Wollaston Charms

Wollaston is a quaint neighborhood located in the city of Quincy, Massachusetts boasting a beach on Quincy Bay with distant views of the Boston Skyline and a small downtown area with friendly shops and historic nuances. Quincy is known as the city of Presidents (where it all began!) as well as Adam's hometown. Obviously, I've been to the neighborhood more times than I can count, but this weekend while we were dog sitting combined with warm temperatures conducive to long walks and explorations, I took a few photographs and decided to share.

Setting out to Wollaston Beach with Buddy.

We actually walked the beach twice - on an overcast Friday afternoon... ...and then a longer stroll on a sunny blue skied Saturday morning. (We were up at 8:30 which is pretty early for us on a Saturday, believe it or not!)

Coffee in one hand, dog leash in the other, it was a perfect morning.

The strolls continued around the tree lined residential neighborhood streets.

I love this dog! The edge of the neighborhood is defined by a vast stretch of marshland area.

We definitely tuckered Buddy out after all these long walks.But apparently not ourselves, we only worked up an appetite and were back out a couple hours later in search of breakfast.

Newcomb Farms at 31 Beale Street did the trick. It's not fancy food, just your basic breakfast and brunch fare served at a reasonable price.

Their weekend special menu displayed a healthy dose of Red Sox pride!

Hot coffees were delivered promptly.

I ordered the New England Breakfast ($6.75) of French Toast, Scrambled Eggs and four sausage links. I half expected this plate to have home fries accompanying but I ordered pretty quickly without fully scanning the menu listings.

And four sausage links is a bit much for me, but this meal got the job done.

Across the street is The Wollaston Theater, which closed down a number of years ago. Adam recounted dollar movie nights and expressed a fondness for the single screen theater venue that once housed live performances and motion pictures.

It's too bad the cinema closed down, it would definitely be a welcome addition to the neighborhood if it were re-opened.

Peering in the windowfront, the antique ticket booth still stands among an abandoned looking space.

Speaking of abandoned buildings, the one pictured below just up the street holds quite a significance in terms of popular culture icons.

This building, as evidenced by a small "HJ" orange logo embedded in the stonework of the front stoop, was the first ever Howard Johnson's.

It wasn't a motor lodge as we know them today but simply a corner drugstore operating a soda fountain.

I thought that was pretty cool.

I also liked this vintage Mobilgas pump that sat at on display at the auto body shop next door. The last sale clocked in at $4.40, probably from as long ago as when the HoJo's was alive and kickin'.

Flash forward to present time, the current pop culture trend of cupcakes sees business booming at the locally owned Babycakes.

At 163 Beale Street, it was our last stop before heading back. I ordered four signature cupcakes to-go and later enjoyed the Boston Cream (front right.) It was an excellent cupcake!!

Also pictured is the Peanut Butter Cup, Tiramisu, and "The Babycakes". The cupcakes are baked fresh daily using ingredients from local suppliers. Each day of the week features different flavors. Daily specials can be found here.

One last photograph of a building with historical significance to end the Wollaston montage. The picturesque Josiah Quincy House, the country home of the revolutionary war Colonel, sits tucked away on Muirhead Street.

Hope you enjoyed the tour!