempts you to come back and try everything (I would highly recommend the Caramel Mochatini), while the coffee selections immediately conjured up fond memories of countless hours spent at Caffé Dolce as a college student in Worcester. (For those not familiar with Caffé Dolce, it’s at 154 Shrewsbury Street and is a must try!)

I’ve been pleased to see that on the nights I’ve visited Café Destaré, it’s been quite busy. On weekends, if you arrive before around 10:00 p.m., the crowd consists primarily of young professionals and a few older patrons. After that, more college students join the crowd, often dressed for a nice night out and serving as a wonderful reminder of how lucky we are to have Fitchburg State in our city, and it becomes a bit harder to find a seat. The café also seems to draw a decent crowd on weekday evenings – it’s a great spot to unwind with friends after a long day at work. Servers are friendly and attentive, and free entertainment is offered throughout the week.

Café Destaré is definitely a place that I will be returning to time and time again. And the best part is, at the end of the night, I’m only a few miles from home instead of being out in Worcester or Boston as I’ve historically been if I wanted a great coffee drink or a night at the bar!

Ten Free Things To Do In Fitchburg

2007-08-12T20:51:00.000-04:00

I noticed that a number of people have ended up on this blog as a result of running a web search for “free things to do in Fitchburg.” Many have also added the qualifier “for kids.” So as the summer draws to a close, I wanted to post some examples of free things to do in our city. I should also add that another inspiration for this post came because I learned of the Fitchburg Summer Playground Program. I’m not including it in the list below because this year’s session wraps up soon (August 17th), but I was definitely impressed to learn that from Monday through Friday in the summer months, seven playgrounds in Fitchburg offer recreational programming, first aid-certified instructors, and even a complete lunch at no cost for children under 18!

Next time you and/or your children are looking for something free to do, here are some ideas that will cost you absolutely nothing:

1) Have a picnic in Coggshall Park. Settle down at a picnic table overlooking Mirror Lake or hike along one of the many trails to find a more secluded spot in the 250 acres of woods.

2) Visit the Fitchburg Public Library. Take your kids to story hour, join a book club, or simply check out a book or movie to enjoy at home.

3) Admire classic cars at one of several weekly car shows held in the city. The city website maintains a list of nights and locations.

4) Take advantage of concert series held in multiple locations around the city. There are several to choose from: Wednesday night Concerts on the Commons, the Saturday River Jam series at Riverfront Park, and Sunday concerts in Coggshall Park (with this summer’s last concert featuring Irish music from Erin’s Melody to be held from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on September 9).

5) Go for a hike at the West Fitchburg Steamline Trail Park (scroll to bottom of link page for info). The trail takes you along a beautiful stretch of the Nashua River.

6) Check out an event at Fitchburg State College. FSC opens many of their events to the public (for an example, read my earlier post). The college’s event schedule can be found here. The posted schedule generally does a good job of specifying what events are open to the public versus those that are for students only, but if you have any questions, I’ve found the staff to be VERY responsive to email or phone call inquiries.

7) Go for a swim at the J. Robert Crowley Pool. If swimming isn’t your thing, cool off at the Parkhill Splash Park instead.

8) Enjoy a Friday night movie at Riverfront Park. Remaining shows this summer are Charlotte’s Web on August 17 and Happy Feet on August 24.

9) Try out your skating abilities at the Ryan C. Joubert Memorial Skate Park, which is the largest public outdoor skate park in New England. As an added bonus, if you visit the Parkhill branch of the IC Federal Credit Union (at 72 Electric Avenue) on August 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., you can even pick up one of 100 free skate boarding helmets!

10) Take advantage of one of Fitchburg’s many festivals. I’ve talked about a number of past community festivals and the Longsjo Classic/Civic Days events in earlier posts, but keep an eye on the Fitchburg Pride events calendar to find out about other upcoming events, like the Autumn Festival on October 19.

Those are just a few ideas regarding free activities in Fitchburg - I’d love to hear others. Enjoy!

Kayaking the Nashua River

2007-08-08T15:18:00.000-04:00

New England in general is a fabulous place for kayaking. I’ve been very happy with the many options available in the Fitchburg area, with one great river, the Nashua River, running right through our city. Unfortunately, my kayak’s built for calmer waters rather than whitewater, so I’m not able to make use of the Nashua River here in Fitchburg. Anyone out there have any firsthand experience with that? Detailed hydrologic info can be found through the National Weather service at this site.

I instead typically launch from the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge. You can get to the boat launch site by taking Route 2 to Exit 38 (Route 110/111) south toward Harvard; bear right to stay on Route 110 at Harvard Center; and, turn right onto Still River Depot Road at the Still River Post Office. The refuge parking area is at the end of Still River Depot Road, past the railroad tracks.

If you go left (under the bridge) from the launch, you’ll head upstream toward the Bolton flats. There are a number of shallow areas and downed timber as well as some occasional decent current on this route. But the payoff is some great quiet and privacy. If you go right from the launch through former Fort Devens territory toward route 2, you’ll encounter fewer obstacles but more people (certainly not crowds though) and increasing road noise as you approach the highway. There are some nice little coves to explore along the way.

For other trip ideas in the Fitchburg area and also throughout southern New England, I would highly recommend the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Quiet Water publication for our region. Through this book, I learned about other good nearby kayaking spots, such as Paradise Pond in the Leominster State Forest, where efforts are in progress to reintroduce loon to the pond.

Have fun, and let us all know of any kayaking opportunities in the area that you’d recommend!

Cornerstone's Restaurant

2007-07-13T14:58:00.000-04:00

Nothing beats outdoor dining in the summer. I make it a habit to eat every breakfast, lunch, and dinner possible on my deck at home, and I’m always looking for new restaurants that offer the same option. I therefore decided that Cornerstone’s Restaurant in Leominster would be the place to start on my quest to visit all of the members of the newly formed Independent Restaurant Collaborative (earlier post here) that I’ve not already tried.

My husband and I arrived at Cornerstone’s around 7:00 on a Saturday night. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and the temperature was in the mid-70s – perfect conditions for dining outdoors. So we were completely shocked to find ourselves all alone on the deck! Throughout the evening, a few patrons from the bar wandered out to enjoy the fresh air, but we essentially had the place to ourselves.

Thanks to a mid-afternoon barbeque we’d attended at a friend’s place, we unfortunately weren’t hungry enough to try a full meal. But the chicken quesadilla appetizer that we shared was wonderful. As is evident by glancing at Cornerstone’s menu, there are a wide variety of appetizers from which to choose. Our server initially seemed to forget that she had a table out on the deck, but she subsequently provided excellent service. The highlight of the visit for me, however, was the discovery that Cornerstone’s features Blue Moon on draught. What could be better than sipping a fresh glass of Blue Moon, munching on appetizers, and enjoying a summer evening outside? I’ll definitely be back.

Fitchburg Longsjo Classic & Civic Days

2007-07-02T10:01:00.000-04:00

Several years ago, when I told a friend I was moving to Fitchburg, she began babbling excitedly about something called “Longsjo.” I had no idea what she was saying. I’ve since learned that Fitchburg is home to the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic, a well-known cycling race that has hosted such athletes as Lance Armstrong. A recent Fitchburg Pride article gives a great overview of the history of the competition.

I typically go away for the Fourth of July weekend and therefore hadn’t been around to watch any of the Longsjo races. But with the holiday falling on a Wednesday this year, my husband and I decided to stay home and take advantage of the Fitchburg Longsjo and Civic Days celebrations. I’m so glad that we did!

We started off the weekend on Friday night with the Amazing Duck Race on the Nashua River. There was quite a crowd at Riverfront Park waiting for the rubber ducks to make their way from Circle Street down to what was dubbed “heartbreak bend,” at which point they were visible for the journey under the iron footbridge to the finish line. The announcer kept everyone updated regarding what ducks were front-runners and encouraged the children to “quack” as the ducks approached. It was an energetic, enthusiastic group, and we had a great time.

On Saturday, we attended the Revival of the Arts exhibit, also held in Riverfront Park. The event was conceived and organized by a recent Fitchburg High School graduate, and she deserves a lot of respect for pulling this together! To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the caliber of artists represented proved to be quite impressive. I particularly enjoyed viewing the oil paintings of Diane Walsh of Fitchburg, whose work encompassed both scenes from abroad (including some from a barge journey through France) and from close to home (such as outstanding images of Coggshall Park that, sadly, were not available for purchase because the artist’s daughter had commissioned them for herself!).

Sunday featured the Longsjo Downtown Criteria races. Participants completed multiple laps around a Main Street loop at impressive speeds. We walked around a bit to enjoy multiple vantage points, from the curves to the final sprint at the finish line. There was a very collegial spirit among the racers and spectators, which was something I didn’t necessarily expect at such an important competition. Downtown was a very picturesque setting for the event! Fitchburg really does have a beautiful Main Street with some amazing architecture – it was nice to see a number of “coming soon” signs in storefront windows.

Fortunately, Civic Days still has more to offer. A full event scheduled can be found here. I’m eager to check out the international food court at Tuesday night’s downtown block party, to be capped off with a fireworks display. There will also be a parade on the 4th. Hopefully I’ll see many of you there!

Bangkok Hill

2007-06-22T14:14:00.000-04:00

I owe a huge thanks to the readers of this blog who resoundingly recommended Bangkok Hill. I at last overcame my nostalgic sorrow at the thought of dining at the former site of Gloria’s (prior post here) and discovered that Bangkok Hill is a wonderful addition to our area dining options.

I was joined by my husband and a friend for our Saturday night dinner at Bangkok Hill (located in Lunenburg on route 2A, just over the Fitchburg border). It was relatively busy, but we had to wait only about ten minutes for a table. As those of you familiar with the former Gloria’s know, the interior of the building is quite small – it’s definitely not the place for a private dining experience. However, the food is fabulous! I had the Massaman curry with tofu, which was perfectly prepared. The most striking characteristic was the freshness of the vegetables. They were extremely flavorful and cooked to that “just right” point where there’s still a bit of snap as you bite into them. The tofu in the dish, an option that many restaurants throw on the menu as an afterthought, was lightly marinated and remarkably delicious. My companions had similarly glowing reviews of their dinners.

We capped off the evening with the fried ice cream, which I should note involved a dough-like coating rather than the coconut or cornflake style coatings to which I am accustomed. I think next time I’ll go with ginger ice cream instead. I also plan to ensure that my next visit occurs when I’m a lot more hungry, as there were many tempting appetizer options!

One thing to keep in mind if you’re visiting Bangkok Hill for the first time is that the spice levels indicated on the menu seemed to be rather non-specific. The entrée that I chose was designated as mildly spicy, but Massaman curry is actually very mild, and I definitely wouldn’t describe my meal as spicy. Red curry, which is typically a much spicier curry, was marked with the same mildly spicy designation as the Massaman. So I wouldn’t put TOO much faith in the spice ratings on the menu (although no one at my table tried one of the few three-star items, they might truly mean it with those!).

Mayoral Candidate Meet and Greet

2007-06-15T16:01:00.000-04:00

Let me begin by noting that it’s not my intention to debate political issues here – much better outlets exist for that kind of discussion (e.g. Save Fitchburg). I have absolutely no plans of using this blog to throw my support behind (or, alternatively, to berate) any candidates.

What I DO want to call attention to, however, is how fortunate we are to live in a city with a relatively accessible political process. Last night, Ward 1 councilor Dave Clark hosted a “meet and greet” session with the current candidates for mayor in place of the monthly neighborhood meeting. The event was very well organized. Each candidate was introduced by Councilor Clark, who read aloud a statement provided to him by the candidate. Candidates were then given five minutes to use as they pleased. Some read prepared statements, while others spoke informally of their backgrounds. A few candidates set aside time for questions. Those who did not have prior commitments remained to speak with residents after the formal program concluded.

Following the event, Councilor Clark acknowledged to me his relief that the audience had remained courteous and refrained from “heckling” certain candidates. While I cannot say I always agree with Clark’s views, he is to be commended for the example that he set at last night’s meeting. Throughout his opening comments, he stressed that we are early in the election season and that the intent of the evening was not to serve as a debate, as those are best saved for the fall. He treated all candidates with the utmost respect, including those whom he does not personally support. Overall, he staged an evening that demonstrated they way in which politics would play out in a more polite, sincerely engaged society.

In this manner, I would encourage everyone out there to take some time in the coming months to learn more about our candidates for mayor (in alphabetical order, and with links provided for those candidates with campaign websites): Ted DeSalvatore, Ronald Dionne, Thomas Donnelly, Dan Mylott [addendum: Mylott has withdrawn his candidacy], and Lisa Wong. Represented in the field of candidates are a variety of different races, ages, academic backgrounds, and community and professional experiences. Browse the local news sites as the race progresses (links at right), and take a moment to chat when the candidate comes knocking at your door.

I happen to be a scientist by training, and I’m the first to admit that my motivation to follow local politics continues to be a slow, emerging, sometimes reluctant process. But I always try to remind myself that without engaged citizens who take the time to vote in an educated manner, candidate accessibility is for naught. Our Fitchburg politicians are putting themselves out there. Even if we often disagree with them, we owe it to them and to our city to at least take the time to listen. Only then can we expect them to do the same!

Community Festivals

2007-06-11T14:58:00.000-04:00

Now that the warmer weather has arrived, there are a lot of activities going on in and around Fitchburg. Over the weekend, I was fortunate to take part in a citywide Family Day event on Day Street that was organized by the Fitchburg Community Connections Coalition, Montachusett Opportunity Council, Neighborhoods and You Coalition, Three Pyramids, the Ward5B/college Neighborhood Association, and No Place for Hate. The rain cleared up just in time to make the most of the afternoon, which included live music, free BBQ and ethnic foods, a youth bake sale, and a moon bounce for the kids. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet some new people. And, as those with children pointed out, it was also a good way to ensure that their kids would be tired at bedtime!

Saturday’s St. Anthony’s Italian Festival unfortunately conflicted with my commitment at the Family Day event, but it’s something I’d highly recommend checking out when it returns next summer. My experience at the festival in the past has proven that there’s nothing quite like homemade pizzelles and anise cookies!

This weekend also featured a Beatles cover band concert at Coggshall Park, which is a wonderful venue to listen to music, relax, and just enjoy being outdoors. A series of free concerts take place at the park on Sundays throughout the summer and always draw quite a crowd. Sentinel and Enterprise has posted the 2007 schedule here. A Saturday concert series at Riverfront Park, River Jam 2007, also kicked off this weekend. Yet another round of free concerts run on the Upper Commons on Wednesday evenings starting in mid-July; the Concerts on the Common schedule is available here.

[7/3/07 Addendum: It appears that the S&E link above is now dead, and there is no longer a formal online schedule for the Coggshall Concert Series. So here's the schedule I was able to piece together for the remainder of the season from the Johnny Appleseed Trail events page. All concerts are on Sundays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.: July 8 - Country Mile (country music, rain date July 22); August 12 - Erin's Melody (Irish music, rain date September 16); September 9 - East Bay Jazz Band (jazz music, rain date September 16).]

Next weekend, I’m looking forward to the annual Grecian Festival on June 16th, which is open to the entire community. In past years, I’ve enjoyed some outstanding food (the fresh feta, for example, was perfect on a salad) and also loved watching the Greek dancing - those who are more courageous than I are welcome to join in. And I’m particularly excited to visit Oakridge Farmstand’s Strawberry Festival, which takes place June 16th and 17th. The event promises lots of activities, but I’m most drawn to the mention of hot air balloon rides! Also worth noting, Oakridge’s ice cream stand is now open and features a variety of homemade ice creams.

I hope that many of you had the opportunity to take advantage of this weekend’s selection of events and are looking forward to those to come!

Rota Spring Ice Cream

2007-05-29T13:49:00.003-04:00

I definitely do my part to keep New England at the top of the list when it comes to statistics on per capita annual ice cream consumption. I particularly appreciate places that offer homemade ice cream, and it's an added bonus if there are cows on-site. So I was completely shocked that I had never heard of Rota Spring Ice Cream (located at 117 Chace Hill Road in Sterling) until I stumbled upon it en route to check out a place in Clinton I saw advertised in Fitchburg Pride. (As a side note, a visit to Gallery at 56 is a great opportunity to see a gorgeous renovated mill space.)

Rota Spring is located down a winding country road in a setting that hearkens back to a simpler, more authentically New England life. The owner makes all of the ice cream using milk from his own herd of cows. There are many outstanding flavors to choose from, including lowfat, sherbert, and frozen yogurt options. The ice cream is truly the richest, creamiest ice cream I've ever tasted. Picnic tables overlook a picturesque farm, complete with rolling green fields, a stream, pond, and stone walls. A calf and some playful goats were even on display to keep children entertained.

Before moving to Fitchburg, I lived near a fabulous ice cream stand called Uhlman's. The cow fields surrounding Uhlman's gave way to a massive subdivision, and they began trucking in their ice cream, but I kept returning because I hadn't found anything better. But now I can save myself the trip! Rota Spring offers up perfect ice cream in a great setting...here's hoping for a long summer so I can make the most of this wonderful new discovery!

Independent Restaurant Collaborative

2007-05-24T08:35:00.000-04:00

Today's Telegram & Gazette features an article outlining a newly-formed collaborative among independent restaurants in the area to jointly market some of the non-chain dining options available in our region. What a great idea! I was particularly struck by the statistic that these restaurants donate approximately $250,000 to local causes, which I'd imagine is a lot more than places like Appleby's do for our area...

The article cites the following as members of the group:

In Fitchburg - Slattery’s

In Leominster - The Border Grille & Bar, Cristina’s Restaurant, The Cornerstone Restaurant, Gondola Restaurant (located at 428 Lancaster Street), and The Monument Grill (my prior review can be found here)

In Lunenburg - Sean Patrick’s Family Restaurant and The Bootlegger Restaurant

In Westminster - Old Mill Restaurant (my prior review can be found here), Joseph’s Bistro (located at 97 Main Street), and Wachusett Village Inn/Wachusett Mountain

In Gardner - Carmela’s Restaurant and Southside Grille & Margarita Factory

In Ashburnham - The Victorian House Restaurant

In Princeton - Sonoma Restaurant

I've had the pleasure of trying quite a few of these places and have returned for many enjoyable meals. The Border Grille & Bar, for example, is the restaurant my husband has deemed as his choice for "if you could eat at only one place for the rest of your life, where would it be?" Yet I'm struck by the number I've NOT yet tried! Unfortunately, my budget isn't such that I can race out and try a new one every night, but I definitely intend to gradually work my way through the list and will report back here. Anyone out there have any recommendations for where I might want to start?

My Apologies...

2007-04-18T20:56:00.000-04:00

I realize that it's been some time since I've posted here, but I assure you, I've not abandoned the blog! I'm currently in the midst of some very time-consuming home renovation projects. However, they should be drawing to a close in the coming weeks, at which time I hope to be able to dedicate a lot more time to this blog.

Until then, perhaps some of you can help me out! What are your favorite places to go and things to do in Fitchburg and surrounding areas? I believe the most recent reader recommendation that I tried was the West Fitchburg Pizza shop - I especially enjoyed the calzones! I'd love to hear other restaurant, shopping, or recreational suggestions. Thanks to all who continue to read, and welcome to all of those stopping by for the first time!

Carol's Dairy Bar

2007-03-20T20:47:00.000-04:00

Good news – Carol’s is open for the season, both the food and the ice cream components! I thought I saw the lights on over the weekend but was definitely surprised when I called tonight (Tuesday, it’s about 32 degrees outside) and discovered they were open until 9:00. Needless to say, I had no trouble figuring out what to do for dinner. For those of you not familiar with Carol’s Dairy Bar, it’s located at 310 Summer Street in Fitchburg (at the intersection of Summer Street and John Fitch Highway). They offer soft and hard serve ice cream with lots of sundae, frappe, and “blizzard”-style options. My favorite is a sundae they make with hot fudge, peanut butter sauce, and the most amazing crumbled peanut butter cup chunks, though a simple dipped cone is great as well.

I happen to come from a family where it was perfectly acceptable to have a giant ice cream sundae for dinner, but for those who feel that ice cream’s intended only for dessert, Carol’s also has a full menu of traditional fried foods, hot dogs, hamburgers, etc.. Personally though, I feel that the best frialator treat at Carol’s is the fried dough…why wait until the autumn fairs come around?

Because it’s early in the season, I’d suggest calling to confirm hours before heading out specifically to go to Carol’s. The number is 978-342-9675. What a great way to celebrate the official start of spring!

Dutch Kitchen Bake Shop

2007-03-18T17:03:00.000-04:00

It takes quite a few visits to the Dutch Kitchen Bake Shop at 12 John Fitch Highway in Fitchburg to be able to claim that you’ve sampled even a fraction of the bakery’s offerings. This place has an amazing array of pastries, cookies, cakes, and breads from which to choose. The bakery is known for its signature Dutch vanilla cream frosting – a great way to sample it is to try one of the cupcakes. Be aware though that the delicious cake is topped with an inch-thick layer of rich, sweet, buttery frosting that will fill you up far more quickly than expected based on appearance alone! Some other outstanding offerings include specialty cheesecakes (try the Oreo), cream puffs, a wide variety of cannoli, and an entire display case filled with different types of cookies. Prices are very good; for example, you can purchase a full-sized lemon meringue pie for only $7.

In addition to the bakery, Dutch Kitchen Bake Shop features a small deli, with sandwiches, soups, and salads served at lunchtime. Catering platters can also be ordered. Deli meats and cheeses are available to take home, as are items such as potato salad. We picked up some tortellini salad today, which is a great accompaniment for a barbeque. The shop provides tables, making it a nice place to relax with a cup of coffee and a pastry. The phone number is (978) 345-1393, and hours (which for some reason aren’t posted anywhere) are 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 7:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. on Sundays. Enjoy!

Fitchburg Art Museum

2007-02-25T20:40:00.000-05:00

Earlier this month, I attended the opening reception for several new exhibits at the Fitchburg Art Museum. I wasn’t sure what to expect, as I’d never been to the museum before. My visit definitely exceeded my expectations! The turn-out for the event was quite good, and many of the artists were available to discuss their work.

I was most interested in viewing the Ansel Adams photography exhibit, with much of the work shown in Fitchburg having never previously been displayed. The curator did a fabulous job pulling together a comprehensive selection of images from a sailing journey taken by Adams and a colleague in 1940. For those familiar with Adams’ more famous work, be aware that this collection is geared towards photographs of the people and sailing vessel involved with the trip rather than sweeping natural landscapes. However, there were a few shots somewhat representative of a more typical Adams style, including some mesmerizing images of patterns created in the water by the boat’s wake.

Several other exhibits opened in conjunction with the “headliner” Adams exhibit. Frank Gohlke’s photographs from along the Sudbury River continued the natural photography theme, depicting a variety of scenes along the river throughout all four seasons. Gohlke juxtaposed scenic images with more jarring ones, such as a photograph of a discarded wheelchair rusting in the river. A third and final newly-opened exhibit featured illustrations from a variety of children’s books. It served as an interesting reminder that talented artists often present their work in unlikely places – as someone who does not have children, it’s not often that I take the time to view the images put forth in children’s books! I was most struck by the incredibly detailed sketches of Gordon Morrison. The focus of Morrison’s work was the natural world, which served as a fitting tie-in with the Adams and Gohlke exhibits.

In addition to the current special exhibits, the Fitchburg Art Museum also features a variety of other collections and offers an impressive selection of art classes for people of all ages. I’d highly recommend a visit!

Ice Skating at Coggshall Park

2007-02-11T13:06:00.000-05:00

On the day when my husband and I were scheduled for a showing of the house we would eventually purchase, we arrived about 30 minutes early for our appointment with the realtor. We decided to use the free time to explore the area surrounding our future home’s neighborhood and happened upon the entrance to Coggshall Park. After a brief drive through the park, we were enamored with it. However, we had no idea at the time how frequently we would soon be visiting Coggshall!

Coggshall Park is truly a hidden gem. The park consists of more than 250 acres, including a picturesque central pond known as Mirror Lake (with a gazebo and water fowl, such as swans), a "stone house" that includes restrooms, a children’s playground, and numerous well-marked hiking trails. It's the perfect spot for a jog, a walk with your dog, or a picnic by the water. There is no fee for entrance or parking. In the summer, there are even free concerts that are quite well attended.

As much as I enjoy meandering through the park in warm weather, there’s something particularly captivating about Coggshall in the winter. The city clears a section of Mirror Lake for ice skating, and I was there this weekend to take advantage of it. Amazingly enough, there was no one else on the ice! It was quite a treat – as a native New Englander, I’ve spent my share of time attempting to skate peacefully amongst fast-paced ice hockey games in any location that a town maintains and clears. Skating at Coggshall was a completely different experience, with the quiet and the gorgeous scenery providing an unmatched level of serenity. Our only companions were a young family and a few people out walking their dogs.

While there, we spoke with a man who indicated he had lived in Fitchburg his entire life. He deemed ice-skating at the park “Fitchburg’s best-kept secret” and told us that decades ago, Coggshall Park was the place to be in the winter. In those days, multiple sections of the pond were cleared to provide separate areas for figure skating, ice hockey, and games of snap-the-whip. A fire was kept burning in the stone house, live music played, vendors served up warm food and beverages, the local AM radio station broadcast the activities live over the air, and the pond was lit for nighttime skating. His story evoked such vivid images, we could easily imagine the scene. It’s unfortunate that people seem to have forgotten the potential of Coggshall to bring together our community in the winter months, but perhaps that can change with time. I hope to see some of you there next time I’m out skating…if we get enough people interested, at the very least, I’m happy to start bringing along hot chocolate and cookies to share!

No Place For Hate®

2007-02-09T09:50:00.000-05:00

Last night, I attended a meeting of the newly-established Fitchburg “No Place for Hate®” (NPFH) campaign. NPFH® is a nationwide effort created by the Anti-Defamation League to foster inclusive community environments. There are approximately sixty cities and towns in Massachusetts participating in the program, including Lexington, Melrose, New Bedford, Peabody, Watertown, Wellesley, and Worcester.

The meeting was facilitated by a representative from the Massachusetts NPFH® organization. Meeting attendees included city residents, a youth sports coach, several religious leaders, a city councilor, and representatives from the Human Rights Commission, the Fitchburg Police Department, Fitchburg State College, Neighborhoods and You, Cleghorn Neighborhood Center, and the Fitchburg School Board.

Fitchburg has declared its intentions to participate in the NPFH® program, and the next step is to begin organizing community activities related to the theme of understanding diversity. The group reviewed existing NPFH® programming suggestions and brainstormed an array of events that would be appropriate to arrange in our city. The decision was made to focus on developing a partnership with the school system to encourage students to interview members of different cultures, a graffiti “paint out” program, diversity-related parade floats and activities in association with Fitchburg’s July Civic Days celebration, and a “pot-luck” ethnic food dinner. At the next meeting, it will be determined to which of these events initial planning priority will be directed.

In addition to discussing future events, the group spoke of the importance of cataloging existing activities within the city that fit within the principles of the NPFH® program. There was also talk regarding options for publicizing NPFH® and related activities. The value of establishing relationships with local media outlets, such as Fitchburg Pride and FATV, was highlighted by many at the meeting. Efforts will also be made to create other communication outlets, such as a newsletter and blog.

Ultimately, last night’s meeting provided an outstanding glimpse of what our community can accomplish under the auspices of the NPFH® program. However, success is dependent upon the involvement of as many people as possible, and all present agreed that we would love to have additional members of the community attend future meetings. So to anyone out there reading this, I would strongly encourage you to join us at the next meeting, which has been scheduled for Thursday, March 15, at 6:00 p.m. in the library at Memorial Middle School (615 Rollstone Street). Feel free to send me an email (address available in my profile) if you have any questions. In addition, I will soon be creating a separate blog to post meeting minutes and other NPFH® information, and I will post a link here when that has been set up. I hope to meet many of you next month!

[Addendum: The NPFH® blog can now be accessed at www.noplaceforhate.blogspot.com. Oh, and my apologies for having to use the ® symbol all over the place - just trying to avoid getting sued! I promise though, the group is very welcoming...]

The Old Mill Restaurant

2007-02-07T09:16:00.000-05:00

Continuing on the prior topic of breakfast venues, my favorite local Sunday brunch spot is The 1761 Old Mill Restaurant in Westminster. The buffet spread includes a variety of outstanding breakfast foods in addition to carving stations, other entree items, and a tempting array of desserts. The cost even includes a champagne toast! While the food quality and variety at The Old Mill is fabulous, the true highlight of this restaurant is the quaint atmosphere. Brunch is offered in a cozy, window-lined room overlooking a small pond. Reservations aren't required (or necessary, at least the mornings I’ve been there), but consider making one anyone to request a window seat - the staff cannot guarantee seating requests but will do their best to accommodate. The grounds are gorgeous, as are the many character-filled dining rooms. Special events are frequently held at the restaurant, with the classic setting serving as the perfect backdrop for photographs. The Old Mill also has much to offer in the way of lunch and dinner dining, and the Cracker Barrel Lounge area is a charming spot to relax with a drink.

Family Cafe

2007-01-30T12:10:00.000-05:00

Breakfast is by far my favorite meal, be it an elaborate brunch or a relaxing feast of diner-style comfort food. For the latter, nothing beats the Family Café on Water Street/Route 12 in Fitchburg. It has always amazed me how so many places can churn out soggy pancakes and home fries, flavorless omelettes, and dry bacon - I’ve come to realize that although breakfast may seem like a simple enough meal to prepare, places like the Family Café that actually do it right are tough to find. Everything is cooked perfectly, and there’s quite an array of menu items to choose from (note that the restaurant’s website doesn’t even seem to include mention of some offerings, such as delicious homemade muffins). Prices are unbelievably inexpensive, particularly given the generous portion sizes. The staff is incredibly friendly and will have you feeling at home in no time. And of course, they ensure that your coffee cup is never empty! The decor is comparable to what you’d expect for a casual diner, but it’s very clean and conveys a sense of pride for the hard-working owners, staff, and customers who keep the restaurant going. I’ve never had a chance to try lunch or dinner there, but I can wholeheartedly recommend breakfast at the Family Café!

Devens Grill

2007-01-25T15:35:00.000-05:00

I have been thrilled with my experiences at Devens Grill and look forward to many return visits. In addition to a pleasant indoor dining room and bar, an outdoor seating area is available. There are few things more relaxing than sitting out on the patio with a drink and some pub-style food... (Please, if anyone out there knows of any other good choices for outdoor dining in the Fitchburg area, let me know!) When it’s too cold to sit outdoors munching on things like nachos and mozzarella sticks, my favorite entree is the smoked mozzarella and basil ravioli, which has a fabulous smoky flavor. My husband is a fan of the filet mignon. Salads are fresh, and the french onion soup is done perfectly. There seems to be a decent wine list, although I have not yet studied it in any great detail. Service on all of our visits has been friendly and attentive. On the occasions that I’ve been there, there’s never been a wait for a table - I don’t think that word has gotten out yet about this place! (One side note: the restaurant's website doesn't seem to load correctly in Firefox, but it does work in IE.)

Filho's Cucina

2007-01-19T15:08:00.000-05:00

I plan to continue posting more local restaurant reviews, with coverage of a few places that are within about a 20- to 30-minute drive of Fitchburg. After all, it’s always nice to have some options for take-out on the commute home!

One of my favorite stops is Filho’s Cucina in Groton. There is some seating at this restaurant, but it's generally very busy, making take-out the best bet if your time is limited. The menu is extensive and includes soups, salads, panini, pasta, and other entrees - all are made with amazingly fresh ingredients. Honestly, I can’t stress enough how fresh the meals taste. The food has a wonderful aroma, and there are numerous vegetarian options available. Pricing is very reasonable, with the most expensive dishes on the regular menu being only $13 (specials are sometimes slightly more). The quality and portion sizes far exceed that of more traditional dine-in-only Italian restaurants. The staff gladly works with special requests; for example, consider adding grilled chicken to the Penne con Spinaci for a fabulous meal. If you choose to eat in, there’s a BYO policy, with many patrons opting to select a wine from an adjacent liquor store. The restaurant’s website includes a full menu, and I’m willing to bet that it’s not possible to resist a visit after scanning the menu - you won’t be disappointed!

Oak Ridge Farm Stand

2007-01-08T09:34:00.000-05:00

Those of you who live in the area may already be familiar with Harper’s Farm, which sells fresh vegetables and other items at their farm stand on Route 117 and also at various temporary locations in the region during their peak season. They have an extensive variety of outstanding produce as well as items such as flowers, pumpkins, and other seasonal items. In the midst of the recent spinach scare, Harper's was the ONLY place I was able to find spinach (and trust me, I searched far and wide). In addition to great quality and variety, the prices are unbeatable. It never ceases to amaze me when, for example, I walk out with several large tomatoes and a big bundle of fresh basil for only $1.75.

Needless to say, I was happy to learn that Oak Ridge Farm Stand, operated by the Harper family, is now open on Route 70 in North Lancaster (not far from the Toyota dealership). I stopped in for the first time this weekend and was incredibly impressed - they had so much more to offer than the delicious fresh vegetables that were the original purpose of my visit! Oak Ridge is actually more of a small grocery store than a farm stand. The focus is on locally-made products such as homemade soaps, fresh eggs, salsas, and pasta sauces. The vast majority of the store’s offerings are direct from Harper’s farms and orchards, including high quality hormone-free beef. The highlight of the visit for me, however, was learning that Oak Ridge also includes a deli and bakery. I resisted temptation and therefore have yet to try any of the variety of pies and cheesecakes, but I can attest firsthand that the old-fashioned homemade cinnamon sugar donuts were amazing! A loaf of tomato bread was also fabulous, as was a jar of homemade dill pickles. I’m eager to return to try some of the lunch-time meal offerings, such as chicken potpie, homemade soups, and fresh sandwiches. At my next visit, I’ll also be picking up some unique items, including high-end peanut butters made with ingredients like dark chocolate, white chocolate, banana, and raspberry. And I can’t wait until they open the dairy bar component of the business this spring!

Oak Ridge Farm Stand is currently open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekends. Their number is (978) 537-4777. You can learn more about the business in two articles available here and here (though I’m not certain for how much longer they’ll remain available online).

Fitchburg to Get Its Own Free Local Paper

2007-01-02T15:03:00.000-05:00

I was thrilled to learn today that the creator of another local blog, Save Fitchburg, will be serving as the editor of a new paper, the Fitchburg Pride, which is set to launch on January 26. I look forward to learning more about community news, events, and establishments through the new publication, which will also be accessible online at fitchburgpride.com. I hope that all of you will be reading too!

Tory's Subs & Burritos

2006-12-29T10:34:00.000-05:00

Anyone who watches Phantom Gourmet has probably seen the frequently-repeated episode in which the Landos brothers’ sub restaurants are lauded as a “Hidden Jewel.” Unfortunately, while the show focuses on Carl and Eric’s shops in Waltham and Acton, it fails to draw attention to the fact that we’ve got Tory’s shop right in Leominster! Tory’s Subs & Burritos serves truly wonderful food. The portion sizes are famously huge, and the quality is unmatched as well. I’m not a red meat eater, but many of my friends (and the Phantom Gourmet) have indicated that the cheesesteak sandwiches are among the best they’ve ever tried. Personally, my favorite item is the Mediterranean quesadilla, which combines grilled chicken, feta, spinach, tomato, and melted Monterey Jack and cheddar cheese (although I try not to get that every time since other menu items are also fabulous). My husband swears by the Tory’s Special, which is a cheesesteak sub with sausage, green peppers, mushrooms, and onions. Be forewarned that when you go to Tory’s for the first time, you’ll be overwhelmed by the array of mouth-watering options and will inevitably have a difficult time choosing just one. Your best bet is to plan on take-out, as the tiny store has only a few counter seats available. Hmmm, I think I just figured out what I’ll be having for dinner tonight!

Regional Commercial Development

2006-12-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

According to an article in today’s Telegram and Gazette, Wal-Mart has just announced plans to build two new stores in the area, one in Leominster and one in Lancaster. These would be in addition to an existing store in Lunenburg. Now, I recognize the passionate array of arguments in favor of and against store chains like Wal-Mart - my intention is not to debate whether Wal-Mart in and of itself is a good thing. Instead, I want to draw attention to some of the points made in the article that bode well for the general future direction of our region.

The article quotes a Wal-Mart executive as saying the following: “Our real estate department conducted a thorough review and discovered that this region is very, very underserved in terms of retail development.” He is also reported to have indicated, “We’re looking at the region as a whole, and there’s a definite market there.”

I’m thrilled to hear these sentiments expressed publicly. In the two years alone that I’ve lived in Fitchburg, I’ve been astounded by the rapid rate of commercial development in the region. Major chains including Starbuck’s, Target, Chile’s, Best Buy, etc. (I could name so many more!) have all recognized the area’s potential. No doubt there will be many more to come in the future, particularly given that a burst of development tends to be particularly effective at capturing the attention of other chains. Trader Joe’s, if any of your representatives happen upon this blog, I beg you to consider opening a store out this way!

I’m actually someone who typically prefers to eat and shop at unique, local establishments (e.g. Shack’s, Mill No. 3 Farmstand, Bombay Tandoor Grill) rather than at the major chains. However, it is nonetheless encouraging that a number of major chains are beginning to realize that our area is up-and-coming. Not only will this help improve our tax base, but it will also play a role in drawing new residents to the region (to partake of both chain and non-chain offerings) as we begin to overcome that false stigma that we’re located “in the middle of nowhere.” I’m also quite hopeful that it will encourage individuals to open small businesses, along the lines of the piano bar that’s due to open soon on Main Street in Fitchburg.

Crystal Brook Farm

2006-12-11T09:28:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend, I headed to Crystal Brook Farm (no website, but their address is 192 Tuttle Road, Sterling) for an “open house” event. This place makes the most unbelievable goat cheese, and it was great to meet the owner and get a tour of the facilities. The most astounding thing I learned is that the entire business is run solely by the owners, Ann and Eric Starbard, with some help from only a couple of employees! The goat herd now includes about 70 animals encompassing three different breeds of goats. The milking season is just wrapping up now, with all of the goats presumed pregnant (by the single male in the herd, talk about a major responsibility!) and expected to deliver in February. We met the herd and were particularly impressed with how affectionate the animals were.

From late February through December, each goat is milked twice per day. Until very recently, that process was done entirely manually! The farm now features a milking machine that pipes the milk in for pasteurization, but from that point forward, the cheese is made by hand. In addition to taking care of the goats, maintaining the farm, and making homemade cheese, the owners also attend nine farmers’ markets every week throughout the summer. I was actually fortunate enough to stumble upon a kiosk set up by Ann Starbard at the Garlic and Arts Festival this summer (see earlier post). After sampling some of the farm’s cheese, I was thrilled to discover that they’re located very close to home!

In addition to nine mouth-watering varieties of goat cheese logs (including garlic, chive, dill, and a sweeter cranberry variation that makes a perfect bagel topping), Crystal Brook Farm makes two different “party spreads” that I would highly recommend. All items are available at various farmers’ markets throughout the state and also year-round at the farm itself in a small self-service shop. We’re so lucky to live close enough to stop in any time of day and pick up whatever we’re in the mood for. And it’s amazing that the cheese we picked up was literally only two days old - it doesn’t get much fresher than that! The on-site shop also sells other handmade products, such as goat milk soap, herbal tea, and knit items. A variety of free recipe cards are available as well for those looking to cook up something creative using goat cheese. I grabbed a recipe this weekend for a goat cheese and hazelnut pesto pasta dish that I can’t wait to try.

If you live in the area or are simply planning to come out here for a visit, I would definitely suggest that you stop by Crystal Brook Farm. Not only are the cheeses truly wonderful, but it’s great to know that the business is run by hard-working individuals who are incredibly passionate about what they do and who are eager to share their enthusiasm with others!

For the Dog Lovers Out There...

2006-11-29T16:13:00.000-05:00

Happy holidays everyone! I apologize for not posting here for a bit, as I was out of the country for Thanksgiving. Time to pack up the flip-flops for awhile now! It’s good to be home though - one of the best parts about my return was going to pick up my yellow lab, Pax. We boarded him at the Worcester Animal Rescue League, which has recently added a separate kennel wing that offers incredibly reasonable boarding rates. And the staff at WARL are outstanding! I’ve had nothing but great experiences with them since I first adopted a cat there in 2000.

Another really wonderful option for boarding that’s closer to home is Manilow’s Doggie Daycare in Leominster. (We’ve boarded Pax there before but had already booked WARL for our recent trip.) Doggie Daycare is run by a fabulous woman named Barbara who is clearly a true animal lover. Boarding is a relatively new offering through the center, but we’ve actually been eagerly taking advantage of daycare services for some time now as a special treat for Pax...and for us! Anyone out there with a lab or other similarly energetic dog can appreciate what I mean. They’re a lot of fun, but sometimes it’s nice to have them come home and just fall asleep! There’s no minimum number of visits, so it doesn’t have to be a costly investment.

I had heard about doggie daycare centers over the years, but I guess I always associated them with larger cities. Finding Manilow’s only a few miles away was a nice surprise! The facility is located just off routes 2 and 190 (near Target), making for simple drop-off and pick-up on my commute. The building includes a large indoor space for inclement weather days, a training room, a room filled with crates for napping, and an extensive array of outdoor fenced-in areas. Barbara takes the time to get to know each dog personally, even keeping files detailing each dog’s friends and enemies to ensure optimal playgroup arrangements. Manilow’s also offers some other great services, including bathing and nail clipping as well as a variety of training classes. I’m very grateful that Barbara chose to open her center in our area!

Wachusett Brewing Company

2006-11-17T13:13:00.000-05:00

There’s nothing quite like being able to stop by a local brewery to get a growler filled with freshly-made beer. I’ve been a fan of Wachusett Brewing Company ’s beer offerings for many years and occasionally made trips there for tours and tastings. The owners and staff are incredibly friendly and laid-back. The company was actually founded by some alumni of my alma mater, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), making it that much more interesting to hear details about the rather unusual path Wachusett has taken to reach its current level of statewide recognition. The bottling machinery, for example, was pieced together and tweaked by former engineers, while the beer itself benefits from the expertise of a former biology student. I just wish I’d been at WPI a few years earlier than I was so I could have participated in the initial “you help us bottle, we’ll give you free beer” arrangement that got the brewery up and running!

After moving to Fitchburg, I quickly discovered that the brewery is only a ten-minute drive from my house, on route 2A shortly after crossing from Fitchburg into Westminster. Clearly, one can only tour a brewery so many times before getting bored (and before making the staff suspicious that you’re just in it for the free samples). However, Wachusett has a lot more than that to offer us locals thanks to their “Growler Guild” program. For $19, you can buy a 64 ounce growler that can be refilled an unlimited number of times for only $6. They’ve even just expanded their growler filling times, which are now Wednesday and Saturday from noon to 5:00 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from noon to 7:00 p.m.. And for anyone out there thinking of checking out Wachusett for the first time (or the tenth, whatever), I received an email earlier this week about a big sale happening the weekend after Thanksgiving. Cheers!

Movie Theaters

2006-11-15T09:41:00.000-05:00

A co-worker of mine recently moved out this way from Winchester. Shortly after her move, she came to me in a panic. Her concern: “PLEASE tell me there’s a movie theater somewhere in the area!” It reminded me of my own fears when I first moved to Fitchburg, fears that were quickly assuaged when I discovered that yes, facilities such as movie theaters, shopping malls, restaurants, and grocery stores are readily available in the area. In regards to movie theaters, however, there was an added bonus - it costs a lot less to see a movie in this part of the state! Cinema World in Fitchburg charges only $5 for a matinee and $7 for an evening showing, while Entertainment Cinemas in Leominster is only $4.75 for matinees and $7.50 for evening shows. Even better is the fact that both theaters charge matinee prices for ALL Tuesday shows. It’s hard to beat catching an evening show for $4.75. The concessions also cost far less than I’m accustomed to at Metrowest-area theaters, and I rarely encounter the same degree of chaos and consistently sold-out showings. Overall, I’ve found the movie-watching experience to be a lot more enjoyable and a lot cheaper since moving to Fitchburg!

Fitchburg Public Library

2006-11-06T11:03:00.000-05:00

I can’t believe it took me two years, but I finally visited the Fitchburg Public Library for the first time over the weekend. I was quite impressed with the staff and the library’s offerings. I used to be one of those people who read all the time, even picking up a second major in English as an undergraduate to dilute out the often mind-numbing science classes. Yet once I reached graduate school and was faced with a never-ending stack of tedious assigned reading and academic research, reading for pleasure was quickly dismissed.

I set foot in the Fitchburg Library this weekend and was immediately transported back to the days when reading was fun. The stacks are arranged for comfortable browsing, and there was a lot more than just books to offer. The public computers seemed particularly popular, but I was most drawn to the books-on-CD section. What a great way to pass the time while commuting! I was also surprised that so many movie DVDs were available...free rentals are much preferred over the $5 Blockbuster rental fees or the monthly Netflix charge! There were quite a few music CDs as well. In preparation for an upcoming trip to Costa Rica, I checked out a CD/book combo to teach myself some Spanish (both European and Central American Spanish versions were available).

After we left the library, my husband and I decided to spend some time wandering around the downtown area. I’ve always enjoyed the classic look driving through the area, but I gained a much better appreciation for some of the architectural details on our walk. We browsed a couple of shops, including Design at 639, which showcased a variety of furniture and artwork items. Somewhat to our surprise, there were actually quite a few other people strolling down Main Street. Overall, the downtown had a very nice look and feel to it, and I remain quite hopeful that more businesses will choose to open in the area.

Bombay Tandoor Grill

2006-11-03T12:52:00.000-05:00

As I sit here enjoying a delicious lunch of leftovers from Bombay Tandoor Grill (200 Lunenburg Street (a/k/a route 2A), Fitchburg), it occurs to me that I have yet to post a review of this restaurant. I fear I may have come to take its presence for granted!

Those of you out there who are Indian food fanatics like myself can appreciate how hard it is to find a truly wonderful Indian restaurant. I got extremely lucky when I found Bombay Tandoor Grill within weeks of moving to Fitchburg. The staff is very friendly and attentive, with the owner and his wife ever-present. Water glasses are kept filled, which makes my husband particularly happy as he has a pet peeve about empty beverages! They pay attention to other little details too, such as providing extra rice with containers to bring home leftovers. The restaurant has a BYO policy, with corkscrews and wine glasses provided upon request. The menu is extensive and reasonably priced, and the food quality is truly outstanding. I should also mention that the menu offers full explanations of what each dish includes, and the staff is more than happy to answer questions for those not familiar with Indian food. There’s a genuine respect for vegetarians, with the owner cognizant of issues such as the need for separate cutting boards for meat and vegetables. I visit there or order take-out quite frequently and have consistently been impressed with my experiences. Some of my favorites include the basil nan, baingan pakora, palak paneer, and mango lassi, but no matter what I try, I’ve never been disappointed and always eagerly await my next visit.

Halloween & Costume World

2006-11-01T08:40:00.000-05:00

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, as I love the genuine, fun-spirited simplicity of kids going after candy. This year, I finally had the chance to give out full-size candy bars to trick-or-treaters, which is something I’ve always wanted to do. We’ve gotten good turnout in past years, and this year was no exception, with about 60 kids coming by. The relatively warm weather was a nice touch! My favorite costume this year was a little girl, Sophia, dressed as a giraffe. She was barely able to stand up on her own and had such a hard time grasping a candy bar - she was absolutely adorable!

On a related note, I had no idea that “The Largest Costume Store in New England” resides right here in Fitchburg! Of course, who knows if superlative claims like that are accurate (I doubt there’s an agency that keeps tabs on the exact square footage and inventory of Halloween costume stores), but I must say that Halloween Costume World is an impressive place. Not only do they have an extensive array of packaged costume options for kids and adults, but they’ve got EVERYTHING you could possibly imagine for those who are a bit more creative and put together their own costumes. It makes things a lot easier when all of the accessories can be picked up at the same time as the main costume. Fishnet stockings, shoes, temporary tattoos, fake cigars, wigs, make-up, masks, fake “bling”...you name it, they’ve got it, including some rather high-end items. I have yet to venture into their Haunted Mansion, although I hear that it’s unbelievably well done. Anyone out there been in?

Unexpected Fireworks Display

2006-10-30T09:42:00.000-05:00

While up on “Walmart Mountain” in Lunenburg running some errands on Friday night, my husband and I were surprised to see fireworks bursting into the air as we started to pull out of the parking lot. We headed over to the far corner of the lot and got out of the car, and we were soon joined by many others. It turns out the display was part of Fitchburg State College’s Homecoming Weekend events. Anyone else out there happen to see the fireworks? We’ll have to keep in mind what a great vantage point the Walmart parking lot is!

House Hunting

2006-10-26T09:26:00.000-04:00

After living in Fitchburg for two years, my husband and I have begun formulating plans for where to purchase our next home. Back in 2004, we bought our rather small starter home in Fitchburg with the assumption that we’d be heading back to the Metrowest area once we settled into our careers and made a dent in our student loans. We’ve experienced a rather dramatic change of heart since that time, and we now anticipate that our next home - which we hope to be our long-term “forever” home - will be in Fitchburg.

In recent months, we’ve had a lot of fun researching what’s available in Fitchburg in the price range that would barely buy us a starter home in the Metrowest region. We’ve been astounded by the array of new construction and large historic home options that are out there. But our favorite discovery of all pertains to the existence of a “rural” Fitchburg previously unknown to us. This past weekend alone, we visited two houses that were situated on four-acre parcels in the middle of the woods! I would highly recommend that anyone considering a move to the area take a ride on roads such as Ashburnham Hill Road, Ashby West Road, Pearl Hill Road, and Franklin Road to gain a full appreciation of all that Fitchburg has to offer.

Having grown up in Maine, my husband and I feel that privacy and a wooded setting are crucial...yet we’ve also become accustomed to easy access to Boston and proximity to things like grocery stores and restaurants. It’s incredible to think that, thanks to Fitchburg, we can have all of those characteristics someplace where we can actually pay the mortgage. We’re not certain exactly when we’ll be looking to purchase a new home, but it’s such a relief to know that now we can be truly excited about it, rather than slightly bummed out by the thought of downgrading to a tiny, deteriorating shack somewhere in Metrowest where we’ll be a slave to the mortgage payments and cursing the Mass Pike traffic.

Wine Tasting at Wyman's Liquors

2006-10-23T13:13:00.000-04:00

I owe a big thank-you to my husband’s friend, who told us about Wyman’s Liquors in Leominster (at 30 Pleasant Street, just off route 13). With the holiday season (as well as a vote on question one) approaching, it’s official free beer- and wine-tasting season in Massachusetts. Simply out of habit, I tend to travel to Julio’s in Westborough for their events. This weekend though, my husband’s friend told us to try out a wine tasting event at Wyman’s. It was VERY well done! They’ve recently opened up a warehouse area that’s perfect for tastings, as it offers a lot more space and doesn’t interfere with customers who are simply trying to shop. Every guest was provided with a bound notebook summarizing the wines available for tasting, with a separate section for taking notes. There were easily over one hundred different options covering a price range from $6 to $70+ (including some very limited-production wines), in addition to cheese and crackers for snacking. The owner himself was present and mingled with guests throughout, and there was occasional entertainment such as a contest to open champagne bottles with a sword. To celebrate the event, all wine was 20% off - even the very high-end bottles! It served as a fabulous introduction to Wyman’s, as we had no idea that they carry such an extensive wine collection. We’ll definitely be returning!

Tre Sorelle

2006-10-18T09:32:00.000-04:00

Continuing with the recent trend of blog entries regarding local restaurants, I want to mention Tre Sorelle, a wonderful new Italian restaurant/deli/marketplace that has just opened in Leominster. Now I can stop driving out to Boiano’s Italian Market in Southborough all of the time! Tre Sorelle doesn’t appear to have a website at this point, but it’s located at 544 North Main Street (route 12), shortly after crossing from Fitchburg into Leominster.

Tre Sorelle initially opened up the deli and marketplace component of their shop several months ago. I’ve been stocking my pantry ever since with items such as fresh pasta (I can’t get enough of the pumpkin tortellini!), gourmet sauces, pizzelles, and high-end olive oils. The selection of deli cheeses is quite good, but as a semi-vegetarian (I eat only chicken), I’m afraid I can’t comment on the meats - anyone out there have any input? I was particularly thrilled to discover the array of olives stocked in the deli, and the prices for these are unbelievably reasonable. The primary focus of the deli, however, is a wide variety of authentic homemade Italian foods intended to be heated up at home. There are numerous vegetarian options, including a remarkable veggie lasagna.

A few weeks ago, Tre Sorelle at last began serving sit-down meals as well, although they currently only have the kitchen established well enough to offer a lunch menu. I opted for the Zucchini Charlotte, and I can’t even begin to describe how amazing this dish was! I eagerly await the addition of a dinner menu, as I’m sure that it will offer many other creative, high-quality dishes. Until then, dining in for dinner is technically an option - the staff will heat deli meal items in the microwave - but I’ve found that nuking the food doesn’t quite do it full justice.

A final allure of Tre Sorelle is the dessert tray. Offerings include cannolis filled to order, tiramisu, and chocolate raspberry torte. My true weakness is the gelato, particularly the chocolate hazelnut flavor! Tre Sorelle is now open until 9:00 p.m., so it’s a great place to linger over dessert and a cappuccino. One warning though: they’re closed on Sundays. The owner has applied to the city for a liquor license, and this would no doubt become one of my most frequent places to eat out if I could add a glass of wine with an entree or a shot of liquor in my dessert coffee...I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that the city pulls through!

Gloria's

2006-10-02T12:27:00.000-04:00

When I arrived at Gloria’s (on Route 2A in Lunenburg, just after crossing the border from Fitchburg) for breakfast yesterday morning, I was completely shocked to learn that it was the restaurant’s last day. Gloria’s was one of the first places in the area that some friends introduced us to when we moved to Fitchburg two years ago, and we had returned many times for the fabulous food. Admittedly, the wait for a table was often a long one, prompting my husband and I to frequently wonder why the business didn’t expand. It made it that much more surprising that, despite the constant stream of customers, the owner has decided to close. Of course, I can certainly appreciate the desire to take a break from what was no doubt a very busy, time-consuming endeavor! I will be forever grateful to my waitress yesterday for speaking with the owner on my behalf and arranging to provide me with Gloria’s pumpkin pancake recipe. I’ve unsuccessfully scoured restaurants and the internet in an effort to recreate those pancakes, and I’m thrilled now to have the real thing! I just wish it was under different circumstances. Many thanks to Mary and her staff for all of the great meals...I’m one of many in the area who are sad to see you go!

The Monument Grill

2006-09-27T09:52:00.000-04:00

As is the case with any move to a new area, one of the most frustrating things for me when I first came to Fitchburg was trying to find new places to eat. Fortunately, I already had a few friends living around here who were able to offer some suggestions, but I've had to do a lot of experimenting on my own to track down some new favorite restaurants. I met a friend for dinner last night at one of the best dining establishments I've found, The Monument Grill in Leominster.

This particular friend and I have a habit of ordering salads or appetizers rather than entrees so we can save room for dessert. Typically, the quality of the service provided to us declines dramatically when our intentions become clear to our server! Our server last night, however, was very kind and continued to treat us well despite the fact that the restaurant was actually surprisingly busy for a Tuesday evening. She was even nice enough to allow us to substitute rum caramel for the creme anglais that normally comes on the Warm Chocolate Cake (highly recommended!). We were also pleased that the staff wasn't bothered by the fact that we lingered for more than an hour after dessert.

I plan to include more restaurant reviews in this blog, so as a start, here are my general thoughts on The Monument Grill based on several visits over the past two years. The Fitchburg/Leominster area could use more restaurants like this! The atmosphere is warm and relatively upscale, with outdoor dining also available in the summer. The menu offers a variety of delicious options, including creative appetizers, fresh salads, and a plethora of entrees. In addition to poultry, seafood, and steak dishes, a few vegetarian pasta dishes are available. The wine list is decent, and I would highly recommend the chocolate espresso torte for dessert. This is a great location to celebrate a special occasion, impress a date, or simply enjoy some wonderful cuisine. Overall, I'd give it a top rating in all regards (quality, selection, service, and atmosphere).

My Commute - Farmstands and Foliage Galore

2006-09-22T10:58:00.000-04:00

Fall is by far my favorite time of year for commuting - aside from the increased traffic associated with the start of the school year of course! I work just outside of Boston. In the mornings, I follow Route 2 east until just before the rotary, and I then get off and cut over to Route 117 east for the remainder of the way. In the evenings, when there’s less school bus traffic, I’m fortunate enough to be able to follow Route 117 west nearly the entire way home. My route takes me past more than twenty farm stands, orchards, and nurseries. Some of my favorites include Derby Orchards for peaches, Bolton Spring Farm for fresh bread, Great Brook Farms for fresh sandwiches, and Romano Greenhouses for hanging plants.

My ride generally takes about one hour. Unlike past commutes I’ve had that took a similar amount of time to cover a much shorter distance, I’ve found that this commute is almost relaxing. One of my co-workers lives in the city of Boston - she requires an hour to get to work, just as I do! When people talk about coming out “my way” for the Bolton Fair in the fall, I just smile to myself and think of how I literally drive through the fairgrounds every night on my way home. They speak enthusiastically of rare trips to go apple-picking, while I think of how I stop at various orchards en route to home on many evenings to pick up groceries. I feel fortunate to have discovered an area that combines rural charm with modern conveniences!

Garlic and Arts Festival

2006-09-18T13:29:00.000-04:00

This weekend, I attended the 8th annual North Quabbin Garlic & Arts Festival in Orange. I always thought of Orange as being so far away, but it only took about a half hour to get there! (I suppose that parallels what people often mistakingly think about Fitchburg.) We decided to hike in from Bullard Farm in New Salem, which was just under 3 miles each way. The route we followed was part of the Chestnut Hill Trail system. It was a bit difficult to locate the start of the trail, but thanks to the help of the kind owner of the Bullard Farm Bed and Breakfast, we had no problems after that.

The premise of the Garlic & Arts Festival is to celebrate the two eponymous products of the region. Unfortunately, my ability to sample the garlic component was limited by a larger-than-anticipated crowd that led many of the food venues to run out of menu items. But at least the garlic spread I found for my veggie burger was very good! I also brought home some fabulous “garlic lover’s pesto” from Linabella’s Gourmet Garlic Farm.

The arts component of the festival far exceeded my expectations. Patrick Zephyr’s photography was truly astounding, capturing both vivid landscapes and tiny wildlife with striking clarity. James Kitchen’s work was also impressively unique, combining found scrap metal objects to create sculptures with a strong sense of personality and implied motion. And when the time comes to finish off my basement, I now intend to incorporate the offerings of Royalston Arts Foundry into my design - some of their bronze tiles were such works of art that I was tempted to purchase single tiles to simply frame and hang on my walls! The afternoon was capped off with a performance by Dar Williams, who is quite a well-known folk artist.

Throughout the festival, there was a strong emphasis on recycling. Last year, they reportedly created only two bags of trash! This year’s goal was to reduce that to zero bags of trash, which is a significant accomplishment considering that nearly 10,000 people were in attendance. The entire event was run using solar power, and there were environmentally-friendly education booths scattered among the agricultural- and arts-themed booths. Combined with the perfect weather, it really was a great day overall!

Comedy Show at Fitchburg State College

2006-09-15T10:18:00.000-04:00

Last night, I attended a comedy show at Fitchburg State College with my husband and a friend. Dennis Donohue (who’s been featured on Howard Stern) opened, Steve Hofstetter (of collegehumor.com fame, among other things) delivered an impressively lengthy set as the main act, and Theo Von (from Road Rules and Last Comic Standing) rounded out the evening. All three comics put on an amazing show. These were real first-class acts, comparable to those you’d pay a fortune to see at Comedy Connection in Boston.

But unlike at the Comedy Connection, where you fork over at least $20 per person and keep your fingers crossed that the comic isn’t absolutely terrible (which happens to me about 25% of the time), last night’s show at FSC was FREE, with the college picking up the entire cost of the comedians! When my friend first told me of the event, I thought it was rather unlikely that it was open to the public and assumed that if it was, there would be a fee for non-students. He emailed the event organizer for clarification and received an immediate response that the general public was more than welcome to attend, and for free.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve noticed a number of references in the local media to the fact that FSC hopes to do its part to improve the quality of life in Fitchburg. I tended to dismiss those comments as PR rhetoric, but last night’s show was a great example of how the college is reaching out to Fitchburg residents. I hope to take advantage of my proximity to FSC as much as possible in the future and would encourage others to do so as well. For a schedule of upcoming events, Social Web is a great resource - clicking here brings you to the FSC events page.

Berkshires one evening, Boston the next

2006-09-14T08:36:00.000-04:00

I have become completely addicted to The Smokin’ Hippo in Erving. As the name implies, BBQ is their specialty. They make their own thick, tasty sauce and slow cook the meats in their smoker. The result is an unbelievably moist, smoky flavored dinner. There’s also a lot more than BBQ to offer. The salads consist of farm-fresh veggies (no pale iceberg lettuce here!), the corn-on-the-cob is from a local grower, and the jalapeno cheddar cornbread is a creative treat. There are many other items on the menu, including vegetarian options and seafood. Eight BBC offerings are on tap, with a sampler tray available for those not familiar with the brewery (or for those who can't pick just one brew!). It recently occurred to me that since Erving is less than 45 minutes from my house, why limit myself to weekend trips there? So I headed out for dinner on a weeknight, leaving home at 6:30 p.m., eating a relaxed dinner (with dessert), and making it home around 9:00 p.m.. Heck, that’s about the amount of time I’d be gone if I decided to wait for a table at the Outback Steakhouse two miles from my house!

The following day, I learned that there was a big sale happening at one of my favorite boutiques in Boston at Copley Plaza. I left home again around 6:30, purchased a great dress, grabbed some dinner at the Prudential Center food court, and was home before 10:00.

So what’s my point? Well, other than “try The Smokin’ Hippo!,” my message here is that Fitchburg is VERY uniquely situated. I’m really enjoying the opportunity to live within an hour of Boston as well as in close proximity to all that the Mohawk Trail region has to offer.

Neighbors

2006-09-12T08:26:00.000-04:00

My 88-year-old neighbor came by yesterday while I was out working in my yard. He has the most astounding backyard garden and offered to share some of his crop with me, just as he did last year. It’s amazing to wander into his backyard to find endless vines full of fresh grapes...the scene is just as picturesque (albeit on a smaller scale) as vineyards I’ve visited in Europe and Australia! My neighbor’s tomatoes came out particularly well this year, and I look forward to trying some of the soon-to-be-ready butternut squash.

This elderly man is just one of many kind neighbors I’ve encountered since moving to Fitchburg. I previously lived in a rather wealthy MetroWest town where no one seemed to have the time to be friendly. It’s great to now live in a place where one neighbor loans me gardening books, another leaves homemade “Scotch Kisses” (a caramel and marshmallow candy I was told was once a Fitchburg tradition) on my porch, and a third helped clear our driveway when our snowblower died in the middle of a blizzard.

Our neighborhood is made up primarily of middle-class working families of different ethnic backgrounds living in older, modest-sized homes. Some people have lived on our street most of their lives, while others (like my husband and me) are young couples new to the area. Although our backgrounds are varied, we all seem to share an underlying pride for our homes and the neighborhood, which has created a sense of community that I’ve not experienced in other places I’ve lived. It’s just another of the unexpected perks I’ve found living in Fitchburg.

Riverfront Park

2006-09-11T09:57:00.000-04:00

When I first moved here in fall 2004, there was a lot of coverage of Riverfront Park in the press. Unfortunately, despite actively trying to locate the park, I was never able to find it! This Saturday, after stopping at The Daily Bagel to pick up some sandwiches (highly recommended!), my husband and I decided to try again to find the park. Since I'm posting this, that tells you we found it. Access is via Commercial Street - there's no parking allowed on Commercial Street, but we had no trouble parking along Boulder Street and were pleased to see there's no parking meter charge on weekends. The park spans from Putnam Street to Commerical Street. Hopefully this information is enough to help anyone else looking for the park...it seems that the city assumes that we all know where it is!

What a beautiful spot. The park was a lush expanse of soft green grass, bordered on one side by the Nashua River and on the other side by railroad tracks. Looking up towards Main Street reveals a classic New England downtown, with brick buildings, Victorian homes, and a forest backdrop. A number of benches are available, but we instead chose to picnic in the grass. I was surprised that despite the perfect weather, our only companions in the park were a mother and her children, who were driving around the paths in PowerWheels. If you go, be sure to wander over the old iron bridge for the best river view. Of note, handicap-accesible restroom facilities are available.

A number of activities are held in the park throughout the year, including free Friday night movies in the summer. Check out the event schedule for more information.

I have contemplated starting a blog such as this for some time now. After finally making it to Riverfront Park (to me, something of an epitome of realizing that Fitchburg truly does have much to offer but that those offerings are sometimes difficult to find), I decided that now was the time to get started. I certainly hope that this blog can begin to serve as a forum for those who want to share why Fitchburg is a great place to live, as well as for those who are considering coming to the area.