Living in Park Slope -The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

June 2, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Hello again, ya’ll. It’s been a bit of a stretch and in that time, I’ve gotten to know my hood a bit more. And, amazingly, reading about it (and its borough) everywhere from the NYtimes to Nymag…to hearing a soundbite from Sex and the City. Carrie remarks to Miranda that “Brooklyn is the new Manhattan.”…

Compromise, Compromise, Compromise

May 12, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

I went to Barnes and Nobles today looking for answers. I think I partly wanted to find a handy man hiding in the shelves. No such luck. I did find, however, more books written on the subject of Fung Shui than the total number of books that made the move with me. I was a…

When is it time to rock the landlord boat?

May 8, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

I wouldn’t say that I’m living illegally in my apartment, oh no. But, I haven’t signed a lease. And, I wonder if my rent is going to go up every month until it’s time to sign a new lease in October. That said, there are things in the apartment that need to be fixed. While…

The Commuting Game . . .surprisingly less fun than Parcheesi

March 4, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Hey Blog readers, this girl is tired. Oh my goodness. I’m only at day 2 of the NEW job and already I’m exhausted. Why, you ask? Because trying to figure out my commute is stress in a basket. Which leads me to today’s topic: Getting to work on time VS not looking like a sweaty…

Going somewhere new means leaving someplace else

February 17, 2008 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

I accepted a job offer in New York approximately two weeks ago. What I don’t think I accepted at that time, was that my life as I knew it was about to be flipped completely upside down. I know that the theme of this website is new beginning, but that cheesy song lyric about every…

Kelly M’s housewarming party and gift ideas

January 1, 2008 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

You’ve spent weeks poring over ads for apartments. You’ve hiked all over the city to meet up with shady broker after shady broker. You’ve spotted your brother and his friends while they moved your stuff into a fifth-floor walkup, and you’ve given them enough kickback cash to throw parties for a month. So don’t you…

Six ways to survive winter in your first apartment

December 25, 2007 | By Shelby AuthorMy First Apartment

The days of frosty windows and six hours of sunlight are upon us. Brrrr! Here are six tips for staying cozy, saving money and being green. Wait for a sale, then stock up on soup and hot cocoa/tea/instant cider. Also, pony up for a Netflix subscription. My plan is only about $9 a month and…

Holiday tipping basics

December 10, 2007 | By MFA Editors AuthorMy First Apartment

If this is your first holiday season on your own, how to handle tipping can be confusing. How much should you tip your super or your doorman? How about the letter carrier? And what to do if there is no money in your budget for tips? The gold standard in matters of etiquette, Emily Post,…

How to have a happy Thanksgiving in your new apartment – some do’s and don’t’s

November 18, 2007 | By Shelby AuthorMy First Apartment

Maybe you just moved across the country to take your dream job and you have zero vacation time. Maybe you’re not close to your family. Maybe you’re way too broke to buy a plane ticket. Whatever the reason, when the time for a Thanksgiving celebration rolls around, you’ll be on your own. Don’t do what…

When a murder happens on your block, security becomes VERY important

April 11, 2007 | By Alissa AuthorMy First Apartment

Last week on my block, the city-dweller’s worst fear materialized; a woman was murdered, in what initially looked like a break-in. I came home from work to find a police car barricading the street and yellow tape slicing across the apartment in question and its surrounding lawn. It was a scene I’d only before seen…