Beautiful Home 1 Stop from Midtown

I am happy to offer a comfortable room in an 1890s townhouse in the hot LIC neighborhood of New York. Only one stop from midtown Manhattan my guesthouse has been a home away from home for travelers from all over the world since 1997. The room is 17'x15' (5m x 4.5 m - huge for New York) and features a very comfortable queen-size bed (as noted in reviews), 2 large windows, heavy drapes to keep the light out if you want to sleep in, and a romantic non-working fireplace. Furnished in classic American Mission style with sturdy wood and soft leather the ambiance is comfortable, relaxed and unpretentious, the guest towels are thick cotton, the bed linens good cotton with a down comforter. There is central heat, air conditioning and always plenty of hot water; free WiFi, an iron, hair dryer, an electrical adapter and a Tivoli radio. The bedroom is on the upper floor while the living areas (and bath) are on the ground floor so guests have as much privacy as they like. There is a nice patio perfect for relaxing with a drink after a long day before resting up and heading out for the night. Guests receive a key and are free to come and go according to their schedule. They are welcome to join me and my friends in the lounge, or fix a meal in the well-equipped kitchen. I enjoy cooking and often have relaxed dinners with friends that guests are welcome to attend and contribute to. My guests are welcome to use my extensive library of books about New York City as well as New York Magazine, with listings of what's going on in the city. I work out of the house so am always available, and love sharing my knowledge and experience with my guests, helping them to make the most of their visit to my city. I know that coming to New York can be a very expensive proposition, is often a once-in-a-lifetimes trip and want to do everything I can to help my guests make this one of their best vacations ever. I'm in the hot LIC neighborhood, a center of NYC's film, television, new media & arts directly across the East River from midtown Manhattan. LIC is home to many art galleries, PS1/MOMA Contemporary Art Center, site of the famous Warm-Up outdoor concerts in summer, the Museum of the Moving Image (cinema), the Sculpture Center, the Noguchi Museum and Socrates Sculpture Garden and a park with breathtaking views of the United Nations right across the river. It is home of Silvercup Studios, New York's largest television and film studio, and you'll often encounter filming on the streets. There are many excellent small restaurants of all sorts that serve the local community. Because of the excellent transportation it is much closer to Times Square and many of the tourist attractions than parts of Manhattan even. LIC is a transportation hub with 7 subway lines are within a 1-3 minute walk; it's just 1 stop to midtown Manhattan, 2 to Rockefeller Center or Central Park, 6 minutes to Grand Central Station, 10 to Times Square, 15 to Greenwich Village or Brooklyn Bridge. The subways run 24/7 and these lines are heavily frequented and safe at any time. I'm happy to provide subway maps, an orientation and appropriate apps to help my guests get around easily. Traveling tips: 1. Even if you're going to be here for less than 7 days, do buy a $31 7-day unlimited MetroCard for the subway and buses. It's economical and makes sense even if you're going to be here for just 4 days. 2. Download an app called Citymapper which will help you navigate our very vast and extensive subway system. You can get specific directions and have access to the subway map - very helpful. 3. 2. Get ready to walk! NYC is built for walking, and although you'll probably have an unlimited MetroCard for the subway, you're still going to be doing a lot of walking! 4. What you MUST bring is a pair of really comfortable, thick-soled shoes. A fair number of guests have come with thin-soled shoes and then get sore feet, although in retrospect, it might just be another reason to shop some more! A note for our foreign visitors: please be aware that it is customary to tip 15-20% when you eat out at restaurants. Waiters/waitresses do not get paid a normal salary and rely on tips to make their wages, so be generous to our poor service people!! Of course, if the service is not good, then you can reduce tips appropriately, but here in NY, 15% is the minimum. The only other person you tip is a taxi driver who generally gets about 10% of the metered fare.