Your apt is lovely and I would buy it in a second if I could afford it, but sadly I cannot. However, if you decide to rent, I would LOVE to be your tenant and I would treat your home as if it were my own (and would sign something to that effect). I lived at 25 2nd Place for 10 years and left the neighborhood only because my apartment was too small for my growing family (I moved in a single girl, moved out a married lady with a baby). My old landlords, who are your neighbors, would certainly vouch for my excellent tenancy. I miss Carroll Gardens terribly. If you get to the point where you are ready to rent, please contact me offline at persephone2669 at yahoo dot com. And good luck with your move to Seattle -- it's a wonderful city and you will LOVE living there I am sure.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at November 20, 2008 5:16 PM in response to Advice for a Freaked Out Apartment Seller

I believe douchewood, derwood, and the various iterations of the What just got served. Or in other words, slopefarm BROUGHT IT.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at November 13, 2008 10:46 AM in response to what the....

I love that old yellow house.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at November 11, 2008 1:37 PM in response to House of the Day: 72 Hicks Street

OK, I'll hang in there in my little lifeboat. At least I have my two (rented) toilets to feel good about.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at November 11, 2008 12:35 PM in response to Citigroup Puts the Kibosh on Foreclosures

Guys, talk me down, OK? As many of you know, I rent. I rent because I can't responsibly afford to buy in NYC, and for now, this is where I want to live (and also, my job is here, and I have one of those advertising jobs that's hard to come by elsewhere). And I pay all my credit cards, and contribute to my 401K, and live a good clean financial life that Suze Orman would be proud of. But I am feeling like I got played for a sucker, because what I should have done as bought a house I couldn't afford and then gotten "bailed out" or "restructured." And I further feel that the efforts to shore up the housing market will ensure that I will NEVER EVER be able to afford to buy anything. So, please, someone with a greater depth of understanding of this mess, help a girl out. I did everything I was supposed to do. Why do I feel so stupid?

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at November 11, 2008 11:39 AM in response to Citigroup Puts the Kibosh on Foreclosures

I'm so sorry cobblehiller.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at November 6, 2008 11:46 AM in response to NYC Police and Fire Fighters Next to Feel Budget Pinch

I voted at PS 62 on Cortelyou Road, and though it was chaotic and the lines were long, my District (80) was still asleep (or I live in an apathetic District) because I was in and out in 15 minutes.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at November 4, 2008 10:12 AM in response to Long Lines, Everywhere

Touche TD! In fact, I was putting away my Walkman back then (and all of my copied-from-the-radio cassette tapes)!

Also, things frequently got ugly over the smudging of pristine sneakers.

Cobblehiller -- You don't snitch because if you do, and you are outed as a snitcher, bad things happen to you. That's the message there. Like you get a beat down. Or, depending on the severity of the crime and the level of the person you snitched on, you get shot at.

Neighborhood Watch, people. Time to band together.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at November 3, 2008 2:04 PM in response to Mugging on St. John's Place

Preach it dittoburg.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at November 3, 2008 11:18 AM in response to Mugging on St. John's Place

Hey buckfire -- I'm a lady, not a mister. :)

Oh What, I do understand. Try not to work yourself into a froth.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at November 3, 2008 10:51 AM in response to Mugging on St. John's Place

Awww. Welcome back, Kotter (or whatever their name is).

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at November 3, 2008 10:37 AM in response to Back to Brooklyn (Thanks, in Part, to Brownstoner)

Let me dust off the lessons of my Bronx 1970s childhood and invite you all to:

Have your keys out and ready. Do not stand in front of your house fumbling.

Before exiting the subway, put away your phone, ipod, etc, and take your keys out.

Do not carry your keys and ID in the same bag. If someone snatches your bag, they'll have your ID. You don't want them to have your keys too. Carry your keys on your person (like in a coat pocket).

Xerox everything in your wallet and keep a copy in the house. That way, if your wallet gets snatched, you'll be able to call all of the credit cards etc and have your ID #s at the ready.

Lighten up what you carry. You don't ned to be toting your checkbook, passport, birth certificate, etc. Carry as little as possible. Basically, don't carry anything you wouldn't be "happy" to hand over to a mugger.

Carry "mugger money" and an extra metrocard on your body, like in your pants pocket or inner coat pocket. That way, if you have to hand everything over, you can still get home.

Tuck in neck chains and turn rings around. You may have to hand them over anyway, but don't flash them.

If some approaches you and you feel ill at ease, start yelling. Don't be polite about this stuff. Cross the street if someone makes you feel uncomfortable, go into a store or bar, just remove yourself. I know it goes against our polite instincts, but if you feel like something is up -- something is probably up.

If you have to run from gunshot, run in a zig zag pattern. It's hard to hit a moving target. (Actually, I learned that in a movie. My childhood wasn't that jacked up!)

Consider reading "The Gift of Fear" or taking a self-defense class.

And lastly, walk tall, try not to put yourself into dangerous situations, and hand over everything if you get into it. The watch, the ring, the money -- not worth nearly as much as you are.

And by the way What, and anyone else who would take pleasure in a return to a more crime-ridden city -- shame on you. I understand schadenfreude, but a dirtier, more dangerous New York is not something to to take any kind of pleasure in. It hurts us all.

Stay safe everyone.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at November 3, 2008 10:33 AM in response to Mugging on St. John's Place

I'm late to the party here, but congratulations Wasder! Wishing you and your family many years of happiness in your beautiful new home! Mazel Tov. :)

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at October 29, 2008 6:04 PM in response to Where is Wasder?

What a prince among men you are, Iron Balls. You must make your mom so proud.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at October 24, 2008 11:49 AM in response to Quote of the Day

Rob -- Should the day come you can't afford a meal, you are welcome to my house to eat some of the rice & beans and Mac & Cheese we're hoarding.

And you can come by for coffee cobblehiller.

Rich or poor, eventually we're going to have to take care of each other.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at October 23, 2008 11:51 AM in response to The prefect financial storm has hit land..

Checking in as still alive, still employed (knock wood), and still in possession of BOTH toilets.

We could never form a gang, as we'd kill each other over the appliances to have in our gang house.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at October 16, 2008 10:56 AM in response to End of the World (Or Maybe Not) Party

Happy Birthday!

Make my party hat an ASSHAT!

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at October 13, 2008 4:32 PM in response to Closing Bell: Brownstoner Turns 4

Hey Rob -- Carroll Gardens has a fun Halloween scene, particularly the "Place" blocks. Nice Christmas lights too. Take the F to Carroll Street and just start walking around. Are you dressing up? My kid is going as a mermaid and my husband and I are hotly debating either McCain & Palin (I'd be McCain, he'd be Palin) or Thing 1 & Thing 2 from Cat in the Hat.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at October 11, 2008 6:50 PM in response to what is halloween like in brownstone brooklyn?!

If I come, and I'm kind of feeling shy about it (particularly because TownHouse Lady won't be there and I think she and I are simpatico, and she is freaking hilarious), I will wear my "bitter renter" t-shirt (which you can purchase on Zazzle!)

What does anyone think of calling the guy who wrote the NY Mag article and asking him to come and cover the get-together?

Right? Right....
It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at October 10, 2008 11:55 AM in response to End of the World (Or Maybe Not) Party

I'm so sorry Wasder! I had a crazy busy day yesterday at the office. All's well. Your house is so lovely -- I love the elegant bones and can see so much potential for beauty and comfort there! I'm looking forward to following the progress here, and particularly to seeing what your clever wife does with the space. :) Hope all is good with you guys.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at October 10, 2008 11:41 AM in response to new-ish poster here from park slope would like to say hi!

Welcome to Brooklyn, Rob!

Don't pick up any street mattresses dude -- bedbugs!

:)

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at October 10, 2008 11:32 AM in response to new-ish poster here from park slope would like to say hi!

Glad to hear it's all working out Wasder!

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at October 6, 2008 12:37 PM in response to The great experiment 2008

For what it's worth, there are A LOT of people who make judgements about spelling/grammar on professional websites. I wasn't snarking on her at all.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at October 3, 2008 2:24 PM in response to Details on the Brooklyn Take-Out Taxi

Not only does she have my support and admiration, I just e-mailed her and offered to copyedit both of her sites pro bono. Sisterhood is powerful (and more so when spelled and punctuated correctly)!

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at October 3, 2008 12:52 PM in response to Details on the Brooklyn Take-Out Taxi

Wasder -- if you think your garden apartment can accommodate me, my husband, my kid and our cat, I might be interested in renting your garden apartment. If you're serious, would you e-mail me at persephone2669 at yahoo dot com?

Thanks.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at October 1, 2008 4:31 PM in response to Close? Or Walk Away?

Thanks Biff. Hi Wasder (my teammate). I don't get the schadenfreude either. Last I checked, if the police force gets cut, it gets cut for us all, not just renters. If the F train stops running, it stops running for us all. As has been said, all boats rise and fall on the same wave. My boat is rented, but it'll sink just like all the others. No joy in watching the people who own their boats sink as I go down with them.

Anyhoo. I only weighed in because sebb's condescending tone has irritated me in the past, and I wanted to respond to it straight on. For myself, I'm keeping out of debt, saving what I can, hoping for the best, and signing a new lease when the time comes!

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at October 1, 2008 11:38 AM in response to Has the Bubble Finally Burst?

So sorry Elizabeth. Definitely talk to your landlord. As crownheights2007 says, cost are going up all around and I can understand them wanting to offset their expenses with a higher rent. And since they are within market, it s a good indicator that they are reasonable. If you are already walking the dog and watching the kid, maybe you can formalize those services and assign the value against the rent? Dog walkers and babysitters are well paid in this city. You should also think about signing a lease, whether you stay or move. A month-to-month arrangement puts you in a very vulnerable position. Good luck!

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at October 1, 2008 10:36 AM in response to Standard rent increase??

sebb-- You are consistently obnoxious, angry, bitter, disparaging, and smug about those of us who do not own. Why the vitriol?

I rent, and I do so because I love this city (which is my hometown) and made a choice to stay. In order to own, I need to move. I've done the research. That's the reality of my financial picture. I'm at peace with it. I don't think owning is a God-given right. This is and always has been a tough city, and while I count myself a success in many many important ways, I don't make enough to buy a place here. Would you call me bitter? Angry? A fool?

I'm a "make the pie larger and give everyone a bigger piece" kind of person, so I'm actually sorrowful about this whole mess. With the exception of flippers and vampiric developers, I think most people wanted a place to live and call their own and got understandably excited about watching the value of their investment grow. I think a lot of people got played on their way to the American dream. It's a mess. It's not the end of the world. For myself, I am not enjoying anyone "get their comeuppance and suck it" or whatever. I feel bad for people who are hurting. That's called being a human being and and good neighbor. You might want to give it a try. Feels pretty good.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at October 1, 2008 10:25 AM in response to Has the Bubble Finally Burst?

Teammate Wasder-- Get a nice mutt. Something with poodle for smarts and golden retriever for sweetness. And give him a really butch name!

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at September 30, 2008 2:18 PM in response to A real victory..

Teammate Wasder -- Get yourself a nice male dog to pal around with. No landlord to ask permission of, and you can take him to work!

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at September 30, 2008 12:38 PM in response to A real victory..

That's great, Wasder! I love white with a little yellow in it (I tend to decorate in cake batter colors--buttery yellows, chocolate browns). You will be in for Thanksgiving and the holidays! I'm happy for you and wish you & your family many years of happiness there.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at September 30, 2008 11:26 AM in response to A real victory..

I can TOTALLY handle that!!!!!

How's the house? Are you picking paint colors and window treatments? Are you excited to put pumpkins and pots of flowers on your stoop? :)

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at September 30, 2008 11:08 AM in response to A real victory..

I'm not an asshat, a hipster, or a developer either. Can I be on your team Wasder?

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at September 30, 2008 11:02 AM in response to A real victory..

Sweet!

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at September 24, 2008 4:55 PM in response to Mad Men Moving to Wall Street Digs?

Golly. I work in advertising. I make over 100K. Is my day finally here??????

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at September 24, 2008 3:55 PM in response to Mad Men Moving to Wall Street Digs?

Good luck and congratulations!

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at September 23, 2008 12:18 PM in response to Congratulations to me?

My move from Carroll Gardens (where I lived for 15 years) to South Brooklyn was also based on economic necessity. I'm a white woman, FWIW.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at September 23, 2008 10:52 AM in response to The End of White Flight?

If I may say so, you got rich people problems. "Oh, where to put my car???" Count your blessings, friend.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at September 23, 2008 10:50 AM in response to Ethics-free Parking?

This is so difficult. TownhouseLady, I have very similar sentiments. Where is MY reward for NOT buying because I just couldn't afford it (in my world, "affording it" means 20% down, a 30-year fixed term mortgage, and the ability to be a responsible homeowner -- and have a life -- beyond paying the mortgage) and refused to enter into a "funny money" mortgage. At the same time, I have one friend who made a series of foolish decisions and is now 85K in credit card debt -- AFTER selling her house. Another friend who wants to move but can't because she can't sell her house. Another friend who can just make the payments on her house but can't afford the new property taxes. When I talk to these friends, my heart breaks. But when I pull back and look at the larger picture, I support only doing what is required to keep our economy from completely collapsing, punitive action against those who caused this crisis, and letting the rest of the cards fall where they may. I survived growing up in this city and going to public school in the '70s, I feel confident I can ride this out too.

Good luck everyone.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at September 23, 2008 10:44 AM in response to Pop Quiz: Including Homeowners in the Bailout?

This is wonderful and I applaud them.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at September 22, 2008 12:28 PM in response to Interiors: Affordable and Attractive

It looks like a Maid's room to me, off the kitchen and all (not that I ever had a maid, mind you!). Maybe a den, with close proximity to the kitchen for snacks. This reminds me of the 2-bedroom postings on Craig's List -- with no living room! I guess if any room can be a bedroom, I live in a 6-bedroom apartment (just be careful not to hit your head on the stove while sleeping in the "kitchen" aka, 6th bedroom).

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at September 17, 2008 11:54 AM in response to NOT A THREE BEDROOM

Thanks Biff. I've been busy sewing my jewelry into the hems of my clothes (as my Aunt's mother did before fleeing Hitler's Germany) and stuffing my mattress with money. I'm a little rattled to be living in such "interesting" times, to say the least.

A good point well taken, Sam. The issue I take with this grading system is that it turns on the ability to score well on tests, moreover, a certain kind of test, and when the test is emphasized above all else, important educational elements get lost: a spirit of inquiry and exploration, the willingness to experiment and perhaps fail, independent thought, research. Please don't misunderstand, I am not so niave as to think that the basics can be shuffled aside, in fact, I think a commitment to the basics from the beginning of life is essential (0-3 being the foundation of a lifetime of learning).

I am not an educator nor an expert by any means, but I am a parent of a small child and an avid reader, and I see this grading system as just another piece of the sickness that pervades our public school system. I just finished reading Paul Tough's "Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada's Quest to Change Harlem and America," which is about the creation of the Harlem Children's Zone, and found it inspiring and deeply heartbreaking in equal measure.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at September 17, 2008 11:47 AM in response to Schools Report Cards Released

It's a corporate model. I've been a desk jockey since 1994, and this grading system is analogous to the yearly reviews we generate. I was told very early in my career that, although I was doing a fantastic job, there's no such thing as getting a perfect review, because then there's nowhere to go but down. With this kind of blunt tool, there's no way to measure (or a limited way to measure) sustained achievement. It requires constant growth. In any event, many factors make a school great, beyond test scores.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at September 17, 2008 10:52 AM in response to Schools Report Cards Released

which school is it zoned for?

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at September 11, 2008 11:27 AM in response to Ocean Avenue

Hey Mr. Hot Bird! Thanks for feeding me all those nights in the 90s! Must See TV and Hot Bird -- good times!

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at September 9, 2008 1:18 PM in response to Hot Bird Founder

Folks, this is an EXCELLENT problem to have. Heres' the thing -- a school becomes excellent because people with resources (e.g. money to donate, time to work within the school, the ability to write a grant and negotiate paperwork, the ability to organize fundraising, talent to plant a garden pr paint a wall, connections to others with resources who can widen the circle of interest about the school, etc) send their ids to that school and then get involved in it. I know PS 321 is supposed to be the Holy Grail of public school, and I mean no disrespect to that school, but there are other schools that are excellent, and more importantly, there are schools that need help that you can make a difference in. Then, not only do YOUR kids get a great education that you were instrumental in creating, but other kids whose families have fewer resources also benefit. This is an opportunity of riches! I just finished reading Sandra Tsing-Loh's book "Mother On Fire" which recounts her experience with the LA Public School system (and private schools in LA) and I really recommend it. It lit a fire under me for sure.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at September 3, 2008 10:36 AM in response to Condo Growth Imperils Schools

Thanks Dyker!

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 27, 2008 5:09 PM in response to Can't Cut It In Brooklyn? Try Buffalo.

Glad I didn't offend Kensington gal. I'm down near Ditmas Ave on Ocean Parkway in a 2 bedroom rental (with 2 baths, natch). We had to move quickly from our old place, and this rental, which is relatively cheap, presented itself as a quick fix. It's a long commute for me to mid-town (East Side) and, as you note, rather amenity-free. Good for you for getting a house that makes you happy! I'm still looking. :)

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 27, 2008 2:30 PM in response to Can't Cut It In Brooklyn? Try Buffalo.

Good morning Stoners.

Dyker -- Columbus, really? Can you write a little more about it? I've never been to Ohio. I dated a guy from there once and he was a hunk of yummy Americana (that's my complete Columbus frame of reference).

Speaking of Philly, this is a move my husband and I have seriously considered. Would anyone with experience in that city be willing to talk about neighborhoods, school districts, the job situation, etc?

HmmmmWhichNeighborhood -- would love to hear more about the Saratoga/Capitol region.

Biff: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099864/ I had completely forgotten that TIM CURRY, that delicious vamp, played the scary clown in the sewer!

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 27, 2008 11:50 AM in response to Can't Cut It In Brooklyn? Try Buffalo.

*blush* Thanks Lurker!

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 26, 2008 5:14 PM in response to Can't Cut It In Brooklyn? Try Buffalo.

I do believe you were quite happy about hazzing two toilets, Biff. I also recall I had to get into quite a long explanation about how two people (and a pre-schooler) living in one home might all have the need to relive themselves at the same time, and that two toilets easily facilitated this (I believe I used the word "doody" a number of times). This evolved into a Zen Koan-like meditation on how many kitchens one reasonably needs to brew two cups of tea.

And with that, I say goodnight.

i_haz_TWO_toilets_in_two_separate_bathrooms_but_one_of_them_has_the_cat_box_so_mostly_I_just_use_the_one_in_the_hall_instead_of_the_one_in_my_bedroom

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 26, 2008 5:09 PM in response to Can't Cut It In Brooklyn? Try Buffalo.

No offense intended, Kensington Gal.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 26, 2008 4:48 PM in response to Can't Cut It In Brooklyn? Try Buffalo.

Biff -- Remember back to that thread where there was raging debate over why a two bedroom apartment would need two bathrooms? That's the secret of my handle. I have often felt so disenfranchised here as a renter, that I couldn't help but exclaim my dual-toileted state (rented though they may be). It has become something of a joke in my house, bitter single-toilters vs. smug dual-toileters.

All in good fun, of course.

I think wine lover may be referring to Italian neighborhoods, such as Carroll Gardens back in the day. I also think wine lover may be trying to kick up a reeroar, what with talking about where white people should and should not live.

I actually live in Kensington now. I am not really a fan of the area.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 26, 2008 4:45 PM in response to Can't Cut It In Brooklyn? Try Buffalo.

That Stephen King book is "IT." Freaking scary. There was a TV movie version with John Boy from The Waltons and John Ritter (who was so hot, truly, and such a sweetheart). There's a horrific gay hate crime in the book, amongst other sundry terrors. Clowns are creepy anyway.

Bxgrl (I'm a Bronx girl too, yo, from Allerton Ave) Kingston is also supposed to be quite beautiful, with a thriving arts scene.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 26, 2008 4:09 PM in response to Can't Cut It In Brooklyn? Try Buffalo.

Hey cobblehiller, I wasn't trying to recruit you or anything. I'm just trying to figure out what the heck to do. For myself. Not for you. As a fellow member of the thermo cup-toting class I say: Eat your occasional cheese and be happy!

Jingle mail -- My parents and my husband's parents are both here in the Northeast (my folks in Hartsdale and his in CT). Neither one of us is an artist, dancer, actor, journalist or hedge fund manager. We've only just recently have decided that we need to "do something," so we're very much at the start of figuring out what the something might be. I've been to Portland (Oregon) and love it, but I gather it too is getting pricey. Onwards. Thanks for the feedback.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 26, 2008 1:17 PM in response to Can't Cut It In Brooklyn? Try Buffalo.

Thanks Suburbandude. My hub & I make a little over $100k and we have one kid, and we're finding it really tough, so I appreciate the insight. I'll keep trying to get on buffalorising, just to check it out. I lived in Yorktown Heights during High School and my folks are in Hartsdale now, so Westchester is also a place we've considered, although I think a smaller city, rather than a suburb, is where we're headed (and the suburbs of NYC are expensive).

Hi ennulater. I rent those two toilets. ;) Keep on keeping on, sister.

A good point Sam. I was thinking the same thing myself. The difference, of course, is that the commute to Manhattan is significantly shorter from Brooklyn than from Buffalo (although some days on the F train, it doesn't seem so).

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 26, 2008 12:19 PM in response to Can't Cut It In Brooklyn? Try Buffalo.

Hey Suburbandude -- are you affiliated in some way? Not accusing, just really curious to hear more.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 26, 2008 11:26 AM in response to Can't Cut It In Brooklyn? Try Buffalo.

They are long 11214, but if you like outdoor winter sports (and own the appropriate outerwear) not so terribly depressing. At least, I found it to be OK.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 26, 2008 11:20 AM in response to Can't Cut It In Brooklyn? Try Buffalo.

Hey now! The What answered me! I feel kind of special.

I hear you cobblehiller, and no one (certainly not me) is arguing that Buffalo has the cheese, Indian food, medical care, etc that Brooklyn, and the larger NYC area, does. But here's the thing. I can't really afford to eat out, or to buy the 40 kinds of fancy cheese, and honestly, sometimes it's a struggle to pay the co-pays for the medical care my insurance covers. And I think that's sort of what we're talking about here -- alternatives.

And I like the red house too.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 26, 2008 11:18 AM in response to Can't Cut It In Brooklyn? Try Buffalo.

I actually found the Oswego area to be truly a soul-sucker, 11217. But I liked Rochester a lot, and Syracuse, and found Buffalo had a certain, not charm exactly, but interesting character.

When I was in college in Oswego there were actually "wind alert" days, where you were advised to stay in if you weighed under 110 pounds. The fear was that the wind off the lake would do you some serious harm. Nice sunsets. Terrible mosquitoes.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 26, 2008 11:09 AM in response to Can't Cut It In Brooklyn? Try Buffalo.

Just tried to go on buffalorising. The server is crashed. Guess there is some interest.

I grew up in the Bronx and Westchester and went to school in upper NY State (I was near Rochester and had friends near Buffalo and Syracuse). I had a good time up there in the hinterlands, and really can understand the attraction of moving to a place that is on the upswing, where you could maybe be part of a renaissance. The NY I came home to after college is vastly different from the NY I'm living in now, for better and for worse, and I admit that my husband and I are struggling and trying to figure out what's best for us and our 3-year-old. We rent, we missed the run up because we weren't in a position to buy when the getting was good, now we're completely priced out, even rents are prohibitively high (if we ever want to do anything like take a vacation or enjoy the city) and we're...flummoxed, I guess. I read this article last night and I have to say, it really got me where I live. We're smarter now, more practical, and right in the middle (that middle class that is shrinking). Too rich for help, too poor to really live here in the city anymore.

So I don't know. Maybe not Buffalo. But somewhere.

To the poster who has friends who are leaving Buffalo -- where are they going?

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 26, 2008 11:05 AM in response to Can't Cut It In Brooklyn? Try Buffalo.

Ha ha!!!!! I have TWO TOILETS and I LOOOOOOVE them!!!!!

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 15, 2008 5:09 PM in response to Open House Picks

And please don't tie your dog up outside a store. They're vulnerable not only to dog-nappers but also to traffic. Thanks.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 15, 2008 11:35 AM in response to Increasing Auto Break Ins - Park Slope

I visited a communal living "compound," I guess you'd call it, in New Mexico several years ago (friends of a friend started it). The folks who lived there were like-minded in many ways (progressive, community minded, eco-focused) but also surprisingly diverse -- some had kids (but not all) and those kids got on the bus and went to school each day, some worked in the garden, others commuted to offices, some were vegetarian, but not all. They were all really normal, and I say that because I kinda was expecting some kind of spouse-swapping nudist vegan homeschooling cult. Mostly, they were a bunch of happy, healthy, cheerful people who like living in community and were devoted to a "green" lifestyle (before the term was thrown around so easily). So I think that these places self-select. No one is forcing you to live there (I'm looking at you, Sam) and people who WOULD choose to live in such an arrangement tend to be the kind of people who not only can make it work, but who want to.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 15, 2008 11:26 AM in response to Brooklyn Co-Housing Moving Closer to Reality?

try http://www.nownannyny.com/ they're really exceptional (I'm not affiliated, just a parent)

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 5, 2008 3:24 PM in response to Looking for a baby sitter

It's been extremely trying to say the least. I have a small child and I am genuinely worried about the mold growth affecting her. We plan to move once our lease is up. What pains me most is that we are really excellent tenants -- financially responsible, nesters, handy, not quick to complain, friendly -- and we've been treated like we're worthless and stupid by this craven landlord. It's been a very upsetting experience.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 4, 2008 4:05 PM in response to Fire Leaves 75 PLG Households Looking for Shelter

I've been a Zipcar member since they came to NY and I love them. Sorry you've had such a negative experience. I must say, based on the tone of your rant, they may have just decided you weren't the kind of sort they wanted participating in their collective.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 4, 2008 1:35 PM in response to zipcar is deceptive please read

I am a renter and have always had renter's insurance sufficient to replace all of my belongings and relocate, should the worst happen. In 18 years of living and renting in the city, I have never needed it. This spring, my apartment building caught on fire because a tenant was illegally bar-be-queing on his terrace. Our apartment sustained significant water damage as a result. While my renter's insurance did cover the damage to my personal property, it did not cover damage to the apartment itself, which included significant water damage that the landlord did not properly remediate, resulting in mold growth, which he refuses to acknowledge or repair. Essentially, he waited for everything to "dry out" and then threw a coat of paint over it. We had to call the city several times to get him to do even that. So in short, renter's insurance is very helpful, but not a cure all by any means. Landlords are still accountable for the conditions of their buildings.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at August 4, 2008 1:31 PM in response to Fire Leaves 75 PLG Households Looking for Shelter

Hey Heather -- can you provide a link for the safety gates you had installed? I have the accordion-style silver ones in my kid's room and I HATE the way they look -- like she's in jail.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at July 15, 2008 10:37 AM in response to Window lock?

Hey guestula -- I live in Kensington too. Should we start working to get an Imagination playground here?

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at July 15, 2008 10:34 AM in response to Tuesday Links

I tape my dowel in place. Like I said, not pretty, but gets the job done.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at July 14, 2008 3:14 PM in response to Window lock?

It's not the most elegant solution, but a dowel cut to the proper length and inserted along side the window is an old trick.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at July 14, 2008 12:41 PM in response to Window lock?

But how many bathrooms does it have?

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at July 11, 2008 4:49 PM in response to Streetlevel: iPhone Mania Not Just for Manhattanites

Seriously 4:38, what's the matter? Of COURSE it's Carroll Gardens.

Posted by: I_haz_TWO_toilets at July 10, 2008 5:02 PM in response to House of the Day: 28 2nd Place

I agree with the idea to flip the dining and living room. When I lived in an identical apt, we painted the dining room (middle room, no windows) a medium color with white woodwork and a modern white light fixture and had bookshelves lining it. It looked quite nice.

Posted by: mopar at November 21, 2008 11:28 AM in response to Advice for a Freaked Out Apartment Seller

The stock market and the housing market are not comparable, at least on a historical basis. The stock market has a histtory of volatility, with 5-6 periods where the market declined in the 50% range during the last 80 years. Housing may have done that once (in the great depression). Trading costs on stock are low, making it easy to get in and out. Transaction costs on houses are very high, making them less liquid.

Posted by: Boerum Hill at November 21, 2008 11:52 AM in response to Advice for a Freaked Out Apartment Seller

When was the priced reduced to $475,000? It's listed at $569,000 on streeteasy. (And if streeteasy is wrong, that's not helping you either.)

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/356464-coop-588-henry-street-carroll-gardens-brooklyn

According to this link, the price on this place was reduced to $569,000 2 weeks ago. Unless that info is incorrect, it's misleading to suggest that this "won't sell" if it has been reasonably priced for less than 2 weeks.

This post just seems like creative real estate advertising to me - getting everyone worked up about how a great place 'won't sell' at a reasonable price.

Posted by: squaredrive at November 21, 2008 12:39 PM in response to Advice for a Freaked Out Apartment Seller

2 months is not unusual! It's not time to panic the seller yet. It took a little over 2 months to sell our 2BR coop in Park Slope, back in Fall of 2006. And it was larger than this place. I don't think this apartment has to go much lower in price than it is now. Do NOT simply put "Make Offer" on the listing. Worst idea ever. You'll never sell it, you'll look like there are major problems with the property and nobody wants it.

Here's the problem to me as it breaks the major rule in real estate that all your rooms should be shown with clear identity and purpose:

The room that is a dining room AND an entry foyer AND an office with file cabinets has got to be totally cleared out and become just a dining room. If you need to store away your laptop in the closet and work on the dining room table when people aren't seeing the house, that's what you have to do. But get rid of the desk. Get rid of the coats hanging on the wall.

Having a room that's cluttered and so multi-purpose like that only shouts to buyers "there's not enough room here". I would get very anxious and turned off stepping into that room as a buyer.

Posted by: traditionalmod at November 21, 2008 12:48 PM in response to Advice for a Freaked Out Apartment Seller

P.S. in addition to the desk you also have to get rid of those file cabinets in the dining room. They're huge and make the room seem tiny. Hang pictures on the wall instead. It really does need to show as a dining room. Once the office is gone you could switch the living room and dining room, too. Which is probably the original layout, right? I think the biggest mistake people can make is showing their home in an unusual way THEY used the rooms and the space. You need to show a place with its rooms arranged as they are intended to be.

Posted by: traditionalmod at November 21, 2008 12:54 PM in response to Advice for a Freaked Out Apartment Seller

I think if it doesn't sell at what you determine is a rock-bottom price, then you have to rent it out. Here's the thing: If you lose $100k off what you wanted, it probably won't kill you, if your husband's job in Seattle is solid. You'll be able to make it back with a lower cost of living there, if you want. I do feel your pain if it's legitimate, but 2 months even in a hot market isn't unrealistic. It took my folks 2 years to sell their home...

Posted by: Bolder at November 21, 2008 1:10 PM in response to Advice for a Freaked Out Apartment Seller

Any outdoor space with this thing? Roof deck? Backyard?

Posted by: RaginCajun at November 21, 2008 2:10 PM in response to Advice for a Freaked Out Apartment Seller

definitely get rid of all the books and knick knacks except for a couple of things on the shelves above the TV. turn the dining room in to a dining room only - eliminate the shelving? storage unit? to the left of the table, ditch the desk and the high chair too (altho bring the high chair back after new pics are taken and after every open house!) add a couple of chairs to the dining room table. remove the clothes hanging on the hooks in that room too. also, ditch the drawers in the dining room too. looks like there are toys? next to the TV - get rid of those too and maybe the chairs to the sides of the TV (can go around the table). would be lovely to see the table set up for the pics and open house as well.

AND, no joke, after you get rid of this stuff, you must must take new pics. my looking at these, makes me think that the apt is really really small. also, could use a pic of the 2nd bedroom, the bathroom, and a much better pic of the kitchen. this pictures are not good. very amateur. the broker should provide a better photographer.

good luck and let us know what happens.

Posted by: wine lover at November 21, 2008 3:40 PM in response to Advice for a Freaked Out Apartment Seller

Ironballs, one thing you might think about is.. I have lived on my block in the north slope for 15 years, In this time the turnover rate for houses has been way less than 1 a year. Some on my block have been here longer than me, which I am assuming means they owe next to nothing on their property. SO I really do not see anyone cashing out when the market is going down, 2-4 family brownstones with longterm owners who live off the income. The house is their income so why would you quit your "job" in a recession? Supply has always been tight, this recession will make it tighter, people scared to make a move, unless they face foreclosure. I see prices falling for sure, but 50% is off the mark. People still need a place to live and Park Slope is one of the desirable places to live in NYC. It is not like the 70's. And if prices fall dramatically in the next year there is no way they are going to raise dramatically in the next year or two after that I think you are smoking some good stuff if you think a flip of any significance is going to happen in the next 3 years. But good luck if you do it.

Posted by: billyboomer at November 21, 2008 3:47 PM in response to Advice for a Freaked Out Apartment Seller

You’re up shits creek without a paddle on this one. Rent it out ASAP.

Posted by: Gowanus_Bklyn at November 21, 2008 4:30 PM in response to Advice for a Freaked Out Apartment Seller