I stayed with Diana and Joel for 3 weeks and they were great hosts. As an independent traveller, I always felt very comfortable coming home late on the subway. The closest subway stations are 7Ave or Bergen St (10 minutes walk). The travel time to Time Square is about 30 minutes. In the local area, I would highly recommend visiting the Prospect Hill Park, Brooklyn Library, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Botanical Gardens and the Battle of Brooklyn Site. If you like buying fresh produce, make sure you go the Farmers Markets held in Park Slope and Grand Army Plaza on the weekends. And, if you like ice-cream, make sure you go to L'Alberto dei gelati on 5th Avenue. I would highly recommend Diana and Joel's house and I hope you enjoy New York City as much as I did.