RaginCajun's Profile
- Ken
- 2001
- 2008
- Brooklyn
- Cobble Hill
- Rental
- Writer
- Male
- 34
Author's Posts
March 11, 2009
Nothing to see here
On the one hand, your broker is telling you that NOW is the time to buy and prices aren't getting any lower.
On the other hand, here's a 3 bedroom in north slope for sale by owner (who's a broker), priced at 599K. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that if it's priced at 599K (even if it's a little small), someone might see things getting a lot worse before they get better
http://realestate.nytimes.com/sales/detail/253-NS90224603
February 20, 2009
Angry Renters!
Uh-oh. Renters are revolting over the fact their tax dollars are going to be used to bail out bad mortgages.
http://angryrenter.com/
February 9, 2009
Mice On Your Condo Board?
It's hard out there for a pimp ... and for someone selling an 800 square-foot apartment for $600,000.
As a potential buyer, I've got an us-vs.-them attitude, but I don't want to make life any harder for anyone than it should be. So let me just say to the folks trying to sell their condo in Brooklyn, you should either NOT discuss the mouse-infestation in your building (and in your apt. in particular) on a public message board.
Or, you know, you guys could make your condo message board -- complete with all the bickering and blaming renters for the filth in the building -- private.
You're going to have a hard enough time getting asking price as it is.
January 23, 2009
More Price Cuts on State/Atlanti
7.9% drop on 2 bedroom/2 bath (900+ square feet) at 556 State Street. Still room to fall! (And for some reason, I get irrationally angry at 'juliette' balconies. What's the point?)
http://realestate.nytimes.com/sales/detail/2323-4D-S/556-State-Street-Brooklyn-NY-11217
Daily Gripe About NY Times
Have you tried to search by neighborhood today? Have you been told that you've selected more than 51 locations, when you've selected only 6? Have you been unable to deselect the "All Brooklyn" box without getting a "You much choose one location" error message? Have you wanted to march down to the Times building, find out who the genius was who created this redesign and just start choking him?
I have!
January 13, 2009
Xmas Tree Removal?
I THOUGHT I was supposed to be able to just chuck my tree out on the sidewalk (according to multiple media sources). However, the tree is still sitting there after three garbage cycles. I'm a renter and don't want my landlord getting hit with a fine or anything after the Jan. 16 deadline for such behavior is up. Suggestions?
January 8, 2009
Poorly chosen photos
Might be old news, but a friend just sent me a link to this blog http://lovelylisting.blogspot.com/
which mocks bad photography in real estate listings.
November 24, 2008
Is This a Scam?
So my wife decided to cruise through Craig's List real estate for some reason. There she found a 2 bedroom-2 bath apt. in a "boutique" condo in Boerum Hill. The ad didn't list an address or a real estate company (but did have a photo of what appeared to be Harrison Ford above the agent's name).
At any rate, I emailed the guy asking WHERE this place was. His reply was:
I'm so sorry, but my company does not allow us to give locations until we have made an appointment and registered you with the building.
I can tell you that it is 1/2 block from Smith
St. This is an 11 story building set amongst a
tree lined street with brownstones."
A) Does that sound fishy to you at all? (Suddenly having flashbacks to those companies that sold rental lists when I first move to New York).
B) Does that sound like Baltic Towers? (Can't think of any other 11 story joints half block from Smith ... oh, and half block from the projects as well.)
Just weirdness all around.
Any thoughts? Anyone else seen this sort of thing?
October 13, 2008
Construction at Boerum and Atlantic
(Won't post this again, I swear! Just figured I'd try at beginning of the week).
There's another sponsor sale in 251 Pacific. But I'm wondering a) what's the monstrous construction project right outside the window and b) is it halted or in progress? I haven't seen any work on it recently.
October 9, 2008
South Side of Boerum and Atlantic
There's another sponsor sale in 215 Pacific. But I'm wondering a) what's the monstrous construction project right outside the window and b) is it halted or in progress? I haven't seen any work on it recently.
Author's Comments
RaginCajun wrote a review about Cafe Chili on September 4, 2009 2:47 PM
Anyone praising Siam Garden shouldn't be allowed to comment on Thai food. Two words for Siam Garden: "frozen peas." Outside of nostalgia, Siam had nothing to offer. Lemongrass has more authentic food than that. And Lemongrass is the Tutta Pasta of Thai restaurants.
I think Cafe Chili definitely a decent alternative to Joya. Not as cheap, no, but if you want a quiet dinner with good service and don't feel like shouting to be heard, it's a good place. I think it does lack in some Thai dishes I'm used to at Joya or at home -- hard to tell as they've gone with the Americanization of the menu, rather than with Thai names.
But it's also really consistent -- which Joya isn't.
Of course, one could always head up to Em or Ghang Thai on Smith.
I'd argue that if I'm coming home out of Borough Hall stop, Chop Chop and place on Montague are entirely too far out of the way for the lazy/rushed.
That said, this place was a bit of a joke. They couldn't do a breakfast sandwich right. A high-end deli that had what looked like preformed scrambled egg patties pulled from the frozen food section? For those prices? Feh.
Posted by: RaginCajun at July 15, 2009 12:33 PM in response to F. Martinella Closes After Less Than Nine Months
RaginCajun wrote a review about Building on Bond on July 10, 2009 1:36 PM
I've been a couple of times. Big fan of the joint.
Legal or ethical or not, how would the broker make any money off of this in the first place.
The seller never signed anything. And if I'm a buyer, knowing how buying/selling works in New York, I wouldn't pay the broker. And the broker wouldn't have any recourse if, now that I know about the property, I just find a way to contact the owner myself and do the deal without her.
So not only is she a sleaze-bag, in a way, she's a sleaze-bag giving this guy free advertising.
Posted by: RaginCajun at July 10, 2009 10:40 AM in response to Awaye Realty Caught Lifting Listing from Owner
DIB,
Who has time for reading things before commenting?
By the way, I'm totally going to get some engineers to assess MY load.
Posted by: RaginCajun at June 24, 2009 2:14 PM in response to Try This Green(point) Roof on for Size
How long before that roof collapses?
Posted by: RaginCajun at June 24, 2009 11:04 AM in response to Try This Green(point) Roof on for Size
Nothing good will come of this.
One of the allergic neighbors will be stung and lawsuits will fly and blog sites will be abuzz.
Posted by: RaginCajun at June 22, 2009 12:59 PM in response to Brooklyn Buzzing With Amateur Beekeepers
I dropped by there last night. I don't know if the menu is the same as Whiskey Sunday, but the meat is actually cooked at Whiskey Sunday.
I thought it was ... ok. Certainly no Hill Country, but the brisket and beef ribs were good. Brisket is notoriously hard to get right and my only complaint about it was that it was sliced a little too thick.
Also, they use hickory smoke and I prefer oak. Wah-wah-wah.
Beans were ... a bit on the chewy side. And the flavor profile reminded me of some of the beans I had in Lockhart, Texas -- which is to say, your average American ain't gonna find 'em sweet enough.
Posted by: RaginCajun at June 10, 2009 12:03 PM in response to Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up
It's all Redhook to me.
Posted by: RaginCajun at June 10, 2009 10:54 AM in response to Cobble Hill or Carroll Gardens?
Fire Dept. response time was pretty good (though it likely would have been better if that old building next to it was still a firehouse!).
At any rate, the construction guys spent about ten minutes or so trying to put the thing out themselves and as far as I could tell I was the first to call 911. It also looked liked the fire was mostly contained to the scaffolding and the area immediately around it.
Of course, I walked away when it looked like it was under control so the whole thing could be gone by now.
Posted by: RaginCajun at June 3, 2009 11:14 AM in response to Fire at 216 Pacific Street
Streetcars, light rail, call 'em what you want, but they are subject to traffic. Indeed, if you've taken the Atlantic Tunnel Tour, you know that tunnel was built so as to take the trains out of the traffic (granted, those were real trains with limited brakes).
Aside from the complete clusterfuck the government would make of this -- when was the Second Ave subway line first planned? 1929 -- the truth is streetcars would end up being installed in areas where they aren't really needed (Park Slope, Cobble Hills, Boerum Hill) ... and not in the less dense or less well serviced areas where they would actually be useful.
Posted by: RaginCajun at May 8, 2009 11:03 AM in response to Could Streetcars Return to Brooklyn?
Rob,
Then you certainly don't want to go into the Blarney Stone on Third Ave, between 44th and 45th during lunch on a weekday to see what they -- and your friendly National Grid workers -- are having for lunch.
Posted by: RaginCajun at May 7, 2009 5:10 PM in response to Streetlevel: Checkers Signage Goes Up
True on the liquor store. You wouldn't know it from looking at the joint, but they've beefed up their bourbon selection and they carry organic wines and all (if you're into that sort of thing). Guy named Todd -- mustache, "Homeland Security: Fighting Terrorism Since 1492" t-shirt, and an Iron Maiden belt buckle -- dropped some wine knowledge on me when I was in there on Saturday.
And on weekday mornings, you can watch construction crew workers pick up their morning pick-me ups in convenient airline-sized bottles.
Posted by: RaginCajun at May 7, 2009 4:35 PM in response to Streetlevel: Checkers Signage Goes Up
Checkers is NOT owned by the same company that owns Sonic. Checkers/Rally's is part of a privately held company. Sonic is publicly traded (SONC).
Further, Checkers DOES sell milk shakes. Go cruise around the company's website. Milk shakes are listed under desserts.
Full disclosure: I took the photo and am going through a bit of Checkers obsession. Yes. I need help.
Posted by: RaginCajun at May 7, 2009 3:16 PM in response to Streetlevel: Checkers Signage Goes Up
Snark,
Good point. But you know how we interwebs kids are. Everything should be free (except for the goods and services I provide, of course).
Posted by: RaginCajun at May 5, 2009 11:30 AM in response to StreetEasy Snags All Brooklyn MLS Listings
That's assuming Street Easy doesn't put those addresses behind its pay wall.
Posted by: RaginCajun at May 5, 2009 10:38 AM in response to StreetEasy Snags All Brooklyn MLS Listings
No what else is your enemy? Whoever's running what looks like a 99-cent store in that middle unit.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 28, 2009 10:21 AM in response to Price Cuts at 475 Sterling Place
Sounds like some of you people should move to a gated community in Arizona and put up wooden privacy fences and seal your windows shut so smoke doesn't get in your eyes.
Wannnh.
If I owned a building with limited or now back space and a front "yard" that deep and it was within the law, you'd bet your ass I'd be grilling out there. And if anybody wanted to pretend to be in some sort of fake home owners association and tell me that "it's not allowed," I'd politely invite them to go jump in the Gowanus.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 27, 2009 4:53 PM in response to Front yard grilling etiquette
There's also a pretty substantial new development going up directly across the street from it as well.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 27, 2009 3:10 PM in response to Development Watch: 216 Pacific Street
They are out of their minds if they think they'll get ask on that one.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 27, 2009 12:51 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 101 Lafayette Avenue, #6A
They throwing in a lifetime supply of pure bottled water? And possibly gene therapy?
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 27, 2009 11:37 AM in response to Corco Cutting Prices, Making Progress at Satori
They was all up in Brazenhead on Wednesday night, going "Honh! Honh! Honh!" But it was the officers, so they had regular captain-type hats and not the cute little berets with les poms-poms on top.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 24, 2009 4:02 PM in response to Aux Armes, Citoyens!
The "poor man's Gowanus Yacht Club." Ha. Good one. Or the lazy man's. Hell if I'm gonna walk all the way down Smith when Trout's just right around the corner.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 24, 2009 2:13 PM in response to Streetlevel: Trout Re-opening Today
Anyone care to explain how a gas-powered cooking device is any more dangerous on a roof than it is in, say, your kitchen.
I don't know about you, but I have four open burners AND an oven in my kitchen. And there's a lot more crap that can catch on fire in there. Of course, should a fire start in my kitchen -- due to grease, spills, a dish-towel too close to a flame -- and burn the block down, I'd feel like a total ass and be overcome with guilt.
So maybe we should make stoves illegal.
Of course, alsawo, the fact of the matter is it's still illegal. I've kept a wood-fired SMOKER on a roof deck. I've seen plenty of gas ones. So knock yourself out. And be very careful.
Just don't be one of those people who comes back in the forum in a state of righteous indignation if you DO get ticketed for breaking the law :)
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 23, 2009 5:26 PM in response to Propane grilling on roofs?
I'd like to add that developers who include Juliet Balconies should be pushed out of them.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 21, 2009 3:10 PM in response to Development Watch: 74 Grand Avenue
I you challenged me to differentiate the between the exterior of that building and the exterior of one in the projects, I wouldn't be able to do it.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 21, 2009 12:49 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 75 Henry Street
Hey now. Let's be fair. That building is going to be BEE-YOO-TEE-ful once there's a huge 25 by 6 sign for a liquor store or laundromat to cover up all the brick between first and second floors.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 16, 2009 3:19 PM in response to Development Watch: 165 Havemeyer Street
Hannible,
Checkers is a fast-food based in Tampa. I'll stack my hipster hatred up against anyone's but Checkers has no relation to hipsters.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 15, 2009 5:29 PM in response to Court Street Checkers In Progress
Get up, get, get, get down, Century 21 is a joke in your town.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 15, 2009 5:26 PM in response to House of the Day: 445 Warren Street
There's no doubt Gowanus needs to be cleaned up. There's also no doubt that the developers will do their best to manage PR. But if anyone thinks that involving the Feds is going to lead to progress within the next 20 years, they're out of their minds. As much as Bloomberg and his nanny-state, holier-than-thou, I'm-above-the-law ways tick me off, probably best to let him handle it ... and the MTA ... and Ground Zero (the latter of two being PERFECT examples of what happens when you ADD layers of government).
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 15, 2009 11:11 AM in response to Conflict over Gowanus Canal Superfund Status
Hell to the yes. Big ol' sloppy burgers. Or Schloppers as I like to call them. And better fries than even Popeyes. As someone wrote last time around, I do hope they put up a couple of their plastic umbrella-bench set-ups in the little courtyard out back.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 15, 2009 10:52 AM in response to Court Street Checkers In Progress
It might be easier to ask us to list the UNSAFE neighborhoods. Large swaths of Brooklyn are just breeding grounds for yuppies and hipsters so you won't have much to worry about.
I don't know you, obviously, but I'm thinking Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carrol Gardens and Park Slope will probably suit you best.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 10, 2009 4:49 PM in response to Safe Neighborhoods?
Wine lover,
I'm short ... and from the South. I'm a slow walker. :)
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 10, 2009 12:58 PM in response to Satori Developers Try for a Mulligan
It not only be near a soon-to-be Superfund site full up with dragons and the floating corpses of poisoned leviathans, it's near "multiple" subway lines, by which I mean both the F and the G! Oh, and a bleak ten to fifteen minute walk through desolate lands across yond canal to the M,R--depending on how hard the winds be blowing. Arrgggh. And they'd best be praying that Fresh Direct delivers vittles to that blasted landscape.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 10, 2009 10:29 AM in response to Satori Developers Try for a Mulligan
Just what Brooklyn needs. A skeezy Manhattan coke den dressed up as a "dive bar."
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 9, 2009 11:30 AM in response to Manhattans in Brooklyn
I hate trees and baby seals as much as the next reactionary jerk, but I'm actually surprised this wasn't already a Superfund site. Of course, declaring it such would lead to a 15-year investigation that would determine that the site is, indeed, polluted! Then they might get around to doing something about it.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 9, 2009 10:35 AM in response to EPA Proposes Adding Gowanus Canal to Superfund List
I couldn't imagine putting my parents up there. It would confirm every stereotype they have of "BROOKLYN."
It does make sense for young hipsters from out of state who WANT to think they're living on the edge, keeping it real ... until they see how far they have to walk to get their Starbucks.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 8, 2009 1:22 PM in response to Another Hotel In The Works for Gowanus
Tybur6,
You obviously have no idea. NONE! :)
Checkers rocks. Though I'm not sure how they're going to install a drive-thru in that space ... and they won't be able to get many of those plastic table/umbrella sets out on the sidewalk.
Between that and the Popeyes across the street, not only do I no longer need to move back to Louisiana, I'm never moving from Court Street.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 7, 2009 10:32 AM in response to Checkers Checking Into 111 Court Street?
It actually looks like the drawing. Imagine that. Compare this to the drawings/reality of, say, Baltic Towers, which sort of looked like this in its drawings but in real life is a nice complement to the Brooklyn House of Detention.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 6, 2009 1:03 PM in response to The Caroline, Live From Ocean Parkway
Wow. The real one actually looks like the drawing. Now compare that to "Baltic Tower," which went from mildly ugly in its drawings but something that now makes a fitting complement to the House of Detention.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 6, 2009 11:39 AM in response to The Caroline, Live From Ocean Parkway
Perhaps they learned that if you try to mug Park Slopers, they won't identify you to the cops!
Too soon?
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 2, 2009 11:39 AM in response to Park Slope Parents to Start Charging for Membership
"Maybe if they don't have kids they can get some money back for the portion of their taxes that go to public schools. Brilliant idea!"
Sign me up.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 1, 2009 11:38 AM in response to Ugly Politics May Trump Reason in Admiral's Row Saga
Let's raise property taxes to pay for it. To be fair, we'll make it somewhat optional. Those who who show up at these meetings demanding preservation will see hefty tax increases. Half of that increase will go to upkeep of the buildings, the other half will go to subsidize Fresh Direct delivery in a neighborhood with crap grocery stores.
I'm with Pitbull. Put up or shut up. The Preservationists, especially in this economy with this dysfunctional government, should pay to play. Or at least explain how/why government, private businesses, "philanthropists" or just regular schmoes should make this a priority considering all the other budget problems, tax hikes, layoffs, etc.
Posted by: RaginCajun at April 1, 2009 10:35 AM in response to Ugly Politics May Trump Reason in Admiral's Row Saga
I'll get my virtual ass kicked for this, but how about politely requesting all the "usual suspects" to shut up for a week (or, much more fun and sinister-sounding--just banning them for a week). I don't comment that often, but I'd be happy to pipe down for a week. I'm not advocating a permanent silence. I'm simply asking for an experiment. It would be interesting to see how things go down for that one week. Hell, make it two weeks.
Of course, the truth about most blogs is most lurkers remain lurkers regardless, because it is their nature to lurk ... and the loudmouths and sarcastic jerks do end up having quite a bit of useful information. I wonder if comments would be deadly quiet without the usual suspects ... even at the end of two weeks.
If they are still quiet, the usual suspects have a point. If you end up seeing an uptick in comments and a whole bunch of fresh voices, maybe the usual suspects would find it in themselves to at least acknowledge that maybe, possibly, their sarcasm, attacks and tone are indeed scaring people away. Hell, maybe they'll change just a little. But I doubt it.
Posted by: RaginCajun at March 27, 2009 11:00 AM in response to Let's Talk About Commenting
RaginCajun wrote a review about Tom's Restaurant on March 26, 2009 4:27 PM
But Suzanne Vega DID autograph something for this Tom's
Abattoir? What are ya? Rorschach?
Posted by: RaginCajun at March 26, 2009 4:22 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 160 Henry Street
Can I legally put a smoker or charcoal grill out on that terrace? If not, then you can keep it!
Posted by: RaginCajun at March 26, 2009 1:27 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 160 Henry Street
RaginCajun wrote a review about Tom's Restaurant on March 26, 2009 12:24 PM
You know where you CAN'T get a cherry lime rickey with your Sunday omelet? At Tom's. Because, unless something's changed, Tom's isn't open on Sundays.
That said, I used to live near Tom's and would go there as often as possible on weekdays. Weekends, as previously noted, are for chumps ... unless you get there early enough.
Food is solid. Service is great. And the price is more than right.
Check out this one.
http://www.century21.com/property/index.jsp?id=34877291
Saw it this weekend... reminded me of the set from the movie Seven.
Posted by: RaginCajun at March 25, 2009 3:50 PM in response to House of the Day: 442 State Street
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
You would be surprised at how many buildings in Bay Ridge have doormen, elevators, great supers, and well-kept laundry rooms. $3000 will get you a 2-3 bedroom, 2 bathroom rental, with a terrace, on Shore Road with a veiw of the Verrazano Bridge, park and water.
Posted by: premadas at July 27, 2009 7:05 PM in response to Safe Neighborhoods?
Is Greenpoint an area to avoid? It wasn't mentioned by a single one of my 'advisors', above. We're in NYC now, in temp quarters on the upper east side, and are looking this weekend for longer term in Brooklyn. We are looking at an apt in Greenpoint, and am wondering why that location didn't make the recommended lists sent by Brownstoners. EN
Posted by: HoldYourHorses at September 12, 2009 10:01 AM in response to Safe Neighborhoods?
I am distressed!
need help with these salt and pepper bugs that are tiny and crawl all over me and bite, pin bites. the bites do not hurt too much and leave no welts but it is unbelievable annoying to be bitten anytime of the day or night . mostly in my bed! These creatures crawl all over me, get in my ears, bite my backs. I wash my sheets put news ones and then there they are.
I have fogged, sprayed all over- nothing works. they are TINY, now even at my computer screen! I taped them as I pick them from my bed this way.
I have wooden floors do not live by a lake and cannot identify them. This is their size>.< some area little bigger and seem to have wings, some are lighter and tiny. That might be eggs, adults. etc... They feel like sand.
I have thrown bedding away, comforters pillows, bought new ones nothing works.
I moved here two months ago, first month was fine, now this month has been horrible. They seem not to have gotten to my housemate's room but I have seen them in the shower, and when I sweep the floor is full.
I dont see them move, but i feel them crawling and biting.
Someone please help before i go mad!
Posted by: ingreedjee at September 28, 2009 3:26 AM in response to No-See-UMs
The building was converted from office space, hence the weird layouts. We'd looked at a couple of the 2-bedrooms going for around $500K ... and now under, probably ... but ran smack into the ridiculous maintenance fees (that don't really get you much).
The bedroom portion of this one probably isn't quite as small as the photo indicates, but a previous commenter was right about them lifting it two or so feet to create below floor storage.
Posted by: RaginCajun at November 19, 2009 2:32 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 150 Joralemon Street, #5F