Ride Home Rants
Ride Home Rants
Exploring the Fascinating Flavors and Hidden Gems of Youngstown
Is Dr. Pepper the ultimate soft drink, or is it just overrated hype? Join us on the Ride Home Rants podcast as we kick off a spirited debate with our fantastic guests Andrea, Bill, Collin, Matt, and Chris. Each one brings their own flavor to the table, offering unique perspectives on the fizzy icon. This episode promises plenty of laughs and maybe even a few surprising revelations about your favorite—or least favorite—soda.
Education shapes us in more ways than we realize. Our guests take us through their academic journeys at Ohio University, Youngstown State University, Kent State, and Bethany College in West Virginia. We talk degrees, careers, and why they chose their respective institutions. But that’s not all—Chris leads a discussion on the ever-evolving downtown Youngstown, shedding light on its vibrant charm and cultural diversity. From personal stories to vivid observations, we explore how this once-overlooked city is now a burgeoning hub of activity and interest.
Youngstown holds a treasure trove of hidden gems, and our guests are here to share some of the best-kept secrets. From Matt's nostalgic tales of local legends to Andrea and Marsco's favorite spots like Junie's Cafe and the Youngstown Flea Market, we've got the lowdown on what makes this city tick. We'll also dive into the lively Italian festivals, YSU tailgating traditions, and the bustling concert scene that brings the community together. Whether you’re a local or just curious about this underrated city, this episode is packed with engaging stories and insi
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Welcome everybody to another episode of the Ride Home Rants podcast. This is, as always, your host, mike Fano. I got a great episode for us today. But first and foremost, a couple new sponsors we have to get in here. We've been talking about them a lot and that is Buddy's Beard Care. Buddy's Beard Care provides premium men's grooming products at an affordable price. Products are made in Ohio and Buddy's Beard Care supports local. The majority of their suppliers are from other Ohio-based companies. You can find them on social media at Buddy's Beard Care or online at buddiesbeardcarecom. Use the promo code BONO and you will save 15%. I've been using these products for damn near six months now. They are probably the best beard care products out there.
Speaker 1:My beard has never felt healthier, it has never been growing faster and, according to my wife, it has never felt softer. Next on the list we have Sweet Hand Sports from former guest of the show, matt Lando Landowski. You can elevate your game with Sweet Hand Sports. Our sports gloves are designed for champions, providing ultimate grip and durability. Achieve greatness with every match. Choose Sweet Hand Sports for the winning edge and grip your victory. At SweetHandSportscom, use the promo code Bono10 and he's going to save you 10%. He's not just having batting gloves anymore. He just started golf gloves. He sent me a complimentary pair of golf gloves. Unfortunately, with my golf game, I don't think anything is going to help out my golf game, but it has been. It was the most comfortable glove that I've worn, completely durable. I think this is a new glove for me.
Speaker 1:And, last but not least, we did just land a brand new sponsor in Deemed Fit, first responder owned and operated company. It helps out first responders that were working throughout the pandemic and the COVID-19 pandemic. All of the proceeds go to help out with first responders and veterans mental and physical health. This is a great, great cause and I am completely behind it. I am wearing one of their hats now for everyone watching on Patreon and on YouTube. You can find them at deemedfitco. Use the promo code Mike Bono and you will save 20%.
Speaker 1:I feel like these promo reads are getting longer and longer as we go on through the show. I'm fully on board with it, but I have a great episode for us today. We have done an all things cleveland and all things pittsburgh and now we gotta show youngstown some love here. So we're gonna do all things youngstown episode. I have a ragtag group of guests, all from the youngstown area. I'm gonna let them introduce themselves. A lot of former guests. They're going to tell you their name, what they do for work, and y'all are going to answer a question here at the end, and that is is Dr Pepper overrated or underrated? And Andrea, we're going to start with you.
Speaker 2:All right, my name is Andrea Preparato. I am a social worker for hospice and I'm going to say that Dr Pepper is overrated because I'm just going to go with the classic. There's other dark cops out there Coke, Pepsi, I'm going with those.
Speaker 1:All right, and he's seeming to become a staple of these roundtables. He was on last week for our NFL preview show. We're going to bring him back in, bill Stoy.
Speaker 3:What's going on everybody? Yeah, bill Stoy is the name For work. I do pharmaceutical sales and then Dr Pepper we're going to say underrated. Andrea said it Coke or Pepsi, it seems to always be the two that are brought up, never really Coke, pepsi or Dr Pepper. So I think it's one of the. The should be in that category at least. So we'll say it's underrated all right.
Speaker 1:Next on the list, we got colin hey y'all.
Speaker 4:My name is colin. I am a project engineer for a heavy highway contractor in western pennsylvania and I'm gonna say that dr pepper is overrated, because you never hear anybody ask for a dr pepper and rum at the bar that's.
Speaker 1:That's a solid. It's a solid point. Uh, for that one. Uh.
Speaker 5:Next on the list we got matt um matt altimore, uh teacher and coach in latonia uh school district in beautiful columbiana, county ohio. I'm gonna go with uh underrated. I have a dr pepper every morning and I have one every night. Uh, don't drink coffee. That's what I drink, uh, and I do order it anytime I go out, but I'm not a mixed drink guy, but anytime I do go out I have my. Oh, let's see, there, there we go, there we go.
Speaker 1:So that's true, we got one right now, right now I I didn't even realize for the listeners out there listening on apple, google or spotify. I didn't know matt had a Dr Pepper before we asked this question. But last but not least, rounding out our roundtable, we got Chris.
Speaker 6:I'm Christopher Barsko. I am a special education teacher at Lordstown High School in Southern Trumbull County and I tell you what. You asked me this question two, three years ago. I'm probably saying overrated, but come to my senses, I'm kind of here with Matt. I think Dr Pepper is underrated and packs that fire with the college football commercials. So they got my attention right now first and foremost. So I'm picking Dr Pepper right now.
Speaker 1:All right, I'll answer this question too, and I will say it is underrated too as well. My wife, like bris and matt here, she's obsessed with dr pepper. It's like the only dark pop she drinks when she drinks pop. So it's yeah, it's. It's always in the bono fridge for sure. Uh, definitely always have a Dr Pepper on hand. But we're not here to talk about that, we're here to talk about Youngstown here. And, chris, since we just started with you, we're going to have you start things off here. And you know, did you go to college at Youngstown State or did you go elsewhere? And if you didn't go to YSU, what made you pick to go elsewhere?
Speaker 6:So I started off my college career at Ohio University in Athens. At that point in time it was kind of still a hidden secret, I think. The enrollment numbers they keep breaking the record year after year, but it wasn't the popular choice when I went. It's kind of a hidden gem I found went there year after year, but it wasn't the popular choice when I went. It's kind of a hidden gem I found. Went there for a year, lived it up, got good grades. It was time to come home and then got real fortunate. Came back to Youngstown State in 2015 and was able to be on Coach Pelini's first three staffs there at Youngstown State and, yeah, got my special ed degree from there and I'm actually enrolled at YSU right now getting a CCP communications degree. So got my degree from there, have some hardware from there and forever feel tied to Youngstown.
Speaker 1:Absolutely Collin. What about you? What about you? What about you?
Speaker 4:Yeah, I went to YSU class of 2020, the good old COVID graduating class, so that was a benefit. But you know we overcame those challenges. And yeah, I went to school for civil engineering at YSU.
Speaker 1:So here we are All right, Stoy. Anybody who listened last week will know where you went, but tell the new listeners out there. Did you go to YSU or not? Did?
Speaker 3:not go to YSU. It was a border-raised Youngstown area but went right down the road to Kent State go Flashes. Yeah, I consider YSU really heavily, but just wanted to get a little bit further away from home so went to Kent.
Speaker 1:No problem at all with that, Andrea. What about?
Speaker 2:you. I went to Bethany in West Virginia for my undergrad. Don't regret the experience. Immediately regretted that gas and the hospital were 20 to 45 minutes away. I was in the middle of nowhere. So glad to come back to Youngstown. I did get my master's there, so definitely enjoyed being back home.
Speaker 1:Us Bethanians. No one ever thinks of that. How far everything is away from bethany, because it literally is in the middle of nowhere. Uh, for sure, I can attest to that as a. Uh, bethany alone, with andrea there.
Speaker 2:It literally we did have the general store where if they didn't have it, you didn't need it. I mean, one section had like toilet seats, fishing poles, a wrench, a saw, and then you could get, like an egg sandwich the next aisle over. So it worked out Absolutely.
Speaker 1:I miss that general store sometimes. Literally it was a smaller Walmart for everybody out there. If you couldn't find it there, you don't need it, but Matt round us out here it there.
Speaker 5:You don't need it, uh, but matt round us out here. Um, yes, I'm, uh. I graduated undergrad and my master's at youngstown state. I actually didn't spend much time there as an undergrad. Uh, I attended college and, uh, at malone college in canton, ohio. I thought I was in a big city then and then, uh, when I got done playing football sort of like Chris I had the opportunity to join Coach Trussell's staff. I believe I'm a bit older than probably your demographic and most of the other guests here, but got a chance to join Coach Trussell's staff for a couple years and finished my undergrad and got my master's there and kind of been around the area all my life.
Speaker 1:I got to tell you, matt, with the demographic, you'd be surprised with the show. I'll tell you that much. We have a wide range here at the Ride Home Rants and we don't discriminate against anybody here, for sure. Next, chris, let's go back to you. Is downtown Youngstown overrated or underrated, and why? Next, chris, let's go back to you. Is downtown Youngstown overrated or underrated, and why?
Speaker 6:I think it's unfortunate what's going on right now, with certain parts of it being kind of I don't know off limits or you know they're doing maintenance to it, but I really think it's underrated. Even you know, when I was there about 10 years ago on campus, even to where it's at now, it keeps coming on stronger and stronger. There's more to do. It's attracting a really large demographic. You know it features a lot of the things that we're known for around here in Love, I mean.
Speaker 6:You've you got diverse authentic food. Um, you got a lot of entertainment, depending on if you want to go to a concert or performing arts. Um, it's got a little bit everything for everybody. So I think it's becoming increasingly underrated. Honestly, starting to shake the rap, I kind of feel bad. I feel like sometimes youngstown gets a bad rap because if you're not from here, you still think steel mills and rust belt. But it's, uh, I feel like sometimes Youngstown gets a bad rap because if you're not from here, you still think Steel Mills and Rust Belt, but I feel like it's starting to be a pretty robust downtown.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I grew up in a Steel Mill town in West Virginia. You can't beat these little towns. I mean, youngstown is a lot bigger than my town. I'll tell you that my town has a grand total of 1,500 people in it, so you can't beat it. But yeah, I perform a lot in Youngstown. I've done a lot of shows comedy shows in Youngstown. I love going to Youngstown. I love it. I've done a lot in your neck of the woods, matt, in Latonia. For sure, out there, we'll go to you next since I brought you up. Is it overrated or underrated?
Speaker 5:I think right now it's underrated a lot of. Like what chris said there's a lot of things to do. Um, I think we're coming in the cycle of, you know, people want to do a lot of different things all at once and you can get that in a downtown. Uh, you know, I went through a period not to show my age there where uh, youngstown, uh, downtown, really didn't change at all for about 15, 20 years. There it was the same thing same bars, same boarded up buildings, and you know it is kind of neat. We try, my wife and I try and get there every few months. You know there's always something different, always something new, always something, you know, eclectic to try. So I think it's underrated right now.
Speaker 1:Okay, andrea, what about you?
Speaker 2:I'm definitely going to have to go with underrated as well. I think that, like there's oftentimes where I talk about places that are down there that people have no idea that are there, like In Vibe, that's a martini bar. They have 110 different flavors of martinis. It's a nice, elegant place. I mean, I think that they've been trying to do a lot to make it a better area. They're trying to save Youngstown and for that I think it's underrated A lot of people just don't want to go down there because of the rap that it has.
Speaker 2:Despite the construction right now, I think it would continue going up if it wasn't for that the explosion. You know all the unfortunate things that have been happening.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I know, speaking of the bars there, I mean one of my wife and I's favorite show, bar Rescue. We love that show. Youngstown's been on there a good bit. I think some of those are still open, if I'm not mistaken, and, like you, can't go wrong with that. You know who doesn't like to get a get a good drink after a long day of work. You know what I mean, stoy, what about you? Overrated or underrated?
Speaker 3:Got to go underrated for sure. I mean it seems to be having a resurgence, without a doubt. You got the amphitheater down there. Cavelli obviously go catch a football game at YSU, just kind of mention a few other things. I think a children's museum or kind of children's thing is going on down there as well, so a lot of things to go do. Obviously you've got the restaurants, bars and stuff, but a lot of venues bringing in artists, comedians, stuff like that. So definitely underrated, a lot more going on down there than people think.
Speaker 1:Colin round us out here.
Speaker 4:Yeah, I'm going to have to agree with the rest of the panel here. I think it's very underrated. I think five, six years ago there was no better place to go on the weekend if you're looking for entertainment or drinks or anything like that. I just think, with the pandemic and then the construction and everything that's happened here recently, I think they're really struggling and everybody down there is doing their best. But yeah, I'd have to say it's severely underrated and I'm hoping they can bounce back.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm definitely going to answer this one. Like I said, I've done a lot of shows in Youngstown. It's actually was considered my first quote unquote in the comedy world away game that I did outside of my hometown and in Youngstown and I absolutely crush it there. I love going to Youngstown, performed at a bunch of places, matt, you may know this one Little Hole in the Wall or the Tipsy Cow it is by far one of my favorite places to perform. Anytime I see that a booker promoter is saying hey, we got at the show at the tips camp, like please book me for that show. I love going there. The staff is amazing, the food is amazing and the drinks are always on point. So yeah, like you said, a lot of hidden gems in Youngstown and around the city and not to be forgotten there. They still have the comedy club there in Youngstown, the funny stop. So definitely, like you guys said, entertainment you can't beat it.
Speaker 1:I love going to Youngstown. It's not too far from where I live now so it's a quick trip for me as a comedian. I love those. I don't have to get a hotel. I can perform and get back home and sleep in my own bed, which is always nice for sure, chris. Let's go back to you now. Did you grow up in Youngstown or were you in one of the suburbs in?
Speaker 6:Youngstown. I was even a little further north of that, grew up in Cortland, ohio, in Trumbull County, not too far from Route 11, though. So it wasn't a terribly far trip for myself, probably 20, 25 minutes, but it was all highway driving. But no, I mean, if you're familiar with Trumbull County, particularly the northern part, it's pretty rural. There's not much up there and you know you could go down to Howland and Niles, but again you're kind of capped in terms of what kind of entertainment you're able to tap into there. So yeah, I didn't grow up in Youngstown or in a suburb necessarily, but I was a frequent flyer my whole life.
Speaker 1:I got you, colin, what about you?
Speaker 4:So I grew up in Coitville Township, which if you take 422 out of the city of Youngstown and you stop just before you hit the PA line, that'll be my stomping grounds there. So I always used to tell people I grew up between Lowville and Hubbard, so a little combination of those two places, and yeah, I spent quite a bit of time in Youngstown. There was not much else to do out in my neck of the woods so when you were looking for somewhere to go it was either Boardman or Youngstown.
Speaker 1:I got you, Andrea. What about you?
Speaker 2:Um, I'm going to say that I lived in Austin town but I grew up on the West side. Um, my parents owned a restaurant down there for a while. It was a little mom and pop place where either you grew up going to it or you've never heard of it before. Matt, I feel like you're going to be the only potential one that has known it. But it was called Molly's and my dad was actually the first person in Youngstown to have wings. So he went down to Roscoe's to order his chicken. He was throwing the wings away and my dad was like I'm going to deep fry those in the eighties and on his menus it would say Jimmy's famous wings, cause he was the first one to have them. So very much love. Have a because he was the first one to have them. So very much love, have a. Good love for Youngstown I'm tied to it All, right, matt.
Speaker 1:What about you?
Speaker 5:Well, I was born and raised in Columbia County, which is in Latonia, the town, as you mentioned, home of the Tipsy Cow, but it's right on 11. It's just a 25-minute drive. Youngstown was always a big city with my parents and Andrea I have to say I don't remember Molly's, but I do remember. I think I remember that sign. I think I remember that sign being there Always. Remember that a long time back. So you know we're always going out to eat there. You know growing up and finding things to do, but uh, uh, you know, grew up going to Mill Creek park and stuff and and just still it's still the big city, I guess close to me. So, um, you know it's always been kind of hanging out around there All right Stoy round us out here.
Speaker 3:Yeah, also one of the suburbs. Uh, I feel like the suburbs really entail youngstown as well, so not really the in-city limits, but one of the closer suburbs. Suburbs for sure, um, in austintown, all right, all right all right.
Speaker 1:So, uh, colin, let's go with you. We'll have you start this one. Who, would you say, is the most famous person from Youngstown that you know or remember?
Speaker 4:I think I'd have to go with Mr Mancini. Mr Boom Boom himself, I think that's a name that everybody who grew up around Youngstown knows, regardless of your age. So yeah, I think I'd have to say that would be my choice for that.
Speaker 1:All right, marsco, what about you?
Speaker 6:It's a tough one for me because I've been able to cross paths with both of them. But as a football coach, I'm going to say Jim Trestle, getting to meet him several times during my time as a coach there. Just an incredible guy, I remembered my name. After meeting him just one time I would sit down and have a 10-minute conversation with you just about life. Uh, it's an a1 personality, a1 guy. Um, you know, as a michigan fan, he kind of made my uh, childhood a living hell, but uh, we were able to laugh about that uh for a little bit. Whatnot uh. But no, I'd say coach trestle, what he accomplished at ohio state and uh know the impact he made coming back and, you know, kind of getting a lot of this revival jump-started. I feel like you know, youngstown kind of embodies the campus and vice versa, and some of the things he was able to do to bring that back to the forefront, people's minds, I think really helped what's going on downtown, coach Tress.
Speaker 1:All right, Andrea. What about you?
Speaker 2:Yeah, they took mine. You mentioned Tressel. Nobody has anything bad to say about him. And if you mentioned Boom Boom, someone's like Boom Boom, someone's like, oh, and they have a story about him. So those are definitely the two.
Speaker 1:Okay, stoy, what about you?
Speaker 3:Man took two of the good ones. Uh, as far as like personally, no, I thought like billy price out there, I think it's another one name coming out of awesometown, so um, knew him, kind of grew up with him, played ball with him, um, and then I don't want to take one of the last ones, but gotta, gotta throw kelly bablick out there.
Speaker 3:I remember growing up his I mean it seemed like obviously the city was rallying around him every time he had a big fight. I remember watching the pay-per-views and people coming over and stuff. So we'll throw that one out there as well.
Speaker 1:Hey, I'm still. You took mine with Pavlik. Former guest of the show. One of the first guests we had on the podcast was Kelly Pavlik. He was going to be mine but Matt ran us out here.
Speaker 5:Wow, you know. You know I had a chance to work with coach Russell, like you guys said. You know not so much anymore, but it used to be dependent upon what circles you went or what conversation you were having. You know trafficking was would always come up, no matter where you're, at what state and what region. They'd say, oh Youngstown, what's up with the trafficking guy? You know so I'd probably go with that one, just because it hasn't been said. But you know there's no denying. You know the contributions that. You know Coach Truss, and you know Boom, boom, like you said, pretty famous. And of course, if I'm the last one, I guess I'm going to pull out Ed O'Neill too, because everybody knows him and everybody mentions that too.
Speaker 1:Absolutely A lot of solid names, like people don't realize the amount of people that actually came out of Youngstown and that area. You know it's phenomenal to see. Matt, we're going to stay with you on this one. Uh, if someone was coming from out of town and asked you what three things you'd recommend for them to do in Youngstown or in the suburbs, uh, what are your recommendations for them?
Speaker 5:Number one I'd recommend, recommend. I know Andrea had family, but I've got family that runs and owns the MBR in Youngstown. They've got to get a bite to eat. Get some authentic Italian down at the MBR restaurant. That's got to be number one. And number two they've got to check out Mill Creek Park. There's so many things to do just there. You could spend a whole day and you know what. Number three oh boy, that's a. That's a tough one. There's a. There's a first two. I thought you're going to ask me too. So two, but you know, realistically, there are a lot of independent small mom and pop shops. Just take a day to stroll and, you know, maybe away from the strip malls and boardman there's a lot of nice niche stores that you can get to with friendly people that are off the beaten path, so to speak. That's kind of what I'm going to go with.
Speaker 1:Stoy. What's your three recommendations?
Speaker 3:I feel lucky I get to go one of the early ones here. We're going to take some good picks With the White House Fruit Farm out there. I think, go with. Think, go get the blueberry donut um, they always got a ton of events going on in the fall. Go pick your own strawberries, blueberries, stuff like that. So cool day to fend. Or cool, uh, cool place to spend a day in the fall or really throughout the year.
Speaker 3:Um, I'll throw one out. I'm not sure if everyone's gonna know about it, but jimmy's italian specialties. It's a italian, imported italian store. Um, got deli bakery, uh, stuff like that. A ton of imported meats and, um, great, scratch made deli and stuff like that. So a great place to go for lunch. Grab some stuff for the holidays um, stock up there. And then, third, we'll say go go catch a ysu game. I think that it really embodies youngstown. Um, maybe go to mvr before I can name some other places, but um, it's not a great place around, uh, youngstown. Then go grab, uh, go catch a football game all right, andrea, what about you?
Speaker 1:what about?
Speaker 2:you. Um, well, I would say there's a new place in austintown that I just love I joke that I pay their electric bill there every month because I buy coffee so much there but it's called Junie's Cafe. You know, it's new, they just opened up in January, but they are all about Youngstown supporting small businesses. So I would say that Go for a walk, you know, at Milk Creek Park or go down for Saturday of the month, they have the Youngstown Flea Market and I know, you know a milk creek park. Or go down for saturday of the month, they have the youngstown flea market, and I know I'm kind of making this too easy. But then just go downtown, you know, find any place to eat down there. There's a lot of small businesses. Um, just support local all the way around all right, marsco, what about you?
Speaker 6:yeah, I kind of. I kind of feel what story was saying here about going last. I'm going to kind of be repeating a lot of things, uh no I'm trying to mix it up.
Speaker 1:Give everyone a fair chance here.
Speaker 6:No, no, it's good. I, I think it uh, you know, speaks toward, uh, how great some of these things are. But, uh, if I had to pick three, um, you know I'm going to, you know, matt's family's place. I'm going to the MVR. I had a chance to try just about everything there, being on staff as long as I was and I could sit there and eat for quite a while. It's a great place, good big menu. Then I'm definitely going to check out a YSU event.
Speaker 6:You know, tailgating, I think kind of ties into that. Um, having traveled around a couple places, there are many people that tailgate like we do. Uh, in this area. I think that's kind of unique to us too, that we only know one, uh one way to do it here. But when you go other places, it's like wow, we're either really cool or degenerates, but either way it seems like it's awesome. So and then, uh, you know I'm finishing up, like Andrew said, I'm going downtown, probably getting a couple slices at the Avalon. You know, bar hopping, hitting up O'Donnell's for old time's sake, you know. So just bouncing around, living up, taking in whatever's downtown that night.
Speaker 2:All right, I hate to break your heart, but O'Donnell's closed.
Speaker 6:Jeez, so we have no more O'Donnell's closed.
Speaker 1:Jeez, so we have no more O'Donnell's in the area. Way to crush everyone's dreams, Andrea.
Speaker 2:You can go down to Whistle and Keg where you get the little. You give them your credit card and they put it on a wristband and then you can serve yourself. Beer, wine, Dangerous though.
Speaker 6:I'm not thinking about what I'm doing Goes to the degenerate part.
Speaker 4:That's dangerous for sure, Colin round us out on this one, yeah, so I'm going to have to beat this dead horse, but I'm definitely going with spending the day in Mill Creek. That definitely be one of my top suggestions Catching an event at YSU or maybe a show, uh, downtown at the dior, um, and then you definitely got to make the time to go get yourself a slice of avalon pizza.
Speaker 1:I tell that to all my out-of-town friends that come in um, you got to make the time all right, and in the interest of making it fair, and because I stoy kind of brought this up and I know where his mind's going to go on this one, but, colin, we're going to stay with you from a scale of one to 10, one being the lowest and 10 being the highest. How do you rank Jimmy's Italian specialties on Belmont?
Speaker 4:I think you got to rank it at 10. I don't know if there's anywhere that does it quite like Jimmy's.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 6:Marsco oh, it's a 10. I've had the opportunity to work with some of the owners there for various fundraising things and definitely made my stops in there, and there's just really there's nothing really like it around here, unless you want to go to a flea market or up to Cleveland. I mean, we're really uh, we're fortunate to have a store like that around here. Somebody that, uh, you know, the Italian dinners made by a mom and grandma and all that are uh big. They always, you know, got to get the stuff from Jimmy, so uh, still eat Jimmy's raviolis at my in-laws on Christmas.
Speaker 1:You can't beat a mom or a grandma at a diet dinner, anyway, no matter where you go. But Andrea, what about you? Where are you ranking Jimmy's?
Speaker 2:I got to rank it a 10 as well. I know that seems biased, but the different flavors of cannolis and everything that they have like. If I'm out there for work and it's lunchtime, that's what I'm getting.
Speaker 1:I think you mentioned it before. I was going to be performing at the funny stop and you're like you need to go get a cannoli before you at Jimmy's before you perform. I can't eat a cannoli before I go on stage. I might get it for after, but that's going to ruin the whole set.
Speaker 2:I get a couple of cannolis in me and it's, it's gonna be downhill from there for me. I mean no offense, I was just at the briar hill festival and they had cannolis there, but it was just like your plain typical cannoli, which is great. You gotta love a classic. But why not go try like 16 different flavors of cannolis? Right, that's like an italian dream absolutely story.
Speaker 1:I think we know where you're going with this when you just mentioned him in the last question.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I feel like I got dipped on the last question. You want to give him a shout, but I got to see it up close and personal. That was my first job there in high school, started on my 16th birthday and worked for Three or four years for them, so place is legit. It's a 10. Yeah, they do everything. They're versatile. Uh, great people that own it, great people that work there Um, always an enjoyable experience, for sure.
Speaker 1:All right, matt Randall South. Where are you ranking Jimmy's? I got to rank it uh, not ranked.
Speaker 5:I'm going to have to try it out. I have actually never been to Jimmy's on Belmont. Um, yeah, I have never, never been. I know it's been there. There, I've never heard a bad word. Um, you know I come from family. Uh, you know we do the feast of the fishes on christmas and everything. I mean I've carried that, uh, carried that through, but uh, our family's kind of been well, you get this from here, you get this from here, you get this from here. And I've kind of just been carrying that out. I've never, uh, done a one-stop shop for my italian thing. So, you know, I mean the pepperoncinis, I got to get from here. They, uh, you know bakla, you got to get from here. You know the cannolis, you got to get from here. So I'm going to have to try and check it out. It might make my life a little bit easier.
Speaker 1:You know I I unfortunately have never gotten to eat at Jimmy's when I've gone to the my parents, because we still do the Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve, but they always go to the Strip District in Pittsburgh to get it, and you know what? It's the same distance from where they live to Youngstown, it is to Pittsburgh. So maybe it's time to try mix it up a little bit and try it out.
Speaker 5:Yeah, we go to the Strip District too. That's where, but we'll have to try it out. Like you said, Absolutely.
Speaker 1:We'll stay with you on this one. Matt Youngstown unfortunately had to cancel their Italian festival downtown this year, but have you ever been in previous years and if so, what did you think of it?
Speaker 5:I have been to the Italian Fest in Youngstown of it. I have been to the Italian Fest in Youngstown. You know the Lowellville Festival is just across the way near Coitesville. That's where you can see the famous baby doll dance, so I try to get to there all the time. Then you just have the Briar Herald Festival that Andrea said, but also, you know, any chance you can get up there to get a St Anthony's pizza, any chance you can get up there to get a St Anthony's pizza. That's pretty good too. So I've been to most of the Italian festivals over the years around. It's kind of a shame the actual Italian fest got canceled, but you know, hopefully it comes back here in a year or two, even better than ever.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. I've been meaning to make it to that low bill. We highlight them every year, we talk about them on for the past four years that we've been doing the ride home brands podcast. We talk about the low bill Italian festival and it just never fails. Every time they have it, I'm just like I'm booked that week. I can't be doing shows, I can't make it, but I promise them like one year I'm gonna book a week in youngstown during the italian festival of boville and I will. I will be there, but stoy. What about you? What the the italian fest?
Speaker 3:yeah, I mean, I feel like any fest in youngstown than italian fest, got the lovo. Yeah, uh, lovo fest, briar hill fest, uh, mount carmel fest, a ton of them and they're all awesome. Uh, the one you're talking about downtown. Unfortunate it did get cancelled, but Was the question overrated, underrated?
Speaker 6:I'll say it's great.
Speaker 3:Absolutely great fest down there Youngstown. You got a ton of great Italian people, so you're good at tying people all coming together. You're good food, good time, a ton of good music and stuff like that, so always a good time. Alright, andrea, what about you?
Speaker 1:Yeah, definitely on Um, you're good good food, good time, a ton of good music and stuff like that, so always a good time, all right.
Speaker 2:Andrea, what about you? Um, yeah, definitely unfortunate, just like everybody else said. Um, I like it because I think that they all do something a little bit different. I haven't been to the low bill one. I think I got yelled at for that on the Italian round table talk. Um, so definitely have yeah, definitely have to get out there, but they do different stuff. I know that they've had like pageants for like kids there, for people who are Italian, and they can, you know, write a letter and compete and, you know, win money for scholarships. So I think it's different and it's, you know, it's neat. So hopefully that'll be back sooner rather than later.
Speaker 1:All right, marsco, what about you?
Speaker 6:I was hoping we were able to count. The lowville festival is a youngstown festival. We're not well, yeah, see, I, I, I frequent in the lowville one. Um, I've made stops at the uh, you know the briar hill, you know the, the one downtown, whatnot, unfortunately? But uh, you know, uh, like andrea said, they all kind of provide you with something different. I, you know, getting to compete in some of the Italian fests in the area where I'm at, I always, you know, when I go to a different one, I always love watching Bocce Mora different. You know, us Italians love to compete. Everyone mentions the food and the music and you know, bsing with each other, but nothing like Mora getting up in each other's face. You know bsing with each other, but nothing, nothing like mora getting up in each other's face, screaming, spitting on each other. So, yeah it, uh, they're underrated, they're all great. Uh, again, kind of like I mentioned with the tailgate, it's just something. Uh, sure, they happen in other places, but I feel like, uh, we're cut above the rest here we're special.
Speaker 1:All right, col Colin round us out here.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so growing up where I did the and going to school in Lowville, the Lowville festival was a pretty big deal for us, so I I usually frequented there. I I think I can safely say I've only been to the festival downtown one time since I was able to drive myself places. I was definitely a frequent flyer at the Louisville Festival, but it's a shame that they had to cancel. Hopefully they're able to get it back for next year.
Speaker 1:Hopefully. I love a good Italian festival. You can't beat it anywhere. You go anywhere in the country. It seems like when you have an Italian festival it's just good people, good food, very loud. No matter where you're at, it's loud. Us paisans, we're a loud bunch, so for sure you know what, andrew, I feel like you've been, you know, getting snubbed and being in the middle here, so we're going to start with you on this one here. I know you kind of like to wait, but you know we're going to make you go first. I feel like this is a toss up for you. People may not know, but Youngstown has a lot of great places to have concerts, between downtown venues and the university. Have you ever been to a concert in? Youngstown has a lot of great places to have concerts between downtown venues and the university. Have you ever been to a concert in Youngstown and if so, who did you see and where at?
Speaker 2:Gosh well, this is easy because I've never been to them, so very short answer.
Speaker 4:I haven't.
Speaker 2:I know I know they hold something like inside Covelli and they have the amphitheater outside. I've never been to one. I'm not a big concert goer, so sorry that was a disappointment for you guys.
Speaker 1:I let you go first, and that's what you, that's what you give me, andrea, matt, let's go to you Wow, wow.
Speaker 5:Well, let's see if this fits in your demographic here. But uh, probably the only concerts I've seen in youngstown in the last 10, 15 years have been disney based, disney on ice and uh, disney concerts that they've had. Uh, we're going back a long time ago. I used to. We used to go see concerts in the up, up and coming bands at a place called the varsity club which was uptown. Uh, for two dollars got to see some bands that uh, you know, you know, eventually made it semi-big, so that was kind of good. But that was a long time ago and many years ago. So, uh, yeah, just been Disney stuff for a long time, you're right, I have a son, I get it.
Speaker 1:You see a lot of those when they're younger. For sure, stoy, what about you?
Speaker 3:I can't say I've seen too many either. But if we're talking bands I'll shout out RDNA. I've seen them down at the Amphitheater and quite a few different bars and stuff, so we'll shout out them as a band. But haven't seen too many concerts in Youngstown actually. Okay.
Speaker 1:Colin.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so I've been to quite a few concerts in Youngstown. Actually. I've been to Stanbois Stadium Auditorium. I've been to the Covelli Center, the new amphitheater I'm going to have to say my favorite ever, if anybody's a fan of country music. Zach Brown Band performed at YSU Stadium. That was probably the coolest concert experience I've had in a long time. And I've been to see Kenny Chesney in downtown Pittsburgh. So that says a lot.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you don't realize how Chesney fans will treat a town Until he comes into town in Pittsburgh.
Speaker 5:Yeah, it's a little bit intense.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you're like oh, it's a country concert. It's going pittsburgh. Yeah, it's a little bit intense, it's. Yeah, you're like oh, it's a country concert, it's gonna be fine. No, it's not, it's not gonna be okay at all.
Speaker 6:Uh, he brings a rowdy bunch, but marscoe round is out here I'm just trying to think of this chronologically so I didn't miss any. Um, the first really big concert I remember going to in youngstown was at Stambaugh Auditorium. It was a little-known country band at the time called Florida Georgia Line. I think I paid $20 to sit at a very nice viewing area and I think it was less than six months later. They were on the CMA's winning awards and I think I got one of the last $20 tickets you could get to go see them. So that was a really cool way to start it off. I think that was like my senior year of high school Saw Zach Brown and Blake Shelton at Stanbaugh stadium. It's a really cool venue for an outdoor.
Speaker 6:One. Took my mom for one of her birthdays to the Covelli center to see Rod Stewart. That was pretty cool. I was kicking soccer balls out into the crowd. I didn't know that was a thing. Yes, he had a professional soccer career, so that was unique. And then you know me and she was my girlfriend at the time, but my now wife. We went to the amphitheater for one of their early shows and we got to see Brett Eldridge there Gave me a lot of fond memories, so gotten a sample a little bit of all the venues and they each kind of offer their own thing. I don't really know if I could pick one from the other. But again, very blessed we got all these places, to have all these wonderful things, and feel like we take it for granted sometimes.
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely, we're winding down here. These ones should be pretty quick here. But, colin, we're going to start with you. What's the one best thing about Youngstown?
Speaker 4:I think I'd have to go with the people. I don't think you'll find a closer-knit, more robust and diverse group of people anywhere else, or at least nothing like, uh, like Youngstown. So I I think that's what I'd have to say.
Speaker 1:All right, marsco.
Speaker 6:Yeah, uh, there's a lot of ways you could go with this, but, uh, I got to reiterate what Colin said. Uh, you know, I, I met my wife in the main tailgate lot outside the stadium. The amount of people that, hey, you help out with football, hey, what can I do for you? How can I help you? Just a bunch of people that want to help other people and make the area great. It's a lot of positivity when we were making our run to the title game. I don't really know how to explain it, it's just palpable. You feel the fanfare we really galvanized together and it's people.
Speaker 2:Okay, andrea, what about you? Obviously, I agree with them, with the people, but I'm going to say the food as well. And actually I feel bad that I didn't mention this, but Handles is like such a staple that's definitely top three to do while you're here. I'm sitting in the parking lot, but yeah, people say New York has the best pizza. Youngstown has the best pizza, for sure.
Speaker 1:So food All right Stoy.
Speaker 3:She took mine. Really, I was going to specifically say the pizza, though. Uh, I mean the people. Great food in general, great, but youngstown pizza it's, um, I think, starting to get a little notoriety going around. But um, I know avalon was mentioned, gotta throw wedgwood pizza out.
Speaker 3:There is one of the best. Uh, plenty of others for sure. Uh, hopefully I'm not jumping the gun on a pizza question coming up, but I definitely gotta mention. Uh, I mentioned the gun on a pizza question coming up, but I definitely got to mention. I mentioned the Youngstown pizza day and give us some love.
Speaker 1:Well, maybe I don't know, We'll see how the last question goes here. But, Matt, what about you on this one? One best thing in Youngstown?
Speaker 5:I'm going to have to say the history. You guys are all talking about the people and the diversity in that, but you know to go through the ups and downs and the twists and turns. I'm going to have to say the history of Youngstown for being a midsize city, really appreciative and just really unique.
Speaker 1:All right, and last question that we have here. Matt, we'll start with you on this one. The one best restaurant in the city of Youngstown is MVR. Yeah, that kind of had a feeling that was where you were going on. That one restaurant in the city of Youngstown is MVR. That kind of had a feeling that was where you were going on that one.
Speaker 3:But Stoy, so many good ones. If I had to go with one, we'll kind of take a cheat code and say bogeys and double bogeys, bogeys out towards your way. Call it out towards poitsville uh, local area. I like going out there after uh, playing some golf and no run or something. Then double bogeys over in boardman uh, good food good atmosphere. Uh, so many good ones though all right, andrea.
Speaker 1:What about you? What about you?
Speaker 2:this one's super, super hard, but I am gonna say that's a pretty authentic italian place and they make their own noodles and stuff, so I really like them.
Speaker 6:You're you're paying for the atmosphere, but great food okay marscoe, mahoning valley restaurant, mvr, all the way and we, uh. But I also want to throw out a little hole in the wall. Uh, we got a lot of wings there. I always got the blackberry barbecue, the royal oaks. Uh, it was one of those bars. I believe it's on bar rescue, um, and right off the exit. Good little hole in the wall, all right.
Speaker 4:All right, colin, round us out here uh, I'm gonna have to go with Golden Dawn. For mine Not a lot of, I mean, if you're from Youngstown you know all about it, but if you're not from here, it definitely could be easily missed. Definitely worth the time and quintessential Youngstown.
Speaker 1:Alright. Well, that is actually the last question I have here for this all things Youngstown. All right, well, that is actually the last question I have here for this All Things Youngstown episode and, as you can hear in the background, probably, my son is getting a little routed because it's about feeding time. So we're going to go ahead and we're going to wrap this episode up here with the All Things Youngstown. I want to thank my guest, chris Matt, colin, andrea and, as always, he's been a staple of the Roundtable's Bill Stoy. Thank you guys for coming on. Really appreciate you taking time out of your evening to sit and talk with me about all things Youngstown and where you guys are from. This was a lot of fun but, as always, if you enjoyed the show, be a friend, tell a friend. If you didn't tell them anyways, they might like it just because you didn't. That's going to do it for me. I will see y'all next week.
