Junction city

From Junction City, to Manhattan, to Topeka, to Kansas City, Kansas to Kansas City MO and back again.

You know you are in a great state when the only thing you are really known for is that the Wizard of Oz was set to take place here. There's a lot of references to the Wizard of Oz here. Did you know they had Buffalo in Kansas? Lots of Indian type stuff too. However, there is absolutely nothing in Junction City (See below for rebuttal from a native Junction City Citizen). Now Ft Riley, is where the first Cavalry of the U.S. was so that's something!

Where to Eat and What to do??? Since the rent-a-cars at the airport closes at 6pm and flights land till 11pm, I was lucky to find the "Cowboy". Certainly a colorful figure here, he is the only cabbie at the airport and he's not even supposed to be there. Well, on the trip home I asked him the question, "where to eat and what to do". I now know everything about the city that no one there wants anyone to know. I'll leave it at that, other then to stay, I was informed of the better strip joints (and there are quite a few here), the best strippers when they worked and the information, went more and more colorful from there.

However, I wanted a restaurant! And what was number one for taking a Time out well...

The Tyme Out Lounge 101 Continental Dr, Grandview Pl, KS 66441. You'll see the big Western Inn Sign from the Highway. Stop in and....Meet the Power Puff Girls, Heidi (Blossom), Diana (Buttercup) & Kris (Bubbles). Three Great Waitresses! Well, we all know that Grilldog has a tendency not to frequent places that are in or next to hotels or motels. Too many bad experiences in club med type facilities where you pay 5 dollars for a bud! or 7.50 for a watered down margarita the size of a dixie cup! Well, once again Grilldog made a mistake and waited for the day before he left to go to the Tyme Out Lounge, right off highway 70 just stumbling distance from the EconoLodge. Well, Barbara back in the Kitchen (The Professor - I'm keeping with the Power Puff Theme here) will make sure the food is really great and really prepared to order. The lady bartenders are super terrific and sexy too! Woof Woof! Grilldog, will Always give a paws up for sexy bartenderesses (is that a word?) Particularly, if they provide excellent service too! Plus, they are interested in Grilldog's Ice-cream...now these folks have class. Just be careful of the drunk test (the restrooms are up a flight of steep stairs). So stop on in for a steak, a big baked potato and great service. I could have done without the airplane disaster movie on the tv...arn't I flying to Alaska tomorrow? OK, so since I'm flying to Alaska tomorrow, Ole Grilldog spent the last night with the group at Yesterdays'. woof woof

The first day in town, I found a Chinese/Mexican Buffet for 6 bucks you can eat, some kind of food, that's the best I can figure out, so if your on Washington street and pop off 6th and see a Chinese/Mexican restaurant KEEP GOING!

The Second Day, I heard there was a Mongolian BBQ called the Hunam in Manhattan (West Loop), well, that's Manhattan, KS., they call themselves "the Little Apple". But if you know Grilldog, you know he loves Mongolian BBQ's so on a quest I went. It was really pretty good, I'm going to go back, (but I've had better, Montana was much better).

Now, what to do, first a Chinese/Mexican Buffet, then Mongolian and now...why not German! Yes I went in search of one of two German restaurants in Junction City. The German Village was closed at 7pm? So I went Erika's on Washington Street. If you don't mind slow service, quickly prepared over priced food, then it was a good place. I won't be back. Margaret at Jamacha Junction in El Cajon prepares better German food and that's a prime rib/bar joint! A few days later I found the 2nd German restaurant but it was closed?

Now the Little Apple Brewing Company is a place to go. The food is great, aged Angus Beef, good prices, if you think the prices are high, trust ole Grilldog, the food is worth it! The Brew is great too, for 10 bucks you get a 1/2 gallon souvenir jug filled with your favorite brew and refills are 7.50. However, the service outside the bar sucks. Little college girls that are more interested in big college men drinking beer then people ordering food. Our service was so bad, the entire table gave our waitress the ole Grilldog Hind Leg Salute! She was so bad, that in the end..... My bill was 23$ and Anita's bill was 20$ Anita paid 23 cash and I gave a credit card. The waitress charged me 20 bucks (Anita's family's bill) on the credit card and applied the 23 dollars cash to my bill, what the hell, if she didn't want a tip who was I to complain. So I paid 20 bucks on the credit card and we left (not with out picking up a 1/2 gallon of stout in a jug woo hoo).

Road trip time...bored, I woke up Saturday morning (maybe had a hang over (remember that 1/2 gallon of stout woo hoo)). So at 11am I loaded up the car with my lap top (it has a map program and Grilldog's aren't know for knowing directions). Ok, so I started out on Route 70 heading East!

First top was just before Paxton, a Winery with free tasting...I was there! Woo hoo, the wine was good and I got a bunch of gifts and even a freshly made deli made ham sandwich! So a couple paws up for the Fields of Fair Winery.

Continuing eastward I stopped in Topeka and hit their mall! Pretty nice mall, I had my first USA Latte' in the coffee shop...it paled in comparison to the Galongs in the Azures!

Back on the road again, I heard that Kansas City was known for great BBQ so I was on the look out for a great BBQ stop. I couldn't find any, in fact, I got lost, I pulled out my laptop and saw that there were casinos all around, woo hoo... Ole Grilldog grew up out side Atlantic City and now lives in San Diego, home of the Indian Casinos and just a drive away from Vegas. So off I went. I stopped in the gift shop at Harrahs, and asked where the hell I was? I didn't think I was in Kansas any more (Totto either) the lady said I was in Missouri, I went to the other side! shhh don't tell...

Heading back to Junction City, I stopped once again at the Little Apple Brewery to fill up my half gallon jug for the remainder of the weekend!

Sunday, once again ole Grilldog was looking for something to do. So off on and adventure. Hearing, that there was great BBQ in Topeka off 75 south. A little place call Pat's BBQ. I headed off to Pat's and got off on 75 south, last exit before toll. and turned left on SW Topeka Blvd. I didn't see Pat's BBQ but I saw about a dozen strip joints and topless to full nude bars as well as a number of adult book stores. So I turned around and headed the opposite direction on SW Topeka Blvd. After about 3 miles (pass numerous and assorted Adult Entertainment establishments, I found Pats. It was closed on Sundays. Ok, heading back to the highway, I found a Mexican Buffet and the parking lot was packed...Now there's a good sign! I forget the name of the place. But it was horrible. Only a couple menu items, you were served cafeteria style, the line to get to the buffet took 15-20 minutes! The meat tasted like Hormel ground beef in a can..Yeck!

I tried El Cazador in Junction City, for Mexican and it was nasty! Beyond Nasty, they couldn't speak English, the server didn't even know what was on the menu or that there were specials and he brought me the wrong order.

Still in the mood for Mexican, I actually ate at Carlos O'Kelly's at the mall in Manhattan. Well, it was the best Mexican I've had in a while, but over priced.

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away, do dah, just felt like singing here. Oh, where was I? Oh yes! Yesterdays, now you want a hole in the wall, pool hall, dance floor (complete with pole in the middle) and a bar, well you've come to the right place. Wednesday nights are wet tee shirt contests and Thursday is $1.00 Pitcher night Woo hoo... Now don't be surprised if during the gala, (because, I understand this happens on a regular basis) that some flirtatious lady, rips the pants right of some dancing dude and starts to gratify him with kiss of love right on the dance floor. Why, I haven't seen that kind of party since the all saints celebration in Lajes! Guess, it just goes to prove that people truly are the same where ever you go...That's what I like about this world! woof ... I was thinking about how many paws up or a tail, I'd give Yesterdays and then decided it'd be safer to keep everything under cover (wink).

There's a Country Kitchen/Steak Stockyard in town. Your standard country Buffet, it's about 7 bucks and a variety of food, plus they have their own bakery and everything is quite fresh. A paws up for the Country Kitchen and the service friendly too.

OK, where too next? Anchorage Alaska...and Salmon and halibut and and, lots of stuff to do...woo hooo...

Hi everyone, Grilldog here 11.9.01 I get a lot of hits on my travel site, my recipe page and my new Patriotic page. Most of the responses are that Ole Grilldog is on track! Well, it looks like I have a rebuttal from a local there in Kansas... The Smith Family regarding the real fun and truth there in Junction City... So incase Grilldog was blinded by the "Cowboys" detailed map of the homes of "friendly women" or the cell phone ladies idea of fun "go anywhere but here", or the numerous other folks who echoed, nothing to do... However, I could be wrong so without further ado...Here's the Smith's version of Junction City...

Just came from your travels to Junction City, Kansas. I'm originally from Junction City and while they do have more than their fair share of 'Strip Clubs and Bad Food' If you'd have asked the right people you could have had a pleasant stay! While the Tyme Out is good, Coaches would have been better and The Cracker Barrel is also very good and while the Chinese Buffet sucked, there is this wonderful hole in the wall a Korean place called Pusans that has the best food ever!!! Lunch special (served any time) is 4 chicken wings, fair helping of bulgogi, 2 mando, and a mound of fried rice to die for and helpings of several different types of kimchi. You will not walk out hungry!!!!! Milford which is where I live now is the home of Kansas' largest lake. If you'd had come to Milford which is 15 Miles north of Junction City on a Friday or Saturday night you could have had a wonderful steak dinner in a home town bar! And there are plans in the early stages that a resort could make its home here. As for way to stay Junction City has some very nice Hotels, Days Inn which also has a lounge with the friendliest people, Comfort Inn and Ramada Inn which is right across from The Cracker Barrel. As for the night life, Fusions is a dart players club with more upbeat current music while the Rustic Pub is a pool players club with music from the oldies to current to country! Junction City is growing and soon will have a Convention Center and another major hotel is planning on put roots down here also. So the next time you decide to talk about my home town please don't take us at face value, talk to people who having lived here all their lives or are planning to. Like I said It's all in who you ask!!!!

There you have it from a local...Grilldog has been Told... Actually, I did hear about the steak house in Milford and was over that way, however, I was side tracked by the wineries around... Thanks to the Smiths...hopefully, new travelers will have better luck then good ole Grilldog did in Junction City...

Keep those emails coming folks...no one's perfect, even good ole Grilldog misses something (not often, LOL) Just received an email from a newbie in Junction city that All Grilldog spelled Cavalry - Calvary. Which of course is a totally different meaning... I must have stayed too long in the Wineries when I wrote this one up! Thanks to "G.G." for putting ole Grilldog back on the right trail! Hopefully, G.G. will bump into Dez from the previous email so Dez can help him find some fun too. It seems that. G.G. is having the same troubles as Good Ole Grilldog in finding excitement and entertainment in good ole Junction City... Just hang with the group at The Tyme Out Lounge woo hoo!!!