… and that is the question. What is the more-likely thing that a person might say: “I took on a historic house that needed a lot of work as a new chapter in my life, and it’s the most satisfying thing I’ve ever done,” or: “I bought a historic house that needs a lot of … Read more
As I’ve mentioned in the past, sometimes I look at real estate offerings in obscure places, just to see what costs and options are available in places outside of the NY/NJ metro area. I took a look today in Gladbrook, Iowa, where my grandmother used to live, and found a small, 2 bedroom 1 bath … Read more
I have a property tax payment coming up on May 1st, and it always seems to trigger an escape mentality, as Essex County taxes are notoriously high – in fact, 2024 data shows that Essex County had the highest property tax rate in the state of New Jersey, higher than Bergen County, Morris County, and … Read more
I heard about an art exhibition I wanted to see, a mini-retrospective for FUTURA 2000, at The Bronx Museum. I’ve been to the Bronx before, but never to that museum, so I decided to make a trip up there to see it. As I was walking along The Grand Concourse to get to the museum, … Read more
My girlfriend made me a breakfast sandwich the other day which struck me as a true “breakfast of champions,” because it’s so damn delicious. A toasted english muffin, with a spread of sheep/goat cheese, topped with sliced avocado and thinly sliced smoked salmon, and a squirt of lemon juice. Oh my, when I took my … Read more
I was driving up to Rhode Island for the Newport Jazz Festival, and got off the highway to get some lunch near Clinton, Connecticut. But before I got a bite to eat, I found my attention pulled into the parking lot of the Key to the Past Antique Center. There were a lot of interesting … Read more
While making the drive through the Florida Keys (starting in Miami, with Key West as the end destination), day 2 of the trip found us getting hit with very hard rain, to the point where it was sometimes hard to see the road in front of us! As we were going through Islamorada, we saw … Read more
I was looking around in Marion Royael Gallery in Beacon, NY, when I noticed this table with an ocean and island scene on top. My first thought was: wouldn’t this be a great dining table, so that I could eat my meals with my plate providing me with views of a deserted island? It turns … Read more
I saw an Instagram reel where the guy said he was able to regrow lettuce from the cut base of a previous head of lettuce. New lettuce from kitchen scraps? Is it really possible? His reel showed how to cut the base and put it in water, and he made the claim that it would … Read more
I was exploring art galleries in Chelsea in NYC and happened upon a show of American Arts & Crafts pieces, and these sconces grabbed my attention. I can’t say that I possess any scholarly knowledge of the American Arts & Crafts movement, but I love the style and appearance of these wall lamps. I knew … Read more