In praise of Olive Garden and Hampton Inn; praise YOUR lowbrow favorites!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an antidote to DCUM derision, I am reflecting on my Thanksgiving trip to the Midwest with gratitude and awe.

My parents' house is beautiful, their neighbors are kind and generous, and my hometown is delightful.

To get there, it's a 10-hour drive. We drove straight there on the way, but on the way home, we broke the trip up with an overnight stay at a Hampton Inn (with a pool!) and ate dinner at the Olive Garden.

You know what? The Olive Garden treated us freaking RIGHT. Breadsticks and salad on point, and plentiful. All the entrees and kids meals were good. Glass of wine? Yes, please. It was pleasant and clean, the server was nice, the price was a downright bargain. Everyone had a good time. What a nice break after a long day of driving.

Hampton Inn, similarly great. Clean and nice rooms, nice breakfast area with edible-but-hey-free food, pleasant staff.

Here is your chance to say nice things about everything DCUM sneers at. Cracker Barrel, Embassy Suites, lazy rivers, buffets, Ann Taylor, Five Below, Aldi, Great Wolf Lodge, lay it on me. Tell me all about it. I want to hear all the NICE things you have to say about the not-finer things in life.

You do realize, this is the area where MAGAs live, right OP?

MAGAs live everywhere. Even in NYC.

- a New Yorker

Yes, certainly.

However, one need not intentionally patronize the locations and sorts of business frequented by MAGAs.

And it’s vulgar to actually celebrate these common and low-brow businesses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an antidote to DCUM derision, I am reflecting on my Thanksgiving trip to the Midwest with gratitude and awe.

My parents' house is beautiful, their neighbors are kind and generous, and my hometown is delightful.

To get there, it's a 10-hour drive. We drove straight there on the way, but on the way home, we broke the trip up with an overnight stay at a Hampton Inn (with a pool!) and ate dinner at the Olive Garden.

You know what? The Olive Garden treated us freaking RIGHT. Breadsticks and salad on point, and plentiful. All the entrees and kids meals were good. Glass of wine? Yes, please. It was pleasant and clean, the server was nice, the price was a downright bargain. Everyone had a good time. What a nice break after a long day of driving.

Hampton Inn, similarly great. Clean and nice rooms, nice breakfast area with edible-but-hey-free food, pleasant staff.

Here is your chance to say nice things about everything DCUM sneers at. Cracker Barrel, Embassy Suites, lazy rivers, buffets, Ann Taylor, Five Below, Aldi, Great Wolf Lodge, lay it on me. Tell me all about it. I want to hear all the NICE things you have to say about the not-finer things in life.

You do realize, this is the area where MAGAs live, right OP?

MAGAs live everywhere. Even in NYC.

- a New Yorker

Yes, certainly.

However, one need not intentionally patronize the locations and sorts of business frequented by MAGAs.

And it’s vulgar to actually celebrate these common and low-brow businesses.

Oh really? So you never eat at fast food or mid-priced chain restaurants, ever? Including Starbucks? Hmm? You don’t shop at Macy’s or anywhere in the mall, ever? Oh wait, you do order from Amazon? And that is “anti-MAGA” exactly how? Name every brand of food you buy. You massive hypocrite. You never fill up your car with gas? Got it. Massive hypocrite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Olive Gafrden is really good. I scoffed until my 40s when I went for the first time.

Same here. Recently my teens asked why we never have gone there. We went and now are regulars. They love it. I love it. I discovered Olive Garden at almost 50. Anyone with teens, especially boys with unlimited appetites, needs to try this. It’s the best value for a sit down restaurant. Thank you unlimited breadsticks and soup before the meal.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:What is lowbrow about Ann Taylor clothing?
I am genuinely confused

Ask in the fashion forum.

My hot take is that some women wore too much of it in their early career and now they have more money and it reminds them of being relatively poor. These people are buying pieces that are 100s of dollars per piece now. Less famous brands that are upscale and often foreign.

OP here. I used to work at Ann Taylor in the early 2000s as a side gig. I loved it. The cashmere, the lined pants, the Merino wool, the suits. We used to open boxes in the back and want EVERYTHING.

Now, the materials are cheap, the “fit” is boxy, there are no sleeves are darts, the quality is abhorrent. I forgot myself and bought some things on sale last year online, but when I got them home in my hands, I realized how cheap the fabric was and how poor the quality was. Never again. It’s a shame, but Ann Taylor is terrible quality and far too overpriced for what it is. It’s junk fashion. It’s the junk food of fashion. You know it’s bad, but you consume it anyway. And I say this as a former employee and brand fan!

PP. You are correct that quality has dropped but it's also true that's pretty much true across the board until you start spending $300+ per garment piece. So no reason to single Ann Taylor out if you have to criticize mass mall brands. The people who dump on it seem to prefer indie/European brands.

OK, you’re taking it very personally. I also think Banana Republic and similar mall brands have declined in quality, but not as much—not such a steep drop-off. You can still find pieces at Banana. You cannot find anything at AT, and it’s because both the fabrics AND the fit are so awful now. There is nothing good in there. I still get birthday rewards via email and literally have gone in to get something basically for free or a steep discount, and walked out because nothing was worthwhile, nothing. You can disagree. And I would ask if you were the great-granddaughter of Ann Taylor or something, but I know from working there that there is no Ann Taylor!

PP. Not taking it personally. I'm interested in retail fashion as a business because I worked as a clerk at a Macy's level department store for a summer. I never fit into Ann Taylor clothes. I am petite but was never a slim, delicate petite. So Ann Taylor/Banana Republic/J Crew never worked out for me. I had most luck with Kasper suiting, which barely exists anymore. (The brand's been bankrupt several times in the past decade.) Strangely I've discovered in the past 10 years that Ann Taylor Outlet is much better than the main store. And I can find things there while still not having any luck at the main mall stores. It's become one of my go-to stores.

I think wool fabrics have been cheaped out across the entire mall store fashion lineup. Also at indie fabric store near me. It has to be a systematic issue.

I do appreciate your perspective as a past retail employee. I am at least glad that "dresses came back" to the industry in recent years.

Can we still shop at Talbots or is that lowbrow too???

PP. Sorry, it's even more banned. But I do also shop there and have best luck at the outlet version.

If somebody could please plug Chico's and J Jill we can finish the set.

J Jill: For Women Who Have Given Up

Ok…

So no J Jill, Talbot, Ann Taylor….where are 45-60 yr old women allowed to shop. I mean I guess I’d better also dump my Old Navy jeans. Crap I bet Kohls is also off the table 🤣

Yes, and yes.

DP here. Hard pass. Love Kohls and Old Navy. I’m not dressing to impress people.

Clearly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fritos - corn chips

I know a billionaire who considers them "the perfect snack."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Culver’s …. Amazing! Had it last year for the first time and it was delicious.

Also, I had Golden Corral once when I was with my husband and young kids in an area with not a lot of other choices and it was perfect… I still think about that meal 15 years later!

Another low brow things I prefer: drugstore makeup for most things is sufficient.

Buffets in general are my “lowbrow” fave. Remember Sizzler? Being able to pile everything you want on your plate, getting ten entrees, second helpings! Anybody who doesn’t love that is living a sad life, imho.

Sizzler still exists! I saw one in Salt Lake City last month.

My brother used to go crazy with the all you can eat shrimp when we were kids.

What about Ponderosa? I loved that place. But my mother was cheap and wouldn't let me get sour cream on my baked potato because it cost 25 cents extra. I now overload baked potatoes with sour cream, lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Olive Gafrden is really good. I scoffed until my 40s when I went for the first time.

Same here. Recently my teens asked why we never have gone there. We went and now are regulars. They love it. I love it. I discovered Olive Garden at almost 50. Anyone with teens, especially boys with unlimited appetites, needs to try this. It’s the best value for a sit down restaurant. Thank you unlimited breadsticks and soup before the meal.

My kids' competitive soccer teams always get catered Olive Garden for the team to eat at the hotel when they're traveling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Walmart, got clothes and winter coats for the kids and a few Reebok tops for me, $115. Cart full of Christmas decor $100.

I got my fave pair of lounge pants at Walmart when I was out of town and in there to buy gatorade because I was sick and got dehydrated. I love them far more than my Vuori, lululemon, etc.

[Anonymous]

Hotel: Staybridge Suites or Residence Inn. Some are very nice

Food: McD breakfast sandwiches are amazing. Culver’s chicken tenders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hotel: Staybridge Suites or Residence Inn. Some are very nice

Food: McD breakfast sandwiches are amazing. Culver’s chicken tenders.

Sausage mcmuffin is so good. No one else's even begins to compare.

[Anonymous]

I guess mine are more low-to-mid brow, lol.

Shutterfly for photo projects. Ok, I don't love it, but it's the lesser evil and the projects usually turn out pretty decent.

A stainless travel mug I use to drink ice water out of. Have starting drinking so much more water! I'm pretty sure this mug is $5 from Walmart. Realtor gift.

Cheeseburger and fries, even at a higher end restaurant. I actually really like ordering a burger at a nice restaurant, because they are usually good!

The GAP. I don't know why, but their petite tops tend to really fit me well. Lots of people complain about boxy fit. Either I like boxy or my body is suited for their cuts.

Greasy diners. I love small local diners, taquerias, bodegas, and the like. NYC bodegas!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hotel: Staybridge Suites or Residence Inn. Some are very nice

Food: McD breakfast sandwiches are amazing. Culver’s chicken tenders.

Sausage mcmuffin is so good. No one else's even begins to compare.

I have a Parisian friend who is mostly contemptuous of American food ("so few people know how to cook a good meal for themselves"). But he praises the American breakfast and will even enjoy a McD breakfast. Unfortunately, I believe that McD has stopped their all-day breakfast menu and so he has nothing suitable to eat there after 11am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As an antidote to DCUM derision, I am reflecting on my Thanksgiving trip to the Midwest with gratitude and awe.

My parents' house is beautiful, their neighbors are kind and generous, and my hometown is delightful.

To get there, it's a 10-hour drive. We drove straight there on the way, but on the way home, we broke the trip up with an overnight stay at a Hampton Inn (with a pool!) and ate dinner at the Olive Garden.

You know what? The Olive Garden treated us freaking RIGHT. Breadsticks and salad on point, and plentiful. All the entrees and kids meals were good. Glass of wine? Yes, please. It was pleasant and clean, the server was nice, the price was a downright bargain. Everyone had a good time. What a nice break after a long day of driving.

Hampton Inn, similarly great. Clean and nice rooms, nice breakfast area with edible-but-hey-free food, pleasant staff.

Here is your chance to say nice things about everything DCUM sneers at. Cracker Barrel, Embassy Suites, lazy rivers, buffets, Ann Taylor, Five Below, Aldi, Great Wolf Lodge, lay it on me. Tell me all about it. I want to hear all the NICE things you have to say about the not-finer things in life.

You do realize, this is the area where MAGAs live, right OP?

MAGAs live everywhere. Even in NYC.

- a New Yorker

Yes, certainly.

However, one need not intentionally patronize the locations and sorts of business frequented by MAGAs.

And it’s vulgar to actually celebrate these common and low-brow businesses.

Oh really? So you never eat at fast food or mid-priced chain restaurants, ever? Including Starbucks? Hmm? You don’t shop at Macy’s or anywhere in the mall, ever? Oh wait, you do order from Amazon? And that is “anti-MAGA” exactly how? Name every brand of food you buy. You massive hypocrite. You never fill up your car with gas? Got it. Massive hypocrite.

You have aptly described yuppie-kibble, and no, I do not stoop to such vulgarities.

[Anonymous]

Dominos pizza. Courtyard by Marriott. Wawa.

[Anonymous]

We don't have an Arby's nearby, so if I come across one on a road trip, I'll absolutely murder a regular roast beef sandwich. Even better if they have a two-fer deal and I can have one to heat up later.

I'm good with my diet otherwise.