We left Tulsa this morning after a stint in the fitness center...we should be back to where we started after our extreme workout! LOL. We traveled through Oklahoma, Arkansas and finally arrived in Branson, Missouri mid-afternoon. After checking in our hotel (our first Hotwire purchase...and a good one), we drove around town getting oriented and picked up our show tickets for tonight...Tony Orlando, and tomorrow night...Pierce Arrow Show. We know nothing about the last one but it is supposed to be one of Branson's best variety/country shows. We are surprised by the expanse of Branson...there must be 20,000 hotel rooms! Right away, we notice that this will not be a highlight of the food tour! Every chain restaurant and then some is here! We stop in Ruby Tuesdays for a beverage and to discuss dinner options. There were several clues that we were making a poor decision, but after all of our great food on our trip, how could we go wrong.
Clues:
1. An Alabama fan recommended the restaurant, Shogun Japanese Steakhouse
2. There were 2 cars in the parking lot
3. We are greeted by a woman dressed like Japanese, but not Japanese
4. We are the ONLY 2 customers...it's early, we rationalize
5. We order Sushi and the salmon is cooked
6. Our Samurai cook is from St. Louis, not Japan, and he tells us he moved to Branson because he was tired of getting in trouble in St. Louis....REALLY???
As if this wasn't enough, Larry let's me in on a secret...our samurai is sniffing and has a cold...GREAT!!!
Enough about our dining experience. We head to the Welk Theater to see the Tony Orlando Christmas Show. Larry texts Laurie to tell her who we are seeing and she tells us to have a good time but she has no clue who Tony Orlando is...he asks her if she remembers "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree?". Her response is...Dad, I'm in my 30's...OK! We had 2nd row center seats and the show was outstanding! What a production. Not only did he sing all of his old hits, the 2nd half was a Christmas story he wrote which has Santa telling Tony about the real meaning of Christmas. Santa presents Tony with a nativity scene and together they sing, "Elvis is not the king!" as well as many of the wonderful Christmas carols. It was an awesome, uplifting, and perfect way to get in the "real" spirit of Christmas. In the first half of the show, Tony honored all servicemen, past and present. What a pleasant surprise to be entertained by a person who loves our country and the Lord! We walked out of the theater feeling so good! What dinner?