Goodbye Texas
After the show on Friday night, we bade a fond farewell to Rick Bertone (affectionately known as Ricky B.). Rick was our second keyboard player and was an original member of the touring Spamily. We celebrated at a bar near the theatre known as Minc. Though we were warned that another group (of alleged Ethiopian Soccer Players) had also booked the bar for a group gathering, they never materialized. Spamalot took over the back patio and feted Rick properly. At the close of his last show (on Sunday night), Rick was hit from all sides with confetti. The pit was a disaster area with mountains of the stuff around the keyboard when we left.
Saturday, between shows, Mike Berg, Keith Martin and I returned to the Exposition Café for another Double Fudge, Bourbon Brownie. The temptation was too much. After the evening show, temptation was again too much, and I went back to Aw Shucks with Erik. This time we split the mountain of shrimp. Since it was after the show (and Erik was driving), I was able to enjoy a couple of beers on the patio as well. Beer always tastes so much better outdoors!
Roadfood.com only had one listing for Dallas: Sonny Bryan’s Barbecue. It seemed a shame not to check off the only restaurant on the hit-list, so Piper and I arranged an outing to Sonny Bryan’s between shows on Sunday. Amy, Julie and a couple of Piper’s local friends went along. Their onion rings were justifiably famous: enormous rounds of sweet onions hand battered and perfectly fried. Their meats were also tasty – I’ve had enough Texas style barbecue, I’m ready to return to pig and vinegar. The company really made the meal. Piper’s friends were charming - did I mention that one of them was wearing a seersucker suit?!?! That pretty much made him my hero.
Yesterday morning, I rode up to Tulsa with Ken. Much of the drive stretched through various Indian reservations, so there were several casinos of varying sizes along the way. About half-way here, we needed to make a pit stop. Alongside the travel plaza, there was a Choctaw Indian Casino. We decided we should duck in and gamble as well as use the restroom and buy some coffee. The guard informed us that the casino didn’t open until 10 AM. Not to worry, he also let us know that there was a smaller casino INSIDE THE GAS STATION that was open 24 hours. “Perfect!” we said. The casino was in its own smoky little room and featured about 50 slot machines. Ken and I both emerged about ten minutes later as winners! I was ahead $13 and Ken nearly $40. Not a bad rest stop. The rest of the drive was uneventful, though through some pretty country. There were, however, some curious signs reading: “Don’t drive into smoke” spaced at regular intervals along the turnpike.
We’re settling into the Tulsa PAC today. It’s a modern performing arts center, so we shouldn’t have too much difficulty with the show. The excitement is outside the building. Tulsa is hosting an international classic car show this week. The streets on two sides of the theatre are closed and will be filled with classic cars and a swap meet. The third street facing the theatre is under construction. Add to the excitement of the Tulsa Auto Expo the unseasonable rains that are chasing the Spamalot Tour across Texahoma, and you’ve got a recipe for late starts on the show.
Below are some more pictures from the stay in Dallas. Many are stolen from Francesca (she got a new camera while we were in Dallas and took lots of cool pictures). I have several rolls of film out for developing; I’ll post links as soon as I have them.
Tallulah "Curled Up" Inside a Pillowcase at the Indigo
Tuesday, July 10th
Seven weeks in Texas with no armadillo! I wouldn’t have thought it was possible.
Friday was a busy day. As it was my last afternoon off, I tried to make good use of it! I went in search of a laundromat Friday morning. The place I stumbled upon was a little bet sketch. The homeless people sitting outside the building should have been a sign, but I really needed to wash my clothes… I don’t understand why the laundromat is the place where civilization breaks down. No matter what city I’m in (NYC included); people are the least civil to one another in the laundromat. Maybe it’s the fact that everyone’s underwear is on display that puts us on the defensive?
After my laundry adventure, I went to the Museum of the American Railroad. Located on the grounds of Fair Park, right around the corner from the theatre, the museum had a good-sized collection of engines of all stripes and rolling stock. The collection featured one of the largest diesel engines ever built (to pull the “Super Chief”) as well as the largest steam engine ever built (a “Big Boy”). Most interesting, to me, were the Pullman cars that I got to walk through. One car featured five compartments made up in varying day, night and dining configurations. I thought that the Amtrak train to Baltimore to Penn Station was civilized, but this was clearly the way to travel.
Friday was a busy day. As it was my last afternoon off, I tried to make good use of it! I went in search of a laundromat Friday morning. The place I stumbled upon was a little bet sketch. The homeless people sitting outside the building should have been a sign, but I really needed to wash my clothes… I don’t understand why the laundromat is the place where civilization breaks down. No matter what city I’m in (NYC included); people are the least civil to one another in the laundromat. Maybe it’s the fact that everyone’s underwear is on display that puts us on the defensive?
After my laundry adventure, I went to the Museum of the American Railroad. Located on the grounds of Fair Park, right around the corner from the theatre, the museum had a good-sized collection of engines of all stripes and rolling stock. The collection featured one of the largest diesel engines ever built (to pull the “Super Chief”) as well as the largest steam engine ever built (a “Big Boy”). Most interesting, to me, were the Pullman cars that I got to walk through. One car featured five compartments made up in varying day, night and dining configurations. I thought that the Amtrak train to Baltimore to Penn Station was civilized, but this was clearly the way to travel.
The "Big Boy"
From the Railroad Museum, I took a short trip across Fair Park to the Texas Hall of State. Built for the Texas Centennial Celebration in 1936, the Hall of State is an impressive Art Deco building. It features some small exhibits on Texas historical figures and the Texas Revolution. In the basement there is a bigger exhibit detailing the history of Fair Park. There was lots of neat memorabilia from fairs past as well as some plans for the future of the park.
The Texas Hall of State
The highlight of the day came, not surprisingly, at dinner time. I went out to the irresistibly named Aw Shucks for dinner. Aw Shucks inhabits a former Orange Julius building, which lends it a sort of kitschy drive-in feel. They serve all sorts of fried and boiled seafood. You order at the counter indoors, find a seat at the picnic tables on the patio and they call your name when the parts of your order are ready. The house specialty is listed as a shrimp cocktail, but it was more like ceviche. Served in a beer mug, the shrimp was in a spicy sauce with onions, avocado and cilantro. DELICIOUS! I also peeled and beheaded a pound of shrimp along with some oysters – I was stuffed full of shellfish by show time! On my way out the door, I picked up a t-shirt. The front says, simply: “What the Shuck?” The back explains that Aw Shucks was voted best crawfish in Dallas.
After the show on Friday night, we bade a fond farewell to Rick Bertone (affectionately known as Ricky B.). Rick was our second keyboard player and was an original member of the touring Spamily. We celebrated at a bar near the theatre known as Minc. Though we were warned that another group (of alleged Ethiopian Soccer Players) had also booked the bar for a group gathering, they never materialized. Spamalot took over the back patio and feted Rick properly. At the close of his last show (on Sunday night), Rick was hit from all sides with confetti. The pit was a disaster area with mountains of the stuff around the keyboard when we left.
Saturday, between shows, Mike Berg, Keith Martin and I returned to the Exposition Café for another Double Fudge, Bourbon Brownie. The temptation was too much. After the evening show, temptation was again too much, and I went back to Aw Shucks with Erik. This time we split the mountain of shrimp. Since it was after the show (and Erik was driving), I was able to enjoy a couple of beers on the patio as well. Beer always tastes so much better outdoors!
Roadfood.com only had one listing for Dallas: Sonny Bryan’s Barbecue. It seemed a shame not to check off the only restaurant on the hit-list, so Piper and I arranged an outing to Sonny Bryan’s between shows on Sunday. Amy, Julie and a couple of Piper’s local friends went along. Their onion rings were justifiably famous: enormous rounds of sweet onions hand battered and perfectly fried. Their meats were also tasty – I’ve had enough Texas style barbecue, I’m ready to return to pig and vinegar. The company really made the meal. Piper’s friends were charming - did I mention that one of them was wearing a seersucker suit?!?! That pretty much made him my hero.
Yesterday morning, I rode up to Tulsa with Ken. Much of the drive stretched through various Indian reservations, so there were several casinos of varying sizes along the way. About half-way here, we needed to make a pit stop. Alongside the travel plaza, there was a Choctaw Indian Casino. We decided we should duck in and gamble as well as use the restroom and buy some coffee. The guard informed us that the casino didn’t open until 10 AM. Not to worry, he also let us know that there was a smaller casino INSIDE THE GAS STATION that was open 24 hours. “Perfect!” we said. The casino was in its own smoky little room and featured about 50 slot machines. Ken and I both emerged about ten minutes later as winners! I was ahead $13 and Ken nearly $40. Not a bad rest stop. The rest of the drive was uneventful, though through some pretty country. There were, however, some curious signs reading: “Don’t drive into smoke” spaced at regular intervals along the turnpike.
We’re settling into the Tulsa PAC today. It’s a modern performing arts center, so we shouldn’t have too much difficulty with the show. The excitement is outside the building. Tulsa is hosting an international classic car show this week. The streets on two sides of the theatre are closed and will be filled with classic cars and a swap meet. The third street facing the theatre is under construction. Add to the excitement of the Tulsa Auto Expo the unseasonable rains that are chasing the Spamalot Tour across Texahoma, and you’ve got a recipe for late starts on the show.
Below are some more pictures from the stay in Dallas. Many are stolen from Francesca (she got a new camera while we were in Dallas and took lots of cool pictures). I have several rolls of film out for developing; I’ll post links as soon as I have them.
From the "Hell" Party:
Mitchell and the "Disco Casket". This was an actual casket converted to a party supply. The Dallas local hair person also does work for the mortuary and hooked Mitchell up with the casket.
Mitchell and Paula - our hosts in "Hell"
Suzanne's Barbecue:
Welcome to Suzanne's Home
Hangin' Out on the Porch:
Ryan, SM, JV, Piper, Sabra & Jeff
Tony & Pam Blowing Bubbles
Watchinig the Horseshoes Tournament
JV & SM by Torchlight - Watching the Fireworks
The Fireworks Show - You can just see Mike and Cuz at the bottom of the frame, our pyro-technicians for the evening.
The cutest cat in the world (after Capone and the Red Lion):
Tallulah "Curled Up" Inside a Pillowcase at the IndigoJV
1 comment:
I truly believe that society breaks down at the laundramat because the ratio of washers to dryers is always negative, creating a dog eat dog mentality when trying to dry one's undies.
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