DitmasSnark's Profile
Author's Comments
Did everybody hear about Maggie Gyllenhaal's curb cut?
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 8, 2010 12:59 PM in response to Norah Jones' Windows Coming In
Surely there is something more interesting and less star-stalkingesque to post.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 8, 2010 12:21 PM in response to Norah Jones' Windows Coming In
> it's prob too early to be serious, but not too early to get
> ideas and see what's out there..
That sums up my take on it. Particularly if there is a broker in the mix, there won't be much to see (that you will probably want) before March 1. The best places still tend to get rented quickly while the dumpier places linger.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 8, 2010 12:19 PM in response to Too Soon for April 1 Rental?
> 6th ave in the teens is becoming it's own little foodie destination
Sweet. That gives you three avenues of restaurants (etc) in the South Slope.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 5, 2010 3:14 PM in response to Open House Picks
DitmasSnark wrote a review about Purple Yam on February 5, 2010 3:10 PM
Bob - I agree with you about "discernment1438's thoughtful review" and will give PY another whirl.
> the new little Indian restaurant on 6th & 14th
Oh, good to know. I had no idea one had opened up there.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 5, 2010 2:59 PM in response to Open House Picks
> most Met Foods in this town need a wake-up call
Indeed. The one on Cortelyou is pretty iffy, or should I say whiffy. I walked in once and the whole place had a very unsavory smell. I walked right back out. Fortunately there is the Flatbush Food Co-op and Natural Frontier.
The Met Food on Vanderbilt in PH, however, was pretty good and always improving during the time that I lived there.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 5, 2010 2:55 PM in response to Streetlevel: New Supermarket for Fulton Street
Awesome, 15th Street is dropping $100k/week!
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 5, 2010 1:38 PM in response to Open House Picks
> a lot of small businesses fail in the first few years
Isn't the NYC restaurant attrition rate something like 60%?
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 5, 2010 11:18 AM in response to Bread Stuy Seized By Feds
> You shouldn't open a business without enough money to cover
> about 2 years of losses
In theory, yes. In practice, you would have almost no new businesses open.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 5, 2010 11:08 AM in response to Bread Stuy Seized By Feds
> artists don't get "displaced" by gentrification.
Oh but they do.
Soho.
Dumbo.
Williamsburg.
And soon, if the pattern holds true, Gowanus.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 5, 2010 10:55 AM in response to Closing Bell: Got Gentrification?
> go suck an egg
Just loiter in the dog run outside the Novo after hours and one will be forthcoming.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 5, 2010 10:16 AM in response to Bread Stuy Seized By Feds
DitmasSnark wrote a review about Purple Yam on February 5, 2010 12:06 AM
Giuliana Biatchi,
Yes, obviously my sensibilities are too course to appreciate the culinary sublimity that was presented to me.
Talk about snarky, you take the cake. The verbose and snobby cake.
The ice cream truck in Soho has me thinking of After Hours.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 4, 2010 5:48 PM in response to Streetlevel: Blue Marble Expanding to Court Street
> View isn't important to me, but light is.
That's my feeling on it. The huge expanse of windows in my current place is what first attracted me.
Though a huge patio is mighty tempting.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 4, 2010 1:51 PM in response to Brooklyn Sales: Under a Million
http://www.meredy.com/bettedavis/bd-dump.wav
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 4, 2010 1:35 PM in response to House of the Day: 11 Wyckoff Street
DitmasSnark wrote a review about Purple Yam on February 4, 2010 1:13 PM
The PY folks need to learn a thing or two from Mimi's Hummus. The food at Mimi's is delicious and the prices are rather reasonable.
Purple Yam needs to be better AND cheaper.
> PH apartment... nearly all of the windows in the apartment
> look out on the courtyard, and other people's windows.
I know someone who used to live in that building and their place had that same problem. It definitely had a claustrophobic feel to me.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 4, 2010 12:56 PM in response to Brooklyn Sales: Under a Million
DitmasSnark wrote a review about Purple Yam on February 4, 2010 12:53 PM
So far I have only been once for brunch, which may not be the best meal choice for this place. The food was pretty good, but not amazing. The portions were very small, the prices were high, and the service was painfully slow. Perhaps the slow service can be attributed to the fact that I went during the first week they opened, and they had not settled into a groove yet.
I'll give them another try for dinner some day, but I confess I am in no rush to do so.
Obviously others like it, as they place is almost always packed at dinner time.
All snarking aside, that pad looks totally bitchin'.
The only thing it seems to lack is outdoor space. With that view, I want a terrace upon which to lounge and survey my domain.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 3, 2010 3:31 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 47 Plaza Street West, #11C
Great news, I hope the pull it off. Excellent commentary from Brenda, thanks.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 3, 2010 3:21 PM in response to Loew's King Theatre To Be Restored
If I am not mistaken, this building still has an elevator operator. How very quaint. Annoying, mind you, but quaint.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 3, 2010 2:26 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 47 Plaza Street West, #11C
I've been stalking Forte in Streeteasy. Every week after the price cuts, a long list of "In Contract" listings would appear in the alert emails.
Good for them. It's about time they realized these units were grossly overpriced and adjusted accordingly.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 3, 2010 11:45 AM in response to Forte 100% Spoken For!
I want that fried chicken NOW. Dang, that looks tasty!
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 3, 2010 11:40 AM in response to Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up
Thanks m4l!
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 2, 2010 2:50 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 728 41st Street, 3A
Kens - Yeah, the location was a challenge, and the name and signage were unfortunate.
However, I think the place could have succeeded had they really marketed themselves. Hand out fliers at the subway. See people waiting in line to get into the farm, give them a flier. Post to all of the apprpriate blogs. Etc.
I heard somewhere that there was a disagreement between the owner and the manager. Sounded like the owner, pardon the pun, lacked vision.
OK, BACK TO SUNSET PARK:
Can anybody recommend a good place for Dim Sum in Sunset Park?
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 2, 2010 2:40 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 728 41st Street, 3A
> the ones I know have a fairly decent reserves
Good to hear. I know somebody who lives in one, and she always ha to come up with money for assessments. Then again, her maintenance is crazy low, and she paid next to nothing for her place.
> I am pretty sure Visions closed
Sadly yes, they appear to be gone. There's an "Available for Rental" sign in the window.
> looks like we're getting a new Sushi place
I'm definitely looking forward to trying it out.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 2, 2010 2:09 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 728 41st Street, 3A
Something else to keep in mind: It is my understanding that the way these types of coops run, the maintenance is nice and low UNTIL something needs repairs.
Need a new boiler? Hello assessment.
Roof is leaking? Hello assessment.
Just make sure you have some "spare" cash on hand to handle these "surprises."
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 2, 2010 1:52 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 728 41st Street, 3A
With three dogs that size, they should really get a house instead of an apartment. For the sake of the dogs themselves, as well as neighbor relations.
That South Slope house that 11217 linked to looks supersweet.
You could get one of the smaller to medium Ditmas Park houses for around that amount. Smaller by DP standards, but larger than the South Slope place. And it will be more likely to be free-standing instead of a rowhouse.
In South Slope, you will be closer to more nice restaurants and shops, but we are getting more of that in DP as time goes by.
It all depends on what they want in a neighborhood. Seems like they have a lot of choices.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 1, 2010 5:48 PM in response to Need Neighbourhood Suggestions
> Bagel Hole's bagels are REAL New York City bagels.
Alright, I'm going to have to get past the name and give them a try.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 1, 2010 3:43 PM in response to StreetLevel: New Eatery Coming to Old Bagel Delight Spot
Serious Eats link was interesting. They mentioned Terrace Bagels in WT which I recall as being pretty good.
And of course I am looking forward to the new bagel place that is coming to Cortelyou, and of course the new Market:
- http://ditmasparkblog.com/news/a-peek-at-market
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 1, 2010 3:35 PM in response to StreetLevel: New Eatery Coming to Old Bagel Delight Spot
> Caveat emptor: I used to love Watana Siam...
Yikes, sorry to hear about the dumpling incident. I used to love that place, but have not been back since I moved out of the Slope.
I second/third the comments above recommending Mee and Mango for Thai. I've ever actually eaten at Song. The bf and I were waiting in line once, but it was so loud inside that we bailed and went somewhere else.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 1, 2010 3:26 PM in response to These the Slope's Best Chow Options?
> none are nearly as good as bagel hole.
I keep hearing that, but the name is is such a turn-off.
Bergen Bagels on "the other side of Flatbush" is my current fave.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 1, 2010 3:17 PM in response to StreetLevel: New Eatery Coming to Old Bagel Delight Spot
> I went to The Vanderbilt AGAIN on Saturday.
I'm yet to go, but a friend of mine went last week. He gave it a big thumbs up, so it's definitely on my hit list.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 1, 2010 11:38 AM in response to These the Slope's Best Chow Options?
> I still haven't been to Al Di La...
I've only been there once. It was pretty good, but in my opinion it did not live up to all the hype. I'd just assume go to Bar Tano or Bar Toto for a tasty Italian meal and spend considerably less. And actually get in the door.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 1, 2010 11:37 AM in response to These the Slope's Best Chow Options?
> Flipsters would be on my top 10 WORST restaurants
Agreed. Went there once. All three of us felt ill after eating there. Never again. I'll get my burger at the Fifth Avenue diner in the Slope or The Farm in DP.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 1, 2010 11:33 AM in response to These the Slope's Best Chow Options?
> bullet proof glass wall at the front counter
Doesn't the KFC at 4th Ave & Warren still have that? S
Posted by: DitmasSnark at January 29, 2010 5:08 PM in response to McDonald's on Tillary Closes!
They look like little ski chalets.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at January 29, 2010 2:43 PM in response to Closing Bell: Have You Seen This Chicken?
http://dplistings.blogspot.com/2010/01/portable-chicken-coops.html
Posted by: DitmasSnark at January 29, 2010 10:26 AM in response to Closing Bell: Have You Seen This Chicken?
Oh come on, those old tenements were collapsing shells, and were architecturally unremarkable to begin with.
I enjoy forgetten-ny too, but I don't think we need to don't need to preserve every dingy scrap of the past.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at January 28, 2010 4:40 PM in response to 150 4th Avenue: Past, Present, Future
> There are inbred people in Maine too - Jonesport-Beals specifically.
I was up in Jonesport years ago. The accent sounded straight outta Kentucky. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at January 28, 2010 3:26 PM in response to Brooklyn Sales: Under a Million
> Hm....competing broker much?
That could be. It doesn't negate the validity of the comment though. It would be a shame to lose the view - which to my own preferences - is the only reason to be in Dumbo.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at January 28, 2010 3:15 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 70 Washington Street, #12G
> just because that earlier photo is dated 2007 - does not
> mean that is when construction (or demolition started).
If memory serves, those buildings were demolished over two years as go, and then the site sat vacant for quit a while.
See http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2007/12/4th_avenue_site.php
Posted by: DitmasSnark at January 28, 2010 2:27 PM in response to 150 4th Avenue: Past, Present, Future
It would take copious Cape Codders to make that look like a Cape Cod house.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at January 28, 2010 2:04 PM in response to Brooklyn Sales: Under a Million
Did what LOLcat said. The browser resize/relocate has been an annoyance on this site for ages. Please kill whatever code snippet causes that.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at January 28, 2010 2:00 PM in response to Browser Crashing?
Love it. Between this and the HOTD, today is an excellent real estate porn day.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at January 28, 2010 1:49 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 70 Washington Street, #12G
> I'd give my right testicle for this one.
I see you and raise you my left one.
Clear out the awful furniture, swat down those chandeliers like piñatas, splash a little paint on the walls, and I'm good to go.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at January 28, 2010 1:43 PM in response to House of the Day: 7 St. Marks Avenue
Finally. Great location. I still think this thing looks like a Transformer.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at January 27, 2010 2:32 PM in response to Looks Like Condos at 134 St. Marks are Finally Selling
This is not the most attractive block, that's for sure. But there are plenty of basic amenities on Ditmas Ave, perhaps just not what a "typical" Brownstoner reader is looking.
I'm guessing this will sell to an Orthodox Jewish or a Bangladeshi family.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at January 27, 2010 2:27 PM in response to House of the Day: 125 Cortelyou Road
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
The pricing will be so specific for each unit (is it nicely renovated? Is it REALLY in Prospect heights? Does it have outdoor space?). Our Garden level apartment rented for $2400, it’s a very nicely renovated two bed, 1 bath with a small private outdoor space, Washer dryer in apartment, central ac and electricity included. You will finder cheaper options and more expensive options--it just depends what is included.....
Good Luck! Prospect Heights is a great place to live.
Posted by: PHfamily at February 8, 2010 3:49 PM in response to Too Soon for April 1 Rental?
> I think that's the elementary school on 6th Avenue and 8th Street...is it not?
It is indeed.
Posted by: DitmasSnark at February 8, 2010 4:07 PM in response to Monday Links