Hi
I can recommend Ariel Jones for all photography.
her website is mostly headshots, but her interiors are great as well.
www.arieljones.com

Posted by: zapzap at December 5, 2007 6:57 PM in response to Photographer Needed for FSBO

If you go through one of those agencies that help people buy their first home, you may qualify for a nice big closing grant from BofA, or any of several other grants. Check Acorn and "Neighbors helping Neighbors".

Posted by: zapzap at December 30, 2007 10:15 PM in response to Best Banks for Co-Op Purchases

Call Rickie
he is great. reliable, on time, works clean and safe. 917-574-6642 He installed a ceiling fan, a light in a closet, some additional outlets and it was great.

Posted by: zapzap at April 3, 2008 10:10 AM in response to Need a recommendation for a electrician

I recommend Ricki, 917-574-6642
Tell him Saskia sent you.

Posted by: zapzap at April 7, 2008 3:28 PM in response to electrician rec's?

There are closing grants available for first time home buyers in certain neighborhoods. You'll have to go through a program such as Neighors Helping Neighbors. (you'll find them if you google them) It was a great experience for me. And they will help you through the process.

Posted by: zapzap at April 14, 2008 11:33 AM in response to mortgage broker ?

Contact the community board. I do not know where on 4th ave you are, but you can figure out which community board serves you. They are experts in dealing with community issues, and they are your start for "activism". Good luck. Petition your neighbors. File complaints with the liquor licensing people. That is where you start.

Posted by: zapzap at April 26, 2008 10:44 AM in response to BACK YARD BAR NOISE - SOLUTIONS

http://www.squarespace.com

Like a blog spot, but for websites...

Posted by: zapzap at May 12, 2008 3:09 PM in response to FSBO - website to create an ad?

Deet is a direct crime against your health. And ours. Why not try the bat thing? And do rub citronella or garlick on your exposed skin.

Posted by: zapzap at May 21, 2008 9:37 AM in response to Mosquito Magnet Placement

There are occasional drop of days at Grand Army Plaza or various locations in Brooklyn. Check with Boro Hall, they may know.

Posted by: zapzap at May 21, 2008 3:57 PM in response to Getting rid of old electronics

Yes. Please don't double park. Or make illegal U turns. Get on a bike if you can, it is good for all of us.

Posted by: zapzap at June 21, 2008 9:51 AM in response to new bike lanes on berkeley and lincoln

We've had one for three years. I was entirely skeptical at first, but after 6-8 weeks, there was a noticeable decline in mosquito activity.

Posted by: guest at May 22, 2008 12:41 PM in response to Mosquito Magnet Placement

OP here. Thanks for the advice. The hours of the electronics drop off on Smith and President on MOnday, June 2 are 4-7, if anyone else is interested...

Posted by: Cobblekrill at May 22, 2008 2:09 PM in response to Getting rid of old electronics

We did the city's special electronics recycling day at Union Sq in March and it was so easy. The people there were so friendly and helpful and just made us feel great about doing it. We had a carload of stuff saved up from over the years and when they saw it, they exclaimed "we hit the motherload!". You are doing the right thing and I am pleased the city is helping us out in this way.

Posted by: guest at May 22, 2008 8:34 PM in response to Getting rid of old electronics

can you post a link that has more info about the recycling event on Smith Street? thanks.

Posted by: guest at May 27, 2008 1:43 PM in response to Getting rid of old electronics

I'm posting to this forum because I was searching the net regarding this issue and felt since
this is also a NYC issue, it would be a good idea to present my comment here also.
I live in the East Village and this has been an ongoing problem here for years now.
The police and government seem to want do the very least, if not absolutely nothing, to tackle
problem noise offenders, be they pedestrians (partiers) or bars. Residents are given the lowest priority over
other interests, like bar owners. The only explanation seems to be that the people who are supposed
to enforce the residents interests are being paid off. The City Council passed a so called "noise"
law that did almost nothing to address the biggest sources of noise generated in the city:
1) unnecessary noise caused by pedestrians (partiers) or bar patrons after 10PM, 2) loud motorcycles
with noise amplifiers, 3) garbage trucks, and 4) cars esp. taxi cabs honking unnecessarily.
The problem was also exacerbated because the NYS Liquor Authority under the Pataki administration
"illegally" granted liquor licenses at the drop of a hat. They're not supposed to grant a liquor
license if a bar is within 500 feet of another bar, yet under Pataki, they granted at least 3 liquor
licenses on my block within 500 feet of 2 already existing bars, creating 5 bars less than 500 feet
of each other. (There are literally 3 bars lined up right next to each other, 1 across the street of
these 3 and another 1 skips a building but is lined up on the same side as the first 3 bars.)
Where is the SLA here? They should be taking back these "excess" liquor licenses, starting with the
worst offending bars.

I personally think an organized effort citywide by residents who share similar views regarding
unnecessary noise, is the only way to get something to happen here.
A "stink" needs to be made with the City Council, NYS SLA, and the community boards.
Question is: how does one get it off the ground?

Posted by: markh at June 1, 2008 12:47 AM in response to BACK YARD BAR NOISE - SOLUTIONS

I also found Mohamed above and called him the same day to fix a dimmer switch I'd wrongly installed. He picked up immediately and patiently counseled me on what might have gone wrong. Then he agreed to come by later the same day to fix it. He was on time, super friendly, very encouraging about my so-so electrical work, and got the job done at a fair price in about 15 minutes. Very impressed.

Posted by: peztops at June 13, 2008 7:15 AM in response to electrician rec's?

Well. The honey approach was a complete failure. The proprietor is nice and full of "yes's and no problem" patter. And sure enough the problem doesn't go away. I truly believe the police are on the take, considering the hundreds of complaints against this bar.

So we're going the official route. As far as I'm concerned, I don't care if he gets fined and shut down. His total lack of respect for the people who live here warrants nothing less.

The problem with my requests is that he loses money by obliging them.

So we've organized a group and plan to attend next week's council meeting with the 84th .

Overall, I think a citywide initiative should be brought about exposing the weaknesses, loopholes and ineffectiveness of BBergs noise initiatives.

More on this later. Will keep all posted.

Posted by: TNails at June 14, 2008 4:09 PM in response to BACK YARD BAR NOISE - SOLUTIONS

I would absolutely recommend Mohamed. 646-226-4575. he is extremely reliable - his crew is good, professional, on time, and has very good rates. we had a serious wiring issue. he solved this problem and found another issue during the work which he fixed at no additional cost. we will use him all the time.

Posted by: amosthejanitor at June 15, 2008 7:52 PM in response to electrician rec's?

Not to hijack the thread, but on a similar note: does anyone know the bike route to take to get to the bike path that runs along the harbor by the Marine Park bridge, the horse riding academy, Mill Basin, etc?

From Bay Ridge, I know you take the harbor promenade from 69th St, go under the Verrazano, past Caesar's Bay and the duck into Coney Island. I think you take Neptune Ave from there but I'm not sure of the route beyond that.

Anyone know a route that doesn't require mixing it up with heavy car traffic?

Posted by: Steve at June 21, 2008 10:01 AM in response to new bike lanes on berkeley and lincoln

Yeah, zz, spoken like a true cyclist (not.)

There are always times when it's necessary to stop for loading/unloading etc and if cyclists think they are more entitled than other road users, we'll never get anywhere. After all, you can always cycle by a parked car but a car cannot. And why is the illegal U-Turn (legally speaking aside) so worthy of comment? If we cyclists comment on every infraction that vehicles do, we'll eventually be forced to stop for red lights and stop signs. And that would be terrible ;).

It's all a matter of respecting others and allowing for unexpected circumstances. It's the abusers who park all day, for instance, that we should be challenging.

Posted by: cmu at June 21, 2008 11:19 AM in response to new bike lanes on berkeley and lincoln