tanner's Profile
Author's Posts
July 17, 2009
Gas Line for Grill
Just wondering if anyone has had a natural gas line run for their bbq grill. Who does it, a plumber?? Who do I call? How much does it cost? Any recommendations for who to call? Thanks much!
March 6, 2009
tree pruning service?
Hi-
I have a spectacular but out of control fruit tree in the yard of our fairly-new place. I think it needs a professional pruning before it'll be in a condition where I can manage it myself. I think it needs a very serious pruning, and I'm afraid I'll go overboard and it'll be all over... Can anyone recommend a good, reasonably priced tree pruning service? I have no idea what to expect in terms of cost... Thanks-
March 3, 2009
Modern wood fireplace inserts?
I have a wood burning fireplace that is no doubt a big energy sucker and doesn't put out all that much heat. Though it's not shallow like the old coal burning ones (the previous owners had it redone to be wood-burning capable), it's still too shallow to get going a big enough fire to put off enough heat to warm the (big) room. I've been looking into wood-burning fireplace inserts (like a stove that inserts, sometimes projecting out like a bay window), but they're all far too country-style for our modern-industrial interior. Anyone know of a source for more modern ones? Know of a good fireplace contractor (or do you use a GC?)? Have experience with fireplace inserts?? Thanks!
February 14, 2009
land value on NYC assessment
My accountant needs to know the "land value" from our assessment. On our "Tentative Assessment Roll," though, there is nothing listed in the Market Value box for LAND, only for TOTAL. There is a number under LAND for the "6-20% limitation" category, but I have no idea what that means. Any help understanding this would be appreciated!
My accountant is thinking I might need to get an independent appraisal; if so, any recs?
silent gravity bathroom exhaust?
The bathrooms in our new(ish) place have what look to be regular exhausts on the ceiling. There's a switch on the wall. But it seems obvious they don't work. It stays steamy in there, and there is no noise whatsoever. I contacted the previous owner to inquire, and she said they are "silent gravity exhausts" and that they definitely do work. She said you keep the switch on and then they just do their thing when they sense pressure?? I tried holding a piece of tissue next to them after a shower and I saw no suction whatsoever... Anyone know about these?? And who do I call to have them looked at/fixed?? Thx!
January 23, 2009
cornelius on vanderbilt?
Looks like a new bar/restaurant (ANOTHER bar!!!) has opened on Vanderbilt, this one at the corner of Pacific. I hear it's the same owners of Le Gamin and Soda (which some would argue is in its favor, but I'm not so sure). Small plates, whiskey, and cocktails. Anyone been yet?
January 14, 2009
cataldo's on vanderbilt?
Just wondering if anyone knows what is up with the restaurant Cataldo's on Vanderbilt, I think between Bergen and Dean. I understand it was a short-lived pizza/Italian place; it's been closed for some time, and now it looks like it's being worked on again...
January 13, 2009
home stager rec's?
I'm wondering if anyone has ever used a home staging service to rent/furnish an empty apt. for sale. If so, what can I expect in terms of cost? Also, any good recommendations or reviews? I have an apt. in Manhattan that is empty and needs some help selling... Thanks.
December 11, 2008
Our recent experience (and rec. for mason / GC)
When others have posted generally about their experiences/advice about big renovations, etc, I've found it helpful, so I figured I should do the same.
We just got done with a major renovation to our c. 1870 building--a totally new experience for me, though my father was a GC (in another state), so I am pretty familiar with a lot of this. My rec's/what I learned:
First off, let me HIGHLY recommend Nick and his crew at Transcend Construction. In stark contrast to my experience with all of the other work/workers/jobs we had done, Nick and his guys were awesome. They took care of our masonry work, very expertly, very quickly, and for a great price. Nick was on the job a minimum of once a day, sometimes 2-3 times, which I believe made all the difference (see below). Unlike the other masons I met with, Nick seemed to find a good balance between waterproofing and letting the bricks breathe (we ended up waterproofing underground on one side of the bldg where we were having some trouble that was obviously coming from the ground up--a rec no one else made), and he was knowlegable about the pre-1900 brick/mortar issues that the other masons disregarded. He also does general contracting. I REALLY wish I'd used him as our GC for the big interior reno, but I didn't meet him until after we'd started that work. Nick @ Transcend Construction: 347-407-1816
Tell him Cammie recommended him.
We converted from oil to gas (steam heat), and we used LPCS & Sons Heating and Plumbing (Steven: 917-418-9654). They seemed to do a good job at a fair price (though honestly all three quotes I got were almost exactly the same price). I'll happily use them again for any heating/plumbing needs in the future. The only thing is that the whole project left our previously clean basement quite a mess, which is probably pretty typical. When interviewing someone for a conversion like this, I'd definitely ask how well they clean up after the job is done. It's a stinky, messy job, and in my opinion, the professionals who undertake it should clean it up, too. (I'd ask this of anyone you are considering to do any kind of work. Nick's guys cleaned up well, the GC cleaned up moderately well.)
When choosing a GC, don't just think of it as interviewing the actual GC. Be sure to ask how often he will actually be on the job. We chose a GC from a design-build firm around the block from us, literally. I found him to be very impressive. He seemed down-to-earth, honest, smart, skilled, etc. But once the job started, I pretty much only saw him when a payment was due or when I insisted he come to do a walk-through with me. His guys were NOT reliable. They were very slow, hung out far more than worked, and were not detail-oriented. I found myself being the one who had to talk to them every morning, ask exactly what was going to get done that day, etc; and the guys were not terribly responsive to me. I think part of what you pay a GC for is to do this very thing--or at least have a foreman decent enough to do it. Basically, managing the job was a giant headache and took a LOT of time, it took FAR longer than it should have, and the work was only mediocre.
Another thing I'd do upfront is insist that a full crew be on the job until the job was done. We had the typical thing happen to us: a full crew (who screwed around like mad) for the first month, then part-time crews for the next three months. If they would have been on the ball, the whole job should have been done in a month to six weeks, easily, especially with the full crew (4-5 guys) they sent over the first month.
One thing I did do when interviewing GC's was discuss how much over their quote they tend to go, and make clear that I had a budget to stick to. I've heard horror stories about the end price being 50% higher than the quote, even for more-or-less the same work. I know things come up and some things just cost more, but I also know GC's scam people a LOT this way. Frankly, we really did have a strict budget to stick to, so in a few cases we had to compromise on things we wanted when other expenses crept up. But my thinking is this: if the job is a lot quicker than they thought/quoted, the quoted price doesn't come DOWN, so why should it always come up if the job ends up being more complicated/longer than anticipated? The GC should do a thorough enough inspection and quote to get pretty close to the "right" price... It should be motivation for them to stay on top of their crew.
Finally, I unfortunately didn't do the thing a few people here recommended, which is to be firm about the payment schedule. That is, agree to a schedule such as: 1/3 up front, 1/3 when the job is 2/3 done, and the final 1/3 when the job is DONE. When our GC asked for almost all of the last 1/3 before the job was completely finished ("Just hold back a couple thousand until we get those last details done."), I agreed, stupidly. Now it's almost a month later and those last details still aren't done... I'm sure if I'd insisted the WHOLE job be completed before making that last big payment, we would have been done long ago...
October 21, 2008
rec for HouseByWe for buyers/sellers broker and reno mgmt
A recent post made me realize I have been meaning for months to post this recommendation...
I recently used Erin and Ari of HouseByWe (www.housebywe.com) as a buyer's broker, and they were totally, totally invaluable! Doing a home search on your own--going to a million brokerage houses, talking to a million agents, scouring the real estate listings of every firm every day can be exhausting, to say the least. Someone here recommended I check out Housebywe instead, and I did. Particularly since I was living out of town at the time, it was just what I needed. They did all the scouring and vetting for me, and we talked regularly so they could get a good sense of what I wanted (and they even helped me figure out what that was, as it evolved over the search). When they finally found the perfect place, they were absolutely right. They had tons of invaluable advice and perspective, having gone through the process themselves and knowing the ins and outs of real estate in Brooklyn, Brooklyn neighborhoods, brownstones and old buildings generally, renovation, etc. They helped us through the whole buying process, made great recommendations for inspectors, contractors, etc. And, they are incredibly pleasant, smart, great people to work with.
Obviously, I can't recommend them highly enough. Ah--and in case it's not obvious, it didn't cost me a penny. As a buyer's broker, they co-broke with the seller. (Though they do offer selling services, as well.)
Also, their business included renovation project services. They can take the headache out of a big renovation by managing the whole thing for you.
Their website:
www.housebywe.com
Author's Comments
My first time buying I felt that there was really no such thing as a true buyer's broker here in NY. I could never really tell how honest and upfront an agent was, and they always seemed to have THEIR best interests at heart--and that was quite often in conflict with MY best interests...
The second time I bought (here in BK), I was living out of state and was SO happy to have gotten a recommendation here on Brownstoner to call Erin at HouseByWe.com. She and her partner offer buyer's (and seller's--I think they have a few listings of their own) broker services, as well as home renovation management. Basically, they provided me with true buyer's broker services--like you might find in a state that legally requires them (like CA), and very unlike here. She worked her ass off for us and found us the perfect, perfect home! It was really helpful to have someone who felt truly "on our side" take us through the whole bidding, contract, closing process. But most of all, it saved me from devoting every spare second of my life searching the market, meeting with brokers at every real estate house, etc.
This is all to say, I wouldn't recommend using a "buyer's broker" if it's someone from one of the big real estate houses... but someone like HouseByWe I wholeheartedly WOULD recommend.
BTW, the comment that seller's might be more reluctant to sell to you since they pay your broker doesn't make sense unless it's a FSBO. Otherwise, I don't see why the seller should give two craps--they pay their 5 or 6% to their broker, who must split it with any buyer's broker who brings the deal.
Posted by: tanner at October 23, 2009 3:42 PM in response to Using a Buyers Agent?
tanner wrote a review about Bark Hot Dogs on October 22, 2009 7:58 PM
Pretty darn good dog. A little costly, but shoot--decent meat is inside, not god-knows-what, and decent meat ain't cheap. Neither are the fancy "homemade" condiments. The onion rings are awesome.
Unfortunately, breakfast sucks. I'm really, really hoping it was just a bad day the day I went, but the biscuits just didn't work--heavy and hella flat. Who wants a hella flat biscuit?? (Please, please, Bark--rethink your biscuit recipe!!! If you had rockin' biscuits, people would come for breakfast enough for you to open up during the week again! And if you add a BLT w/ an over easy egg on an English Muffin, I'll come every single day!) And the egg was, well, way too McDonald's! It was cooked kinda weird in a way that made it seem like a microwaved McDonald's egg. It was like they were shooting for a McD egg mcmuffin. Unfortunately. Shoot, just make a darn over easy egg--quick and hot and easy, crispy edges and runny center--and it's be perfect!! Over easy eggs are so quick and easy! (Come on... I want to love you for breakfast, Bark!)
East New York and Biff Champion--you CAN improve on a Nathan's, actually, and these guys did. A Nathan's might taste mighty good, but what's in them exactly? I'm pretty sure you'd be hard pressed to name the cuts of meat that get processed in a Nathan's hot dog, not to mention the "flavorings" and preservatives... Add to that the fact that Bark is "greener" (never mind the biodegradable stuff--it's small business and local ingredients).
Tasty fast food, but local, independent, and yes, healthier. Works for me. (I'll pretend I didn't have the unimpressive breakfast... )
tanner wrote a review about 200 Fifth Restaurant & Bar on October 9, 2009 1:41 PM
This certainly isn't the kind of place I usually like--loud, thoroughly mediocre food, a zillion TVs, a lot of drunks... But to its credit, 200 Fifth remains one of the few places in the area where you can hang out with a true mix of people. Maybe it's partly b/c so many teachers hang out there... Really, where else can you find a lively group of people spanning all ethnicities, SESs, and politics--actually TALKING to each other?? It's kinda nice.
Can a landlord require tenants to have renters insurance?
Posted by: tanner at September 28, 2009 3:31 PM in response to Renters Insurance
tanner wrote a review about Sal's Pizzeria on September 28, 2009 2:46 PM
Even just 5+ years ago the slices were pretty darn good--tender, thin, crispy. But man, it sure went downhill. It seemed like it happened around the time that flour prices shot through the roof a handful of years ago... I always wondered if they changed the flour they were using or something. All I know is that I used to go there a lot, and then I gave it a good five or six more times after it seemed to take a dive, and it never seemed to come back. Now they just make a really average, mediocre slice. Sad, really...
And no matter what, make sure the last payment is a very big one and don't pay it until every single last detail is done. After a small deposit, you might, for example, pay 1/3 of the remaining amount after approx. 1/3 of the work is done, the next 1/3 after 2/3 of the work is done, and the last 1/3 after the job is completed--down to the last switchplate.
Posted by: tanner at September 11, 2009 10:42 PM in response to Contractor Deposit
They are moving SO slowly! Most days it looks like there are maybe four guys, tops, on site.
I like the different levels. So glad it's not just a square of glass.
Those apts MUST be huge if there are only eight. I hear they expect prices to start not too much under a mil. That's an interesting mixed-use block (with an awesome mechanic's shop, a parking lot with really nice owners, a couple of very cool buildings, a very ugly new residential bldg that just went up hella fast, and some pretty sh*tty lots, too). I like the mix, actually, but good luck with such high prices!
Posted by: tanner at August 21, 2009 1:59 PM in response to Development Watch: 324 St. Mark's Avenue
you have obviously never tried it, tiptoe! good bread, great bacon, a real tomato, fresh lettuce, and a perfectly over-easy egg... it breaks and drips after the first bite. seriously YUM. and perfect breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Posted by: tanner at August 12, 2009 3:16 PM in response to StreetLevel: Vanderbilt's Milk Bar Now Open
put a slammin' BLT w/ a fried egg on the menu and i will be there breakfast, lunch, and dinner! seriously, why does no one have that on their menu?? wouldn't you all eat one??
Posted by: tanner at August 12, 2009 9:18 AM in response to StreetLevel: Vanderbilt's Milk Bar Now Open
if the noise is very steady, it could be one of those annoying "sonic" rodent deterrents...
Posted by: tanner at July 14, 2009 7:22 PM in response to Squeaky noise in Bk Heights?
tanner wrote a review about Amorina on July 2, 2009 11:50 AM
what? 4+ for food??? now I know not to trust the ratings here...
not bad, but certainly nothing special... 2.75, tops, for food.
and again, why is there no value option between "about right" and "very overpriced"? How about "a bit overpriced"?
and not cheap, either. pay a little more and get WAY, WAY better everything at Franny's...
I give an exceedingly high recommendation for Nick at Transcend construction. Search the forum and you'll see nothing but very positive rec's for him from many people. He's very reasonably priced, super down to earth and fair, and he's on sight regularly (if not daily) so you don't have to worry about the quality of work of his guys (a big problem with other GCs, I've found!). His guys are very hardworking and skilled, too.
718.369-0996 or 347-933-5875 (Nick)
Posted by: tanner at June 16, 2009 1:02 PM in response to ISO: Reliable Contractor
I don't know anything about your specific issues, but if you're looking for a mason, you should try Nick at Transcend Construction. Do a forum search here and you'll find countless reviews-all stellar. Don't have his phone number on me, but he's got a website, so you can google him.
Posted by: tanner at April 27, 2009 11:02 AM in response to ISO mason & electric
In Prospect Heights, on St. Marks between Underhill and Washington: Nok Auto Repair. The first really decent, trust-worthy auto shop I've found... The owner is Rohan, and he's a real stand-up guy.
Posted by: tanner at April 27, 2009 10:59 AM in response to recommend a car mechanic please.
tanner wrote a review about Marlow & Sons on April 11, 2009 4:58 PM
Our favorite place in all of NYC!
Sustainably sourced food that is DELICIOUS, consistently! We have never had anything we didn't love. Particular favorites: liver toast, all salads, white bean soup, short rib meatballs (yum!!). The caramel/chocolate/sea salt torte is insane--like a grown-up candy bar--too much for me, honestly, yet I can't stop eating it...
We have a kid, so we always go at 5:30 or 6, and they are VERY kid-friendly, the vibe is super-chill, and you don't have to wait.
tanner wrote a review about Zaytoons on April 4, 2009 12:55 PM
i used to love zaytoon's, but after a nasty bout of food poisoning--for sure from our take-out order from this location--we just don't trust it... too many things seem pre-made and not adequately refrigerated for the day, including many of the meat dishes...
tanner wrote a review about Tom's Restaurant on March 31, 2009 4:52 PM
This is certainly not the best diner food around, unfortunately. I LOVE a great diner, but this isn't it in terms of food. The chili cheese omelet is pretty decent, I'll agree. The pancake menu is long, but they have a rather Bisquick or bleached white-flour kind of thing going on, which I don't dig at all. Aside from all that, though, it IS a rather charming place and worth going to once in a blue moon! The owners really are lovely and it does make you appreciate an old neighborhood joint, which this place certainly is...
tanner wrote a review about Gen on March 26, 2009 9:29 PM
The sushi is pretty good--for a reasonably priced neighborhood sushi joint, it's quite good, but it's nothing I'd travel far for. They have a full menu, and the other things are decent. Some are hit or miss... Don't bother with the chicken katsu curry (too bland). The nabeyaki undo is quite good, though... Prices are pretty good, but we find it's way too easy to rack up a huge bill, nonetheless...
I'll never buy a coop again. I think it depends on the board, so if you have a great one, then great. Unfortunately, we were under the impression ours was great when we bought, but later found out otherwise. The board was inefficient, self-serving, and a generally unpleasant bunch to deal with. When we had to leave the City for a year or so to care for an ailing parent, they hassled us about subletting (even though it's on the books that it's okay to sublet w/ board approval), and then when we eventually put the place on the market, they were so slow and ineffective and rude with our first buyer's offer, they scared them away (and I couldn't blame them). Generally a giant pain in the neck. As for reviewing the board minutes ahead of time--great idea. Our minutes were pretty scarce, though--kind of piece meal and clearly not reflective of what was really going on. Plus, the many conflicts mostly occurred between the board and other owners; the board itself was stocked with a bunch of bullies, and no one else was willing to take on the stress of dealing with them by running for the board, myself included... Just not my cup of tea, all that stress...
Posted by: tanner at March 17, 2009 12:46 PM in response to Co-op living experiences
This is an old post, I know, but in case someone is looking for a rec about these guys, see my post here: http://www.brownstoner.com/forum/archives/2008/12/our_recent_expe.php
Posted by: tanner at March 16, 2009 12:01 PM in response to Clinton Hill Design Build
So here I am a few months later, and after hearing from another person who is having a similarly awful experience with the design build firm I referred to above, I feel compelled to name them in case someone else down the line is searching for a rec about them. It's Clinton Hill Design Build. And by the way, the every last detail I was waiting for back in December? Still not done satisfactorily. It's been eight months. At this point I have given up, frankly, and the last bits are small enough details that I would rather do them myself than have to talk to another person from that place...
Posted by: tanner at March 16, 2009 11:57 AM in response to Our recent experience (and rec. for mason / GC)
I'm curious about the matter of it depending what the co-op requires... I have a coop in Manhattan for sale now, and we had a buyer (at a good price, right before the market crashed...) who only had 10% down but who had very solid income (cardiologist just finished with residency, just recently started making good money). Our co-op board said their 20% was just a guideline and that they'd consider them, but ultimately the buyer had two different mortgage brokers tell them that if what was on the books (in the offering plan) said 20%, no bank would finance them for 90%... so they didn't go through with it, didn't want to lose the months and the steep application fees, etc... Anyone ever heard of THAT?
Posted by: tanner at March 11, 2009 9:46 AM in response to Possible to only put 10% down?
I can't speak to the mortgage issues, but aside from that I'll say that an LLC is a good way to do it because of the main thing an LLC gets you, with is liability protection. If you are ever sued for something, the property owned by the LLC would not be considered fair game, as all of your personal possessions would. We--three partners--set up an LLC to purchase a four family; two of us live in one of the units and the third partner is silent/an investor. It was suggested by an estate planner, but to be honest, we've been having a terrible time finding an accountant who knows how to handle the tax issues with savvy. We interviewed numerous CPA, as well as tax advisors/lawyers, and no one can agree on what's the most financially beneficial and legal. CPAs make recs/suggestions and qualify it by saying we should check with a tax attny, and tax attnys make suggestions and say we should check with our CPA. It's weird, and a giant headache. Taxes are currently being prepared... we'll see what comes of it. At the moment, other than the liability benefits, we're not seeing any other benefit... And Christopher is right, setting up an LLC is easy as pie.
Posted by: tanner at March 10, 2009 9:20 AM in response to Creating an LLC for investment?
Terrific, thanks so much for the rec's!
Posted by: tanner at March 7, 2009 7:42 AM in response to tree pruning service?
Thanks, everyone. Very helpful.
I'll repost this summer or fall when we get it done!
Posted by: tanner at March 6, 2009 11:22 AM in response to Modern wood fireplace inserts?
Boerum Hill, is it a wood insert? I only see gas inserts on their website... Or totally new fireplaces...
Posted by: tanner at March 3, 2009 10:34 AM in response to Modern wood fireplace inserts?
Thanks-
I saw the manufacturers you noted, JimHill, but it looks like Heat-N-Glo and Heatilator (who have some styles I like!) are only gas, not wood. There's one Lennox model that might work, though...
And as for converting to gas: how expensive is that to do? Our furnace, which is located off the same room, is gas fueled, if that helps... I'd always understood that gas fireplaces were mostly just for aesthetics, not for warmth. Maybe that's not true with a gas insert that ups the output??
Posted by: tanner at March 3, 2009 10:28 AM in response to Modern wood fireplace inserts?
I've posted about Nick a lot of times here, as I can't recommend him highly enough. After having an exhausting, expensive, disappointing experience with a different contractor (who interviewed exceedingly well), and then some really mediocre experiences with other building/service folks, I was SO happy and relieved to have found Nick! He did some major masonry work and smaller-scale interior work for us and we were 110% pleased. Very knowledgable/technical, extremely honest and well-priced, and the best work ethic we've seen. Unlike most other contractors, Nick is on site pretty much every day and he's totally on top of the job. Others, I realized too late, sometimes only show up on day one and on pay day, so if their guys suck, the whole job sucks. Nick's guys are great, too, very hard working and highly skilled. Basically, all of the usual complaints folks have about contractors (dishonest, condescending, untrustworthy, not on site enough, too expensive, always upping the price, taking too long, not finishing the job, etc) do not apply to him.
I know the glowing rec comes off like a sham, but I assure you it's not. Mopar is right, we're all just regular posters here, and we're happy to spread the word about a terrific contractor for a change.
Posted by: tanner at February 26, 2009 10:26 AM in response to contractor feedback
gosh, thank you SO much!!
very much appreciated.
Posted by: tanner at February 14, 2009 9:54 PM in response to land value on NYC assessment
uh, The Spotted Pig (W. Village) is a gastropub... Burgers and fish-n-chips is just a pub...
Posted by: tanner at February 10, 2009 12:27 PM in response to Dekalb Avenue "Gastropub" for Fort Greene
tanner wrote a review about Vinny's of Carroll Gardens on February 3, 2009 12:56 PM
Portions are insanely big, it's true. One order of any chicken dish, for example, easily feeds two (or even three, given that you basically get a full portion of pasta on the side!). I find the pastas to be not good at all, but the fried calamari and fried shrimp are awesome (and huge, again). For six bucks you can get it on a hero--light and crispy, with a side of marinara. You can't go too wrong with the chicken or eggplant parm, either.
If you look at the menu, the prices look reasonable, but when you actually go there and eat, you realize it's cheaper than fast food, given the portion size.
There's nothing subtle about this joint. Arugula salad, for example, is crazy sour with a deep pool of red wine vinegar and sharp onions cut way too thick--and it's really, really good in its own way.
This is the kind of place you go to to stuff your face and to feel like you've been time warped into 1980s Italian American Brooklyn. Accents run very thick in this place...
On that note, the same owners just opened up an identical restaurant on Vanderbilt in Prospect Heights (Cataldo's), except in addition to the classic Italian Am menu, they have (mediocre) brick oven pizza. They deliver, which pleases me immensely! Cheap, hearty comfort food.
Ratings caveat: the food is great for what it is, but terrible if you're expecting gourmet (I'd give Franny's a 4, and Vinny's a 1.5 if they were in the same category, but somehow you just can't compare them); the ambience is awful in one way, but awesome in an almost kitchy way (but not--it's so authentic in it's cheesiness!).
We ate at Cataldo's and were exceedingly happy. It is NOT a high end, authentic (European) Italian restaurant, which actually pleases me because it's quite hard to get THAT right. And it doesn't even compare to Franny's in terms of the food itself, on a foodie-meter. BUT, it's delicious in a huge-portion Italian American kind of way. At Franny's my husband loves the the $15 sausage (one little sausage on top of a tiny little bed of veg). At Cataldo's, for $2.50, you get TWO sausages (the side order). Not trying to compare the sausage here (Franny's is sustainable, which I dig, but, shoot, $15 vs. $1.25??? Sometimes you just gotta have the buck twenty five sausage.)
Beware, if you order an "entree" like the chicken parm or one of the twenty other chicken cutlet options, they come like 3-4 cutlets to an order, with a huge side of pasta--enough for 2 or 3 adults. For like $11.
FYI, exact menu as Vinny's in Caroll Gardens, plus the pizza, which is pretty good, too.
Posted by: tanner at January 29, 2009 8:49 AM in response to Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up
oh, i'm so excited! i just saw on menupages that they have pretty much the same full Italian-American menu as Vinny's (of Carroll Gardens), but with the addition of pizza. There are enough pizza joints in the neighborhood, but the addition of a stand-by Italian like this is exciting to me. Don't be confused: it's not Italian like Amorina or Aliseo (down the street). it's Italian-American, as in massive amounts of gooey Chicken Parm, huge plates of (comparably mediocre) pastas, and the best fried calamari and shrimp ever. Vinny's is always jam-packed with USP guys, mafia muscle (or so it seems, really--like straight out of the Sopranos), firefighters, and folks just off the set of Moonstruck. I wonder what the crowd around here will be, or if it will get crowds, given the different nabe...
i know where i'll have dinner tonight!
Posted by: tanner at January 23, 2009 10:20 AM in response to Cataldo's, 554 Vanderbilt
I'm starting to feel like a broken record making this rec, but I'm so enthusiastic about it, I jump on the chance to do so: Nick at Transcend Construction. Do a forum search for Transcend and you'll see lots of recs for him. Basically, I just got done with a huge, almost gut, renovation. I hired someone else as a GC, who I ended up not being very happy with, but when we needed a lot of exterior work we found multiple recs for Transcend here so we decided to go with them. After working with SO many folks (GC, plumbers, electricians, etc,), our experience with Nick stands out as AWESOME (ALL the others were poor to just acceptable--I have pretty high standards). Good work, and he's totally honest and fair--you'll never feel like you're being duped in the least, b/c you're not.
Here's a post about some of our experiences/what we learned, including a big rec for Nick: http://www.brownstoner.com/forum/archives/2008/12/our_recent_expe.php
Posted by: tanner at January 15, 2009 5:59 PM in response to contractor recommendation
I always recommend Nick at Transcend Construction. He was recommended by a few folks here, and we were VERY happy with all the work he did. He does GC, but specializes in masonry. Do a forum search and you'll find detailed rec's, as well as his contact info.
Posted by: tanner at January 15, 2009 8:19 AM in response to Mason recommendation
no, wait. perusing a PH board, i see it actually never did open. I that right? and i see that it's owned by the same folks of Vinny's on Smith near Union (a wonderfully, deeply Italian-American, family-style joint--like out of the movies Italian-American...like you're in Moonstruck or something.... Best fried calamari/shrimp ever...). Anyone know what's up??
Posted by: tanner at January 14, 2009 4:37 PM in response to cataldo's on vanderbilt?
I HIGHLY recommend Transcend Construction (who specializes in masonry, but also does general contracting), as do many here. Do a forum search for them and you'll read several detailed recommendations for them. Owner is Nick: 347-407-1816. Tell him Cammie recommended him.
(apologies if this is a duplicate; getting an error with the post)
Posted by: tanner at January 7, 2009 8:18 AM in response to Masonist
tanner wrote a review about James on January 6, 2009 3:11 PM
I'm happy to have the place in my neighborhood, but it's certainly not somewhere I'd go to if I couldn't walk there. The food is above average, but I don't find that it lives up to the high marks it has gotten. They need to do way more tasters before the food leaves the kitchen... (way too much salt here, almost none there, beans way undercooked, salad over-dressed and over-tossed, etc.). The place is charming, but as for food, I'd maybe give it a 2.5 if I could. As for value, there ought to be a choice between "about right" and "very overpriced," imo...
I've had bad experiences with several, and 100% positive with Nick from Transcend Construction. Totally reliable, good prices, quick, good work, etc.
Posted by: tanner at January 5, 2009 4:39 PM in response to General Contractor Recommendation
I second the rec for Nick at Transcend. We used him primarily for a masonry job, but I REALLY wish I'd used him for our huge interior reno (but we didn't meet him until that was under way). He has subsequently handled a number of small jobs for us, always with excellent results. He actually comes to the job before, during and after, even if it's small (unlike everyone else we've used for everything, where if the job seems small they sometimes just send over their "guys".) See details about our experience (w/ Transcend, as well as basic "wish-I'd-known/did differently" points here: http://www.brownstoner.com/forum/archives/2008/12/our_recent_expe.php
Tell him Cammie referred you.
Posted by: tanner at December 27, 2008 11:21 AM in response to contractor recommendation?
sevethavenue and putnamdenizen: eh?
And ownhs, I hear you... but I think I should hold off until that last bit of work is actually done... assuming it actually does get done...
Posted by: tanner at December 12, 2008 7:26 AM in response to Our recent experience (and rec. for mason / GC)
we just used Transcend Construction (which does GC but specializes in masonry) and were VERY happy. They came highly recommended from numerous folks here, and Nick, the owner, was one of several I spoke with about taking care of all of our masonry work for our pre-1900 bldg. he was the only one who seemed truly expert, and the work they did was excellent, efficient, and very well-priced. i keep meaning to post in detail about our experience with him, so i'll do that in a separate post...
his number is 347-407-1816. tell him cammie recommended you.
Posted by: tanner at December 11, 2008 10:18 AM in response to Mid-Atlantic Waterproofing of NY
we dumped baking soda all over, let it sit for a couple days, then sucked it all up with a shop vac. another alternative is to get an ozone generator in there for a day (or even a "UV-sanitizer" type air purifier, like those from sharper image).
Posted by: tanner at December 11, 2008 10:07 AM in response to smell from old oil tank
I know this is old, but in the event that someone searches for a rec about Transcend, I thought I'd add this on: Nick just finished a job for us, basically repairing and waterproofing the heck out of our 140 year old brick and stucco building. The estimate he gave was VERY reasonable, the work his guys did was terrific, and when it turned out we needed more extensive work than he originally thought, he didn't charge us a penny more. Best of all, though--and this is unlike the GC I just got done using for interior work--he came to the job several times a day to make sure all was going great. I wish like hell I'd found and used him for our interior renovation...
I'll post an even more detailed account of our exp. with Transcend and other folks we've used later...
Posted by: tanner at December 6, 2008 4:42 PM in response to Transcend Construction (was LN Masons)
and in case i wasn't clear, we have both a video/phone intercom and a wired security system. jim recently told me that they now do most security systems with remote sensors, though, so all the intense hard-wiring is a thing of the past... i think you just get the main panels wired, and all the sensors are battery and magnet operated...
Posted by: tanner at November 29, 2008 3:09 PM in response to Home Security and Intercom System
don't know anything about the technical side of it, but there is one in the place i just moved in to and it's great. it was installed by Metropolitan ProTek Security, and the owner's name is Jim (Koury, or something like that). They also do our home security system. Jim is great to work with--super professional, helpful, friendly, etc, and his prices seem very fair to me. Highly recommend you give him a call. (I am out of town and don't have his number on me, but you should be able to get 411 it.)
Posted by: tanner at November 29, 2008 3:05 PM in response to Home Security and Intercom System
Any steam radiators around 33" wide by 26" high?
If so, pls email pics to cammiekim@hotmail.com. thanks.
Posted by: tanner at October 29, 2008 7:44 AM in response to Cast Iron Steam Radiators
Actually, it's really a good location in terms of amenities, though it might not seem it at first glance. It's just a block from Vanderbilt, right down on the end with a lot of nice, decent restaurants and bars, like Le Gamin, Noona, and Beast within just a couple short blocks. It's also just a block from Tavern on Dean, and a couple blocks from Gen, a decent Thai joint, a Taqueria, Ginger Root Cafe, and more. It's a quick walk from the C/G and walkable the the 2/3, and a bit of a longer walk to the B/Q. And it's totally walkable to the Brooklyn Museum, Main BK Library, Grand Army Plaza farmer's market, and even Prospect Park. And it's very close to Fulton St on the other side of Atlantic, which has a cute yoga studio and a few cafes and such. The only thing it's missing in my book is a decent grocery store. (There's a mediocre Met a handful of blocks down Vanderbilt...).
I live quite nearby, obviously...
Posted by: tanner at October 22, 2008 10:18 AM in response to Development Watch: 587 Washington Avenue
I don't think you're shooting yourself in the foot. That's just how it goes. Co-broking is standard here.
The thing that is different in NYC than most parts of the country is that buyers don't usually have their own dedicated broker. In CA, for instance, you usually "hire" one broker to work for you, and that person works her or his ass off trying to find just the right place for you (using MLS). You don't need to go to every brokerage house in the neighborhood or city...
That said, I was lucky enough to find a dedicated buyers broker here (through a brownstoner recommendation!), and they (a team) were absolutely invaluable!! I was living out of town at the time, and they vetted numerous properties for me--going to open houses, discussing the details with me so they could get a very clear sense of what I wanted--and when "the one" came up, they knew it. They were totally right, and they helped me through the whole buying process (my first time). Seriously, they were amazing. I absolutely could not have done it without them. And, it didn't cost me a penny!!! Call them: Erin and Ari, at www.housebywe.com .
Posted by: tanner at October 21, 2008 8:49 AM in response to Buyer's agent in Brooklyn?
Responses to Author's Forum Comments
I do construction work and each contract I draft is unique to the situation. In the event there is a large upfront cost for special materials I include this in my deposit requirement. If I require subcontractors like plumbers electricians etc they too want a deposit to procure materials. This also is included in the deposit or mobilization. No contractor wants to finance anyone's project but everything has to be reasonable. You should never pay anyone 100% for anything. Usually speaking the deposit is anywhere from 10% to 20% of the total project.
I would never agree to 1/3 + 1/3 + 1/3 payment distribution for the reason that it ultimately causes confusion. When do you pay the 2nd third? exactly. Quantifiable progress payments creates complete clarity.
For small projects I require half the money up front to again procure materials and mobilize. Masterbuilder is right in that only shady contractors take advantage of people.
Posted by: zberlin at September 13, 2009 12:52 PM in response to Contractor Deposit
I am a broker, and tanner I think it's great that you had such a wonderful experience with a small company but that doesn't mean that there aren't brokers that work for larger firms that provide that same level of service.
Also,in nyc unless you have a contract with and are paying a fee to your buyer's broker, they do not really represent you. That is not to say that they aren't trying to get you the best possible deal and looking out for your interests but the seller's broker can provide that same service. It really all depends on what your needs are. If you are a real estate junkie like many NYers and enjoy doing your own research and going to open houses, etc, you are probably better off on your own bc you will get a better deal without a broker. Most selling brokers agree to accept a lower commission if another broker is not involved in the transaction.
Posted by: rpnyc at October 23, 2009 9:55 PM in response to Using a Buyers Agent?
If 90 percent of listings are not on the MLS, isn't that another reason for a buyer to approach the seller's agent directly?
Posted by: mopar at October 23, 2009 10:06 PM in response to Using a Buyers Agent?
The neighborhood's quietly blowing up in the food and drink area. Some good foodie openings just in the past six months: Sit and Wonder, The Vanderbilt, Milk Bar. Can't wait for this new place! I'm hoping it won't be just another cafe, but that it'll have some good take-out dinner options, too. This is such a working family neighborhood--that is, most of the people who live here work during the day and there are tons of working families--you just don't see all the stay-at-home parents or alternative work-hours kind of people around here during the day like you do in a lot of other neighborhoods. It's pretty quiet during the weekdays. But come dinner-time, there's a flood of people coming off the trains, coming back home, hungry! I hope this will become a go-to place for some good, real food!
Posted by: tanner at October 26, 2009 8:46 PM in response to New Grocery and Coffee Shop To Open on Underhill