Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with island

Where can I buy leatherworking supplies and leather in Long Island?

lettuchi — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:57:13 -0800

Where can I find leatherworking supplies and leather at a storefront on Long Island, preferably Suffolk County? All I've found are hat shops or defunct addresses. Hi all,

I am looking for a store front where I can buy leather working supplies and leather sides/hides on Long Island, really it should be Suffolk so I can drive there. Thanks for any help.

Hey Zoltar, how will our house will apprase?

waterisfinite — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 10:03:51 -0800

How likely are these particular conditions of our home to affect an appraisal? Additionally, is there a significant benefit to addressing these condition concerns prior to appraisal for the purposes of a refi? Very long winded details inside… We own our home in Nassau county, New York and are looking to refinance or modify our mortgage. We have only owned the home for 2 years so have little equity in the home though we do not believe we are underwater.

We live in an area that’s slightly tough to get comps for. Our neighborhood is split between a few different school districts, so that our home is in an award winning district, while a block away, homes are in one of the worst districts in the county. This significantly impacts home prices.

We bought our 1930’s era home for $300k in 2010. The home appraised at $325k at that time, while it was in slightly poor condition. We would need our home to appraise for $290k in order to qualify for a decent refi without PMI. Zillow (who I don’t trust) estimates our home is worth $10k less than that. Our local tax assessment noted our “Fair Market Value” in 2009 at $370k, in 2010 at $305 k, and from 2011 through 2013 at $277k. I have no idea whatsoever how our county makes these assessments (they have certainly not been inside our home since we bought it in 2010), nor how they affect appraisals.

We have done some updates including:
• Refinishing or installing hardwood floors in every room but the kitchen & bath
• Updating & enlarging one bedroom so that there’s one clear “master” bedroom (it’s got a walk in closet, though it doesn’t have a bathroom!)
• Updating the boiler & furnace (but NOT the pipes)
• Converting from oil to gas
• Installing appliances where there were none (dishwasher, washer/dryer, etc) & updating old kitchen appliances
• Landscaping front & back the yard, installing privacy fence, repairing grading issue in the yard which mostly fixed the issue of water getting into the basement..
• Installing driveway (there is no garage)
• Replacing 1930’s era steep staircase. This issue is tough – the original stairs were not to code, but were grandfathered in. They were absolutely unworkable, so we replaced them with a lovely custom staircase which allowed us to create an upstairs hallway with a gorgeous banister. However, due to the extreme space limitations, the treads are about ¼” short of current code. We made the decision to do this without permits. We have a particular worry that an appraiser will notice this!

What we have NOT updated/ Condition concerns:
• The crappy aluminum siding (it got worse in the recent hurricanes)
• The only full bathroom got some paint and updated small fixtures but is essentially still a crappy 1970’s bathroom
• The kitchen got new appliances and fresh stick-tile flooring but still has crappy 1980’s cabinets and counters.
• The basement remains crappy and unfinished, but DRY! (It can never be legally finished due to height restrictions)
• In the unfinished basement, there is a half bath. When we took out the old oil tanks, we had to remove the walls of that bathroom. They have not been replaced – does this mean this bathroom is not considered a half bath any longer? We would be willing to spend a few bucks on sheetrock to rough in some walls if it will significantly improve the appraisal.
• Our chimney has a crack in it. We are not likely to repair it before our refi.

There are only 3 comps sold in the past 4 months in our area & school district:
• A home with a 1 car garage, central air and completely new Kit & Bath, plus 3700 sq ft more yard sold for $389k.
• A home with a 2.5 car garage, one more full bath than we have, a finished basement and 1,000 more sq feet of yard sold for $352k.
• A home with one less bedroom, a 1 car garage and a recently done Kitchen & bath sold for $375k.

TL;DR: What issues with our house might affect the appraisal enough to attempt addressing them before refinancing? For example, poor siding conditions, crack in chimney, and other seemingly unfinished aspects of the house. There are limited comps in our area to compare to, but I feel we may want to move quickly since a few good comps have sold recently. What level of renovation is required to have our creepy basement toilet area considered a half bath on the appraisal, or will it not be considered because it is an unfinished basement?

And if you have an instinct for these things, do any of the very long winded details I’ve provided make you think “Hell yeah, your home will appraise for $290!” Pretty please?

Sun, sand, bland?

Iteki — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 08:29:18 -0800

How can I entertain myself at an island resort? Todays first world problem is that I am going on holidays to the Maldives, and I am not sure how to spend my time. The wife will happily spend the entire 12 days under a palm tree soaking up rays, while I've been known to have a nervous breakdown spending a week on the coast of Spain. I will absolutely enjoy a little snorkling and swimming (although I do prefer crashing waves), and having a bit of a read on the beach, but I am not particularly sporty and can't afford to spend all of every day in the spa.

Please help me come up with small projects or ways to entertain myself. These should ideally be resort appropriate, I don't think my initial idea of building myself a treehouse or catching and cooking my own fish are going to be warmly received.

This is the resort, don't want to write the name for google+wife reasons.

Attraction along the way to Shelter Island NY?

wheats — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 18:30:07 -0800

Heading up to Shelter Island NY for a weekend soon from North Jersey. Leaving 6am on a Friday. I will be with my wife and toddler. Any suggestions for stops/attractions/restaurants along the way? I suspect my toddler will need a break after 2 hours on a 4+ hour drive. Also any comments on traffic and directions would be helpful! thanks!

But I counted all the people yesterday!

charmcityblues — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 15:07:40 -0800

I am moving to a remote island in the middle of nowhere, and I need hobbies. I will most likely be un- or underemployed (which is ok—Mr. Blues has a job out there) and I am used to having work and/or school and/or volunteer work take up almost all my time. Hobby-like things I’ve done in the past (like water polo and orienteering) are out because of logistical impossibilities—no pool, notoriously harsh weather, and lots of UXO. I read a lot and that’s a given—but I feel that I’ll want to do something productive rather than passive.

I will definitely be developing a gym/physical conditioning routine, and I imagine I’ll need to spend a fair amount of time doing domestic work like baking bread (I do enjoy cooking and baking, which I suppose is kind of like a hobby?) However, with no pets and no children that stuff just takes a limited amount of time. I also will likely join the volunteer rescue squad, but with a population hovering around 200 I can’t imagine that’s a huge time commitment. I would take some online classes but the internet is quite spotty and I’m concerned that it would make it too difficult—for instance, I don’t think you can stream anything at all. So, I will have a lot of free time.

I definitely plan to enjoy the opportunity to just be, but after a few days of that I think I’ll need something to keep me busy. I’d like to come out of the experience with a new or refined skill. Something that would have income generating potential would be fantastic, but not necessary. I need to be able to ship any materials out there and can’t count on having things like lots of fresh food for elaborate cooking. I have tried to knit in the past, but I am absolutely hopeless at it. I’m afraid that other similar handicrafts would have similar results, but am open to trying. I have a pretty flexible budget for things that require start-up costs—say up to $750—but I’d prefer not to spend a ton of money on something untested that totally flops (i.e. buying all! the! yarn!)

Please give me your hobby ideas!

You want me to go where?

ihadapony — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 10:36:14 -0800

Bulls Head Staten Island. How to get there from manhattan? I need to get to a facility in Bulls Head Staten Island. Is it possible to get a cab at the st george ferry terminal at 6 am on a monday? Will there be a wait? Is there a cab stand? Anything I should know? Is there a number to call for a cab? Thanks!

Landsat Island

zinon — Mon, 28 May 2012 10:53:50 -0800

How did we manage to find every island on earth without satellites? I imagined that when the first satellite images were reviewed there would have be hundreds of small islands (and possible a larger one or two) discovered. But, according to wikipedia, Landsat Island is the only one. And it's tiny, only 1,125 m².

The Oceans are HUGE! So how is it that we found every other island without satellite imagery? I don't image there are any undiscovered islands remaining (previously). So we somehow found all of them just by sailing around, that just seems unbelievable.

What is the explanation for this?

Mysterious islands in the street

bad grammar — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:49:08 -0800

What is the purpose of very small median strips close to the sidewalk near an intersection? With warm weather in my area, sidewalk repairs and improvements are going apace, and the local news hasn't caught up.

What is the purpose of a very small median strip or island, about 12-18 inches wide and 3-4 feet long, near an intersection of a main road and side street?

There is not enough space between this median and the curb for any car or bus. These medians have just been installed at two intersections that I know of. Is it for bicyclists, though I haven't found any exact parallels on Google Images? Or is it intended to slow traffic on a busy street? What are these medians called?

Blot, Please

InterestedInKnowing — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 07:53:42 -0800

Are there any good online police blotters for Long Island, NY that comes complete with accident photos?

I want to buy this table.

msali — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:43:09 -0800

I am trying to find a kitchen island/table similar to the ones pictured here and here. Yes, the kitchen table from Big Bang Theory. I've fallen in love with it. I like the open metal shelves, with the large, high set wooden tabletop. I've searched high and low for something similar but I am drawing a blank. So I turn to you, mefites. Can you help me find a similar piece?

Children's-Book-Filter: Dead missionary parents, New England island, driving on ice

longtime_lurker — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 06:58:03 -0800

Children's novel: Protagonist is the son of deceased missionaries, retaining only a comforter and a photograph. He lives with an aunt and uncle, and the plot concerns his reintegration into non-missionary society. Setting is an island in New England, and there are scenes of driving on the ice in the winter to get to the mainland. This is a book from the dad-in-law's childhood, so probably pre-1960.

Where to find cheap Long Island Iced Tea in NYC?

delasoull — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:56:08 -0800

Where can I find Long Island Iced Teas for cheap prices in NYC? Especially during happy hours? I'm trying to find a spot with Long Island Iced Teas for cheap prices in the Chelsea or Midtown area. I strongly prefer one with a nice happy hour deal. Thanks in advance.

To the boroughs...tipsy-like.

lunalaguna — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:03:30 -0800

Five boroughs, five drinks. My boyfriend and I are both off tomorrow, and have decided to have a drink in every borough over the course of an afternoon. We've never been to Staten Island, and it's been ages since I've been in the Bronx.

We live in the north part of Park Slope, so we'll be starting in Brooklyn, probably at brunch. I'm thinking we'll go counter-clockwise, heading up to Queens next.

So, we need your recommendations! We'd like Brooklyn diner or weekday brunch options, various other bar suggestions near the train that are open in the afternoon and as distinctive as possible. A mix of high and low would be good. And we'll probably need a snack or a slice in Manhattan or Staten Island. If there's anywhere else near the bars you'd recommend checking out, we'd appreciate that, too.

These I crave, you have the answer!

SockyMcSockyPants — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 23:36:26 -0800

Long Island Filter: I'm looking for the names of 3 food joints - An Italian restaurant just before the Northern State Pkwy on Willis Avenue back in the 80's, The name of the bagel place that was just next door on Willis Ave, and the bakery in the strip mall at the corner of Hillside Ave and Herricks Rd. The Italian joint had great pizza - google earth tells me this spot may have been demo'd. La Riviera? Nah. That's not it! What was it??

The bagel place made the BEST cinnamon raisin bagels I've ever had.

The bakery (not Polito's, this was a nearby competitor) made these dense little round cakes with raisins and a egg yolk wash - but I could swear there was no yeast in the recipe. These little cakes were MAGIC.

I would appreciate any info on any of these businesses. My taste buds want to know if I can get these delicacies elsewhere. I have this idea that good recipes never die, they just get passed on.

Please help!

Discuss together, watch alone.

hal_c_on — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:29:05 -0800

I *just* finished watching the series finale of ABC's "Lost", and I would like to know what still needs solving. I have the Blu-Ray pack. I had not watched ANY of the special features, extra discs, or even opened all the swag I got in the box.

I just wanted to watch it all the way through, soak up all the stuff...and THEN find out what I missed out on. I avoided all discussions about the show, and didn't see ONE spoiler on the internet, even didn't open that wired with jj abrams. And yeah, when I saw this on shirt.woot I didn't even read the description. So yeah...this was hard, but now I'm finished.

So now that I'm finally finished...What did I miss, are any of the special feature discs explaining stuff in the show...or are they just adding new stuff?

I know there is plenty of stuff that was never explained (walt?!?).

What did I miss?

Moving to Kauai

kamikazegopher — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:19:31 -0800

What should we know about living on Kaua'i? My partner and I are moving to Kaua'i for a year because we love it there and it's a good time for us to move. We've never lived on a remote island before, but we have spent a lot of time vacationing there. We have plans in place, so money, vehicle, and dog-import issues are taken care of. We plan to spend a month there before deciding where to settle.

So, what are we missing? What did you love and hate about island life? What do you wish you had known?

Boston to Fire Island?

dagnyduquette — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:01:41 -0800

I am attending a bachelorette party next weekend on Fire Island, NY and live in Boston, MA. I've been unable to find an efficient route that doesn't include 2 ferry rides and would appreciate any suggestions that allow me to take my car as far as possible.

Camping on the Catalina Island

digdan — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:23:12 -0800

Need information on experiences with camping at the Catalina Islands in Southern California A couple friends and I want to schedule a camping trip, and we are considering the Catalina islands, but I need to figure out more information. How much does the camping cost? Whats the best place to go camping? How do you travel back and forth to the island? How loud can you be, how crowded are the campsites? What is the camping experiences like?

white dress and white sand. wedding on the beach

striker — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 11:10:25 -0800

closest most beautiful beach near oklahoma city to get married on? We want to do a very small (just us and parents) wedding on the beach without a lot of ceremony or crowds. Just a lonely beautiful place for us to enjoy each others company for a week or two.

We have a 2 year old so not wanting to be on a plane for 10 hours. Bonus if there's some decent activities for us and the kiddo; I've always wanted to learn to surf, she's more for just hanging out at the beach.

Where to go camping in Southern New England

quodlibet — Tue, 31 May 2011 07:05:42 -0800

Where to go camping within a two hour drive of RI? A group of five of us (4 humans, 1 dog) want to go camping one weekend this summer (Friday afternoon - Sunday evening). We'd like to stick within a two hour drive of the middle of RI. Three hours if the camping is really amazing..

We looked into Cape Cod at Nickerson State park - but it seems all booked up (next year!). We've done camping in the White Mountains and loved it - but it is too far of a drive for us this time. We'd like to be near some water (lake/pond or beach) and have some hiking/walking trails.

I've looked at previous New England camping posts, but they mostly focus on areas outside our driving range, it seems.

Need a good solution for cell phone and internet service that I can use in Europe, the US and Martinique.

traceymariel — Wed, 11 May 2011 12:53:36 -0800

Need a good solution for cell phone and internet service that I can use in Europe, the US and Martinique. I live part-time in the U.S. and part-time in Martinique and spend 1-2 months in Europe. I need a good solution for cell phone and internet service that I can use in all of these places. I am thinking about ATT iPhone and MiFi, but wondering if the data charges abroad will kill me. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

so far away argh!

lettuchi — Thu, 05 May 2011 10:57:30 -0800

What would be the most streamlined/cheap/quickest way to get to go between Rochester, NY and Port Jefferson(Long Island), NY on a semi regular basis? So, I am going to be moving out to Port Jefferson come this summer to start my new life as a graduate student. The boyfriend, a graduate student in Rochester, will be Rochester-bound for the next 3-4 years(organic chemistry, he is chained to his glovebox). Eventually he will start looking for post-docs, hopefully he can find one near enough by that we can live together.

We want to be able to see each other as often as possible(schedules permitting). Maybe once every 3-weeks to a month? We're both on stipends of about $1600 a month(although my financial situation can be/is supplemented by my parents). I will have my first summer off, and can spend summers after that in places other than school as long as I am researching. I will own my residence as well, so I don't really need to worry about subletting.

I have a car, he does not. He is willing to buy one(something small/cheap/gas-sipping like a Toyota Yaris or the Hyundai Accent) if it is cheaper than flying out on a regular basis, but the thing is, the closest large airports are in the city, and that's a long/scary(mostly scary) drive and a 1.5 hour train trip away to boot. So that adds inconvenience factor to flying out. And gas is $4 a gallon now. o.o Would being a member of a airlines frequent flyer thing help? Which one? JetBlue?

So, how the heck do we do this? I have never lived in LI/NYC area before and know nothing about the transportation resources available. ...Lots of anxiety over this long-distance thing, I don't want our relationship to slowly fizzle out because we can't physically get to each other(I'm sure there will be another question about that in later weeks, although I've read a lot of the previous stuff too.)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Tips for Vanuatu/general Pacific island life?

jaduncan — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 06:10:32 -0800

Opinions on Vanuatu/general pacific life? [more inside] I'm just finishing my degree, and have the opportunity to spend a while (several months, at the least) in Port Vila, Vanuatu. There doesn't seem to be that much in the way of unbiased documentation of the actual day to day experience of life there.

I'm already braced for terrible internet (although I appreciate that mefi may prefer this state for me ;)), limited food selection and expensive imported goods.

Detailed situation: I'll be there from about July-October, maybe. I may or may not be helping them with trade negotiations, so Port Vila sounds like a better idea than outlying islands in that case. Financial issues aren't all that pressing; a stipend will cover the whole period for academic reasons. Internet access will be slow but required, and probably really really expensive. Other than that, I plan to spend most of my time diving, maybe some canoeing etc.

I've not really spent much time in such a small community, and I'm curious what that's likely to be like. What haven't I thought of in terms of drawbacks, and/or what other awesome things should/could I do when there?

Great Dining for Less in RI?

tessalations999 — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 14:24:19 -0800

Looking for a good but inexpensive restaurant in Providence, RI to hold my wedding rehearsal dinner. Any recommendations? It can be a short drive outside of the city too. Thank you for your help!

I promise this isn't about Lost

bibliogrrl — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 19:15:23 -0800

ForgottenStoryFilter! Asking for a friend because the details are familiar to me too, but I can't place where *I* could have read it... So, from my friend:

*The story was about a bunch of people who were on an island. After a while, they realized they were all dead.

*The people go to an island resort. They get there by plane (or crash there in a plane--jury is out on it, but there is definitely a plane). It may or may not be a vacation trip.

*At first, the island is awesome and magically has everything that everyone wants. For example, if you are really into scuba diving, they have the most amazing scuba diving in the world. Or if you love a certain kind of food, they have it.

*Little by little, the rides break, the scuba equipment fails, the good goes bad.

*Eventually, they all remember parts of their former lives. Bad things.

*Then, they all realize they are dead and are essentially in hell.

This sounds so familiar to me, and it is driving me crazy because I thought I could have read it at some point. She thinks it may have been written in the 1960's.

So hive mind - I've seen you work miracles. Let's see if you can untwist this.