18th Avenue Feast in Brooklyn

Click here for New 2015 Information for those who may have hit an old page.

Every year on 18th Avenue between  66th and 75th Avenue the street is closed so Brooklynites celebrate the 18th Avenue Feast and The Feast of Saint Rosalia. This celebration always takes place during the last week of August until Labor Day  August 27th through September 6. Everyone comes out to enjoy the evening and weekend fair. There are plenty of carts selling sausage and peppers, as well as many other foods. Music, rides and games.

For other Italian American festivals click here.

For Current Information on the 2010 Saint Rosalia Italian Feast on 18th Avenue in Brooklyn CLICK HERE 

Topics: Brooklyn | 10 Comments »

Our House is Empty & Waiting

So the house we are buying in Bay Ridge is empty and waiting for us to move in.  How do I know? I went to the house and looked in the window. I wanted to see if the sellers were ready to leave.  Besides the curtains, there was four empty walls and a shiny floor. I should be jumping up and down with excitement over this. Yet, I’m not…not because the former owner had the greatest style or furniture, but she made such a cozy home and I hope I am able to do the same. Yes, her furniture is old and kind of granny like, but when I  walked into the house, I got such a welcoming feel.  I could picture myself coming in after work or hopping down the stairs on a Saturday morning. I’m glad I took pics of the way she had things because I would love to have the same comfortable feeling.

Living Room:

Dining Room:

Kitchen:

Backyard:

Master Bedroom: It’s an old set, but still it was so warm and comfy looking.

I have more bedroom and bathroom pics, as well as pics of the tenant’s apartment, but those will have to wait until we do some work on them!

Topics: Brooklyn, buying a house in Brooklyn | 3 Comments »

Markowitz Taking on the Important Issues in Brooklyn

I am all for a powerful local government. One that takes care of the people and the place they live in. So when I see local news  reporting on the Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz taking on the issue of Brooklynites drinking on their front stoops, I can only ask WHY? Surely there must be a more important topic that our Borough President could be handling?

Last summer Brooklyn resident, Kimber VanRy was given a sumons for drinking outside his home. Instead of admitting he broke the law, Kimber was in the local papers &even the NYT first saying he was unaware of the law and then complaining about it.  People do drink out alcoholic beverages out of bags and plenty drink on their front stoop, but don’t get caught. If you do get caught, just admit it. It’s a $25 fine and we all know the law.

Now do we really need to change the law so that every lowlife in Brooklyn sitting on their front stoop can  lower the property values of my new house? We invest our money in Brooklyn because we we desire the Brooklyn life we’ve known all of these years.

Do we really need Brooklyn hipsters walking around with glasses of wine because “it’s cool” to be a hippie on your street?  Noooo. Marty – Do you think this is going to make your reputation with the younger crowd more credible? Nooo. You know what we think of you already. Say Markowitz to someone and no one says anything favorable. It’s a joke really.

You want a real issue? Look at the are of 6th Avenue between 50th and 58th Street. It’s covered in graffiti, but of course your offices would know that because that is someone’s job!

Topics: Brooklyn | No Comments »

Mom Bloggers, Choose Your Battles Wisely

There’s a lot of phoney drama on Twitter today. Apparently many Mom Bloggers who are benefitting from doing PR campaigns are tired.  Of course being a Mom is a lot of work – I don’t doubt that.

C’MON MOMS – YOU KNOW BETTER! There is no need for you to cry foul or pretend like you are being taken advantage of by PR reps. You like blogging – we like reading your blogs. You like getting free stuff and doing doing the reviews. We like reading your reviews and winning the freebies. Moms, if you need a break – take a break and go enjoy the summer.

If September came and I decided to get teachers together and declare a blackout, you Moms would go crazy!  Think about it!

So I propose that if you need time away from your computers to decompress and enjoy your family, go do it. If you don’t have time for the giveaways, let them go. And if you feel that you aren’t being paid appropriately let PR reps know that your time is worth more. It’s that simple.  The drama you are creating on Twitter is phoney and unnecessary. Tonight the US released the news that one of our US soldiers is being held as a hostage. Our soldiers are much more important than this silly Mom PR blackout.

Topics: Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Mortgage Approved

Our mortgage was approved and we’re in the home strech to being home owners in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn!

Our bank representative said that the holdup was: Why did I have other addresses on my credit report? There were no problems on my credit report and our scores are high, but they wanted to know why I had other addresses. So I looked at the addressed and laughed. I told the bank rep: “I haven’t lived at these addresses in 12 or 13 years, this is my parent’s home where I lived during college.” I thought it was weird that I had to explain that in writing! 

Next things to do: Pick some drapes and paint. The important stuff!

Topics: Brooklyn, buying a house in Brooklyn | No Comments »

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Shopping for furniture!

Lee & I are going to NJ tomorrow to shop for furniture. I wish I could say that this is going to be a fun task to do together, but it’s more a task about me compromising.

 We have similiar and different taste in style, design and fashion. We both love the 40’s. Lee also likes the country, relaxed feel. I am a traditionalist, but for this home I want a different feel. Although I admire the modern style in other people’s homes and in magazines/catalogs, I don’t want to be around it all the time. It’s cold and I favorite a more snuggly style. I want big pillows, but I always want a well together look.

One of the biggest problems I have is that I want to stay away from my Mom’s style. There’s nothing wrong with her style of course, but I want my home to have Lee and my taste. So it’s a task in compromise for me. Lee knows me and I don’t think he’ll go too country on me.

*This has got to be one of the most sweet & exciting parts of life. Thank you, God.* I’ll post pics soon.

Topics: Brooklyn, buying a house in Brooklyn | No Comments »

Brooklyn is Being Sold Right Out from Under Our Feet

I am buying a home in Brooklyn because I love Brooklyn. Seriously, I do. It’s an easy place to fall in love with and everything is at the tip of my fingers.I am ticked off this morning.  I am sick of elected officials who collect a paycheck sitting by and selling out Brooklyn. If you have the priviledge to serve as an elected official in Brooklyn, you should have some respect for the hard working people who put you there.

And Marty Markowitz I am talking to you because you are the Brooklyn Borough President. You consider your job to be ribbon cutting and smoozing with new businesses. Brooklynites want you to consider your job to be representing us.

Ya see Marty long after you are gone, I will still be here living in the Brooklyn that you sold out. I don’t want to live in the mess that is being created now. I want to live in the Brooklyn that I have known all these years.   Many people who work in Marty’s office have no concern for Brooklyn because they don’t live in the borough – example: Jon Benguiat, Director of Planning and Development lives in Staten Island.

So stand back and look at Brooklyn: It’s a mess now!  There’s partially built buildings all over the place, Downtown Brooklyn is missing businesses off Fulton (yes we noticed), the elderly people in Coney Island are ticked and now the Brooklyn Atlantic/Pacific Street Station is being renamed to the Barclay Station.

Put down the Juniors Cheesecake, stop going to dinner and quit the smoozing. Take care of Brooklyn. This is a great place because of it’s history and it’s people. If we don’t have that, then we are simply like any other borough.

Topics: Brooklyn | 1 Comment »

Willoughby Windows – Sign of the Times

Remember years ago when abandoned buildings had fake windows with plants and people sitting in the window? That was done so the neighborhood didn’t look abandoned. Well, Willoughby Windows is the 2009 version for covering up the mess that is now Downtown Brooklyn.

Metrotech Bid aren’t you glad that people like Joe Chan, Marty Markowitz and Bruce Ratner got to plan and develop Downtown Brooklyn? FAIL! Before all of these businesses and people were forced out, this was an area of movement. There was always people going into the cleaners, Broadway bakery, Taco Rico and the Wireless phone store. Now the area is abandoned?

I know I was excited to see this painted reindeer in July in Downtown Brooklyn. (Brooklyn sarcasm)

Brooklyn, don’t blink because you will miss the art in the picture below.

The art is easy in this one – sparkly star hides the fact that this Brooklyn shop is empty.

So now the Metrotech Bid tries to cover up their mistakes by hiring some artists to make abandoned buildings look less abandoned. When businesses that contributed to the Metrotech Bid asked for help, the Bid ignored them. Now this Downtown area is a mess. What made Downtown Brooklyn alive was the people. The Metrotech Bid, Markowitz & Chan, you can’t hide a mess behind art. Obviously this is not the way to revitalize Brooklyn!

Topics: Brooklyn | 1 Comment »

Willoughby Windows

In true Brooklyn style, someone had to speak up and tell the truth.

I think this is the real art that exists from the Willoughby Windows 

Corporate greed and political smoozing is what brought down Downtown Brooklyn.  

I bet Willoughby Windows didn’t plan on their art having so many contributors to it’s work.  

This my friends was an incredible bagel shop in Brooklyn. We’re known for delicious bagels and these guys did it right! Too bad their shop is empty now.

So what’s going on here is a coverup! Got it Now?

 Oh and the “exhibit” of Willoughby Windows will be going on from July to November. In November, this modern art will be replaced with Dancing Menorahs and Christmas trees to match the holiday season.  

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We’re in Contract!

We are buying an amazing home in BayRidge, Brooklyn. If you know me in person, you will know this is my “big dream.” Sure I have a lot of small dreams, but it’s always been my dream to live in the heart of Bay Ridge.

So we’re in contract and the escrow account has been set up.  It’s an exciting and huge step, but we are both excited about the new place.

One bad thing…..the house has a washer and dryer, but the washer and dryer is not part of the sale! The estate wants to and will be taking it. BOOOOOO

This is the wash room:

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Atlantic Pacific Station in Brooklyn Sold Out

So NYC sold the naming rights of the Atlantic Pacific Station to Barclay Bank.

 Just another part of Brooklyn history being sold out.

Story.  

Topics: Brooklyn | No Comments »