Katie Byrd

Many still dispute what makes someone a real New Yorker. Some have the theory that only natives are real New Yorkers, while others claim that living in the city for x amount of years, or accumulating certain skills, qualities or experiences, gives you the right of passage. In any case, someone who has been around NYC long enough to be considered a real New Yorker, would only know the answers to the following. 1. Which borough/neighborhood/venue has the best… Pizza, art galleries, nightlife, comedy, marketplaces, and cultural enclaves. While this may be subjective, any New Yorker could give you their two cents on anything from where to get the best authentic slice of pizza pie, whether LES or Chelsea hosts the best art galleries/exhibits, which club hosts the best parties or live stand up, which marketplaces are worth a visit, to which Chinatown (or Little Italy, Korea, etc.) is best. 2. How to pronounce surprisingly tricky street names While some of these might seem like a no-brainer, many mispronounce the names of common streets (or subway stations) across the five boroughs. Only a well-seasoned New Yorker would know the proper way to pronounce names like Houston, Stuyvesant, Kosciuszko and Schermerhorn. 3. What the giant countdown clock in Union Square means The giant board of digital numbers on Union Square South, also known as the “Metronome”, simply explains what time it by counting from midnight (military style), a hundredth of a second and how long until it is midnight