Monday, June 9, 2014
in Brazil I guess you don't peso much
When Greenwich Connecticut developer James Cummings ran into financial trouble a few years ago, he was forced to sell 41 west 74th Street, built in 1910.
A real estate speculator group snapped up the mortgage for $5,000,000 in 2008.
Then Paolo Gouveas, a Brazilian oil executive, bought the neoclassical house — reportedly in all cash — in 2011.
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According to public records he paid $12.5 million, not a bad profit for holding the house for just three years.
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Developer Cummings had meticulously renovated the five-bedroom, seven and five half-bathroom, six story mansion, and so buyers were willing to pay top dollar.
sotheby’s
But Gouveas wanted more fun in the house so he added a rooftop hot tub and a grill, plus a gym and wine cellar in the basement.
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Then Gouveas tried to sell through Southeby’s for a cool twenty million dollars.
No go. He tried $19 million.
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But even 9,700 square feet of perfection couldn’t support a number like that.
He finally flipped it at $16.5.
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Considering his monthly payment plus the fun additions he added, Paolo’s profit was not what the speculators gained.
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Still.
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Who’s counting when your “rent” is over $100,000?
Sunday, June 8, 2014
parlez-vous jihad
Back in 2011 the Interior Minister of France
drew fire for giving voice to the obvious.
Three years on and now there is little debate.
Six out of ten French people now believe the influence of Islam in France is “too big.”
43 percent believe Muslims are a “threat to national identity”, according to the results of an opinion poll published on Thursday.
canadiannationpost.com
It’s not just tension over banning headscarves or prayer to Mecca blocking traffic.
france1.com
Assaults on Jews are becoming daily commonplace in Paris.
Young Muslim radicals are hateful and obsessed with Jihad.
The streets of Paris are witnessing violent, anti-Semitic slogans not dared to be revealed since the conclusion of WorldWar 2.
So far only France displays the cultural backbone to draw a vocal line against Islamic aggression.
Here in New York we are more concerned we may offend Muslims in recounting the attacks of 9/11.
This is a growing conflict within Europe.
Especially for 600,000 French Jews.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
love affair with flavour
Back on April 11th we congratulated Charlie on winning the
“Best of” in New York Magazine.
The kitchen is one reason why.
Drinks here have always been good.
And the atmosphere manages to be sexy and playful and adult, all at the same time.
But ever since Chef Josh took over, the kitchen found its wings.
He pickles everything.
Presentation is composed and always artful.
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But his concoction of seeds and sauces, bones and marinations and downright crazy ideas are what make this kitchen sing.
Crazy, that is, until you taste.
Then it’s rapidly gaining on genius.
Chef Josh is attracting a whole new generation of foodies coming from Manhattan.
You’ll be glad you ate his food while it’s this affordable!
Friday, June 6, 2014
Sal’s law
Moore's law says that roughly every two years technology will double and the cost will drop by half.
This was posited in the early 1960's by Gordon Moore,
co-founder of Intel.
parc
No sooner does some new gadget come to market when it is eclipsed by the next big thing.
So enjoy your latest, newest products!
Sal will be coming around again, any day now.
And have a great weekend!
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