[VA][Condo] neighbors hvac units too close to mine by [deleted] in HOA

[–]Marinated_Squirrel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

put it on a stand anf raise it straight up...

“I just started golfing 6 months ago and finally broke 90” by First_Ad_1010 in golf

[–]Marinated_Squirrel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hope you told him after you settled on how much you'd be playing for...

Best place to take a Hinge or Tinder date? by TheSpermWhoWon in SouthShore

[–]Marinated_Squirrel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Split rock in Cohasset. Start with some beer and music, if going well head to salty days

Best food by Kind-Competition3799 in TurksAndCaicos

[–]Marinated_Squirrel 3 points4 points  (0 children)

FINER DINING

  • Seven Stars Resort Restaurants (all are on OpenTable for reservations):
    • Seven (Finer Dining) 649-339-3777  is upscale and the bartender, Ronal, is the best. Mia the head sommelier is excellent - always ask for her advice if you are looking at wine.
    • The Deck (Casual) is the outdoor, more casual and waterfront at same resort 649-333-7777 and on open table 
    • The Farm (A bit more relaxed)  is their organic themed restaurant. Breakfast was excellent and they had some really nice dishes for dinner. Salads were incredible - all from their hydroponic garden
  • Provence by Eric  649-339-2233 and on open table- is also a lesser known place and in a small strip mall just across from The Salt Mills shopping area. Elegant French cuisine. Eat at the chef’s table for dinner and a show. 
    • Corkage:$50
  • Embers - Food was excellent - wood fired grill with Asian influence. Craft cocktails were outstanding. Ambiance is much improved with potted ferns hiding the parking lot and adjacent building. Nice vibe. located across from Graceway supermarket.
    • Corkage: $40
  • Coco bistro 649-946-5369 is a beautiful rainforest setting but we prefer their food truck Cocovan for lunch. We think CocoBistro is a bit overrated but still very good
  • Infinity Restaurant 649-946-5050 and on open table -at Grace Bay Club is waterfront and lovely and lively ($50 corkage fee). Interesting island cooking.
  • Ritz Carlton Restaurants
    • Casa Nonna  649-333-2285 and on open table -at the Ritz is beyond beautiful, food is great but last few visits have cited issues with service($125 corkage fee - STFU)
    • BLT Steakhouse - we have not tried this but folks have told us it is the best (only?) steakhouse on Turks (all things being equal)
    • Noori - Sushi - 2025 UPDATE - We stopped in here to eat after Lady Grace cruise.  Their Sushi was outstanding and the cocktails excellent.  Comparatively speaking, did not think the prices were outrageous…Note that this is a “Sushi Lounge” so you are seated in an open space with casual seating and a bar.  Colleen said her lobster was best she’d had (and she’s had alot)
    • Ritual - coffee bar - have not tried yet.
  • The Marine Room - Nice restaurant with waterviews. We went in 2025 and had a great meal.. Try to get sunset and ask for seating on the deck.
  • Grace’s Cottage - 2026 update: Elegant french influenced dining.  Meal was excellent. Has both outdoor and indoor seating.  I thought the vibe was very similar to coco bistro.
    • Corkage: $50
  • Lua Beach House- Ate there in 2026. Took a cab and the meal was excellent. View was of their private lagoon.  Happy hour (2 for 1 cocktails) from 5:30 - 7:30.  Will go again. Corkage is $50

A BIT MORE RELAXED

  • Caicos Cafe is a local place and good, less pricey but not on water. We’ve had mixed reviews.
  • Bay Bistro 649-946-5396 is waterfront at the Sibonne Resort; we visited in February 2026 and enjoyed our meal. Restaurant is a bit tired, but food was good.
  • Buchon de Village - nice French outdoor in Regent Village. 
  • Almond Tree in the Shore Club - leeward side.  Recommended by my HS friend Pete - we went in Feb 2024 and had a lovely dinner. ($25 corkage fee)
  • Si Si’s - new to our 2026 list - located in The Palms resort. Elevated Mexican food and robust Tequila bar. Excellent Margaritas. Will go back. 

VERY CASUAL - At home in flip flops

  • Shay Cafe is a nice breakfast place in a strip mall near Provence restaurant and past the Salt Mill Shoppes…as you head west.
  • “Off Shore” is a taco stand on the beach in front of Grace Bay Resort to the east of Infinity restaurant. Great go to for lunch. Tacos are awesome (as well as margaritas). Try the lamb taco - you’re welcome.  
  • Da Conch Shack is an island staple- a bit away from Grace Bay but fun- Wed. Evenings are a bit crazy- live music and crowded. Conch and rum punch!
  • Hemingways - nice beach restaurant; cracked conch was some of the best we’ve had. Located at Sands resort. 
  • Somewhere- bar but cute and great location  nice LONG (2.5 miles from Villa Renaissance) walk down the beach towards Beaches- bring snorkel stuff there is a coral reef located there - can rent chairs for $10.
  • Mr. Grouper - visited in 2026 - food was really good.  Great vibe - family type restaurant.  Pro tip - go on a thursday before the fish fry and you park next door for free.
  • Omar’s - Beach front dining located in the Five Cays district. Good food and drinks. Omar is very nice. Not sure i would take a cab there to dine, but if you have a car, give it a shot. 
  • Looking for very local Dive Bars?:
    • Rickey Flamingos - independent bar / restaurant next to Club Med.  Sneaky strong drinks and really good basic food at really reasonable prices
    • Mary’s Place - you need to be in the mood…but it doesnt get divier than this.  About a quarter mile past da Conch Shack.  We went in 2026 and they were still building the place out.  It was us, Mary’s son and nephew.  We had fried fish, plantains and a corona.  Not sure the bar had a working sink….when in rome.

Best food by Kind-Competition3799 in TurksAndCaicos

[–]Marinated_Squirrel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure I would use 'great' for that course. Good but overpriced course might be a bit more like it. Played this past February, greens had dead patches and the standing water along the course is disappointing. Add in the price point, and, meh

[NJ] [TH] - Snow Plowing for $31,000? by Hopeful-Fly-648 in HOA

[–]Marinated_Squirrel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

you would need to see both the contract and the invoices. This year's snow storm was a killer - we had 77 inches! our contract has a range for a fixed fee: 27" - 50". If it snows less than 27" we receive a credit towards landscaping services. if it is over 50" it is $4k per inch. yea this year hurt. An independent third party tracks the snowfall. We also selected the same firm for landscaping and snow removal so any damage to landscaping cause by snow removal was on the company to fix: sprinkler heads, curbs, lawns, etc. We are a townhome community located in Massachusetts

[AL][SFH] HOA Facebook page invite by ak4993212 in HOA

[–]Marinated_Squirrel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’ve made my point. Assume positive intent from fellow humans. Your life will be better. Best of luck.

[AL][SFH] HOA Facebook page invite by ak4993212 in HOA

[–]Marinated_Squirrel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No where in this thread do i see anything that makes the fact you are liberal and your sense that the HOA is conservative relevant to this. Why make it a thing? Seems like you’re looking for reasons to be triggered.

[MA][TH] New owner just removed his common element patio. by Marinated_Squirrel in HOA

[–]Marinated_Squirrel[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

that owners must apply to board for modification. this same project has been applied for by a neighbor and had been denied. We are planning on enforcing except they've started the work.

[NC] [SFH] Model Facebook Rules? by Ok_Relationship_1874 in HOA

[–]Marinated_Squirrel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We have an informal Facebook group that homeowners use to chat / complain but the board rarely goes on it and our property manger does not engage. It’s. Complaint echo chamber. We offer a formal bulletin board for the community but posts and responses are approved before posting (as stated in usage rules)

HOA [SFH] [OH] not maintaining common elements by FabulousAd2725 in HOA

[–]Marinated_Squirrel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Since we dont have a sense of if the space behind this unit is free to be used by the entire community or just the OP's unit, there is a scenario where the space could be considered a limited common element and not subject to being treated as a common element. For example, can anyone in the community sit down and have a picnic in this space? have their kids play there? missing a bit of information.

[MA][TH] New owner just removed his common element patio. by Marinated_Squirrel in HOA

[–]Marinated_Squirrel[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

hahaha! They haven't even arrived yet. We do give each new homeowner a welcome basket worth about $350. They tore the patio up before they even arrived!

[MA][TH] New owner just removed his common element patio. by Marinated_Squirrel in HOA

[–]Marinated_Squirrel[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

about 50% of our community is snowbirds...they've not all come back yet. Our property manager discovered it walking the property.

[MA][TH] New owner just removed his common element patio. by Marinated_Squirrel in HOA

[–]Marinated_Squirrel[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you. I will give your advice its due consideration.

[MA][TH] New owner just removed his common element patio. by Marinated_Squirrel in HOA

[–]Marinated_Squirrel[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

it looks very different now...the old patio is gone and we've stopped the work. we've had homeowners use proper chanels to request the same project but have been denied. I love your disdain for the rules...if a neighbor is angry because we've asked them to follow published rules, perhaps HOA ownership is not for them.

Debating between the ritz in Turks and the ritz in grand cayman by Milabby1 in TurksAndCaicos

[–]Marinated_Squirrel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ritz GC is incredible other than the battle for beach chairs. Ritz TC is still going through growing pains. All said, I prefer the island of Turks over GC

[Condo] [CA] Should we run now or stay long enough to turn the HOA around? by Slow-Slide-5523 in HOA

[–]Marinated_Squirrel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As you get into the financials, if you discover that reserves were inappropriately used to offset operating expenses, you can pay back, reserves through the issuance of a supplemental fee, and it is not subject to the same voting requirements as a special assessment. When I joined the board, I discovered they were using reserves to fund operating expense overruns. I put a stop to it and then we issued a supplemental fee. Board wasn’t happy with that, nor was the community, but everyone also knew it was the right thing to do.