18 votes

Who/what are the local treasures in your city/region?

Posted by Power0utage
Tags: ask.survey, personal, casual, local

I'm curious to hear about the people or things in your city or region that add their own unique charm or character -- perhaps they're unknown or barely known to the rest of the world but are important culturally to your area.

I'll throw out a few of my picks for Dallas, Texas:

  • The Ticket is a local sports radio station that's been around since 1995, which is an eternity when it comes to AM/FM radio. On the surface, this doesn't sound that interesting, but the station goes way deeper than just sports. Most of the listeners are loyal and almost cult-like in their dedication. People say that when they listen, it's as if they're just hearing some of their friends talk on the radio. I'd go as far as to say it has introduced some vernacular into the Dallas area lexicon that you don't typically find in other places (i.e. you can have a conversation with someone and they'll say a phrase in a way that instantly tips you off that they're a listener).
  • Robert Wilonsky is a local writer/historian/everything Dallas guy. Not only is he passionate about Dallas, but he has a knack for writing and can turn a very boring civil matter into an exciting read.

1 comment

  1. hamstergeddon
    (edited )
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    Earthoid Water Tank - The community college in the town I grew up in has a massive spherical water tank painted to look like the earth. You can see it off in the distance from all around the area...
    • Earthoid Water Tank - The community college in the town I grew up in has a massive spherical water tank painted to look like the earth. You can see it off in the distance from all around the area (or you used to be able to, the area has changed a lot)
    • Cider Barrel - There was this roadside stand that sold apple cider in the fall and the building was shaped like a cider barrel, painted with red/white/blue. When I was a kid there was just woodland behind it, but in the decades since the area has exploded in population so now it sits awkwardly between a big 6 lane road and an apartment complex. The business itself has been closed for 20 years now. There have been some attempts to reopen, not sure if they were successful though.
    • DC101/Elliot In The Morning - If you've ever lived in or around the DC/Baltimore area you know this show. It was like our own local Howard Stern show. Elliot often got fined by the FCC, there were insane antics by the other personalities on the show, weird games, pranks, etc. Kind of lost its appeal as I grew older, but in highschool that was the show everyone listened to on their drive into school. He was also genuinely really good at interviewing people. It was just really overshadowed by his antics. They've lost a few people on the show here and there, but remarkably the core trio of Elliot, Diane, and Tyler has stayed intact for like 15 years or so now. Kind of impressive.
    • Lou Scally - He was the local NBC affiliate's weatherman for like 40 years. A very mild local celebrity if there ever was one. He was just this big old goofy guy how told bad jokes and the weather. Often got called "Lie'n Lou" when his forecast didn't pan out. Not much more to him than that. He was just a staple of local television for a very long time. He retired a few years ago and the city named a road after him. "Lou Scally Alley".
    • Washington Monument - Not the one in the DC. This one was actually the first completed monument to George Washington in country, having been completed in 1827. It sits atop a mountain so you can see this all around town. There's a nice little hiking trail up to it and you used to be able to go inside and climb the stairs to the top, but not sure if that's still allowed. The view up there is gorgeous.
    7 votes