Our Second Anniversary

It is the 110th blog post since our first two years ago. In that time, we crafted 110 entries, roughly one post per week (the stats include the semi-dormant six month period following the Baby Salt's birth), generating 15,000 visits.

Thank you for your support

A Late Start to the Season

On Saturday, May 24 there were a number of empty slips sat alongside boats being worked on and not yet sailed. We saw a number of boats that had just been launched with the owners making last minute arrangements to get ship shape for the season. Typically, at this point on the calendar most local sailors have been in the water for a few weeks. The strange weather this May has stalled, but not killed the start to the season.

Springy Dinghy

Today's lazy-as-heck post has me link to Frogma, which has a post and photos of some Laser sailors from the Sebago Canoe Club.

Waterfront Living in Brooklyn

Like most Brooklynites we know, we are obsessed with real estate and frequently check out Brownstoner's real estate porn (aka its house, condo or co-op of the day). Unfortunately, the prices are out of reach for the average stiff.

However, there is a way to obtain the American dream, which is also a viable alternative to the overpriced condos in Williamsburg, South Brooklyn and Park Slope. And, it's waterfront property.

For a mere $139,000, you can be the proud owner of a 52-foot houseboat. This floating palace is approximately 1450 square feet, has three bedrooms, two bathrooms (or heads as we say), a woodburning fireplace, washer/dryer, lots of closet space and plenty of outdoor space. This property floats in Mill Basin, which is a bit of a hike from Manhattan, but where else are you going to get a waterfront palace for this price.

For those not willing to take the plunge, it is a fantastic alternative to a Hamptons share.

Photo of the Day

Winter in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. Its amazing how many boats are still in the water.

Photo of the Day

A wooden double-ender docked in Sheepshead Bay.

Winter Swans in Sheepshead Bay

A family, or a few families, of swans live in Sheeepshead Bay throughout the year, even in the Winter. (The picture above was taken on December 29.) The swans are deceptively large, maybe 25 or more pounds, and the whitest, white I've ever seen. They also make a mess, so people try to keep them off their land, docks and boats. The swans are generally passive and don't bother people, they are not afraid to protect or their turf. You don't want one of these things to charge at you. Trust me!

The October 24, 2004 issue of the New York Times writes about Sheepshead Bay's swans noting they are mostly feral mute swans native to Europe. And for many years wildlife workers have been controlling the Jamaica Bay swan population to keep the swans from proliferating, crowding out native wildlife and fouling freshwater ponds. The swans are good relocators and have made their way to Sheepshead Bay where they've most likely grown used to being fed.

Photo of the Day: Sheepshead Bay in April

Here's a shot of Sheepshead Bay in late April. From here, you can notice one of the new condo developments along Emmons Avenue. The building in the left of the picture, called La Mer Villas (very classy), is an example of what is now springing up along Emmons Ave replacing some old clubs, bungalows, and marinas.

La Mer Villas, consists of 15 townhouses and "four classic style apartments." Indoor parking and some boat slips are available. We've noticed that they are selling them in not only in US dollars but Russian Rubels as well.