Anniston, Alabama - Specifically the Noble Training Center.

January 23, 2007 1:11 PM

Any MeFites with knowledge/experience of the Noble Training Center at Anniston, Alabama?

Going to a short week's length training at the NTC next week, my first time back to Alabama in 40 years. Can you give me any insights, advice, suggestions or recommendations?

posted by X4ster to Travel & Transportation around Anniston, AL (6 answers total)

I visit family in Talladega every so often and one place I like to go to is Top O the River on McClellan Blvd in Anniston. They serve greens in a big metal pot, cornbread hot from the oven in a skillet, and every table gets slaw in a metal tin, too. I went with two huge tables of relatives and they didn't even flinch at bringing probably 8 separate checks and 6 doggie bags. Very friendly place. Oh good fried pickles and catfish, too. This is all assuming you're looking for some local food.
posted by jdl at 1:40 PM on January 23, 2007

Don't drink the water. Seriously. Buy a 5-gallon jug of distilled water and drink that instead. Monsanto completely fucked Anniston's soil and water up. I know you said you'll only be there a week, but I still wouldn't drink it. This is an important issue, because if you're working in hazmat suits or other cumbersome gear -- regardless of the temperature -- you're going to sweat a lot and will need to stay well-hydrated. (I did my officer basic course at Fort McClellan the summer of 1997. It was hot.)

If it's still open, check out the Victoria House for a good dinner (but order beer). There's a couple decent barbecue places right outside Fort McClellan, too: Lee's and Dad's.

And if you need to get your hair cut, go to Green's barber shop. Slick and Pepper's is OK, but Green's is better. Again, assuming these places are still open.
posted by cog_nate at 1:56 PM on January 23, 2007

Holy cow, cog_nate isn't kidding.... Google results for Anniston and Monsanto. I'd heed his advice.
posted by rolypolyman at 2:06 PM on January 23, 2007

Do NOT drink distilled water! It is very bad for you. It is especially bad when used to rehydrate. Bottled drinking water is not distilled, except where they add suitable minerals after the distilling process.

(sorry for the derail, but cog_nate is just dangerously wrong)
posted by Goofyy at 2:33 AM on January 24, 2007

I did, in fact, originally mean bottled water of any kind but used the term "distilled". Sloppy language on my part.

Regardless -- and it honestly goes without saying -- distilled water is perfectly safe to consume and I would certainly drink that before drinking tap water in Anniston. Goofyy, I've done several searches for peer-reviewed journal articles in my library's databases, WebMD and PubMed on the dangers of distilled water and came up emptyhanded. If you have countervailing evidence or articles by credible sources, please post links to them.
posted by cog_nate at 8:17 AM on January 24, 2007

Response by poster: Thanks all for your info and comments. Definately planning to have dinner at Top O the River, and will have a beer instead of water with my meal.

Unfortunately bottled water wasn't readily available on Fort McClellen when I was there 40 years ago so tap water was what we drank. No ill affects have yet appeared.
posted by X4ster at 9:53 AM on January 24, 2007