What makes you a true New Yorker?

We asked notable city dwellers to share their recommendations and advice.

By Lauren Levinson Wed Mar 28 2012

Joe Zee

Joe Zee


Joe Zee, creative director of Elle and host of All on the Line with Joe Zee
“The cliché of ‘The City That Never Sleeps’ is the best description of a city where you can get anything you want, anytime you want. My first real feeling of being a true New Yorker was when I walked around on New Year’s Day the first year I arrived and realized everything was open.”

“A true New Yorker will always have an early Sunday morning breakfast—whether it’s coming home super late from a party or waking up early to enjoy the quiet of the city—in the greasiest diner-dive possible, with the Sunday papers. I love going to La Bonbonniere (28 Eighth Ave between 12th and Jane Sts; 212-741-9266) in the West Village with my Sunday Times and New York Post on early Sunday mornings. There’s nothing more special than [getting] eggs and bacon from there and leaving smelling like the food.”

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Comments & ratings

Rated as: 5/5 (1 rating)

  • <a href="http://chinastudygroup.net/2011/03/o-grada-review-of-dikotter/"> Your idea is magnificent</a>

    icon download Wed Oct 3 2012
    Rated as: 5/5
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  • Seriously TONY?

    Christine JO Fri Mar 30 2012
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  • Seriously TONY?

    Christine JO Fri Mar 30 2012
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  • Seriously TONY?

    Christine JO Fri Mar 30 2012
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  • Right. Of course, you're not going to publish that comment about fact checking the racial demographics of NYC. Great to be white and rich in NYC.

    nicnere Fri Mar 30 2012
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  • So, I suppose TONY now censors comments that do not agree with this offensive article. You'll just leave the one from the one profiled here to make this article palatable. That's ok, I have the screenshot of the unpublished comment. You're not the only one who has access to the internet and a blog.Welcome to Syria.

    occupy TONY Thu Mar 29 2012
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  • Hey guys, I'd like to jump in here to quickly thank the TIME OUT crew - who did an amazing job working with those who were interviewed. Lauren and their copy editing staff were professional throughout the wrangling process. Thank you to them for reaching out in the first place, for coordinating several busy schedules, and especially for taking the time to fact check. @Midwester Transplant Poster - Not that it matters (much) but I was born in Harlem and lived there until age 6, across from The Cotton Club. My father kept his NYC apartment until I was 14. He drove an NYC taxi cab - 1A57 - for over 25 years. I spent every Summer in the city until the age of 21, when I moved back permanently the day after college ended. AND, the best part of Minnesota is that locals are welcoming. I promise if you visited a friend there for a week and wanted to call yourself a Minnesotan, they'd let you.

    Soraya Darabi Wed Mar 28 2012
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  • I think this is an interesting list. However, as a native New Yorker, I am offended that there is not even one person of African descent on this list. This is not the first time I have experienced feeling excluded from Time Out. The selections you make are repeatedly geared towards white, middle and upper middle class New Yorkers(many of which are not "native New Yorkers". I suggest that Time Out reconsiders the demographic of New York City. It's a majority minority city. However, when people come to your website, they would think it is a predominately white city. It's not and it would be greatly appreciated if you represented and also catered to the tastes of NY's diverse population.

    OC Wed Mar 28 2012
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  • @ Peter even if Lauren gets fired, she'll just land another "journalistic writing " gig at either The Awl, Village Voice, or GothamShit -- blogs/publications about NYC written by non-new yorkers. Good to be white and beautiful in the insular world of NYC media. Kin Ying Lee said “Visit Brooklyn. You can’t call yourself a New Yorker if you have only seen Manhattan and not explored the other boroughs. This neighborhood is especially important to me because I live there with my family. Uhmm. have you explored other boroughs aside from Brooklyn? and "It is where we landed after moving here from Ohio." O.hi.o -- that.is. all How are the people profiled here notable city dwellers and true New Yorkers? You need to give yourself a timeout, time out New York.

    JOR Wed Mar 28 2012
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  • "I spent junior high and school in Minnesota, and I went to college in Washington, D.C. I moved back to New York six years ago." If I were to say this same thing about having attended college somewhere else and then moving back to Minnesota, does not make me a Minnesotan. Definitely written by a New York transplant who thinks NYC is comprised of only rich white trustafarian yunnies transplants, and most likely Lauren is one.

    not a mid westerner transplant Wed Mar 28 2012
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