accidental occidental

After our harrowing descent from the Bighorn Mountains, in our quest to locate sustenance after a long day on the road, we dropped in on the historic Occidental Hotel in Buffalo.  The plan was relatively simple; eat and return to basecamp for some well-deserved rest.  Other happenings would have it another way.

We found a table easy enough, in spite of how busy it seemed on this particular Thursday night.  I commented as much to my partner in crime and a lady at the table next to us told us there was a reason for that. She went on to tell us that we had picked the perfect night for our first visit. In about 20 minutes, "the jam" was expected to begin.

Our eyes turned quickly towards the corner of the room behind us identifying a makeshift stage with multiple microphones and string instruments.  Our new friend explained how this weekly Bluegrass tradition went all the way back to the year of our lord two-thousand-six.

She did not need to tell us that it had grown into a hugely popular local event.  That much was obvious.  We had taken some of the last seats in the house and now commanded one of the best views of the stage without being on top of it.  That space was reserved anyway.

Lining and facing the stage, a row chairs had been set up for any all comers to join in, and they did.  Guitars of the acoustic variety were the standard, though mandolin, banjo, and piano could also be seen among the entourage.  

After a tune-up period, and random wandering about establishing logistics, the music began.  It ramped up gently with "Will the Circle be Unbroken," growing with intensity as the track progressed, until it became a full-on stomping good time.

Everything else progress along those same lines for most of the remainder of the evening, as we enjoyed feasting more than we had thought we would this night.  We got involved in a few raffles they proposed also, to raise money for some challenge or another.  A banjo was the big prize.  We did not return with that; our prizes were mouse brownies, snickerdoodles some fine music and new acquaintances, which were plenty.

For most everyone else involved, it was all just another Thursday night at the Historic Occidental Hotel Saloon.