Goodbye Blue Monday
A somewhere between a club and cafe Bushwick indie rock and jazz venue for local music junkies, largely college-age, named after a Kurt Vonnegut story. All the various clutter and unorthodox aesthetic jumbles that make up the place are apparently for sale too, so you can take a piece of the experience home with you. They get a good deal of well-known indie rockers here as well as really out there nonsense, and were awarded the "Best Place to Hear New Music in NYC" award from the Village Voice. Beer, wine, coffee, and WiFi.
Aka Potion
A small neighborhood cafe with gigantic windows which are a lifesaver for the many nearby dwellers of windowless rooms in converted A.I.R. lofts. They rearrange their furniture constantly, sometimes more than once a month. Sometimes brunch, sometimes music. It's unexpected but still comfortable. A traveler would probably feel welcome, but most of the people in here probably live in the gigantic McKibbin Dorms of which Potion occupies a ground-floor spot, or some similar building around the corner. If you've an Aussie accent, or speak French, this might be a good place to get invited to a party. Free wifi.
Barcade
Features at least 30-40 classic 70s and 80s arcade games, all for 25 cents! Also has 20 microbrews on tap and specialty beer nights.