Housely
In just about every place in the world, there is a stereotype about the people who live in these places. The people who live on the Upper East Side of Manhattan are no exception. There are some stereotypes that don’t describe people from this area accurately and frankly they are just insulting. There are, however, some stereotypes that are pretty commonly accepted as being accurate. At least that’s what we’re finding. Here are 10 of them.
We Are Very Territorial
Those of us who live on the Upper East Side are true New Yorkers. We live in the depths of the city and we have earned the honor to call ourselves true New Yorkers. People who live in Queens, Staten Island, and The Bronx will also call themselves New Yorkers, however, to most of us, they haven’t earned that title.
Nothing Surprises Us
We walk down the street and we see tourists standing there staring at the cowboy playing the guitar in his underwear. They see a big guy in a Batman costume, and they want to take photos with him. Those of us who live on the Upper East Side barely glance in that direction, never mind stop. This is because we see these crazy things on a daily basis. There isn’t much in New York City that could surprise us. These things are uncommon on the streets where these tourists come from, but to us, this is daily life in NYC.
We Don’t Want to Commute West to Date
When we first meet someone and they say that they are from New York City, people on the Upper East Side need to know where. If the person says that they live in Queens, The Bronx, or Brooklyn, the first thing that we will think about is how many subways we are going to need to take just to visit the person at their home. We are not fans of commuting, therefore, we are very picky about the people we date. For example, if a person were to tell us that they live on Staten Island, chances are the conversation will end there.
Sightseeing With Us Isn’t Touristy
People who live on the Upper East Side would never be caught dead checking out the scenes at Times Square, visiting the Statue of Liberty, taking the elevator to the top of The Empire State Building to find love, and we rarely buy tickets Rockettes. If you are going to visit New York City for the first time and meeting up with a friend from the Upper East Side, you are better off buying a guide book and using that to see the sights. We would rather take you to eat at a fusion food truck, our favorite bagel shop, the opening of an art gallery, or our favorite bar. We have been in the city for so long, we don’t spend any time at the touristy destinations.
We All Move Fast
Life in the Upper East Side of New York City is very fast paced. If you cannot keep up with the pace, you will likely get trampled on the street. People here know that catching a cab is no easy task. The walk down to the subway can be further than our destination, and we know that driving is out of the question and most of us who grew up here never even learned to drive. Because of all this, those of us who live on the Upper East Side walk a lot. We walk so much that we have developed our own pace to get to our destination on time. The pace is a cross between walking and running. We can also multi-task and keep up with our pace. We can talk on the phone, send a text, and even eat a hot dog that we bought on the corner without losing any speed. It is a skill that takes time to learn.
We Love DTUT
DTUT is a favorite place for those of us who live on the Upper East Side because it changes as the day goes on. If you want a coffee or a cappuccino, it makes some of the best in the city. If you are walking by at night, you can go in and enjoy a craft beer. If at some point during the day your sweet tooth takes over, they have the best s’mores and fondue around. No matter what time you walk by this place, they are open and they are serving what you want.
We Have Tried Every Type of Cuisine Imaginable
The dining options on the Upper East Side and in the city, in general, are so vast that if you live here, you have tried just about everything. You can find Japanese-Spanish fusion on one corner and Ethiopian on the next. If you are part of the raw food movement, there are about 5 different restaurants within a 10 block radius that you can try. There is no other place in the world with so many choices within walking distance.
We Don’t Talk Like You Think We Do
There is a stereotype that people from the Upper East Side and most of Manhattan have a New York accent. This actually isn’t true. People from the Upper East Side might have a lazy R every once in a while, but if you want to hear the thick New York accent you would need to visit places like Staten Island, Brooklyn, and The Bronx.
We Can Tolerate Crowds
Those of us who live on the Upper East Side are very tolerant when it comes to crowds. We are used to getting on a crowded subway, we are used to walking on crowded streets, we are used to getting into crowded elevators to get to our office, and we are used to sitting in the best, crowded restaurants in the area. There are some people who live in other areas who get nervous in crowds, but we thrive on it.
The Black and White Cookie is a Staple
If you live on the Upper East Side, you will likely always have a black and white cookie in your apartment. With William Greenberg in the neighborhood, it is hard not to go in and buy a few. Not only are they the best cookies around, nobody in New York makes them like William Greenberg does.
While some of these stereotypes don’t represent everyone from this part of the city, it does for most.
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