Kelly Kreth

When the Yorkville store selling video porn downstairs from a New Yorker named Robert closed, he was more dismayed by what took its place: A Peruvian chicken restaurant that made him and his girlfriend lose sleep because there was lots of noise until late at night. It also created a huge insect and rodent problem that ultimately led to a lawsuit in Housing Court.

After being quarantined in our NYC apartment for about six weeks, we decided we were ready to leave the city for greener pastures. We had been considering places to move over the last two years and the pandemic really gave us the push to do it. A friend who grew up in this rural area of New Jersey—where New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey meet—found this rental house for us.

When Alex, a media consultant and amateur comedian, went to look at a rental right next to the Williamsburg Bridge, his friends warned him to watch out for “bridge people”—an inside joke to tease him and also convey concern for their friend’s well-being. Now living next to the landmark, he says there is absolutely nothing to fear—and actually a lot to love about his apartment’s location. Here’s his experience.

When the pandemic struck, Janine, a real estate agent, realized she was paying for a bunch of fancy amenities in her luxury Greenwood Heights, Brooklyn, rental that she could no longer use. The pandemic became a catalyst for a move to a more private residence in nearby Windsor Terrace. Here’s how the two neighborhoods compare.

After Ivan found his dog training and t-shirt design businesses impacted by Covid-19, he decided to move out of New York City. He traded the hyper Bushwick art and music scene for the more scenic and relaxed Rockland County area and discovered it’s easier to stay out of trouble being surrounded by nature instead of hipsters. Here’s his take on how the two areas compare.

When Ruth Shin and her husband moved to Brooklyn 20 years ago, their budget was pretty tight. So, when they were shown a huge, spacious loft that matched their price, they didn’t give their East Williamsburg environs much scrutiny. Turns out, they were signing a lease in an industrial neighborhood. Here’s Ruth’s story.