so.. it's 46 degrees in my studio... commercial laws?

Oh, and I've been looking everywhere for Bonito Flakes. People are looking at me like I am crazy (more than usual)...although finally one guy on 7th Ave gave me something called kitty caviar at $5 for a can (think 'potato sticks' can). it references bonito flakes, so maybe that's it? either way, my boos ate that shit up like crazy

Yes Flexi - Kitty Cavier is bonita flakes. It's a bunch of smelly flakes, isn't it? They love it, right????

brooklynpotter wrote: geez, i go to jersey for the night and i miss everything!

Potter - you went to NJ? Why?

whoa. my kittehs would go ape shit:

http://www.amazon.com/NEW-6-PACK-Kitty-Kaviar/dp/B000OSL2J6/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1227491599&sr=8-2

VoodooNYC wrote: [quote=Flexichick]whoa. my kittehs would go ape shit:

http://www.amazon.com/NEW-6-PACK-Kitty-Kaviar/dp/B000OSL2J6/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1227491599&sr=8-2

Giant can goes for about 8$ - that Amazon thing is a very good deal. But I dunno Flex, buy local I say. Keep your local pet guy in business!

agree, but it was very hard to find locally.

VoodooNYC wrote: I buy at it the store on Smith and Bergen. Big orange awning. They do kitteh adoptions almost every weekend as well. GREAT store.

thanks. Next time I'm that way, I'll check it out

arches wrote: [quote=VoodooNYC][quote=Flexichick]whoa. my kittehs would go ape shit:

http://www.amazon.com/NEW-6-PACK-Kitty-Kaviar/dp/B000OSL2J6/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1227491599&sr=8-2

Giant can goes for about 8$ - that Amazon thing is a very good deal. But I dunno Flex, buy local I say. Keep your local pet guy in business!

You can get bonito flakes at most Asian markets... best chances at a Japanese market. $5 for 3.5 oz seems a lot cheaper than $30 for 6 ounces of kitty kaviar. http://www.asianfoodgrocer.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1148 As long as you don't get cat slobber on it, you can also use it to make broth for miso soup.

Who knew? Thanks - that's really interesting!

[quote=Mougar]

the cake is a lie!

FWIW, I don't have a good price on bonito flakes but I think I have a solution to your heat problem. Maybe they've turned the heat up by now so this is for my own benefit. You can not bring this issue to court if you are a unacknowledged subtenant. So if you don't have legal acknowledgment from the LL, in writing or the attention of the over tenant stop reading now.

There are 2 things we have to discern.
First, the Lease. If it is a REBNY lease or equivalent then it has a clause early on saying LL is required to give heat such and such hours. If LL intended for tenant to produce his own heat then that clause is "lined out". If it is not lined out then LL is required to give heat. The question is how much heat, the clause doesn't say and 46 degrees is" heat". Let's look at the lease again. Somewhere on the first page there is usually a space for filling in for what purpose the space is to be used for. I'm gong to say "artist studios", what ever that means. You need to find, in the OSHA Standards a definition you can apply to what you legally do in the "artist studio" and look for what the expected OSHA temperature should be. With this definition you and the other subtenants and the over tenant could reduce rent based on the "constructive eviction" statute. Now you might be saying, "But modsquad, you have to actually vacate to use constructive eviction!" This is normally true, but I propose you call this a "partial constructive eviction". Everybody keep temperature records and when it is too cold to work then you vacate. Do you have 24 hr access? You can easily vacate for the night.
What if the clause doesn't even exist? I think you said that early on. OK, look around the space. there appears to be radiators. Might a reasonable person expect the radiators to work and not be there for decoration? I think so. By not addressing the heat issue in the lease, the LL has said he will provide heat by the existence of radiators in the space. Therefore the OSHA standard scheme could be applied again.

The other scenario: LL has crossed out all heat clauses and has written in that Tenant is required to provide heat. The possibilities are:

Gas: If you have a separate gas line and permission from LL to vent out a window. A large overhead gas fired blower $500 would heat the space quickly. You won't get permission to install this because the building's insurance carrier and ISO have given these buildings a low rate because of the centrally located LL controlled boiler.

Electric: Unless you have at least 200amp 3 phase service there is no way you could generate enough electric heat to keep the place warm on the coldest days. Actually maybe you have electric Kilns, but they alone would take all the power. To run new electric risers to your space the LL would have to give over space in the halls and stairwell to run 2" conduits. Another scenario LL is unlikely to allow. This would also be the case if you had no gas line in the space.

The point is that both the gas and electric schemes would probably not be permitted because he would have to allow others to clutter the public spaces with pipe. The partial constructive eviction could be applied again.

You would definitely need a lawyer to run this scheme. You would have to set aside the rent based on a temperature diary of sorts. It is likely a decent lawyer could convince a judge of the merits of this case and just the hint of possibly ruling in your favor will quickly bring the LL around.

glad your toes havent turned black...
best of luck

i saw a commercial last nite for some Amish made "magic heat" thing.
basically what looks like a wood radiator enclosure with some kinda fireplace / heat element.
and its on wheels.
"even grandma can roll it down the hall "



ive no idea if its legit but i couldnt help but think of you.