Broadway’s “Waitress” brings something sweet, with a touch of spice, to Beef & Boards

/ Roadtirementvintage / Leave a comment

Served up for the first time on its stage starting July 17, Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre presents Waitress, the Broadway hit featuring the music of Sara Bareilles. Nominated for four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Waitress celebrates friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie.

Keirsten Hodgens as Jenna

Waitress was inspired by Adrienne Shelly’s film and features the music of six-time Grammy nominee Sara Bareilles. B & Bs’ production is fortunate to have Stephanie Torns as choreographer and director. She performed in the original Broadway cast of Waitress and brings that experience and skill to this stage.

Waitress is on stage for 48 performances through Aug. 31. Tickets include Chef Larry Stoops’ dinner buffet and select beverages. To buy tickets online, visit beefandboards.com. Tickets are also available by calling the Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre Box Office at 317.872.9664. Waitress is rated PG-13 for mature content including adult language, violence, and adult themes.

The AMP is in the old Indy Water Company service bay, now part of 16 TECH

/ Roadtirementvintage / 3 Comments

“The AMP is focused on uplifting everyone in the Indianapolis culinary/retail community by featuring a diverse array of concepts from emerging businesses to established concepts and an approachable leasing structure designed to allow entrepreneurs a place to start out and scale up.” Quoted from The AMP website

Food service in a shipping container

The Black Orchid Barbers

 

 

 

 

 

The AMP is located in the HQO center of the 16 TECH on Indiana Avenue on the near west side. Offering a very wide variety of food establishments, you’ll find just about any type of eats and drinks there. Each eatery or retail establishment is housed in its own colorful customized shipping container.

Multiple eateries

Ice Cream Nachos w/ waffle cone chips

 

 

 

 

 

A most exotic offering: Irish Sea Moss from Jamaica showcases diversity.

Even though it is located within the 16 TECH complex, AMP stands on its own as a local hotspot for diversity, events and culture in Indianapolis. Featuring food stalls, an open-air bar, communal seating and ample community gathering and event space, it can host events with up to 1100 persons.

This man loves his work

Fabulously delicious hand made treats

 

 

 

 

 

Deli goods galore, note shipping container

There are 20+ vendors scattered around the food service shipping containers. There is also varied seating, including outdoor seating area, and the inside open seating wine bar. Food types cover a wide range of offerings, including some exotic items. We had eaten before we went, but plan to return sometime for a full meal. The comfortable seating includes tables large enough to hold your meal and your laptop. Our son commented that the overall ambiance reminded him of a university environment.

Mt. Rainier, a defining symbol of the Pacific Northwest

/ Roadtirementvintage / Leave a comment

It is sixty miles from Seattle, closer yet to Tacoma and is the prominent feature on the horizon of this part of the State of Washington. Mount Rainier, also known as Tahoma, is an active volcano in the Cascade Range.

I took this pic from the highway near SeaTac Airport

Mt. Rainier is believed to have had some minor eruptions between 1820 and 1854, but these might have been merely rockslides or ash and pumice falls. Geologists think the most recent major eruption was in 1450 AD/CE.

Another view of Mt. Rainer (courtesy Alaska Airlines)

Mt. Rainier is 14,400 feet high and is is the most glaciated peak in the contiguous lower 48.  The threat of eruptions is real, and evacuation drills are in place for the immediate vicinity. The biggest threat is from lahars, volcanic mudflows that form when the glaciers melt. These volcano spawned mud slides destroy anything in their path.

Meal cooked at your table at Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse

/ Roadtirementvintage / 3 Comments

Sher and I recently had a trip to the Seattle area to visit family. one evening we all went to Everette to have dinner at the Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse. This Japanese cuisine that is cooked before diners on a large iron griddle. The chef is a talented cook and a lively entertainer as well.

Setting for dinner plus a beer, grill behind

House salad with ginger dressing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were five folks in our party, and we were joined by another couple at the same horseshoe shaped table. We started with a ginger topped salad and drinks. Sher had ordered a vegetarian meal with fried rice without egg. I ordered a chicken and steak meal. Our chef put on quite the show, keeping up a nearly constant discussion with us.

Preparing the veggies

Serving Sher’s veggie plate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We all thoroughly enjoyed our dinners. The portions were frankly huge, no body wasn’t filled! Our chef was both a dynamic and exciting entertainer and superb cook. He most definitely kept us enthralled by his dexterity and sometimes scary use of cooking tools. He also kept us smiling. He once flipped a slice of butter across the grill while declaring “BUTTER-FLY”!

 

 

A portion of the Quinault National Recreation Trail System

/ Roadtirementvintage / 4 Comments

Part of the Olympic National Forest includes some interesting hiking trails designated the Quinault National Recreation Trail System. We turned off of Highway 101 and hit the South Shore Drive near Lake Quinault. We came across this information sign and decided to stop.

Easy walking on the gravel trail

The look of a Pacific Northwest rain forest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New growth on top of a very old stump

Ferns and other ground cover

Delicately curled fern leaves

 

 

 

 

 

 

The forest on the portion of the trail we walked was tagged a rain forest and had some amazing vegetation. The trail itself was an easy to traverse with a firm gravel base. We spent a good hour on this section of the trail appreciating the thick dense foliage including massive trees and delicate leaves.  “Nature at its awesome best” is a perfect description of this Forest.

Hurricane Ridge Road in the heart of Olympic National Park

/ Roadtirementvintage / 8 Comments

Part of our recent road trip with our Seattle family took us into the heart of the Olympic National Park on a very mountainous road. Hurricane Ridge Road  has a steep 7% grade, is windy with scary sheer drop offs and even has tunnels. Care is required when driving to the top of the Olympic Mountains.

Hurricane Road View

Hurricane Road View

 

 

 

 

 

Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are several turnoffs along the way where you can stop , park and take in the striking scenery of the Washington State Olympic Peninsula. The skies were partly cloudy on the day we took the drive.  A misty fog was rolling up several of the valleys adding an almost surreal feel to the landscape.

Hurricane Road View

Top of road, parking area

 

 

 

 

 

Beautiful scenery, Olympic Mountains

The top, or highest part of the road, was very cold and quite windy. We parked at the large parking area. As soon as I got out of the car I knew I was not dressed warmly enough for the mountain top environment. There were two large modular restroom trailers, both heated. You have to drive the road to really appreciate the magnificent vistas. Pictures do not do the land justice.

 

Penn and Teller’s Las Vegas show at the Rio

/ Roadtirementvintage / Leave a comment

Las Vegas is known for casinos and for its star studded famous shows. When we planned our Vegas trip with our Seattle family we decided that the one show we wanted to take in was Penn and Teller’s magic show. Penn Jillette, the tall one, is the one who speaks, narrating the show. Teller, of short stature, rarely speaks, using mime and gestures to communicate.

Marquee for Rio Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas

Penn and Teller were celebrating their 50 years in the entertainment business in 2025. They are listed as the longest running headliners to play at the same hotel in Las Vegas history. They have their own theater in the Rio Hotel and Casino just off the strip.

Stage, Penn and Teller Theater

Before the show started (we arrived about 45 minutes before curtain) a piano and bass fiddle entertained. An emcee on stage was requesting patrons to come on stage and sign a large manila envelope for “a record of who is here tonight”.

In the theater lobby

The professional showmanship of Penn and Teller is obvious from the moment they enter the stage. It soon becomes easy to see why they have been successful performing for 50 years. Just about every trick performed involves at least one volunteer from the audience.

Before the show starts, audience sign in

One of the tricks involved distributing blown up balloons on a straw with a safety pin attached. Each balloon had one card inside from a full deck. On cue anyone with a balloon was told to pop it and retrieve the card within. Fifty cards popped within a couple of seconds.  Sher was given a balloon, so she can say she was part of a Vegas Show.

Sher’s show souvenir on our fridge

It was a fabulous show, definitely a highlight of our Los Vegas adventure.  The Rio does not have the best reputation, but the Penn and Teller Theater is a first class venue.  We would recommend this show as one to attend when in Vegas.

Edmonds Washington Salish Sea Brewery and Taproom

/ Roadtirementvintage / 5 Comments

After our ferry ride from Kingston to Edmonds, Washington we wanted to grab a bite to eat. After a short ride around the streets of the coast town, we spotted a busy and interesting establishment, The Salish Sea Brewery & Taproom.

We were very pleased with the ambiance of this pub. The service was quick and responsive. The menu was filled with selections that would satisfy any craving. We all enjoyed our meals, and it is easy for us to recommend this establishment for dining and drinking in Edmonds.

House Specialty “Driftwood Bread Sticks”

Fish and Chips

Soup and sandwich

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edmonds is about 15 miles north of Seattle with a waterfront that faces west across Puget Sound to the Olympic Mountains. Whether you arrive by ferry or by car, this Seattle suburb is worth a visit.

Washington State Ferry between Kingston and Edmonds

/ Roadtirementvintage / 5 Comments

The Washington State Ferry System operates across the Puget Sound and the Salish Sea using 20 different terminals. These terminals are ports for the largest ferry system in the United States. Some of the ferries take vehicles, some are for foot travel only.

Waiting in line to get to the terminal

Ferry is approaching the dock, back left

 

 

 

 

 

 

During our recent road trip with family we traveled extensively on the Olympia Peninsula in the western part of the state.  We reached the port of Kingston and prepared to take one of the vehicle ferries on a 30 minute trip across Puget Sound to the port of Edmonds.

We were the first car to board the ferry

Lots of seating in the passenger lounge on the upper deck

 

 

 

 

 

We had a two hour wait to board the ferry at Kingston. It seemed like the wait on the road was not long, and we were actually first in line to board as we wanted easy elevator access to the passenger lounge.

This is the second ferry that runs the Kingston/Edmonds route

Downtown Seattle, 27 miles off, Space Needle far right

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rather short voyage was interesting. The scenery was something to see, not what landlocked Hoosiers are used to, that’s for sure. The Seattle skyline on the horizon was impressive, with the well recognized outline of the Space Needle visible 27 miles from our vantage point in the middle of Puget Sound.