Lunch on Thayer and a Stroll Down Benefit

T and I met for lunch this afternoon which is one of the best parts of living so close to where he works. I had Veteran's Day off, thank you to them for their service. We went to Thayer Street which has many lunch possibilities but then we took a detour, to Meeting Street. Just around the corner from Thayer St. is the Meeting Street Cafe which prides itself on large portions at reasonable prices. We went for sandwiches because we just don't eat those a lot. Mine was The Hoagie which is essentially an italian sub and T had The Pizzasteak. Both were delicious, both were huge. Our total came to $18.00 and some change.

 It does feel a little bit like a cafeteria. I told T it reminded me of being in Alliot, our college dining hall. The tables, chairs, and booths are very commercial but they do their job. Its best suited for eating and not really for lounging to enjoy the ambiance. There is plenty of light coming in through huge windows so it certainly doesn't feel dingy. I had to linger in front of the pastry case on our way out because their were cookies the size of my head and cakes that looked straight out of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.

After lunch we walked up Thayer and stopped into Sneaker Junkies to do a little browsing. T loves sneakers and it didn't hurt to get an idea of what he may like for a Christmas present. Plus there are few clothing items that we can shop for together without one of us getting bored so funky sneakers are a  happy compromise. Sneaker Junkies is an intimate little shoe store, mainly for guys, and with a young vibe. 

After shoe browsing we continued up the street to Blue State Coffee which is everything many people need in a coffee house. Plenty of baked goods, hot drinks, and strong drip coffee. I like the coffee here and its about $2.50 for a cup but my only complaint is the decor. I wouldn't be able to snuggle up here and study or read a book, its almost too simple but in a way that is unorganized. I'd like it more if it weren't so bright and sterile. Give me a couch and a dim corner to drink my latte in. 

T went back to work and I had the rest of the day at my disposal so I parked the car on Benefit Street, closer to Wickenden St. and walked down this historical landmark. Renowned for its impressive collection of intact colonial homes, Benefit St. allows visitors to do a self guided tour of houses, museums, and churches, many of which are protected by the Providence Preservation Society (http://www.ppsri.org/). You can also pay to go on a tour with a representative from the Rhode Island Historical Society if you have 90 minutes and $14.00. 

This street is most appreciated by history buffs and those of us who love architecture and most importantly anything New England. Most of these houses are well taken care of and I assume well loved by the people who currently live in them. If I lived in one of those houses I would stand outside so everyone knew it. I might also wear a bonnet and hand out miniature American flags. I'll leave you with that image and a few of my favorite shots from my walk.