This Is Framingham

Ethan and I were walking down Union Ave. today (June 22) and we saw a round orange object on the sidewalk across the street.  At first I thought it was a basketball but upon closer inspection we found out it was a pumpkin.  Then I thought maybe it was a fake pumpkin so I ran across the street to check it out and it was definitely real.

There were some signs of rot on the back but kudos to whoever managed to keep this pumpkin going until now.  My personal record of keeping a pumpkin from October is mid-April.  Nothing that outrageous about this but I usually don’t see pumpkins sitting on the sidewalk in late June so I thought I’d share.

Last year I only got 2 trick-or-treaters. Also, some 10 year olds were riding their bikes by my house (not in costumes) and asked them if they wanted candy. They said ”sure” and took some but I don’t know if that counts in addition to the two real trick-or-treaters.

Pretty sad, considering I really look forward to giving out candy on Halloween. 
I have my front step ready with more pumpkins than last year and a doormat to signal there is candy here so we’ll see what the turn out will be like tonight.

Have a great Halloween!

Ethan had to get a haircut so I asked him to go here to Maenzo’s (formerly Mug and Brush) support sad plaza and see what it’s like. 
I’ve never been by when it’s open and it kind of looked like a guy-only barber shop but when we went in there two women getting their hair done and a third woman waiting.

I really like that they decorated for Halloween : )

While Ethan got his hair cut, the lady sitting next to me showed me pictures of some baby snapping turtles she found in her yard.  We ended up having a nice conversation while she waited for her hairdresser to be available. 

Cosmo, one of the barber’s dog was there too, he was a very well-behaved pup that kept me company until Ethan was done.
 
They did a decent job and it was a pleasant experience so if you need a haircut check out Maenzo’s at 444 Franklin St.

Warehouse Wine and Spirits is on Route 9 right next to Whole Foods. The employees are always pleasant and helpful. Last year I tried ordering my most favorite beer in the world, Blackened Voodoo, but the New Orleans based brewery that makes it was destroyed by Katrina and what was left had been sold out from all of the distributors they tried.

Last night I went back in there and asked if there was any news on Blackened Voodoo being available again but it’s not…yet.
So I asked the guy who orders the beer what he would suggest being a runner up to Voodoo and he took the time to show me what he thought would be a close match. I was in a beer mood so I got couple of his suggestions plus some pumpkin ales to try.
Here’s the line up.

He said the closest match would be “Old Peculiar” and I have to say it was pretty close.

I have ONE bottle of Blackened’s sister, Crimson Voodoo, which is also amazing but I’ve had it since last Halloween so I doubt it’s good but I can’t bring myself to pour this precious brew down the drain.

Warehouse Wine and Spirits is very helpful and really went the extra mile trying to hunt down someone to get any remaining Voodoo last year. The beer guy said he heard on the radio that they are currently trying to get the brewery going again but jerks keep breaking in there and stealing the equipment but he’ll call me when they can get it again.

When I was a kid, this building used to be some kind of New England Telephone space, I’m not sure what they did in there but I remember there used to be a giant telephone in the bay window that I thought was Lily Tomlin’s phone.
I forget  what it was after that, but Borders bookstore was the last occupant and they got kicked out which stinks because they were the less obnoxious bookstore. Now we have to go to Barnes and Noble next to it, which I used to avoid.  Of course if I like it, it goes away (see post below)

I was driving down Rt. 9 yesterday and noticed an orange banner on the building for the Halloween Outlet. 
Most people probably don’t care about H.O. setting up shop here but Halloween is my most favorite all-time holiday.  Even though I can’t trick or treat anymore, I love carving jack-o-lanterns and giving treats to the witches and monsters that come to my door.
I was SO happy to finally see a cool business move into town, even if it is only seasonal.  When I saw the sign I actually gasped with excitement and thought “YEAH man!” Silly?  Maybe, but so are most of the retail inhabitants of Route 9 so I think I can be excited about a fun, small business moving in.

Welcome Halloween Outlet, I’ve been waiting for you! Mwahh-haa-haaa!