Pride in The Toledo Mud Hens borders on rabid. Sure, they start their fans young, but don’t anyone forget that they’re one of minor league baseball's oldest teams, having first played in 1896. The Triple-A Affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, the Hens have won three championship in the 2000s and they owe a lot of that success to the fans. Their home field, Fifth Third Field, seats over 10,00 spectators and has been listed as one of the best places in the nation to watch a game.
The Toledo War is long over, but a battle still rages every fall in the battlefield of the minds and hearts of all Toledoans. While Ohio “won” the city and the right to incorporate it, many people still root for a secession into that state up North by cheering for the University of Michigan especially when the team take on arch rival The Ohio State University. Big Blue fans in Toledo are quick to point out two things. The first being that Toledo is considerably closer to Ann Arbor than it is to Columbus. Secondly, and arguably more importantly, Ohio State fans are insufferable.
Part of that Midwestern glow rubs off on the culinary scene in Toledo. On any given night you’ll find people packed into the Red Lobsters and Bravos. But it’s not for lack of other options, it’s because Toledoans value the consistency and reliability of restaurants that have proven themselves on the national level. That is not to say excellent restaurants don’t exist in Toledo—they do—but what Toledoans really want is the same food they’ve enjoyed for years, and know they can get it for years to come. And seriously, where else can you get Lobsterfest in the Midwest?
Part of why Toledo goes unmentioned in casual conversation is because its people blend in with their bland, mid-Western backdrop so seamlessly. Life in Toledo is simple: its people are easy going blue collar folk and ranch is a food group not a place to keep your cattle. It’s hard to get more mid-Western than a Toledoan in tennis-shoes drinking a pop and greeting a stranger on the street and then being completely taken aback when asked about their accent. It wouldn’t be a stretch to have a ‘Portlandia’ spinoff featuring Toledo as the a-typical mecca of all things white-bread.
For three year stints, Toledo lives in virtual anonymity flying under the national radar and minding their own business. But, every fourth year the city is overrun with political vultures seeking to feed on the veritable smorgasbord of undecided voters and possibly pose for the ultimate photo op to show the rest of the country just how in-touch a candidate is with the Midwestern ideals. And Toledoans want it to stop. The sooner the better.
Toledo suffers from the classic Midwest conundrum—low crime rate and lower cost of living that makes it appealing for families, but a culture that isn’t attractive to the young and unattached. People love the small town vibe and security but hate that the lights are so bright in the bigger metropolises. This is why Toledoans will in one breath say their town is "a great place to raise a family," then “I want to get out as soon as possible.”
Toledo is the fourth largest city in Ohio, but it’s rarely ever talked about behind the big three. Throw in Dayton, Akron, Athens and it makes Toledoans kind of ticked that they don’t get accolades for their contribution to the state’s culture and economy—come to think of it, maybe they do belong in Michigan.
The sight of orange barrels is nothing new to Toledo commuters. Portions of I-280 and I-75 (the two of the main freeways in the area) have been in some form of disrepair/ construction for the better part of the last twenty years. There are quite a few people learning to drive who have never seen these roadways completely free from construction. That being said, driving around Toledo is like playing minesweeper. The streets are literally covered in potholes to the point where cars slalom like skiers to avoid them. It was recently announced that millions of dollars would be spent pave and resurface Toledo’s streets but you know what that means … more orange barrels.
Katie Holmes is from Toledo, and everyone was super happy for her success. But then all the media cared about was the actress’s relationship. The gossips wouldn’t quit and Toledo got over it very quickly. Now, they just wish they could go all Tom Cruise and break it off with the Ms. Holmes.
Toledo is basically like one giant book club. Their library system is so superb it’s a wonder anyone gets any work done, what with all the reading going on. The main library dates back to 1838, and was the first public library funded by tax dollars in the state of Ohio. The system now claims a Main Library with 18 neighborhood branch locations and one of the oldest bookmobile services in the country. In a day and age when the paperback is falling by the way-side of the e-reader and the notebook, Toledoans still jump at the chance to get their hands on a good read.
