Shaun Rice

It's no secret that our economy has been on a downhill slant this year. Thousands of Americans are out of work - or have been forced into pay cuts, part time positions, etc. Well my mama always said "When life gives you lemons - make some lemonade."

Are Landlords exempt from this recession? Of course not - in fact landlords everywhere are coming to terms with their tenants' reduced income situations. If you find yourself cutting corners just to survive - then here are three routes to lowering your monthly rent.

Make Your Pay Cut An Advantage
People's situations have changed. If you're making less money, but still paying your rent on time - you may find your landlord agreeable to lowering your rent. I think you'll find that the prospect of losing a good tenant in this market might be worth a $100 or so less a month to your landlord. Though be careful with this approach (especially in a Condo/Co-Op situation), since your pay decrease might also make you ineligible to live in the building due to board regulations.

Extend Your Lease Early
If you are about two months away from your lease being up, call your landlord and see if you can schmooze a lower rate for a year or two extension. Longer leases make your landlord happy because they know that they are holding onto tenants they have a good relationship with already. Don't wait til the last minute though - you don't want to give the impression of "pulling the wool over their eyes."

Use The Economy Card
Remember, a BUYERS market is also a TENANTS market. Rental rates are decreasing rapidly. Do your research and find out what similar apartments in your neighborhood are going for nowadays. 10 to 1, your landlord will accept a competitive offer in place of taking a gamble on finding a new tenant. A local Realtor might be willing to assist you here - or you can try sites like PadMapper or MyApartmentMap to check out your neighbors' monthlies

You'd better believe that Pride March vets have well-worn approaches when it comes to dealing with the million-plus spectators and 500,000 participants that will pack the route. So newbies, take note: Whether you plan to be a street walker or a curb squatter, you're best off heeding our practiced advice.

Choose your real estate wisely
The formation area is between Madison and Seventh Aves from 52nd to 57th Streets. Get there nice and early-by 11am at least-to find the group you're marching with and to ensure a comfy, prominent spot on your float. If you just like to watch, think about what kind of experience you'd like to have and position yourself accordingly. A day of shopping with the march as a fun background soundtrack? Stay in the 40s. Lots of elbow room and a festive but mellow vibe? Check out the 30s and 20s, and even the high teens. You'll find belly-of-the-beast mayhem just north and west of Washington Square Park, and along 8th and Christopher Streets to the river. Get to your spot by noon (when the march kicks off uptown) and you'll most likely be able to snag a lamppost, mailbox or nice patch of sidewalk-or at least a nice bit of a police barricade to lean against. Bring your own chair if you must (it's at least a five-hour affair, after all), but know that crowds might squeeze it out of existence by mid-afternoon.

Pack a bag
Whether you're marching or watching, make like a good scout and be prepared! Charring your torso to crimson is sure to ruin your night of bumping and grinding, whether you're heading to the pier dance or your favorite club, so bring some sunblock, okay? You might even want to work a hat or parasol into your getup. Dehydration won't help, either, so save the booze till nightfall and instead take nips of the bottle of water you'll have with you. Finally, if you've got yourself wedged into a good spot, you'll be loath to leave it to forage for food, no matter how lightheaded you feel. Do yourself a favor and bring some snacks-protein bars, fruit, even a PB&J sandwich.

Have a post-march plan
The last Sunday in June is notoriously hectic, and it's never a good idea to just wing it when it comes to leaving the scene. If it's the Dance on the Pier or the women's Rapture on the River you're after, do yourself a favor and buy your tickets in advance; you'll not only save money (paying $70 rather than $85 for Dance on the Pier and $25 rather than $35 for Rapture; visit nycpride.org for ticket outlets), you'll ensure entry, as these events tend to sell out. And if you'd rather hit your favorite bar or club, choose a couple favorites before even setting out that day. You're likely to be delirious from the sun, the noise and the crowds, which will make it hard to come to a decision once the march winds down and the party really gets started.

Hear ye, Hear ye!

Tammy Dalton, the Home Pricing Specialist here at the Ruby Slipper's Team was recently awarded a huge honor. By proving her love of the Queens area and her devotion to the GLBT community, she was elected Miss Astoria and became one of the top 10 finalists in the First Annual Miss New York Fag Hag Pageant. We are both very proud that she has been recognized by our friends and family in the local GLBT community.

Way To Go Tammy!

As we get closer and closer to Halloween, I thought it would be fun to discover some of the more "haunted" sites around Queens. The New York area comprises some of the oldest sites in American history - so there are bound to be a few ghosts hanging around...

Fort Totten

In 1857, the US government purchased the fort at Willets Point, just north of Bayside from the Willet family. Five years later construction began on what would become Fort Totten, which played a major role in protecting the entrance to the East River between the Civil War and World War I. In 1898, it was renamed for Brevet Major General Joseph Totten, a man with a distinguished military career who fought and served as chief engineer in several wars, including the Civil War. Throughout the years the site has been used as the headquarters of the Eastern Defense command's Anti-Aircraft Command, headquarters for the Air Transport Command's North Atlantic region, headquarters for more than half of the Nike missle sites in the nation, and home to the 77th Regional Readiness Command of the US Army Reserves.

In 2004, the federal government transferred 49.5 of Fort Totten's 147 acres over to the City of New York Parks and Recreation Department, which officially opened Fort Totten Park the following year. It includes 11 historic buildings plus a pre-Civil War battery and a 13-acre parade ground. It is also home to the Bayside Historical society and the EMS Academy (Battalion 53) Fire Department of the City of New York.

A fireman with Battalion 53 claims that nearly everybody who works there hears voices in Building 305 when they are alone. Sometimes the voices are right beside them, and sometimes they are coming from behind the closed doors of bathrooms and classrooms for the EMS training academy. But when the doors are opened, the rooms are found vacant. Lights and bathroom fixtures turn themselves on, and television sets change channels on their own. Shadows are sometimes seen under doors, as if someone is walking by on the other side of the door in an empty room. An actual apparition of a woman in white has been seen floating across the grounds. The legend is that the wife of a general hanged herself when she learned of her husband's affairs. The two-story, red-brick office building known as Building 323 is currently boarded up, but photographs and temperature readings taken by a team of paranormal investigators led the team to believe that 323 is haunted as well...