|
Food & Film! Back in the day, a movie theatre dining adventure, would mean a popcorn dinner! That actually sounds good to me. But these days, you can get a real meal at many theatres.  But at the old Tower Theatre in Sacramento, you can have a popcorn feast with your movie, then walk a few steps next door to Tower Cafe (beneath the Records sign) for some great food and atmosphere! Tower District We have loved driving by this wonderful corner, since our son and daughter in law moved to Sacramento 7 years ago.  We finally got visit this little movie and cafe oasis 1.5 years ago. The theatre and cafe are hidden from traffic behind tall palms and lush garden growth. A lover of old movies, I was drawn to that art deco theatre!
While waiting for a table at the cafe, we took a peek at the posters and wandered inside the lobby.
Eventually, I got to take in a movie on another visit. My daughter-in-law Chali took me to the movies! Our Popcorn Dinner was the best! Brunch in June! Back in 2023, we had a real meal at the cafe end of the Tower Complex.  A beautiful Sunday in June! There was a long wait for our group of 7. History There was time to learn some history from displays in the theatre. The theatre was built in 1939. Long before the tall palms.   To the left of the tower, was Zamm's Candy Store, which provided the candy for movie patrons. To the right was Tower Drugs, which is where the Cafe is today. In the back of the drug store, Tower Records was founded, by Russ Solomon in 1949. Enjoying the Fountain On that lovely Sunday morning, there was lots garden space to enjoy while we waited for our table. 
We spent a lot of time hanging around that fountain.
And running around the fountain and greeting the lions. At least 2-year-old Charlie did.
 I usually hate long waits for tables. But I have fond memories of that waiting time. Our 2 kids and spouses and granddaughter all together! Perfect!  Time to catch up and chat, without distraction. Heading In Eventually we were called to be seated. We headed to the door, below the wonderful old neon sign.
Past the posing lion, next to the door. Inside The group was guided towards a patio table, but I peeked inside.  What a festive place!     Even the bathroom was photo worthy!  It was clear the restaurant was not going along with a Movie Theme or a Records Theme. Tower International Cafe Once we were given menus, it was clear that the cafe (which opened 1990 on Earth Day) was embracing Sacramento, as a "Global Village".  "...created to express the unique history and character of a city corner... evolve from local memories to global pursuits...where hearts, minds and appetites convene with family and friends...join 'the pattern which connects' our many differences to... our Good Earth" Family And here we were on a beautiful Sunday, gathering with family around a large table!  Enjoying fresh air and converstaion and Bloody Mary's...
And huge plates filled with pancakes... and foods I can't actually recall!   Cha and Scott are the 2 who lured us to Sacramento back then. They live not too far from Tower Cafe/Theatre.  And now it's October 2024. We don't have our whole group in town for this visit. But we're back and this time Don and I are staying at an Airbnb, just a 1 minute walk from Tower Theatre!
Yesterday morning I went for an early run and stopped to check out the movie options. Yes! I returned for a Hitchcock movie at 4:00! This Morning! This morning, Cha and Scott had to work, so Don and I walked over to the Cafe for breakfast!
Weather was chilly, so we headed inside to dine. No wait and a witch was there to greet! We were seated beside a Buddha, with fall veggies displayed at his feet.  Don's shirt matched his cup and plate beautifully!  His Bourbon Glazed Ham (with eggs & taters) was huge and delicious!  My moist Cornbread Pancakes melted in my mouth! The Halloween surprises were extra fun, added to all the international decor.  I could have enjoyed a tiny orange pumpkin hunt!  I failed to get a photo of our wonderful server, Susan. We chatted a long time about everything from Portland to pancakes. She was wonderful and we hope to see her next time. Sweets I also didn't get a photo of the amazing cookies we bought to take with us!  But I did get a photo of the luscious cakes and pies!
I just finished our breakfast 5 hours ago, but I'm ready to go back again. How I wish I had a house in this little neighborhood and could be a regular!
0 Comments
Open in 1947 I love a good neon sign and I love the term "Supper Club".  We spotted this sign 6 years ago while traveling through Glenwood Springs and vowed we'd come back and check it out. Glenwood Springs in 2024 Don and I were back in Colorado in July.  We stayed at the Hotel Maxwell Anderson on Seventh Street.  Just a block west on 7th, we could climb up to the walking bridge that crossed the river. It gave us a good view of our hotel... ... and a good view of the iconic Supper Club and Lounge. Two buildings? I was confused.  I wasn't sure if dining would be an option for us that night. But I figured we could at least experience the place with a drink in the Lounge. The Lounge Section I wandered down from the hotel around 4 to get a peek at the place.  I passed the pink neon words spelling "Lounge" and paused at the rounded corner, to admire the glass block window. Love the vintage look! One Business or Two? I studied the patio space in front of the 1-story building.  There was a door opening to the "Lounge" building and a different door to the 2-story building, which held the "Supper Club" sign. It suddenly became clear that this was no longer one business, but 2 separate restaurants. At least the exterior had the '40s vibe of the ole supper club, that once housed a dining hall, bar, lounge and dance floor. "Riviera Scratch Kitchen" The corner restaurant's new name was written on the large front window. The words scratch and kitchen are not exactly words I associate with a mid-century restaurant. But I learned later that Chef Travis Owen has been impressing diners with seasonal scratch cuisine, since 2016.  The restaurant wasn't open yet, but I stuck my head in and noticed a tiny bar area to the right of the door. The bar section did indeed have a vintage feel, so I rushed back to report to Don. 5:30 We headed over a 5:30, hoping there would be 2 seats open at the tiny bar.  We could see there were already plenty of diners, as we headed towards the entrance. Dining Room The dining area was small, with a relaxed, open vibe. I so wish I could have seen photos of this space, 60 years ago.  I didn't spot a piano anywhere. I'd read that owner Jonathan Gorst, played regularly. But that may have been a previous owner. The Bar The bar was hopping and we were lucky to find 2 stools together. It had a fun lively feel, with a few dining at the bar.  I didn't catch our bartender's name, but he was pleasant and efficient, as he prepared drinks for bar and restaurant customers, while training an equally pleasant young woman.  Don and I ordered martinis because that seemed the appropriate choice, while sitting at a bar that's been serving cocktails for 77 years.  While sipping our cocktails, we looked for hints of the old Riviera Lounge. How many renovations in 77 years? Could we be sitting at the original bar? Was the mirror old? I snapped a mirror photo like we used to do before the days of selfies.
Then I snapped an equally lame selfie, to capture the musical note decor behind us. That piece of "art" has probably been around a while. The only thing worse than our selfie, was the blurry photo I took when I hopped up to make a trip to the restroom.  My photo barely shows the bumped-out space behind us, which was so much more curious than it appears. The cozy nook made me imagine Al Capone huddled over a cocktail, in a dim corner... Capone did frequent Glenwood Springs, but he died 1947. So unlikely he ever stepped foot in the Supper Club. Signs of the Past I took a trip to the restroom in hopes of spotting some hints of the past, along the way.  There was little to see. The sign on the door is not one we would have seen 50 years ago.  I got excited when I saw a framed photo on the wall. Was this a photo of the Riviera? I so wanted to get some scoop from our bartender, but he had his hands full. The photo hardly matches up, with all the windows. Off at 7 It was 7, when we finished up and headed out. I left feeling a little disappointed that I hadn't learned anything at all about the history of this place.  But the neon was glowing and that pleased me. More Neon Don and I headed up the stairs to the walking bridge. We had more exploring to do.  It was a treat looking back and seeing the blue and pink neon glowing. Hot Springs Bathhouse We crossed over the river and looked down on the historic Hot Springs Bathhouse.  There were still plenty of guests "taking the waters" as they did back when the bathhouse opened in 1888. Hotel Colorado We continued across and spent an hour enjoying the garden patio bar at Hotel Colorado.  The grand hotel was built in 1893, 54 years before the Riviera Supper Club opened. There's a lot to love about this old town! Back Across It was about 8:45 when we headed back across the bridge towards our hotel. Which opened 1915, btw.  And the depot! It opened in 1904. I clearly love dates. Good Night By the time we reached the stairs on Seventh street, the neon had already been turned off. The Riviera was closed before 9.  Since our very brief visit to the Riviera, I've been perplexed why I can't find more information. I wish I'd just spoken with a local or 2, who might have had some memories to share.
Mostly it's fun to know that we had a tiny Riviera Experience. The sign lured us years ago and we did sip martini's while that sign was glowing! Quite good enough! 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! 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! |
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
January 2025
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed