How Tim Allen, John Travolta, and Martin Lawrence Stole Our Millkshakes
We’ve been in Albuquerque for the past few days. For some reason we both have a soft spot for the place and we’ve been revisiting our old haunts from when we lived here during our 2004 campaign trail travels. To our surprise, a lot of the places that we frequented a mere two years ago no longer exist.
For example: there’s an incredibly cute artists’ community on the turquoise trail that connects Albuquerque to Santa Fe. It’s a little town called Madrid. Actually, “little” doesn’t do it justice — it’s miniscule. It consists of one street. But it’s one of the best streets around — filled with art galleries, a sparse general store, a biker tavern… and… until recently, the best fountain shop on the face of the planet. This little fountain shop (more aptly described as a shoppe perhaps) served soda, which it called phosphates, the most amazing chili dogs, and the best malted milkshakes I’ve ever tasted. I’ve been dreaming about this place ever since we left New Mexico.
So yesterday we took a trip to Madrid with the express purpose of drinking malted milkshakes and eating chili dogs. To our dismay, the fountain shop(pe) of our dreams was no longer there. However, across the street there was a new establishment. A cute little adobe storefront called Maggie’s Diner. We walked over, hoping to drown our sorrows in second-rate malted milkshakes. But our dreams were dashed again. On the door of Maggie’s Diner was a sign that read “This is a movie set. We’re not open for business.” Excuse me? What movie, might I ask, is being shot in little old Madrid, New Mexico? Some internet research answered my question: “Wild Hogs” with Tim Allen, John Travolta, and Martin Lawrence. According to the New Mexico Economic Development Project, ‘“Wild Hogs” is a comedy about a group of frustrated middle-aged biker wannabees who hit the open road in search of adventure, only to encounter a real life biker gang. On their journey they learn the important lessons of life and about each other.’
Oh.
So, Megan and I were left with only one choice for lunch — the actual, real-life biker’s tavern at the end of Madrid’s one little street. Although on other occasions, back in 2004, this tavern had been crawling with Harley’s, yesterday it was filled with a lot of retired couples who had come to the area for Albuquerque’s Annual Balloon Fiesta. They were somewhat less intimidating. But, even though we didn’t encounter any real life biker gangs, we’re still hopeful that we’ll learn the important lessons of life — just like Tim Allen, John Travolta, and Martin Lawrence do. Here’s hoping.
-Sarah (with help from Megan)
Tags: Albuquerque, Balloon, Madrid, New Mexico, Photography, Southwestern United States, Travel, United States
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Wow. I am totally amazed by that crazy tale. And sad for the phosphate-serving establishment of yore. I’m flying to San Francisco tomorrow. Something tells me you didn’t leave your hearts there. If you had I would have gone and cuddled them for you. But instead I will just wander about imagining how much fun I’d be having if only you were still there. I’ll be back in 10 days (after driving avec La Weasel to Vancouver) and can’t wait to catch up on your adventures yet to come! KISSES
M&S
Austen would agree that the place in Madrid made fine chili dogs. However, Coney Island in T town makes a pretty good dog in its own right. Give it a try. Hell in Seattle they put beans on their chili dogs. Blasphemy. Great pics by the way. I think you could make some post cards of the two of the Grand Canyon and make some $$$. Keep up the great narratives.
DAD
PS I’ll make a guess that Megan did not buy any Polarized sun glasses.
Holy Crap! Those pics are A-mazing. You guys are doing alright with the not-so-expensive camera (if I remember earlier posts correctly). And, since I seem to have only a picture of Sarah at around 8 or 9 helping me for some unknown reason to rub some poor 17th century woman’s grave (it’s a cute pic of us, but, well, a bit strange and out of date) I’m LOVING the opportunity to add those arms’ lengthers to my pic file, the one that functions as my screensaver, so we get to SEE you both occasionally grinning out at us in the kitchen from L’s study, just after Terp in his three hats, the guy in lederhosen, or Chumbee doing her imitation of the blue-dog…. Ahhhhh, life is more complete now! Love yous–
L (with help from C)
Dad– I’ll give the Tulsa chili dogs a shot, but I’m not optimistic. Nothing could beat the phosphates and dogs at Madrid, NM. And no, I haven’t gotten polarized sun glasses, but it’s on my list of chores while I’m in T-town before embarkation.
-Megan
Lool and Ceej!
Yay! Oh, I’m SO glad to hear from you. I should set the record straight though. These pictures are not the products of the vivitar vivicam. After a couple of weeks I realized that it was impossible to take any pictures that were in focus with that camera. Also, it ran out of batteries after about five minutes. So we traded it in for a Nikon cool pix low ender — which actually cost the same as the vivitar, but is MUCH better.
Anyway, glad to be on the screensaver list.
-Sarah
oh man. that’s terrible. i can’t believe those movie star jerks stole your milkshakes. now you can’t bring all the boys to the yard! alas, alack! and that sucks about the shop(pe) being closed.
maybe you guys should campaign like old times. you know, bring back the memories. wouldn’t that be fun?
Tom,
You’re right, now that my milkshake has been stolen, I have found it much harder to coax the young men over to the yard. Since I am having such difficulty, I thought that perhaps I could borrow your milkshake, but unfortunately, mine has always been better than your’s.
Before my milkshake was stolen, I was thinking of teaching lessons on milkshake making. However, I don’t think you would have been able to afford said lessons because I would have had to charge for them.
All Best,
Sarah
OY. Glad to check in with you two in blogville again.
Been running sleepless with the fashionistas for two days, flat out and now finally got a little shuteye. This runway thing has its definitie downside. Still, Bill and Amy are great and the boys are growing exponentially. It’s fun to see them and help lift them to fame and fortune. 😉
Good to see a bit more about the drive in Due South.
Thanks for sharing the great post- Canyon pics of the Great American Southwest. Resourceful of you to find some tame biker adventure after your loss—and hey, the pics of the balloonfest look very cool… have you had any moments in one?
But you gotta hate that about Hollywood taking over for reality in Madrid NM… I hope the lessons you learn about life are somehow different than the movie’s… and that someone has the milkshake recipe still.
Loved talking with you the other day. Hope I catch you later on, before you go into the cellular South. Maybe you’ll be busy in the tunnels of Tulsa… or not. Glad you’re safely with Jennifer there and ready-ing for the big fly.
Love,
Dad
OMG, the balloon show sounds like the awesomest! It makes the sky look like wonderbread. And how did you get your spoons to stick to your knives? I clearly missed an important utensil lesson in high school. It sound like you two are having a wonderful time, weathering storms and seeking adventure. We finally got the first season of “Lost” from Netflix…if you only you were here to fight over which characters are better! Talk to you soon… -Becca (with no help from Luke, who’s asleep)
Dad,
Sadly we did not get into a hot air balloon, nor have we had time to explore the tunnels of Tulsa.
But here are some things we have had a chance to do:
1. Laundry
2. Buying Travellers Checks
3. Spending $100 in Wal Mart
Although they don’t sound as fun as spelunking in the tunnels under Tulsa or flying over Albuquerque in a hot air balloon, they were quite neccesary.
-Sarah
Becca,
I am so glad that you noticed the crazy magnetic silverware. We were caught quite by surprise when we discovered what our spoons and knives were capable of.
Since I have only encountered silverware with such powers in one place (a diner about 20 feet from the rim of the grand canyon), I now believe that something (or someone) with incredible powers resides at the bottom of the canyon and its (their) presence can be felt even a mile above their abode at the rim of the canyon.
Scary.
-Sarah (with no help from Megan, she’s talking to her mother)
P.S. As for Lost characters, I vote for Locke, Sun, and Hurley and against Jack.
sarah,
judging by the way you’re currently carrying yourself, it is clear to me that you want my tutelage in the aforementioned milkshake making process. i am educated in a variety of ways to freak these boys. but before i get your hopes up, you must understand that these techniques are not for sale. and be forewarned – any attempt at the theft of said techniques will be persecuted at the full extent of the law. you’re an intelligent woman, though, you can clearly gain the knowledge you seek by observing and imitating me.
– tom
p.s. – charlie’s obviously the best on “lost”.
Does anyone know if Maggie’s is still open for business? I wanted to go this Saturday, March 31st 2007.
Please send any information on the hours of operation or if it is still open or not.
CoCo