take a bite of my heart tonight, no really, I'm sure it'll still work after that.

[regala_electra]

Today, I am taking a jaunt back to the home land, by which I mean, my home which is on an island. I will hug my dog for ten years' worth since it has been a month since I've last seen him. Tempted to pick up some seafood from a local fishmonger and cook up scallops or something. I've got a craving.

Oh, and it'll be nice to see my family. Yeah.

I've got a poll but first, I need to credit everyone from yesterday for their great responses to picking Chad's new middle name. My particular favorites have been put on the poll so that the internet will decide Chad's new middle name.

FOR VICTORY.

[Poll #1713573]

Perhaps I have gotten rage issues with how many people mistreat NYC in fic. I'm sure it's just a usual fandom thing - people writing about stuff they don't know and not having the time to really Do the Research - but it's just been killing me lately how little people seem to get New York at all.

I'll keep it real simple. Write it vague if your only notion of New York is from TV & movies. No really. It'll save us time.

Please consider the general aspects of your characters. Income/wealth, background (moving to NY straight out of college/to go to college), their likes (want a busy nightlife vs. more homebody), and basically, THINK. Think before you write.

Apologies to anyone who graduated from or is currently going to NYU - and I'll fully admit I applied to NYU when all I wanted more than anything was to be in NYC for my college years (I was a commuter student instead because...MONEY, duh) - but it is not the pinnacle of New York's education system. No. Really. Like all colleges, they are great in some areas and shit in others. Consider your majors. If a character is an artist, there are other schools in New York that are far better for him or her to go to. If your character is going to be a lawyer, OMG send that child to Columbia, no really, I know upper Manhattan is Mysterious for so many, but GODDAMN, stop shuffling everyone off to NYU.

Also, little secret? The everyday NYer, walking on the street? Usually thinks most NYU students are kinda annoying and Ruin Many Things. You don't get NY street cred for going to NYU. Just saying.

Subways = USE them. The MTA maps are helpful. Stop putting everyone in fucking taxis. No. Also, NYers are a walking people.

If you do use the subway in your story, don't make up shit. If you don't know if a stop is elevated or underground, don't mention it.

Have questions? Ask a NYer. Really. We don't bite. Toss out your question to the internet. "Is having dinner at the Olive Garden in Times Square romantic?"

After the first ten sarcastic responses, someone will gently lead you by the hand and explain, "Oh honey. Just say they're having a cozy dinner at some unspecified place on 9th Avenue."

"And then cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery?"

"Maybe if I ever so gently knock your head against a wall, you'll finally understand the pain you're putting me through."

This has been a Rant by Reg. I love you all.

Comments

[fourfreedoms.livejournal.com]

Is the waterfront view in midtown inspired by my rage on twitter last night? Because I was truly taken aback. THAT'S A NEW ONE.

ETA: As for law school, in 2009 NYU and Columbia were ranked 4 and 5 for top law schools, so I think which one you attend depends more on what kind of law you want to practice, because both programs are pretty prestigious.

[regala-electra.livejournal.com]

YES. I just. Flames. Heaving-flames on the side of my face.

I broke down in December when I read a "penthouse view of Central Park". Said penthouse was located in a building on Madison.

I might have rage blacked out. PROBABLY BECAUSE I HAVE FUCKING REDLINES PLANS FOR A REAL PENTHOUSE THAT OVERLOOKS CENTRAL PARK ARGH FLAMES FOREVER.

[itsthedetails.livejournal.com]

ETA: As for law school, in 2009 NYU and Columbia were ranked 4 and 5 for top law schools, so I think which one you attend depends more on what kind of law you want to practice, because both programs are pretty prestigious.

True NYU and Columbia may be ranked similarily, but actual hiring decisions at a top tier law firm are almost always going to choose a Columbia student over an NYU student. In fact, we'll hire a Columbia student with lesser grades over an NYU student with better ones. OCI at Columbia is sharkfest, top tiered firms will do almost anything for Columbia students even when they have over 1000 resumes submitted for 15-25-30-40 spots.

[(Anonymous)]

The law schools are competitive, the undergrads are not. NYUs general undergrad academic reputation (outside of business and fine arts) is not in anywhere the same league as Columbia. Lots of fanfiction writers seem to think "law" is an undergraduate major, and it really isn't, at least not at most respectable US schools and not at either NYU or Columbia.

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

It's hard to blame fandom for getting NYC wrong when so many shows do, too.

(Dear makers of Castle,

83rd and 3rd DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THAT! NO REALLY I KNOW! I WALK BY THERE EVERY DAY.

no love,

me)

[regala-electra.livejournal.com]

I can't watch Castle after I found out that they apparently met up on "Main Street", New York.

Yeah. Just let me google that. Ffffffff.

[drvsilla.livejournal.com]

I love you, too.

[regala-electra.livejournal.com]

Oh.

Oh.

This is awkward.

Here. Let me take off my pants.

[vorpalblades.livejournal.com]

I laugh so hard when the struggling art student has a Manhattan apartment. My father and I had a really good laugh when we realized he spends as much monthly on his parking space under his NYC apartment as I do for my entire apartment's rent.

[regala-electra.livejournal.com]

See. I am not an artist. But I have had art student friends and they did not live in NY. I have friends in NY who live in Manhattan and in the outer boroughs (obvs. I'm an outer borough chick). I know what kind of lifestyle/work life is required to survive NY.

It makes me really wonder at some people's lack of financial knowledge.

Heh, that's why I didn't bring my car with me when I moved! So not worth the price.

[kashmir1.livejournal.com]

God, I hope I've never done that with any of the fics I've set in NYC. I don't think I have -- I mean, even I know one can't afford an apartment in Manhattan proper right out of school. (Unless they're like, IDK, a character on Gossip Girl. I mean, those kids are rich, right? IDK, I've only seen a few eps.)

[fourfreedoms.livejournal.com]

It's possible if you want to live in Inwood or Washington Heights. I live in Brooklyn and I pay nearly $200 more than my friend who lives at 165 and Amsterdam. But...you're so far away and it's a pretty ugly neighborhood.

[caithream.livejournal.com]

I feel as though I have adopted your NYC rage! Even though I have only been there once. So that makes me a poser and not a hipster. I HOPE YOU ARE OKAY WITH THIS. *Deflects Judgy Reg Face*

(Because lol no seriously, TIMES SQUARE. I was like, ...okay, no, I'm done.)

[regala-electra.livejournal.com]

We had to take you to Times Square on your first trip though. OR you'd never want to see it again. THERE ARE OTHER PLACES YOU COULD SEE. Come journey with us to the Cloisters and see a restored Romanesque monastery omg.

[embroiderama]

Hee, I'm going to pretend that in the early 90's NYU students were in fact awesome and not ruiners of things. ;)

[regala-electra.livejournal.com]

lol. Early 90s was such a different time, though, you know? A whole nother country almost.

Back then you could get a rent controlled apartment. OH. IF only.

[bethynyc.livejournal.com]

Also, Streeteasy.com is your friend. Want to know what parks are near someplace? Go look. And then look at the price. Is it a condo or a co-op? Because co-ops are insane. Then you realize that unless your protagonist is a trust fund baby and that rent-stabilized apartment is actually owned by the parental or grandparental units, your struggling artist Does. Not. Live. There.

This is why I live in Staten Island. Sure, it takes me forever to get anywhere, but OMG CHEAP RENT!

I know some yummy restaurants on 9th avenue. ASK ME!

[regala-electra.livejournal.com]

Hee, I love the places on 9th Ave! I don't go there so much since it's kinda out of the way. And takeout in my neighborhood is so tasty./lazy

I don't know why people can't just leave it at "s/he was living in a crummy apartment with a couple of roommates and took the subway to [whatever destination]". Vague is your friend.

[thistlerose.livejournal.com]

This rant made me smile.

New York apartments on television and in the movies make me laugh. Oh dear lord.

[regala-electra.livejournal.com]

Friends: most hilarious apartments of all time. Fact.

The only slightly realistic place was Carrie's on Sexy & the City, oddly enough. It wasn't huge and it looked like something that a person could have snagged up in the late 80s/90s with rent control.

And I say this as a person with a HUGE bedroom + walk in closet and a fairly decent sized rest of my apartment. OF course, I don't live in Manhattan.

[ignited.livejournal.com]

Hah that reminds me of how the loft building I work in, it's like 6K per month. In Tribeca. It's CRAZY (granted, we pay much lower but dear god, jeeeeez.)

I get so pissed when it comes to income and background in movies, or how everything's just in Manhattan (and Brooklyn, the ~artsy~ parts), and no one remembers the rest... Nothing that isn't a landmark anyway.

But yes, echoing this whole post. With my pants around my ankles. ECHO ECHO OOH AWKWARD.

[micmezle.livejournal.com]

I just guessed on the last poll question based on what the rest of the entry said. I know next to nothing about New York so I don't really notice anything glaringly wrong in fictions.

[loony-moony.livejournal.com]

Oh, NYU. I don't know a single decent musician from that school, not to mention actors. Notice how most of the good NY college-graduate actors are from Juilliard? YEAH.

Also, if I could eat gluten, I would glute myself on cupcakes from Cupcake Stop. I AM THE QUEEN OF PUNS, CMM.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

I thought Tisch was supposed to be really great for acting? I'm asking because someone's daughter at my office just got in.

As far as Juiliard, one of my younger son's friends will likely go there for percussion.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

You would think NYC was some incredibly obscure place based on how everyone gets it wrong. I remember watching the movie "Phone Booth" and Aaron comented that even he knows that side streets are not that wide in Manhattan.

[netweight]

he will discover "his" Hamlet onstage

I read this as "he will discover his omelet on stage".

We don't bite.

I don't believe you.

NYers are a walking people.

This I learned from Woody Allen movies.

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

The other thing you learn from Woody Allen movies is that no one of color lives in NYC. **g**

[cathybites.livejournal.com]

I read a fic once that kept mentioning the Washington Square subway stop, and it drove me NUTS because I was all, 'THERE IS NO SUCH STOP.' It wasn't until much much later that I realized the writer meant West 4th. (which, yes, is listed on maps as West 4th-Washington Square, but who actually calls it Washington Square?)

[http://users.livejournal.com/__tiana__/]

I am only an occasional visitor to NY, but oh my GOD, I know those things. PFFT.

I am so pleased that my new middle name for Chad is winning the poll. I should send him a note with my suggestion.

[frozeneyes.livejournal.com]

I totally appreciate your NYC rant in fic. I will be the first to admit I am not from the city. I live upstate, but even I know most of that stuff is BS and that's coming from someone who knows VERY LITTLE about the city.

Seriously either set the story in a place you're familiar with or ask someone who ACTUALLY KNOWS.

[purple-smurf.livejournal.com]

Australians have the same problem with Sydney. Hi, Lost, you have no geography right at all. Those views are impossible, and that park would be in the middle of the Harbour (of course, anything set in Sydney tends to have their hotels with a view of the Opera House that can only happen if you're in the middle of Harbour).

[beckaandzac.livejournal.com]

I completely sympathize with your NYC rant, especially considering how wrongity wrong people get DC and its suburbs all the time. But ugh, the housing thing gets me most of all, because like, how much money a character has is important to where and how they live. TV would do well to remember this too.

[giventofly37.livejournal.com]

As you know, I am not a city-dweller myself, but I have...I guess I'd call it proximity rage? whenever something is set in NYC but is OBVIOUSLY not filmed there. Like I watch How I Met Your Mother and I go....no, bad TV show, that is not how Manhattan does sidewalks. D:

[jennem.livejournal.com]

I feel like an honorary New Yorker because I completely understand why all of those things made your list of annoying things.