You’ve probably heard by now that the skinniest house in NY is on the market. 75 1/2 Bedford Street is currently listed with Corcoran for $ 2,750,000. The 1873 Dutch row house in the West Village is only 9.5 feet wide. The interior doesn’t look extra cute from the listing, although it may be the terrible snapshot photos. You would think for a nearly 3 million dollar famous home, the agent would make an effort, but no. It is said that John Barrymore and Cary Grant lived here.
Oooh, I just love this one! It’s just soooo European, but it’s actually in New Jersey. Hoboken, to be exact. The octagonal cottage is listed with Liberty Real Estate for $849,000. Not a crazy price, but steep for a single family. Add close to 10k taxes on that and yer done fer. Plus, no parking. But it’s sooooo European!
Gotta say, I’m not really groovin to this one. Listed with Bond for $1,950,000 . It’s kind of like Westchester McMansion meets Superman’s Ice Palace. But it could be fun for a day. I’d imagine light wouldn’t be a problem. The elders in my family have a yiddish word for people who like homes like this. It’s called “galitzianer”, although I’ve always thought it was “glitzyaner”, which would make more sense. You get the picture. The definition of “galitzianer” doesn’t really match, so I’m thinking maybe my family is making it up as they go along?
I’ve been hard at non-computer related work this week, so it’s been a struggle to keep up with fresh blog posts. Luckily, I have some fabulous blogger buddies who send me updates periodically.
One of them is my neighbor, Mr. “Save Bedford Stuyvesant” Morgan. He emailed about a new blog that will keep track of the landmarking of our section of Bed Stuy. Wanna know what it’s called? Bedford Corners. How “It’s a Wonderful Life” is that? (I know, I know….that was Bedford Falls)
Just so you know, Bedford Corners is not a new real estate term. It’s the area surrounding the intersection of Bedford Avenue and Fulton Street. Bedford was founded in the 70′s (as in 1670′s) and later became “one” with Stuyvesant Heights. Bedford + Stuyvesant = You do the math.
Ms. Renovation Therapy Jean alerted me to the new blog, Scavenger List. They go around NYC taking photos of curb “trash”. You know what they say about one man’s trash?
Locations are posted and there’s even a google map of where these treasures are. I’d be worried that they would be gone by the time I made my way over. Did I ever mention the beautiful dresser I missed because I didn’t want to move my car on alternate parking day? It was either the good parking spot or that dresser and I chose the spot. Oh, what this city does to people.
Just one story of how Ted Kennedy touched a New Yorker’s life.
Jessica Katz was born in a Moscow hospital in 1977 with a nutritional deficiency that stopped her from growing. Without proper care, she would have died, yet she was denied permission to leave the Soviet Union because her father had been exposed to government secrets.
In September of 1978, Kennedy stepped in. After learning of the “little refusenik’s” struggle, he traveled to Moscow for a meeting with Brezhnev himself to ask him to let the Katz family leave the country for Western medical attention.
Long story short (but you should read it and watch the video), the Katz family were greeted by Kennedy when they arrived in Boston and they all lived happily ever after (except TK, RIP).
Inspired by Kennedy’s life of public service, Jessica Katz now works at the Department of Housing and Development finding housing for NYC’s homeless population.
From their website: “HPD is the largest municipal developer of affordable housing in the nation. They work with governmental, community, non-profit and for-profit partners to strengthen neighborhoods, increase the availability of well-maintained, affordable housing and enable more New Yorkers to become homeowners.”
“HPD’s Supportive Housing Loan Program provides financing to not-for-profit organizations to develop supportive housing for homeless single adults, including people suffering from disabilities such as mental illness and AIDS.”
Talk about paying it forward!
I’ve passed Fabulous Furniture on 28 in Boiceville a gazillion times, but last Saturday was the first time I pulled over. In a way, I wish I hadn’t, because I wanted everything in the shop and couldn’t afford a thing. If you’ve gone that route before, you know the place….with the car sculptures out front.
Steve Heller is the genius behind the metal sculpture, auto furniture and woodwork. His father was a junk collector/antiques dealer and he started working with reclaimed wood when he was 12. He opened shop in 1973.
Most of the wood used comes from fallen or rotten trees and other “misfit” trees that are unappealing to loggers. The defects are what create the intense patterns.
There are car bars and car couches and car lamps, but Steve also works on just cars. In fact, he won the NY Times’ Collectible Car Contest earlier in the year. Are you ready for this? He takes new cars and antiques them by adding old exterior parts. He’s currently working on a kick ass station wagon in the back of his building.
If you’re into collectible cars, you gotta visit this place!
Keeping dry under the awning in Margaretville
There is life beyond Woodstock on Rt. 28. You’d want to have some appreciation of the country if you’re heading way upstate as the area is more relaxing than exciting. Is that my way of saying this city chick didn’t enjoy her recent visit? Not exactly, but……
You get what you pay for. In this instance, we stayed at a friend’s house for free. We had been there over 13 years ago and it was really lovely. The home belongs to a Brooklyn couple and she hasn’t been upstate in over 3 years due to health issues. When he told us he “didn’t get to clean this week” we thought nothing of it, having 6 cats that pee everywhere but the litterbox. Problem was, he hasn’t cleaned in about 3 years. Dust. Mold smell from basement. Mouse shit. Dead flies on glue strips.
Fine, we’ll just sleep there. Won’t cook. Except, Peekamoose, the closest good dinner restaurant was like 20 miles away in Big Indian and gourmet deli places, not so much. We ended up with deli from the local supermarket. Potato salad and such.
But it’s not all about food. We had planned on long hikes with the dogs and kayak trips and envisioned sitting on the deck overlooking the stream while enjoying a glass of wine.
It rained all weekend. Oh, we hiked. In the pouring rain. The first day we did what would’ve been an extremely pleasant hike at Dry Brook Ridge. The trail winds around a stream and leads to a waterfall. How wonderful on a hot day to be able to cool off in the stream! How horrid on a rainy day to drag your waterlogged legs and feet along the muddy trail.
I wanted an iphone picture by the beautiful waterfall, but that was the moment my dog jumped into the rushing water and I panicked and made my husband go save her.
The following day we hiked the Huckleberry Loop of Drybrook in the rain. The tall trees were pretty and it was a pleasant, slightly uphill walk. The trail would have been fairly easy for me, except I was huffing and puffing and experiencing vertigo from lack of sleep in the moldy house the night before. At least that’s what I think it was from. Perhaps it was late season allergies. Or maybe I’m just out of shape. Or I drank too much wine on the wet deck. Anyway, we only went an hour or so in.
The house was located between the towns of Margaretville, Andes. We hung around Margaretville for a bit and drove through Andes. Both places and Fleischmanns seemed slightly more depressed than the last time I was there. Oh, they were still charming for sure and had it going on, but there were some shuttered restaurants and shops, perhaps due to the economy. This is why I say that you really have to appreciate the natural beauty of the area. Don’t visit solely for the quaint villages or you could be in for a disappointment. There is also a lot of miles between towns, so be prepared to do some heavy driving. Or more driving than you’re used to if you’re from NYC.
Arkville is tiny little surprise of a town. If you blink, you’ll miss it, but the old railroad is a cool feature, as is the Bread and Breakfast diner in a caboose.
We decided to head home a day early. We stopped for lunch at Sweet Sue’s in Phoenicia. It was the best part of the trip. Sweet Sue’s is never a let down. They used to be a little restaurant known for their amazing breakfasts, but now they’ve expanded and seem to be the biggest draw in town (apart from the tubing). I had some kind of pistachio encrusted tofu dish and the husband had a tempeh reuben. We sat outside (The sun was out because we were on our way home) where the dogs were quite welcome.
So, here’s my summary….
Beyond Woodstock: Mt. Tremper, Phoenicia, Big Indian are beautiful with some things to do in bad weather. Beyond Big Indian is breathtakingly gorgeous, but be sure to have a rain plan.
Hancock Street, Bed Stuy. Examiner
Writer Suzanne (*my buddy) Spellen explores Hancock Street in her old neighborhood of Bed Stuy. She now lives across the border (of Atlantic Ave) in Crown Heights. Many of these homes were designed by famed 19th century architect Montrose Morris. Gorgeous, no? I live right around the corner, but alas, I have a simple brownstone. Feh.
Hamptons Rental Deals. Casa Cara
Cara explains how you to get more bang for your buck in the Hamptons. Lemme add to this with a little story of my own. My cousins recently purchased a home in South Hampton. Huge house (like I got lost in it, huge), 5 acres, tennis court and pool…new construction that the builder couldn’t unload. Ok, it wasn’t under a million, but they did get a million off ask! Point is, buying or renting…the second home market is hurting and there are deals galore.
Buying Girlie Things. Renovation Therapy
Jean finds a bunch of stuff for cheap. I’m totally jealous she got to go thrifting but they are girlie things I wouldn’t know how to use anyway, so there. A mixer. A sewing machine. What do you do with those things?
$27,900 House. Newburgh Restoration
Cute 100+ year old brick house an hour away from NYC. Under $30k. Seriously! No joke! It’s in need of restoration (no duh), but if you buy it you can start your own restoration blog. I kind of have a soft spot for Newburgh. Old row houses. On the water. Did I mention it’s an hour away from NYC?
You know, I could write a Friday post to finish up the week, but guess what? I don’t feel like it. That’s right. I’m slacking, baby!
Heading up north to Margaretville with the dogs for the weekend. If anyone knows of excellent hikes or swimming holes or restaurants up yonder, please fill us in. On the other hand, I don’t think we’ll have internet. Or a cell connection.
Look for some new “weekender” posts next week, like those of yesteryear.
Have a good one. See ya Monday!
Last week I visited the Eco Brooklyn house in Carroll Gardens and spoke with Gennaro Brooks-Church about his project. Well, ok, if it doesn’t look like Gennaro is talking to the camera, that’s because I piggybacked on a contractor’s job interview. Anyhoo, please excuse my lack of editing skills….still haven’t learned a thing.
All of the material used in this restoration was recycled! Crazy used stuff I’ve never been able to get my hands on, like sheetrock and plywood. This guy’s got connections, baby!
Part II will be a tour of the house, a work in progress. I’ve really gotta figure out how to edit that bit though.
Rachel from Northborough, MA lives in a raised ranch. The gal is determined to give the house a makeover that will get rid of that 1980′s look. Because, let’s face it: 80′s music = good. 80′s design = embarrassing.
My Raised Ranch blog is sort of Rachel’s wish list. There, she thinks out loud and grabs inspiration from other raised ranch renovations.
I’m just posting some of my favorite photos. They may not all be raised ranches, but her facade can probably be altered enough to resemble one of these. Good luck, Rachel!
Related: Updating Raised Ranches
We have a vegetable garden in the backyard of our Bed Stuy brownstone. Tomatoes, peppers, basil. We’ve never planted a thing in our lives and we don’t cook. But here’s a DIY to vegetable gardening.
1. Get tenants with an interest in gardening.
2. Share backyard with said tenants.
3. Tell them you’re too busy renovating the interior of the house (not a lie) so the backyard is their baby.
4. Skip town while the work is being done.
5. Try to keep the dogs from eating and shitting on the veggies.
6. Reap what they sow.
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Love the European house the best! It’s gorgeous, but $10k in taxes? Yikes!
Comment by Newburgh Restoration — September 1, 2009 @ 11:19 am