Editor’s Note: In the wake of Hurricane Sandy we asked Erik Fabian ’00 to share his experience from New York City.

Erik Fabian ’00 lives in Clinton Hill neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY and works in Manhattan where he manages the Moleskine brand in the Americas from Moleskine America office in Chelsea.

As we cross the cusp of October and November in 2012, Hurricane Sandy has redrawn the lines that define and divide the northeastern United States. A new line that divides the haves and have-nots in NYC currently stretches east to west in a band near 30th street in Manhattan. To the south, a third of Manhattan island is without power. There is little traffic except bikes and taxis during the day, no working stop lights, no working subways, office building are shuttered, grocery stores are closed, and people are without running water. Night brings a spooky, suspicious, desolation that is exhausting the locals as much as is the lack of showers. Most restaurants are closed but you see a few curbside fridge clean-outs – like a westside steakhouse that caters to Wall Street executives selling their $70 dollar steaks as $10 steak sandwiches from curbside grills. To the north, the coffee shops are full of refugees seeking WIFI, warm drinks, and electrical sockets. Continue reading →