the search is on

I'm here in New York at urocafe in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. I saw a hipster-looking guy in the window with a Macbook so I popped in. It was kind of an odd sight, since every other building is a Polish restaurant/grocery and there are old ladies everywhere in their housedresses carrying shopping bags. It sort of reminds me of Ukraine (except that I can read some of the signs and you can drink the water. And talk to the people in the shops.) So urocafe, they serve ANCORA COFFEE. I told the owner that I was from Madison and we have Ancora shops all over the place and he got excited. It's a cute little place with Ikea tables and chairs. Speaking of Ikea, Loftstel, the hostel where I'm staying, is awesome. It's a newly renovated brownstone in Bed-Stuy (yes, I felt very, very white walking around) decked out in Ikea furniture. The owner is about 25, studied in Amsterdam, and used to attend the same international student nights at Mick O'Connels that I did in Utrecht (although probably not at the same time). There is still some furniture being built and empty, flat Ikea boxes strewn about in places...and the same shower curtain and bathmat that I have in Madison. Just like home!

Tonight I'm looking at an apt in Sheepshead Bay and one in Flatbush. First, though, I need to get something to eat. The first place I tried to go was closed by order of the dept. of hygiene. Good thing it was closed, the last thing I need now is food poisioning.