Emma is a gem of southern hospitality right in the middle of the big city! We had a great experience with Emma for our first trip to NYC. She is a wonderful host, treated us like family, and literally gave us the jacket off her back. Just before we went out on our first trip into the city, it began pouring down rain. Emma lent us her own rain jackets, including the one she was wearing, umbrellas, and even walked up the block to get a taxi for us, since my husband was on crutches. We had very tired kids and arrived earlier than expected, she had breakfast foods for us and allowed us to take some time to rest after our long trip. She checked in on us daily to make sure our needs were met, checked cab prices for us, and was always available when we had questions about the city or even just planning our excursions. We were initially nervous about the neighborhood but once we got to know the area, we were not as nervous walking to/from the subway at night, there is also a state park just down the hill along the river. The pictures are pretty accurate for the apartment. It is an old brownstone building with great nostalgia for city life and would be a fun place to entertain a few friends in the back yard. FYI It is a basement apartment with some steep steps that might not be as accessible to some one with physical limitations, but we made it work. It is listed as a 2 bedroom but is more like a large living room plus a bedroom. But this was not a big deal and would not keep us from renting again. Lots of places to eat and a grocery store and pharmacy nearby. Subway less than 2 blocks away. We would recommend this listing to anyone visiting NYC wanting to experience city life but doesn't want to stay in the tourist trap areas (which are only about a 20 min subway ride away anyway).