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Back to Work!

August 5, 2009 RH 1 Comment

After two weeks of staying with us, my mom is leaving today. Very nice to see her and all that, but two weeks. Nuff said.

I don’t do the Brooklyn Flea during July and August, but my goal was to catch up on inventory and online sales. There was some progress made on the house renovations prior to her visit, but I literally didn’t work at all for 2 weeks. Some people might call this a “vacation” but I call this “slacking”.

Anyhoo, as of today it’s back to the routine! Waking up at 5am to exercise and walk the dogs! Getting to work by 8am (yes, my morning routine which includes coffee and Facebook can take up to 3 hours).

Then….oh what the heck: A To Do List!

1. Garage full o’ furniture. Get that stuff finished and sold!

2. Prepare for 2 flea markets: Ft Greene on Saturdays and Park Slope on Sundays

3. Check out any last minute craft show openings. (Yeah, I waited too long on this one)

4. Start early with the holiday smalls. Gotta get some NYC photo touristy stuff going.

5. Update my photography website. It’s been about 4 years.

6. Market the real estate photography.

One thing about taking time off is that you get to look at the situation without it being piled on top of you. What’s really going to happen? As soon as I get started, I’ll become overwhelmed immediately and won’t accomplish half the list.

But at least I got to make a list!

Got Blog?

August 4, 2009 RH 2 Comments

Materialicious has a new format! Justin has opened the site to the general public to register and submit content.

What does this mean? If you’ve got something to say on the subjects of residential architecture and design, craftsmanship, materials and products, here’s your outlet.

If you are a creative, you’re welcome to promote your work on the site. The site will be moderated and edited, so commercial work and spam is out of the question.

It’s a great idea! For the reader, there will be more material than a team of bloggers can ever provide. For crafts people and other bloggers, it’s free promotion. Now if I can only keep up with my own blog, I can contribute to Materialicious.

How Would You Make NY A Greener Apple?

August 3, 2009 RH

YouTube link

What would you do to make NYC a greener place? Native New Yorker Pamela French is asking High Line visitors and getting some interesting answers. I found it odd that there are still people without a clue (check out the Houston couple) but I guess it’s unAmer-cayn to recycle.

Thanks to Eva “Film Biz Recycling” Radke for forwarding this. Check out Pamela’s Tonic interview and her other videos on the youtube.

Bad Listing Photos. Just for Fun!

July 31, 2009 RH 3 Comments

Oh, I didn’t even know Lovely Listing existed until a friend tweeted/twittered it. Too funny! Check it out…..

Why? Was the sink really so nice that you just had to get the shot? Clear the shit away!

This makes me dizzy. Maybe I should turn all the furniture upside down on my next shoot and see if the broker notices.

This gives me an idea for my next renovation… in the “so tacky that it’s awesome” style. Pictured here is carpeting, but imagine: ASTROTURF!

Eew. Guess the water was turned off, huh? Look, it’s shaped like the boot of Italy!

Kingston Blogger Selling Home

July 30, 2009 RH 7 Comments

The word that comes to mind when I look at this house is “Suh-weet”. For the past 7 years, the residence has been inhabited by former Park Slopers turned Kingstonites, Nancy and her family. She has a super cool blog called Oswegatchie about the house, the restoration and the Hudson Valley.

Open house this Sunday, August 2nd! I wish I was around to see it. I’ve always wanted to see the interiors of some of these fabulous Kingston Victorians. This home is located “Uptown” which is pretty much the business district. It’s within walking distance to restaurants, supermarkets, shops and the bus down to the city.

The single family house is listed for $409,500. It sits on 0.37 acres and has 6 bedrooms. Six bedrooms!

These are friends of Louise aka OTBKB, so they must be nice.

Kingston by Reclaimed Home.

Design Your Own Reclaimed Table

July 29, 2009 RH

Oh fun! Vermont Farm Table allows you to build your own table right there online. You can choose from sustainable new or reclaimed wood and pick out any legs you want to go with the top. No tools or skill needed.

Prices run from $1280-$1380 for stock tables. The furniture is sealed with tung or linseed oil and any paint they use is low VOC. They do custom designs as well.

Tuesday Linkorama

July 28, 2009 RH 1 Comment

Highline by Naomi “TLDB” Sachs

Back in the High Line Again. TLDB

Save Bed Stuy Farm! Bed Stuy Blog

Brownstoner launches BK.LY. Can someone explain?

Recycle plastic plant pots. This Old House

Simpsons mosaic table (yes, THAT Simpsons!) Make

Garden Apartment Now Livable!

July 27, 2009 RH 5 Comments

After four years of restoration, two of those years on this particular apartment, I am pleased to announce that our dwelling is finally habitable. It’s far from finished, but it’s done enough so that we can furnish it and work around that.

This is normal for us. We haven’t lived in a house that wasn’t under construction since 1994 back when we were renting. Once we get this kitchenette sink in, we’ll probably give it a rest, leaving some areas without moulding or paint for a few years.

But for now…..a couple of weekends off to enjoy Brooklyn.

Ah, seems like only yesterday it looked like this….

Wanna see a “To Do” list?

1. Work around windows

2. Get shutters in

3. Radiator covers

4. Sink, counter top, backsplash

5. Paint sink base

6. Finish moulding

7. Strip doors (ugh, more stripping)

8. Clean up mantel

9. Re-do hearth (damn, forgot about that!)

10. “Fancy paint” for trim and medallion

Progress

Entertaining Seniors in New York

July 24, 2009 RH 5 Comments

Catskill Animal Sanctuary

The mom is visiting. She’s 78 years old and doesn’t do steps. She wakes up after 8am and sits around in her house frock for a couple of hours before she’s ready to leave the house. She can’t eat “spicy” foods and her back and feet start to hurt if she walks to much.

So, what to do? I tried to plan an agenda before she arrived so we wouldn’t be sitting around looking at each other. When she visits (from Florida, where else?) I tend to slow down to her beat, calling it a night after our early bird dinner at 5pm.

Here are some senior friendly activities I have planned…

Tonight we’re going to the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. No, she doesn’t really care for Shakespeare (her words) but I talked her into it, telling her it wasn’t the usual stuffy Bard production. We’ll picnic on the grounds before the show, overlooking the Hudson. Of course I’m bringing a folding chair so she doesn’t have to sit on the ground.

On Saturday we’ll take a drive up to the Catskill Animal Sanctuary. I’ll introduce her to Phyllis the Chicken if he’s still there and we’ll meet all the other farm animals. If her feet can hold her, we’ll check out Opus 40 as well.

We’re visiting family on The iLand on Sunday, but we’ll probably swing by the Dumbo flea market before hand.

Next Thursday, July 30th is Frankie Valli and Connie Francis at Seaside Concerts. I’m bringing extra prune juice so we can party into the night.

The following day it’s back to The iLand for a weekend in The Hamptons with other cousins. We’re rushing back on Sunday to lunch with yet another cousin at the Vegas Diner.

I was going to get West Side Story tickets, but I heard from a couple of people that this production wasn’t the best. Rave reviews for In the Heights, but I’m fearful of trying something new with her. You know how those seniors can be.

Still looking for more to do on those off days if anyone has non-touristy suggestions!

Euro Linkorama

July 23, 2009 RH 1 Comment

Since I feel like taking a trip but I’m stuck here at the moment, I started looking at some European blogs.

Out of Germany: Nothing but doors

Not really updated, but some interesting posts on buying property in Galway, Ireland

Solar powered lanterns @ Tardis Living

Blogger’s strike. Only in Italy.

A Frenchie takes New York. (She’s anti-goose!)

NYC Restaurant Week: 9 Days Left

July 22, 2009 RH

Oops, totally forgot about restaurant week! Lucky for me, restaurant week lasts for 3 weeks, ending on July 31st. Over 250 restaurants are participating this year, serving 3 course lunch for $24.07 and dinner for $35. Menus are posted (warning: PDF files) and reservations are strongly suggested.

So, what have we got? I’m going for the vegetarian options here. Carnivores, do your own research.

Asia de Cuba has a marinated crispy tofu entree.

Fig & Olive is offering a main course of penne with cremini mushrooms, black truffle paste and white truffle oil.

Over at Ilili Lebanese restaurant, it looks like you have a choice of anything on their menu.

Tribeca Grill is serving up an entree of herbed ricotta raviolini with braised artichokes, fava beans and cherry tomatoes.

And that’s just a small sampling.

So. Hungry. Now.

Another Borscht Belt Hotel Dies

July 21, 2009 RH 11 Comments

The Nevele was one of the last remaining Catskill resorts from a bygone era. Sadly, last month they closed their doors.

A NJ based investment group purchased the hotel in 1997 and turned it over 3 years later to another NJ company. $11 million was spent on improvements and it’s said that the place was hopping. The financial problems were likely from failed management and not lack of business.

Ellenville has lost some major employers in the past few years and this only adds to the economic woes of the downtrodden town.

By the way, Nevele is eleven backwards because it was originally owned by 11 brothers.

Please see: Borscht Belt. Then & Now.

To the Moon!

July 20, 2009 RH

What will you do to celebrate the anniversary of the moon landing, if anything? Well, here are some local activities, kids!

The Hayden Planetarium, of course. Whoopie Goldberg narrates the current space show “Journey to the Stars“. Showtimes are every half hour. If you’ve never been to the planetarium, shame on you. Disclosure: I’ve only ever seen rock laser light shows, but still….I was there! Take time to visit the museum too!

Swing out to Bethpage, Long Island for some activities at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. The museum houses an IMAX theater as well as permanent and special exhibits.

The NY Hall of Science in Queens features “Rocket Park”, a 5000 square foot outdoor exhibition.

Leave the kiddies home for tonight’s burlesque show at Public Assembly in Williamsburg. Clams Casino and Neil “Armstrong” O’Fortune present striptease artists/conspiracy experts to uncover the plot to fake the moon landing.

Plan ahead! On July 30 @ 11am, The Intrepid will host a talk with NYC native and astronaut Mike Massimino. Fun fact: Mike was the first human to tweet from space.

Fabulous Recycled Chandeliers

July 17, 2009 RH 5 Comments

Emilia sent a link to Casa Sugar’s post on chandeliers made from everyday objects. (Ok, they may not all be from recycled material, as my title suggests, but they should be!) Some very beautiful fixtures were featured in the article, but guess which one was my favorite? The Barbie hair chandelier (above) by John Adler! How friggin awesome and creepy is that? What could be better? Answer: Human hair!

I’m also loving this crazy paper clip chandelier. How long do you think this takes to do? You can find out. It’s $300 for a complete fixture, but Etsy seller ReDesign Technologies offers a discounted kit if you want to do a little self assembly action. Honestly, $300 for a totally unique chandelier? Not bad. Not bad at all.

The plastic cup chandelier by Etsy seller Sunfish is superfabulous and are you ready for the price? $45! No, I didn’t leave off a zero. No, it’s not made in China. Sunfish is in Ohio. I know! Right? Take advantage while you can! Before Sunfish reads this and says “$45? What was I thinking?”

* Don’t forget. This post was totally stolen from Casa Sugar.

Brownstone Progress

July 16, 2009 RH 4 Comments

Yesterday I posted photos of our new stoop that costs more than an inexpensive car. More than a new bathroom. More than 2 really good vacations. You get the picture.

Z conquered the bulging sides on the first day. He (or I should say “they” as I don’t even know if Z is there) got to the steps on day two. Call me crazy, but I kind of like they way they look now.

The interior work is getting done as well! (Please see post on how I fired my husband)

Funny story about the carpenters. Darren did most of the carpentry on the other apartments. He’s an excellent carpenter but a bit of a Diva. He’ll show up one day and then you don’t hear from him for 2 weeks. One of those, you know. So, I called Bill the stair guy, also a carpenter. Good old reliable Bill. Great work, inexpensive and shows up.

Well, Bill had some difficulty getting back to me this time. He came in to look at the work and then I called him 3-4 times for the quote. “Oh, I’ll call you back in 10 minutes.” said he, every time. Meanswhile, we never did tell Darren we were talking to other carpenters….just in case.

And good thing we didn’t! It was actually Darren who came through for us in the end. Never mind the fact we had to go over to his house and drag him to ours. It worked. Now all but one door has moulding and that’s simple enough for us to do.

You know what that means, kids? The final chapter. It’s time to paint.

(Ok, I may be jumping ahead. There are doors to strip, radiator covers to be made, a countertop and backsplash……. but it’s livable! Kind of.)

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