landmark savvy

Photograph: Imogen Brown

THE METRONOME
This giant digital clock has become synonymous with Union Square, and the big debate among the pedestrians I quizzed was whether the numbers represented the time (55 percent answered correctly) or the national deficit (as 35 percent assumed). The remaining 15 percent were a baffled bunch: “It’s the number of New Yorkers that come in and out of the city!” suggested one passerby who reeked of liquor. Maurice, 22, had a more dire take: “It’s the countdown to the end of the world!”

Photograph: Imogen Brown

THE DAKOTAWe all know John Lennon lived here, but do we recognize the swanky building? Totally. An impressive 65 percent of New Yorkers correctly IDed this 1 West 72nd Street landmark. Some were disturbed that I even had to ask. “Are you retarded?” sputtered Sebastian, 32, stopping dead in his tracks. “You really don’t know what this is!?!” Esther, 64, wasn’t quite as confident. After 30 seconds of awkward silence, she told me it was “a famous Jewish building.” A Dakota doorman claimed to know the official score: “Every New Yorker and eight out of ten tourists know that this is the Dakota.” Almost, pal, almost.

Photograph: Imogen Brown

THE BRADSHAW STOOP
I trekked down to 66 Perry Street in the West Village to gauge how many New Yorkers are Sex and the City fanatics—and lo!—an astounding 75 percent recognized the brownstone as Carrie’s crib. Albert, 40, roared with laughter as he explained, “It’s that show full of sluts! One of them lives there.” Marisol, 51, from Mexico, told me, “Es el apartamento de Sexo en la Ciudad,” with a “duh” look on her face.

Photograph: Imogen Brown

CBGB (RIP)
It’s not only gone—it’s practically forgotten. Once an epicenter for all things punk, what’s left of CBGB at 315 Bowery is a vacant storefront with a SPACE AVAILABLE sign. Sadly, only 40 percent of New Yorkers recognized the former music club. I asked one studious-looking twentysomething if he knew why people took photos of the empty lot. “Maybe someone died here?” he offered. And when I asked well-dressed 25-year-old Sara, she replied, without hesitation, “It was BCBG, the clothing store.” Great! There goes the neighborhood.