Bloomberg makes the right move
June 20, 2007 at 5:36 pm | In bloomberg, manhattan, new york, politics, usa | 2 Comments
By no way do I consider myself an authority on American politics, but I do believe it was a very smart move by NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg to quit the embattled Republican party and reposition himself as an independant.
By politically disassociating himself with Bush and pals and furthermore, by not returning to his old party, the Democrats, Bloomberg positions himself strongly for the White House as a true independent. Bearing in mind that in 2001, right after 9-11, Bloomberg joined the Republicans when New York and the rest of the country was standing with Bush and Rudy. Now however, for the most part, the Republicans are a bunch of losers, and there really is nobody in the Democratic party that’s looking much better either. So Bloomberg proves himself to be politically astute. Besides that, he’s done a pretty good job in managing New York City these past 6 years. Just look at the Manhattan property market, when compared with the rest of the country.
New York vs London
March 20, 2007 at 3:48 pm | In london, new york | Leave a Comment
and guess how they behave while they’re living in New York
Google Maps: Crime, Coffee Mashup!
October 4, 2006 at 5:57 am | In crime, google maps, new york | 1 CommentFor the bankrobber who needs that extra caffeine boost; Curbed NY is offering the ultimate crimecoffee mashup! 
Sweet, check it out here
Why did Trump fire Carolyn? (is it all about the hair?)
September 25, 2006 at 8:39 am | In celebrity, donald trump, media, new york | Leave a Comment
Last month, “The Donald” controversially used his signature “You’re fired” line on Apprentice’ co-star, Carolyn Kepcher, in favour of his 24 year old daughter Ivanka; critics openly questioned his judgement
Well, the truth can now be revealed and according to The New York Times it’s really all about “the hair“.
The Times quotes professor Michael Morris, of Columbia Business School, who espouces the “upward social comparison” theory, which he claims Trump indirectly used as justification for sacking his former protégé:
To illustrate this theory … Dr. Morris noted that if the public liked Ms. Kepcher for her hair style, Mr. Trump wouldn’t have minded. “His hair is not a domain in which he takes a lot of pride, but if (the public) said she had better judgment than he, there would be the threat of jealousy,’’ according to Dr. Morris.
Perhaps, if Trump had more pride in his hairstyle, the outcome would have been different. Trump dismisses this theory, arguing that he fired Carolyn “for her own good”. Trump offers a more indepth look at his decision making process via his Apprentice Blog: It’s good to question yourself before making decisions …. this sometimes produces anxiety, which is natural.”
“Carolyn was very good, … I like Carolyn. What I did was for her own good.’’ he was also quoted as saying.
[via NYT]
$70 million for Manhattan penthouse
September 18, 2006 at 3:20 am | In hotels, luxury, manhattan, new york | Leave a Comment
The 5-bed, 3-floor penthouse at Manhattan’s Pierre Hotel is now on the market for a cool $70 mill. Originally, the hotel’s ballroom but has since been converted according to the listing. With a $44,000 / year service charge and a 42% tax discount, it may not be such a bad investment after all ???
UPDATE: Money manager Martin Zweig, bought the property in 1999 for $21.5 million, then a record for a Manhattan apartment, from Australian publishing heiress Lady Mary Fairfax. If Zweig gets his asking price, it would be a 31% profit in just 7 years and set another record for Manhattan.
[via Miller Samuel]
NYT kills the blog, launches new websites
September 12, 2006 at 4:39 pm | In blogging, media, new york | Leave a CommentThe New York Times decided to scrap the acclaimed “Walk Through” blog, which focused on the national real estate market in the US. However, the media powerhouse announced the launch of new real estate websites including:
- Great Homes, which focuses on east coast prime luxury and vacation properties, providing news, information and search facilities; as well as
- Home Finance Center, which mainly focuses on mortgage news and information and
- “Key” a new online magazine with a real estate focus; as well as
- a new service for mobile phones
What went wrong for Walk Through?
Well according to Media Mob; Times online editor Jonathan Landman, stated that Walk Through was shut down because: “The real estate blog was a national real estate blog [and the] real estate that seems to really get people involved is local. It’s the local that grabs you by the throat. We’re experimenting, growing them, seeing what happens, what works, what doesn’t work, what gets people engaged,” Landman said.
Jonathan Miller has an interesting view as to why Walk Through failed and some good advice tips for bloggers in general and real estate bloggers in particular. The crux of his thesis is that Walk Trough not only lost it’s focus, but also lost it’s passion, which is something very difficult for a mainstream media outlet to implement, in a subject like real estate, which so many people feel so passionate about. Miller feels that:
At the end of the day, it was a noble attempt at something that it is difficult for Big Media to pull off. They had Damon Darlin, a prolific writer for the business section to be the primary contributor plus a slew of other writers. The business section was the driver of the blog rather than the real estate section, which I didn’t quite understand, but nevertheless, it had all the pedigree it needed to be successful, yet it wasn’t.
The Walk-through started out fairly benign but was skewered alive when it took on the bubble bloggers. The reader’s response was rapid and readers pulled no punches.
After that difficult period, its content then seemed to lose its identity. It couldn’t address the question: Was their a real estate bubble? Not that it had to have an answer, but bubble bloggers wanted a commitment. Shortly after this period, the content reverted to its original safe format as if those responsible lost interest and the quantity of posts seemed to ease off.
Not to mention the lack and inconsistency of posts. Miller highlights 8 items he feels makes a blog work, and at the top of the list is “consistency” i.e – post every day if possible. Easier said than done for most of us “part-time bloggers”; but shouldn’t have been so difficult for somebody who was getting paid for it . At least a few times a week would have been adequate
New Look for Ground Zero
September 11, 2006 at 8:33 am | In freedom-tower, new york | Leave a Commentvia Observer Real Estate:
Freedom Tower (David Childs) as we know and love it; and designs unveiled today for 200 Greenwich Street (or Tower 2, by Sir Norman Foster), 175 Greenwich Street (or Tower 3, by Sir Richard Rogers), and 150 Greenwich Street (or Tower 4 by Fumihiko Maki).
Condo Conversion: New York’s Hit Factory Studios
August 10, 2006 at 5:56 am | In condo, new york, urban, usa | Leave a Comment
In another sign that the music industry is not what it used to be, (imagine Jay-Z now touts water as opposed to Crystal) legendary New York “Hit Factory” studios (where John Lennon got shot and Biggie Smalls recorded Ready to Die); has also sadly come to an end. The announcement this week by upmarket developers Sibling that the studios that recorded some of the biggest hit records the world has known will be converted into 27 luxurious apartments ranging between $1-4 million with completion expected early next year. The studio was sold to developers last year after the founder Ed Germano died and the business moved to Miami.
Germano bought the 100,000 square-foot facility in 1975 and his reputation for doing anything and everything to make visiting musicians happy was legendary. He would rip up carpeting if it bothered the eye, or fill a studio with hay to make a country musician feel more at home, according to MTV. No word yet whether the developers plan to maintain the same level of service, although word is they plan to keep the building name “Hit Factory”
Manhattan Bulding Collapses
July 10, 2006 at 5:50 pm | In crime, new york | Leave a Comment.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; }
(AP) — A four-story building on Manhattan’s East Side went up in flames and collapsed Monday after what witnesses said was a thunderous explosion that rocked the upscale neighborhood. The cause was not immediately known, but the White House said there was no indication of terrorism. Authorities said two civilians were transported to New York Hospital, and one firefighter suffered neck and back injuries and was taken to a hospital. Fire Department spokesman Jim Long said firefighters were digging someone out of the rubble and that they were talking to the person. source
UPDATE (via Observer)
At 7:30 a.m. on July 10, 66-year-old cardiologist Nicholas Bartha sent a puzzling e-mail to scads of prominent New Yorkers, which began with stories from his childhood in Transylvania and evolved into a rant against political correctness, his co-workers, judges, and especially his ex-wife, to whom he directed the following:
When you read this lines your life will change forever. You will be transformed from gold digger to ash and rubbish digger. You always wanted me to sell the house I always told you “I will leave the house only if I am dead ” You ridiculed me. You should have taken it seriously.
An hour later, the building of which he was the sole occupant, at 34 East 62nd Street, melted in a fireball.
Download the whole e-mail in PDF format here.
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