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Messages - masalamama

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Neighborhood Chat / Re: When will Snowplows arrive?
« on: December 28, 2010, 03:31:13 PM »
Was hoping for actual information rather than media spin (read all the papers this am).  Side streets in 36hrs, yeah I get it.  Major east-west avenue that is a bus route from subway station SHOULD  be plowed, still isn't.  Firefighters just came in on foot for something or the other.  More ppl out today, more spin outs on ice and lots more pedestrians.

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Neighborhood Chat / When will Snowplows arrive?
« on: December 28, 2010, 09:13:57 AM »
I emailed Danny Dromm & Online 311. Tried to reach Community Board 3 (site down) to express my concerns about safety issues.  Not even emergency vehicles can pass.  If we have a fire or health emergency it could be devastating.

Please take a moment to email 311 (http://nyc.gov/apps/311/allServices.htm?requestType=topService&serviceName=Snow+or+Ice+on+Roadway+Report). 

Any suggestions for other steps to take? Stay warm!

Mm

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Restaurants & Food / Re: Diners / Coffee Shops
« on: June 17, 2010, 11:31:59 PM »
Ricky's--meh, unimpressed
City Coffee--they may wait on you but you "wait" on them
Jahn's--they refill coffee well, food ok
Jackson Hole -- decent
Mark Twain -- awful service and WAY overpriced
Will try Jackson House, I never have.  Thanks for the recommend.

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Real Estate & Home Improvement / Re: JH Real Estate Prices
« on: July 25, 2008, 10:31:19 PM »
No one has mentioned relative maitenance costs.  Generally - the higher the mait the lower the asking.  Depends totally on building finances and how big underlying mortgage is.  With taxes, fuel and union benefit increases mait. it is continuing to go up in most buildings.

Now with the uncertain ecomony, people may not want to purchase and THEN spend all their cash renovation.  I think languising fixer uppers are just caught in cyclical economic turbulance (bid low and scoop 'em up!).  We bought fixer upper 4 years ago and have doubled value in a building with relatively high mait.  Depends on so many things!  We did the math-- if we stay for 7 years and sell we will have lived mait & mortgage free and have a significant down payment, in NYC!  pretty kewl!

I have noticed that people are willing to accept significantly less than ask, fear based I guess.  Realtors have done a decent job at keeping values in line.

Does anyone think that JH is a transitional neighborhood in general?  I think that would be an interesting discussion...may explain so many issues I see on the board....hmmm.....may be able to synthesize discussion on schools, wine bars, pigeons & garbage on THAT thread.

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Real Estate & Home Improvement / Re: The kitchen thread
« on: July 08, 2008, 09:16:00 AM »
How did you decide on the design and materials? 
--We got lots of inspiration from Home Expo, the HGTV shows and from just window shopping.  We wanted a European sleek design that was neutral for resale.  Granite and stainless were our priorities.  We ended up with Ikea cabinets which cost $2220 in entirety and look better than most "fancy" cabinets, the hardware is fabulous and sturdy.  We added an island which gave more storage and seating.  It gets lots of wows from visitors.

Did you visit many showrooms first or head straight for Ikea/Home Depot? 
--IKEA and HOME EXPO and HOME DEPOT, Tiles from MARINO on Northern
--Lights from Flushing Electrical behind home depot in Flushing

Did you get a general contractor or just hire invidual jobs out (electrician, etc.)
--We priced LABOR only with General Contractor and bought all materials.  Worked in our favor.  Most contractors that buy their own materials pad the numbers.

How difficult/expensive was demolition (esp. if you had an original kitchen)?
--Demo labor was priced in, I remember construction material trash cost us $900 extra, probably to bribe the garbage guys.

How did you determine your budget and did it change in the middle of the project?
--We budgeted and went 20% over. 

TIME committment-- you need @ 3 mos to research and 4 mos of renovations where you will be making last minute changes and picking details.  keep your work schedule light --no big projects at work.  you need lots of runs to home depot for last minute stuff.  We trusted our contractor who bought many items for us and gave us receipts, so we had less running around.  It turned out to be a bigger job than we both expected.

Spending--We invested in middle to upper mid quality for tile, fixtures and appliances.  In most cases we didn't buy anything designer.  We are probably transitioning through JH so we didn't want to overspend and not recoup our costs.  If you are staying in your apt forever, the sky's the limit, but if you are transitioning, better to spend with resale in mind.

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Restaurants & Food / Re: Talk of the Town - Indian Chinese
« on: June 29, 2008, 11:32:48 AM »
Great spot, try lunch, they have 50% off prices.  Worth it.

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Restaurants & Food / Re: Baskin Robbins site
« on: June 29, 2008, 10:52:41 AM »
Shivem sounds like a South Indian place (I have no inside info on this). Dosa diner is nice, but limited.

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Restaurants & Food / Re: Fresh Direct
« on: February 19, 2008, 05:25:53 PM »
I have used Fresh Direct once, while i lived in Astoria and I picked up, that was before they delivered there of course.  I found the quality of the meats to be very good.  In light of their recent employee issues, I can't spend my $ with them.

http://gothamist.com/2007/12/12/fresh_direct_ex.php

With that said, I know alot of ppl who use and love Fresh Direct, and I just can't bring myself to do it--I find them pricey and I feel it is ultimately a bad decision (over-packaging, employment issues and fuel costs).  I somehow feel supporting local business is better for the environment, overall. 

I will make a few changes this spring though (since most of our local fruit stands, while I love the convenience, import from all over the world burning gobs of petrol) --I am joining Farmspot to support local farmers and will begin buying my meat from Dines Farms.  I feel this is the best use of my resources to support local farms, farmers and family-owned shops (It. Farms, Local fruit markets, etc.). Not a perfect situation in JH yet, but improving.  Just my opinion, of course.

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