We stayed at Xiren's apartment for eight nights. The place was right in the thick of it, we couldn't have been closer to the sights of East Village. We didn't get to meet Xiren but the keys were easy to pick up/drop off at the local deli. We didn't spend much time in the apartment but it was good for our needs - a comfortable bed and great location. The stairs are formidable but we were only using them once a day so no big deal.