I rented an apartment in Washington Square last summer for 6 weeks at about $950 a week (forget the exact rate). That was 1 bedroom.

That sounds about right. I figured only chance for a two-bedroom would be alphabet city.

One of my favorite things to do with friends who visit is to take them to Tompkins Square Park. It's a good feeling of real NY. I'm not saying to go squat somewhere on Ave C, but here's worse things to do for 2 students than to hang out in the EV

Just moved to NYC permanently from Vegas to work in Union Sq. and am currently looking at apartments in Manhattan below 90th and Hoboken near the path. Any other places I should be looking at like somewhere in Brooklyn? My key factors would be shortest commute to work (Hoboken was 40 which would be OK but no longer) and not having to be somewhere sketchy.

Williamsburg is the first stop off the L train in Brooklyn, which you can get right from Union Square (3 stops total). I have lots of friends who lived there. Very convenient and much cheaper than living in Manhattan.

Need a little information and advice.

I'm visiting a friend this upcoming weekend who lives in Astoria, the problem is, I get into Laguardia at 10am and my buddy doesn't get off work until 6pm. So I need to kill a whole day alone in New York and I need to figure out what to do with my duffel bag that day.

I really want to check out the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art.

My biggest concern is...

I don't want to carry around my duffel bag all day while I'm at the museums. Unfortunately, the MET won't check my bag (I called and asked) and I got conflicting answers from two different people when I called the Whitney (Website says they will, but, I got conflicting answers on phone). Also, considering they don't open until 1pm on Friday, I would have to check out the MET first... So there's that.

It appears the American Museum of Natural History will check my bag. Yet, I have to pay for admission there in order for them to do so. While, it is close to the other two museums I want to visit. I'm unsure if I can check my bag, leave and come back hours later to pick it up and I'd like to save the $50 or so it will cost me in additional cab rides and admission.

So what can I do to take care of my bag for a few hours during the day that is near the MET and the Whitney. As of right now, it looks like the Museum of Natural History is my best bet for proximity and bag checking ability.

Can someone suggest a better idea?

Also a good lunch rec in that area or some other fun things to do would be neat as well. Thanks.

Awesome thanks this is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for.

Stock up on ironic t-shirts. And plaid.

Yes, if you own this t-shirt, Williamsburg is for you:

Haha ok so I'm gathering there's lots of hipsters.

Do you really want to live in Jersey? The commute sucks, you're never in the city, and it's Jersey.

As other posters have said, Williamsburg is a good option if you want to live in an outer borough. Depending on your budget, you should have no problem finding something in Manhattan below 90th st.

imo your best bet to check the bag is at a hotel. I'm pretty sure you can say you're leaving later in the day to one of the porters and they won't care. Just make sure to tip them.

If you dont feel comfortable doing that, the whitney has a pretty big coat check room from what i remember, has an awesome restaurant (called Untitled) and is walking distance to the met.

AMNH is across the park but also has a big coat check area and you can grab lunch at shake shack.

Hoboken is a cool city though, and it's easy to get in/out of the city.

But don't listen to me about this, I'm probably moving to midtown in July/August

... so if you want to talk apartment-hunting, let me know. I've been trying to get a feel for things for the last month or two just so I'm ready for when I do a serious hunt this summer.

Yeah that makes sense, I'm very tempted by the waterfront next to the path that would only be like a 30 minute commute but probably mid-town or downtown is ideal for me.

Yes let's I think I am going to be starting somewhere short term so I can get a feel for what's important to me first then pick where I really want to live after a few months.

Just make sure to be aware of the existence of brokers in NYC and their 10-15% of yearly rent fee. It's possible to find apartments without them, but they do come in handy if you're new to the city.

i need a new place to live starting march 1st. interested in chatting to see if we would make good roommates?

Not thaaat much cheaper. Im sure this is the exception, but I just moved to the LES and pay the same for my room in a really nice 2br as my sister does in Williamsburg, and she has a smaller room in a 3br with a fake window (opens to living room), and her two roommates pay more than me. Regardless, Williamsburg is pretty pricey when compared to other decent spots in BK, at least.

1 friend of mine lives in a 1 bedroom in the LES, rent's 2k. 3 friends of mine share a 3 bedroom in Williamsburg for a total of 2k. I'd say that's much cheaper. Though the 3 BR is about a 15 minute walk from the L and the building maintenance is much crappier. But still, nothing is even close to being as expensive as living in Manhattan.

That's pretty amazing. I have friends in Bushwick who pay more than that. How long have they been there?

FWIW, my sister's place is 30 feet from the Lorimer L stop at in a new building and they are paying $3700 for a 3br that really should be a two. I have another friend who is paying $1700 for a 1br in Williamsburg, whereas we pay $2400 for a comparable, if not nicer quality 2br in manhattan just on the other side of the bridge.

All of these examples are outliers, I assume, though? I got fortunate and they got a little screwed I'm taking it; Total NYC resident noob, here.

your friend is very lucky, 2000 is a pretty unheard of price for a legit 3 bedroom in williamsburg; we pay a lot more for a 3 bedroom in bedstuy (though we have a ton of space). a 15 minute walk to the L makes me wonder if maybe it's "realtor's williamsburg"...?

cwar, you haven't yet let us know what you're looking to pay. whatever you do, don't live in hoboken(unless you're more of a frat bro, in which case hoboken will suit you well). you'll be able to find equivalently priced places in brooklyn/LIC/manhattan that will be both as affordable/convenient and way more fun to live in than if you lived in jersey . welcome to the city, place is super rad.

I was thinking up to $1500 for one room in a 2BR but it's not a big deal lower or higher.

when i moved here and was homeless, i lived with friends in hoboken. i think hoboken is great, and the PATH is very easy and convenient. but i wouldnt want to live there..just enjoy the city life a lot more. plus, it is a bit fratty and expensive.

i dont get how people live so far out in williamsburg that its a 15 minute walk to the L. just sounds miserable.

halowax, welcome! i saw augie tagged me in one of your facebook posts about moving here, are you working? chilin? whats up!?

Financial district seems to be a lot of bang for your buck, but you have to live down there.

For me, I have to get to NYP for the 7:14a train to Princeton, so I'm looking in Midtown West, Hell's Kitchen, Chelsea, W Village, SoHo. I'd prefer to be on the west side because getting E-W is a PITA. And as much as I like being in the center of everything (like SoHo), I think something that's like a 10 minute walk from the train will suit me better. I definitely would rather walk to NYP than subway. There are a bunch of modern highrises on the west side overlooking the Hudson River that are probably gonna do the trick for me.

If I were buying (lol) I'd want something with more character, but I think for this move, I want convenience, cleanliness, comfort, etc.

We're looking in the 2500-3k range for like a nice 1BR, modern amenities, etc. Prefer to stay around 2700 though. GL us... :-/

Jesus, 2500+ to live in Brooklyn?? wow.. sick