It's part of living near the harbor. I loved the sound when I lived in Park Slope. It's one of the few things I missed after moving to the other side of the terminal moraine (aka the other side of the park)although I still do hear fog horns here in PLG once or twice a year, when atmospheric conditions are right.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 22, 2010 9:42 AM in response to Overnight Foghorn Noise

The Martian fighting machines are proceeding down Myrtle Avenue. One of them has stopped and is turning towards us. There's a strange light....

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 19, 2010 10:39 AM in response to Skywatch Comes to Myrtle Avenue

Stonergut,

The bishop crook street lights ARE "pedestrian lighting...IN ADDITION to traffic lighting". Since they were installed on my block 6 months ago the sidewalks are MUCH more brightly lit, presumably because the arms of the BC lights are shorter than the cobra heads and closer to the sidewalk.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 19, 2010 10:12 AM in response to Cobra Street Lights

The City HAS been slowly replacing cobra-headlight fixtures with antique repros in historic districts. They did this in my neighborhood's HD last Fall.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 18, 2010 1:38 PM in response to Cobra Street Lights

BrooklynGreene is probably not the only person who dislikes spindle work, but others, like me, are very fond of it. This house has two really beautiful examples IMO. No accounting for taste.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 17, 2010 2:32 PM in response to House of the Day: 100 Albany Avenue

"For example, the cable companies don't need your permission to run their lines through the backyards and attach them to your building"

Not so; most blocks in my neighborhood [Lefferts Manor]were never wired by Cablevision because there is no normal right of way they could rent from the phone company [i.e.: no telephone poles], they'd need permission from every homeowner to attach cables to the backs of houses, and they were unable to obtain such permission.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 16, 2010 7:52 PM in response to DEP Damage to Facade

DIBS,

Not so much a generic "Jewish neighborhood thing" as a peculiarity of this particular Syrian Sephardic Jewish community.

I'd imagine that many Christians would be less than happy at a blanket reference to snake-handling being a "Christian neighborhood thing."

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 16, 2010 12:54 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

"You would thibnk that most semi-reputable sites (Real Estalker) don't put up advertising without first checking it for malware."

You MIGHT think that, but I wouldn't trust them. I've seen too much crap on sites generally considered fully-reputable. I wouldn't ever click on that stuff.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 16, 2010 9:34 AM in response to Tuesday Links

But, SERIOUSLY, aren't links like that REALLY used to plant malware in windoze computers?

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 16, 2010 9:23 AM in response to Tuesday Links

LOL DIBS--you mean the Fu Manchu novels AREN'T true?

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 16, 2010 9:22 AM in response to Tuesday Links

Dave,

Not to sound too paranoid, but isn't that "Ringling Brothers Beat Animals" link likely to be the sort of thing the Chinese military plants to take over unprotected computers to build botnet networks for nefarious uses?

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 16, 2010 9:05 AM in response to Tuesday Links

mopar,

Rugby Road is way south of PLG, so that house couldn't have been on our tour. Maybe the Flatbush tour? PLG IS in Flatbush and IS (more or less) Victorian, but we have our own tour, which goes back to well before the Flatbush Development Corp. and their Victorian Flatbush Tour--very confusing!

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 14, 2010 12:51 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

As much as I like the Dunkin' Donuts mentioned by modsquad, K-Dog, on Lincoln Road in momo's [and my]neighborhood, is my favorite.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 13, 2010 11:13 AM in response to Favorite Cafe & Deli in BK

About 20 years ago a number of homeowners on my block of Midwood Street got together and had the original numbers on our houses re-created in gold leaf, based on a few faded remnants. In our row, the originals had the numbers written out in script.

I don't have the contact information for the artist, but this work is still being done. The soon to open Lincoln Park Cafe in our neighborhood just had it's name gold leafed on their window.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 12, 2010 9:53 AM in response to Hand Painted House Numbers

FtGreeneCorey,

I like your phase II!

Undo the great mistake of 1898!

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 12, 2010 9:43 AM in response to First Yards Tower To Be Half-Affordable

DIBS,

IIRC Edward VII reigned from 1901--1910, so your Chicago house was Victorian. Of course one might question the appropriateness of naming American styles after dead Brit monarchs, but I guess our styles were pretty derivative at the time.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 10, 2010 2:34 PM in response to Victorians Accuse LPC of Brownstone Bias

That's what I said Bxgrl, in my usual convoluted and confusing way--my 1899 house is on of relatively few PLG houses that is Victorian, rather than Edwardian.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 10, 2010 2:10 PM in response to Victorians Accuse LPC of Brownstone Bias

I used to go there when my wife taught in Carroll Gardens. IIRC we stopped by last summer. It's definitely in Carrol Gdns, not CH. I'm sorry I don't remember the name or location.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 10, 2010 1:42 PM in response to Help Me Find This Place?

Me too harriet, but please do remember that my part of Brownstone Brooklyn IS also on the "other side of the park".

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 10, 2010 1:15 PM in response to Victorians Accuse LPC of Brownstone Bias

"No one ever calls an 1850s Italianate brownstone a "Victorian,"

I do, but then I often seem out of step. Most of "Victorian" Flatbush [AND my PLG neighborhood, if not my own 1899 house] is Edwardian, rather than Victorian--not that it matters all that much.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 10, 2010 1:10 PM in response to Victorians Accuse LPC of Brownstone Bias

So, Mr. B., you DON'T think that the crap on the kitchen counter and draped over the furniture, along with the unmade bed, gives the place a certain charm?

There's only so much staging could do for a small studio anyway; at least this is a really nice building.

And yes, the photographs are actually the pits

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 10, 2010 1:02 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 101 Lafayette Avenue, #9F

Depending on just how bad your floors are, you might try cleaning them up yourself before resorting to sanding and refinishing. Many parquet floors are so thin that they can only withstand one more sanding.

You could start with cleaning them, as per Vinca's recommendations. I use Murphy's Oil soap on my floors and have had good results, but several commenters here tell me I'm doing something terrible by using this product. IF the paint drips are small enough in number you could remove them with a plastic scraper. Follow up with paste wax and an electric waxer or an application of something like "Rejuvinate". I really like the later, despite it's "as seen on TV" label which would usually scare me away from a product. I personally would never bother with a waxer again. If this doesn't work in one test room you could always do something more drastic.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 6, 2010 3:52 PM in response to Hardwood Floors

Heather,

We'll have to get the powers that be to subsidize some "affordable" parking :-)

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 5, 2010 10:28 AM in response to Atlantic Yards, How You've Changed

I agree with Denton (@11:41 AM)

I love turn of the last century oak. Contrarian that I am, one of the things I liked about buying that kind of furniture was having people in my parents generation wonder why I liked that old junk. Kind of like my reaction to 30 somethings buying mid-century modern now (although I at least appreciate the irony):-)

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 4, 2010 6:32 PM in response to Another Atlantic Ave Design Store Biting the Dust

Eh

I guess some people will like it; no accounting for taste.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 4, 2010 5:52 PM in response to Toren, Fully Unveiled

I'm amazed by the photograph "Parquet floor, MacDonough St." on MM's second page. I've never seen anything like that floor.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 4, 2010 11:07 AM in response to Walkabout: Aesthetically Speaking, Part II

The remarkable thing about MacDonough Street case was that In HDC's words, "a coalition of forces came together to make the best out of a very unfortunate situation and managed to save two historic homes".

HDC goes on to urge the institutionalization of "that response so that when it happens again (and unfortunately, undoubtedly it will), the outcome isn’t in nearly as much doubt".

IMO such institutionalization and coordination between DOB and LPC would be the best thing to come out of this situation. Saving the MacDonaugh Street houses required a remarkable effort by many people and organizations, a lot of publicity, and a lot of plain luck. Lets hope that luck isn't quite so necessary in the future. No one wants a futile attempt to save historic buildings that ends up with the cost of human life, but a breathing period, whenever possible, to assess the situation is certainly in order.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 4, 2010 10:12 AM in response to Learning from the MacDonough Street Crisis

"I love my home. But if someone came along today and offered me a price significantly in excess of market value for it, let's just say I wouldn't exactly stand on sentiment".

Fine ENY, but not everyone feels that way--I sure wouldn't sell under those circumstances.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 2, 2010 6:36 PM in response to Ratner to Break Ground on March 11th

I heard the same thing about bar food from a friend who works at Enduro.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 2, 2010 4:54 PM in response to Streetlevel: Lincoln Park Tavern To Open

That's the best photograph I've ever seen of the tunnel; good work G. !

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 2, 2010 4:51 PM in response to Closing Bell: Under Atlantic

BTW, if you have a one [and ,I think two] family house the City is still responsible.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 1, 2010 1:28 PM in response to MillionTreesNYC to Create Million Headaches?

Your mistake was in digging out a path to her car door--fill it in again :-)

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 1, 2010 8:55 AM in response to Snow on Sidewalk

Mopar,

I've never used cannel coal (or had any of my six non-working gas fireplaces converted). I read about it many years ago in Old House Journal and briefly considered having a fireplace converted to burn coal, thinking it might be a simpler job than a wood burning conversion.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at March 1, 2010 8:51 AM in response to Coal Parlor Fireplace Conversion

Are you going to try burning cannel coal in your coal basket before settling on a gas insert?

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 28, 2010 10:30 PM in response to Coal Parlor Fireplace Conversion

I object Benson, I was describing myself as an "unrepentant curmudgeon" in my Brownstoner profile long before you mentioned your "Curmudgeon's Corner" idea :-)

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 26, 2010 5:34 PM in response to Looking for Neighborhood Correspondents

Minard,

I think you're correct that there have been some alterations. In the 4th photograph the woodwork separating the front and middle parlor looks like it was altered. Also, similar open-plan houses (at least on my side of the park) have a short wall (removed here?), separating the front parlor from the entrance hall, with pocket doors that can be closed to shield the front parlor from visitor's eyes. (Mine are always open, but they must be there for a purpose)

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 25, 2010 6:01 PM in response to House of the Day: 627 3rd Street

"is this house as late as 1910?
looks like 1898 or so to me"

The similar, albeit smaller Axel Hedman houses in PLG (on Midwood I and Maple II, in Lefferts Manor, and Ocean Ave., in our newly designated Ocean-on-the-Park HD) were built c. 1909--1910. Late 1890s houses, like mine, in my neighborhood tend to have front facades with limestone and light colored brick and a mix of neo-Renaissance and Romanesque-revival elements. Perhaps Park Slope was more up on the latest styles since the 1893 Columbian Exposition started this "white city" style.

FWIW I don't think there was all that many houses built in Brooklyn in the earliest years of the last century(prior to 1909). I think there was a real estate bust (something like the present one).

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 25, 2010 5:54 PM in response to House of the Day: 627 3rd Street

Minard,

Wouldn't many homes built between the late 1890s and 1910, or so have open "free classic" floor plans? That's the case in my neighborhood, although Lefferts Manor houses were built for the upper middle class, rather than the rich.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 25, 2010 4:27 PM in response to House of the Day: 627 3rd Street

Silly article--TONY is second only to NY Mag for irrelevance--but FWIW it couldn't have been written back when I moved to Brooklyn in 1970. At that time brownstone Brooklyn was just starting to be seen as a reasonable urban alternative to Manhattan, but it still took second place, unlike now.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 25, 2010 12:08 PM in response to Brooklyn vs. Manhattan

Momo,

When you write "main water pipe"I'm not sure if you mean to write that the plumber told you that you'd have to replace the water main (from the street) or the water supply pipe (in the basement). The first one seems unlikely; the second is possible, if it's in bad shape or made from a poor material, such as lead, or galvanized (and a MUCH smaller job).

I notice that you live in PLG, as do I. FWIW I've used Stanley Lewis plumbing for the lat few years. They're local and IMO pretty good.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 24, 2010 4:31 PM in response to Replacing Main Water Pipe

Benson,

RE: your 12:41 comment, I do not read bxgrl's comment the same way you do--we'll just have to disagree on that.

Even though our opinions on religion probably differ greatly I AGREE with your statement that "a church, synagogue or mosque can espouse whatever view they wish, all the way from "Focus on the Family" to Rev.Wright, and that is fine. What they cannot do, lest they lose their tax status, is to materially support a political party, or a particular candidate".

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 24, 2010 3:59 PM in response to A Century Later, Watchtower Leaving Brooklyn

You're welcome bxgrl, BUT "Your pastor lives in a multimillion dollar house, drives a jag and pays hookers to visit? Tax the s.o.b."

Such activity IMO would not be enough to trigger taxation for a religious organization. OTOH, your pastor living in poverty, walking everywhere, being celibate, AND encouraging voting for a specific party might well be a reason for loss of a tax exemption.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 24, 2010 12:41 PM in response to A Century Later, Watchtower Leaving Brooklyn

Benson,

I think bxgrl might have been writing about using partisan political action of ANY type as a reason to tax religious organizations. Such activity is out of bounds for secular non-profits and IMO should apply to religious non-profits as well--actually I think this is currently the case, but I'm not sure how rigorous enforcement is. I do not think bxgrl was writing about any kind of selective taxation. In any case, I certainly would oppose that.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 24, 2010 12:22 PM in response to A Century Later, Watchtower Leaving Brooklyn

In defense of the Witnesses, after being silently annoyed by their proselytizing visits for years I politely told the last one who rang my bell that I had no interest in religion and didn't want to be bothered any more. That was over 10 years ago I haven't had a JW ring my bell since. Would that the other evangelical missionaries who go through my neighborhood were as considerate. When I tell them I have no use for religion, they insist that they're not there to discuss religion--just bible prophesy.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 24, 2010 10:24 AM in response to A Century Later, Watchtower Leaving Brooklyn

Very much so Benson. There are many long time homeowners in the PLG HD I'm one, but there are others here much longer than me. I'll concede that I could not buy my home today, but, based on current income, as a retiree, I couldn't buy anywhere in the NY metropolitan area, including areas that are neither landmarked nor gentrified.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 22, 2010 11:14 AM in response to The New Gentrification

"I challenge everyone on this site to find ONE area that, 25 years after LPC designation, is still an economically-mixed area." Benson @ 10:28

My neighborhood, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, was designated by the LPC in 1979 and can still be described as economically mixed. There are others, but I'll stick with what I know best.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 22, 2010 11:02 AM in response to The New Gentrification

Oh, OK ecoux; I thought you were joking based in DIBS's 9:16 comment, his profession, and his choice of neighborhood. Fortunately I don't think MY neighborhood will ever look like the UWS, but I see your point.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 22, 2010 9:49 AM in response to The New Gentrification

ecoux,

I don't think DIBS poses as an OG and I'm sure no one could mistake him for one :-)

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 22, 2010 9:30 AM in response to The New Gentrification

RE: Posting more than one photograph; it's not that big a deal to combine two or more photographs in Photoshop, or other image-editing software. It's easy for me and I'm far from being a Photoshop whiz. Once they're combined they're ONE image for posting purposes.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 22, 2010 8:56 AM in response to Old pedestal sink--pricing?

Is it not possible to vent te furnace and a hot water heater through the same flue? AFAIK that is a common arrangement.

Posted by: Bob Marvin at February 21, 2010 7:34 PM in response to Hot Water Heater

Has anyone had a chance to use a Berkey water filter or do you know anything about them.They look awsome and they last forever. They claim that they remove way more than other water filters.Check it out [url=http://www.berkeyfilters.com]Berkey Water Filter.[/url] Please post if you have tried them.

Posted by: starkpatriot at March 20, 2010 1:49 PM in response to A very good water filter.

I heard the foghorns this morning too, they were extremely loud. Got me up an hour early (6am), had enough time to make ham and eggs for breakfast.

Posted by: setancre at March 22, 2010 9:59 AM in response to Overnight Foghorn Noise

I grew up 1/2 mile from a ferry terminal so i'm used to it. But I've never heard as much overnight activity as I heard last night which led me to believe that maybe something was happening on the harbor, especially since it was relatively clear out. yes it got me out of bed to close all the windows and find earplugs..

Posted by: bowl of dicks at March 22, 2010 11:08 AM in response to Overnight Foghorn Noise