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When deciding which NYC apartment to choose, there are many factors to consider: How close is the subway? What are your neighbors like? What is the rent? And most importantly, what is the character of the neighborhood. We gave you an awesome guide to the East Village, but there are more neighborhoods to get to know! If you’re thinking of renting a NoFee apartment in Greenwich Village, this guide is for you.

A bit of history to give you your bearings: Greenwich Village is generally known as an important landmark on the map of American bohemian culture. The neighborhood is known for its color and alternative culture. Due in part to the progressive attitudes of many of its residents, the Village has traditionally been a focal point of new movements and ideas.

Insiders tip: When wearing heels in Greenwich Village, be mindful of where you step, as most of the side streets are still cobblestone. If you don’t watch your step, you, along with your belongings (RIP phone screen) will go falling!

Now that you’re acquainted with the neighborhood, we’re going to take you to some of the best spots.

Coffee

Stumptown: New York is filled with coffee shops and there is literally a Starbucks on every corner. Stumptown is as great as NYC coffee gets. Be sure to try a Large Nitro Cold Brew.

Located at 30 W 8^th Street

Breakfast

Buvette: Eggs and bacon are a dime a dozen in NYC, Buvette offers a delicious French twist on our classic. Nestled away in Greenwich Village, this breakfast spot is sooooo worth it. My favorite menu item is the steamed eggs.

Located at 42 Grove Street

Lunch

Alidoro: This tiny Italian sandwich shop creates a variety of delicious sandwiches and is a favorite of many locals. Don’t forget to bring some dollars! This place is cash only.

Located at 105 Sullivan Street

Study/Work Break

Garden at the Church of Saint Luke in the Fields: Behind the walls of this West Village garden you can find some much needed quiet. Hang with friends or your favorite book and enjoy the formal, well-tended design and brick pathways.

Located at 487 Hudson Street

Happy Hour

The Mermaid Oyster Bar: The cool sister of one of my favorite places The Mermaid Inn as this oyster bar’s happy hour packs a serious punch. With $1 oysters, the Mermaid Oyster Bar also extends their happy hour specials throughout the entire restaurant (not just at the bar). Oh, and on Monday’s, happy hour specials last all night.

Located at 79 MacDougal Street

Dinner

Corner Bistro: Hands down my favorite restaurant in New York City. No, you do not get swanky ambiance and, no, the menu is not extensive. It is, however, the last bohemian bar in New York. With amazing burgers, great beers and unbeatable prices, Corner Bistro is the perfect place for a date, a night out with friends, or just go by yourself with a book. (My dad used to do this!) Note: this place is cash only.

Located at 331 West 4^th Street

Night Out

Fat Cat: You’ll find rows of ping pong, pool and shuffleboard tables, and even scrabble!? Say no more, Fat Cat, I am so there. In addition, there is surprisingly good live jazz music. This place is a great time for anyone that is 21+.

Located at 75 Christopher Street

Looking for an apartment in the West Village? We’ve got you covered. From multi-bedroom shares, to furnished apartments, No Fee Rentals has it all. To check out some of our awesome apartments in the West Village, click here: http://www.nofeerentals.com/apartments.aspx

New York City apartments are small. Even the most luxurious apartments in New York City aren’t accommodating for multiple roommates. Maybe your apartment has one closet, or maybe your bathroom is the same size as that one closet. The good news is that there are TONS of space-saving tricks to help maximize your tiny New York City apartment.

Get Rid of Junk!

This is seriously the best place to start. Begin by tossing (or donating) all the junk you’ll never use (baby blue cowboy hat we’re looking at you). Then, take all of your seasonal or rarely used items and pack them away in cute storage bins!

Shelves.

Use your walls for more than just tapestries and cute prints! Sleek shelving that extends up to the ceiling adds awesome storage space for your books, lamps and also a great place to add some decorative pieces like a terrarium!

Raise your bed.

There are lots of products that can raise your bed up for extra under-bed storage.

Organize EVERYTHING and label.

One of the biggest challenges for me, is keeping my personal belongings organized. Check this how-to guide out that helped me tremendously.

Keep your bathroom organized.

Living with multiple roommates, or a significant other in a small apartment creates a WAR over the medicine cabinet. If you’re like most people you have enough products of your own to fill it up, but there’s at least one other person you have to share with! Check out these ideas for organizing a small bathroom. I’m currently working on mine and will share before/after pics later!

If you’re looking for a new apartment, NoFee rentals has so many great spaces listed. They have apartments with lofts, apartments with fireplaces, and apartments with amaaaaazing outdoor spaces. Contact them today to find your dream NYC apartment, and then get to organizing!!!

As animal lovers, it’s easy to see how much having a dog can nourish your life. Aside from the social benefits (girls go crazy for dogs in the park), having a dog can actually make you happier and less lonely. But finding a landlord that feels the same is hard to come by. No Fee Rental apartments are pet friendly, and have an easy process that allows you to have/keep a pet!

Looking to make some new friends for you and your pup? Let your dog run free and check out one of these off-leash dog parks!

Carl Schurz Dog Park: Carl Schurz Park has two off-leash dog runs where dogs can mingle, and the promenade is a lovely place to stroll along the East River.

Robert Moses Dog Park: You and your dog will love the opportunity to run and play off-leash at this fenced in Dog Park! Check it out: 42^nd Street & 1^st Ave.

Stuyvesant Dog Park: Dogs & humans of all shapes and sizes can get out and enjoy this dog run.  Get out of your normal après-work walk routine and meet some new friends! Located at 2^nd Avenue  & 17^th Street.

With an increased popularity of having a dog in the city, many restaurants and bars have become “pooch-friendly”. Here is a list of a few great spots where you won’t have to leave your furry companion at home!

Sidewalk Café: A dog friendly restaurant in Alphabet City, Sidewalk Café offers a contemporary mixed menu. Check them out for a great brunch deal – free margarita with your meal… Second one is only a dollar! Located at 94 Avenue A

DBA: Looking for some post-dog park cocktails? Look no further than DBA. With an awesome back garden and great service, DBA has a great beer selection and everything is priced at around six-eight dollars. Great place to come and sit with your pups! Located at 41 1^st Avenue.

79^th Street Boat Basin: An outdoor restaurant offering some great American cuisine that both you and your pup can enjoy! Bring your friends, a hot date, or just your favorite four-legged roomie! Located at 79^th Street and Riverside Drive.

Need to get some new doggie sweaters? Check out these fashion-forward stores to be the hottest dog in the park.

The New York Dog Shop: This shop has been keeping dogs fashion forward since 2006. Located on the swanky Upper West Side, The New York Dog Shop brings a great variety of sweaters, monogrammed hoodies and utilitarian coats for your pup. Located at 46 West 73^rd Street.

The Barking Zoo: Great selection of cable knit sweaters, striped, argyle and Fair Isle patterns, this Chelsea shop brings it. Located at 172 Ninth Avenue.

The Salty Paw:  If you’re all about supporting local businesses, the Salty Paw features NYC based companies such as Sam & Tasha, Yarn Dog, Chilly Dog, and the in-house Black Dog Farms. Located at 38 Peck Slip.

If you’re a dog lover like me, be sure to check out the Dog Film Festival in NYC on October 15^th at Symphony Space, unfortunately you can’t bring your dog, but you can watch lots of awesome videos featuring other dogs!! Also, if you don’t have a dog and want one, or would like to volunteer with other dogs, check out Mayor’s Alliance.

With your awesome new No Fee Apartment rental, fun and social dog runs, the best spots for dining with your bff, and the hippest dog fashion spots, you are all set for having the BEST time with your dog in NYC. So while he keeps you happy by wagging his tail and greeting you when you come home for the day, return the favor by treating him!

XO

Steph 

As an only child, sharing personal space and “stuff” became a part of my vocabulary very late in life. It’s not like I didn’t understand the concept, but when you live at home, Mom and Dad don’t typically leave the milk out or dishes in the sink. When I first moved to the city, I experimented with living by myself in an Upper West Side Studio. It was okay, but I was really lonely. I was in a totally new city, and I realized that I missed coming home to someone. Your home environment really sets the tone for your well being, and the last thing this introvert needed was more alone time. I knew I had to find a roommate.

After my past experiences in college, I had learned what I needed in a roommate. Someone who was pretty laid back, messy but not dirty, who was invested in creating a safe and cozy home, and who did not listen to Opera. After my lonely first months in the city, I found my match-made-in-roommate heaven. I really took the time to get to know her, and after our hangouts we were sure that we would get along well in the same apartment. Turns out, we were right! Having a taste of living alone really reminded me how important it is for me to have someone to check in with at the end of the day. Some people really love the studio or one-bedroom life, but for me – at least for right now – I love having someone to share my corn-puffs with (I am a very good sharer now).

So here are my top tips for finding the right roommate in NYC:

Finding a roommate

You can take a bit of a risk and use Craigslist or the Village Voice’s weekly list of “roommates wanted”, but be sure to meet up with the person a few times before deciding to jump into living together. I’ve met people who have had awesome experiences with this, and also the opposite. There are also online roommate matching services, such as Roommate Locator or, if you’re an NYU student, try going through Off Campus Housing (call 212-998-4620 and press “O.”) Definitely avoid using any roommate matching service that asks you to display your phone number or your current address in your profile. NOTE: Free roommate services do not perform background checks on their members, so you will probably want a credit history on your prospective roommate (search “credit history” from your browser. For a more extensive check, including criminal records, check out Knowx). I really recommend using your personal network to find a roommate. Your friends and family know you well, and they might have the perfect person to set you up with. Reach out on Facebook, and let the people you hang with know to be on the lookout.

Be really honest with what you want

Ask yourself these questions: Are you looking for a place to crash, or a place to call home? Different people want different things! Is it important for you to feel a sense of community with your roommate(s), or are you just looking for someone to split the rent with? Even if it’s the latter, you should still get a sense of who the person is, especially if it is a Craigslist match.

When considering a multi-bedroom share, think of your personal habits, your pet peeves, and what kind of environment you like to come home to. Things to think about: cleaning and organization, having guests over or throwing parties, noise-level, alcohol consumption, sleeping/waking preferences. Also, do you need to be alone to recharge? If so, look for a roommate who has a similar inclination, or have that conversation upfront. Another thing to think about is your work schedule, especially if that effects sleeping and waking.

Have the important conversations right away

Sometimes it can be awkward to talk money. But you’re about to split expenses with this person or people, and the sooner you talk about how that is going to go down, the more peace of mind you will have. Are you splitting utilities? Cable? Do you have a deadline for when rent money is due? Sit down and talk about this stuff up front. It will set the tone for your roommate relationship,

Avoid moving in with someone just because you find them attractive

My friend in college hooked up with his roommate first semester freshman year. Let’s just say it made for a really awkward second semester. I can’t condone this behavior, but if you do find your soulmate on Craigslist please email me because I really love weddings.

NOTE: My Dad wanted me to include that the rate of roommate separation the United States is higher than the divorce rate. I’m gonna go ahead and say that’s made up, especially because it’s a little depressing. Nice one, Dad.

If you’re in the market for a new roomie, keep my tips in your pocket. I think you’ll be well on your way to finding someone to share your corn puffs with! Until next time,

Hope this helped!

Love, Haley

photo credit: Elp2 via photopin (license)