We would definitely recommend staying at Liz's place.
The apartment is spacious and clean, and really has everything you need for a comfortable stay. Liz is a good host who communicates clearly and went above and beyond to facilitate our (last-minute) arrival. The neighbourhood is safe and has nice cafe's and restaurants. There are multiple metro stations nearby, providing relatively speedy access to Manhattan - however, do consider that it will still take you 30-45 minutes to get there.