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

[Anonymous]

I’m sure there are a bunch of things but here is a start:
Freddys- Chicago dog
McDonald’s- ice coffee
Multicolored Christmas lights
Pigs in a blanket, grape jelly/chili sauce cocktail meatballs
Drury inn - free adult beverages

[Anonymous]

I appreciate that for the most part McDonalds had never declined in quality and all franchises are generally to the same standard… best fries in the business.

Dominos on the other hand, you never know what you’re going to get. The one in Columbia Heights DC is a disaster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I’m sure there are a bunch of things but here is a start:
Freddys- Chicago dog
McDonald’s- ice coffee
Multicolored Christmas lights
Pigs in a blanket, grape jelly/chili sauce cocktail meatballs
Drury inn - free adult beverages

Wait, what? I can get a Chicago dog around here? I used to live in Chicago and miss this so much!

I looked at the menu and don't see a Chicago dog?

[Anonymous]

The original chicken sandwich at Burger King.

[Anonymous]

Playing baseball in the South.

Long double-header on theroad, two 9 inning games, pre-game warmup, shower in lockeroom....and the team bus pulls up to a Golden Corral buffet. Crushed some food.

Always great if you could walk to a Waffle House and Thrift Store from the team hotel -- some great tee shirts can be found in random Thrift Stores in the South.

For those that like Roy Rodgers, there's one on Route 3 in Crofton, MD.

[Anonymous]

Omg so much snobbery pretending to be down to earth in one thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like Carnival cruises

I went on one and thought it was fun.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love Buffalo Wild Wings. My favorite waitress knows my order by heart.

I used to like BWW, but the one near us is terrible. For a place that specializes in wings, the wings are pretty bad- overcooked, overpriced and pretty lean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Omg so much snobbery pretending to be down to earth in one thread

Who is being a snob? The Hampton Inn/Olive Garden folks?

[Anonymous]

I low-browed it once and sat in coach on a flight. Thankfully, it was a short two-hour flight. It’s one of the reasons I’m currently in therapy.

[Anonymous]

All inclusive resorts in Mexico or the Caribbean because of the buffets and unlimited drinks. Love them. It’s not fine dining and the quality at Olive Garden is better but you can’t beat the gluttony by the beach and pool.

[Anonymous]

Recently had Chili’s chicken fajitas - surprisingly decent. The chicken was flavorful and moist, and the side of soupy black beans was actually excellent, something I’d go back there specifically to order. Of course the tortillas were awful and the rice was blah, but otherwise made for a good alternative to fast food if on the go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I needed a job with hours to coordinate around the school day I cleaned rooms at a Hampton Inn. The standards are impeccable. Everything is thoroughly cleaned. I had to quit after 2 weeks because it was so physically exhausting but it changed the way I am able to clean my house.

Wow this is so interesting. Any cleaning tips for us?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I needed a job with hours to coordinate around the school day I cleaned rooms at a Hampton Inn. The standards are impeccable. Everything is thoroughly cleaned. I had to quit after 2 weeks because it was so physically exhausting but it changed the way I am able to clean my house.

So the way I feel about hotels - there's not a huge difference between $200 and $350 a room. Location is many times the primary difference and from a practical perspective the difference between 3 and 4 stars is manageable. The difference is between a 2 and 4 star or 3 and 5 star. The difference is between a $450/night and 850/night, all things being equal. There's just not that big a difference between $200 and even $375-400 or $350 and $450-500/night. Location would be for me the difference but all things being equal I've stayed in all these levels. So I typically do the $750-1000/night whenever my family is seeking a resort experience but will very often feel that the $500/night offers about the same level of comfort when comparing just room comfort and quality. Now the resorts will always jack up the price and you get a brand name for X dollars but I'm talking the actual place itself - really when something is nice it's nice enough. Unless I am going up to $1000+/night it gets nicer but otherwise the room and place is about the same (again location is key but in general terms). My point is unless it's a sleezebag 2 and 1 star place you can even find something cheap that's as good as something pretty nice and likewise a $350-400 room a night place isn't all that.

Sounds about right although I don’t know anything about the higher end. I will say that a recent stay in the $400 range (Grand Hyatt) included a much bigger bathroom and much nicer smelling soap and shampoo than the $200-$250 places I usually choose. But that’s not enough to justify the extra $200/night! I would probably scale up to $400 if it was a much better location or had better amenities (especially a pool).

[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.

+1

Oh contraire! There was a recent study (I’ll try to find it and post it) that the “‘’s” restaurants. (Chili’s, Friday’s, soon to be chi chi’s) are among the most socioeconomically diverse places in the country. They are where you are most likely to be sitting next to someone from a different ses class from you. It’s not just MAGAs enjoying a good mid-priced fajita now and then.