I really loved this neighborhood. The Bronx Museum and the Andrew Freeman house are each only 1 block away. It was spring when I was there and Joyce Kilmer park (2 blocks) and Mullaly Park ( 3 blocks) had lovely spring flowers. Yankee Stadium is also very close. Super easy to get on the subway (B/D and 4). I came back to the apartment after 10 pm several times and felt perfectly comfortable - well lit streets, lots of people about and during the day fruit vendors, ice cream vendors in the park. The apartment itself is on a quieter side street but 167th and 161st are both close with lots of restaurants, pharmacy, grocery, shops etc. I ate at two great Dominican restaurants (Justine's on 167th I went back to 3 times :-)) .
The apartment itself is clean and comfortable, nicely decorated and nicely renovated. My only real complaint was that I didn't sleep super well. The mattress was kind of thin and hard. Sharon said she recently had to replace the queen sized bed when guests broke it with a full bed. I actually slept better on the couch for a few nights when a friend came to stay. There was also quite a bit of noise early in the morning.
Couch was clean and super comfortable and Sharon brought us more pillows and blankets. It was $20 extra per night and well worth it. Thank you Sharon for accommodating that request.
I met Sharon and two of her children. Her older daughter gave me great tips for restaurants and parks. Her little girl was super sweet and adorable. Sharon gave me a tour of the 3rd floor where there was another apartment, recently renovated. I was in the basement apartment. They are still renovating portions of the building but anything unfinished did not interfere with my stay in any way.) The other person living in the basement apartment was also very nice to me. He shared some of a sweet rice dish he was cooking - delicious - and was always pleasant to talk to.
Overall, a nice stay. I would happily stay again and recommend to others. Thank you Sharon and everyone!