If asking my neighbors to keep the volume down was a solution, this would have been solved years ago.

They basically took their mom's old house, gutted it, and put in a recording studio. Nobody actually lives there. The backyard is filled with garbage and bags of cement that have turned solid. The back of the house looks like it's going to collapse. Chunks of the roof are blowing off. They had to clear their studio out for a couple weeks this spring when it turned out the tarp they'd had on their roof for three years didn't work as well as actually fixing their roof. There's a derelict car with four flat tires that's been sitting out front for five years, poking out into the sidewalk.

That being said, they drive new cars and have tons of expensive equipment. I've seen the owner's name on music websites. They definitely have pro clients and money to spend. They just don't spend it on soundproofing or building maintenance.

I'm not dealing with responsible, considerate guys here.

Posted by: madison_st at November 19, 2009 4:05 PM in response to Illegal Business Next Door

Haven't read this blog in a year or so. Thought I'd stop by and check it out. See it's filled with as many baiting and ill-willed comments as it was the last time I stopped reading, disgusted.

Posted by: madison_st at April 29, 2009 10:34 AM in response to Closing Bell: Car Chase Ends Badly in Greenpoint

I drive and walk and ride a bike. Therefore, everyone annoys me.

That said, there are many things that need to be done to make cycling safer. There are a lot of people on the road now who have never ridden a bike in New York City. School is back in session and there are college kids used to riding in the suburbs. All four East River bridges have different traffic patterns for pedestrians and cyclists. The Brooklyn Bridge is the worst bridge for bikes, the Manhattan and Queensboro are the best.

Here's what I think each person could do to make life nicer:

Bikes:
Learn the laws of the road. Seriously. You ride WITH traffic. Pedestrians have the right of way. Put some damn brakes on your fixie, and some reflective stripes on your bookbag.

Pedestrians:
Look both ways. Don't jaywalk. Stop listening to your iPod and ignoring everything outside of a three-foor bubble.

Cars:
No parking in the bike lane, and use your turn signal when turning across a bike lane. I'm sick of being run off the road. That's all I want from cars.

Now, get off my lawn, you goddamn kids!
-cranky old man, signing off.

Posted by: madison_st at September 12, 2008 6:06 PM in response to Warnings to Cyclists Near the Bridge

I am currently heating my three-floor house by recycling the hot air from the trolls on this blog.

But I kid.

Good luck with your project. It sounds like you have a lot of interesting ideas. I had no idea radiant heat was more efficient than any other kind of heating. Have you thought of planting trees on the south side of your property? They shade the house from heat in the summer, then when they loose their leaves in the winter they let the heat pass through to your house.

Posted by: madison_st at August 26, 2008 11:35 AM in response to Green on Brownstoner #1: Salvage on a Budget

I've sent Marty letters about this - no reply. I think the odds are that that fatass hasn't been anywhere near a bike in a very long time.

Posted by: madison_st at July 21, 2008 11:29 AM in response to Checking In On the Adams Street Bike Lane

Is that a catheter & fur store next door?

Posted by: madison_st at July 11, 2008 12:01 PM in response to Streetlevel: iPhone Mania Not Just for Manhattanites

I wonder where they'll get their meat & food?

Posted by: madison_st at July 10, 2008 10:01 AM in response to New Northern Crown Heights Hotel in the Works

Thanks for the info, What! Do you have any pictures from back then? I keep on hearing about how active the theater was in the early 80's, but in the three years I've been in the neighborhood, it's been locked up.

Posted by: madison_st at June 3, 2008 11:36 AM in response to Slave Theater in Court, Preservation Effort Weak

Yes. Get rid of anonymous posting. This site is informative, but I often find myself logging off in disgust after seeing yet another non-informative racist/sexist/homophobic/gloating eighty-comment rant. Your site is not encouraging helpful discourse.

Posted by: madison_st at May 30, 2008 10:58 AM in response to Taking the Pulse on Anonymous Commenting

This house wasn't vacant last I checked. The guy living inside collected and sold scrap metal. I bought a used wrought-iron fence gate from him last fall. He was very fair and friendly, I hope he's okay.

Posted by: madison_st at April 9, 2008 5:06 PM in response to Wall Collapse in Bed-Stuy

That's a nice bike!

Posted by: madison_st at April 8, 2008 4:22 PM in response to Closing Bell: South Portland's Very Polite Bike War

The BAM building is one of the most beautiful in the city. This awning looks like a suburban bus shelter. At least it's only bolted on.

Posted by: madison_st at April 1, 2008 12:19 PM in response to Latest Addition to BAM Complete

All parking laws break down when you get anywhere near a police office or a government office. Police officers don't ticket government employees or other cops. I'd like to stay positive, but it's really hard not to dislike the police in this town.

Posted by: madison_st at March 28, 2008 11:21 AM in response to Adams Street Bike Lane Shenanigans Continue

I like the not-swearing trend.

Posted by: madison_st at March 26, 2008 10:33 AM in response to Market Update: Bad News For Subprime-Stunned Nabes

Hooray! Let's complain!

Posted by: madison_st at March 4, 2008 10:05 AM in response to Brooklyn Post Offices: Endless Bummer?

I was just thinking about genocide, wondering if it could ever happen in the US. It occurred to me that, if it does, it would probably be launched by anonymous comment pages on blogs. This place brings out the worst part of human nature. I'm going to go read about plaster repair techniques... from a book.

Posted by: madison_st at February 22, 2008 4:13 PM in response to Catching Up on the Bedford Avenue Building Boom

Yeah, I think certain sects of Judaism really avoid adornment. With the exception of meticulously combed fur hats. It really varies by the group. I don't know the specific sect that's in Williamsburg / Bedstuy. According to Wikipedia, they're from the Satmar sect.

I teach animation, and once had a young orthodox Jew sit in on one of my classes. He really wanted to get into animation, but his religion wouldn't allow him to draw figural art. I had to tell him that it would be pretty tough to animate without drawing figural things. Quite a sad moment. I think drawing non-realistic cartoon characters might be a grey area? Anyways, yes, there are definite rules about art and design for some sects of Judaism.

Posted by: madison_st at February 22, 2008 12:11 PM in response to Catching Up on the Bedford Avenue Building Boom

I ride down this street every day on my way to work. The third building is actually pretty nice - trim and details are rare in new buildings in this neighborhood. I think it will look okay in the end.

As far as the porches, I think it's part of the religion. There's a festival every year where everyone has to set up an outdoor hut. For a weekend, all the porches are built up with temporary shelters. Therefore, every apartment needs a little outdoor space, even if it's only a 2x4' porch.

As someone who really likes looking at graceful architecture, I cringe and get sad every time I bike through this neighborhood. It's pretty depressing. It's just not a culture that puts much value into aesthetics.

Posted by: madison_st at February 22, 2008 11:57 AM in response to Catching Up on the Bedford Avenue Building Boom

It took two years for the city to plant a tree in front of my house in bedstuy.

Posted by: madison_st at February 17, 2008 5:11 PM in response to Where to buy a street tree?

I forgot to mention the big box o' ballusters.

Posted by: madison_st at February 4, 2008 10:00 AM in response to Railing, Newel Post for sale

I've been in this neighborhood for a few years now, used to walk by this house and think it was a lost cause. I can't believe how much work they've done to it. The details, which were crumbling and rusting, have all been replaced and restored. It's a great looking building.

Posted by: madison_st at January 3, 2008 11:05 AM in response to Lottery for 420 Classon Avenue Kicks Off

Hm Bentley is an ostentatious car. I wander how is best to communicate with Bentley owner in record industry. :)

Posted by: bobjohn at November 19, 2009 7:32 PM in response to Illegal Business Next Door

I sympathize, I have a Trust Fund DJ living next door who illegally sub divided the house to accomadate tenants. A single family house now used as a two family. The noise was unbearable, like living in a bass drum. I banged on his door(non-working bell) and told him that my lawyer advised me to speak to him about the volume and persistence of his music and could he please lower it so we both could avoid legal issues. That has worked some. DOB never showed up, the PD never showed up, five to ten calls to 311. If you tell the FD that the roof has holes and the back of the building is in danger of collapse and your worried about the fireman's safety, you may get the FD to send a report to the Buildings Dept.(an A-8). Complain, complain, complain the squeaky wheel gets the grease in this city. Document, document,document, time called, date called, person spoken to, etc. finally, get a lawyer.

Posted by: Grumpy at November 19, 2009 9:19 PM in response to Illegal Business Next Door