We loved Ryan's house. While it is a bit farther to Manhattan than Ryan said. (15 to 20 minutes once you are on the train), that was easily made up for by the fact that the neighborhood is quiet, the house is way more spacious than a Manhattan apartment, there is a great park right down the street, and there are many amazing ethnic food restaurants. The apartment itself is very open and spacious and pretty clean. The only downside is that Amtrak and freight trains go by right outside the house and you can hear them. But besides that, Ryan's house was great for a quick weekend in the Big Apple!