Image via Google Maps Street View

My daughter is starting graduate school at NYU this January, which means she has officially entered the wild world of NYC apartment hunting—done entirely from several states away.

Everything has to be virtual, and honestly, I give her so much credit.

I start sweating just opening StreetEasy. But why is it that every twenty-something woman hears the siren call of Manhattan? I sure did. And yes, it was much easier back then.

What NYC Apartment Hunting Looked Like in My 20s

In my twenties, I ricocheted around New York like it was my own personal pinball machine—Queens, Harlem, Brooklyn… every borough except the Bronx.

And somehow, I always found affordable apartments.

My first real Manhattan place (without a roommate) was a first-floor studio in the 70s off 2nd Avenue, complete with a tiny backyard. I paid somewhere in the $700s per month. I know—everyone under 35 just fainted.

While I was an undergrad at NYU, I had also put my name on the Stuyvesant Town waitlist—an oasis stretching from 14th to 23rd Street with park-like courtyards, rent-stabilized buildings, and utilities included.

Every year I’d call to check in: “Hi, still here!” After 7–8 years, I finally got the call.

I moved into a spacious one-bedroom with a dining area, linen closet, coat closet, walk-in closet, and windows in every room facing the park.

Same rent as my dark little studio. Honestly, it felt like winning the housing lottery.

Whenever my kids hear Steve’s or my NYC stories, they look at us like we’re describing Narnia. And honestly… I think we were living in one.

Why Every 20-Something Wants NYC (Then and Now)

New York City has always had that magnetic pull—energy, promise, ambition, a little chaos, a lot of magic.

Whether it’s the food carts, the subway performers, or the feeling that something big could happen at any moment, it’s no wonder young people feel drawn to it.

The difference? They’re paying $3,500 for what we paid $735 for.

Farm Happenings (Cape May Flower Farm Update)

Tulip Bulb Update

The Affaire tulip bulbs have arrived! If you ordered them, keep an eye out—I’ll be emailing you separately with pickup details.

Early Black Friday Blooms Are Live

Early Black Friday is officially ON. Don’t miss subscribing for these fleeting but spectacular early spring flowers—ranunculus and peony-type tulips that make you forget winter even happened.

Winter Evergreens + Flower Stand Update

The flower stand is transitioning into the last of the heirloom mums, fresh winter evergreens, and whatever beautiful stragglers the field insists on giving us.

Winter Wreath Workshops

Our Winter Wreath Workshops are in full swing from now until mid-December. They are cozy, festive, fragrant, creative, and full of that “I made this!” sparkle.

Can’t make it to a workshop? You can order our handmade holiday evergreens—wreaths, door swags, kissing balls, and more—now through December 7 for pickup or shipping.

More Ways to Explore

Whether we’re talking NYC in the 90s, NYU in 2025, or tulip bulbs in Cape May, thank you for being here with me through all the seasons—past and present.