This Is Framingham

I don’t know what’s going on with Bennigans but I kind of don’t care since I’ve only been here 3 times, the last time was 1996 for a co-worker’s birthday.  I can confidently say life hasn’t missed a beat without Bennigan’s in my life.  I only recently noticed it’s empty parking lot somehow and drove up to see if this establishment finally closed.

On the front door was this note:

Ah, the old “remodeling” note.  A tell tale sign of health code violations.  Now I won’t say I know this for sure and who knows, maybe they are just remodeling the kitchen but they don’t have any recent work permits for remodeling or anything else.
Also, out of curiosity, I called them to see when they might be reopening or anything and I got a recording saying the number has been disconnected and that no further information is available.
I hate to say it but, I hope it really is closed and something else (although it will probably be another chain restaurant) moves in.  Maybe Border’s who didn’t get their lease renewed with Ken’s could move there?  We miss Border’s in the area.

Anyway, good bye (I think)Bennigan’s.

I know Cabot House used to be some sort of function hall and I wish it still was.  No offense to Cabot House but it seems like a waste of space for a building with such a grand entrance.  That would be like Lombardo’s in Randolph becoming a furniture store and keeping that giant chandelier.  Also, it would be nice to have a special occasion place still on the strip there. como se toma la ivermectina de 6 mg en gotas

I was going to take time to go inside but honestly, after we went to so many furniture stores when we bought our house, if I never go into another furniture store again I’ll be a happy girl.  Besides, I think the real showpiece must be the giant cross-weave patio chair out front.

I’m guessing this is about 6 feet tall.  Was this made just for Cabot House?  Why would a factory make these? doxycline and ivermectin treatment side effects   It seems that a furniture place with higher-end furniture wouldn’t need a giant chair to draw people in. 
Unless Bigfoot ordered a patio set and never picked it up so they just put one of the chairs out front to remind her it’s ready.  It’s rude to order things and then just not pick them up!

Over the weekend I met my friend Jill at Starbucks by Whole Foods, one of the two Starbucks in Framingham. 

I used to think I wasn’t a huge starbucks person but I do like their fancy/latte drinks (sometimes I’m horrified at how ridiculous I sound asking for a decaf soy sugar-free vanilla latte).  I like these drinks so much I decided to just buy a machine to make them at home which is great but sometimes it really is convenient to just go to Starbucks, and they have nice chairs and tables to sit and be comfortable at.

We both got a Chai tea which was good and split a chocolate croissant which was just ok and reminded me why I just stick to the drinks.

I don’t think any of their baked good are impressive but that’s fine, since the drinks take enough from my wallet anyway.

I guess there is not too much to say about Starbucks, it’s in a decent location and the drinks and service are pretty reliable.  As my aunt used to say “it is what it is”.
Jill and I have both experienced getting a coupon for a free drink if they mess up the order so it’s nice they care about getting the drinks right.

Even though I don’t usually like chains that take over the nation, I think it would be great if a Starbucks opened downtown  (maybe the old “daisy’s” consignment shop would be a good location for train commuters) but who knows if that will ever happen.

New on the Framingham Historical Society’s website, is the announcement that they will be conducting a historic house tour on May 20th.

Ethan and I are fans of historical architecture (known to drive through miles of cornfields in Idaho just for a fix) so this will be a something interesting to do and nice to remember there is more to Framingham than just the shopping of route 9 and the…whatever of downtown.

Here’s their site if anyone is interested.
http://www.framinghamhistory.org/

At 666 (!) Waverly St. is a bar called Bruburger’s. I wasn’t sure what to expect, if it was going to be like a restaurant-bar like the Chicken Bone or more bar-bar like the Happy Swallow.
My “drinking buddy” Mike and I ventured in and found it to be more on the bar-bar side. ?????? (????)   Which is good because Mike is always looking for places like this.   This was what I like to call an “old-man bar”, from the vintage Clydesdale Budweiser display above the bar to the classic jar of pickled eggs, it’s hard to find places like this around here.

The crowd here at first glance seems like it could be kind of rough but the bartender was very friendly and later in the night a guy who had a enjoyed a few beers bumped into Mike, said excuse me and then recognizing we weren’t regulars, started telling us about 25¢ wings on Mondays and half price burgers on Sundays but “you can’t take them with you, you have to eat them here”.  As he was walking backwards from our table to the bathroom, he went on about how “it’s a good…good crowd here” and that we should come back.  Then he finally vanished into the bathroom.

We both got burgers and Guinness, which the bartender made the effort to draw shamrocks in the foam.  I got a mushroom cheeseburger and Mike got one with Canadian bacon (mike’s picture didn’t come out). 

 I have to say, I didn’t know what to expect, even with the word “Burger” in the bar’s name, but they were excellent.  The buns were really good too, nicely toasted on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside- that was another thing the friendly drunk guy told us, is that they get the buns from The Framingham Baking Co.
Mike with his burger: Me with mine: (See Mike, I posted our pictures!)
 

Much like the Happy Swallow, the bathrooms had some character as well.  I liked this little note by the toilet:

My favorite part is that it says “So freakin’ DON’T!” (Note to Ethan:  I’m going to say this all the time so get freakin’ used to it!)

This is a great place.  Would I send my mom here?  Maybe not, but we had a great time and I’ll definitely go back. ????? ??? ????

I was driving by Ryan’s Pizza this morning and saw it closed up.  Sorry for the blurry pictures, I took them from my car. ivermectin merck

Some guys were doing something to the sign, checking the wires or something.  There were also some industrial cleaning vans parked outside

Nothing posted for any sort of work permits at this address so it looks like it won’t be turning into anything anytime soon.