It started when my nephew and I went on a motorcycle ride to the Aladdin Cafe in Aladdin, Wyoming to have breakfast. I had bragged up the biscuits and gravy and we were both looking forward to a full order, because one does not do half orders at the Aladdin Cafe. Having been there before on many occasions, I knew they served breakfast until 11. We arrived at exactly 10:30 and were greeted by a sign out front saying "Breakfast Served Until 10:30." We were told we were too late. Breakfast was over. I understood. Rules are rules, I suppose. Disappointment number one. Turns out it wouldn't have mattered anyway because we were informed that biscuits and gravy were not being offered at all during the rally. Disappointment number two. The sign also informed us that after 10:30 the Rally Menu was in effect. That's right - the dreaded Rally Menu. Disappointment number three.
Prices were not a lot higher...about a dollar. But the choices are limited and that $10 burger came with a tiny bag of chips. That's it. Normally the burger comes with a choice of sides, including a generous portion of french fries, tator tots (my favorite) and other side choices. Not this week, though. All you get is a little bag of potato chips. To top it off - the kitchen apparently also closes at 10:30 so the burgers and brats are cooked on an outdoor grill that looked like it could use a good cleaning. I don't want it to seem like I'm picking on this place. A lot of food places have rally menus. But I've never much cared for that practice and this finally put me over the top. I am now officially promoting the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Anti-Massacree Movement. (Thanks to Arlo Guthrie and Alice's Restaurant for the title inspiration). All you have to do to join is put the B on any business that raises prices during the rally. If you walk in and see a "Rally Menu" or notice the prices have been jacked up, just walk back out. Please understand that I am not normally a boycott person. I support local businesses and want you to support them, too. This is not a permanent thing. Just this week. When the prices return to normal I'll go back. But I am not going to put up with this annual ritual of squeezing as much money as possible out of rally goers, and in the process, locals also. The line has been drawn.
I would like to clarify that this does not apply to business who are only open during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Like this one -
They only have about ten days to two weeks to make their money, so I give them a pass. Plus, people are paying for the experience and atmosphere at those venues. The year-round businesses mostly are doing nothing different to add value. They're just raising prices.
Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I should mention that I'm kind of over the Sturgis Rally. After nearly fifty years I've pretty much seen all there is to see. I didn't go at all last year and don't plan on going to any concerts or other events this year. Not even a walk down Main Street. It's probably just the usual suspects anyway. I doubt if I'm missing anything. I do plan to do a little riding. A trip or two through the Canyon, possibly a run down Highway 385, maybe even a day trip over to Devils Tower. Those are rides I enjoy. And ones where I can easily avoid crowds. I will not, however, purchase anything off any Rally Menu I might happen to come across. I'll just start singing the Alice's Restaurant song as I'm walking out...with some slight modifications...and if someone else gets what's going on they may do the same. What if two people do it?
"And if three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking insinging a bar of Alice's Restaurant and walking out? They may think it's anorganization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day, I saidfifty people a day walking in singing a bar of Alice's Restaurant andwalking out - friends they may thinks it's a movement. And that's what it is,
The Alice's Restaurant Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Anti-Massacree Movement.
Join us. Won't you?
Roger O'Dea 8/9/2021
