jawbreaker's Profile
Author's Posts
November 5, 2008
Property Tax Rebate
Anyone get their $400 rebate check yet? Last year it was early October, this year no sign of it yet. and it will be the last one, I know.
Author's Comments
Corporate douchebags on Fulton Avenue will be something to see.
Posted by: jawbreaker at November 6, 2009 4:20 PM in response to Fulton Sports Bar Signage Revealed
Seriously, they need to finish up and get their crap off the sidewalk. I was thinking that again this morning as I passed. It's a joke how long this has taken.
Posted by: jawbreaker at September 9, 2009 12:06 PM in response to A Peek Inside the Atlantic Terminal Station
It's not a shopping mall and it's not an investment.
Posted by: jawbreaker at July 16, 2009 2:47 PM in response to Fulton Mall Make-Over Under Way
Regardless of whether McD's stinks, I agree that Bonnie's puts out a lot of stink, much more than you would think given its size.
Posted by: jawbreaker at July 1, 2009 11:43 AM in response to Checking in on The Elan
You got that right DIBS, the Co-op crowd are exactly the same crowd who I see letting their kids pee all over the place. I've seen it a lot lately.
Posted by: jawbreaker at June 30, 2009 10:21 AM in response to Open Thread: Do The Right Thing Edition
I don't see many movies but DTRT to me is one of the best ever. I had never seen a more visually vibrant movie when it came out, and the dialogue and the "bits" were great. And, maybe just because I was still young enough, the ending was shocking and sad.
Posted by: jawbreaker at June 30, 2009 10:14 AM in response to Open Thread: Do The Right Thing Edition
Subway fares are a relative bargain...what's sickening is the idiotic way this state is run. What sense does it make to fund the MTA from the mortgage tax? This state is in tough times and we have a broken state government, an accidental governor, bloated organizations like the MTA, per capita health care costs that dwarf other states. We need some talented people to run for office and reform the process.
Posted by: jawbreaker at June 30, 2009 7:59 AM in response to Monday Blogwrap
The issues at PS 20 may be "tinged with race," but Mr. Keaton is not qualified for the job if he can't handle the parents without them turning on him. His school is not in a unique situation, and other principals in the neighborhood have managed the same issues. Judging from some of the things he's written and the allegations of assualt, he seems at times irrational and unstable. It's a tough job, and he seems not to be able to handle it, that's all.
Posted by: jawbreaker at June 29, 2009 9:43 AM in response to Race, Class and P.S. 20's Controversial Principal
A tragedy for him and his his family, but I won't miss the commercials with him screaming which are 25% louder than whatever is on.
Posted by: jawbreaker at June 29, 2009 9:30 AM in response to Open Thread
Lou Lou used to be a good neighborhood place. I read the owners moved to NJ four years ago - once owners are no longer around all the time places start to slip. It was no longer any good and had the look of a place that was going out.
Posted by: jawbreaker at June 22, 2009 11:44 AM in response to Open Thread
"Leave the pets, take the porn."
Posted by: jawbreaker at June 22, 2009 11:39 AM in response to Four-Story Building on Myrtle Collapses
What's the median family income in NYC? Anyone making above the 25th percentile and below the 75th percentile is middle class, no?
Posted by: jawbreaker at May 14, 2009 9:53 AM in response to Can Ditmas Park Save The Middle Class?
A few things: Rosie is around a lot, I see her. The secret of FG is out, with its proximity to Manhattan, great transportation options, nice public spaces, and other things. Any show where the host throws out there that the silver lining of the recession may be that FG goes back to the way it was and the guests don't call him an idiot indicates the participants in the show are only pretending to have an intellectual discussion.
Posted by: jawbreaker at May 4, 2009 1:31 PM in response to Rosie and Nelson Redux
It's all right, but has a few legitimate knocks as commented on above. The magic of style over substance and having friends in the media like NY Mag has worked here.
Posted by: jawbreaker at April 23, 2009 12:16 PM in response to TONY Prize for General Greene
That's some turntable!
Posted by: jawbreaker at April 7, 2009 4:37 PM in response to The End is Nigh
I strongly agree with Lechacal. If you get over the preconception that your kids have to go to private school you and your kids will be in a much better place financially and in terms of preparation for life.
Posted by: jawbreaker at April 7, 2009 10:33 AM in response to The Shifting School Equation
It's fine if you want have threads like this; as someone says it's your blog. But when you start getting all preachy and shrill about it, like someone gave you the right to be the arbiter about what good is and what people can do with their property under the applicable laws and codes, it's a turnoff. It's a fine line between what "everyone" can see is "obviously" bad and your personal opinion. Also, when you start off in a mean spirited and snarky way, you might be funny, or you might be an a-hole. You never know until it's too late.
Posted by: jawbreaker at April 3, 2009 4:35 PM in response to Horror Show Friday: 170 Clermont Avenue
PETSMART works - the trip from dance space to DANSPACE (that's the concept?) is too long and it dies.
Posted by: jawbreaker at April 3, 2009 9:49 AM in response to Another BAM Building Gets Tabled
Surprised at the 730K sale at Forte which went into contract 2/25/09. I would have thought maybe 600K was the top for that.
Posted by: jawbreaker at April 2, 2009 1:00 PM in response to Brooklyn Sales: Under a Million
Money is not 100% fungible between things like historical preservation and cops and teachers, you can only say that in the abstract.
The difference between the Bronx Zoo, Seaport, Children's museum and these houses lies in the amount of stuff to see/do when you get there and the appeal to kids, which in turn drives their parents' spending and destination choices.
Posted by: jawbreaker at April 1, 2009 2:10 PM in response to Ugly Politics May Trump Reason in Admiral's Row Saga
I've seen the buildings recently, and they are pretty far gone. Also, the immediate surrounding area has nothing that I can see benefitting from the restoration of these buildings, and it's hard to imagine their being a tourist destination that could even support their upkeep. It's sad to see old buildings and this slice of history go, but realistically no one is willing to pay or should be forced to pay. If there are any dollars available, better to focus them on the hospital grounds and surrounding bulidings in the Navy Yard as a museum / tour area. Time has passed the Row by irrevocably and it's time to move on.
Posted by: jawbreaker at April 1, 2009 11:56 AM in response to Ugly Politics May Trump Reason in Admiral's Row Saga
Obama seemed to have the personality to deal with this mess, but he's lost control of his people. Nobody is buying Geitner and having the idiot Congress pass knee-jerk bonus tax bills is bush league. He needs to control the agenda.
Posted by: jawbreaker at March 21, 2009 5:59 PM in response to New Bonus Taxes will Slam us!
Welcome back, Kotter!
Posted by: jawbreaker at March 16, 2009 3:23 PM in response to Open Thread
You can club your own seal, but that doesn't make it good eats.
Posted by: jawbreaker at March 16, 2009 11:20 AM in response to Open Thread
I don't usually watch Cramer or Stewart, but you rarely see a takedown like that. Cramer was defensive and basically cried like a little girl. I expected him to own who he is, an ex hedge fund trickster who runs a gong show, not cower. Stewart punked him and let him off the hook at the end.
Posted by: jawbreaker at March 14, 2009 8:17 AM in response to Open Thread
God what a turgid thread. Slopefarm, was that Tom Lehrer? Haven't heard that one for 30 years...
Posted by: jawbreaker at March 13, 2009 3:21 PM in response to Open Thread
"And the Asshats cry" - classic. People want an upscale place like G&T, but few actually would go...you get what the market will bear.
Posted by: jawbreaker at March 12, 2009 10:11 AM in response to Confirmed: Arby's Planning to Take Gage & Tollner Space
jawbreaker wrote a review about No. 7 on March 11, 2009 3:25 PM
Notable and recommended for having a distinctive and well executed menu at reasonable prices. I've enjoyed it for dinner, and if I was on a late night/eat at the bar schedule I'd definately go here. A really positive addition to the FG restaurant scene.
Last NYT write up 9/1/02
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/01/realestate/01LIVI.html?ex=1031910708&ei=1&en=a4b623836863018f
Posted by: jawbreaker at March 9, 2009 10:35 AM in response to The Times Wraps Its Arms Around Fort Greene
I thought incense was a victimless crime.
Posted by: jawbreaker at February 23, 2009 11:12 AM in response to 10-Truck Fire at 101 Lafayette Saturday Night
I lived there for two years with kids. Very positive experience. Safer than many areas, decent schools, parking, lots of families, good ethnic mix.
Posted by: jawbreaker at February 20, 2009 1:12 PM in response to Advice on Moving to Greenwood?
10 out of 15,000 people support it and it's an issue? Regardless of what you think of Israel, this is a tiny minority with a differing opinion. People must not have enough to do.
Posted by: jawbreaker at February 20, 2009 9:10 AM in response to Proposed Ban Roiling Park Slope Co-op
I've see this all over this winter on bricks. Does anyone actually know what causes it?
Posted by: jawbreaker at February 13, 2009 11:34 AM in response to The Blanching of 330 Park Place
DIBS is probably not a loser becuse he's either a brilliant multitasker or apparently making plenty of money with minimal effort judging from the content and amount of posts; and no offense, who's better than you?
Rob, I wouldn't ask but since you aren't shy about sharing, you have $27K college debt? Do you work as a receptionist (I remember this from anohter post but may have misinterpreted)? If so, what did you study and why aren't you doing it?
Posted by: jawbreaker at February 13, 2009 10:54 AM in response to Open Thread
Anne Bancroft is dead, so he's not married to her any more.
Posted by: jawbreaker at February 10, 2009 2:46 PM in response to Open Thread
jawbreaker wrote a review about Amin Indian on February 10, 2009 1:57 PM
I ate there once. The food was edible at best and the place was dirty. Always seems deserted. I would not eat food from there again.
Disingenuous or overly technical to say the stadia were not built with public funds. The ability to issue tax free bonds comes from the people's government, doesn't it?
Posted by: jawbreaker at February 4, 2009 11:40 AM in response to Admiral's Row: Up Close and Personal
Close to the subway and Applebee's - who cares if it's up code!
Posted by: jawbreaker at February 3, 2009 3:55 PM in response to Development Watch: 80 Dekalb Avenue Halfway There
Spot on indeed - what starts off intending to level the playing field usually winds up being controlled by those who figure out how to exploit it, with the "tax" being paid by those who were intended to benefit.
Posted by: jawbreaker at February 3, 2009 3:52 PM in response to Quote of the Day
I passed that building driving through the circle this weekend - amazing how clear the glass is and how many apartments you can see into. It must be nice at times but also pretty brutal when the sun is shining in. Maybe looks nice as a concept but seems to have a lot of drawbacks.
Posted by: jawbreaker at February 2, 2009 11:03 AM in response to Man Versus Bird On Prospect Park
Tolls on the bridges is not going to work, it's not like the approaches to toll bridges and tunnels elsewhere in the city are calm and orderly. You need to clearly mark and separate the lanes for who wants to go where, enforce them, and throw in some pedestrian overpasses. It will never be bucolic.
Posted by: jawbreaker at January 30, 2009 12:40 PM in response to DOT Picks Residents' Brains on Tillary Traffic
I have always thought in passing the building, where even now you might still see areas of the exterior which aren't finished, that maintaining this type of building will cost a lot more than a new glass and steel job.
Posted by: jawbreaker at January 29, 2009 9:54 AM in response to One Hanson Board Jacks Common Charges 17 Percent
This is a real screw job - two years to build an overpass was riduculous to begin with and they should either force him to do it or do it and put a lien on the property.
Posted by: jawbreaker at January 29, 2009 9:40 AM in response to Carlton Avenue Bridge Could Be Closed for Four More Years
Just consider yourself lucky that FF actually has a listed phone number. Most of the really high end places like that don't.
Posted by: jawbreaker at January 28, 2009 2:56 PM in response to Open Thread
Wow I didn't realize my comment would be taken seriously.
Posted by: jawbreaker at January 28, 2009 9:12 AM in response to Open Thread
Yeah the random spacing and management of trains on the A is a mystery. Unlike other lines which tend to have a preety reliable avergae, riding the A at the same time every day you seem to either get a train that's packed to the ceiling or you might get a seat. And then there's the seemingly the random sequencing on C's and A's. Overall the system is backsliding. Trains are often filthy these days, e.g. dried vomit. Unions and NY politics...yes...also simple bad management.
Posted by: jawbreaker at January 28, 2009 8:58 AM in response to Wednesday Links
You know, it really sticks in my craw that there's a guy making money at a hedge fund and posting on a blog. Take this!
Consumer confidence at record low
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/consumer-confidence-record-low-money/story.aspx?guid=47EFDC25-7458-4B2C-BF99-999465950EA0&dist=SecMostRead
Posted by: jawbreaker at January 27, 2009 1:34 PM in response to Open Thread
Pintchik is apparently a very polarizing place. Hardware stores are always busy; during the week you get construction people and on weekends you get DIYs. I never had much luck at HD of Lowe's getting a lot of quality attention either. FG is a lot tougher for hardware since 7 closed and Adami downsized (and that place on Dekalb that closed in 02 or 03). What are some good neighborhood stores we ought to be shopping at to reward them?
Posted by: jawbreaker at January 27, 2009 1:25 PM in response to Rumor: Biergarten Coming to Seven Corners Space
There's too much free content out there for it to work. Most people get news differently than they used to, they don't spend blocks of continuous time consuming the news. The reality is that the unique value that the NYT brings to a shrinking audience won't pay for itself, and people who get benefit out of the "free" content will quickly subsitute into something else if they charge for it. There's an interesting article about the NYT website in NY Mag - it's free http://nymag.com/news/features/all-new/53344/
Posted by: jawbreaker at January 21, 2009 4:01 PM in response to (Slightly) Off-Topic Poll: Paying for The Times Online?
Sorry, Street.
Posted by: jawbreaker at November 6, 2009 4:20 PM in response to Fulton Sports Bar Signage Revealed