You Might Be A New Yorker If...

“One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years” Tom Wolfe Have you ever kept your sweaters in the oven to save space? Do you have that coveted 212 area code? Are you thinking of going to a free concert? Do you run across the street when the light flashes “don’t walk”? If you answered yes to any of the above--then you might be a New Yorker! In 1949, the noted writer, E.B. White wrote in his book Here is New York: “There are roughly three New Yorks. There is first, the New York of the man or woman who was born here, who takes the city for granted and accepts its size and its turbulence as natural and inevitable. Second, there is the New York of the commuter—the city that is devoured by locusts each day and spat out each night. Third, there is the New York of the person who was born somewhere else and came to New York in quest of something. Of these three trembling cities the greatest is the last--the city of final destination, the city that is a goal. It is this third city that accounts for New York’s high-strung disposition, its poetical deportment, its dedication to the arts, and its incomparable achievements.” Quoting the American novelist John Steinbeck: “New York is an ugly city, a dirty city. Its climate is a scandal, its politics are used to frighten children, its traffic is madness, and its competition is murderous. But there is one thing about it-once you have lived in New York and it has become your home, no place else is good enough.” New York is a city is of contradictions, but there are certain traits and commonalities that connect New Yorkers to each other. Everyone has had a defining moment that says:”Yes, I am a New Yorker!” It could be receiving your New York Public Library card, or seeing the New York City skyline for the first time, or just walking along a street and stopping for a slice. Enjoy that you are cultured, embrace that you are impatient, and be proud that you are unique.

“One belongs to New York instantly, one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years” Tom Wolfe Have you ever kept your sweaters in the oven to save space? Do you have that coveted 212 area code? Are you thinking of going to a free concert? Do you run across the street when the light flashes “don’t walk”? If you answered yes to any of the above--then you might be a New Yorker! In 1949, the noted writer, E.B. White wrote in his book Here is New York: “There are roughly three New Yorks. There is first, the New York of the man or woman who was born here, who takes the city for granted and accepts its size and its turbulence as natural and inevitable. Second, there is the New York of the commuter—the city that is devoured by locusts each day and spat out each night. Third, there is the New York of the person who was born somewhere else and came to New York in quest of something. Of these three trembling cities the greatest is the last--the city of final destination, the city that is a goal. It is this third city that accounts for New York’s high-strung disposition, its poetical deportment, its dedication to the arts, and its incomparable achievements.” Quoting the American novelist John Steinbeck: “New York is an ugly city, a dirty city. Its climate is a scandal, its politics are used to frighten children, its traffic is madness, and its competition is murderous. But there is one thing about it-once you have lived in New York and it has become your home, no place else is good enough.” New York is a city is of contradictions, but there are certain traits and commonalities that connect New Yorkers to each other. Everyone has had a defining moment that says:”Yes, I am a New Yorker!” It could be receiving your New York Public Library card, or seeing the New York City skyline for the first time, or just walking along a street and stopping for a slice. Enjoy that you are cultured, embrace that you are impatient, and be proud that you are unique.

Sheryll Bellman is the author of three books on cultural history. Through the Shopping Glass-A Century of New York Christmas Windows (Rizzoli, 2000), America’s Great Delis-Recipes and Traditions from Coast to Coast (Collector’s Press, 2005 and revised by Seller’s Publications 2010) and America’s Little Italys--Recipes and Traditions From Coast to Coast (Seller’s Publications 2011). Ms. Bellman has been a guest on NPR, WOR, WHYY, WNYC, The Chef’s Table, The Phil Blazer Show, Cooking with Jackie and the Gary Butler Show on XM radio. Ms. Bellman was featured on The Jane Hansen Holiday Windows Show on NBC in New York City, Good Morning Baltimore, the ABC Early Morning Show and recently was a guest on Good Day NY on Fox 5. She was featured in Cindy Adams' NY Post column and articles about her books have been featured in the NY Times, NY Daily News, Time Magazine, World Jewish Digest, Jewish Women’s Magazine, The Foreword, The Jewish Star, Hadassah Magazine, Jewish World, Dance Review Magazine, The El Paso Times, The Baltimore Sun, and San Diego Jewish Magazine where her first book was chosen as one of the best books of 2001. She has written for USA Today, The Hadassah Magazine, Jewish World Magazine, The Detroit Jewish News and Natural Health Magazine. Her book, America’s Great Delis was nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award for 2006. She was the guest author on the 2001 Christmas sailing aboard the QEII, and was a guest lecturer at the Princeton Club. She spent two seasons on the Jewish Book Council tour circuit speaking at Jewish Book Fairs in Hartford, New Haven, Columbus, Sarasota, Pasadena, West Hampton Beach, NY, The American Jewish University in Los Angeles and The Ocean County Library in New Jersey. America’s Great Delis was featured on the Food Network show, "The Secret Life of Delis." She was a finalist for The Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Award in the 2010 cookbook division. In November 2011, she won The Whole Megillah novel writing contest for a nonfiction middle-grade novel. Ms. Bellman holds a BS in Microbiology/Chemistry from the University of Arizona. Ms. Bellman has three children and seven grandchildren and lives in New York City and Connecticut.