Paramount Harley-Davidson Warms up a 'Chili' Winter Day

Paramount H-D, in Framingham, MA, recently hosted a chili contest sponsored by the Metrowest HOGS. And what better way to warm up a cold, winter day than a piping hot bowl of spicy chili.
 
This February day I joined many guests and other members of  New England HOG chapters to sample and vote on our favorite chili.

There were ten entrants in this year's contest. Judges each paid $5 to taste and vote for their favorite chili. All proceeds for the event were donated to Metrowest Harvest, which distributes food to local shelters and food pantries. This unique organization picks up high-quality, unused food from weddings,  banquets, and events and delivers to those most in need.



The Paramount H-D service manager graciously closed the service bay for the day so there was ample room to walk around and sample the entrants. The dealership also offered a 10% discount on apparel and accessories to HOG members.

The ladies of Metrowest HOG pulled it all together...sold tickets, collected money, tallied the votes, etc.etc. etc...ya know, all the grunt work us ladies have to do...

Just like real men eat quiche, real ladies eat chili....quiche does suck though, doesn't it?

Scraping the bottom of the pan for the good stuff ...think this one was a fave

Chili today...hot tamale...

Thankfully there was a late contender because the trays were licked clean. The new batch was devoured as quickly as the first ten.

Paul Yorkis, chapter secretary and activities officer of Metrowest HOG,  tallied the votes...

 

 May I have your attention, please....the winners of this year's Metrowest HOG Chili Cook-off are:

3rd place goes to... David D.

 2nd place winner - Mark L.

 And the winner is...drum roll, please.......Rick L.

Congrats on your wins, gentlemen. Each entrant had their own special recipe, some had corn, some beans, some without, all had different levels of heat. The winner Rick has worked hard to perfect his recipe and has won several competitions. When asked if he would be willing to share his secret, he said, “I’ll tell ya what’s in it, you’re not going to be able to recreate it!” Oh, it's onnn....see you next year, Rick!

Contact Info:

Paramount Harley-Davidson

266 Waverly Street

Framingham, MA  01701

http://www.paramounthd.com/

Metrowest HOG
 http://www.metrowesthog.com/

 Disclaimer: If you do not want your photo posted on blog, shoot me an email and I will be happy to remove :-)

Local Biker Hangouts Re-Invented

If you're a rider from Massachusetts, chances are you've been to the Outlaw in Foxboro for some BBQ, a poker run or one of their infamous bike nights that were held every Thursday throughout the summer.  Sadly, the bike nights are over and the Outlaw has closed. 

Not to worry! New owners have taken over and revamped the inside and out.




 
Chickie Flynn's replaced the Outlaw BBQ about a year ago, I think. A complete renovation was done from painting the outside, to knocking down walls, and enlarging the bar area. Not only have they changed the interior/exterior, they have also updated the menu. It is much more extensive, has some healthier options and includes a daily special.



Though we are not likely to see any more bike nights there, riders are still welcome. MassCruisers hosts a bi-weekly car show at Patriot Place that local bikers have taken a liking to, so really no need. Instead, Chickie's is a nice dinner option before or after the show.

 

Inside has been completely renovated. Family photos adorn the walls, plenty of room for the weekly entertainment and nice clean bathrooms...which is a plus, I almost fell through the floor the last time I was at the Outlaw. They were kinda icky on bike nights.

The food at Chicky Flynn's is the best part, portions are huge and prices are reasonable. We have been back several times for the Roast Beef special on Saturday nights. For $12, you receive a huge portion of thinly sliced, pink roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a veggie. Bread and salad are also included. We have yet to completely finish a meal and always have leftovers. My favorite for now, is the Egg Sandwich. Served all day, it is more of a sub with eggs, peppers and potatoes inside. It also comes with choice of sides and costs only $7.  Again, too large to finish and have been able to make 2 meals out of it. Excellent value.

The bar area has expanded and has had a nice makeover. More seats, plenty of room for friends...full bar, keno, nice bartenders and a good crowd. 

Only a few miles down Route 1 is the Red Rooster, formerly known as "La Sorelle". I had only been in the old establishment, it was kinda scary, not gonna lie. Inside has been brightened up, pool table is gone so although the it looks small there is a good amount of room inside.

New sign on the door...everyone is welcome.

Few more pics can be found at a previous post:

http://hogadvisor.blogspot.com/2010/10/cock-doodle-doooo.html

So my biker-friends, although both places have recently been updated, they remain biker-friendly and your ol' ladies are much more apt to join you at these newly renovated digs. Is that a good thing? I think so...

Contact Info:
Chickie Flynn's
94 Washington Street (Route 1)
Foxboro, MA
(508) 203-9471

Red Rooster
510 Washington Street
Wrentham, MA
(508)384-6669
http://theredroosterpub.com/rrpub.htm

The Boots Were the Highlight of the Show...

Okay, not for me but the two guys I was with seemed to enjoy them, as did every other red-blooded male in attendance at KevMarv's January bike expo in Boston.
Getting to the Seaport Convention Center was a bit of an adventure; as we pulled up to the building, we noticed guys in loafers and sweaters tied around their necks...hmmm, not your typical biker event, we thought. Not afraid to ask for directions, and before shelling out 20 bucks for parking, the old man asked a guard if we were in the right place. 'Nope, this is the dentist convention', he said. Ahh, makes sense. One more block and we knew we were in the right place - vests, leather, boots and facial hair littered the entrance.

Admission was $15 and as with all shows, coupons for $2 off are on various sites, including Kev-Marv's homepage: http://www.kevmarv.com/. I've noticed they have cancelled either one or two shows this year, not sure why.  Attendance has been heavy at both events I have gone to.

Valerie Cormier, Playboy model

Depending on the show, guys have their choice between TV star, Michelle Smith or Playboy Model, Valerie Cormier. Valerie was in attendance at this show, signing posters and posing for fans. She was very pretty and teeny-tiny; the men were happy with her chosen outfit, especially the boots. I was just happy to see the snickers bar next to her diet pepsi. My kind of gal...










 There were hundreds of vendors showcasing the latest in bikes, apparels and accessories.  Several vendors displayed custom paint jobs. Corso Cycles painted this 1997 RoadGlide, known as 'White Thunder'.

We had an interesting conversation with Dinah Deville about all of her piercings. We were especially intrigued with her neck piercing...looked quite painful. In case you don't know...we didn't...it's called a 'nape' piercing. Entertaining as well as educational.

Dinah Deville, Pin-up Model

Mom's of Manchester, NH and Foxboro, Mass, brought along their Million Dollar Rolling Showroom, including this custom painted Victory.

All the action was found over at Perewitz's trailer. They had a huge space with several bikes and were having a party. Looked like they were all having a blast.

Dave Perewitz

Perewitz ladies - girl on the left is his daughter, Jody, I believe. They were very friendly and were partyin' it up. WooHoo!

Perewitz Ladies

'Lucky T' a 1928 Indian, is an original 'Wall of Death' bike owned by Roger Chinaud of Saints and Sinners tattoos in Wareham, Ma. Took first place in 'Best in Show'.

Wall of Death

Motorcycle Monster was there...he is big...and yellow. Not to be confused with Big Bird though...much more ominous. But like Big Bird, he has a message. Signed a pic for my daughter telling her not to text while driving. Solid Advice.

Motorcycle Monster

After a fun day at the show, we decided to cruise around Boston for a bit and ended up at Santarpio's.

Fanueil Hall Driveby

Located by the airport in East Boston, Santarpios is famous for its pizza. Established in 1903, it is a favorite of Rachel Ray and has been inducted in to the Boston Hall of Fame. The only other option on the menu, other than the pizza is BBQ skewers. But really, what more do you need? Cold beer? They have that too. Prices are extremely reasonable and food is 'wicked awesome'.

Santarpios, Boston

"You know, I don't think that they have enough meats on sticks. No, seriously, if you think about it, they have plenty of sweets, right? They have lollipops, they have fudgesicles, they have popsicles, but they don't have any other meats on sticks." - There's Something About Mary....Well, Mary, you spoke and Santarpios listened...they have steak, lamb, and sausage, all on sticks, served with crusty bread and cherry peppers. Wicked pissah'.

Santarpios, Boston

We ♥ Boston...thanks for a great day!

Boston Skyline

Bitchless in Belchertown...

 (Guest Blogger - TomV)  

Late October in New England brings certain  inevitable things, fewer bikes and less people willing to ride (including my old lady). That doesn’t stop me though as my IQ is lower than the high temps this time of year (45-50 degrees to be precise) and I own a pair of Long Johns so let’s frickin ride.

    

 This weekend, I went out alone. Well me, the bike and my camera. Had no plan, other than to head to central Mass in search of funky colored leaves and perhaps a new watering hole. I did not time it very well, missed peak foliage by about a week but I did manage to get a couple of pictures.

Even though I nearly struck out on the leaf peeping, I did come across a great find in Belchertown, a little Irish Pub called McCarthy’s Pub.  Bikers don’t normally think “Irish Pub” when they go looking for hot spots but the lineup of H-D iron out front told me that this place was different.

I must admit, I did get a few eyeballs when I walked in but that was probably because Belchertown is a lot like Mayberry and they knew I was from out of town because I don’t look like my mother married her own cousin.

 

The owner is a charming woman, who also works behind the bar. She was busy getting all excited about setting up the guy on my right with a friend of hers who was in her words “super hot” (you know cause most single women who can’t find a man without their medaling best friend’s help, usually are “super hot”).

The guy on my left was a fellow rider who has an 01 Road king with 80,000 plus miles on so we had a lot to talk about. He showed me pictures of his bike (on his I-phone mind you) like an overly proud grandmother shows you a wallet full of grand kids while you sit on her plastic covered couch eating hard candy out of a fake crystal bowl.

I felt like a regular instantly. Everyone wanted to know what brought me to their sleepy little village. So after a beer and a few introductions, I took a gander at their menu. Ahh…..all the traditional Irish fare. So what did I order?  Bangers and Mashed…. don’t think so.  Corned Beef and Cabbage….not on a frickin bet. Sheppard’s Pie perhaps, fuck no! I ordered the Fried Chicken and mashed potatoes with gravy, like any red blooded American Boy would. It was very good. 4 crispy pieces of finger-frickin-lickin goodness.

I did get a few more looks when I was snapping pictures of my soon to be devoured deep fried fowl.  So I told everyone I was the Phantom Gourmet hoping to get a free beer or something but it did not work. They just asked more questions about who I was and why I was there.  Several of them kept making funny gestures that I assumed were local gang signs. Turns out they were trying to point out that I had a spot of gravy on my nose.

I will definitely go back again. It was a very friendly place, they had Keno, they had plenty of bike parking and the food was good and cheap. Next time I might be a little more adventurous and try something a little more traditional like the Pizza.

Next time you find yourself in the Pioneer Valley, head to McCarthy's Pub in Belchertown.  Think you'll like it.

Cock-a-doodle-doooo....

Although it has only been open for a few months, The Red Rooster Pub is quickly becoming a favorite of local bikers.  Located in the old 'Le-Sorelle' building, the Red Rooster sits at the intersection of Route 1 and Thurston Street, in Wrentham, Massachusetts. This convenient location is only about a mile from Route 495, and a few extra minutes from 95. It is also only a few miles from Normandy Farm Campground in Foxboro, Mass

Not sure where the bar got the name Red Rooster, but I think this guy ------> might have something to do with it.  The shiny, copper rooster sits proudly atop the newly renovated building. A quick google search indicates the rooster is a symbol for good luck...perhaps this rooster brings good luck to all who enter? That'd be nice.

Inside has been completely renovated from floor to ceiling, everything is brand new, including the bathrooms.  It is very bright and nice but the new interior seems to be a bit more mainstream and lacking the biker-bar persona it previously had. Think the owner might be aiming for another demographic.




The Red Rooster has a full-bar, several HD widescreens and a full menu.  Pool table has been removed which allows for more seating and more room. It is quite compact inside. We have not yet tried to food, but it certainly looked and smelled good.

As I previously mentioned, the place is a bit small inside so conversations can easily be overheard. And listen, I know bikers can be rough, tough, macho, etc...and it is what I like most about them but good lord, there was a man  speaking VERY loudly and every other word was eff-this, eff-that.  Seriously, I'm not a priss but I counted seven f-bombs in one sentence.  Zero manners and class. I felt like telling him to shut-the-eff-up, but thankfully I didn't because I soon found out he was  a local cop. Nice. But I digress...

Parking at Red Rooster is convenient and the set of lights at the intersection makes an otherwise hairy exit, quite simple. All-in-all I think renovations make it more desirable and a good option for a stop-in.


Contact Info:
Red Rooster Pub
510 Washington Street
Wrentham, MA
(508) 384-6669

Ridin' and Rock & Rollin'

Beautiful fall days in New England are about as good as life gets and this weekend, we found ourselves with a beauty of a day and no plans.  Not too often that happens!  So hopped on the bike and drove to Indian Ranch in Webster, Mass, to see one of our fave musicians in concert. 




The Ranch is located on Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg ...Translation  "You fish on your side of the lake, I fish on my side of the lake, nobody fishes in the middle". We'll call it the 'Lake' from here on in.


Indian Ranch is a unique music venue that also serves as a seasonal campground, wedding venue, and banquet facility.  Each year from summer to early fall, the Ranch lines up popular county and southern rock acts to perform concerts along the lakeshore.

Bike parking

Bikes and bikers are welcome at this venue. There is a dedicated area in front of the entrance, along a stone wall that is for bikers only. Parking is free and the area for bikes, as well as entrance road, is paved. Few high speed bumps along the way to watch out for...the bottom of the bike scraped, but that might have more to do with us than with the speed bump. ;-)

Concerts tickets are very reasonable priced, we've paid as low as $15 and as high as $50, depending upon the act.  General admission seats seem to always be available, and honestly, there isn't a bad seat in the house, We paid $40 to see Phil Vassar on this visit and bought our tickets at the door. Still had plenty available on the day of the show. 

One thing that separates this venue from other concert locations is that it allows guests to bring in their own food and non-alcoholic beverages. It's a big money saver and fun to bbq amidst the pine trees and listen to music.  The Ranch also provides grilled items, burgers, chicken, dogs and ice cream at very reasonable prices. There is a full-bar and a few beer stands around the property. Beer costs $5 per bottle which is inexpensive compared to most music venues in the area...$10 for a beer at Great Woods/Comcast...highway robbery, I tell ya.

The 'Lake' Beach

Above is the beach that is behind the stage. Guests can fish, sun, swim or rent paddle-boats while at the show. Several boats float by the shore listening to the music...nice way to see a show.

Good views from all locations in the venue; seats closest to stage are plastic chairs, and there are covered bleacher seats behind. General admission is off to the side and is uncovered.

Just another day in paradise...

 Phil Vassar gear...sittin' behind the stage

On the road again...

And if you are really lucky, you might even be able to get an autograph or picture. The performers leave behind the stage, with security of course, and through  a roped off area. Phil was very gracious and signed shirts, hats, took pictures, and was an overall nice guy.  Called me baby-doll.

My photographer...ahem... missed the shot...I was RIGHT THERE! ;-)

It was a great day and even better so that it was spontaneous and not planned. If you happen to have a free Sunday between July and September, like we did, head on out to Indian Ranch.. Or if nothing else, head to the onsite giftshop for a souvenir....I went to Lake 
Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg and all I got was this lousy shirt!

Contact Info
Indian Ranch
200 Gore Street
Webster, MA
508-943-3871
http://www.indianranch.com/