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September 16, 2009

Cast Iron Fence: We Can Rebuild It

Here's a fun guest post from a Clinton Hill brownstone owner...
The story: Our 130-year old iron fence was in terrible shape, barely standing at all—the last of the five identical houses in our row to have even pieces of the original. I had Vinnie from Italian Art Iron Works on Bergen Street out to look at it, and was still skeptical that it could be saved. It was missing 17 arrows and five of the seven post-end caps. Fortunately, previous owners saved 16 arrows, so at least we had those. Vinnie says to me, "You gotta spend-a the money." So I did. Here's a photo of Vinnie's guy putting the pieces together along with one of what it looks like now. But that spikey finial you see below was one of only two that we had. I scoured the salvage places, emailed photos to Olde Good Things and all the rest—nada. Vinnie ballparked that it could cost us $4,000 to have new ones cast—yikes!

And then...

...my architect found these guys: Tomahawk Foundry in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, of all places. I sent them a picture and described what I needed. They said they'd do it for $150 apiece. I sent them one of the remaining finials. Three weeks later, they sent me the parts—gray iron, cast in sand. Original on the left, replica on the right. Perfect.

So if you're looking to bring your iron fence back to life and can't find all the pieces, there ya go. Fence should be complete again within a couple of weeks. And Bob's yer uncle.

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Comments

Vinnie did mine too. Replaced one of the missing heavy gate posts with an EXACT duplicate and duplicated a missing curved section of the fence exactly like the rest. I think the total was around $2,500, CASH OF COURSE.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 10:35 AM

Love.

Posted by: Nokilissa at September 16, 2009 10:35 AM

Gawjus.

Posted by: JPD at September 16, 2009 10:35 AM

Great post, can we request more reno/creative improvement type info like this? The pricing commentary by the bklyn real estate “experts” on this site looking to drive prices down is getting old…starting to seem desperate.

Posted by: pickles at September 16, 2009 10:51 AM

Im-a glad you spent-a the money. Looks-a great. I need-a to fix-a lots of things on my exterior (fence and cornice especially) so this is a kick in the pants-a for me.

Posted by: wasder at September 16, 2009 10:58 AM

awesome! great story!

Posted by: bodhi_brooklyn at September 16, 2009 11:00 AM

benson's not going to like this...

Posted by: denton at September 16, 2009 11:04 AM

could do without the stereotyped italian accent line

Posted by: lalena at September 16, 2009 11:05 AM

I think the source for a lot of these stock period component pieces is:

http://www.juliusblum.com

Of course you need someone to do the labor!

But the catalogue is fun to look thru.

Posted by: kelly at September 16, 2009 11:05 AM

My snarkfree compliments to Vinnie and the homeowner. Lovely.

Posted by: DitmasSnark at September 16, 2009 11:27 AM

Julius blum is a good source. Also look at King Architectural Metals or Lawler Foundry. Lawler makes a match to the casting to my original fence. About three years ago I bought 70 or so of them at about $16 each from their distributor in NJ and fabricated a fence on my own with a little help from Mitchell Iron Works (highly reccommend) for the gate and seven support posts. A neighbor helped me install it -thanks again Andy- (I'm at the corner of Carroll & Hoyt in case anyone wants to do a drive-by). Unfortunately that distributer is caput. King is a better and more consumer friendly source anyway (they ship directly). Next project is the newels and stoop rail.

Posted by: HDL at September 16, 2009 11:30 AM

Wonderful story! Great looking results! Thanks for sharing this!

Posted by: Brooklynista at September 16, 2009 11:38 AM

What a lovely result. It goes to show that with a little research it is possible to find the best resources for a wonderful project.

Posted by: bheightsejp at September 16, 2009 11:45 AM

But Vinnie really does talk like that. The accent is so thick, it's verging on incomprehensible.

Posted by: tiptoe at September 16, 2009 11:52 AM

so was Albert Einstein's. The point is, Vinnie apparently does excellent work. Making "fun" of his accent, to me, seems to diminish him. Is this 2009? I thought we as a society were way beyond making fun of accents, infirmities, etc. Common decency. Smacks of lightbulb jokes.

Posted by: lalena at September 16, 2009 12:05 PM

Nice job on a worthwhile project, however I think the archaic references to the craftman's ethnicity as well as the underlying innuendo that he accepts cash only are unfortunate and tired. I wonder if such lingual parody would be so casually heaped on other foreign born tradesmen, laborers or cooks discussed on this site from time to time.

Posted by: Crescent Hill at September 16, 2009 12:07 PM

lalena--why do you assume that there was a derisive intent?

Posted by: wasder at September 16, 2009 12:16 PM

Great information here!

And honestly- I don't see how anything was insulting. If anything it seemed more an affectionate nod to Vinny- who sounds like quite a character and cash only is old-fashioned (which sounds like Vinny again.)He seems to be one of those old world craftsmen. It's a little over the top to associate that with a reference to the mafia.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 12:19 PM

It's a little over the top to associate that with a reference to the mafia.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 12:19 PM
-----------------
That remark has to be one of the most ridiculous things I have read in a while, the innuendo of "cash only" is not intended to reference criminality but , in my opinion to reference the tradesmen wanting to hide something perhaps via taxes. Please take your mind out of the gutter and recognize that the poster is perhaps unintentionally ridiculing this man. I think you are the one who is quite " the character", not Vinnie.

Posted by: Crescent Hill at September 16, 2009 12:27 PM

beautifully expressed Crescent Hill. wasder, what if the original poster didn't realize he was being offensive by parodying an italian accent. then we would have to pity his insensitivity and lack of awareness. I would think the joy of being able to live in a wonderful home should reflect out into the community with a sense of gratitude, not entitlement. "My" architect, "I had Vinnie do such and such." Savor your good fortune.

Posted by: lalena at September 16, 2009 12:32 PM

Crescent Hill- I hardly think my mind is in the gutter and you seem to be suffering a case of oversensitivity. No need to insult- unless you like being this immature. And my ssumption was to that because you made reference to the OP supposedly making fun of Vinnie's Italian accent. Now you can crawl back under your rock.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 12:35 PM

What gutter? I think this is much ado about nothing, and takes away from the fact that Vinnie is a fine ironworker, who is well recommended by many here, and that the OP shared a good story, as well as gave and received a couple of good sources for custom iron pieces, something that I consider good things to know about.

Sheesh, let's just drop it, ok?

Posted by: Montrose Morris at September 16, 2009 12:37 PM

"I would think the joy of being able to live in a wonderful home should reflect out into the community with a sense of gratitude, not entitlement."

Well on this we agree. I just think maybe that you were looking for offense where none was intended. However I will gladly accept the fact that this is a fine line where everyone has a different level of tolerance and a different sense of what crosses the line.

Posted by: wasder at September 16, 2009 12:42 PM

Let's stick to the iron work people.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 12:42 PM

OP, here. Apologies to anyone offended by my accurate depiction of Vinnie's wonderful Italian accent, but that's the way he speaks. I have only affection for him. And, while he does do great work, you definitely have to "spend-a the money." Ethnic character makes NYC great--I mean to celebrate it, not denigrate.

Posted by: Rehab at September 16, 2009 12:43 PM

Rehab, the guys doing the actual work were Latin, right. The accents on the jobsite would be slightly different. Non?? Si?? :)

Discuss.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 12:46 PM

you seem to be suffering a case of oversensitivity. No need to insult- unless you like being this immature
Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 12:35 PM
---------------
Hardly, your 12:19 remark was absurd. I exposed it to be so. You are insulted. This was not my intent. You labeled the man " Old World" "Old Fashioned" "A Character", but you evidence yourself to be all of these.

Posted by: Crescent Hill at September 16, 2009 12:46 PM

C'mon! This is Brownstoner not PSP.

Posted by: Arkady at September 16, 2009 12:46 PM

was not "looking" for offense. comment in the original post was offensive. Daveinbedstuy, no, we can't just stick to the ironwork. When ugliness of expression is attached to beauty of objects there is a fundamental problem. Would anyone out there think it was cute if any of your relatives were portrayed in caricature? Think about it.

Posted by: lalena at September 16, 2009 12:49 PM

Hi is "Old World" and "Old Fashioned." that's what makes his work and attention to detail so good.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 12:49 PM

my accurate depiction of Vinnie's wonderful Italian accent
Posted by: Rehab at September 16, 2009 12:43 PM

------------------
Your apology is not accepted here, it is insincere.
Please enlighten us with some other accents you have heard recently......any good ones?

Posted by: Crescent Hill at September 16, 2009 12:50 PM

overwrought political correctness gives liberalism a bad name.

Posted by: bklyndoug at September 16, 2009 12:50 PM

I've heard a lot of them. They are quite sexy actually.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 12:54 PM

crescenthill you are superb! as for the "apology", let's just categorize it with "some of my best friends..."

Posted by: lalena at September 16, 2009 12:54 PM

overwrought political correctness gives liberalism a bad name.

Posted by: bklyndoug at September 16, 2009 12:50 PM

QOTD

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 12:55 PM

How about "fuhgeddabahtit!"?

Posted by: Arkady at September 16, 2009 12:55 PM

English accents come off as overly pompous most of the time.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 12:57 PM

Dibs - QOTD, for sure!

Posted by: Arkady at September 16, 2009 12:58 PM

"character" and "old-fashioned" are now insults? You've got issues, crescent, not the least of which is vocabulary.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 12:58 PM

Def. QOTD!

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 12:59 PM

where's Benson to rep his people on whether this is offensive or not?

Posted by: more4less at September 16, 2009 1:00 PM

OP....I see you went with the gloss black paint, which I did as well. There was some discussion when I had my facade restoration post here as to whether it was historically appropriate (which technically, it is not) but I think it does look better...

http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2009/08/dibs_refinishes.php#

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 1:00 PM

"character" and "old-fashioned" are now insults?
Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 12:58 PM

----------------
Coming from you-they were.

"Travel is fatal to prejudice." -Mark Twain

Posted by: Crescent Hill at September 16, 2009 1:02 PM

You're right, actually, that the apology was insincere—I'll retract it.

It is not a caricature or a stereotype. It is how Vinnie talks, and I greatly enjoyed attempting to communicate with him (it's not easy for us non-Italian-speakers).

I hate the term "politically correct," because it is so often used (usually by wingnuts) to dismiss legitimate issues. But in this case, I think it fits. In any case, anybody who wishes to get their panties in a twist about this may certainly feel free to do so. Me, I have a house to restore. Fuhgeddabahtit, indeed.

My goal, here, was to celebrate an artist and provide fellow neighbors with info about two great resources, should you want to fix your own ironwork. Hope it's useful. Cheers!

Posted by: Rehab at September 16, 2009 1:02 PM

I actually like satin finish better than gloss (although yours looks so great, dibs.) But how long is that gloss expected to maintain its finish- considering weather et al?

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 1:04 PM

Crescent Hill...enough of the arguing.

"Consistency is the hob-gobblin of small minds." OW

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 1:06 PM

Oh, Dave, actually we went with a satin finish, in between gloss and matte. I don't know whether this is historically accurate, per se, but I believe it's the best option. Even a glossy finish will eventually mellow out.

Posted by: Rehab at September 16, 2009 1:06 PM

bxgrl....I think it'll "weather." It already has to a degree and does look better. But originally my rail was painted "flat" and that looked bad.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 1:07 PM

If someone wrote that my Jamaican contractors had "that wonderful Caribbean lilt", or somesuch, I would not see that as a reason to go over the table and punch them out, and I have Caribbean ancestry. There is no insult there, and I don't see that Rehab gave Vinnie any, nor did Bxgrl in talking about "old world", or "old fashioned", which as DIBS pointed out, are both high complements towards his level of craft. I think both lalena and Crescent Hill are making mountains out of molehills, and are finding insult where there was none. This was just supposed to be a nice story about a fence being repaired. Good Lord.

Posted by: Montrose Morris at September 16, 2009 1:07 PM

"Even a glossy finish will eventually mellow out. "

Hopefully so too will some of the louder voices here. :)

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 1:08 PM

crescent hill- ths my last comment to you seeing as you are foaming at the mouth unreasonable.

No they weren't.
You are an overwrought, oversensitive hysteric who probably goes through life looking for perceived insults in the most innocuous statements. I wouldn't dignify your issue by calling it "political correctness" when all it is, is paranoid misperception. And while you trying to figure out how to have a normal conversation, get a good dictionary and a thesaurus- you obviously need them.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 1:09 PM

I think he/she should be draped over the iron fence and beat like a rug.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 1:10 PM

What did they use originally? Was it the natural wrought iron with some type of oil protection? Or did they paint it? My old sewing table has a wrought iron, unpainted base and still looks great for all its 100+ years- but then again, it was never outdoors.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 1:11 PM

A neighbor of mine keeps her metal work in great shape. She's 79 & I asked her what she does to it. Turns out she puts a little bit of cooking oil w/ rinse water when she washes it once every 2 years or so. I'm going to try it next after mine is painted soon. (By the way, she is from Barbados & has a lovely lilt.)

Posted by: Arkady at September 16, 2009 1:11 PM

Speaking of lightbulb jokes, I had Polish tradesmen working on our place for months, and they were never late, worked their fingers to the bone, had incredible skills (such as the ability to pull plaster crown moldings and make perfect replicas of walnut baseboards, by hand) and were generally the best carpenters I have ever had the pleasure to meet. To think that Americans spent so many years cracking jokes insulting the competence of Poles!

Posted by: Rehab at September 16, 2009 1:13 PM

oh dave! Everything is always sex sex sex with you! ;-)

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 1:14 PM

In reality, only the members of Vinnie's ethnic group can accurately opine as to whether or not the comments were insulting.

Posted by: East New York at September 16, 2009 1:14 PM

crescent hill- ths my last comment to you
Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 1:09 PM

Thankfully,
Exposed & insulted -you now retreat into your cavern of self imposed shame.

Posted by: Crescent Hill at September 16, 2009 1:20 PM

Well, I am making myself a liar here for the moment but that had to be the funniest statement on b'stoner today.

It's amazing how self-delusional crescent hill has become- giving full credence to the idea that ignorance is bliss.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 1:24 PM

Brooklyn is a beautiful, mythic place. Over the last decades, some of it has become, unfortunately, a battleground of narcissistic nightmares. Deep pockets and lust for antique architecture do not equal "love thy neighbor." From some of the ire and insults expressed here, it looks like "good fences make good neighbors." But why does it have to be so in such a beautiful place as Brooklyn?

Posted by: lalena at September 16, 2009 1:26 PM

It's more like Plato's cave not a cavern & bxgrl has a lot of congenial, like-minded company.

Posted by: Arkady at September 16, 2009 1:26 PM

Well, Dave, if you'd like a little sexual innuendo and immaturity, here—and who doesn't?—a friend of mine who saw the finial replicas replied, "Finials? Hmmm. Mine are made of nice, soft latex." Discuss.

Posted by: Rehab at September 16, 2009 1:27 PM

& bxgrl has a lot of congenial, like-minded company.

Posted by: Arkady at September 16, 2009 1:26 PM

--------
I'm well aware of that.

Posted by: Crescent Hill at September 16, 2009 1:30 PM

lalena- before you and crescent hill posted, it was quite a nice, informative thread.You two decided to make it into something else and now you complain.

And if crescent hill bothered to learn to read, he would have noted I did no insulting at all. This was my first post, which crescent hill decided to take issue with :

"And honestly- I don't see how anything was insulting. If anything it seemed more an affectionate nod to Vinny- who sounds like quite a character and cash only is old-fashioned (which sounds like Vinny again.)He seems to be one of those old world craftsmen. It's a little over the top to associate that with a reference to the mafia."

Only someone with truly poor reading comprehension or extreme paranoia would construe this as an insult to Vinnie.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 1:37 PM

Only someone with truly poor reading comprehension or extreme paranoia would construe this as an insult to Vinnie.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 1:37 PM

--------------

Unfortunately there is nothing more you can say that will make you look good. You were exposed, you crumb.

Posted by: Crescent Hill at September 16, 2009 1:43 PM

Can we give this a rest now? Bxgrl has not been exposed to be anything but a reasonable person. This is such a silly line of conversation and a complete detour from the topic at hand.

Posted by: wasder at September 16, 2009 1:46 PM

yes, please don't discuss racial insensitivity and crude, inappropriate rants. As long as my house looks good, all is well. And please don't spill your latte on my perego!

Posted by: lalena at September 16, 2009 1:51 PM

Oy vey (I just to throw another ethnicity into the mix)!

The fence looks fantastic. I love that you choose to rehab rather than replace it.

My fence is in need of some TLC and I've found this to be a great resource as well:

http://www.architecturaliron.com/gallery/fgrw.htm

Great job.

Posted by: TownhouseLady at September 16, 2009 1:52 PM

Im-a glad you spent-a the money. Looks-a great. I need-a to fix-a lots of things on my exterior (fence and cornice especially) so this is a kick in the pants-a for me.

Posted by: wasder at September 16, 2009 10:58 AM

----------------
Silly line of conversation...you should know.

Posted by: Crescent Hill at September 16, 2009 1:52 PM

What's goin on here? Rehab, thanks for the recommendation. You'ra nice-a man. DIBS too.

Crescent, you sounda like-a my pinko son-in-law.

Posted by: Vinnie at September 16, 2009 1:53 PM

Exactly my point crescent. Thanks for illustrating how silly and not worth arguing about this is. Again, if one can no longer make any sort of comment about any distinguishing feature of another human being we are living in a sad world. That being said, I do understand that many people have a different sense for the "line" in these sorts of instances.

Posted by: wasder at September 16, 2009 1:57 PM

Again, if one can no longer make any sort of comment about any distinguishing feature of another human being we are living in a sad world. Posted by: wasder at September 16, 2009 1:57 PM
----------
I agree - but I am still waiting to hear some other accents portrayed/mocked here. Vinnie seemed to be an easy target, but then again, he is likely a "character" who is "old world" and "old fashioned", right?

Posted by: Crescent Hill at September 16, 2009 2:05 PM

crescent hill and lalena - Andate tutti a 'fanculo!

(I am Italian. and you, you are patently ridiculous)

Posted by: claudegueux at September 16, 2009 2:07 PM

Of all the Asian accents, I like Thai the best, which is very similar to Vietnamese, Laotian & Cambodian. Singaporian accents and "Singlish" in particular is very annoying. Malaysian accednts are less annoying but similar and without the 'tude. Mainland Chinese accents are rather nice but Cantonese are harsh sounding and that makes them interesting in their own way. There is nothing sexier than an Asian with a Brooklyn accent, except one with an Aussie accent.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 2:09 PM

Vinnie also did iron work for me (in my garden), and he would definitely take Rehab's comment in the affectionate spirit in which it was intended. Lighten up, people. Life's too short.

Posted by: CarrollGardened at September 16, 2009 2:10 PM

Oh, and this ironwork could be duplicated in China at 1/5th the cost. of course it would come back with the appropriate, historically correct lead paint. :)

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 2:11 PM

Rewrite: Crescent = excrescent

Posted by: Arkady at September 16, 2009 2:11 PM

Crescent...after all of this, I extend to you the warmest welcome to join us over in the Open Thread. You have battled long and hard, probably lost but battled nonetheless and that is something that we need more of around here no matter how absurd one's position is. Also, please join us for drinks at pacifico tomorrow. You too Rehab.

PS.....Vinnie's shop is down the street a few blocks west of there. We can all go and visit. I'm sure he'd love to share an Averna with me.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 2:13 PM

"Vinnie seemed to be an easy target, but then again, he is likely a "character" who is "old world" and "old fashioned", right?"

Again- how is this an insult? People with character and who are old world or old fashioned happen to be great in my book. Have you ANY education? Do you even know what these terms mean? Ignorant, you are. And ignorant is NOT good in my book.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 2:14 PM

dave- please, no. rescind crescent's invite. I don't mind a good argument but then again, crescent made no good argument. He simply insulted. He would be too much of a boor and a bore.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 2:16 PM

"...but I am still waiting to hear some other accents portrayed/mocked here."
Wrong again! Fuhgeddabatit is a dialect - self-reflexive mocking.

Posted by: Arkady at September 16, 2009 2:19 PM

"There is nothing sexier than an Asian with a Brooklyn accent, except one with an Aussie accent."

I think there's nothing sexier than a woman with a French accent...

Posted by: denton at September 16, 2009 2:23 PM

Folks;

Eccomiqua, scrivando a Milano, Italia! (Here I am, writing from Milan, Italy, of all places).

Here's my two cents on the matter.

I've mixed it up with this poster (Rehab) before, and he is, quite frankly, full of sh6t, when he pretends that he is celebrating the character and diversity of this city.

Here's my challenge regarding Rehab: show all his posts from about 1 to 2 years ago (he's been on hiatus the past year). Here's a guy who used to deride all religious people in the most vile manner possible. Search for his remarks when Mr. B was having that controversy with the cheuch in Clinton Hill (regarding the flea market) He's a guy who likes to deride Fedder homes as "Bensonhursty".

Yeah, he celebrates diversity, yeah right.

Posted by: benson at September 16, 2009 2:24 PM

claude -- please check your victor hugo for spelling, and leave your pitiful vulgarity at the door. Middle class, yuppie racism, and all the attempted rationalizations of it,--horrifying.

Posted by: lalena at September 16, 2009 2:24 PM

Personally, I love it when I hear people make fun of Scottish, German & Irish accents, especially if they are telling a joke. That's my ethnic background.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 2:25 PM

I told you benson wasn't going to like this!

See ENY, I agree :-)

Posted by: denton at September 16, 2009 2:26 PM

denton....Edith Piaf....La Vie En Rose

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKgcKYTStMc

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 2:28 PM

Yes- but you notice, he made it personal against rehab. He didn't weigh on on whether or not we were dissing vinny. And he had better not tell me I was- seeing as benson loves to call himself an old-fashioned kind of guy.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 2:30 PM

Have you ANY education? Do you even know what these terms mean? Ignorant, you are. And ignorant is NOT good in my book.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 2:14 PM

----------
I take all of these insults in stride. Again, there is nothing you can say, imagine, or contrive that will bother me. You float with Arkady in a bitter brine, Bxgrl.

-DIBS- thank you for the invitation but I cannot join you.

Posted by: Crescent Hill at September 16, 2009 2:36 PM

Hey, bxgrl! Nothing like a bracing dip, eh?

Posted by: Arkady at September 16, 2009 2:38 PM

"You float with Arkady in a bitter brine."

ROTFLMMFAO...I have spit my mix of coffee and cookies all over the monitor.

I'll have to tuck that one away for future use.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 2:40 PM

Just don't swallow, you too.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 2:41 PM

you two.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 2:41 PM

Me too dave- you can't take a guy like that seriously. All you can do is hope he doesn't hold some important job somewhere that depends on his "judgment".

Arkady- bring your swimsuit? :-)

(Obviously cresent, you have been very bothered by your erroneous assumptions or you wouldn't keep posting. Kinda puts you in a bit of a pickle, actually.)

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 2:44 PM

Love Piaf, dibs. Is that like drinking a pina colada?

Posted by: denton at September 16, 2009 2:53 PM

It's a fine line, denton. She's not such a popular and glorified icon like Babs, Shirley and some of the others. The younger crowd largely doesn't even know her name, just the old queens. :)

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 3:01 PM

There was a girl on my hall in college who played Piaf non-stop for a year - working out her post-adolescent, existential angst. Put me off Piaf for-EVER.

Posted by: Arkady at September 16, 2009 3:08 PM

Sings - "I like to be, under the sea, in an octopus's garden..."

Posted by: Arkady at September 16, 2009 3:10 PM

Kinda puts you in a bit of a pickle, actually.)

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 2:44 PM

I disagree Bxgrl, you continue to hurl contrived insults at me because I exposed you earlier. As you and your ilk laugh it up now, here and on the OT, keep in mind that my original comment on the post was quite sincere and fairly accurate. The undertones of the original post followed by the transparency of Rehab's later remarks are self evident. I am thankful to have become aware of his history via another poster.

Posted by: Crescent Hill at September 16, 2009 3:17 PM

100

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 3:19 PM

We used Vinny and he did some great work for us. I agree with the following in this context:

1.old world = shorthand for high quality craftsmanship, not a put down. You can't be knowledgeable about home reno and not know that.

2. Vinny speaks in such an iconoclastic and barely compehensible way that after a while, I couldn't avoid a bit of mimicry when talking about him. It just entered my blood and he is such a unique character. He doesn't speak in a stereotypical old world Italian accent, but something quite a bit stranger and unique to him. Most brownstoner regulars who've done some home reno know about him if they haven't actually used him, and his idiosyncracies are well-known to the old-timers here.

3. You can't quote him without the accent. If rehab wrote "You've got to spend the money," it wouldn't be accurate or Vinny.

4. But it does read like a stereotypical Italian accent. I think offense can be taken. Always good to think over what you've written before posting. But as offenses go, this one's pretty minor, given that it's Vinny. Not worth a big to do.

5. Vinny would think we were all nuts for this discussion.

Posted by: slopefarm at September 16, 2009 3:22 PM

Let it be known, major rule of blogs/Internet, once it's just two or three people arguing back and forth, everyone leaves the room.

Posted by: infinitejester at September 16, 2009 3:23 PM

I think Vinny is laughing all the way to the bank.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 3:28 PM

I told you benson wasn't going to like this!

See ENY, I agree :-)

Posted by: denton at September 16, 2009 2:26 PM

Yep.

"Edith Piaf"

EUROTRASH

Posted by: East New York at September 16, 2009 3:35 PM

LOL ENY. She certainly had that kind of life.

Posted by: denton at September 16, 2009 3:37 PM

I agree DIBS, but I'm not sure he uses a bank. Banks are a bit newfangled.

I always found that his advice, once I understood it, was spot on.

Posted by: slopefarm at September 16, 2009 3:37 PM

Don't you mean all the way-a to the bank-a?

Posted by: DitmasSnark at September 16, 2009 3:37 PM

crescent- You haven't exposed anything or anyone except your complete and total ignorance. You prate about how you have "exposed" me. Do you even know what the word "exposed" means? As in "crescent hill has exposed himself as severely lacking in understanding the terms associated with home reno."

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 3:41 PM

I hope benson has gone out for dinner already in Milano.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 3:44 PM

Yes- I would love to hear benson say I dissed vinny. Who I don't even know and whose work and mystique I complimented and appreciate. (If those words are too big for you, crescent have mommy explain them to you.)

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 3:49 PM

I say we all stop at Vinnies tomorrow before arriving at Pacifico and talk to him ourselves.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 3:53 PM

why can't we all accept the truths:

1) vinnie is idiosyncratic -- would not touch my $2000 job as too small but sent his latino workers to do it on the side (wth?)

2) vinnie is incomprehensible and probably of early 20th century immigrant stock

3) crescent hill is inordinately touchy, even if s/he may have a very minor point

4) we're all inconsiderate here, and

5) you're hopelessly deluded if you think you will change the world in this forum, mr hill.

Posted by: antidope at September 16, 2009 3:56 PM

antidope is usually right about real estate and now this too.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 4:01 PM

Any of you guys ever use Manny and his son to do a deck with Susan from Sketch and Hammer????

The two of them swear at each other all day but do damn good ironwork.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 4:03 PM

slopefarm is usually right about most things, this being no exception. Offense, if minor, could be taken. I for one apologize for my mimicking of the OP's quote, although I doubt I will lose sleep over it.

Posted by: wasder at September 16, 2009 4:06 PM

infinitejester 323p has a good rule which i broke.

Posted by: antidope at September 16, 2009 4:08 PM

1) vinnie is idiosyncratic -- would not touch my $2000 job as too small but sent his latino workers to do it on the side (wth?)

I contracted with the workers employed by my "main" iron guy. Like w/you, I had a job that was too small for the main guy, and his workers did it on their "off" time. Made perfect sense as the main guy is so good he has work all over Brooklyn and can afford to let his workers take all of the profit from a job. It's actually a cool thing he did for them.

Posted by: East New York at September 16, 2009 4:13 PM

I would apologize if I had said something insulting about or to vinny. But I didn't. I didn't even use the dialect. go figure.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 4:16 PM

(If those words are too big for you, crescent have mommy explain them to you.)

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 3:49 PM

---------Again, all you seem to be able to do is hurl insults. You are very transparent Bxgrl and beyond the pale if immaturity. You do not even realize it as you harp on percieved insults tied into stereotypical connotations perhaps believing I am of one ethnicity or another. You are a windowpane of glass, hazed over by ignorance and cracking apart apart under pressure. Even though I can see through you , I now choose to board you up.
My last post, and I will keep my word.

Posted by: Crescent Hill at September 16, 2009 4:20 PM

"You are a windowpane of glass, hazed over by ignorance and cracking apart apart under pressure. Even though I can see through you , I now choose to board you up."

What is with all this crap?????

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 4:32 PM

crescent hill- I treat people as they treat me. You began insulting me because you completely and willfully continue to miscontrue my first post. You not only kept harping on what you perceived as my insults to Vinny, you refuse to even reread that post and understand it no matter what the facts are. You refuse to acknowledge that the words I used are in no way insults- against any and all logic or dictionary. I may be transparent as glass, but you are thick as a brick.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 4:36 PM

"What is with all this crap?????"

Dave, I tried to post a similar reaction but somehow mine didn't get through. It's like the stuff you might hear at a 10th grade poetry slam. Very self-important and, shall we say, overwrought?

Posted by: slopefarm at September 16, 2009 4:46 PM

slopefarm- you mean it wasn't ironic? :-)

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 4:51 PM

That leaves me to be transcendent.

Posted by: Arkady at September 16, 2009 4:52 PM

I am welded to the curliques of my existence.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 4:54 PM

LOL how the hell did i miss this!? my new two fav quotes... the brine and the window pane one.

*rob*

Posted by: Butterfly at September 16, 2009 4:58 PM

May the flux of your mind weld a solid connection to my heart.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 4:59 PM

this has devolved into a boring smackdown. the topics were fences and insensitive remarks made about a man's way of speaking. seems certain egos need to dominate this site.

Posted by: lalena at September 16, 2009 5:00 PM

I liked the windowpane one, too. Pretty good.

"You are a windowpane of glass, hazed over by ignorance and cracking apart apart under pressure. Even though I can see through you , I now choose to board you up."

Hey Crescent Hill, I'm going to use that some day. Don't worry, I'll be sure to cite you as the source.

Posted by: East New York at September 16, 2009 5:05 PM

lalena, everyone is welcome to add. You did at the beginning and it was deemed nonsense.

The sparks from your electrode are not that brilliant.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 5:06 PM

One fine finial a fervid fight doth make.

Posted by: Arkady at September 16, 2009 5:07 PM

So, we've gone from fences (the only real topic that was supposed to be in this thread) to perceived ethnic insults (WTF?) to Shakespearean style put-downs. I guess its not true that all's weld that ends weld. (poor poor pun, I know.)

Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at September 16, 2009 5:09 PM

Mama Mia, you guys are still at it?

Posted by: Expert Textpert at September 16, 2009 5:11 PM

^^^^ooops, is Mama Mia code for I'm racist?

Posted by: Expert Textpert at September 16, 2009 5:12 PM

Brazing new trails here on brownstoner.

Brazing is a process between soldering and welding for you mechanically challenged.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 5:12 PM

I guess Crescent Hill doesn't have the finial word.

Posted by: cobblehiller at September 16, 2009 5:12 PM

Someone didn't get all their impurities burned out, did they?

Posted by: infinitejester at September 16, 2009 5:13 PM

Snappy!

Posted by: Arkady at September 16, 2009 5:13 PM

Sky has been gunmetal all day.

Posted by: infinitejester at September 16, 2009 5:14 PM

I see the irony in all this. I weep...I rust...I dry.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 5:16 PM

But it's not raining bullets yet.

Posted by: cobblehiller at September 16, 2009 5:17 PM

That would be overwrought irony, bx. Of course, if we were arguing about perceived putdowns due to social class rather than ethnicity, then we would be talking about caste irony. And if you have another way of looking at it, that would be angle irony. And if sexism were involved, then we're talking pig irony.

Although it panes me, I will have to steel myself against the desire to pun further. We should all stop railing on this topic.

Posted by: slopefarm at September 16, 2009 5:18 PM

When the gate hits your ass like a kick in the ass, that's Amore.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 16, 2009 5:19 PM

Why did this diminish into ethnic issues anyway? If ferrous something going on here, I'd like to know about it.

Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at September 16, 2009 5:19 PM

Slopey...ROFL!!! :-) You get the Pun of The Day (POTD) Award!

Posted by: InsertSnappyNameHere at September 16, 2009 5:20 PM

Slopefarm - That's showing your mettle, for sure.

Posted by: Arkady at September 16, 2009 5:21 PM

slope, we salute you.

Posted by: infinitejester at September 16, 2009 5:22 PM

slopefarm- I totally cede mastery to you. I am awed. You mined it for all it was worth.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 5:22 PM

That's a really nice gate. Nice job.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at September 16, 2009 5:23 PM

In fact, you totally rocked this fence post!

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 5:24 PM

dave you are not a gentleman. i'm disappointed in the pettiness so many people on this site have shown. not funny, not worthy of brooklyn

Posted by: lalena at September 16, 2009 5:28 PM

Lalena are you actually a foreigner with a funny accent or are you just taking it upon yourself to come to the defense of all funny sounding foreigners on the assumption that (1) they are offended when someone mimics their accent and (2) they are incapable of defending themselves? Because if you aren't a funny sounding foreigner, and I doubt you are, that makes you one colossally pompous and presumptuous asshole.

Posted by: lechacal at September 16, 2009 5:38 PM

dave hs a wicked funny sense of humor.Not everyone gets it. Sadly.For them.

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 5:38 PM

In south Brooklyn, the gates are aluminum and very shiny. YOu know that people with accents live in that house.

Posted by: Return of bayridgegirl at September 16, 2009 5:43 PM

lalena, no one is petty. dave especially, he is the lifeblood of this site. what do you mean? we are constantly teasing and having brilliant conversations with each other.

Posted by: infinitejester at September 16, 2009 5:43 PM

Jolly good show, Lechacal!

Posted by: Arkady at September 16, 2009 5:44 PM

I'm afraid to ask him what he thinks of crescent hill's odd scrabblings. But...oh- what the heck!

SO, lechacal- how do you like crescent hill's writing style? :-)

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 5:53 PM

I'd like to see bxgirl in a pane of glass, before she is boarded up.

Posted by: denton at September 16, 2009 6:00 PM

denton- so would I! :-)

Posted by: bxgrl at September 16, 2009 6:33 PM

"I want to ride to the ridge where the west commences
And gaze at the moon till I lose my senses
And I can't look at hovels and I can't stand fences
Don't fence me in..."

Posted by: DitmasSnark at September 16, 2009 6:52 PM

"SO, lechacal- how do you like crescent hill's writing style?"

I don't have that much to say about it. The pane of glass thing is some of the worst writing I have seen on brownstoner. A writer who tries and fails is always a bigger spectacle than one who never tries at all. He really shouldn't have bothered trying.

Posted by: lechacal at September 16, 2009 7:38 PM

slopefarm 518p: POTY. nice. painful, but nice.
ds: btwn yesterday's retraction and today's (1127a) straight comment i am forced to ask you to return your gun and badge. your days are numbered.

Posted by: antidope at September 16, 2009 10:15 PM

lecha -- what a pretentious bore you are
this whole thing is too frat house to be believed

Posted by: lalena at September 17, 2009 11:26 AM

« A Couple of Sales at 90 8th Avenue Hospital Sells Building and Closes Down »

September 16, 2009

Cast Iron Fence: We Can Rebuild It

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