This has been our best Airbnb experience!
After a longer than expected drive from Detroit, Danforth was there with well needed libations on the lower veranda (our personal favorite). Funny, that's what we lovingly called our porch at an apartment we formally rented. This is A VERANDA one of three! As we sat there he gave us the Reader's Digest version of Darwin & his home and Staten Island. He actually walked us to a very nice restaurant, with drinks in hand, and made sure we were taken care of, then he left (with our empty glasses).
The next morning we met, Darwin (Danforth's business partner), one of the sharpest minded Octogenarians I've ever met. As he cooked breakfast as we were treated to hear about his fasinating adventures. What's really cool was they wanted to know as much about us and listened. We fell in love with those guys.
We picked Magnolia House as it was only a subway and ferry ride away for our kids in Harlem.
They wanted to get away from the masses of humanity and the consistent din they make on Manhattan and we didn't want them to spend a lot of money to do so. (we stayed for 4 nights, the kids stayed with us the 2nd & 3rd nights).
They LOVED it, so serene, homey & relaxing.
We chose to interact with Danforth & Darwin but really only saw them at breakfast. If you choose not to, it can be easily done as the house is 4 stories and you can have the whole first floor (about 1200 sq ft) plus a veranda to yourself! However, if you choose not to interact with Danforth & Darwin you'd be missing 90% of what Magnolia House really is.