Help with regional phrasing?

[PennLady]

I'm writing a story and currently the lead guy is in Michigan although he lives on the East Coast. He's talking to his brother and suggests that they can hit a restaurant the next time his brother comes to visit. In Michigan, would you say something like, "Next time you come east"?

When I lived in NJ, near Atlantic City, I lived on an island. If we went onto the mainland of NJ, we'd say we were going "offshore." Or I've read that in New England, if you were going to Maine, you'd say you were going "down east" (I think that's right; sorry if I'm off). That's the kind of thing I'm getting at.

 

[_Lynn_]

I'm in Michigan, PL.

"Next time you're out this way" is the phrase I hear the most.

 

[PennLady]

I'm in Michigan, PL.

"Next time you're out this way" is the phrase I hear the most.

Thanks. I'll just go with something like that, then.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

I'm in Michigan, PL.

"Next time you're out this way" is the phrase I hear the most.

They're in Michigan when they are talking...so wouldn't the phrasing be more like...assuming the brother from New York is speaking...

"Next time you're out my way, I'll take you to a great eatery."

 

[PennLady]

They're in Michigan when they are talking...so wouldn't the phrasing be more like...assuming the brother from New York is speaking...

"Next time you're out my way, I'll take you to a great eatery."

Yes, they're in Michigan. The East Coast brother is saying that he'll take his Michigan brother somewhere. I know some people might say "back east" or whatever, so I was just wondering what someone from Michigan would say about going to the East Coast.

Is "eatery" a regional thing? Kidding, kidding! Just not a word I hear people say too often. It's a good word, though.

 

[Zeb_Carter]

Yes, they're in Michigan. The East Coast brother is saying that he'll take his Michigan brother somewhere. I know some people might say "back east" or whatever, so I was just wondering what someone from Michigan would say about going to the East Coast.

Is "eatery" a regional thing? Kidding, kidding! Just not a word I hear people say too often. It's a good word, though.

People from the east coast wouldn't mention the direction as they assume it's the only coast there is, just as those from the west coast think their coast is the only one.

Eatery, Dinner, Drive-in, Dive, Hash-house...whatever. As a child my younger brother used to distinguish restaurants by category. There were sit-down places and jump-up places. A sit-down place was where the waitresses took your order and brought you your food. A jump-up place was buffet style, you got up and went and got your own food.