Wrap Up

After having a whole semester to talk about the American south and its culture, I have come across some interesting opinions. Two of the contributors to this blog are from northern cities and it has been interesting to see their view of the South. In Parker's blog "Polos, columns, boots, and the Southern Image," he talks about the differences in the architecture of frat houses and student dressing on the Virginia Tech campus and on the Georgia Tech campus. Since I have lived in the South throughout my tenure in the United States, I always thought that the frat houses everywhere were as big as the ones on the Georgia Tech campus. When Parker compared the frat houses on the Virginia Tech Campus to the ones on the Georgia Tech campus, I was surprised. One was large and had large columns in the front while the other was just plain and simple. A difference is also noticeable in the dressing of the students. The students at GT wear more formal looking clothes whereas the students at VT wear more casual clothes. I like how most of Parker's and DaNae's posts compared the North to the South.

In her post, "Transitioning from the North to the South," DaNae talks about the differences between the atmosphere in the South and in the North. Being from Baltimore, she claims to enjoy the warm, sunny weather in the South. Also, she says that Southerners visit the urban cities in the North, while Northerners like to visit the warm and natural settings in the South. Maybe the grass IS greener on the other side. While I have enjoyed the contributions from the Northerners, I have also enjoyed the contributions from the students who have lived in the South. Having said that, I want to give a shout out to the Braves and Jason Heyward for his walk-off hit in the bottom of the 9th with two outs. Go Braves!

-Rajeev

as the semester progressed...

After this semester in Dr Hoefers class, I realized that a lot of the images or inferences placed with the south are due to years of false assumptions by non-southerners or the attempt at playing that image by other southern. i realized that i too had developed some ideal image of the south that i believed was sill being played in modern life.
This seemed to be most obvious when studying southern living. it was quite interesting to see that people do look towads that magazine to portray this modern southern plantation. it was interesting to see how many times a magazine could use a plantation back ground as have it easily recognizable as a Southern Family. These family settings no longer exist today, but it is so easily used to referenced the south that it often is stereotyped with southern living.
This idea of old south still lives ensued in most southern upbringing from cotillions to the roles of women and men. Although it seems less common, there is still an obvious contrast between southern and northern personality characteristics. Which is more obvious when comparing colleges from recreational activities to greek life.
Although the south is no longer what it was before, there seems to still be a need to behave as a "southerner"

Taste of Atlanta

Although I am not from the South, an event that occurred while I have been here was Taste of Atlanta which happened in Tech Square. Taste of Atlanta is a two day festival that occurs outside. Not only is there food at the event, but there is also live music and numerous forms of entertainment. Foods from over 80 restaurants are showcased. In addition to food that is already prepared, there are chefs that cook onstage at the actual event. Some of the chefs featured are celebrity chefs which is an interesting attraction to Taste of Atlanta. Children are also included in the event by participating in cooking demonstrations that are made specifically for them. I found this event particularly interesting because it ensures that you will get a taste of traditional Southern food while also exposing you to various other cultures. Caribbean, Mexican and Asian cuisine is also served at Taste of Atlanta. Desserts are also showcased in addition. Taste of Atlanta is a great event for food lovers and it also exposes people to a lot of diverse foods that they would have not have tried otherwise. Taste of Atlanta also donates some of its proceeds to charity organizations. It is a great event that has numerous benefits and gives people a chance to experiment with different types of foods at one time.
Taste of Atlanta

--DaNae

Lee-Jackson-King Day?!?

While Martin Luther King (MLK) Day became a national holiday in 1983 when Ronald Reagan signed it into law, this holiday in mostly celebrated in the American South. Martin Luther King has become a Southern hero of sorts for his work during the Civil Right movement and nearly every town in the South has both a statue of MLK and and MLK drive... or boulevard... or circle.
However, nearly every city in the South also has a statue of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson displayed prominently somewhere in their town as well. Such passion for both figures in the South, pride both in the advances made during the Civil Rights Movement as well as pride in the leaders of the Civil War, has lead to a unique holiday in the state of Virginia, "Lee-Jackson-King" day.

When I first heard of this holiday I thought my parents were just pulling my leg, however after a little bit of wikipedia exploring I found that "Lee-Jackson-King" day was an official Virginia only holiday from 1983 to 2000. In 2000 the holiday was split back up into Lee-Jackson Day and MLK day, however, my family and much of the community still celebrates the holiday together. On this day federal workers get the day off from works, the students are out of school, and many parents take the day off to take the day with their children.

I feel that Lee-Jackson-King day is a very unique Southern holiday and represents uniquely Southern ideals... pride in our past and our progress. One of the best representations of this was a blog I found which discussed the controversy surrounding Lee-Jackson Day this year, yet the dedication with which Virginian's prepared for it and carried it out. This blog can be found here.

Parker


picture courteous of photohome.com

Vidalia Onion Festival

Every year in April there is a HUGE event that goes down in Vidalia, Georgia. Vidalia is known to be the home to Georgia's state vegetable, the Vidalia onion. People swear by this layered vegetable. They say it is the best tasting onion in the world. In honor of this beloved vegetable, the city of Vidalia hosts the Vidalia Onion Festival every year.

There are many activities that people can enjoy at the festival. These include:the Airshow, Little Miss and Miss Vidalia Onion Pageant, rodeo, safari through a ranch, etc. They also have many onion rings. Like I have said in my previous posts, Southern people like to fry everything and onion rings taste amazing; especially these ones.



Here is a link to a video from the show, "Georgia Traveler."

This is the official website of the Vidalia Onion Festival.

-Rajeev

Taste of Alpharetta

One of best known traditional events held in my hometown of Alpharetta is the Taste of Alpharetta, the largest "Taste of" festival in the South. Alpharetta is a rapidly developing surburban city situated roughly half an hour northeast of Atlanta. The town has been established since 1858 and thus is best known for preserving its historical and cultural values through its architecture, arts & crafts festivals, and other various events. Arts and craft festivals, such as the Juried Arts and the Arts Streetfest Festival are held once a year to observe unique artworks and enjoy musical performances. However, the Taste of Alpharetta tops them all, with +70 restaurants and +70,000 attendees. It is held once a year in the middle of May and hosts a variety of multicultural cuisines, ranging from Southern style cooking like Smokejack: A Southern Grill, to ice cream places such as Cold Stone Creamery, and even to exquisite fine dining like the Cabernet. You can sample delicious appetizers, desserts, and get FREE prizes. There are also exhibits such as the culinary competitions between top chefs competing for prizes, and additionally, there are musical performances, from Irish dancing and folk to top hit songs performed by localists. Because the festival attracts so many restaurants and people to the area, Alpharetta is one of the fastest growing cities in the South, and has become so diversified and culturally rich in all aspects.


--
Agnes

See Alpharetta, GA on map.
Source of picture: http://atlanta-restaurantblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/taste-of-pretzel.jpg
http://www.alpharetta.ga.us/

Transitioning from the North to the South

I have only been living in the South since arriving at Georgia Tech in the beginning of the school year. I definitely like living in the South and it is a different experience than living in the North. Atlanta is not too different from Baltimore in that they are both well known cities. I am used to the city life but living in the South is still different. Because I don't have my car here yet, I don't believe I have been able to gain the full Southern experience yet. The obvious factors that I have experienced are the Southern food and Southern hospitality. The friendliness and manners of several people in the South are more evident than what I would experience back home. The food is definitely an advantage of attending school in Atlanta. I love traditional Southern food. My friends and many of us are not from the South so we enjoy trying new places. In addition, I have noticed that some fast foods restaurants are cheaper here than they are back home. Another aspect that I like is the beauty of nature. There are so many beautiful beaches that are in the South, like Florida and there is also the countryside of many states down here. In the North, cities are more likely to be visited. People often go visit New York, Philly or Washington D.C. which are all extremely urban areas that are known for what their cities encompass instead of anything dealing with nature.

I would consider living here after college. I am honestly open to wherever my job takes me after I graduate but I wouldn't mind at all living in the South. While Georgia weather is quite bi-polar, I love how much warmer it is here. It also barely snows which is nice. This past winter in Baltimore, they received a foot and a half during one snowstorm and over 50 inches during another. Another reason I would like to live here is because cost of living is much cheaper. Real estate is much cheaper here than it is up north. The South is just a different experience from what I am used to but I really like it and I would love to further explore what the South has to offer.

Below are some pictures from all of the snow we got in Baltimore.

--DaNae

southern girl

I grew up in Atlanta and I've had no complaints so far. I love Atlanta and I really couldn't tell you why other than the fact that I've grown accustomed to the set up of this city that living anywhere else seems so foreign. although some seem to think that Atlanta doesn't count as the south and that Atlanta is not "southern." I may be true that Atlanta doesn't look like what you'd expect from your typical southern city due to it's skyscraper building and urban/ modern feel, but i still think Atlanta holds a lot of southern characteristics.
Atlanta is still full of the southern gentleman who still open doors for women and southern belle who follow a similar code of conduct. you find the same dinner restaurants serving up southern cooking from collard greens, country fried steak, and grits. you'll still hear the southern dialect in Atlanta as in any other southern city. the homes still give off a southern hospitality vibe with both the style of large front porches to the white columns. Sweet tea is an essential at every restaurant and every household. therefore Atlanta is still a part of a the south which i love, regardless of it's unpredictable weather, because of it's southern urban mix.
this is another Atlantian's opinion in the atlanta metblog.
i would most certainly still live in atlanta when i grow up. preferably in the Virginia highlands/ Morningside area. as much as I love Charleston and Savannah i think that I'd have a hard time living in those cities for a very long period of time. If i were not to live in Atlanta but in a southern state i think north carolina would be the runner up. my sister currently lives in chapel hill and has lived in Raleigh and Greensboro in the past. Although they aren't very large cities and some lacked diversity i still found myself at home whenever i went to visit my sister in north carolina.

Adjusting to the South

This week we wanted to talk about how it is like to live in the South.

I've been living in the suburbs of Atlanta for the past 8 years. I moved to Atlanta from India. When my grandfather found out that we were moving to the southern part of the United States, he quickly mentioned the history of racism and prejudice against minorities in the South. At first, I didn't believe my grandfather. Then I came to Atlanta in September of 2002, a year after the tragic incident in New York.

On my second day of school in America, I went to P.E. class. I changed in the locker room and as we were walking to the field, a kid starts yelling from behind me. "Why are you here? We don't need y'all over here! Go back to where you came from!" I thought it would be a white kid. It wasn't; he was African American. I wasn't very happy with the comments. Later I thought to myself; maybe he thinks that I'm getting it easy whereas his ancestors had to go through a lot of struggles for their freedom. Maybe that's why he was so upset. These kind of thoughts raced through my head day and night for the first few months.

I was not used to seeing so much diversity in one place. In India, 97% of the people living there are of Indo-Aryan or Dravidian ethnicity (CIA). People looked at me like I was weird. I definitely dressed differently back then; tucked-in dress shirts, turtle necks, overalls, and everything. This was middle school and nobody dressed like that. My science teacher, who was white, always gave me complements about me wearing my overalls. I always wanted to know why they amused her and later I realized that some people in the South wear them. Slowly, I started getting accustomed to the culture of the American South.

It took me almost two years to get to the point where people didn't think I was different from them. I learned to see the interesting aspects of the South. I gained a liking for Southern food and some of the activities that Southern people enjoy, like watching and playing football. After living in Snellville, I've also picked up a faintly Southern accent.

It was hard to get over the diversity issue at first, but now I'm used to it and I like seeing people from different backgrounds here. After living in the South for almost 8 years, I feel as though I'm a Southerner. It took a little adjustment, but now I can't see myself living anywhere else.

Here is a link to the CIA World Factbook.

-Rajeev

A Good Place

This weeks blogs focuses on what it has been like living in the South, either for those of us who were raised here or those who have just been introduced to the area through our lives at Tech.


Personally, I was raised in Roanoke, Virginia which in my books embraces the Southern "image" and displays many of the aspects of the traditional southern culture. In my opinion, southwest Virgina was the perfect place to grow up and has really made me into the person who I am today. My family and much of the community around me was very focused on the outdoors and an appreciation for it. As a child I quickly learned to appreciate nature through camping and hiking in the Blue Ridge mountains. I also helped to work on the family vineyard and also spent time running around the tabbacco fields where I learned to ride horses. In this area however I was raised in a decently sized city of 200,000 where I was exposed to aspects of city life and the modern suburb setting, but the outdoors was never too far away.

Beyond an appreciation for the outdoors and manual labor, growing up in the South also gave me an appreciation for family ties and the importance of close bloodline connections. Each year we would get together which much of our family for a big reunion and whenever anyone was sick we would always travel as a family to visit them. Perhaps the most Southern image I can present of my childhood was walking along the vineyard with my father listening to him explain that nothing in this world is worth anything (stocks, cash, possessions) except land and that the farm was his prize possession and security in life.


Even though I realize that the "image" of the south is far from the actual lives we lead, I am proud to have been raised in the south among this tradition and culture. I feel that the morals and ways of thinking which have been taught to me are wholesome and good. When I was looking for colleges I did not intend to pick a Southern school, I simply wanted a large school in a large city where I could gain new experiences. The final thing that brought me to Tech was not the academics or research, but rather the culture, people, and relationships which I would find here.

So far I have enjoyed living in the "deep south." The weather is nice, the poeple are kind, and I feel at ease among this culture. Once school is over I again will be open to going just about anywhere and working just about anywhere, but much how my comfort with the region led me here for college, I would not be surprised if I stay in the South and end up raising my family here; it is a good place for sure.

To express a little more about the mountains and culture from which I came, here's a link to a little indi-folk band called Fleet Foxes and their song "Blue Ridge Mountains". The lyrics describe beautiful images which are accompanied by pictures both from the blue ridge mountains and other wilderness areas.

Parker



Blue Ridge Mountains Image courteous of http://www.raggedmountainracing.org.jpg

Beautiful Weather!

Born and raised in the South, I have experienced a majority of the benefits that the South has to offer. Personally, I absolutely love the weather here. I have only lived in two other states, Texas and New Jersey. During our stay in New Jersey, the weather was absolutely horrendous. Come winter season, blizzards piled up on the driveway and made it impossible to go to school. Nevertheless, even with five or more inches of snow, schools never closed. Unlike New Jersey, Georgia delays or closes school when there is barely a full inch of snow or ice. As far as the warm weather goes, Georgia is neither too hot nor too cold. Temperatures reach up to the mid-80s and sometimes to the low-90s in the summer but never to the 120s that Phoenix, Arizona reaches at times. In the winter, it is never too cold. Whenever we traveled to New York City for vacation, I was always overexcited about visiting the big city, with its fascinating skyscrapers and departmental stores. However, I go to find truly the complete opposite of Atlanta. I see a city polluted and unbearably crowded. You can barely drive a car to get anywhere on time, let alone drive a car at all! I love the freedom of being able to drive, and I believe the wide landscapes and roads of the South has much to offer for that.

I also love the coastal sceneries of the South. The eastern coast is just not the same as what one can experience with the beaches of Florida or the Gulf of Mexico. The sunsets are fascinating, and the waters are crystal clear blue, unlike the darker blue, green waters of the eastern coast. The tropical weather just adds to the advantages of living in the South. After college, I would definitely stay in the South!

Source of pictures:
href="http://wordyninja.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/blizzard-new-york-feb-2003-5501.jpg">
http://www.interactiverealty.com/xSites/Agents/REMAXInteractive/Content/UploadedFiles/cocoa-beach-florida.jpg

--Agnes

In resposne to parker's ruralism of the south

Parker a few weeks ago states how ruralism was one of his least favorite stereotypes identified with the south and I strongly agree but I also wanted to give my own input and broaden the topic. I grew up in Atlanta my entire life and was rarely ever exposed to the southern rural stereotypes as much as the suburban stereotypes. Now I'm from Georgia which is basically as southern as you can get but it also has a terrible representation of being your typical rural uneducated hicks due to it's low SAT scores and media influence. the south is not like this at all; it is not an underdeveloped uneducated society. Although I, being a southerner, know better to believe the south is full of hicks and plantations, I can understand where the south gets it's image. When I went to Charleston last weekend, i did noticed the pretty fields of cows grazing. In fact it was probably the most common sight, along with the 15 consecutive advertising for the Farmer's market, a Cracker Barrel at every exit, boiled peanuts stands, and mega Fireworks discounts. if i didn't know better and this was my first impression of the south I'd think the south were full of rural farmers who loved southern cooking as much as they did blowing things up with their guns and fireworks. I would take this personal experience over anything the statistics might show. I compare this experience to the time i traveled through New york and Massachusetts which was full of beautiful maple trees and beautiful orchards. banking on this alone i can understand how old stereotypes can still be relevant to modern day and how they can still constituted.

The Continuing Role of the Civil War

Flipping back through our posts this semester I have found myself most interested in DaNae's post on January 27th regarding the Civil War. In this post, DaNae claims that the Civil War was "a historical event that effected the South and contributed to the identity it has today." I agree that the Civil War is the event which gave Southerner's their pride and made the "image" of Southern Culture known to the world.

In her passage, Danae claims that the Confederacy was fighting to preserve slavery and the North was fighting to abolish it, however the was clearly goes beyond this single issue. The South was in the Civil War due to its inherent political, cultural, and economic differences than the North. Before the Civil War, the South was paid little attention to by the rest of the world and for most residents, it yielded a relatively poor and harsh life. However, when tensions rose with the Northern states and Southerners found their right being infringed, a huge sense of nationalism went through the South and suddenly a United, culturally rich Confederacy arose.

Even though the Confederacy lost the war, the strides which the war made in uniting the Southern people under a single "image" or ideal remained and persist today. As a result of the war the rest of the world looked at the South as its own region in the United State and gave it much of the respect and interest which a separate country would have had. In bitter defiance, the Southern people also harbored and nurtured their pride for their region and preserved many of the traditions which seem commonplace today.

In the modern age, the Civil War and its impact on the South is still clearly remembered and prevalent. Southern figures from the war are revered in the South and most Southern residents, even those of foreign cultures, buy into the Southern pride as if it has always been theirs. For example, I am from Virginia and yet within my first three months living in Georgia I participated in a Civil War re-enactment remembering and honoring those who fought in this event which brought about the South we know today. Our group project will more closely discuss the multiculturalism of the South and the new "Image" of the South which is emerging. (See the map for a link to Stone Mountain)
I've provided a link to a home-made video about the Fort McAllister which is the re-enactment which I participated in. Notice how most of the pictures shown revolve around the museum and the "showcase" nature which the war has taken on. From this video, especially with the music its been paired with, it seems like this families trip was more about excitement and being part of history rather than simply appreciating and remembering what happened.

Parker


Image from
http://www.theoccidentalobserver.net

Southern hospitality

I am responding to Thuy's post, "What will you have sweetheart?". Southern hospitality and food are definitely two things that immediately come to mind when thinking of Southern characteristics. People are often so much nicer and more friendly in the South 'just because.' This applies to random people as well as the service in the food industry. Waiters are often so nice in Southern restaurants. The service of a restaurant is a huge factor for me when determining whether or not I will go back. Being from the North, you will not always find servers that are so friendly. While some people are genuinely nice, others are just trying to be polite and friendly to get a good tip.

The video below caught my attention because it shows two boys that go around Charleston and give out compliments to people. While it may seem a little random, it made people smile and that is all that's important. You will not find people doing random acts of kindness like this in the North. Also, in certain places in the North, people would have just brushed these boys off instead of greeting them so warmly.




--DaNae

Waffle House of the South-Southern Style

For this week's blog post, our topic was to respond to a fellow group member's post, and I am responding to DeNae's previous post on "Waffles Anyone?" I definitely agree that Waffle House is a popular Southern dining restaurant. Being from the South, I have never even tried Waffle House before, until just a few days ago when my friends and I were finding someplace to eat for breakfast. It serves the typical southern foods you would find in the South, such as country ham, eggs, and the good ole' bacon. Yummy! They still have biscuits, which I am not sure if people still consume nowadays, but I still love it served plain. I also glanced over at the dinner menu, which personally didn't look as yummy to me as the breakfast menu did. However, I did notice that one of the dinner meals was called the "Meat Lovers, Southern Classic Pork Chop Dinner". That sounded as southern as it could get. Pork chops and fried chicken are well-known traditional Southern meals, greasy yet delicious. They also serve chili, and additionally, there were also Southern meals called "Texas Becan Steak Melt" served with the classic steak chops and hash browns, which I absolutely love! In case some of you don't know, hash browns are basically made of shredded potatos. My mom often makes them seasoned. Waffle House mentions Texas in a few of their meals and that simply brings out more of its Southern style foods. Now that Tech Square will be constructing a new Waffle House, I'll be sure to stop by from time to time.
Here is a video of a customer ordering yummy hash browns served at Waffle House!


Menu Reference: http://www.wafflehouse.com/welcome/

-Please see map of the Waffle House Location where I visited.
--Agnes Ho

yeeeehhhhaaa

this weeks blog topic was to review a blog or article from the southernliving blog post that emanated an representation of the south. the blog i found was about good places to buy cowboy boots. this reminds me of an episode of Antony Bourdain's No Reservation when he travels to Texas and one of the first things he does to be a Texan is to buy a pair of cowboy boots. The article talks about how the writer becomes suddenly interested in buying a pair of cowboy boots not because she wanted to go horseback riding but she says because every southern girl would love a pair of great come "Hey I'm Southern". At the end she comments with move over Carrie Bradshaw you don't have anything over a southern girl with a perfect pair of boots. i thought this was an appropriate Carrie Bradshaw is a New Yorker known for her Prada shoes compared to a southerner in a pair of vintage cowboy boots who has just as much class.

Southerner's celebrating their Football Team and Tradition

For this weeks blog were are reading Southern Livings blogs and analyzing what aspects of the South they portray. I choose to read a blog called "Tales from the Road" where touring journalists and editors share their experiences. The particular article I read was titled, "A Southern Super Bowl: Share your Plans with Southern Living."

This article began with the journalists experiences in Birmingham in the days before the super bowl. The author commented on the nails of a hair salon owner which she found to express the Pride for her team. The owner has painted her nails gold and placed the Saints fleur-de-lis in the center of each one. This aspect of a person's pride in their team interested the author and she invited Southern fans to write to her and explain how they were supporting their team. It is in these responses from southern families that aspects of the Southern "image" emerge in action.



Here are the excerpts and a little discussion about each:
"Will be surprising my guests with personalized 'Who Dat?' and 'Geaux Saints!' chocolates. Guess you know who I'm routing for!" - Gwen Harris Cloutier

This comment by Ms. Cloutier portrays the idea of Southern hospitality. It shows that Ms. Cloutier is not planning on watching the big game alone in her house but rather is hosting a party and entertaining guests. It almost seems like entertaining her guests is more important than the game!


"I'll be makin' my famous chocolate dipped rice krispie shaped footballs and lot's of cajun gumbo. Who dat gonna git 'dem some good food, yeah!" - Kathy S. Brown

This write in especially reveals the dialect and historical culture of the South, particularly Louisiana area. Ms. Brown writes her dialect into this passage using apostrophes to show the shortening of words and also uses some "southern slang" such as "dat" and " 'dem." She also references the Cajun culture of the New Orleans and Louisiana area and her pride in making and eating food typical of that area.


"We will be having Red Beans and Rice or Crawfish etouffee. I'm sure Boudain will be in there somewhere as well. I made Fleur De Lys sugar cookies for the Saints vs. Cowboys game and they were a big hit." - Valerie Johnston Mellema

This passage again hits on the unique foods of the Cajun culture as well as the idea of Southern hospitality. Ms. Mellema is very proud to be creating typical Cajun dishes such as Crawfish and red beans and rice. She was also proud with the success of her last batch of cookies at entertaining her guests and intends to make them again.


This blog was very unique in that it allowed us to see actual comments, ideas, ways of speaking, and concerns of real Southerners. Even though they have been sifted through and specifically chosen by the Southern Living editors, the fact is that they are original quotes from people who are actually living these aspects of the Southern "image" in their daily lives.


Parker


Photo courtesy of A Southern Super Bowl: Share Your Plans With Southern Living!
at http://talesfromtheroad.southernliving.com/

Barbeque Anyone?

This particular blog post from Southern Living was titled "Out to Dinner, Stop 3: Nolensville, TN." This post tells of Farrah Austin's trip to Martin's Barbecue Joint. The owner, Patrick Martin, has a true love for barbecue. There is a 24 hour process behind preparing the pulled pork just right. Not only is the food good, but the atmosphere of the restaurant attracts customers also. Patrick believes that people can let go of their current troubles temporarily while enjoying themselves at his restaurant. He says, "It's the one time when people's social, racial, and financial differences disappear. That's the beauty of it--the beauty of good barbecue."

This article caught my eye because it shows a typical and favorite Southern food. The blog post gives a great description of the restaurant and also incorporates great quotes from the owner that encourage the reader to try the food there. The owner is truly passionate about his food which is always a great thing. The style of the restaurant, wooden with a porch, definitely makes Martin's Barbecue Joint seem more authentic. To make it even more personal and seem like home, Mama Martin (Patrick's mom) drives her own freshly made coconut cake down from Memphis every week. This article gives a great review of a southern restaurant that offers a typical Southern food with great hospitality.

The author of the post: Farrah Austin

Out to Dinner: Martin's Barbecue Joint

--DaNae

Southern Living Magazine Covers

I was looking through some blogs from Southern Living's website and I came across this article. The article looks back at Southern Living magazine covers from 1966-1968. Almost all the covers reminded me of things that I would think about when I think of the American South.

This picture reminded me of a Southern belle.


This picture reminded me of rich, Southern aristocrats in their ruffle collared shirts and crazy, large hats, watching the Kentucky Derby.


This picture reminded me of SEC Saturdays and the saying that "Southern women know their football."


This picture just looks Southern. Two grown men are on a lake, with a hound dog, doing some bird hunting. The man closest to the dog has a smoking pipe in his mouth, looks like he has a Confederate uniform on, and he is holding a rifle. This picture is shouting, "I am the South!" Also, the caption on the bottom right reads, "They leased a Southern Plantation for hunting, fishing." That just sounds like something that a Southerner would do, right?

All these pictures showed me something that I could relate to the South. After I looked at these pictures, I went to Southern Living's website to look at the most recent magazine covers and this is what I found. This is the March 2010 issue.

I was very upset. This picture did not scream, "I am the South!" like the older pictures did. These are flowers. They have these in the North too. If Southern Living is trying to tell me that this is the South and this is what Southerners do, I would not be interested in their magazine. Is it really a Southern thing to be interested in gardening? Are plants really something that define the South? This is just too postmodern for me. I wish Southern Living would look at the South like it really is today.

-Rajeev

Images from Southern Living

Come Get Your Tacos!

One of the Southern Living blogs that I chose to read was called "Ode to the AL Pastor Taco" by Marian Cairns. Cairns talks about a popular Southern delicacy--tacos. There are a few taco places in the north, but in the south, there are plenty of them everywhere! The author also talks about a recipe of a Texan friend's called Tacos Al Pastor. A picture of the taco illustrates how it represents a Southern food. Typically, tacos are considered Mexican food and found all around the south. Probably one of the best known tacos places served more in the south is Taco Bell or On the Border. In the picture on her blog, there is also a condiment that is normally on the table already, especially in taco places, and that is TABASCO sauce. Of course, tabasco sauce, the South loves it spiced up! Texan-Mexican cuisine is very popular in the South, and most of the foods are accompanied with some sort of hot sauce. Similarly, there are many types of Creole foods served Cajun style, including spicy gumbo soup and spicy chicken.

Looking at the menu served at Maria's Taco Express in Texas, they offer a variety of Southern foods. For breakfast, they serve egg, potatoes, cheese, bacon, etc. wrapped in tortillas in a style similar to omelets which are one of the most popular breakfasts in the South, with bacon and grits on the side. On its dinner menu, steak and chicken fajitas are the top choices. While tradition Southern chicken is fried, the chicken served at the Express is grilled! KFC, Kentucky Fried Chicken, now serves grilled chicken legs as well and is just as popular as the fried chicken legs.

Please see map for the location of Taco Express.

--
Agnes Ho

It's really not that dangerous!

The biggest stereotype about Georgia Tech in my opinion is the safety issue. People always make it seem as if Tech's campus is extremely dangerous because it is located right in the heart of Atlanta. They also make it seem as if you are putting yourself in extreme danger the second you step off of campus. Although Atlanta is not the safest city, what city doesn't have crime? Robberies, shootings and stabbings sadly occur at many schools, even schools that are thought to have the most safety and prestige. When people are robbed on campus or at surrounding schools, it is always blown out of proportion. Many of these students that are robbed set themselves up. It is common sense that you should not walk all around campus and through dark pathways with your laptop, iphone and a wallet full of cash at 4 a.m. Situations such as these can be avoided by utilizing Tech's resources such as the Stingerette. In addition, the Georgia Tech police are always around. While there is only so much they can do, they are always pretty informed about instances that occur on campus. Also, certain neighborhoods around Tech's campus are known to be particularly dangerous. Certain precautions should be taken while in these neighborhoods. Tech's campus is pretty safe as long as you make wise decisions.
Every city has crime and there are always precautions that can be taken to avoid it to the best of your ability. I am from Baltimore, which is another city that is particularly known for its high crime rate. While the city does have this reputation and there are statistics to defend it, it is not as bad as it seems. There are things you can do to ensure your safety and you will never even have to worry about finding yourself in a bad situation. Word of mouth as well as the media make Atlanta seem so much more dangerous. The media adds to this stereotype and convinces people that the city is worse than it really is.
CBS News Clip

--DaNae

tech stereotypes

There are a lot of stereotypes I've noticed at college. i don't think too many of them had to do with the south or georgia tech in particular but they always stood out to me because they were so abnormal that i wanted to know what basis people had for them.
The most unusual question i received at FASET when i told them i lived in atlanta was whether or not i lived in a house. i didn't really know how to respond to such a question. for the record yes i do live in a house. Surprisingly most of these kids actually lived in Georgia. i don't know if it's just the fact that atlanta is a city and there doesn't seem to be many houses around, and because Georgia tech is a city college students aren't expecting to see lots of houses around.
I also take pleasure in showing friends around Atlanta and having them realize that there's more to Atlanta than tech campus and good fella's at 2 in the morning. the connotation Georgia tech gets is for begin a fairly dangerous college. there are headlines of student muggings and stabbings but that is not atlanta entirely. Atlanta really isn't a dangerous city during the day and is filled with great neighborhoods and parks.
the only serious southern stereotype i can think of at Gt is KA. KA is known for being one of the msot southern fraternities on campus with their plantation style house, pride in southern music and annual southern ball.

thuy

Polos, columns, boots, and the Southern Image

VS











GT Architecture
VT Architecture

I always believed that Roanoke was a Southern town as it is South of the Mason Dixon line and typically votes republican, however, from the moment that I stepped into Atlanta and onto Tech's campus it was clear that I had not grown up in the "true" South. Opening the car door and stepping onto the black pavement I was hit both by a wave of Summer heat as well as wave after wave of Southern images. While many of the stereotypes that exist about the South may be hugely exaggerated or just plain wrong, I found many held true as well.

The first thing that I noticed was the architecture and styles which were prevalent on Tech's campus. Walking down Techwood I was confronted on both sides by large Greek house with grand, colonnade facades mimicking plantation houses and Southern wealth. The Students walking on the streets also wore bright summer dresses, calf-length cowboy boots, cackie shorts, Ralph-Lauren polo t-shirts, and Chacos (my personal favorite). This image of students contrasted sharply with my impressions from Virginia Tech where students thought throwing on anything but a $5 t-shirt and some jeans for class was strange. I can't imagine Virginia Tech students showing up to a game in a tie or even a button-up! The idea of presenting oneself at all times and dressing relatively well whenever in the public is a clear aspect of Southern Culture and tradition.


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Virgina Tech Football Style

GT Football Style

To see Virginia Tech, please see our blog map!

The next thing that I really noticed in Atlanta that I felt fit the stereotypes I'd heard my whole life was certainly the politeness of the poeple. While I was first walking around the city and exploring the area around Tech square up through Peachtree and over to North Avenue, I stopped to talk to quite a few individuals and was surprised to find them very willing to talk to me. Many just greeted me as I passed by and one restaurant owner standing outside his restaurant even came out to talk about the weather and help me with some direction and suggestions of things to see in Atlanta. Back on campus I never had to stop and look for a map because without even asking students would recognize me and my family as visitors and ask if we needed any help. It is just small acts like these from which the idea of Southern hospitality has grown and what really makes all the difference.

So far from my time in Atlanta I've noticed that some Southern stereotypes may be just an "image" of the South, but some others certainly hold true. For me, some of the first ones a noticed were the physical images of the architecture and styles in the South as well as the hospitality of the Southern poeple. It is these traits and others that characterize this region and perpetuate the Southern identity, both true and exaggerated.

Just because I was curious about how Google would handle a search for "Southern Outfits," I tried it out. Of the top ten results from 1,830,000 returns, six centered on the Southern Belle outfit, two were general clothing companies, one was a gymnastics company, and the final was a native American dance outfitter. I found this mix of returns for "Southern Outfits" to be humorous. Now being in a rather comical mood, I took it upon myself to find a montage of the "many faces and dresses of Scarlett O'Hara" featuring epic music. I think its well worth a minute or two of your time to see what Google 6/10 Google results consider to be the definition of southern style...

Parker



Virginia Tech fans: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/467563962_22ad0d4a37.jpg
Georgia Tech fans: blog.mattroe.net/?cat=6
Georgia Tech Greeks house: rwhdesign.com
Virgina Tech Greek house: http://zetahouses.blogspot.com/2009/05/virginia-tech.html

The "New" Atlanta

Atlanta, GA is certainly no new city to me. I was born and raised around Atlanta, so I have been exposed to most of the stereotypes that Atlantans face nowadays. For many, Atlanta is not just a commercialized center of the South, but it is home to the majority of crime rates in the state of Georgia. Having lived at Tech for almost a year now, I have viewed more crime alerts sent out by Tech's campus police than I do receiving spam. Focusing primarily on Atlanta, I believe one of the southern stereotypes frequently observed is how people view Atlanta as a dangerous area, home to gangs, robberies, and thieves. However, that is a common stereotype seen in most downtown areas. Consider New York City or even Los Angeles where the number of crimes committed climb each day and are interminable.


On the other hand, Georgia Tech is a prominent university located inside the city of Atlanta, surrounded by crimes everywhere, but inside the campus, the surroundings are different. There is an abundance of diversity seen on campus; students come from all around, both domestically and internationally. It definitely contradicts the point of view most people have on the South--that Southerners are uneducated. Georgia Tech is oftentimes considered the "Ivy League" of the South and ranks as one of the top ten public schools in the nation. There are students majoring from management to electrical engineering, and even to polymer/ textile engineering. The food here also hints a little bit of Southern culture. In the dining halls, fried food is ALWAYS on the menu. It includes everything from fried chicken to fried potatoes all the way to fried peanut butter and jelly. Additionally, stereotypes continue to exist here. Also, many see African-American students simply enrolled here on athletic scholarships, but I have seen African-American students that are majoring in one of the hardest majors offered here, Computer Science. There are dozens of diverse fraternities and sororities offered here. I have seen a Confederate flag hung outside one of the fraternities once, and I had so many interpretations--does it symbolize their pride? Or is there are a sense of racism hidden behind its meaning? Even more amusing is that they were playing hip-hop music in the background. Discrimination continues to be inevitable, but Georgia Tech brings out the diversity in Atlanta. What else does Georgia Tech have to show about its Southern culture? FOOTBALL!!! Yes, attending football games is more than just cheering for your team, but it has become a hobby for Tech students, like for a majority of Southern schools. GO JACKETS!



--
Agnes Ho

Please see map for Georgia Tech's location.
Sources:
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9pQWdwkLEE
Picture: http://www.gatech.edu/images/splashSports.jpg

Uneducated in the South

A common stereotype that I have seen portrayed about the South is that the South is full of people who are uneducated with a lack of manners. One thing that convinces people of this stereotype is the fact that Southerners may talk differently. This is not because of a lack of education but because the dialect will always vary from region to region. There are several nationally ranked schools in the South in which many students who are originally from the South attend. Classifying an entire region as uneducated because of the characters in movies and commericals is simply ignorant.

Along with being uneducated, some people also tend to associate Southerners with having a lack of manners or showing proper social etiquette. This does apply to some people but that is everywhere. People that lack proper manners can be found in every single state within this country. One key characteristic of the South is Southern hospitality. This would not be so well known if Southerners had no manners.

Stereotypes are often wrong but supported because they are repeatedly shown in social media. While some stereotypes are true when pertaining to certain individuals, I do not feel that an entire region can be classified under one category.

Below is a video of a male who recently voted and posted this video to prove that all Southerners are not "stupid" and that they actually keep up with this issues pertaining to this country. The video is entitled "Voting: Not All Southerners Are Idiots" and can be found on youtube.com

--DaNae

down on the bayou

The worst and commonly used southern stereotype that bothers me the most is the idea of the southern swamp dwellers. the image that movies of the people living in the south is that they living in small shacks on the swamp bank with the other animals dwelling the swamp. It shows the image of a more destitute community living off of the swamp land. this combined with the twang of the southern dialect gives this group of people stereotype of begin less intellectual. The movie "Water Boy" displays all aspects this stereotype. The main character lives on the swamp with his mother and she cooks squirrel for dessert. He has a harsh stutter that he gets picked on for, is home schooled by his religious mother who things that even the women are the devil, and drives a lawn motor to College. Aside from that the town he lives in also gives the same uneducated, swamp community feeling. The professor he has looks like Colonel Sanders, his football coach has an incredibly incompressible dialect, and there's a town idiot who drops in for tangents throughout the film.
I'm not sure where this image of the south has derived from, but i do think it' an awful misconception. The people that live by the bayou in the South are not ignorant hicks they just grew up in an area where they were more exsposed to the natural environment they live in.

thuy

The Ruralism of the South

RURALISM?

Image from: ruralsociology.org

One of the stereotypes of the South which really bothers me is the world's perception of the "ruralism" of the American South. When I receive e-mails from my friends abroad or was meeting new people during college visits up North and West, everyone seemed to think that I lived in a podunk little town stuck up in the Mountains. I am very proud of living in a relatively "small" town (~250,000 poeple) which was tightly integrated with the beauty of nature in the Virginia Mountains, however, I feel the South sometimes gets a bad stereotype of being un-industrialized and almost "third world."

The South has probably been giving this stereotype due to its history. Up until the Civil War the south was a pretty much purely agricultural area which relied on cotton, tobacco, and a few other crops. Following the Civil, war this areas few industrial areas had been destroyed and were slow to recover under reconstruction policy. While this was occurring, the North and the rest of the world began to view the South as uncultured, poor, and almost as uncivilized farmers.

However, since the Civil War the South has developed and is as technologically advanced and modern as any other region in the world. Especially coming down to Atlanta, anybody looking at this city would consider it one of the largest and fastest growing cities in the country. Certainly looking at the major companies based in the city it is clear that it is also a business hub! Take a look at my map link to the heartsfield international airport and the surrounding area in Atlanta. The sheer size of this airport attests to the industrialization of the south.

While I am pleased that poeple recognize the history of the South and the unique blend of natural beauty and industrialized living which are both present, I wish that the stereotype that every southerner lived in a shack or on a plantation and milked the cows at five in the morning was not so wide spread. The South really is a unique and lovely place to love.

Parker

Not everyone in the South lives on a farm and gets up at 5 to milk the cows or spends the afternoons running tractors. There is also an industrialized, white-collar side to the South.



Image from:
http://database.ytel.net/dbphotos/2005-07-31008farm1.jpg

Y'all Just a Bunch of Conservative Rednecks!

To some Northerners, Southerners are probably the most redneck bunch out there. This is probably one of the worst stereotypes I've heard about the South. Those people generally get this idea from movies that depict the South as an uneducated group of hillbillies or shirtless people who drive pickup trucks. However, this is certainly not the case. The South today is one of the most diverse regions in the continental USA. With thriving businesses and industries in populated city areas as well as suburban regions, it has contradicted that stereotype. Consider Atlanta, one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Although certain areas of the South may still remain relatively agrarian, that does not mean that farmers or country folks are necessarily rednecks. In fact, agriculture is the backbone to society and produces a majority of the foods we eat today.
Whenever I think hear the word "redneck", I typically find that offensive to whomever it is targeted towards. To me, it seems racist in a way, as most people label redneck as white people, or people of really light skin color with a burnt face. With regards to racism, the South is composed of people of all races.
What may also normally come to mind when Northerners speak of Southerners is some "bad" politics--that Southerners are stubborn in their conservative, Republican views. While most of the South is still predominantly conservative in its views, the 2000 presidential election shows a democratic Florida and Kentucky. Also, the majority of democrats are increasing in the South.



Source of picture: http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/diary/US_map_2008_election.png
Source of video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBocef6iQps

Ohhhhhhhh!

A good song that represents the South in my opinion is "Oh" by Ciara ft. Ludacris. In this song, she mentions places in the South such as Adamsville, Bankhead, College Park and Carver Holmes. The song also describes cars and the way some people ride around in the South. A stereotype she uses is "dubs on the Cadillac." This car with special rims is something that would more likely be associated with the South. Ciara also mentions the nightlife (clubs) and southern cooking in the song. Both of these are important characterisitics concerning the South, especially in Atlanta. Southern cooking as well as nightlife are two things that draw tourists to the South. Certain foods are cooked in the South in a way that just can't be replicated anywhere else. Nightlife in the South, well in the cities is also different from the North. Being from Baltimore, the party and club scene is definitely different and more lively in the South. In addition, Ciara mentions a common stereotype in the song. Women in the South are often thought to be more shapely and she incorporates this into her song by saying, "light-skinned thick chicks, fellas call 'em redbones." Numerous southern African American stereotypes are incorporated into this song, some of them actually being true. This may not be a typical song to represent the South but it definitely represents the South from another point of view. The music video is below.

--DaNae

Ramblin' Man by The Allman Brothers Band

I thought that this song did a good job talking about the "Ramblin' Man" of the South. This song portrays a different image of Southern men than those characterized in Gone With the Wind. Notice the words that are used in this song: ramblin', gamblin', bayou, Delta, etc. These words are referring to the Mississippi delta area. Some of these words should sound familiar to Georgia Tech students and alumni. I can't talk in detail about this song, so I would just listen to it. The song is by The Allman Brothers Band, a well respected band in the South.

Lord, I was born a ramblin' man

Tryin' to make a livin' and doin' the best I can

And when it's time for leavin' I hope you'll understand

That I was born a ramblin' man

Well my father was a gambler down in Georgia

And he wound up on the wrong end of a gun

And I was born in the back seat of a ... Greyhound bus

Rollin' down Highway 41

Lord, I was born a ramblin' man

Tryin' to make a livin' and doin' the best I can

And when it's time for leavin' I hope you'll understand

That I was born a ramblin' man

Aw-right!

I'm on my way to New Orleans this mornin'

Leavin' out of Nashville, Tennessee

They're always havin' a good time down on the bayou

Lord, them Delta women think the world of me

Lord, I was born a ramblin' man

Tryin' to make a livin' and doin' the best I can

And when it's time for leavin' I hope you'll understand

That I was born a ramblin' man

Lord, I was born a ramblin' man

Lord, I was born a ramblin' man

Lord, I was born a ramblin' man

Lord, I was born a ramblin' man

-Rajeev

That's Right, I'm Thinking "Georgia on my Mind"

I'm sure most people have heard of this song at least sometime in his/ her life, especially Georgians. This song, official version by Ray Charles, is so popular that it is even carried as a slogan on Georgia license plates.

And, of course, the song (lyrics) has come to represent the South through depictions of Georgia's beauty, Ray Charles himself, and as the state song of a southern state. First off, the song mentions Georgia, a southern state who had a prominent history and is probably most noted for its involvement in the Civil War and Sherman's March to the Sea. The song's lyrics mentions the finding of no peace, possibly because Georgia has its many wars that makes allows Charles to think of Georgia on his mind. Furthermore, Ray Charles himself, is a blind, African-American man who is able to view the south the same way other people may view it. The song was recorded relatively during the Civil Rights Movement, but the fact that it gained so much recognition and pride in the state of Georgia illustrates the relevance of the song. Plus, Charles essentially brought along soul music into the R&B world of the South, where jazz, the blues, and gospel were still popular.

--
Agnes Ho

I know it may be expected, but....

The theme for this weeks blog posts is to post and discuss and song that discusses one aspect of the South.



Now i certainly know that when people think of the South they probably think Lynyrd Skynyrd and "Sweet Home Alabama," but I this song certainly was written describing Southern culture and has become and icon of our heritage. Even though we've sang this song a million times driving down the back-roads with the windows down, I went ahead and posted the lyrics so you can actually read through them...

Big wheels keep on turning
Carry me home to see my kin
Singing songs about the Southland
I miss Alabamy once again
And I think its a sin, yes

Well I heard mister Young sing about her
Well, I heard ole Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A Southern man don't need him around anyhow

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you

In Birmingham they love the governor
Now we all did what we could do
Now Watergate does not bother me
Does your conscience bother you?
Tell the truth

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Here I come Alabama

Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
And they've been known to pick a song or two
Lord they get me off so much
They pick me up when I'm feeling blue
Now how about you?

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet Home Alabama
Lord, I'm coming home to you

Sweet home Alabama
Oh sweet home baby
Where the skies are so blue
And the governor's true
Sweet Home Alabama
Lordy
Lord, I'm coming home to you
Yea, yea Montgomery's got the answer

Reading through this song myself I get a little different feeling than when I listen to it. As you can see the lyrics reference many some serious historical moments that have defined the South such as Governor George Wallace's support segregation and his actions to block integration at the University of Alabama in 1963. The last line also references the city of Montgomery which is well know for the Selma to Montgomery Civil Rights Marches and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Additionally, the song references some much more local and less known things such as the recording studios and unique culture of the Muscle Shoals in Alabama. One of the main things which the band supports is simply they pride which they have to live in the South and the love which they have for their area. The lines about Neil Young are in response to some attacks he had made on the South in his own songs describing the racism of the region. "Sweet Home Alabama" seeks to brush these aside and rather shows the love Southern's have for their home and the comfort they receive from it.

Food. What tribe? Bill fold!

For this week we thought it was a good idea to talk about experiences that a tour of the South would be incomplete without. First, you haven't eaten stereotypical Southern food if the name of the dish doesn't start with "Fried." Southerners fry EVERYTHING! Fried Chicken is probably one of the dishes that most people like, no matter where they are from. However, there are some fried foods that some people might find "interesting." These include the following: fried Oreos, fried Snickers, fried Twinkies, fried onions, fried pickles (my favorite), and I'm sure there are more. These are what I like to call, "Heart Attack on a Plate!" Apart from fried foods, the South is also known for grits. Not all Southerners like grits, but most do. Shrimp and grits is one of my favorite "grits 'n' things" combo. After having all that, be sure to finish the meal with pecan pie in vanilla ice cream.

Fried Pickles

The next part of the tour is unique to Indian people; the ones from Asia. It was my first day in an American school and this little, 11-year-old, redneck boy asked me what I was. I was confused and I thought to myself, "human?" I asked him, "What do you mean?" He said, "You know. What country are you from?" "I'm Indian." "Really? That's awesome! What tribe do you belong to? Do you know that I'm one fourth Cherokee?" "No, I did not know that. I'm one hundred percent Indian." It took him a while to understand that I was talking about the country, India, and not the Native Americans. Anyway, that was just a warning to people who are from India, the country in Asia, to be really, really specific when taking about where you are from, with some Southern folk.

This is a "bill fold."

The final part of this unique tour ends with my experience with the term "bill fold." When you are ever in a situation, in the South, when someone asks for your bill fold, first of all, do not give it to them. When a Southerner is referring to a bill fold, he is referring to something that normal folk call a "wallet." That is all that I have to say about that. See y'all later!

-Rajeev

Image source: http://www.mupolice.com/cp/images/Wallet-002.gif => Wallet
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/29/45964088_48cd624e6e.jpg => Fried Pickles

Waffles Anyone?

Waffle House is extremely well known in the South and there are so many of them. Being from Baltimore, I was never able to eat at a Waffle House unless my family was down South vacationing or visiting family. Everyone needs to eat at a Waffle House at least once in their lifetime. They serve great breakfast but their menu is not limited to just that. They also serve lunch/ dinner food. A great advantage to Waffle House is that it is inexpensive making it a convenient place to eat for everyone including families and college students. In addition, Waffle House is open for 24 hours, 365 days a year. They have ensured that eating there will be effortless and hassle free considering that it is always open and you can eat for a great price. Since moving to Altanta for school, it has become a great late night spot for my friends and I when we are hungry at three in the morning. Whenever I have friends that do not live in the South or attend school down here visit Atlanta, they always end up at a Waffle House before they leave. They serve Southern classics such as biscuits and gravy and country ham. You are not as likely to find this at a diner in the North. Waffle Houses are so common yet they definitely add character to Southern cuisine. Waffles anyone?

Waffle House

"Fat Kids Unite at Waffle House!!!11"

--DaNae

image: http://e-lacrosse.com/blogs/lifeinthepros/files/2009/03/wafflehouse.jpg

video: youtube.com