Cooklyn's Profile

They sometimes have it in some of the stores that cater to the Italian populations in the outer boroughs-- try caputo's on Court Street in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn or one of the bigger Italian stores that does fresh pastas, like Pastosa Ravioli in Brooklyn and Staten Island.

I'm a bit surprised at the overwhelming support of being right on time. In my world, it's sort of rude to show up right at 8pm if people say to show up then. 8:10 or 8:15 is actually more gracious-- it accounts for the host or hostess being a bit behind, still needing to throw on different clothes, or what have you. I'm often embarrassed if I show up for a party or dinner party right on the dot and my hosting friends usually aren't ready to boot.

I'm going to go ahead and defend this tour for a change of pace. It's not that i think that the tour is so amazingly spectacular (although I like the apartment itself!), but a lot of things that people are complaining about relate to studio tours. Often, studios are what they are because of vignettes and close-up details. Yes, we don't need to see eighteen vignettes, but often the composition of corners, shelving and particular areas are what make a studio cohesive--after all, it's one, big room we're talking about!

Also, while I get that people want to understand flow, there are visual cues present in this tour that a lot of people seem to be overlooking. For instance, the open desk cabinet door tells us that the kitchen is connected to the alcove space off of the main room that contains the desk. That's just one example.

After all, these aren't slide shows of the world's top ten beaches. Purportedly, readers of this website enjoy design and detail. Thus, having to do a slight bit of figuring out in order to discover the intricacies of an apartment layout doesn't seem to be too much to ask. With that said, I agree that floorplans could be quite helpful.

For me, there are different levels of accommodation. You have an allergy / don't eat something (ie are gluten free or vegetarian)? Great-- I'll plan for you. You're on a fad diet / have chosen only to eat red meat and greens? You can push aside the potato, thanks.

In all seriousness, I think that it is often hard to get out of the "I-need-a-vegan-dish" mindset when you're catering to certain food restrictions. I think it's easier to try to plan a normal menu, then knock off ingredients or dishes as I go through the mental checklist of accommodations. There are a lot of go-to meals that you may not think of as catering to certain restrictions. For instance, a nice roasted chicken over fingerling potatoes with a side of veggies is both gluten and dairy free. A lot of soups can also meet the needs of a gluten-free/dairy-free/paleo/vegan diner.

It's hard to tell from the pictures in the link below, but Dixiefoam has a really cool "PlatFoam" bed made of heavy duty foam. You can add a rounded headboard so that it's all one piece; I had one years ago covered in charcoal gray that I loved. Quite reasonable too! Also, their mattresses are amazing-- I think mine has been in the family for 15 years and it's as comfortable as ever.

http://dixiefoam.com/foundations.htm

I agree that "Small Tricks, Big Difference" should be ongoing! Although I'd prefer if you call it "An Evolving Home."

I'm sorry-- I don't see the creativity, the memorable anything here. By this measure, anyone can have a house tour!! And I was surprised by the choice of "matures" for this tour; did it mature from fratboy chic to man-child cool?

I hate to be so negative, but I really expect more from AT. I'm not saying everything has to be a design-wow, but certainly homey or creative or something!

Not gonna lie-- I think it's pretty hilarious that on a blog where people make snap judgments about room makeovers, redesigns and color schemes, people are all up in a tizzy about whether or not the writer is arrogant for judging the functionality of a stranger's home.

Sometimes, it is simply easier to see how things function outside of your own space. As a writer, I find this is true; it is easier to critique the work of others than your own.

I, for one, thought there were some useful tips, and the post was to-the-point.

To me, it's crazy to talk about renting. I was born and raised in NYC, and with a mother who is a lifelong renter and a father who has always saved and scrimped to put money away and buy apartments (not multiples, but in succession!), I was trained by both to save for buying. I know people complain about saving, but I feel like a lot of people just don't prioritize. Out of college, I worked a job that was in the public sector, not particularly well-paid, and still managed to save a LOT (over 15K) in two years. Then again, I was living to live far into Brooklyn in an ok apartment with a dear friend. If you want to do it, you can. If you prioritize city life that much, you should be prioritizing a way to stay there.

Using San Francisco as an example: everyone complains about rent and real estate. Yet when I go with SF friends to the Outer Sunset or Richmond and talk about how beautiful they are, with their foggy streets and sand-swept yards, they say it's like living in another state. Then they wistfully tell me that rents there are 1/3 to 1/2 less than other areas.

Living in walkable, urban areas is about compromise. That's a good thing.

I hate to be pedantic, but technically coffee produced with a Moka is not espresso. Espresso requires a certain amount of pressure which a Moka cannot provide. Also, not sure about the experience of others, but having grown up with many Italian friends and neighbors, i've found that they actually always offer you a "caffe" not an "espresso" when they're using a Moka-- after all, it's technically just a "caffettiera" or coffee maker.