Franky Bernstein created a cultural translation tool for transplants with his humorous comparison map of Los Angeles neighborhoods to New York City boroughs. This creative geographic interpretation offers newcomers a familiar framework for understanding LA’s diverse communities through the lens of New York’s iconic urban landscape.
“I made this beautiful map last night of Los Angeles, but if you’re from New York City, this should help,” Bernstein explains at the start of his video. This framing immediately establishes the map’s purpose: to help East Coast transplants navigate the unfamiliar territory of Southern California using their existing knowledge of New York’s geography.
Bernstein begins with his home base: “I live here in Venice.” He then proceeds to map various LA neighborhoods to their New York counterparts based on perceived cultural similarities rather than geographic position. “Beverly Hills is nice,” he notes simply, before diving into more specific cultural comparisons.
His description of West Hollywood demonstrates his comedic approach to neighborhood stereotyping: “If you’re degenerate, West Hollywood is for you.” This provocative characterization plays on the area’s reputation for nightlife and LGBTQ+ culture, though the description is delivered with a lighthearted tone suggesting affectionate ribbing rather than genuine criticism.
Bernstein reveals personal connections to the areas he describes, noting, “I went to high school in Santa Monica,” adding credibility to his neighborhood assessments through lived experience. He follows with the simple endorsement, “Manhattan [Beach] is where it’s at,” suggesting his preference for this coastal community.
His description of Silver Lake employs specific cultural markers to characterize the neighborhood’s hipster reputation: “If you’re a hipster, have a mustache, listen to Mumford and Sons. This is for you, Silver Lake, downtown.” These specific references—to facial hair styles and indie folk music—efficiently communicate the area’s aesthetic and cultural associations.
The comparison of South Bay and Palos Verdes to New Jersey offers a particularly nuanced take: “This is New Jersey in the South Bay Area, PV because it’s really nice, like New Jersey’s really nice, but it’s not New York.” This characterization acknowledges both the quality of these areas and their peripheral relationship to LA’s urban core, mirroring New Jersey’s relationship to New York City.
Bernstein admits potential controversy in his mappings: “This one might be a little controversial, but…” This self-awareness suggests he understands the subjective nature of his comparisons and anticipates possible disagreement from locals of either city.
Some comparisons rely on personal unfamiliarity: “This is Queens because I’ve never been to Queens and I never go here. So it seems like it made sense.” This honest admission of knowledge gaps adds authenticity to his assessment while maintaining the humorous tone.
His most negative comparison targets specific areas: “This is Staten Island, simply because you do not want to go there.” This blunt assessment mirrors common attitudes toward Staten Island among New Yorkers, transferring similar sentiment to unspecified LA regions.
The map concludes with practical considerations for different life stages: “If you have a family, this is Connecticut. The Kardashians live there, you get it.” The reference to the Kardashian family grounds his comparison in popular culture and celebrity geography familiar to many viewers.
Bernstein ends with a traffic-based comparison between the Hamptons and Malibu: “You got the Hamptons, if you like sitting in traffic for three hours, you’re going to love Malibu, but the beaches don’t suck.” This final assessment balances criticism of Malibu’s notorious traffic issues with acknowledgment of its superior beaches, offering a nuanced evaluation that weighs drawbacks against benefits.