A hurricane in the forecast sends most tourists reaching for a suitcase. It sends Floridians reaching for a second cup of coffee. These are the storm-season habits Floridians stay calm about that leave other Americans white-knuckled. 1. Reading the Cone When a storm forms, the first thing a Floridian pulls up is the cone. Not…
A family stops dead in the middle of a Midtown sidewalk to crane their necks up at the skyscrapers. The crowd behind them splits and pours around them without a word. Not one local looks up. These are the things New Yorkers do that tourists get wrong. 1. Saying “In Line” Instead of “On Line”…
Think you can name Georgia’s best game-day wings without starting a fight at the tailgate? Good luck. The state treats July 29, National Chicken Wing Day, like a warm-up for football season, from Atlanta lemon pepper counters to Athens bars packed for the Dawgs. These are the wing joints Georgians line up for on game…
Picture a New Jersey cook cramming a fried hot dog, fried potatoes, peppers, and onions into a torn round of pizza bread. That’s lunch in Newark. The rest of the country takes one look and orders a salad instead. These are the New Jersey foods that horrify the rest of the country. 1. Disco Fries…
An Aldi run in Ohio starts with a quarter, and nobody warns the first-timer. Show up without 25 cents, and you’re the person jogging back to the car in the Dublin parking lot while everyone wonders if you had an emergency. These are the things about Aldi that catch Ohio shoppers off guard during their…
Think a grocery run is a grocery run, whether you’re in Nashville or the town you just left? A trip to Publix says otherwise. Whether you’re a Florida native or from a state without Publix, Tennesseans can spot you based on these shopping habits. 1. Grabbing Two of Things You Don’t Need Let’s start with…
Anybody can dunk a wing in blue cheese and call it dinner. Telling the true Buffalo wing story from the tall tales is the hard part. In honor of National Chicken Wing Day today, July 29, here’s a two truths and a lie game for you. Each round below hands you three statements, two of…
Floridians can spot a snowbird at Publix before the out-of-stater says a word. It takes about four seconds. These are the snowbird habits Florida Publix shoppers can spot in seconds. 1. First Through the Doors A snowbird treats the Publix parking lot at 7 a.m. like a tee time. Retirement means the whole day is…
Thirty years of loyal Publix runs earn you nothing at an Aldi register. Almost nothing works the way Publix trained you. These are the Aldi habits that throw a lifelong Florida Publix shopper. 1. Rent Your Cart With a Quarter Aldi doesn’t have loose carts at the door the way Publix does. It rents you…
Half of what newcomers think they know about Tennessee comes from a country song or a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. Both get it wrong. Jack Daniel’s isn’t bourbon, and the state that supposedly runs on country music gave the world the blues, soul, and rock and roll too. These are the things Tennesseans are tired…
