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Snarkypants wrote a review about Choice Market on November 5, 2009 12:14 PM
Choice Market fills a huge void in Clinton Hill if you can get past the generally horrendous service. Actually, save yourself the frustration and just order delivery, it's far less detrimental to your blood pressure. Seriously, it baffles my mind sometimes just HOW BAD the counter-staff is.
Snarkypants wrote a review about Chez Lola on November 5, 2009 12:09 PM
Oh Chez Lola. the times you have been good you have rocked my world and made me so happy. The times you've been bad you've infuriated me and almost ruined brunches. You're batting .500 overall.
The good: great atmosphere and lively for dinner. Service can be "relaxed" but still tolerable. Cooks have a tendency to overuse salt in some places, in particular the Manilla clams appetizer and the onion rings. They also have an eclectic menu with something for everyone on it. The bad: BRUNCH. The menu is nice and if you ever get somebody to take your order and bring you your food it's quite lovely. Excellent eggs florentine. The service is AWFUL at brunch, though, and understaffed every time we've been. That said, I'll never do brunch there again.
Snarkypants wrote a review about Olea on November 5, 2009 11:57 AM
This place is a great value with a nice atmosphere. I love the fact that there's a local spot that offers good food with flexible options. One could do tapas and wine or full entrees and either option delivers. Service is nice and friendly as well. The arctic char is my go-to entree and it is always cooked perfectly.
We had a special fried risotto ball appetizer one day that we hope is on the menu every time we go. It continues to elude us. Dear Olea, please make that special and everyday menu item!
Snarkypants wrote a review about Amin Indian on November 5, 2009 11:52 AM
Every time I walk by Amin I wonder, sometimes aloud, how this place manages to stay open. It's terrible. It's more average than your most average 6th St. Indian spot and the one time I ate there my food was accompanied by a hairball. Yes, Aloo Gobi with a side of hair.
Yes, if one is to eat Indian in our area the spot would be Kinara. But let's be honest, shall we, and just admit that we don't have anything here that beats a trip to Jackson Heights.
Snarkypants wrote a review about Abistro on November 5, 2009 11:41 AM
This place makes me happy. It's welcoming, cozy, lively and the food is delicious. If a restaurant embodied the vibe and spiit of Fort Greene this would be it.
Snarkypants wrote a review about No. 7 on November 5, 2009 11:37 AM
I wish I could jump on the hype wagon for this place but I just can't. I gave it three tries and was disappointed each time. First of all, the service is terrible. From the bartenders to the servers- they collectively need to get over themselves. The cocktail list was completely non-existent when I was there and don't even bother asking for a suggestion from the bartender because he really can't be bothered with you. The food was decent each time but unworthy of the accolades and contrary to public opinion the fried broccoli just didn't do it for me. It was bland, heavy, and underdone. The tofu was a nice entree, if underwhelming. Plus side: decent wine list, but again don't ask for a recommendation. I just wish this place was better.
Snarkypants wrote a review about Stonehome Wine Bar on November 5, 2009 11:24 AM
This has become my favorite restaurant in the area, and with good reason. It's consistent, the food is well-prepared, fresh, seasonal, the wine selection is good, and service is above average. I like the fact that it's lively but not deafeningly loud. If you want to sit at the bar and catch up with a girlfriend you can but you can also enjoy a cozy dinner with a date. And yes, it is definitely a little more of a "mature" spot, which is great for us. It's not a college/young hipster joint but it's not a senior buffet, either.
Um, please disregard my above comment. I had a brain fart and was thinking of Park Place, not Lincoln. I actually have no idea about the block in question. Carry on.
Posted by: Snarkypants at November 5, 2009 9:38 AM in response to Lincoln Place Block?
I have a friends one block over at Vanderbilt. It's a great street and definitely a step up from where you currently are.
Posted by: Snarkypants at November 5, 2009 9:33 AM in response to Lincoln Place Block?
If he made you pay more than a month for security then that is most certainly "business" and not "friendship". That should have been a big tip-off as to the kind of relationship you were getting into when dealing with him.
I was friendly with a former landlord before renting from her. When I agreed to take her apartment she suddenly asked me for 2 months security deposit. I was a little taken aback by the request but still gave it to her. I also quickly downgraded our relationship from friend to business- a very good call. Particularly over a year later when she casually mentioned that it was "cheeky and resourceful" of her to ask for 2 months security because she really needed the cashflow at the time. Now a friend might have been rather annoyed by such a statement. However, somebody who did "business" with her chalked one up for experience and moved on.
And please do not take bkrule's advice unless you are looking for a shit ton of drama. If you are so unhappy with the arrangement and civilized behavior and dialogue isn't creating a satisfying resolution for you then you really should just move on. It's not worth the negativity, especially when you have to live in it.
I will add that I do think John is a douche, too, but that has nothing to do with the arrangement you made with him.
Posted by: Snarkypants at November 4, 2009 4:07 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue
Joe the bummer, it doesn't to me as if these roommates were friends before moving in together. It's definitely pretty crappy that "John" had been living in a loft for $100/month but how close could these people have been for nobody to realize this beforehand? It sounds like business to me and not necessarily friendship.
Also, friends do not always split the rent evenly. If all the bedrooms are the same size of course rent should be equal. However, if one roommate lives in a closet while the other lives in a palace rent should reflect that.
Frankly, I'm surprised at the amount of advice advocating not paying rent, leaving John holding the bag, etc. If that is how you deal with conflict then expect the same thing to happen to you one day. Maybe I'm missing something here but did the OP and the rest of the roommates even confront "John" about this? Has anybody said "Hey, we know we're paying more than the lease is for and we're not happy"?
Posted by: Snarkypants at November 4, 2009 1:32 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue
I've been in the original poster's position and I've been in "John's" position. It's quite simple- John has the lease and as a roommate you're out of luck in expecting more. Suck it up. Is it fair that John is making money from this arrangement? Maybe, maybe not but that's neither here nor there. Secondly, as somebody who has been the main point of contact/responsible for collecting rent and utility bills from several roommates it's no walk in the park to be in John's shoes either. One of you bails and he's responsible. One of you doesn't have money for your electric bill (and since it's probably commercial not residential it's hefty) and again, he has to deal. I'd actually say he deserves to pad the rent a bit just for the potential for irritation.
Posted by: Snarkypants at November 4, 2009 12:52 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
did you seriously just call me buttface? hahah. i KNOW the subtenant (psoter) has no liability to the owner, but heather made an excellent point. it's an absentee roommate essentially who pays less. duh of course they should pay less! case closed. and yeah like she said it's very very very very common, it's essentially how the rental share market works for people who HAVE to have roommates and cant get their lease. im in a good situation now where it's 50/50 but it was never always that way.
*rob*
Posted by: Butterfly at November 4, 2009 6:56 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue
I'm just answering the question without the predictable agendas many on this blog have.
OP was looking for any "rights" he might have, not moral navel gazing or a spanking. I personally don't think there's much of a screwing going on here.
Did I call you buttface? Do you turn your head whenever you here some kid shout out, "Hey Asshole!"?
Posted by: modsquad at November 4, 2009 8:04 PM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue
Um, please disregard my above comment. I had a brain fart and was thinking of Park Place, not Lincoln. I actually have no idea about the block in question. Carry on.
Posted by: Snarkypants at November 5, 2009 9:38 AM in response to Lincoln Place Block?
Just bite the bullet and talk to the landlord. Tell him what's been going on- considering the economy, I'm sure he's much rather have tenants than not. That said, and I am not sure if it applies in your case, tenants are not allowed, by law to make money off of a rental. That is- the leaseholder is not allowed to make money on a landlord's property. So john is essentially using the lease to make money.
Check the lease to see if there is a residency requirement. Does a tenant have to be in residence in order to keep the lease? In some situations- such as rs/rc, they do.
In any case, stop paying John and start paying the landlord directly. Don't expect to see any money back from John- and once you settle your situation you can tell him he can pick up his stuff or you will assume he has abandoned it and you'll do what you want with it.
Posted by: bxgrl at November 5, 2009 10:30 AM in response to Sublet/Share Legal Issue
Senor. Senor.
Can you tell me where we're headin'/
Lincoln County Road or Armageddon.
I digress... Prospect Heights varies on a block by block basis. I've heard that Lincoln is 'quiet' but don't know from experience. The next block—St. John's... not so quiet(!), then Sterling and Park Place are quite chill, etc.... so you see what I am sayin...
Posted by: Fjorder at November 5, 2009 10:58 AM in response to Lincoln Place Block?
Been on the block for more than 10 years, having come up from the Slope. Get to know the stoop hangers and you're fine. It's a friendly place, much quieter than St. John's, and plenty of hipsters and strollers have moved in in recent years.
Posted by: linkinplace at November 5, 2009 11:09 AM in response to Lincoln Place Block?
The block is mostly big apartment buildings so I'm sure it's more dense than a brownstone block and at night and on weekends there is some noise from people hanging out outside, double parked cars etc.
It's a long block and there is a tiny rise about halfway down that seems to split it in two so it sort of feels like there's the Underhill half and the Washington half.
But it all seems very vibrant and safe and, and a lot of the neighbors seem to know each other. I come and go at all hours and always feel safe, and it's hard to find a more convenient location for subways, park access, food etc.
Posted by: dogpatch at November 5, 2009 11:23 AM in response to Lincoln Place Block?
The block is great for a number of reasons including its proximity to the subway, museum, park and library. The stoop sitters are fine (and diminishing in number.) They know what's going on and will help to keep you safe. As for the noise, the block is pretty quiet for most of the year. In the summer there is a backyard of a building on Washington, where residents think that they should SHARE their tastes in music. Given the number of apartments and the number of days in the year, the good far outweighs the bad.
Posted by: BrooklynIsHome at November 5, 2009 11:47 AM in response to Lincoln Place Block?
Many thanks for the feedback. It's hard to resist being so close to the park (at the moment, I am DRIVING there to go running in the morning, when I'm not too lazy...), and it's nice to hear good things about the block. It is after all, the city, so I don't expect crickets.
Speaking of driving, any opinions on the ease of parking? They just changed my current nabe over to a twice weekly cleaning schedule, I hate to give that up.
Posted by: snowbunny at November 5, 2009 12:21 PM in response to Lincoln Place Block?
thinking about moving to Prospect Heights from Fort Greene as well... finally tired of there not being any real subways close to where I live and having to rely on buses to good subways. if you know of any other good rentals in the area please let me know. thanks
Posted by: myrtleandwashingtonave at November 5, 2009 12:23 PM in response to Lincoln Place Block?
Snarkypants wrote a review about Aqualis Grill on November 10, 2009 11:54 AM
We finally tried it and had some mixed feelings about our experience. The atmosphere is nice, it's cozy and while we got there early on Saturday night it filled up quite a bit by the time we left. The service is friendly and attentive. The food was good but here's where the mixed feelings about our experience begin. We're not cheap and have no problem paying for a good meal... but their prices are not warranted. Not at all. I had the scallops and he had the shrimp. $19 for each entree. I had 3 scallops in mine. The shrimp were definitely more plentiful... but 3 scallops? That's an appetizer, not an entree. Second... the prices would almost be forgivable if each dish were a unique construction but the shrimp and the scallops were served on the exact same vegetable medley- I had cannelini beans mixed in and he had some orzo. While this is an inexpensive and economical business plan it's no where near on par with No. 7 or Stonehome, both of whom charge about the same per entree for a far more unique ensemble. We shared an appetizer of grilled sardines which was very good and a much better value than the entrees. Not impressed at all by the wine list, either.
Overall, glad we tried it but will not make it a priority to return. There are far better restaurants in the area (and just out of the area) for the money.