I tried these spots today at lunch. The first two are in a strip mall at the Red Bug Lake intersection on 42 next to a WaWa. The first had been Alex's Fresh Kitchen. The last is on Aloma near 436 in the strip mall with Boston's Fish House and one of those ice cream shaped ice cream places.
Diamond Chicken - A Halal snack shop. I had a chicken burger for $6. It was a pathetic McChicken patty on an ok roll with a ton of mayo and a semi-fresh slice of tomato and wilting lettuce crudely chopped. I was going to order a gyro, but, I didn't trust the look of the place. I think the guy said it was a pre-sliced, on the griddle exercise in laziness. They also had 5 burgers, grilled chicken, wings, cheesesteak, gyro, platters ($11-$14), sides, etc. No change to the place. A few tables. Dirty look. Open for a few months. A step down from Alex.
Aladdin - I've been meaning to throw this long standing (36 years) Lebanese joint a bone for ages. Been there pre-blog. I was a bit scared when I walked in. Seems to be down to the husband and wife now. Getting old. Lights off. So, I just grabbed a chicken shwarma to go for $10. Tasty. Chicken cubes. Tomato seemed fresh. Pickles. No sauce. Although dark, it still seemed clean. I doubt there is anything new as to the decor. Black booths. Gray paint. Some Arabic framed scenes and decorations. Maybe twenty tables. Manageable menu. I saw some more life when another patron came in to sit down and eat and was asking questions. Let me know if they can still deliver. As of 2020, it seems they still were getting Best Of awards. The shwarma grew on me. Maybe a Fav?
Somo T - A two month old Vietnamese drinks and small menu spot. Better than Black Phin. A coffee was only $5 to begin with. I don't waste money on these, so, I tried a $9 Banh Mi. Short. Much better than Pho 2 To. Ok roll (the weak link). Had all the veg. Thin pork roll. Peppery head cheese. Roasted pork was good. Sweet. Hard to locate the pate. But there. Something akin to mayo. They had three other types (incl veg). And sticky rice. Maybe one other thing. Also some sweets. A Thai Tea Burnt Cheesecake was a first sighting. Also smoothies, etc. The place is modern. Spartan. Bright white. Four tables of four, a nook and a communal table. At least two up front and one in the back. Had a few customers. Maybe a blogger taking snaps. Better than I expected. Looks good. It translates to Number 1. The banh mi grew on me. Maybe a Fav?
*Travel Notes - Montana and Wyoming: I flew to Bozeman on UA for $312. It was to be through Denver both ways. The plane back broke. I had to scamper to get an agent at the gate (they were pimping the stupid app) and got back through Chicago three hours late. They were late getting there too. They will not let you board unless you give them your credit card and agree to let them charge it if they have issues with your bag size. At MCO, they made us wait to disembark while they unloaded the cargo area. That's a new one. Always something with these dicks. I rented a Malibu from Hertz for $210. So cheap that I didn't even try and rebook at a later date. I think they don't apply sales tax. I stayed at a Super 8 (Expedia 7.8) near the airport in Belgrade because the plane was to arrive near midnight. It cost $80. One mile west on 90. I was there to ski Big Sky. I had had a reasonably priced room near the mountain queued up waiting for when I landed to book. It disappeared. So, I bought a ticket over the phone (it was well reduced during this final week - $69 advanced) for $107 ($98 plus $4 tax and card fee of $5) and booked two nights at the Sapphire Motel (Booking 9.3) on 7th for $170. I then drove to 7th near 90 and tried to find some breweries that were out of business and didn't realize that that was where some of the others were too. I came down Main St and over to 11th and MSU for a bison pepperoni pizza and beer at Bridger Brewing. Up 19th and west to 27th to Outlaw Brewing and back 7th towards the hotel to Last Best Place Brewing (this was not planned). I had carnitas and asada tacos and pastor and shredded beef sopes from a big white school bus across from the hotel called El Rodeo. There were quite a few food trucks around.
The next day I drove 191 to Big Sky. I rented skis at Christies at the village before the resort for $58. They gave me a performance package at a basic price. At Big Sky they wanted $82 for basic. Skiing was a bit cloudy and slushy. Not all of the mountain was open. Still it was great. Just a sweater. Pretty empty. Lightning fast lifts. Free parking. Shuttle cart. I drove back and bought some goat cheese and wine, etc at Albertson's. Watched Round 1 of the draft.
The next day I drove 90 east to Livingston. They had it down to one lane. I saw it on a Anthony Bourdain rerun the night before I left. It is a town about twenty miles east at 89. Since this was a road I was told previously that I should drive, I made a reservation at the Yellowstone River Inn (Booking 8.2) for $86. I drove 89 south to Yellowstone NP. Great views (mountains and cattle) along the Yellowstone River. I ponied up for an annual pass ($80) and decided that this was how I was going to spend my weekend. I had been there two or three times before. Through the west and southern entrances. This is the northern. I saw their fort/village and arch and Mammoth Hot Springs. Drove to the northeast entrance through Lamar River Basin. Many animals (bison, bear, marmot, pronghorn, elk, snow hare, etc). Many new borns. It climbs above the snow line as you go on. Looks like Switzerland. I drove it back the other way and back to Livingston. I almost stayed in a small town called Gardiner near the entrance. The hour drive back to Livingston was a pleasure though. The drive back may be more scenic. I drove into town and drank beer at Katabatic Brewing Company on West Park near Main St and original Neptune's Brewery on North L. Albertson's and the draft again. I should add here that I wondered where they filmed Yellowstone (aside from the ranch at Darby) and other things. That turned out to be mostly in Utah. And the only real on location film not in Missoula or Glacier NP was A River Runs Through It. Here along 89. The town is cute though. Bigger than I expected. I didn't pay enough attention to the Bourdain episode. I just resaw it this morning and I missed a few things that I drove by and could have stopped at.
The next day it was back to the park. I drove southwest this time. Mostly above the snow line. Some great geysers in the middle at Norris Geyser Basin. I drove east at one point to Canyon Village. Thankfully, I ignored the road closed (only about half of them were open) sign and saw these two great waterfalls (Upper and Lower) on a rim drive around the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone. Then back and out the western entrance. I stayed there at the Gray Wolf Inn (Booking 8.1) for $100. Wine and goat cheese, etc from Market Place. More draft and The Last of Us. I intended on trying a bbq place on 3D. It wasn't yet open though their web site made it seem like it is open all year.
The next day I drove back into the park (it is $35 a day btw) and south to Old Faithful. This was also the last part of the park that was accessible. I must have just missed the last eruption. Waited 75 minutes. Still cool. Back out the park (and the geysers along the way) and up 191 past Big Sky to Bozeman. Another nice drive. Decided I would rather be near the hot springs and airport than downtown, so, redid the Super 8 for $149 for two nights. Albertson's (no wine or cheese) again.
The next day I drove the five miles back to the Bozeman Hot Springs. It was only $21 during the week. Four outdoor and one indoor pool. Also had a steam room and sauna. Not bad. Gym was extra. I'm unsure if all of them were "natural" baths. Smelled a little too good (chlorine) for that. Free towels and lockers.
The next day I dropped off the car and flew out in the morning. Airport had no lines. A joy.
Once again I found things to fill the time. Only rained Sunday night. 50's-60's. Wore shorts most of the time. Didn't really feel like driving to Billings or Missoula, etc. Gas was around $3. Spent $58 on it. $581 on hotels (none gross). $443 on everything else (incl ski and park). Parking at MCO was $128. $1732 in all. Ate alot of $5 meals at McD's and Wendy's. I had been to many "hot spots" last time. Wasn't really in the mood to deal with that again. Could have done a few more breweries or distilleries. Glad I finally was able to ski (and feel my toes). Last time I got blizzarded out the whole week. It seems like some of the coastal snobs have left. Still a ton of sprawl since last time. I used Booking mostly because the god damn website for Expedia wasn't working on my tablet.
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