USA trip 2015 (part 2)
After Dan & Robs wedding in New York we included a visit to Plymouth & Boston (both in Massachusetts).
Tuesday 04/08/15
I was nursing a hangover this morning, we took a Metro to City Hall then walked down to Ground Zero, many many people paying their respects – a very moving location.
We then hopped into a cab to Greenwich village to sample the Caffe Reggio on Macdougal street which has been a coffeehouse since 1927 and has been featured in many movies including The Godfather part II,Serpico, Next Stop Greenwich Village and Shaft. Many celebrities have been spotted or photographed here.
In 1959 presidential hopeful JFK made a speech outside the coffee shop. Here we had a nice lunch (which came with a Bellini included) & washed down with a bottle of Brooklyn Lager (hangover cure).
Al Pacino outside Caffe Reggio.
We walked down past “the Cage” basketball court to the West Fourth st / Washington Square subway station to catch a tube to Maceys for a spot of shopping.
After suffering long waits for the shops lifts (lots of them but very slow !) we jumped in a cab back to the Hotel. I was dispatched to Bloomingdales to aquire some presents to take home for the Grandkids then I strolled back along 2nd Avenue to check out some more watering holes.
First up into Redemption, 1003 2nd Avenue where I tried Abita brewery Purple Haze 4.75% (a fruit beer), followed by a walk to Turtle Bay, 987 2nd Avenue, with a very knowledgeable Barkeep who suggested Blue Point brewery (Patchogue NY) Blueberry Ale 4.6% and very nice it was too!
Then just round the corner from the Waldorf Astoria into Ashtons Alley, 825 3rd Avenue (on 50th b/w 2nd and 3rd) Hoegaarden 4.8%
Robs Best man laid on an “After Party” in the newlyweds suite in the Waldorf Astoria Towers, a very grand affair as the Hotel would only allow food laid on by themselves, the Hotel staff were made up as this was the sort of event they were once famed for laying on.
Beers were all purchased by the Best man, a good selection of locally brewed craft ales. Nice !
Wednesday 05/08/15
Room with a view ! (from our room in the Waldorf Astoria Towers looking down on 5th Avenue)
Off with Amtrak to Plymouth (MA) via Boston today:
942 New York Penn – South Boston station 0725 Washington – Boston
Loco 942 after arrival at Boston South
1065 Boston – Kingston 1620 South Boston station – Kingston
A minor panic as no taxi’s at Kingston station but one turned up in the nick of time & whisked us off to the Radisson hotel in Plymouth.
We ventured out for an evening meal, decided to try the Tavern on the Wharf – top food along with a good beer range. I tried Shipyard brewery (Portland, Maine) Monkey Fist IPA 6.9% & Seadog (Topsham ME) BluePaw Blueberry Wheat Ale 4.6% then a Cisco brewery (Nantucket MA) Whales Tale Pale Ale 5.6%
We took a stroll down the promenade after, watched the Dead of Night Ghost tour setting off. After visiting various gift shops Colleen went back to the room while I popped out to the Shanty Rose pub where I sampled Plymouth brewery Mayflower IPA 6.1%, then back to the Radisson Hotel bar for a pint of Cape Cod brewery (Hyannis MA) Porter 5.5%
Thursday 06/08/15
Exploring the shops on Plymouth high street this morning after a visit to the All American Diner for breakfast.
A good wander around the stores followed , including a very good home goods store which Colleen wished we had one of back in the UK. A minor panic when I realised I’d left my camera in the Diner but no problem – they were waiting for me to come back for it!
Into the Speedwell Tavern for a pint of Jacks Abby brewery (Framingham MA) House Lager 5.2%
Bar in the Speedwell Tavern
Had a break in the excellent Pillory bar where I had a Harpoon brewery (Boston) UFO Big Squeeze 4.5% plus a Left Hand brewery (Colorado) Milk Stout 6.1% then more gift shops perused before a break in the Hotel.
The Mayflower is passed by the Pilgrim Belle paddle ship in Plymouth Harbour
Out for the evening , after looking at a few menus we decided to give The Office Tapas bar & Restaurant a try. Top nosh once again, Colleen was enamoured with her Scallops wrapped in bacon. I tried Dogfish Head (Milton Delaware) IPA 6.0% & Harpoon UFO White 4.8% before we strolled down to the Pillory once again, this time we got seats at the front to enjoy the views over the water. Top pub with great beer. I had a pint of Harpoon Stout 4.1% & Sea Dog Sunfish 4.6%
Guest Beer list at the Pillory, Plymouth
Friday 07/08/15
I fetched Cappuccino’s & Bagels for breakfast before embarking on a day trip on the ferry to Provincetown. This service only runs in the "High Summer" months. A very informative trip across with a marine Biologist on board describing the wildlife we might encounter – Colleen saw a whale’s spout go up , then we both saw a rare Finback whale on the surface which then dived into the depths. Very exciting. There was also decent beer on board, I had a wheat beer (can't remember which) on both the outward & return journeys.
You get 4 ½ hours in Provincetown before the boat back and it’s wall to wall with shops, café’s , bars and restaurants.
Part of Provinetown high street
We had already decided to have lunch in the Purple Feather café & Treatery. Great toasted sandwiches & unbelievable desserts !
Cake selection in the Purple Feather cafe
Of course I had the biggest one (middle cake / top shelf) but needed help finishing it. All washed down with a Cisco Grey Lady 4.5% (bottle) & a Founders All Day IPA 4.7% (bottle). We then spent quite a few dollars in the very upmarket Monty's Christmas store (recommended) before checking out shops in the other direction.
Needing a sit down to rest & recuperate we found the Pied Bar right on the beach front. Advertised as the "original home of the wet T-Shirt competition" ! I had a couple of bottles of cool craft beers & Colleen had a Pina Colada mocktail, with a lovely sea breeze blowing through.
Pied Bar looking out to the beach
Time to head back for the boat - until I found the Nor’East Beer Garden ! Unbelievable range (but with prices to match!) so too good to miss – two quick beers Grimm Artisanal Psycokinesis 5.0% & Against the Grain 35K 7.7% were caned in. With a great open air setting, this has got to be the poshest place I've ever drunk Real Ale.
Beer menu at Nor'East Beer Garden
Bar at Nor'East Beer GardenQuick dash for the boat, I caught Colleen up just as they were about to start boarding. Definitely THE way to see Cape Cod bay.
Saturday 08/08/15
We left Plymouth this morning for Boston, but not before I withdrew some cash at the Drive Thru Cashpoint (although I was on foot) at the bank next door to our hotel.
2039 Plymouth – Boston South (via Kingston) 0937 Plymouth – Boston
We took the above train to Boston , then a short walk to the Intercontinental Hotel where we would be staying for the next 2 nights.
We set off to explore Bostons shops, soon getting the feeling we were back in the UK so similar are the surroundings to our own back home. It wasn't long before we needed for some lunch, the Cheers bar (the replica at Fanueil Hall) was full so we had some street food and sat eating while enjoying some very proffesional busking from a 12 or 13 year old boy.
We shopped on then dropped into the Bostonia public house, where I tried Peak Organic brewing co, Portland ME, Fresh Cut 4.6%.
We were planning to sightsee Boston by tram next day as many of the shops do not open on Sunday, this includes a boat trip around the harbour so we walked over to see where we would catch the boat, we went upstairs into the Marriott Waterline hotel, another great setting with harbour views and open for non hotel guests. Here I sampled Smuttynose brewery, Hampton NH, Old Brown Dog 6.5%
Tour boats in Boston Harbour
We walked along the harbourside back to our hotel (the Intercontinental) where I had an Allagash White 5.8% at their circular bar
This evening we decided to look across the river for our evening meal, crossing the bridge past the scene of the very famous "Boston Tea Party" which our hotel overlooks, we tried Brewpub "Row 34", I had a Jacks Abby Brewery, Framingham MA, Landbier 5.4% while we perused the menu. While we decided not to eat here, I got chatting to a very knowledgable young local guy who was, like me, well into the beer scene - he gave me a few pointers for my upcoming beer crawl later. I had a Ballast Point brewery, CA, Calm before the Storm 5.5% whilst talking.
As it looked quite a walk to the next brewpub (Harpoon), we decided to get a taxi back to the Bostonia as we'd already looked thru the menu here on our drinks stop earlier. They have a great guest beer range and good menu so we dined here. I had a Cape Ann, Gloucester MA, Fishermans Brew 5.5% & Clown Shoes, Ipswich MA, Clementine Witbier 5.9%.
After taking Colleen back to the hotel I set off on my Boston pub crawl, all venues I had researched online. First stop was Scholars,25 School street where I had a pint of Jacks Abby brewery, Framingham MA, Hoponius Union 6.5%.
Next stop was the Tip Tap Room, 138 Cambridge Street, very popular with the student crowd and with a huge guest beer range - here I tried Brewmaster Jack, Northampton MA, Soleil Saison 7.0%
Guest beer board at the Tip Tap Room
I next made my way to Stoddards, 48 Temple Place where I had a Notch brewing, Salem MA, Left of the Dial 4.6%. Time for bed before another early start next day.
Its thirsty work writing all this - buy me a Beer?
Sunday 09/08/15
Most of the local lines out of Boston South are diesel hauled so its a lot easier to do a few moves before breakfast here than in New York!
1061 Boston South – West Natick 0640 BS – Worcester
1061 seen at West Natick
2010 West Natick – Boston South 0700 Worcester – Boston South
We started the day on the "Old Town Trolley tour" of Boston with our Conductor “Hollywood”.
Very informative & with the unbelievable amount of history found all around Boston you could spend many hours exploring this traditional city. You can hop on & off the trams all day. We then did the harbour tour boat (included in the Boston Tram tour price)
Boston as seen from the boat trip
After this we had a short break in the Granary Tavern, I sampled Dogfish Head, Milton DE, Namaste 4.8%. We looked around the streets of Boston, working our way via the shops on Fanueil Hall marketplace to the Bell in Hand (the oldest pub in America) on Union street where I had Samuel Adams Bell in Hand ale (house beer) & Harpoon Rye IPA 6.9% - we also dined here.
I was out again that evening, visiting a few more of Boston's fine bars & pubs, first I made my way to the Tavern in the Square, Beverley street where I drank Southern Tier, Lakewood NY, Live 5.5% and Goose Island Honkers Ale 4.3%
Next up I visited the Rock Bottom brewpub, Stuart street, I sampled their own Chocolate Rye Stout 4.9% before my final port of call the Intermission Tavern, which as the name implies is in the Theatre district, I had a Blue Point, NY, Toasted Lager 5.3%
Monday 10/08/15
A few more pre-breakfast diesel moves this morning:
2020 BS – Route 128 0535 Boston South – Stoughton
2038 Route 128 – Ruggles 0507 Providence – Boston South
1126 Ruggles – Boston South 0450 Wickford Jn – Boston South
1126 at Boston South
1025 BS – Readville 0655 Boston South – Walpole
1070 & 1027 at Readville
1027 Readville – Boston South 0755 Readville – BS via Fairmount
Our last morning in Boston so we visited the areas not covered yesterday.
Old State house Boston
"Duck Pond" in Norman B.Leventhal park
We had lunch in Mr Dooleys pub (above) washed down with Allagash White 5.0% & Jacks Abby Hoponius Union 6.7%. We returned to Boston South station for an Amtrak train back to New York (hauled by the same loco as our outward journey - 942!) then the metro out to JFK airport. After going through check-in and customs we had a drink in Tigins (JFK Airport) I had Anheuser-Busch Shock Top Wheat IPA 5.8% /Thomas Cook flight back to Manchester
A great trip, especially the wedding in New York, followed by a nice relax in Plymouth & Boston. It's amazing how well preserved Manhattan is when you consider all the times it has been demolished by the Avengers and their Alien foes!
What was most apparent is the way the beer scene has exploded out of all recognition in this part of the US.
Tuesday 04/08/15
I was nursing a hangover this morning, we took a Metro to City Hall then walked down to Ground Zero, many many people paying their respects – a very moving location.
We then hopped into a cab to Greenwich village to sample the Caffe Reggio on Macdougal street which has been a coffeehouse since 1927 and has been featured in many movies including The Godfather part II,Serpico, Next Stop Greenwich Village and Shaft. Many celebrities have been spotted or photographed here.
In 1959 presidential hopeful JFK made a speech outside the coffee shop. Here we had a nice lunch (which came with a Bellini included) & washed down with a bottle of Brooklyn Lager (hangover cure).
Al Pacino outside Caffe Reggio.
We walked down past “the Cage” basketball court to the West Fourth st / Washington Square subway station to catch a tube to Maceys for a spot of shopping.
After suffering long waits for the shops lifts (lots of them but very slow !) we jumped in a cab back to the Hotel. I was dispatched to Bloomingdales to aquire some presents to take home for the Grandkids then I strolled back along 2nd Avenue to check out some more watering holes.
First up into Redemption, 1003 2nd Avenue where I tried Abita brewery Purple Haze 4.75% (a fruit beer), followed by a walk to Turtle Bay, 987 2nd Avenue, with a very knowledgeable Barkeep who suggested Blue Point brewery (Patchogue NY) Blueberry Ale 4.6% and very nice it was too!
Then just round the corner from the Waldorf Astoria into Ashtons Alley, 825 3rd Avenue (on 50th b/w 2nd and 3rd) Hoegaarden 4.8%
Robs Best man laid on an “After Party” in the newlyweds suite in the Waldorf Astoria Towers, a very grand affair as the Hotel would only allow food laid on by themselves, the Hotel staff were made up as this was the sort of event they were once famed for laying on.
Beers were all purchased by the Best man, a good selection of locally brewed craft ales. Nice !
Wednesday 05/08/15
Off with Amtrak to Plymouth (MA) via Boston today:
942 New York Penn – South Boston station 0725 Washington – Boston
Loco 942 after arrival at Boston South
A minor panic as no taxi’s at Kingston station but one turned up in the nick of time & whisked us off to the Radisson hotel in Plymouth.
We ventured out for an evening meal, decided to try the Tavern on the Wharf – top food along with a good beer range. I tried Shipyard brewery (Portland, Maine) Monkey Fist IPA 6.9% & Seadog (Topsham ME) BluePaw Blueberry Wheat Ale 4.6% then a Cisco brewery (Nantucket MA) Whales Tale Pale Ale 5.6%
Thursday 06/08/15
Exploring the shops on Plymouth high street this morning after a visit to the All American Diner for breakfast.
Into the Speedwell Tavern for a pint of Jacks Abby brewery (Framingham MA) House Lager 5.2%
Bar in the Speedwell Tavern
Had a break in the excellent Pillory bar where I had a Harpoon brewery (Boston) UFO Big Squeeze 4.5% plus a Left Hand brewery (Colorado) Milk Stout 6.1% then more gift shops perused before a break in the Hotel.
Out for the evening , after looking at a few menus we decided to give The Office Tapas bar & Restaurant a try. Top nosh once again, Colleen was enamoured with her Scallops wrapped in bacon. I tried Dogfish Head (Milton Delaware) IPA 6.0% & Harpoon UFO White 4.8% before we strolled down to the Pillory once again, this time we got seats at the front to enjoy the views over the water. Top pub with great beer. I had a pint of Harpoon Stout 4.1% & Sea Dog Sunfish 4.6%
Friday 07/08/15
I fetched Cappuccino’s & Bagels for breakfast before embarking on a day trip on the ferry to Provincetown. This service only runs in the "High Summer" months. A very informative trip across with a marine Biologist on board describing the wildlife we might encounter – Colleen saw a whale’s spout go up , then we both saw a rare Finback whale on the surface which then dived into the depths. Very exciting. There was also decent beer on board, I had a wheat beer (can't remember which) on both the outward & return journeys.
You get 4 ½ hours in Provincetown before the boat back and it’s wall to wall with shops, café’s , bars and restaurants.
We had already decided to have lunch in the Purple Feather café & Treatery. Great toasted sandwiches & unbelievable desserts !
Of course I had the biggest one (middle cake / top shelf) but needed help finishing it. All washed down with a Cisco Grey Lady 4.5% (bottle) & a Founders All Day IPA 4.7% (bottle). We then spent quite a few dollars in the very upmarket Monty's Christmas store (recommended) before checking out shops in the other direction.
Needing a sit down to rest & recuperate we found the Pied Bar right on the beach front. Advertised as the "original home of the wet T-Shirt competition" ! I had a couple of bottles of cool craft beers & Colleen had a Pina Colada mocktail, with a lovely sea breeze blowing through.
Time to head back for the boat - until I found the Nor’East Beer Garden ! Unbelievable range (but with prices to match!) so too good to miss – two quick beers Grimm Artisanal Psycokinesis 5.0% & Against the Grain 35K 7.7% were caned in. With a great open air setting, this has got to be the poshest place I've ever drunk Real Ale.
Saturday 08/08/15
We left Plymouth this morning for Boston, but not before I withdrew some cash at the Drive Thru Cashpoint (although I was on foot) at the bank next door to our hotel.
We set off to explore Bostons shops, soon getting the feeling we were back in the UK so similar are the surroundings to our own back home. It wasn't long before we needed for some lunch, the Cheers bar (the replica at Fanueil Hall) was full so we had some street food and sat eating while enjoying some very proffesional busking from a 12 or 13 year old boy.
We shopped on then dropped into the Bostonia public house, where I tried Peak Organic brewing co, Portland ME, Fresh Cut 4.6%.
We were planning to sightsee Boston by tram next day as many of the shops do not open on Sunday, this includes a boat trip around the harbour so we walked over to see where we would catch the boat, we went upstairs into the Marriott Waterline hotel, another great setting with harbour views and open for non hotel guests. Here I sampled Smuttynose brewery, Hampton NH, Old Brown Dog 6.5%
We walked along the harbourside back to our hotel (the Intercontinental) where I had an Allagash White 5.8% at their circular bar
This evening we decided to look across the river for our evening meal, crossing the bridge past the scene of the very famous "Boston Tea Party" which our hotel overlooks, we tried Brewpub "Row 34", I had a Jacks Abby Brewery, Framingham MA, Landbier 5.4% while we perused the menu. While we decided not to eat here, I got chatting to a very knowledgable young local guy who was, like me, well into the beer scene - he gave me a few pointers for my upcoming beer crawl later. I had a Ballast Point brewery, CA, Calm before the Storm 5.5% whilst talking.
As it looked quite a walk to the next brewpub (Harpoon), we decided to get a taxi back to the Bostonia as we'd already looked thru the menu here on our drinks stop earlier. They have a great guest beer range and good menu so we dined here. I had a Cape Ann, Gloucester MA, Fishermans Brew 5.5% & Clown Shoes, Ipswich MA, Clementine Witbier 5.9%.
Next stop was the Tip Tap Room, 138 Cambridge Street, very popular with the student crowd and with a huge guest beer range - here I tried Brewmaster Jack, Northampton MA, Soleil Saison 7.0%
I next made my way to Stoddards, 48 Temple Place where I had a Notch brewing, Salem MA, Left of the Dial 4.6%. Time for bed before another early start next day.
Its thirsty work writing all this - buy me a Beer?
Sunday 09/08/15
Most of the local lines out of Boston South are diesel hauled so its a lot easier to do a few moves before breakfast here than in New York!
1061 Boston South – West Natick 0640 BS – Worcester
2010 West Natick – Boston South 0700 Worcester – Boston South
We started the day on the "Old Town Trolley tour" of Boston with our Conductor “Hollywood”.
Very informative & with the unbelievable amount of history found all around Boston you could spend many hours exploring this traditional city. You can hop on & off the trams all day. We then did the harbour tour boat (included in the Boston Tram tour price)
After this we had a short break in the Granary Tavern, I sampled Dogfish Head, Milton DE, Namaste 4.8%. We looked around the streets of Boston, working our way via the shops on Fanueil Hall marketplace to the Bell in Hand (the oldest pub in America) on Union street where I had Samuel Adams Bell in Hand ale (house beer) & Harpoon Rye IPA 6.9% - we also dined here.
Monday 10/08/15
A few more pre-breakfast diesel moves this morning:
2020 BS – Route 128 0535 Boston South – Stoughton
2038 Route 128 – Ruggles 0507 Providence – Boston South
1126 Ruggles – Boston South 0450 Wickford Jn – Boston South
1025 BS – Readville 0655 Boston South – Walpole
1027 Readville – Boston South 0755 Readville – BS via Fairmount
Our last morning in Boston so we visited the areas not covered yesterday.
A great trip, especially the wedding in New York, followed by a nice relax in Plymouth & Boston. It's amazing how well preserved Manhattan is when you consider all the times it has been demolished by the Avengers and their Alien foes!
What was most apparent is the way the beer scene has exploded out of all recognition in this part of the US.
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