This Is Framingham

 
Something, fun, interesting and non-SMOC related is going downtown!
On July 28th the downtown library will be hosting (fellow framinghamonian) Andrew Wong’s “Ultra G-Event 2006”. when to take ivermectin for covid 19 It will be a Godzilla extravaganza, including video game tournaments, costume contest and “Story time with Godzilla”.  Right now he has set up this great display in the lobby of the library. 
Here’s the  link to Andrew’s site for all the information you need about Ultra G-Event, check it out of you can.

Last night we went out to Fun and Games (or Fun and Drugs, as we used to call it in middle/high school) I haven’t been in there since the 80’s.  I was kind of disappointed that they didn’t have more classic games but it was still fun.

I always liked the entrance that feels like space you’re walking into a spaceship.
The biggest challenge of the night was playing MTV’s Drumscape where you try to drum along to a song. I like how they have real songs, by the real bands to drum to. I attempted to “jam!” (as the game says before you start) to “Round and Round” by Ratt .
Ethan is leaps and bounds above me in drumming ability, I felt like a 5 year old randomly pounding away with no rhythm or skill.  At the end of the song it plays a roaring applause and screams like you just finished a concert. I feel I didn’t deserve the simulated cheer, I guess it’s better than it knowing you can’t keep up with the song and hearing boos from the audience.  Pinball is always good too, I wish they had more than three but maybe I’m just used to the seemingly endless selection of pinball games at Funspot, which is really the only other arcade I go to(when I’m in the area).
I’m surprised Fun and Games is still open, never mind open until 9pm (10pm on weekends) but I’m glad they are. It’s one of the few Rt. businesses that are there from when I was a kid.

I used to cringe when I had to get my oil changed.  It seems like it should be simple but it never is, they always end up telling you (especially if you’re a girl) something is way wrong with the radiator or the PVC valve or the flux capacitor
I used to go to Valvoline quick change until they really started slacking on the service. One of many examples:  I asked them to check the air pressure in the tires (even though they’re supposed to do that anyway) and the guy went to each of my tires with the air hose and just did a two second “tssst” on each tire.  I was thinking  “There’s no way he could unscrew the cap, look at the pressure and properly fill it that fast” but I was hopeful that maybe I was just so unskilled at pressure checking that it takes me 3 times longer than this guy. I get home and sure enough I’m riding on 24 pounds per tire. The guy FAKED checking my tires! Anyway, when I moved to Framingham I got the little packet of coupons and there was one for a free oil change at Sullivan Tire, right down the street. maximum doseage of ivermectin for a dog   Nice, but I don’t usually like using coupons because then the people behind the counter typically sigh and act like they can’t believe you’re using the coupon and you feel like a cheap jerk. ivermectin drops for cat ears   But that didn’t happen this time!  I was pleasantly surprised the guy behind the counter almost seemed happy I brought in the coupon.  When they told me my car was ready they didn’t tell me anything was wrong with my car and told me to have a good day.  I hate to say it but, I was so suspicious that I waited for the old busted hose or something going awry a few days later but it never happened. how safe is ivermectin use o in dogs  Now I bring my car there for all my oil changes and they’re always nice. 

Tonight we were in the mood for pizza, first we went to “Centre Pizza” but found a note on the door saying they were on vacation.  Then I remembered my friend Phil telling me (a few years ago) that the Pizza Wagon (on School St.) has “the best” pizza in Framingham, so we went there.  While we waited we checked out the risque mural on the wall. 
I don’t usually drink soda but every now and then I crave a Pepsi. I only want a little bit though and most places don’t sell singles of those mini-cans.  I could buy a regular bottle and only drink half but I know I’ll end up drinking the whole thing if it’s there I know it’s stupid but that’s just how I deal with soda.  Ethan can drink a whole 2 liter of Coke with no problem but that’s a whole other story.
We went next door to Makari’s Market and to my surprise they had the little midget-bottles of Pepsi and Coke.  Perfect size, nice!

I also wanted to say that they guy behind the counter was really nice and called me “sweetie”-not in a sleazy, I-want-to-go-home-and-take-a-shower way but more like I was a regular customer even though it was my first visit in there. 
Saying “sweetie” sounds like a small detail but it’s so different than most retail transactions, I just thought it was kind of nice.
The pizza was decent, I wouldn’t say it’s “the best” but I’d go back.  I’m still looking for amazing or at least really, really good pizza in Framingham.

At least Thursday night around 7pm it did.  I thought it might be fun to check something I could actually walk to so I went to see a highschool metal band at the downtown common.

I got there and as I walked by the entrance of the park one of these guys slurred asked me why I was wearing pajamas (I wasn’t, I swear!) and then 5 minutes later this guy stumbled up to me mumbling about something and then made a point to tell me “white women suck”.  Oh downtown!
There were tables set up to enter raffles and whatnot. Starbucks gave away free treats and I got a recycle sticker.  The band was ok, I’m not 18 and I don’t listen to metal, not that I was expecting Gordon Lightfoot but my ears could only handle so much and didn’t stay for the whole concert. 
These guys had a good time performing and it was such nice night out, I was happy for the band to be playing for people and for downtown to have something going on at the common.  I’ll try to go next week to see whoever is playing. ????? ???? ??????? ??? ????  On the way home I saw a Friendly’s cup on the ground.  Friendly’s has been closed for 6 months! ??? ?????? ??????? 2023 ???? Where did this surface from? I guess it could have been thrown out of a car coming from Temple Street. black jack   Just a sad reminder of how Friendly’s has forsaken downtown : (

Especially when the weather is nice out, I miss having the old Shoppers World around.  All that’s left are these steel beams at Rt. 30 and Speen Street that used to hold the neon sign.  I know some people say it was ratty and ugly (and outdated towards the end) but I think it was really special.
It was so great to just walk around from shop to shop without having to worry about getting mowed down by a car and getting some fresh air at the same time.  Where else could you find a Windsor Button Shop, a House of Zodiac AND see live reindeer all at the same mall? 
I remember going there with my mom and sisters when we were little, shmying around and taking train rides, being a teenager and going to the movies with my friends and working at Joan and Ed’s deli when I was in college.  I feel like Shopper’s World was such a terrific place and now it’s just chain stores and asphalt.  I don’t want to sound like an old lady shaking her cane into the air but, the new shoppers world isn’t even worthy of the name Shoppers World!  They should call it Another blob of generic stores you can find anywhere in America with bland, unoriginal structures and no trains or reindeer”
I know it would be a big sign but they can afford it.
Check out this link  and this link to see some great old shoppers world photos.
Also thanks to Mitch Cohen, here’s a last look at Jordan Marsh before the old girl was torn down.

Feel free to comment about any of your favorite stores or experiences at Shoppers World (the real Shoppers World).

I was on my way home from La Cantina and saw a cardboard box on a curb that read “Atari 2600 w/ games, works FREE”.  Normally there’s never any good free stuff on curbs but this was an amazing find, I couldn’t beleive it!!  I got home, cleaned it up, and in no time I was jumping barrels and eating pellets! 
What a treat that was, thanks fellow framinghamite- who ever you are!