You pretty much are responsible for clearing the entire sidewalk in front of your property, and maintaining it, i.e., salting and/or sanding

(I used "salting" generically; not sure what the current word is on whether calcium chloride or something else is needed to not ruin the sidewalk...)

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at February 28, 2010 11:59 PM in response to Snow on Sidewalk

So it's just plain wrong to suggest they lie and say a good Michael Jackson song video was filmed there?

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at February 17, 2010 7:21 AM in response to Closing Bell: Michael Jackson Mural for Hoyt-Scherm?

Thank you, all , especially for the vocabulary, viz., "train rack" (tangent: the restaurant Belleville actually has old European train racks on it's walls, which is very cool).

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at February 16, 2010 5:53 PM in response to ISO Alum. Bath Shelf (store/web)

You say it like it's something good. I have nothing against development, but the Downtown Brooklyn of which you speak is, both collectively, and individually (single buildings), cold and soulless. It has, and will have the feel of a younger version of the Upper East Side, or, perhaps, the residential Financial District.

Whatever.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at February 12, 2010 9:21 AM in response to Downtown is Brooklyn's New Hot Spot

OK, that's creepy? Why do I find it really, really cute?

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at February 11, 2010 11:32 PM in response to Thursday Blogwrap

Need a lawyer? BrooklynCouch@aol.com

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at February 4, 2010 5:35 PM in response to Brooklyn Kitchens News

Much advertising is an institutionalized scam, and it's hard to believe that many people still use the yellow pages.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at January 28, 2010 10:17 AM in response to 16 Phonebooks on Stoop?

LOL, funny comments. We, I don't buy on Saturday; and the Food Coop threw me out for my I MISS WATERBOARDING t-shirt (Actually,it was merely my I "HEART CO2" sweatshirt...), so it's a long haul to decent produce.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at January 14, 2010 2:11 PM in response to Plans Finalized, Approved for 79 7th Avenue

There were some typos in my comment, but I got my answer. I doubt a real produce store will be the tenant, but one can dream..

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at January 14, 2010 11:45 AM in response to Plans Finalized, Approved for 79 7th Avenue

Talk about buildings frozen in time. I'm not sure what an "extra-tall second story" is, but why would Landmarks object to a building taller than the adjacent buildings?

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at January 14, 2010 9:37 AM in response to Plans Finalized, Approved for 79 7th Avenue

Thanks. believe it or not, I never thought of the plastic knife; I've been using a starbucks card, which works great to take paint off the tiles (as well as grout), and works so well that I stopped thinking about other forms of plastic.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at December 27, 2009 1:53 PM in response to Tool2 Scrape Paint Off Grout?

InsertSnappyNameHere, we're talking here of a lease that was, according the evidence, signed by one of the parties, and partially performed. It's not a month-to-month. It's an enforcable oral contract.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at December 22, 2009 3:21 PM in response to Renter with Question

Petebklyn, I disagree that he/she would only have a month2month tenancy; not if the written lease, which would be evidence of the agreement reached, is for a year.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at December 22, 2009 12:10 PM in response to Renter with Question

Has the new lease-period begun yet? If it has, you're probably good: at worst, you would have an oral lease for the period in question.

I believe that under New York law, a lease needs to be in writing (the "Statute of Frauds"), however, that's not the case when the agreement/contract/lease has been partially performed (you've paid the first month's rent; and the landlord has allowed you to continuing living there).

If you are nervous, send her a letter asking for a copy of the lease, and referring to the new lease as having already begun.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at December 21, 2009 8:27 PM in response to Renter with Question

well, the only other choice is paint; and I can't imagine that paint would "disappear" when wet (i.e., when we, there doesn't appear to be anything on the flooor...

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at December 7, 2009 5:18 PM in response to Joint Compound Off Grout?

OMG Bob Marvin I had it backwards! Thank you! That explains why the numbered street grid extends into Nassau; I just assumed there was a plan, aborted, to extent Queens County!

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at October 23, 2009 8:29 PM in response to Mailing Addresses: BK vs QNS

Because Brooklyn was a City, whereas Queens was carved out of Nassau County; as to why Bronx, NY exists, I'm guessing that's because the Bronx was pretty empty and undeveloped when it was invented?

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at October 23, 2009 11:41 AM in response to Mailing Addresses: BK vs QNS

My guess is that the floor was negligently installed, and that the owner (tenant is renting from coop owner) is responsible for fixing the floor, or paying for it to be covered so that the noise is bearable; it is currently not.

I am currently asking about the mechanics of why the floor/ceiling has suddenly become "thumpy; not interested in the degree to which I have legal recourse (I do) at this point.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at September 18, 2009 2:02 PM in response to The Upstairs Thumping Floor

Oh, boo hoo. Lets hope NO projects get "stimulus" money. The morons in DC need to be stopped.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at August 14, 2009 1:40 PM in response to The BK Projects That Didn't Get Stimulus Help

I forgot I had a can of Decorator White in matte (going to paint stores often results in memory issues...I guess I bought it a few weeks ago); if it's too white, I deal with it later. I am going to go with Dove White for the beadboard, molding, and door.

Gee, I hope latex paint removes relatively easily from ceramic tile and grout.

By the way I've gotten several batches of lousy paint advice from Pintchik--be careful about what they tell you.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at May 18, 2009 4:01 PM in response to Help chose a white for my bath

By the way, do people often opt for Ceiling white primarily because it drips less, or because a very white white (which I assume it is) works best on a ceiling, or for some other reason?

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at May 17, 2009 11:20 AM in response to Help chose a white for my bath

Thanks for the suggestion. More for the general priniciple than as to this specific color, this color looks pink on the company's web site; does it stay pink when seen on a wall?

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at May 16, 2009 7:06 PM in response to Help chose a white for my bath

Mopar, thanks. The problem/issue is that while I like the color on the paint card, and it even seems to match the color in the photo I used to originally discover the color, it looks/feels too bright when I painted a 1' x 1' square on one of my walls. At times I feel I am going mad.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at March 18, 2009 8:57 AM in response to Savvy Paint Store?

I'm not even sure if "lighten" or "darken" is what I want; "more pale" is one way to describe my aim. Another is to make the color I mentioned more gray. Another is to make the color more like another color: 1501 Paris Rain. Any feedback welcome...

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at March 17, 2009 6:29 PM in response to Savvy Paint Store?

Doing paint "mail order" sounds insane to me"; it's so subjective. BMoore dealers aren't necessarily savvy; maybe what I really need is an artist or are student...

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at March 17, 2009 6:24 PM in response to Savvy Paint Store?

Yes, and, unfortunately, lots of restaurants must have closed recently: supply must exceed demand ;-( ;-)

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at March 3, 2009 12:07 PM in response to Looking For Used "Bistro Table"

vinca, well, for one thing, the brackets would have to be approx 15" long, and bear a decent amount of weight; also, I'm assuming the that decent legs for what was, probably, a $200 table ten years ago can't cost that much; just seems like the best solution.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at February 24, 2009 7:16 AM in response to Woodworker to Copy Table Legs?

(cost, including the stone itself, although maybe they'll give away the materials?)

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at February 3, 2009 10:25 AM in response to granite countertop scraps: where

Carpet? Ick. Area rugs, maybe...

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at February 3, 2009 10:22 AM in response to I want to Cover My Parquet Floor

Thanks for the advice. The preliminary question is, however, is this likely marble, or something else; and the greedy question: would this have been original to this 1880's building?

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at January 28, 2009 7:32 PM in response to Stone Floorboard Discovery?

maybe they intend to rent it for films? Or to morons.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at January 14, 2009 10:51 AM in response to No Takers, 43 Love Lane Now For Rent As Well

Low Talker, I am talking about removing all the tiles and putting up new ones. One of the contractors reviewed positively here was over last night and said it could be done..stay tuned.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at January 13, 2009 12:33 PM in response to Can Tile Be Removed From a Wall?

I never said the coop didn't have a rule about "this"; I was exploring getting the insurance myself and wondering if the absence of insurance calls into question the guy's "excellent reputation." In any case, I called a Utica Insurance agent who said I could not buy such insurance, so I called the contractor and told him that unless he could get a policy, no go.

Two insured guys, both mentioned on this site, are coming over today and tomorrow.

By the way Ysabelle, I never called you a hypocrite.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at January 12, 2009 2:35 PM in response to SOS: Contractor sans Insurance

HI. We're talking about what appears to be sheet rock-ish wall on two sides of a bathtub. If it's more labor than demolition, or even close, that ends the discussion, since one must assume some, even minimal water damage may have affected the seemingly sound walls....

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at January 12, 2009 2:31 PM in response to Can Tile Be Removed From a Wall?

HI. We're talking about what appears to be sheet rock-ish wall on two sides of a bathtub. If it's more labor than demolition, or even close, that ends the discussion, since one must assume some, even minimal water damage may have affected the seemingly sound walls....

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at January 12, 2009 2:31 PM in response to Can Tile Be Removed From a Wall?

Ysabelle, you strongly suggest to stay away from uninsured contractors; then suggest I call Utica? Isn't that contradictory? The guy in question, who I will NOT name, has been recommended by people both on Brownstoner and by Park Slope Parents, so I am quite disillusioned that he doesn't have insurance;I'm torn between the recommendations and the lack of insurance. Taking down bathroom walls and putting up new ones isn't brain surgery, but it isn't screwing in a light bulb....not happy me...

In any case, I called three other licensed people this evening; names menitioned here on brownstoner...

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at January 12, 2009 12:45 AM in response to SOS: Contractor sans Insurance

IronBalls, my guess is that he is not interested in getting insured (otherwise he already would be).

Do you know if it's possible for me, as coop owner, to get the needed insurance? What it might cost?

Other contractor recommendations welcome...

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at January 11, 2009 6:26 PM in response to SOS: Contractor sans Insurance

Now all we need is a flip-flop truck...

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at July 17, 2008 8:49 AM in response to Thursday Links

For some reason, the PH blocks, at least those just off of Flatbush, remind me of Boston; much more so that Park Slope. Can anyone figure out why that is?

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at July 14, 2008 3:03 PM in response to Landmarks to Consider Prospect Heights Historic District

I'd like to know the economics of the water taxi; a loss leader? A government shakedown? It wsa pretty empty last Sunday...

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at July 3, 2008 12:50 PM in response to Ikea is Everyday People

I still can't decide if, from here in the North Slope, TJs on Court is any more convenient than TJs near Union Square...

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at June 30, 2008 7:56 PM in response to StreetLevel: Progress at Trader Joe's

Believe me, anyone who is doing 40mph on the bridge, in addition to being an idiot, has a computer on their handle bars to know that they are only going 29mph, which is already a suicidal velocity.

I think they should install a plastic, slightly raised yellow median separating the two sides (triangle/trapazoid profile). This would alert the uninitiated to the existence of a bike and pedestrian sides. Also, more signage. Also, a ticketing system to control the cyclist a-holes amongst us.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at April 18, 2008 12:26 PM in response to Closing Bell: The Brooklyn Bridge on Two Wheels

Brooklynnative, I call BS on your claim of 40MPH on the bridge, or probably anywhere in NYC.

There definitely needs to be better line signage!

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at April 17, 2008 5:44 PM in response to Closing Bell: The Brooklyn Bridge on Two Wheels

Please kill the anonymous comments. They are killing the forum. Please.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at April 15, 2008 12:07 PM in response to Commenting Problems, New Server

Is this an April Fools joke? Yikes!

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at March 31, 2008 3:06 PM in response to SOM-designed Toren About to Hit the Market

You reset your browser's preferences to make the gray type black.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at March 31, 2008 1:33 PM in response to Plan for 3rd Ave Hotel Brings Gowanus Total to 7

Here's a free brilliant idea (since I do not have the millions [or even thousands] to pull it off):

Build a hotel in Staten Island just across from the St. George ferry terminal. The SI Ferry provides free transportation to Manhattan, and the tourists will love it. The land must be cheap.

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at March 31, 2008 1:31 PM in response to Plan for 3rd Ave Hotel Brings Gowanus Total to 7

The cars gotta go underground. Problem is: the subway already is...

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at March 7, 2008 1:05 AM in response to Closing Bell: Competition to Reinvent GAP

March 3, 2008 3:51 PM, I know, but the previous posters left room for the implication that "someone" was just buying normal broadband, and sharing it.

Any idea as to the cost savings of this proposition?

I think a T1 line is a bit overkill here...

Posted by: BrooklynCouch at March 4, 2008 9:31 AM in response to Coop-wide Broadband?

Your mistake was in digging out a path to her car door--fill it in again :-)

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 1, 2010 8:55 AM in response to Snow on Sidewalk

Yesterday a person parked in front of my house dug his car out by tossing mounds of snow on my cleared pavement - until I shouted at him.

Posted by: Arkady at March 1, 2010 9:08 AM in response to Snow on Sidewalk

By tradition, if not by law, dealing with snow in Brooklyn is a little different than normal sidewalk care. Under normal conditions, a homeowner is responsible for keeping the sidewalk clean and clear including 18” into the gutter. During a HEAVY snowfall, by tradition, most homeowners clear a path at least as wide as half the sidewalk, mounding snow into the curbside portion, and taking care not to bury cars parked at the curb. But taking care not to bury is entirely different from clearing a path to the door of parked cars—not required and not done (unless the car happens to be yours). On my block, most homeowners ALSO clear a decent path from the sidewalk into the middle of the street (i.e., between two cars) so that people walking in the middle of the street don’t have to wade through slush or climb over mountains of snow to get to the sidewalk. Lots of drivers digging out are oblivious about throwing snow back into that path, or back onto a cleared sidewalk. The NYC website quoted by saturdayrenogirl: http://bit.ly/cGSkCN

Posted by: vinca at March 1, 2010 9:43 AM in response to Snow on Sidewalk

It's funny that they tell you not to shovel the snow into traffic lanes because that's exactly what the Sanitation department has been doing in my area. They are plowing snow from the side to the center of the street.

Posted by: pwhite at March 1, 2010 9:43 AM in response to Snow on Sidewalk

I just hope that when we move for alt side they'll send some plows down to clear to the curb. Last time they did nothing - no plow, no sweep.

Posted by: Arkady at March 1, 2010 9:46 AM in response to Snow on Sidewalk

honestly i would have told her to go F herself. legal action? please.

*rob*

Posted by: Butterfly at March 1, 2010 9:52 AM in response to Snow on Sidewalk

I would clear her passenger door and use the snow to bury the driver door. Oooopsy.

Posted by: Kensingtonian at March 1, 2010 9:58 AM in response to Snow on Sidewalk

Arkady: I noticed as I left the house this morning (Bay Ridge) that plows had been by where cares had been moved for alternate.

The last snow it seemed all the plows were in Manhattan and nothing got cleared at all in brooklyn after the snow stopped falling.

This time the snow had stopped by early afternoon on a Friday (business day). I was out driving all around Bay Ridge for about 1 - 1 1/2 hours about 5 pm - all the mail roads were clear, but the side streets look like they had not been plowed for many hours and were very difficult to pass. One side street that was entirely commercial businessed (auto repair) appeared that the city had not plowed even once - leaving the job to the business owners.

In the entire time that I was out and about I did not see even one truck/plow. They all must have been clearing the streets in Manhattan.

Posted by: SenatorStreet at March 1, 2010 10:11 AM in response to Snow on Sidewalk

park slope was was plowed pretty fast i noticed. when i got into soho this morning it looks as if it didnt even snow. nice!

*rob*

Posted by: Butterfly at March 1, 2010 10:14 AM in response to Snow on Sidewalk

C'mon - if you have to clear a 4-5' path and you can't throw the snow into the street, where else can it go except next to the curb?

This person could have gotten in through the front passenger side door, instead of being an ass about it.

Posted by: zeebee_in_bklyn at March 1, 2010 10:15 AM in response to Snow on Sidewalk