Spring Break Road Trip 2016: Tulsa, OK [Day 1]

Between work and other commitments, the husband and I were lucky enough to have our Spring Break plans sync up again this year! We talked about a few destinations(there's still some lovely places in Texas we haven't been and still others would like to revisit), however we decided to go north for a change and visit lovely Tulsa, Oklahoma!

While my mother swears that I'd been to Tulsa previously, I have no memory of the event. (Perhaps they borrowed another child for the entire trip!) Several people I talked to about our potential road trip destination raved about the fun restaurants and the gorgeous Art Deco buildings downtown. So, armed with the books Off the Beaten Path: Oklahoma and Oklahoma Curiosities, plus the website Roadside America, I set our course!



I am a big believer in three things in regards to road trips. 1)Take as many back roads as possible 2)The odder the roadside attraction, the more likely that I must have my picture taken in front of it. 3)Eat local and eat well! To start off the first day of our Tulsa adventure, we began at the always lovely Fried Pied Co Restaurant in Gainsville, TX.



Not quite fully awake (we were still recovering from a Robert Plant concert the night before), we drank as much coffee as we could stand!


To me, the Fried Pie Co exemplifies what a good diner should be: although nothing fancy, the food is always tasty, served with a smile, and easy on the pocketbook. Of course, the fact that they also make amazing fried pies is also a pretty big draw!


After getting some fried pies to go, we left Gainsville and headed along Highway 82. I had decided to cross over the Texas/Oklahoma border farther east so we could make sure to pass through Durant, Oklahoma. Why Durant? Where else could I see the World's Largest Peanut? We also made a quick stop at the Amish Store, where they sold everything from fresh eggs to cheese to soap. I'm not sure a lot of the products were actually made by the Amish, but we picked up cold drinks for the road (and also some fudge and jars of pickled bologna and sausage). A bit of a side note here: apparently there are some Amish communities in Oklahoma, which I hadn't known. Along the way we drove past a sign to watch out for buggies on the road!


Leaving Durant, we headed north along back roads and passing through several small towns on our way to our lunch-time destination. As we went through Prague, I made us pull over to get a closer look at the National Shrine to the Infant Jesus of Prague. Apparently there was also a gift shop, but unfortunately I didn't realize that until later.


Not too long after we left Prague, we hit Stroud and made a bee-line for the Rock Cafe! Situated on the historic Route 66, the Rock Cafe originally opened in 1939 and is named for the distinctive sandstone used in its construction.


I remember reading to bring a good pen or marker when you visit and it's quite true! Every inch of the bathrooms (and part of the hallway) have been decorated with names and other short messages. As always, the husband remained amused at my photo documentation of our adventures.


The menu is an interesting mix of home-cooking and German selections. Their Jagerschnitzel and Spaetzle were featured on the television show, Diners with Guy. However, their chicken-fried steak was featured in Gourmet Magazine. (Yes, this was the second time that day that I ate chicken-fried steak ... Don't judge me!)


Another interesting thing is that John Lasseter (of Pixar fame) visited back in 2001. He even based a character in the movie Cars on the owner of the Rock Cafe. As a result, there is a lot of signed Pixar/Cars memorabilia in the restaurant, as well as cool photo opportunities outside!


After lunch, we continued east on Route 66. Before we left Stroud, we pulled over to look at the Shoe Tree. It sounds like the original Shoe Tree fell down at some point, but people have continued on the tradition of flinging their shoes over tree branches. Next time we pass through, the husband and I will have to add a few pairs ourselves!


We planned to take Route 66 into Tulsa, avoiding the Interstate as much as possible. We stopped briefly in Sapulpa, famous for the Frankoma Pottery company. We stopped in a big antique store, hoping to find a Frankoma piggy bank for my mother, but no such luck. I did find a utterly frightening egg/Humpty Dumpty costume. However, the husband thought we should pass on it.


After Sapulpa, we decided to head directly to our hotel. We were lucky enough to get a really good deal on a downtown hotel. So after we got settled for a bit, we were able to walk only a few blocks to the Blue Dome District to find a place to eat dinner. We decided on James E. McNellie's Public House, as both the husband and I are hard-pressed to pass up an Irish Pub. The place was pretty hopping, but we were immediately seated and had a beer in our hands. I opted for the Landlord's Cottage Pie and a dark brew.


On the way to the restaurant, we had noticed a bunch of white tents blocking some of the streets. When I asked our waitress, she said they were already setting up for the big St. Patrick's Day event the next day. The husband & I resolved not to be anywhere near the area during that madness! We headed back to the hotel to get plenty of rest for the next day's excursions.

A Nerdy Valentine's Weekend

While some Valentine's Days are spent with roses, chocolate, and dinners at fancy candle-lit restaurants, ours was spent in a typically more nerdy fashion: a sci-fi/fantasy convention, Monster Trucks, and RPGs.

ConDFW is a smaller Dallas-based con and one that also focuses on science fiction & fantasy writing, which definitely appeals to the husband. It had been several years since we'd last attended, but we'd always enjoyed the event. One of this year's guests of honor was John Scalzi, who we were both excited to see. So the husband and I decided to make a full weekend of it and got rooms at the hotel as well. After a bit of a harrowing drive circling around 635 to figure out how exactly to pull into the hotel parking garage (trying to avoid both Friday night traffic and getting stuck on the Dallas North Tollway), we checked in and made ourselves at home.

After picking up our badges, we caught the opening ceremonies panel, featuring Scalzi and Seanan McGuire. There was a bit of general Con housekeeping, but we got to see Scalzi and McGuire engage in an epic lightsaber battle, as well as McGuire crack everyone up with an extremely well-timed exclamation of "shitballs!"

There was a bit of programming after the opening ceremonies, but the husband and I decided to break out the dice instead! We are actually involved in several Dresden Files RPG campaigns right now, one of which is just a solo adventure that the husband runs for me. We found a nice place to set up, which also included easy access to one of the hotel bars.
Gaming + Old Fashioned cocktails = a happy me!


On Saturday, we went to several panels together (including an excellent one called So You've Decided to Become a Dungeon Master), visited the game room, and shopped in the local artists' marketplace. While I do occasionally dress up for conventions, I decided to not wear anything too complicated!


The husband went to one last panel while I decided to sit in the common area and enjoy bar snacks and another Old Fashioned (or two). Soon after, it was time to head to Arlington for Monster Jam! I figured that the monster truck crowd might also appreciate my Tardis dress (although the petticoat made it interesting!).


I occasionally get strange looks when I talk about my love of Monster Jam. We decided to buy tickets on a bit of a whim four years ago and we've gone every year since then. The excitement of the competition, the noise and massive size of the trucks, the people-watching ... We gather a large group of friends and go in mass, cheering for our favorite trucks & drivers. (Go, El Toro Loco!!) And if a driver pushes his or her truck so hard that it flips or catches on fire, the crowd goes wild!!



We had a great evening of trucks and friends. Afterwards, we headed back to the hotel. Even though it was late, we decided to go back to our Dresden game. Planting ourselves at a semi-private table in the game room, we hung out until the wee hours of the morning and the convention volunteers told us they were closing the room.


We gloriously slept in the next day, which is the best part of staying in hotels. You can laze around and someone else has to pick up your mess. Soon, though, it was time to head back home. While it may not have been everyone's cup of tea, I love that my husband and I both think the same things make an excellent romantic weekend!

Chairy Orchard [Denton, TX]

I heard about this quirky place in Denton called the Chairy Orchard a while back on one of my social media platforms. I had wanted to try and find it for a while, but it seemed we were always busy with something else. On a recent weekend, my husband and I finally loaded into the car and went searching!



I started to wonder if we were in the correct place as we seemed surrounded by residential homes. Then we turned a bend and I called out for my husband to stop! We had found it!


The Chairy Orchard sits between two homes and is the brainchild of the women who live there (who call themselves the Chairy Fairies). For the last 30 years, the two friends have lived next door to each other, watching their children and then their grandchildren play together in the empty lot. Several years ago in a fit of whimsy, one of the women attached chairs to a small group of trees in the back of the property. Slowly, the Chairy Orchard has evolved into the fun destination it is today.

The two friends add chairs to the Orchard from flea markets, thrift stores, garage sales and the like, but visitors are encouraged to leave their own chairs as well!

The stated "mission" of the Chairy Fairies is to make people smile! They want people to stop by, take pictures, move the chairs around, sit in them, etc. They even post a number in case anyone wants to use the Orchard for a wedding or other special event. They also encourage people to share their pictures on the official Chairy Orchard Facebook page.


While the husband and I were walking around (with me compulsively righting chairs that were tipped over), one of the Chairy Fairies came out to add some over-sized bears to the huge multicolored chair. We chatted for a bit and she told us that they love to see people come and visit. She's even seen families having picnics among the chairs. The entire feel of the Orchard is so very "Denton" to me. Eclectic, fun, interactive, and the result of incredibly creative people who aren't aren't afraid to do something out of the ordinary. If you have an afternoon free, I highly recommend dropping by!

Review of Juicy Pig Barbecue [Denton, TX]

When it finally opened, the husband I knew we had to try out Juicy Pig Barbecue as soon as possible. We love the nearby GreenHouse Restaurant and Loco Cafe which are owned by the same person. Plus, we're both a sucker for good barbecue. I actually bought the book, Follow the Smoke: 14,783 Miles of Great Texas Barbecue, and we've slowly been crossing off BBQ joints as we visit them.

The Juicy Pig is a relatively small building, so there are only about four bistro tables to sit at inside. It can get pretty crowded, pretty fast! You can also order at the walk-up window outside the building and either take it "to go" or sit at one of the wooden picnic benches. The husband and I ended up sitting at one of the benches since the inside was full.


You can order beef brisket, pulled pork, ribs, three kinds of sausage, or smoked chicken. Since it was our first time, we both ordered the Whole Pig, where you could choose three meats, two sides, and also get two deviled eggs. I decided on chopped brisket, habanero sausage, and smoked chicken. For my sides, I chose their smashed potato salad and Slaw #3. Slaw #3 is their seasonal slaw, consisting of warm braised red cabbage with apple and bacon. I was not a huge fan of the smashed potato salad (I'm strangely traditional about this side), but everything else was amazing! The chicken was so tender it just fell away from the bone, the sausage had just the right amount of heat, and I could just eat Slaw #3 by the vat!


Diners get their choice of three house-made sauces to add that special pizzazz. Left to right, they are Carolina Style (vinegary with tart green apple), JP (more "traditional" but with a tamarind and mango fruit base), and Chipotle Peach (a bit of sweet heat). My favorite was the Carolina Style by far, and the twang of vinegar and apple paired beautifully with the pork.

The smoker itself sits behind the building. If I lived in the surrounding neighborhoods, I would wander over every time the amazing smell wafted my way. It's also a somewhat pretty view as a small creek runs behind the property.


I was so full from lunch, I had to take my dessert home: a charming mini pecan pie. Luckily, the husband is not particularly fond of pecan pie, so there was just more for me!


The husband and I both were really impressed with the Juicy Pig. It is definitely on our list of places to re-visit!!

January Excursion [Portland, OR]

I recently traveled to Portland to spend some more time with my lovely sister and her family.

After picking me up at the airport, we had several hours to run around, just the two of us. She took me to a lovely place to eat in the Boise-Eliot neighborhood called Gravy. I love that they decorated with gravy pitchers!


Although everything on the menu looked amazing, I decided to try the Chile Verde dish. It was filled with tasty pork, cojita cheese, tomatillos, and more!

We walked around the neighborhood, peeking into quirky little stores. (The weird hyena-giraffe was labeled 'Vermicious Knid,' which is the best Roald Dahl reference ever!)


We also had to stop at Blue Star Donuts to get a snack for later. I decided on the Orange Olive Oil donut, my sister the Hard Apple Cider one. Felix seemed fairly approving of our choices.


While I have odd collections of trinkets myself, this was a bit odd for a front window display.


On the way to pick up my nephew, we stopped at Dairy Queen. Why would I travel half-way across the United States, from Texas (which is already known for being DQ Country), to eat at chain burger restaurant? Because of this. Behold the cherry-dipped cone.


Growing up in Alaska, we had Dairy Queens for a while. You could get a chocolate, cherry, or butterscotch dipped cone. Cherry was my absolutely favorite flavor and I was sad when all of the DQs eventually disappeared from town. Flash forward to moving to Texas and discovering that I could once again go to a DQ ... and then being crushed when apparently Texas Dairy Queens have no idea what you are talking about when you ask for this cherry-flavored witchery in a cone.

Portland. I love you.

When we all got home, I'm very pleased to say that I think I won "Aunt of the Year" award this visit when I gifted my nephew a reptilian hoodie that was promptly dubbed his "Godzilla" jacket. We roared. It was magnificent. (It was even more magnificent watching him wear this hoodie all week with his real "Texas cowboy" boots we bought him for Christmas. I love this kid!)


This trip was a delightful mix of spending quality time with my family and taking solitary trips downtown via mass transit. On my first day of taking the MAX, I got downtown pretty early. Since not a lot was open, I decided that more coffee would be best. (And honestly, when is more coffee not a good idea?) My stop put me right outside of Case Study Coffee Roasters. I decided to go with a latte made with house-made bourbon caramel and an olive oil coffee cake. A delightful way to wake up!


I wandered through shops like Crafty Wonderland and Fat Fancy, all the time heading closer and closer to my favorite downtown destination, Powell's! I spent a long time scouring the shelves for hidden literary treasures. I did find this amazing column in the SciFi & Fantasy area!


After all of those books, I decided to explore more of downtown. I spent a bit of time in the Museum of Contemporary Craft, explored a high-end deli, found an elephant statue, then decided it was time for lunch.


Although my first thought was to try one of the myriad and interesting food trucks that can be found downtown, the weather was getting a bit iffy and I didn't want to eat in the rain. So I headed to the Deschutes Brewery to rest my feet & have a nice lunch (and beer or two). And what better food to have when it's dreary than a grilled cheese and soup? Although, this was technically a grilled cheddar, chevre-cream cheese, hazelnut kale pesto, and apple onion slaw sandwich with butternut squash soup. So decadent!

I also decided to try a small glass of the Abyss 2015, an incredibly dark Imperial Stout that was aged in bourbon, oak, and pinot noir barrels for 12 months. Powerfully good (and a powerful 12.1 APV), but one small glass was enough. I tried several other beers, but decided to not have photographic evidence. My husband was already sad he couldn't come with me this trip. Flaunting my awesome beer selections just seemed mean!


It was soon time to be picked up by my sister. As I headed to meet her, I came across these posters. I couldn't immediately tell if they were serious or sarcastic. This is Portland, after all.


Over the rest of the week, I had several more adventures!

My sister, nephew, and I went out for Sunday brunch at Watson Hall. I had a lovely hash while the nephew and his dinosaur friend shared their own meal!


He also got to try his hand at shuffleboard, where he did surprisingly well.


One day, I decided to take the light rail and bus to get out to the Hawthorne District and explore the delightfully odd resale shops, local artist boutiques, and satellite Powell's bookstores. I started out having breakfast at the Cup & Saucer Cafe.


For hours, I wandered through stores such as Presents of Mind, Red Light Clothing Exchange, and the show-stopping House of Vintage (containing over 13,000 square feet of vintage clothing and various other home goods). I topped it all off with lunch at the Fried Egg I'm In Love food truck. (Enjoying the "Sriracha Mix-a-lot" and a Hopworks Urban Brewery hard cider)


I don't always get to see my sister in her natural baking habitat, but I did get to visit her business, the Desert Tray, this time around. She was very excited about the decorating project she was working on. Ha!


The two or us were able to get away for lunch one day. We decided on the Cedar Hills McMenamins pub. My sister decided on a well-deserved beer. I decided on a well-deserved whiskey flight!


There was one more place I wanted to visit before I returned to Texas and we managed to drop by for breakfast right before I headed for the airport. I had a very lovely meal at La Provence Boulangerie & Patisserie, but I was most enamored with my hot chocolate flight! So incredibly rich and tasty! My favorite was the Spice: smooth & decadent, with a touch of heat.

Although, I was glad to see the husband again, I felt that my trip was over too soon. I look forward to the next time I can visit my sister and her family again!