Carbon Offsetting

A few weeks ago while at STA Travel, I picked up a small brochure advertising carbon offsetting for travel. For those unaware, Carbon Offsetting is the concept of calculating the carbon expenditure of an activity or process and then contributing enough money towards a carbon reduction scheme to neutralise the emission.

Given that I was already uncomfortable with the negative effect my holiday was going to have on the environment, I was really interested in the idea. The travel agent this morning informed me that it would cost $180 (equivalent to approximately 5 tonne of gas) - more than expected, but I bit the bullet without too much thought.

The idea of individuals being responsible for (and neutralising) the greenhouse gas they directly or indirectly produce is one I strongly support. Anyone who can afford a holiday, can also afford to offset it. According to the last explanatory step on the carbon offsetting process:

5. You feel bloody fantastic because you've made a positive change to the environment.

But I don't, because I haven't. I've just stopped feeling uneasy about the fact that my beloved holiday, that I can afford because I am fortunate, isn't further destroying the environment.

More info.

Contract to sublet *** N 9th Street Apt. **

This agreement is to stipulate the conditions whereby James Brodie and Susan ***** will rent the apartment at *** N 9^th Street Apt. ** for June 15-July 18, 2007, from *****.

1. Deposit check written in the amount of $500, to be paid by June 7, 2007, will secure the apartment until the last day occupied and the apartment is inspected and found to be in good condition and the keys are returned to ***** or her proxy, after which the deposit check will be refunded/torn up.

2. Cashiers check, cash, or Paypal transfer in the amount of $2200 ($67/day for a total of 33 days) will cover the time period stipulated, including utilities (except long distance phone). This will be delivered to ***** no later than Saturday, June 16, 2007, at which time James and Susan will be given keys.

3. James and Susan agree to take care of the cats Steve and Butterfly McQueen, including giving them adequate food and water and changing the litter box as per *****’s instructions, and informing ***** of any urgent health problems so she can contact the vet. James and Susan agree to allow another trustworthy person to come into the apartment to check on the cats if they are away from the apartment for longer than 48 hours.

4. James and Susan agree to not smoke in the apartment and to maintain reasonable noise levels in consideration of the other tenants in the building, especially after 10:00 PM.

5. James and Susan agree to not let any other individuals stay in the apartment during the time they are renting it.

6. James and Susan agree not to make any permanent changes to the apartment.

7. Use of the roof is limited to the wooden deck; all litter or items that could blow off the roof must be removed when the deck is not being used.

8. ***** agrees to dress any issues or problems that may arise related to the structure, heat, water, gas, or electricity in the apartments as quickly as possible after being notified.

We consent to the above agreement.

_________________

James Brodie

_________________

Susan *****

I'd like to thank Mom, God, and Craigslist...

At the begining of this week I reported two replies to our Craigslist listing. Niether of those went anywhere, but a third I received a day later was a little too good to be true.

• Within walkign distance of McCarren Park;
• In the centre of Williamsburg/Greenpoint;
  
• Close to a frequent train direct to Manhattan; and
  
• A whole apartment to ourselves (almost...see below)!

We started bouncing emails, waiting very anxiously inbetween (time zones are a bitch).

It turns out 'Rachel' is going abroad for almost the exact dates we're in Brooklyn. The apartment is US$67/night. It's a loft-style apartment with four (4!) rooms. One double bed. Two sleepable couches. And an 'aero' bed. It has Air Conditioning. Rooftop views of Manhattan. And two feline flatmates!

After divulging some references (real estate agents and flatmates) it seems Rachel was favourably swayed (thanks Timmy!) and now trusts that her cats won't flee and her neighbours will still talk to her on her return. Huzzah!

Fortunately, she doesn't leave till the day after we arrive, so we'll get the chance to meet her, be formally introduced to the cats, shown how to change the kitty litter and figure out how to work the stove.

Excited!

New Pornographers, Midlake @ Battery Park

I once saw New Pornographers perform in Brisbane. It was pretty shit. But their not the only act on the bill...

Midlake's The Trials of Van Occupanter took a little while (till after their Brisbane gig, to be precise) but it now totally pushes my buttons so I was glad to see they had a show announced during our NYC stint (July 4th). And a FREE one at that! But there's a catch....

Due to organisers forseeing demand exceeding capacity at this Battery Park gig, tickets will be distributed at selected Starbucks in New York City. My initial reaction was 'aww fuck :('. It didn't seem likely that they'd be facilitating online international e-tickets.

It turns out the tickets will be distributed after we get there (June 26th) so as long as we are diligent (and lucky) we'll be spending the first part of our Independence Day evening relaxing to Midlake (and maybe A.C. Newman & friends).

Renegade Craft Fair

ren·e·gade (rĕn'ĭ-gād')
n.

1. One who rejects a religion, cause, allegiance, or group for another; a deserter.
2. An outlaw; a rebel.

This was definitely Suze's idea, not mine, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to it. The 3rd Annual Brooklyn Renegade Craft Fair is held over two days at the McCarren Park Pool.

The Renegade Craft Fair is a unique DIY event organized by Sue Blatt + Kathleen Habbley. When this event began in 2003, there was nothing else like it. We took up crafts as a hobby after college and decided to try selling our stuff in local fairs. To our surprise, no events were catering to the burgeoning DIY craft community or even prohibited crafts all together. So we thought of organizing a fair of our own that tapped into this movement and provided a laid back, fresh venue for artists and shoppers alike.

I don't really know what to expect. Hopefully something more than crocheted toilet-roll dolls.

OMFG jellyNYC McCarren Park Pool Party!!!!

So there's a party right. And it's free. And some bands play. And there's a dodgeball tournament. And it's in a pool. WTF?

It took us a little while to figure out what was going on, but here's the run down:

1. McCarren Pool was built in 1936 as part of an eleven giant pools construction project.
2. It becomes abandoned.
3. A company donates US$250 000 to restore the pool structure.
4. jellyNYC™ (an inter-media collaborative) organises some free gig in the empty pool
5. Add some dodgeball and a slip and slide, and you have the jellyNYC McCarren Park Pool Party!

There are four pool parties we are attending:

June 24
Superchunk
Oakley Hall
Special guest

JULY 1
Man Man
Dengue Fever
Illinois

JULY 8
Octopus Project
Erase Errata
Dan Deacon

JULY 15
Details coming soon!

Just quietly, these pool parties are pretty much what Suze and I are most looking forward to in New York. The 'how close is it to McCarren Pool?' test is the first asked of any apartments we consider.


Click here for more pics.
And this is what it looks like from space.

Darren Hayes @ Canal Room

Yes, I like Darren Hayes. I frikkin heart Savage Garden and his solo stuff is great too. I first saw him at a small show at the Alhambra in Brisbane, Australia a couple of months ago and was very pleasantly surprised.

So I was pretty excited when I realised that I would be able to see him play a similarly small show in New York City. The gig's on the 26th June and is at the Canal Room.

"New York's the greatest if you can get someone to pay your rent"

After a month of painful communication* with the landlord of the apartment we wanted, it has been established that we are not suitable tennants because they are looking for a minimum of two months.

So now we are back to square-one. Back to emailing the same contacts in New York. Back to posting on craigslist. And Back to searching the internet.

We're a lot more learned this time, though, and I am confident we won't have any trouble finding somewhere. We've also completely changed our mind on where we want to stay (Williamsburg/Greenpoint, rather than Lower Manhattan). I posted a 'wanted ad' on craigslist this morning and have already reaped two replies (one pointless), a much better result than last time. The listings on craigslist are also much more suited for the near-future too, so there is more luck to be had there.


* lack of email reply. strong accents. bad phone lines.

Black Lips @ New Jersey

Another gig suze was keen on. I know little about their music but this snippet from Wikipedia - "The Black Lips have a reputation for crazy live shows that include vomiting, urinating, nudity, and fireworks" - and this from Loose Record - "For the record, yes, a Black Lips dude peed in his own mouth and spit[sic] it on the crowd." - make me both intrigued and scared.

For US$11, I think it's worth checking out, unless I get shat on or something.

Apartment @ Bedford-Stuyvesant

Through an internet forum, we've been offered a room in the Williamsburg-adjoining Bedford-Stuyvesent in Brooklyn.

The suburb is not ideal as it's only recently started to undergo gentrification and while we don't exactly want to be staying on Fifth Ave, living in the ghetto ain't ideal either. Maybe a nice balance in between.

On the upside the room would cost us a paltry US$12/night each and the apartment is actually the top floor of a warehouse (with 19ft ceilings) converted into a livable, and very interesting apartment. There's a shitload of pictures of the place undergoing its transformation here.

At the moment we've decided against this place in preference for the Greenpoint apartment mentioned earlier but are still waiting for confirmation of its availability. It's quite comforting to have a Plan B, though.

Second NYC Wilco Show @ Warsaw, Brooklyn.

As promised by my beloved, brooklynvegan, Wilco have announced a second NYC in response to the near immediate sell-out of Hammerstein Ballroom gig to which I fell victim.

The gig is a short walk from our intended accommodation in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The venue is called the Warsaw (at the Polish National Home) and I read that it features "Polish ladies selling sausage and beer." I don't like sausages or beer, but the idea excites me.

Anyway, tickets go on sale May 9th for this 700 capacity venue so I will have to stay up till the wee hours again to try secure a ticket.