This Is Framingham

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  I know some people say it was ratty and ugly (and outdated towards the end) but I think it was really special.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! 

Last week I had my first visit to a new dentist, Dr. Sharon Chen on Concord Street.
I was so surprised I left a dentist in a good mood. ????? ??   Everyone from the guy at the desk to the assistants were so nice.  Everything in the office is brand new and clean, I was just really impressed. 
Also, the cover for the fluorescent lights above the patient’s chair has a scene of blue sky and kites so you have something pleasant to look at while you get your mouth scraped out. Very nice. 

 This afternoon we decided to try Hometown Hotdogs in Saxonville. 
It wasn’t amazing, but it wasn’t bad either, the fries were pretty good. 
Nothing outrageous, but if you want a hotdog and fries it fits the bill. 

Later my friend and I went to try Mad Willies in Framingham center.
They have a lot of choices of ice cream and toppings. 
They also have a freezer when you walk in to get ice cream cakes and homemade
ice cream cookie sandwiches.  I got chocolate frozen yogurt with marshmallow, which looks kind of soupy and my friend got chocolate brownie something. Of course I couldn’t leave without getting Ethan a treat for home so I got him a sundae with strawberries and fresh whipped cream that they make daily (according to the sign).
The girls at the counter weren’t the friendliest, but I guess scooping ice cream all day in the summer might get them, who knows.

I was just reading this article in the MWDN about how the old Friendly’s on Union Ave was bought by the Islamic Society of Framingham and will become a Mosque.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not anti-Muslim but  pro-business (even more so if it serves ice cream).
The article states that the planning board will have to approve a change-of-use permit.  How does that work?  If it’s already purchased, can the town deny a non-business purpose for a property in a business zone? ????? ????  Or is it just to make it official it’s a tax exempt property now and the mosque doesn’t really need approval.From the article: “If the change is approved, the move would mean another hit to the town’s tax rolls. ???? ?????? Friendly’s, which closed early this year, paid ,749 in property taxes for fiscal 2006. ???? 1xbet “

The majority of this plaza on Franklin St. is vacant. It’s such a shame because it is yet another area that I can walk to from my house but, there’s not much of a reason to. ???? ?????? ??????? ????????? ???? 2022   I would have thought at least a grocery store could stay in business there, but no such luck. spin palace
They must be pretty confident nothing will move into the old Big D for a while since the thrift store, that isn’t in the space of the old grocery store, got top billing on the plaza sign.  I wonder if this will all just eventually get bulldozed over.  I can’t even think of what I’d want to be in there but I guess its ok for now since I like Dunkin Donuts, bought something from the thrift store and once in a while need to get a bottle of wine or something from the liquor store.
Who knows, maybe whatever the 400 Club becomes will attract something else.  Maybe someone will even occupy the old fotomat hut!
Also, I’d like to give a shout out to the two businesses in what I call “survivor’s corner“.  They must have some loyal patrons because I thought there was nothing still alive in that section.  Good for them!  If anyone needs a haircut or a laundromat please go there. ?????? ????????   

Last night we went out for a little Chinese food at Imperial China and ice cream at Gerard Farms.

Although we didn’t order it last night,
Imperial China has great chicken with eggplant and they’re the only place I know that will make fried rice with brown rice.  We just got some cocktails and a pupu platter – oh and some vegetables to make it a “healthy” meal. is ivermectin tablets safe for humans

After that we went to Gerard Farms, which I’ve never been to before.  My friend, who likes their chicken pot pies brought it to my attention. how far apart canninguve double strongid and ivermectin   I know, I’m out of the loop.  I tried the kahlua brownie and Ethan got cookies and cream. comprimido para escabiose
I didn’t try his, but the kahlua brownie was really, really good.

These images were stuck in my mind when I decided to drag myself out of bed and go to the gym this morning.