New York / LA: A Comparative(ly Foolish) Study
Fellow denizens, I’ve just returned from New York. New York! God damn it. What a city. All these “neighborhoods”… All this “walking”… All this “walking from neighborhood to neighborhood” … All this “riding the subway to get around” … God damn it. I love it. We don’t have it. We drive. So?
New York has working names for all its little areas. We do too. New York has hot dog shacks. Damn it, we have hot dog shacks. New York has a big park. Damn it, we have a big park. It’s uncanny, I tell you. God damn it. I’m going to side-by-side this one. It’s not comprehensive but it’s a start. I said it.
| Neighborhoods | They Have… | Which Means… | We Have… | Which Means… |
| NoLIta | North of Little Italy | NoLIta | No Little Italy (Does Maggiano’s count?) |
| SoHo | South of Houston | WeHo | West Hollywood |
| NoHo | North Hollywood | ||
| BeHo | Beneath the Hollywood Sign (formerly Beachwood. Ask around, it is totally uncool to say Beachwood) | ||
| TriBeCa | Triangle Below Canal | Culver City | Culver City |
| Chinatown | Chinatown | Chinatown | Chinatown |
| Bowery | Crazy Shit, Pricey Lofts | Venice |  Sunny Crazy Shit, Pricey Lofts |
| Brooklyn | Brooklyn | Van Nuys | Van Nuys (?) |
| Williamsburg | Silverlake | Silverlake | Williamsburg |
| World Trade Center | Financial district near Ground Zero | Celebrity Centre | Eighteen-block radius surrounding Celeb Centre. BeHo adjacent. |
| Parks | |||
| They Have… | Which Means… | We Have… | Which Means… |
| Central Park | Drugs, Bicycles, Ice Skating, Paul Simon concerts, Garth Brooks concerts | Griffith Park | Drugs, Ponies, Batcaves, Gipsy Kings concerts, Jack Johnson concerts |
| Elysian Park | Drugs, Dodgers | ||
| MacArthur Park | Drugs, pastrami | ||
| Food | |||
| They Have… | Which Means… | We Have… | Which Means… |
| Katz’s | Pastrami, dive bars | Langer’s | Pastrami, fake IDs |
| Gray’s Papaya | Cheap hangover helper | Oki-Dog | Scares You Sober |
It’s getting out of hand. I’m stopping. But think about it. Along with our Towns (China, Korea, Thai, Historic Filipino) we have a scattering of Littles: India, Tokyo, Armenia, Saigon. Then the non-littles come into play: Crenshaw, South Central, Long Beach, Boyle Heights, Highland Park, East LA, LA Proper. SG Valley. Hills Hollywood and Beverly. Suburbank. West Valley. Pasadena, Palms, South Bay. Aw hell, I quit. I’m no expert on either city. I just know how to put together a fancypants chart. Feel free to add categories and I’ll update as needed. Have a time of it.
NYC doesn’t impress me….Give me L.A any day :-)
FYI: TriBeCa is actually three blocks east of Canal, not triangle below canal. But, I love the comparisons, this is a very interesting little chart.
Tribeca is exactly south of Canal street, on the east side. Triangle Below Canal is exactly where and what it is, hence the nickname.
NY: Angelina Jolie
LA: Britney Spears
Seriously, you CAN’T compare the two cities. There is no WAY in LA you have nearly as much as NY within walking distance – which is one of the keys to being a true city, IMO.
If getting in the car and driving counts, why not say LA has Vegas! It’s absurd. LA is a bunch of 50’s shit with 50’s people (from the midwest!) – that’s the think about LA, it’s not organic – it’s a big congolmeration of small town folk who wanted better weather and they breed one generation after another (and the weather here isn’t that great – too cold to go in the ocean!). PS – I live in Laguna and I am in NYC all the time so I think I can speak to both!
[…] (Silverlake) (ii) That one joint on Fountain (Fountain) (jj) The Scientology Celebrity Centre (Celeb Centre/BeHo) (kk) Write-in: (ll) Write-in #2: (mm) Write-in […]
LA is Angelina Jolie
NYC is Jennifer Aniston
[…] the Huell Howser drinking game the best. Mr. T Doll appearances are always great, and I liked the NYC/LA Comparative(ly Foolish) Study. […]
LA: we have awesome weather, rarely any humidity
NY: your pizza rocks, no comparison there. But damn we got IN-N-OUT!!!!
NYC sucks, the people have big egos and think they’re the shit just b/c they have alotta buildings…it’s sad that they live in a cold, gray-sky,depressing place
L.A. sucks. NYC rules. Plain and simple.
FYI NYC is no longer the financial capital of the world, London has taken that spot.
The Midwest is much more homogenous than NY and LA, and NEARLY everyone I’ve met from there is pretty much clueless to non-WASP culture. So there may be less diversity in Chicago…but does that make Midwesterners less “tolerant”? Eh. Koreans, especially, dealt with much worse than intolerance after the L.A. riots.
Bad example? Maybe. But I think the idea of region vs. region “tolerance” is difficult. You may have more minorities in the major coastal cities–but what about the lack of tolerance those minorities sometimes have for each other?
I agree with Oscar, but it’s not just the entertainment/cultural attractions. It’s the tolerance for diversity. I’ve never gotten yelled “Go back to Korea” when walking the streets in L.A. or NYC like I did by downtown Chicago.
I’m making the educated guess that Omaha & De Moines doesn’t have the entertainment and cultural attractions that L.A. or N.Y.C have. Our big heads coming from these cities comes from our exposure to these things versus hanging out at the local 7-11 or going to the rodeo for fun. The U.S. is different depending where you grew up so I can’t honestly go with Shadow 7984325602346509’s opinion that we’re all the same. Humans, yes, upbringing, nope.
What have any of you people from LA or NYC done personally to make your city so great? It’s all about where your parents decided to live. Have any of you been raised in LA you would talk crap about NYC. If you were raised in NYC, you talk crap about LA. The U.S. is all the same, with same human beings. Being raised from one place doesn’t make you any better than another place. In my opinion, obviously NYC could have more culture, economic centers and other crap that makes it seem more poewrful..but how much longer has NYC had to develop these things than LA? NYC is like a College Graduate, and LA is a High School kid.
[…] Every so often while travelling I tend to subconsciously compare and contrast the city I’m visiting against Los Angeles. Fellow denizens, I’ve just returned from Boston. Boston! God damn it. What a city. All these “neighborhoods”… All this “walking”… All this “walking from neighborhood to neighborhood” … All this “bicycling” … All this “riding the subway to get around” … God damn it. I love it. We don’t have it. We drive. So? […]
Central Park also has Arcade Fire concerts. You only listed the lame shows.
we are so conceeded that it far surpasses conceited.
a sound argument to be sure, captain anonymous. I must concede: we are all very conceeded.
All of you people on this list who live in L.A. man I was reading the stuff you were saying and I feel sorry for you. You people are really immature and very conceeded, oh well you’re all going to hell anyways. L.A. SUCKS!!!!!!
L.A. SUCKS! L.A. SUCKS! as do the people from there!
losanjelous, what are you 3 thats the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. That comment kinda proves what the first guy was saying (L.A. SUCKS!). Oh yeah and John did you say blue state? Blue state means homosexual right, well if thats true then New York isn’t a blue state.
Neighborhoods in L.A.SoRowhich stands for South Robertson.
Twangist and Scott, if New York has “Dumbo” it’s only because Disney did it first in LA.
Scott, yes you’re quite right about the provenance of the name “Dumbo”. Non-natives should be aware that the more recent coinages, dating from the 90s or later, are just realtor-speak. “NoLita” is one of those, as (obviously) is “Clinton” i.e. “Hell’s Kitchen”. Nobody actually calls it “Clinton”; but calling it “Hell’s Kitchen” is an exercise in sheer nostalgia — there’s much less Hell in the ol’ hood, ever since the Westies were rounded up, and ever since Pope Giuliani’s tender ministrations. (The Westies were an olde-style Irish gang hq’d in Hell’s Kitchen.)
god damn it. I’ll allow comma semicolon and maybe hyphen but that’s all and then no more comments from punctuation.
Losanjelous. That’s actually kind of funny.
Sounds like someone’s losanjealous.
If we were to compare the character of LA to NY I think it would be easily summed up by:
LA:Gaudy NY:Sleek
LA: Superficial NY: Substance
I’ve never seen such a collection of tacky, self-important, uninformed, uncultured, mannerless, selfish and deluded people in my life as I have in Los Angeles. I’m sure it has to do with the fact that LA’s most important feature is Hollywood while NYC is the real fashion capital of the United States, home to the financial center of the world, all the major news networks and the most important art collections in the USA.
And New York is also bigger than London. London sports a system of 415 km. There are also some commuter lines which add a little bit. The important thing to realize about New York’s subway system, is that originally it was THREE different subway systems until 1940. People still sometimes use the original terms of “IND” “BMT” and “IRT” lines. There are also parts of the system that were originally parts of interurban lines and steam railroads such as the Long Island Railroad and some other long-vanished railroads in that area. Okay, enough transit nerd stuff.
See? I knew that guy was totally wrong about the Mexico City subway.
An Angelinos, New York and LA. I love them both…..fact that both are a Blue State….
pasadena is like hoboken, new jersey
glendora is like scranton, pennsylvania
san pedro is like far rockaway in queens
san marino is like sands point on long island
and the san fernando valley is like long island
los angeles is getting better every day
but it’s more like tucson than new york. (i like tucson a lot.)
new york is what a city is all about and it’s nice that so many cities are trying to duplicate it.
i just got back from ny — i walked and walked — it was like a carnival of life. if you love to feel you’re alive there’s no better place.
Technically, Bridge and tunnel does refer to anyone living outside of Manhattan (“the City”). So yes, Queens and Brooklyn are considered “Bridge and Tunnel Trash” (“B&T Trash”) to us Manhattanites.
Thats why my honey in LA wants to only move to Manhattan.
About: “Scott, Mexico City might have something to say about that ‘World’s biggest subway system (except perhaps London)’ claim.”
Mexico City: Total length of Mexico City subway is now 201.7 km. Number of stations: 175.
New York City: 656 miles (1056 km) of mainline track. When non-revenue trackage in shops and yards is included, the total comes to 842 miles (1355 km) with between 416 and 475 stations (depending on how connected stations are counted.
Sources: wikipedia and urbanrail.net
You can’t stop the Littles ’cause the Littles don’t stop.
You forgot my favorite neighborhood acronym, DUMBO. It’s in Brooklyn, and it stands for “Down Under The Manhattan Bridge Overpass.” I think it originally started as a joke, but eventually it caught on and stuck to some degree, even only as a semi-sarcastic reaction to all the other names. New Yorkers, am I off base here?
I would say Long Beach is LA’s Brooklyn. It has its own distinctive history, vibe and local identity. And the hipsters have discovered it. I’m sure it’s not long before a Pottery Barn opens on Pine Avenue…
Does that make San Luis Obispo or Temecula the new Hudson Valley?
Really, there’s nothing in New York state that can compare with the Inland Empire.
God damn it. If I say Brooklyn > Van Nuys as Van Nuys > Brooklyn, then God damn it, Brooklyn > Van Nuys as Van Nuys > Brooklyn.
As a proud NYer/native Angeleno, I agree that Queens=the Valley. Both are part of the city yet psychologically distinct, lower density, ethnically and economically diverse, generally uncool, but beginning to be colonized by yupsters. Parts of the Valley might also be Long Island (Nassau), but then so is eastern Ventura County (Thousand Oaks, Westlake, etc.), until you get way out there to Ventura, Ojai, etc. which is Suffolk County.
Santa Barbara is the Hamptons.
As for the Bronx/Westchester, I nominate the Palos Verdes/South Bay area.
Jersey is Orange County, pre-the OC.
Don’t think there’s really a Brooklyn equivalent in the LA area. What in the City of Angels matches the rival city pride, history, attitude, and diversity of the borough of Kings? Maybe some weird conglomeration of Silverlake/Los Feliz/Echo Park with East LA, wrapping around from Atwater to, I dunno, Downey maybe?
LA’s just too young, rangy, and Western.
the Valley:LA = Bridge and Tunnel Crowd:NYC???
no way
don’t forget – people from Brooklyn & Queens take bridges and tunnels to Manhattan Island, too. more appropos:
theValley:LA = NJ/Westchester:NYC
money earnin’ mount vernon my ass
I think we can all agree that
the Valley:LA = Bridge and Tunnel Crowd:NYC
Yeah, I’d say Queens = The Valley.
Brooklyn=Van Nuys?? As a born and bred Brooklynite, I’m insulted. That’s pretty messed up.
You can’t compare Brooklyn to Van Nuys.
‘Fucken tool!
Don’t forget, both Central Park and Griffith Park are NY and LA’s most scenic places for cruising.
Hilary: You live in BeHo. Roll with it.
Scott: right. Little Ethiopia, home of traffic jams and giant spongebread. Thank you!
Ying: You may be correct in saying Chinatown was once an Italian neighborhood. I think about it briefly every time I go to Hop Louie’s and get blitzed.
Suburbank!? Why does it link up to the lame Hooters in Burbank next to a mall parking lot? We got tons of other cool stuff. We get our own Portos on Monday, got movie studios, TV studios, and a pretty dope movie theater where people offer you free movie screening passes! Not to mention other cool shit I can’t think of right now…. Media City Eastside! (Valley) LOL
Don’t we techincally have a Little Italy (however lame it might be) north of Chinatown, which is like, 1/4 of a block or something? In fact, wasn’t LA’s Chinatown once a Little Italy like 200 years ago?
Scott, Mexico City might have something to say about that ‘World’s biggest subway system (except perhaps London)’ claim.
Beastie Boys Burger Preferences:
NYC: Chill at White Castle ’cause it’s the best
LA: Fly at Fat Burger when I’m way out west
NYC vs. L.A.: The Chart
Fresh from a visit eastward, Ryan at Losanjealous posts a helpful comparative chart on how to tell the difference between New York and Los Angeles. Extremely informative, and additions are suggested (and welcomed). If nothing else, I applaud LA for…
You forgot Little Ethiopia. Does New York have one of those?
New York: World’s biggest subway system (except perhaps London)
Los Angeles: Not the world’s biggest subway system, but hey, they had about a 90 year head start, and we’re working on it.
Excellent!
NYC: summer movies in Bryant Park
LA: summer movies at Hollywood Forever cemetery
NYCvsLA, Chapter 62: The Signature Food Dish, Let’s Grab a Quick Bite edition. Yes, they have Pizza– Ray’s, Famous Ray’s, Original Ray’s, Original Famous Ray’s, etc. But we have burgers! Tommy’s, Original Tommy’s, Big Tomy’s, Happy Tom’s, Tammy’s, etc.
Popular Family Businesses
NYC: The Gottis–Shady dealings in Italy
LA: The Gettys–Shady dealings in Italy
Haha, that was great! But…BeHo?!