I've always thought that Ohio represented a pretty good micro-cosm of America. It seems to just be a little bit of everything...southern, northern, appalachian, urban metropolises, small rural towns, the rust belt, fortune 500 companies, Amish country, seasonal weather, a major river, a great lake, large universities, small colleges, diverse, etc.

 

This is EXACTLY what I think of when Ohio gets brought up in conversation.  It's the absolute melting pot of the US (and I feel that Cincinnati it the epicenter.)

 

I understand why so many people think poorly of the place (because it's uncomfortable to constantly run into people with entirely different lifestyles) but I think that's Ohio strongest point.  It's a place where ideas go to fester, a place where every day is unexpected and new and exciting, and a place where you don't have to go very far to be a world away.

 

 

PS - what's with all the talk on page one about drinking being a negative thing and Wisconsin being the worst.  I'd argue that Wisconsin is the absolute best place to knock down a few beers.  There are bars on every corner of every neighborhood in every town in the state, and every single one will show you a good time.  My mother plays in the Milwaukee Symphony and after rehearsals on Tuesday nights we head on down to O'Brady's Bar and slam down a couple of beers with the maestro and a few others from the string section.  It's just the way things are here, and not bad at all.

The city was a boom town in the Great Depression and then got hit hardest of anywhere in the country once it hit. The 60s and early 70s were pretty good to Toledo, even the late 80s and late 90s weren't too bad, but otherwise the culture of that part of the state is far more aware of the boom-bust nature of life.

 

Bingo.

 

Speaking of a boom/bust culture in Toledo, what do you think accounts for the 'entrepreneurial' culture of Columbus, particularly related to retail?

 

Some of Ohio's brain drain has been intra-state and Columbus is the beneficiary.  Columbus has a disproportionately white-collar and educated population, compared with the other major metros. 

 

The presence of OSU keeps Columbus rooted in youth culture like nothing else can.  That alone is huge for retail. 

 

The govenment is a stable employer, and unlike some other states Ohio's state offices are highly concentrated in the capitol.  The Lottery in Cleveland is the only state entity not based in Columbus.  Some years back there was talk of spreading them out more (Agriculture to Lima, for instance) but I've heard nothing about that for a long time.

 

For better or worse, Columbus is Ohio's most suburban city.  Given recent generational preferences, that has allowed Columbus to stockpile entrepreneurial type people-- or at least those with the personal resources to make it happen.  In that sense it's been doing well for the same reason Charlotte and Atlanta have.  It embraced the trends of sprawl and auto-oriented destination retail.       

For better or worse, Columbus is Ohio's most suburban city.

 

Oh boy, this thread could get ugly... :lol:

 

I don't even think that statement's debatable.  If you ask people living along Bethel or Sawmill why they like Columbus, I bet that's the first thing they'll say.  Columbus proper includes a lot of areas whose equivalent would be found be 2-3 suburbs deep outside of Cleveland or Cincinnati.  I would note that Toledo is more like Columbus in this regard, but not to the same extent, and the question wasn't about Toledo.

 

And it's not a knock on Columbus at all.  I had no intention of starting a pissing match.  Columbus has tons of urban cred.  It offers several of Ohio's premier urban neighborhods.  As my friend down there points out, Cleveland has nothing to compete with Short North at the moment.  That's not intended to start a pissing match either... just seeking balance.

This thread is heading straight for locksville.

"Micro-cosm of America" ...you sound like Sarah Palin speaking on Alaska  :laugh:

 

That's probably true though. There is a lot of immigrants in some parts of most of our cities. We're also a swing state.

 

I've also read that Ohio has 'no culture' because it has everything. Parts of Northwest Ohio feel like they could be Iowa or Nebraska; parts of Southeast Ohio to me feel like Tennessee. Northeast Ohio still identifies with the Northeast/MidAtlantic. Southwest Ohio: Texas with rain. :)

 

So, does that mean that American Culture is rooted, mirrored, miniaturized, etc in Ohio? What does it mean for Ohio to be in "The Heart of It All"?

 

I heard the term 'civic religion' again last night, watching a CSPAN program on Lincoln. The historian touring the Lincoln sites talked about exactly what I mentioned earlier: pilgrimages, pseudo religious sites, myths, and so on. That's an interesting example spreading across Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois. I grew up along the "Lincoln Heritage Trail" between Kentucky and Springfield. It's a pilgrimage path. Are there many of those in Ohio? I know of the Scenic Byways, but are there mapped trails related to historical figures here?

 

 

 

 

I would say American culture is mostly mirrored in Ohio. The government and social ideals were obviously originally rooted in the original colonies.

 

It is also important to note that Ohio was also the first state admitted to the Union that wasn't either a former colony or part of one. Vermont, Kentucky, and Tennesee were all post-original 13 states admitted before Ohio but they were all territories owned by the existing colonies. Ohio was the first state of the new American frontier in the Northwest Territory which in and of itself was the first lands acquired by the new nation after the revolution. Yes, it was land of immigrants, however having been settled before the really large immigration booms the State was also inhabited by some of the first true pioneers. There is something very patriotic and American about all of that to me.

 

Even though Kentucky and parts of Tennessee were settled just earlier, Ohio seems to have a unique distinction of being the first powerful state away from the coast. It really gave birth to the Midwest, at least, the flow of people westward often flowed through Ohio, from the east and south. I like the sense of patriotism I find here, particularly in the north. It's very steady and infused in the culture.

One more post and KStay2 has 2009.

 

A regional note, again not for fighting purposes, as I represent multiple areas myself.  The NE has always been more progressive and liberal, going back to Ohio's first political debates.  This is becuase the initial residents there came overwhelmingly from New England, while PA and VA (which then included WV and KY) filled in other regions.

 

The black population of Ohio started very small and stayed that way for some time.  The first state constitution barely addresses them.  Later ones did, and state policy toward blacks in the pre-civil war era was less than friendly.  I don't remember specific provisions, but I heard a presentation about this last year.  The Western Reserve counties voted unanimously, in losing efforts, against every anti-black provision.  That is not to say that the other counties were pro-slavery at all, but the tone was different in the NE, they were very serious about equal rights.

 

You can read a copy of the constitutional debates in the law library at CSU, check its website.  I don't know if they're available through Ohiolink because some of them are in really old books.  These debates, though tedious to sort through, can give you some insights on regional opinions in different periods.  The most recent convention in 1912 had keynote speeches by Teddy Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan.  The earlier debates I mentioned above include some absolutely despicable statements by state legislators.  We've come a long way since the 19th century.       

Cincinnati was huge in the Underground Railroad, hence the museum there.  That's also a notable place for the itinerary.  Sites are scattered throughout Ohio, and could be considered shrines in a way.  Ohio was the #1 contributor to the Union cause in the Civil War-- in generals, in troops, and in sentiment.  That may be Ohio's true claim to fame.  It paved the way for the state's dominance of the early industrial era that followed.  Industrial power gradually moved west, corporate/financial power moved east, and then people moved south.

 

To the extent that it ever was unified, Ohio's unified culture is represented in the hallmarks of that late 1800s era:  industry, inventiveness, and an old-school progressivism that would be viewed as socially conservative today.  Ohio's liberals today are concentrated in the same place they always were, and they are a special breed similar to those in MI and western PA.  They're liberal about unions, economics, and foreign policy; but they're conservative on just about everything else, particularly abortion and "family values." 

 

The NE corner of the state still has active KKK.  Kinsman does not observe MLK Day, or at least recently did not, on purpose by holding a routine meeting that day.  An official was quoted saying something to the effect of "let them have their day, it doesn't concern us here." 

Clement Vanlandingham , the noted copperhead, was a Daytonian, though this city was really divided before and during the civil war. 

 

It really gave birth to the Midwest, at least, the flow of people westward often flowed through Ohio, from the east and south. I like the sense of patriotism I find here, particularly in the north. It's very steady and infused in the culture.

 

There is an excellent book on this but I unfortunatly forget the name.  Its sort of an agricutlural history but also discusses cultural things, and makes a real good case that the Midwest was born in SW Ohio (the two Miami Valleys) and the Scioto Valley, as a mix of "southern" and "Middle Atlantic" practices.  The author uses the term "corn belt", I think.

 

 

 

 

You know its easier to do this for Illinois or Kentucky than it is for Ohio.

 

Scared Spaces in Illinois (and this would count for Chicagoans, too, believe it or not)

 

New Salem

 

Lincolns Home in Springfield

 

The Prairie

 

Sacred Spaces in Kentucy:

 

Churchill Downs

 

The Bluegrass Landscape

 

Cave Country (whereever that may be)

 

A Coal Mine

 

 

 

We're getting way off topic here..

 

Toledo's past doesn't have much to do with the rest of the state. It doesn't really say anything about current social conditions state-wide. What you're talking about (and what everyone keeps talking about) is regional. Columbus, Cincinnati, etc. have a much different narrative than Cleveland or Toledo.

One more post and KStay2 has 2009.

 

Dammit.. Didn't even notice when I hit 2000, last I remember I was in the 1980's.

They're liberal about unions, economics, and foreign policy; but they're conservative on just about everything else, particularly abortion and "family values."

 

Eh, I wouldn't be sure about that. Sherrod Brown? His huge popularity in the Cleveland and Toledo area speaks for itself. He has a 100% pro-choice record. The Democratic Party in Lucas and Cuyahoga County is very liberal today.

 

http://www.ontheissues.org/social/Sherrod_Brown_Abortion.htm

 

Sherrod Brown is Sherrod Brown.  I'm talking about Joe the Cleveland Democrat.  He's probably Catholic, which will at least influence his abortion view, and he probably doesn't identify with any ideas he would consider Californian.  Joe could care less about the environment, and that's where he and Sherrod Brown have a problem.  Sherrod would love to be green but Joe will not let him.

Cincinnati was huge in the Underground Railroad, hence the museum there. That's also a notable place for the itinerary. Sites are scattered throughout Ohio, and could be considered shrines in a way. Ohio was the #1 contributor to the Union cause in the Civil War-- in generals, in troops, and in sentiment. That may be Ohio's true claim to fame. It paved the way for the state's dominance of the early industrial era that followed. Industrial power gradually moved west, corporate/financial power moved east, and then people moved south.

 

 

yeah the underground railroad was as mythical as it was very real and ohio plays a big part in it. you could follow the traditional main route from cincinnati up to columbus to the final overnight stop in oberlin and then up to the black river landing in lorain where it was off to canada by boat. there are many safe house type sites all along the way and that would be a pilgrimmage right through the heart of the state. of course being that the 'railroad' was a loose confederation of sympathizers there are other paths you could follow too.

 

 

^My grandmother's basement was once a stop on the underground railroad.  I wish I had some pictures of it or something.

The interesting thing about the Underground Railroad is that nearly anyone with an old house and secret areas believe they were part of the UR (and some were), but more likely those would have been put in during the 1920s to counteract Prohibition which was not at all followed in Western Ohio.

 

Ohio doesn't do a very good job telling it's own history. I think this makes it unique of the big states (NY, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Illinois -well Chicago at least - all have a better connection to their past than Ohio).

Do you all think that one reason why Ohio might not do a good job of telling its 'history' is because there might be disagreement about its content? For example, I think Kentucky has a strong state 'brand' and 'culture' because of its mix of refined countryside (bourbon and horses, mainly). There also does not seem to be a strong black counternarrative to that history, because as far as I know, neither relies on slavery. Perhaps the divided nature of Ohio (north to south, mainly) means that one single narrative cannot evolve?

In terms of history, I think Ohioans have long felt that not much 'history' happened here and this was mostly reified by the historical profession. If you compare the amount of history done on the other places I mentioned (and the list would even longer with New England and the Old South) compared with Ohio, it is really quite depressing. I blame Ohio State which has not done a very good job educating folks to be historians of Ohio. I think the lack of dominant private national university probably hurt - no UChicago or Northwestern here.

 

The various colleges have produced decent local historians but can't compete with the big boys.

 

I also think that the state failed to reproduce civic engagement from the 60s onward which undermined the memory creating in the state.

Ohio was as bad as any other state in terms of de-urbanizing and attempting to reinvent culture during the 60s.  Still, I think Cincinnati and Cleveland do a good job of maintaining connections to their own respective histories, but not each other's history or anyone else's.  Here again we have the regionalism. 

 

The problem I see with that explanation: Pennsylvania is similarly divided between two disparate main regions.  Yet PA has done a great job of maintaining a more cohesive image.  PA has a brand, a unique feel that Ohio lacks.  Granted, PA played a large role in early US history.  But since then, there is a strong case to be made that Ohio surpassed PA in national influence.  You'd never know it from the way the two states carry themselves.

^Yeah, I would agree with that statement.  I think the average Cincinnatian is very aware of the city's history with the steamboats, "porkopolis", underground railroad, the reds being the first pro baseball team, the inclines, immigrants, etc. I'm sure Cleveland is probably the same way.  However, I tend to see these as more Cincinnati history rather than Ohio history, which is why I think there is no dominant culture in Ohio.  Even today, I definitely associate myself as a Cincinnatian rather than an Ohioan, which is something you definitely don't get in Texas, or California which both have numerous large cities.

My department had a temporary administrative assistant from Oklahoma (she took the job while her husband was interning at one of the Cleveland hospitals).  She said that people had told her that people from Ohio were friendly and she was glad to find out that that was true.  Yeah , baby!  :-)

 

In the 1960s, our teachers told us that we were lucky to live in one of the greatest states in the nation.  They indoctrinated us to the superior virtues of Abolitionist-Union-Republicanism.    I think that is why Ohio had always been a Republican stronghold, and Ohioans hung on to Republican voting patterns. 

 

Northeastern Ohio cities had a lot of Appalachian immigration starting in the times when the mills were hiring and continuing on until now.  Bluegrass and country culture is strong here. 

 

Youth culture and African-American musical and cultural influences still heavily influence Ohioans.  From Rock and Roll to Motown to Rap and Hip-hop, young people have long loved African-American music.  Jazz and blues are African-American, too, but those are way before my time, so I cannot attest to their influence.

 

BTW, it is the "Mormon Temple" in Kirtland.  I live three blocks from there.  It is locally religiously significant and LDS has a big influence in Kirtland, but the whole experience little cache outside of Kirtland.  The building is still owned by the Reorganized Sect of LDS, and I think that has been an impediment to promoting LDS here.  (In my opinion, revelations that arrive from gazing stones are no less relevant than any others  :wink: )

And even a state as large as California comes down to just two dominant cities- LA and San Francisco. Those cultures dominate the state.

 

Oh C-dawg, just a bit of a generalization, this bipolar.  There is the Big Valley (places like Colusa seem more "south" than Kentucky) and mountain areas, too.

Northeastern Ohio cities had a lot of Appalachian immigration starting in the times when the mills were hiring and continuing on until now.  Bluegrass and country culture is strong here.

 

I didnt know that!  NE Ohio and bluegrass/country...interesting!

 

#####

 

Being a native Chicagoan we were given Chicago indoctrination in parochial school, 3rd or 4th grade, where we learned about the city and its history and neighborhoods and such.  Of course in my case my grandparents and father also gave me that history, too, as sort of an oral tradition...this was there, that was there, so and so,.

 

 

 

 

What do you think of the percent of an area being of Polish ethnicity as a proxy of culture? Buffalo, Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit, and Chicago are all heavily Polish and seem to participate in the same culture.  Pittsburgh also, as I feel at home there, but with some obvious differences.  I was going to offer Catholicism as the proxy, but that includes Cincinnati, which for whatever reason seems to have its own culture.  I guess the Great Lakes cities all have a similar combination of geography, ethnicity, and architecture. 

 

Ohio's divisions are evident on UO.  How many Clevelanders look at the Cincy posts and vice versa?  Probably not many. 

 

(just in case anyone doesn't know, i'm a half-Polish Clevelander living in Toledo)

 

Toledo culture as precarious:  part of the problem with Toledo is that it's too close to the Detroit sphere of influence.  National acts stop in Detroit (if we are lucky, crowds are dwindling).  Toledo is close enough to Detroit to pick up on amenities available to larger metros, but it is still inconvenient to make the trek all the time.  To use Macy's as a proxy for good shopping (pathetic huh?), the Macy's in Toledo is the worst one I've ever been to.  In its former life as Marshall Fields it was almost as pathetic. 

^

Eastern and Southern European ethnicity, maybe.  Not necessarily Polish.  Thats what sets the Great Lakes citys apart from Cols. Cincy, and Dayton. Though Dayton did get this too its been nearly totally assimilated and the neighborhoods that used to have these groups are now either black or redneck or removed via urban renewal. 

 

From whats been posted here on Cleveland and a bit on Toledo I dont think thats the case in those two citys, especially in Cleveland.

A Cleveland Magazine article reported that there are 400,000 people of Polish descent in the Cleveland metro area, and that makes them the largest ethnic group in the area.  There was a lot of post WW2 migration to America from Poland, so there is still a lot of identification from the Old Country.  Other ethnic groups like Czechs or Germans migrated here so long ago, that their unique neighborhoods and churches are about gone.

are pierogies available in standard supermarkets in columbus, cincy, and dayton?  my friend once lived in columbia, missouri and no one ever heard of em, including store managers. 

FWIW, the Toledo Macy's/Marshall Field's was a Detroit based Hudson's first - which only amplifies the point.

 

To the continuing southern/appalachian influence on Cleveland (and Cbus) is the fact that if you time the drive right from Cbus to Cincy on 71 you will see more Kentucky plates than Ohio ones. Sunday afternoons mostly.

 

There are pierogies down south but they are mostly Mrs. T's (Trader Joe's has excellent ones).

 

 

are pierogies available in standard supermarkets in columbus, cincy, and dayton? my friend once lived in columbia, missouri and no one ever heard of em, including store managers.

 

My dad is from Pittsburgh and he claims that pierogies are a Pittsburgh thing.  I told him that I thought they were more of a Cleveland thing and he vehemently denied...idk who is right, as they both have lots of Eastern European immigrants.

are pierogies available in standard supermarkets in columbus, cincy, and dayton?  my friend once lived in columbia, missouri and no one ever heard of em, including store managers. 

 

My dad is from Pittsburgh and he claims that pierogies are a Pittsburgh thing.  I told him that I thought they were more of a Cleveland thing and he vehemently denied...idk who is right, as they both have lots of Eastern European immigrants.

 

I've always thought they were a Big Chuck/Parma thing.

My dad is from Pittsburgh and he claims that pierogies are a Pittsburgh thing.  I told him that I thought they were more of a Cleveland thing and he vehemently denied...idk who is right, as they both have lots of Eastern European immigrants.

 

They have them in Chicago too, I grew up on them and my grandfather used to make them from scratch.

My dad is from Pittsburgh and he claims that pierogies are a Pittsburgh thing.  I told him that I thought they were more of a Cleveland thing and he vehemently denied...idk who is right, as they both have lots of Eastern European immigrants.

 

They have them in Chicago too, I grew up on them and my grandfather used to make them from scratch.

 

they have them in NYC also. I've seen them in supermarkets as well as Polish restaurants.

I think you will find them wherever you find Polish or Eastern European people.  It's like saying that ravioli is only a New York thing!

I think you will find them wherever you find Polish or Eastern European people.  It's like saying that ravioli is only a New York thing!

 

Exactly.  Pierogies are not local to Cleveland.  But people keep acting like they're only found here, they do it on the news.  It's probably a northeastern thing and that's as local as that gets. 

 

Local would be pacszki day in Detroit.  I don't think I spelled it right.  The donuts from the day of the jelly donuts, which is Mardi Gras.  Those are a lot more local than pierogies.  Detriot and Toledo also have hot dog places around every corner.  Chili dogs come with mustard standard, which isn't normal anywhere else. 

 

Cincinnati has their own version of chili, which is always identified with Cincinnati.  Columbus has Wendys, and fast food is a style of food when you think about it.  In Youngstown it is believed that Arbys stands for American Roast Beef Youngstown Style, and I don't think so, but Arbys came from Boardman.  That's where the first one was.  Some local food in Ohio like Arbys and Wendys went global, so it's like we don't get to count it anymore.

Heavy Polish culture is partly what sets the Great Lakes cities apart (may even have something to do with the accent). Something like Lagrange just doesn't exist in many cities outside the Great Lakes. Hell, you'd be hard-pressed to find anything like Birmingham either.

 

Buffalo, Milwaukee, Toledo, Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland have the highest percentage of Poles of any metro areas in the United States.

 

percentage Polish in core counties based on 2000 census results

Erie County, NY: 16%

Milwaukee County, WI: 12%

Lucas County, OH: 10%

Cook County, IL: 9%

Wayne County MI: 8%

Cuyahoga County, OH: 8%

 

Good luck finding these numbers in any core counties outside the Great Lakes. :wink: Pittsburgh is just about the only exception.

 

But Polish culture isn't Ohio culture, it's Toledo and Cleveland culture, and to a larger extent, the Great Lakes culture in general.

 

 

nope....why would you be be so definitive? wiki sez:

 

Greenpoint, Brooklyn: The neighborhood is sometimes referred to as "Little Poland" due to its large population of working-class Polish immigrants, reportedly the second largest concentration in the United States after Chicago.

 

I think you will find them wherever you find Polish or Eastern European people.  It's like saying that ravioli is only a New York thing!

 

Exactly.  Pierogies are not local to Cleveland.  But people keep acting like they're only found here, they do it on the news.  It's probably a northeastern thing and that's as local as that gets. 

 

Local would be  day in Detroit.  I don't think I spelled it right.  The donuts from the day of the jelly donuts, which is Mardi Gras.  Those are a lot more local than pierogies.  Detriot and Toledo also have hot dog places around every corner.  Chili dogs come with mustard standard, which isn't normal anywhere else. 

 

Cincinnati has their own version of chili, which is always identified with Cincinnati.  Columbus has Wendys, and fast food is a style of food when you think about it.  In Youngstown it is believed that Arbys stands for American Roast Beef Youngstown Style, and I don't think so, but Arbys came from Boardman.  That's where the first one was.  Some local food in Ohio like Arbys and Wendys went global, so it's like we don't get to count it anymore.

 

actually pierogies are pan-slavic. for example they are russian too. pacszki & coneys are not solely a detroit thing either, they are just popular there like pierogies are in clev. in fact lots of ohio towns have or had old coney island hotdog diners, too.

 

otoh, the cinci chili is definately a 100% regional ohio thing. you cannot get it anywhere else. no way. as speaking of that so is another very unsung one i just remembered....barberton style fried chicken. you cant even find that outside of barberton much less regionally. and believe it or not you can get even more micro than that with a food like amish trail bologna.

 

The fascinating thing about Cincy chili is how recent an addition it is to the local diet - mostly since the Depression. It is basically Greek food that got midwesternized. 

http://www.arbys.com/about/      .........

 

When foodservice veterans Leroy and Forrest Raffel opened the first Arby’s in Boardman, Ohio on July 23, 1964, customers enjoyed roast beef sandwiches, potato chips, and Texas-sized iced teas.  To name their new venture, the brothers decided on Arby’s, which stands for R.B., the initials of the Raffel Brothers - although many suspect the R.B. stands for roast beef.

 

mardi gras is paczki day in toledo and cleveland also (or any polish area).  they are sold at kroger. 

 

the wiki statement about greenpoint being a magnet for Polish immigration to the US may be true.  Cleveland may be more Polish than NYC, but this is taking into account people like me whose long-gone great-grandparents were the immigrants.  How much Polish immigration is Cleveland getting nowadays?

One time I ate nine pacszkis.  So... that's not local either.  Maybe not much is anymore.  People eat fried steak sandwiches outside Philadelphia, but Philly acts like it's all theirs.  Maybe part of having famous local cuisine is being pigheaded about it. 

 

Warren has its own "Greek" fried chicken.  More garlicky than normal.  The Youngstown area in general has a fascination with fried peppers in oil.  Many restaurants there serve it as an appetizer with bread.  People in Cleveland seem to have never encountered it, at least that's what they say when I make it. 

:wtf:

Ummmm.  Can we get a caption or something to tell us the meaning of that picture.

 

 

^ I think it is for the Barberton Chicken shirt

^ I think it is for the Barberton Chicken shirt

 

Thats what I thought, but wasn't sure.

 

Thats what I thought, but wasn't sure.

 

there you go, thinking again.  It only gets you in trouble!!

Everyone know it stands for "America's Roast Beef, Yes Sir!" - the commercials said so!! :-D

 

And get this - when we told people we were going to Honolulu, they said "oh you HAVE to get these doughnuts called "malasadas"!!! like they were the most unique thing on earth. A little research and it turns out that these mythical and "exotic" doughnuts? Pacszkis! :roll:

The Modewleski (sp) Brothers of Brown's fame, opened an Arby's wannabee and named it RoBees.  I think Arbys fought it, and after a few years, the name changed to Beef Corral.

Everyone know it stands for "America's Roast Beef, Yes Sir!" - the commercials said so!! ;D

 

And get this - when we told people we were going to Honolulu, they said "oh you HAVE to get these doughnuts called "malasadas"!!! like they were the most unique thing on earth. A little research and it turns out that these mythical and "exotic" doughnuts? Pacszkis! ::)

 

HUSH!  I knew about Arby's but not about the malasadas.  Who knew??

Noodles over mashed potatoes - maybe not specifically Ohio, but definitely midwestern and probably rural. A lot of urban dwellers seem shocked when it's mentioned.

 

Nothing like it when you really need your carbs!

Noodles over mashed potatoes - maybe not specifically Ohio, but definitely midwestern and probably rural. A lot of urban dwellers seem shocked when it's mentioned.

 

Nothing like it when you really need your carbs!

 

I've never heard of that.

Noodles over mashed potatoes - maybe not specifically Ohio, but definitely midwestern and probably rural. A lot of urban dwellers seem shocked when it's mentioned.

 

Nothing like it when you really need your carbs!

 

I've never heard of that.

 

I've never heard of that either.  Perhaps there is truth to it being a rural thing?

A roundabout way of doing this is to put hamburger helper over mashed potatoes, with some random can of vegetables mixed in.  Ten bucks feeds you for three days.

A roundabout way of doing this is to put hamburger helper over mashed potatoes, with some random can of vegetables mixed in.  Ten bucks feeds you for three days.