Aliza was such a brilliant host. I would highly recommend staying at her gorgeous place. It is incredibly homely and welcoming and felt like home from home during my recent two months stay. The house is spacious, light and airy and designed with so much care and love that you can't help but enjoy your stay. It is a family home and Aliza's family who live nearby are also super friendly and helpful and will include you as much or as little as you want.
The room I stayed in was perfect for what I was looking for with a desk and lots of storage space. And, the brick wall and large window made it for me!
I loved the area of BedStuy which has loads of cute coffee shops and restaurants nearby and popping up too and is very much the new place to hang out in Brooklyn. If you're looking for a more laid back but trendy and arty vibe then this is definitely the place to stay. It's a beautiful area to explore and walk around The brownstone houses and wide streets are stunning and really make the area feel very special. It's also a very friendly neighbourhood where everyone says hello when they walk past you on the street which I loved!
The house sits between both Uttica (A/C) and Kosciuzsko (J) subways which are both ideal for getting into East and West Manhattan. I would allow 30 minutes to get into the city as trains aren't as regular as on the island but it's easy and straightforward. Taxis from Manhattan are approx $20-30 which I didn't think was too bad considering it is a bit further out.
I am heading back to New York in a few months and will be staying at Aliza's again and am really look forward to spending more time there. I definitely lucked out with this find on so many levels. A great place, a great family and a great area. What more do you need!