The day a bicyclist stops at a red light will be the day I stop trying to run them over.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at June 9, 2009 4:33 PM in response to Time Limit to Bike Parking?

Straight up mexican run by Chinese. They make the tortillas fresh and the food's
OK. But judging by the lack of foot traffic, it may not be there too long.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at June 3, 2009 2:11 PM in response to Streetlevel: Yummy Taco Opens in South Slope

I don't think anyone on this site would condone driving drunk or suggest that the law can be broken as long as you don't get caught. There's a reason open grills or any kind are illegal on rooftops -- Fire kills. You are betting everything you own that if an accident happens your face will be on the front cover of the Post with a picture of the smoldering building and the banner headline WELL DONE. Enjoy your meal...

Posted by: lifeofreilly at April 24, 2009 4:22 PM in response to Propane grilling on roofs?

TERRIBLE IDEA! SAY NO TO WOODSTOCK IN PROSPECT PARK!!

Sorry to be a wet blanket but the original rock acts are long gone and the Woodstock reunions have been disasters.

The Brooklyn Summer stage concerts are wonderful and that's enough for me (and our beloved park).

Posted by: lifeofreilly at April 6, 2009 7:16 PM in response to Closing Bell: Woodstock 40th Anniversary at Prospect Park?

Sounds like you have a few choices

a) go get her stuff and find a new place and move on. The damages are relatively small and the effort to fight back is substantial.

b) Take her to small claims court and get your money back. How did she pay for her rent and security deposit? Cash or check? If check get copies on hand for proof of residence to police. What address does the university have for her? Are there any friends who visited her there and can state knowledge of her residence? Also consider adding the lost university charges to the small claims case.

c) If you're really pissed off and you have a stomach for fighting, build a civil rights violation case. Claim sexual harassment or bias and drag the other family through shit for their horrid behaviour.

Having said all that it seems like the best idea is to move on quickly and don't look back. these things have a way of festering and your daughter still has a fews years left at the school.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at March 13, 2009 5:22 PM in response to roomate changed locks

Sad news indeed. Loved the cranky local point of view. He will be missed.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at March 5, 2009 11:15 AM in response to Robert Guskind, Founder of Gowanus Lounge, Dies

kansas

Posted by: lifeofreilly at February 5, 2009 6:10 PM in response to Closing Bell: Best New Name for Park Slope

First off, don't assume that the Ansonia will simply rollover it's mortgage and get a lower rate-- the Ansonia is a coop and as such has very limited access to finance. We rolled our underlying mortgage over a year and a half ago and it was an expensive pain in the balls. Secondly, how is it that PS takes it on the chin all the time for being so overcrowded with yuppies and now in the thread the big complaint about 12th street is that it's hidden in the sticks and boring? I'm no great fan of the Ansonia and I agree that the F train is no treat, but c'mon Newswalk is smack in the middle of an asphalt jungle and is a front row seat to a construction debacle. Just how long will it take to get someplace green from Newswalk? The Ansonia is a block and a half from the Park and zoned in a terrific school district.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at January 27, 2009 4:54 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 420 12th Street 2BR

Even if your coop board let's it slide (and they should not) and nobody ever knows, if there's a problem, like a fire, after the fact you will be criminally liable. Imagine your picture in the NY Post as they take you to the police station under arrest... It's a drag, but even small changes in your home require permits.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at January 12, 2009 5:00 PM in response to Building a 2nd room (frm a jr-4)

OMG you guys were posting for 6 hours!
You don't need an off topic forum you need to get a room.
And Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at November 26, 2008 4:31 PM in response to Mr. B... can we get an OT *off topic* forum here?

Not that's it's really anyone's business but you guys were trading posts for 6 hours!!
Get a room already.
And Have a Happy Thanksgiving

Posted by: lifeofreilly at November 26, 2008 4:29 PM in response to Mr. B... can we get an OT *off topic* forum here?

I am totally surprised by the generally negative response of the homeowners on this site. These machines are well designed for a brownstone lifestyle. We've had one for seven years with two kids and tho it has limitations, IT BEATS THE CRAP OUT OF WALKING TO THE LAUNDROMAT. Additionally it's uses FAR LESS WATER and FAR LESS DETERGENT than top loaders --it's clearly more environmentally friendly. And it takes up less than half the space of full sized washer dryer units. Since most homeowners are paying between $650-$900 per sq foot these days, having a combo washer dryer unit saves at least 4 sq ft or $3,600 of precious floor space. On the other hand we can all drive our SUV's to our McMansions and clean our laundry in large capacity side by side washer dryers.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at October 31, 2008 4:26 PM in response to Tenant Wants to Install Own W/D

Dozens of bikers and pedestrians are killed in the city every year. But pedestrians (with Ipods or cellphones) regularly step off the curb without looking and bikers consistently run red lights and ride without helmets. You'd think they'd learn and act more defensively on the streets. I guess pedestrian/biker fatalities are relatively small and people don't take notice of the facts.

It's also a fact that cars are responsible for nearly 40,000 deaths per year nationally. You'd think drivers would learn and drive more responsibly. I guess 40,000 traffic deaths are relatively small and people don't take notice of the facts.

Come to think of it, voters elected George W. Bush to a second term -- I guess people don't take notice of the facts.

We get the streets and the government we deserve.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at October 20, 2008 9:17 PM in response to Park Slope Wants to Go Both Ways (Traffic-wise)

FYI -- IDT reps were cruising the streets of Park Slope today 10/20. BEWARE!

Posted by: lifeofreilly at October 20, 2008 8:29 PM in response to Update on IDT Energy Scam

As the happy parent of two PS107 kids I can report two hard earned facts --

1) The teachers, staff and PTA of 107 have worked hard to earn a good grade. For example, last year the school finally got a library built (the first one for the school in 105 years!).

2) Even in "A" schools the quality of education for your child depends almost entirely on the quality of the teacher in your classroom. It doesn't matter what grade the school gets if your teacher sucks the school sucks.

As far as grades are concerned I think Architerrorist has it pretty much right.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at September 17, 2008 1:56 PM in response to Schools Report Cards Released

OMIGOD! Let's try thanking Celebrate Brooklyn for years of great FREE concerts instead of complaining that they put up fences around the BENEFIT concerts.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at August 13, 2008 10:42 AM in response to Fencing In Bob Dylan

The kitchen is clearly the nicest element. But 715sqft is small and the streets around the Armor/shelter can be creepy at night for a ground floor apartment. I can see why another unit in that building (not on the ground floor) went for $699k. Funny they didn't mention the school across the street -- it's a good one. I guess they figure no one would raise school age children in such a small space. Also, I'm flabbergasted that owners who are inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright would not notice how awful the web photos are. $575k is a more reasonable price for the space.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at August 7, 2008 3:10 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 1405 8th Avenue

It appears you are living in a multi-unit dwelling. If so, then there needs to be 2 means of egress to the roof. A fire escape on the outside (front or rear) AND a common roof access like a steel ladder inside. That ladder must be accessible to all tenants. It sounds like the pull down stairs you mentioned at are not up to code at present. To have private roof access your roof stairs will have to be from inside your unit. Alternate tread stairs do not meet code they are too steep. The only real option in a multi-unit situation is a spiral stair (straight stairs take up a very large footprint in your unit). Installation of a spiral stair means essentially hanging them from the roof joists which requires reinforcing the joists which means ripping open the entire width of the ceiling on the joists that are in question. Plan on living elsewhere for the duration of that work. Seems like you might want to consider having the pull down stairs replaced with a simple steel ladder with nice treads and handrails. That'll run a grand. All the other stair options will run at $50k-$75k depending on how big a bulkhead you build on the roof.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at July 28, 2008 9:57 PM in response to Stairs to Roof Deck

There's construction everywhere (see todays post about road repaving), so the construction issue is pretty much guaranteed to be a hassle no matter where you buy. The Armory is a much more interesting question. Historically it has been a trouble spot -- crack vials, homeless shanties, broken car windows, makeshift sidewalk bathroom. The renovation of the Armory to be used as a recreation center is definitely a move in a positive direction considering its past. And I don't think traffic associated with the building should be an issue, unless school busses idle on the block while picking up and discharging students. The bigger issue in my opinion is the reasonable expectation that large groups of teens will gather for events like track meets and basketball games, and it is unfortunately likely that there will be altercations, some of which will turn violent. It seems like the 14th Street side of the Armory has a good chance of hosting a slashing or stabbing. I would also think that as the economy turns down there might a be a rise in thefts and assaults. It's not a far stretch to imagine a teen being knocked off his bike and having it by stolen by three or four older boys. I can also imagine a few girls slashing another girl because of some perceived insult. Teens are stupid and dangerous. Look at a different block.

Posted by: lifeofreilly at July 24, 2008 9:15 PM in response to 14th Street Btw 7th/8th