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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

1980s Mid, STORY, Upper East Side, Yorkville

The young couple who sublet me the tiny, dark apartment cautioned me, “Don’t draw attention to yourself. The landlord can’t know that we left!” The wife even left her furniture in the place, and so I discreetly moved in my own stuff in small bags and suitcases, making many trips. And then…

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

2010s Mid, Celebrity Neighbor, STORY

While some of the 2013 mayoral candidates’ names may already be fading into history, these New Yorkers’ first apartment memories fit right in with the other stories found on this site, including the shock of seeing what their places look like today.

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

1970s Early, STORY, Upper East Side

Christopher Gray, the “Streetscapes” columnist for the New York Times, takes a funny look back at how he got his first apartment in 1970 (a $45-a-month railroad flat!) and what life was like in NYC then.

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Eras | Neighborhoods

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

fire • pigeons • "Manhattan" the movie • eviction • upper east side • Saint Anthony's Feast • uptown • Bob Dylan • laundry • Occupy Wall Street • pink bathroom • red-light district • Elaine’s • stolen car • futon • John Guare • great view • Yorkville • Little Italy • The Odeon • Soho • toilet in the hall • Tribeca • dark • Woody Allen • lots of visitors • loft • music club • opera-singing neighbor • walk-in closet • non-woodburning fireplace (NWBWF) • crime • expensive • too hot • roaches • NYU • smells • railroad flat • brownstone • As told to • young man • giant African bullfrog • downtown • Five Guys Named Moe • nostalgia • noisy • co-op • getting back deposit • Empire State Building • studio

About

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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.

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