Julie says that whenever her daughter Dylan is craving a pile of yummy pancakes for breakfast she “step things up” a bit in the kitchen and whips up this recipe by her dear, departed friend and mentor, Bruce Paltrow. “Bruce used to invite people over for his legendary pancake breakfasts on Sundays, and everyone would totally jump at the invitation and gobble them up in no time. We’ve not yet grown tired of these insanely delicious pancakes.” Julie loves adding adding whatever berries she’s got in the fridge. “Small sliced or chopped apples are amazing in them too!”

Bruce Paltrow’s daughter Gwyneth has published the recipe in MY FATHER’S DAUGHTER, but Julie wanted to share this wonderful recipe that she shares with her daughter here.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons fine salt
• 3 cups buttermilk
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled, plus more butter for cooking
• 6 organic large eggs
• up to 1 cup milk, as needed to thin batter
• real Vermont maple syrup, warmed

Method

1. Whisk the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.
2. Whisk together the buttermilk, butter and eggs together in another bowl.
3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ones whisking just enough to combine (small lumps are okay). Let the batter sit, covered, overnight.
4. The next morning, heat up your griddle or favorite nonstick pan and slick it with a little butter.
5. Add enough milk to the batter to thin it to the right consistency — the thicker the batter, the thicker and heavier your pancakes; the thinner the batter, the more delicate your pancakes — neither is wrong.
6. Cook the pancakes on the griddle, flipping them after bubbles appear on the surface of the uncooked side.
7. Let cook 2-3 minutes more, then remove, and eat with lots of warm maple syrup.

• 
• We had a big sale pending at 55 Liberty street, just weeks before Lehman Brothers imploded. Let's just say that the buyers knew what was coming in the banking sector, well before the sellers did. The sale never happened. The buyers came to the closing table and tried to negotiate a sales price of $1,000,000 less than the contract price. The sellers told the buyers to take a hike!  I remember meeting my wife, after I left the closing table at a cafe on 6th ave and had to give her the news. It hurt for about a day and then we looked at each other and said, this is the perfect point in our careers to fine tune our team, have better systems, better marketing, more networking and more social media. I am grateful 55 Liberty never closed!
• Liberty tower. 55 Liberty street . Built in 1909 by Henry Ives cobb ( one of only two New York commission ) it stands 33 stories and 385 ft tall with foundations sunk 90 ft into the ground and is just 58 by 82 ft across. The building has had a turbulent past - the original owners were almost bankrupted by its construction, then in 1917 the famous 'zimmerman plot' was traced back to a rented office in the building. In 1919 the building was sold to the Sinclair oil company famous for the 'Teapot dome scandal' of 1922 -the biggest scandal to rock the U.S until Watergate. The building settled down to an uneventful life being sold by Sinclair oil in 1945 and returning to multi occupancy use until 1979 when it was turned into condo's The building was literally shook to its foundations by the destruction of the twin towers causing structural damage and underwent major renovation. #thezwebenteam #driven #focused #passionate @douglaselliman

My mind is constantly going 100 miles an hour and I am always thinking how we can help our clients navigate through the NYC real estate market.

The 1^st quarter of 2013 has started out with a roar and here is where you stand…

The lack of inventory has created an imbalance in today’s market.

If you are a seller of a 2+ bedroom apartment in a financially stable building, the chances of you getting multiple bids at the asking price or over the ask are almost guaranteed assuming it is priced properly. This is a seller’s market and sellers are in an excellent position to make top dollar while inventory levels remain at current lows and continue to push prices higher.

I am happy to go over selling strategy with you whenever you have time:

[email protected]

If you are a buyer in a bidding war, the competition is fierce but not impossible.  However, the importance of having a great team—from your real estate broker, attorney, to mortgage broker/loan officer—to help you through the buying maze has never been more important!  Any edge on the competition will help you secure your future home in this challenging buying market.  A knowledgeable and savvy agent will be the edge that you need!  Here is what your agent *should* tell you in order to lock in your new home:

1. 1.     This market does not allow any missteps……. You need to be completely ready with the following items—PRIOR to making an offer.
   1. a.    Have a copy of the 1^st 2 pages of your last 2 years tax returns readily available.
   2. b.    Have a completed asset and liability statement – this form will give the seller your accurate financial picture.
   3. c.    You must speak to a smart mortgage broker (Unless you are paying all cash) in order to get a pre- approval  letter. We have used Lenny Holler of Vice President DE Capital Mortgage, LLC and he takes care of our customers 100%! [email protected]
   4. d.    You must have an experience Real Estate Attorney….

All three of these attorneys are phenomenal:

Steven Matz of Katz and Matz- [email protected] 

Rachel Mulcahy- [email protected]

Robyn L. Eckhaus- [email protected]

1. e.    You must be prepared to know how much money you will be putting down and how much you will be financing.
2. f.     You must also know that by putting an offer that is not contingent on financing will make your offer stronger. The quick and easy definition of removing the contingency is, if the bank won’t give you a loan, you need to come to the closing with your check book and write a check for the purchase.

Going into the process prepared will not only make a great impression on the seller, showing that you are serious and ready to move forward quickly but it will also help reduce the stress of trying to pull together all this information on the spot.  Once your savvy agent has submitted your formal offer, then, the ball is rolling and you could be just a couple steps away from signing the contract for your dream home!

301 West 110th Street, 7E - Harlem

TOWERS ON THE PARK

VIEW WITH A ROOM

Your view~

Seize the opportunity to customize your own frame to fit around sweeping views of the majestic St. John The Divine in this spacious 1-bedroom condo across the street from Central Park. This bright space with open kitchen is priced to move, and beckons you to impart your own vision and style. Towers on the Park Condominium features on-site laundry, attentive full-time lobby attendants, and low common charges and taxes in at the nexus of Harlem and the Upper West Side. The B and C subway lines lie at your doorstep, and popular restaurants and lounges such as Five and Diamond, Bier, 67 Orange Street, Melba's and Society Café are just a stone's throw away.

Please email me for a private showing [email protected]

7E floorplan

http://www.elliman.com/new-york-city/towers-on-the-park-301-west-110-street-unit-7e-manhattan-gzrewca

RENTED~~~

Living room and open kitchen shot~

ELEGANT DESIGNER TOWNHO-- -- USE APARTMENT. Enjoy the perfect combination of New York Living in the heart of the vibrant Upper West Side but in the comfort of a two-floor townhouse home with a peaceful private garden. This stunning 2-Bedroom 2.5 Bath home has been meticulously renovated with luxurious finishes, for all the comforts of a modern, pampered lifestyle, yet it simultaneously retains all the original charm of a lovely turn-of-the-century Brownstone home, including 3 original wood-burning fireplaces. With a private entrance at the garden level, the first floor boasts a chef's kitchen with top-of-the-line professional grade appliances, and a spacious Living Room, Separate Dining Room, half bath, and a bonus windowed office overlooking the garden. The elegant staircase leads to the Parlor floor with 2 large Bedrooms and 2 Full Baths. All 2.5 Spa-like Baths feature decadent waterworks fixtures and gorgeous marble tile. Less than a block away from Riverside Park on a quiet tree-lined street, this beautiful garden home awaits! Pets are welcome.

ps- don't you want to know which famous Pitcher used to live here?

http://www.elliman.com/new-york-city/manhattan/upper-west-side-apartments/304-west-77-street--unit-1/304-west-77-street/dofpfvt

Your secret Garden~

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Any agent that says they don’t do rentals is doing a disservice to their clients.

Lets face it, many agents think that doing rentals as part of their business is silly and a waste of time.

Here is why I totally disagree-

~The rental market can change on a dime- one minute Upper West side apartments are trading for $3.5-$4 per square foot per month, the landlord is paying the brokerage fees and the tenant is the DUH, WINNER~

~ in a blink of an eye, the markets inventory can drop, square footage price edge higher to $5-6 per square foot and the tenants are getting no concessions from the landlord and they are paying the brokers commission.

~ Why should sales agents know the rental market? How many times am I on a showing with a perspective buyer or investor and the first thing they as is what they can get for this on a monthly basis? Would it be great to answer this with confidence? We can!

(I love it when the seller’s agent just look sat us and says, yeah, sorry, I don’t do rentals!) DUH, LOSER~

~ The rental market is so different from the sales market and you need to know what the salary requirements are for a tenant and what questions to ask, how to do criminal background and credit checks, how to speak to managing agents to get the application process and how to push the deal along.

~ By knowing this market like the back of our hand it completes us and makes better advisors to our customers~

SO~ are you working with an agent that knows the rental market?

It is a busy, strong market~

304 West 77th street #2 Rented~

http://www.elliman.com/new-york-city/manhattan/upper-west-side-apartments/304-west-77-street/304-west-77-street/mpepfmc

245 West 74th street #3A application out~

http://www.elliman.com/new-york-city/manhattan/upper-west-side-apartments/alfie-arms--245-west-74-street--unit-3a/245-west-74-street/sfnxntq

350 East 62nd street #3C application out

http://www.elliman.com/new-york-city/manhattan/upper-east-side-apartments/350-east-62-street--unit-3c/350-east-62-street/xjeteyy

40 Central Park #11EF Rented

http://hungrydomaine.com/index.php/2011/02/04/super-1-bedroom-upper-west-side-rental-640-west-end-avenue-unit-10b/

640 West End Ave #10D Rented

DUH~ Winning!

I want to live here~

Chic Over-Sized Studio with Bonus Loft and Private Outdoor Space! This striking loft like home with soaring high 14' ceilings could be yours! The spacious living room has sunny Eastern Exposures with floor-to-ceiling windows leading to a private balcony perfect for enjoying your morning coffee. The well-designed open kitchen with recessed lighting features a Miele Stove Top, LG Refrigerator, Dishwasher, and breakfast bar. The expansive open layout has wide-plank hardwood floors throughout, central A/C, excellent storage space, and boasts plenty of room for both a dining and living area, while the bonus loft area, currently used as a sleeping loft could also be used for storage or a home office. 350 East 62nd Street is a full-service Condo with 24-Hour Doorman, live in Super, Central Laundry and is ideally located moments away from all the amenities of both the Upper East Side and Midtown. Small dogs are welcome.

Your private oasis!

Please email me for a private showing:

[email protected]

http://www.elliman.com/new-york-city/manhattan/upper-east-side-apartments/350-east-62-street--unit-3c/350-east-62-street/xjeteyy

Total cost $32.00

Feeds- 6 people

Ingredients

• 4 oz whole peeled garlic cloves
• 3 peeled and diced Vidalia Onions
• 6 peeled and sliced large shallots
• 6 oz Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 3 pounds sliced White Mushrooms
• 64 oz Chicken Broth
• if you are a vegan, substitute vegetable broth
• 8 oz Light Cream
• if you are a vegan, substitute silk Vegan Soymilk (please note, i have never used this product, s use at your own risk for this recipe)
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Method

• In a Large pot- he olive oil
• Add Shallots, Garlic and Onions and sweat until translucent
• Add Mushrooms and cook until tender
• Add Chicken Stock- Bring to a boil and then simmer for 30-40 mins
• Add light cream and bring to a quick boil
• Season with sea salt and cracked black pepper and serve.
• A few thick slices of toasted olive oil soaked Rye Bread or Sourdough completes the dish.

The living room at 423 w 15th st #1D

423 15^th st Unit #1D Park Slope, Brooklyn

Property Details

Price: $475,000

Location: Park Slope

Monthly Maintenance/CC: $624

2 Beds | 1 Bath

Date Available: 06-Jan-2011

Listing ID: 1326042

Have it ALL in Brownstone Brooklyn! This charming home has so much to offer for the savvy buyer looking for space and the ideal location for a steal! With no board approval required, move right into this real Two-Bedroom, One Bath Apartment with a comfortable layout, washer/dryer hookup, plus a BONUS alcove to be used as your home office, dining area, or nursery. Enjoy the prewar character of this special home with exposed brick, high ceilings and newly refinished hardwood floors. 423 15th Street is an intimate boutique co-op with only 4 apartments per floor, storage, laundry room, and common garden. This prime location is only half a block from lovely Prospect Park, F/G trains, Pavilion Cinema, and all the shops, restaurants, and amenities of Park Slope and Windsor Terrace.

For a privare appointment, please email [email protected]

http://www.elliman.com/listing/for-sale/brooklyn/park-slope/423-15-street/423-15-street/klefijc

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