• Twitter
  • RSS
  • Get stories emailed to you!
My First Apartment NYC
  • Home
  • About “My First Apartment NYC”
  • All Stories/Blog
  • How to Share Your Story
    • FORM: Share your story
  • Fun stuff
  • Map
  • Send story/Contact
Select Page
Early 1980s in The Village: From sleeping in a closet to having a walk-in closet—at a stupidly cheap rent

Early 1980s in The Village: From sleeping in a closet to having a walk-in closet—at a stupidly cheap rent

1980s Early, STORY, The Village

Getting a roommate was a practical decision for my landlord—why not make some money out of the unused space? It was a perfect solution for me, too. I was new to NY and had no social life, so living with an elderly woman didn’t cramp my style.

New-York-Map-with-pins

Eras | Neighborhoods

Popular stories

  • Early 1970s Debbie Harry: Playboy bunnies, serial killers, and being spit upon

    Early 1970s Debbie Harry: Playboy bunnies, serial killers, and being spit upon

  • Calling all nostalgists: Join the #SaveNYC movement

    Calling all nostalgists: Join the #SaveNYC movement

  • Late 1970s Madonna: The smell of NYC, rape on a rooftop, and inspired by Frida Kahlo

    Late 1970s Madonna: The smell of NYC, rape on a rooftop, and inspired by Frida Kahlo

  • Late 1980s in The Village: Sweaty nights, soap opera priorities, and a tennis-playing grandma

    Late 1980s in The Village: Sweaty nights, soap opera priorities, and a tennis-playing grandma

  • Early 1970s in Soho: Memories (and smells) of Mercer Street

    Early 1970s in Soho: Memories (and smells) of Mercer Street

  • Late 1980s in The Village: Armless mannequins, double futons, and strange old men

    Late 1980s in The Village: Armless mannequins, double futons, and strange old men

  • Early 1970s on the Upper West Side: NWBFP, bathroom bugs, and amorous neighbors

    Early 1970s on the Upper West Side: NWBFP, bathroom bugs, and amorous neighbors

  • 1980s in Astoria: Lookalike burglars, tough mice, and a generous Greek guy

    1980s in Astoria: Lookalike burglars, tough mice, and a generous Greek guy

  • Late 1980s in The Village: Pungent vestibule puddles, roach garnishes, and letting go of things

    Late 1980s in The Village: Pungent vestibule puddles, roach garnishes, and letting go of things

  • My first, my worst NYC apartment: from NYTimes readers

    My first, my worst NYC apartment: from NYTimes readers

  • Mid 1970s on the Upper West Side: Rocking cars, red lights… too far north?

    Mid 1970s on the Upper West Side: Rocking cars, red lights… too far north?

  • Early 1990s on the Upper West Side: Transient hotel, the Apology Line, and a general cacophony

    Early 1990s on the Upper West Side: Transient hotel, the Apology Line, and a general cacophony

  • Early 1980s in Yorkville: East River floaters, apathetic cops, and sachertorte

    Early 1980s in Yorkville: East River floaters, apathetic cops, and sachertorte

  • 1960s on Macdougal Street: Cafe Wha?, Bob Dylan, Woody Allen, and Bruce Springsteen

    1960s on Macdougal Street: Cafe Wha?, Bob Dylan, Woody Allen, and Bruce Springsteen

  • Late 2000s in the Financial District: From L.A. to NYC = apartment shock

    Late 2000s in the Financial District: From L.A. to NYC = apartment shock

  • 2014 in Manhattan: How is NYC worse today for newcomers (or oldtimers)?

    2014 in Manhattan: How is NYC worse today for newcomers (or oldtimers)?

  • Mid 1980s in Tribeca: Summer sublet, huge loft, ever-changing cast of characters

    Mid 1980s in Tribeca: Summer sublet, huge loft, ever-changing cast of characters

  • Early 1980s on Union Square: Blackened planks and broken bags of soup

    Early 1980s on Union Square: Blackened planks and broken bags of soup

  • 1970s late & 1980s in The Village: Grad school, elevator men, and famous playwrights

    1970s late & 1980s in The Village: Grad school, elevator men, and famous playwrights

  • Mid 1960s on the Upper West Side: Nice Catholic girls, lava lamps, and small claims court

    Mid 1960s on the Upper West Side: Nice Catholic girls, lava lamps, and small claims court

  • Early 1970s on the Upper East Side: Cheap rent, back-stabbing roomies, and guilty memories

    Early 1970s on the Upper East Side: Cheap rent, back-stabbing roomies, and guilty memories

  • New York in 2013: Going back to the first apartments of future mayoral rivals

    New York in 2013: Going back to the first apartments of future mayoral rivals

  • Late 1960s in The Village: Escape from Queens, zeppole feasts, and rent control laws

    Late 1960s in The Village: Escape from Queens, zeppole feasts, and rent control laws

  • Late 1970s on the Upper East Side: Laundry room plumbing, toaster fire, and only a “small gun”

    Late 1970s on the Upper East Side: Laundry room plumbing, toaster fire, and only a “small gun”

  • 1970s late & 1980s in Chelsea: Kitchen bathtub, gaping floorboards, and an AMAZING view

    1970s late & 1980s in Chelsea: Kitchen bathtub, gaping floorboards, and an AMAZING view

  • Mid 1980s on the Upper East Side: Dumping ground, dissed at Elaine’s, and an eviction

    Mid 1980s on the Upper East Side: Dumping ground, dissed at Elaine’s, and an eviction

Free site updates

NewsletterSignupForm

Add your favorite NYC books

Lived in NYC, Now I Just Read About It...
Lived in NYC, Now I Just Read About It 1 member
If you ever lived in New York City, reading about the city in books has SO much more resonance. S...

NYC books we've read

Rules of Civility
Astonish Me
The Bonfire of the Vanities
Triburbia
A Visit from the Goon Squad
Three Junes
The Interestings
The Age of Innocence
The Goldfinch
The Glass Castle
Netherland
Falling Man


View this group on Goodreads »

Featured stories

  • Late 1980s in The Village: Pungent vestibule puddles, roach garnishes, and letting go of things

  • Late 2000s in the Financial District: From L.A. to NYC = apartment shock

  • Mid 1980s on the Upper East Side: Dumping ground, dissed at Elaine’s, and an eviction

  • Early 1970s on the Upper West Side: NWBFP, bathroom bugs, and amorous neighbors

  • 1960s on Macdougal Street: Cafe Wha?, Bob Dylan, Woody Allen, and Bruce Springsteen

Recent comments

  • 1stAptNYC on Calling all nostalgists: Join the #SaveNYC movement
  • Laura E Kelly on Early 1970s on the Upper East Side: Cheap rent, back-stabbing roomies, and guilty memories
  • Mike P. on Late 1980s in The Village: Armless mannequins, double futons, and strange old men
  • Passer_Solomon on 1980s in Astoria: Lookalike burglars, tough mice, and a generous Greek guy
  • Ron on Late 1970s Madonna: The smell of NYC, rape on a rooftop, and inspired by Frida Kahlo

Eras | Neighborhoods

1960s Early 1960s Late 1960s Mid 1970s Early 1970s Late 1970s Mid 1980s Early 1980s Late 1980s Mid 1990s Early 2000s Late 2010s Mid Astoria Celebrity Neighbor Chelsea Debbie Harry Downtown East Village ERA FEATURED Financial District Madonna NEIGHBORHOOD NYC REAL ESTATE Soho STORY The Village Tribeca Union Square Upper East Side Upper West Side Yorkville

Ah, memories

walk-in closet • smells • laundry • small claims court • young woman • Mafia • Yorkville • The Village Voice • young man • elevator troubles • great view • punk rock • politicians • red-light district • police • Soho • Raffetto's • Cafe Wha? • Matt Lauer • West End Avenue • NYU • 2014 • brownstone • Little Italy • downtown • As told to • lava lamp • stolen car • Bill de Blasio • music club • The Odeon • co-op • 1 BR • Steinway Street • crime • eviction • studio • Jimi Hendrix • toilet in the hall • Five Guys Named Moe • getting back deposit • railroad flat • pugs • too hot • "Manhattan" the movie • Greek diner • Occupy Wall Street • celebrities • pink bathroom • Astoria

About

Tribeca-apartment-ABOUT

Laura E. Kelly is the storyteller-in-chief of this site. Read about the genesis of the site and visit Contact to send in your story or ask a question.

Free site updates!

Newsletter signup form

  • Home
  • About “My First Apartment NYC”
  • All stories/Blog
  • How to share
  • Fun stuff
  • Map
  • Send in story/Contact
  • Twitter
  • RSS

Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress