This Is Framingham

Finally Bronzetti’s has opened!
It was like waiting for Christmas (or Hanukkah) but the day finally arrived.  It’s very much a mom and pop kind of place as the waitstaff must be family members and don’t wear uniforms but let you know when you walk in they’re there to serve you.  Our waitress was very nice and another woman (Mrs. Bronzetti?) check up on us as well to make sure everything was alright.
We started off sharing a caesar salad which  they were nice enough to split onto two separate plates and were decent sized even as halves.

Then the piece de resistance: We got a half plain, half onion pizza:

The dough was nice and crispy on the bottom and the cheese perfectly browned on the crust.  It’s just so good and was worth the wait!
Bronzetti’s is at 250 Worcester Rd., behind (but in the same building as) PC Health stop

Laura Anes is a cake maker who lives and works in Framingham and was gracious enough to let me come over to talk with her and see one of her amazing works of art she just made for a baby shower.

We sat down and she showed me pictures of a bunch of cakes she has made.  Each one is different depending on what the occasion and theme is and I had a great time looking at all of them. Besides being an incredibly nice person she’s really talented and can pretty much make anything. Here are some of my favorites:

Laura has edible paper and edible ink so she can make logos and photos for the cakes too.  I would love to have a reason for her to make a Bradlees cake!  She was also nice enough to make a little cake for me to bring home and share with Ethan which was delicious:

More of Laura’s cakes (and contact info) on her blog: www.sweetresults.blogspot.com

 The other day when it snowed, we didn’t want to drive anywhere but wanted to provisions so we walked down to Big Town Pantry and then made a stop at O’Brien’s package store.

I like O’Brien’s not just because it’s close but it’s a very simple, no-frills store that has the basics.  Although limited in it’s variety, you can get some deals on their discount shelf and certainly won’t get lost in it’s 2 isles.
Also, this is one of Framingham’s very few (if not only) neon signs!

This visit’s selection was a $4.99 bottle of Riunite, which I felt compelled to try. 

Maybe I had this commercial in the back of my mind that triggered the purchase.  I was always impressed with the two guys skiing down the hill with the open cooler!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzdDWmXNHA8

This morning I was on Rt. 9 going by the old Shogun 9 that is now PC Healthstop (holding their seemingly endless grand opening) when all off the sudden I heard angels sing.  I stopped and upon closer inspection saw….THIS:

I couldn’t believe it.  Such a beautiful sight!
It was only last summer that Ethan and I got to know the awesomeness of Bronzetti’s pizza, over by the Temple St. part of Rt. 9, but sadly our new favorite treat silently disappeared in July.  The bar changed it’s name to something generic and, as others have commented, so did the pizza.  Oh Bronzetti’s, we hardly knew ye! 

But now I can look forward to the day I will hold a slice of heaven to my lips once again!  Don’t let the messy looks fool you, with it’s light but chewy crust (and just enough crunch!) and melty goodness all over, this is pizza of the Gods. I normally avoid Rt. 9 but I will try to keep track of this progress and report when I find it up and running.  Maybe they can take over the “Grand Opening” sign from PC Healthstop to let us know.

My friend Kristin signed up for an intermediate drawing class at the Danforth Museum.
The only problem is they need 2 more people to sign up for the class or it will be canceled.
I just wanted to post about this in case anyone might be interested.

Course description:
Intermediate Drawing
A class for students who have taken one or more drawing
classes and would like to further explore basic concepts.
Students study form, line, value, texture and composition,
using a variety of materials. Tuition includes 2 sessions
with a model. Please bring an 18 x 24″ white drawing pad.
A supply list will be given at the first class.
AC12E3 Wednesday, 7 – 10pm

If anyone is interested and signs up as Kristin’s “friend” they will get a $25 discount on the class making the total cost of the class for members is $204 and for non-members is $239 (this includes the discount).
 
You can find the course catalogue and registration details here: http://www.danforthmuseum.org/courseCatalog.html

My mom loves comfortable shoes and one of the few things she doesn’t mind paying ”good money” for are quality, comfortable shoes.  For her Hanukkah gift, I got her a gift certificate to Panza Shoes (downtown across from Town Hall).
Mom usually looks for a wide shoe and Panza specializes in special sizes like narrow, wide etc…

When I went in there to get the gift certificate the guys working there were really nice and 30 minutes after I came in there I found myself sitting  down with them in the customer chairs comparing notes on Framingham restaurants.

When I said I was pleasantly surprised that this place seemed to be doing well, the manager said they get regular people that come from all over metrowest, newton and further because of their shoe selection.  He said old ladies that bought their shoes here 50 years ago now bring their grandchildren.  I noticed the whole time I was there that they knew every customer by name and would ask how their families are.  The guys said they think of it as “Cheers” because people come in and don’t just buy shoes, they sit for a while and tell them about all sorts of things going on in their life.  The manger said Panza prides it’s self on this and that “This is a sit down, take your time and find the right shoe kind of place.  If you just want a pair of shoes, go to the mall”.    They seem to be so confident in their product and service that they don’t feel the need to update their decor.  They joked about that and said the only thing that changes in the store are the shoes.

It’s funny that this should be such a unique experience but I really feel like this is a little time capsule gem that we’re lucky to have downtown.  I’m looking forward to going with my mom to get the whole shoe fitting experince : )

The Danforth Museum’s school is having a sale of work done by it’s students and faculty.  I went by the other day and saw some great stuff.
The sale is in the school part of the museum (use the side door and go to the second floor) at 123 Union Ave.
Hours are:
Monday-Saturday, 9 am-5 pm, and Tuesday-Wednesday
Sale Ends Saturday, December 15th
Here’s look at some of the things for sale: