Virginia K. Smith

In lieu of actual backyards, everyone in New York loves a rooftop garden--a Brooklyn-based rooftop vineyard is even in the works--but if there's nothing but tar the top of your building, getting started can be daunting.

Having a DJ for a neighbor: just as much of a headache as you'd think... (NYT)

Whether it's the smell of stale smoke or neighbors disgruntled by the previous resident, every apartment comes with a past. Some, though, are worse than others. Last week, we read about a St. Louis woman whose rental was the former home (and torture chamber) of an alleged serial killer.