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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.

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Eras | Neighborhoods

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Lived in NYC, Now I Just Read About It...
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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


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Featured stories

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

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

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

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

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

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

co-op • walkup • lava lamp • young couple • 2014 • Tribeca • celebrity neighbor • mice • lots of visitors • small claims court • Matt Lauer • celebrities • burglar • Astoria • Little Italy • illegal sublet • red-light district • giant African bullfrog • dark • fire • West End Avenue • Mafia • ladies of the night • garbage out window • railroad flat • tiny • non-woodburning fireplace (NWBWF) • Raffetto's • As told to • music club • Cafe Wha? • roaches • crime • pink bathroom • pigeons • Steinway Street • The Village Voice • upper east side • futon • Empire State Building • museum • Woody Allen • smells • Occupy Wall Street • heat • lonely • toilet in the hall • 1 BR • walk-up • Five Guys Named Moe

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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