I just saw a case like this on Peoples Court. If you are a month to month tenant you don't have to give 30 days notice but if you occupy the apartment for a portion of the month you are responsible for the entire months rent.

Posted by: Caitrus at September 29, 2009 12:01 PM in response to 30-Day Notice Req'd?

It is not cheap but a mosquito magnet works exceptionally well. You can look for them on Ace Hardware's website.

Posted by: Caitrus at August 17, 2009 11:58 AM in response to Mosquitos

Whoops, it was Eater not Curbed.

Posted by: Caitrus at March 24, 2009 12:43 PM in response to Busy Chef Space to Get Busy Again

Via Curbed today:

Brooklyn Heights: Brooklyn Heights Blog reports that Melissa Murphy of the Sweet Melissa group of patisseries may open up shop in the old Busy Chef and Blue Pig spaces, vacated last year when owner Dan Kaufman was arrested for stealing money from customers. Murphy hopes to open by early summer. [PLYWOOD]

Posted by: Caitrus at March 24, 2009 12:42 PM in response to Busy Chef Space to Get Busy Again

I went there this morning and I find it to be disappointing. When it was being built the white subway tiles and the floor looked like it would be an old school deli. Now there are flat screens everywhere. They have a vintage Brooklyn picture in the back. It would be nicer if they scattered those around.

You order in one spot, via a girl at a computer, another person in front of another computer makes your sandwich and finally you pay at another spot. I paid 8 dollars and waited ten minutes to get a sandwich that was a plop of meat, crusty cheese and stale bread.

Corner bodega - you have Boars Head too and you are half the price? Here I come...

Posted by: Caitrus at October 22, 2008 10:56 AM in response to F. Martinella Finally Open

My parents moved into an old house 15 years ago and it has always had a very woody, musty old house smell. At first it was overwhelming because it was a new smell but over time the house is lived in and you sort of get used to the smell and don't notice it. I haven't lived with my parents for about 10 years but I still smell the smell.

Maybe it just ever goes away.

Like the smell of library books - inherent to the character of the books or in your case the house.

Votivo makes really strong scented candles -- those help too.

Posted by: Caitrus at October 15, 2008 5:21 PM in response to old house smell?

Jack- When you walk down Court Street do you notice how dirty it is and notice the people that you encounter? social service offices (Housing, Parole, etc) while they provide people with assistance don't always make a great neighborhood. It is a pleasure to walk down Clinton Street. Put social services like this on that street and into a school no less not only are you destroying a community, I would think that the appeal that neighborhood and that stretch of Clinton attract would ultimately leave people with a bad taste in their mouth and destroy what Clinton St. now is.

And seriously not to knock on cops but how many of them are on their cell phones, chatting with each other or reading the paper while sitting in their car not paying attention while on the job?

Maybe they are taking a break but you can't count on the cops being in the area and paying attention to the sex offender that is oogling at your kid which by the way isn't a crime but leaves you with such a feeling of being coated in slim that you want to bathe in hydrogen peroxide.

Posted by: Caitrus at July 16, 2008 3:26 PM in response to Federal Probation Officer Defends Proximity to St. Ann's

We use a hand held device called a Themacell. It is popular with hunters and campers. It only works in a 15 square feet area around the device, but it works well.

Posted by: Brownstonebabe at August 17, 2009 12:55 PM in response to Mosquitos

who still has citronella in stock? couldn't find at home depot or pathmark, and pathmark had tons on previous visits. seems like they aren't stocking anymore.

Posted by: wine lover at August 17, 2009 1:17 PM in response to Mosquitos

It's definitely not as bad this year as summers of '08 or '07, but still very annoying. I recommend one of the repellants that advertise "clean feel" and contain Picaridin (not Deet). Get the highest percentage of Picaridin you can find. I am extremely susceptible to bites (can be in a room full of people and one mosquito and the thing only bites ME), and we were outside all day yesterday -- doused in the Picaridin stuff and no one got a single bite.

Posted by: writeonadelphi at August 17, 2009 1:20 PM in response to Mosquitos

This is actually the first summer I can remember where we can actually go in the backyard during daylight hours in August. So, the bad news is that in other years it's been worse.

For your BBQ, make it lunch, rather than later in the day when the mosquitoes are most active. Fans might work, although I've never tried them. Have multiple cans of Deep Woods Off around. The "Family" Off has too little Deet (~7%) and isn't very effective. Deep Woods is 25% Deet.

Deet is pretty safe, but if you are concerned about using it on your 2 yo, then indoor fun is your best bet. "Swim" in the tub, make oatmeal or lentil "sandboxes." He can really swim in local public pools that have "wading pools" that are 1" deep. Double D Pool at Douglass & Nevins has one. The Red Hook pool doesn't have a wading pool, but it does have a huge area of sprinklers.

Posted by: Brooklyn Chicken at August 17, 2009 1:39 PM in response to Mosquitos

I have found a great, natural solution that has been working for us, it has cut down our mosquito population by about 90%. Mosquito barrier. made of concentrated garlic, you will need a sprayer canister that you can buy for about $25 at a hardware store. You mix the garlic solution with water and a little oil and spray every 4-6 weeks, it is kid/plant/flower safe. Since we have had so much rain this year I have had to spray more often but otherwise a pretty safe, inexpensive solution.

http://www.mosquitobarrier.com/howto.html

Posted by: annieb at August 17, 2009 1:48 PM in response to Mosquitos

Short term - the only thing that will really help you if the infestation is bad is a fogger. And no, they are not green, and you shouldn't spray anything you are planning to eat. Keep your child out of the yard for at least an hour after you use it. I used one once out of desperation and the results were great, but they're also highly toxic, so I consider them a last resort.

Long term - I have a mosquito magnet. It really works. But it take at least a few weeks to noticeably reduce the population. And you do have to be vigilant about replacing the propane and the attractant every 3 weeks, as well as getting rid of any standing water.

Posted by: geekspice at August 17, 2009 2:44 PM in response to Mosquitos

My friend has BBQs in Greenpoint frequently, and used to have a big mosquito problem.
He got a bunch of cintronella tiki torches and has an old school 'bug zapper' that he uses. It seems to have really cut down the amount of bites.

Posted by: dirty_hipster at August 17, 2009 3:23 PM in response to Mosquitos

I know this sounds crazy but it has worked for me. Spray any flavor of listerine or its genric brand around your yard - on furniture, toys, patio, etc. It actually keeps the buggies at bay. You'll have to respray though about every hour or two. I don't mind though because the Off spray realy bothers my nose.

I also spary my back door so they don't sneak in as I open and close the door to go in and out.

Posted by: italiana71 at August 17, 2009 3:35 PM in response to Mosquitos

Nothing works better than good old Avon skin-so-soft (for a double dose, use the shower gel in the shower, than reapply the bath oil before you go outside.)

Our Avon lady keeps us well stocked. Here's the website; if you use code FSWER there's free direct shipping:
http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.aspx?src_page=product_list.aspx&level1_id=300&level2_id=303&pdept_id=344&dept_id=416&pf_id=7460&repid=9023156
or
youravon.com/tsheridan

Posted by: brooklynblondie at August 17, 2009 4:44 PM in response to Mosquitos

This year is the first year I've been able to be outside any time of day or night without having to use repellent. I've done 3 things in combo:
1) Put mosquito dunks in all of your outside drains (base of basement/under stoop stairs). This has a dramatic effect within 3 days.
2) St. Gabriels Mosquito barrier - hose end application. Works great, and is all natural.
3) Thermacell torches. 2-4 in your yard, depending on size, at dusk/night, just to keep away any buggers who don't get the message with #1 and #2. I use 2 on my deck (16x16) and one further out in the yard. Not cheap, but totally worth it.

I've been absolutely amazed at the difference - we use our backyard every evening for dinner, etc., and no issues.

Posted by: wyckoff at August 17, 2009 5:26 PM in response to Mosquitos