After a flood the size of Noah’s Ark, I’m getting renter’s insurance!

June 23, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

It’s raining, it’s pouring, from…my kitchen ceiling?! Yep, welcome to just a regular Sunday evening at my casa — except for the my-whole-dining-room-table-being-under-water thing. Well, it wasn’t THAT bad, but around 11:30p.m., water started pouring in from about five separate locations. And there was no way to stop it! There were pools of wet everywhere.…

Is your apartment ready for summer? Get on it before it’s too hot to move!

May 27, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

With the passing of Memorial Day, no matter what the solar calendar says – summer is here. Hello, half-day Fridays, white shoes, and HEAT. GLORIOUS HEAT! Well, at least if you’re ready for it. How to summer-fy your apartment/life? First, think about your air conditioner situation. Do you have one? Does it work? Is it…

A beautiful apartment is possible no matter its size!

May 13, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Coming from college, many of you might equate a small apartment with the dingy dorm you were were forced to live in with nary a stove for X number of years. I can see where you’re coming from: your new apartment is also tiny and not by choice. But, oh, is it SO different! Sure,…

Beware of Empty Lots Next Door – They Can Turn into Construction Sites!

April 27, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

As winter falls away to spring, we can all rejoice for the lyrical song of birds in the trees. And we can all pound our heads against our pillows at the insomnia-inducing screech of fresh construction. In New York, construction can start at 7 AM. OH MY GOD I WANT TO CRY. Why do I…

Since when is it hard to find a subletter in NYC? Since Now!

March 28, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Greetings from the new world. What kind of world, you say? Well, apparently, it isn’t the world of obscene rental costs and banging your head against the wall because you aren’t getting chosen for a Craigslist Apartment. Which, you know, is great and all — unless you’re the one trying to sublet the room you’re…

How to Handle a 3-week House Guest

January 13, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Hello, ya’ll. Are you surviving your January winter tundra? Things seem a bit better this week. I’ve been making conscientious efforts to get out of the apartment more and see more human folk. Also, I have a friend visiting from Germany. And he’s gonna be here for 3 weeks – depressed hosts are SO 2008!…

Trying to Beat the Post-Holiday Blues!

January 7, 2009 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

I have a case of the January’s. I’m home sick today, but the past couple of days have been real mopey. Perhaps I’m homesick as well. I miss my family and friends from home and don’t feel like I have a great lot to look forward to in ’09. How bad is it? Work is…

Tips for helping you survive being home for the holidays!

December 30, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Greetings fellow apartment-ites! If you’re anything like me — you’ve been home for about a week and are getting a bit claustrophobic. It’s the first time I’ve been back in the ‘burbs without a car(ie escape plan) since high school. Actually, my senior year I bought a used car with the money I’d saved from…

Tis the season. . .to negotiate with your landlord!

December 3, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Welcome back, Gentle Blog readers! I hope you had a festive Thanksgiving and enough turkey to last a lifetime. Well, at least until next year. As December marks the beginning of “End-of-Year” reflection, let us reflect back on a topic from September: How to best negotiate your lease. Ah, what memories – the stock market…

I am thankful for . . .a pretty great living situation!

November 25, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

I realize that many of my posts are about problems. My apartment’s too small. My apartment’s too expensive. My apartment has a leak etc etc. As my Yiddish speaking grandfather would say, I’m a bit of a kvetcher (complainer). So this Thanksgiving week, I am going to look on the bright side, for there still…