Things truly Wisconsin, or originally Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Madison: hotel, house, buy)

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by Trabbz

I also think that certain Wisconsinites love to drive the highway at night with their high beams on even while passing oncomming traffic.

Good call here, so, so annoying!!

[Drover]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

23) Fleet Farm and Farm & Fleet

LOL It took me a while to figure out that these were different things. Farm & Fleet is actually more common in Illinois than Wisconsin, but I suppose Wisconsin gets to claim it since it's headquartered in Janesville. However, based on the same criterion Minnesota gets to claim Fleet Farm.

Along the same lines I can't believe nobody has mentioned... WOODMAN'S! I am not joking when I say Woodman's is the best grocery store ever. Nobody has anywhere near the selection of brands, and they are very competitively priced with the grocery side of major discount chains like Meijer and Super Wal-Mart. In fact, I swear Woodman's is even cheaper. Even the Illinois locations maintain the Wisconsin theme, prominently featuring small-brand Wisconsin meats, cheeses and and Bucky Badger brand stuff and items from Wisconsin mom-and-pop producers like cider, dried cranberries, dried cherries, salsas, et cetera. So when I need a slice of Wisconsin, I can hit the closest Woodman's, though depending on traffic conditions, it might be quicker for me to get to the Kenosha one than the one in Carpentersville anyway...

[Averie-Jay]

Originally Posted by Drover

LOL It took me a while to figure out that these were different things. Farm & Fleet is actually more common in Illinois than Wisconsin, but I suppose Wisconsin gets to claim it since it's headquartered in Janesville. However, based on the same criterion Minnesota gets to claim Fleet Farm.

Along the same lines I can't believe nobody has mentioned... WOODMAN'S! I am not joking when I say Woodman's is the best grocery store ever. Nobody has anywhere near the selection of brands, and they are very competitively priced with the grocery side of major discount chains like Meijer and Super Wal-Mart. In fact, I swear Woodman's is even cheaper. Even the Illinois locations maintain the Wisconsin theme, prominently featuring small-brand Wisconsin meats, cheeses and and Bucky Badger brand stuff and items from Wisconsin mom-and-pop producers like cider, dried cranberries, dried cherries, salsas, et cetera. So when I need a slice of Wisconsin, I can hit the closest Woodman's, though depending on traffic conditions, it might be quicker for me to get to the Kenosha one than the one in Carpentersville anyway...

How could I have forgotten Woodman's?!?

Truly the best grocery shopping experience. I used to spend 3+ hrs grocery shopping there, it became our Friday night tradition - more fun than going to the movies!

Speaking of groceries, I just remembered "Nature's Oven" bread. I used to buy half a dozen "Happiness" loaves per week. Yum!

[Averie-Jay]

Originally Posted by Drover

LOL It took me a while to figure out that these were different things. Farm & Fleet is actually more common in Illinois than Wisconsin, but I suppose Wisconsin gets to claim it since it's headquartered in Janesville. However, based on the same criterion Minnesota gets to claim Fleet Farm.

Along the same lines I can't believe nobody has mentioned... WOODMAN'S! I am not joking when I say Woodman's is the best grocery store ever. Nobody has anywhere near the selection of brands, and they are very competitively priced with the grocery side of major discount chains like Meijer and Super Wal-Mart. In fact, I swear Woodman's is even cheaper. Even the Illinois locations maintain the Wisconsin theme, prominently featuring small-brand Wisconsin meats, cheeses and and Bucky Badger brand stuff and items from Wisconsin mom-and-pop producers like cider, dried cranberries, dried cherries, salsas, et cetera. So when I need a slice of Wisconsin, I can hit the closest Woodman's, though depending on traffic conditions, it might be quicker for me to get to the Kenosha one than the one in Carpentersville anyway...

How could I have forgotten Woodman's?!?

Truly the best grocery shopping experience. I used to spend 3+ hrs grocery shopping there, it became our Friday night tradition - more fun than going to the movies!

Speaking of groceries, I just remembered "Nature's Oven" bread. I used to buy half a dozen "Happiness" loaves per week. Yum!

[Trabbz]

I have never heard of Woodman's. I heard that the Farm and Fleet and Fleet Farm thing was a family brawl gone bad. I hear 2 brothers used to own it together. They didn't get along so they separated as business partners and now one owns Fleet Farm and the other Farm and Fleet. Crazy huh? I wonder which one does better.

[EnjoyEP]

Originally Posted by Trabbz

I heard that the Farm and Fleet and Fleet Farm thing was a family brawl gone bad. I hear 2 brothers used to own it together. They didn't get along so they separated as business partners and now one owns Fleet Farm and the other Farm and Fleet. Crazy huh? I wonder which one does better.

Believe it or not, but that is an urban WI legend...a myth. Both companies dispel that story every chance they get, even though that story gets tossed around alot here (I always heard it too). Even crazier is that both stores look similar, carry similar products, and both were founded in 1955.

Look at the question (and answer) about halfway down on this page that addresses this and dispels the story:

Postbulletin.com: Rochester, MN

It is an amazing coincidence though.

[Trabbz]

Originally Posted by EnjoyEP

Believe it or not, but that is an urban WI legend...a myth. Both companies dispel that story every chance they get, even though that story gets tossed around alot here (I always heard it too). Even crazier is that both stores look similar, carry similar products, and both were founded in 1955.

Look at the question (and answer) about halfway down on this page that addresses this and dispels the story:

Postbulletin.com: Rochester, MN

It is an amazing coincidence though.

Wow. I never knew! Here is another thing almost truly Wisconsin, but not entirely. Hmongs! Most people are unaware of this but if you are not from Wisconsin, Minnesota, or California, chances are you do not know who hmongs are as the vast majority of the population lives in these states. I get asked by black friends in Florida if there are black people in Wisconsin. I say not really (I grew up in Eau Claire) but there are Hmongs. Every single time I get a weird look and a "what the hell is that"?

[MidwesternBookWorm]

Adding to my Truly Wisconsin list:

"Bubbler" as a term for what I grew up (in Michigan) calling a drinking fountain.

Walking up the hill to watch a superb cast perform Shakespeare in a bowl-shaped natural outdoor amphitheater at American Players' Theatre.

Door County cherries.

Old Grand Dad Bluff in La Crosse.

"The World's Largest Six-Pack" at the old brewery in La Crosse.

Wollersheim Winery's Prairie Fume.

[Wi_Girl]

Oh I am totally homesick now!!! I just love this post, so I would love to add mine. I've been living in VA for 7 years but cant WAIT to get back to WI in a few years!

1) KOHLS....my favorite store in the whole world and they are finally expanding big time in VA! The closest one used to be over an hour away and we'd drive there like once a month, now I have one right down the road from me!

2) Shopko. Oh how I miss Shopko! I even emailed them to ask when they would start letting us homesick people purchase things online. Doesnt look like anytime soon.

3) Cops Grocery Store. I've always loved going to Cops with my mom, but I have to agree with the others, Woodmans IS the best!

4) Aldi's. This store was even mentioned on Clark Howard (talk radio) as one of the best places to shop and the best deal for your money!

5) The Packers. I miss going to Lambeau Field all the time...but I'm on the season ticket waiting list! Hope to have them before I die...if I'm lucky.

6) Fireman's Picnics. We used to go all the time, good ol parades, street dances, cheesefest, etc. I always loved summertime in Wi!

7) Walleye, Perch, Bluegills. I love fresh water fish! Salt water fish dont hold a candle to the fresh water fish in WI...love the fish fry and brat frys!

8) I'm probably going to spell this wrong but Serroogies in De Pere. They have the best melt in your mouth chocolate bars! We used to sell them to raise money for band trips!

9) Stop and Go Lights. GOOD CALL! I used to call them that all the time! As well as use the term "Bubbler" and people here still think I'm nuts.

10) Truck Stops Places/Supper Clubs - some of the BEST food I've ever had!

11) Door County Cherry Trees. Love to go up there in Summer.

12) Bay Beach in Green Bay. Such a cool place to go as a family! Also the Farm in Door County.

[MidwesternBookWorm]

Oooh, WI_Girl, thanks for the reminder about CHOCOLATE. There are some simply fabulous chocolatiers in Wisconsin, and since of course I'm always ready to do what I must for the sake of my health (dark chocolate is good for the heart, you know), I force myself to partake as often as possible. Gotta support the local economy, you know...

Gail Ambrosius (her real name!) makes some of the BEST dark chocolate truffles I've ever had, with fillings like green tea, roses, curry, and saffron, along with the more typical things like vanilla, bourbon, raspberry and such.

Candinas Chocolates are simply heavenly, and regularly get written up in Consumers' Report list of the best chocolates in the country.

And there is a little place in Oshkosh, in someone's home, actually their basement, and I canNOT remember the name for the life of me, but they make simply wonderful, basic, unpretentious chocolates, too. They only make them in the cooler months, as I recall, because summer temps are too hot for good results. Anyone here remember the name of the place? When my sis and bro-in-law lived in the Fox River Valley, they always had a box of that chocolate around for dessert, and it was a real treat.