Creaking wood floors

I like Norah Jones. I think she is extremely talented, if limited in scope. Beautiful crooning.

And take THAT, neighbors with nothing better to complain about.

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 19, 2009 10:33 AM in response to LPC Will Not Reconsider Norah Jones Decision

Rob:

"Master toilets should sit openly in bedrooms"

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 19, 2009 10:08 AM in response to Open Thread

You seem seriously agitated, to the point of shouting, by all of this Ljubitca. Has this home offended you in a previous experience?

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 17, 2009 3:04 PM in response to House of the Day: 121 Rapelye Street

I'm coming into the game late here, but am really surprised by the number of folks who haven't yet caught onto these improved ass wiping tools!

Call me anal, no pun intended, but I keep a box of that stuff in every bathroom in the apartment, and have a bidet in the master alongside the toilet. Why on earth would one wipe with a dry sheet when one could easily clean with a fresh, scented, damp, flushable wipe/washcloth??

And DH, my kids use that very Kandoo kind :)

Lovely.

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 17, 2009 2:48 PM in response to Open Thread

I don't know Bxgrl. Seems to me that subjecting non-smokers to lungfulls of second hand smoke in their own homes day in day out is quite a different thing from detesting the smell of cabbage and requiring one to smell it while one cooks it, or hating the view of one's curtains because the color or texture is indefensible...

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 17, 2009 12:25 PM in response to Open Thread

This is one of those areas in which I likely appear nutty, but I totally get it. I think a building should absolutely have the right to require no smoking, and I think tenants should have the right to live in a smoke-free home. Our upstairs neighbors used to smoke (they both apparently quit some time last spring - THANK GOD - after they had a little baby) and it would waft through our home as though someone were smoking in it. Not kidding. Also, it goes up the fire stairs and the elevator shafts. I really, really hated it.

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 17, 2009 12:20 PM in response to Open Thread

Stick with the tomatoes, add as much fiber as you can (everything should say 100% whole wheat) and eat salmon at least twice a week with a heaping side of spinach. you'll be great.

Wellbutrin is so popular at present because it isn't associated with weight gain or sexual dysfunction, while many other antidepressants are, is helpful with quitting smoking and may help with adult inattention problems. One should definitely drink lightly to moderately while taking it, however. And it has a higher recidivism rate. It is a pretty effective drug for many people struggling with depression and other problems. Don't dismiss it out of hand.

So sorry about your friend. The best thing anyone did for me was to say "THAT SUCKS" and I'm here for you, whenever and wherever you need to talk. Also, a gift basket with chocolates, tea, and a bunch of trashy color magazines. And the advice from everyone else to be yourself is spot on :)
This really is no different from a death for her. Treat it as such.

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 17, 2009 11:16 AM in response to Open Thread

2nd. Yawn too.

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 17, 2009 9:31 AM in response to Open Thread

Ha! Every time I see a typo like 'noone', I think of Fletch. Don't ask me why.

I too had a tough time with that paragraph, bc. Had to read it twice. I try not to get irritated by it, but seriously. Have they nothing in place with which to catch that stuff before it goes to print?

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 16, 2009 11:36 AM in response to Cobble Hill Neighbors Irked by Norah Jones' Windows

Ah. I think you're right smeyer. I had considered that it was heat and hot water, but it appears it is just hot water. It is however an enormous pain in the ass, and worth a rent reduction as the problem persists. Going on a week with no hot water means no showers, no hot water cleaning etc. It would be very tough for me.

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 16, 2009 10:50 AM in response to No Hot Water...Help

Wow. This feels absolutely nutty to me. So often I look up at these structures, note the blank, windowless walls, and don't get it. If you can put it windows, why on earth would you not? I hope she gets to move forward with this.

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 16, 2009 10:46 AM in response to Cobble Hill Neighbors Irked by Norah Jones' Windows

I think this is a warranty of habitability issue and that the cost per se of heating the hot water isn't really the issue.

I would definitely look into speaking with a tenants rights attorney - there are several agencies who provide advice and info. free of charge - and consider withholding a hell of a lot more than just the cost of heat.

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 16, 2009 10:07 AM in response to No Hot Water...Help

rf, can you, someone, ANYone explain to me why they have to be over the age of 4?? I have a 2 year old who remains unvaccinated. Falls into some weird crack in the system. The pediatrician doesn't have it for him as he isn't considered high priority, and I can't get him vaxed at the City sites because he's not yet 4! I don't like it.

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 16, 2009 9:56 AM in response to Open Thread

This is just incredibly sad. I cannot picture how this happened either. If standing in the elevator and jumping to a floor one is stuck within feet of, how does one fall into the shaft?

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 9, 2009 11:11 AM in response to Site of Drummer's Fall Lousy with Violations

I wish I were 'tech communication savvy' enough to even understand Twitter for God's sake. I really honestly don't get it. How does anyone 'follow' anyone (more importantly, why WOULD they, but I digress), how does one tweet and so on. I've actually tried it, tried setting up a Twitter 'account', but couldn't understand why or what I would say, and how anyone would know that I did. Now I find, even though I've never tweeted, that people 'follow me'. I get announcements of this in my email. Sigh.

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 9, 2009 11:09 AM in response to The Flea In Tweets

Ack! I just got back from dropping my 5 year old downtown, 2 year old strapped to my front (thank GOD I didn't take the stroller) and was actually a little freaked out a few times it was so difficult getting across Broadway and through the sidewalks so excited, so plentiful and so rowdy were the Yankees fans. Our subway stop was shut down, I got caught in a bottleneck at one of those metal barricades, everyone angry, shoving, trying to get to work or wherever...

It was then I wished they hadn't won. I know, sigh, sacrilege!

But Happy Friday all - don't think the sky could possibly be a more crisp and lovely shade of blue. And to those of you who love the Yankees, congrats!

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 6, 2009 9:40 AM in response to Open Thread

My apologies for waxing poetic... too much information, Zip it!

But give me a break DistractedMom. 'Downtown Manhattan' could be anything south of 23rd street to the Battery. I wouldn't venture to guess how many thousands of apartments and homes are for sale in that catchment. I doubt I'm risking a sale by ranting about Manhattan for a moment on a little thread on Brownstoner.

bkplebe, couldn't disagree more. Like I said, we've spent many weekends in Brooklyn with friends and family. One of my best friends lives in the north slope and I've been over dozens of times at all hours and on different days. We've seen no less than 100 brownstones in the last 2 years.

Last weekend we met friends in Park Slope for Halloween trick or treating, and I can assure you we had a ball wandering about, from Brownstone to Brownstone, people decked out everywhere, standing at gates and sitting on stoops, handing out candy and little gifts...I'm not sure why you would ever make such a statement as "I would never send my kids to trick or treat...brownstones".

Of course there are construction spots and traffic, Gaps and franchised stores in Brooklyn. But not to even remotely to the same degree as we have here. You disagree?

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 5, 2009 3:47 PM in response to House of the Day: 119 Fort Greene Place

It just isn't what I was thinking it was. It is simply another advertising list one can pay to be put on. I guess I had erroneously assumed it was a list for and by Brownstoner's that had been pulled together using previous referrals given by readers and so on. Not sure why the 300 bucks rubbed me wrong beyond that, but it did.

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 5, 2009 3:15 PM in response to Brownstoner Directory Reaches Milestone of 50 Listings

Miss Muffett,

because we have grown tired of the very busy part of downtown Manhattan in which we life, the traffic, construction, over-development, crowds, the Gaps, banks, K-Marts, Starbucks and American Apparel's being the only stores able to afford rent anymore... I'm tired of being nearly mowed over by aggressive cabs and trucks every few days with my kids. I'm tired of yelling over jackhammers on many corners. we have no outdoor space, no dog and no sense of community or neighborhood. We have small children who we want to be able to trick or treat at places other than the corner delis, cleaners and restaurants. We'd like them to be able to run in a hose in the summers! I'd love a small garden with tomatoes and some herbs. Hubby wants a grill so badly he practically burns the apt. down every month or so in a sorry attempt at searing a steak. We have 3 bedrooms, but they're all taken. I'd love my parents and in-laws to be able to stay on something other than an aerobed in the family room when they come to visit. We want a damn dog too. We'd love a stoop, and friendly neighbors, and ball games going on at a park down the block. Mostly, we just love Brooklyn. We just end up there nearly every weekend. With friends, at street fairs, going to the Brooklyn Children's Museum, Red Hook, the zoo, wandering around Park Slope and Ft. Greene...

Do I ramble, or what?

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 5, 2009 2:49 PM in response to House of the Day: 119 Fort Greene Place

We're in that weird price point place where we can't sell at stratospheric/super luxury prices, but we're not in the category of those homes selling well and within 10% of peak either. Its a really large loft we bought in Manhattan in 1999. We renovated the whole place in 2005. So we're one of those potential buyers most on Brownstoner don't take into account when figuring the numbers.

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 5, 2009 2:23 PM in response to House of the Day: 119 Fort Greene Place

Does it cost 300 bucks to get listed? I didn't realize that.

Somewhat disappointed I guess, as many small mom and pop types, that do a nice job with small jobs, for which many of us are looking, and for which we ask advice and referrals - which is what I thought the directory was about in the first place - wouldn't be able to afford that so easily.

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 5, 2009 2:01 PM in response to Brownstoner Directory Reaches Milestone of 50 Listings

Well Rob, I haven't got any balls you know!

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 5, 2009 1:54 PM in response to House of the Day: 119 Fort Greene Place

I like this house and think we may go see it. (hubby sighs and throws his hands up at my continued interest at this point..."but we STILL have to sell THIS home FIRST *eye roll* which you don't seem to want to have to do *followed by second eye roll*" or "What is this for you, a hobby? I'm not looking at anymore homes until we put THIS one up first"... followed by MY *eye roll*. Of course its a hobby, Duh! ;)

No, seriously. I think I'm mustering up the ovum to list our place again. I'll have to clean like mad and store half of our stuff and pretend we don't have little boys, and probably take a 30% cut to what we thought we might get when we listed in summer 2008, but life's life.

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 5, 2009 1:45 PM in response to House of the Day: 119 Fort Greene Place

No, Bxrl. Nothing whatsoever to do with "snob snark", at least for me. But I won't go into it further, as I don't want to pull up my skirt and let my biases show. I'm an equal opportunity snarker when it comes to religion and in particular insular extremist religion, but has nothing to do with snobbery.

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 4, 2009 11:14 AM in response to Church Reboot on Clinton Avenue

Actually yeah. I'd far prefer a nice new coffee house to this. Sigh. I'll spare anyone my take, as I don't think it'd come off very nice.

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 4, 2009 10:59 AM in response to Church Reboot on Clinton Avenue

I'd have to see it of course, but this does seem to be priced reasonably. Amazing location, beautifully proportioned and absolutely enormous. Could have an office at home AND a tenant to offset cost. I love it.

Posted by: Nokilissa at November 2, 2009 3:13 PM in response to House of the Day: 49 8th Avenue

I was thinking similarly. It is shocking how completely unable some tenants are in getting even their most basic rights and needs met by anyone who gives a damn. I'm quite certain the buck was passed again and again and again in this case and that MANY people, who should damn will know better, and were in a position to get this resolved almost immediately, did nothing.

One of the resources I wish more people knew they had at their fingertips is their local state senator, council member and Assemblyperson's constituent liaisons. These offices have a great deal of local and State power and can GET THINGS DONE quickly and efficiently for the most part. Especially when it is something like this, where habitability and safety is a huge concern. Everyone needs to know their district and who these people are for them. Should probably plug them into their phones and head to the local office to chat and be friendly every now and again. And to volunteer for a few hours a month can get you brownie points with the staff forEVER.

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 30, 2009 11:33 AM in response to Waterless in Bed Stuy

Oh man! I like this one. Very charming and beautifully renovated (with one exception being that dark topped vanity, but hey, can't please us all with every choice).

Know nothing about that neighborhood, but it seems that $899k would be a good price point. They're too close to a million right now and it may scare away the buyers they're looking to attract. 899k is close, but gives at least the illusion of wiggle room and potential to get a great bargain with this gorgeous house.

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 28, 2009 2:29 PM in response to House of the Day: 136 Hawthorne Street

I'll never forget, about 18 years ago when I had just moved here from the Midwest, I did something similarly stupid. I worked for a State Senator at the time and had community meetings in Harlem fairly frequently. One night after a meeting, I went to a bar with some colleagues and left my purse unattended at my bar stool to take a shot at pool. My back might have been turned for 40 seconds. I discovered about 5 minutes later that 500 bucks in cash had been lifted from my wallet. Rent was due the next morning. I nearly vomited. I also NEVER walked about with that kind of cash in my wallet again (always, always on me somewhere) and never again left my purse unattended at a bar.

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 28, 2009 2:23 PM in response to Wednesday Links

Snappy, I think you should re-post your questions about stalled construction here. I'm curious and would love to have it explained in plain english too.

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 28, 2009 9:21 AM in response to Open Thread

Nah. Not terrifying anymore. Perhaps you'd get a skeptic's glance from me and a hope that improvements were underway, but not terror.

Now, LAST year, and the previous 7, I'd say terror sums it up.

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 28, 2009 9:20 AM in response to Open Thread

BrooklynGreene, Holy moley!

I am seriously loving those cut-out pieces of art. They would make a phenomenal gift for someone deeply loved (given they aren't exactly inexpensive!)

Thanks for that.

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 28, 2009 8:54 AM in response to Wednesday Links

What is it about reporting crime in Ft Greene that so incenses so many Brownies? I don't understand it. If it is happening, and it appears that no one is making it up or lying, why not provide this information so people can take extra measures to prevent becoming a target or having their home broken into?

On a different note, did anyone else find it annoying and odd to the point of wackiness, the word/verb choices used in this article? "Swatted" (as in "she was SWATTED in the head with a statue); "clobbered"; "whacked"; "pummeled" and so on. I began to feel as though I was watching Road Runner and Friends or something equally silly. Perhaps 'beaten', 'clubbed', 'smashed' and so on would better convey the violent, vicious and criminal nature of these crimes that sent many to area hospitals. Just sayin'.

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 28, 2009 8:50 AM in response to Wednesday Links

I LOVE that staircase! Beautiful curb appeal as well. Other rooms, not so much.

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 22, 2009 1:20 PM in response to House of the Day: 177 Rugby Road

Cute place, at least 150k overpriced to my eye. A one bedroom, half floor brownstone, located far from a subway, into which one must pass through the kitchen for nearly half a million? Huh?

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 22, 2009 1:04 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 214 Carlton Avenue, #2

Seems like the kind of house where all who have entered, friends and guests alike, have left happy, having spent tome with a super dog, well-fed with great food, and have absolutely loved it.

That said, does anyone else find it odd that the little 'bathroom' on the parlor floor has a toilet but no sink, while there are two little sinks sans toilets on upper floors?

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 15, 2009 2:48 PM in response to House of the Day: 295 Pacific Street Revisited

And Nomi, grrrrrr. Sorry about that ticket. Beautiful thing on an already beautiful day!

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 15, 2009 2:35 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 310 Windsor Place, #26

Ah, hell. Would take me 45 seconds to walk to that subway. ;)

I agree with all who have priced this around 575k. 629k is a lot of scratch for a walk-up two bedroom with one shared bath and no outdoor space in Windsor Terrace. And it is about as far from an F (equidistant from both stops?) as one can get in the neighborhood.

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 15, 2009 2:33 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 310 Windsor Place, #26

I like it. And it pleases me hugely to see the occasional nod to contextual historic building. I'm surprised at the number of votes for something "contemporary and bold" because, walking down virtually any street with construction anymore, that is what is going in, period. I often wonder how long it will take for us to resemble Berlin.

And Rob, on a side note, sometimes your comments make me positively cringe. Can we please refrain from evoking the image of a little girl who did absolutely nothing wrong, was too young to even understand what was being done to her via pageants and so on, and who was viciously attacked, raped and murdered - as a wry explanatory example of something you find distasteful?

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 14, 2009 2:30 PM in response to 2 Lefferts Comes Into Focus, Exceeds Expectations

I haven't seen this house, but it seems like 1.2 to 1.3 should get the job done. Nice location, decent looking house for one not needing the bells and whistles or historic details, and seemingly easy conversion to rentals or owner's unit with rentals.

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 14, 2009 1:27 PM in response to House of the Day: 58 6th Avenue Revisited

My .02:

while a startling choice, not yet justified by longer-term, overt & tangible accomplishments on Obama’s part, the award seems to me aspirational rather than merely laudatory – intended to endorse and reinforce the path the President is taking. I'll drink to that!

It is in keeping with a relatively recent trend in the Nobel awards in non-scientific fields, which can be viewed as commentaries on political or social trends in addition to being recognition for individual efforts.

Oh, and as one of my favorite bloggers put it, it is also in large part a big and richly-deserved “f**k you” to George Bush.

And on that note, allow me to take this opportunity to echo and endorse that sentiment: “George, from both the Nobel Peace Price Committee and me – f**ck you!"
Ahem. Carry on.

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 9, 2009 2:09 PM in response to Open Thread

Propertyshark has giant listing of all open houses and homes for sale.

I agree with Ringo. I can't understand what the broker really does sometimes. My husband and I do all of our own homework, and love to plan open house tours on Sundays for ourselves. Sometimes it feels like a hobby, really.

We are fully aware of anything and everything on the market that might be of interest to us, within days of listing. Losing the commission fees on both ends, while using a trustworthy attorney and home inspector seems to be the way to go if you can. Could potentially save tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Am I missing something?

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 9, 2009 11:31 AM in response to FSBO Ground Rules

Oh my lord! Me likey.

However, I thinks I must get out of my sweatpants, LLBean slippers and ponytail first.

(I always used to get Glenn Close, christine Lahti and the occasional, cruelly, Mel Brooks!)

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 8, 2009 12:36 PM in response to Open Thread

Aw, chicken. I'm in love ;)

And while on the subject of Mad Men, doesn't Cobble look a lot like Maggie Siff? Doppelganger.

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 8, 2009 12:25 PM in response to Open Thread

Aw, chicken. I'm in love ;)

And while on the subject of Mad Men, doesn't Cobble look a lot like Maggie Siff? Doppelganger.

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 8, 2009 12:25 PM in response to Open Thread

Chicken, you get to be played by Jon Hamm. Or at least that is how I picture you. In a chicken suit of course.

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 8, 2009 12:18 PM in response to Open Thread

I hate to ask but...is this reserved for genuINE PLUSA's only, or what?

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 8, 2009 12:16 PM in response to Open Thread

I don't know why, but I picture 11217 as Christian Bale. A little hot, a lot mercurial, inconsistent...

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 8, 2009 11:44 AM in response to Open Thread

I always thought Mister B was a little Mark Ruffalo.

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 8, 2009 11:31 AM in response to Open Thread

Holly Hunter!

Posted by: Nokilissa at October 8, 2009 11:27 AM in response to Open Thread