New Yorkization of Los Angeles

I am writing in response to the article about the New Yorkization of L.A. (by Patt Morrison, June 27). First of all, the Los Angeles Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s and Barneys are pale mall versions of the New York stores, lacking the luster of character and class, not to mention customers barking, “Watch it!” as they push through the crowds. As for snobby attitude, that’s more L.A. than New York. The attitude that endears us to New Yorkers is another funny story.

As a child, I remember my mother taking me to lunch at the “real” Bloomingdale’s (Lexington Avenue). We waited what seemed an endless time to be seated at one of New York’s finest department store cafes, and as soon as we got our order, the waitress commanded us, in a thick New York accent, “Hurry up and eat! There’s people waiting!”

As for the subway, L.A.’s is a glitzy designer subway, which lacks the claustrophobia and piercing smell of dried urine, and L.A. requires a car on each end to get to and from the subway. And as for franks, Nathan’s beats Pink’s any day, and I enjoy people who are frank and in your face, not a bunch of nonconfrontational wimps, with liposuction and face-lift scars neatly hidden behind their designer sunglasses.

After seven years of living in a boring palm tree paradise, I’m returning to New York, where people aren’t living in a comatose state.

CELIA A. PARKER

Santa Monica