Reuse. Rehabilitate. Restore. Architectural salvage and repurposed pieces for the home.
The hubby was cleaning out the basement over the holiday weekend (What, did you expect us to barbecue?) and discovered a vintage wedding cake. It was a very eew moment. The cake was sitting in a plastic bag in a freezer that hasn’t been plugged in at least since we got the place in 2005.
See all the black gunk? Yup, the icing.
After careful evaluation, we’ve dated the artifact around the 1980’s.
This is one salvaged item that ended up in the trash.
1. Go to a British pub. Be all like “Hey, screw you Brits! You ain’t the boss of me!”
2. Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. You can be a spectator or apply for the competition if it’s not too late. Coney Island. Where else?
3. Take a self guided battle for New York tour. It covers a lot. You may need to stop for a pint at a British pub.
4. Brooklyn Music Festival at Floyd Bennett Field. Reggae, ska, calypso, hip hop….
5. Circle Line cruise. Never done it. Not July 4th, not ever. But could be a smile. 79 bucks though. Ouch.
6. Stormville Flea Market. July 3rd & 4th. Worth the drive.
7. Let the eagle soar! Celebrate America’s icon at the Audubon Center in Prospect Park. July 3 & 4. There are other events taking place in the park that day, so bring a picnic and hang out some.
8. What’s more Amer-kin than seeing the next best thing to Johnny Cash? Rosanne Cash at Governors Island. Free show and ferry.
9. Joisey. Macy’s fireworks are over The Hudson this year, not the East River. Hop on the PATH to Hoboken or Weehawkin. Force your way to the crowded waterfronts or check out the restaurants or cruises.
10. Splurge! Go to the top of the Empire State Building. You can’t get a much better view than that. Tickets are $125 a pop and limited to the first 300 people. It doesn’t seem to be sold out yet.
Most importantly, kids, remember not to blow off your face or hands with illegal fireworks!
Happy 4th!!
After years of going through thousands of plastic seltzer bottles, my husband put the foot down. He wanted to switch to tap water. Water? I don’t like water. I need my seltzer!
So, I did what my mom did back when I was growing up. I called the Seltzer Man. Yeah, he still exists.
Now, it’s a bit pricier than the Vintage variety, but the bottles keep the fizz. Plus, knowing that I’m not single-handedly destroying Planet Earth with my carbonated drink addiction is priceless. The cost for Bed Stuy delivery is $25 per case of 10. It’s only $1 per bottle to schlepp to the factory in Canarsie for pick up, but Narsie? No, thanks.
Gomberg Seltzer Works is the last remaining seltzer factory in NYC and there are only about 6 or 7 guys delivering to the entire city. Ronny Beberman is the Brooklyn Seltzer Man. He’s 63 years old and still drives his wooden slatted truck full of valuable vintage glass bottles.
The alternative to store bought or delivered seltzer would be to make my own. Now lookit, I have trouble boiling water or making toast. I’m not so sure I’d be up for carbonating several bottles of water. It’s just too much work.
Plus, let’s face it. Old school seltzer delivery is cool as shit.
Tomorrow’s post: How I’m going back to the rotary phone.
PS: “Seltzer Works” is a documentary film about Gomberg Seltzer. It’s being screened at Rooftop Films on July 17th.
I’ve always wondered what it’s like to step foot in New York for the first time. Must be pretty cool. The energy. The lights. The people whizzing by. Being born here, I’ve always taken it for granted.
Returning home after 7 years upstate is as close as I’m gonna get to losing my New York virginity. Ok, so I lived less than two hours away and came here all the time, but I didn’t get to take it all in when I was just visiting.
I’m back two months now and I feel a bit like Austin Powers having missed nearly a decade. But it’s all good. I’ve got some catching up to do, so….oops….not being too productive lately. Just seeing old friends and eating at restaurants I’ve missed and feeling like myself again.
I don’t regret moving away. I needed it at the time and it was lovely and pleasant and I met some great people in Beacon. I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with New York. I leave for a bit. I come back.
I always come back.
But this time around, I think I’ll stay for awhile.
Yeah, yeah. It’s only Tuesday and I’m slacking on the posts already. So what?
Tiny Victorian Cottage. NY Times
100 Abandoned Houses. Casa Cara
Interview with an Etsyan. The Storque
Conserving Water. Green Upgrader
Heard about this on NPR. This guy builds hobbit cabins out of reclaimed material. His first one was called the Hickshaw. Because he’s a hick.
See also: Plywood Chateau
I try my best to be an eco-friendly gal, but one thing I cannot put up with is the heat. Sorry, but I have my air conditioner running all the time in the summer. Please do as I say and not as I do so you can make up for my own hypocrisy.
1. Turn off electrical heat sources. Well, you obviously shouldn’t be cooking a lasagna on the hottest day of the year. Don’t forget that the oven isn’t the only thing giving off heat. Dishwasher? Clothes dryer? And turn off those lights!
2. Screw you, Sun. Ok, your lights are off and now I’m asking you to draw your shades or curtains. Hel-lo? Sun=The original heat source. So, you’re sitting in the dark. At least it’s cooler. You know what? Get naked while you’re at it. Nobody will see you.
3. Ice, meet fan. Stick a bucket of ice or cold water in front of a fan. That should cool down that nasty hot air blowing on you.
4. Have a wet T-shirt contest. It may seem daffy, but when I’ve been caught without a/c, I just step into a cold shower with all of my clothes. They’ll stay wet long enough to cool down some. The shoes can come off.
5. Eat spicy foods. Yeah, for real.
6. My husband says hot tea helps but I don’t believe him.
7. Make your own air conditioner.
Ah, the good news just keeps on coming out of the gulf. I caught wind of this video from Credo. It’s just an interview, nothing bad happens. There are several horrible videos on You Tube now….dolphins, birds, fish and sea turtles dying and washing ashore. I couldn’t watch. Don’t expect you to watch either. Just be aware that it’s happening and do something about it!
There’s a petition for ya to sign @ Credo.
Subway Rats! City Room
Soup For You! Diner’s Journal, NY Times
Vegan Bakery for E. Williamsburg. Super Vegan
Cool DIY Projects for a Hot Day. Green Upgrader
Preservation in NJ. Old House Web
The Seaside Summer Concert series @ Coney Island always has at least a little bit of awesomeness in store. Washed up has beens? Perhaps. But they can still rock. Past performances included The B-52’s, Blondie with Pat Benetar, The Village People, Donna Summer, KC & The Sunshine Band and Liza. With a Z.
So the full calendar isn’t up yet, but it looks like the must see concert this year will be Aretha on August 12. I’m also groovin’ to The Beach Boys with Mickey Dolenz. I had a big crush on Mickey D when I was young. I know, I know…Davy Jones was the cute one.
Anyway, all shows are free, as always. They get really crowded. Public transit is the way to go. Parking is tough.
See ya there!
I shot this sweet Beacon Victorian last week for JonCar Realty, the same broker who’s listing our house. The seller and I got to chatting and it turns out they friggin adore my house but can’t put in an offer until they know theirs is going to sell.
I like the idea of this couple getting our house for a number of reasons.
1. They’ve restored their own old home and know what it takes.
2. They appreciate the work we’ve already done because, well, see #1.
3. They read my blog.
4. They are from Beacon, so they won’t be abandoning the house for the city after a few years (like us).
5. Our house is commercially zoned. A lovely Victorian with original detail up the road was sold to a lawyer a few years back and it was totally raped. Now it’s a vinyl sided law office. Damn shame, that is. I’d die if someone did that to my house.
6. Ok, here’s where I start tearing up. The wife said our house is her dream home. It’s always been our dream house and it still is. Just wish we could pack it and take it to Brooklyn. I want someone in there who loves it as much as we do.
Ok, enough about our house. So, here’s the house you have to buy:
A 1910 house on a quiet street. 3 BR, 2 Bath lovely restoration. 0.08 backyard already fenced for a dog, if you have one. Oh yeah, or kids. No work to do as far as I could see. Just move in and enjoy. $284,900.
Hurry up and call JonCar @ 845-831-3331.
Gonna be hawking my wares at a new (ish) market this Sunday. The Hester Street Fair is only a few months young, but both shoppers and vendors seem to be happy enough with it so far.
Like the Brooklyn Flea (Hello, I’ll be there on Saturday!), it’s semi-curated with a mix of vintage, crafts and not-your-average-sausage-fair-food. Hester has about 60 vendors on a given weekend and is open on Saturdays and Sundays.
My grandfather was a rag man on the Lower East Side when he arrived in this country. Looks like I’m taking the family history back a step. Wait till you hear about the seltzer delivery I’m hooking up…..
My grandparents are in their graves ROFLTAO.
The long awaited Bed Stuy organic grocery will finally be opening in the fall. Location is to be announced. Alls I can say is that it better be within walking distance of me.
The owners are currently trying to raise funds for the renovation of the store.
It’s been a long time since I did an affordable housing post. Let’s see what kind of rentals are available in our fine boro of Brooklyn, shall we?
Clinton Hill Studio $980
The marble fireplace, the wide plank floors! It’s clean too, which for this price is difficult to find. The drawback? It’s the G train. Ugh.
Prospect Park South $1000
Meh apartment but location, location, location. Q/B train at Church? Not too shabby.
Crown Heights $995
A pre-war 1 BR along the #3 line. Yeah ok, I can deal with that.
Bed Stuy $1110
Brownstone 1 BR with what seems to be a back yard. They don’t SAY that, but why else would they take picture of it? Address is listed as Decatur at Macdonough. No clue where this is, since they run parallel.
Pet adoption and
rescue powered by
Common Questions About Pet Adoption
Q: Although there are millions of pets in shelters needing homes each year, many pet-owners-to-be don’t think about pet adoption when they’re looking for their new four-legged friend. Why do you think this is, and what can be done to turn that around?
A: Many people who want to get a pet just are not aware of how many great pets are available at shelters. They might also have the misconception that pets in shelters might be there because there was a problem with the animal. In fact, most pets end up in shelters not because of any problem with pet behavior, but because an owner died, moved, or simply didn’t have the time or money to care for the animal. In some cases animals are lost and never found by their owners. These animals are healthy and very eager to please. Rescued pets are wonderful- just ask anyone who has one.
Some people are seeking purebred animals or puppies and think these animals are not available in shelters. In fact, nearly a quarter of all animals in shelters are purebred. Often someone buys an expensive purebred animal and then attempts to breed that animal to recoup their money. Often these animals are not placed in homes, and end up in the shelter. Puppies and kittens often up in shelters as well, but it is important to note that puppies require a lot of work and training and can be quite destructive (peeing on the carpet or chewing shoes). Puppies are great, but often people are much happier getting a dog who is older, and whose size and temperament is a known quantity.
Through Adopt-a-Pet.com and without even leaving their home, people can search all their local shelters and see pictures and descriptions of the pets available for adoption. This way, they can find the exact pet they want, call the animal shelter or rescue group, and get information on how to adopt that specific animal.
Q: What are the 5 most important things a potential adopter should consider when choosing their new pet?
A: We actually have a blog post on this highlighting the top 10 things we believe are important when adopting. Here are five, the rest can be located by visiting this page.
1. You need to make a real commitment to care for your pet for its entire life.
2. Verify in advance that you’re allowed to keep a pet where you live.
3. Never adopt a pet on a whim or because you feel it’s love-at-first-sight
4. Provide sufficient exercise and stimulation during the first few weeks, this will help the pet adjust.
5. Make any necessary modifications to your yard and fence to provide for your pet’s safety.
Q: What are 5 positive aspects of pet adoption, and why it’s a good option?
A:
1. When you adopt an adult animal, you can see his/her size and temperament. This helps ensure that the pet is right for you and your family.
2. It feels great to know you have saved an animal’s life and everyone you meet will give you kudos for that for years to come.
3. Adopted pets are very loyal and know they have been given a new home.
4. Adopting a pet can be an important lesson to teach your children– both about the value of life, and also about civic responsibility and even recycling- in this case recycling a living and loving animal into a new home.
5. Choosing a mixed breed animal can help avoid many of the genetic health problems that have developed in purebred animals due overbreeding and inbreeding.
Q: If someone reading this isn’t in a position to adopt a pet right at this time, but still wants to help homeless pets, what are 5 things they can do to get involved?
A:
1. People can do Social PETworking and Twitter Critter! They can run a search on Adopt-a-Pet.com, find a pet they want to help get exposure for, and use the share tools on our site to post the pet link on their Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or other social network page. Or, they can email the link of a pet in need from our site to their friends.
2. They can place a link/graphic or even a search widget for Adopt-a-Pet.com on their personal website to encourage they users to see pets in need at local shelters.
3. People can add their info to our volunteer database so shelters who need volunteers can find them.
4. People can search Adopt-a-Pet.com to find a local shelter, and make a cash donation to that shelter to help them with the costs of housing, feeding and medical care of shelter animals.
5. People can encourage other pet owners to spay or neuter their pet to help prevent unwanted births.
*Guest post by Adopt a Pet