Helping us get settled

Ben, our temporary landlord, is fantastic -- he sent us a five-page document listing multiple emergency contacts if anything goes wrong, instructions on using the wireless network and the home theater system, and just about anything else we could hope to need.

Take, for example, his section on restaurants in the neighborhood:
So many. We have a bunch of menus under the coffee maker in the kitchen. Check out menupages.com to locate the places I’ll list here and to get their phone numbers.
-Roma Pizza. Pretty good, greasy NY pizza across the street at 88^th & 3^rd.
-Pesce Pasta. Pretty decent basic Italian across the street at 88^th & 3^rd.
-Saigon grill. Excellent Vietnamese at 88^th & 2^nd. Cheap. My neighborhood favorite.
-Haru Sushi and Haryu Sushi bar. Somewhere like 78^th and 3^rd. Look it up. My favorite nearby sushi. Can get crowded.
-Jaques. Just decent french bistro around 84^th & 3^rd.
-Elaines. Colleen you must check out this famous literary/publishing hangout at 2^nd ave and 89^th. Way overpriced.
-Beyoglu. Sit down middle eastern food. Cheap. Great Value. 3^rd and 81^st.
-H&H bagels on 2^nd ave around 78^th or so. Iconic NY bagels.
-Le pain quotidian- bakery/café on Madison near 80th. Very good.

Thinking about which dry cleaner we'll use and where we'll grocery shop (both covered by Ben) is making it feel more real.

One more tip from Ben:
In general, this neighborhood is very safe. Just keep an eye out and I’m sure you will be OK. Gets a little sketchier north of 110th street.