I’m calling it “going upscale” for the month of April. I lived in a fancy one bedroom in NoHo 5 minutes from my office, a beautiful one bedroom in the West Village, and I just finished a week with my own room in Brooklyn Heights. What’s even more exciting is these are all new neighborhoods. And lest you think I’m getting soft, I’ll be back on the Aerobed next week sharing some space in Boerhum Hill with Alfie the dog at my friend Esther’s apartment. I’m also trading a 5 minute commute for over an hour in May when I finally make it to Staten Island.
My host in the West Village was Ellen Sanderson, who I literally had not seen in a decade. We went to high school together and she found out about my project on Facebook. She promptly emailed me volunteering a week at her new place in the West Village. She even mentioned her sister might be interested in hosting in Long Island City, another neighborhood I haven’t been to yet.
I arrived on a Sunday after returning from the Dominican. Ellen had described the space as small and to be honest I thought it was a studio. But upon arrival, I found a beautiful one bedroom with detailed ceilings and lots of natural light, a working fireplace and great kitchen. Ellen is the first person to live in this apartment since it was renovated and whoever did the renovation did an excellent job. The bedroom and bathroom is small, maximizing the living space (and my room for the week). It also happens to be on Perry Street, where something famous happened in Sex and the City apparently. It’s a picturesque New York City block, designated as such by the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission and its especially beautiful when Spring is just blooming.
Ellen was one of my more enthusiastic hosts and might get the award for best planner. We had burgers from Corner Bistro on Sunday, dinner with her friends on Monday (at Little Owl), some family and friends (and potential hosts) came over on Tuesday, and on Friday we went to Alta with two other Bridgewater – Raynham alums. There was some room for spontaneity to be sure, but I appreciated the planning especially since it meant a meal at Little Owl. Even on a Monday, we couldn’t get a reservation until 9:30. Alta is one of the best places I have been to a while. Try the brussel sprouts.
It’s interesting, to not see someone for such a long time, and then be placed smack dab in the middle of her floor, and really, her life. We talked quite a bit throughout the week and as Jared in Propsect Heights said in our interview which I still need to post, “you get to talking about those things you only talk about at the end of the day.” It was fun to meet her friends and the West Village is up there as one of my favorites.
Interview is coming soon!
If you’d like to host, there is a new form that is super easy to fill out! National and International offers considered 
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- The NYC Nomad in the East Village (on 13th between A and B)
- An east village audio post. Click to play above. This was a New York moment for me. I happened upon a community garden in the East Village, walked in, and started chatting with some of the members who aren’t exactly what you think of when you think of gardeners. I think it is worth 7 minutes. To set the stage a little bit, there are about 5 guys and myself mainly discussing one of the members’ pet lizard while adding in some commentary on some of the more successful animated television series over the past 25 years. They were drinking PBR on a nice summer evening. The garden itself is beautiful and has an incredible range of edible food, fresh herbs and spices. There is about a 20 year waiting list for a plot.
- A Rosh Hashanah Dinner on the Upper West Side
