Do Long Islanders really not know the city at all? (Union: to live, restaurant)

[Rachael84]

I find that I talk to friends and family, and they don't know the city at all. It really surprises me. They go there sometimes but still don't know it. I just told my sister that this one store is around 56 st/7th ave, and she didn't know if that was midtown or downtown or how far it is from Penn Station. Are most people on LI this clueless? Even before I lived in the city for a few years, I more or less knew how to get around anywhere in the city. Maybe it's because my parents took me there a lot as a kid on weekends to see family and I just naturally learned.

I even have a friend, who is 25 years old, afraid to ride the LIRR alone. You would think he's from a small town of 1,000 people, but he lives in Hauppauge. I can't believe some people. They're so afraid of the city. I work in the south Bronx; if I can do that, they would be fine!!!

Do you guys find that most people are clueless about the city and/or afraid of it?

[S.I.B.]

Originally Posted by Rachael84

Do you guys find that most people are clueless about the city and/or afraid of it?

I don't know anyone who's afraid, but I do have friends/relatives who don't go into Manhattan all that much and are therefore unfamiliar with it. I also have friends from the 5 boroughs who don't know anything about Nassau and Suffolk. I wouldn't read too much into it...

[MegDrew]

I only go a few times a year and don't really know my way around. Unfortunately, it's just too damn expensive to spend more time there.
So, yes, I have no sense of direction when in the city, but I'm certainly not afraid of it (or the LIRR) and I don't think I'm any less worldly or cultured because I need directions to get around.

[jpg71]

Those of us who regularly go into the city are familiar with it, those who don't aren't.

I know people who live in Manhattan that don't know where anything is in Queens, but then again they never go there either.

[rocafeller05]

I get into NYC maybe 3 times a year. The city life is not my cup of tea. But I do know the diff. districts and the subway system. I think for most LI'ers the city becomes obsolete when the kids come!

[Jdawg8181]

I know the numbered streets and avenues, those are easy to figure out. The village confuses me, I always get lost. I don't know the subway system at all b/c I usually just walk to wherever I am going but if it's in the village I have to ask or look up how to go.

Anyone who doesn't come to the city that often- whether they are from LI or not- probably wouldn't know. It's not just an LI thing.

[mgt04]

Originally Posted by Jdawg8181

Anyone who doesn't come to the city that often- whether they are from LI or not- probably wouldn't know. It's not just an LI thing.

Yup, I grew up in Bethpage in Nassau County and I probably went into the city once a year. It was just a pain to head out there taking the LIRR an hr to get there. I wouldn't even think about driving.

I got way more familiar with the area when I was dating my girlfriend now fiance who lived in Queens and she would frequent Chinatown and the rest of the city in general every weekend. Now I know the city pretty well after going there a lot. My new apt in Weehawken, NJ is one bus stop away from the Port Authority now so I'm there all the time.

[rh71]

I go out there maybe once a month via car. I don't know what you refer to as midtown or downtown by street numbers or areas alone. I mean I could learn but why would I need to? I just know the surrounding streets of the area I go to and the way there. We go to the restaurant where friends are celebrating whatever, then we head back onto the LIE and leave. City streets **** me off to no end with their one-ways and double-parkers. You want to hear about afraid? I'm afraid to park my car there without a bumper bully.

Anyway, if you've ever been more than a visitor to NYC, such as work there or live in the surrounding boroughs and take the trains through, then you'll think all that is common knowledge but it's really not to anyone else. NYC people probably think Jones Beach on LI is that entire strip of island down there. What do they care?

[Jdawg8181]

Originally Posted by rh71

I go out there maybe once a month via car. I don't know what you refer to as midtown or downtown by street numbers or areas alone. Why would I? I just know the surrounding streets of the area I go to and the way there. We go to the restaurant where friends are celebrating whatever, then we head back onto the LIE and leave.

If you've ever been more than a visitor to NYC, such as work there or commute through there frequently, then you'll think all that is common knowledge but it's really not. NYC people probably think Jones Beach on LI is that entire strip of island down there.

I don't think there is an actual border that clarifies uptown, downtown and midtown etc. I think penn station area-times square is midtown...village is downtown...anything above 50's is uptown...also if you are going higher or lower you would say I'm going downtown or I'm going uptown even if that's not really considered uptown. If you are taking the subway from Union Square to Penn Station, even though Penn station is generally considered midtown, for transit purposes you would be traveling uptown.

[dman72]

Some people on LI don't utilize anything that NYC has to offer. That is their choice. I question spending the absurd amounts of money that you have to in order to be able to live, while never utilizing the exact feature that causes it cost so much, but that's just me. If I was going to spend all my free time eating at Chili's in Holtsville, I'd seriously consider moving to North Carolina or Virginia because you can live the same lifestyle that you do here for about half as much.