Claims to fame

[Tom R]

The City of Newton Falls Ohio (just east of here) has as its apparent claim to fame that its Zip Code is all 4's - 44444- and they're proud of it. What is the "Claim to Fame" that you know of that's aaaah, ahem, "different?"

 

[PlannerGirl]

Dc area has more spies per sq mile than anywhere else on the face of the earth. From what im told the bars in Georgetown are crawling with them

shrugs

DC also has more lawyers per capita than anywhere in the world---ewwwww

 

[Jeff]

Philly is like the "Fattest City" I think.....

We got Rocky, and cheese steaks, and soft pretzels, and tastykakes....

 

[Repo Man]

The claim to fame here is that an old drive in here was the inspiration for Arnold's on Happy Days. I have also heard of other custard stands/drive-ins in the area claiming that same distinction, so who knows. Our other claim to fame is Solly's Butter Burgers.

 

[pete-rock]

Heard by virtually every Chicagoan outside the USA:

1. "Chicago? Al Capone! Rat-a-tat-tat!"

2. "Chicago? Michael Jordan! Bulls win!"

 

[Zoning Goddess]

The great "Winter Park Sinkhole" in 1981. It swallowed a city pool, homes, and parts of several businesses, including a luxury car dealership.

 

[Cardinal]

1) We are known as second only to Salem, Mass., as a haven for witchcraft.

2) John Belushi went to college here (think Animal House).

 

[pete-rock]

Muncie, IN's claim to fame for years was that it was the "most average city in America." At least that's what some sociologists dubbed it when they studied the town in the '40s, I believe.

I do know that PBS did a follow-up series called "Middletown" during the '80s when I was in high school there.

 

[JNL]

1. We are the capital city
2. I live here
3. We have more cafes per capita than any other city in NZ
4. We will host the international premiere of the next instalment of Lord of the Rings

 

[JNL]

Just learnt some more interesting stats: compared to other New Zealand cities, Wellingtonians are younger, paid more, have more tertiary qualifications, speak more languages, and have lower unemployment rates, but we're less likely to be married.

We have more internet connections per capita than Silicon Valley!

We are also the first capital city in the world to see each new business day.

 

[SkeLeton]

My city claims to be 451 years old... well the First Foundation of the city was in 1552... but due to earthquakes, invasions from mapuches and pirates and catastrofic fires (1909), it hasn't been ocupied all those 451 years.... Many times the Spanish left the area abandoned due to mapuche attacks for several decades.

Also Valdivia claims the most powerfull earthquake in the 20th century (05-22-1960, 9.5 Richter)
Also claims to be the prettiest city in Chile (Blattant lie!)

 

[kms]

Kecksburg UFO, about 15 miles from here. It happened 35 years ago, and was featured on Unsolved Mysteries. The replica of the UFO sits atop the local firehall.

http://www.westol.com/~paufo/kecks.html

 

[giff57]

Home to Maharishi University of Managment
First Carnegy Library West of the Mississippi
First Golf course West of the Mississippi
First Iowa State Fair

 

[donk]

Here are some from NB

St. John - Oldest incorporated city in Canada
St. George - best drinking water in canada
Moncton - only officially bilingual city in Canada
Miramichi - Gateway to fishing, birth place of Max Aiken(Lord Beaverbrook) birthplace of David Adams Rchards (novelist)
Nackawic - world's largest axe
Sussex - dairy capital of the maritimes
Florenceville - home of McCains
Buctouche - birthplace of KC Irving
Gagetown - birthplace of Leonard Tilley - father of confederation

 

[Seabishop]

Providence is known for Waterfire an exhibit where fires are lit along the rivers and ambient traditional music plays from outdoor speakers - its better than it sounds.

Its also known as a politically corrupt, mob run city whose former mayor is serving a 6 year sentence.

Glocester, RI has some story about an elephant that got loose in town and had to be killed on a certain bridge - there's a marker there to commemorate it.

Pawtucket, RI is the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution.

The state of RI has this stupid obssession with Mr. Potato Head because Hasbro is based here. 10 foot tall Mr. Potato Heads dressed in different styles were placed at different tourist locations for a few months. As reported on the SNL news, the state even considered putting Mr. Potato Head on the licence plates.

Fall River, MA is quite proud of Lizzie Borden chopping up her parents with an axe - there's even a Lizzie Borden museum.

Brockton, MA is the "City of Champions" because Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler both came from there (yes, its a tough place)

 

[Seabishop]

I always have to post pictures twice.

 

[Chet]

The claim to fame here is that an old drive in here was the inspiration for Arnold's on Happy Days. I have also heard of other custard stands/drive-ins in the area claiming that same distinction, so who knows. Our other claim to fame is Solly's Butter Burgers.

Milwaukee is also reported to have more gay bars per capita than San Francisco

 

[NHPlanner]

The Concord Coach, one of the better stagecoaches in the early days, were made in my hometown. http://www.over-land.com/ccoach.html

My aunt used to have one in the barn at her house (she rented a place from a historical society.

 

[Cardinal]

The Whitewater Wagon was the "standard of quality" for the US Army at the end of the 19th century

Stephen Ambrose was our most famous son.

Captain Abraham Lincoln had his horse stolen just outside of the city on his return from the Blackhawk War.

This city and several nearby are covered with remains of the Underground Railroad, including hidden chambers, tunnels, etc.


Adjacent communities:

Radar from MASH was from Delavan.

Milton has the first concrete house in America, the Milton Inn, from the early 1800's.

Fort Atkinson is known for Hoard's Dairyman.

Evidence of alien life and their visit to Earth is said to be hidden under a nearby man-made lake.

 

[SW MI Planner]

Ready for this?

The fat lady from the circus was born and raised here.

Harriet Quimby, the first female aviator (or something) was born here.

Here's the kicker. Branch County's slogan "The pulse of MI". OK, now hold your left hand up in front of you. There's MI (we all do that here in case you ever visit). The pulse of MI would be around Toledo OH. I'm not sure what brainiac made that up?

 

[Tranplanner]

Toronto is:

Canada's largest City (2.5 million City, 5+ million Metro area)

The most multicultural city in the world

Home of the Hockey Hall of Fame

The most world-class, non-world class city in the world...

I'm sure there's all sorts of other quirky facts...but I can't think of any of the top of my head.

 

[donk]

Strange but true:
Toronto banned tobogganing on sundays until the mid 1960's.

 

[pete-rock]

OK, now hold your left hand up in front of you. There's MI (we all do that here in case you ever visit).

Sort of off-topic:

I've heard one way to tell if someone is from east or west Michigan is the way they show where they live on their hand. Folks from west Michigan hold out their left hand palm down; people from east Michigan hold out their right hand palm up.

 

[Seabishop]

More claims to fame…

Woonsocket RI was - and may still be - the most French Canadian city in the US. They have a Mardi Gras celebration (much more family oriented) and are really into hockey.

New Bedford, MA may be the most Portuguese city in the US (I’m not doing the research). New Bedford and New London, CT both call themselves “the Whaling City” and they’re only about 60 miles apart.

Providence is now the biggest ever US city with an openly gay mayor. (Who keeps track of Mayors’ sexual preferences?)

Wolfsboro, NH was the first resort town in America.

True to its name, Gloversville, NY was the glove-making capital of the world.

Bridgeport, CT was the home of PT Barnum - and you bet they have a museum to show for it!

 

[Chet]

Mercer Wisconsin is the Loon Capital of the world.

 

[biscuit]

My new home city has several claims-to-fame. The ones I know right off-hand are:
It's the largest inland port in the US
Lewis and Clark began their journey west here.
The first World Series game was played here (I think)
The ketchup capital of the world.
And in my opinion can lay claim to having one of the most confusing large public transit fare and schedule systems I have ever used.

 

[pete-rock]

Detroit has the world's largest tire -- the Uniroyal tire on I-94 just east of Metro Airport.

 

[donk]

For the geographically challenged, ad there were a few when I was at school in windsor, detroit is actually north of windsor.

 

[kms]

And more, Biscuit:

First pro football - Latrobe
Mister Rogers - Latrobe
First commercial radio station and broadcast - KDKA
First public television station - WQED, I think
Have you crossed the Westinghouse Bridge? It's the first of its kind, too.

 

[Tom R]

claims

And more, Biscuit:

First pro football - Latrobe
Mister Rogers - Latrobe
First commercial radio station and broadcast - KDKA
First public television station - WQED, I think
Have you crossed the Westinghouse Bridge? It's the first of its kind, too.

First Jeep (prototype) Butler Pa.
First pro football usually goes to the Canton Bulldogs.

 

[biscuit]

I'm learning more about this place by the hour. I'm trying my best to learn the facts and fit in with the natives, which means I should cross the Westinghouse Bridge sometime soon. Isn't there something about the 6th, 7th and 9th street bridges being the only three identical side-by-side bridges in the country.
Now if only someone could tell me which bus I should take to get me to work on time in the morning.

 

[pete-rock]

Chicago has more drawbridges than any city in the world.

 

[Zoning Goddess]

Easy. We have the best winter weather (80-plus today!).

 

[kms]

Biscuit, if you get to the Westinghouse Bridge, try VIncent's Pizza, which is on the west (Pittsburgh) side of the bridge. It's locally famous. It's messy and it's greasy, and so is VIncent. You like it or you don't. I don't, but my husband loves it. I read a review of the place that recommends you bring your own plates and silverware! It's been there for decades. Oh, it can be a little pricy.

 

[Dan]

My hometown ... starting this week is MTV's The Real World - Buffalo! Well, kind of.

http://www.mtv.com/onair/sorority_life/season2/
http://www.mtv.com/onair/fraternity_life/season1/

Look out for Talia; she's got one of the thickest Buffalo accents I've ever heard.

Oh yeah ... a bunch of presidents, inventions, and roots of important social organizations.

 

[Tom R]

pizza

Biscuit, if you get to the Westinghouse Bridge, try VIncent's Pizza, which is on the west (Pittsburgh) side of the bridge. It's locally famous. It's messy and it's greasy, and so is VIncent. You like it or you don't. I don't, but my husband loves it. I read a review of the place that recommends you bring your own plates and silverware! It's been there for decades. Oh, it can be a little pricy.

There was a pizza place in my home town, New Kensington, called Elviras where they used to count you change in Italian. mmmmmmmmm good pizza, square, Sicialian style.

The parking lot was allways full but there would be only 4 people inside. We figured everyone was in the basement gambling.

 

[biscuit]

Biscuit, if you get to the Westinghouse Bridge, try VIncent's Pizza, which is on the west (Pittsburgh) side of the bridge. It's locally famous. It's messy and it's greasy, and so is VIncent. You like it or you don't. I don't, but my husband loves it. I read a review of the place that recommends you bring your own plates and silverware! It's been there for decades. Oh, it can be a little pricy.

MMMMMMM...Really greasy, kind of dirty and a bit over priced. I don't know if that sounds like a great pizza joint or a bad prom date.
Thanks for the info. I'll try Vincent's in the next week or so.

 

[kms]

Wait until you see the "decor". If you see a big, flour covered, cigarette-smoking man, he's supposed to be Vincent. Let us know what you think.

 

[ajacks13]

Heard by virtually every Chicagoan outside the USA:

1. "Chicago? Al Capone! Rat-a-tat-tat!"

2. "Chicago? Michael Jordan! Bulls win!"

Don't forget the references to the housing projects - notably Robert Taylor (now mostly a memory) and Cabrini Green - the location of both 'Good Times' and 'Candyman'.

sad but true

And we can't forget...THE WIND! (or Hawk -whichever you prefer)