Open Thread Wednesday 2/12/14

What’s on your mind? Comment away!

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  • davoyager

    Sanitation need to change the policy of plowing the toxic slurry of road salt and dirt and ice on to people’s sidewalks and ultimately into their homes. These chemicals were never intended to be tracked into people’s homes much less splashed up against their walls and windows..It only happens in bad winters but the city must figure out a better way of disposing of this toxic sludge than splashing it all over brownstone Brooklyn.

  • BrooklynCoffeeLover

    Anyone use the Eastern Atlantic gym on Clark? Thinking of becoming a member, but would love to hear feedback.

  • Teresa

    I’ve been a member since 1998. My needs are few, and it suits them. I go to the occasional class (yoga, pilates) and find them fine, & I use the cardio and weight machines. Location is convenient to my home. I’m a fan. It’s pricey, and having never used any of the other local gyms, I have no point of comparison, but I’m very happy with it.

  • Kit

    I’ve been a member since the early ’90s. There are a couple levels of membership: Prime and non-Prime. Prime time, you’re allowed in any time the club is open. Non-Prime is restricted to certain hours, and the owner/manager is a real stickler on that (no coming in a few minutes early!). You also have the choice of paying for a full year or two (a bit of a discount for two years at a time), and doing it that way allows you to “freeze” your membership for a period of time if you need to. The other option is to pay monthly via credit card or other electronic payment, and you can’t freeze should you need to. Monthly payment hits mid-month and is for the upcoming calendar month (i.e., February payment covers the month of March). I pay monthly and rent a 1/3 locker. Comes to around $140/month. There are lots of activities available, and I believe membership at one club still allows you to use the other two (Tribeca, Eastern Parkway). If you’re serious about the club, I suggest you get a guest day pass ($25 last I knew), and check out the club when you would normally go. Guest passes are good for 24 hours, so if you bought one in the morning, you’d be able to return in the afternoon. At least that is what I was told the last time I inquired.

  • Heightsman

    Been a member for over 10 years in town. Proximity and convenience are the selling points for me . It’s a little pricey and can be depressing at times. No one loves working out in a basement. It’s large and full service. The massages at Spa are also very good and priced nicely. On the plus side if schools in session the median age drops nicely and the place becomes more lively. That’s motivation for me.

  • DIBS

    You’d be complaining more if they didn’t plow or salt. Just where are they supposed to plow everything to?

    It’s been a Winter with much more snowfall and freezing temps than normal. Wipe your feet or take your boots off before you enter.

  • Jason

    Does anyone know why the street has been cut (and temporary metal plates installed) at the intersection of Hicks and Orange? The metal plates are uneven, so the neighborhood is treated to a loud noise every time a car drives over them. It would seem easy enough to level the plates, but I haven’t seen the workers back since the day a couple weeks ago when they did the work. I tried 311, but made no progress. Maybe time to try again.

  • BrooklynCoffeeLover

    Do they have personal trainers? How is the pool?

  • BrooklynCoffeeLover

    Do they have personal trainers?

  • Heightsman

    Oh yeah, the pool is nice but tight and they have a hot tub too (full disclosure, I’ve never used either…just not my thing). I can endorse the steam in the locker room. They also have plenty of personal trainers which all seem to be nice not muscle heads. Not that it should sway you but there are also a few “famous” neighbors who belong.

  • Pineapple Pete

    Apparently, the MTA is not concerned about nomenclatural accuracy in regard to Brooklyn Heights’ landmark buildings. Just yesterday, I noticed the signs in the 2/3 Clark Street Station say “St George Hotel.” I have no idea what they’re talking about because the place is named “Hotel St George.” Get it right, MTA!

  • Heightsman

    No coverage of Heights Cafe renovation yet?

  • DIBS

    ((rolls eyes))

  • BrooklynBugle

    I (Homer) took a photo. Sent them an email for comment. Nothing back yet. Then I got distracted. #bloglife

  • MonroeOrange

    As a former member for years, there are pros and cons with the EA club. The pros are the weight rooms, ample weights, not super crowded. The hot tub is good, as is the sauna. The pool is very short, a few strokes and you hit the wall. Once they removed the Basketball court, i switched to the the Y on atlantic, which is new, has full size pool and great steam room, as well as bball court. The downside to the Y, is the weight room is limited and can get very crowded.

    If you like a Gym that is not as crowded, go with EA, if you like to swim and play bball, go with the Y.

  • Guest

    Crap. I want weights AND a pool. hmmmmm Thanks

  • Guest

    Well, the famous people may pull me in. haha

  • Teresa

    Every time I walk past I vow to inquire…and then I don’t.

  • AnnofOrange

    Ordered take-out from Gallito’s Kitchen the other night. Very pleased with responsiveness of order taker and timeliness of delivery. Food was decent — beef enchilada with stringy beef (not ground – a good thing) and chicken enchilada with ample chicken. Re-fried beans a little too pureed for my taste. Guacamole and little tortillas nice. Will do it again soon.
    http://www.gallitoskitchenbrooklyn.com/

  • gc

    Pool is small (maybe 40-45 feet) with four narrow lanes(no sharing). There can be a wait and is not always open for lap swimming.

  • Confused as usual

    Has anyone else noted that when alternate side of the street parking is suspended – people park on both sides of the streets on all the non-metered streets? Has this always gone on or is it a new thing? Are we really allowed to do that?

  • Faith

    A brownstone on the south side Cranberry St. around the corner from Bevacco has never shoveled any of the snow on the sidewalk & now it’s become a 1 1/2 inch thick slick sheet of ice. Does anyone know if the property is abandoned or unoccupied? It is very dangerous.

  • MonroeOrange

    while probably not legal, it is accepted, and they don’t ticket you, most likely bc the sign still says you can park there on that day.

  • MonroeOrange

    then its all a matter of what time you use it…the weights at the Y are available in the day with no issue, sans prime lunch time hours.

  • BrooklynCoffeeLover

    Think you can call 311 about this. They have a certain amount of time to shovel after a storm (4 hours), though I don’t know who is responsible if the place is abandon.

  • Heights Observer

    In answer to your question, In areas of Manhattan like the Financial District, the Sanitation Department loads the snow into dump trucks and then brings it to a nearby location wherein it is melted and thus taken away. So that’s what they do.

  • Fritz

    I noticed what looked like filming at the Courthouse on Pierrepont Saturday night. Seemed pretty cool, although I didn’t have time to gawk. Has the BHA blockade of street entertainment been broken?

  • Heights Observer

    They fixed a sewer line there a few weeks ago and my guess is that the snow has delayed the final pouring of concrete and re-paving of the street.

  • Eddyde

    Since when is salt a “toxic chemical” FYI if there was no salt in your body you would be dead.

  • Eddyde

    The narrow very crowded streets of the financial district are a special condition. Removing the snow and melting it is very costly, simply too expensive to accommodate the entire city.