bubba "is so Awesome it should be illegal" h.'s Profile

Still awesome.

Went in here over the weekend to get some party-style stuff.  Scored some AWESOME display platters - we found lots of ugly ones but also some really classy ones too.  The range of stuff here is incredible.  If you're eclectic or classy - you'll find something in your taste range here.

I was in here the other day - still a great little toy store - still EXPENSIVE.

The markup is pretty high.  I found several things I wanted, but decided to get them somewhere else for a few dollars less.  Sorry!

Also - I noticed they have several brands of toys that you won't find in Toys R Us, etc.  I saw several display cases full of a brand of toy imported from say, England.    If you are looking for that type of thing, you'll find it here.

ZERO STARS.

Folks, let me tell you a story about a place - a place called a "bakery" that has practically NO baked goods - a place where I had the absolute worst rip-off of a lunch EVER IN MY LIFE.

I don't care if the owner reads this and begs for mercy - I don't care if someone deletes this - I will check every day for the rest of my life so that everyone near and far reads and learns and knows that this is the absolute WORST place on earth!!!!

~

Nelson's Bakery.  A cornerstone of the downtown area of Winchester, MA.  A place that every single person in town knows of.  A place that, believe it or not, used to be run by the Nelson family - and it actually produced some pretty darned nice baked goods and one of the best sandwiches I've ever had.

~

Fast-forward 20 years.  

~

We went in here last Saturday for lunch, noontime.  We walked in, and the place had no customers.  (Well, 2 people sitting down who left shortly after we walked in.).  We heard a lot of arguing from the back - and that should have been our first clue to turn around and never come back.
There are two counters - one giant one taking up an entire wall for ice cream - and another small one with maybe 4 different baked goods in it (none of which were remotely appetizing).
There was a promising menu behind this second counter full of sandwiches!  It looked good - all kinds of stuff.  Pricy, but I remembered the sandwich I had here all those years ago and was hopeful.  
We placed our order - A turkey and avacado sandwich, and a "tofu salad" which sounded different.  (We learned different = bad here.)
~
We sat down and chatted all the while there was constant arguing and angry phone calls coming from the back.  It wasn't english - I don't know what it was - something nine-eleveny.  At one point, a woman came out from the back yelling into the phone to a customer apoligizing for their late order but it would probably be there in 5 minutes.  They seemed to be preparing a lot of to-go orders and were arguing about that.  
We waited, and waited, and waited.  One couple walked in - and walked right out. This place doesn't look good - you'd never know what they sold by looking at their tiny-type menu behind the counter and bare display cases.  An entire wall for ice cream?  Not a smart choice where 1/2 the year is freezing winter!
More waiting.  A lady walked in, and walked out.

Mind you-  there were no customers in the store.  Just us.

Finally - someone comes out with my sandwich and says the salad will be right out.  Now, I ordered a turkey and avacado sandwich.  Do you want to know what was on my sandwich?  Turkey and avacado.  That's it.  THAT'S IT!?!  No sauce - no onions - no lettuce - NOTHING.  2 items on dry bread that took 25 minutes to make!?!   AND we were still left waiting for a SALAD?  Are they growing the tomatos back there?!?
We downed the completely bland sandwich because we were starving.
~
10 minutes later, the salad arrives.  I ask for a different dressing.  The guy disappears and is never seen again. Wait - I am sorry -he did walk out onto the floor arguing into the cordless phone.  
This salad was a total disgrace.  A plastic container with lettuce, tomato, and some other stuff covered in what appeared to be mashed microwaved steaming tofu.  It looked horrendous.  And this - this we waited 1/2 an hour for - in a place with no customers.

We tasted the tofu - both looked at each other in disgust, grabbed our coats and bolted for the door, vowing NEVER to return.  I don't think they noticed we had left - still arguing out back.

Biggest waste of $20 in my life.  A bland sandwich and a salad that made us run for the door.  UNREAL.

We actually went to CVS and got some bars and stuff to eat - we were so desperate.

DO NOT GO HERE.  AVOID AT ALL COSTS.  NELSON'S BAKERY OF WINCHESTER MA IS GARBAGE.

The frozen foods here are the bomb.  If you are throwing a party, get some stuff here.  It's ALWAYS awesome and always at a decent price.  I had to run in here the other day and grab some spanikopita.  Is that how you spell it?  Well you know - those spinach cheese pastry things?  I love them.  I could eat them all day.  In fact, why don't I!?!

This is my go-to Bed Bath and Beyond.  Just down the road from the mall, so when you're in the area, you always think "Hey, Bed Bath and Beyond is just down the road".  Really!

This is probably the best of the Bed/Bath locations I've seen.  Big store.  Lots of inventory - the kitchen items alone are astounding.  They sell the Keurig coffee here - LOTS of it!  Awesome!

And, dear reader, my tip to you:  You know those 20% off coupons for this place that you see everywhere?  Well, you know those "expiration dates" they stick on there?  Well, they mean NOTHING.  Yes, these coupons NEVER EXPIRE.  By law, a coupon (delivered by the post office at least) MUST have an "expiration date" on it.  But - they don't actually expire - they'll still work when the cashier scans them in.

AND - you can use more than one each trip!  Which means if you have 10 of these 20% Off coupons and 10 items, you'll get 20% off each item!!!!  Awesome!!  You can save so much money this way.  

So - next time you're at your friends' house or your parents' and you see these coupons lying around - say - "You gonna use that?" and/or just take them like I do...

I still say this place stinks, location-wise.  Rt 9 is a nightmare - no matter when you drive it.  The doctors here are fine - even if their bedside manner died inside them years ago.  The xray machine here is the BEST you'll ever find - best images yet.  Expect your appointment to run late, even if you show up early...

I don't think there's any ice cream here, kids.
But I grabbed some more Polish stuff when I was in the area the other day.  The real deal on pickles are the BOMB here.
Did you know the only word in the english language that completely changes it's meaning when you capitalize the first letter is Polish?  Think about it!

I like the gift shop here.
Had to grab something the other day for a special someone who noticed a special something when we were here the other special day.
When you buy a piece of jewelry - they do a big deal wrapping it up for you.  Kind of nice.  They take off the price tag, put it in a size-appropriate box, tie nice ribbon/bow on it.  Saves me from having to wrap it!

Aw, that's sad this place closed.

Well, maybe not.

I have fond memories of this old place.  Took this totally hot chick here once on a date.  What happened to her!?  OH YEAH right.... anyhow....

This place is special to me because it was the one and only place I'd ever seen/had Killian's Honey Amber on tap.  One of the best beers I'd ever had.  And it was only here - and only for a short time awhile back.

The food was fine - they would do a burger with a soft-pretzel-like roll that wasn't so bad.  Some decent sandwiches, and GUINNESS listed as an APPETIZER!  

I know it's closed, but there's no rule against reviewing places that are closed, so close your mouth and ska-rew!!

You lose a star and are dangerously close to losing another.  You hear me!?

Ah - January-February 2010.  The usual.  Soccer moms and overweight teens trying to squeeze in a few reps before going home to watch "Jersey Shore".

Get out of my gym!!!   You'll just give up in a few weeks anyhow - why take up my space!?

Not to mention - half - that's right - HALF of the treadmills with TVs are not working!  The TV part I mean - the treadmill itself is fine.  But I say TV is the big motivator there and without them - ugh - it's torture!  Watching Family Guy makes doing an hour of speed-walking much easier!!   I hate that all the noobs broke my treadmills.  I bet is was that whale I see sometimes - she wears regular clothes and all kinds of gold jewelry.  Yeah - you're a serious workout person for sure.  GO HOME NEW YEARS PEOPLE!!!!