About 250,000 people get to call Fort Wayne, Indiana their hometown. A town filled with suburbs, farming fields, and everything in between. Being the second largest city in the state, you'd think it would be... a little more exciting. Don't get me wrong, I loved growing up in Fort Wayne, but it's not like living in a huge city, like Indianapolis. Besides Fort Wayne not really being a fort (but we have a fort!), it's a pretty great place to live. If you relate to any of these five things, you know you were raised in Fort Wayne.
1. Going out on a Friday night consists of food.
There's not much night life for those who are in high school/under 21. So, what's better than sitting home by yourself? Food! Applebee's is the hotspot for hanging out, especially for their half-priced appetizer deals. Steak N' Shake is the pinnacle for after-school activities, like sporting events or show choir competitions. Who doesn't love milkshakes and cheap burgers? Buffalo Wild Wings is the place to go for your your fill of wings and sports. A growing hotspot for hanging out is Yummi Bunni, where you can get a "yummi bun" - a donut filled with ice cream and toppings (talk about a sugar rush!). Whatever else you choose to do on a weekend for fun, you can be sure food will be involved somehow.
2. Midnight Walmart trips.
You'll never know the feeling of dire boredom until you decide going to Walmart is the best option over staying home. With there not being a lot to do for those under 21, Walmart has suddenly become the option for all your late night adventures. You either do one of two things while "adventuring" this magical place - you make a mess and leave, or you meet some interesting people and leave. Whatever you do, just make sure to leave the tricycles alone (trust me on that).
3. Christmas time means Night of Lights.
When the Christmas music begins to play in stores around November, everyone knows the time is near - the Night of Lights will be happening soon. It's a tradition in Fort Wayne - we hang up huge lights around downtown, usually in the shapes of Santa, wreaths, reindeers, the Nativity scene - and the night of Thanksgiving's Eve, hundreds gather to watch downtown be lit up. It's truly beautiful, and listening to choirs singing carols makes everyone happy.
4. Fred Grote - enough said.
If you were raised in Fort Wayne, you know who Fred Grote is. It's like Muncie's "Stoops" commercials. Fred Grote is the spokesperson of Grote Automotive - a used car dealership in Fort Wayne. His commercials blast through the speakers of your TV or radio, and you find yourself mouthing the words along with him. Every commercial he films is ridiculous - remember the awkward Christmas one from 2016? Fred Grote is pretty famous in the Fort Wayne area.
5. You realize you wouldn't want to live anywhere else.
Sure, there are better places to live (Indianapolis, for example), but there are worse places to live, too. Smaller towns would consist of more soybean and corn fields, with less things to do. Sure, Fort Wayne could use some improvements, but for what it is, it's a beautiful city with at least SOME things to do. Keep doing you, Fort Wayne.
