New England Travel and Vacation Gazette and Other Wicked Good Content

Jimmy's Pizzeria, East Walpole, Mass (photo by Eric) When I crave a Greek-style pizza, I opt for Jimmy's Pizzeria in East Walpole, Mass. Owners Themis and Athena Kalemkeridis and their staff produce a full-bodied pizza that's not too greasy (so often, Greek pizza is too greasy!) and rich in homemade tomato sauce and a tangy cheese.  Jimmy's doesn't skimp on toppings, either, as add-ons like pepperoni and meatball significantly block the view of the tomato and cheese. Jimmy's atmosphere goes way beyond the basic house of pizza decor and ambiance with a good-sized, well-lit spotless semi-circular dining room surrounded by several windows overlooking the attractive St. Mary's Church in the quaint industrial village look of East Walpole. I also enjoy other delicious meals at Jimmy's like the gyros dinner, broccoli and chicken calzone, oversized salads, subs, chicken cacciatore and pasta dinners which all rival those found at the glitzier higher-priced r...

What a great St. Patrick's Day morning it has been at The Raven's Nest in Walpole, Mass. This authentic-looking Irish pub and restaurant opened this morning at 5 a.m., serving traditional Irish breakfasts (and delicious scones) and offering live Irish music as well as step dancing and tap dancing from members and staff of the world-class caliber Harney Academy of Irish Dance in Walpole. Reporter David Robichaud from WBZ-TV Channel 4 was there to cover the event and seemed to have a ball, talking it up and joking with many of the locals. The place was packed and the first pouring of the pint occurred at 8 a.m.  Throughout the day, Irish music will be played and live entertainment will return tonight. I can't say enough good things about The Raven's Nest.  Husband and wife owners Mark and Maura McAuliffe have brought a true gathering place, of sorts, to the heart of downtown Walpole -- and with a dedication to what an Irish pub looks like from Mark's native land. T...

Photo Credit: Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau With a strong Irish foundation, Massachusetts is traditionally filled with wonderful St. Patrick's Day activities .  Boston will be once again be celebrating St. Patrick’s Weekend, March 17-20, in grand style with great performances, tours and the famous Sunday St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Log onto The Thrifty New England Traveler for some of the St. Patrick's Day events and attractions  in Massachusetts. We strongly encourage you to visit the Boston Irish Tourism Association Web Site for  comprehensive information on events, attractions and Irish cultural venues. Also, we, at VisitingNewEngland.com, have written an article on some of the best Irish-American restaurants and pubs in the Boston suburbs . We recommend calling each restaurant to find out how they will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day.  We also know that The Raven's Nest in Walpole, Mass., will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day first t...

Gas prices haven't been that amusing lately, but I've been able to find some humor while at the pump. OK, let me explain... Have you noticed the self-serve gas pump card prompt that reads, "Please remove card quickly"? What if you don't? I haven't had the courage to do this, so perhaps someone that has inserted the credit card in for an extended time can shed some light on this. Have you seen the pump message "Press 'Yes' for receipt" ? Why even have this? There's no option to press "No," so why not just have the receipt come out automatically? How about "Please don't leave pump while fueling"? This is disappointing.  Last summer when reading this pump message, I really wanted to go to Six Flags New England while the car was filling up on gas. So I've learned to be patient and not leave the pump while fueling. Last summer while leaving a gas station with all these weird messages, I proceeded to a l...

Thought you might like to see the fury of the ocean after some stormy New England weather.  This video was taken at the Minot neighborhood in Scituate, Mass., which tends to fly under the travel radar when its comes to costal New England. It's really a beautiful spot.  Clearly, this was not an optimal day for an ocean walk, but it does illustrate the many personalities of the New England sea. Personally, we'd rather have a sunny day at the beach, but there's something to be said about experiencing crashing waves with the mist splashing right up in your face!

Rhode Island Monthly Magazine just named the Armory District in Providence, R.I., as one of "The Best Places to Live" in Rhode Island. The Magazine hit the newsstand today, and the article can be viewed online though a subscription . In the article, you'll find the lowdown on many other highly-regarded Rhode Island town and city neighborhoods. The Armory District, located in West Providence, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and has really undergone an "extreme neighborhood makeover" with homes (including many Victorians) being restored to their former glory, and shops and restaurants opening. Channel 10 NBC WJAR television anchor/reporter Alison Bologna, did an outstanding job, as usual, reporting on the Armory District's progress. We encourage you to take a look the Channel 10 video above. This is the way reporting should be done,  and it's nice that the Armory District is the subject matter. We realize that areas around th...