Hi, everyone! I’m Bob, a long time LITO-ite, and I was born and raised in Scranton, Pa. Dunmore, actually… a place mentioned several times on “The Office.” I’ll be posting on “Life In The Office” this season, as LITO’s resident “Scrantonian.” I’ll be pointing out the things the show gets RIGHT, like when the Dunder-Mifflin staff is drinking “Crystal Club,” a local soda pop. I’ll also highlight the things they get WRONG, like the non-existent train to Philadelphia. Occasionally, I’ll mention the “missed opportunities” on the show, like the “Company Picnic” that SHOULD have been held at Tobyhanna State Park. (…for no other reason than this: Michael Scott would hate any place with “Toby” in the name.) 
I’m not trying to pass myself off as a Scranton “expert.” I moved quite a while ago, and I only visit every couple years. Actual living, breathing Northeastern Pennsylvanians are HIGHLY encouraged to join in these discussions, here AND on the LITO forum. I could USE current NEPA input; as a native Dunmorean, I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve never been to Cugino’s Pizza. But I DID graduate from Dunmore High School, where the obscene Dunder-Mifflin prom invitations were sent. I also graduated from Marywood University, where Pam (according to her Myspace bio) spent a couple lackluster years, dabbling in art. Why, when I was a kid, I had an appendicitis attack at an eye doctor’s office in downtown Scranton, right between the brick Penn Paper Tower and the intersection of Washington and Mulberry Streets, seen in the show’s opening credits. The Penn Paper Tower was right outside my hospital room window; stuff like that really gets etched in your memory, which is one of the reasons I’m so fascinated with the show.
I’m ALSO not gonna call myself an “expert” because, unlike some Office internet detectives, I won’t be using a fine-tooth comb to search for local references. I’ve seen websites where they “freeze-frame” views of the Dunder-Mifflin office complex, and then blow up the pictures so you can read restaurant menus and business cards and such. That’s cool stuff, and if there ARE any LITO-ites out there that want to do that, heck, we’d be happy to post your findings. One of the things I love about “The Office” is that they care enough to have those touches of authenticity stuck to the refrigerator door.
The Office Tally website http://www.officetally.com/ has a recent video post, “Bob Vance, Wedding Crasher.” This takes place at Lake Scranton, which was about 3 miles from my house. Lake Scranton features a gorgeous, wooded 3.5 mile path around the lake, and before we were married, my wife and I would walk or run there several times a week. My wife’s main complaint was that there were no rest room facilities. This could be a problem, especially for girls, if you’re gonna walk 3.5 miles after drinking a large coffee from the nearby Krispy Kreme doughnut shop. Here’s where I could use an update from a current area resident: Did they ever put up a port-a-potty?
So, I hope to hear from LITO-ites in the comments. And as an incentive to get folks to join the forum discussions, we’ll be giving away fabulous prizes, like, uh… Springsteen tickets. So be sure to check out the forum, if you like Springsteen, or even if you don’t.
Congrats on your first post Bob. I’ve never been to Lake Scranton, but if I ever take a trip there I’ll be sure to report to you if they have errected any porta potties (is errected the right word?).
I’m grinning from ear to ear seeing your name as official LITO blogger.
I feel like a proud parent.
This is going to be so much fun!!
tee-hee HDF, TWSS!
That was great, Bob! I learned some interesting things from that post. Like, if I want a sudden appendicitis attack, I should visit an eye doctor. And that I should go to the bathroom BEFORE walking the perimeter of Lake Scranton. And that there is a Tobyhanna State Park, which is hilariously ridiculous to me. Great stuff!
Good Luck, Bob. I am sure that there will be other readers like me that will give their two-cents. While I am not a “native”, I am a transplant and also have my fair share of points. I HAVE eaten at Alfredo’s Pizza Kitchen, and I have been to Poor Richards (mainly to refill the pitchers while we bowled), and I have stayed at the Scranton Radison (where Charles spent a month) but I don’t remember much of it because it was during St. Patty’s day. March on!
Thanks for the encouraging words, guys!
And stick around, Dave; LITO NEEDS you for field research. Your first assignment is to walk Lake Scranton, AFTER a few pitchers of beer from Poor Richards*… to answer the question: Did they FINALLY put in a port-a-potty?
*Use a designated driver, of course. LITO promotes responsible research!
On it…
ALL RIGHT, Dave is ON it, dog-gonnit! Like Andy Bernard said in “Casual Friday”… “Oh, it is ON like a prawn who yawns at dawn!” Thanks, Dave! Take a camera.
Well….I enlisted the help of fellow office fan friends, and we did patronize Poor Richards, right after Alfredo’s Pizza Cafe (which IS a real place and IS right next to the bowling alley where Poor Richards is), and then, with the assistance of a D.D., we did venture to Lake Scranton. Sorry, Robert….no port-o-pottys. But there is a beautiful lake to go in! A-Yo.
Hey, Dave! Thanks for scouting that out! It’s good to know that LITO has loyal local field researchers. I hope you’ll be reporting back throughout the season. This will be fun to have authentic Scranton fact-checkers! All we can pay you right now is in Schrute Bucks, but who knows? If you get enough of them, you may be able to buy a pitcher of Yuengling at Poor Richards!
I’m still thinking about a 3.5 mile path around a lake WITHOUT a restroom… no wonder so many people are wandering off the path, behind the trees… I just thought they were nature lovers…
I have found that Stanley nickels are 1/20th of the value of a Schrute buck, so may I please be paid in Stanley Nickels?
As for people wondering off the path, they were lovers alright….if you know what I mean.
That’s really funny, Dave! I hope you stick around, and help make Season 6 of The Office memorable here at LITO!
How did I miss all of this hilarity? I have GOT to read these comments more… lol… Good stuff, Dave!
For the life of me I can not remember South Side Bowl (where Poor Richard’s is), though I’m pretty sure i participated in a Big Brother’s Big Sister
s bowl for kidsake there. I can remember idle Hour Lanes, of course, where I believe Ryan was working before joing up with the Michael Scott Paper Company, if anyone has any pictures of the outside of the building, can you send me a link? this is driving me nuts! =)