alan@mtxinu.UUCP (Alan Tobey) (08/16/85)
I know this should "officially" go to net.travel, but somehow it
seems to belong here......
My brother is getting married at the end of September in Fargo
("gateway to eastern North Dakota"), and I'll be going. The
question is, how can I experience the real North Dakota "culture"
while I'm there? I don't mean the "sights", I mean the
Ralph's/Bertha's/SideTrack kind of REAL culture that the chamber
of commerce doesn't tell you about.
Suggestions (by e-mail) greatly appreciated.
Alan Tobey
Mt Xinu
2910 7th St., Berkeley 94710
ucbcax!mtxinu!alanbarrys@tekecs.UUCP (Barry Steel) (08/23/85)
> The >question is, how can I experience the real North Dakota "culture" >while I'm there? I don't mean the "sights", I mean the >Ralph's/Bertha's/SideTrack kind of REAL culture that the chamber >of commerce doesn't tell you about. > This reminds of a couple of places we used to frequent when we lived in Billings, Montana. First and formost was the Spur Bar. Located down by the stockyards and semi-trailer repair places this place is identified by it's neon sign with a cowboy (who's thumb kept moving toward the door). The place was always crowded with locals. We got a six course meal for $2.50 (1982). The amazing thing was the potatoes - hugh (comparisons were usually to various German lighter than air craft), cooked forever (soooo soft), with lots of butter and sour cream. We usually alternated between chicken fried steak and the "ground steak". The waitresses were rather plump and forty-ish, they would remember your name, if you came often enough. One we called "Mom", because she would not bring our dessert until we finished ALL of our main course. There was a rather tackey western style bar, with a fancy saddle over it, along with all kinds of nick-nacks. I almost killed myself one time trying to finish a 20oz T-bone (for $6.95). Certainly overflowing with local "culture". Don't go if you are on a diet. Don't ask for the non-smoking section. Ah, yes. Then there was the "S-quire" motel restaurant. This was our favorite breakfast spot. It's claim to fame are the cinnamon rolls. Monster rolls, with lots of real butter for less than a dollar. God, it would give me a sugar induced headache for the rest of the morning. I always enjoyed the clipping on the wall from the "Billings Gazette", talking about how when President Nixon was in town he got up early one morning and wandered down to the "S-quire". The secret service men did not know were he was - boy I bet some heads rolled later for that. I can just imagine Dick walking in and ordering a roll and coffee, and chatting with the waitresses. (The rolls are gone by 8). Then of course, there were "The Twins", but that is another storey... Hmmm, how about some fried chicken (perfect, not too greasy, just a little). Well, for that you would go up to Billings Heights to the Kit Kat Cafe (or was it Kafe?). They had one of those cat-shaped clocks on the wall, you know, the one with a tail-pendulum and the eyes that go back and forth. Again, always full of down-home folks and lots of good food. The Spur was a better deal, but only the Kit Kat had that chicken! Gosh, a brest, thigh, rolls, soup, salad, potato, vegetable tray, and ice cream sundae; all for about $3.50. I haven't been to Billings in several years, just writing about those places makes me want to get out the map and start planning my trip. barry steel