event that is my favorite, this would be it! Every August, Chico Hot Springs resort located in Pray, MT, hosts a block party and brings in Montana Rose. This part of Montana is known as Paradise Valley - 
you only have to drive through this beautiful valley through which flows the Yellowstone River, to know how it got its name.This is an annual event for us, and for whoever may be here with us. The party is held in the parking lot of the resort
, which is transformed into a dance floor surrounded by picnic tables, hay bales and some of the best food for miles around. T
his is one of those events where just the smell of hamburgers and roasted corn on the grill remind me immediately of Chico.
, which is transformed into a dance floor surrounded by picnic tables, hay bales and some of the best food for miles around. T
his is one of those events where just the smell of hamburgers and roasted corn on the grill remind me immediately of Chico.There are always plenty of characters 
there, who show up year after year. Beards, pony tails, cowboy hats and boots are practically de rigueur for the men, particularly the locals. And, my, how they can dance - not just with one partner either. I almost have a vision of women with dance cards each waiting their turn to dance with each one.
there, who show up year after year. Beards, pony tails, cowboy hats and boots are practically de rigueur for the men, particularly the locals. And, my, how they can dance - not just with one partner either. I almost have a vision of women with dance cards each waiting their turn to dance with each one.We arrived at the Hot Springs early in the afternoon in order to take advantage of the mineral hot springs pool. The hot springs are created in the same way as the Yellowstone geysers - molten rock heats the water below the earth's crust and it is pushed up through the rock layers bringing minerals along with it. The water is channeled into the hot pool first which maintains a temperature of about 103 degrees - which is just about as hot as I can stand - and, no, they can't turn the thermostat down!! It then flows to the larger swimming pool which is cooler, because it is larger, but just barely at 96 degrees.
Rumored to cure everything from kidney ailments to skin rashes, the water just feels really good, and I could probably be convinced that it works. This supply of mineral hot springs water is apparently endless. The pool is completely emptied every night, so there is no need for chlorine or any other type of water treatment. Imagine the water bill without this endless supply!
The resort also has a fine dining room and many of the ingredients are grown on 
site in Chico's garden. Their desserts, especially, are to die for. I struggled with the decision but finally decided on the flaming dessert, a whole orange which has been scooped out and lined with hard, dark chocolate, then filled with something similar to a Grand Marnier orange sherbert and topped with meringue.
site in Chico's garden. Their desserts, especially, are to die for. I struggled with the decision but finally decided on the flaming dessert, a whole orange which has been scooped out and lined with hard, dark chocolate, then filled with something similar to a Grand Marnier orange sherbert and topped with meringue.The highlight of our evening was meeting Alex Gemignani and his fiancee, Erin Ortman. 
They were sitting at the table next to ours and quite obviously very taken with each other. As they prepared to leave, we spoke, and they told us they were getting married at Chico in two days. Most of their wedding party, family and friends were there in the dining room. They told us that he was an actor in New York and that she was an acting coach. Alex has a new show opening in October on Broadway - none other than the new Stephen Sondheim musical, Road Show. He has also appeared in 3 other Sondheim productions: Assassins (for which he won a Theatre World Award for his portrayal of John Hinckley), Passion, and Sweeny Todd. He also played Jean Valjean in Les Miserables.
They were sitting at the table next to ours and quite obviously very taken with each other. As they prepared to leave, we spoke, and they told us they were getting married at Chico in two days. Most of their wedding party, family and friends were there in the dining room. They told us that he was an actor in New York and that she was an acting coach. Alex has a new show opening in October on Broadway - none other than the new Stephen Sondheim musical, Road Show. He has also appeared in 3 other Sondheim productions: Assassins (for which he won a Theatre World Award for his portrayal of John Hinckley), Passion, and Sweeny Todd. He also played Jean Valjean in Les Miserables.Erin grew up in Helena, MT and has lived and worked in New York since finishing college. I'm sure their wedding at Chico was beautiful, and I will definitely follow their careers.
We spent the night at the resort, and 
got up the next morning and drove the short distance over to Emmigrant for breakfast at the Old Saloon. They have fabulous omelets, biscuits & gravy, and the "monster" cinnamon roll. Honestly, it's big enough to feed four. It took me several days to come down off my sugar high, but the memories are sure worth the overdose!!
got up the next morning and drove the short distance over to Emmigrant for breakfast at the Old Saloon. They have fabulous omelets, biscuits & gravy, and the "monster" cinnamon roll. Honestly, it's big enough to feed four. It took me several days to come down off my sugar high, but the memories are sure worth the overdose!!
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