Mariko did an excellent job of communicating before the rental period. Check in was generally smooth. The outside of the building is worn, with paint chipping. The very best thing about this apartment is the location. It is only a few blocks from Riverside Park and two subway stations. There are tons of restaurants, bakeries, bars, etc. within easy walking distance. Trader Joe's is only 4 blocks away. The apartment is about as big as one can expect for the UWS. It is old, but generally clean and everything works. This is a 4 story walk up. Lugging heavy suitcases is a real job. There is not a full kitchen. There is a microwave, hotplate, refrigerator, and sink. There are only a few plates and not much in the way of cooking utensils. I ate out most of the time. I think it would be a challenge to cook much in the way of full meals. All in all, on the expensive Upper West Side, this is a good value in a terrific location. But, if you are not familiar with apartments in New York City, be aware that you will not find anything like what you saw on "Friends" or "Seinfeld" in this neighborhood at this price.