I just sent this article to another poster with tree issues... perhaps the info can answer some of your questions too...
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE0DA143CF930A35752C1A967958260

Your neighbor's tree sounds
so beautiful... hope that it can be saved.

Posted by: bren at August 12, 2007 10:09 AM in response to Massive Tree Doomed?

I would politely point out to the contractors that your yard is getting covered in flying paint chips, and ask that they put down some drop cloths in your yard and clean up at days end.

If the neighbor is an old crank probably better to deal politely with the contractor a.s.a.p.

When our co-op had pointng done we gave our neighbor next door a "heads up" , made sure that their yard was left immaculate at days end... covered all plants etc. ... we received a lovely note thanking us for our thoughtfullness afterwards... sounds as if your neighbor isn't too neighborly though, so,again,try speaking with the contractor first...

Posted by: bren at August 14, 2007 12:26 PM in response to Paint and debris from neighbor's buiding work

OP, I think that this link will answer most of your tree care questions!

Good to see folks interested in taking care of our city trees!

http://www.bbg.org/vis2/2007/bigtrees/street/

Posted by: bren at August 17, 2007 11:15 AM in response to Sidewalk Landscaping

This link provides tree care tips from the NYC Parks Dept. Also explains that Ivy can kill trees, and goes on to describe what types of plants can safely be planted in the tree pit.

http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/trees_greenstreets/tree_care_tips/planting.html

Posted by: bren at August 17, 2007 4:39 PM in response to Sidewalk Landscaping

The Stuy' Heights house is just beautiful...
so spacious and lovely....

Posted by: bren at August 17, 2007 5:02 PM in response to Open House Picks

Quite possibly someone just went back there and urinated... years back, our co-op had a problem with people climbing over the locked gates leading down to our basement entrance who then proceeded to relieve themselves on our property...

Posted by: bren at August 21, 2007 11:56 AM in response to What's that smell?

For those interested, here's a link to an informative article " Brooklyn's Serious Mortgage Foreclosure Outbreak" from "The Gownanus Lounge" 3/29/2007... the article includes a map of foreclosure patterns in Brooklyn 2006...

Posted by: bren at August 22, 2007 12:01 PM in response to Report: Brooklyn Foreclosures Up 51 Percent

oops! here's the link:

http://gowanuslounge.blogspot.com/2007/03/brooklyns-serious-mortgage-foreclosure.html

Posted by: bren at August 22, 2007 12:03 PM in response to Report: Brooklyn Foreclosures Up 51 Percent

Cheer up, it's only normal to be feeling
a bit anxious, as Mrs. Limestone pointed out,
changes aren't always comfortable, even if they're for the best....

You will gradually make your new place as homey as your old rental, except this time,
it will truly be your home.

Good luck, and keep us all posted of course...
we want to know how things are going for you and your family in your new home!

Posted by: bren at August 23, 2007 10:02 AM in response to panicked about moving to my "brooklyn brownstone"

Well, for the time being, perhaps you could put down some nice area rugs with padding...

The laminate flooring scratches so easily...

Posted by: bren at August 28, 2007 2:33 PM in response to What kind of floor do you recommend?

"Dondi had some if the best tags aroung. He died a few years ago he was 42."

I occasionally am very impressed with you WHAT. Props to you for acknowledging DONDI. i bet 95% of the contributors on here havent a clue about who he was or what a powerful force he was in the early 1980's in bk.

Posted by: bktycoon at September 30, 2008 2:24 PM in response to A real victory..

taki181

Posted by: denton at September 30, 2008 2:49 PM in response to A real victory..

Denton! Stellar!

Posted by: cobblehiller at September 30, 2008 2:51 PM in response to A real victory..

taki183

Posted by: cobblehiller at September 30, 2008 2:54 PM in response to A real victory..

A boiler that runs on heating oil essentially is a diesel, so that is the first on the list.

Posted by: Iknow at September 30, 2008 3:46 PM in response to Diesel Exhaust Smell inside apt

Seen was is this documentary but I forgot the name of it.

Plus I remember Apps Super Hog. That tag was all over the place. Damn I got to remember that documentary.

"I occasionally am very impressed with you WHAT. Props to you for acknowledging DONDI. i bet 95% of the contributors on here havent a clue about who he was or what a powerful force he was in the early 1980's in bk."

Remember I was born, raised and will die in New York. I had friends who used to Bomb and draw comic book figures. One of them went on to work for Marvel and DC. Calvin was very very good!

I have Old school and New school books on Tagging from around the world. They are on PDF Flies plus I have pictures of people Bombs on my hard drive, maybe I will share them.

The What Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: what at September 30, 2008 3:52 PM in response to A real victory..

I found it!

Style Wars

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Style_Wars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-d_9il1Iao

And Wil's Seen proofile

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seen

Richard Mirando, known as Seen, born 1961 in The Bronx, New York, is one of the most famous American graffiti artists, often referred to as The Godfather of Graffiti.

The What

Someday this war is gonna end..

Posted by: what at September 30, 2008 3:57 PM in response to A real victory..

hey what -

may i also suggest this relatively new book called "mascots & mugs." Similar focus as Calfant's style wars and subway art. scope it if you already havent. also makes a nice coffee table decoration. enjoy...

Posted by: bktycoon at September 30, 2008 4:12 PM in response to A real victory..

*Chalfant, ooops

Posted by: bktycoon at September 30, 2008 4:15 PM in response to A real victory..

What---very cool doc Style Wars. I am old enough to remember those days as well and loved seeing all of those old cars. Will watch it all when I have a chance.

See, common ground! I love it.

Posted by: wasder at September 30, 2008 4:28 PM in response to A real victory..