This place has been on my TODO list for a while and I'm soo very happy I finally made it. I had THE…read morebest time with the kittys! We came on a Thursday morning and there were a few other visitors but not crowded at all, which was nice. I can't say enough nice things about the staff. They were so friendly, helpful, and genuinely happy to be there. The place was spotless. I was surprised how incredibly clean it was, literally no cat hair anywhere, how is that possible!? I had a fleece jacket and there was zero hair stuck to it, how!?No animal/litterbox odor and fresh water bowls everywhere. There's a small L-shaped room on main floor with the cafe area. Once it's your time, they take you into a small room to put on shoe covers and hand sanitizer. Then you enter the main room where they give you a short intro/info on kittys and what you should/should not do. Downstairs is a larger room with more cute kittys! There are kitty toys on both floors and plenty of seating on chairs and benches or even the floor. You can tell the kittys are loved and well cared for. They're just so sweet and adorable and I'm dreaming of the next time I can go and get my kitty fix. - Reservations are required + waiver before your visit - $10 credit per person to use at cafe - you can order drinks and treats while playing with the kittys - the pasties were delicious! Chocolate croissant was gigantic! The kitty macaroon was too cute! - once you're in the kitty area you can't leave so make sure you have everything before entering - small book store in the cafe area - gift certificates available Parking not great as this is on Charles street. Try the side roads or walk a couple blocks to the Common garage.

I've only been to one other cat cafe, so I was quite excited for this to open and to give it a try!…read more We got a complimentary drink, which was nice; I got a jasmine tea, which I was pleasantly surprised to find tasted like actual and well-steeped jasmine (I find a lot of places under or over-steep it, or scald it with water that's too hot). We didn't try any of the pastries because they weren't included, and also seemed a bit expensive given how much we'd already paid for the experience. The space isn't huge downstairs, so it's a bit intimate with whoever else may have booked (seems like they build in a 10-15 overlap); that could also be because they had just brought in some new cats and had split the space while they were getting acclimated. The staff are very friendly and clearly care deeply about the wellbeing of the feline friends inside, which I find really encouraging. They also do a really good job keeping everything clean. I'd you're looking for a quirky fun thing to do, check it out!

Formerly known as "Corndog" by the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL), we adopted Arthur…read moreCornelius on June 29th, 2024. Arthur was surrendered to the ARL with two of his family members at the end of April. Arthur tried to wait patiently for his turn to find his furever home, but it was tough because he loves being with his people. When we met Arthur, it was obvious he was well cared for and how much the ARL staff and volunteers loved him. Despite being in the shelter for about two months, Arthur was friendly and trusting. Today, Arthur is living his best life with his new parents going on lots of adventures. The ARL staff and volunteers are kind, compassionate, and dedicated. In 2023, they facilitated 3,173 adoptions including cats, dogs, small animals like bunnies, and even some livestock! And overall, they helped around 21,000 animals in lots of other ways. Thank you for giving Arthur a second chance to live his best life. I highly recommend the ARL!

I fell in love with a dog who has massive separation anxiety. After Wendy (ARL Brewster) explained…read morehis history and needs, I took him home knowing it would be a long road. The ARL has been very helpful and has never made me feel bad about asking for advice. I live in Needham and had reached out to the Dedham shelter a couple of weeks after Arlos adoption, they were kind and accomodating. Laney the behavioralist has been so nice and helpful giving advice and tips. I am happy and grateful to the ARL and the hard work and care that the staff put in even after adoption.

City Seed endeavors to support a "just food system". They do that through their Farmers Markets in…read moreNew Haven, which are designed to remove barriers to access to nutritious food. Their Sanctuary Kitchen project bolsters another objective -- encouraging fairness and participation in the entrepreneurial aspects of food business. As I understand Sanctuary Kitchen, they offer fair wage employment opportunities in a food catering and grab and go type business to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. I believe these people are encouraged to help expose people to world cuisines that are meaningful to them. You can order food for pickup at designated times. You can also buy the food at the Farmers Markets. I recently visited the Sunday City Seed Market at Edgewood Park near the Westville neighborhood of New Haven. There were a variety of foods. I grabbed a tasty hunmus and a box of the donut style falafel. Both good. But I was really intrigued by the Iraqi food offerings because I haven't knowingly had Iraqi food. I bought Iraqi Carrot and Dill rice, Iraqi Lentil Soup and Iraqi Vegetable Curry Soup. Since I'm not experienced in Iraqi cuisine, I can't speak to authenticity or make a comparative quality analysis. The food seemed nutrient rich. I'm not sure if this a cultural thing or the preference of the individual cook, I think the food needed a bit more salt across the board. Also, in terms of texture, the rice was good, but the soups seemed a bit overcooked and had a softer texture than I would expect. I was happy to have a chance to try these foods and I applaud the mission of City Seed. 4.25 Stars

I often attend the Saturday morning City Seed Farmers Market and like to pick up some freshly made…read morehummus or other prepared food from the sanctuary kitchen who attends the market. The ladies who work there are friendly and describe their prepared foods well. The hummus is my favorite go to food.

Delicious coffee, super cute space, and refreshing food…read more It's a bus yourself restaurant with an unassuming outdoor space in the back for additional seating. They generally require you to order before sitting given the small space so keep that in mind when you arrive. Service is friendly and very quick. Their food is delicious and refreshing, however I'd say the star of the show is their coffee. I really enjoyed the Saigon latte especially paired with the DELICIOUS pastry. Definitely want to come back to try their dinner menu!

Came here on a sunday evening around 7:45 PM without a reservation, and were quickly seated at the…read morebar. The restaurant had a really great ambiance, and I enjoyed being able to watch the chefs prepare the food. We ordered the ginger cabbage salad, the coconut eggplant, and the duck noodles. I would have loved to have tried their sushi grade salmon, but they were unfortunately sold out for the night. So I would recommend arriving earlier if you would like to try it. My favorite dish was the duck noodles. I liked the freshness of the basil in the pesto, and the tenderness and juiciness of the duck. The coconut eggplant was a close second favorite. The coconut flavor was delicious, and I liked the nuts on top for crunch. I also found the ginger cabbage salad to be yummy, but not as much as a standout as the other two dishes. Overall, I really enjoyed this spot for dinner. I liked how fresh everything was, and how the dishes felt very light and healthy. It's definitely a bit on the pricier side, but I found it to be very worth it. I definitely come back and try their lattes and other dishes.

Amazing place for kids and adults, year round. My mom took us here as kids, and this was my first…read moreintroduction to hiking. Looking back, I definitely think that our family hikes here helped to foster a lifelong love for the outdoors and nature. I recently brought my 9 month old daughter here, and along with my husband and her grandma, we spent an awesome afternoon checking out the live animal habitats and then going on a short hike around the trails. Inside there are birds, turtles, ferrets, guinea pigs, rabbits, and reptiles. The trails are well-maintained. While the sanctuary is free, donations are appreciated, and all proceeds from the gift shop go to support it. This is a wonderful way to introduce kids to nature and to experience the great outdoors of central New England.

We actually lived here for about one year in 2013. Is is an experience I would cherish for…read morelifetime. We truly experienced living in the middle of nature. If you come hear to see hundred of exotic birds, you will be disappointed. But there are few exotic parrots and other birds here and few other animals. Barbara takes amazing care of this place. She maintains this place like her own house. There are some nice trails for easy afternoon hike. This place does organize summer camp and birthday parties. I have only one complain, town of Charlton does not take care of the road to the sanctuary and the road is horrible. Please drive carefully on Capen Road, the sanctuary is all the way to the end. Especially in winter if the caretaker (another nice and caring fellow) does not plow snow, it becomes very difficult to reach inside. Please keep in mind this place is surviving mostly on donation from peers, so please show your generosity if you visit.

Cute small coffee shop with fresh pastries, say less!…read more Popped into this coffee shop recommended and visited frequently by my cousin, and I can see why! It was a breeze getting in and placing an order mid morning but there wasn't any seating available. We were on the move for the day so didn't stop us! Got a strawberry matcha and it was delicious. The perfect balance to enjoy a sweet but tart drink! It can be hit or miss with matcha and I was a hit. Went back twice while visiting this past weekend!

All time favorite local coffee shop in Boston! Very wholesome lovely and inviting space. It is…read moreconveniently located right across from Brookline village green line. The only only downside is it can be very busy on weekends and hard to grab a seat but they also have some outdoor tables! Got an iced chai and almond croissant - chai is perfect, not too sweet, and nice flavors. Friend got the London fog latte which was delish. Next to Jamie's ice cream shop which is opened seasonally and I believe the same owners!

Japonaise is a super cute Asian bakery…read more They have a variety of traditional Asian breads, and you can customize the filling as well.

I love Japonaise Bakery for their adorable anime- themed pastries! While their Totoro Bun is…read moredefinitely the most popular, they also like to experiment with new flavors & characters. The display in the front with all the figurines and product samples is the cutest thing you will see all day. Although their Kuromi Bun had a nice (not too sweet) custard filling, the bread itself was a tad too dry. We also got their Shio Butter Bread which was the better choice. We happened to get a freshly baked one which was fluffy and melt in your mouth delicious! Also, it must be said that their service is A+. Their staff are truly such kind folks - always smiling and making friendly conversation with their customers. Turns out they were testing a new dough for the Shio Bread so they even gave us one on the house to try. The kind gesture was very sweet and much appreciated!

Quaint, healthy and creative food…read more I'll be recommding this eatery to my son. Enjoyed coming here.

Great juices!!!!! First time at this location on a super hot Saturday afternoon!! And we were…read moreparched! This place has a cool interior and 2 levels and the downstairs has a lounge- like vibe - very cool! Anyhow we ordered several of the juices between the 3 of us - the orange blossom was great my favorite! Our friend ordered the heart beet, which he really liked too. The hubs ordered a Sunrise surge smoothie- mango pineapple strawberry carrot dates watermelon coconut water and beet ginger swirl! We even got 2 juices to go and they were great! They're super smooth too no chewy bits or anything! I love that these are all so delicious veggies and fruit with no added sugars! Fulfills my "healthy and tasty" requirements from everything I eat and drink these days!! Service was friendly. The ambience is great nice lighting bright colors and plenty of seating! Great central location near Central square too! We'll be back for sure!

I came here today for a tour of the sanctuary and loved it! I'm a vegan, so seeing these animals…read morebeing cared for is so wonderful. It was heartbreaking hearing some of their stories, but so blessed to see they're happy and can live out their lives in peace. The tour guides were wonderful! Very informative and we were able to tour the farm and see many animals. There are cows, pigs, goats, chickens, geese, llamas, and more! The goats are so cute, and you're able to pet them freely. I highly recommend this place for any vegan looking for some animal loving or families looking for a fun and educated afternoon. Remember, this is a place that has saved many animals from being killed, not a petting zoo! It's wonderful!

When I told friends how we were going to visit a farm sanctuary, one of the first questions was…read moreusually, "What is a farm sanctuary?" A farm sanctuary is a kind of refuge for animals. Many of the animals are rescued from factory farms, from slaughter, abuse, or from abandonment. One of the things that distinguish Maple Farm Sanctuary is that it's the only sanctuary that was formerly a working farm. Jim and Cheri Vandersluis had a dramatic change of heart and a move of conscious that made it impossible for them to raise animals for slaughter. Their story is told in the documentary Peaceable Kingdom: The Journey Home. We visited Maple Farm Sanctuary on Father's Day and honestly I wasn't sure how my kids might respond. They're incredibly unpredictable. Would they enjoy the Farm Sanctuary? Would they be disturbed? Would they be frightened? Would they be bored? Would they complain? One of the things that make a farm sanctuary interesting and a sometimes troubling is that most of the animals have a story. Many of the stories are tragic and sad. These are stories of how the animals were often mistreated and treated inhumanely and how they eventually found a home here. It should also be said that while our guides at the Maple Farm Sanctuary were more than willing to share the stories of these animals in detail if asked, they were also sensitive to the presence of our small children. One sheep Tara Ann was rescued from three women who were beating her with sticks. Apparently these women didn't see anything wrong with beating an animal they were going to eat anyway. A Holstein cow Cassie, was raised in almost complete darkness for much of her early life. Her owners were just waiting for the day when they could bring her to slaughter. In Cassie's case, she did something remarkable, which rarely happens. She escaped the slaughterhouse by jumping a six foot high fence. One of the sad things about Cassie is that because of her experience, she suffered a great emotional trauma. As a result, she doesn't like open spaces and doesn't like spending time with other cows. Our guides shared about Cassie's story and about her slow recovery. We enjoyed feeding Cassie some carrots. Although, the stories of the animals were often troubling, it was somehow reassuring to know that they at least found a home here, where they can play, live and grow old. From my own perspective, the animals at the Maple Farm Sanctuary seemed genuinely happy. They were free to walk about and socialize and express normal animal behavior. The nature of life is that sometimes we don't experience a happy endings, but for these animals they found something of that happy ending. The animals that were most beloved by my own children were the goats and the llamas. The goats were incredibly friendly and affectionate. Although, you had to watch them, because otherwise they might nibble on your clothes. Overall the entire family had a great time at the Maple Farm Sanctuary. In fact, our youngest who is never shy about complaining, offered her highest praise when she said that she wanted to come back again.

My fiance and I were trying out local bakeries to determine which one would suit us best to make…read moreour wedding cake. I loved what I saw from street view already, being someone who loves quaint homeyness over hoity-toity pretentiousness, but upon walking in I almost knew immediately this would be the spot. It's a lovely little bakery, in a very quiet part of Worcester, and I felt invited in by the staff upon entering. Mara knew who we were, sat us down and provided excellent samples on a platter and discussed our favorite colors, ideas, etc. during our consultation. By the time she finished, my fiance looked at me and we exchanged the decision that we were going with On The Rise. Now, it's a way's off before I'll see what our wedding cake turns out to be, but the samples we tried were wonder, the presentation was beautiful, the service was excellent, and I love knowing I'm supporting a truly local staple. (If I remember, I'll update this after the wedding!)

I'm hesitant to write this review because this is a best kept secret in Tatnuck! But yet... support…read morethis local business! I cannot speak for their catering business, but I highly recommend stopping by for a coffee and a pastry or sandwich! Prices are on point and the quaint space has a relaxing atmosphere. The owners will be there working hard and the service can't be beat. Low visibility, limited hours, and street parking but well worth stopping in.