Driving the Great Northwest - Western Hospitality, Montana Style

After some sightseeing along the Missouri River in Great Falls (click here to read the story), and dinner at the Cattleman's Cut Supper Club, Stijn's buddies showed us some more Western hospitality by taking us out on the town. 

So off to the "O'Haire Motor Inn"  we went to have a few drinks and listen to some music.  It just so happens that the World famous "Sip'n Dip Tiki Lounge!"  is located upstairs just off of the lobby.

Now let me tell you, this place was standing room only!  It took us a little while before we could even get a seat.  I'm sure you're asking yourself, "What is the attraction that makes the Sip'n Dip so popular?"  Well let me tell you.....while your sipp'in on your fancy little drink with the umbrella in it you can watch the mermaid swim behind the bar and listen to "Piano Pat" sing a few of your favorite songs!

I'm not kidding!!

The best way for me to express just how popular this place is, is to let you see this video I took.  Just try to endure it for a little while.  The music in the background is "Piano Pat" playing her keyboard and singing away!


Okay stop laughing!

I do have a video of Piano Pat, but I won't do that to you.  But here is a picture!

I felt quite honored to have been able to experience this World famous entertainment.  I know, I 've said it twice now "World Famous".  Well in my research it seems that GQ magazine listed the Sip'n Dip among the top 10 bars in the World!  It's true!  You can read about it here.

For Stijn, it sure was  a great place to have a drink and share some laughs and reminisce about good times with good friends!

Driving the Great Northwest - One Laugh after Another

Stop laughing!

So I'm sure that you are asking yourself, "Why in the world is Billings Montana one of your destinations while traveling the Great Northwest?"

I say "Why Not!"

Well actually Stijn was an exchange student here about 10 years ago or so, and while he is here in America on his extended visa he wanted to visit his host family.

We arrived on April 22 in plenty of time to settle in, get reacquainted and enjoy a fabulous meal with the Bough family!

One of the many things I didn't know about Billings is that they have some great comedian acts.  In fact our first night here we headed on over to "The Carlin Martini Bar and Nightclub" and laughed ourselves silly to the improv act of "Projectile".

We had so much fun here that the next night we went to "The R Club" at the Billings Hotel to see Alvin Williams and Morgan Preston.  Alvin was the opening act and was entertaining, but I have to tell you, when Morgan Preston hit the stage, my cheeks were hurting from laughing so hard!  A lot of what made him so funny to me was his style of in your face comedy.  But, when he mentioned a little town in the middle of no-where Nevada called "Tonopah", I absolutely lost it!

Of course when he mentioned Tonopah I had to blurt out "I used to live there!"  Which he replied "What the #?*! for?"  He then continued his story leaving out details to which I knew I needed to fill in....like the Mizpah Hotel where he got off of the Greyhound bus.

(photo courtesy of TonopahNevada.com)

Needless to say he continued to heckle me a little bit more throughout his performance. But he really was a nice guy and even let me have my picture taken with him.

 

I certainly never expected to be in Billings Montana and be listening to a comedian making jokes about Tonopah!

Who Knew?

Click here if you would like to see a few more pictures