Virginia K. Smith

Posts by Virginia K. Smith:

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The diehard Brooklynites behind Twig Terrariums dish on Grubhub dependence, the appeal of the Greenwood Cemetery, and more
By Virginia K. Smith
August 6, 2015 - 13:59 PM

Since launching as a stall at the Brooklyn Flea, Twig Terrariums has since graduated to a  brick-and-mortar setup in Gowanus, not to mention status as a full-fledged Brooklyn institution. (We're guessing you've seen those glass terrariums with their signature mix of delicate plant-life and laugh-out-loud figurines in more than one friend's apartment, if you don't already own one yourself.) 

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Two shrinks share tips on handling terrible roommates (and sending angry texts isn't one of them)
By Virginia K. Smith
August 6, 2015 - 09:59 AM
Do a quick search of "roommate horror stories," and you'll find yourself tumbling down a terrifying Internet rabbit hole of incidents ranging from the gross to the grotesque to the downright criminal. As we suspect a lot of you have already learned firsthand, figuring out how to live in a sane and comfortable fashion with someone who isn't a blood relative—or really, even someone who is—tends to take a strong stomach, and a knack for diplomacy.
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Reel Estate: Single White Female is more realistic than you thought
By Virginia K. Smith
August 5, 2015 - 14:59 PM
Even 23 years after its first came out—and intervening years that saw the advent of Craigslist, no less—Single White Female still might be the greatest cautionary roommate tale of all time. It's extreme, yes, but the escalation of the drama also covers a large swath of more typical roommate crimes. Before Hedy (Jennifer Jason Leigh) murders roommate Allison's (Bridget Fonda's) boyfriend and puppy then tries to kill her, she starts with (relative) baby steps of hellacious roommating: bringing a puppy into the apartment without permission, stealing Allie's clothes, weirdly getting a matching haircut, and hitting on her boyfriend. What makes this movie truly terrifying is its fast run down the slippery slope to psychotic homicidal mania. It could happen to any of us!
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Ask Sam: Is my landlord obligated to upgrade my ancient kitchen?
By Virginia K. Smith
August 5, 2015 - 10:59 AM

Dear Sam: Is there any type of requirement in rent-stabilized apartments for the landlord to update/upgrade the bathroom or kitchen after a certain amount of time? I moved in 18 years ago and the bath and kitchen are original to the building.

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With amenities like these, you may never have to leave the Mercedes House
By Virginia K. Smith
August 4, 2015 - 13:59 PM
Designed by Enrique Norton, renowned architect and principal of critically-acclaimed design firm TEN Arquitectos, Mercedes House is one of New York City's latest architectural icons.
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Do landlords change an apartment's locks in between tenants, and if not, can I change them myself?
By Virginia K. Smith
August 3, 2015 - 11:59 AM

Q: I'm moving in and nervous about the idea of a former tenant having keys to my apartment. Do landlords change the locks in between every tenant, and if not, am I allowed to do it myself?

The policy about changing locks varies from landlord to landlord, say our experts, and while it's a wise idea to make sure yours are new, you should check in with your landlord first before you take any action.

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