A. Ready

If any apartment might convince me to leave the safety of rent stabilization, this one might be it. Oozing with pre-war charm and updated with every detail the modern dweller might wish for, this two-bedroom, two-bathroom no-fee apartment in a pre-war elevator building near the South Street Seaport is a show-stopper.

Starting this month, it will be more expensive to screw up your recycling if you live in a building of 9 or more apartments. Here's the deal, according to a memo we received from the Superintendents Technical Association:

While this writer does not value outdoor space very highly, she is well aware that for many it is a desirable (or perhaps essential) feature.

With Hanukkah almost here, BrickUnderground went searching for some decorating ideas for the holiday. While the pickings are admittedly slim, Apartment Therapy has some recommendations for making your home more festive (though their "Hanukkah-friendly" wreath did stir a bit of a dust up).

BrickUnderground's 2010 Holiday Tipping Guide sets forth suggested tipping ranges for those who assist us in our vertical living experience, including, for some of us, the full-time nanny. Our rule of thumb: One week pay minimum or two if you can afford it. Or, one week pay and one week vacation. Over on StreetEasy.com, most commenters agree, but not all.

A Brooklynite who doesn't like it when dogs relieve themselves on the iron gates in front of his/her townhouse asks the folks on Brownstoner's forum whether such concerns are "overly sensitive."   Not at all, say most of the 34 people who've responded so far, who appear to be a fairly even split of dog-owners to non-dog-owners. "Not only does it corrode the fence, it burns whatever is growing in the garden in that location," explains one.