And if you want to live, how do you start, where do you go, who do you need to know?

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SO... some of you may remember that I had to leave University due to a lack of financial aid. Instead of re-aplying, I have instead decided to move back to New York City. I have a job here in DC, and I will have a fair amount of money saved up. I need advice on where I should live, as Manhattan will probably not be an option due to high rents. Also, where are the best places to look for apartments? I have heard that the listings in the Village Voice are not always reliable.

Also, any other advice would be helpful. My stay in New York in 1999 was not that well planned, or executed.

(My goal is to move by January, so that I will be able to take part in the next semester of school. I am only going to take classes part-time, and work the rest of the time)

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 8 October 2002 19:34 (twenty-three years ago)

Don't have any advice but best of luck all the same, your situation sounded really irritating. New York=Tenaglia and or Deep Dish every week surely?

― Ronan (Ronan), Tuesday, 8 October 2002 19:41 (twenty-three years ago)

NYC = a lot of good music all of the time. I wouldn't even know where to start!
And thanks for the kinds words, Ronan.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Tuesday, 8 October 2002 19:44 (twenty-three years ago)

Williamsburg (in brooklyn) is still the hip place to live outside of manhattan proper. Sadly, gentrification has recently caused the rents to skyrocket and you'd probably be better off looking elsewhere. Don't write off manhattan too quickly. You can still find relatively inexpensive places in (post-guliani, so it's safe) hell's kitchen and the lower east side. The east village isn't too bad either. And if you're working/going to school in the city it'll save you a deadly commute.
The classifieds in the village voice aren't so much unreliable as they're usually submitted by brokers who want huge fees. www.newyork.craigslist.org often has short term sublets by individuals listed. www.nofeerentals.com is a property management company that won't charge you a fee. Best of luck to you, though.

― , Tuesday, 8 October 2002 22:32 (twenty-three years ago)

are these all the answers I can attract with Smiths lyrics? Bah! ;-)

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Wednesday, 9 October 2002 02:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, I would answer if I knew anything about living in NYC, ya punk. So shush. ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 9 October 2002 02:41 (twenty-two years ago)

We all know one thing about living in New York... it is much easier with a million dollars!

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Wednesday, 9 October 2002 02:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Downtown Brooklyn still has a few neighborhoods that aren't outrageously gentrified -- Carroll Gardens, Fort Greene, Boerum Hill. I know a lot of people who've moved to Long Island City/Astoria (Queens), but that was before the rents skyrocketed, and it's really a pain in the ass to get out there anyhow.

I'd recommend looking for a good deal on a sublet.

― Jody Beth Rosen, Wednesday, 9 October 2002 02:45 (twenty-two years ago)

does anyone know anything about sunnyside, queens? I have heard it is still cheap, and is a quick subway ride to manhattan.

Is carrol gardens not gentrified yet? it was on its way three years ago when I lived in Park Slope (don;t ask me how... I was lucky, and then my luck ran out.)

What is the subway access for Ft. Greene?

prometheus, what is your definition of affordable re: Manhatttan?
my range, is all goes well, will be like $600-$800, and I am planning on living with others, so I would need a 2br for 1200-1600, and so on.

Jody where do I find sublet listings?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Wednesday, 9 October 2002 02:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Williamsburg (in brooklyn) is still the hip place to live outside of manhattan proper.

I personally hate Williamsburg (I like the clubs, but I'd never go for any other reason). It's kinda gross and dingy, and not really a very inviting place. It feels like a shitty industrial town, but without the poetic romance that that implies.

― Jody Beth Rosen, Wednesday, 9 October 2002 03:04 (twenty-two years ago)

RE Williamsburg, I would rather find the places that are not yet hip but will be. If DUMBO, Williamsburg and Carrol Gardens were the places I wanted to live three years ago, where should I be looking for that same sense of emergence now?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Wednesday, 9 October 2002 03:08 (twenty-two years ago)

rosemary to thread!

― felicity (felicity), Wednesday, 9 October 2002 03:10 (twenty-two years ago)

does anyone know anything about sunnyside, queens? I have heard it is still cheap, and is a quick subway ride to manhattan.

I don't know much about it. It's been recommended to me, though, as a good place to look.

Is carrol gardens not gentrified yet?

It is somewhat gentrified, but you might find a good deal on the other side of the BQE (near the river).

What is the subway access for Ft. Greene?

The 2/3 stops at Atlantic Ave/Pacific St, and at Nevins too, IIRC. Actually, there are a lot of trains at that Atlantic stop, which is a LIRR station as well.

Jody where do I find sublet listings?

I'm not sure, but you might try the New York Times and the Village Voice.

― Jody Beth Rosen, Wednesday, 9 October 2002 03:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Come to Jersey City!

― rosemary (rosemary), Wednesday, 9 October 2002 03:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Erm... that Smith Street area in Brooklyn? It's a little trendy for my tastes, but it's not as under-the-media-microscope as DUMBO or Williamsburg.

There's also Greenpoint (the Polish neighborhood next to Williamsburg), which is starting to come into its own as a destination spot.

― Jody Beth Rosen, Wednesday, 9 October 2002 03:19 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm in Hell's Kitchen and love it -- a short walk to every major subway line via the Times Square stop, but far west enough to be away from, well... Times Square. West of 9th Avenue is quietest. Also, very neighborhood-y -- lots of mom-n-pop shops, bars and restaurants galore. Surprised (and relieved) that in the four years I've been here it still hasn't gotten super-trendy like Williamsburg or the LES, which means you can still find reasonably-priced apartments (esp. nearer 11th Ave), though more through individuals than brokers. But I think that's just because aren't as many apts available, as people tend to stay and settle.

And since someone will say it: yes, Brooklyn is still probably cheaper.

― Jen, Wednesday, 9 October 2002 04:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Hudson Reporter Classifieds My landlords advertised here, and I'm sure you could find something in your price range. And it's just as easy to get to Manhattan from Jersey City as it is from Brooklyn or Queens.

― rosemary (rosemary), Wednesday, 9 October 2002 04:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I like Brooklyn much better than Queens, and you can trust my opinion because I am from London. Less uselessly perhaps, good luck.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Wednesday, 9 October 2002 18:54 (twenty-two years ago)

thanks all I will be back with more questions after I go hear some avant garde jazz bizness.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Wednesday, 9 October 2002 20:19 (twenty-two years ago)

if you look hard enough, you can find places within your price range in manhattan. my friend lives on the upper east side in a *sweet* apartment for 800 a month, right by the B and C trains. mind you, to me that still sounds super expensive, but thats prolly because my price range right now is about 5-10 dollars a month. thanks, crappy economy!!!

― amy (amy), Wednesday, 9 October 2002 21:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Come on to my house, crazy Morrissey quoting, moving to New Yorker, we need more like you! Check out Craig's List--they have good listings. Other stops in Fort Greene are C, and also N/R, lots of stops! Long Island City seems to be affordable these days, and you might want to think about Red Hook, past Carroll Gardens. Other options are Harlem (Geeta to thread) and Washington Heights. But, yes, as the above posted said, when you're sharing, you never know what you'll find, and where... You might want to make a more general post to see if any NY ILx-er is looking for a roomate or knows anyone who is. And when you're here, let's be sure to go to Don Hills, recently voted by the Village Voice as the best place in NY to find Morrissey look alikes. I live in the Lower East Side, for Manhattan it's cheap...

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 9 October 2002 23:41 (twenty-two years ago)

a pain in the ass to get to queens? for real? i have no less than five subways stopping a few blocks from my place -- it takes about half an hour to take the subway to downtown.

astoria near me is not so expensive yet -- i have a really good amount of space for not much more than i paid in philadelphia. there's a ton of bars around, all the modern conveniences, tons of cafes that are open 'til 5am, etc etc.

all you queens hatas, tsk tsk tsk. what, did you watch 'all in the family' at a way too impressionable age or something?

― maura (maura), Thursday, 10 October 2002 00:14 (twenty-two years ago)

You can really get an apartment, sweet or not, in Manhattan for $800???

― Sean (Sean), Thursday, 10 October 2002 00:29 (twenty-two years ago)

all you queens hatas, tsk tsk tsk. what, did you watch 'all in the family' at a way too impressionable age or something?

No, no, an ex of mine lived in Astoria way the hell out at the end of the N line and the ride took forever from downtown Brooklyn. Also the N would be out of service a lot and I'd have to take the 7 and then catch a shuttle... total nightmare.

― Jody Beth Rosen, Thursday, 10 October 2002 01:23 (twenty-two years ago)

hey I am back from my free jazz night out...
keep those suggestions coming... this is giving me a lot to think, and dream about. What I really loved about moving to NYC in '99 was that, on my list of goals, one thing was finally crossed off. Even though I had no friends when I was there, had a shitty job, and spent my weekends chain smoking, eating calzones, and watching Hong Kong-era John Woo films, at least I was in the right place. Somehow, I would have been less happy being so lonely somewhere else. Does that make sense?

"Come on to my house, crazy Morrissey quoting, moving to New Yorker, we need more like you!"
Are you saying you have an empty room, or are you saying that you nedd more Smiths fans in NYC. If it is the latter, I should say that there are thousands of Smiths fans in NYC, all very bad in bed if Tanya Headon is to be believed, so why does NYC need more? ;-)

Here is a question I really want answered... Does where you live matter anymore? It used to be that you were defined by your 'hood. Does saying "I live in the Village" or "I live in Astoria" or "I live in Brooklyn Heights" mean anything anymore? I have been trying to figure out what neighborhood is "right" for me, but I can;t figure it out. Should I even try?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 10 October 2002 04:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Doesn't matter. Move to an unhip, totally normal neighborhood and make it your own. People will turn their noses up at first, but in a year or two, once your friends start sniffing around the same area, you'll be considered a pioneer. Isn't that the way it always works out?

― Jody Beth Rosen, Thursday, 10 October 2002 04:21 (twenty-two years ago)

until they all LES it up.

― felicity (felicity), Thursday, 10 October 2002 04:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Jody is OTM

Inwood and Sunset Park are kind of far away from stuff but real cheap

What everybody else said sounds generally right but Aaron you really should just look for a place, ANY place, in your price range and suss out the situation once you travel out to see it.

Where are you planning to go to school?

(p.s. hahaha felicity why do you think there's a Meow Mix??)

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 10 October 2002 04:43 (twenty-two years ago)

anyone who cares about what kind of neighborhood they live in for any other reason besides getting shot probably deserves to live there.

― jess (dubplatestyle), Thursday, 10 October 2002 04:47 (twenty-two years ago)

Haha, sorry Aaron "Come on to my house" was just the opener (I think) to My Love Life. There is barely enough room for me in this hell hole that I affectionately call home. Yes--I was heralding the arrival of a token ILx NYC Smiths boy. They may be legion in New York but not of the Certain People I Know.

Tracer--Good one! And did it ever take me a long time to get it...

Um, Aaron, if you do a share thing, it probably doesn't matter that much where, as you won't likely be committed to staying there too long, then while you're there you can sniff out which is the right neighborhood for you. Yes, where will you be attending school? I imagine this should all play a part in things, and maybe said school even offers listings.

OK snide answer: Chinatown is the new up and coming/ already ruined and gentrified NY hood. Happy Peking Duck!

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 10 October 2002 05:17 (twenty-two years ago)

(p.s. hahaha felicity why do you think there's a Meow Mix??)

Even better: It's actually on the L.E.S.!

(Not that anyone but the gimpiest loser ever says "L.E.S." in spoken conversation, unless they're referring to that awful band L.E.S. Stitches.)

― Jody Beth Rosen, Thursday, 10 October 2002 05:50 (twenty-two years ago)

"anyone who cares about what kind of neighborhood they live in for any other reason besides getting shot probably deserves to live there"
ouch. I am not looking for the "right" neighborhood to impress my friends, just really hard to figure out what venues, record stores, etc. I want to be near, if I am lucky enough to have a choice. The question of neighborhood and meaning was really more of a general one, even if it came off as me trying to figure out how to be hip, which I will never be.

As for school, I have yet to decide. It will mostly depend on price. I am only gonna take two classes and see what happens. i have no idea what I want to major in, now that I have more options.

Would people say that Queens is less pastoral than Brooklyn?

I am not so sure about Carrol Gardens, because, although there are great shops, ets., it just seemes a little too small townish for my tastes. Williamsburg is a little better. i have never been to FT. Greene. Is it the same way?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 10 October 2002 13:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I lived in Fort Greene for a couple of years. Beautiful brownstones, nice park, but still a very small town quality, which I find runs through all of Brooklyn.

I would say that Queens is less pastoral than Brooklyn.

If you want to be near venues I would suggest the dreaded L.E.S. or Williamsburg, but as you know as for venues, record stores, etc. it might be better to just choose a convenient train line to the where you like to shop, party, etc.

― Mary (Mary), Thursday, 10 October 2002 19:55 (twenty-two years ago)

"small townish" can be a blessing in New York, Aaron

I lived 2 blocks off Times Square for a year and was never lonelier in my life

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Saturday, 12 October 2002 19:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I was in Park Slope for 5 months and went nuts. I was in chelsea for one and was much happier.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Sunday, 13 October 2002 03:00 (twenty-two years ago)

haha aaron that wasn't directed at you by any stretch or anyone on the thread even. nyc rendered me rather bitter (no!) in regards to the whole "superiority of neighborhoods" thing especially when a. i could give a fuck as long as its relatively safe and accessable and b. the only thing which seperates neighborhoods in philly (aside from price) is where you're likely to be killed. (when it's all kind of ass and ghetto no ones really marking the gradations between bella vista and the guido district off shunk, etc etc.) i love nyc and cannot wait to be back but i also loathe certain aspects of it more than any place else i've ever lived. also, i never had any of the problems living in astoria that jody describes (well, okay, i did but not that frequently), so your individual mileage may vary etc etc.

― jess (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 13 October 2002 03:08 (twenty-two years ago)

(actually i mean there probably ARE gradations of what's "cool" in philly, but it's not this huge thing, at least as far as i've ever been able to tell.)

― jess (dubplatestyle), Sunday, 13 October 2002 03:19 (twenty-two years ago)

jess it is all good... I know that the hipness shit can be taken too far. it is like wondering "what bath towel expresses me in the fullest sense, and will impress others?" answer... just dry yer ass and shut the fuck up!

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Sunday, 13 October 2002 03:57 (twenty-two years ago)

london is like that for neighbourhoods big style! i liked arsenal so much, it wasn't a 'cool' area but it wasn't 'uncool' either, i loved it there (i know the cool thing doesnt matter but i loved being somewhere that was both central and safe). i'm kinda between angel and dalston now, which is a so called cool area, and, to be honest, i feel a bit silly there. having said that, i've only been there 4 days, and i've been in america for 10 days, so i haven';t really got to know it properly yet...

― gareth (gareth), Sunday, 13 October 2002 04:04 (twenty-two years ago)

one month passes...

I think I am fucked. I still can't find a job here in DC. And where the hell am I gona get the $1000+ a month to live in the city? The people who I was considering as prospective roommates are not talking to me for some reason, and I know it was nothing I did.
I doubt there is any advice you can give, cause all I have to do is get a job, make my money, find an apartment, get a new job, and marvel at my youth gone to waste. I just need to bitch. None of my "friends" seem to understand what I am going through. Most are in college, and don;t know what they are talking about, or they are out of college and think I am dreaming for even considering moving anywhere.
Well, Topeka here I come, motherfucker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Friday, 6 December 2002 05:12 (twenty-two years ago)

no, don't respond to this let it die!
*explodes*

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Friday, 6 December 2002 05:39 (twenty-two years ago)

ok maybe yes.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Friday, 6 December 2002 06:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Hi Aaron, will send email offering what help I can soon.

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 6 December 2002 06:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, what's the plan then, still looking for a job in DC ? that I could maybe give some advice/contacts on. The job thing is key, unfortunately. Can you find a job to cover a $1k/mo rent in NYC ? For that, you are prob gonna have to find it before you actually move there, I think. (Isn't there a renting rule in the city that you can only spend 1/2 yr monthly income on rent, so for a $1k/mo lease you have to actually earn $2k/mo ?)
Can you get a cell phone w/an NYC phone number to dupe employers into thinking you live there already, and then job hunt via Monster.com or something ? On the other hand, if you're planning to look for a service-type job like working in bar/cafe for which the hiring process won't be as long, you have to figure how much that'll pay and, accordingly, what you'll be able to afford in rent. If it's the latter, find an affordable place, move, and then find a job. Hit the craigslist and other apartment-hunting bulletin boards and keep at it, make a bunch of appointments and then take the Amtrak up there for a few days to see them. I had a **horrible** time finding an apartment in Providence b/c I was doing it long-distance while living in DC, but I managed since I had no choice, I couldn't give up.
The economy's kind of crap, it is a good time to go back to school and a hard time to hit the job market !

― daria g, Friday, 6 December 2002 07:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I have actually heard that one is supposed to spend 1/4 of monthly income on rent.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Friday, 6 December 2002 18:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I doubt that any in NY pays 1/4 of their income on rent. More like 3/4.

― Mary (Mary), Friday, 6 December 2002 20:06 (twenty-two years ago)

four months pass...

its getting closer now. i am trying to figure out how much money i need. how much money do i need? (outside of the job thing)

i am currently on assignment at tha temp place and i will be done in mid-may, and maybe i will have enough by then.

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Friday, 11 April 2003 22:16 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks pass...

hey ya'll i am now sending resumes and such, and i plan on arriving sometime between late may and late june :-)

is anyone looking for a person to share housing with?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Thursday, 1 May 2003 02:46 (twenty-two years ago)

glad to hear it aaron! i don't know of anything at the moment but if i hear of anything will let you know. keep us posted...

― Mary (Mary), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 03:22 (twenty-two years ago)

:-)
According to my budget, I only need about 2 to 3 full weeks of work to have enough money to go...
I have been in touch with the branch of my temp agency in nyc.. the woman was like "oh you are moving to nyc and calling a temp agency.. that is scary!" and i wus like "uh i have some money saved up"... why cant i be rich enough to be a starving artist hipster?
;-)
Does anyone have any strategy advice? this seems like chicken and egg to me... i cant budget for an apartment without having an income and i cant have an income without an apartment ;-) I am going to probably sublet at a cheap place for a like a month or two and do temp shit and then get a more permanent position then a real apartment...

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), Wednesday, 7 May 2003 20:33 (twenty-two years ago)

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