We were lucky enough to enter Plainview on the very street on which the parade would take place, just fifteen minutes before the start. We didn't KNOW exactly where it would be when we left but when we entered the town we could see "downtown" type buildings ahead, police cars, and cars lining the streets and spectators. We found a good parking spot in the parking lot of an abandoned VFW hall. Some other folks had arrived from out-of-town and a lady asked us whether this is where the parade would be held. I told her we had no idea, but we were assuming so. She decided to ask one of the local cops, parked near us on a side street. As she approached the cop, the cop drove away! I'm sure she was close enough to be seen. I'm sure the cop saw her. But he drove off, and parked on the other block, across the street! But that's Plainview. That's Plainview weirdness.
I also thought it was odd that there was no music-- no marching bands in the parade, and no live music in the little street fair area. And nowhere was there any place that would serve as a restroom. No portable toilets. There was not much food in evidence, unless you count kettle korn as food. The scene didn't quite gel. Everything was a bit "off", for me. We were hungry and we asked a bunch of tattooed teens under a tent where we could find a mom and pop type place to eat. They laughed and directed us to a place called Grumpies and gave us directions-- it was less than two blocks away-- but we searched and searched and there was no such place. We wandered around taking pics. Then we left and found a place to eat.
8-17-2015: Well, come to find out, there really IS a place called "Grumpies" in Plainview. We were just not able to find it. Our bad, as they say today. I feel terrible about misjudging those teens and we apologize after the fact, for what it is worth. Someday we will return to Plainview and eat at Grumpies, provided the stink of cigarette smoke does not turn our stomachs. What a foul and repulsive habit smoking is.
I also thought it was odd that there was no music-- no marching bands in the parade, and no live music in the little street fair area. And nowhere was there any place that would serve as a restroom. No portable toilets. There was not much food in evidence, unless you count kettle korn as food. The scene didn't quite gel. Everything was a bit "off", for me. We were hungry and we asked a bunch of tattooed teens under a tent where we could find a mom and pop type place to eat. They laughed and directed us to a place called Grumpies and gave us directions-- it was less than two blocks away-- but we searched and searched and there was no such place. We wandered around taking pics. Then we left and found a place to eat.
8-17-2015: Well, come to find out, there really IS a place called "Grumpies" in Plainview. We were just not able to find it. Our bad, as they say today. I feel terrible about misjudging those teens and we apologize after the fact, for what it is worth. Someday we will return to Plainview and eat at Grumpies, provided the stink of cigarette smoke does not turn our stomachs. What a foul and repulsive habit smoking is.
