1. We still call sandwiches “wedges.” Very little gives us more pride than to walk into our local deli with some out-of-town friends and order a “meatball wedge.” We love the confused look on their faces as they inquire how we could use such a pizza-synonymous word to order a sandwich. Whatever. They’re just jealous we Westchesterites have a secret code. (See page 142 for more on the subject.)
2. Every single one of us owns an amusement park. This just in: Playland is still the only government-owned theme park in the United States. And while the trend is to trash the pronounced playground, it’s clean, it’s modern (a new children’s museum is on the way), and it’s ripe with nostalgia.
3. We’re pretty impressive.Statistically speaking, we rock. Westchester is in the top 50 counties when it comes to household income, we have one of Golf Digest’s 10 best golf courses (Winged Foot), and one of the Wall Street Journal’s top-30 private schools (Rye Country Day). And don’t forget, Richard Gere, Vanessa Williams…you know the list; all call the county home.
4. We’ve got big names in business. That new Pepsi flavor you’re drinking—probably thought up in Purchase. That credit card you use (nay, overuse)—good chance it came from MasterCard right down the street. In fact, that Heineken you’re imbibing, those Bicycle playing cards your dealing, that IBM computer you’re using, and those ITT night-vision goggles you’re…well, we’re not sure what you’re doing with night-vision goggles, but they’re all made or thought up in Westchester.
5. We get all four seasons. You may not notice it, and you may begrudge it come the middle of winter, but tell us there isn’t something very rewarding about trudging through winter to be rewarded with spring, and then sweltering though the summer to be rewarded with the sheer beauty that is fall. And, seriously, there’s just something awkward about plastic Christmas trees in 80-degree weather.
