Peggy's Upper East Side Apartment Hunt

Did you catch last night's MadMen? Peggy is shopping for an apartment on the Upper East Side! Real estate is a topic which all Manhattanites obsess over: I've -run- to submit a lease application, been hugged by colleagues for snagging a sweet 1 bdrm with 500 Sq ft terrace.

Myself and my husband visited half a dozen places Upper East Side some months back, after our lower Manhattan apartment building was massively impacted by Hurricane Sandy. We collectively (with the rest of the city) burst into laughter when  Peggy's realtor supports the value of the space will increase when the "second avenue subway" is finished. Did you know they *still* tell you that?

Gothamist has a funny recap worth reading including these fantastic vintage media images:

New York City Lobbies from Early the 1900's!

Gothamist has cool 28 photo set of New York City luxury building lobbies from the early 1900's. I love the  grandiose spaces with well-spaced furnishings. Navigate here for details on locations.

Flinstones Inspired Home

Have you ever desired a Flinstones-inspired home on 22 acres in Malibu? Priced at $3.5 million and formerly owned by Dick Clark, you can view more on this stunning home at Honestly WTF.

Day Dreaming of Smögen

I'm enamored with this home in the coastal town of Smögen. It's breezy, light and well outfitted in charming accents. I'd love to sit at the outside table with a handful of good friends, a bottle of prosecco and a platter of gravlax.

While the island community is noted as a summer town, I can envision a brisk walk to the local cafe in the colder months...

gentlemen: this one's for you.

The three-story Harmony Men's Club was built in 1909 in Alabama, boarded up in the 1960's, and purchased in 1999 by David Hurlbutt for $100,000. After he dusted and arranged domestic comforts, he found himself in his new home. Very cool. Don't you love the American South? View more at Yatzer.

Under $40,000 and in the West Village!

Well, actually, it's just a temporary set-up. From Toronto-based Meka Modular homes, the unit is 320 sq feet of sleek and modern living. While only ten units have been sold, it stands to reason that there is certainly a market for these in densely populated urban habitats like Manhattan! Read the full scoop at the Wall Street Journal.

Brooklyn Brownstone Featured in Vogue (For Sale!)

If you've got $5.5 million lying around, this five story Brooklyn brownstone can be yours. It belongs to Charles and Olya Thompson and was featured in Vogue this past January. A little over the top in terms of decor, but it certainly ties in with Olya's Russian roots. Apparently, they have a second home in Moscow.

It's drizzly and I'm listening

I'd live here: Cool NYC apartments

Tribeca

West Village

Upper East Side

Red Hook

Midtown

With a few months and change until my lease is up, I have begun to mentally prepare for the New York City real estate battleground. It's going to take strategic planning, expert timing and let's face it: luck. My current place was a straight trade. He need a new roomie, we need more space. For our sublet, he had to get NYCM to take our application. We were set: the french doors, gorgeous hardwood floors and private back yard. It seemed to be a paradox-

After a few months, I became completely disenchanted with my alleged fillet of the neighborhood- roaches and resident mouse aside (an issue that the weekly exterminator couldn't seem to combat)...The bathtub that doesn't need a stopper, was there ever a smoke detector? The AC has been installed with...duct tape? The three legged fridge (read: leaning tower of Pisa) and how is it that the ceiling is leaking into the bedroom...Don't even get me started on the closet. Perhaps the crowning moment: coming home from vacation to discover that we are without power.

A short investigation revealed that we were in fact, the only apartment in the building suffering this blackout. With thirty minutes to unpack and return the rental car to Union Square, we scrambled to call our Super, Julio.

-Twenty-five minutes later- We spotted Julio stumbling up the Slope towards our stoop. He revealed an alcohol sting of a smile, and lead us to the control room. Julio's expertise led him to flick at random switches- turning various neighbor's power on-and-off. We corrected with waving hands and pleading.

Julio did eventually remedy our situation. It was quite the anomaly.

the Villa is yours, for one Euro.

A stretch of 3700 decaying villas in Western Sicily are being sold for a Euro a piece- What's the catch?

Buyers must restore the Villas within two years- using the talents of local builders, plumbers, etc. The Mayor of Silemi organized the effort with the intent of stimulating the economy and restoring the historical beauty of the original architectural standards.

To buy: +1 39 924 991 111

Facts, Photo: National Geographic Traveler