the people
exceedingly (and sometimes annoyingly) unpretentious, passionate, and unflinching, they remain the best part about the burgh. i’ve been to thirty-six states, four countries, and two continents, yet i haven’t seen a group of people with the same combination of folksy wherewithal and metacognitive sincerity. a place where, since everybody knows their own name and what the hell theyre supposed to be doing, there’s no need for wolf tickets and disingeniousness. no flashes in the pan. just fries. with everything…
…cause if you spend your entire life with your heart on your sleeve, theres no shame in it attacking you when its time to go.
the radio jingle for davids shoes…which every black pittsburgher can recite on demand
” i get my shoes from davids. davids shoes in east libetttttttttttttttttty”
kennywood day
quoting sully:
“Kennywood is a Pittsburgh tradition and historic landmark founded in 1898. Completely ingrained in the Pittsburgh culture, it’s practically assumed that every school districy, township, borough and several companies will host an annual Kennywood Day.
Virtually every Pittsburgher visits Kennywood each year and many more than once. Many end up working there at some point. I currently work with at least 2 ex-Kennywood employees, one of whom is married to an ex-Kennywood employee. Having lived in other cities, I can think of no other amusement park as completely ingrained in a cities identity as Kennywood.”
the friday before a steeler game
from baby’s with big ben bibs to sweet and senile grandmothers spewing savages swears at the mere mention of a seattle seahawk or baltimore bird, the entire city becomes a single-minded molitov cocktail: the borg with black and gold fangs
put it this way: downtown pittsburgh the friday before a steeler game is the only place in the country you’ll see lawyers rocking polamalu jerseys underneath $200 dollar jones new youk suits from burlington $3,000 zegna suits.
thats enough about me. tell us, people of verysmartbrothas.com: where are you from, and what about it makes you smile?
—the champ
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{ 514 comments… read them below or add one }
you forgot to mention that Pgh-ers are TERRIBLE with directions. they don’t know how to get anywhere that is outside of their hood/borough/township/wherever. getting lost in pgh is the worst!
@Gem Possible, yeah, that’s because we’re not a grid city, and we’re hilly. but you still love it, don’t front
it’s hilly and there’s no grid (lord help), but i know this city and how to get from here to there better than most pghers i know.
and heaven forbid you get lost just outside the city. ppl can’t tell you how to get back. *smh*
@Gem Possible, ooh good, since you know your way around in a car, you can teach me the shortcuts when i move back. and i’ll show you how to ride PAT. no?
@Miss Patterson,
Yeah, Pittsburgh is one of those places where you know how to get where you’re going, but it’s hard to explain how to get there. Mainly because the city is hilly and not on a grid, plus there’s ALWAYS a detour. PENN DOT has been working on the same spots on 65 since I was 3, and I still have yet to figure out what they’re doing.
@Voiceofreason,
PENN DOT has been working on the same spots on 65 since I was 3, and I still have yet to figure out what they’re doing
dirty joke:
what does penndot and a lesbian have in common?
two things that dont do d*ck
@The Champ,
dayum.
I just realized I have been to Kennywood. When I was at CMU they took us there.
And not to be a hater but that reminds me of PGH’s crappy mass transit system that SHUTS DOWN!! I took a bus to some movie theater on the water. By time I left the movie…no more buses! We (like 15 of us) had to walk through peaks and valleys and rivers and hell for what felt like more than 5 miles just to get back to campus. To make it worse, we missed curfew. Hmph!
@Gem Possible,
you forgot to mention that Pgh-ers are TERRIBLE with directions. they don’t know how to get anywhere that is outside of their hood/borough/township/wherever. getting lost in pgh is the worst!
i have to admit, this is true. ive lived in the city for 25 years, and i’m just now able to tell someone how to get to the west end
I love this site and have been reading for a while. Thanks for doing what you do. 1st!
@moks, well almost 1st
I’m from the DMV. Our unique taste in fashion and music makes me smile and I love the word bamma. It never gets old!
@moks, oh it gets old to folks from ALABAMA! LOL. J/K. I get the evolution of the term, I have learned to not take it personally. Although, now that I think about it, maybe I just know too many DMV people, d’ahwell! Wouldn’t want to ditch them!
@moks,
welcome!!!
*shooting gold stars*
@moks,
thanks and sh*t, and welcome
im shatani and im from boston….things that make me smile about boston…
-the duck tour! we started that ish and its amphibious! i love walking down the street downtown and having a duck tour go by and hearing them quack at you….good times!
-i love the low budget commercials for the local businesses that put a jingle in your head that never leaves!
-the rabid red sox fans make me smile…drunken a-holes *love*
-the crazy mofos you encounter on the T
-the swan boats at Boston Commons
i haven’t been to boston in many many years. but i didn’t like it when i was there (i was only a teenager tho), and vowed not to go back to NE. but a good friend of mine is moving there and since its the home of my Celts i’m willing to give it another try.
@Gem Possible,
theres lots to NOT love about boston too…but there are definitely things that make me smile.
like papa gino’s!!! that pizza is so effing good!
i feel you. i def plan to do up the bean experience once i get up there (while being on the look out for mah boo KG)
@Gem Possible, Don’t bother. I went to undergrad there and besides wings at Slades and fine Cape Verdean men…Boston is not a good look!
@shatani,
…I thought the best thing about Boston was the accent:
“Pahk the cah in the yahd.”
“Throw the trash in the bahrrel.”
“Put it in the top, left drah.”
…love it.
@Resident GRitS,
it is rather fun, that accent…ive been away from home for so long, that it now sounds foreign to me. so, it always makes me smile.
@Resident GRitS,
I remember watching “This Old House” with my Dad when I was younger and I was always fascinated with the Boston accent.
@shatani, (smile)….kupel’s bagels in brookline, fenway park (hot dogs & beer), lucky strike lanes, the boston public library, dunkin donuts, the bertram inn and the green dragon tavern.
@Miss Patterson,
awww…i forgot dunkin donuts! boston public library is no fan of mine, im sure…but i did love it there as a kid. all im sayin is, when you let three 16-year olds leave the library with about 60 books each…on the real, you never wanted those books back! stop tryin to blame me for your poor judgment, boston public library!!
i’d like to also add to the list….newbury comics, those little brass statues of the ducks at boston common, fanueil hall and haymarket, sweet & nasty (best place on earth! they bake pornographic cakes on the premises!)
@shatani, dunkin donuts is good but they aint got shyt on Krispy Kreme!
@shay_d_lady,
Down here, we rep Shipley’s Donuts.
@Sula is Swamped,
You better tell ‘em.
@Sula is Swamped,
Why do we only have one Shipley’s in all of Austin and it’s nowhere close to me?
*sigh*
They go hard!!
@shatani,
oh, and i do so miss Boston Garden…
@shatani,
We have the duck tour here as well. I keep saying I’m gonna take it one day…lol
@miss t-lee,
I think Philly has ducks too. I like the quacking as well
.
I thought Boston was really clean and pretty but yall have this lil rep with racism that makes me wanna stay far away.
@Me fail english?,
yes, philly does have the ducks…but boston started that ish!
and yes, boston does have a seedy underbelly of racism…round the south end gets real dangerous for a negro.
its a nice place to visit but i have no intentions of living there.
@shatani,
I’ve never been to Boston, but I really want to visit and attend a BoSox game. And House Hunters on HGTV makes Boston look like a
expensivenice plave to live.@N.I.A. fabuloussince1982….,
it is ridiculously expensive! part of the reason i have no intentions of moving back. it is virtually impossible to live someplace decent by yourself, even as a working adult!
if i ever get rich enough to live in beacon hill, i would move back. lol
@shatani,
I’m from Boston too!
I love ‘Frappes’ from Brighams Ice Cream
#5 from Spinale’s Subs (“Down Dudley”)
The Frog Pond in the summer
The Tree Lighting at the Pru
Newbury Street (where I can afford nothng)
.. and the fact that you can pretty much walk the entire city.
p.s. My love for Dunkin Donuts is borderline stalkerish.
@Oola72,
woot woot!!!
i forgot about the tree lighting! i love it! that whole area down in copley is fabulous….
oh, and i love fire and ice…that mongolian barbecue joint. i think its at the arlington stop on the green line.
newbury street is pretty fab…my friend and i always used to go to allston beat and check out all the stuff we couldnt buy. thats where sweet n nasty is…on the corner of newbury and mass ave.
@shatani, I live in Boston now. Been here for over 3 years. We should chat about this place.lol.
@Slim Jackson,
lmao…yes indeed we should! i would really have to get a super well-paying job to move back to boston. i hope thats why you went! lol
@shatani,
i’m from Boston as well and I did a little dance in my office at the Prudential when I saw your post :]
I love Boston for its history, for all of the schools, and for all of the delicious pastries I get from the North End on my lunch break… And I can’t forget to mention Doc Rivers and the Celtics as one of the most amazing things about my city. Go C’s!!
@revengeof thenerdette,
You’re like 2 T stops away from me right now.lol.
@revengeof thenerdette,
woot! *singin* the rock, the prudential. abooooove and beyond!
girl, the north end is DANGEROUS…those little italian restaurants and bakeries are terrible. they put a hurtin on your wallet AND your waistline! lol
i remember as a kid hanging out in copley square…those were the days. movies were all cheap and they never carded us! lol….and i do love a college town. i moved from one right into another here in philly. philly has a very different feel to it though….hard to explain.
@shatani,
You mean like “Bernie & Phyl’s, quality, comfort and price, that’s nice!” lol
@tatica,
YES!!!! theres so many of them…it takes one night at home and im singing them for weeks after ive left! lol
@shatani,
I was in Boston last week-end, and it was my second time there. I like the intellectual vibe I get from the city… The austerity of the buildings and constructions… very puritan, very New England.
@Sula is Swamped,
it is certainly the epitome of new england…especially downtown where they have the cobbled roads and you can follow the freedom trail and whatnot. i do love the feel of the city.
I’m from Rochester, NY – a place where everyone knows everyone. You can’t go to the mall, grocery store, club, or anywhere else without bumping into someone that you know. People keep it very real and sarcasm is the norm.
@Leila,
i went to college in rochester, ny! woohoo! RIT
@Leila,
been to rochester twice. all i remember about that city were the kodak signs everywhere. there were alot of trees too
@The Champ,
you must have mist the gray….i still believe rachacha to be the seasonal affective disorder capital of the country!! ive never seen a place so dismal and gray for so much of the year.
@shatani, I can’t argue with you there. The weather was pretty depressing and it seems like winter lasts forever. It was cool growing up there, but I’m very happy that I left. The only things that I miss are my family and Wegmans. The dollar movies was cool too…
i was born and raised in Chicago…left when I was 21, but go back 3 times a year for extended trips…things that make me smile then and now…
watching/listening to Harry Carey on WGN during Sunday afternoon Cub games
um, singing along to “moo n oink” and “588-2300” Empire commercials
eating Italian Beefs, deeped, with hot peppers and side order of cheese fries w/ hot peppers
Humbodlt Park’s Puertorican parade celebration
as a teenager…loving the neon lights on rides w/ “systems”
Chicago’s L system in spite of the urine smell in our downtown tunnels
have lived in dmv area since I was 23…tried using bamma in Chicago and got the stare down…they weren’t having it…
@ Champ “metacognitive” thanks for expanding my vocabulary and knowledge…
just thinking of my recent past visits to chicago make me smile
i love your hometown
@maria,
“bamma”
You gon’ make me cry. sniff
@maria, one day before i die, i’d like to visit during the ‘taste of chicago’.
@Miss Patterson,
i’ve been probably 5 times…i don’t do crowds too well…add Chicago’s humidty, swirls of food aromas & odors from sweaty Chicagoians plus being a fat@** greedy-must-try-every-thing and you could end up with nausea & vomiting lol
i was gonna go to taste of DC last summer but they cancelled it? smh.
bonus plug for chicago: Navy Pier, Michigan Ave., Grant Park concerts and sh*t
@maria,
every single time i hear somebody from chicago complain about humidity a little piece of my soul dies. i’m surprised i’m still living. im’ma have to dig up that last horcrux to survive. y’all don’t KNOW nuthin’ ’bout humidity. lol.
@SouthernGirl,
Tell em Chicago has it good. I was in Miami once in July. Felt like Jesus -n- The Holy Ghost had forsaken me outside.
@SouthernGirl,
Girl preach! I was in Chicago from June to December… and folks were complaining about the humidity. I was like, are you kidding me? Please try Houston in August, then come back and tell me about humidity.
@Sula is Swamped,
“Please try Houston in August”
They don’t know nothing about that humidity!!! It’s no punk!
Even here in Austin…when they say 100% humidity, they freakin’ mean it.
@SouthernGirl,
i know about humidity, i lived in little rock in july…camped in a tent in florida for 3 weeks, and in sc for two summers, but still, chicago’s summers can whip ur as@…
and as champ mentioned our winters aint no joke…when ur boogers freeze in ur nose cos its just that cold, well then u know things just aint right lol..
and it can snow a blizzard nothing shuts down, u still gotta take ur a^& to work, class..etc
@Miss Patterson, me and the fam went to the taste about 2 years ago.. we had a GREAT time and the food.. smh….it was great…..
@Miss Patterson,
Yes, Pattiecakes!!! You MUST come for the “Taste of Chicago”!
@maria,
Chitown STAND UP!!!!
P.S. My reasons are listed wayyy below
@maria,
watching/listening to Harry Carey on WGN during Sunday afternoon Cub games
Does he really talk like Will Ferrell used to make him sound?
@Me fail english?,
Yo real talk yes. Ole boy used to get bored n sauced. Midwest style. Oddly enough nobody goes hard like in the midwest. I mean the drinking till u pass out n get up and drink some more. Eating till you see another stretch mark appear…
@WuDaMan,
Haha, this reminds me of that SNL skit where Chris Farley and two others (I forget) sit around swilling beer, eating nachos and talking about “Duh Buhrs” (The Bears)
@maria,
OOOh big ups on the Harry Carey 7th inning stretch song. N them commercialls
We got baby baby baby spare ribs… lol
n empire wooo hoo.
@maria,
I absolutely, positively love Chicago. It’s just something about the city that warms my heart. Like a cleaner, more laid-back, more authentic New York. If I ever move anywhere else in the US, it will def be to Chicago.
Love it!
@maria,
“um, singing along to “moo n oink” and “588-2300” Empire commercials ”
YES! I love how Empire dude is now computer generated. What is he, 125 years old?
Oh, and Eagle Man! I’ve got something…for youuuuuuu.
@maria,
eating Italian Beefs, deeped, with hot peppers and side order of cheese fries w/ hot peppers
this sounds unbelievably good
@maria,
btw, i’ve mentioned this before, but until i receive word otherwise, chicago, illinois is the coldest city on earth. every time ive been there ive been colder than anyones even been before anywhere else
@The Champ,
What not Mineapolis St Paul???
@WuDaMan,
I am sorry but Montreal, QC takes the cake for me.
They called the paramedics at the club because my stupid ass wore open-toe shoes to the club(WHAT WAS I THINKING!!!) which slowed circulation to my feet…
*smh*
@Sula from BabiLand,
roflmao, wow, terrible…
@Sula from BabiLand,
I bet you was cute though before your feet turned blue.
oh… and i’m from San Diego. which basically means i stay classy. whats not to like about the Diego?? everything about SD is beautiful. the weather, the people, the landscape, the skyline, the beaches, the wide streets, the 4-lane highways, the greenery. everything. i’ve even found beauty in the hoods, the dingy corner stores down the street, the liquor store with a sign that reads “beer and tacos”, and the orange and yellow striped taco shop shaped like a barrel (and thus called “the barrel” though it’s actual name is “el vaqueros”) that’s open 24hrs with the most traffic occurring between 12a-3a. and gettin quality rolled tacos or a carne asada burrito/fries/nachos late at night is a beautiful thing.
i love that most homes have front yards and backyards and actual garages (living in the ATL i mostly saw “car ports”). i love that i can go to the beach in mid january without a coat, walk on the sand, watch a game of bball, or ride rides at a nearby amusement park. i love that i can see the Mexican border and Mexican flag from my favorite outlet mall. i love that our city is filled with filipinos and samoans. i love that there are nail shops on every corner and i can get a full set for $12. i love socal slang spoken in a high pitched voice. i love that i know all my neighbors. i love that we have outdoor malls and outdoor schools. i love that we have a shopping/entertainment district called “fashion valley”. i love that we have see’s (TM) candy. i love that we have jack in the box and in and out burger. i love that our airport is IN san diego (downtown, on the harbor). i love that we don’t have to import our seafood, we get it fresh!! i love our perfect weather. i love our world famous zoo.
it warms my heart to hear so many ppl say that San Diego is their favorite place to visit. i def think it’s the most wonderful gorgeous city in the US. but most importantly, San Diego makes me smile becuz it’s HOME and that’s where my heart is.
@Gem Possible,
mmmmmmm carde asada! yum
whatchu know bout that carne asada?? lol
@Gem Possible,
oh trust- marinate in lime juice con salt and throw that joint on the grill…get some corn tortillas and make some fresh salsa verde, throw some chopped onions and cilantro on it…now what’cha you know about dat lol combine w/ chilled beer of ur choice
my beer(s) of choice tecate w/ lime & salt
or modelo especial w/ side shot of don julio
damn, wish i wasn’t at work & could actually live out my comment right now…lol
@maria, gurrl, whatchu know about tecate with lime & salt? i got (half of a) six pack in my fridge right now!
and modelo…where you at?
@Miss Patterson,
Ok now Miss Patterson, sounds like we need to meet up sometime lol i’m in dc…
@maria, i’m in los angeles (for now)…next vsb club fiesta in dc, we’ll need pop open a few tecates.
@maria,
where you said you at again???
shoot everyone looks at me crazy for the Tecate with lime and salt… they just don’t know.. with some grilled flank steak…..
I do a shot of Cuervo gold and lime in my modelo…
@maria, well scuuuuuuuuse me!!! sounds like you’re my kinda gal
@Gem Possible,
shooooot
I had some carne asada last night…lol
man i’m jealous!!! i can’t eat a lot of beef so i don’t buy it unless i’m cookin “mexican” for the homies.
@maria,
I wanna visit SoCal strictly for the bangin Mexican food. I hear from transplants/tourists that that is like the hardest food to get authentic in NY (we don’t have a large Mex pop. at all)
@Me fail english?,
cosign as the truth…even here in dc, the salvadorian owned resturants being faking they mexican and truly they are not…i am 1/2 mexican so i glad throw down and cook my food no matter where i’m transplanted…and my friends know this…lol
@Gem Possible,
ive wanted to move to san diego for a long time!
i don’t typically or necessarily recommend it as a place to live for grown single black folks lol
@Gem Possible,
I’m heading down to San. D for the weekend next week. I’ve been in the OC for the past two years, and I still haven’t made it down there. Shame on me.
awww the OC. well i’m not surprised you haven’t been–ppl in cali tend not to leave their respective cities unless it’s to visit relatives lol. even then, they still don’t really visit the city. i was a teenager before i actually explored LA lol.
but i’m sure you’ll enjoy your visit!! hit up all the tourist spots like Coronado Island (Hotel Del Coronado particularly), Old Town, Balboa Park/Zoo, La Jolla beach and Torrey Pines (very OC-ish lol), Gaslamp District (downtown), Mission and Fashion Valleys (shopping/entertainment districts), and chill at the harbor near the airport–lots of great seafood restaurants.
@Gem Possible, you know what i enjoy most about san diego? walking along mission bay & mission beach, writing & sipping a latte @ claire de lune in north park, the hustler store in the gaslamp district (i’m kidding), the opera house (my best friend sang there, she’s an opera singer) the sunsets, that little sushi place that doesn’t open until 6 (but has a line at 530p) & has the best sashimi i’ve ever tasted, the weather of LA minus the pollution and congestion, the mission diner, and the cheap two hour coastal trip on the train to get there (beautiful). p.s.-there’s a dessert place there i always want to check out, but never make it to…dangit, it will come to me later.
sounds like you do it BIG in my city patticakes. a lot of SD has changed since i’ve been there and going home is like learning new places all over again. and isn’t the train ride up/down the coast FAB?? soooo beautiful and peaceful.
and mission bay was one of my fave spots growing up. hit up Black Sundays (aka the sundays when all the black folk, esp the hoods, were out). check out belmont park.
my new fave beach walk spot is Coronado. hang by Hotel Del and walk into the “downtown” area and go for ice cream or coffee. it’s lovely.
@Gem Possible, and another thing…where are the brothas in SD? i’ve never actually seen one when i’m there visiting. i’m just curious and sh*t.
honestly i don’t see many brothas (who aren’t with 2520 or asian girls) in spots like downtown, La Jolla, mission valley, etc. they’re either in the hood or hiding out somewhere.
every time my parents go out to some function (either thru my dad’s HU alum chapter or his “prof men’s group”) my mom is tellin me about some fine young man that i’d just LOVE if i were there lol. so just holla at moms if you tryna see some educated brothas.
@Gem Possible,
My cousin lives in San Diego now, and he absolutely loves it!! Said he will never live SC again (who can blame him, I won’t either). Over Christmas, he basically sold me on the idea of living in San Diego, or at least coming for a visit.
@N.I.A. fabuloussince1982….,
I’ve been thinking about moving to San Diego ever since I went to my cousin’s wedding there. It’s a beautiful city.
wow, i don’t know many young ppl that move to SD, esp if they didn’t go to college/grad school there. maybe your cousin knows where i could hang when i go back to visit lol
@Gem Possible, San Diego is a beautiful city! I love the beaches:)
@Gem Possible,
What I love about San Diego? The gorgeous weather, the airport in the middle of the city, the fact that I can run in the streets and oddly feel at home…. And the friday afternoons at Plan B were to die for (I heard it’s now closed…
)
@Gem Possible,
the whale vagina does sound like a great place to be and sh*t
and another thing (can you tell i’m refusing to work on my comps presentation??)…
primanti’s sandwiches make me want to regurgitate. even the very sight *making a stank face at the post’s pic*
@Gem Possible, gemmie, those are fightin’ words. regurgitate! we’re going to need to have a little talk.
cole slaw makes me gag and my esophagus gets spastic at the mere thought of it mixed with meat, fries, and bread. yuck!
@Gem Possible, but have you tried it? it’s not like kfc coleslaw (which i hate) it’s delish! perhaps i should create a tour of miss p’s divine memories. let’s see, it shall begin with dancing in the fountain outside the ppg building, and then…
yes, i have tried it. and so i KNOW that i don’t like the taste.
and i may or may not have already done a jig or 2 in the ppg fountain on a late summer night…
@Gem Possible,
After the first look at the pic, I refused to look closer, lest I figure out the ingredients of said atrocity. Now you’ve gone and listed them. We ain’t friends no mo’.
@Gem Possible,
primanti’s sandwiches make me want to regurgitate. even the very sight *making a stank face at the post’s pic*
I agree. This sandwich isn’t even good after a night of drinking.
@Gem Possible,
to be perfectly honest, i’m not a fan of those sandwiches either. i just included it because of the visceral reaction im sure it’ll receive
@The Champ, i know, i know, you think they’re overrated, but you disappoint sir. *smh*
i’m from a place that sadly, is still a shell of its former self. My childhood home and almost everything that I grew up knowing is gone but I still put on for my city. What makes me smile:
*we don’t have sidewalks. it’s the neutral ground
*walking down canal street dodging the street cars after school
*I don’t have to ask if the seafood is fresh or if the tea is sweet
*two words: mardi gras.
*food like nowhere else in the world
*there’s no such thing as head east/west/north/south on X street…it’s go like you going to tasha’s house, make a left on X street, keep going til you see such and such and make a right at the blue house on the corner.
(if one more chicago person tells me the lake is east and expect me to automatically translate that into some directions I will scream. I know that but if i’m not familiar with where I am in the first place and the sun ain’t out how the f^ck am I supposed to know which way is east? i’m getting better though)
*that lazy NO drawl when someone says, ‘yes in deed’, ‘say red let me holla at ya’, ‘how yo’ mama and ‘nem?’ or ‘baaaaaaby’
*that we ‘make’ not ‘buy’ groceries
*wearing shorts in february
*the way people nod and say hello to strangers on the street
*the low budget commercials! 1825 Tulane! or (man one to customer) you gotta go see the special man…(special man) let her have it! and she walks out with $300 worth of discount furniture
*boys with their starched dickie’s and girbaud jeans
*how hard people anywhere near the vacinity of the city will rep for NO. ninja you ain’t from NO. you from slidell/metairie/kenner.
*laughing at tourists wearing mardi gras beads in august. two more words: easy target
*I miss bayou classic. go jags!
*I didn’t realize a what a county was until…only BBJ knows when. we have parrishes.
tis all for now…
@SouthernGirl is New Orleans,
Awww…my daddy used to live in Nawlins before Katrina and I have lots of happy memories of it. My 12 year old self got quite the education on Bourbon Street. Good times.
@SouthernGirl is New Orleans,
“*I don’t have to ask if the seafood is fresh or if the tea is sweet”
Love my sweet tea!!!
@SouthernGirl is New Orleans,
I NEED to visit Nawlins soon! I ain’t never been. Maybe I’ll tag along w/ VEG one of these times. hehe
@Luvvie,
You are always welcome. Planning a return in April to see my maw maw. I didn’t see her in Jan or last week (shame on me!)
@SouthernGirl is New Orleans,
“that we ‘make’ not ‘buy’ groceries”
–my sister and I just had this conversation. I think this is a La thing, though.
That, and the fact that contrary to popular belief, the term “cold drink” specifically refers to carbonated beverages.
@SouthernGirl is New Orleans,
“that we ‘make’ not ‘buy’ groceries”
–my sister and I just had this conversation. I think this is a La thing, though.
That, and the fact that contrary to popular belief, the term “cold drink” specifically refers to carbonated beverages.
@Nikiloveli,
I love the “cold drank” thang though.
I learned that fast…lol
@miss t-lee,
glad you did. i still be giving folks the side eye talm ’bout ‘you want a soda/pop?’ i be like a foreign kid doing translation in my head…yes, i would like a cold drink. lol
@Nikiloveli,
hmmm…yes and no about “making groceries” is a louisiana thing. i find it sporadic in other parrishes. my bff is from shreveport and she’s makes fun of me all the time for saying that.
same thing with the “cold drink.” when i went to NSU in northern louisiana a lot of them say ‘soda’
@SouthernGirl is New Orleans,
cosign everything you said.
Plus, I love N.O. cuz no one, ever, ever asks: ‘what you mixed with?’ like they do every freakin where else
@iloVEGrits,
nope. because most just assume you’re mixed with something anyway. or folks be claiming their mixed-ness all proud and stuff… anyways, the more appropriate question would probably be what AREN’T you mixed with. lol.
@iloVEGrits,
I’m always lurking, but this made me smile from ear to ear. That’s why I will always love my home.
@SouthernGirl is New Orleans,
all of these food channels on comcast has made me want to take an extended visit to new orleans. really, all of my dream destinations revolve around food
@The Champ,
you should. your belly will thank you.
@SouthernGirl is New Orleans,
i used to go to DU…i miss the n.o. so freakin much…used to be too confused about how it seemed like there was no “legal” age for doin anything there tho…gettin into clubs and drinkin and whatnot at 17
the food is amazing…i still have daydreams about shrimp from deanies
i so miss how yall talk…i swear its an entirely different language..where “drove” means upset
@missjess,
lol@ drove! so true….or how somebody was “dragging for you” if they were talking smack about you because they were mad at you. *sigh* i miss home.
@SouthernGirl is New Orleans,
Yay for the Jags! I went to Southern U., so N.O. is my second home. I fell in love with that damn N.O. accent (literally). I go through withdrawals around Mardi Gras, but I’m always there for the Classic. Be there for Jazzfest! What you know about yea and no after a statement. “I’m ’bout to go, yea!” LOL
I’m from Memphis, so I love:
Saying “mane” before, in the middle and after statements. It can evoke many emotions….just depends on how you say it
Beale Street in the summer
Bert’s and Greg’s commercials (“I looovvvee to see Greg’s guys doing it!”)
Old school 3-6 Mafia
Libertyland (our makeshift theme park)
Funnel cakes at the Mid-South Fair
Being proud that I have NEVER been to Graceland, but lived in the same neighborhood for years
Having the same black mayor for more than 15 years
@Southern Lady,
“Having the same black mayor for more than 15 years”
This cat is a gangstar too. ‘GET THE HELL OUT OF MY OFFICE!’ LMAO!
i’m from the Burgh, (Pittsburgh, that is) and I love every gritty thing about it. i love that i can walk around the city and remember every sweet moment i ever had growing up: the kaufmann’s (now macy’s) chocolatier where my mother bought me chocolate turtles,the kool jazz festivals lying in the park with my mother, the grey skies that i daydream in, the arts festivals with fried veggies & cheese and funnel cakes, shopping with my dad in the strip district on saturday mornings, salt sticks at fresh bakeries, watching the boats during the regatta, thick homemade milkshakes at the passavant hospital diner, the kiss at point park, meaty ribs & fish sandwiches in the hill, the aerial view of the civic arena after a pens game, the love potluck at bidwell presby, holding hands on the north shore, and making angels in the snow in my backyard. i’ve been to most of the neighborhoods in the burgh either by a wrong turn or a missed stop on the PAT, and it’s through this exposure (and the 5 schools i went to) that gave me a well-rounded upbringing. it’s not LA (thank God), but it’s home. pittsburgh holds my memories…good and bad. it’s a city packed with writing prompts, and as a writer i wouldn’t trade it for the world.
p.s.- i love pgh ‘mom & pops’ food. good sh*t. but fries at the O still melt my heart.
pgh’s grey skies make me want to drown in my own tears. talk about DEPRESSING. 200 days of cloudy, overcast, darkness is just enough to make anyone want to slit their wrists and do push-ups in salt water. like omg it sucks. but when it’s sunny, it is FAB!!
and as much as i have a love-hate relationship with this place, the fact that the Hill is the birth place of August Wilson and setting of his plays makes me happy to bask in all of the gritty glory of pixburg
@Gem Possible, come on… i gave sd some love, so you can give love to pgh too. ok, now you’re talking…august wilson. i’m gonna be the female version of him when i grow up. but, instead of a playwright, i’ll be a short story/novel writer. how’s that pixburgh?
i always drive passing by his used-to-be-house. and me and my girl really did go look for Aunt Esther’s red door on Wiley lol.
and i’m def gonna support you sis. send me some stuff to read please and thanks.
@Gem Possible, you know i miss pgh thunderstorms a lot. in fact i used to love when the lights would flicker. that’s prime bugs bunny/tom & jerry time right there! gemmie do i need to come out there and show you how it’s done? you too can learn to love a cloudy day.
i’m from socal. there’s nothing normal about so much cloudiness. there’s only so much a sane person can take. seriously, i get seasonal depression up in this joint.
@Gem Possible,
pgh’s grey skies make me want to drown in my own tears. talk about DEPRESSING. 200 days of cloudy, overcast, darkness is just enough to make anyone want to slit their wrists and do push-ups in salt water. like omg it sucks.
SOOOO true! I have added myself to the SAD study group.They should have put this in the grad student brochure. I might have actually sucked it up and went to sunny Cali.
indeed!!
@Miss Patterson,
I wish I could co-sign. There are definitley some great things about Pittsburgh, but I didn’t get to experience them all because growing up here I was always in Sewickley, Rochester, Beaver Falls or somewhere in between. I’ve been gone for almost 10 years, and now that I’m back I find it to be a pretty slow city which is cool for right now. I need to chill after living such a stressful life in NY. I was on my way to developing an aneurysm there. Seriously. Since I left my road rage has improved and I’m not constantly angry. Lol.
@Miss Patterson, awww… I love this post.
@Miss Patterson,
its amazing how closely everyones positive hometown experiences are tied into food
I think my comment is stuck in some sort of dante’s inferno moderation limbo!
i’m going to bed.
@SouthernGirl is New Orleans,
see, thats what you get for cussin! lol
@shatani,
lol. i tried to fix it!!! i did!
WEll I am from Memphis, TN…I love so much about my city…
The memphis Bridge
Mud Island river park museum.. there is a repllica of the mississippi river running through the museum and I used to love to take my shoes off and walk through it..there is also a life size replica of a piggly wiggly store from the 1800′s(everything but the slaves)
the mid south fair… funnel cakes and smoked turkey legs…ummmmm
the petrified forrest that was in the downtown Goldsmiths (now macys) that use to scare the shyt out of me every christmas
the blue city black history tour which takes you to all the historical spots in memphis good and bad, the auction spot where slaves where auctioned, and actual stop on the underground railroad etc etc…
Of course Beale Street….
The bar-b-q
STax Museum
Civil Rights Museum
The fact that its a little big town…..
I love how we rep for our city
That we have a black mayor that has actually done shyt for our community and the only real controversy he has experienced is having a young a$$ baby momma
Memphis Tigers basketball
The music I mean from Justin Timberlake to Eightball and MJG to Isaac Hayes…..
(side note Ball and G aint from Houston they are from Memphis by way of Orange Mound..).
Most importantly its my life here that has made me the person that I am today .. i have had some pretty unique experiences here in the M…..LOL
as grimy as memphis is, i loved spending my thanksgivings during college there. i’ve seen the good bad and ugly of that city and enjoyed every minute of it.
i will say i was was SHOCKED, shocked i tell ya, to hear uncut/unedited/explicit lyrics on the radio at oh i dunno the middle of the dang afternoon!! LOL i couldn’t believe my ears. and interestingly, memphis was the only place i’d listen to 3-6, proj pat, eightball & mjg, etc and actually liked it without feeling dirty/vulgar/nasty.
@Gem Possible, I have never heard unedited versions of songs on the radio.. I mean the editing is bad and you know what the word is but there is still a half hearted attempt … but then it could also depend on your definition of explicit … I might be desensitized to it LMAO but yeah these rap artists down her get filthy with it which is why me and my daughter are on that radio disney….LOL
@shay_d_lady, four words: Jim Neely’s Interstate BBQ. (i think i love food. and it’s becoming quite apparent through today’s topic.) how awesome is it to exit a plane and be welcomed with the smell of bbq wafting through the air…lovely, i tell ya…just lovely.
@Miss Patterson, Miss Patterson.. Girl you better say that.. interstate is that SHYT… A and R is good too…. but interstate OMG….girl I shall have to make that drive tomorrow!!!!
@shay_d_lady
I like Memphis too. My daddy is from Forrest City, AK and Memphis is the closest REAL city. So we used to spend summers between FC and Memphis. Matter of fact, I was just down that way about 2 weeks ago.
Al Green is from Forrest City. I always tell my daddy that they may be brothers….
@Shay_d_lady,
I couldn’t have said it better myself…got me homesick and sh*t…
@shay_d_lady,
Yes Isac Hayes was fun as all get out. When my Great Grandma passed. The cousins kicked it in the vip of his club w/ Juicy J. Moet mimosas everywhere.
n why do people get in the faux mississippi river? I remember Granddaddy taking us to it. I thaught it was cool to be on the cable cars n stuff. Uh great times.
Don’t get me started on the shinanigance that went down Thanksgiving 2007 on Belle street.
@shay_d_lady,
you know, ive been a fan of the memphis tigers since the days of penny hardaway
@The Champ,
Word Up The Champ. Penny was that dude. You remember he had them comercials w/ the puppet penny. Did Scottie Pippen go there or was that arkansas and he was a sigma? N E way.
197% of the things listed won’t be familiar to anyone, but I’ve been really, really homesick lately; this entire excercise was very cathartic for me.
Nairobbery, born and raised.
(Currently residing in the OC. 2003-2007 spent in Dallas).
Things that make me happy (and that I miss, dearly) about Nairobi:
1. Roasted maize with chilli , roasted peanuts, mabuyus, mangoes with salt and chilli, all sold by the side of the road for crazy cheap.
2. The kiosks on Hurlingham road that sold mandazi (a type of donught) the size of my head, and the best tasting bhajias on the planet.
3. Never needing a car. You just hop on a minivan (official name Matatus/what I and everyone called them: mathrees) at any time of the day, and it’ll take you wherever. Before the government enacted new ‘safety laws’ every mathree was painted some crazy color, had music loud enough to shatter eardrums, had a driver that drove like a blind wombat, never stopped at the designated stations, just wherever they felt compelled to and always, always carried three times over the vehicle’s capacity.
4.) Six-seven preachers in every city park (this count does not include their translators; who would, inevitably, in the middle of the sermon stop translating and start giving their own version or a completely new sermon.)
6.)Nyama choma (roasted meat), ugali and kachumbari from Kenyatta Market.
5.) Rock nights at this club known as Carnivore. The place was packed, packed, freaking overflowing with the most delicious, scrumptilious Indian guys.
6.)WIMPY!!!! The two twins that ran the Wimpy counter at Sarit center, and their yummmyy veggie burger (I still haven’t found any burger in the States that compares to it.)
7.) Kenchik (and the kuku porn (chicken porn) it’s known for.)
8.) Safari Sevens tournament. Three days of rugby, booze and overhyped bands/singers.
9.)Never having to call anyone before I drop by their place. I just stop on by; if they are home, they’re home; if not, oh well.
10.) Abundant fresh fruits and vegetables, for cheap. I can honestly say that I don’t remember having consumed any canned products until I got to the states. Oh, and the good, real syruppy (not overly carbonated) Coke, Fanta Creme (the green one), Tangawizi and Ribena.
11.) Lastly, knowing I can speak freely without having to do the Swahili/Kikuyu/Sheng to English translation in my mind, that I sometimes have to do.
Sigh, I know I’m homesick when I even miss being in a minivan with no breathing room, let alone standing space, sandwiched between a guy that spends the entire journey steathly trying a.)pickpocket you b.)cope a feel c.) both, a woman with a basket of fried fish (omena) that reeks, and a guy at the back with a sack full of potatoes that, without fail, will clonk me on the head as he tries to alight.
@ofloveandotherdemons,
I feel ya on the homesickness. I miss the food in Nigeria that I cant get here in the states. Yummm
@ofloveandotherdemons,
I feel you on the homesickness… Actually, getting ready to move back. And if I decided to do a post, it will read a lot like yours.
Go on vacay this summer!
@ofloveandotherdemons,
Nairobbery, born and raised.
(Currently residing in the OC. 2003-2007 spent in Dallas).
question: what has brought you to these places?
@The Champ,
Undergrad (plus, my peach of a mother was in Dallas already) and Grad school, respectively.
A friend of mine once told me, “Everybody looks the same.”
There was no point in denying it. Assessing the situation I realized that yes indeed all of the dudes were in jeans and white Ts, with caps representing various sports teams. All of the girls were in tighter jeans, T-shirts and the mandatory white Reebok Princess. The girls who’d decided on wearing skirts were wearing the even more important and obligatory slouch socks. Yup, no point in denying, there was definitely a uniform and I love it because I’m a DC honey.
Although it looks unimaginative the Chocolate City identity is unique. From the clothes we wear, the slang we create and the music we listen to.
Aside from our citywide uniform we all grow up listening to Go-Go. I’m not a fanatic by any means but if you throw some Junk on (that’d be the Junkyard Band) I can’t sit still because that music is in my blood. We all love James Brown but the Godfather (of Go-Go) in DC is Chuck Brown. In some cities you can catch guys outside having a sort of rap battle. In DC you’ll catch dudes beating out a Go-Go beat on their chests imitating the heavy percussion that drives the music. How does Go-Go survive? Many of the clubs have closed and been replaced with newer more sophisticated venues a la Love and H2O. However the music survives because everybody’s a star. Sure some rap groups shout out neighborhoods like Queens and Brooklyn. But at the Go-Go not only will they shout out your hood they know your street and your own name. When you hear “The Kennedy Park honeys in the house. Miss Chrissy I see you boo,” how can you not love that? Aaah…the nostalgia is killing me.
There are of course other events and experiences that bind us: Unifest, Skating at Crystal Skates (for those who can remember), the Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving Day, Independence Day fireworks on the Mall and the Cherry Blossom Festival.
Although I’ve been near and far I love coming home and drinking a glass of worrrda (that’s water) and seeing errrrrbody, leaving the salon with my hair greasy and weighed down but shinier than a new penny and buying a bushel of fresh crabs from the warf. It just feels right.
**sidenote: my mom’s family is from Pitt and I spent my summers off of Center Ave, and up around Elmore Square as a child. I agree they are some genuine folks. Crazy as all get out, but real.
@Ms. Hall, LOL @princess reeboks… we still rock those joints down south.. you have to buy a new pair every month but who cares…
@Ms. Hall,
having lived in dc for past 6 years…it never ceases to amaze me that “R” is pronoused “arra” lol
@maria,
*pronounced*
show out to bens chilli bowl, love/dream, waterfront and adams morgan and u street
@Ms. Hall, you used to visit the hill as a child?
the H, the I, the H-I-Double El!!! [and...scene] i used to work at Ozanam…and lived not too far from there in high school.
@Miss Patterson,
Yeah, I heart Pitt. Shout out to the Gentlys and Giant Eagle.
@Ms. Hall,
This made me tear up. I’m fourth-generation DC-er (on both sides of the family).
@WordSmith,
I’ve been gone on VSB vacay for 2 weeks (one of PJ’s posted pissed me off, so I took my leave), but this post about DC got me verklempt n’ misty. I just had to put on for my city.
@Ms. Hall,
sidenote: my mom’s family is from Pitt and I spent my summers off of Center Ave, and up around Elmore Square as a child. I agree they are some genuine folks. Crazy as all get out, but real.
the hill district is f*cking nuts, lol. i’m sorry that was your only burgh experience
Soo Champy, how come my messages keep getting stuck in moderator purgatory. I’m not using any strong language. I promise. It’s no big deal, I’m just curious that’s all. Has the website decided to pull a McCarthy and blacklist me?
@ofloveandotherdemons,
our moderation has a thing against africans ever since it watched “black hawk down”.
our moderation is a racist bastard
@The Champ,
LOL. Good to know.
PSA MESSAGE:
The moderator of this site may or may not be receiving anonymous threats/ incuring excessive damage to it’s property and having disparaging remarks scrawled on it’s car/home/office. If any of these events occur it is not the work of Mau Mau guerillas/the Mungiki sect or any other groups associated with Kenyan liberation struggles.
END OF MESSAGE
(We Kenyans look out for our own.)
I’m from jersey, more specifically Paterson.
Yes the city that “Lean on me” is based on and filmed in. Some of my older cousins were even extras in the movie.
I can talk about how dirty and bad p-town is, you, dear sir- can not. (And I’ve seen people nearly lose their lives for doing so)
The eastside/kennedy thanksgiving game is the highlight of the holiday season and usually ends with a fight.
Oddly enough Jim Jones and the rest of those clowns are the only celebs. that get passes around here. Fabolous, Jaheim and a slew of other folks have gotten robbed and/or beat down.
Alot of movies have been taped here including Hurricane Carter, Preacher’s Wife, Lean on me, a couple roc-a-fella films, and 50 just finished wrapping up a film a few months ago.
We have some really talented people known, and unknown
WE THE BEST!!!! LOL
@meleka a.k.a Resident Late Poster(rlp),
I have a Paterson story I’ll have to tell ya one day, let’s just say it involves the 19 yr. old Alise, her crew, 3 Paterson fellas, and the Alabama projects… smh… (I am a brave soul)
@Durhamite Alise,
Yes, do tell! Just by you puttin up “alabama” i know it has to b one heck of a story. I’m a lil sleep deprived right now though lol
@meleka a.k.a Resident Late Poster(rlp),
I’ll come tell the story in the morning, it’s a long one…
@Durhamite Alise,
I’ll come tell the story in the morning, it’s a long one…
…still waiting
@The Champ,
…waiting with the champ and sh!t
@meleka a.k.a Resident Late Poster(rlp), i like paterson just because well…i’m miss patterson.
@meleka a.k.a Resident Late Poster(rlp)
I love Lean on Me, so I must love Paterson.
“Why don’t you just jump off the roof, right here and now? That’s what you really want, isn’t it? Yes, you do. You smoke crack, don’t you, boy?”
@V Renee,
Paterson is awesome and depressing all at the same time. I would not have wanted to be born anywhere but here though.
oh let me also Add my hood loves…. Juneteenth celebrations in Douglass Park…
fourth of July fireworks downtown
the fact that my hood has a sign and theme song.. Noooorth put ya thumbs up ninja…Gone project pat
small hole in the wall mom and pop soul food joints where peach cobbler and butter roll is always on the menu
The Gangsta Walk and Jukin and buckin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh4VN7wSWYw (4 minute doc about it and here
impromptu jukin/buckin/ dance battles dj’d by ninjas with bump in the trunk LOL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgNWDJIqQt4 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVTYafoVPE0
old school chevys and fords on 22″s…………
the fact that there is hot wing/club joint in every hood and most of them have a “pimp break” where they dim the lights and play what is lovingly referred to as “that pimpin” Sir Charles, Curtis Mayfield, Womack, you get the pic…
north memphis clubs where the best dressed chick is wearing a spray painted hoody and matching Jordans…LOL
@shay_d_lady
LMAO @ “pimp break”. WTF?!?! I’m still confused as to what exactly that is.
@V Renee, the dj states.. now its time to slow it down pimpin style….and then he plays that pimpin as described above…LOL only in the M-town baby
@shay_d_lady,
Come on now you can’t forget how local rappers be on the radio rappin about local folks. N the bbq. OOOOOh Lawd the BBQ. N sho you right w/ the HOT WANG JOINTS
@WuDaMan, I did forget to add rap battles via the radio request call in line……LMAO
@shay_d_lady,
I gatts to say I love my Mama City. The Pyramid Elvis’ Gus’ fried chicken backyard burger krystals was it krumpies hot wangs mh mh mh oh my my my
Hi my name is Alise and hail from Durham, NC babeee!
- My city is CLOWNED for it’s high crime rate by folks in Raleigh and beyond…. BUT our crime rate is lower than all those places, they just put all our bull on the news.
- 85% of people I have met here in my adult life are not from here, it is a city full of dang on transplanted Yankees. ick. yes offense.
- Durham is the weirdest city ever, there is no such thing as a bad side of town, the ish is mixed all together, case and point on Fayetteville Street there is:
* the “white folks mall”
*2 housing projects
*million dollar homes
*NCCU (Go Eagles!)
*regular working class folk homes
WTF???
-we are referred to as Durhamites and “The Bull City” is how we refer to our town
- We have more Mexicans than Mexico, which mean we have superb Mexican restaurants
*shameless plug: I was featured and interviewed, check me out: http://ainhd.blogspot.com/2009/02/13-phrases-3-alise-leslie.html*
@Durhamite Alise, i went to a church in durham. does that count? whoo-whoo!
@Miss Patterson,
@Durhamite Alise, i went to a church in durham. does that count? whoo-whoo!
ummm…where HAVENT you been? lol…have you been walking the earth like kane in “kung fu:?
@Durhamite Alise, I live right outside the town limit line of durham, work in durham and still…never been further than southpoint!!! I kept hearing such bad things about the city of Durham that working in the RTP side of the city and living on the Cary side of the line was as close as I was gonna get. But now I need some speed pours and apparently the best place to get them is some old corner store called “the blue (something or other)” that’s on Ephram or something! (read: the person who told me about this place, can’t think of the name or how to get there…. but lived in durham her entire life!!!)
@Durhamite Alise,
“…yes offense.”
LMAO and totally working that into as many conversations as possible for the forseeable future. LOLOLOL!
Oh, and you can’t tell me ish about no Mexicans! They post up in this piece like the Alamo was a fairy tale. Tay-Has, baby.
@Nikiloveli,
*sniggling*
@Durhamite Alise,
my best friend lives in durham now, and we know alot of jersey folks that also live there so i’m just gonna go ahead and say your right about the “yankees”.
I’m a Florida native, raised in Jacksonville…you may know us as “DUVAL”. I won’t be obnoxious…I’ll just let the First Lady tell ya ’bout it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HetAqdoci_U
Geographically, Jacksonville is the biggest city in the U.S., but it has a small town feel…we typically don’t require all 6 degrees of separation. However, when you’re sick of seeing the same faces all the time, you can ride to the other side of town and be in a totally different world. I’ve lived here all my life and still haven’t seen the whole city.
I love being near the water…beaches year round. On a nice day, you can find me in a lifeguard chair @ sunset, listening to the ebb and flow.
The nightlife is lacking and you might experience all four seasons in 24 hour period, but it’s a great place to raise a family. I’m grateful to have grown up here.
@Resident GRitS,
Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuval! I went to FAM so I know all about y’all folks from the Ville.
@Resident GRitS,
Geographically, Jacksonville is the biggest city in the U.S., but it has a small town fee
this has always been one of my favorite pieces of useless trivia
I’m from NYC….Brooklyn to be exact. Enough said.
*The above unwavering and notoriously cocky and arrogant attitude in addition to the fact that people from all walks of life believe that if they can make it in my city, they can make it ANYWHERE, are just two of the reasons I love my city and will be a BROOKLYN BRED NEW YORK WOMAN FOR LIFE!!!
I *heart* DC too, nothing like it….GO BISON!!!!
@MissLady24/7,
@ *bison* our campus needs some serious funds, buildings falling apart and folks in A building need to stop playing & recognize its called a job.
@maria,
I completely agree. Alumni need to realize that our pride in our school needs to extend further than shout outs at events and car bumper stickers. We need to give more of our time and our money to keep the rich legacy going!
@MissLady24/7,
When I came to NYC, the ONLY place I liked was Brooklyn. If I was to to ever move to NYC *shudders*, I’d have to live, breath and never leave BK. The other boroughs annoy me.
@Luvvie,
LOL….I feel you! We are our own universe in BK….going anywhere else is like taking an international flight!
@MissLady24/7,
Jealous. I love Brooklyn. At some point I want to by a brownstone there just so I can go when the urge hits me.
@Voiceofreason,
Brooklyn *hearts* you back! I want a brownstone here myself….sigh
@MissLady24/7, yay! Brooklyn! What part? I like Fort Greene, Clinton Hills, Park Slope and Coney Island
Do you ever go to Brooklyn Moon on Fulton Street? I also love the BAM festival, Puerto Rican Day Parade and West Indian parade.
@miss patterson,
I’m from Flatbush (or East Flatbush if you want to be technical). I love all parts of my borough…even though there are some parts that I wouldn’t step foot in alone past anytime of the day, lol. Brooklyn Moon is great and I love all things BAM, especially since it’s close to Junior’s
The best parade in NYC is and will ALWAYS be the West Indian Day parade….GT/Haitian/Dominican/Cuban girls are THE SWEETEST IN THE WORLD….yup, I said it!
@MissLady24/7, one of my closest friends grew up in east flatbush…yay! oooh, and i love me some cheesecake from juniors!
@Miss Patterson,
Junior’s Rocks!!! Might go get some after work…yum!
@MissLady24/7,
welcome and sh8t
@The Champ,
Thanks and sh8t. Loving the site!
I’m from Louisville, Kentucky…
What makes me smile:
-People are pretty friendly, random strangers will start a conversation with you.
-Derby
-They are trying to rebuild our downtown modeled like the big cities (even though it’s taking forever)
-We’re within driving distance of bigger cities: Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Chicago, etc.
What makes me laugh:
The need for these guys to jack up EVERYTHING (cars) and paint them Nascar style with Skittles logos.
@Nicki Sunshine,
ive always wondered: for the natives, is it louis-ville or louie-ville?
Hey I’m Dope and I’m from London, UK baybee (I feel ike I”m in a AA meeting)
What I love about London
is that you can walk around in your pyjamas on the main street and people will look at you funny, some kids may even laugh but on the whole no one says nothing because Londoners is all kinds of crazy.
Actaually you can wear all kinds of anything. Miss matched colours, pattern and fabrics and still look fly.
We have the BEST shoe shops, I have never felt the need to shop in any other country…it’s just not the same.
Speaking of other countries it only costs about £20 to travel to other European countries!
I love the racial intermingling… everyone hangs out together.
I love the art scene that we have here, from Embankment, to Barbican to Southbank, to Brick Lane…You can never tire of Shoreditch or East London in general because you’ll never have the same experience twice. Ever.
I love that there’s no smoking in public areas, so you can actually come out of clubs and still small kinda fresh.
Everyone smokes weed. well almost everyone, but everyone should!
Funky House. Bubbly Bubbly…I’m so bubbly bubbly. (That’s a prime example of the UK music scene, Winehouse, Adele, Lily Allen and Duffy don’t count…they are rare and far inbwtween…Besides, its so much more fun to watch people to the Tribal Skank, or the Head Shoulders Knees and Toes Skank…)
I LOVE
LONDON!
@Dope Fiend, Dang, I love all the women u mentioned!
@Nicki Sunshine,
And I love the London women too. Indeed.
@Nicki Sunshine, ME TOO! lol
we need more…Another Amy, she gonna get herself locked away!
@Dope Fiend,
I got a lot of fam in London and Manchester. In fact, methinks I may be the only person in my fam who has yet to visit London. This will change within the next year and a half (God willing)
@Luvvie,
yes yes come! We’ll horrify you with our drinking habits and our funky house! And you can enjoy yourself in our fish n chip shops…lol
i love how i’m replying to everyone like HOW MANY DAYS later! lol
its cool. im cool
@Dope Fiend,
I was born in London (Edmonton!) but sadly left when I was but a wee lass of 2 years old. But I still have TONS of family there and LOVE to go back. Matta of fact… my birthday is problably going to be very British!
@Dope Fiend,
I’d love to visit London one day for a week. The only thing that’s been stopping me is the exchange rate. I was waiting for it to get a lil closer to even but…well you know how that story ends. And that’s one of the things I don’t like about the Northeast, our “tea” is either bush or too damn expensive! Not that I’m a heavy “drinker” or anything, but should I choose to enjoy some tea it should be there for cheap!
edit: Forgot I was typing this to a Brit. I’m not talking about actual tea, although I do enjoy a cup of earl grey
@Me fail english?,
awwwww I don’t drink tea…i’m an anomaly. lol
but really…tea is expensive there?….they sell that stuff
for pennies here, no lie.
I’m waiting for the exchange rate to go super UNEVEN again so i can come to the states….I’m poor n sh!t!
@Dope Fiend,
I love the racial intermingling… everyone hangs out together
This is one of the reasons I heart London. Plus the music scene is just sick!
@Sula is Swamped,
really… you like our music scene? we get EVERYTHING late. unless you’re talking about the indie rock/alternative scene. if thats the case, yeah the music scene is pretty bangin.
@Dope Fiend,
Hey I’m Dope and I’m from London
this would be a great pick up line
@The Champ,
Anywhere but in London, yes i believe i may catch a few men…in London…i’d get stoned! lol
Yesterday’s post was the funniest. Today’s post is the 2nd to the yummiest… haha! I rhymed. I am a pittsburgh girl, born and bred. When I joined the Army at 18, and almost beat the black off this loud talking chick from Miami, my drill sergeant (who was from DC), said I put my money on “pgh muse” cuz there ain’t nothing but projects up there. That is an inaccurate statement, but if you are black and from the 412, you have some kinda blue collar sensibility. Pittsburgh is home. That is it. I think about abandoning ship all the time, but I have cousins that live around the corner, and down the street. I can go to Modern Hair in East Lib and get a hook up on my hair because my cutty works @ the counter. I’m used to the snow and the gray skies (and $700.oo gas bills grrrr!). My sister is moving to Brooklyn in a couple months and wants to make sure her Pgh accent is right (not like she needs any practice) before she leaves. I have 8 places to go at Thankstaking, and can drop my kids off when I need a break. I love the WAMO talent show, walking in Highland Park , and Kennywood. I love that I can go out by myself because I’m bound to see someone I know. I love that I can hang out at Ava, and at the Coliseum. I pitched a bytch @ spending $300.oo on dinner in Manhattan while visiting one of my girls. It was the two of us for crissakes… but we just don’t do stuff like that here…
@pgh muse,
(and $700.oo gas bills grrrr!).
Ooooh Lawd. I’m sorry. It was 87 here yesterday…lol
@miss t-lee,
“It was 87 here yesterday”
e-triplet… I’mma need you to STOP rubbing salt in wounds n’ shyt.
Thanks.
@blackberry molasses,
You want Morton’s, Lawry’s or Tony Chachere’s?
*sniggling*
@miss t-lee,
I luhhh you but go kick a rock with no socks on. U aint gotta be cruel and rub it in like that.
@Luvvie,
I’m sorry you live in the frozen tundra.
Don’t take it out on me…lol
@miss t-lee,
Yup! It’s 85 right now in the H.
@Sula is Swamped,
Don’tcha just love it?
*chuckling*
@miss t-lee,
You’d better. You know it’ll be like 30 come Monday. Love the H, love our schitzo weather.
@Nikiloveli,
Our cold front will be here tomorrow.
Schitzo weather is right…that’s why my freakin’ allergies are so bad.
@pgh muse, [note to self: look for apartments with utilities included]
@pgh muse,
700 dollars??? like, american dollars???
@pgh muse, neither does any native NYer!!!!
And I do understand folks when they say there’s “nothing” here… that is inaccurate. There are things to do… and people trying to do things. Come out and support a local artist or two. You may meet someone interesting. Matter of fact, there is an ode to local artists on my rant blog: http://www.adayinthelifepghmuse.blogspot.com
@pgh muse,
I think the problem is that alot of Pittsburghers are afraid to branch out and try new things. There are things to do here, but from my perspective it’s difficult to get people to come out and take part in the cool stuff that’s going on. This place would be a lot more interesting if people were willing to step out of the box.
@Voiceofreason, I don’t disagree. There are a lot of folks who are set in their ways. The hood spot is the only spot they feel comfortable venturing out to. I don’t disagree at all. And if we are around the same age it’s even harder to find like minded friends to hang out with… it’s not exactly a singles city. But there are some folks here trying to do some things. I don’t disagree with anything that you are saying at all. I’m on the pgh PR tour because I’m trying to build something here…but I do hear you, VOR. I do.
I put on for my city, that’s a m-fing fact!
I’ll be brief since I need to be walking out of the door.
Cheesesteaks, soft pretzels, Rita’s Water Ice, and hoagies (not subs). The best cheesesteaks are from the hood joints, not Genos or Pats. And hood (read black) people don’t eat cheez whiz on their steaks. American cheese, salt, peppa, ketchup, fried onions (you have to say it fast when ordering…lol).
The places the natives take for granted, also known as the Liberty Bell, Constitution Center, Franklin Institute, African-American Museum, etc.
Sports fans. Everything you’ve heard is probably true. We are a city of passion. Phillies fans and Eagles fans should not be confused. They are two different kinds of crazy. The Eagles fans are better though (Go Birds!).
No doubt I represent P-H-I-L-A.
@Jae,
I heart you and you need to find me on FB so that you will be privvy to the Illadelph FOOLISHNESS I propagate, promote, and participate in.
I can’t really do the “I love where I’m from,”since I’ve lived all over the world… but I’m a Philly Girl by transplant and marriage… so here goes.
I love that we are a big small city. We have all the culture of larger cities without the other foolywang like… excessive tourists.
We have the BEST FOOD (as previously indicated). Philadelphia perfected junk food. I mean really… fried steak with cheese, onions, peppers and ketchup on a long roll? Followed by Italian Water Ice (not to be confused with that whacka$$ ‘shave ice with syrup’. Real water ice is like butta… long live Rita’s.
Iladelp is a city of neighborhoods, each with their own unique and possibly infamous characteristics. Society Hill, Manayunk, Kingsessing, Eastwick, Overbook, Strawberry Mansion
Philly Sports Fans are INSANE. I mean, really… we booed Santa Claus. We are batsh*t crazy about our sports teams, whether they win or lose. Moreover, we hate our rivals with PASSION. Don’t come round these parts sporting Cowgirls para unless you lookin to get murked.
Three Words: Reading Terminal Market– YUM!
Three more words: The Italian Market
We are definitely one of the most walkable cities in the World.
We have spawned some of the greatest musical talents of the last century. The grassroots music and art scene here is SO SERIOUS.
No matter how many times I leave Philly, its always so good to come back.
@blackberry molasses, girl we have a water ice here… at first errybody was like uh fool what the he-ll is water ice? but yeah I slick been stannin for it after my first experience.. how does the ice get so smooth like that. its such a delicious mystery….
@shay_d_lady,
Water ice goes hard.
@blackberry molasses, How could I forget Reading Terminal?
The Amish have the best lemonade!
And poor Rick. Got kicked out of the terminal.
@Jae,
The Amish have the best EVERYTHING. Gawd, if you eat at the terminal everyday you WILL BLOW THE EFF UP!
It is proven.
And they did Rick so DIRTY!! SO SO DIRTY!
@Jae,
“Rita’s Water Ice”
Did that franchise start in Philly?
@Voiceofreason, Sure did. Bob the firefighter named it after his wife, Rita.
Dang, I could go for a mango gelati right about now…
@Jae,
Dang, I could go for a mango gelati right about now…
damn. me too now, lol.
Hi I’m Rita and I represent Philly/Jersey.
but since all south jersey people are transplants…I’m representing Philly…
What I love about Philly:
1)The history,a lot of times people forget how historic this city really is….
after 20 years I still had to look up how to spell “Schuylkill”
2)The soft pretzels,the cheesesteaks(no cheese wiz),the water ice,the fact that I have a favorite Chinese food cart ( university city,mmhmm),the hoagies,extra oil.hold the mayo,the tastycakes,the hotdogs….yea moving on
3)Penn Relays.
4)I still love my eagles. or iggles..whatev
5)The craziness of south street after dark
6)How almost every elementary school in the tri-state area considers The Franklin Institute a field trip option.
7) Trying to help my tourist friends pronounce the names of the areas….(Schuylkill,Susquehanna,Manayuk,Conshohocken etc.)
9)Friendliness of the SEPTA bus drivers<—-insert sarcasm here
10)The slang . drawlin.Jawn,Nova,Penn,yo,pavement,conterversy…not “Controversy,etc”
11)My WaWa.
12)How each part of Philly is a city in its own…North Philly,South Philly, West Philly.
13)How almost everything in Philly has a nickname.Linc,CHOP,PENN,Benny,Bank,Market East,EL,Kenzo,Montco,St.Joes.Whitman,BenFranklin.Main Line
14)How no one from Philly calls Philly “Philadelphia”…..its just Philly.
@Jae,
I miss the fact that Philly has that small town feel. Philly people ask you what high school you went to like most people would ask you where you went to undergrad!
Also, it seems like I can get to any other place in the city in under 30 mins.
Yall also have a bangin music scene (hip hop and neo-soul)
@Me fail english?, The high school question is like the second one you get after meeting someone…lol. I went to boarding school in Norf Philly, which is commonly mistaken for a prison because of the walls.
And you may never know when SEPTA is coming, but it sure can get you anywhere in the city and surrounding suburbs. Everybody and their mamas were riding SEPTA when gas was $3.
@Jae,
Almost forgot, a young me fail used to go hard at the Greek
. Cheers to my misspent youth!
@Me fail english?,
Ha! I got MAD Greek Picnic stories… HEE-HAW-LARIOUS
Sooo I could talk about my adopted hometown ATX (Austin, Tx), but instead I’ll tell you about my real hometown where I was born and raised and spent 18 glorious years before moving.
San Marcos TX.
Our biggest claim to fame is that we used to host a huge chili cookoff every year (which has now been replaced by the menudo cookoff every Cinco De Mayo).
President LBJ earned his degree from our college in my town as well a country singer George Strait (my brother attended school with his now deceased daughter)
We only have one school district so most of us who graduated went to school with each other the entire time (K-12).
Every year we have a Christmas festival (Sights and Sounds of Christmas) and it’s like a class reunion.
We have a town square where all the bars are located. It closes at 1. I was sooooo upset when I went back for our 10 year reunion and I didn’t know that…lol!
It’s a typical small town, everybody knows everybody. When you graduate everyone runs like hell to the nearest big city. Austin to the north, or San Antonio to the south, or even points further.
Still the home of some of the best Tex-Mex food I’ve ever had.
Love my city!!!
@miss t-lee,
Wow I that they liked everything bigger in Texas…
@miss t-lee,
Outlet Mall. You forgot the Outlet Mall!
@Nikiloveli,
I was gonna list that, but I didn’t think anyone could relate.
Good call.
@miss t-lee,
Why didn’t you mention the OUTLETS!!!
I went to college in San Antonio and going to San Marcos was like going to the candy store. Ah! Memories.
@Sula is Swamped,
When my friends come down from the H this is always a destination during the days when they are here!!!
Oh I’ve googled long enough… someone please tell me what (2520) means
@mssmtaylor,
a 2520 is a white person, coming from the 25th letter of the alphabet (Y) and the 20th (T)
@puff,
Thanks and sh^t… Now I can follow along.
@mssmtaylor,
The meaning of 2520 oughta be posted on the VSB sidebar. lol this question is posed an average of 4.7 times each week. And yes, I made up that number
@Luvvie,
hahahahahaha good to know.
this entire post made me reminded me of that memphis bleek, trick daddy and T.I. song “round here” (which i love).
i’m from lagos, nigeria, and what i love about my city is it’s intensity. it’s the kind of place where you either go hard, or don’t go at all (seriously: if you’re a 2520 especially, you should think carefully about coming to lagos. you may get robbed out the airport). i love the crazy markets, the lagoon, the heat, the danfos (minibuses) and okadas (motorcycles) which are our form of public transport. most importantly, i love that there’s a food stand on some random corner every few blocks where i can get some of that good naija food (suya, fried groundnut, roasted corn, agege bread….)…. f*** now i’m homesick
@puff,
I’m repping Surulere and Tincan island over here….
@puff,
I grew up in Ibadan but was in Lagos frequently. Victoria Island is THAT bizness!!! And yessss!! The food in Lagos is just THE best.
The things I miss include:
Agbalumo (that sour fruit). Customs won’t let nobody bring em and this makes me sad
The yogurt in the white rubber container.
*Sigh* I need to make a visit.
I’m repping Naptown, otherwise known as Indianapolis. What do I love?
– I love that my city is big enough to get some of that big-city vibe yet small enough to still be able to afford a place to live and still be in a good school district.
- Circle City Classic is huge and my son and I never miss the parade. Matter of fact, the CCC parade has forever ruined me on other parades.
- Racing events (Indy 500, Moto GP, Brickyard 400), even if you’re not into them, still bring lots of people to meet or gawk at if necessary.
- Super Bowl 2012
- Most clubs still don’t have a cover charge or a minimal one if so and drinks don’t cost $20 a pop like other cities.
- Driving distance to Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta, Cincy, Detroit…and those are only the 1/2 day trips
I moved around a lot as a kid (Cleveland, Columbus, Kansas City, San Antonio) but I’ve been in Indy for 20 years so I call it home.
@luvtheshoes
I used to go to Circle City class EVERY year. My parents loved it! I may have to go this year.
@V Renee,
If you do come to CCC this year, give me a shout.
@luvtheshoes,
“Super Bowl 2012″
Yeah right!!! Not gonna happen. Your team just let go of a really great RB.
@Ivy St. reppin the Bean,
No we’re hosting the Super Bowl in 2012… and we let go of a WR, not a RB (if you’re talking about Marvin Harrison).
@luvtheshoes,
ooops WR. Forgive me for not caring much about the Colts.
@Ivy St. reps the Bean,
Watch it that 2012 spy device will be found out…
@Ivy St. reps the Bean,
It’s cool. Heck, even I’m afraid we going to be in the lackluster middle of the pack for the foreseeable future. You know, 7-9 or 8-8 maybe a 9-7…make a playoff round or two but not really go anywhere.
It’s all right. I’ve accepted it.
@luvtheshoes,
I just might have to accept the same fate for my team. *sigh*
@Ivy St. reps the Bean,
ooops WR. Forgive me for not caring much about the Colt
rule number one of any sports related snark: know what the hell you’re talking about
@luvtheshoes,
Gurl, you’s a hop, skip and a jump from the Chi. LOL maybe you could come for the Happy Hour I’m hellbent on putting together here.
@Luvvie,
*still waiting on happy hour*
@Luvvie,
Absolutely! I love Chi-town and am always looking for an excuse to come hang.
@luvtheshoes, naptown! love the nickname~ never heard that before! i visited indianapolis as a little girl and went to the indy 500. good times, good times.
@luvtheshoes,
I went to Indianapolis for a wedding last year, and I was pleasantly surprised. The club scene was really mixed and the music was good.
I enjoyed it. (I think I have a thing for midwesterners in general)
I put on for my city/ full of dope and fiends
where crack and aids/ killed a city full of hopes and dreams
from edmonson ville in the west where ish is very real
down south / cuz ain’t nothing sweet about cherry hill
can’t forget the eastside /where cats will put it on ya
sinclair lane and them boys from cedonia
pennsylvania ave / got the lady singing the blues
the home of Airforce 1′s / you got cats pimping the shoes
the home of stop snitching, corruption and mayor dixon
but shorty so crooked, we can call her sheila NIXON
home of the wire, prop joe and lil snoop
fulla dyke chicks and cats who really hoop
like sam cassel, carmello and bugsey moes
plus….. it the land, it’s the land of them O’s
home of the ravens, team with a rookie quaterback
home of big brother and blue lights on where them dark corners at
home of the half and half , lemonade and Ice tea
Lake Trout/ catching hacks/ long white tee’s
Druid Hill / Park heights /where cats got that piff
club music /Choices/ rip to K-swift
get your learn on, from coppin to johns hopkins,
towson to morgan state, where live ninjas keep it poppin
from block to block, just know its all gritty
BC signing off live from “.. BALTIMORE CITY..”
@BmoreCreative
Ummmm was this a “freestyle” or one of the songs you’re about to put on your album that’s dropping in 20XX?
I kid. Me likey!
@V Renee,
lol…nah it was a freestyle inspired by a recent “I put on for my city” convo..thought it appropriate.
for the album dropping 20xx check
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/abrock
@BmoreCreative
Awwwww sh*t. I see you!!
@BmoreCreative,
I like The Wire…
@Ivy St. reppin the Bean, hahahahaha!!! yeah, that’s about as much i know about bmore too. i’ve driven through it a couple of times too. nice montage at the end of the series of finale.
@BmoreCreative,
Once upon a time at Morgan, a brotha from West Baltimore met a sista from the Burgh…Lol.
My pops is from B’more. I don’t go there very often, but it has a special place in my heart.
@Voiceofreason, oooh tell us more. i love a good boy meets girl story. is this how your parents met? *sitting indian style w/ my chin propped in my hands waiting for the next chapter of the story*
@BmoreCreative,
damn. this was hot
@BmoreCreative, I went to Morgan, lived at Cedoina taking hacks to school!! It’s insane out there!! I do miss it though, I try going out there at least onceevery other month…only once..LOL
@BmoreCreative,
As a native Baltimorean that grew up in Park Heights and goes to Morgan State, you get an e-dap and sh*t for this one!
I’m from Sportsman Paradise — home of good food/cooking and friendly people. If it ain’t spicy, it ain’t tasty…lol
@Shelia G,
where’s that and sh*t?
@The Champ,
Somewhere in Louisiana (I’m guessing New Orleans?). Their license plate says “Sportsman Paradise”
I am from the City where our Towers are Terminal and our Lake is Erie.
+ Where getting to be in the Dawg Pound is a wonderful experience.
+ When we give directions we don’t give distances we give time approximation… ie “Turn left of Euclid and then bout 5 minutes down the road is east 200 and make a left”
+ Our official religion is Sports and we love Cardinal Tressel, Bishop James, and Father Quinn.
+ We are the most resilient sports fans in the country… We’ve been through a lot
+ We don’t let anybody not from Cleveland talk down about Cleveland
@The_Eighth_Hokage,
welcome!!!
*shooting gold stars*
@The_Eighth_Hokage,
Welcome!!!
**Diva Dust v. 3.1 ™**
I lived there for a hot minute, and all I remember is The Flats.
Still a cool city though… for being 6 hours from the T.O. (yet another city I’m about to rep!)
@The_Eighth_Hokage,
welcome and sh*t, sworn enemy
REP YOUR CITY!!!!!!!!
I hail from the sunshine city of CINCINNATI aka The Nati aka The Queen City aka Cincy where:
- technically we are not Southern, but boy do we talk and act Southern
- the headquarters of one of the largest companies in the world is – P&G
- people LOVE Gucci Mane – Cincinnatians have to be his biggest fans
- richest and the poorest people live within two streets of one another
- the police will shoot your arse whether you’re armed or not and the people will shoot the police whether they’re armed or not
- people will riot……..whoever heard of an entire city having a curfew
-people will phuck up anything good that comes to the city. These heathens don’t know how to act at times
-if something is more than 15-20 minutes away, it’s too far
-it’s a tri-state area- 10 minutes south you’re in KY, 10 minutes west you’re in Indiana
- we have 7 major hills – They can me a muthaf*cka in the snow
-Carrie Bradshaw aka Sarah Jessica Parker was raised here.
- people (male and female) proudly rock gold teeth.
-Graeters (the BEST ice cream) and Montgomery Inn (the BEST ribs) originated here.
- AND the number 1 reason Cincinnati is that sh*t – V RENEE was born and raised there. A city couldn’t ask for more.
@V Renee,
I love The Nati!! I’ve only visited a few times, but I can co-sign on eveything you’ve said. My favorite thing about it is the Grippos factory, and how you can buy a big box of BBQ Grippos off the back of the truck for $2.95. LOL!! And the hills are crazy!! I’m so glad it wasn’t snowing that February I was there.
@V Renee,
“people LOVE Gucci Mane – Cincinnatians have to be his biggest fans”
Lol. This makes me wanna visit
@V Renee,
i’m a fan of cincinnati. i’ve had nothing but good times there
“-if something is more than 15-20 minutes away, it’s too far”
lol…you can say the same thing about the burgh
@The Champ,
It’s the total opposite in Houston. If it’s 15-20 minutes away, you lucked out!
@V Renee
yea for cincy!
-i like that its pretty much all suburbia…not too crowded or congested in any one place. the city itself is tiny because “cincinnati” is made up of a bunch of little towns sitting right next to each other (e.g., springdale, oh; silverton, oh ect…)
-Skyline Chilli (i like the vegetarian black beans and rice)
-LaRosa’s Pizza
-Graeter’s Ice Cream-Chip Wheelies
-Richie’s Potato wedges
-The Bonbonnerie Bakery
-Busken bakery
-Servati’s bakery
-the fact that we have real bakeries and we don’t have to buy our birthday cakes from super walmart
-eden park and the clifton strip on sunday afternoons (back in the day at least)
-hills and trees
-old homes and buildings with character
although i have converted from a buckeye to a peach, home is always home…..
dang….i moved so much growin up….i feel like i’m from everywhere and nowhere….
i call bmore home…cause that’s where i became a man….
right now i’m in coastal maine…..and new brunswick canada is lookin mighty nice
@KingPine,
right now i’m in coastal maine
how’d you end up there?
@The Champ,
Wrong question The Champ. Try this one, ‘what’s it like?’ Maine is a topless state. Chicks ain’t got to where braws or shirts if they don’t wanna.
I’m from Gary IN. The hot dogs in the village, U.S. Steel sandwich from Lincolns. Italian beefs. Franchised out resturants from ‘The City’ aka Chicago like; J&J’s fish, Kenny’s ribs, eh Sharks, maxwell street polish, (I would say Harolds but they wack in the G better on the South Side). The gyro n other fish places. The dinners where a family of 4 could eat for $30 or less w/ doggie bags n the itis (Greek owned Mexican cooked n poor whit served). Having to be quiet when playing around mr. Johnson’s house cuz he worked midnights @ the mill. (The mill could have been any industry; Steel Mill 5 of em, BP [third largest oil refinery in the continental U.S., U.S. Gypsom, Cargil, Lever 2000 so on and so forth). My city is a true chocolate city ~96% Black @ least I heard that stat somewhere once. The one "Hall" if you will that will only serve it's menu which hasn't changed ever and is wacktesticle. The fact that it used to have a red light district like in the wire. The way gangster rap is in the streets and House music is in the clubs. People got foot work.(btw I actually made this happen under the guise of my drunken stuper this past Thanksgiving). The history of the civil rights riots. The fact that it actually stinks [I learned @ an internship that the sour summer evening smell was the sulfur from the slag pits]. I’m not sure weather to blame this on Gary or something that is just in me, but I am not phased by the lame. I have seen people get shot pistle whipped all kinds of fights. I remember 2 big girls fighting over a ho ho @ 7:45 am. The disdain held out by the rest of the state for Gary. But they want to anex it off to Illinois but can’t resist the property tax money from the mills. I also learned that most people won’t mess w/ a walking black man.
@WuDaMan,
I want to read everything you said but it is SOOO long. Can you make a list with bullets the next time. This is just too much.
… I’m going to read it anyway
@WuDaMan,
The taco place on 5th a must have for every visit. One time I was in there there is only a small barred window and a 7′ by 9′ waiting area. This guy comes in there bald egg/thumb head w/ a .25mm diameter mole smack between his eyebrows. Head to toe ash. I mean it looked like he just got out of some salty water and air dryed. n his gf a big girl in some brown silky camasaw(yall know I can’t spell) braw less. smh me n the girl behind me was tryin toooooo hard not to laugh cuz ole boy was big I mean something like bald bull from mike tyson’s punch out. Only in the G. or GI.
@WuDaMan,
The dude who sells incense. The one legged trans vestyte hoooker. Going sledding on the sand dunes. Going fast down Chase street. (this street is a series of dips and hills because the water table is higher than the road) people who drink water from a spout (spring water?)
@WuDaMan,
n how it is the most overcast part of the country. I heard that it’s more overcast than Seattle…
@WuDaMan,
Don’t forget The Lure, The Cave… The dirt. That A Burger!!! I miss you. I believe that thir double burger w/ cheese was 2 lb after cooking. They used to have carmelized onions, picles, shaved lettuce, mustard, mayo n ketchup, w/ a fried egg. It was a one meal sandwich on a sesamie seed bun. mh mh mh
& I grew up on a semi dead end street. Seeing the ups truck in the winter time ment snowball wars. We would fuhck that truck up n the driver too. LOL.
We used to chase the iced cream truck to ride on the back of it.
We baught super cheap fireworks after the fourth of July lit them and shoved em in the plexiglass to steal the candy @ the E-Z Go gas station.
@WuDaMan,
“some brown silky camasaw…braw less”
Lol. Pootie Tang… is that you??
@Me fail english?,
Canipan leepuh chiyeeee wah pi taw on the bammies. Yeah I love Pootie Tang.
@WuDaMan,
Wu, I love you like a play cousin named Pookie, but I tried to read that, Lawd KNOWS I did, but my eyes crossed 1/4th of the way through. Can we get some paragraphs or sumfin?
@Luvvie, -N- Errbody
Sorry I got excited and didn’t log in so this is uneditable.
@WuDaMan
Log in??? Edit???? What’s that? Tell me more. I think Im lost in the sauce.
@V Renee,
Listen heauh. If you look up on in the right border there is a link for logging in. I think that’s where you create a profile. And when you log in you can edit @ any time as long as you are logged in. Like I could go back to posts from months ago and change what I said.
@WuDaMan,
“Sorry, I got excited”
if i had a dollar….
@The Champ,
“if i had a dollar….”
But you don’t.
@Luvvie,
BWAHAHAA!!
Everybody knows the ole Captain reps the Three Stars, Two Bars. Even though I’m in MD, I’m not one of the outsiders that wished to be in. There is a lot to love (and sometimes hate) about my city. Regardless it’s the Nation’s Capital and us black folks have the capital surrounded! Some highlights:
- Chicken Wings and Mumbo Sauce
- Ben’s Chili Bowl
- Mega Clubs near the warzone that is Trinidad NE
- When you get to the museums and monuments, you are in Washington, not D.C.
- Socks are part of the attire…don’t ask why…they just are.
- Go-Go is our music…if you don’t like it then just get off the floor when they throw it on because we’ll party regardless.
- Discount Mart is a reality
- Prince George’s County is actually the 9th Ward
- We care nothing about those other counties (Parts of MoCo gets a pass)
- We call you out if you’re a lunchin azz bamma bojangling. I know some of ya’ll are sised cause you ain’t heard anybody from the urea talkin like this in a while, but ya know, everyone knows we be crankin and jive got our own thing!
@CPT Callamity,
carry outs on every corner–i mean every single corner…works out well when you dipping out the club in middle of morning on a trip home (chicago) in 06 we were coming home after night out and I was hungry…talking bout let’s just get sumthin from a carry out and my folks were like, uh the what? we don’t have “carry outs” like dc in the chi
@maria,
I feel ya. They are convenient and artery clogging. Remember though…when you say carry out…it should come out as Curry Out. Then you’ll blend in.
@CPT Callamity,
Ben’s Chilli Bowl is the best. It is the only place I’ve been to at 3am where you have to wait in a line that is almost an hour long.
Yay for U st.
@Ivy St. reppin the Bean,
Yeah…Ben’s is so good that when Mayor Fenty took Obama there, it brought out that Chi-town hood in him. They asked him if he wanted cheese and he was like “Nah, I’m good.” Can’t be mad at dude.
@CPT Callamity,
You just brought back a whole lot of memories from my time in the urea……I could sooooo go for some wings and mumbo sauce from George’s on 14th….sigh…….memories:-(
@CPT Callamity,
“We call you out if you’re a lunchin azz bamma bojangling. I know some of ya’ll are sised cause you ain’t heard anybody from the urea talkin like this in a while, but ya know, everyone knows we be crankin and jive got our own thing!”
you got me SYCED reading this.
@Princess Duvet aka “The Princess Has Spoken”,
Co-signing,
Yung’n. You got me ’bout to cry up in’nis joint. Um psyced to def.
@Ms. Hall,
I got jive syced too. How ’bout we got our own internet slang? “LLS”…laughin’ like shyt.
I love my city. Bamas stay lunchin’ out here, but I love it!
@CPT Callamity
Man I went to a pool party in DC. They put that GO-GO on and it was on and poppin. That sh*t was cranking….you couldn’t do nothing but go with the flow. A couple of babies may have been made that night.
*** awww sweet memories
@V Renee,
As I try to tell people: You will hate Go-Go until you actually go to a party! Don’t get it confused though…the stuff they play on the radio now ain’t it. Bring back some of the super bands from say the 90s and it’s game over. Every dude who came from say NJ and NYC were always talking that yank…but then they go to one show and they were like “gotdman, I ain’t never seen women go crazy like that.”
I love BOSTON!
Wonderful things about “The Bean”
Food: New England Clam Chowder… duh! (don’t forget to add some fresh black pepper and oyster crackers to it),
-Fresh seafood from the Pier
- LOTS AND LOTS of authentic Caribbean food almost on every corner.
Chef Lee’s Soul food, get there early on Sunday
Entertainment:
-Gotta love Carnival. One of the largest parades in N. America behind the other the 3.
-Chez Vous the skating ring… when I was in middle school and highschool. Music you can skate and shake your… to
-The Kite festival, a time for community and family bond.
-The Boston Commons of course but the fact that EVERY neighborhood has at least 3 parks for children to play in (The City of parks).
Newbery St for all your shopping needs.
Getting around:
-The “T” or Train and bus that are pretty efficient
MOST IMPORTANT: THE BEST SPORTS TEAMS IN THE WORLD!!!!
Go Celtics! Go Sox! Go Patriots!!!!!
Welcome to the city of Green (or Irish…hmmm) … The Green Monster and green Celtic jerseys.
YAY CELTS!!!!!! let’s go baby!!!!
@Ivy St. reppin the Bean,
Nice list!
You took it from the hood (Chez Vous was nice when you werent ducking bullets) to the upscale (Newbury is still too damn expensive though)
@Ivy St. reppin the Bean, newberry street…that’s where i discovered my favorite silver ring @ lazuli http://www.lazulijewelry.com . it’s 7 thin square shaped rings attached by a silver loop. but don’t get it twisted, it was on sale…the rest of newberry is nice to look at…but miss p ain’t ballin’ like that.
oooh…and legions and no-names for seafood. does no-names still exist? and my brother went to Boston U…we marched against apartheid there, it was a proud little sister moment.
@Miss Patterson,
Yes, No name is still in business. My grandparents my single-handedly keep them in business!
@Ivy St. reppin the Bean,
my first trip to boston i was about 18 and out shopping alone looking for a BABYPHAT winter coat (oh, how I have matured)…anyway i went to newbery street and didn’t find one…so i thought i would go to china town, cuz i figured it would be like china town in NYC and I might find the hook up (u know, like on some canal street type stuff)…boy was i suprised when, as the train approched china town, i was the ONLY somebody left who looked like me. when i got off the train i totally stood out as the only non-Asian person for miles. needless to say, I did not find my coat there-just many authentic Chinese restaurants with whole chickens hanging by their necks in the storefronts…..good times
I’m from the suburbs of Pittsburgh but it’s all the same
Pittsburgh greats:
Primattis sandwhiches
Michael Keaton “The first Batman” (He went to my highschool)
Music: The Clarks
Stillers and Panguins
The Incline
@Pittsburb playa,
I’m from the suburbs too. Which one?
@Pittsburb playa, yeah…which one playa? i grew up in mccandless twp, walking distance from laroche college and passavant hospital.
@Pittsburb playa,
welcome and sh*t
I was raised in Flatbush brooklyn, *ahem*
the only place aside from the west indies where you can walk down a block (say Utica Ave for example) and see smoke but not be afraid cause its not fire, its jerk chicken roasting in front of a restaurant. in a barrel.
the brooklyn smell of summer: the hot concrete, cologne, and weed.
i unfortunately know what crack smoke smells like.
I’m not scared of gunshots, especially on the fourth of july.
we dont have porches, we have stoops.
every neighborhood has a crackhead that lived there forever and never gets sick, and never dies. they dont even age; thers crackheads that look exactly as they did when I was a little kid. they even dress the same.
and nobody blinked about letting said crackheads do odd jobs around their house for pennies on the dollar. we managed to get a whole curio assembled in our living room for 50 dollars and 2 pieces of fried chicken.
All the hair salons run by jamaicans, nail salons, liquor stores, fish markets, fruit stands & cleaners run by asians, bodegas run by arabs* (big shouts to hanna hanna), roti spots run by trinis, furniture stores run by jews, etc.
*all the dominican-run bodegas are in crown heights, lol
just the fact that its a place where everybody knows someone who can do something so you never really pay full price to get any one things done, lol
@shay,
the only place aside from the west indies where you can walk down a block (say Utica Ave for example)
Lick a shot for Mackenzie’s. Owww!
@shay,
FLATBUSH IS IN THE BUILDING!!!
I feel you on the crackhead thing…..we have one that shovels our snow every year for about 5 bucks! And when I was younger, Church Ave was the only place I knew where the neighborhood drug dealers looked out for my granny and carried her groceries home for her as opposed to robbing her.
Nowhere else is pretty much a whole avenue practically shut down from at least Flatbush & Church to Brooklyn & Church once a year just to let the local foreigners big up their city and represent that WI pride BEFORE the official Labor Day parade…I mean, the cops act like they don’t see folk doing the willie bounce on top of the dollar cabs, LOL……BK…GOTTA LOVE IT!!
@MissLady24/7,
lol, I think I been in a fistfight EVERY year at J’ouvert
@Me fail english?,
LOL….you and me both!
@MissLady24/7,
haha, I just got a visual of people punching each other and a mushroom cloud of mud and powder emerging off of them on contact Haven’t done it since ’06 tho. I’m too old to be fighting da pickney dem in the street!
@Me fail english?,
“Pickney dem” LMAO…I can’t! It definitely is an experience you can only find in BK. When I was younger,for Jouvert ….artists like Beenie would come perform on the steps of this house down the street from me on Raleigh…or on the big ass Uhaul truck….you know island folk, lol. Those were the good old days….I still go, but it’s definitely not the same:-(
@shay, I was waiting for someone to rep Brooklyn. I also grew up in Flatbush (although I am not Caribbean) and you definitely summed it up. From $10 blowouts at the Dominican spot to dollar vans doing death-defying stunts I don’t want to live anywhere else!
I also love the fact that when a Biggie song plays (especially Juicy) you are expected to stop what you are doing and rap along.
@BK Dee,
“I also love the fact that when a Biggie song plays (especially Juicy) you are expected to stop what you are doing and rap along.”
That is part of the unspoken law, lol……I still have a 24 hour “I *heart* B.I.G.” song and video marathon to celebrate his life every March 9th…truly one of the greatest!
@MissLady24/7,
That is part of the unspoken law, lol……I still have a 24 hour “I *heart* B.I.G.” song and video marathon to celebrate his life every March 9th…truly one of the greatest!
LMAO. Girl me too! (I do that for Pun as well in February) Remember kids cuttin school to witness the processional! Nuts!
R.I.P. The Big Men
@Me fail english?, I didnt have to cut school. My dad took me
@Me fail english?,
Yes I do! I was there in the custom made B.I.G shirt my friends and I had made up at Albee Square Mall (R.I.P. Albee & Beat Street). We stood on top of some poor person’s Benz waiting for that body to pass. I’ll never forget it…or Angie’s voice on the radio the morning we first heard…I saved EVERY paper and magazine I could find…so sad.
As for Pun, I was a freshman at college so I wasn’t in NY for that, but I sure did blast his music…another one gone too soon.
@MissLady24/7, NO YOU DID NOT SAY ALBEE SQUARE MALL
remember when it first opened up? my moms went to the dentist there…
i was shocked and how empty fulton street looked when they demolished it…
@shay,
What!! ALBEE WAS THE SH8T!!! Hanging out there after school made you feel all cool and grown like, lol. And Beat Street was my spot….they always had celebs coming through and had all the hottest albums like two days in advance.
Downtown just isn’t the same without those two spots…
@MissLady24/7,
Remember it was always some fools in front Beat Street waiting to kidnap all the girls that walked by and MAKE you come into their store.
@Me fail english?,
LOL….some of them are still out there. Remember Brooklyn Bazaar?! That was THE place to go for name plate anything and other ghetto adornments, lol.
@shay, “I’m from B.K. – the home of Biggie and Jay
Where ninjas got Will Smith chips, get jiggy all day”
I am from one of the few places that could be spoken about solely in rap lyrics. I’m from the place where you can have an authentic empanada drive five minutes for some authentic oxtail and peas & rice and then drive another ten minutes for some authentic gelato. You need to know English, patwah, Spanish, Yiddish, Italian and straight up Ebonix. I was bred in Canarsie aka Murder, Murder Canarsieville. I was raised with a Ft. Greene lean, back when Myrtle Ave was called Murder Ave before all the hippies came. I get angry when ppl ask me if I know where Marcy is, like its even close to being the worse hood in Brooklyn. I shop on Fulton St, at KP, Rockaway Parkway, the Junction (Flatbush Ave), Pennsylvania Ave, Liberty Ave, and that one street in Billysburg that I always forget the name of. I love food of all cultures, I know where the best jerk spot is, get some banging italian and the best General Tso Shrimp. I got mad when $1 cabs became “6 quarter cabs”. I’m from the place where Halloween was somehow always Blood initiation day and you had to fear your life. Ninjas would cut your Northface down the back and let the feathers fly everywhere. I cant sleep when its too quiet outside, I need to hear a gunshot or at least a City bus go by. I’m a product of many acronyms and abbreviations: NYCHA, MTA, ACS, etc…. I remember when Empire was poppin, I remember my first date to Coney Island, when the movies at KP was only $7. I remember that movie theatre in Flatbush that always got shot up, I saw Eve’s Bayou there. I hate to say it, and I know ya gonna disagree with me but Brooklyn may be the best place on Earth. No where else can you literally go from rags to riches and travel the globe all for the measly $2 single ride…
@BROOKLYN’S OWN… Peyso,
that movie theatre in Flatbush that always got shot up
lmao, you mean Kenmore. I can;t say I miss that a’tall!
@Me fail english?,
Ok I take that back. When the Biggie movie came out, I shed a tear thinking, how crazy that woulda been to smoke a blunt in Kenmore and rap the lyrics along with the movie. It woulda been a hood Rocky Horror Picture Show.
You can’t get away with that kind of stuff at Court Street tho
@BROOKLYN’S OWN… Peyso,
I heart you for that.. I really do…
I started on Eastern Parkway, went to Crown Heights, did a stint in Queens, now I am back to East Flatbush and I.LOVE.IT!!!
Brooklyn is the true melting pot (IMO) of the city…
if you cannot find it in Brooklyn well it just is not to be found.. period…
@BROOKLYN’S OWN… Peyso,
The way you wrote this reminds me of a spoken word poem (???/don’t know what to call it) done by Lemon about the Bronx.
Very nice imagery , is what I’ m trying to say.
@BROOKLYN’S OWN… Peyso,
so exactly where is the best jerk spot? Because a sista like me was overwhelmed when i went to see jilly from philly in the park last summer- so i went home hungry.
@meleka a.k.a Resident Late Poster(rlp), up and down utica ave. but there is a good one on nostrand and like beverley
@BROOKLYN’S OWN… Peyso, no disrespect but I am from East New York (seen the news lately) went to Canarsie High when did Canarsie become “murder-muder” add to that what would The East (not Flatbush you twits!!!) and Brownsville (birthplace of Mike Tyson) have to say about that phrase about basically a nice neihborhood-its not even a “hood” it only has two projects which sit on the outskirts (Bayview and Brookline no I cant spell THAT way..real inside thing righ there). I cant say I was ever afraid of anyone or anything in Canarsie, that includes I.S. 211.
@temps, I’m from the one hood you named and its spelled Breukelen. Dont forget about Glenwood Housed, they’re in Canarsie too. The rest of Canarsie or as we called it the PHs (Private Houses) dont be killing nothing though
@osyeP, no doubt I went to 211 I walked home thru the private homes and Breukelen and I never felt in trouble as opposed to walking accross Linden Blvd passed the “do-do” bldg on Van Siclen and this WAAAY before bloods and crips came through -back in the 90s’ in The East you just didnt walk down certain streets depending or where you lived-dudes from “The Bama’s” never came to Linden and vice versa-and back in 92 my boy Ian “ELo” Moore was shot in the halls of Thomas Jefferson High with another cat named Tyrone Sinkler (google it) they were like the fifth ppl shot in the school that year-this was years before them white boys shot up any high school-shit “Jeff” was the 1st school in ALL of NYC to have metal dectors.
@shay,
Just realized, smthg everyone forgot. BCAT!!!!!
Ninjas used to practice their Pon de River thinking they would show up on tv. Me and my friends were extra gassed when one of our girls became a “Flex Girl” as if that ish was the big time!
Best Public Access channel in the galaxy.
@Me fail english?, BCAT was that crack. Used to watch that almost pron. i saw an episode when a woman was suing a dude for her virginity, i almost cried
@Me fail english?,
BCAT!! Hell Yea! Were you and your girls at Afrika House too on Bedford Ave….my people’s and I practiced routines for hours hoping to get on BCAT come the weekend….good times!!
@MissLady24/7,
Girl I was just in Afrika House a coupla months ago. Ppl still throw parties up in there. I luv it!
@Me fail english?,
Oh damn….lol…I think I’m too old for that now.
@MissLady24/7,
Heh,heh me too. But you know those social/motorcycle clubs like to keep it hood.
@Me fail english?,
oh no you did not say BCAT, lmao IF IT AINT FLEX, IT AINT SHHHHHH!
@shay,
IF IT AINT FLEX, IT AINT SHHHHHH!
*DEAD*
@shay,
every neighborhood has a crackhead that lived there forever and never gets sick, and never dies. they dont even age; thers crackheads that look exactly as they did when I was a little kid. they even dress the same.
lol…i think this is true everywhere.
I’m from New York City, but I’ve lived and attended public school in three different boroughs, so I’ll keep it general.
-I love the fact that I can get a sandwich at any time of the day or nite
-I love that people don’t automatically look or smile at you, you actually have to earn their sunshine here.
-I love that any weird ish I can imagine I want to do has a whole entire community supporting it here.
-I love that I grew up knowing how to pronounce words in Tagalog, Polish and Farsi all because of the rampant diversity.
…Honestly, my city is a shell of its former self too, for much different reasons. I get nostalgic thinking about the past and sometimes feel the city was better “back then”, then I snap out of the madness and keep it moving. The older I get, I’m effing sick of this city and only continue to live here because for some strange reason she’s got my heart.
@Me fail english?,
Oh I have to add that NYC is the only city I can think of where people act like a neighborhood ten miles away is a completely different country.
There’s a ton of people who NEVER left their boroughs in their lives. This is not an exaggeration. Never in life…ever. I love to hear the old folks (esp. yardies in BK) talk about going to “America” when what they really mean is Manhattan. I couldn’t make this up if I tried.
@Me fail english?,
what,never left their borrough? that cant b true, that’s a trip…..
@Me fail english?,
I just remembered another. Taking the bus tosome filthy ass beach (Manhattan/Brighton, “Chocha” (lol), or the Rock) depending on what boro I was in. Not being able to get in the water cause it was pitch black.
Other cities I’ve spent significant time in don’t even have a damn beach (“da eff you mean ‘go down the shore?’”)
I also like the fact that New Yorkers, not including the bridge and tunnel crowd aren’t all nutty about our sports teams. If we win, that’s great but there will be no riots (Boston, Philly I’m looking at you).
Finally, we have the craziest drivers which is never funny when you’re on the road, but always funny in hindsight. I remember being backed up in traffic on the Deegan (6 lanes across) and wouldn’t you know my fellow citizens (several cars get the bright idea to drive in reverse at about 50mph for at least 5 mile until they got back to a free exit. Gotta love us
@Me fail english?,
don’t knock going down the shore. it is a favorite of philly folk. from May through October the AC expressway is JAM PACKED with people going to their shore houses where the water ISN’T pitch black and Fire Island hasn’t spilled onto the beach. So there!
@blackberry molasses,
Yeah Staten Islanders/N. Jersey ppl go down the shore too and its no less wack. Just cause its crowded, dont mean its cool. A ton of wannabe Gotti boys and Adrianna Moltisanti clones. I’ll pass!
@Me fail english?,
that’s cuz yo a$$ was going to Asbury Park and Long Beach Island…weren’t you? Yeah, naw. WRONG WRONG WRONG.
Wildwood, Cape May, Ocean City and Egg Harbor at where its AT!
@blackberry molasses,
Hell naw, I don’t mess with none of yall’s shitty lil beaches. But the ones I “happened upon” were further north. And if you can name a bunch of beaches off top that even YOU can admit suck, then that tells me all I need to know about the places I haven’t been.
lol@ Wildwood. Y’all get half a credit for reminding me of what Coney Island was like way back in the day. Seems like a cute lil place to do a daytrip with the kids, but not smthg to brag about by any means. That is one dirty MFer. The shore aint got shit on LI’s East End (Montauk, the Hamptons, Orient)
Well it appears that I am the only NYCer who reps the city outside of BK, as such I must mention that we have some pretty impressive ball playing going on. Its mostly in Manhattan, a boro I’ve never had the pleasure of living in, but part of my home city, none the less.
Kingdome, the Rucker (pre-’00), West 4th, and the Dyckman are that isht in the summer and the menfolk out there are kinda easy on the eyes. I mean where else can you see the softer side of Crazy Ron Artest, up close, personal and free of charge
@Me fail english?, as a youth i thought I was goin to play major league baseball and if u wanna see some good baseball head to the bx or the heights to watch the dominicans play
@BROOKLYN’S OWN… Peyso,
Word. Another reason I love my city. STICKBALL.
NYers perfected the art of using a stoop as the “catcher”. I do remember watching kids running up the mountains in washington hts. to catch a fly.
@Me fail english?,
Kingdome, the Rucker (pre-’00), West 4th, and the Dyckman are that isht in the summer and the menfolk out there are kinda easy on the eyes. I mean where else can you see the softer side of Crazy Ron Artest, up close, personal and free of charge
a pair of rucker league/entertainers basketball classic shorts i stole from my college teammate are still one of my favorite possessions.
i’m a pretty good thief when i put my mind to it
@The Champ,
Reach for the stars Champ!
Just thought of some more
-I don’t think this happens anymore, but there was a time when you could just walk down a random block in Times Square on a balmy Friday night and find dudes freestyle battling for a deal in front of Puff, Dame, Chris Lighty…
-I used to love the St. Anthony’s festival (I’m Catholic. Sue me!)
-We have the best “subway talent” of any city I’ve seen thus far. Blind rappers, child contortionists. Who knew the morning commute could be so fun?
Eff wit us!
@Me fail english?, when i was underage, times square used to b the spot on a warm night, post up and try to scoop joints
Mercy me! Another one.
Not sure if this is SI so much as its Italian, but hearing people ask for “peetser” (pizza) and “soder” (soda) makes me feel at home.
And are we the only ones who call the long sandwiches “heroes” and a pizza “a pie”? I’ve gotten the “gas face” from people in several other cities attempting to order this isht
@Me fail english?, In philly they wanted to call them hoagies. “what the hell is a hoagie?” i replied. I wanted a hero
@BROOKLYN’S OWN… Peyso,
Word! I refused to call it a hoagie! I pride myself on being one of the NYers who actually appreciate the culture of cities other than my own but “pop” and “hoagie” are just blasphemous to me. They just sound so unappetizing.
@BROOKLYN’S OWN… Peyso,
Just remembered another one. I don’t know of any other city that calls them “uptowns” I thought that was the real name. I shoulda known that sounded kinda hood to be official Nike nomenclature…
@Me fail english?,
not for nothing when Nelly came out with that Air Force Ones song it took me mad long to figure it out. I really thought he was talking about dunks, lmao
@shay,
Me too!
@Me fail english?,
lol…in college i had a teammate from harlem, and it really seemed like he was speaking a completely different language than i was. i mean, it took me two months to realize that him saying “what up, b?” or “what up, d*ck” wasnt an insult
@The Champ,
Wait a minute…I aint never heard of “what up d!ck?”
son
dun
thun
mo
b
god, maybe. but not d-word, lol!
@Me fail english?, looks like the champ WAS being clowned after all.
@Me fail english?, u are correct about the uptowns alot of ppl dont know where the name comes from though. the original forces or uptowns were mids and had a strap on it. on the strap read NYC on them. NYC = da city = manhattan to black folk in brooklyn. the cool part of manhattan = harlem = uptown
@BROOKLYN’S OWN… Peyso,
Word, other stuff that I learned is made up:
Fifty-four-elevens
Chicken-and-broccoli’s, Beef-and-broccoli’s, Blueberries
Chuckers
Snorks (I don’t care, I still think this is the real name for them!)
Damn my city for having me walk around and ask about this stuff like it really existed.
@Me fail english?, 54.11=49.99 plus tax
@BROOKLYN’S OWN… Peyso,
Hoagie = the CORRECT name for the sandwich other folks call a “Hero” lol
Origin = A sandwich made around the turn of the century for workers on Hog Island. (Near Philadelphia International Airport today)
“where are you from, and what about it makes you smile?”
St. Louis hasn’t been repped yet? I’m actually from the Metropolitan area, but it’s all the same in the end:
*Red Hot Riplets – can’t find them anywhere else, and every now and then I get SUCH a craving for them
*IMO’s pizza – I just have to get some every time I go back
*beautiful dredlocked men – I don’t know what kind of movement is going on in the city, but I’ve seen more and more brothas lockin’ up within the past 3-5 years
*phrases and dialects (that I used to hate, but have since grown to love) like “fa sho”, “right thurr” (right there), etc…
*dances that only STL folk could get right (like the Mono)
*Central West End, the Loop, Forest Park…
aww man, I need to move back…
@peachi
My beau is from St. Louis. His accent cracks me the phuck up. Whenever he said right thurr, I make him repeat it at least 2-3 times.
@V Renee,
yeah, i got laughed at when i moved away, but it’s the greatest feeling when you run into another person from the stl and they get excited over the way you talk…like we’re in a secret club or something, lol
@peachi,
As someone who lived in Tha Lou (did TFA from 2002-2004) I recognize and respect all of the things you mentioned.
NO ONE DOES THIN CRUST PIZZA LIKE IMO’S!!!
I used to live in the Central West End, right by the History Museum
I taught at Sumner High… how could you not mention the history of The Ville and the GREATNESS that had walked the Halls of Sumner.. Arthur Ashe, Grace Bumbr and Annie Mae (aka Tina Turner) herself..
And I LOVED the Loop. The drum circles accross from St. Louis Bread Company were a fave hang out of mine.
All the free Festivals!!! There was NO END of stuff to do in the summer.
Soulard…!
The Mono… **snicker** don’t forget the Pancake and y’alls jacked up version of the Heel Toe.
And I dated a beautiful be-loc-ed man… too bad he was also an arsehat. But beautiful to look at nonetheless.
Oh yeah.. and STL’s cost of living kicks ass! I had a GORGEOUS spot in CWE and was only paying $515 a month. The same kinda spot here…. $1400. EASILY.
@blackberry molasses,
wow…Soulard…it’s been too long! i miss that joint so much…
hahaha, the pancake!! you just made me think about the ninapop too
i’d have to say the free things to do are what i miss the most about that city, “fa sho”
@peachi,
i ALWAYS miss it down there…i greww up in the metro east…red hot riplets…my ma used to send boxes of them to me while i was in school…now i stock up everytime i go visit.
and those dances…it’s a shame, cuz now there’s this stuff that haven’t made it out of the city yet, so people in other locales look at you funny if you start doing them
I’m from Upstate NY (Albany) where there are no cows running around and where people don’t hustle and bustle and knock you over. What do I like? ehhh. The mall, the restaurants, and the family.
@Slim Jackson, @Slim Jackson, awww Albany! I went to college up there Go UAlbany! except you forgot the notorious sitings of wild turkeys, and foxes. but yeah the cows are further out of town…… but yeah albany has that good sense of community, also crossgates mall and colonie center mall saved me many a saturday…..
@Slim Jackson,
i have bad memories about albany, and they all revolve around the pepsi center
As I hollered up top, I’m from Chi city aka Wendy aka The Windy
iQuit my city for the following things:
*Our politics is the grimy gum on the buttom of the USA’s shoes
*Our Winter weather is harsher than Mike Vick’s treatment of canines
*The Westside scares me
*The Green Line is NOT my fave
But I LOVE LOVE LOVE my city for:
*The summertime weather and atmosphere. It’s what keeps us here despite the harsh winters
*Our skyline is one of the Top 5 in the WORLD! Hands down. Riding down Lakeshore Drive is still breathtaking. That view never gets tired
*The Magnificent Mile – Michigan Avenue is my 2nd home
*The culture – Although still one of the most segregated cities in the world, Black culture here is still strong and I love it
*We’re almost like the northern country. There’s still a bit of hospitality here that aint present in other places *coughs* NYC
Our slangs: Referring to everyone as “jo”, “juking” is dancing, “gymshoes” are sneakers, it’s “pop” not soda
*You can buy a pack of socks on the Redline for $1
*Home of the Beloved One!!
*We know how to Step in the name of Love.
*Boystown is a HOOT to People watch. Where else can one see a man rocking lime green thong and boots at 5pm on a Sunday?
I LOVE Chicago!!!!
@Luvvie
I LOVE Chicago too! It’s def. one of my favorite cities. It’s always been good to me
@Luvvie,
Chicago is the isht! I remember going there all awestruck. The natives started laughing their asses off at me because I remarked how clean the city was. lol
If I could get my whole fam to leave NYC, I think Chicago is the one place I could be happy, long-term
@Luvvie,
Ooh spit that Luvvie.
You got’s to mention the food spots from ‘the city of broad shoulders.
Only soul food place in the world had greens close to as good as my Mama’s.
Giodono’s or Gino’s East which ever.
Rico Bennie’s (they make this steak scalopini sandwich [pounded out steak coated in bread crumbs, deep fried, then dipped in marinara, on a roll w/ gardinara n motzarella cheese])
The taste
the gusmacker
the bud bilican parade
the cheese carmel popcorn mix
the jinxiest baseball team Go Cubs
the Mississippi great migration decendents.
there’s a place that makes beer w/ herbal refreshments
Mr T.
The blues brothers (I know it was just a movie)
Maxwell street polish….
oh I’m starvin
home of hostess cakes n wrigley’s gum
Like I said earlier J&J fish
Harold’s chicken
They actually serve the McRib
eh Navy Pier, megs field
n the way they clear the streets of the snow
@WuDaMan,
how could i forget about maxwell street! and our chicago hot dogs yum-yum.
fyi best tacos from la pasadita @ division/ashland.
also love that waveland bowl is open 24/7…
love all the neighborhoods too…its like living in multiple places all in one.
@Luvvie, can I add I love the fried lobster and hush puppies at Bubba Gumps on navy pier? I know its a cheesy tourist spot but them joints right there is FI! and Garretts Popcorn.. OMG
@Luvvie,
Oh and I forgot to add:
*Taste of Chicago – Gluttony has never been so convenient
*I went to the same High School as Michelle Obama – Whitney Young Dolphins!!!!
*Footworking – I can’t footwork, but watching others do it and battle each other is always a hoot. *Sigh* When we were young…
@Luvvie,
Yo I finally did it (footwork) @ the ripe old age o 3 deccades. You can do it Luvvie. You can do it all night long. I know I can’t help it.
NoBody plays the dozens like Chicagoans. NOBODY! N Luvvie strait brings that realness errwhere she go. Makes me a bit motional n love her like a play for the day sister.
@Luvvie,
Jitting > Footwork
@Humble_One,
n Jukin will get Jitting any day. LOL
@WuDaMan, n jukin and buckin is from the M baby!!!!!!!
@shay_d_lady,
Hole up in the Chi they just Juk. Please b-lieve I knows bout jukin & buckin my gangstar walk is pimp tight. I’ll roll through North Memphis n U can’t tell me NUthin (so long as my cousin is w/ me or I’m @ Nana’s house).
@Luvvie,
First, your fear of the west side…ya really need to get over that. lol. What makes Chicago Chicago is that it can be beautiful and grimy, all at the same time. If you don’t love it all, ya don’t love. Yeah…I said it. :p
That said, I live in Chicago and have for a long time. I love the summer but that’s about it.
The Taste doesn’t excite me. Once you’ve done it…
Putting together my two year plan to escape the Chi.
@iloVEGrits,
You, are a walking blanket of musk and gloom. And no, I shant get over my fear of the Westside. It is scary. That is all.
@Luvvie,
You, are a walking blanket of musk and gloom.
lol. this was a great insult. good job
I’m from Texas. It’s been said that Texas residents are like soccer fans–but for Texas. We rep our whole state like y’all rep neighborhoods. It’s like that.
This could be true. Is there another state where it’s perfectly acceptable to drape yourself in the state flag each night before bed?
http://houston.craigslist.org/hsh/1049303794.html
@Nikiloveli,
“I’m from Texas. It’s been said that Texas residents are like soccer fans–but for Texas. We rep our whole state like y’all rep neighborhoods. It’s like that. ”
You got that right chick!!!!
TEXAS STAND UP!!!!
@miss t-lee,
While I was reading through the comments , I had to take a break to go outside and watch a parade of some 200 horses hold up traffic on a major thoroughfare for 20 mins. This is both acceptable and expected.
@Nikiloveli,
My homegirl (who’s in the H) told me it was Go Texan Day…mayne hol’ up.
Gotta love it.
@miss t-lee,
Yup Darling! I got on my boots (cowboy please), my big buckle belt, and my cowboy hat.
The Rodeo is kicking off tomorrow. Good times!
@miss t-lee,
**Standing**
WE IN THA BUILDING!!
@Nikiloveli,
Didn’t know you was from Clutch city..
Represent.
@Nikiloveli,
Texas is my adopted state and I really, really understand the love.
“Don’t mess with Texas”… ya hear?
Did my post just disappear?
Boo on wordpress… I posted my comment and it deleted it.
I also have to put on for the T.O. That’s where I spent my formative years.
Toronto is an international city. The concepts of black, white, etc are sooo foreign to us. People identifiy with their cultural heritage more than the color of their skin. And its so multilingual… I was speaking French, Arabic, Japanese and Farsi by the time I got out of 3rd grade…
All this cultural love mixing and genetic fortunateness has bred some of the most beautiful people I have ever seen. Yep, my city is a good lookin’ city!!
Toronto is the only city in the world that has a higher population of Jamaicans than Jamaica. This is HILARIOUS. Consequently, you CAN find GOOD hard-dough bread, beef paties, akee and saltfish outside of Jamaica. This makes me happy.
One Word: CARIBANA (old skool, not new skool). I loved being in the parade in an obscenely heavy (and skimpy) outfit at the tender age of 7.
Errybody I know up there is into herbal refreshments… makes for a very chill population.
The CN Tower and the SkyDome… yep, we did it FIRST.
Toronto is so CLEAN you can eat off the sidewalks. Love it.
Don’t NOBODY drive like Toronto folk! To say that we are a bunch of ‘lead footers’ is to say that Canadian winters are a bit chilly.
Speaking of winter… we actually know how to HANDLE significant snowfall without the interrupion of basic services and life. It CRACKED ME UP when people here made runs on the grocery store because they heard 4 inches of snow was expected.
That said, summers there are glorious. They are not too hot or humid, but are hot enough to be pleasant. Trips to Marineworld made my summer every year.
The houses up there are made of real RED BRICK. A bit more expensive, yes… but those babies are built to last!
Ski Cottages!
I have more… but I actually have to do work now…
@blackberry molasses,
Shout out to T dot. I have mad family there. I love Toronto. The women there are something else. My goal is to find a wife in Toronto. And Caribana? I OD on that a while ago. Last 2x I went it was most definetly not the same.
@blackberry molasses,
toronto is easily my second favorite city on earth.
H-town baby..what it do?
Houston has been the best kept secret for a while now, but more and more people are finding out about it. It has everything you need. Jobs, nightlife, major sports teams, cheap housing, an abundance of black folk (mexicans too). What else you need baby? H-town 4 life!! **Singing Jeezy “I put ooonn 4 my city”**
@Tx10inch (Houston Stand up!),
They don’t know, they don’t KNOW! I tried to told ‘em.
@Nikiloveli,
You ain’t gotta keep tellin em babygurl…They’ll understand once it’s too late and we stop lettin em in cause they tryin to suck up all of our Tx swag…
@Tx10inch (Houston Stand up!),
I can’t help but think of this heuh hot txs shyt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iFtAMQgPKA
@WuDaMan,
3rd coast classic.
@Tx10inch (Houston Stand up!),
“we stop lettin em in cause they tryin to suck up all of our Tx swag…”
Yessir!!!! I loves H-Town, I think I’ma take a trip down there next month.
@Tx10inch (Houston Stand up!),
Come on now, you can do better than that!
Ok so Houston is my adopted hometown. And here’s what I love about the city:
*It’s the most diverse city you’ll find in Texas… We have a little Bombay (Hillcroft street), little Saigon (Bellaire Blvd), little Lagos/Kingston (Bissonet Rd)…
* You have a small town feel with big city amenities, state of the art medical care (2nd best medical center in the world) but you can have a great meal for less than $10.
*The food is diverse, abundant, cheap, tasty, authentic. It’s said that you can eat at a different restaurant in Houston for a year and a half. I can have Indian tonight, Vietnamese tomorrow, Soul Food on Sunday, and BBQ on monday. And it’s all authentic and it’s all good.
* The girls are BEAUTIFUL! All races, all backgrounds. Houston women are one of the bangigest chicks I’ve seen in my travels.
*The Rodeo complete with black cowboys AND cowgirls. ‘Nuff said.
*The night life is banging and caters to all styles and tastes. I’ve been country dancing, Techno grooving, hip-hop listening. You name it, we got it.
*You can find a gorgeous 4BR house for $150,000 or less.
I don’t know there is so much to say about the H, Bayou City, H-town that we can be sitting here forever.
Just come on down, it’s Rodeo Time!
@Sula is Swamped,
I hear you folks don’t pay state income tax??? Spare me from my feelings of envy and tell me this is nothing more than filthy lie.
Thanks in advance!
@Me fail english?,
Yep…no state income tax.
Sorry, it’s true.
@miss t-lee,
Yup, very true. And we get the Sales Tax back.
Life is good in the H.
@miss t-lee,
Blast you all to Hades!! NY has some of the highest property/income/sales tax in the country I think.
*cries softly into keyboard*
@Me fail english?,
I’ve always heard MA had the highest taxes.
So NY is the leader?
*pours out some liquor for you homey.*
@miss t-lee,
I dunno who wears the true We-rape-citizens-daily crown but I know we’re amongst the winners (read:losers
)
@yall
I heard Chicago has the highest sales tax. 10 cents on the dollar.
“I’m from a Place…”
…where you get REAL cheesesteaks from spots like Pagano’s (the best) and Dalessandro’s; not from Pat’s or Geno’s. (Only tourists get them there)
…where Big Five basketball lives at the Palestra. (If you’re a basketball fan and haven’t seen a Big Five game, I feel for you)
…where summertime is the flavor. Whether at Odunde, South Street, Manyunk or Delaware Ave, there’s always something to do when the temperature’s up
…where sports is religion. Whether it’s the Birds, Sixers, Flyers or the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PHILLIES, we live it and breathe it and take that isht to heart. It can be a beautiful thing (like the parade my city finally got to enjoy last year after the Phils brought the championship trophy down on South Broad Street) or it can be real ugly (i.e. wearing a cowgirls jersey, midgets jersey, etc on the 700 level of the old Vet stadium)
…where the word “Jawn” is a noun and can be used to describe anything and/or anyone
…where you can find anything you want on 52nd Street
…where a native can talk as much isht as they want about the city-but let someone who’s not from here say something sideways. that isht is a no-go my friend…
These are only a few things I love about my city. I could go on forever but I saw upthread that some other folks came through and represented my city
No matter where I go, I take Philadelphia with me. I wear that isht on my sleeve. Always have…always will.
Just my $2.15 on the topic…
@ThePhiladelphiaNegro,
the ‘jawn’ phenom actually irks me… but i caught myself saying it the other day, and giggled.
THE PALESTRA ROCKS IN DOLBY SURROUND SOUND!
And you saw me handle someone who was talking isht about us before… I don’t play that. And I’m a transplant!
@blackberry molasses,
“And you saw me handle someone who was talking isht about us before… I don’t play that. And I’m a transplant!”
This about me? Haha. Sensitive e-thugs, y’all all need hugs!
@Me fail english?,
sensitive…. more like… ambivalent.
all I know when I get to New York I choke on y’all toxic a$$ air and I’m terrified to even look at your pitch black waters for fear of going blind.
@blackberry molasses,
“I don’t play that” is more than ambivalent. I can care less if you like NYC. And I’ve actually live in Philly, so I know for a 215 repper to talk about disliking a city for “toxic air” is beyond a reach. But I’ll leave it at that since you “don’t play that” LMAO!
@Me fail english?,
who pissed in your cornflakes this morning?
GEEZ.
Folks be taking playing a little too serious on here.
@blackberry molasses,
Not at all. I don’t have the attention span to get e-pissed. I was actually chuckling at the notion of being”e-handled” cuz I like being in a city with an ocean.
@blackberry molasses,
That’s what I’m talkin’ about fam! LOL
@ThePhiladelphiaNegro,
Real talk. I love how Jawn moved from slang to pronoun to actual noun. Only in Philadelphia. Love it mayne
I represent Detroit. West Side 6 mile to be exact. My city has fall on hard times but I still love it.
the griminess. until I started traveling in my late teens I thought what I saw in Detroit was normal. Most cities don’t have large areas that look like Afgahnistan post 9/11.
the Broke dudes wearing Cartier frames
the slang: what up doe? what u got up?
Coney Island aka Death Food
Street Racing
in the summer time you see cars made before 1975 like its before 1975
seeing cars on the street years before they come out
The Detroit attitude or mentality
Jitting
ball rooming
Up North Down South People
Contary to popular thought there are no pimps here. The drug dealers out numbered the pimps decades ago.
Alligator shoes ( i am still trying to see how some of these dudes have multiple pairs of $800-$1500 shoes)
every dude having a daily driver and a muscle, sports, classic, car for the weekend.
Woodward Dream Cruise, Gratiot Cruise, Downriver Cruise
7 mile in the 90s
Belle Isle
Jefferson Ave in the 90s
the festivals at Hart Plaza (especially in the 90s to early 00s)
the segregation
the Latino hoods on the Southwest side
the bourgeoisie blacks from sherwood forest, rosedale park, palmer woods, oak park, southfield, and farmington hills
30 plus years being in the top 5 or 10 cities with the highest crime rate
the discounts on a new car
the now dead opportunity to make $50-$100k a year out of high school legally.
the extremely HOT summers and extremely COLD winters
Mink coats in the winter
the ice grills on everyones face
the lack of manners or hospitality
@Humble_One,
Belle Isle is the scariest place I have ever been before in my life! Went for a family reunion in the day time and stayed a little too late one summer saturday night. There were people all over the place, blocking the road. Since we’re from out of town we thought something was about to pop off and we’d have no way out. My aunt literally had to drive her minivan over a rotary to get us out of there!
@Dom,
You were there when it was starting to get live. Now Chandler Park is what you need to be scared of when it gets dark.
@Humble_One,
ive been to detroit once, and got lost in a giant mall and also almost died in a tornado. i dont have great memories of motown
I rep the BX all day .. I realize Bk has made it loud and clear in this posting, and I’m slowly starting to respect and appreciate brooklyn. (however your crime rates are a bit much….. but i digress…don’t shoot me!) I love the sites and sounds of the Bronx, I enjoy the fact though my borough has been through a lot, it’s on it’s comeup . I love seeing it become more culturally diverse in my neighborhood and other neighborhoods and overall it’s a great place from an affordable point of view, if affordability even exists anywhere in NYC anymore. i do agree that you have people that have never left their borough to see what the rest of the city and world have to offer. I left for a lil bit, came back and I do appreciate where I am now a lot more, and that’s that.
my favorite sounds are hearing suavamente played 8 thousand different ways in the neighborhood, and avoiding being hit by cars when it’s puerto rican day parade weekend.
Yankee Stadium, new and old, even though i have to sell my future offspring whenever they arrive to pay off the money put into the new stadium i’ll never be able to sit in……..
nuisances of the BX, celebrating P.R. from early may to october in every corner of the Bronx. Seriously, there are other cultures that comprise the boro ya dig?
Seeing random roosters and stray cats (conveniently located near the hood chinese spot…. combo #4 anyone?) and having the perverse privilege of hearing roosters crow in the morning.
Going to junior high down the block from the vivero pollo spot that stunk to high hell in the summertime…. hey you pick em’ we kill em!
ahh viva la Bronx!
(I will give bk it’s props for holding the W.I. Parade. kudos and gold stars for that massive endeavor. )
and yeah uff queens.. yeah i said it….. uff queens. you can catch me in main street getting my sticky buns and ish…but that’s bout it, can’t live there won’t live there and imma really need ya’ll to stop thinking that each neighborhood needs it’s own recognition. when i come over the whitestone i’m in queens, but no.. all the uppity folks got to say no… you’re in whitestone…. seriously seriously? and that’s the only place where you have to know the direct address, lane, place, terrace, bouleward, way, road or else you will end up on the other side of the other side. uff it!
@MsSweets26,
“I enjoy the fact though my borough has been through a lot, it’s on it’s comeup .”
Girl I almost choked on my breath when I heard one my transplant homies thinking about moving to the Concourse refer to it as …SoBro. Who?
And I always that it was funny that when I was in HS and tried to get my BK friends to go up to the BX they’d be like “Nah its mad dirty and dangerous”. But when I asked my BX friends to come meet my BK ppl they’d say the same thing! lol
I lived in Qns too. It aint so bad. I like it because its so much quieter and you have more space. Nobody “witnessing” you come and go from the crib for some juice. (I swear BX and BK ninjas don’t sleep!) But that prob has more to do with the neighborhoods I was in…Never been to Whitestone tho.
@Me fail english?, yeah i’m still in shock of nicknames for some neighborhoods. they want to name one part LoCo (Lower Concourse) I am not a fan of a neighborhood in the Bx, nicknamed that which can be translated into crazy. I am guilty of saying BK is ridiculously far and I’ll meet BK folks in manhattan first before i ever come to that side of the woods, believe me i thought at one point i was allergic to BK because I kept sneezing when I helped a friend of mines relocate.
Qns just has a bit too much going on, though i will give it up to them for being very suburban in some parts and you’re right it is quiet. and yup we don’t sleep there have been many a ” i can’t live without you , i swear to BBJ imma kill myself” and me yelling, “well do it already so I can get some friggin’ sleep ya douche” right outside my window from the local teenagers and their flava of the week love stories. whitestone is swanky right over the bridge nice homes with pools….. i’ve ventured to cambria heights, rosedale, woodside, and been deeply confounded by their street signs.
All this talk about Pittsburgh makes me feel like I missed out when I was there 3 years ago. My experience there was wack. I thought the city was slow. It seems I was wrong. I feel like I want to go back and really experience it.
@Humble_One,
All this talk about Pittsburgh makes me feel like I missed out when I was there 3 years ago
where were you, and how long were you there?
I am from Pensacola, FL… and I hated it. So maybe I should think of some ATL memories and go from there?
Like ghetto ass Club 559! *I will be back*
@Elle Bella, the ATLella,
pensacola’s on of those cities that i know exists, but just cant image anyone actually living there. and, if people did live their, it would be a black snake moanesque existence.
@The Champ,
*ding, ding, ding* You got it!
I mean, we produced ROY JONES JR, son! (And because his family and mine are close, I will digress) But Emitt Smith is from there too (hence why I hate him! well that’s not why, but still!)
Um, Lionel Ritchie used to live there! LOL Ok, I got nothing. Ooooh, we do have the BOMB beach, but it is usually littered with red necks, so… nevermind.
Damn…
Chi-town STAND UP! And then sit back down after slipping into a deep dish pizza coma.
I saw the other Chicago lists above (represent!!) Here’s my fave memories/loves…I might repeat a few:
1. Jukin’. I was just listening to Kid Sister’s “Switchboard” the other day and loved how she has the Chi-town rap style on POINT. That mofo hit hard.
2. The Bozo Show at the WGN building. Man, if I said I didn’t center my entire LIFE on trying to get on the Grand Prize Game to get that crisp 100 dollar bill, I’d be lying.
3. Harold’s Chicken. Hot AND Mild Sauce please.
4. Giordano’s. You haven’t HAD pizza until you had them. And deep dish style. Runner Up and actually better since it’s less commercial is Milano’s on the southside. SOUTHSIIII-EEEED.
5. The South Side Irish Parade. Man, it makes me mad how a bunch of 2520s can walk around in broad daylight with Baileys in their hands acting all kinds of fools and the po-pos don’t even bat an eyelash. But if I join in, I ain’t mad anymore. Dare one of them policemen to stop me and I’ll say to them, “I got Irish in me (true)…oh, I don’t look like I do? Hmm, wanna know how that happened? Your great-great- great-uncle-cousin raped my great-great-great-grandmother. Top o’ the mornin’ to ya!” and then go about my merry way.
6. CAN TV (local channel). That ish is my crack. Any fellow Chicagoans saw the Royce Glamour Show before? Comedy platinum.
7. The Rink. Lovely times. Wow, that took me back to a good place just mentioning it.
8. I’m one of the 3 Chicagoans that have never been to the taste. Never had any real desire to go (those crowds mixed with potential musty hot air scared me off)…might do finally break down and go this year.
9. The best person alive (Obama, for you slow folk) represented here.
10. The Socks/Frooties/Chews/Towels man. I remember I use to love him (um, there were about a thousand “hims”) because I LOVE Frooties/Chews (there’s no penny candy stores anymore so I depend on him now) and he always had this huge bag of them for about a dollar. He was my hero. And them face-towels were no joke. They were pretty quality ones. Also hit up that man who sells denim laundry bags on Stony Island right along the Brothers of Islam selling their bean pies.
11. I LOVE downtown Chicago. A lot of people don’t because of the amount of people and because well…the job is down here, but I can just walk down Michigan Avenue for the fun of it. I guess I love walking. And the street performers are the best. This dude let me play his drums when I was about 12 and I did pretty okay. No one gave me any money, though. Cheap! I also have a soft-spot for the boys who play those buckets. Dope!
I need to stop now…I could go on and on if you let me and I should get up there and respond to what has already been said…
@Cheekie,
Hecks yeah I just knew I could get that bucket toss game on the bozo show.
N YESSSSSSSSSSS @ your Harolds order. *swooning*
@Cheekie, definitely just had harolds for lunch…tell me why i got a 3 piece white, and this guy i work with asked me for a wing…
me=too upset
@missjess,
I’da been like. FULCK NO! You got to get yo own.
@WuDaMan,
clearly i was upset, but gave in, cuz he’s one of the execs…i guess it’s my fault…i should’ve known better…i work in an all black office
@missjess,
LMFAO @ “can I get a wing”. Does this mofo know that Harold’s chicken is a priceless item? It’s funny because one of my coworkers never had Harolds before (a 2520) and all the Black folks here were conspiring to bring some here one day. Yes! Give THEM the ‘itis, dag nabbit.
@Cheekie,
LMBO!!! my office is all black, but if it wasn’t…i think givin a 2520 the itis w/a 5 wing would probably be the funniest thing ever
@Cheekie,
probably the best chicken i’ve ever had = from Harold’s
they used to have 1 here in Milwaukee but they closed it down >:o
@Tyrone,
Mmmhmm…mouth watering just thinking about it. I haven’t had any in a while either (I mean…it’s bad for ya…lol)…How much you wanna bet I’d get some either tonight or this weekend?
Ya’ll started some trouble over here.
This is new. I usually spend most of my time thinking about all the ways I hate Boston and how I cant wait to leave.
There are a few things I like though:
1. All the fake holidays we get just for working here ie. Bunker Hill Day and Evacuation Day.
2. The Boston accents I hear on a daily, esp. when folks say “yous” like its really a word. A heavy Boston accent always brightens my day.
3. The few summer months are really relaxed at work, since the winter is so long.
4. Hanging out on the Common after work and people watching in good weather.
5. The feeling of Commeraderie at the local bars when everybody sings Journey’s “Dont Stop Believing.”
I still cant wait to move but these things make Boston bearable for the time being.
@Dom,
I think that Boston accent brightens a lot of people’s day. I to this day love the skit they do on snl w/ the kids when they go ‘you are’ n start makin out. I think it’s Jimmy Fallon n em. great shyt.
@WuDaMan,
Yeah that was hilar! It was Fallon and Rachel Dracht, who is actually from Mass.
I think there was another SNL woman from Mass., Amy Pohler maybe?
@Dom,
This is new. I usually spend most of my time thinking about all the ways I hate Boston and how I cant wait to leave.
this is what made me write this entry. i dont think we do a good enough job of naming and appreciating the stuff we DO like, lol.
@The Champ,
Holy Shite The Champ. Nevuh saw that. Diabolicle even. *bravo*
@ My Philly Ninja’s
I’m kind of upset how yall forgot to mention the Plat aka the Plateau. some of you out of towners may recall the Fresh Prince mentioning this in song called “Summertime” . . .It is the place where everybody goes to hang out without the drama.
Another thing about philly is out MotorCycle culture. let it be one warm day during the winter and watch how many bikes you see out . . .Ninja’s will ride anything with 2 wheels, scooters, mopads, dirt bikes, and 4 wheeler quads. With that being said I’m now taking any donations so I can have a new bike before the summer.
Philly used to be the ish as far as club life but the 2520′s kicked our black @sses off of Delaware Ave. Yall remember Gotham aka Philly Live, Crome, Maui, Club Flow, Evolution (2 dollar tuesdays, holla), Egypt, the River deck, etc. Now all our club are in Old City, Spring Garden, South Street, Rittenhouse Square and Main Street. But we still get it poppin
As far as Cheesesteaks it Jims and not the bootleg one on south street – I’m talking about the Jims on 62nd street!!
We are home of the best dj’s (myself included, lol) Jazzy Jeff & Cash Money, the originators
I’m from a place where it’s safe to walk the streets . . .unless your employed by the Phila Police Department.
Don’t get me started on sports!! Yeah our teams suck and we know it, but you will get eff up coming here talking ish. . .specially about my Sixers!!!! I’m a season ticket holder and shyt
@eff yo couch,
I have a soft spot for Philly as well. And I found the club scene extra diverse. Always a good point in my book.
Most of my favorite musicians hail from there (The Roots, Jilly from Philly!!!) and I loved listening to the radio there. You can actually find good music on the air.
@eff yo couch,
Yo I ain’t from here but gots to give it up for the Philadelphia sound, the Soul (arena football champs) and the Philies are this years national champs.
I was born and raised in the loveliest, craziest, uppity-est city ever, my hometown of Abidjan aka Babi aka Petit Paris.
I love my city for all it has to offer. It’s a big ass city on West African coast where everybody knows everybody else but snobism is mandatory.
I love that I can mention my high-school and get the recognition it deserves (Sainte Marie stand up!). I love how you can figure out a person’s crew/hangouts/attitude by knowing the high-school they attended.
I love that there is no drinking age and you can start going to “matinees” at 16. The drink of choice was “whisky-coca” (Whiskey and Coke).
I love that I can find food, good food, homemade food at every single corner of the town and at every hour. Attieke, fried plantain, grilled fresh fish, roasted plantains with peanuts, kebab stands, best bbq chicken in the world.
I love that my city is so diverse, I grew up with a French, a Syrian, a Nigerian and a Vietnamese best friend. I am sure I would have to travel to Saigon to find as authentic vietnamese food as I have eaten at home.
I love that the beach is a mere 30 mns away and that most sundays are spent at the beach, whether with family or friends eating great food.
I love that you are born and raised in A neighborhood and you know EVERYBODY from that neighborhood. Heck we have FB groups repping each neighborhood.
I love my city because even when times are hard, we still know how to have and show a good time.
I guess it’s my city because its essence runs through my veins and no matter where I am I will always be an Abidjanaise.
@Sula from BabiLand,
i know i joke about it, but i’m really intrigued by ( and appreciative of) the native african presence on vsb.
it just seems like we have a disproportionate amount of native africans who are regular commentators, and i’m curious why that is
@The Champ,
They drunk. They got palm wine errwhere n turnin it up. JK.
@WuDaMan,
Bwahahaha!
@The Champ,
I don’t really know why either… Maybe because we like the Internet… (and not actually working?
)
I know I visit because the site is interesting and fun and I can laugh at the jokes and generally have a good time.
Nice piece you have there, folk.
@Sula from BabiLand,
hhhmmmmm *got the starie eyes* @ this post.
@WuDaMan,
Come on down… You’ll enjoy the beaches and I know you’ll love the food!!
@Sula from BabiLand,
I bet I wouldn’t ever want to stop partying… mh mh mh
I love that there is no drinking age and you can start going to “matinees” at 16. The drink of choice was “whisky-coca” (Whiskey and Coke).
I think it’s all African cities. I could waltz in a club at the tender age of 15. No drama, no nothing. The legal age is 18, but who the ell follows any of those laws. I think most laws are viewed more as suggestions than mandatory.
@ofloveandotherdemons,
I think most laws are viewed more as suggestions than mandatory.
lol…this sounds like somewhere i dont need to be
@The Champ,
You do! When laws are not enforced, people tend (keyword here is tend) to rely more on Common Sense…. Or at least we like to think so.
“Now it wasn’t for the BRONX, this rap isht wouldn’t be going on so tell me where you from…UPTOWN BABY!!!!!”
Everybody’s talking bout the city that that never sleep but not giving ture props of the originators! Home of Wesley Snipes, Colin (forgot I was Black) Powell, KRS-ONE and the YANKS bow down!!
Oh what I’d give for Primanti Bros right now!
I’m from NC… THe bbq makes me smile lol. What can I say? I’m a foodie!
Well my area until here recently has been most famous for Allen Iverson and Mike Vick. Now (and thankfully) that wonderful sexy head coach of the Steelers is from here, so we have a new face on the city somewhat.
Since his hiring as head coach, I have become a Steelers fan (I like to support the local boys … no pun, really). At a superbowl party, when the Steelers won, a white man actually open mouth kissed me, slipped me tongue and all. I was very shocked by that, btw.
I plan on attending Mike Tomlins home party this summer, want me to get his autograph for you The Champ?
I thougth I wrote something on Friday about my city but I see today it aint there oh well here I go again
Despite not having the greatest weather on friendliest ppl, rents dumb high and no you cant find a parking spot-the City’s population actually rose-from 6 mil in the 80′s to its current of 8 million..so stop clocking me I dont know you..go that way
Our slang which in NYC is “hood specific” so what they say on St. Ann in the South Bronx may have never been heard of on Cozine Ave in East New York(my hood), but most of these are NYC 5 boro wide-
“Money ” as in man or guy
cops some might say “5-0″ we say “Jake” go listen to Nas and Jigga and Ghostface
Crack is crills, guns are “krons, skets, rachets, burners and biscuits”
we dont bust a “cap” we’ll “clap” you
and leave your shirt “wet”
a “herb” is a wussed out dude
“Duke” as in “duke in the white BM” or “mom-dukes”
“red bricks” is the projects
“wools” or “woolers” are blunts with coke, “skiing” is doing lines of coke,
“iron horse” is the train
“flippin” as in ” we saw them and started flippin on em real quick” it means to just lose it bascially
“UFO’s” anyone not from your side,
trees=weed
burn it down= smoking weed
“gaming” as in runnin game
The Street Games-english bulldog-coco livio-to manhunt, and of course ” flys up” and skelly
The City is not contiguous-there are 5 counties in the city, therefor there is no “side” you cant just come here and say take me to the “westside” ok you mean in Manhattan over by 8th ave but if you in the BX then you get dropped off somehwere on Jerome Ave -yea I know confusing but its New York
If each boro was a city it would STILL be as big and rival your city
Amercia as always hated NYC…well we have never given a fuck
Queens has the most diverse pop in all of the US and these are ppl coming from places in which they NEVER seen snow or shit on the sidewalks-or “yellow” snow for that matter
Queens also is the only US census track in which BLACKS get paid MORE than whites
Midtown Manhattan has more skyscrapers than ALL of Chicago
“downtown Brooklyn” just sound so official
West 4th, Delacny St, JaimaicaAve (named after the same person for which the isalnd is named after), 34th st,125 st and of course Fulton St in BK
and oh before I piss Toussaintthefree off the birthplace of Hip Hop