I am always amazed by the amount of people who make videos about their cats on You Tube. I just found this one, which gets mucho points for both creativity and production. It's kinda catchy.

Also: How cute is Sparta?

How Not To Call A Broker

On Saturday afternoon my phone rang. It was a number with a 908 area code. Hmmm...Jersey.

The guy on the other end was responding to an ad that I have on Craigslist for a penthouse apartment on 92nd Street and Park for $5850 a month. In addition to be a gut renovated two bedroom, the apartment has a 600 square foot wrap around terrace that can easily hold 50 people. It faces south. It's an amazing place.

"Hey! Can you show that to me right now?" He shouted into the phone.

It was about 4:00 p.m. "I'm sorry," I said. "But I'm busy right now. Do you want to make an appointment?"

The guy was flustered. "But I need to see it today. My girlfriend and I want to move, and today is our day to look."

I considered this. "Well, I could show it to you at 6:00 p.m., but because it's on the top floor, it's best seen in the day light. (It was pouring rain on Saturday.) How about at two o'clock on Sunday afternoon?"

He wasn't sold. He began to stammer. Perhaps he had been a spoiled child and didn't like to hear the word "no"?. "I-I don't know what our schedule will be tomorrow. Can you just call me when you're near it?"

"As a broker, my schedule on the on the weekends is very tight," I said. This is true. "You'll have to make an appointment to see it. I can't just chase up there at the drop of a hat."

"OK," He said. "Maybe I'll call you tomorrow."

I hung up. I have two theories as to who this guy was, because I highly doubt he was a serious client. People who really need an apartment will make an appointment to see something they like, sometimes even a week in advance.

1. This guy was another broker, albeit not a very bright one, and was trying to find out the address of the apartment, perhaps for one of his clients.

2. He was some kid from the suburbs who wanted to spend his Saturday afternoon fantasizing about living large in a top floor penthouse. Also, he had little respect for people's time, considering that he wanted me to drop what I was doing and accommodate him.

Either way, he never called me again. The place is still available!

Cabbies Return Lost Items! Specifically Mine!

Yellow Cab in motion, originally uploaded by Hughes500.

Yesterday afternoon I left a bag of papers and books in the back of a cab. Since I was with clients, I had the receipt, and a few hours after realizing that I didn't have the bag anymore I began the multi-step process of filing assorted lost item complaints through 311 and the Taxi and Limosine Commission.

This morning my phone rang and on the other end was the cabbie who had my bag! He said he picked up three other passengers before he found it in the back. He said that once he was in the Chelsea area, he would drop it off at my job.

Sure enough, two hours later, I got my bag back.

Some people told me I would never see it again, but this only goes to show that cabies are good people. Moral of the story -- always get the receipt!

New Listing -- Huge Carroll Gardens One Bedroom --$2250

I just got a new listing yesterday: a huge one bedroom with a home office in Carroll Gardens, just two blocks from the Carroll Street station.

It's gut renovated, with an eat-in kitchen and a huge marble bath. Floor-through with laundry in the building. Quiet, sunny and big enough to entertain all your friends. A great find!

Available November 2. Call me if you would like to see it.

This was written by the same woman who wrote, "If God Loves Me, Why Can't I Get My Locker Open?"

Be sure to practice your awesome today, everyone!

Happy Birthday, Jenny!

Junior League friend and all around awesome lady Jenny turned 30 on Friday night. Yes, 30. She doesn't look a day over 25!

Everyone should be this happy on her birthday.

Rent This Amazing Apartment -- Please!

I had a rare free day yesterday: no appointments, no lease signings and no training. So I got a list of a bunch of available apartments that I'd never seen before and I hoofed up and down the East Side, from 92nd Street to 49th (yes I took the subway a few times) and checked out new things.

One apartment that I saw is a top-floor penthouse on 92nd and Lexington. It's a pre-war building with doorman, attended elevator, laundry and pets are OK. If you're into New York Grandeur, this is the building for you. The apartment, a gut renovated two bedroom with a new eat-in kitchen, faces south, is drenched in sunlight and has a 682 square foot wrap around terrace!! It's $5850 a month. No fee.

Someone needs to rent this apartment. It's perfect for a young couple, a bachelor or a small family that doesn't mind having one bathroom. I repeat: wrap-around terrace. No fee. Top floor. Doormen are very sweet. Steps from Central Park and the museums. Move in tomorrow, if need be. The photo above was taken on the terrace.

You can thank me later.

Checke out full specs here.

Millards! In Central Park!

On Sunday many members of my family came to New York to fete my nephew Mini Frank's third birthday. I take a million shots whenever we get together, and they probably wonder what I do with all them. Two words: Christmas gifts. You've been warned.

The photo above was taken by writer Anna David, who happened to be sitting a few feet away from us. Manhattan is such a small town!

La Madre and Frankie: Two peas in a pod


La Madre, Andrew, Rob, moi and TR


Mini Frank, vamping in the sandbox.


This little girl was Grace and she was drawn to Seamus, my cousin's French Bull Dog puppy. Methinks she was under the unwatchful eye of her papa, since she was running around the playground with no shoes on, hair uncombed and free to intermix with strangers, at the age of three. But she was cute!


Seamus


La Madre thanks Milton for her new laptop. We don't expect her to ever leave the house again.


Andrew explains the Internet to La Madre


Bea and Seamus


Mini Frank opens birthday gifts.


Frank, Frankie an Seamus


Andrew, Mini Frank and Seamus


TR, Frankie et moi


TR et moi, at Belvedere Castle


Rob and Mini Frank


Jayne and Frankie, well lit.


La Madre dissuades Mini Frank from throwing rocks.


Mini Frank with pine cones and stones




Blowing out birthday candles


Seamus calls it a day.

TR took this shot of Valentino this morning. Spooky! Dark! Just like the economy!

Seen On 34th Street and 6th Ave

It's The Junior League Homecoming Party!

Friday night was the New York Junior League's Homecoming party. It was 80s themed, and my crew and I did it up right.

I searched high and low for this dress. I'm channeling Ivana Trump, circa 1986.


Sam et moi, lookin' sharp. Sam left shortly after this photo was taken, something about meeting up with a chick. True story.


Kim and I, pre-party with booze in teacups. Klassy!


Spotlight On Performance committee members


Everyone in my lobby.


This may very well be my Christmas card.


Best shot of the evening.


These guys took the 80s theme to the next level.


Katie always rocks my Casbah


Louisa et moi.


Jane!


Awesome turnout


Shiny, happy 80s


Kim fights off the paparazzi


This dress is awesome for so many reasons.


Magenta and gold heels -- FOR THE WIN!


If this is vintage, then it's awesome.


Jane and I, end of the evening.


End of the night, still lookin' sharp.