I have been really struggling with homesickness and this eternal-seeming feeling of not being a New Yorker yet, so I figured making this list might help.

Jack’s Stir Brew Coffee

I have no idea why I should be happy that my coffee is shade grown, but ever since the guys at Café Campesino brought a Guatemalan coffee grower to talk to us at Koinonia I have made a greater effort to track down Fair Trade products. Jacks is a tiny little place, but even when it is packed to the rafters, the staff is extremely friendly and attitude free. The vegan cherry almond scones kick ass, and it’s also where I discovered one of my favorite albums of the summer, Radiodread.

Zen Palate Union Square

There are a couple of other locations as well, but this is the one closest to me. While other veggie places offer faux meat shaped food, Zen Palate calls it like it is. The food is consistently delicious and fresh, though the air conditioning leaves something to be desired. It’s my current favorite payday treat. Now if I can just branch out beyond the sesame medallions!

Apple Store Soho

My friend Jeanie and I had a running joke at the level of condescension at the Apple Store in Houston’s Galleria, I assumed that it would be even worse in New York. I have made a few trips to the Soho Apple store and have been just delighted each time with the level of service and organization. I am always in and out really quickly, even when I had to make a trip to the Genius Bar (I get embarassed just saying that name) to get the battery in my MacBook Pro replaced. Now if I could just get some coinage rolling in so I can buy more stuff!

Miss Heather

I have searched for NYC blogs that I love as much as newyorkshitty.com but I have yet to find one that is as consistently laugh out loud funny as this one. It doesn’t hurt that she took me on a sound-seeing tour of Greenpoint, nor that she peppers her scatalogical entries with her extensive knowledge of New York’s history. Besides, how can you not love someone who refers to herself as Greenpoint’s Dog Shit Queen?

Random hilarious encounters with strangers

Case in point: I was eating at The Waverly Restaurant with my pal Liz a couple of nights ago, when all of a sudden this big intimidating looking black guy started singing along with Foriegner’s I Want To Know What Love Is in a full-on soulful falsetto. When I laughed out loud, he just gave me this big smile and thumbs up. Then we both went on about our business like it never happened.

BONUS:

Guidos

There. I admit it. I have a thing for those built, obnoxious, wifebeater-clad Italian dudes. Sue me.

This morning at around 3:30 a siren came blasting down 6th avenue and woke me up. I laid there for maybe fourty-five minutes trying to go back to sleep, but also thinking of just getting up. Finally I decided to wander the streets in search of a twenty-four hour Starbucks. I headed out at about 4:30 i guess, thinking that one of the two Starbucks at Union Square would surely be open. Alas, not, but it was really a fun to trod around the city with everything so empty. Most of the people I saw seemed to be wrapping up their nights. There was a younger looking kid who asked me if I would sell him two cigarettes, but didn’t seem to believe that i didn’t smoke.

It reminds me of when I was younger and in that party lifestyle, a little self-centered in that I thought everyone else was doing the same things I was like smoking cigarettes and…er… huffing lighter fluid. It was strange when I would be out and about still on a weekday morning and see people in business clothes going to work. I remembered in those moments that there were people out there having real lives.

Strangely, I miss being so naive.

Seeing as how I am going on a blind date sometime soon (first date in over two years, I might add), I thought it would be fun to get some input from you guys. Record yourself telling your story and send me the MP3, or just call and leave it as a voicemail: 206-339-6682.

Also, I still have a ton of CC stuff to give away! Listen to the latest episode of MikeyPod to find out how you can win!

Everyone’s favorite Lucky Bitch, Wanda Wisdom, invited me to join her on her show today. It’s been a long time since we have been able to chat. I don’t know why I always forget how much I love her, but I do!

Check it out here!

If you are looking for the Millard Fuller (Habitat for Humanity, The Fuller Center for Housing) interview that she and I talked about in the show:

Part One

Part Two

Creative Commons’ Chair, Joi Ito joins me today from Japan for a great conversation about how Creative Commons works, our common loves in music, and a little chat about veganism and the environment.

This show should be of special interest to podcasters who play music and to musicians who wish to have their music played on podcasts. Oh, and to anyone who wants to win some free stuff, hear a great interview and some stellar music!

photo by Joichi Ito

Linky-dinks:
Creative Commons
Joi’s Blog
Joi’s Photos
WP-CC is actually suspended. I am going to try WpLicense.
Andy Melton
Haruomi Hosono
Yellow Magic Orchestra
John Whiteside’s By The Bayou Blog
Bicyclemark
Issa (formerly Jane Siberry)
Freeganism ( after reading this Wikipedia entry, I discovered that what I said on the show about freegans was incorrect. )

Music:
Sister Savior - The Rapture From The Wired CD: Rip. Sample. Mash. Share.

Watadidori 2 - Cornelius From The Wired CD: Rip. Sample. Mash. Share.

World Citizen - I won’t be disappointed/looped piano Ryuichi Sakamto and David Sylvian from the album, Chasm
Used with permission from KAB America. Not licensed under Creative Commons.

Technorati Tags: Creative Commons, Joichi Ito, Flickr, The Wired CD, podcasting, The Rapture, Cornelius, Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Sylvian, Haruomi Hosono, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Jane Siberry, Issa, MikeyPod, veganism, freeganism

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