Staying at the GEM worked out very well for my friend and me. The apartment is accessible by Subway and is a short walk from the subway stops. The area has several nearby restaurants, cafes and grocery stores. You can certainly find what you need. The apartment is located on a busy road but is located at the back of the building so the only noise you hear is the rumble of the subway and upstairs neighbours. The area was a little dodgy, and it appears like it is an area of transition. Once familiar with it, however, we felt comfortable. The building itself is not outstanding, but the apartment was cozy, clean and suitable. The bed was very comfortable. Yiota responded to any questions/concerns and also made sure we arrived and reminded us of check-out time and procedure. We enjoyed our visit to New York City and the bonus of AirBnB is being able to become part of the neighbourhood. Thank you, Yiota!