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Dining With Fast Food Aliens The majority of Dining Adventures in this blog, spotlight places Don and I discovered while traveling. Fast food places are way too predictable, so we've avoided them... until recently.  We were lured by Aliens in Roswell, New Mexico. We had to stop!  We stopped at not ONE, but TWO junk food chains! Breakfast Stop at McDonald's Over the years, we've spotted the golden arches in a few faraway places, like Paris and China. But recently we made a stop at a location, that was totally out of this world!  At least the building looked like it had come from outer space. The location in Roswell, is actually about 2 hours from the spot where a UFO (supposedly) landed in 1947! You know you're in Roswell, when you see street lamps with alien eyes! Flying Saucer Shape The McDonald's chain doesn't really do themes much. So it was kind of fun to make a stop at this mod structure to see what it was all about.  I'm not really sure how they came up with this design. The space ship shape was sort of hidden by the enormous glassed in play area. It looked a bit more like Houston's Space Center, than a McDonald's. Although I doubt there are aliens lurking near the Houston museum! Glowing! I snatched this photo from Google Maps so I could be reminded of what we missed, visiting during the day.  In the morning when we arrived, the shiny surfaces were reflecting sunlight. If we'd been traveling through at night, we could have enjoyed the changing colors outlining the building! Morning! But our 9:30 am visit was a treat just the same.  Look at the silver Alien overseeing the drive-thru line. He looks like he could use a few Big Macs. Glowing Aliens We stepped inside and I spotted a neon Alien near the food counter.   The floor was also glowing with some changing images that involved the Alien theme. What Part of the Galaxy are We From? After getting our food, we paused to donate a dollar.  The clever collection box made the act of donating to the Ronald McDonald House, very entertaining.  Well, sort of entertaining. The "galaxy locations" weren't all that creative. We just chose the state we're from and added a buck. The Kiddie Spaceship I don't believe I've ever taken a seat in the Kid Zone area, when I didn't have kids with me.  But we were all about the theme. We headed into the interior of the big spaceship, where the theme was happening. Astronauts We didn't dine with any aliens in the spaceship, but Ronald McDonald was suited up in his astronaut suit.
I had to look up the purple character in the Coke can. Grimace seemed to have his own spacesuit as well. Sharing With Friends On our way out, Don and I took turns posing with our Alien Friends.
I shared a Biscuit Sandwich with the weariest of the 2. Across the Street We headed towards the car, but I was quickly drawn to an even bigger Alien across the street.  Something tells me I'm not the first to pose with the Green Giant Alien. Quick Peek I didn't feel like I could travel on, without at least looking inside.
I wasn't totally impressed with the inside decor. Just a handful of inflatable aliens. Then I spotted some green donuts! Dessert! I don't often need to have dessert at breakfast, but my alien donut did the trick!  Green icing and green filling! Probably green teeth after I ate it! It tasted fine, but I'm not giving big bonus points for that alien drawing!
Bottom Line: McDonald's wins the prize for Best Alien Themed Dining Adventure!
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Along I-10 in Arizona This green building caught my eye, when we stopped for gas in Quartzite. It was about 5 years ago, when Don and I were traveling from Texas to California, on I-10.  I love a family restaurant in a curious town, but we'd already eaten. I snapped a photo and hoped to return. Quartzite, AZ in January It was January 2021 the next time we traveled the same route. (I-10 cuts right through Quartzite) Our travel dining adventures were still on hold due to the pandemic, so we didn't exit for lunch. Instead we drove right on through... feeling confused by the view on both sides of the freeway.  A sea of trailers covered the desert terrain on both sides! It looked insane! A little internet search told us that each January, Quartzite hosts the Rubber Stamp Rendezvous. "Snowbirds" and gem collectors flock yearly to the desert community, to camp (RVs and trailers) and enjoy the month-long gem and mineral show. March 2021 3 months later, Don and I once again hit Quartzite. During our winter stay in Oregon, we'd made a point to watch the movie Nomadland, which features the quirky community. This time we drove down Main Street and wondered if we'd see some of the locals who played small parts in the Academy Award winning movie. I guess we didn't, but I did purchase a cheap-y quartzite bracelet. It came with a complimentary masked camel pin.  The snowbird season was nearly over but we still spotted plenty of trailers. Maybe all 2,000+ permanent residents, live in homes with wheels. Times 3 Family Restaurant After getting gas, I spotted the restaurant. I was amused by the green sign and the cartoon characters peering over the top.  What was with the double quotation marks surrounding the words, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner? What did "Times 3" even mean? Open I made Don pull in so I could take a look at the colorful building. I was craving a Road Trip Dining Adventure, after a year of pandemic caution.  But Don and I weren't vaccinated yet. I sort of wanted to save that big return to indoor dining, at a slightly different kind of restaurant. Stuckey's? So I compromised. I threw on my mask before heading inside to get a quick peek and a coffee to-go.  I recognized the building's shape as I walked towards the door. Was this an old Stuckey's? I laughed as I recalled road stops during childhood trips. Stuckey's Pecan Rolls! I can still picture them. Empty Seats I stepped inside and ordered a coffee. I took in the homey decor while I waited.  The dining counter seats were empty.  A few spacious booths were empty.  The walls were not empty.  Out of all the shelf collections, the trailer display was my favorite. Diners It was odd to be back inside a restaurant, in March 2021. There were quite a few guests dining in. I spotted a few masks.  The spacious dining room had a welcoming feel, but I left with my coffee. Next time, we'll dine in for lunch! I told myself. A Lunch Stop in 2024 So this past winter, Don and I stopped in the dusty little town once again. It was late January and the Rubber Stamp Rendezvous was nearly over.
There was lots of traffic on Main Street and lots of good people watching. (no photo evidence) Some of the characters looked a little windblown and dusty, but there was a friendly, upbeat vibe to the people we saw.
At a stop sign, a young couple sat on the corner smiling up at us. The woman held a puppy and the man held a cardboard sign. "2 Hungry Vagabonds!" I rolled the window down and handed over 2 apples. The man responded with enthusiasm, "Thanks!" The woman beamed! "We love apples!" They waved with Hang Loose gestures, before biting into the fruit. We drove off happy. Lunchtime! We headed to the green restaurant, excited to finally eat at the funny little place. Our encounter with the Happy Vagabonds, gave me a boost of confidence that we might meet more friendly people.  The parking lot was jammed but there were no lines out the door. That was lucky, since nearly a couple million gem and trailer enthusiasts flock to Quartzsite each January. We parked near the mural and I grinned at the camel as we passed.  There are a lot of camel images in Quartzsite. More later on that... Hungry Crowd The Family Restaurant was hopping. A sign scribbled on paper warned, "Expect a 45 minute wait for orders."  Luckily we weren't in a hurry. Even luckier, there were available seats at the counter.  2 cushy red stools on the corner, just waiting for us. Menu Time Our server (I believe, Shel) handed over menus with her left hand, then turned to top off a customer's coffee with the right.
Don and I wondered for a second what to order. A fellow who acted like he dined daily, gave us a quick hint. "It's all good!" He laughed as if he knew that wouldn't help! Seat with A view I was happy with our seats, that offered a great view. Lots of teapots and colorful murals, depicting western scenes.  I also had an entertaining view of Shel as she chatted with some regulars at the end of the counter. She wasn't the only one that gave the couple attention and hugs. Loyal customers no doubt. Observing I quickly determined that Shel did an exceptional job of keeping coffee mugs filled. I ordered coffee just for the fun of being included in her coffee route.  I was so impressed with how efficiently she worked behind the counter. She was always moving, tidying the collection of creamers, repeatedly refilling the sugar and salt and pepper containers. She seemed to glide as she moved back and forth, delivering plates and scooping up menus, conversing and attending to guests as she did so! In and Out I was amused as I kept an eye on a pair of doors. There was a constant flow of staff, heading IN with dirty dishes and OUT with steaming plates of food. It would have been nerve-wracking to watch if there had been only 1 door.  I tried to count the staff as they entered and disappeared. I gave up when I got to 9. New faces kept appearing from the kitchen. The constant movement was like some kind of video game. All the servers seemed to move with the same quick pace and positive energy. Laughing with each other and carrying on with a few regulars. It was clear that they'd gotten the whole system down to an art, after weeks of serving endless temporary residents. Shel's Necklace When Shel delivered my grilled ham and cheese, I noticed her jewelry. She explained that her quartz necklace was a special one. The gold beads came from her grandfather. "He had lots of beads and gems and such." There was much more to the story, about the grandfather who passed away a year ago. But it was a personal one and not for me to share. She's happy to live in his trailer now.
I was glad to get a little advice about the "special fry sauce" in the squirt bottle. Shel said some put it on fries, but she thought it was good on sandwiches. I tried and it was. Great fries as well! Don loves a breakfast for lunch. He ordered 2 eggs sunny side up. It came with hash browns and corn beef hash.  I had a sandwich, but I still stole some of Don's sourdough toast! Both our meals were good and filling. We could only finish half! Chatting at the Counter Our food was a nice treat. Especially since we'd had a couple diner fails in the beginning of our road trip. The dining adventure was suddenly complete, after we ended up chatting with our fellow diners.  The couple nearest me was from Wisconsin. They were wintering in Yuma and made the trip to Quartzite for lunch. We gabbed about horses and travel, until our food came. The woman was pretty excited about the horses on my western shirt. "I'll trade you my green sweatshirt!" She teased. Heading Out We finished up and Shel handed us containers and utensils, for our leftovers. We headed for the door and I heard a server respond to a customer. "We have 2 more weeks of this crazy gem show! I'm about ready for it to be done!" She laughed out loud.
Before I headed out the door, I paused to look at a photo of a man name "Hi Jolly" along with a photo of his grave monument. When we passed the camel statue outside, I was reminded of something we needed to do before we left town.  In fact there were 2 things we needed to do before leaving Quartzite. Don figured out the first and drove back to the corner, to see if the Vagabonds were still there. (we think alike) They were and they were delighted to take our leftovers. They waved good-bye, saying they'd share with their doggy. Hi Jolly Cemetery Then we were on to the cemetery. A dining adventure in Quartzsite couldn't be complete without a stop to see Hi Jolly's grave.  Quartzite has some interesting history, from long before the Rubber Stamp Rendezvous began. We stopped to pay respects to Hi Jolly, the Syrian-born camel driver who emigrated here in the 1850s!
I'm so glad we finally got to eat at Times 3 Family Restaurant. And I'm glad we met some travelers and some locals and some vagabonds. I'm glad we got to visit the the petrified wood and quartz pyramid, that honors Quartzite's most beloved resident.
Next time we're in town, I'll ask about the restaurant's name. And we'll come earlier in January, to catch the annual Hi Jolly Parade! Arizona Tiki! In the past decade or so, Don and I have hit about 8 tiki bars in half a dozen states.  I'm pretty sure this is the first Tiki Adventure we've had in Arizona! Desert Oasis We discovered this little tropical paradise, on the way to our vintage hotel on the east side of Tucson.  It was about 2 pm, when we spotted the colorful sign. The 61-year-old building was tucked back, between businesses in a shopping center. Quick Peek Don pulled into a mostly vacant parking lot and I ran inside. I just had to get a peek at this place.  I followed the pebbled path over a bridge, which crossed a mosaic river, which seemed to flow from a pastel wall mural... with volcano, sea turtle and ship! "Kon-Tiki" Expedition I should have studied the mural better as I headed for the entrance. But I was distracted by those bright red doors. Worthy of a fairytale castle.  I didn't even capture the ship image in my photo. It was actually the Kon-Tiki raft, which sailed across the Pacific in 1947, from Peru to the Polynesian Islands. Evidently there's a good story! Dim and Quiet The words above the red doors invited me in. "Welcome to Paradise" But would this tiki joint really be open at 2 pm?  I've had a few mid-day visits to vintage bars in my day. (Reconnaissance missions like this) It can be a little eerie with day drinkers. The windowless lounge was dim and quiet, but not creepy. The place serves food as well as drinks, so there were some legitimate diners along with a couple of solo drinkers. No Greeter I didn't see anyone working behind the bar, so I felt free to snap some pics without explaining myself. The entrance to the restrooms had a nice spotlighted piece of art.
There were cases holding vintage tiki mugs and souvenir platters. Options I was surprised to find so many different areas for seating. I'm guessing this place must have been a hopping, popular place when it opened 6+ decades ago.     I made a quick sweep and was staring at a giant see-through fish tank, when a young woman returned to her place behind the bar. Aurora greeted me, then shared a bit about the fish tank. All the fish were descendants of the original 1963 fish. I told her that I was just stopping in to check the place out. But her welcoming vibe allowed me to make a speedy decision. "I'll be back a little later with my husband!" Minutes Later Don and I headed over to "Lodge on the Desert", but were unable to check in early. So I dug a flowered shirt from my suitcase and changed in the car.  We drove a mile back to Kon Tiki. What a fun place to kill an hour. I posed with the sign before heading inside. Cozy Corner Aurora was behind the bar when we entered around 2:45. There was music playing this time. It wasn't exactly Island or Hawaiian music, but at least the place felt like it was waking up.  Aurora invited us to sit anywhere and we chose a corner with interesting textures and designs on the walls. We sat at the table closest to the Tiki Head. Menu Aurora brought us menus and I was amused by the artwork. Was that really what the Kon Tiki building looked like? The palms had blocked my view.  Inside the menu we found about 30 cocktail options. Most for less than 10 dollars. Painkiller and Original Pyrat Mai Tai I told Aurora I wanted a drink that looked festive. She suggested the Painkiller.  Don ordered the Original Mai Tai, using a special Kon Tiki recipe, of course. He was pleased, which says something. Don can be pretty critical about Mai Tais. We weren't served in giant tiki mugs, but the drinks were actually displayed better in glassware. My frothy Painkiller tasted like a coconut kiddie cocktail. I mean that in the best way.
The pineapple slice, cinnamon stick, agave leaf and cherry made it extra fun. The Caribbean Rum was powerful. I did not slurp it down like a kiddo, although I wanted to. In fact I only drank half, since we had plans an hour later. No to-go cups with tiki drinks! Wandering After finishing up, Don and I toured around the dining areas, taking in all the decorative details. While studying the clam waterfall, I noticed a winking face, with dripping teeth! Was that supposed to be a face?  There were more obvious faces, like the one Don posed with.  We asked Aurora a few questions about the place. She wasn't old enough to have too many of her own memories, but she collected a few stories from long-time regulars. Smoking Days The wood floors were spotless on a Wednesday afternoon. Aurora told us the carpets had been removed at one point. Along with all the smells of cigarettes and spilled drinks.  I never spent much time in bars, but back in the day you didn't have to spend more than a minute, before your hair and clothing absorbed the odors of Marlboros and Winstons. Bird Aviary Aurora showed us the outdoor patio, that was once a bird aviary.  She heard from some old timers that there were other critters besides parrots in this space. Some kind of dragon lizard and rumors about a jaguar. Aurora was skeptical. Long Ago Aurora said she'd talked to some locals who remembered when the tiki lounge was first built. They claimed Broadway was just a dirt road then. That was hard to imagine in 1963.
We thanked our chatty bartender and headed out, I took one more photo of the little stone building dwarfed by palms and bigger buildings. Then I found an old photo on the internet. What fun to compare! The old image shows an isolated building and hazy mountains in the background!
What a fun quick Tiki Adventure! I hope Kon Tiki is around for another 61 years! 406 Steak n Shakes! I've collected at least 6 decades worth of Steak n Shake memories.  The famous chain opened in 1934, over 2 decades before I was born. There are 406 of them, all over the USA. (as of 2024) I've probably dined at about 15 Steak n Shakes. Springfield, Missouri My fondest memories are from this Steak n Shake located on the old Route 66, in the town where most of my relatives are from.  The flat, concrete building with glazed ceramic tiles, was built in 1962. I was 5 then and just beginning to make Steak n Shake memories, on visits to see grandparents and cousins. Takhomasak When I had my first SnS steak burger, I was too young to read.  But before long I was reading those bold red letters and questioning the silly spelling of this one word suggestion. I hardly knew what it meant to "Take home a sack" of food. My family always dined in. Curb Service The Route 66 restaurant was still doing Curb Service in 2020, when we stopped for carryouts during the Pandemic.  Maybe they still are. But who would want to miss out on dining inside and seeing all the action. In Sight It Must Be Right If you sit at the counter, you can watch your burger being grilled. The famous slogan wasn't just about cooking, back in 1934.   When "Gus" Belt opened the first Steak n Shake in Illinois, he actually ground the meat (sirloin, T-bone and round) in front of the customers. I'm actually happy not to watch that. With Family I can't think of a single time I dined at Steak n Shake, when I was just with friends. All my memories, especially at the Route 66 location, involve the gathering of family members.  The most recent meal at this black & red diner, was a special one. We had the youngest member of the family with us. Charlie was 2 when we dined on Labor Day 2024.  We also dined with the oldest member of our family, last September. Dad had turned 95 the day before. Gathering Around Over the decades, we've enjoyed numerous mini-reunions at Steak n Shakes. When family comes together (from all over the country) it's nice to have a simple place that everyone can agree on.
We've snapped a lot of photos at Steak n Shakes over the years and usually the faces are pretty happy. Water Charlie loves the excitement of any kind of restaurant.  She was plenty excited about her water... because she didn't know what she was missing.  She was content to give Mommy a hairdo, while she waited for her burger. What's That? The milk shakes suddenly arrived.  Charlie didn't really know what that thing was, with the whipped cream and cherry. Her mom could have kept her wondering. She knows there are drinks that are only for adults. But Heidi gave her a sample.
Charlie was sold after one taste!
Luckily her burger and fries came. Perfect timing!  There were lots of toasts over Dad's birthday weekend! I got in a milkshake toast, with my son, Scott! As we headed out, Charlie got a paper Steak n Shake hat.  Seems like it wasn't that long ago, that my kids were gleefully wearing those hats! We headed to the car and took Dad back to his assisted living facility.
The kids spent some time with their Grandpa (Great Grandpa) for a little while, before heading off.
Our September Steak n Shake memory will always be a special one. Dad passed away 3 months later. These are the very last photos of Dad with the kids. I'm so happy to have these photos and memories.
Seafood Dining on Bolivar Peninsula Don and I recently had lunch at Stingaree Restaurant. We were on our way home after spending a few days in Galveston.  11 years ago we did the very same thing. Not too much has changed. Ferry and Food Adventure Both of our visits to Stingaree began with a ferry ride. It's fun to do a replay of a past adventure.  This is the ferry that Don and I took in 2013. We were on our way home from Galveston Island. We figured we'd find lunch as soon as we reached Bolivar Peninsula. Weather was perfect on that August day. We left the car and wandered the deck... of the Dewitt C. Greer ferry.  Who is Mr. Greer? Evidently a Texan, known as the "King of the Highway Builders". Thanks Wikipedia! We spotted barges that day...
...and dolphins! On a Friday in May 2024, Don and I drove onto the Robert C. Lanier Ferry... named for the mayor of Houston. At least he was mayor when we moved to Texas, 25 years ago.  A tractor trailer parked too close to Don's car door. He stayed trapped in the car. I headed out in search of dolphins.  None were spotted, but the seagulls were entertaining! Bolivar Point Lighthouse In 2013, I snapped this pic from Highway 87, on the way to Stingaree. The lighthouse looked oddly dark, standing next to the white beach homes.  I learned some history about the old lighthouse from 1872. Evidently the structure darkened naturally, from the elements. It once sheltered over 100 people, during Galveston's Great Storm/flood of 1900. It was featured in a movie (My Sweet Charlie) in 1968, along with actress Patty Duke. Sadly when we passed this past May, the top was removed and it looked sad and neglected. Stingaree in 2024 We arrived around noon, this past May.  Don followed the flow of visitors from the parking lot, but I veered left to see an old boat, docked nearby. Miss Kim II I don't know the story. Was there a Miss Kim I? Who was the boat named for?
I was mostly excited to get close, to see if those pelicans were real. Of course they were. Yellow Building Don waited for me to catch up. I studied the building as we headed towards the stairway.  Stingaree looked a little brighter than it did a decade before.  I pulled up my old photo to compare. Bigger? Had the old seafood restaurant expanded? Maybe the yellow paint just made it look larger.
I spotted the external elevator. There was actually a line for a ride in that metal cage. A lot of seniors out for lunch, on that pretty May day. Dining Room This picture shows the main dining room, back in 2013. It looked the same when we arrived in May, but all the tables were full.  We couldn't sit below the fish decor, or the stuffed geese, or the deer head. Quite a collection! 2013 Feast We enjoyed our lunch with a view over East Galveston Bay. I remember enjoying my Po'Boy and seafood gumbo.  I still remember Don's Avocado Delight, stuffed with shrimp and crabmeat. Very yummy! Bar Seating When we arrived on this visit, there were a few open seats at the bar.  We could have taken a seat and studied the dollar bills attached to wood beams. Or we could have pulled up a red stool at an extra bar counter, and studied the display of desserts. Side Room But suddenly the hostess guided us to a side room, where some good tables had just been cleaned.  We lucked out with another window table. Our waiter brought menus and eagerly suggested cocktails and appetizers.  The Stingarita and Muggarita actually sounded fun, but we were traveling. We already knew what we wanted to eat! Redfish Louie Don had seen the Redfish Louie featured on a TV show, that focused on Texas restaurants. Note that Don is wearing a t-shirt and hat once again. This seems to be required dress code for the men.  His redfish came on a bed of dirty rice, topped with crawfish etouffee & fried crawfish tails.  My serving of popcorn shrimp was just what I wanted.  The slaw and hand cut fries hit the spot too. I wish we'd been traveling with a cooler for leftovers. Stingaree History I wanted badly to have a chat with our waiter about a little Stingaree history. Like the name for instance. But he was bustling around pushing fried mushrooms and margaritas.  I studied the walls (and internet) for hints. The biz isn't nearly as old as I had guessed. 37 years old.  Jim Vratis opened the marina and restaurant in 1986. Jim's son Brad runs the busy place now. I like a family owned business. Wandering After Lunch After dining with a view of the intracoastal waterway, I was ready to get a better look.  We stepped out onto a higher deck, with another below. I kept hoping to spot some boats docking up for a visit to Stingaree. Guests can bring their fresh catch and have it cooked up in the kitchen.  We did spot a couple barges passing by. We headed from the deck, down a flight of stairs.  I was curious to see if there really were sharks or crabs inside those tanks.  No sharks, but a few crabs. Good Bye Y'all! Soon we were back on the road. Our ferry route made our drive back to our home in Sugar Land, about twice as long.  But the extra hour was worth it. We enjoyed the ferry ride (some enjoyed more than others!) and we had some very decent seafood! We also got in some curious people watching. A lot of seniors. Yep, like us, but dressed differently. Some men in overalls and some very snazzy sparkle shirts for the ladies. No political shirts, thank goodness!
Next time, I hope we can chat with some locals, or the owner. Maybe we can learn where that name Stingaree comes from. |
The Dining Blog
This is a blog about Dining Adventures. Sometimes, I talk about food. Below, you can read how this started. On July 4th 2011, I set a goal to try 50 culturally diverse restaurants in one year! (I knew that was possible, living in the Houston area) I spent the year pulling in friends and family to join me, on some unusual dining adventures. I met some curious people, tried some scary foods and explored places and cultures I never would have otherwise. Even though I met my goal, I learned too much to end my adventures in dining. I have continued blogging about memorable dining adventures of all kinds, near and far... and all the discoveries and funny things I've learned along the way! Locations and types of dining adventures, are listed further down. Archives
August 2024
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