I often wonder if non-New Yorkers know how many of our buildings don’t have elevators. Once in a while, you’ll even find a seventh floor walk-up!
I noticed the buildings pictured recently on my way home from work and thought “Not all walk-ups are created equal.”
I’m grateful for my elevator. Some of these walk-ups aren’t even cheaper.
Related posts:
As promised yesterday, here is my Houseguest of Horror story.
I was 22 years old. Maybe 23, but probably 22. An acquaintance from back home in Pennsylvania got in touch to say that she and another friend were coming to NYC. Could they crash with me?
Sure, I assume I said. I was young, rash and not set in my ways as I am now.
I might also have wanted to show off my cool Gramercy Park apartment, a large studio with a separate sleeping loft that functioned as my bedroom. It even had a closet up there. The building has been renovated and turned into fancy condos now.
The acquaintance and her friend, a big burly dude, had me meet them at Peculier Pub. When I arrived, they were already drunk. Drunk enough that I started feeling nervous about them being my house guests.
We can fast forward to the important part of this story because the details are both fuzzy and unimportant. Sometime in the wee hours of the morning, I awakened to find the male guest peeing all over my bathroom floor in a drunken stupor.
I was horrified – OBVIOUSLY – but not intimidated for some reason. I kicked them out. I didn’t care that it was sometime around 5 am and where would they go. Nope. Out. I yelled my head off, angry and grossed out until they left.
Adding insult to injury, the female acquaintance told our mutual friend, and anyone else who would listen, how I kicked them out, somehow managing to spin the story in her favor. She never apologized either.
Thanks for bringing back this awful memory, Apartment Therapy.
<<still shuddering>>
Apartment Therapy, one of my favorite sites, recently asked the question “Overnight Guests: Can You Just Say No?” prompting me to think back on a house guest incident I’ll tell you about tomorrow.
The post featured thoughts from Erin Boyle who keeps a blog called Reading My Tea Leaves. Erin and her husband live in a 250 square foot apartment (!!) here in NYC which helps inform her opinion on house guests.
In this case, the comments below the post really added to the discussion. Some posters couldn’t imagine saying no to a house guest, ever. Others, however, were shocked that people would invite themselves to stay.
My perspective is colored by the fact that I have lived in cities my entire adult life. I have not had a guest room ever and my couch doesn’t pull out.
When I was younger, I probably hosted more people than I do now. Having a house guest in close quarters is, well, tiring. Cleaning, ensuring all of my best linens are washed and waiting, and most importantly, the change in my routine. On weekends, I really enjoy being lazy, sleeping in and keeping my schedule loosely organized.
There are some friends, of course, for whom I’d drop everything to host them.
How do you feel about house guests?
And yes, the headline makes me think of this movie clip.
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There will always be complaints about New York City: that it’s too gritty, that is too cleaned up, something.
People who live in new condos on the Bowery – previously home to CBGB – complain about noise from area clubs.
Via therealdeal.com
Recently Martin Scorsese lamented that the neighborhood of his youth has been taken over by Whole Foods, towering skyscrapers, expensive hotels and the like.
On the other hand, consider this gem of a video shared by BensonhurstBean and Curbed showing what it was like to ride the subway in 1987.
Thanks to BensonhurstBean and Curbed for sharing the subway video.
I agree with Scorsese that homogeneity is lamentable, but really – is he going to move back to a studio in his old building on Elizabeth Street anytime soon?
Via urbanedgeny.com
I don’t think so.
Change is painful, but inevitable.
Other posts about life in NYC:
Remember when I told you that I miss my garbage disposal most? I miss my washer/dryer too.
In New York, it’s a tremendous luxury to have a washer/dryer in your apartment. Even paying $1 million to buy an apartment doesn’t mean you’ll have that amenity. In fact, the building might not even have a laundry room!
Here’s one example: Continue reading
This apartment building.
Not what you were expecting. I do love real estate, that you know.
Photo copyright by Travis Dubreuil
These apartments are only slightly more expensive than mine and they have the washer-dryer IN unit.
And it’s so much closer to my favorite coffee shop.
But I’m staying put. Hope my current apartment doesn’t mind my little mental love affair.
I saw this roommate situation posted on Craigslist. The post probably isn’t still live, but I included the link just in case.
The important part was the mention of having six full sets of china to share. I assume that’s what this room is all about.
What do you think: creepy people or just eccentric?
Before you ask, no, I’m not moving. I just like to look at real estate ads more than most normal people.
Sometimes I review real estate postings even though I’m not exactly looking to move. While some listings make me swoony, more often than not my jaw drops for the wrong reasons.
I’m a pink lover, but no. NO.
I like to be sure I have a good place to live for my money. It hurts to write the monthly check, but I’m staying put.
Am I the only one hooked on real estate?
The grass isn’t always greener.
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These are honest to goodness sublet listings.
A sixth floor walk-up that comes complete with an ancient television and someone else’s grubby mattress. All for $2200 per month. It looks like it could be a set for an off-Broadway play about a sad sack, drunk, down-on-his-luck artist.
A friend of mine just sold her Greenwich Village apartment. She told me “interest was high, particularly because it was the only downtown 1 BR listed for less than $1 million.”
Her apartment sold quickly in an all cash deal. That’s New York.
But how about this apartment listing: 383 Bleecker Street for $650k via Citi Habitats
The pros:
The cons:
The listing references showings beginning on March 25 and today is April 2. My prediction is that this apartment will sell for somewhere in the high $500s instead of the $650,000 it’s listed for.
Note: all images are the property of Citi-Habitats.com
