Solid States
A Man Called Ove, Buckeye Biscuits and BBQ, Lori McKenna, Parker Meadows, Expired Extraterrestrial
Welcome to my weekly newsletter. This week’s issue features five states where I have lived, a book made into two movies, delicious dining in the Buckeye State, two favorite singers in one sensational show, a dynamic debut for a terrific Tiger, and phoning home from beyond the grave. I hope you enjoy the picks and pics.
Fave Five 47: Solid States. Sweet Swedish Story (A Man Called Ove), Buckeye Biscuits and BBQ (Maple Street Biscuit Company and Ray Ray’s Hog Pit), Stoughton Songwriter (Lori McKenna), Raking Rookie (Parker Meadows), and an Expired Extraterrestrial.
Fave Five Lists: Solid States
When I was growing up, my father moved our family frequently, never staying in one place for more than six years. It was disruptive to our lives, but it gave us a variety of experiences, created many enduring friendships, and taught us to be resilient.
Five States Where I Have Lived
Michigan: Northville (1986-present) - beautiful lakes, mild summers, plentiful water, few natural disasters, college football and basketball champions, and wonderful friends. Where our twin daughters were born, all three kids went to school, we gather for annual family vacations up north, and I wrote all five of my books on knowledge management (the latest of which I finished yesterday).
Missouri: Clayton (1963-64, 1970-75, 1976-78, 1983-86) and Shrewsbury (1975-76, 1978-83) - mild winters, outstanding baseball fans, numerous local food specialties, and lifelong friends. Where I met Barb, we graduated from college, we got married, we bought our first home, we welcomed our son at the same hospital where Barb was born, I ran my second radio station (KFR), and I kept stats for Clayton High School, Washington University, and the Spirits of St. Louis (a pro ABA team).
New Jersey: Tenafly (1964-70) - near New York City and home to many good friends. Where I wrote satirical plays, first kept basketball stats for Tenafly High School, and started my first radio station (WTFY).
Nebraska: Omaha (1957-63) - nurturing neighborhood and idyllic childhood. Where I wrote my first and only work of fiction (Going, Going, Gone! featuring the exploits of young Roger Remington), went to school with Susie Buffett, and became a lifelong sports fan.
Illinois: Oak Park (1953-55) and Evanston (1955-57, 1971-72) - my birthplace and that of my great friend Bill Sterling. Where I started college, met Bill, operated two radio stations (WCTU and WRFN), and switched majors from journalism to computer science.
My Playlists about States
Your State’s Name Here: Bands whose name contains the name of each of the 50 states.
States of the Union: Songs with each of the 50 states in the title.
Solid State Singers: Singers or bands (one female, or primarily female, and one male) from each of the 50 states.
Book Best Bet
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
My sister Joan recommended this book, and I loved it. Barb and I then watched the Swedish movie adaptation and A Man Called Otto starting Tom Hanks and enjoyed both films.
From Amazon: Meet Ove. He’s a curmudgeon—the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him “the bitter neighbor from hell.” But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn’t walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time?
Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove’s mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents’ association to their very foundations.
Fredrik Backman’s beloved first novel about the angry old man next door is a thoughtful exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others. “If there was an award for ‘Most Charming Book of the Year,’ this first novel by a Swedish blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down” (Booklist, starred review).
From Wikipedia: Fredrik Backman (born June 2, 1981) is a Swedish author, blogger, and columnist. He wrote A Man Called Ove (2012), Things My Son Needs to Know about the World (2012), My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry (2013), Britt-Marie Was Here (2014), Beartown (2017), Us Against You (2018), Anxious People (2020), and The Winners (2022). The books were number one bestsellers in his home country of Sweden. Backman's books have been published in more than twenty-five languages.
Restaurant Recommendations
Buckeye Biscuits and BBQ
One week ago, Barb and I drove to Columbus, Ohio for our monthly visit to my sister Ann and her family. As usual, we enjoyed two fine meals.
Maple Street Biscuit Company 7105 N. High Street, Worthington, OH 43085
Ann recommended that we stop on the way into Worthington at a newly opened location of a chain that started in Florida. It was close to Ann’s home and a very good suggestion.
Barb had the Five & Dime: Fried Chicken, Bacon, Cheddar, Egg, Sausage Gravy with a kick. It was not possible to pick it up and eat it as a biscuit sandwich, but it was very good.
I tried the Bam! Yo-Yo: Asiago-Bacon Waffle, Fried Chicken, Classic Maple Syrup. I love chicken and waffles, and this version was most satisfying.
From the restaurant: In a world of boring breakfast, we set out to craft scratch-made comfort food, but with a modern twist. With every breakfast, lunch and service-focused catering event, our fresh ingredients, that quirky take on comfort food, and a sense of community go well beyond basic. We aim to leave you both full and fulfilled.
We promise to bring you fresh-cracked eggs. We promise to bake our biscuits from scratch every day, and never serve you some previously frozen puck of dough. We promise to provide impeccably clean stores, where you can focus on delicious food and those with whom you choose to enjoy it. Like you, our biscuits are a lot of things, but we promise they’ll never be boring.
Ray Ray’s Hog Pit 225 Park Road, Columbus, OH 43235
For dinner, Ann’s husband David and I drove to a nearby BBQ truck and brought home two large bags and two large boxes of barbecue for a feast. Ann’s son Ed and his family joined us for dinner. The meat and sides were all excellent.
We ordered two Meat Sweats: smoked brisket (smoked low and slow), pulled pork (13-hour smoked pork, pulled to perfection), jerk chicken (boneless grilled chicken thighs cooked in spicy jerk sauce, garnished with pickled red cabbage and red onion), dry rubbed ribs, and our own Ray Ray’s hot link (locally made Texas-style hot link, American cheese, Hatch chiles, spices), with pickles and sauce in a box.
To that we added smoked and seared cauliflower burnt ends (tossed in spicy jerk sauce topped with roasted red peppers and garnished with pickled red cabbage and onion), additional pounds of brisket and pork, and sides of mac and cheese (house mixed cheese sauce, white cheddar, Ray Ray's seasoning blend, coleslaw (diced cabbage & carrot with homemade creamy dressing), baked beans (pit-smoked baked beans, BBQ Sauce, brisket chunks), house-made collard greens (pork, hot sauce, spices), and beer-battered waffle fries (tossed in special dill & vinegar salt seasoning and served with sriracha aioli.
From the restaurant: Ray Ray’s Hog Pit is a family of stationary barbecue food trucks, trailers, and drive-throughs operating in five locations across central Ohio. Founded in 2009 by chef James Anderson, Ray Ray's Hog Pit offers customers legendary barbecue. What makes us different is our love for American barbecue traditions and how we combine that old-school smoke with new-school magic. From the beginning our approach has attracted dedicated barbecue fans because they trust three things about Ray Ray's.
Our consistent quality is born from disciplined adherence to methods and patience.
We give them a genuine roadside barbecue experience.
We surprise them with awesome original items and menu collaborations.
Marvelous Musician
I was blessed to see two phenomenal concerts in two days, both in Ann Arbor. On Thursday, May Erlewine performed at Sonic Lunch, joined by many guests including Rachael Davis.
On Friday, Barb and I went to The Ark to see Mark Erelli and Lori McKenna. We sat in the front row with our friend John Bommarito for an outstanding show. Mark opened up and then accompanied Lori on guitar and harmony vocals. His set was impressive, and we told him that when we said hello afterwards.
Lori’s new album, 1988, is a gem. The title is based on the year she was married. She played many of the songs on the record, and each one was well-crafted and deeply personal. She is a master songwriter, and I love her expressive voice.
I first heard Lori on WUMB in Boston and bought her early albums. I first saw her at Green Wood Coffee House in Ann Arbor with Mark Erelli and Lorne Entress. I chatted with her in 2007 at Borders Books in Ann Arbor. I saw her open for Trisha Yearwood in 2008 at Potter Center in Jackson, Michigan. On December 16, 2011, I saw Lori in the annual Under the Covers show with Mark Erelli, Jake Armerding, and Zachariah Hickman at Club Passim in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
On September 20, 2012, I saw Lori with Mark Erelli at The Ark. I saw her as part of The Love Junkies on Cayamo 2017. On April 17, 2019, I saw her open for Patty Griffin at Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Lori is one of my favorite singer-songwriters.
From Wikipedia: Lorraine "Lori" McKenna (née Giroux; born December 22, 1968 in Stoughton, Massachusetts) is an American folk, Americana, and country music singer, songwriter, and performer. In 2016, she was nominated for the Grammy Award for Song of the Year and won Best Country Song for co-writing the hit single "Girl Crush" performed by Little Big Town. In 2017, she again won Best Country Song at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards for writing "Humble and Kind" performed by Tim McGraw. McKenna along with Lady Gaga, Natalie Hemby and Hillary Lindsey wrote the second single off the soundtrack to the 2018 film A Star Is Born called "Always Remember Us This Way.” McKenna performed backing vocals along with Lindsey and Hemby, and the song received a nomination for Song of the Year at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.
McKenna was born and raised in Stoughton, Massachusetts, where she still lives today. Her mother died when she was seven years old, a theme often touched on in her music. She met her husband, Gene McKenna, in third grade and married him at age 19. She has five children and has been married for 35 years. McKenna first started writing lullabies to her children. Her brother, who first introduced her to the guitar, encouraged her to attend an open-mic night at the Old Vienna Kaffeehause in Westborough, Massachusetts in 1996. The organizer heard her play and encouraged her to come back, becoming her informal manager and booking shows for her around Boston.
On Faith Hill's 2005 album Fireflies she covered three of Lori's songs. Faith and her husband Tim McGraw became her champions and asked her to tour with them in 2006. Since then, McKenna has become one of the industry’s most in-demand songwriters. She wrote 10 songs that made it to the Billboard Hot Country list.
Bible Song
Fireflies
Humble & Kind
When You're My Age
The Town in Your Heart
My Playlist
Sports Star
The Detroit Tigers have been hard-pressed for any feel-good stories for many years. But yesterday, they had a spectacular one.
Parker Meadows, playing in just his fourth MLB game since being called up earlier in the week, hit a dramatic walk-off home run to lead the Tigers to a 4-1 win over the reigning World Series champion Houston Astros. Detroit’s four major sports teams have been rebuilding seemingly forever, and this glimmer of hope was sorely needed.
Here’s hoping that Parker will become the next Alan Trammell or Lou Whitaker, and not fizzle out the way that Chris Shelton did in 2006. And it would great if his older brother, Austin, is able to overcome his problems with anxiety and rejoin the team to play with Parker.
Parker Meadows hits walk-off homer for first career RBIs
His parents, Kenny and Staci Meadows from Loganville, Ga., were there to witness it all along with Parker’s grandmother, whom he calls Meemaw, and his two best friends. His mother was caught by the Bally Sports Detroit cameras, crying tears of joy as the ball landed among jubilant Tigers fans. “She’s still crying,” Meadows said after taking a call from his mom. “Hopefully, I can converse with her in a second. It was real cool to do it in front of them.”
Meadows is 4-for-13 (.308) since making his MLB debut on Monday, with the homer, a triple, three RBIs and four walks. He worked Framber Valdez, who didn’t allow a hit in seven innings, for two walks. Meadows' older brother, Austin Meadows, is on Detroit’s 60-day injured list, but the two still talk almost daily.
From Wikipedia: Parker Meadows (born November 2, 1999 in Atlanta) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Meadows attended Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia, the same school as his brother, fellow professional baseball player Austin Meadows.
Meadows was drafted in the second round, 44th overall, by the Tigers in the 2018 MLB Draft. Meadows signed with the Tigers organization and received a $2.5 million signing bonus, nearly a full $1 million above the slot value for the 44th overall pick.
Meadows' contract was selected by the Tigers on August 21, 2023 and he made his major league debut against the Chicago Cubs that evening. In his third at-bat, Meadows singled off Cubs starter Javier Assad for his first major league hit. His first MLB homer was a three-run walk-off to right field off Ryan Pressly that ended a 4–1 home win over the Houston Astros four nights later on August 25.
His first extra-base hit is a triple
Parker Meadows takes a homer away and hits his first in his fourth career game.
Picture Pun
Tried to phone home, but the line was dead.
Stan,
I enjoy your Fab Five lists. Sometime I'll drop you an e-mail about growing up in StL. You seem to have been quite a few places I also know!
Some years ago I read an interesting study of siblings in professional sports. It turns out that the second kid gets a big advantage, probably from play and practice with older, stronger competition. But what I found amazing was that more than 700 (!) pairs of brothers have played in MLB. And that was as-of maybe ten years ago, surely it's close to 800 now.
B
Thanks Stan, I had forgotten how much I love Lori McKenna. Peace. JC