Anon: No, I don’t need to ask. ;)

Baba Doodlius: Aren’t we all “old” in one way or another. To live each day is to inch closer to the day of your death.

Pen Pal: Chicago!!!! :) Ah, my beloved hometown. I like it and appreciate it more now that I don’t actually live there. And, believe it or not, I’ve never been to Philadelphia.

Jeffrey L. Wilson: Unlike 90% of the country? Dude, I’d say it’s unlike at least 95%. ;) And VERY good point about the roommate stuff!!

The Jaded NYer: Oooh, another native Brooklynite. You, Jeff and the other die hard BK folks should meet. :)

lamesabassman: Nathan’s hot dogs! I ate one in Coney Island ages ago. :) Good stuff but it’s not the same as eating a hot dog Chicago.

lamesabassman…… but Bklyn is hellacool……

lamesabassman….. and is 2 Steps Down in Ft. Greene still around…. killer place
to grub down…..

lamesabassman…… on point … from can see…. to can’t see…….. you can see it coming before it gets out of bed…… roll it like ya stole it…..

Why do I love Brooklyn? Because I can get everything and anything I want on MY side of the bridge. Honestly, when I worked in Bensonhurst I wouldn’t step foot in Manhattan for weeks and weeks, and that was A-OK with me.

Ahhh, Brooklyn… how I love you so…

It’s bubble in that its so unlike the other 90% of the county; its like old America in that it thrives on people coming from elsewhere, abandoning scrutiny and persecution to make it in a bit more open environment (at least its perceived that way).

As a lifelong native–I’ve lived all over Brooklyn, now in Midwood–I welcome those who are NY at heart. Those who recognize and realize the value and important of the mom and pop shop, not just the big franchises that have spread throughout suburbia. Maintaining neighborhood flavors while build to a common good.

I also follow your pattern: I frequent the Whole Foods, hit up Union Square, and visit Duane Reade. That’s part of the NYC. In fact, Union Square is one of the quinteseential NYC experiences (and perhaps most overlooked), as its the voicebox of the city, especially post 9/11. Whats happening on the other side of US may be a particular negative (we’ll see what happens when that construction finishes).

The one thing I’ve always wondered that may be decidedly “un-NYC” is the roommate situation. There seems to be a pattern that transplants are more likely to shack up as roommates, which may have been contributing to some of the skyrocketing rental prices in the past few years (after all 4 people can meet $2000/month, whereas one person may not). Verdict’s still out.