Wow! I feel like a made a friend in NY (John) even though we never actually met him! And I feel like I found a little gem of a place to stay when I return. We booked Johns place to be near Columbia University as my son was graduating. The first catastrophe was our plane was cancelled and we had to contact John to rearrange the key pick up. He very kindly let our son run over and get the key and instructions for the place. John is extremely friendly and considerate and very accessible by text. He left a bottle of champagne and chocolates and a congratulations card for my son. The fridge and cupboards had some nice basics to start us off like yoghurts and croissants.
The studio was impeccably clean and tidy. The area outside is lively and has shops and restaurants. The underground is on the same block so very convenient. I really recommend Johns place if you are looking for a base to explore the city or visit Columbia University.