Recycling in Chicopee!

A belated earth day post!

Over a month ago, a large green recycling bin and instructions showed up at the bottom of our driveway.  I was ecstatic!  Over the last few weeks, I have enjoyed driving through my neighborhood on trash day to see everyone's green bins lined up for pick up, many over flowing!  Hopefully you have been recycling in the former small blue containers and are a pro at determining what is recyclable and what is not.  Just in case, here is a refresher.

RECYCLE:

• Metal food cans, glass jars, bottles and plastics labeled #'s 1-7.
• All paper, including shredded paper and paper bags, magazines, soft cover books, all junk mail with envelopes, Christmas wrapping paper (but not metallic or glitter paper), tissue paper
• Cardboard boxes (empty, flat and untied).
• Gift, cereal, shoe and frozen dinner boxes.
• HOLIDAY ITEMS: Gift wrap and bags, tissue paper, cardboard and all gift and shoe boxes, catalogs, greeting cards

DO NOT RECYCLE: 

• Hangers, styrofoam, plastic/clay flower pots, egg cartons.
• Pizza boxes or any container with food still inside.
• Paper plates, napkins, towels, kleenex, toilet paper
• Small appliances, light bulbs, plastic bags, dishes or glasses.
• Scrap metal
• Tinsel, ribbons, bows, packing peanuts, styrofoam

For more information on Chicopee's recycling efforts, refer here. 

Weekend Walks: Szot Park

The weather is taking a pleasant turn towards summer.  The sun is shining longer, the grass is turning green and the flowers are blooming.  We have been exploring some of the local parks with our dog.  Stay tuned for more "weekend walks" posts.

A few weekends ago we went for a stroll in Szot Park in Chicopee.  Szot Park has all sorts of things to do including a pool, bocce courts, tennis courts, athletic fields, basketball courts and more.  Here are some pictures of our trip.

Bocce Courts

There is a free concert in Szot Park tomorrow (Saturday, May 7th) from 12:00 to 5:00 featuring Brass Attack and The Prime Time Players.  Definitely worth checking out!

Munich Haus

CHICKPEAS: 4

We love going to the Munich Haus Restaurant in Chicopee, MA for drinks and/or dinner.  The Munich Haus has delicious German food, and is a great value if you buy a restaurant.com gift certificate (which are an even better deal if you get them on sale!).   The staff wear traditional German outfits and they sometimes have an accordion player.  The accordion player can be a little loud, as it was on this night.  If that bothers you, request a seat in the bar area.  They have some nice cozy booths.  

One of the things we love about the Munich Haus is the value.  The servings are large and the entrees come with soup or a salad (remember when that used to be standard at most restaurants?!).  The salad is different that your standard house salad with some varieties of beans and other things on it.  They also bring out homemade potato chips with a sour cream based dip when you are first seated.  The entrees typically range from $15 to $20.

Salad

I ordered jaeger schnitzel (tender pork loin lightly breaded and pan fried for a golden finish with a wild mushroom sauce).  It came with a choice of sides. I selected the spatzle and cabbage.  Everything was great.

Jaeger Schnitzel

My fiance ordered french onion soup to start.

French Onion Soup

His meal was a Bavarian platter, which included pfalezer, nuerenberger bratwurst, sauerbraten, jaeger schnitzel, potato pancake, red cabbage, sauerkraut and spatzle.  Don't ask me which is what.  

Bavarian Platter

To finish off, we got some stuffed cookies (this was before I gave up sweets for lent!).  These cookies are so good.  The chocolate stuffed chocolate chip one is our favorite.  In the past, we have split a piece of cake. Be warned: they are enormous pieces.  

Stuffed Cookie

Overall, Munich Haus is a fun place to go for dinner with friends or family.  The food is delicious and reasonably priced.  The atmosphere tops it off.  Keep an eye on their special events (such as wild game dinners) as well!

Falls Pizza

CHICKPEAS: 3

This past week, we got take out from Falls Pizza on Main Street in Chicopee.  We ordered a Greek Pizza, an Italian Sub and a Buffalo Chicken Salad and the total bill came to $27.  The wait time was 20 minutes for pick up, which was very reasonable, but after getting home and eating, I wasn't impressed.

Garlic Bread

The chicken on the salad was chicken cutlet, cut into pieces, and covered in buffalo sauce.  I had recently had a very spicy buffalo chicken salad at the Southwick Inn, so I ordered this salad mild to be safe.  I felt that the mild buffalo had a strange sweet after taste.  Additionally, the salad came with garlic bread that was soggy and chewy.

Italian Sub

I didn't have any of the sub, but my fiance enjoyed it.

Pizza

We shared the pizza, which had feta, tomatoes and gyro on it. Overall the pizza was delicious.  While my salad was a miss, the Pizza made up for it.

I may find myself going back to Falls Pizza for pizza, but I am interested in finding another takeout place in Chicopee for salads.  Suggestions?

United States Post Office

To many, the holiday season includes at least one trip to the Post Office.  For me, this holiday season included my first trip to the Post Office in Chicopee.  I went with a healthy dose of patience.  It was the Saturday before Christmas and I knew there was no way I would escape without a wait.  I followed my GPS from my gym to the Post Office at 100 Center Street and parked on the street as it seemed there was no lot.  The Post Office looked quiet.  One or two people going in and out, no line out the door, plenty of spots on the street.  I was delighted.  I grabbed my pile of packages and headed in.  

100 Center Street, Chicopee

It was very quiet...because it was closed.  The lobby was open for PO Box customers, but the counter was closed.   I managed to drop one of my packages as I sulked back to my car.   I gave my GPS one more chance to redeem itself and it found a second Post Office in Chicopee, on Main Street, just a short drive a way.  

The scene at the Main St. Post Office was exactly what I expected.  A near miss accident in the parking lot with a car driving the wrong way in a one way.  A fight for a spot with another car, also going the wrong way in a one way (FYI: one way parking lots are designated by arrow markings on the pavement, posted signs and additionally often have angled spots).  I was in no rush, so I took it all in stride.  

Once inside, the line was long.  Thankfully, the customers inside were smart enough to find a way to wrap it around so that no one needed to stand outside.  The total wait was about 15 minutes (thank you iPhone stop watch).  

The Post Office itself (disregarding the crowds of people and bad drivers) was very nice with some historic charm and cute touches. 

Al's Diner

CHICKPEAS: 1

We went to Al's Diner with a friend before going to the flea market (post to come).  We got a little confused getting their because 2 of 3 smartphones had some street names labelled wrong.  Once we got there, I was very excited because the outside had the authentic diner look.  We lucked out and got a table right away as there are only 8 or so booths and then a dozen seats at the counter.

14 Yelle Street, Chicopee, MA

Lone man working the grill

The tables had a cute little juke box.

But that is pretty much where the good review ends.  The menu was pretty short with little creativity.  My Fiance ordered a coffee which came with cream in it without that being requested, and our friend ordered a hot chocolate.  The hot chocolate didn't come 'til we asked for it a second time.

Plain Omelet? Isn't that just scrambled eggs?

We all ordered breakfast sandwiches and they were fine.  We also ordered a side of homefries to share, which were very disappointing.  They tasted like they had been frozen and had no flavor at all.  Even doused with ketchup and salt they couldn't be rejuvenated.  Additionally, they take cash only (fyi).

Breakfast sandwich and hot chocolate

Blah homefries

What we ordered:
(1) Coffee
(1) Hot Chocolate
(3) Breakfast sandwiches
(1) chocolate chip pancake
(1) side homefries
Bill = $16.00

Bottom line:
We won't be going back.

Copperline Eatery for Breakfast

CHICKPEAS: 4

As I have mentioned, we LOVE Copperline Eatery in Chicopee, MA.  On a recent weekend, we went for breakfast on Sunday.  The line was out the door when we arrived, as Sunday is definitely their busiest day.  Thankfully, we were able to snag a couple of seats at the counter.  While I normally wouldn't post twice about the same place in such a short time frame, I had to share the new information we got by sitting at the bar.

Copper Counter

1.  The counter is copper. Get it...? 
2. The homefries are premade in batches and stored on the stove.  Then they are moved to the grill where they sit beneath the ham to get some extra flavor until you order them!  DELICIOUS!
3. If you go on a Sunday and there is a long line, make sure you check the bar.  Often there are seats available.

Homefries under the ham

Since we are talking about it anyways, here is what we ate...

Banana Pancakes, Eggs, and Ham

Bacon, Egg and Cheese on a Water Roll, Homefries, and a Grilled Muffin