Showing posts with label Langley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Langley. Show all posts
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Free Outdoor Movie in Langley Sunday July 22 , 2012
If you're looking for a free outdoor movie this weekend close to Cloverdale The Goonies is playing at Douglas Park in Langley on Sunday night July 22, 2012. Movie starts around 9pm. Douglas Park is located at 20500 Douglas Crescent. If you're coming from Cloverdale, take Highway 10 to Langley and then take the 56th Avenue exit just after the lights at 192 Street. Continue into Langley and around 203 Street it changes to become Douglas Crescent. You'll drive by the Langley Mall where the Army & Navy is and Douglas Park is a couple of blocks up on the right hand side. There's a parking lot and if its full turn right on 206th Street and find parking on the street. Keep an eye on the weather forecast. Its supposed to rain on Sunday and Monday.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Raspberry Social at Otter Co-op on Canada Day 2012
Another free event on Canada Day is the raspberry social at the Otter Co-op at 3600 - 248th Street, approximately on the corner of the Fraser Highway and 248th. This is Sunday July 1 2012 between noon and 3pm. Free raspberry shortcake and a beverage. They have their brand pop and juice, coffee, and tea. There is live band providing entertainment and a vintage truck display.
The best thing is the event is held under the huge canopy in front of the store so if its raining you can stay reasonably dry.
The best thing is the event is held under the huge canopy in front of the store so if its raining you can stay reasonably dry.
Free Pancake Breakfast at Krause Berry Farms on Canada Day
Its a little out of the way but Krause Berry Farms is having their annual pancake breakfast on Canada Day between 9am and 11am. They're located at 6179 - 248th Street in Langley. Even though its free they're accepting donations for breast cancer research.
We went one year and the place was a zoo so be prepared. We were on our motorbikes and they had us park near their store but cars were parking way down the long driveway after the big parking lot was full - they had parking attendants that day.
We waited 20 minutes for pancakes.
So judge for yourself if that's something you want to do. Many families come to pick strawberries while they're here or buy something from the store.
For more information: http://www.krauseberryfarms.com/
We went one year and the place was a zoo so be prepared. We were on our motorbikes and they had us park near their store but cars were parking way down the long driveway after the big parking lot was full - they had parking attendants that day.
We waited 20 minutes for pancakes.
So judge for yourself if that's something you want to do. Many families come to pick strawberries while they're here or buy something from the store.
For more information: http://www.krauseberryfarms.com/
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Blueberry Social at Otter Co-op on BC Day, Monday August 1 2011
If you're looking for something to do on Monday's BC Day holiday, you might consider a drive out to the other side of Langley. The Otter Co-op is on 248th Street, just a little south of the Fraser Highway, so if you're driving up the Fraser Highway towards Aldergrove, turn right at 248th Street and their parking lot is a bit up on the left hand side. If you're driving east along 16th Avenue, when you get to the 4way stop at 248th Street, hang a left and drive north until you see it on the left.
I've never known the Otter Co-op to have a blueberry social but I've been to their raspberry social on Canada Day a few times. They set up in front of the store with tables and chair and guests get raspberry shortcake and a beverage. Free! Couldn't ask for better! They have a band set up to enterain the guests and on Canada Day the old truck museum in Coquitlam brings over some trucks for the guests to admire.
All I know is their blueberry social will have a band. I don't know about vintage vehicles. Its from noon to 3pm on Monday August 1.
Oh the beverages are their generic brand water, pop, juice. I think they also had coffee available.
I've never known the Otter Co-op to have a blueberry social but I've been to their raspberry social on Canada Day a few times. They set up in front of the store with tables and chair and guests get raspberry shortcake and a beverage. Free! Couldn't ask for better! They have a band set up to enterain the guests and on Canada Day the old truck museum in Coquitlam brings over some trucks for the guests to admire.
All I know is their blueberry social will have a band. I don't know about vintage vehicles. Its from noon to 3pm on Monday August 1.
Oh the beverages are their generic brand water, pop, juice. I think they also had coffee available.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Mr. Mikes
Does everyone remember going to the Mr. Mikes steakhouse on Logan Avenue in Langley many years ago? Remember having a Mikeburger or their salad bar?
That restaurant is long gone but we've found a few in towns further north over the years such as Cache Creek, Quesnel, and Kamloops. I remember eating breakfast at the Mr Mikes in Cache Creek many years ago when my father and I were transporting my horse back down to the coast.
Then Mr. Mikes opened up again in Langley in the old Kelsey's restaurant on 200th Street and Willowbrook Drive. We went there for dinner a few months ago to give it a try. Its not a thing like the old Mr. Mikes. No salad bar and practically nothing for a vegetarian to eat. Nice enough restaurant and staff but no reason to keep me coming back here.
But for those of you who do remember enjoying a Mikeburger at the original Mr. Mikes, make a point of heading to their restaurant tomorrow, Sunday July 18, 2010. For one day only the original Mikeburger can be yours for $5.99. I do remember liking them as a kid back in the olden days when I ate meat! The closest restaurant is in Langley at 20020 Willowbrook Drive next to the Tim Hortons.
Enjoy
That restaurant is long gone but we've found a few in towns further north over the years such as Cache Creek, Quesnel, and Kamloops. I remember eating breakfast at the Mr Mikes in Cache Creek many years ago when my father and I were transporting my horse back down to the coast.
Then Mr. Mikes opened up again in Langley in the old Kelsey's restaurant on 200th Street and Willowbrook Drive. We went there for dinner a few months ago to give it a try. Its not a thing like the old Mr. Mikes. No salad bar and practically nothing for a vegetarian to eat. Nice enough restaurant and staff but no reason to keep me coming back here.
But for those of you who do remember enjoying a Mikeburger at the original Mr. Mikes, make a point of heading to their restaurant tomorrow, Sunday July 18, 2010. For one day only the original Mikeburger can be yours for $5.99. I do remember liking them as a kid back in the olden days when I ate meat! The closest restaurant is in Langley at 20020 Willowbrook Drive next to the Tim Hortons.
Enjoy
Saturday, January 30, 2010
McDonald's restaurants around town
When I was growing up we didn't have McDonald's restaurants on practically every street corner. There was only one in Surrey and none in Langley, so I really didn't grow up with the fast food joint.
Of course, we saw the McDonald's commercials on TV and wanted milkshakes, fries, and burgers. The closest McDonald's was in Whalley on the King George Highway and about 102nd Avenue. It still stands there today. Occasionally we'd get a meal from McDonald's, usually in Vancouver or some other town we were visiting. Maybe once at the Whalley McDonald's.
By the mid-70's a few more McDonald's had popped up around town. There was one at the Scottsdale Mall, Scott Road and 70th Avenue that I used to go to from time to time when visiting the mall. Back then I got a hamburger, large fries, and a large coke for one dollar.
That was around the time McDonald's was running the commercials about how you always get change for a dollar. Those days are long since past. Maybe change from a ten or twenty now depending on if you're eating alone or with someone else.
The first McDonald's in Langley opened around 1978, the one on the corner of the Fraser Highway and the Langley Bypass, so now we finally had a McDonald's that was somewhat closer to home. Though I think the one across the street from the Guildford Mall opened around the same time, perhaps a year or two earlier.
The McDonald's in Cloverdale opened around 1980 with a decidedly Western theme. Stools shaped like Western saddles adorned the counter tables. The Ronald McDonald statue wore a cowboy hat. Little things keeping with Cloverdale's country western town, and possibly a tribute to the Cloverdale Rodeo which was the second largest in Canada at the time.
I'm a vegetarian so I rarely go into McDonald's. I still like their fries and McFlurry's so I visit about 2 or 3 times a year for a snack. I was last in the Cloverdale McDonald's a little over a year ago and the stools shaped like Western saddles are gone, as is most of the other decor I remembered from after it opened.
But if you go through the drive-thru at McDonald's, you'll be on the east side of the wall at Stampede Tack and the mural is full of McDonald's characters in Western attire.
And why the sudden interest in McDonald's? Darned if my father didn't phone last night and is bringing his car into the mechanic around the corner on Wednesday morning and he wants to take us out to breakfast at McDonald's.
Hmm. I'm hoping I can persuade him to go to another fine dining establishment in town....
Of course, we saw the McDonald's commercials on TV and wanted milkshakes, fries, and burgers. The closest McDonald's was in Whalley on the King George Highway and about 102nd Avenue. It still stands there today. Occasionally we'd get a meal from McDonald's, usually in Vancouver or some other town we were visiting. Maybe once at the Whalley McDonald's.
By the mid-70's a few more McDonald's had popped up around town. There was one at the Scottsdale Mall, Scott Road and 70th Avenue that I used to go to from time to time when visiting the mall. Back then I got a hamburger, large fries, and a large coke for one dollar.
That was around the time McDonald's was running the commercials about how you always get change for a dollar. Those days are long since past. Maybe change from a ten or twenty now depending on if you're eating alone or with someone else.
The first McDonald's in Langley opened around 1978, the one on the corner of the Fraser Highway and the Langley Bypass, so now we finally had a McDonald's that was somewhat closer to home. Though I think the one across the street from the Guildford Mall opened around the same time, perhaps a year or two earlier.
The McDonald's in Cloverdale opened around 1980 with a decidedly Western theme. Stools shaped like Western saddles adorned the counter tables. The Ronald McDonald statue wore a cowboy hat. Little things keeping with Cloverdale's country western town, and possibly a tribute to the Cloverdale Rodeo which was the second largest in Canada at the time.
I'm a vegetarian so I rarely go into McDonald's. I still like their fries and McFlurry's so I visit about 2 or 3 times a year for a snack. I was last in the Cloverdale McDonald's a little over a year ago and the stools shaped like Western saddles are gone, as is most of the other decor I remembered from after it opened.
But if you go through the drive-thru at McDonald's, you'll be on the east side of the wall at Stampede Tack and the mural is full of McDonald's characters in Western attire.
And why the sudden interest in McDonald's? Darned if my father didn't phone last night and is bringing his car into the mechanic around the corner on Wednesday morning and he wants to take us out to breakfast at McDonald's.
Hmm. I'm hoping I can persuade him to go to another fine dining establishment in town....
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Tim Hortons around Cloverdale
It wasn't all that long ago when Cloverdale residents had to drive 10 or 15 minutes to reach the nearest Tim Hortons. Through the nineties the closest Tim Hortons were located in Fleetwood on the Fraser Highway and about 156 Street (still open) and in Langley on the Fraser Highway, about a half block east of the Langley Bypass, next to the Husky gas station. That one closed down about 5 years ago.
In the past few years Tim Hortons are sprouting up everywhere. There are 2 in Cloverdale within a 5 minute drive of each other. And a third one could be in the running too if you count the one on Highway 10 near 152 Street.
I'm not a coffee drinker. Kerry loves Tim Hortons coffee so he stops in almost daily. Of course if I'm along, and often one will be near a job site, I may join him and have a Boston cream donut or sometimes a bottle of green tea citrus iced tea or a mocha if its a cold day. We often enjoy soup for lunch at Tim Hortons. I've been to the Tim Hortons around Cloverdale many times and consider myself to be a pretty good judge of the service, so here's a little run down.
The Tim Hortons on Highway 10 just east of 177B Street, next to Lordco, has a drive thru in addition to walking in the restaurant. The drive thru is usually faster. Overall fairly quick service inside the restaurant too.
Tim Hortons in Clover Crossing Mall on 64th Avenue just east of 176th Street can get busy both in the restaurant and the drive thru. The drive thru is usually faster even if there are lots of cars in the line up. Sometimes inside the restaurant one staff is handling a cash register and all the rest of the staff are rushing to serve the drive thru customers. Generally during busy times there are 2 cashiers helping walk in customers. I find the staff at this Tim Hortons usually more friendly and energetic than in any of the other restaurants.
Tim Hortons on Highway 10 and 152 Street is one of the slowest restaurants I've been to. Both in the drive through and inside the restaurant. I don't know what it is with the staff here because I've been here on different days and different times but they are so slow.
Tim Hortons on Fraser Highway and 166th Street, in front of the Super 8 Motel, across from Rona. Without a doubt this is the worst Tim Hortons in the area. The staff at Highway 10 and 152 Street move lickety split compared to these people. And yes, I've been here different times of the day and different days of the week. It is the worst, both drive through and walk in. If you walk in to this restaurant and see one person in line, you can expect a good 10 minutes wait to be served. Forget the drive thru if there are more than 3 cars. You'll be waiting 20 minutes. I was there about a year ago and the parking lot was in icy, trecherous condition. Inside the restaurant, during the 10 minutes or so I waited for the one cashier to finish the customer ahead of me, I watched several male staff chatting, including one who appeared to be a supervisor. Surely one of them could have gone outside with a bucket of ice melt or sand or whatever the restaurant uses to make the lot and sidewalks less slippy. This was really bad. I complained to Tim Hortons. They said the manager would be in contact with me. A year later and I'm still waiting. Definitely pass this one by. Go a little further up Fraser Highway for better service.
Tim Hortons on Fraser Highway and 156 Street. This oldie but goodie is still standing. No drive thru service, which possibly is the reason why the staff can serve customers quickly.
Tim Hortons on Fraser Highway near 188th Street. This is a newer Tim Hortons in the Clayton Heights area and has a drive thru. I find service quick and pleasant either inside or in the drive thru.
In the past few years Tim Hortons are sprouting up everywhere. There are 2 in Cloverdale within a 5 minute drive of each other. And a third one could be in the running too if you count the one on Highway 10 near 152 Street.
I'm not a coffee drinker. Kerry loves Tim Hortons coffee so he stops in almost daily. Of course if I'm along, and often one will be near a job site, I may join him and have a Boston cream donut or sometimes a bottle of green tea citrus iced tea or a mocha if its a cold day. We often enjoy soup for lunch at Tim Hortons. I've been to the Tim Hortons around Cloverdale many times and consider myself to be a pretty good judge of the service, so here's a little run down.
The Tim Hortons on Highway 10 just east of 177B Street, next to Lordco, has a drive thru in addition to walking in the restaurant. The drive thru is usually faster. Overall fairly quick service inside the restaurant too.
Tim Hortons in Clover Crossing Mall on 64th Avenue just east of 176th Street can get busy both in the restaurant and the drive thru. The drive thru is usually faster even if there are lots of cars in the line up. Sometimes inside the restaurant one staff is handling a cash register and all the rest of the staff are rushing to serve the drive thru customers. Generally during busy times there are 2 cashiers helping walk in customers. I find the staff at this Tim Hortons usually more friendly and energetic than in any of the other restaurants.
Tim Hortons on Highway 10 and 152 Street is one of the slowest restaurants I've been to. Both in the drive through and inside the restaurant. I don't know what it is with the staff here because I've been here on different days and different times but they are so slow.
Tim Hortons on Fraser Highway and 166th Street, in front of the Super 8 Motel, across from Rona. Without a doubt this is the worst Tim Hortons in the area. The staff at Highway 10 and 152 Street move lickety split compared to these people. And yes, I've been here different times of the day and different days of the week. It is the worst, both drive through and walk in. If you walk in to this restaurant and see one person in line, you can expect a good 10 minutes wait to be served. Forget the drive thru if there are more than 3 cars. You'll be waiting 20 minutes. I was there about a year ago and the parking lot was in icy, trecherous condition. Inside the restaurant, during the 10 minutes or so I waited for the one cashier to finish the customer ahead of me, I watched several male staff chatting, including one who appeared to be a supervisor. Surely one of them could have gone outside with a bucket of ice melt or sand or whatever the restaurant uses to make the lot and sidewalks less slippy. This was really bad. I complained to Tim Hortons. They said the manager would be in contact with me. A year later and I'm still waiting. Definitely pass this one by. Go a little further up Fraser Highway for better service.
Tim Hortons on Fraser Highway and 156 Street. This oldie but goodie is still standing. No drive thru service, which possibly is the reason why the staff can serve customers quickly.
Tim Hortons on Fraser Highway near 188th Street. This is a newer Tim Hortons in the Clayton Heights area and has a drive thru. I find service quick and pleasant either inside or in the drive thru.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Taking the train from Cloverdale to Langley
Yes, there used to be a passenger train that stopped in Cloverdale to pick up passengers and then continued to Langley.
I never rode it. A little before my time.
I do remember trains stopping in Cloverdale while I was growing up. Mostly to unload grain at the Co-op on Highway 10 near 176th Street. It was because of the trains stopping there that an overpass was built in the early seventies to keep traffic moving on 176th Street.
Before Cloverdale had a movie theatre my father used to take the train from Cloverdale to Langley to go to the movies. The problem was by the time the movie was finished, there was no return train going back to Cloverdale. This was before bus service came to the area. And before every household had multiple cars. So they boarded the train in Cloverdale, got off in Langley, watched the movie, and then walked home. Yes three miles.
Every now and then someone makes a bid to bring train service back to the Fraser Valley. There's the West Coast Express on the other side of the river from Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows going into Vancouver and back again. Trouble is only on weekdays and only during rush hour. Four trains go to Vancouver, then wait there till early afternoon, and then head back again, every half hour or so. I've never ridden those trains so I can't say their schedule.
Would it be so hard to bring passenger rail service back to Surrey and Langley and points east? The train tracks are already there. I know I'd ride that train.
I never rode it. A little before my time.
I do remember trains stopping in Cloverdale while I was growing up. Mostly to unload grain at the Co-op on Highway 10 near 176th Street. It was because of the trains stopping there that an overpass was built in the early seventies to keep traffic moving on 176th Street.
Before Cloverdale had a movie theatre my father used to take the train from Cloverdale to Langley to go to the movies. The problem was by the time the movie was finished, there was no return train going back to Cloverdale. This was before bus service came to the area. And before every household had multiple cars. So they boarded the train in Cloverdale, got off in Langley, watched the movie, and then walked home. Yes three miles.
Every now and then someone makes a bid to bring train service back to the Fraser Valley. There's the West Coast Express on the other side of the river from Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows going into Vancouver and back again. Trouble is only on weekdays and only during rush hour. Four trains go to Vancouver, then wait there till early afternoon, and then head back again, every half hour or so. I've never ridden those trains so I can't say their schedule.
Would it be so hard to bring passenger rail service back to Surrey and Langley and points east? The train tracks are already there. I know I'd ride that train.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Sunday afternoon at Campbell Valley Park
Today was a beautiful sunny day and we decided to hit the trails at Campbell Valley Park. Our horses Cajun, a 5 year old Quarter Horse, and Lucky, our 20 year old Standardbred, were today's mounts. Whistler, my seasoned 19 year old Appaloosa, got the day off. Yesterday he was a little off in his hind right leg. My best guess is I need my farrier because the frog (part of his hoof for the benefit of my non-horsey readers) has grown longer than the hoof, thus making it a little tender to walk on. My farrier will be out in a couple of days to take care of this. But usually Whistler is my choice for the trail rides.
The parking lot was packed with horse trailers but we found a spot and Kerry expertly maneuvered the rig in. We saddled up and headed out enjoying the ride and each other's company. I knew Campbell Valley Park was hosting its Heritage Days this weekend and we spotted the festivities as we rode along 204th Street near 8th Avenue. We stopped at the fence of the off leash dog park to speak with a woman who was playing with her adorable Weimeraner puppy and then continued on our way, getting closer to the water splash. We were wondering how Cajun and Lucky would take to walking through the creek. Usually neither of them will go unless Whistler leads the way.
All of a sudden Cajun started to spook, jumping and panicking, and it was all I could do to stay on his back and get him under control. He took me by surprise because he's normally a very quiet, unflappable horse. I heard pounding hoofbeats coming behind me. A galloping horse. Very odd. Most riders wouldn't allow their horses to move out that fast in the trails, especially on a day like this when there are so many other park users. Right away I knew there was something wrong - a runaway horse. I turned Cajun and saw the runaway didn't have a rider. Kerry and I used our horses to block the trail. We slowed the horse only momentarily. He/she veered off the trail, got around us, and keep running. And boy was this horse fast! Probably a Thoroughbred. And in full flight, fueled by fear.
After a quick discussion Kerry decided to turn around and look for the rider and I would go after the horse. Like my slowpoke Cajun had any chance of running this horse down. All I could hope for was that something ahead would cause the horse to stop. As I rounded a corner and came into the area that is a large field I saw a couple who were picking blackberries and three horses in a group a little ahead, and one other horse and rider near the water splash trail. The woman picking berries came running toward me and asked if the rider was hurt. I said I didn't know. I could still see the horse but then it disappeared behind some trees. The woman who was on her horse further up the trail said it had gone out the gate and down 4th Avenue.
Now that's scary. A loose horse on the road.
One of the other riders got on her cell phone and called her mother to drive down there and look for the horse. I turned around and cantered back up the trail to find Kerry and see if he needed assistance with a fallen rider. They weren't too far away walking up the trail towards me. The rider was not hurt.
The woman who was picking berries said her van was right there on the road and offered the rider a lift to look for her horse, but the rider declined. She didn't seem all that concerned, thinking her horse was headed for home around 8th Avenue and 224th Street. That is still a fair distance from where we were. She seemed to know the 3 other horse and riders that were nearby as they called each other by names. The young lady told her she'd called her mother who must have been somewhere nearby and was going to try to find the horse. Said the horse was going too fast for any of them to stop.
Kerry and I continued on our ride. He told me he'd offered the fallen rider to double behind him on Lucky but she'd declined. I was surprised that she'd also turned down the offer of that other woman to drive her down the street to look for the horse.
I sure hope that horse is OK. I know for me there is nothing more scary than to have a horse loose on the road.
The parking lot was packed with horse trailers but we found a spot and Kerry expertly maneuvered the rig in. We saddled up and headed out enjoying the ride and each other's company. I knew Campbell Valley Park was hosting its Heritage Days this weekend and we spotted the festivities as we rode along 204th Street near 8th Avenue. We stopped at the fence of the off leash dog park to speak with a woman who was playing with her adorable Weimeraner puppy and then continued on our way, getting closer to the water splash. We were wondering how Cajun and Lucky would take to walking through the creek. Usually neither of them will go unless Whistler leads the way.
All of a sudden Cajun started to spook, jumping and panicking, and it was all I could do to stay on his back and get him under control. He took me by surprise because he's normally a very quiet, unflappable horse. I heard pounding hoofbeats coming behind me. A galloping horse. Very odd. Most riders wouldn't allow their horses to move out that fast in the trails, especially on a day like this when there are so many other park users. Right away I knew there was something wrong - a runaway horse. I turned Cajun and saw the runaway didn't have a rider. Kerry and I used our horses to block the trail. We slowed the horse only momentarily. He/she veered off the trail, got around us, and keep running. And boy was this horse fast! Probably a Thoroughbred. And in full flight, fueled by fear.
After a quick discussion Kerry decided to turn around and look for the rider and I would go after the horse. Like my slowpoke Cajun had any chance of running this horse down. All I could hope for was that something ahead would cause the horse to stop. As I rounded a corner and came into the area that is a large field I saw a couple who were picking blackberries and three horses in a group a little ahead, and one other horse and rider near the water splash trail. The woman picking berries came running toward me and asked if the rider was hurt. I said I didn't know. I could still see the horse but then it disappeared behind some trees. The woman who was on her horse further up the trail said it had gone out the gate and down 4th Avenue.
Now that's scary. A loose horse on the road.
One of the other riders got on her cell phone and called her mother to drive down there and look for the horse. I turned around and cantered back up the trail to find Kerry and see if he needed assistance with a fallen rider. They weren't too far away walking up the trail towards me. The rider was not hurt.
The woman who was picking berries said her van was right there on the road and offered the rider a lift to look for her horse, but the rider declined. She didn't seem all that concerned, thinking her horse was headed for home around 8th Avenue and 224th Street. That is still a fair distance from where we were. She seemed to know the 3 other horse and riders that were nearby as they called each other by names. The young lady told her she'd called her mother who must have been somewhere nearby and was going to try to find the horse. Said the horse was going too fast for any of them to stop.
Kerry and I continued on our ride. He told me he'd offered the fallen rider to double behind him on Lucky but she'd declined. I was surprised that she'd also turned down the offer of that other woman to drive her down the street to look for the horse.
I sure hope that horse is OK. I know for me there is nothing more scary than to have a horse loose on the road.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Ding Dongs
When I was a kid one of my favorite treats was a Ding Dong. Wrapped in tin foil was a round chocolate cake with chocolate icing and a cream filled centre. Yummy. They came in a box of 12 and my mother bought them each week for the school lunches she packed for me and my brother. That meant there were 2 left over Ding Dongs each week that I usually snacked on at some point during the week. It took my brother years to discover that the box held 12 Ding Dongs and not 10.
When I started Cloverdale Junior High I still got Ding Dongs each day for lunch. A girl I met said she used to go to school with a girl named Terry Lynn and her father owned the bakery in Langley where the Ding Dongs were made. Furthermore, he named his bakery after his daughter.
By the time I got to high school, and I went to a different school than the friends I'd grown up with, I met the infamous Terry Lynn when I was in Grade 12 riding the same school bus. I hadn't seen her before even though we were the same age. Apparently she'd taken a year off school because her family had been sailing around the world. I didn't know her all that well but she seemed friendly and nice and always said hi to me on the bus.
Sometimes during the eighties Ding Dongs ceased to exist, though a similar product King Dons emerged on the shelf next to the Twinkies where the Ding Dongs used to be. Later I found out that Terry Lynn Bakeries was sold to Labatt's. However Ding Dongs were still available at stores down in the states, offered by local bakeries. On every road trip I've taken to California I always stop at grocery stores to get a box of Ding Dongs. Never forgetting the chocolate cake and cream delight I'd enjoyed as a kid.
On our last trip to Washington this past April I bought a box of Ding Dongs. But this time I was disappointed. Even though it was well before the expiry date the cake seemed stale and the chocolate icing was not nice. I don't know for sure, maybe I'll still be tempted at some point down the road, but I'm thinking this might be the end of my love affair with Ding Dongs.
When I started Cloverdale Junior High I still got Ding Dongs each day for lunch. A girl I met said she used to go to school with a girl named Terry Lynn and her father owned the bakery in Langley where the Ding Dongs were made. Furthermore, he named his bakery after his daughter.
By the time I got to high school, and I went to a different school than the friends I'd grown up with, I met the infamous Terry Lynn when I was in Grade 12 riding the same school bus. I hadn't seen her before even though we were the same age. Apparently she'd taken a year off school because her family had been sailing around the world. I didn't know her all that well but she seemed friendly and nice and always said hi to me on the bus.
Sometimes during the eighties Ding Dongs ceased to exist, though a similar product King Dons emerged on the shelf next to the Twinkies where the Ding Dongs used to be. Later I found out that Terry Lynn Bakeries was sold to Labatt's. However Ding Dongs were still available at stores down in the states, offered by local bakeries. On every road trip I've taken to California I always stop at grocery stores to get a box of Ding Dongs. Never forgetting the chocolate cake and cream delight I'd enjoyed as a kid.
On our last trip to Washington this past April I bought a box of Ding Dongs. But this time I was disappointed. Even though it was well before the expiry date the cake seemed stale and the chocolate icing was not nice. I don't know for sure, maybe I'll still be tempted at some point down the road, but I'm thinking this might be the end of my love affair with Ding Dongs.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Review of Montana's Restaurant on Langley Bypass
We've always enjoyed eating at Montana's Restaurant, in particular the one in Coquitlam in the Coquitlam Centre Mall. We've always been happy with the food, the ambience, and the service.
In stark contrast is the Montana's in Langley on the Bypass, in the mall just east of 200th Street. We've always found the service slow and our visits are usually a year or longer inbetween just in case things have changed.
We decided to give it another try on Friday night around 8pm. The restaurant was busy, but there were a few empty tables and we were seated right away. It took nearly 10 minutes for our server, Jenn, to show up with menus and ask what we wanted to drink. Though she returned in a reasonable amount of time with the drinks and to take our orders. We don't usually order an appetizer, though this time we did when I saw a new one on the menu - sweet potato fries. They took about 10 minutes to arrive. The chipotle dipping sauce was nice, but not enough of it. However the fries appeared to have been of the frozen variety and then fried as ordered. I've had better sweet potato fries at just about every restaurant in the Lower Mainland that serves them. Montana's sweet potato fries were limp and crumbled as we picked them up.
By now the time we finished the fries the restaurant was starting to empty. We watched as all the tables around us received their food, including the young couple at the table beside us who were seated about 10 minutes after we arrived. Half an hour after we'd finished our sweet potato fries, dinner arrived. I'd ordered the strawberry citrus salad which came with corn bread. I was really disappointed with the corn bread. Its seriously gone downhill since the last time I'd got it with an order. It was cold and crumbly, fell apart as I ate it. The salad was OK. The problem with the strawberries and they weren't sweet. They were red, but not sweet and ripe.
We finished eating and Jenn returned to ask if we'd like to see a dessert menu and I said yes. She showed up 10 minutes later with the dessert menu and then left. I mean, how long does it take to bring a dessert menu? Especially when it was after 9pm and there weren't that many customers. Although I would have liked the apple cobbler, that I've had many times before, I told Kerry I didn't want to wait half an hour for it. Jenn returned over 5 minutes later and we told her we'd decided not to have dessert, just the bill. It still took us almost 10 minutes to get that, pay, and leave.
Out of 5 stars, I'd give this Montana's Restaurant a one and a half.
And then we went to Dairy Queen for dessert!
Disappointing. This will be our last visit to this particular Montana's. We'd like to try the one in Walnut Grove by the Colossus and we're waiting for the new one in South Surrey on 24th Avenue, across from Wal-Mart to open. No one seems to know when it will open though its been completed for awhile and no tradespeople have been seen recently. There is a banner on the front of the restaurant saying "opening soon" but no further details how soon is soon.
In stark contrast is the Montana's in Langley on the Bypass, in the mall just east of 200th Street. We've always found the service slow and our visits are usually a year or longer inbetween just in case things have changed.
We decided to give it another try on Friday night around 8pm. The restaurant was busy, but there were a few empty tables and we were seated right away. It took nearly 10 minutes for our server, Jenn, to show up with menus and ask what we wanted to drink. Though she returned in a reasonable amount of time with the drinks and to take our orders. We don't usually order an appetizer, though this time we did when I saw a new one on the menu - sweet potato fries. They took about 10 minutes to arrive. The chipotle dipping sauce was nice, but not enough of it. However the fries appeared to have been of the frozen variety and then fried as ordered. I've had better sweet potato fries at just about every restaurant in the Lower Mainland that serves them. Montana's sweet potato fries were limp and crumbled as we picked them up.
By now the time we finished the fries the restaurant was starting to empty. We watched as all the tables around us received their food, including the young couple at the table beside us who were seated about 10 minutes after we arrived. Half an hour after we'd finished our sweet potato fries, dinner arrived. I'd ordered the strawberry citrus salad which came with corn bread. I was really disappointed with the corn bread. Its seriously gone downhill since the last time I'd got it with an order. It was cold and crumbly, fell apart as I ate it. The salad was OK. The problem with the strawberries and they weren't sweet. They were red, but not sweet and ripe.
We finished eating and Jenn returned to ask if we'd like to see a dessert menu and I said yes. She showed up 10 minutes later with the dessert menu and then left. I mean, how long does it take to bring a dessert menu? Especially when it was after 9pm and there weren't that many customers. Although I would have liked the apple cobbler, that I've had many times before, I told Kerry I didn't want to wait half an hour for it. Jenn returned over 5 minutes later and we told her we'd decided not to have dessert, just the bill. It still took us almost 10 minutes to get that, pay, and leave.
Out of 5 stars, I'd give this Montana's Restaurant a one and a half.
And then we went to Dairy Queen for dessert!
Disappointing. This will be our last visit to this particular Montana's. We'd like to try the one in Walnut Grove by the Colossus and we're waiting for the new one in South Surrey on 24th Avenue, across from Wal-Mart to open. No one seems to know when it will open though its been completed for awhile and no tradespeople have been seen recently. There is a banner on the front of the restaurant saying "opening soon" but no further details how soon is soon.
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