Svetlana's place is perfect as a homebase while we were in NYC. Her place is a 5 minute walk from the subway, and 7 minutes from the tram. When we wanted to have a view while getting into the city, we would take the tram, which cost as much as the subway to get around ($2.75 at the time we stayed in NYC).
Her place was immaculately clean and spacious for being in NYC. Roosevelt Island is small and quiet since it is an island right off of Manhattan. We were able to use her fridge to store our leftovers.
The only downside is that since it is so quiet inside the apartment, all the sounds inside the apartment sound even louder. Space is hard to come by in NYC, so if you were staying in a private room in someone's apartment, this is a normal experience.
If you are looking for a party crash pad, this is NOT the right place. If you are a couple or single person traveling and looking to just explore NYC and have a quiet and clean place to sleep with a wonderful host, this is the place for you.
Svetlana was gracious and accommodating, and is a wonderful person to talk to. It was like staying with the mom I always wanted (mine wasn't as kind). When we return to NYC, she'll be the person we'll stay with because we had such a welcoming experience.