My wife and I stayed with Ruthie and Hugo for a whole two weeks while we explored NYC this spring. Sunnyside is all we wanted to experience and more, and their home puts you right in the middle of it.
Our hosts provided a whole bunch of essentials: plenty of towels, toiletries, a TV, and even a mini-fridge stocked with waters, juice, and milk (plus little cereal boxes!). Not only is the unit well-stocked, it's decorated nicely; like a home and not just a place to crash.
Downsides are few and due to the nature of many apartments buildings in NYC - noisy pipes, a heater that *really* kicks in if it's cold, and thin walls. But you wanted to live like a local, right? 😉
Tips:
- The laundromat right around the corner is solid and will turn cash into quarters in a heartbeat; wash was $2-$4 depending on size and $.25/8 minutes to dry.
- Parrot Coffee Grocery down the street has everything you might want (except coffee to-go, ironically). Good prices plus unusual Eastern European items.
- Aubergine Cafe is three blocks away and we went nearly everyday. Coffee, bagels, and don't be surprised if you make a new friend.