This article was published July 31, 2002.

Suddenly, Georges Perrier is tableside, filleting the decor of his own restaurant - the familiar raspberry-walled, Louis XVI preciousness that is Le Bec-Fin.

It has been the gold standard for French formality in Philadelphia, a room he describes in his 1997 cookbook as conferring instant chaleur, "the warmth of ambience" - a flattering, intimate, welcoming space.

But that was then. This is now: "I'm changing everything," Perrier announces, his arm sweeping dismissively past marble busts and faux-marble mantles, towering mirrors, and flocked wall coverings, now referred to not as "warm" by his architect but, impatiently, "pink."

The Faberge egg on Walnut Street has been declared unfit. Frumpy. Outta here.

Ten days from now - at midnight, Aug. 10 - Le Bec will cease to exist as we know it: Two shifts of tradesmen working nonstop will strip the place down to the plaster, then recast the room in muted gold, milled chestnut woodwork, silk panels, and elaborate cornices molded by techniques nearly lost to history.

In the end, in early September, designer David Schultz says, the Louis XVI look will give way to the lighter, airier - but still formal - styling of a late-19th-century Paris salon.

It is tricky business, dismantling a legend: You don't want to alienate the loyalists who have given Le Bec an enviable 20-year run on Walnut Street. Then again, how to generate excitement?

The classic French food already has lightened up. The rigid two-seating policy is on the skids. Music will be added. But without a dining room overhaul, would anyone care?

Follow this link:
The tricky remodeling of a legend: Le Bec-Fin (2002)

The owner of a Texas roofing company faces 17 felony theft charges in Westmoreland County for allegedly failing to pay a supplier for materials and leaving property owners facing liens.

Steven Kyle Hunt, 36, of 109 Spring Creek Drive, Waxahachie, Texas, was charged this week in Hempfield District Judge Mark Mansour's office with 17 counts of theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received.

In court papers, county Detectives William Brown and Frank Galilei allege Hunt and his company, Prime Roofing Systems, received $64,534.62 in payments for materials from 17 property owners but failed to pay ABC Supply Inc. for the shingles and other supplies that were delivered to each residence.

The detectives began investigating Hunt and Prime Roofing in January after they were contacted by some of the property owners who had found mechanics' liens had been filed against their properties in county court.

The liens, filed by Wisconsin-based ABC Supply, alleged that Prime Roofing failed to pay for materials provided at the 17 job sites. The unpaid bills range from $2,184.71 to $10,974.65, according to court papers. Eleven of the properties are in Hempfield, two are in Greensburg, and one each is in South Greensburg, North Huntingdon, Scottdale and Unity.

Prime Roofing was one of many contractors who arrived in Westmoreland County last March after a tornado and hailstorm ripped through the area.

Brown and Galilei allege that Hunt, who also is known as Kyle Hunt, was listed as the contact person for Prime Roofing when the company registered to do business in Pennsylvania after the tornado. In at least one case, a homeowner was told to write a check for payment for labor and materials directly to "Kyle Hunt" because he needed to pay his workers, according to court papers.

The detectives allege that Hunt cashed the check by using his Texas driver's license at a bank in Pennsylvania. They said he identified himself as the owner of Prime Roofing on several occasions while doing business, including obtaining and returning materials, to an ABC Supply location in North Huntingdon.

Brown said on Friday that police in Texas were provided the arrest warrant for Hunt, and detectives are waiting for a response. Brown said Hunt will be extradited to Westmoreland County once he is in custody.

Brown said the state Attorney General's office plans to pursue civil litigation against Prime Roofing.

Read more from the original source:
Owner of Texas roofing company faces theft charges

March 9, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS) Vancouver Whitecaps FC VANCOUVER, BC - Starting their second season in Major League Soccer, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (6W-18L-10D in 2011) raise the curtain on their 2012 campaign by hosting Canadian arch-rivals and MLS expansion club Montreal Impact (9W-8L-11D in the 2011 North American Soccer League) in First Kick on Saturday afternoon.

This weekend's season opener provides a number of firsts for both clubs. For Whitecaps FC, Saturday's match is the start of the club's first full season on Bell Pitch at BC Place after playing the majority of their inaugural MLS campaign at Empire Field last year. The season-opening contest is also Martin Rennie's first as an MLS head coach after the Scotsman took charge of the Blue and White last November. For Montreal, March 10, 2012, will be remembered as the day the Quebec-based outfit made their MLS bow as the 19th team in the league.

Saturday's match is also Vancouver's 37th home opener since the club's first season in 1974 and the second time they have hosted Montreal in a home opener. The first time both clubs met to open the season was during the 2008 United Soccer Leagues First Division campaign when Whitecaps FC defeated the Impact 1-0 through a goal by current Montreal striker Eduardo Sebrango at Swangard Stadium on April 12, 2008. Whitecaps FC have an all-time record of 19W-13L-4D in home openers and have not lost a home opener since 2001.

Saturday's MLS season opener between Whitecaps FC and Montreal Impact on Bell Pitch at BC Place kicks off at 3 p.m. PT. Individual match tickets start at $20, plus applicable service charges, and are available at all Ticketmaster Ticket Centres, online at ticketmaster.ca, and Charge-by-Phone at 1.855.6.GO-CAPS (1.855.646.2277). CLICK HERE for more information on Whitecaps FC tickets.

Whitecaps FC's season opener versus Montreal Impact can also be seen live across Canada on TSN and RDS at 3 p.m. PT. 'Caps fans can also listen to Saturday's season opener live on TEAM 1410 radio and teamradio.ca, starting with the pre-game show at 1 p.m. PT. TEAM 1410 will also have a two-hour post-game show, which will begin following the match at around 5 p.m. PT.

WHITECAPS FC

A new season means new beginnings, and that phrase certainly holds true for Whitecaps FC, as changes were expected after a challenging first MLS season in 2011. What resulted was a very busy and fascinating off-season on Canada's west coast, as Rennie went about shaping his team. This resulted in new faces in every area of the "Caps squad, including three notable acquisitions for 2012. In December, the "Caps added South Korean World Cup star Young-Pyo Lee to their defensive backline, while at the end of January, Vancouver landed top MLS striker Sebastien Le Toux in a trade from Philadelphia Union. In mid-February, the club announced that Scottish international midfielder Barry Robson would join the "Caps in the summer following the conclusion of the current English League Championship season with Middlesbrough FC.

Over a dozen new faces have arrived in Vancouver this winter, and those additions have added more depth to the Whitecaps FC squad. Players to keep an eye on include Argentine centre back Martin Bonjour, who looked a steady presence alongside Jay DeMerit in preseason. Japanese-born Jun Marques Davidson and Englishman Matt Watson played for Rennie at Carolina RailHawks and bring added qualities to Vancouver's midfield. Whitecaps FC's highly-rated attack also includes 2012 MLS SuperDraft second overall pick Darren Mattocks. The Jamaican's speed and nose for goal may prove essential during the campaign.

Whitecaps FC are without goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre (knee), midfielder John Thorrington (quad), and striker Etienne Barbara (groin) for First Kick. Striker Atiba Harris (knee) and midfielder Michael Nanchoff (heel) is doubtful for Saturday's match, while newest signing Floyd Franks (lower back) is listed as questionable.

IMPACT

Read this article:
Whitecaps FC Start Round 2 Versus Canadian Arch-Rivals Montreal Impact

ATLANTA, March 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Storage Post Self Storage, a storage provider on the East Coast, hired Joseph Lyons as director of construction for the operations team. Lyons' main responsibilities include refreshing the appearance of store locations, managing building renovations and revitalizing real estate as marketing tools.

Lyons is a construction expert with more than 30 years of experience in the retail and storage industries. He is familiar with all aspects of construction, including ground-up construction and complete renovations. Previously, Lyons worked with nationally recognized florist, 1-800-FLOWERS, building the company 50 stores over 10 years.

"Joe comes to Storage Post with an impressive and successful real estate revitalization and construction past. He has a remarkable eye for turning a building into a branded, smooth-operating marketing and operations asset," said Jack Chaney, Storage Post's chief operating officer. "With Joe joining the team, we know we can increase our visibility and attract more customers with our properties."

Storage Post is committed to rebranding assets by hiring exceptional talent and leaders in the industry. In addition to location updates, strategies for online marketing, the website, graphics and messaging have been revisited in order to further develop Storage Post's brand and consumer recognition.

Lyons lives in East Northport, New York with his wife and five children and will work from Storage Post's northeast regional office in New York.

About Storage Post

Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Storage Post is a leading self storage company that focuses on quality products, operational excellence and positive customer service. Storage Post has locations throughout the East Coast and is actively pursuing self storage acquisitions. For more information on Storage Post acquisitions and its executive leadership team, visit http://www.storagepost.com.

SOURCE Storage Post Self Storage

See the original post:
Storage Post Self Storage Hires Construction Expert to Oversee Building Renovations

It's the magic phrase uttered by almost anyone who's ever considered the cost of home remodeling: "We'll get it back when we sell."

Unless you keep those projects practical, though, you might just be kidding yourself.

For example:

Steel front door: Good.

Master-suite addition costing more than the average American home: Bad.

Every year, Remodeling magazine looks at the hottest home upgrades and renovations and calculates how much owners get back when they sell.

Upkeep is more popular than upgrades these days, says Sal Alfano, editorial director for Remodeling. These are the projects that often recoup the biggest slice of expenses at resale. But prices and returns do vary regionally, he says.

Ever wonder what brings the lowest return when you plant that "for sale" sign? Think high-dollar, high-end and highly personalized add-ons that make you drool. Like a totally tricked-out garage built from the ground up. Or a superluxe master-suite addition. Or the home-office redo designed just for you.

Here are the six improvements that rank dead last nationally when it comes to getting those renovation dollars back at resale.

1. Home office

View original post here:
6 home renovations whose cost might not be recouped at resale

The future for backyard decks has never looked better. Finally, a lifetime paver deck that does not require maintenance or replacing is available at a price that competes with a traditional cedar or composite deck.

Sault Ste Marie, ON (PRWEB) March 09, 2012

"The Paverdeck system is a game-changer that simply exceeds all other decking systems currently in the marketplace, said John Naccarato, president of Evolutiondeck Inc. The galvanized steel platform is designed to last at least 60 years and supports a wide range of stone or concrete pavers, readily available at any budget. Customers want affordability and confidence in their deck investment, which drove us to develop a more affordable concrete paver deck.

When you factor in the lifespan of the Paverdeck system, this type deck is actually less expensive than any traditional deck, and will hold its value over time because it does not need replacing, said Joe Severini, Evolutiondeck Vice President. The Paverdeck system is made with recycled steel content, is the only deck with a zero-carbon footprint during use, and is itself 100 percent recyclable. The Paverdeck system has the potential to save millions of acres of forests and will never see a landfill or incinerator.

Concrete or stone pavers can be applied in any pattern to provide a truly distinctive look at any budget, and generally concrete pavers come with a lifetime warranty. Concrete, stone and steel are the only materials with a proven history of surviving decades of exposure to the sun and weather note the Coliseum in Rome is over 1900 years old with walls made from stone held together with iron clamps. Backed with the industrys only 30-year structural warranty, there is not a traditional or composite/PVC deck that can outlast or outperform a Paverdeck.

Evolutiondeck Inc., an engineering company founded in 2007, has roots from the automotive and steel industries, and manufactures the Paverdeck system for custom and DIY installations. Material kits are available online or from regional dealers. For more information about the Paverdeck system, visit http://www.paverdeck.com, http://www.facebook/paverdeck, or contact mail(at)paverdeck(dot)com. Paverdeck is a registered trademark under license to Evolutiondeck Inc.

John Naccarato Evolutiondeck Inc. 1-800-725-5228 1 Email Information

Read the original post:
Lifetime No-Maintenance Paverdeck Redefines the Standard in Decking - Now Available at a Cost to Compete with ...

Back in the day, when I delivered newspapers on porches, driveways and peoples mailboxes, I had no idea Id spend a life pursuing the dream of writing in those things. As I began to work myself into the mix school publications, internships with the dailies, college and, eventually, hooking on with a full-time job I had to laugh at the irony of the business.

There were war correspondents risking their lives, political beat writers battling the back-and-forth misery and hypocrisy of those serving in office, not to mention cop reporters scanning the daily police logs in search of stories throughout all those naked cities.

Back at the office, there were people selling advertising, backroom workers piecing together newspapers, plus the ink-stained pressmen risking mangled fingers in all that machinery.

All those people college-educated, lifelong technicians and trained sales people were each in pursuit of the same goal: To develop and publish a daily newspaper, which one former editor used to call, History on the run.

Those days? Gone forever.

Thats why Im on the fence about the way pro football teams might be viewing the candidacy of Ronnie Fouch, the ex-Redlands East Valley QB, whos seeking a career in the National Football League.

In the old days, guys scouted kids playing a college game, try and size them up and bring them along slowly if they got drafted and eventually made an NFL roster. Today, its a whole new game. Anyone hear of the scouting combine?

On the surface, after viewing Andrew Luck and Heisman Trophy winner Ryan Griffin III, most casual observers would say, Ronnies got no chance.

Luck and RG II are trailed by the new hot guy, Ryan Tannehill.Brandon Weeden of Oklahoma State, Brock Osweiler of Arizona State and Michigan States Kirk Cousins, who threw well at the combine, are more pro-ready right now. Tannehill could go as high as eight to Miami, to be reunited with his former college coach at Texas A&M, Mike Sherman, on Joe Philbins new Dolphin coaching staff.

Among the NFL combine experts we heard from, Tannehills got some gaps in his game and could be picked higher than he should go, the same way Christian Ponder and Jake Locker went higher than most football people expected last April.

See more here:
Here’s an idea in search of a good pro QB

See how this list compares to last year'sremodeling projects with big payoffs.

Most homeowners know exactly what they would do to change their current home into their dream home: gut the kitchen, reconfigure the bathroom or repaint the entire exterior. But what if you're ideal renovations don't yield any return?

The key to investing in your home is doing it wisely, making sure you recoup at least some of the cost upon the sale of your home. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) and Remodeling Magazine recently released their 2011-2012 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, and the findings prove you don't have to spend a ton of money to add to your home's resale value.

Exterior renovations dominated the list of cost-effective projects. "This year's Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report shows the value of putting your home's best facade forward, so to speak," said NAR President Moe Veissi. "Inexpensive exterior replacement projects are not only crucial to a home's regular upkeep, but are also expected to recoup close to 70 percent of costs."

So, without further ado, here are some of the home improvement projects which will get you the most bang for your buck:

Go here to read the rest:
Home improvement projects with big payoffs

PollyBro Home Remodeling shares expertise with homeowners and makes a donation to The Wounded Warriors Project in the name of all new clients.

Pittsburgh, PA (PRWEB) March 09, 2012

Homeowners use their bathrooms as a way to relax and wind down after a hectic day, says Andrew Parrott, owner of Pollybro Home Remodeling which primarily focuses on bathroom remodels and tile work. Master bathrooms are becoming sanctuaries. People want luxury. They want to feel like theyre going to a spa.

The following are some new trends to help make a bathroom a quiet, peaceful place to unwind:

Large and luxurious walk-in showers

Larger shower stalls with rain showerheads and multiple body jets, as well as steam showers, are becoming more popular. Custom shower systems outperform other areas in the bathroom in terms of where people are spending money, Andrew says. With homeowners planning to stay in their homes longer, some clients are even opting for the European doorless showers that allow a homeowner to continue to use the fixture as they get older and lose mobility.

Bring in the light

Many homeowners are adding windows and skylights to bring in the sunshine and make a bathroom brighter. A less expensive option: adding a bit of glamorous lighting such as a small hanging crystal light feature. For the truly luxurious experience, add a fireplace or open flame fire feature.

Make a bathroom into a mini-den

Framed mirrors, remote control TVs and stereos, and in-floor heating are making bathrooms feel as comfortable as other rooms in the house.

See the rest here:
Top Pittsburgh Bathroom Remodeling Company PollyBro Home Remodeling Announces New Trends in Bathroom Remodeling

MYFOXNY.COM - John Street between Broadway and Nassau Street in Lower Manhattan has five major construction projects all going on simultaneously. The trucks, saws, and cement mixers are loud.

Barbara Minsky's apartment building has a crane next to it. Pace University is building a dormitory on the corner of John Street and Broadway. Across the street the MTA is restoring a landmark building connected to the future Fulton Street transfer station. A hotel is under construction on John. Con Edison is putting in new gas lines beneath the street. And the city is putting in new sidewalks and water lines by John and Nassau.

Who allowed so many projects? Answer: the city's Lower Manhattan Construction Command Center and Department of Buildings. A spokesman said DOB gave permission for construction work from 6 a.m. to midnight at 182 Broadway by John Street. But the spokesman claims DOB has received no complaints.

Catherine Hughes, the vice chair of Community Board 1, said dozens of people angrily complained at Tuesday's board meeting. Hughes said some concessions have been made. Con Ed will finish in two weeks, and deliveries will begin at 7 a.m. -- not 6 a.m.

Local small businesses are hurting. Roxy Diner has been on John Street for 40 years, and now the construction has driven away customers. Thomas Tsolomytis, the owner, said he worries he may have to close the shop. He said business is worse than after 9/11.

Some construction workers say these projects means hundreds jobs for them and when completed would aid in he economic recovery of Lower Manhattan after 9/11.

See the rest here:
Lower Manhattan Construction Noise