You know you're from Nassau when . . .

Your friends in Suffolk think Nassau is basically an extension of Manhattan -- and you prove them wrong by pointing them to some of your favorite green spots, like Eisenhower State Park or Bethpage State Park, as seen here on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016.

You spend more time in nearby Manhattan than out on the East End.

You know NCPD officers personally

If you know at least three Nassau County police officers personally, it's likely you're from Nassau County (especially if you're related to all three).

You know your history, therefore your bragging rights: The Gold Coast inspired F. Scott Fitzgerald to write "The Great Gatsby" in 1925. So Leonardo DiCaprio may summer in Suffolk, but Jay Gatsby? He's a Nassau native.

You have a soft spot for Idina Menzel, who voiced ice queen Elsa in the hit Disney film "Frozen" and starred in Broadway productions including "Wicked" and "Aida." Not only is she from Syosset, but Menzel also played a Nassau native in the Broadway musical and film version of "Rent." She portrayed Maureen Johnson, and Mark (played by Anthony Rapp on stage and screen) even sings a lovely Long Island lyric about her: "You can take the girl out of Hicksville, but you can't take the Hicksville out of the girl." Too true.

You've proudly belted out the Billy Joel lyrics, "Are you gonna cruise The Miracle Mile?" Of course, The Miracle Mile references our luxurious shopping district in Manhasset. In 2012, Joel told Newsday that he finished writing "It's Still Rock 'n' Roll to Me" while driving and said, "The Miracle Mile was mentioned because I think we were going past the Miracle Mile when I wrote that. I think that's how it came out. I don't think it was in my head before that. I was just kind of pulling things out of the trip." True Nassau dwellers may also have a sneaking suspicion where this photo was taken: Nassau Coliseum, 1982.

Although it was seldom mentioned, you know that Ray and Debra Barone's suburban two-story home was located in Lynbrook. Yes, "Everybody Loves Raymond" was set in the heart of Nassau County. Bonus points if you can remember Ray's job: sports writer at Newsday.

You've seen this twinkling winter wonderland and its right-to-the-point neighbor. The Engels, a family in Levittown, goes all out with Christmas decorations. Their lavish display draws in an audience every year on Christmas light tours. Their neighbors, the Paganelli family, decided to respond in a simple yet clever way: They spelled out the words "Ditto" in lights across their front lawn with an arrow pointing to the Engel's decorations.

You've created a craft and toured the exhibits of the Nassau County Museum of Art in Roslyn Harbor. If you were raised in Nassau, you've likely attended a field trip here. As one of the largest museums in the country, the historical site is packed with art and culture, even boasting a pristine garden outside. The museum has provided educational opportunities to Long Islanders of all ages for decades.

If you're a resident of Valley Stream, Floral Park or Elmont, you've had a bit of a Long Island/Queens identity crisis. But we know the truth: You live in Nassau, don't deny it!

You know Lynbrook High School is the place to be for homecoming season. The spirited teachers try to outdo themselves every year. Here, Lynbrook High School art teacher Thomas Sena was victorious in the competition to see who could slurp more gummy worms out of bowls piled high with whipped cream during the homecoming pep rally on Sept. 23, 2016.

You partied at Paddy McGee's. Through the 1980s, '90s and early 2000s, the dockside Paddy McGee's was a popular stop for seafood -- but made the most noise (some would say literally) on Sundays during the summer, when the spot held afternoon parties known for DJ beats and massive crowds. The venue was damaged during superstorm Sandy, and never reopened.

You remember when Roosevelt Field Mall had one floor. Although the lavish shopping center now has more than 270 stores, people growing up in Nassau County might remember it only opened its second floor in 1993, and some may remember it didn't have a roof until 1968, when it was enclosed.

You know about Safety Town, seen here in 1998. Operated by the Nassau County Police Department, it's a miniature town in Eisenhower Park created to teach children about traffic safety. Michael Muesch, 8, left, of West Babylon, gets driving tips from crossing guard Cecilia Casimano as Nick Tecce, 9, of Glen Cove, waits behind him in the green car. (1998)

You've seen live stand-up at Govenor's. Tucked away in a parking lot off Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown, Governor's Comedy Club has hosted some of the biggest names in comedy for more than two decades. Many people who have lived and grown up in Nassau County came here, maybe on prom night or just with friends -- and maybe you saw recent some up-and-coming talent perform -- or perhaps you caught stars like Eddie Murphy, Jim Breuer and Jerry Seinfeld (all Nassau County natives) early in their careers. In this photo from Jan. 10, 2016, Beverly Munter of Plainview, performs at Governor's Comedy Club.

You grew up listening to WLIR. Tuning to WLIR / 92.7 FM (also, for a time, WDRE), "The station that dares to be different," gave Nassau County kids a musical education in New Wave, punk, post-punk and synth-pop. It was the place to hear The Smiths, Duran Duran and Depeche Mode and great jocks like Larry the Duck, Malibu Sue and Donna Donna. For several years the station held a weekly live dance party at the now-defunct Malibu night club in Lido Beach, a big event for people who grew up in Nassau in the 1970s, '80s and '90s. In this photo from April 5, 1999 is Jed Morey, then 24 and president of WLIR Radio.

You've spent an embarrassing amount of time gazing at the sky-high cakes and decadent desserts of Sweet Karma in Plainview. Bonus points if you've indulged in a s'mores tart.

If you're from Massapequa, you've had to clarify while meeting someone new who isn't familiar with Long Island: "No, not Massachusetts." Pictured here is comedian Bob Nelson, a proud Massapequa native.

You know that nestled in New Hyde Park stands a store so old-school that you can't help but go back again and again. Bobb Howard's General Store has it all: classic keepsakes, soda fountains, and candy you can't find anywhere else. The shop guarantees a satisfied sweet tooth and a smile.

You've indulged in a scoop of nostalgia at Krisch's Restaurant and Ice Cream Parlour in Massapequa. This 1950s-style eatery is a sweet staple with sky-high sundaes and its cozy charm has remained intact for six decades.

You've partied on the Nautical Mile. Located along a canal in Freeport, there's nothing in Suffolk County like this: a stretch of road almost entirely populated by restaurants, bars and nightclubs that draws Nassau County residents of all ages for seafood dinners, live music, dancing and socializing. Charter boats also dock along the 'Mile, so anyone looking for some fun on the water can take a partyboat from here, then return and keep the good times going (until 11 p.m., when the local noise ordinance tends to bring most bashes to a close).

You've visited this working farm. Or perhaps, you just passed by it while driving through Malverne, wondering how it survived the suburban sprawl that otherwise dominates the South Shore of Nassau County. It's the Crossroads Farm at Grossmann's-land farmed by the Grossmann family for more than 100 years, it was purchased by Nassau County back in 2006 and preserved. Today it's a public farm supported by volunteers, hosts a CSA program and features a weekly farmers market.

You're seeing lizards on the loose. Not native to Long Island, a shipment of Italian wall lizards in the early 1970s slated for a West Hempstead pet store were somehow freed, and the reptiles took root. The animals became permanent residents -- and so successful at adapting that lizards (believed to be descendants of the original colony, from the Mineola/ Garden City West Hempstead area) have since been spotted as far west as Queens and east into Suffolk County.

You've explored the interactive exhibits at the Long Island Children's Museum. Visitors to the Garden City spot, part of Museum Row, can experience hands-on learning by playing with bubbles, making music and building their own creations at various exhibits.

You've enjoyed listening to a philharmonic orchestra perform, laughed during a comedy show or sat in awe of a modern dance troupe at the Tilles Center for Performing Arts in Brookville. The LIU Post concert hall hosts more than 70 performances by world-renowned artists each season.

You've taken a class field trip to watch tadpoles turn into frogs at the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium. Originally a trout hatchery, the not-for-profit education center now aims to teach visitors of all ages about New York's freshwater ecosystems.

You've stopped to smell the roses on the expansive 200-acre grounds of Old Westbury Gardens. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, the property features a Charles II-style mansion and thousands of flowers that bloom between early spring and late fall. The gardens also serve as a backdrop for a variety of concerts and festivals.

You've taken a step back in time to experience the grandeur of the Gold Coast Era by visiting the Sands Point Preserve Conservancy, which is on the original Guggenheim Estate in Sands Point. Of course, you already know these historic mansions and sweeping grounds were among the inspirations behind Scott F. Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby."

You've eaten All American. The All American Drive-In, on Merrick Road in Massapequa, has been in business since 1963 and serves burgers, fries, hot dogs and a few other grill items, as well as shakes and sodas. Aside from a few picnic tables, there's no seating, and at times the parking lot gets maxed out by the cars coming in and out to grab some grub. Expect big crowds -- and not just for the tastes, but the prices. A hamburger costs $1.40, a cheeseburger $1.60 and large fries $1.75.

You've tasted the sweet apple cider and apple pies made fresh at the Jericho Cider Mill. Inside the two-story white barn, more than 40,000 gallons of cider are pressed each season, and the mill's history dates back to the early 1800s, according to its website.

If you've seen pumpkins artfully turned into dinosaurs at the annual Rise of the Jack-o'-lanterns at Old Westbury Gardens. The annual display features more than 5,000 carved pumpkins put together into playful scenes inspired by pop culture and the imagination.

You tested your athletic skills on the trampoline dodgeball courts at Bounce! NY Trampoline Sports center. There is 50,000 square feet of indoor sports space, all on interconnected trampoline courts and foam pits. Both families and college kids rave about the glow-in-the-dark sessions on Friday and Saturday evenings.

You went on a field trip that included a show in the dome theater at The Cradle of Aviation Museum, or its theater planetarium, or probably both. The aerospace museum in East Garden City has eight exhibits with more than 75 air and spacecraft. It is located on Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, the namesake of the man who ventured on the first solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927 -- taking off from Roosevelt Field.

You've paused at Roosevelt Field mall to wonder if you parked your car in the same spot Charles Lindbergh parked his plane. Between juggling our purchases and digging for our car keys, we're reminded that we're buying birthday presents on a historic site.

You're only temporarily heartbroken when Billy Joel's Madison Square Garden shows sell out in minutes. That's because you know you can grab a beer at Mulcahy's, swing your arm around a stranger's shoulder, and belt along with Big Shot. The tribute band, led by singer Mike DelGuidice, performs across Long Island in a variety of venues, so fans can get a taste of the Piano Man anytime of the year.

You've been to Sagamore Hill, the home of Teddy Roosevelt. The former president lived in the Oyster Bay house, built in 1884, until his death in 1919.

You've been to Belmont Park, even if it wasn't for the Belmont Stakes. The Elmont track opened in 1905, hosting countless races and concerts. Its signature event, though, is the final leg of horse racing's Triple Crown. Here, jockey Victor Espinoza rides American Pharoah to victory in the 2015 Belmont Stakes on June 6, 2015.

You attended New York Jets training camp at Hofstra University. Gang Green may not call the Hempstead campus their summer home anymore -- they moved to a new training camp and in-season facilities in New Jersey in 2008 -- but they still return once a year for their "Family Night" event. Here, Joe Namath is asked for autographs as he heads for his room at the Hofstra dorms during Jets training camp on July 26, 1972.

You've enjoyed a peanut butter milkshake at Shake Shack. The burger joint, which got its start in New York City, has two Long Island locations: New Hyde Park and Westbury. Above, the Shake Shack on Union Turnpike in New Hyde Park on Sept. 15, 2015.

You spend half the night at a Suffolk LIRR station after falling asleep on your late-night ride home from Penn Station. It's worse if you do so in the winter, like this gloomy scene from the Ronkonkoma station in February 2016.

You saw a New York Dragons game at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Aside from the Islanders, the Arena Football League team was the most recent professional team to call the Uniondale venue home, playing there from 2001 to 2008. Here, former Dragons quarterback Aaron Garcia throws a pass during an AFL game at the Coliseum.

You've caught the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park at least once. Best recognized by performances starring military jets, the program takes place annually during Memorial Day weekend and also includes civilian aerial entertainment.

You know that ZA has vegan pizza ready at 3 a.m. Open daily until 4 a.m., ZA (with locations in Seaford and Rockville Centre) offers a menu of late-night bites such as pretzel garlic knots, chicken fingers and hot wings -- but it's mainly a pizzeria, and while there are a number of pizzas from which to choose, ZA goes off the beaten pie path with a list of vegan and gluten-free items--including vegan pizza (even a vegan pizza bagel).

You've played video games in Bayville. The secluded hamlet takes some practice to find without GPS (unless you live there, of course), but during the 1980s and 1990s teens and twentysomethings from across Nassau County would venture out trying to find the beachside area at the northern end of Bayville Avenue where the Arcadia video game parlor was located. You can still play electronic games in Bayville today, but now at "Professor Burton Bay's Arcade of Amusements" at Bayville Adventure Park.

You call it "Merrick Road." You call it that because that it what Route 27A is called in Nassau County, from Valley Stream thru Massapequa to Route 110. In Suffolk County it's mostly called Montauk Highway, or occasionally Main Street -- but in Nassau it's a one-name-only road that runs from one South Shore community to the next. (And no local ever calls it 27A.)

You think seeing a deer is a big deal. The animals are rarely spotted in Nassau County, but in Suffolk, especially on the East End and on Fire Island, deer can be seen day and night in parks, near beaches and even on front lawns (and in the woods, of course). For Nassau County residents, seeing one (or a group, including fawns, like this group at South Shore Nature Center in Islip) can elicit excitement and a flurry of cellphone picture-taking.

You've driven to see this house. Located in a North Massapequa neighborhood, this home stands out among the mainstream houses nearby with its pointed minarets, candles in the windows, an iron fence and its red-painted driveway. Unofficially known as the "Devil House," "The Satan House," 'The Witch House," and "The Hell House," its occupants have never publicly explained whether the unique design has any meaning. But generations of Nassau County residents have driven to see it, especially on Halloween. But don’t think you’ll be trick-or-treating here on Oct. 31, as a police car is always stationed there throughout the night.

One of the most important parts of the Belmont Stakes happens before the big race at Belmont Park. The annual Jockey Day at the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island in New Hyde Park gives sick kids and their siblings a chance to meet famous jockeys and ride ponies at a more leisurely pace than you might see at the mile-and-a-half Elmont track during the third jewel in the Triple Crown.

You thought you were just leaving the house to get bread and milk, but ended up at Dublin Pub instead. The King Kullen location on Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park was tantalizingly close to the pub. The King Kullen closed in 2011, and Dublin Pub -- which operated since 1936 under different names -- met the same fate in 2013 after being condemned by the state liquor authority.

You’ve been on at least one class trip to Old Bethpage Village Restoration. The 209-acre village, which originated in 1963, is a historic representation of rural life on Long Island in the mid-19th century. In a 2009 petition, started to keep the village from closing, it claimed that more than 35,000 students visit the village each year.

... And you've been to the Jones Beach miniature golf course. From the end of June to the beginning of September, it offers fun until 11 p.m. It closes at 4 p.m. from mid-September to the end of October. (July 21,2013)

You've gone for a ride on one of Nunley's ponies. The historic Nunley's Carousel has been delighting children since it was installed in Brooklyn in 1912. After it was moved to Baldwin in 1940 and then closed in 1995, Nassau County purchased the carousel and it reopened in 2009 on Museum Row in Garden City.

You've figured out where the Long Island Puppet Theater & Museum is located. Its nondescript spot behind the LIRR tracks in Hicksville notwithstanding, those who have found it and enjoyed its daily shows and exhibits won't forget where it is the second time around.

If you actually saw the exit sign from Steve's Pier I restaurant in Bayville before it ended up at Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling's Bayville home. Longtime Bayville resident and former Howard Stern sidekick Martling said he had been driving past the site of the restaurant, which was demolished in March 2009, and noticed the sign was all that remained of the landmark. So he took it home as a souvenir.

You’ve listened to the Islanders net the winning goal on 88.7 FM WRHU Radio Hofstra University. Since 2010, Hofstra broadcasting students have served in both on-air and production duties for broadcasts. Levittown's Kevin Dexter did color commentary for the Islanders-Penguins Stanley Cup Playoffs series in 2013, with the broadcasts simulcast by the likes of WFAN and ESPN Radio.

You went to "New England" for some fried clams without leaving the county. Bigelow's in Rockville Centre has been in business since 1939, serving both the working class and the upper class. Photos of appreciation inside feature some famous Long Islanders, including the late Telly Savalas of "Kojack" fame and Joseph R. Gannascoli, who portrayed Vito Spatafore on "The Sopranos."

You've spent the weekend at Billy's Joel's place in Oyster Bay. OK, maybe you didn't exactly hang out with the "Piano Man." But his 20th Century Cycles shop, where Joel houses his collection of motorcycles that combine vintage looks with modern technology, is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays.

You've hacked through a round where legendary golfer Walter Hagen showed off his brilliance. In 1926 at the former Salisbury Golf Links (now the home of the Eisenhower Park golf courses), Hagen won the third of his four consecutive PGA Championships.

Despite your New Year's Eve debauchery, you managed to trudge through or at least get out of bed to support someone in the annual New Year's Day Hangover Fun Run at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow. The 5-mile run began in 1977 with a bunch of friends starting the year off right and has grown to involve hundreds of runners. Here Mike Ogazon, 71, of Garden City, ran on Jan. 1, 2013.

You’ve been to at least one Islanders game at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, even if you’re a Rangers fan. Here, Thomas Hickey of the Islanders defends against the Rangers' Derick Brassard at the Coliseum. (April 13, 2013)

... you've ended your night with a bagel. Compared to their Eastern counterparts, Nassau residents are spoiled when it comes to the sheer number of bagel shops. Some, including Long Island Bagel Cafe in Oceanside, Beach Bagel in Long Beach and A & S in Franklin Square are open 24/7, ready to satisfy cravings for the boiled-and-baked dough around the clock.

"You know what 'Locust Valley Lockjaw' sounds like!” says Facebook follower Jon Willdigg. Remember Thurston Howell III from “Gilligan’s Island?” The way he speaks, the stereotypical upper class accent, is pretty much it -- with clenched teeth and a nasal tone. In a 1987 New York Times article, Arthur Knapp Jr. of Larchmont, N.Y., claimed it is the speech of ''the yacht-racing members of the highly social Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club located in Oyster Bay, many of whom live in or around Locust Valley.''

You've dared to try a free hot dog at The Black Sheep Ale House in Mineola. This corner dive boasts a huge craft beer selection, with 25 brews on tap and 75 bottled varieties, as well as a full selection of board games and free food for its patrons.

You've met your running buddies at the "0.0" mile marker along Sunrise Highway in Massapequa for a scenic jog through the Massapequa Preserve.

If you're a girl, you attended a dance at Chaminade High School. The all-boys Catholic school in Mineola has regularly held mixers inside its auditorium, inviting young ladies from other area high schools to mingle with its young men -- provided the girls show up with a proper school photo ID and no mini-skirts or bare midriffs. Chaminade boys are required to wear a dress shirt and slacks, part of their regular school attire.

Roosevelt Field mall is your home away from home. One of the largest shopping malls in the country, Roosevelt Field probably has more than all the amenities of home. (July 10, 2009)

You’ve eaten a strawberry/pistachio twist from Marvel Dairy Whip. Not to be confused with Carvel, Marvel has been serving residents of Long Beach their favorite soft-serve combinations for more than 50 years.

The Rink at RXR Plaza

You don't have to head to Manhattan's Rockefeller Center to enjoy festive holiday ice skating. Since 1989, the RXR Plaza, formerly known as the EAB Plaza, in Uniondale has hosted a major Long Island Christmas tree lighting. During the holiday season, the plaza hosts a large Christmas tree, about 80 feet tall, along with an outdoor ice skating rink.

You've both skated at the Long Beach Ice Arena and know that it used to be the practice rink for the New York Rangers during the 1970s. Here, Island Park residents Hunter Heumann, 5, and sister Charley, 3, have fun skating on the day the rink was reopened nearly seven months after superstorm Sandy. (May 18, 2013)

"You have missed a major family event for the Belmont Stakes!" says reader Angelica Wittstruck. The Belmont Race Track is one of the most famous places in Nassau County, with its name in headlines annually as part of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing. This year, with Palace Malice the winner by 3 ¼ lengths, the Stakes drew a crowd of 47,562. Also, while Nassau residents know you can take outside beer cans into the park during regular races, you can't bring alcohol at all on Belmont Stakes day. Outside alcohol was banned for the 2005 race and beyond. (June 8, 2013)

You've taken the knotted necklaces in your jewelry box to Tri-County, a year-round flea market in Levittown, and haggled with five vendors over scrap gold prices.

You've eaten at both Ayhan's Shish Kebab and Ayhan's Fish Kebab in Port Washington. The Shish Kebab opened more than 35 years ago, and in 1990 the Fish Kebab opened across the street in a former bank building.

You've savored a sausage and pepper hero like Noreen Diaz here at "The Best Feast in the East" on July 30, 2013. That's the slogan for the annual St. Rocco's Feast in Glen Cove, which draws tens of thousands of attendees each year. It features a smorgasbord of Italian food, rides, games and a procession of the St. Rocco statue, which is carried through the streets.

Cherry Valley Deli Grill

You know that Cherry Valley Deli in West Hempstead is MUCH better than the one in Whitestone, Queens, no matter what those city folks say. The two 24-hour delis are both operated by the same owners and have a similar menu, but it's known -- at least by one Newsday reporter -- that the barbecue sauce on their signature sandwich, the Corona, provides a very different experience.

You know Hicksville isn't a redneck-esque monicker. The hamlet gets more than its share of grief because of its name, but Hicksville actually is named after Valentine Hicks, the second president of the Long Island Rail Road and the area's land owner in the mid-1800's. A century-old former Pennsylvania Station marble eagle is now roosting at the Hicksville LIRR.

Joshua Deli

You use the U2 hit "Where the Streets Have No Name" to determine if you're still on Long Island. The Joshua Deli on Jericho Turnpike in Floral Park -- between Linden and Sycamore -- calls LI home. But if you start venturing into Floral Park, Bellerose or New Hyde Park streets sporting numbers instead of names, welcome to Queens!

You’ve been out to the wineries in Suffolk County, but you’ve taken a limousine to get there. Since it can take as much as 90 minutes to get to the wineries in eastern Long Island from western Nassau County, it’s common for Nassau residents to round up a group of friends and rent a limo to take them to the vineyards. (June 26, 2010)

You've seen a Broadway star like Sutton Foster or alt-rockers like the Smithereens play at Landmark on Main Street's 425-seat Jeanne Rimsky Theater in Port Washington. Landmark also houses 59 units of affordable senior citizen housing, the Port Washington Children’s Center, Parent Resource Center and the Youth Council’s Teen Center.

You’ve ordered a burger and a Cherry Lime Ricky at The Laurel. Since 1932, The Laurel Luncheonette and Restaurant has been serving up classic diner eats, making it an unofficial landmark in the Long Beach community, both for residents and beach commuters.

You've spent a sleepless night with your kids after taking them to Bayville Scream Park. Normally known as Bayville Amusement Park, it changes its name annually to go along with its haunting Halloween theme.

You've visited Hicks Nursery in Old Westbury in October to meet "Otto the Ghost" and witness some of the biggest gourds face off in the annual Pumpkin Weigh-Off Contest. In 2013, Commack's Scott Armstrong won with a record-setting 1,456-pound pumpkin that he grew in his backyard. The family-owned Hicks Nursery can trace its roots back to 1853, according to the business website.

You’ve gone on a cruise out of Freeport and finally catch a fish big enough to keep. The Captain Lou fleet, a popular charter operation, goes out on the Great South Bay and the Atlantic Ocean to fish for fluke, sea bass, bluefish, striped bass and tuna, among other varieties. (July 21, 2013)

You've spent a December evening or an Easter morning dining at the historic Milleridge Inn in Jericho. At Christmastime carolers dressed up in period costumes sing holiday favorites. And the old-fashioned village next door filled with shops is the perfect place to kill time on a post-brunch spring afternoon.

You've seen one of President Theodore Roosevelt's speeches given at Sagamore Hill. The National Historic Site in Cove Neck was the president's home from 1885 until his death in 1919. For certain events you might catch an actor, like Jim Foote, re-enacting Roosevelt as he did on the Fourth of July in 2011.

You’ve attended at least one outdoor concert at the Nikon Theater at Jones Beach. In the summer months, barely a week goes by that’s not packed with entertainment at the waterfront Wantagh theater. In this photo, the audience watches 2 Chainz in concert. (July 19, 2013)

You've shopped at "Miracle Mile" favorite Americana Manhasset even if you couldn't afford anything there. The open-air shopping center has been a destination for luxury goods since owner Frank Castagna decided in the early 1980s to attract designer boutiques to the mall, which currently includes stores like Gucci and Dior.

You've participated in the Long Island Marathon at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, or have been on the sidelines cheering on a friend. Thousands of runners compete in the annual 10K, half-marathon or full-marathon races, and spend the rest of the day relaxing by the finish line after the big event.

You've flown in the air at I.Fly, a recreational flying trapeze and circus arts program in Long Beach and or Eisenhower Park in East Meadow. Before you knew it, you got the technique down to get your legs on the bar, hands dangling, and nailed a backflip dismount into the net.

Your heart sank when you heard the Crazy Donkey in Farmingdale had closed. The club's vagabond bookings kept everyone guessing what kind of music was coming there next. When the Crazy Donkey closed in September 2011, Newsday music critic Glenn Gamboa reported, acts that were set for the following month included up-and-comers Circa Survive and Kiss vet Ace Frehley.

You thought you ate at the place that was the motivation for Billy Joel's "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant." He now admits that he was going for applause when he said onstage once that the Italian Christiano's in Syosset was the motivation. "It was like saying 'Yankees' when you're playing in New York," he told Newsday, adding that it was a restaurant he frequented back in the day. (The inspirations for "Italian Restaurant" are actually in Manhattan -- Il Cortile in Little Italy and Fontana Di Trevi in midtown.)

If you intentionally went to the Oyster Festival early so you could eat two meals. The annual event, which turned 30 in October 2013, can be a little tricky for even the most accomplished foodie. Plan to fill up on the seafood served on the street downtown, then head toward the waterfront to sample music and crafts. Just give yourself extra time to digest because no matter how full you are you'll soon want to nibble on some of the carnival food delights down by the water.

You've skated underneath the big disco ball at Hot Skates in Lynbrook. Since opening in 1980, the indoor roller skating rink has been holding countless kids birthday parties, hockey games and open skate sessions for kids and adults. Perhaps you may have even found romance during one of its "couple skates," where skaters are encouraged to roll hand-in-hand while the DJ plays a love song. Even ABC's "The Bachelorette" filmed a date scene here during Season 7.

You've danced at a wedding reception, watched kickboxing and bet a boxed exacta at what is now the Race Palace in Plainview. The formerly named Vanderbilt catering hall went bankrupt but reopened in 1999, hosted everything from concerts to fight cards, and opened and closed both a cigar bar and a steakhouse. The facility currently houses the Carlyle at the Palace catering hall and the Deco 1600 restaurant, with Nassau OTB operating thoroughbred betting upstairs. Oh, and did you know late Penthouse czar Bob Guccione actually made the highest bid to reopen the place, but was rebuffed by the Town of Oyster Bay amid speculation he would turn it into a topless club?

You’ve ridden your bike and enjoyed the ocean air on the Long Beach Boardwalk. In 1914, with the help of some elephants, the 2¼-mile boardwalk was built and became a staple in the Long Beach community, drawing tourists in the summer months. Superstorm Sandy destroyed the structure, but last October the newly designed boardwalk was reopened to the public.

You’ve enjoyed a view of the New York City skyline from atop the 115-foot hill at the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve in Merrick. The former landfill was converted into this 52-acre site, which opened in 2000. It features fitness trails, a fishing pier into Merrick Bay, kayak launch, a fully operational agricultural windmill, and views of the Jones Beach Tower and New York City. The windmill on the top of the hill circulates water in two fresh-water artificial ponds.

You've taken a ride through Tiny Town. In the 1860s, a large number of Methodist worshipers from around the state camped annually for 10 days of services in Merrick. Dollhouse-like cottages, like this one on Wesley Avenue, gradually developed around the campground. Today, that neighborhood, called the Campgrounds, is also known as Tiny Town. The cottages have shrunk in number as they have expanded or as new houses have gone up on the old lots. (July 21, 2013)

You've asked a Valley Stream resident for a place to meet up in the village and they've immediately answered, "Sip This." Longtime friends and Valley Stream natives David Sabatino and Stephanie Pontillo own the coffeehouse, which has become a community staple thanks to events like BYOV (Bring Your Own Vinyl) listening parties and trivia nights.

You know the difference between Farmingdale and Farmingville. Although many confuse these two places because their names are similar, the Village of Farmingdale is on the border of Nassau and Suffolk counties, while Farmingville is 26 miles farther east.

You've eaten a Big Mac at the true Long Island "McMansion." This McDonald's location on Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park opened on March 22, 1991. The franchise is housed in a Georgian-style mansion dating to 1795. The mansion, formerly known as the Denton House, was abandoned before McDonald’s purchased the property in 1985. Residents were upset with the idea of it being torn down to look like a typical fast-food facility, so they petitioned for historic landmark status and won in 1987. Franchise owner Larry Anderer, of Rockville Centre pays fees to the franchise to own and operate the McDonald’s.

You've waited in a line out the door of The Witches Brew, a 17-year-old coffeehouse in West Hempstead just to pick from a busy tea, coffee and dessert menu inside a century-old house with personality — a black decor, rooms lit by flickering candles and draped holiday lights, and furniture including old-fashioned couches and antique floral chairs.

You’ve played the first three holes at Bethpage Black, then regretted the decision. Bethpage Black hosted the 2002 and 2009 U.S. Open golf tournaments. Despite the warning sign, golfers of varying skills have been known to camp out in their vehicles outside the public course to acquire a precious tee time.