As a Canadian living in NYC, I think it’s quite funny when Canadians worry about the “anti-American” bias that “many” Canadians supposedly possess. Outside of some minor silliness during the playing of national anthems at certain hockey games and low-level trade disputes, has there really been any serious “anti-Americanism” displayed by Canadians. I don’t recall any serious talk of starting a trade war with Americans or to cutting off military relations. Has anyone ever heard of a significant incident—outside of random drunk 19-year-olds in bars at the border—of anyone being physically attacked or illegally discriminated against because they were American?

What there is:

1) Your normal degree of poking fun/smug superiority vis-a-vis neighbours;

2) Some semi-justified resentment that the average American knows so much less about Canada than the other around. (I say semi-justified, because it’s understandable that a lot of people in a big place won’t know as much about a much smaller neigbouring place….);

3) Irritation when the wider world conflates Canadians with Americans, or dismiss us as “the same thing.” Thoughtful Canadians recognize that this is not really the fault of Americans, outside of their being much bigger than us.

When particularly inspired by a particular crazy American or exhausted of inspiration regarding other more challenging topics, Canadian stand-up comics are capable of coming up with a good deal of humour mocking a stereotype of the dumb American. But I don’t think this counts as anti-Americanism in any serious sense.

P.S.: Actual New Yorkers DESPISE Times Square and its crowds, and avoid it all costs unless they’re attending a Broadway show…I do like the current attempt to redesign its layout, though…

Marin Brewing Company (just north of golden gate bridge) makes an AWESOME blueberry beer

Many years ago, as a school age youth, I was living in Florida (panhandle ie: deep south). My parents had to go away, so had some co-workers stay over for the week to watch over me and my siblings.

First night at dinner time, our watchdogs ask “where is your grease?”.
We are like “huh?”

Anyhow, we had none, but first thing they did was fill the frying pan 2 inches deep with oil, heat it up and drop in the meat for dinner. Then they poured the oil out into a jar after cooking and re-used every night (ie: the grease), using the same deep frying process. OMG, I am surprised everyone in the South does not die at 50, between the deep frying and Dakers’ biscuits and gravy (not to mention the fire hazzard of a 1/2 gallon of piping hot oil in your kitchen each night).

Another fave recipe: fill a pot with 5 cups of sugar, fill with water til it covers the sugar by an inch or two, throw in 5 tea bags and bring to a boil. This is your concentrate for sweet tea. Add water, refrigerate and consume when cold. Goes great with your deep fried vittles. LOL

Between the grease cooking, sweet tea and biscuits and gravy …. man, that is some not so healthy eating.

In undergrad, me and a couple friends took a road trip to Boston (great place to visit, especially for big Ben Franklin fans like myself). We got lost and saw a parked police cruiser with two cops inside so walked up to driver side door, explained we were lost tourists and needed some directions.

The driver cop started reciting out directions in a thick thick Boston and we were affirming “ya”, “ok” etc … Meanwhile, the passenger cop started singing “Oh Canada” as back up music and made it all the way through! When he got done, he leaned over and asked “en francais?”. I was thinking, this guy has to be a Bruins fan and picked up the lyrics and French watching Habs – Bruins wars in the playoffs.

Anyhow, we thanked them for the directions (and song) and walked off. However, due to the thick Boston accent we were still disoriented. One of us said “I did not understand a damn thing that guy said, did you guys catch any of that?” “Hell no!” and we all burst out laughing.

Bottom line, due to the accents, traveling in US can offer some language challenges. ;-) That said, I may not care for BoSox too much, but Boston cops are alright.