New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he’s going on vacation upstate, renewing the debate over where upstate begins.
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Zohran Mamdani says he headed for an “upstate” vacation, to which I say: Good for him, and I hope he enjoys his time in White Plains.
Oh, I’m kidding. Even if the New York City mayor suffers from the geographical myopia common among his borough-dwelling neighbors, Mamdani must know that a true upstate vacation requires more travel than that. Right?
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Well, let’s hope so. Still, his vague declaration has once again ignited the never-ending argument about where downstate ends and upstate begins, at least among the online crowd that enjoys fighting about such things.
As a service to the people of New York, I’m going to settle the debate. I’m going to tell you how to know, with near-pinpoint precision, whether you’ve crossed from up to down or down to up. You can thank me later.
Our first test requires a southbound trip on the Taconic State Parkway. The start of the drive, through Columbia County, is lovely and, save for the deer threatening to dart into the road, relaxing. Pastoral, even. You can set cruise control to a chill speed and watch the scenery glide by. Upstate life is good.
Eventually, the mood shifts. You’ll notice that cars are moving faster, too fast, really, for such a narrow and winding highway. Your muscles begin to tense, your jaw tightens. Why is everybody rushing? Stress and agita thicken the air like humidity.
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You also notice that some of the vehicles, oversized SUVs mostly, occasionally drift into your lane and toward your car. Are these distracted drivers? Or is this hostility masked as inattentiveness? It’s difficult to tell. But you know you don’t like it.
Then, it happens. A car with a New York Yankees bumper sticker ruthlessly cuts in front of you, forcing your heart into your throat as you brake. What’s worse, the driver smiles at your cursing protestations before flipping you the bird. What the *&*^ is wrong with that guy?
Congratulations! You are now downstate!!
You’ll be cut off three more times before you hit the Bronx.
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Our northbound test takes more effort. It requires that you pull into town, sample the pizza at three local establishments and answer some basic questions. Is the crust thin? Is the sauce lightly applied? Is the cheese moist, but not excessively greasy? Most importantly, is the pizza universally scrumptious?
If the answer is yes, you are still downstate. Head north and sample more pizza. I know you’re not hungry, but you have a job to do. Eat!
Now, tell me, has pizza sauce suddenly gone gloppy in this second town? Is it acidic or overly sweet? Is the crust so thick that it’s difficult to fold?
You’ve arrived upstate!
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Yes, upstate begins where good pizza ends. (Note: Bagels and hard rolls can be substituted, if necessary, with similarly diminishing quality with latitude.)
Before you angrily stab at your keyboards, let me stress that not all upstate pizza is mediocre. You can find a good pie (or hard roll, or bagel) if you’re willing to work at it. But tragically, you can’t count on pizza being consistently good. I wish it weren’t so, but that’s the truth. Admit it.
Of course, there are other ways to test the upstate-downstate divide. If you remain unsure about a particular location, consider the following questions.
Is there a Stewart’s nearby? Do people act like this is a normal place to go for an ice cream cone? You’re upstate.
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Do people keep talking about “the city,” as if there is only one? Do they smirk when you say “Coxsackie”? You’re downstate.
Is the local accent dotted with flat As, though you’re nowhere near Buffalo? For example, does “mom” sometimes sound like “mam”? Definitely upstate.
Does everyday wildlife freak out the locals? Are strolling turkeys treated like marauding bears? 100% downstate.
If there are questions about where my loyalties lie, let me assure you that I certainly prefer upstate, as any sane person would. And since I promised to settle the debate, I will now tell you precisely where the good life begins.
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East of the Hudson, upstate begins at a line (invisible, of course) extending from Wappingers Falls over to Hopewell Junction and Pawling. Across the river, the line continues westward north of Newburgh before slicing southward beyond the Thruway.
Woodbury and Sloatsburg are downstate. Middletown and Warwick are up.
That’s it. The argument is settled. Happy to help. Go about your day.
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