bklyndave's Profile
- Dave
- On off since 2003
- 2003
- Brooklyn
- Carroll Gardens
- Rental
- Editor
- Male
- 31
Author's Posts
April 24, 2009
Front yard grilling etiquette
Greetings all. I live in an apartment in Carroll Gardens -- one with a deep front yard. With the weather finally turning and with no direct access to either the backyard or the roof -- I'm looking for some guidance on front yard grilling etiquette. I can't recall ever seeing anyone doing this on my block however with so much front yard space and so little grilling options I'm wondering if this is kosher. I'd be using a smallish weber charcoal grill. I'm even willing to share with neighbors to buy some good will!
April 9, 2009
Seasonal timing, boiler replcmnt
I'm in a rental with an unfortunate landlady. Over the last few weeks we've had issues with hot water ranging from none at all to luke warm to hot then cold. The current situation involves luke warm water but no hot. The landlady now says she has to replace the boiler altogether and to do that she will have to wait until the warmer weather arrives so as to not disrupt the buildings heat. My question is: 1) does it take long to replace an existing boiler, and 2) what is the temperature or time threshold for providing tenants with heat? Personally we do not need heat when it's 55+ degrees outside. Is the landlord just buying time or is this a legitimate concern of hers?
Author's Comments
Thanks all for your comments. As per my initial leaning we probably won't be grilling in our front yard. However as I type on this 80+ degree day I smell charcoal from two neighboring backyards -- is it annoying? Mildly. If anyone here wants to take a stab explaining the difference (real or perceived) between front and backyard laws and or etiquette regarding this issue, I'm all ears. The only difference I see is that backyard activities afford some privacy.
Posted by: bklyndave at April 25, 2009 10:23 PM in response to Front yard grilling etiquette
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
zuffy: if you don't like the guys grilling in frontyard and if the guys look like would not listen to your asking them nicely. I would go with plan (b): call 311 and report a grill which is too close to the structure. Firemen will arrive and write them a ticket. firemen proly will not even get out of the truck: it is right there next to the road.
Posted by: bobjohn at April 26, 2009 1:33 AM in response to Front yard grilling etiquette
I was maybe a little snarky yesterday. A little. Basically, there's privacy, yes, but there's also general tidiness. But also there is no accounting for some people.
My aunt lives in a subdivision that has rules against hanging laundry in your backyard, or in your garage if you leave the door open.
My roommate in college was always fixing cars on the lawn. The neighbors were not fans of this practice at all.
I can appreciate the neighbors who hated Steve's Cadillac dissembly, but do not understand the laundry thing at all. Aunt lives in the dessert, even. So you have to use a dryer even though your clothes will dry in seconds on the line. That is offensive to me.
Posted by: serpentor at April 26, 2009 10:24 AM in response to Front yard grilling etiquette
This is hilarious. With the good weather, pretty much every family in Bushwick has been living on their stoop all weekend, grilling, the kids on scooters running back and forth in front of the house, and speakers blasting music out the window. This is the New York way. People do a lot of stoop sitting in Carroll Gardens too. Check President St. near the BQE if you want to see some grilling. The six families without back yards are more likely. It's nicer to do it in the front where it won't go in people's windows than in the back yard where it will anyway.
Posted by: mopar at April 27, 2009 12:03 AM in response to Front yard grilling etiquette
why not just ask your next door neighbors if they mind?
i think as long as it's not going on all day all night and
your respectful about it. People in CG use their front
yards for socializing plenty.
Posted by: CGmodern at April 27, 2009 11:54 AM in response to Front yard grilling etiquette
Why not just try it and see what reaction you get? If your neighbors are seemingly racist, certainly nimfys like jfss, then it should be quite a 'fun' experience.
Posted by: MAT at April 27, 2009 1:00 PM in response to Front yard grilling etiquette
mopar, i was thinking the same thing! it's cute that the OP cares enough to ask, but can you imagine the looks on the faces of our neighbors if somebody said to them "did you ask your neighbors if it was okay to grill out here?" :D
it's way easier to ask forgiveness than seek permission right? life is too short to sit around and worry about theoretical worrywarts who are grimly sitting indoors on a nice day, looking for something to whine about (and yes, sometimes it annoys me too).
Posted by: Jimmy Legs at April 27, 2009 1:26 PM in response to Front yard grilling etiquette
I was in your shoes several years ago on Monroe Place in Brooklyn Heights. Decided to go for it but used a small gas grill to limit the charcoal smell. It worked great when I grilled low fat meats like chicken, but when there were burgers on you could see the noxious smoke cloud all the way down the block. Nonetheless, never had a problem with the neighbors as I only did it about 1x/month and offered beers to any neighbors who popped by the check out what was going on. I say try it and gauge the reaction.
Posted by: bklyndoug at April 27, 2009 3:12 PM in response to Front yard grilling etiquette
Do it! There's really nothing better than BBQ. You can grill in my yard. Come on over.
Posted by: superstooper at April 27, 2009 3:48 PM in response to Front yard grilling etiquette
No, it's not ok. If you don't have access to the back yard, no grilling for you except at ta public park, where permitted.
Posted by: 1842 at April 27, 2009 3:49 PM in response to Front yard grilling etiquette
Or my yard! Seriously. Sheesh, this place.
Posted by: superstooper at April 27, 2009 3:59 PM in response to Front yard grilling etiquette
zarin fabrics on the lower east side. cut to order.
Posted by: bklyndave at June 3, 2009 3:13 PM in response to Curtain Track