Westborough Patch

This afternoon I was on twitter (yes I know I have been very sporadic in my tweets) but I was on twitter and noticed one of the suggestions for me to follow was Westborough Patch.  Since I am always looking for local updates and information sources I figured I would check it out.  I had not heard of "Patch" before.

Ok so maybe I missed a memo that Westborough Patch was launching, but I am busy sometimes... I have to say, I am very impressed at this new online news site.  Seems to have regular updates, Westborough news and events, and from what I have read lots of great information.  There is also a Northborough Patch as well.

The sites are simple and easy to navigate.  There are also matching Facebook pages and twitter accounts for each site.  Their coverage of the Polar Plunge was solid and overall the only thing I would say is not appealing to me is that Patch as a company is owned by AOL.  Sure I use AIM like so many others, but the last time I thought of AOL I was using one of their cds as a drink coaster.

I hope AOL has learned from some of their past endeavors and keeps Patch fresh and not overly bogged down with ads and bots.  I think there is a lot of potential for a strong corporate funded journalistic team that focused on digital media.  Something with funding that can allow local journalists to be proud and promote the local community.

To speculate for a minute, I think there is a lot of opportunity for really interesting social media interconnections blending online and real world experiences and interactions.  It is the next logical step in the digital media space.  It is possible that a site like patch operating nationally (and even globally) but focused locally can be a way to organize and encourage these connections.  We'll see...I actually teach a graduate course  on new media technologies and how to integrate them.  At least I need to add Patch to some of my lectures and we can see how it plays out.

Super Science Sundays

Last weekend I signed my boys up for the November installment of the Science Sunday series at the Boroughs JCC.  The event was promoted as bringing the Museum of Science "REPTILES" traveling show to Westborough.  Having two boys, how could I go wrong with an afternoon of lizards and snakes.  I am happy to say this event was far more then the MoS show, and I am super impressed with the quality and value of this program.

The main promotional attraction as I mentioned was the MoS traveling show.  Reptiles was cool, there was a lizard, a turtle, and a large snake.  The representative from the Museum of Science was interesting and the crowd enjoyed his presentation.  The 45 minute interactive talk was fun for the kids.  I am proud of the BJCC for bringing the MoS to Westborough.  It was convenient and fun, but as I said the real value in this event was the science that went on before the MoS presentation.

The Boroughs JCC found several Boroughs scientists (most who worked in Cambridge) to volunteer their time and conduct a series of hands on experiments for kids and adults.  These are real scientists, not technologists or doctors.  Not there is anything wrong with technologists (I am one) and doctors are impressive in many ways, but this event was staffed with scientists...people who have made their career investigating, experimenting, and (flashback to high school coming) testing hypothesizes.  It is easy for kids to get excited about sports and the sports programs in the Boroughs are great.  Band stereotypes aside, I always thought music is easy to get excited about as well, especially with great local entertainers like Mr. Kim Webster, who not only entertains but teaches young kids music fundamentals.  To me science is harder.  It requires someone with specific know how and patience to show kids in a way that is exciting and hands on.  And a lot of times even with practice science can go wrong.  :-)  That makes it more fun.  The event at the BJCC had all the elements of fun science and I am so glad I was able to take my boys.

Making slime, blowing up balloons with chemical reactions, creating geometrical shapes, and several other hands on projects kept kids and adults smiling.  This event cost $20 per family for members of the JCC and $30 per family for non-members.  Considering admission to the MoS is not cheap, this was a deal just for the reptiles and a steal when you add the experiments. 

The Science Sunday series is a new program this year at the Boroughs JCC as they expand to be more focused on the whole community.  Last month the BJCC offered discount admission to the EcoTarium Pumpkin festival in Worcester.  I can't wait to see what is planned for their next Science Sunday event.

Details on the next event are not published yet but you can keep an eye out at www.boroughsjcc.org or become a fan of the Boroughs JCC on Facebook.  They are good about publishing all events on the Facebook page and from what I have seen all events are open to the public.  However, they are cheaper if you are a member of the Boroughs JCC

Happy One Year - Tavolino Westborough

For about a year now :-), I have been a supporter of Tavolino Italian Gourmet in Westborough.  Last week I was fortunate enough to enjoy one of the one year anniversary events and celebrate with the managers and staff.  I still stand by my original review of the food and experience at Tavolino.  I enjoy drinks with friends,  dinner with my family, or one of the many events Tavolino hosts.

The biggest things that impresses me about Tavolino I think comes back to the people in charge.  It is obvious that Anthony Valletta (Tavolino Westborough GM) and his staff really care about Westborough.  They are proud to be part of this community.  I know Anthony grew up in Westborough but his commitment to our community is obvious.  Every time I participated in a local community event, I find Tavolino.  Some of the great organizations in the local area benefit from Tavolino.  I am just proud to see this type of commitment to the local community.  Kudos to Anthony, and to the owners of Tavolino for showing Anthony the freedom to support he local community.

The anniversary celebration, was as expected, a wonderful evening.  Great food, great wine, and great local people.  I noticed editors from Westborough.com, representatives from the Boys & Girls club, and events staff from the Boroughs JCC.  I spent some time enjoying a Radeberger Beer with the local Radeberger reps and the reps from Boulder Beer who coincidentally have also been active local supporters of Boroughs events.

I look forward to more years and more events with Tavolino in Westborough.  If you are still one of the hold outs, I suggest you at least try Tavolino pizza for take out.  It doesn't kill the wallet and can definitely be something different.

Parents need a night out

Like many other parents, I get excited when my wife or I find an affordable sitter and escape the nightly routine for an evening out.  It could be for a fancy meal, a romantic evening, a stupid movie, or simply a trip to a store without children interrupting as we both decide on a major purchase.  I think every parent needs these evenings out.  Sometimes my boys are excited to see a sitter...sometimes not, but we try to have adults nights out on a regular basis.

Last Valentine's Day weekend my wife and I tried one of the parents' night out programs that are offered in the area.  Our first experience was with the Little Gym.  I have loved the little gym programs over the years and when I noticed the flyer I had to give it a try.  The kids loved it...absolutely loved it and it was no more expensive then a sitter for the same amount of time. 

Over the summer our main sitter was home from college so we didn't think much of these programs but since she returned to school I started doing a little research on these type of event.  Below are three great local programs that I have found.


Little Gym - Parents' Survival Night 
Age restrictions: Children must be at least three (3) years old and potty trained
Hours: 5:00PM to 8:00PM
Cost: members - $30 per child (sibling discounts available)
          non-members - $35 per child (sibling discounts available)
Availability: Open to the community, but will fill up.
Frequency: A couple of times during the year

As I mentioned, I tried the Little Gym parents' survival night last February and it was great.  The kids had a pizza dinner with juice and then did a craft activity.  Finally they participated in a Little Gym style set of games and activities.  I have always been impressed with the Little Gym staff and they delivered again on the parents' survival night.  They kids were tired at the end of the night but we saw nothing but smiles from their faces.   They typically have a 7PM bedtime and they were tired but the activities were so much fun they wanted to recap the whole night before bed.  Both boys were very excited to show their craft projects and we still talking about it at preschool the next Monday with their friends. 

The next Parents' Survival Night at the Little Gym is scheduled for Saturday, November 20th from 5:00PM - 8:00PM.  As of this morning there were only three spots left.
 

Boroughs JCC - Parents' Night Out
Age restrictions: Children must be at least three (3) months old
Hours: 5:00PM to 9:00PM
Cost: members - $15 per child / max $40 per family
         non-members - $20 per child / max $50 per family
Availability: Open to the community
Frequency: Monthly

Last night the Boroughs JCC ran their first community parents' night out.  My kids joined many of their friends for this event.  The Boroughs JCC did a great job at providing an exciting, entertaining, and safe event for the kids.  There was pizza, juice, and water for dinner.  A magician, balloon animals, a series of craft activities and story time reading, and even a movie at the end to settle kids down before they were picked up to go home.  My boys had a blast and they can't stop talking about the magician and how much fun they had overall.  The Boroughs JCC used their facility to provide different rooms with different activities so the kids that weren't into one activity had other options.  And the price can't be beat, I am so impressed with how well run and fun for the children the event was.  For any parents out there, you deserve a night out, take advantage of this event.

The next Parents' Night Out at the Boroughs JCC is scheduled for Saturday, December 11th from 5:00PM - 9:00PM.  This one I can't wait.


Westboro Swim and Tennis - Kids' Night Out
Age restrictions: Children ages 4 to 12 (siblings can be under 3)
Hours: 5:00PM to 9:00PM
Cost: members - $10 per child
Availability: Open to members only (Note: the children themselves must be members)
Frequency: Monthly

This is the only program that I don't have first hand experience with but I wanted to include it as several of the parents that I do socialize with rave about the Kids' Night Out program at the Westboro Tennis and Swim club.  This is a night for kids to spend at the club with gym games, swimming, arts & crafts, pizza and more.  Kids Night Out runs once a month on either Friday or Saturday evenings. As I mentioned every parent and child I have talked to raves about this program, similarly to the way I now rave about the Boroughs JCC program.  The facilitators once again are top notch and the kids have a great time playing and creating projects.  If I end up joining Westboro Swim and tennis I will definitely look forward to experiencing this program first hand.

I also found out this week the Westborough Community Education Department also runs events like this occasionally as well.  The price for the last Fales one $16 per student.  Younger siblings were welcome but they also had to be potty trained.I will have to do some research on this program in the future.

Each of these programs is a member/community service.  And from what I can tell, the organizations are not making any money, rather they are just covering costs in hopes of enriching the services they provide to families in the Boroughs.  This is a great example of community supporting the community.  My kids have had great experiences and I definitely enjoy the extra night out.  I look forward to the next Boroughs JCC event.  For the money it is the best that I have experienced so far.

Crime Prevention...not panic

I consider Westborough a safe community and crime statistics back that perception, but we all know there are crimes that are committed in and around the Boroughs.  At the last Fales Parent Group meeting, the FPG president had coordinated with Westborough Police to bring in a Detective Sergeant McLeod as a guest speaker to talk to the community about crime prevention.

Most people at this point would tend to tune out, and typically I am no exception but as I drove home I realized the message is important and in my opinion it bears repeating.  Yes, Westborough (and most of the Boroughs) are relatively safe, low crime areas.  But this is exactly the right time to think about our habits and make sure we are being safe.  But it is not a time to take things to extremes and panic.  I know too many people who worry about everything and topics like this are hard because fear gets ahead of common sense.

The talk focused on an increased rate of precious metal/jewelry theft in neighboring communities, specifically Shrewsbury.  The value of gold, copper, and other precious metals, and even scrap metals are increasing to new highs each month.  Breaking and entering crimes where thieves focus on stealing jewelry are on the rise.  The stones are popped out and the metal is melted and resold.

Lots of people have insurance to cover costs, but it is impossible to restore sentimental value.  And since the crimes typically include melting the material from it's original form to resell, even if the perpetrators are caught the merchandise is not the same.

The goal of the discussion was to raise awareness to our own habits and modify them to be the best practices for safety before Westborough has an issue.  Below are some of the key points I took away from Detective Sergeant McLeod:

• Criminals have varying degrees of desire and ability.  Victims can provide opportunity.  If all three line up, the potential for a crime to occur is high.  Each preventative action we take reduces opportunity and possibly changes desire in the thieves eyes.

1. Lock your doors.  Too many home thefts are because people leave the door unlocked.
2. If you have valuable (monetarily of sentimentally) items that are  not worn every day, consider a safe deposit box or a separate safe for those items. 
3. Be aware of items around your yard that can help a potential thief gain access to your home.  For example, the ladder behind the house or your neighbors shed.  It is safer to lock second story windows then to hope a thief doesn't see the ladder in the backyard.
4. Use your alarm system, it adds security.
5. Be aware of what is left in plain sight, through a window or in a car.  Enticing a thief increase their desire.  Laptops, GPS, iPods, etc are all enticing, and although the hardware may be replaceable, the years or digital photos or documents are probably not.
6. If you are really unsure of what to do, ask for help.  The Westborough Police offer guidance on safe guarding your home and even provide survey assessments of your property.  For more information on this visit: http://www.westboroughpolice.com/safehome.htm

I am by no means a trained law enforcement officer, so I know there are many more things that can be done.   I have lived in both rougher city neighborhoods where I hated parking on the street and in rural communities where I never took the keys out of the ignition of the car.  I usually base may actions around the area I live in, but I know after this talk I should do a little more.  I don't want to contribute to a rise in crime by adding opportunity.

Thank you to the Westborough Police, Detective Sergeant McLeod, and Fale's Parent Group (FPG) for providing this type of talk.  I know it is sometimes hard to get the community involved unless they are directly affected, but prevention is far superior to recovery in this case.

Central One FCU - A welcome addition

Big banks, local banks, credit unions…with the economy and all the media coverage over the past two years, it is hard to think of a bank with a good reputation.  Most of my experience with has fortunately been with credit unions and overall it has been positive.  But I too have had my share of frustration. 

For the past ten plus years my primary credit union has been DCU.  I used to proudly proclaim repeated great experiences with DCU.  The last two years my experiences with DCU have gone downhill.  Now, I realize there are a lot of regulations that every financial institution needs to follow but every interaction seems less and less personal.  For some time I just ignored my frustrations as I knew DCU was better then some of the larger banks.

Then just over a year ago, construction began on the new Central One FCU branch in Westborough.  Originally I didn't think much of it, but I was shopping for a new car loan and stopped in to see what they could offer.  Their loans rates were as good as anyone else at the time, maybe slightly better, but the things that really got me was the staff.  When I entered the branch I was greeted by the branch manager David Kaiser.  We got to talking about the community and his thoughts on being in Westborough.  David is definitely proud to be part of this community.  He and I got to talking about Central One, the community, and how he was eager to be more and more a part of Westborough.  All things I was happy to hear as get excited when businesses and individuals look at us as a community and want to involve themselves as much as possible.

Since this first meeting I have gotten to learn more about Central One FCU and experience first hand how they do business.  I have to say I think i may have found a new credit union, and what was originally my car loan I want to become more.  Things like being open at 7AM.  I do sometimes need to stop into a branch but working in Cambridge doesn't make it easy for most banks.  Westborough Central One FCU is open Monday through Friday at 7AM.  Sure they are open on Saturday as well, but I try to focus my weekends on spending some family time.  And I want to add every time I visit the Westborough branch or even talk to them on the phone, I am not treated as a number.  There is legitimate recognition in their voices and knowledge of who I am and the accounts I am involved with.  To me, stopping at the Central One FCU branch in Westborough is like stopping to say hi to a friend. 

The last time I spoke with David he mentioned he was planning a week long one year anniversary celebration of Central One being in Westborough.  On my way back from Lazers soccer practice yesterday morning I stopped in to find out what is going on.  I am amazed at how much is planned for this week and I wanted to share some of the details.  This is all from the flyer I picked up and it is not a complete list of activities.  I encourage everyone to stop by on their own and see what else is planned.  Overall there is something fun each day.  There are breakfast (7:30AM - 11:30AM), and lunch (11:30AM - 1:00PM) food samplings from local favorites such Christina's Cafe, Hisa Japanese Cuisine, Creative Catering by Roche Bros., Rotary Pizza, South Street Diner, Westboro Variety and Deli, and Holy Cow Ice Cream.  On Monday 10/26, Tavolino is even doing an evening food sampling from 5:00PM to 6:00PM.  There are displays from Westborough school art and design programs, going green initiatives, and many other community organizations throughout the week.  On Saturday 10/30 they even have live music planned all morning from some of the WHS student groups. 

Central One FCU in Westborough is really trying to stand out and be part of the community.  I am impressed with every experience I have had to date and I look forward to more.  I encourage everyone to at least check out what they have in terms of services and compare them to what you currently have elsewhere.  But most of all I hope everyone gets to find out first hand the personal interest the the Central One FCU Westborough staff takes in each of their customers.  In my mind that is what really sets them apart.

Westboro Variety adds deli

I am sure everyone noticed the shift this past summer from a White Hen to a 7-11 in the center of Westborough.  To me 7-11 was an improvement, maybe it is the nostalgic memories of me and my high school friends grabbing Slurpees so many years ago, or maybe it was my experience the one or two times I stopped at the White Hen it seemed like the prices were extremely inflated compared to other gas station convenience stores.  But for most adults this is probably a downgrade. 

As near as I can tell, 7-11 is targeted at high school and college age individuals who are in love energy drinks and have the metabolism to handle over processed microwavable food.  I as expected do not fall into this category.  Others similar to me found a big disappointment in the target market to be  the elimination of the deli sandwich counter that was part of White Hen.  Now, I had never eaten at the White Hen deli counter and based on what I saw it wasn't overly appetizing but I can see how it was a quick sandwich at a reasonable price.  Previously anyone local could stop in and get lunch without needing to drive out to NY Deli on RT9 or Regatta Deli & Sandwich under the tracks off Rt30.

Luckily after 7-11 removed the deli counter, Westboro Variety stepped up to support these customers.  About a month ago Westboro Variety added a  Dietz & Watson deli counter.  I admit I never noticed Westboro Variety before and would have never thought to check it out, but friends at Horizon Information Services had tried the new deli counter and said I should check it out.  Not only did I check it out but I had to write about it.

I stopped in at about 1:30PM on a Tuesday and was greeted by Damelyn (I am sure I spelled her name wrong and apologize should she ever read this).  Damelyn informed me that she makes the best sandwiches that I have ever had so how could I say no.  I have to say, it was a great sandwich.  I asked for turkey, bacon, cheese and a little BBQ sauce on a roll.  There are a couple of things that made this sandwich so great.

First, the meat was sliced fresh, and not fresh this morning, but fresh at that moment.  There weren't tins of meat pre-sliced and ready...Damelyn created a fresh sandwich for me.  Second, rather then understocked shelves that I am used to seeing at many stores mid day, Westboro Variety had a full selection of chips to go along with my sandwich.  Finally and possibly the most impressive, my sandwich was $3.99.  It was a big sandwich for next to nothing.

I have been back twice to see if my initial success was repeated.  I am happy to report each time I visited, I enjoyed a fresh, delicious, filling lunch for very little money.  I don't think I would have ever stopped in Westboro Variety if I hadn't been told to try it, but I am very happy I did and I encourage anyone else looking for a quick tasty lunch in downtown Westborough.  Thank you to Horizon Information Services for the suggestion.

Side note:  I realized through this that I never actually ate at NY Deli or Regatta Deli either so I am going to try to visit them sometime as well, but for now my next quick lunch in Westborough will be Westboro Variety.

No need for a new dress…accessories are a different story

It has been a few years since my wife and I had a wedding to attend on the calendar…most of our close friends have been married for years.  We were both excited the other weekend as one of my employees was getting married and we were invited to enjoy the celebration.  In past years this meant a trip to several stores in search of a new dress.  Don't get me wrong I enjoy a trip to White House Black Market as much as the next guy, but there were plenty of beautiful dresses in the closet that fit perfectly and with all the craziness of everyday life there didn't seem to be time for a full day of shopping.

She may have decided to not buy a new dress but that doesn't mean she didn't need new accessories.  My wife suggested we go to Jenny Boston the afternoon before the wedding so I can help pick out something that looks nice.  Unbeknownst to my wife I have been trying to stop at Jenny Boston for the past 4 months.  I have heard they have some pretty accessories and I thought a relatively inexpensive gift would be a nice random jester.  Unfortunately my schedule and Jenny Boston's were definitely not in sync so to date I had yet to set foot inside the store.   Our shopping plan could accomplish two things; acquire something for the wedding and finally I can get a look at what is in Jenny Boston. 

I was far more impressed with this little shop then I expected.  I expected a lot of jewelry that looked "cheap".  That is not what they have at all.   Jenny Boston has a lot of unique items that are beautiful and enhance the outfit.  Some are classy, some are fun, and some are odd and unusual, but we all know lots of people who are looking specifically for the odd and unusual.  A great selections of purses, necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and other accessories that complete the look.  On top of that there was a personal service approach that really showed the employees care about the customers.  As we walked into the little shop there were 5 others shopping at the same time.  The store is small and with three different groups of people shopping it would be easy for the sales woman (I believe her name is Eliana) to just sit and wait for purchased to be rung out.  She didn't take that approach, she asked what we were shopping for...without seeming pushy.  She asked about the event, showed genuine interest and then went collected some items that matched our initial thoughts.  Eliana excused herself to help and then ring out another customer and then returned as my wife was continuing to pile up a collect of purchases. Eliana was sweet and interested in the people shopping.  It added to a positive experience.

I was very happy, we found a perfect necklace and earrings for the wedding and enjoyed the time shopping in the store.   There are only two minor criticisms I can find with Jenny Boston.  First, for a working person like myself, the hours are limited during the week, no way to commute back from Cambridge before they are closed.  The Westborough store is open 10-5 Tuesday through Friday and 10-4 on Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday.  To accomplish my random gift I would have to stop in on a Saturday and that definitely would draw questions.  Second is less of a criticism and more a commentary on how great the stuff is…although I only intended on getting a new necklace for my wife for the wedding, we left with a new necklace, earrings, a bracelet, and two purses.  Our no need for a new dress turned into a fair amount of shopping.  So those who are budget conscience Jenny Boston only works if you don't buy 7 or 8 things.  :-) In our case it was all worth it, she looked beautiful at the wedding, and I know she will wear it all many more times.

I think I'll wait awhile for the random jester but I do intend on returning to Jenny Boston in Westborough the next time I need a jewelry gift or great accessory.  Everything is very affordable...if you don't buy everything.

Westborough 4th of July Block Party

My first couple of years living in Westborough I was traveling out of town during the annual 4th of July block party event.  Last year I stumbled into the event by chance and only had half an hour or so to check it out.  But even in that short amount of time I realized how great this event is and this year I am prepared to enjoy all of the festivities.  

According to online sources, Westborough’s July 4th Family Block Party will be held from 6-10 p.m., this Friday, July 2.  The event is held in the center of town from the rotary down West Main Street, ending at Church Street.  The event is run by the Westborough Recreation department, specifically the July 4th committee, and they do an amazing job putting together an event for everyone in the community.

In the articles I have read there are tons of activities for the kids -- moon bounce, dunk tank, sand art, hay rides, pony rides, Big Daddy Racing Cars, air-brush tattoos, ring toss, and even a putting green.  And for entertainment this year the musical group The Reminisants and the Westborough Community Band will preform.   There will also a DJ to provide music when the bands weren't playing.

And one of my favorite parts...adding to all the excitement..is of course the food.   Hot dogs, ice cream, steak tips, sausages, subs or salads.  This event is slated to have it all.  Several vendors are contributing to the meal and snack options, but I am most excited to see my friends from Tavolino Restaurant participating.  Anthony and his staff at Tavolino are really showing how much they care about this community.   I am proud to see them at each these events, and even more I enjoy the GREAT food they bring each time.


My family and I are all ready to walk down and enjoy all the activities scheduled for Friday evening.  My boys are excited for a hay ride as we missed that last year.  And since I am expecting it to be such a great community event I already plan on extending the boys standard 7PM bedtime so we have time to socialize with the community.  

Westborough and the local organizations really do a great job on their community events.  They are well organized, fun, and really foster a community spirit that makes me proud to live here.  And the location, Route 30 west of the circle, is ideal for community events.  There is plenty of space for everyone to congregate and socialize.  As someone who throws a bunch of parties I respect a good party layout. 

My personal thanks goes out to the members of the July 4th Committee including Frank and Karen DeSiata, Brandi Phillips, Susan Pickering, Bill Linnane, Bill Kohler, Tom Shea, Mark Brady and Pete Allen.  I look forward to a great event this Friday.

Summer Cigar and Whiskey

As I have mentioned in the past I am definitely a fan of Tavolino.  Although potentially pricey, they have yet to let me down.  I am also a fan of Julio's, so when the two planned an event together I couldn't miss it.

On May 11th, Julio's sponsored an Ashton cigar dinner at Tavolino Italian Gourmet in Westborough.  What a great event...Although it was a little chilly to be eating and socializing outside for 3 hours in early May, I really enjoyed the evening.  And short of climate change I don't think Anthony (Tavolino GM), Ryan (Julio's Owner), or any of the other managers could have done anything else to make the event better.

Let's first review another win from Tavolino's head chef.  The evening menu included:
Aperitivo: crab salad in cucumber cups, seared Tuscan ahi tuna on crostinis, petit potatoes with herbed sour cream, and bruschetta
Entree: grilled delmonico
Dolce: spiced molten chocolate cake with gorgonzola

This menu was paired with three Ashton cigars (Ashton Cabinet, Heritage, and VSG), Tavolino house cocktail “Tavolino Tea” and three small-batch bourbons: Eagle Rare Single Barrel, Buffalo Trace and Rock Hill Farms Single Barrel.   The cigars were exquisite and very well paired with the meal.  After the three bourbons there was an additional bourbon announced that evening.

Overall, it was a really fun event.  Representatives from Ashton and Buffalo talked about the cigars and bourbon.  Julio's managers brought their own experience to the event describing how they select whiskeys and other select liquors.   It was more then just a meal and drinks, the event was a fun social evening highlighting some really great tastes with true experts guiding us through the selections.

I know Tavolino has other events scheduled this summer.  Take the time to check out what they have planned on their events calendar. 

Julio's and Tavolino are planning a repeat event for late in August.  As soon as I get the information I will pass it along and maybe my readers will join me.  I know I won't miss the second installment of this event.  As I was writing this blog I also noticed the Dogfish event on July 13th listed on the Tavolino calendar.  I may first have to check that out as well. :-)

Big Game Beverage Selection

The Patriots have been out of the playoffs for some time but that doesn't mean that you can't invite friends over to watch the big game. I admit my  Superbowl watching habits are traditionally more focused on commercials then the actual game, but I enjoy having some friends over and as the host I always look to supply the best in terms of beverages.

Next year I may try to time a Deja Brew trip to be completed just before the game but this year, like so many others, I headed off to the pick up supplies from a local package store.  For me this means a trip to Julio's Liquors.  I got to talking with my friends over at Julio's and asked if they wanted to star in this edition of the blog.  I use the word star as I shot a bunch of video that really conveys my points about Julio's and I wanted to include them in with this post.

Lets start with the beer...

As I mentioned I like craft beers. Unique brews that have some complexity. But in a store as vast as Julio's it is easy to get lost in the beer aisle.  Thankfully, there's a blog for that.  Lost in the Beer Aisle is a local blog tirelessly researching and evaluating beers.  When you approach a store like Julio's this blog can be a great help.  I for one appreciate the suffering "Lost" must endure to provide this service to all of us.  :-)  In all seriousness, there are a lot of beers out there.  It is hard to know what to choose.

Julio's carries an unbelievable selection of beers.  Imports, domestic, micros, and majors.  All side by side waiting to be chosen.  An I have gotten 1/6 kegs of Dogfish 90 and other less standard brews without pre-ordering.  Now if you didn't take the time to check in with Lost, you may need some help selecting the best option.  Luckily Julio's has Tom and Joe.  Guys who understand beer and care about matching your tastes.  On more then one occasion I have left my selection up to Tom, and I have yet to be disappointed.  See for yourself:


I sometimes enjoy a good cigar...
And if I am not at Havana House raiding their humidors, I need to find a place to buy great cigars.  Julio's smoke shop has over 300 different cigars kept at the perfect humidity.  I think the most impressive aspect to the cigar shop is Dan's (Julio's tobacco manager) willingness to add customer recommendations to the regular inventory.  It all comes back to service again.  I can walk in, tell Dan about a great cigar I had and if he doesn't have it he understands enough to recommend a similar cigar.  Then usually by the next time I am visit, he has my original request in stock.  This kind of commitment to customers explains why Julio's continues to grow.


But what about the community?
I started writing this blog because, among other reasons, I like this area.  I am proud of this area.  And I want to highlight when businesses in this area do good things.  I don't write a lot of negative blogs, unless the business is not serving the community.  We are a community, sometimes in competition, most of the time working together.  Julio's is partnering with a lot of the community.  They like the Vin Bin have picked up the Original Beer Cookie.  They also support several other local companies by carrying local vodka, local cheese spreads, and local condiments.  This is huge to me, you can be part of a chain or a private business, supporting other local businesses is important to me.


As I was shooting these video I took a moment to really look at Julio's.  I have still not tried or benefited from a majority of the store.  The loch and key society, the wine tastings, the burn center.  There is still a lot for me to try out.  I enjoy and respect the managers and the service they provide so I expect the same quality form these other departments.  Julio's knows the community supports them and shows their support back.  I put together one last video trying to capture the major departments.  It is available on the Boroughs Review YouTube channel.  I think I will finish off the Fallen Angel (The exclusively made for Julio's beer) that I picked up on my last trip tomorrow during the game.  And maybe I'll see you at a future tasting.

A tale of two Karaokes - Part 2 - Cheng Du

Although the karaoke side of my night at Havana House was not the highlight of my week...I still had karaoke burning inside, just aching to get out.  I was in search a local place to slaughter a song or two.  As I was driving down rt9 I noticed the Cheng Du sign announcing karaoke from 10 to 1 Saturday night.   In my three years in Westborough I have yet to try Cheng Du so my wife and I decided to invite some friends and have dinner at Cheng Du and stay for the karaoke.  I think this may have been my best decision this week.

Let's start with the dinner...we all loved it.  Great food, great service, and I don't feel like it put a pinch on my wallet.  I really enjoyed the chicken chow foon and the kung-pao shrimp.  It was great Szechuan/Mandarin diner, there is really no other way to put it.  Mr. Tang, the owner, stopped by to say hello and check on our meals.  Overall the service was great, always a waiter was filling the water, checking to see if we needed more to drink or clearing empty plates out of our way, and the food was delicious.  And the best way to follow a great dinner is to to sing a little karaoke...so that is just what we did.

The bar area at Cheng Du was packed just after 10 as the karaoke began.  We were lucky to find a table to sit at.  The setup works well for karaoke, one screen to read from and a big screen with videos in the background that everyone can read from.  It was more conducive to a karaoke show then some venues I have visited.  The guy running the karaoke did an awesome Elvis impression and filled a few songs in the beginning as people put in their selections with his own vocal stylings.  I labored a bit on this blog to find some way to describe the night and I just kept coming up lame repeated phrases...packed bar, lots of fun...so I took a decided to show you some samples instead.  I love my Flip camera, but in the low light it does get a little grainy so the video is not perfect.

I hope you enjoy, and I plan on visiting Cheng Du for a performance of my own sometime soon.  I hope to see you there.

Not Your Average Dinner and a Movie

Our favorite sitter is in town, along with the other college students on winter break, and we are taking full advantage.  In fact we have been "out on the town" 4 times in the last week. Movies and dinners are fun, and getting out without the kids is important sometimes. Last night my wife and I had plans to go out with another couple, unfortunately they canceled so we had to shift plans.  Last minute plans in the Boroughs on a snowy day are somewhat limited.  We decided dinner and a movie would be fun.  We got a chance to see "Avatar" and "Up in the Air" earlier this week, so next on the list was "It's Complicated".  Sitter arrives at 6 and the movie starts at 7:40.

Our first thought was to stop by Chipotle and sneak something good to eat into the theater, it worked great for Up in the Air, but there was no need to rush tonight.  There was enough time for appetizers at one of the great local restaurants.  We decided on Not Your Average Joe's.

This was the best decision for the evening we could have made.  I have long been a fan of Not Your Average Joe's in Westborough.  Another casual, kid friendly restaurant that serves great food.  I spent a lot of lunches last summer at NYA Joe's and got to know Seth Caplan, the general manager.  Beyond the bread there is a lot to like about NYA Joe's in Westborough.  But tonight I found something new.  NYA Joe's can help save you money.

As I walked in I was greeted by Seth.  I mentioned we were stopping in to have appetizers before a movie and he asked if we had bought our tickets yet.  Maybe I am the only one who didn't know this, but you can buy movie passes for the Westborough cinema with your meal at Not Your Average Joe's...and they cost $7.50.  I know it is only a total of $6 savings for my wife and I but it felt great.  I was ecstatic and it set the tone for a great evening.

I also found out that if you bring your ticket stubs into Not Your Average Joe's after the movie, they will give you a 15% discount on your after movie meal.  I have to add these as others reasons I love NYA Joe's in Westborough:

• I think I mentioned the bread before... but just to reiterate, I love the bread.
• Across the menu, the entrees are great.  And it seems Seth is constantly refining the menu, adding new specials and creating new dishes.   I used to stick with a few basic items when I went out to eat.  Over the past couple of years I have been trying more specials, and 90% of the time I have been pleased.  Last summer I tried the Chicken Oscar when it was a special.  NYA Joe's Chicken Oscar is amazing, and has now become one of my favorites. 
• Here is the most important point.  Service.  This is what this blog is all about, finding great experiences in the local area.  I have been to NYA Joe's at least 15 times over the past two years.  I have never experienced poor service at the Westborough restaurant.  It didn't matter is I was there for lunch, dinner, or late night...a full meal or drinks and appetizers at the bar.  I consistently have a great experience.  From the hostess to the servers, the bartender to Seth himself, it is obvious that everyone cares about my experience when I am there.  I had been putting together a short video for the Taste of the Boroughs event about Not Your Average Joe's in Westborough.  Here you can hear it from Seth, his staff, and patrons directly.
  

As for our evening, after appetizers we had a great time at the movies.  A true local date night made not your average with the help of Seth and the team at Not Your Average Joe's in Westborough.

Kingdom Cuts Westborough

The boys were looking a little shaggy last week, but there too much going on to think about it. This week something had to be done with their hair. I decided to try to new Kingdom Cuts in Westborough. Kingdom Cuts is located at 30 Lyman, in the same strip plaza as Il Forno Italian Restaurant‎ and Profilo Day Spas. This is the second Kingdom Cuts location, the first is in Frankin. Typically we would be driving to Snip Its in Framingham, so saving the 20 min each way drive sounded good to me.

We heard from a friend last week that the Children's Orchard was giving 50% off coupons to Kingdom Cuts, but when I stopped by in Thursday they were out of coupons. Then, I was leafing through the Community Advocate newspaper I noticed a 50% off coupon for Kingdom Cuts. I dug through the newspaper recycle pile and found last weeks Community Advocate and successfully located a second 50% off coupon. I was ready to make the trip and see how they handled children's haircuts.

Details of our visit:

• Setup - The room is fairly large and somewhat sparse at the moment.  There is a reception desk and a waiting area with several chairs.  A flat panel TV is mounted on the wall of the waiting area.  While I was waiting a Scooby Doo DVD was playing on this TV.  There is a bookshelf with children's books and a train table.  Basically enough to keep kids occupied but not so much that the owners would be spending every evening trying to put things back in order. I do however foresee a 3 year old standoff in the future when there are several people waiting and they all want the train.  Behind the waiting area there are four hair stations set up and a nails station.  There is a lot of room for other stations as well, but I expect that will come with customers and demand.  Each station has a small flat panel tv and a Playstation2.  There is a shelf of games and movies that kids can choose from when they are ready for their turn.  Both of my kids wanted to watch the same DVD and ended up in different chairs.  I can see this being touchy in the future with other kids, I was lucky and the oldest decided to choose again.
  
• The Wait - I am told I was the first customer in Westborough to have to wait since they opened.  When I arrived there were two children getting haircuts and another (the brother of one in a chair) waiting for his turn.  Even so I waited less then 15 minutes for my first son to be called, and the second was called before we even started.
• The Cut - Watching a video the kids choose worked well.  Better I feel then the annoying same song over and over at Snip Its.  I would not be surprised if they weren't open to you bringing your own DVD if there is a special one at home. The haircuts for both of my kids came out good. 
• The oldest has lots of cowlicks, and it is difficult to cut his hair straight.  Michele did a good job between wetting and drying his hair to make sure things ended up even.  Looking at it the next day it still looks straight and sharp.
  
• My youngest HATES the buzzers, but Deanna, the stylist, did a good job keeping him involved and at points just asked me to help hold him.  She was patient and calming, but she knew when to just get it done.  He actually did better at Kingdom Cuts that he has anywhere else, and his hair looks good because of it.
  
• Snacks - Those who have been to Snip Its know all about the animal crackers and lollipops available for children to enjoy while getting their hair cut.  Kingdom Cuts does not have the never ending supply of animal crackers but they do have lollipops available at the end.  I always thought it was weird trying to munch on a lollipop or cookie as hair is falling about. It seemed easier to just zone into the DVD rather then eat through the haircut.
• Prizes - There isn't a weird card machine spitting out a junk and sometimes not age appropriate prizes at Kingdom Cuts...but there are stickers.
• Discounts and frequent visits - Kingdom Cuts provides a frequent visit card that you get stamped each time you visit.  9 stamps entitles the owner to a free cut.  Other then the coupons I found in the Community Advocate I don't know of any other discounts.  I provided my email address so we'll see if anything comes through email.
• Hours - Kingdom Cuts is only open Tuesday - Saturday.  Westborough hours are:
• Tuesday 10 - 5:30pm 
• Wednesday 10 - 5:30pm 
• Thursday 10 - 5:30pm 
• Friday 10 - 5:30pm 
• Saturday 9 - 3:00pm 
• Prices - While there I heard the customer before me talking about the price difference between the Westborough store and the Franklin store, but the stylist mentioned that both would be the same soon.  I am not sure which is more or less expensive, but I grabbed a photo of the price sheet to share while I was there.  I apologize for the poor quality of my blackberry camera and of course I have no claim to these remaining the prices offered.  At the top of the list is just the haircut - $16.00 but with the coupons, it was only $8.
  

Overall, I am happy with the service...I am not singing from the rooftops the praises of Kingdom Cuts, but I definitely feel I received a quality service as a good price.  I look forward to saving the drive to Framingham again in he future and watching Kingdom Cuts grow in our community.  I am proud to be able to support another quality Boroughs service.

Tavolino Ribbon Cutting

I received a Twitter update this morning from Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce, announcing a Ribbon Cutting tonight at Tavolino Ristorante. As I mentioned in my last blog I am impressed with this restaurant, and I have been talking all week with several people about my experience. I don't know what this event has to offer, it my just be the ribbon being cut, but I wanted to pass on the info for those interested.

Tonight 11/18
Tavolino Restaurante
4:30 PM
Bay State Commons, Westborough

Tavolino Westborough

I love to eat out, so a new restaurant in the Boroughs is just the type of thing to cap off a good weekend.  Last week, I was eating lunch at Panera at the Bay State commons and walked over to Tavolino to get an idea of what type of place it is.  A quick look at the menu and the decor puts Tavolino into one of my favorite categories of restaurants; kid friendly, but not kid focused.  Tavolino is considered a casual-upscale restaurant and serves classic and contemporary Italian dishes. They have an extensive selection of gourmet pizzas, an very respectable selection of wines with over a dozen available by the glass, and a reasonable kids menu.  They serve lunch and dinner.

Although the Westborough location has been open for a month or so I just hadn't had the time to get over there to try it out, and from the outside I was originally thinking that dinner at Tavolino would be just the wife and I, so a sitter was to be in order, but after our lunch stop by to check it out I decided to bring the whole family.  The kids as well as my wife and I were excited to try out this new addition to downtown Westborough.

I am happy to report that the whole family gives two thumbs enthusiastically up for Tavolino.  The only hesitation with Tavolino is it seems to be a little more expensive then some other options.

Specifics on the meal: 

• Similar to Not Your Average Joe's, Tavolino offers a foccacia bread basket and a oil/parmesan/red pepper dipping sauce.  Very tasty I must say.
• For the kids, my oldest ordered cheese pizza.  Tavolino serves two standard size slices as the kids portion rather then a mini pizza.  The crust is very thin and my oldest enjoyed devouring both pieces.  My youngest ordered the grilled cheese.  My wife always "shares" a little of the grilled cheeses that we get for the youngest and she raved about this particular grilled cheese several times throughout the meal.  Thumbs up there.  
• I usually order chicken parmigiana as my first meal at any Italian restaurant.  It makes it really easy to gauge the quality against all others.  We decided as we were ordering that we would share a Caesar  salad and chicken parmigiana rather then each order our own.  The salad was great, not overdosed with dressing and fresh.  The chicken parmigiana was HUGE.  Way more food then I can eat for dinner, splitting it was the perfect amount.  Tavolino uses a chunky sauce on their chicken parmigiana, which is not usually my favorite, but it was very good...tender, delicious chicken.
• The food came out fast.  I have blogged before about some horrors waiting for food when kids are involved, Tavolino has their act together in the kitchen, food came out quick and hot.  
• I'll throw out a nod to our waitress tonight as well.  Stacy, does the little things that show understanding by a waiter/waitress.  She noticed I finished my soda quickly and was already bringing a refill before I asked.  She also noticed the kids dropping a fork, and brought a replacement without prompting.  Attentive without hovering, she deserved the 20% tip I gave her.
• I hinted earlier that cost is a little high.  Our meal broke down like this:
  
  • Soda $2.50
  • Chocolate milk $1.95
  • Caesar Salad $9.00
  • Kids Pizza $7.50
  • Kids Grilled Cheese and fries $7.00
  • Chicken Parmigiana $19.00
  It's not that it was crazy, but it is a little more expensive then other places with similar kid friendly, but not kid focused atmospheres.  If my wife and I hadn't split the salad and chicken parmigiana , I probably would have noticed the total price a little more too.  There is a lot of quality food for the price so I don't feel I missed out on value, but in this economy we all take a little time to notice what we are spending.
  
• I didn't get a chance to sample any wines tonight.  I did glance over the list and I do plan on returning to try some.  I also can see how Tavolino will bring some competition for Bertucci's as i saw several gourmet pizzas at other tables that looked great.
  

I welcome Tavolino to Westborough and I look forward to visiting them sans kids to see what else they have to offer.  I am also excited to have a new location to go out to dinner even with the kids that has a higher standard of food.  Check out there website at: www.tavolinorestaurant.us.  The website is focused on the Foxborough location but there are copies of the menus and they are the same in Westborough.