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Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day! published on

Happy Earth Day! You can find local Earth Day events for the weekend @ the Earth Day Network. Just punch in your zip code.

And please be kind to Momma Earth today and every day. Hate to get preachy on y’all, but just a few seconds out of your day would really make a difference.

Like what? Howzabout….

1. Don’t leave your reusable shopping totes behind.

2. Turn off lights when you leave the room.

3. Shut windows when it’s too chilly. Why waste heat?

4. Walk or take public transit instead of driving.

5. Recycle your paper and cans! Nobody should be throwing that stuff in the garbage. It’s 2011 for F’s sake!

6. Unplug chargers and other energy vampires when not in use.

7. Turn off water in between rinsing while doing dishes and brushing your teeth.

8. If it’s yellow….you know the rest.

Incredible New York City Sculptures

Incredible New York City Sculptures published on

Check out these images below. You’re looking at mini sculptures from artist Alan Wolfson. They mostly measure under 2 feet. A native of Bed Stuy and Crown Heights, Wolfson creates these narratives of New York’s past in plastic with wood and cardboard. As if the sculptures aren’t fascinating enough, he then lights them to perfection.

Wolfson’s work is a combination of real locations mixed with details from his memory and other locations thrown in. People never appear in this scenes because he feels they would distract from the narrative.

Do you think new NYC would be as interesting? Bet not.

Via Huffington Post

Developer/Broker Break Up on 15th St

Developer/Broker Break Up on 15th St published on 5 Comments on Developer/Broker Break Up on 15th St

An anonymous tipster emailed about the marketing of 155 15th aka Harbor Hill Condos in the South Slope. It seems that the broker and developer have decided to go their separate ways.

Douglas Elliman sent an email out to prospective buyers basically saying they felt the developer’s price points were unrealistic in this market.

I usually take no interest in new development real estate nonsense, but I found this one interesting because this is the building that was erected where a church was knocked down. Now, I’m not a religious person and if I was, I certainly wouldn’t choose Catholicism (no offense) but part of me can’t help but wonder if there’s some Poltergeist shit going on at this site.

Or it could just be unrealistic developers and brokers who wanted the listing and promised them the world to get it.

Old House Museums in the Boroughs

Old House Museums in the Boroughs published on 3 Comments on Old House Museums in the Boroughs

Looking for something to do now that the weather is willing to cooperate? Hey kids, here’s an idea that’s fun and productive! Visit an old house museum. Get your inspiration from historic homes on a Saturday and start ripping into your house on the Sunday. (Some of these places are only open on weekdays, so you’ll have to call in sick.)

In Manhattan. FYI, did you know you can take a tour of Gracie Mansion? I never even considered that. Shipping merchant Archibald Gracie built this “country home” in 1799. It went through a few incarnations, including the Museum of the City of New York, until 1942. Fiorello La Guardia was the first mayor to move into Gracie Mansion.

Also, check out Manhattan’s only remaining lighthouse!

In Brooklyn. The Lefferts House has been right under my nose all these years and yet I’ve never been inside. This is one of the few remaining farmhouses in Brooklyn. The period rooms reflect daily life in the 1820’s and what finer backyard than Prospect Park?

In Queens. King Manor Museum was home to Rufus King, one of the first senators from New York. The house opened as a museum in 1900 and today, programs focus on King’s role in the antislavery movement.

In The Bronx. The Edgar Allan Poe Cottage is currently closed for restoration, but I’m including it here anyway because Poe is too cool to pass up. Poe spent the later years of his life in the 1812 cottage. He wrote such poems here as “Annabel Lee” and his wife Virginia actually died in the cottage.

In Staten Island. The Alice Austen House Museum is a Victorian Gothic cottage overlooking the water near on Verrazano Narrows. Austen was one of the first female photographers in America. The museum features Austen’s images as well as those of contemporary photographers. Plus, it’s a great old house.

New Bar for Nostrand

New Bar for Nostrand published on

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*This post has been updated with a few corrections.

Another immediately successful business popping up in the amenity-starved Bed Stuy. “Vodou Bar” on Nostrand and Halsey had their soft opening last night. They are now open for business but will be working out the kinks over the next couple of weeks. Thursday was a trial run.

Feedback? It’s gawna rock!

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Daphne, one of the owners of Ms. Dahlia’s Cafe right next door, is behind this new venture. Lemme tell you something. She knows how to run a business. The place was packed last night. Don’t know if it was the “little” emails a select few sent out or if it was people walking off the street, but it was biz-zy.

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They have some nice bottled and tap beers, but I had to get myself a fun drink. Apart from the usual mixed drinks, there was a “special” drink menu, which is what I deserved. I ordered some watermelon thing. It was really good!

My only complaint? No umbrella in my drink.

No signage on the bar yet. Corner of Nostrand and Halsey.

Related: Wine Shop on Nostrand

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Killing Gatsby (Again)

Killing Gatsby (Again) published on

“They were careless people — they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money.”

F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote that about Tom and Daisy back in 1925, but the same can be said about today’s throwaway society. The rumored Gatsby mansion is being demolished, just like many of the other Gold Coast homes of the past.

Developers will tear the house down to build a new McMansion. Because who wants the piece of history that inspired one of the greatest Amercian novels when you can have a brand new super sized tacky house?

Clearly Long Island needs to do something about their landmarks and preservation. This just isn’t right.

Unfortunately, it’s too late for Land’s End. The original fixtures have already been removed. Demolition is under way.

Hundreds of Gold Coast historic mansions have been torn down. Perhaps it’s a good idea to visit the remaining few before it all becomes a valley of ashes.

Via NY Times

All photos by Jen Ross.

Curb Your Enthusiasm, New York

Curb Your Enthusiasm, New York published on

If you haven’t heard, “Curb Your Enthusiasm“, season 8, takes place in New York. Welcome home, Larry David! We don’t mind you filming here because we love you!

You know how New Yorkers are. We get annoyed when we have to cross the street for a film crew. We’re too jaded to get excited over George Clooney. We don’t need Hollywood taking over our city streets.

But Larry David, we can let him slide. Even get excited about seeing him. He’s one of us.

Air Conditioning Options

Air Conditioning Options published on

It used to be so easy. You stick an air conditioner in your window every summer, store it in the basement over the winter and that’s it.

Now there are options.

We decided to look into these options once our window units started breaking down. Now here we are. Weather is warming up and we are without A/C’s for 2 rooms.

Back to 2006 when we did a semi gut restoration of this house, it would have been feasible to install central air. Two things stopped us from doing this. 1) We were hemorrhaging money on this renovation and couldn’t afford the cost or time. 2) There were still plenty of original plaster walls that we didn’t want to destroy by running ducts.

Through-the-wall units would let us avoid the problem of having to move the air conditioners in and out of the windows, but that seems to be the only positive thing about it. A hole has to be cut through the exterior for each unit. Then what happens in winter? You can cover it, but it probably still compromises your heat.

Which leaves us with a ductless/split system. These systems are pricier than window units but cost less than central air. Two or more evaporators can be hooked up to a single condenser. In the long run, splits may not be as thrifty as central if cooling the entire home, but our ship has already sailed.

Why is it called “split”? The cooling evaporator sits on your interior wall while the condenser is located outside the house. Many people put the condensers up on the roof or in the yard (city yards are probably a tad on the small side).

The unit stays mounted on the interior wall throughout the year. Are they nice looking? No. Can you make a lovely cover for them? Sure.

Unlike a window or portable unit, the split system should be installed by a professional.

If anyone has any more info, please share! I’m just starting to research this myself.

Air Conditioner Buying Guide by AJMadison.com

Sidney Lumet’s New York

Sidney Lumet’s New York published on

Over the weekend we said goodbye to one of the kings of gritty old New York films. Sidney Lumet lost his battle with lymphoma at the age of 86.

I came of age on those gritty NY streets in the 60’s and 70’s, but everyone experienced the same New York thanks to Mr. Lumet. The city was a character in his films as important as the leading role.

Instead of going on about Lumet and his movies, I’m sharing three videos of real life people: Frank Serpico (Serpico), John Wojtowicz (Dog Day Afternoon), Bob Leuci (Prince of the City).

Weekender:Have You Booked Your Vacation Rental Yet?

Weekender:Have You Booked Your Vacation Rental Yet? published on

Our first year since 1999 without a country home. Don’t get me wrong, it feels great not to have the extra headache! “We could go anywhere we want now. Not stuck with just one place.” Said I. Overseas? Cross country?

Yeah, right. Who am I kidding? It’s all about the kids. Dogs, of course, in this instance. They ain’t Four Seasons material. Nor are we for that matter.

So, a few months ago we decided to do what we do every year….go upstate. It was early enough to book the house of our dreams. Secluded large home on lots of acres, hot tub, close to a great town.

And then we got distracted.

Fast forward to this week. Oops, better book that perfect vacation rental. Summer is just around the corner!

Let me tell you, it was tough. Lots of places are already booking up. If you’re thinking of staying fairly local for a weekend, week or monthly getaway, you better get crackin’ and book that shit.

In the end, I think we did find a great place. It’s got the hot tub! The house is near Red Hook and sits on 4 private acres.

And the best part about it? It’s not our house.

Looking for vacation rentals? I found Vacation Rental By Owner to be the easiest search for pet friendly homes. There’s a little paw print icon indicating which homes welcome dogs.

Other places to find rentals:

Cyberrentals

Home Away

Craigslist. You’ll have to search the area you want to stay, not NYC. Is that obvious? I thought listings should be posted under NYC for people wanting to get out of NYC, since this is the center of the universe.

Frigidaire Sucks!

Frigidaire Sucks! published on 6 Comments on Frigidaire Sucks!

When we bought our house back in late 2005, we did a complete renovation. We purchased all new appliances. They were all Frigidaire because the company manufactured the best looking appliances for the lowest price.

Well, looks aren’t everything. To be fair, we purchased the most affordable Frigidaire models. Perhaps the higher end lines are far better.

Our washing machine had to be repaired after about 3 years. Just after the warranty had expired, of course. A $200 repair. It’s still not 100% but we’ll hang on to it until it dies.

Today we’re getting delivery of a dishwasher and gas dryer. Bosch and LG, thank you very much. It’s shameful that big appliances would only last 5-6 years. WTF?

Were we wrong for expecting more? In this disposable society, you get what you pay for. If I may pass on some advice from my mistakes….don’t buy big ticket items based solely on price and looks. Sometimes it’s worth it to pay a bit more. (Of course, this being said, I hope the Bosch and LG last longer!)

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