Moving to NYC - best place to live?

Question

Hi, I'm moving to NYC within the next year to persue a career in acting (before you all jump on me - I know it'll be hard, and I'll have to take tons of temp jobs and crappy jobs I would never take under any other circumstance, but it's what I need to do!)

anyway, I want to be able to have easy access to auditions and also if there were restaurants around that I could work at it would be nice. I am also planning on starting Graduate work at NYU tisch for performance studies after I get settled in.

Where would be the best place for me to live? Manhattan is really expensive I've heard, but it would be really convenient, right, what about Brooklynn or the Bronx?

Answer 1

One of the best kept secrets of Manhattan are its two most northern neighborhoods of Washington Heights and Inwood.

The Heights for the most part is improving from its earlier years, but theres a few things you need to know. For starters, live above 175th street because anything below is still rough ( the areas between 130th street and 168th st especially).

If choosing to live way uptown (as i like to call it "upstate manhattan"), make sure to live on the west side of Broadway as it is a little bit safer than the east, but of course this too does have its exceptions.

The most northern neighborhood of Inwood (200th st - 215th st) is a somewhat quiet neighborhood comprised of jews, irish, dominicans, and now recently the arrival of recent graduates and young families. So its definatlely coming up, plus its a very narrow strip of Manhattan that is served by two subway lines (A-express and the 1-local). Both trains will get you to NYU, but the A-train runs express and can get you down there in 20 minutes!!

The area has two huge parks, one containing a muesum. Its a nice place to live and the rents are going up, but reasonable still for entry-level, young professionals and families.

for more information, check out our website, especially the forum for the members will help you out with anything you might need (google "discussion forum washington heights" and the link should pop up)

good luck and welcome to new york!!!

Answer 2

Parts of Brooklyn and Queens are within 30 minutes by subway of NYU/the off-broadway district. Spend some time on Craigslist, looking for apartments/roommate situations that sound good and then checking where they are on a map and what they cost, to get a sense of your economic and geographic options. There are a few enclaves in Manhattan that aren't as crazy expensive as the rest (e.g. Washington Heights at the north end, parts of the East Village and Upper East Side that are really far from the subway) but most likely, Brooklyn and Queens (and the Bronx, if you can find something appealing near an express train) are more realistic.

Good luck.

Answer 3

You can find like-minded theatre and artistic types in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, but the areas around the Bedford Ave stop (L train) will be too expensive (unless you get a small place, with roommates). Still, there are an incredible number of bars / restaurants there.

Astoria and Long Island City, 2 neighborhoods in Queens (which do not have as many bars / restaurants as Williamsburg) are probably the areas that have the best combination of reasonable rent, things to do, and an easy commute to the theatre district where you will need to go for your auditions.

Areas near NYU are extremely cool and interesting, but may be prohibitively expensive.

Answer 4

First you need to know that you will be looking at close to 1300 for a studio ( a small studio at that) in NYC.
Your best bet would be to try to sublet somewhere with a roommate - try looking on craigs list.
I have lived in NYC for 7 years - I was lucky enough to get into a rent controlled apartment so my situation is not the norm
but when I first came up here I was in a studio in brooklyn it waas a decent size but was bordering red hook and I was paying 1100 in rent and about 300 a month in utilities etc.
if you are going to rent your own apartment most want you to make 30 to 40 times the rent per year.
and want to see proof of employment for at least 6 months or you will need a co-signer on the lease basically so if you cant pay the rent they can go after who ever it is that is your co signer.
Brooklyn is really nice but the prices are just about as high as NYC anymore - and parts of the Bronx are ok the same with Harlem.
Finding a job in a resturant here is not as easy as some other cities - most people get jobs at several resturants at one time so they can make enough money to live.
Have you been accepted at Tisch? if you have good for you it is a very hard school to get into.
I wont reveal how much money I make on here but I work in TV and make pretty decent money and still it is tough to get by. If you are starting out and going to school I think a roommate is the way to go.
Good luck!

as for alphabet city my friend just rented out her 1 bedroom very small - very small apartment for 2000 a month
and other friends of mine that live on the LES pay close to 3,000 for a 2 bedroom.

Answer 5

You will get the most bang for your buck by living in Astoria, Queens. It's close enough to the city without being a hassle, and it's a very lively area. Now that Williamsburg and Park Slope have been yuppified and the prices are astronomical, as much as Manhattan, people are migrating up to Astoria. Just go there now before it becomes an expensive hipster enclave as well.

Answer 6

Try Alphabet city in the East Village. Avenue A or Avenue B, around Tompkins Square Park. That area used to be inexpensive and crowded by artists, theater types, writers, etc., but young professionals have moved in, so you will need to look closer to the East River. If nothing there, you could try Williamsburg, Brooklyn, that's where the creative types who couldn't find a place in Manhatten moved to. Or Moshulu Parkway in the Bronx.

Answer 7

I moved out of New Yrok a few years ago...but one area you might want to try out is Gotham City (its nicknamed that because I think that's where they shot scenes from the "Batman Forever"....anyways...it overlooks the harbour/city, and isn't too far from what you need. Last time I was there, it was still developing...but, now I'm not so sure.

Another area you may want to check out is 8th. Its mostly an industrial area, but they do have a few spaces, you might need a roomate for one of those.

Alaphabet city (near Soho) would be you're best bet. Recently the prices have shot through the roof. But, trust me...if you have the time...you can find something in Manhattan. You just need to follow up every clue you get. That's where you need to be...

Good luck.

Answer 8

Queens is most affordable but brooklyn is the best place to live and if you look for someone looking for a roommate you should have no trouble finding a place to stay for not that much money..good luck.

Answer 9

Queens

Answer 10

i'd say in manhattan if u can....but roosevelt island is good..and queens is good too!