Photos From The Weekend

Polished up for my cousin's Sweet 16 at SoHo house.


New graduates, take note!


And of course, Peppe.

Quote Of The Night

"John Arbuckle could never get a date, and Cathy was always looking for a man. Maybe those two should have gotten together. Cathy always seemed like a cat lady." -- TR

Signs Of Summer

Peppe got a lion's cut! He's ready for the beach...

The multiplexes are full of summer blockbusters.

Keep The Change Pays!

Most of you know about Bank of America's Keep The Change program. Basically, everytime you use your debit card it rounds the payment up to the nearest dollar and puts the balance, usually a few cents, in a separate account for a year. At the end of the year you get it in your savings account. Bank of America also matches your earrnings up to $250.

I just got an e-mail from BOA, and in one year I saved $498.65 and BOA matched $114.40. That's $613.05. As someone who has to move in a few weeks, I am thrilled. My movers are paid for!

A few weeks ago I saw a poster on the side of a phone booth that read, "Save your money and one day it will save you." I think the Federal Reserve sponsored it. Good advice, all around.

The Greatest Proposal Ever.

A friend of mine was proposed to this weekend in China. In Tiananmen's Square. (She's not Chinese.) That, hands down, in the coolest proposal. Ever. No one will be able to top that. If you do, please let me know. Sure, Paris proposals are nice, but it's been done, redone and overdone. Paris is always better than a restaurant proposal and a Jumbotron proposal deserves an automatic hell, no.

But Tiananmen's Square? That's a new kind of awesome.

I am looking forward to the classy, Rowayton wedding. Is it too early to put in a vote for bagpipers? I heart bagpipers.

Congrats all around!!

Would you like to get engaged? Try this recipe.

Yay! The College Student Got His Apartment!

This makes my day. We heard at 9:00 a.m. that he was in, provided he could come up with first and last months rent, via a cashier's check, by 3:00 p.m. He pulled through, and my client left happy and plans to spend the holiday weekend packing and planning for his first real, grown up, New York apartment.

Moral of the story: In New York City, you have to ask fast. Even as we were signing the lease people were calling about the place. Yowza.

Next stop this weekend: Queens!

Busy.

I have been insanely busy with work lately. All my clients are so very different, which is awesome. It's a lot of fun helping people find a place to live. I woke up at 7:00 a.m. this morning and texted a client to make sure she still wanted to see a place at 9:00 a.m. She had to cancel, but the rest of the morning was a series faxing in one guy's tax returns and financial documents and trying to negotiate a lease for a great new college grad whose guarantor happens to live in Washington state. (Out of state guarantors get no love...) In the afternoon I hustled over to Murray Hill to check out a bargain on a newly renovated studio. If you don't mind living close to the Queens-Midtown tunnel, it's a steal at $1,700. Call me.

My last assignment of the day was to go with my new college grad to an open house for the place he really wants. I guess the landlord wants to match an honest face with a stellar application. We'll know tomorrow morning if he's in or not. Keep your fingers crossed!

This weekend will be filled with showing a young woman places in Astoria as well as trying to get my friend's furnished one bedroom on Irving Place rented for about a year. I can't believe the amount of calls I've gotten, and from other agencies, for the place. I also want to preview a bunch of the new, luxury buildings in Chelsea, because not everyone wants an efficiency studio with a Murphy bed.

Real Estate Deals Of The Day!

This weekend I stumbled across a great building in Murray Hill off of Madison Avenue. It has a doorman, elevator, laundry and really sunny, immaculate units at great prices.

The first unit I saw was a huge studio with really high ceilings. You can easily fit a large bed and a living room set in here. $1,805


The kitchen is all new with lots of storage and full appliances. Check out all the counter space. Cooks, take note!


There are also several duplexes available, and go for about $2500, depending on what floor you're on. These are incredible spaces. The living areas are again, enormous with high ceilings. You could throw a party in them.


Just like the studios, there is lots of counter space and storage and new kitchen appliances.




The bedrooms, on the upper level, are king sized and I saw one that had a walk-in closet. Perfect for aspiring Carrie Bradshaws.

Let's move on to this Chelsea gem. At $2,750 it's a great find for a spacious one bedroom. It has a new kitchen and bathroom. The street is quiet and tree-lined, and just a block or so from the 1 subway.


As if all this space isn't enough, there's a patio where you can entertain.


That's today's deals. Let me know if you're in the market for anything. Citi Habitats has an enormous database, and there's defintely something for everyone.

A Sunny Day In NYC

I'm so pale I'm practically transparent, so I went up to TR's roof deck and got a little sun.

Not a bad view.


Queens never looked so good.

Chums: Peppe And Valentino

The furballs enjoyed a quiet Saturday afternoon together.

Real Estate Deals Of The Day!!

As most of you know, I'm working for Citi Habitats now. Every day I see deal after deal come through the office, many of which could be overlooked on Craigslist or even on the Citi Habitats web site.

Thank goodness for this blog and my predilection for taking photos. Today I have a few amazing deals to show you. All of these listings are coming from Citi Habitats, so in order to take advantage of any of them there is a 15% broker fee. But that's standard in New York City. Brokers know of things the average person could never, no matter how much free time they have or how badly they want to "beat the system."

Remember: It's summer, and things do not last long. If you see something you like, jump on it. Immediately. It's not an exaggeration to say that it may not be there the next day.

Check it:

Amazing One Bedroom With Loft -- West 16th Street $2995


I don't usually get jealous when looking at places, but this enormous one bedroom made me seriously take pause. It's big enough to hold both a living room and dining set. The appliances are new, the ceilings are high, and that's just the first level.

The second level is a true bedroom with more closet space than you'll know what to do with. (Ladies: take note!) The whole place is so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The bathroom is pristine. In terms of location, this place is steps from Union Square.


Renovated Chelsea Studio -- $2150


A guy in my office has this as an exclusive, so you won't find it anywhere else. It's a spacious studio, again in the middle of Chelsea on 17th Street. It's been gut renovated, new appliances, bright bathroom -- the works. You can put your bed in the sleeping loft or even your desk.

Photos From The Past Week Or So...

I know how much you guys love pics, and I've been rather busy this past week. That said, here are a few to get you through your Monday morning coffee.

Unrelated: I spent Mother's Day with La Madre, who is a big fan of this blog. (That's why I gotta keep it clean, kids.) She was looking at some pics and the following exchange occurred:

La Madre: Pauliney! I'm looking at these pictures, and you have bags under eyes in so many.
Me, stating the obvious: Maybe I was tired.

Last weekend, when it was rainy and cold, TR and I headed over to the MOMA. There's all sorts of nonsense in there, including a room that has a prism that throws rainbows against the wall. (Insert Radiohead reference here.) It allowed me to create my emo album cover.


Liner notes.


Self-portrait in a room of mirrors.


Take two.


Glamour shot. I took it myself.


Hillary and I, last Friday night after a large Italian meal.


Have you seen this cellist on the corner of Bleeker and West 10th Street? On nice nights he creates the perfect ambiance. And free of charge, but you really should tip him.


Skunk skin for sale at a flea market in Chelsea.


Why do we have to remind kids to play outside? Furthermore, is Shrek, a cartoon character that one has to watch inside and while sitting down, the best moniker for a physical fitness campaign?

Lives Of Lions!

This video is about lions, and totally worth watching, especially for the shot of all the lions taking their afternoon nap.

This one is called "Porcupine Vs. Lion." Who do you think wins?

Daily Dose Of Cute

I had some rare time this afternoon, and while I tinkered on the computer, Valentino climbed into my Louis Vuitton bag and decided to take a nap. What can I say? The cat's got class!

I'm still really busy this week, but check out this piece that NPR did this morning about female fertility and age. I know, it's nothing we haven't heard before, but who knew that female fertility peaks at age 22?

For Prospective Moms, Biology and Culture Clash

Yikes! I'm insanely busy this week. Apologies all around for the lack of posts.

Snausages!

On my way home from seeing Ironman tonight I thought about that old 80s commercial for Snausages, those dog treats. Of course it was up on You Tube.

New Huffington Post Blog: Life After College

Perhaps it was all the coffee I had yesterday, but I banged out this new Huffington Post blog about why life after college is the best time of your life, for a lot of reasons. I know way too many people who say that college was the best, which makes me wonder what they've been up to all those years after.

Attention Graduates: Life After College Will Be The Best Time Of Your Life

Even though I've been off all week, I've been oddly busy with all sorts of fires to put out. I also got my arse handed to me in a boot camp class at the gym yesterday. The teacher, Tariq, was downright sadistic. He managed to make skipping hurt. My rear feel great today, though.

Here is a Meth Minute to keep you busy.