Tag Archives: dunkin donuts

A Local Gem! Happy National Donut Day!

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šŸ© Happy National Donut Day!

Do you know what today is? Not Hump Day ā€” National Donut Day.
And you know what that means: free donuts. Yes, Dunkinā€™ is handing them out today. Is this a great country or what.

There is one tiny catch: you need to buy a beverage. But honestlyā€¦ who eats a donut without something to drink?

 

 

ā­ A Donut Loverā€™s Confession

Iā€™m a true donut fan. If I werenā€™t on a permanent diet, Iā€™d happily eat one every day ā€” though I doubt it would keep the doctor away. Still, I consider myself a donut connoisseur. I know a good donut when I see one.

And this week? I didnā€™t just see one.
I came, I saw, I tasted, and I ascended straight to donut nirvana. These donuts were better than my momā€™s (sorry, Mom), and hers were legendary.

Where did I find this bliss?
The Colonial Doā€‘Nut Shop kiosk inside Morton Hospital.

A police officer stands at the counter of the Colonial Doā€‘Nut Shop kiosk inside Morton Hospital, with staff preparing donuts behind the counter.

Colonial Doā€‘Nut Shop ā€“ Morton Hospital Kiosk

 

 

ā­ Colonial Doā€‘Nut: A Taunton Classic

Colonial Doā€‘Nut Shop has been serving Taunton for more than 70 years. The pandemic forced them to close, but they came back strong, reopening under new ownership in 2024.

The flagship shop at 91 Broadway is still right where itā€™s always been ā€” turning out fresh donuts, crullers, and breakfast sandwiches. Just get there early: they close at noon.

So how did I get mine at Morton Hospital?
When the new owners were preparing to reopen Broadway, the opportunity came up to open a satellite location in the hospital lobby. The donuts are baked fresh on Broadway every morning and delivered to the kiosk.

ā­ The Old Fashioned That Stole My Heart

Iā€™m an ā€œOld Fashionedā€ girl ā€” plain, crispy outside, tender inside, with a whisper of cinnamon and a hint of nutmeg. And these? Hands down the best.

I meant to take a picture, butā€¦ wellā€¦ I started eating it. You understand.

 

 

Happy National Donut Day!
It may not be free at Colonial Doā€‘Nut, but if you can get there, it will be so worth it.

America Runs on Dunkin

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Why America Runs on Dunkin. Move over Starbucks

ā˜• Dunkinā€™ vs. Starbucks: A Very Boston Love Story

Why Dunkinā€™ Is Practically a State Symbol

In Massachusetts, ā€œgrabbing a coffeeā€ is basically code for ā€œheading to Dunks.ā€ We donā€™t even bother with the full name anymore ā€” itā€™s just Dunks, like itā€™s a cousin we see every day. And with close to 1,100 Dunkinā€™ locations across the state, outnumbering Starbucks 4ā€‘toā€‘1, itā€™s not exactly hard to find one. Honestly, you could blindfold someone, spin them around, and theyā€™d still bump into a Dunkinā€™ before they hit a mailbox.

Starbucks? Thatā€™s for Visitors

Look, Starbucks has its placeā€¦ mostly in airports and places where people say ā€œcof-feeā€ instead of ā€œcaw-fee.ā€ But here? In Boston? Walking into a Starbucks feels like announcing you think Tom Brady was ā€œpretty good, I guess.ā€ Itā€™s not wrong, but itā€™s definitely suspicious.

Starbucks drinks come with names longer than the Mass Pike. Meanwhile, Dunkinā€™ gives you a medium regular and sends you on your way. No dissertations required.

Dunks Is a Lifestyle, Not a Beverage

Dunkinā€™ is woven into the daily rhythm of New England life ā€” earlyā€‘morning commutes, postā€‘game pickā€‘meā€‘ups, and that comforting moment when the person behind the counter knows your order before you open your mouth. Itā€™s the only driveā€‘thru where youā€™ll see someone in pajama pants, a Bruins hoodie, and flipā€‘flops in January, and no one bats an eye.

 

The Commercials Are Basically Local Cinema

And the ads? Pure gold.
Weā€™ve got Gronk and Big Papi singing like theyā€™re auditioning for a musical nobody asked for.

Weā€™ve got Ben Affleck showing up like the unofficial mayor of Dunkinā€™, running the driveā€‘thru, handing out orders, and looking like heā€™s living his best life. And yes, yes that is Tom Brady.Ā  These arenā€™t commercials ā€” theyā€™re documentaries of the Boston soul.

Soā€¦ Who Wants a Dunks Run

Starbucks may have its fans, but here in Massachusetts, Dunkinā€™ isnā€™t just coffee. Itā€™s identity. Itā€™s culture. Itā€™s home.

And now I kinda want a donut.

 

The Metro

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The short flight from Boston to Washington, DC was uneventful. The most exciting thing was seeing another plane off to our right, slightly lower than we were. In all the times I’ve flown places I think I’ve only seen another plane out the window like that once before.

Reagan International was exactly the opposite of Logan. It was bustling. Because of the size of the plane my carry-on hadn’t fit in the overhead so I had to check it. I took the camera out but forgot the lap top Ā was in the front sleeve. I crossed my fingers that it would survive the trip in the “belly of the beast”.

Reagan International seemed more like Boston than Logan! When I exited the jet way I was staring at a Dunkin’ Donuts!

When I left the secured area to go to baggage claim I passed Legal Seafood’s.

I’m happy to report my laptop came through with out a scratch. My bag was about the 5th one off the plane, probably because I checked it at the gate; last on first off.

By now it was after 2 pm so I decided to get lunch at the airport. I didn’t see a lot of choices outside the security checkpoint so I settled on Legal Seafood. Sorry Legal, it wasn’t very good. The service was excellent. My waitress was really sweet and attentive but my meal left a lot to be desired. I ordered the fried shrimp meal ($17.00!) and it was dry and over cooked. I get better fried shrimp at Friendly’s. Not up to the standard I would expect from a Legal Seafood Restaurant!

Meal over I headed for the “Metro”, Washington’s version of the MBTA. It was really easy to get to from the airport. The web site said the tickets started at $2.55/ trip but like the MBTA in Boston, the Metro sell their tickets in an automated machine. I wasn’t able to find a single ticket. They only had day passes for about $14.00/day. That gives you unlimited rides but it’s a far cry from $2.55. They also charge $2.00 for a card. I purchased 3 days and had to add 3 cards. I don’t think I will get my money’s worth but it was still cheaper than the shuttle $27.00 one way or renting a car.

The actual ride was pleasant and efficient. The cars were clean and the stations announced. I had a short walk from the Chinatown Station to my hotel, The Fairfield Inn. All in all a better experience than I usually have on the “T” in Boston.