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Green Twitter

February 22, 2011 RH

Who knew there were green Twitter lists? Apparently, everyone but me. It’s old news. But now that I’m onto it, I’m all about that! Green Upgrader has the green twitter directory. It may not have been updated in awhile, but most of the folks on it are actively tweeting.

The Huffington Post green Twitter article from 2008 is not as impressive. Interesting to see who has survived the twittesphere though.

Of course you can always follow some twit’s green list if you’re so inclined, or better still, make your own damn list! Lemme know if you do. I’m too lazy to do it myself. I’ll follow.

NYC Weekend Getaways

February 18, 2011 RH 6 Comments

For the first time in over 10 years, I don’t have a country escape from NYC. Now that the weather is showing signs of improvement, it’s all about my summer vacay. I’m assuming it’s wise to book a rental like asap, right? No, I don’t want to go to the same place for the entire season. A week or a few weekends breaking from the Big A will suffice.

Now, I’m usually an upstate gal, but maybe I want to try something new? Below is a list of lovely weekend getaways from NYC. Any thoughts for a secluded place in the woods where our dogs can run free? Must be close enough to restaurants and culture or we’ll die.

1. Catskills. Better the devil you know. Been going to the Catskills since birth. There’s something nice about knowing where you’re going without having to explore. Especially since this will be our “relaxing” vacation with the dogs. I’m including the before-you-hit-the-Catskill-area too…New Paltz, High Falls, etc.

2. Hudson Valley. See Catskills. I’m talking the other side of the river, even though HV encompasses both sides all the way up to Albany. Rhinebeck, Red Hook, Tivoli.

3. Finger Lakes. Never been. I’m eying it as a possibility as it looks beautiful and it will probably have everything we’re looking for. Plus, my friend Scott who went to Ithaca says I’ll love it. Moosewood Restaurant and very pet friendly because of the veterinarian school. Added bonus: Seneca Falls aka “The Real Bedford Falls“! Best to hit that during Christmas season when the “It’s a Wonderful Life” festival is on.

4. Berkshires. It’s got the hikes, culture and restaurants. There’s something…goofy about the Berks. Like chainsaw-bear goofy. I like the Berks. They just don’t excite me.

5. Martha’s Vineyard/Nantucket. Never been. Whaddya think? As you can see, I’m more of a woodsy person than a beach person. I do like a laid back atmosphere. Hamptons not for me! Would I hate it here? I dunno.

6. Jersey Shore. Hanging out with Snooky and the Situation! Actually, Cape May kind of intrigues me. My senile grandmother used to talk about her childhood summers there all the time. And you know, I love me some Victorians! We can also hang with The Queen of Jersey Shore.

7. Shelter or Fire Island. Yeah, I’m grouping them together. Maybe for a weekend, but I’d get claustrophobic if I had to spend more than 3 days. How are they with dogs anyway?

Facing Change. Documenting America

February 17, 2011 RH 2 Comments

Huffington Post recently featured images by photographer Carlos Javier Ortiz. I was so impressed that I followed the links back to Facing Change, a not for profit organization. Their aim is to document critical, yet under reported issues facing America. You may license images, donate money or propose a story on facingchange.org.

Below are some images that brought tears to my eyes. And some that just made me roll my eyes.

27 year old Sargent Manny Hornedo was killed near Tikrit when a suicide bomber attacked his humvee. Military funeral services were held in Greenwood Cemetary.

One year old Crystal lies dying of an intestinal disease while her mom Bridgett and housemate Wendy watch the monitors moments before her passing. Insurance would not cover the $500,000 operation that Bridgett couldn’t afford.

Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot and Military Gun Show, Westpoint, KY. Nearly 16,000 people attended the show. There has been a surge in civilian firearms since Obama’s election. Draw your own conclusions.

Troy, NY. I know what you’re thinking. Well, look, at least she’s turning her face away from the kids.

Save the Robots

February 16, 2011 RH 1 Comment

Private First Class Rupert Valero is currently stationed in Khandahar, Afghanistan. He’s making good use of the free time he has on his hands. Check out these robots made from recycled found objects. As if the robots and action figures aren’t cool enough, I’m loving the photo set ups.

Click on any of the images to access Valero’s Flickr page and be sure to check out his Etsy shop where not much is available most likely because he puts ridiculously low prices on his work.

Thank you, Mr. Valero for your service to this country and for your fabulous creations!

Via Treehugger and Articulated Discussion.

DIY Classes at City Tech, Brooklyn

February 15, 2011 RH 3 Comments

It’s that time of year again! City Tech is offering up their DIY classes. Learn everything you need to know about home repair so you can correct me when I pretend to know what I’m talking about here.

Hands-on Home Repair Workshops
Everything You Wanted To Know About Your Home (But Were Afraid to Ask)
Wed, 6 – 9 pm, 2/16 – 4/13 $50 per session
25 Chapel Street Room 106

Basic home repairs. How to fix a toilet, patch and plaster a wall, the basics of residential electricity, install a light fixture, install a lock, unclog a trap, spackle a wall and become your own favorite handyperson.

Weatherize – Caulk it up to Savings
February 16
Insulate, caulk, and weatherproof your house to keep the heat in. Low cost ways to save cold cash.

Homeowner ‘s Basic Tool Kit
February 23
Cut a board, level a shelf; install an anchor bolt in a hollow wall. This class will stock your toolkit with the most useful tools and give you hands-on tips for using them. Discover your inner handyperson and save on basic repairs.

Homeowner ‘s Guide to Basic Plumbing
March 2
Basic plumbing: How to fix a toilet, bleed a radiator, unclog a drain. Save on costly repairs that you can do yourself.

Lock Installation
March 9
Having a security complex? Install a deadbolt or mortise lock, update existing locks, and replace door knobs.

Plaster and Sheetrock Repair
March 16
Repair a crack, frame and tape, patch plaster, fill a deep hole or a nail hole. You can do it!

Everyday Electricity You Can Do Yourself
March 23
How to replace a fuse, change an outlet, install a fixture, test for power and splice a wire.

Installing Ceramic Tile for Floors and Walls
March 30
How to create a level surface, select floor tile, lay out a pattern and install like a pro.

Paint Like a Pro
April 6
A great paint job is method, not madness. This course teaches you how to prep the space, select the right tools, and apply paint like a professional. Please wear old clothes.

Blueprint Reading: The Grand Plan
April 13
Blueprints are diagrams that represent an interior space. They are the language that architects and contractors use to design and build. This course teaches you to understand electrical plumbing and construction symbols, read a floor plan, and even draft your own. Please bring a pencil, an eraser and a pad of tracing paper to the class.

Red Rooms

February 14, 2011 RH

Red. The color signifies strength, vitality and bad ass energy. It’s also the color we associate with Valentine’s Day. Have a good one!

Framy Frames

February 11, 2011 RH 2 Comments

The vintage clothing king and queen of the Brooklyn Flea are making frames now. Larry and Amy of Jellyroll Vintage are also Framy. Got that?

I do. I ordered five, count ’em, five custom Framy frames from these guys before Christmas and I finally hung them all today. So exciting!

A little background here. Amy has 15 years of framing experience behind her. She’s pretty meticulous with her work. I found out when I took the back out of one of them to change the photo and saw the crafts(wo)manship behind it. The frames are all made by hand from scratch. They’ve got a distressed look going on with a wax finish. That’s where Larry comes in. He does the mitering, joining and finishing.

Ah, but it’s not just frames. This rad couple does some pretty cool things with mats. Howzabout recycled vintage fabric?

Prices are totally fair. You have artwork sitting in a closet? Just do it already!

BTW, if the above photo looks familiar, it’s this one.

Brooklyn Apartments Under $1200

February 10, 2011 RH

This looks nice! Huge 1 BR in Crown Heights with laundry for $1175. Pets are fine!

This Clinton Hill brownstone studio was lowered from $1100 to $1099, but I’m also seeing what looks like the same apartment for $1200. WTF? Looks like everything is new. Tasteful, a tad above average rental renovation.

1 bedroom in Bed Stuy at Hancock and Malcolm for $1000. That’s close to the A at Utica and the lovely restaurants on Lewis. Top floor of brownstone. Says it’s newly renovated. Looks like that means they might have just painted, but it’s got nice bones.

For $1099 you get a meh 1 BR apartment, but it’s only a few blocks to Prospect Park, so you can’t really beat that price. Plus, it’s near some darn good trains. Small pets ok.

Bed Stuy Landmarks Meeting

February 9, 2011 RH

If you live in the south/west part of Bed Stuy, you better come to this meeting. Or else. Yeah, that’s a threat. It’s kinda important.

A Bit o’ Brooklyn in Dublin

February 9, 2011 RH 2 Comments

Honey, we’re home! You may notice some differences in the blog in the upcoming days/weeks. Right now, you may be noticing the amount of spam that has gotten through what with the upgrade and all. I’m dealing with it!

Anyhoo, we dubbed this little strip of shops in Dublin the “New York Street” because it had Bedford Stuy Barbers, a New York Ray’s Pizza (not the original though) and Flip Vintage. Ok, so Flip isn’t native to NYC, but I used to shop at the one on W. 8th Street all the time, so it made me homesick.

This Irish-now-American tourist insisted on being in the shot. Says he’s living in Bed Stuy now. Never saw him before in my life.

Dublin+Maintenance= No Blogging

February 1, 2011 RH 2 Comments

Time to visit the in-laws in the Old Country. I’m taking this opportunity to update the blog software. Don’t freak out if you see the site doing odd things this week. Blogging should resume by the 9th. Perhaps I’ll check in from Dublin. Nah, probably not. Enjoy your snowy week!

Melt Snow with Pickle Juice!

January 31, 2011 RH 1 Comment

New Jersey is known for many things…Snookie, high hair, garbage aroma, The Sopranos. Well, Bergen County (BTW, Blue Laws still exist-everything closes on Sunday!) came up with a brilliant idea this year.

The county, having reached their snow removal budget, opted for a less expensive alternative to salting the roads. Pickle juice! It seems the salt in the brine will do the trick. Sounds like an awesome idea considering it’s inexpensive (if you eat a lot of pickles) and environmentally friendly.

The problem is, your sidewalk may smell of vinegar. Not a problem if you live in NJ, because it’s probably not noticeable over all the other smells. Bada-bum!

One commenter on the CNN post I lifted this from suggested sea salt as that is free and plentiful. If you live near a beach, there ya go.

New Yawk Accents: All 5 Boros

January 28, 2011 RH 1 Comment

This is too funny! It’s not a recent video, but I just discovered it. Some woman takes us through the distinct accents of each borough. I LMFAO at Da Bronx, but wasn’t too thrilled about her Brooklyn. After 45 years, I don’t think I could tell ya which borough a person is from by hearing them talk.

The Ruins of Detroit

January 27, 2011 RH 3 Comments

The Huffington Post ran an article yesterday about Detroit’s decline. Wow, what a sad and beautiful place! It looks like the set from that Will Smith movie “I Am Legend”. Wild packs of dogs roam the streets and foliage has grown where sidewalks used to be. And dogs aren’t the only things roaming around. Real wildlife is claiming parts of the city as well.

As an historic building enthusiast, I’d like to see these structures saved. As an environmentalist, I say let nature take it back. We’re always tearing down trees and destroying natural habitats. Well, let the city become a forest. It’s been abandoned anyway.

It sure has some nice architecture though.

Sweet Home Brooklyn

January 26, 2011 RH 1 Comment

So, this Alabama chick desperately wants to move to Brooklyn and posts a donation listing on Etsy (actual listing deleted). You know, she’s a young artist, blah, blah, blah. She’s looking to raise $2500 and settle into a 1 bedroom apartment.

Brokelyn caught this non-story first and then Gothamist picked up on it. Now I feel sorry for her.

The Brokelyn comments are somewhat obnoxious but also apologetic. Basically, people are saying they worked hard to get to this paradise and there are no handouts for fresh faced wannabees. At the time of this writing (last night) there was only one native Brooklynite posting and that was me. I was all like “We don’t need any more artist transplants.” Seriously, we have enough.

Ok, I could see me being obnoxious. Most born and bred New Yorkers I know aren’t having a love affair with the skinny-jean-wearing-lose-that-stupid-beard-hipster-doofus-from-Ohio. But where’s the love from the fellow Alabama (or insert boring state here) doofusi? Lock the door behind you? Not very peaceloveandunderstanding of you.

Jeez, and the Gothamist comments are brutal! Insulting her art and her looks? You know these losers are just sore because they didn’t think of it first! I almost want to give her money just to prove these brats wrong.

But I won’t. I’ll just bitch about it instead.

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