If you decided that a co-op apartment is worth the effort, review (with your accountant and attorney) the following documents, and remember: Look Before Leaping Off the Cliff 1. Capital plan for the building 2. Capital improvements (past history and future plans including cost estimates and time frame) 3. Mortgage for the building (what are […]
New York City: Nice place to visit but… Really want to live here?
You cannot stop talking about the wonderful business meeting/holiday/anniversary party you scheduled in Manhattan. Moving on UP You loved the energy, the quickness of pedestrian steps, the boundless shopping, totally ignoring the exorbitant prices, homeless sleeping on the streets, motor bikes careening on the sidewalks, and hazards of…just about everything. Disregarding the armed security personnel […]
Guardian of Italian Luxury: Lust not Love
I was recently asked what I would buy with my lottery winnings (should I be so lucky) if real estate, yachts, and airplanes were not allowed. My thoughts immediately turned to Italian luxury fashion, fixtures, furniture, and experiences (including wine, spirits, and travel). Italy is at the head of the line in the highly competitive […]
Travel Beyond my New York City, Manhattan Zip Code
I may covet a closet filled with Prada and LV, but what I want IMMEDIATELY is the opportunity to safely travel outside my Zip Code. As I listen to MSNBC, FOX and CNN, I am warned of COVID variants, the emerging need for booster shots, the increased number of people getting sick and death lurking […]
New York Emergency Rooms: Un-American, scandalous, and dangerous
“Do not get very sick in New York City… so sick that you require emergency care,” warns Dr. Elinor Garely. She suggests that “Hospitals look to the hospitality industry for guidance and direction if they have an interest in turning a sick patient into a healthy visitor.” Business travelers and tourists frequently get sick while […]
Does Crime Take a Holiday?
Watching more TV news than ever? Thinking the country is overrun with bad guys looting and destroying storefronts? Thanks to the current elected officials… you know them, they occupy buildings and residents paid for with tax dollars and are totally clueless on how to contain COVID-19 while maintaining full employment – we have large amounts of unscheduled […]
Donald Trump: How do I make him go away?
It is almost 4 years since The Donald left Manhattan and took up residency in Washington, DC. As a New Yorker and real estate developer, he had no influence on my life. I have to admit that I did use his real estate escapades as examples of tycoon-level international business transactions, but- aside from entertaining my college […]
One Woman. Many Wines
Lia Tolaini Banville and her father, Pier Luigi Tolaini, started importing wines from Italy 16 years ago (2004), expanding the operation in 2016 to include wines from France, Germany and the UK. In 2011, Banville added Italian spirits to her portfolio, introduced a wholesale division and, a few years later, extended her reach to include Washington, DC […]
What to Wear When How
Many knew there were rules and guidelines for women executives that extended beyond the roles of leaders and managers. We may have been aware of the rules but preferred to ignore them because the protocols encroach on very personal space and focus not on what we do but on what we wear. So how do […]
Introducing Nizza DOCG, Italy
Learning by Sipping What I did not know about Nizza DOCG before I attended the Master Class in Manhattan would fill at least one book (more likely two). First of all – where is it? Nizza Monferrato is located in the Asti territory between the hills of Asti, Alba, Alessandria and Acqui Terme, and recognized as part […]