Category: 0 Montana

Pekin Noodle Parlors in Butte, MT

11/12/2015

Chop Suey!

On a Friday night last September, Don and I left our hotel in Uptown Butte in search of food. We passed an upscale restaurant on Broadway, then headed past a noisy group of bikers holding beers. Then on a quieter corner, we spotted a welcoming neon sign with the words, Chop Suey!

Brick, Neon and Mountains

Actually, this is the neon image that first lured us to the corner.

We were headed literally down Main Street, just after the sun had set. There was a glow behind the mountains and a glow on the red brick building from the neon.

"What a sign!" was my first reaction.

Noodle Parlors?

It wasn't until we crossed the street that we could see the words "Noodle Parlors" glowing above the door. What does that even mean... parlors, as in more than one parlor? We peered in and saw a staircase heading upward. It seemed lit up and open, but it still felt a bit daring. Then a young couple suddenly appeared. They headed in and confidently walked up. We waited a few minutes and then followed.

Up We Go

My camera flash made the stairway look a little brighter than it was. We headed up, kind of chuckling about our bravery. We turned left into the doorway and found a decorated cashier's cage, with no one attending. Towards the front was an empty room, with community tables. Towards the rear, there was a long and curious hall.

Hmmm?

We could hear diners behind the curtains and voices coming from the kitchen at the end of the hall. We had a few moments by ourselves, to absorb this mysterious sight.

There were Chinese lanterns and salmon-pink, bead board walls. There were curtains, that made me think of dressing rooms... and one, lone metal cart.

Our Cozy Booth

A woman with blond hair and glasses emerged from the end of the hall. She rolled the metal cart back into the kitchen, then ushered us to booth #8. We sat at our cozy table in two wobbly soda fountain chairs, while she left us to fetch menus and tea. We sat there grinning, with raised eyebrows. "She didn't close our curtain. Are we supposed to?" It was like being in a foreign country, unsure of ourselves.

Retro Chinese Menu

The Feast

The menu was hoot. There were serious reminders, written in red on the cover. Inside the menu we found a stunning selection. There were 32 different kinds of Chop Suey and Chow Mein. We started with egg drop soup.

As we sat behind our closed curtain, I kept getting the giggles. Having our vision limited, made the nearby voices and sounds extra comical... a family with a restless baby... clinking toasts of a romantic couple... a jabbering man monopolizing the conversation across the hall...

... and every now and then the sound of a cart, rattling at great speeds down the hall... fluttering our curtain each time.

Food!

There was so darn much of it. We had Chicken Chop Suey with Noodles and Pork Choy Mein with Egg Fu Yong. This was food you can't find easily anymore, even if you live in Houston, with the largest "Asia-Town" in the States.

As for the flavors and textures and seasoning? It wasn't packed with any of that, but that's okay. It took me back to my earliest memory of Chinese food. I was 6 in 1963 when I remember eating food just like this in NYC's Chinatown. Ahhh. Simple is nice.

Sneaking Around

Since we had pulled our curtain closed, I did what I generally consider rude and grabbed my cell phone and googled the restaurant. I was stunned to learn we were in a restaurant that had been run by the same family since 1909. I was even more surprised to learn that the owner Danny Wong, (I believe his great uncle started the business) was 80 and still cooked six days a week. I was like a giddy groupie. I used the excuse of hunting down the restroom, to sneak a peek in the kitchen.

I nervously snapped a blurry photo, hoping no one would notice. I wish I had been brave enough to photograph the bathroom. There were two little saloon style doors (same salmon color) and another tiny door to the toilet. I grinned as I took a look. Then I washed my hands at a shared sink in the hallway .

Arlene

When, we finished the feast our server Arlene, seemed surprised to know this was our first visit. (We must have hidden our confused expressions. ) She genuinely apologized, since she hadn't encouraged us to order their specialties.

Then she disappeared and returned with some samples of sweet and sour chicken and some kind of stuffed wontons. We nibbled the "just sweet enough" specialties, and learned more about Arlene and her work at Pekin. She was hired in 1979, back when the waitresses carried huge heavy trays in and out of those tiny rooms. After many years, they were finally allowed to use the rolling carts. "Oh Butte was different then." Arlene smiled. "It was pretty rough and tumble. Back then, we stayed open till 3 am. The bars closed at 2, so everyone headed here. It got pretty wild."

History of the Building

Arlene told us the building (which we viewed again in the morning) had been in the original Chinese District. The 2-block area was bustling during Butte's heyday in the late 1800's. The 2-story building was constructed in 1909. That year, Hum Yow and his wife Bessie Wong moved their noodle house and family to the upper level. The street level and basement housed a Chinese apothecary, a sign maker's shop and gambling casino. Because the building was so near Butte's red-light district, there have been lots

of rumors about those little curtained rooms where diners eat noodles, today. Arlene didn't say anything about the restaurant being a brothel, but she did say Chinese miners rented those tiny booths as sleeping quarters at one time. I'm sure Arlene could tell a lot of stories from her 36 years of work at The Pekin. I asked her if she'd noticed a lot of changes during that time. Arlene didn't really need to ponder that. "No. Not really.

Julie in the Lounge

After dinner, Don and I wandered towards the front of the building where we could see the neon, glowing through the window. We noticed a lounge off to the left. We peeked in and ended up chatting with bartender, Julie. She had her own stories about the Noodle House. She talked about growing up in Butte (which she never fully respected until she moved away for a short while.) She had nothing but rave reviews of her boss, Mr. Wong. "He cooks 6 days a week!" Julie gushed. She said he was 80 years old and had enough money to retire and live comfortably anywhere, but he was so dedicated to the place.

Mr. Wong Himself

We'd been chatting with Julie for quite a while, when Mr. Wong himself strolled into the lounge in his white apron and tidy white hair. I was star struck. He teased Julie a bit and seemed delighted that we had enjoyed our first visit to Pekin Noodle House.
He was more than happy to pose for photos before heading back to the kitchen. Such a treat! What a sweet man and what a welcoming staff.

Good-Byes and Thanks

We headed out later that night. Two months later, I'm still pondering the visit. The history of Butte's Chinese community is fascinating. The fact that Danny Wong's family has run this business since 1909, says much about the Wongs. At one time 400 to 600 Chinese rail workers, miners and later, service oriented business owners filled the 2-block Chinese community. For many complicated reasons, most of the Chinese businesses disappeared and yet this one still exists. I keep trying to learn more, but my Googling brings up conflicting

stories and lots of odd food reviews. I may never know the full story of Pekin Noodle House and how it fit into this Montana world. But, I'm glad I experienced a piece of it!

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Matt's Drive-In

11/9/2015

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Butte, Montana

It wasn't time for a meal when we drove into Butte last fall. But we'd read about this curious place. As a kid, Evel Knievel ate at Matt's frequently, when he lived nearby. If it was good enough for him, it was worth a visit!

Roadside House

The only thing better than a roadside diner is a roadside house with dining options. This diner was just a home on the highway, before Matt Korn began serving food in 1930. Customers used to drive up along the tall fat bumper curb and order through the windows. I hear they still will bring food out to your car, but we wanted to sit at the old counter! We said hello the the man in the white apron leaning against the stucco and headed on inside.

Words

My eyes were drawn behind the counter where I spotted shiny milkshake and malt equipment, plus an old cash register. All that chrome seemed to be surrounded by words. Coca-Cola, Sandwiches, Gift Certificates, Yes! We're Open, Sugar Cones, and SORRY... with a list of this and that and a THX at the end.

Menu Gal

Don and I sat down on two of the brown, swivel stools at the 1930's era, U-shaped counter. We pulled out a menu, showing a tray full of icy cold treats. A very smiley server wearing a snappy little cap, peered over the sweet assortment.

No Caps

There were no caps worn here, but the two servers who were in the midst of a shift change, did seem to have matching hairdos... which weren't from the 1930's, but not exactly 2015 either.

Coke or Ice Cream?

It wasn't quite 5 pm and Don and I hadn't even checked into our hotel yet. We thought about just having a Coke, especially if it meant choosing our own frosty bottles from the big red case and popping off the lids... instead of unscrewing!

Chocolate Sundae

But the menu was calling me. What I really wanted was the Peanut Burger, served with a mayo sauce made with crushed peanuts. I love getting the local, quirky favorite and maybe I should have. But we were holding off for dinner later. Instead, I had my peanuts served on top of a chocolate sundae, which was probably just as filling as a burger. It was mighty good, though.

Distracted by a Photo

Don shared a few bites, but he spent most of our visit, chatting with Shawn, a young man sitting at the end of the counter. Shawn noticed Don pointing at a framed photo that was mounted on the knotty pine wall. Don was pretty sure that was a 1957 Chevy Nomad Station Wagon, just like the one his family owned when he was a kid. Shawn heard that bit of news and lit up. "You had one of those!".

Car Talk

Shawn had a few cars stories himself, since his dad and grandfather were race car drivers. He showed us a photo of the trashed Mustang he and his dad found in an old barn. He laughed about his first ride in a souped up '57 Chevy, shortly after he was born. His mom had been furious that his dad arrived and drove them home from the hospital in the noisy car that made everyone stare at stoplights.

Chatting with Brandi

Brandi continued to busy herself behind the counter. She chatted with me a bit about her favorite customers... the families that seemed to "grow up" on the diner's food. She also teased Shawn a few times, especially when he told us he'd just discovered Matt's Place a few weeks earlier, when he started college. "And he's pretty much been here, every day since then!" Brandi laughed. "Don't forget your coat!" She reminded him like a mother when he got up to head out.

Off to Butte

I was sorry we couldn't have experienced a meal or a bigger crowd. But mostly I'm just glad we made the stop. This is one of those places that might not be there "next time". Matt sold his biz to the Louis & Mae Lawrence in the 1940's. I believe Mae passed away a couple years ago at age 100. As far as I know their daughter is still running things. You never know.

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Sparky's Garage in Butte, MT

11/6/2015

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Service Station Dining

Don and I arrived in Butte just in time for lunch. How could we resist a dining place with Mobil Oil's pegasus images and green service station doors.

Side Entrance

We walked towards the side door from the parking lot. I liked the old brick building itself. The green and red neon sign and old Texaco lamps were an added treat.

We were very hungry and excited to have found a place that looked inviting.

A Truck Inside

On the way to being seated, I couldn't help but notice the green truck and a number of old gas pumps. Brought me back to playing "Gas Station" with my brother. "Filler up with regular!" I loved to announce from my pretend driver's seat.

The Truck Bed Table

I didn't notice until later that there was a table in the back of the 1949 Chevy pickup. If I'd known, I would have requested that table.

Dining in the bed of a truck is something I've never done.

By the Window

We ended up with a cozy wooden booth and a view of a dining deck, which overlooked lower Butte and distant mountains. But I didn't look out the window much. There was too much inside.

Lots of Metal

Old metal decor with signs, bicycles and and pedal cars is really nothing new. They've been cluttering up restaurants with old memorabilia for decades now. But there was something extra fun about the fact it was in a warehouse like building that really housed a service station at one time.

Old, But Clean

I liked the way they refurbished oil and paint cans into lighting fixtures. It's always good to see old junk put to good use. And there was a lot of old stuff in this place.

Oddly enough, everything looked surprisingly clean. When I mentioned this to the hostess, who had worked at Sparky's for a number of years, she laughed. She said her boss often reminded, "Some lean and some clean." They were not allowed to sit around and lean. When there was a lull, they were told to dust and clean.

Time to Eat
Our eating utensils were cleverly wrapped in a red shop cloth. It looked like what a filling station attendant might have used to wipe his hands after checking your oil.

The food was reasonably priced and hit the spot. Don got the lunch special of half price buffalo wings. I had a piping hot onion soup and a crispy salad. The crumbly corn bread and sloppy cheese, made me need about 10 of those red rags!

No Time for Casinos

There was no time to hang out in the large bar or the casino towards the front of the building. I did peek into the dimly lit casino and stopped myself from taking a photo. There was just one customer and she must have been 90 years old. She hunched over a slot machine with her braided white hair pinned up on her head. Her walker was neatly folded beside her. If only I'd spotted her earlier, I might have asked her to join us for lunch. That would have made for a very interesting dining adventure, I'm sure.

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Bacchus Pub in Bozeman, MT

11/2/2015

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Not a Roadside Diner

On our 4-week road trip out west, Don and I had many a meal at cafes and diners, with vinyl booths and tile floors. I do love small town eating, but I was ready for a new look... like Medieval, maybe!

The Big City!

We spent almost a week in Montana last September and this was our first stop in a city. The Main Street was classic and classy, with retro buildings, cute shops, nice cars and interesting looking people. But my eyes went straight to the Hotel Baxter sign! We were sad to learn it is no longer a hotel, but they did have two dining options! Ted's Montana Grill had a great buffalo sign, but an expensive menu, so we went for the Bacchus Pub. They had a nice sidewalk cafe, but I was eager to get a look at the inside.

Old Lobby

I was drooling over the ornate lobby with grand chandeliers, painted beams and dramatic mezzanine.

Clearly this historic hotel has been brought back to good use in recent years. Ted Turner owns the upscale restaurant and hotel rooms have been renovated into lovely condos. But to a person who adores staying in historic hotels... I was in pain knowing I could never spend a night here.

A Beast

The whole style was more European than Western ranch, so it made me laugh to see the sweet buffalo staring down. I felt for a moment like I was back in Texas.

The Pub

The casual pub was bustling on Labor Day at lunch. I loved the sort of Gothic feel of the place right away. We rushed to grab the only table that seemed to be left.

The Best Spot

Of course the coziest spot was already taken. Two young sisters were hovering over their coloring books at the table right in front of the fireplace. Actually our seats were more comfortable than the pews that went with their table. I kept wondering who the girls belonged to. There must have been parents at another table. And then I became intrigued with how well behaved they were. And I loved the fact they were amused with coloring and not their own I-pads.

Other Little Faces

The most memorable thing about our lunch was enjoying all the little hooded faces staring down from the beams! These carved and painted heads are said to be the faces of real monks from a British Monastery.

It's a lucky thing these little guys are still around. The pub transitioned many times since it first opened.

It was a Mexican themed cafe/bar at one time. It's lucky they didn't get remove the little monks. Maybe they just covered their caps with tiny sombreros.

Faces and Glass

I'm not totally sure if this British style pub was a part of the hotel when it opened in 1929. But I know the carved monks and the lovely stained glass have been here for a very long time. I kept wishing there was a little history write up on the back of the menu. The staff looked too young to have much knowledge or interest in the bar history.

Beams and Faces

I obviously liked these characters. Each was different and I wondered if the staff had their favorites or even names for these guys. I would have asked, but our cheery server was so energetic, she never stopped long enough to ask silly questions like, "Which monk do you like best." Instead, we just named her. Hummer seemed like an appropriate name. She flitted quickly from table to table, as effortlessly as a tiny hummingbird. And her expression almost gave the impression that she was humming as she worked.

Food

On top of all the fun decor, the food was excellent. I could have ordered some real pub fare, but I was hungry for salad. My spinach salad was more hearty than any Shepherd's Pie! Don's Neptune Sandwich with tuna and shrimp salad (and fries) was hefty and yummy as well.

Perfect, Except...

If we hadn't been on the road, we could have indulged more. A glass of wine would have made for an ideal lunch. After all, Bacchus is the God of Wine!

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Dining at Windsor Bar

11/1/2015

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Boulder, Montana

The sign for Windsor Bar is an intriguing one. The 1935 silver dollar lights up at night and so do the words, "packaged goods" and "KENO"!

We spotted the sign last fall, as we rolled into the small town of Boulder.

The Town

We arrived at about 3 pm. The town has a population of about 1,000, so there wasn't too much to see.

We were headed to the historic Boulder Hot Springs Hotel, a couple miles outside of town, past a big rodeo arena and a Youth Detention Center. We knew the hotel offered no dinner options, but we'd heard the Windsor Bar did.

Checking it Out

As soon as we spotted the old bar I had Don pull over. It certainly didn't look like a place that would serve anything besides liquor. It also didn't look like a place I would normally go to for a glass of wine. But earlier, I had been surprised to read decent food reviews on TripAdvisor!

It was too early for dinner, but I decided to go in for a peek. I was confused about which door to enter. How about the one with the faded barber pole painted beside it? I decided to go for the door near the corner, where I felt welcomed by the neon "OPEN" sign, which glowed from the glass block window.

Hello?

There was no one in the room with the long wooden bar and knotty pine walls. However, I heard voices through the window opening in the center of the bar. I walked around and found the bartender, James in the second room. He was serving a man with a white ponytail, enjoying a beer and a basket of popcorn.

James and the Birthday Boy

The man at the bar was having a beer in celebration of his birthday. I wished him a happy one and then asked a few questions. I told them both that I had heard about the great steaks at Windsor Bar. The birthday boy raved about James and his rib eye cooking skills. I had to laugh when I noticed the built in grill, sharing space with liquor bottles, beer mugs and cooking utensils. James warned me that I might want to reserve some meat, if we were coming back. He studied his list of call-in-orders and announced, "We're limited tonight. I only have one rib eye left. We have all fresh meat, hand cut daily."

Back at Six

Don and I checked into the hotel then returned at 6:00. The popcorn smell I had noticed earlier was replaced by the smells of sizzling steaks. James was rushing around finishing up some ribeye orders for 3 couples at a nearby table. His shift was ending, but Soja, (who is the daughter of owner, Rusty) was starting up for the evening. She was full of fresh energy as she teased James who had been working since early morning. She laughed with locals and slammed the dice cup down on the bar, alerting anyone who might be interested in playing Once a Day Rolls. Don and I were the only non-regulars, so I felt a little guilty when we were the only winners of a free drink. But we made up for the freebie by ordering a ribeye dinner for $32.00.

Watching the Food

It was pretty wild, sitting on the old swivel stools watching Soja toss on the 24 ounce slabs of meat, then twirl around with giant mugs of beer, then toss potatoes into the microwave, then laugh with a customers over the dice game. She was young and energetic, but tended to the food, drink and customers like an old pro.

Dinner is Served

We sat right there at the bar sharing a big platter which held our massive rib eye and steamy baked potato. Another plate held stacked up slices of garlic toast. The meat was as juicy and mouthwatering as the reviews had claimed. Soja made sure we were pleased and then left us to our feasting.

Jim

This is Jim, who came in after a bit and sat down near Don. At one point, he noticed me snapping photos in the other half of the bar, so he followed along and shared some stories. I pointed above the bar and wanted to know what that boat-shaped, polka-dotted thing was. He said it was half of the original top of the old "Silver Dollar Bar". Drinkers could have their silver dollar placed into one of the circular holes and then their name would be etched beside it.

Why Are Coins Missing?

Jim said when he was a boy, there was a town robbery. Someone broke into the bar and used a screwdriver to remove a couple rows of silver dollars. Then the crook moved down to the bank where he stole the entire safe. They called in lots of help to search the land around Boulder, including Jim's boy scout troop. Jim and his buddies were the first to spot the discarded safe in the brush. They called for help and sadly learned that the only things left inside were some coins and checks. Great story. I hope it's true.

The Art of Connie Smith

Next, Jim pointed out some large pieces of Western artwork, mounted to the knotty pine walls. I was told that CJ Smith did basically two things, paint and drink. "Connie pretty much paid for his liquor with his art. He lived a block from my house when I was a kid. He was old and cranky and most of the kids were scared of him. But I didn't mind him. Sometimes he wouldn't make it all the way home after a big night drinking at the bar and I'd see him asleep under our willow tree in the morning. My dad would go out and help him get home. "

Heading Off

The owner Rusty appeared when we were finishing up our meal. I guess Soja must have mentioned to her dad that there were some out-of-towners at the bar. (As if he couldn't tell) Pretty soon she came down our way, saying her father would like to buy us drinks.

The whole idea of someone offering you a drink is just fun. It happens in movies and to cool people... not a regular thing in my world. Unfortunately, I'm also one of those people who can only drink about 1 beer, so that kindness is sort of wasted on me. But we ended up having a great chat with Rusty who seemed pretty surprised when I told him we had heard about their good food from the internet. He handed us each a Windsor Bar poker chip on our way out. I'm holding the chip in the photo. I decided it could be my tangible reminder, so I wouldn't forget to add another good TripAdvisor & Yelp review.

"Surprisingly yummy food in a surprisingly friendly atmosphere!"

Good-Bye

We just missed a lovely sunset as we headed for the hotel. And we didn't have time the next day to check out the Free Enterprise Health Mine, as advertised on the side of the building. (Evidently, you can relax and heal in the old mine tunnels with a little radon) But our time had not been at all wasted at the Windsor Bar. Good memories!

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Cafe Dining in Glacier, Montana

10/28/2015

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Love a Good Cafe

This past September Don and I spent a couple nights enjoying some rustic lodges in Glacier National Park.

Those 100 year old lodge dining rooms can be iconic, but I love a cute cafe. I'll always remember two that we enjoyed. One was near where we entered the park and the other where we exited.

The Park Cafe

This cottage like diner has been sitting here since 1952. We stopped for a light lunch before entering the park. Evidently the same family still owns the cafe, but the very young staff seemed a little clueless. I didn't push for cafe history.

What's Important?

Obviously the pie is important, since the menu shows an oozing slice of blueberry pie with words beneath...THE POWER OF PIE!" But Don and I were just eager for a light lunch and a glimpse of this cute little place.

Sharing Food

Sharing food is what the penny pinchers and old people do. I guess Don and I are both. When you're on a 1-month road trip, it gets costly eating out all the time. We also get tired of eating. I never thought I would hear myself say, "I'm not that hungry. Wanna share a plate?" That seems like what old people say. And now we're old. But the cheeseburger and fries were pretty good. Pie? Another day.

Atmosphere

I love a place that dares to not change. The diner chairs, counter and stools are all original. I love the red and I love seeing through to the kitchen. And I loved seeing the firefighters or policemen seated at the counter. Wait those guys rode in on motorcycles and they are not in uniform. But the look was right.

Bathroom
I decided not to take a photo of the bathroom, but it is worth mentioning. Guests in need of a restroom must take a little hike down a

pathway to a shed, with plywood doors that lock with metal hooks. The soap dispenser was resting on the floor. I should have saved the restroom for the gas station.

West Glacier Restaurant

This trim little restaurant with flowers and flag was where we stopped for breakfast after leaving the park, two days later. It was built in 1938 near the park entrance. The place closed during WWII, and was bought by the Lundgren Family in 1946. They owned it until last year.

Updates

We walked through a good sized gift shop into the main dining room. There's nothing too special about it. It was last renovated in the 1970's and the old ice cream counter and pie cooler gave hints of the past. But really it was a chat with Karen that was the most memorable.

Pancakes and Chatting

Karen noticed me taking photos of Don's huckleberry pancakes and fried ham and that started up a conversation. The woman of about 60 had been working at the restaurant for 14 years. She said she wasn't sure how much longer she'd be staying. She said she used to work as the cashier and customers came to her at the counter with their checks. "Things have been changing. Now the servers act as their own cashiers. I ring up an occasional item at the gift shop and I just wander around and kind of oversee things."

That sounded like a good thing, but she didn't like all the changes since the business was bought by the big organization that runs the National Park Lodges. "They're going to rip up the carpet and put down tile. They're going to move the ice cream counter to the front. And they'll probably be lowering my wage." She admitted.

But then she smiled and admitted a good thing. "But guess what? I lost 14 pounds since I'm not just standing behind the counter all day."

Change

Both places have resisted change for a long time. I'm glad I got to enjoy a burger and some

pancakes before much more renovations or even closings. Change often is a good thing, but I can easily relate to Karen and her woes. Can't we just leave things as they are?

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Sip 'n Dip Lounge in Great Falls, MT

10/26/2015

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Liquid Lunch?

Last month, Don and I found ourselves driving through Great Falls around the lunch hour. I did a quick search on TripAdvisor in search of food. Suddenly I laughed out loud. "What!!"

The O'Haire Motor Inn

Sometimes you have to make a quick change in plans when an opportunity just leaps out at you. Don and I forgot lunch and headed for a retro motor inn, built in 1962. As it turns out, they do have a decent cafe, but we were headed for the lounge with the curious name, Sip-n-Dip. In recent years, we have developed a thing for kitschy lounges, especially Tiki themed. We couldn't pass this up.

Where?

The pleasant woman behind the lobby desk said the lounge was indeed open. She pointed to a door and we headed upstairs. This seemed very silly.

Since 1962

There were no customers when we entered the dimly lit lounge. We walked past the piano bar, which was carefully covered with cloth, waiting for 81 year old "Piano-Pat" and her next performance. Marcy, the bartender seemed a little surprised when we decided to sit down and have cocktails.

Mermaid Images

Don and I were pretty giddy over the bamboo ceiling and shell decor. We've visited a few iconic Polynesian style places in California and Las Vegas, but none of them had quite this focus on mermaids. Not only were there mermaid lamps and mermaids painted on black velvet... there were "real" mermaids!

Where?

Sadly there were no mermaids performing on Sunday afternoon, but we got to see the glass windows behind the bar where the mermaids swim... on the nights that Piano-Pat is not performing.

Tropical Drinks

If we'd been on a cruise ship or a beach in Mexico, it would have made more sense to be sipping a Blue Hawaiian and a Mai Tai around noon. We weren't even watching mermaids perform. We were basically watching Marcy clean up the bar from Saturday night. But Marcy was a good sport and took our picture and then her husband came upstairs from the restaurant and joined us for a bit.

Learning the History

Marcy's husband Donnie looks a little weary in this photo. He has been the hotel's bar and restaurant manager for 13 years, so he should be tired. But actually it's just bad timing with my camera. He was actually pretty animated and enthused as he told us stories about the lounge.

Colorful Place

Donnie said the tiki themed lounge has stayed pretty much the same since the motor inn first opened. The pool wasn't built for shows, but for motel guests. The windows just happened to look through to the bar area. They added a mermaid show about 20 years ago, but guests are still welcome to swim when there are no shows going on. "Sometimes guests have to be removed from the pool if they do anything inappropriate." Now that was a bit of a creepy thought. I didn't ask any more questions about that.

The Pool

Donnie took us up the stairs to see the enclosed pool. It was hard to see the underwater windows, so I wonder how many guests have gone swimming, unaware. Supposedly there are signs warning you, but I didn't see them. Donnie said they usually have 4 mermaids per show and they take turns just swimming around for 4 hours, in their special mermaid tails and bikini tops. "We have to lock them in this pool area when the show starts. You gotta keep out the crazies."

Posing With... The Window

Macie invited us behind the bar for a photo. That was sort of silly since there were no mermaids to pose with, but we ended up hearing more stories. Marcy said years back, Daryl Hannah and Nick Nolte were in town filming, when they stopped by the lounge. Daryl recreated her mermaid role by trying on a tail and swimming in the pool. Both signed the glass, but their autographs were lost a few years later when the glass had to be replaced due to a crack. Luckily the pool was drained before 22,000 gallons flooded the lounge.

What a Hoot!

Don and I were tempted to change our road trip route and stay a night at the motor inn. If we could have enjoyed Piano-Pat and Mermaids in one evening, we might have gone for it. We'll put it on the Next Time List.

Who knows, maybe we'll bump into David Letterman if he gets really bored with retirement. Donnie said he hasn't shown up yet, but now and then he leaves his nearby ranch and comes to local ballgames. He might show up. Don and I have noticed, retirement makes people try odd things!

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Wagon Wheel Drive-In

10/21/2015

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Saturday Night in Small Town Montana

Last month, Don and I spent one night in the quiet community of Lewistown. We were disappointed to learn our hotel restaurant had closed, due to difficulties in keeping a good chef. Then we were sad to learn our desk clerk at the hotel had no suggestions for dinner. (We declined her offer to share the soup she had heating in a crockpot) Then, much to our relief, a gentleman checked into the hotel who knew all about Lewistown!

The Local Drive In!

Duncan grew up in Lewistown and he had fond memories of The Wagon Wheel, (or is it the Dash-Inn? It seems to have 2 names) He was in town to attend some kind of function that included dinner, but he admitted he had already made a stop at the Drive In. He seemed like a pretty decent guy as he talked about all the changes in the town since his youth. He almost seemed embarrassed that the places he wanted to suggest, were closed now. Duncan did light up when he described the burgers he loved, pressed and heated between 2 slices of white bread. He admitted no trip home would be complete without a stop for a couple of wagon wheels.

Waiting in Line

I was kind of glad there was a line of cars. It made the Saturday night outing more entertaining. Plus, we needed lots of time to study the menu. How could this tiny building house a kitchen that offered 19 different kinds of burgers? And besides burgers, they had shrimp and mini tacos, halibut sandwiches, fried chicken and turtle sundaes!

So Many Signs

There was more to read than just the menu! There were separate signs listing all the options for Smoothies and Cappuncino, Arctic Swirls and Flavor Burst Cones!

The Order Box

We could have easily been intimidated by all the bold messages. And I'm pretty sure we were the only customers who needed to read anything at all.

We pulled up to one of the white and red order boxes. Don shouted into the holes of the box, "Two wagon wheels and an order of tots!" Whew! I was relieved Don said it in the correct order, since there seemed to be a proper routine for this. We were amused by the HONK reminder. Unlike a drive-up bank, there was no buzzer for alerting the workers, if we needed to change the order. We didn't hear a single honk, so we could tell we were in a line up of non-wishy-washy-regulars.

Since 1952

I love a place that is older than me. 1952 means this place is super old and I like the way they proudly announce it. We should all be that way. And I like their other sign trivia. One sign reminded us that it was our last chance for a Wagon Wheel stop in 26,000 miles. The sign included an image of the globe with arrows encircling. That amused me.

Eat in the Car?

Our order came fast and we pulled under the shelter where folks can park and feast. I ran back to the "walk up window" with a question for the young man using the little pressing machine (think panini) for the Wagon Wheels.

O'Riley

The friendly guy was sad to say they did not sell tee-shirts, even though he was wearing a nice purple "Dash Inn" shirt. I told him how excited we were to be trying Wagon Wheels for the first time and could I possibly take a photo or two?

His boss chuckled that O'Riley should clean some of those crumbs before the photo. We chatted while he tidied the machine a bit and then pressed the already cooked pattie between two slices of bread. He was a good sport while I clicked photos of him trimming off the crusts before removing the steamy wagon wheel. I said "Thanks, Riley!" and offered a tip. He corrected me politely and then laughed to let me know I'm not the only one who fumbles with his name.

Good Attitude

All those signs sort of worried me that this was a no nonsense place that didn't have time for friendly banter. But the final sign I read reflected the attitude of the few I chatted with in the window.

I'm glad I made use of that walk up window! What a fun little visit.

Our Feast

We didn't end up eating in the car. We made the one-minute-dash to the hotel since Lewistown is pretty small. We took our bag to the room, where local Montana beers were chilling.

I'm glad to say we enjoyed the iconic Wagon Wheels and tots. It's so fun to find out about a food that locals love, from a local. On top of that I had a fun time with the locals who cooked our local treats! That was a pretty good dinner and experience for about $8.00!

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Trading Post Cafe in Montana

10/16/2015

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Dining in Crow Country

This past September, Don and I had a different kind of lunch experience on a Crow Reservation.

A Memorial Visit First

In the morning we visited Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument. There was a lot to ponder as we wandered over the beautiful landscape and learned about those who died during "Custer's Last Stand" in 1876. It hasn't been all that long since they began inviting us to learn about both sides of the Little Big Horn Story. The Indian Memorial, was added in 2003.

A Tourist Lunch?

Across the road we saw a touristy looking attraction with flags and teepees and patriotic banners. This seemed like an odd choice for lunch, but there were few options in this area, which is part of the Crow Nation.

Inside The Trading Post

We walked past a couple of white teepees, towards the entrance of the cafe and gift shop. We were seated by a blond waitress, although rest of the staff appeared to be Native American. From our table there was a lot to look at from beaded vests and cradles to artwork, depicting scenes of the bloody battle... that had happened just across the street.

The Menu

It was a little odd to be handed a menu with more reminders of the horrific battles. There were photo images and write ups to keep us from forgetting what we had just learned. There was also a reminder of the Trading Post's 30th anniversary. I wonder what this place was like 30 years ago, when the focus was all on "Custer and his brave men".

A Lively Atmosphere

It became pretty clear that we didn't need to feel guilty as we dined in the cozy dining room with log walls. About half of the diners were tourists, who like us were in the area visiting the National Memorial.

The other half seemed to be locals from the Crow reservation. There were Native American families eating nearby and quite a crowd of young kids in green and yellow sports jerseys, taking over the back room. We were surrounded by voices and laughter and clinking dishes on a sunny Saturday afternoon. I allowed myself to enjoy a little honey with my fry bread!

And I also enjoyed my Indian Taco, made with fry bread instead of a tortilla... even if the serious face of a man with braids and Native dress, looked down on me.

Blending Worlds

It had been interesting to eat lunch while observing the locals and tourists all enjoying the same food and atmosphere. The cafe got a little quieter when much of the crowd in uniform excited outside towards a school bus. Back in the corner, one table was still occupied. A blond woman shared a table with a man who was most likely Native American. It made me wonder how much these worlds mixed 30 or 50 years ago.

Through the Gift Shop

Before heading out, I wandered through the impressive gift shop in search of the restroom. A young boy darted past me and slipped. His grandmother reprimanded him, in what I assume was the Crow language. I so wish he would have bumped into me, so we could have laughed and had a brief conversation. I so regretted having no real "people encounter" at this cafe.

Back on the Road

We drove out of the parking lot, past the colorful teepees and I had to laugh at myself. I guess I haven't changed that much since I was a little kid, when I so wished I could grow my hair long and wear two braids. For as long as I can remember, I've been in awe of this world that I'm not really a part of.

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