On a scale of Sweetgreen to the Greenmarket, what is Justine Doiron’s NYQ? This is NYQ, a series in which we find out how “New York” notable New Yorkers really are.
How many years have you lived in New York? Ten.
You could make one subway-etiquette rule law — what would it be? Headphones in. I don’t want to hear your TikToks.
Someone bumps into you on the subway — what do you do? That’s fine.
How would you get from City Island to the Morgan Library? Prefacing: Brooklyn girl, so Bronx is not my territory. I’m going to say on the 2 train.
Your train line is down and you are running late — what do you do? Walk to the other train line.
Your cabdriver is taking you on a horrible route. Do you interrupt? Yeah. Proving that I’m from Missouri, not New York. “Excuse me, are you sure this is the right direction?” And then when they yell at me, I apologize.
How often do you take public transportation to the airport? Always. AirTrain. I live on the C train. I got my house because of the AirTrain.
Someone tries to hand you a flyer on the street — what do you do? “Sorry, I’m meeting somebody.”
Someone tries to get you to film a TikTok on the street. What do you do? No.
You’re in town for a long holiday weekend and know the city will empty out — where do you go? Malatesta Trattoria in the West Village. Everybody who’s very rich there has emptied out, and it’s right by the water. It’s great.
You have family coming to town in 24 hours — what do you do with them on short notice? The Brooklyn route: Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Museum, Cheryl’s Global Soul. They can fend for themselves.
Would you rather transfer trains or walk farther? Walk farther.
Someone you want to impress asks for restaurant advice — what neighborhood do you send them to for the best Jamaican food? Mine. Crown Heights, baby.
Someone says the rats are actually cute — what’s your honest response? They’re like the squirrels of New York. People are overblown by how afraid of them they are. I will be fine with that take.
Have you ever actually been to Staten Island? No.
What’s your area code? 314. Stay humble. Stick to your roots.
Do you call Manhattan “the city” or Manhattan? Manhattan.
What’s the longest you’ve waited on a subway platform? Thirty-two minutes. I was young and dumb. It was 3:30 in the morning, and it was the L train.
What’s the most you’ve ever paid for a coffee in New York City? Not a lot. I’m a drip girl, so $5.50?
Do you own a car? No.
Bedbugs or roaches? Roaches.
Roaches or rats? Rats.
Which is worse: Dimes Square or Hudson Yards? Dimes Square, currently, weekends. Hudson Yards on the weekdays.
Have you ever gotten a piece of furniture off the street? Yeah. Multiple. We have a beautiful coffee table that I’m really into right now that my husband took a picture of, and he was like, “Do you want it?”
Do you touch the subway poles? Yeah. Often.
Where do you go to cry? Probably the subway. Many a soft tear has been shed on the subway.
What’s your go-to public bathroom? There was a Trader Joe’s wine shop in Union Square with an unlocked bathroom, and it was glorious. And it’s gone now.
Best New York celebrity sighting? Anne Hathaway, Upper West Side.
You know you’re a New Yorker when … Hot take: I don’t think anyone’s a New Yorker unless they were born here.
What is a place that closed that you wish you could bring back? There was a place called Barboncino in Crown Heights. When it was operated by good management, it was the best. Then it got bad management.
Every New Yorker should do what at least once? Honestly, walk from top to bottom. It’s the best way to map the city.
Sexiest New Yorker? Can I say Zohran Mamdani? No, his wife.
Last time you ate a hot dog from a hot-dog stand? Never.
How much do you pay when you go to the Met? Nothing.
What percent did you tip your last Uber driver? Twenty.
Last time you hailed a yellow cab? Two years ago.
How many times have you moved in New York? Six.
Which was the worst move? When I had to move in with somebody I met off of Tinder.
What about New York still makes no sense to you? The finance bros. Like, you don’t fit.
