When Gene's Ice Cream Shop, the legendary white spot along South Main in Bloomington, opened for another season the other afternoon, all across the Twin Cities, folks were exclaiming, "Gene's is opening! A rite of spring!" Well, except for a few people. | Read more Flick

They deadpanned "What opened?" and went back to Cold Stone Creamery for a couple more scoops.

Same thing when a new version of "C.J.'s" restaurant opened out near the airport.

Townspeople headed there in droves.

Still are.

Transplants went back to Chili's or T.G.I. Fridays, again.

Still do.

And so it goes.

In any city, there are ways to differentiate the "townies" from the "transplants" and signposts to weed the "old-timers" from the "new locals."

Bloomington-Normal?

If you use "fell" only as a verb, you are a transplant. If you also capitalize it and use it as a proper noun, you are a townie.

If the word is spelled "Hendricks" instead of "Hendrix" and you mull a storied murder trial instead of a '60s rock star, you are a townie.

Townies think spaghetti and do Beningo's. Transplants think spaghetti and head out to Olive Garden.

If you know Ed Rust as CEO and masthead at State Farm Insurance, you are a local but if you remember Ed Rust as a varsity wrestler at BHS, you are a longtime townie, too.

Transplants head to Krispy Kreme to buy their office treats. Locals are on a first-name basis at Denny's Doughnuts.

If you have heard of Diamond-Star, you are a townie … or you have at least been here longer than those who only refer to it as Mitsubishi Motors North America.

Townies know all the streets west of Veterans Parkway. Transplants know all the streets east of Veterans Parkway.

If you've never voted for a Democrat, you are a local. If you've never voted for a Republican, you are a transplant.

If you hear the word "Collins" and think about having a Tom Collins double at NV Lounge, you are a transplant. If you hear the word "Collins" and think about Doug Collins having a double-double at Horton Field House, you are a local.

If someone says "Green Gables" and you are a local, you think of wonderfully greasy cheeseburgers, not the literary classics.

Townies use "sporting goods" and "Read's" in the same sentence. Transplants are already at Dick's.

If you think about Bloomington-

Normal stretching almost all the way to Towanda, you are a new local. If you remember when it barely reached Towanda Avenue, you are a longtime local.

Transplants do Destihl or Medici. Townies rarely leave Schooners.

If you drive 5 mph under the speed limit and anger other drivers, you are a townie. If you drive 10 mph over the speed limit and anger other drivers, you are a transplant.

Townies have instant-recall on places like Centennial Grade School, Grand Hotel, Model Paris and Bombay Bicycle Club. Transplants just look at you oddly.

Newbies buy their gas at Thorntons. Those who've been here awhile call it Burwells.

Longtime locals can name every business that has been on the corner of Towanda and Vernon while newcomers just know La Gondola, and maybe Kenny Rogers Roasters.

If someone mentions Heartland Community College at Towanda Plaza, they have been here awhile. If someone mentions it was a Lum's restaurant before it was Risque's Adult Boutique, they have been here even longer.

You know it's a local who refers to it as the Consistory. Only newcomers instantly call it the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

And, of course:

If you enjoy reading things like this, you have been here awhile.

If on the other hand you are already doing the Sunday crossword, you are a transplant, dang it.

Contact Bill Flick@pantagraph.com. The Flick Blog: www.pantagraph.com/blogs