1. Dull Sweet 16 Parties
On Long Island, 16th birthday parties are often capable of having their own episode of MTV’s “Super Sweet 16” due to their extravagant nature. Viewed as a coming-of-age celebration for these lucky teens, a lot of the Long Island families will go all out during this party.
2. Fake Italian Ice
No one on Long Island eats that prepackaged freezer stuff. But why would you when you’ve got authentic places like Ralph’s so nearby?
3. Hiding Their Accent
Known for its long “o”, the Long Island accent is very recognizable around the country. When a Long Islander meets someone, they know it will get pointed out. They’ll usually just embrace it as another little reminder of the place they call home.
4. Skimpy Heroes
Huge sandwiches loaded with meat and cheese, if you aren’t struggling towards the end of your hero then it’s probably not the real Long Island version of this classic.
5. Heading To The West Coast For Waves
There’s no reason to fly to California to get some time on the surfboard when there are already great waves off the coast of Long Island. They might not be as huge and the season might be shorter, but they’ll get the job done.
6. Cookie Cutter Pizza
Every Long Islander has to cringe a little when they hear an out-of-towner mention how good that slice they had in Manhattan was. After all, Long Islanders know that the best pizza is in their own neighborhood. It tastes better, it’s quicker without the tourists, and it’s usually cheaper.
7. Generic Bagels
Once you’ve had a Long Island bagel, nothing else will compare. Most Long Islanders would rather not eat a bagel at all than to eat one that isn’t up to their high standards knowing it will only lead to disappointment.
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8. Negative Stereotypes
For the last time, everyone on the East Coast isn’t an obnoxious guido capable of being cast when “Jersey Shore” eventually makes its comeback. The people of Long Island live a much more suburban lifestyle than something as hectic as what you might find in a busy city, meaning the people here are nice and relatively laid back.
9. Chain Diners
Forget about Waffle House and Denny’s. Long Island is home to a unique diner on seemingly every corner, all with excellent food that’s typically served all hours of the day. Subpar diners just don’t cut it around here.
10. Lacrosse Haters
Texas has its football, Indiana has its basketball, Long Island has its lacrosse. Nearly every kid here seems to grow up playing the sport and with how awesome it is, it’s a surprise the rest of the country hasn’t caught on yet.
11. The Big Apple
Unless a Long Islander has a reason to go to New York City, they really tend to avoid it. It’s just not worth all the hassle to get there and back when they’ve got everything they need in their own area.
12. Waiting For The LIRR
Despite how frequently the train comes, it always feels like you barely miss it. Every Long Islander knows that the dreaded sound of the train pulling away means that your plans will be set back by 15 minutes or so.
13. Fending Off Seagulls
Fighting for food with the birds on Long Island has basically become a sport over the past few decades. As tourism increased and the birds realized that every visitor was basically a walking vending machine, they seemed to gain a sense of confidence granting them the ability to steal sandwiches and ice cream cones alike. Every Long Islander has their own tricks when it comes to keeping their food safe.
14. Watered Down Long Island Ice Teas
One drink that’s was actually made to be loaded with booze, when it comes to pouring the liquor in a Long Islander’s Long Island Iced Tea, keep it coming!
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15. Settling On A Single New York Team
Sure, Long Island has a ton of Mets fans, but it’s also got a ton of Yankees fans. There are lots of Jets fans here, but there’s also a ton of people rooting for the Giants. With so many great sports teams in the city, you never really know who someone is cheering for. It’s always safer not to just assume things.
16. Fearing The Ghosts
Home to the most famous horror house in the country, the unexplained on Long Island isn’t restricted to just Amityville. Ghost stories are popular in nearly every town along this stretch of land, but most Long Islanders know that if they don’t bother these ghouls that they won’t get bothered in return.
17. People That Don’t Sing Along To Piano Man
In case you haven’t heard already, Billy Joel is a Long Islander through and through. If a Long Islander is around and Piano Man comes on, expect them to turn it up and belt it out, regardless of their singing abilities.
18. Borough Confusion
The boroughs of New York consist of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island—not Long Island. While Brooklyn and Queens are technically on Long Island, the locals don’t include them leaving the two counties of Nassau and Suffolk to make up what’s considered “Long Island.” It’s basically an island in the shape of a peninsula stretching out from New York City, but it’s not actually part of the city.
19. Rainy Summer Days
Nothing can be more crushing on Long Island than when boat or beach plans have to be canceled due to bad weather. Thankfully, the summer months around these parts get plenty of sunshine.
20. The Never-Ending Traffic
While Long Island traffic is nowhere near as chaotic as the traffic in the city, it can still get pretty hairy at times. Most Long Islanders have little secret routes they take to avoid the congestion during rush hour.
21. Explaining To Outsiders Why Long Island Is Better Than “The City”
Its cleaner, the food is better, the people are nicer, it’s not so chaotic, there are easily accessible beaches, and if you really want the Big Apple, it’s there. The list goes on, but most Long Islanders would probably prefer I stopped there so that too many tourists don’t catch on to what they’re missing out on.
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