Eric's apartment was amazing, and he was the perfect host. He made us feel welcome from the start, including providing us with fresh flowers and some food/drinks in the fridge (bagels and cream cheese was very NY!). The apartment is spacious, light and airy - we didn't need to use the air-con once, just opened the windows (which have mosquito netting and security bars). We loved the classic brownstone/through-floor style of apartment, and the furnishing and decor are perfect. It was also immaculately clean.
There aren't as many 'trendy' (i.e. over priced) shops as in places like Williamsburg, but you can get all your want at the numerous convenience stores, and it's easy to travel to other places if you want loads of bars/shops. The 2 local restaurants we tried were great - Peaches (Soul Food) and particularly Saraghina (amazing pizza and cocktails!). We didn't mind being a bit further out, as it meant you explore areas you otherwise wouldn't. It's about a 5 or 10 minute walk to the subway, and the train doesnt take long to get to Manhattan. Overall we had a great experience in NY. Eric and Justin were available if we needed, but we had complete privacy otherwise. Highly recommended hosts and apartment. 5 stars! Adam & Celine