Thursday, April 30, 2009

Listing of the Day: Flop House Friday

4443 Park Avenue, 4 Bedrooms, 1.5 Bathrooms - $135,000

Park Avenue for $135K? Not that Park Avenue...

BoogieDowner decided to switch up our recent "Fancy Friday" LODs with a little something from the other side of the tracks (quite literally). This entry in the LOD Hall of Shame is a 4 bedroom on Park Avenue in the Bronx, which is right across from the Harlem Line Metro North tracks.

No interior shots, so who knows what's inside this beauty (squatters? crackheads? corpses? corpses of crackhead squatters?). The exterior shot shows a rather dilapidated dwelling with graffiti scrawled on the front. It's hard to make out what the graffiti says, but upon closer analysis it seems to say either CCLD (maybe a young scholar was trying unsuccessfully to write 750 in Roman numerals?) or it could say CRIP (which would indicate a very high level of safety for the neighborhood) or again it could be some type of FEMA code like they used in New Orleans during Katrina to identify the contents of dilapidated houses (Crackhead Corpse Lying Dead).

If anyone if brave enough to go view this, please call the listing agent, schedule a viewing, and report back on this Park Avenue Palace.

FULL LISTING

~ErLu

Free Cell Phone Tricks and Services

Caveat Lector: This has nothing to do with the Bronx, but it's pretty damned cool.

To start, I have to admit I have a low-level addiction to the TED lecture series. If you haven't watched any of these lecture-videos, you need to do so, now. They're basically 18-20 minute mini lectures by people involved in technology education or design (hence, TED). The speakers run the gamut from Malcolm Gladwell to the Bronx's own Majora Carter.

The tricks and services mentioned in the title of this post come from a TED lecture by the New York Times's Technology editor David Pogue. Among the many things he reveals in this lecture are two of the coolest services I can think of for a cell phone to possess.

Here they are:

1) The benevolent dictatorship that is Google provides FREE 411-type service through text messaging. I know we've all succumbed to dialing 411 and paying the 2 bucks at the end of the month. No longer will you need to eat that $2 fee. All you need do is type either a general question (currency exchange, capital of country, etc) or even simply the name and city of a business to "GOOGL" or 46645. I swear to sweet Jesus this works. The only fee is for a normal test message.

2) No longer will you ever need to have a question go unanswered when you are away from a computer or your set of Encyclopedia Britannica. Any question, practical or not, can be asked when you dial 1.800.2CHACHA (1.800.2242424). After you ask your question verbally, you will get a text message confirming your question, quickly followed by another text message with your answer. I've used this for sports scores, album titles, really anything. As proof of how powerful a service this is, I put it to the test by asking "Who were Charlemagne's grandsons?"
Very dutifully, I received a text message in a few minutes with the answer that all of you Frankophiles already know: Louis the Fat, Charles the Bald, and Lothair I. Once again the only fee is for a normal call and text message.

Here's the first hand video to watch for yourself:


~ErLu

Listing of the Day: Throgg's Neck Rental

2613 Schurz Avenue, 3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms - $1800/month

This is a find if you need a ton of space in a nice residential nabe. Located in Throgg's Neck (keep the extra G for the old timers), this apartment is new construction with parking (PARKING!) and a balcony. It's right on that small strip of coast that lies between the Whitestone and the Throg's Neck Bridges (no extra G on the bridge, thank you Robert Moses...). You'd be just northeast of Ferry Point Park.

While new construction does have the chance of being shoddily done and being put up a bit too quickly, this at least looks like it's pretty nice. Really high ceilings and what looks like nice space with an open floor plan. At the very least you'd be getting a ton of space for $1800/month.

Not a lot of subways in this neck of the woods (pun intended!). You'd either get used to the car culture and utilize that parking that comes with the apartment or rock the express bus like most Throgg's Neck residents who commute into Manhattan. If the MTA fare hikes have you down on the express bus, you could also do the local to a subway stop (probably the 6) and save a few bucks.

FULL LISTING

~ErLu

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Round'em Up

Here are some Bronx-related stories we've rounded up you, our lovely readers, while trolling the interweb with our horse and lasso this fine morning:

Councilmembers Koppell and Vacca join concerned Bronxites yesterday to protest proposed water rate hikes [Daily News]

Bronx boy hospitalized with swine flu [New York Post]

Hand-made mattress company in the South Bronx churns out five mattresses a day [New York Times]

Boston terriers (and 26 other breeds of pups) no longer allowed in NYCHA housing projects [Village Voice]

Story of a Bronx woman who has been waiting for justice for her daughter and granddaughter's deaths for over 20 years [Village Voice]

~ErLu

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Listing of the Day: Bronx Park South Price Chop

2155 Daly Avenue, 2 Bedrooms - $320,000

We last profiled this on March 5th, when it was still listed at $325,000. This reduction is not as drastic as some of the amputations we've seen in the Bronx, but there are some mighty fine concessions and incentives to help the buyer get the deal done. Read on for details.

At 952 square feet this is one of the biggest units (although
not the biggest - that would be the massive 1400 square foot penthouse with a terrace) in this new construction bling-fest.

This two bedroom is incredibly sunny, with a beautiful balcony, and all the details you would expect from high quality luxury housing. As with all the units in this building, this apartment is pimped to the nines: beautiful new kitchen with granite and stainless steel appliances; elegant bathrooms with brand new everything; washer and dryer included; brand new double hanging closet systems; sleek design and efficient floorplan. Check out this video to confirm BoogieDowner's effusive praise:
Untitled from Jillian Inc on Vimeo.

Beyond the actual apartment's pimped-ness, you're literally on the southern edge of the Zoo, so your window might look over the giraffes or other type of exotic animal (not too shabby to have your morning coffee staring out on that). You'd also be close to the Botanical Garden. Arthur Avenue and great Italian grub would be reasonably close.

To sweeten the deal and ease the purchase, the seller will pay all closing costs. In addition there is a 25 year tax abatement, so the taxes and common charge will be pretty low for a while. As a condo, there is no board approval. With a pre-approval letter the seller will even cover the cost of a car service to the open house.

For transportation you'd be a short walk to the 180th 2/5 station or a little longer walk in the other direction for the Tremont Avenue Metro North station.

FULL LISTING

~ErLu

Round'em Up

Here are some Bronx-related stories we've rounded up you, our lovely readers, while trolling the interweb with our horse and lasso this fine morning:

Bronx councilman Larry Seabrook being questioned by City after recommending his sister as a consultant on a new initiative he proposed [New York Times]

Three more detailed reviews of 'Utopia in the Bronx,' a documentary airing tonight at 10pm on PBS about early cooperative housing pioneers in the Bronx
[CityLimits.org, Bronx Bohemian, and Socialistworker.org]

The Silver Fox has the good stuff in his weekly column (including a heads up on this Pedro Espada Daily News' editorial from this weekend that we missed!)
[Daily News]

Some tips on shopping on Allerton Avenue's retail strip
[Daily News]

Bronx beats Queens in the first matchup in the Gotham Girls' roller derby season
[New York Press]

Green program in Bronx middle school encourages students to eat locally grown, sustainable foods [NY1]

'The Glory of Dutch Bulbs' exhibit opens May 1st at NYBG [mercurynews.com]

Crazy Bronx teacher tries to justify his threatening actions which forced a school into lockdown mode last week [WCBS]

And yeah, the guy's actually still getting paid [Daily News]

Owner of Jake's Steakhouse in Riverdale pleads guilty to cheating the City of over $500,000 in taxes [Daily News]

City admits that there have been toxins found in 19 different schools across the city (some in the Bronx), but yet no cleanup is planned yet [Daily News]

Interesting short film about Bronx Greenways [Bronx News Network]

~ErLu

Monday, April 27, 2009

Listing of the Day: Grand Concourse Rental

E. 167th Street and Grand Concourse, 1 Bedroom - $905/month

This apartment gave the ole BoogieDowner pause when I looked at the pics. I'm a sucker for sunny apartments with original archways and weird built-in shelf things (look closely on the left side of the first pic). The hardwood/parquet floors look pretty well maintained too.

You'd be close to the Bronx Museum of the Arts in this unit, which is currently running an exhibition about the Grand Concourse's centennial. You'd also be close to Yankee Stadium (if you could ever afford tickets) and Joyce Kilmer Park. There's some shopping down near 161st and along Walton.

To be honest , this is just a pretty sensible apartment that looks well maintained and is in a decent and improving hood. The transportation is pretty nice. You have the D at 167th (and the 4 at 167th to the east). The Yankee Stadium Metro North is a little far south for this apartment, but it's there too all the way down on 153rd Street.

FULL LISTING

~ErLu

Photo of the Day

Wave HillPhoto by Simone Davis ~ www.thebronxrocks.com

Round'em Up

Here are some Bronx-related stories we've rounded up you, our lovely readers, while trolling the interweb with our horse and lasso this fine morning:

David Gonzalez gives us an eye-opening piece detailing the life story of an Ecuadorean family living in NYC with mixed immigration status [New York Times]

A closeup look at 'At Home in Utopia,' a documentary about radicals who established early cooperative living in the Bronx which will air on PBS tomorrow night at 10pm [New York Times]

Council Speaker Christine Quinn was reportedly set to attend Friday's Bronx Democratic Fundraiser to 'mend fences' with Carl Heastie
[Daily News]

The Hunt: Lifelong Bronxite ends up in an upper east side duplex with his fiancee [New York Times]

56 new Americans attend induction ceremony at Bronx Zoo this weekend [Daily News]

Whoops! Man tries to turn in a live hand grenade at gun buyback program in Bronx this weekend [Daily News]

Youth program encourages teens to express themselves through poetry [Daily News]

Nearly 4,000 participants showed up for this weekend's 'Run for the Wild' at the Bronx Zoo [Zoo and Aquarium Visitor]

~ErLu

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Listing of the Day: Norwood Anomaly

91 East 208th Street, #FS2, 2 Bedrooms - $129,000

Seriously, I hope they have an open house for this thing soon. I have to see if this is a real 2 bedroom and actually 900 square feet or if it is a listing agent created mirage. I know that the housing market has been crippled. I know that prices have fallen precipitously all over the country - nay, the world - but it's hard to believe that a 2 bedroom in Norwood is listed at $129K.

The unit looks reasonable, and for $129K, BoogieDowner was expecting a converted gallerteria, rehabbed meth lab, or former dog fighter training facility. The apartment doesn't look spectacular, but I've seen worse - much worse for much more money.

I won't bore you with all the details of Norwood. For the uninitiated you can read some of some older Norwood LODs here or here. Needless to say, there's stuff to do, places to shop, and some nice green space.

Transportation is nice. In this apartment you'd be closer to the 4 train Mosholu Parkway stop than to the D train at 205th, but each is pretty close and convenient.

FULL LISTING

~ErLu

Friday, April 24, 2009

Photo of the Day

TGIF
Photo by ErLu

Event Reminders: TGIF!

Bronx Underground @ First Lutheran Church
Bronx Underground show featuring Endwell, Empires Erased, Lady Radiator, Belladonna, and Hearts of Kings tonight, 4/24, at First Lutheran Church (3075 Baisley Avenue, Throggs Neck). Doors open at 5:30pm and cost is $9. Click here for more info.

'Theater at the Mansion' @ Bartow-Pell
Tonight, 4/24, at 6:30 p.m. and tomorrow, 4/25, at 1 p.m., “Theater at the Mansion,” will be presented at the Bartow-Pell Mansion... staged readings of theatrical pieces written for the mansion, featuring the group the Supporting Characters; $12, $8 for 65+ and children 6 to 17 years old; registration requested, (718) 885-1461. Museum hours: Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m.; grounds open daily, 8:30 a.m. to dusk. 895 Shore Road North, Pelham Bay Park, the Bronx; $5; $3 for students and 65+; free for 6 and younger. [Event listing courtesy of NY Times].

Suddenly Spring @ NYBG
Tons of cool stuff happening at New York Botanical Garden this weekend... Today, 4/24, at 3:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 4/25 and 4/26, at 2 p.m., a Garden Scavenger Hunt for Families. Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon, Arbor Day Forest Tree Planting. Saturday and Sunday at noon, a Notable Tree Walk. Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., “Picnic on the Planet,” with al fresco dining encouraged on Daffodil Hill. Through July 19, an exhibition of 18th-century botanical drawings by Georg Ehret. Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tram tours daily, weather permitting, every 20 minutes. Bronx River Parkway (Exit 7W) Fordham Road, Bedford Park, the Bronx, (718) 817-8700, nybg.org; an all-garden pass is $20; $18 for students and 62+; $8 for children 2 to 12; free for members and children under 2. Grounds admission only: $6; $5 for Bronx residents; $3 for 62+ and students; $1 for children 2 to 12; free for under 2 and for everyone all day on Wednesdays and from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. Parking, $12. [Event listing courtesy of NY Times].

Events @ Wave Hill
Wave Hill Arbor Week events: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., a “Notable Trees Trolley Tour”; $40, $30 for members; registration required: (718) 549-3200, Ext. 305. Saturday at 11 a.m., “Great Trees of Wave Hill,” a garden walk. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the planting of trees in the Raoul Wallenberg Forest Park. Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m., a family art project, “If I Were a Tree.” Hours: Tuesdays through Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Independence Avenue and West 249th Street, Riverdale, the Bronx, (718) 549-3200, wavehill.org; $6; $3 for students and 65+; $2 for children 6 and older; free for members and under 6; free Tuesdays and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon, year-round. On-site parking, $8; free off-site parking with free shuttle service to the garden. [Event listing courtesy of NY Times].

Jazz Greats Tour @ Woodlawn Cemetery
Sunday at 2 p.m., a tour that includes the gravesites of Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and others, meeting at the Bronx Cemetery, Webster Avenue and East 233rd Street.(718) 920-1470; $10, $5 for students and 65+. [Event Listing courtesy of NY Times].

'Run For the Wild' @ Bronx Zoo
Tomorrow, 4/24... You can walk for the wild too. But however you move, you’ll be part of a movement to save animal species in this first annual event from the Wildlife Conservation Society at the Bronx Zoo. The day starts early, with the opening of the registration site and pledge tent at 7, followed by a warm-up at 8:30 and the five-kilometer fund-raising run/walk at 9. From 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. the zoo will offer family activities: crafts, storytelling, live music, theater performances and, of course, the opportunity to visit all those creatures. Bronx Zoo, Bronx River Parkway and Fordham Road, (718) 367-1010, wcsrunforthewild.org. Fees for the run (includes zoo admission and post-run activities): $35; $25 for 65+ and ages 3 to 12; free for under 3. [Event Listing courtesy of NY Times].

Events @ Rocking the Boat
Community rowing begins this weekend (4/25) and runs every weekend through 9/26! Community rowing will take place each Saturday from 12pm to 5pm
Open House: Join students, parents, and friends for Rocking the Boat's Mid-Semester Open House, Friday, April 24th from 6pm to 8pm. Come see the boats, the science, and the skills that our young people are busy working on this semester!
Both events take place at Rocking the Boat's Bronx River site at Hunts Point Riverside Park at the intersection of Lafayette Ave. and Edgewater Road. Call (718) 991-2032 for more info.
Click here to learn more about the events taking place at Rocking the Boat this spring.

Get Green Festival @ St. Mary's Park
2nd Annual Get Green: South Bronx Earth Fest... This free festival will celebrate the environment and the culture of the South Bronx with an afternoon full of family activities, entertainment and education. Event takes place tomorrow, 4/25, from 12pm to 4pm at St. Mary's Park (St. Ann's Avenue and 146th Street). For more info, contact Lucy Martinez at Nos Quedamos: 718 585 2323. [Event listing courtesy of Tree Museum].

Events @ Bronx Library Center
West African Music and Dance: Tomorrow, 4/25, at 2:30pm. Please join us for an afternoon of traditional music and dance from West Africa performed by internationally acclaimed multi-talented dancer, choreographer, actress, singer, storyteller and teacher Ms. Rose Marie Giraud and members of the LesGuirivoires Dance Theatre.
Latin Music Voyage: Sunday, 4/26 at 2pm. The magic of Latin Music Voyage is a geographical exploration of traditional music through song, dance and puppetry. Dancing flamenco and singing traditional Spanish songs. Recommended for ages 4 and older.
Click here for more info on these events.

Lehman Woodwind Quintet Concert
Sunday, 4/26, at 2pm. Professor Alan Hollander will lead the Lehman Woodwind Quintet in "Light Breeze for a Sunday Afternoon." The Quintet will also perform music for woodwind quintet by Danzi, Gould, LeFever, Mozart, and Rimsky-Korsakov. Admission is free. Click here for more info.

~ErLu

Round'em Up

Here are some Bronx-related stories we've rounded up you, our lovely readers, while trolling the interweb with our horse and lasso this fine morning:

Home Depot is first store to open at Gateway Center - Bloomie cuts ribbon [WABC]

City investigators raided the offices of Atlantic Development Group, the developers behind the Boricua Village project here in the BoogieDown (and yep, they were contributors to Carrion's coffers) [Daily News]

$2.8 million in capital funds come through for the yet-to-be-opened Bronx Children's Museum
[NY Post/yournabe.com]

Bronxite presents bike route that traces the BoogieDown's history
[Time Out NY]

Yankee Tavern owner brought up on charges of tax evasion [New York Times]

Doo-wop group 'Bronx Wanderers' wander over to Abu Dhabi for a gig [yournabe.com]

Bronx High School of Science's robotics team makes it to 'geek version of final four' [Wall Street Journal]

All about the gun buy-back program taking place in the Bronx this weekend [Daily News]

Bronx Zoo closing four exhibits to close $15M budget gap [New York Post]

LeRefuge Inn on City Island closed due to permit problems [yournabe.com]

CB 10 shoots down developer's plan to put four houses on one waterfront parcel in Throggs Neck [yournabe.com]

A former Gambian lawyer now living in the Bronx gets laid off from DHL and tries to makes ends meet driving a taxi [New York Times]

~ErLu

Listing of the Day: Fancy Friday

710 West 246th Street - 3 Floors - $4,450,000

Once again on Friday BoogieDowner brings you things that only AIG executives can afford. A guy can dream, no? FULL LISTING

~ErLu

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Photo of the Day

The MoshPhoto by ErLu

Damn Girl, You Looking FINE!

People in Norwood and Bedford Park have been talking... "She looks 10 years younger!" "She looks amazing." "She MUST have had work done."

They're talking about the Foodtown on 204th Street of course... Yes, she has had work done, and we're happy to report she's looking prettier than a Scarsdale investment banker's mistress.

Check her out:

Clearly this is still a work in progress and the signage upgrade is forthcoming. I'm not sure if they've done anything to the interior. Personally, I can't stand shopping in here and avoid the place at all costs, but I'm loving this old gal's facelift.

Big ups to Foodtown's owners for making this place a little more like an actual grocery store and a little less like a glorified bodega.

~ErLu

Set Your DVRs for 'Utopia'

Artist's rendering of the United Workers Cooperative Colony,
aka The Coops, about 1928


Next week BoogieDowner will be clawing their way of a deep, dark philistinian television hole dug by the likes of Real Housewives of New York City, The Hills, and Gossip Girl. That's right, we'll be watching PBS folks.

The Bronx will be front and center next Tuesday, 4/28 at 10pm on PBS's Independent Lens series with the premiere of 'At Home in Utopia,' a documentary examining the United Workers Cooperative Colony.

Here's a little excerpt from the film's website:
In the mid-1920s, thousands of immigrant Jewish garment workers catapulted themselves out of the urban slums and ghettos by pooling their resources and building cooperatively owned and run apartment complexes in the Bronx. Adjacent to the newly opened subway corridor and in the midst of empty fields, they constructed the United Workers Cooperative Colony, a.k.a. “the Coops,” where they practiced the utopian ideals of an equitable and just society. [PBS]
Michal Goldman and Ellen Brodsky's film promises to be particularly enlightening given the economic situation Americans (and New Yorkers) find themselves in.

Click HERE to check out the film's terrific website, complete with previews and testimonials from the filmmakers.

~ErLu

Round'em Up

Here are some Bronx-related stories we've rounded up you, our lovely readers, while trolling the interweb with our horse and lasso this fine morning:

New public-private conservancy will take over control of Van Cortlandt Park... so what does this mean for the 'Friends of VCP?' [Riverdale Press]

City Planning Commission approves Fordham U's Lincoln Center expansion plans
[Daily News]

Eponymous movie about City Island set to debut at the Tribeca Film Festival [New York Post]

Riverdale native set to debut plus-sized clothing line [Riverdale Press]

Manhattan College strong-arming students into staying on-campus by threatening to decrease financial aid for commuters [Riverdale Press]

~ErLu

Listing of the Day: Cheapest Studio in the City

Fordham Road and Morris Avenue, Studio - $695/month

This just may be the cheapest studio in the City. There's nothing fancy about it; it doesn't have granite or stainless steel; it doesn't have a balcony; no doorman. But it is pretty damned affordable.

The location near Fordham Road gives you tons of shopping. You would still be close enough to the Garden and Zoo for a nice half hour or 45 minute walk on a sunny day (or be lazy and take the Bx12).

The name of the game for today, kiddies, is cheap, cheap, cheap. Trying to make it work in New York is tough. This $695/month studio is one way to do it.

Transportation is pretty good with the B/D at Fordham Road and the Concourse and the 4 at Jerome Avenue and the Concourse.

FULL LISTING

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Photo of the Day

Prettiest train station in the City...
Botanical Garden/Metro North
Photo by ErLu

Event Reminders

Bardekova Ensemble @ DeWitt Clinton
Their will be a free performance offered by the Bardekova Ensemble tonight, 4/22, at 5pm at DeWitt Clinton High School (100 West Mosholu Parkway South). The performance will be held in room 362. Call (917) 584-6626 for more information.

Final 'Bronx is Building' Lecture @ Fordham
Join the Bronx African American History Project as they offer the final installment of the 'Bronx is Building' lecture series. The final lecture will take place tomorrow, 4/23, at 6pm in the Flom Auditorium and is entitled, "A Transnational Sense of 'Home:' 20th-Century West Indian Immigration and Institution Building in the Bronx." The lecture will be given by Columbia University historian, Dr. Natasha Lightfoot and West Indian music will be provided by DJ Danny Martinez, “The Beat Man." A reception with food & drinks will follow! Free & open to the public!
Contact labennett@fordham.edu for additional information.

Van Cortlandt Park Community Forum
Join the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park as they host a community forum tomorrow, 4/23, at 7pm at Mosholu Preservation Corporation (3400 Reservoir Oval East). The forum will provide an opportunity for park users to share their input about the fourth largest park in New York City, Van Cortlandt Park. Come to learn about the Friends, share ideas and meet others who enjoy the Park. Snacks and beverages will be provided. Click here for more info.

Baychester Town Hall Meeting
A Town Hall Meeting will be held tomorrow, 4/23, at 7pm at John Philip Sousa Middle School on Baychester Avenue. The meeting, sponsored by elected officials Larry Seabrook, Carl Heastie, and Ruth Hassell-Thompson, will address residents' concerns about the construction of P.S. 169 at the corner of Boston Post Road and Baychester Avenue. Representatives from the DOT, DOE, SCA, and NYPD are slated to attend, in addition to the meeting sponsors.
The VP of the Baychester Quality of Life Council provides some background info on this important topic, saying, "The school has been controversial because of the location. It's an elementary school placed on the corner of two of the busiest streets in the Northeast Bronx. The residents were not given notice that the site would be a school, pretty much until the project started. The area has been bombarded by a proliferation of commercial activity that will only worsen with the school's presence. Issues like parking, safety, deliveries, etc. will be addressed."

~ErLu

Round'em Up

Here are some Bronx-related stories we've rounded up you, our lovely readers, while trolling the interweb with our horse and lasso this fine morning:

A bunch of media outlets picked up the Pedro Espada/residency story, and the "comments" on some of them are worth reading... Streetsblog, LoHud.com, Gothamist, and Village Voice.

Also, Marcia Kramer tracked Pedro like a rabid dog all the way up to Albany, and he was none too pleased. Malcolm Smith has promised to look into Pedro's residency shenanigans. [WCBS]

Special election coverage... Surprise! Ruben Diaz Jr. wins Bronx BP post [NY1, New York Times, Daily News,

Lion cub making a debut at Bronx Zoo today for Earth Day [wten.com]

Fire standpipe test fails at Mott Haven school under construction [Daily News]

St. Raymond's grad reflects on his first year as a pro basketball player [Daily News]

Yankees busted yet again for funny math to the tune of $67,000 [Daily News]

Waterbury Estates home prices drop $200K [NY Post/yournabe.com]

Solar energy comes to a Westchester Square building [NY Post/yournabe.com]

Idiot developer in Locust Point promises upkeep of his unfinished house [NY Post/yournabe.com]

~ErLu

Listing fo the Day: Highbridge Co-op

941 Jerome Avenue, 1 Bedroom - $139,000

Baseball season has got BoogieDowner feeling a little neglectful in covering the Yankee Stadium area. So here is a nice sized one bedroom (725 square feet) for a decent price ($139K). This unit is right near the new Yankee Stadium.

Here's a little more about hood (again): You'd find yourself in the heart of the Yankee Stadium development orgy in this apartment. Obviously, the City and the Yankees want this hood to do well. It's probably one of the most heavily visited outer-borough attractions for tourists. Expect an already decent hood to flourish.

Joyce Kilmer Park on 161st Street is a nice stretch of green across from the courthouse on 161st. In this apartment you would have been right across from Macombs Dam Park, which is the site of the new stadium. Maybe when they knock down the old stadium, there be some new park land for the residents of the nabe. You'd be reasonably close to the new Gateway Center Mall, which is set to open in the next year or so. The Bronx Museum of the Arts is up on 165th and the Grand Concourse, but there is art up and down the Grand Concourse in the 160s and 150s with beautiful Art Deco architecture. You'd also be near the new healthy foodie option 4Food.

Lots of choices for transportation. For those who work on the West Side there is the B/D at 161st. For those who work on the East Side there is the 4 at 161st and Jerome. And pretty soon you'll have a Metro North stop around the corner as well.

Another added bonus of the hood is that if you're a keggler, the nabe's got you covered too; Ball Park Lanes is on 160th and River Avenue (literally across from the soon to be old Yankee Stadium).

FULL LISTING

~ErLu

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Photo of the Day

Bedford Park Presbyterian Church
Bainbridge Ave.& Bedford Park Blvd.
Photo by ErLu

Pedro, Pedro, Pedro...

Now get ready, you may want to take a seat to brace yourself for the following news: it's being reported once again that Bronx Senator Pedro Espada Jr. DOESN'T ACTUALLY LIVE IN THE BRONX. Shocking stuff, I know...

WCBS's fearless reporter Marcia Kramer headed up to Mamaroneck last week and found Senator Espada chilling at his digs there... And both of his vehicles remained parked there overnight. Meanwhile, back in the Bronx, his Bedford Park co-op unit remained seemingly empty with no answer to Kramer's knock at the door.

Perhaps the most shocking (or amusing, depending on how you look at it) part of the report is when Pedro holds up a baby, a BABY, in front of his face in the backseat of a moving vehicle to shield himself from the camera. Hmmmm, I'm thinking a car seat for the wee one would have probably been a better move. I'm just not sure why Pedro feels the need to shield himself as if he's Jessica Simpson leaving a lip-plumping disaster at her plastic surgeon's office... I mean, the man's allowed to have more than one residence as long as he primarily lives in the Boogiedown. Which he does right? Right? Winky, winky ;-)

This blogger was lucky enough to be home while Ms. Kramer was in the throes of her investigative reporting and makes a smashing appearance. Good thing I had just had my morning 40 oz. Night Flight for courage!

Click HERE to check out Marcia Kramer's report.

*Photo of Pedro scaring young child courtesy of CBS*

~ErLu

Round'em Up

Here are some Bronx-related stories we've rounded up you, our lovely readers, while trolling the interweb with our horse and lasso this fine morning:

Oh Pedro... leave the baby out of it [WCBS 2]

Water bill hike hearing at
2pm next Tuesday at Bronx Library Center [Daily News] (We had an error in here earlier stating that the meeting was today. It is actually next Tuesday, 4/28. Thanks Greg!)

Tons of Bronx parents opting for charter schools [Daily News]

More on the Grand Concourse's 100th birthday [Associated Press]

Background on today's BP special election [New York Times]

A profile of retail options available in Co-op City [Daily News]

The Silver Fox has all the juicy Bronx political scoops in his weekly column [Daily News]

An alternative MTA bailout plan... [New York Times]

~ErLu

Listing of the Day: Schizophrenic Pricing at the Bentley

3880 Orloff Avenue, 2 Bedrooms - $1575/month

This Van Cortlandt Village building is a rather curious case of of prices jumping up and down since December. When BoogieDowner first profiled a two bedroom in this building back in December it was listed at $1555/month with the offer of a $500 reduction on the first month's rent. Then BoogieDowner stumbled upon a new fancy pants listing that gave the building a name (the Bentley), linked to a foo-foo website (which is now a dead link), and boosted the price to $1685/month with the offer a full month free (The net-rate when BD ran the numbers at the higher rate with a month free, was $5 higher/month than the December rate. If you take into account the $500 reduction offered in December it would be $505 higher for the first month).

Now today, a two bedroom in this building is being listed at $1575 and being hailed as a $100 reduction in rent (it looks to BD that it's a $110 reduction in rent from $1685, but why quibble over $10). In BoogieDowner's view it's really just a $20 increase from the original December rent. No reduction in first month or mention of a free month remain. The listing mentions a gym membership fee being waived.

Not sure if the folks over at 3880 Orloff have read a newspaper, watched the news, or looked at their 401K statements lately, but the economy is a big poop burger. The rental price should be lower than it was in December and you should be piling on concessions and amenities.

Maybe if they would price the unit appropriately it would rent. Enough with amenity and concession voodoo. Don't give a reduction, but raise the rate in other ways to try to fool the renter into paying the same rate in the end. I'd say an even $1450-$1500 would be far for this unit, no?

All things being equal, the unit, building and hood are pretty nice. Maybe you can call and negotiate a better price. Who knows...just make sure that the Bentley has had its Thorazine.

FULL LISTING

~ErLu

Monday, April 20, 2009

Photo of the Day

Cherry Blossoms @ NYBGPhoto by Simone Davis

Click on over to www.thebronxrocks.com
to check out more gorgeous shots!

Round'em Up

Here are some Bronx-related stories we've rounded up you, our lovely readers, while trolling the interweb with our horse and lasso this fine morning:

Tony Soprano's driver makes a run at Bronx BP position [New York Times]

Archbishop Dolan travels to the BoogieDown to visit the West Bronx Community Center
[NY1]

Immigrant Heritage Week kicks off with exhibit at Longwood Art Gallery
[NY1]

All Hallows' baseball team traveled to Staten Island to play a home game last Saturday... thank you NY Yankees [New York Times]

Bronx security patrol says NYPD illegally seized their vehicle [Daily News]

Bloomie stumps in the BoogieDown [Daily News]

~ErLu

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Listing of the Day: Pelham Parkway Co-op

2104 Holland Avenue, 2 Bedrooms - $179,000

This is a very decent price for such a well maintained unit. This co-op is a block and a half south of Pelham Parkway and very close to the Zoo and the Botanical Garden.

The kitchen looks like it was renovated or at least updated. There seems to be a pride of ownership in this apartment that sometimes is lacking in units down at this price point. At $179,000, your monthly would be $859. The maintenance is $674. If you're looking for more space and a place that doesn't need to be gutted you should take a look at this co-op. Prices have come down all over, but I'm still not sure who can afford the $650K two bedrooms that have been slashed to a half million in Brooklyn. This Bronx hood is a nice option for working class folk.

Beyond the Zoo and the Garden you'd be near Pelham Parkway itself, which serves as a nice stretch of green space for the nabe. There's some shopping on White Plains Road. For foodies, there's great Italian grub just over in Morris Park, or on the other side of Bronx Park on Arthur Avenue.

Transportation is nice with the 2/5 stop at Pelham Parkway and White Plains Road.

FULL LISTING

~ErLu

Friday, April 17, 2009

Event Reminders: TGIF!

First Friday Film Event @ Bronx Museum
First Fridays! A Gozar! - Preview of Havana Film Festival NY, tonight, 4/17, from 6pm to 10pm.
Located at North Building—2nd Floor and admission is FREE! Join us for a sampling of the best films in this year's Havana Film Festival New York. And stay for the after-party. Special presentations by the Cuban band Habana Tres and DJ Cato a.k.a. CongrĂ­. Click here for more info.


Events @ NYBG
Friday through Sunday - You don’t have to leave New York City to explore the wilderness. The New York Botanical Garden’s grounds and 50-acre forest are the sites of several family events in which to discover nature. These include a garden scavenger hunt at 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and a Forest Explorers Walk with a garden expert at 12:30 p.m.; both meet at the reflecting pool in the Leon Levy Visitor Center. At 2 p.m. in the Orchid Rotunda of the Library building, children can start a pressed-plant collection by making an herbarium specimen to take home. And from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden offers a Biodiversity Discovery Station and “Chocolate and Vanilla Adventures,” a program about those plant-based flavors. Bronx River Parkway (Exit 7W) and Fordham Road, Bedford Park, the Bronx, (718) 817-8700, nybg.org; an all-garden pass is $20; $18 for students and 62+; $8 for children 2 to 12; free for members and children under 2. [Event listing courtesy of NY Times].

Federal Stimulus Town Hall Meeting @ College of New Rochelle's Co-op City Campus
Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith and the New York State Senate invites you to attend a Town Hall Forum on the Federal Stimulus. Here's what you'll find out: how your community can benefit from the Stimulus Package; what projects are eligible for funding; and information about job creation and business opportunities. The Bronx forum will take place Saturday, April 18th, from 9am to 12pm at the College of New Rochelle's Co-op City campus (755 Coop City Blvd.). To attend, please contact the office of the Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith at (212) 298-5585 or click here to sign up.

Celebrate Earth Day Event @ Harlem River Ecology Center
Tomorrow, 4/18, at 1pm - Join the Harlem River Ecology Center for a Park and Coastal Clean-up, Planting Arts and Crafts and Nature Workshops, Animal Habitat Discovery and more. Located at the southern end of Roberto Clemente State Park off of Cedar and Sedgwick Avenues.

Community Protest @ Yankee Stadium
Concerned Bronxites will be gathering outside of Yankee Stadium tomorrow, 4/18, at 3pm to protest what are now being viewed as broken promises to the community with the construction of the new Yankee Stadium. Protesters will have signs and placards siting the lack of replacement parks, lack of jobs for Bronxites and other concerns. For more info, call Diego at (212) 860-6001 x28.

Events @ Wave Hill
There are lots of great events happening at Wave Hill this weekend, including a cooking demonstration, family art project, a community volunteer project, and the grand finale of the Cabaret & the Concourse concert series. Click here for all the details.

Red Silk Dancers Performance @ Bronx Library Center
Tomorrow, 4/18, at 6pm - Directed by Margaret Yuen, the Red Silk Dancers presents a colorful program featuring Chinese traditional dances of Silk and Sword. Come and enjoy the classical silk water-sleeves in "Chimes & Bells"; "The fiery " Red Silk Dance"; the swaying silk fans in "Sunflower"; and the power of swordplay in" Deep in the night". Click here for more info.

Events @ Lehman
'More Than the Blues' - Sunday, 4/19, 2pm. The Lehman Big Band will give a performance of jazz music by Frank Foster, John Coltrane, George Gershwin, Paul Hoffman, Aaron Sachs, Sammy Cahn, and others. Admission is free. Click here for more info.
'Cirque le Masque' - Sunday, 4/19, 4pm. Drenched in colorful light, and oblivious to the forces of gravity, Cirque Le Masque has stunned and entranced audiences of all ages with some of the finest acrobats, aerial artists, and gymnasts performing incredible feats that combine strength, agility, beauty and impeccable timing. This European-style circus, complete with lavish costumes and props, music and special effects, has performed to sold-out audiences worldwide. Tickets range from $35 to $10. Click here for more info.

Community Garden Bike Tour @ Taqwa Community Farm
Sunday, 4/19, 9:30am to 1pm - with Eric Thomann & Owen Taylor. Tour starts at Taqwa Community Farm in the Bronx. Gather at 9:30am, ride from 10am - 1pm For more information, email Helen Ho at helen.ho@parks.nyc.gov. [Event listing courtesy of Tree Museum].

Bardekova Ensemble @ Bronx House
Free concert will be performed Sunday, 4/19, at 2pm by the Bardekova Ensemble at Bronx House (990 Pelham Parkway South). For more info, call (917) 687-3584.

Outdoor Club Walk @ Van Cortlandt
Sunday, 4/19, at 10:45 a.m., “Van Cortlandt Park to Downtown Yonkers,” a five-to-six-mile walk, meeting in the Bronx at 242nd Street and Broadway; (212) 348-5344. Cost is $3, in addition to return bus or train fare. [Event listing courtesy of NY Times].

~ErLu