as far as the NY part, I've been a handful of times, but not a New Yorker by any stretch. Reading it, I still feel like I'm there. Now if i was from NY, I think it would probably be even that much more real.

Like the capoeira story.. I've played for 10 years. That whole event was like super real to me in a way it wouldn't be if I didn't play. But I've heard a bunch of people say it's their favorite story even though they're not part of that world. So similar to NY, it's not necessary to be from that world, but it just gets even realer and makes the story even better if you know.