How to Find the Perfect Real Estate Agent

These are what I consider the five most important things to look for when selecting a real estate agent.

1. Look for a Realtor®.

Being a real estate agent and being a Realtor® aren’t the same thing.  An agent who is a Realtor® is a member of the National Association of Realtors®,  the trade association for brokers and agents.  Realtors® are bound by a Code of Ethics, and hold themselves to a high standard.  Agents join the National Association, not just for the internal benefits such as training and accreditation, but also because it shows clients that they are committed to providing the best service. 

2.  Look for someone who lives in and knows the area.

Using an agent who lives in the area where you’re planning to move can be tremendously helpful.  He or she can give you tips and resources from the experience of living in the area.  

I’ve lived in the Back Bay for 11 years. I am confident that I can answer almost any questions you might have about moving to the area.  Looking for the closest post office?  Where to find the best coffee?  Where to get the best salad?  I’ve got you covered.

3. Read reviews.

This business is almost entirely reputation- based.  Real estate agents aren’t paid a salary. Our income is solely commission-based.  Reviews from past clients and customers are very important.  They help the agent understand what the client liked and didn’t like, and also give future clients a glimpse of how the agent works and what to expect.  

4.  Choose someone who understands you and your needs. 

By choosing an agent who understands you and what you are seeking, you will save a lot of time.  There will be properties that meet some of your criteria but aren’t really what you want.  An agent who knows exactly what you’re looking for isn’t going to waste your time showing you places that will not work for you.

5.  Choose someone who will put your needs first.

Choose an agent who answers your phone calls.  If he doesn’t answer yours, he probably does not answer potential buyers’ calls either.  Make sure you select an agent who is willing to work with your schedule.  And pick an agent who will communicate with you the best way for you—whether it’s by phone, text, dm or email.  

If you have any questions about Back Bay real estate or about the market in general, please ask me!  My cellphone number is 617 528 8461 and my email address is willy.charleton@nemoves.com.  I’d love to hear from you!

Willy's Top Tips for Renting in Boston

Boston is an expensive city.  But it’s worth it!  There’s no city quite like it.  It’s got an extensive history, is on the water with a great climate and has a strong community.  It’s a hub for education and medical advancements.  Couple that with high turnover due to the 152,000 college students and many visiting medical professionals and you’ve got a recipe for a hot rental market.

View from one of the decks at Troy Boston.

Here are my top five tips for renting in Boston:

1. Be flexible with your move-in/out date.

The large student population results in a desired move-in date of September 1st.  It’s both a blessing and a curse.  A September 1st move-in date offers you a lot of properties on the market, but you’ll also have to compete with everyone else wanting to move in that day.  And you will probably be paying a premium because it’s such a high-demand date.  

After the September 1st rush, the second busiest move-in dates are in June and July.

Having a flexible move-in date will open up more properties for you, and will probably make your move a bit easier.  Chances are, you’ll also pay less for the same apartment with an off-cycle move-in.

People change jobs suddenly, renovations happen.  Tenants get evicted or break their leases.  Most landlords aren’t going let their units sit empty from January through August.  The best case scenario is that you get a deal and you’re not competing with 50 other no- parking permits and moving trucks.  

At Piano Craft Guild, you can paint your own door!

2. Use a Realtor®.

Specifically, me!

  There are plenty of people who search for apartments online and find a good one on Craigslist or Zillow.  However, you’ll have many more options when using a real human with personal connections.  Not every apartment is advertised online!  A Realtor® can give you advice or viewpoints you hadn’t even considered.   It’s also a lot easier to deal with one person than to schedule five showings with five different agents.  Using a Realtor® can also give you inside knowledge of the neighborhood.  It’s also to your advantage as the tenant, to have someone with experience negotiating your lease on your behalf.  

Ava Theatre District

3. Understand the math

Essentially, this is how to factor discounts and promotions into your rent.  In Boston, the standard rental fee is one month’s rent.  Sometimes the landlord pays the fee, and sometimes the client does.  Some larger buildings at times also offer months of free rent.    If the client is paying the fee, you can look at it like they’re paying 13 months rent for a 12 month lease.  Here are a few examples of how this can be done.

Ex1:

You find an apartment you like.  It’s $2,500/mo and you have to pay the fee.  

($2500 x 13) / 12 = $2708.33/mo

Ex2:

You find an apartment you like.  It’s $2500/mo and the landlord is paying the fee and offering first month’s rent free.

($2500 x 11) / 12 = $2291.67/mo

Ex3:

You find an apartment you like.  It’s $2500/mo and you have to pay the fee but your realtor negotiated your first month fee.  Well, that’s a wash.  $2500/mo.

Ink Block is an apartment building in the old Boston Herald HQ. The walls are covered in old newspapers!

4. Respect pet rules.

If the property/unit is not pet-friendly, please be respectful.  Don’t say you have a service animal if you don’t.  Please realize this is not the place for you.  It won’t work out well for you or your landlord.  

Micropolis, Beacon Hill

5. Use local resources.

The community within Boston is what really makes it shine.  The best way to be involved in the community is to know what’s going on.  Check out resources and websites like @Boston311 or www.eventbrite.com to see what goes in the neighborhood.

If you’re planning a move to Boston, congratulations!  It’s a great city!

And if you have any questions about Back Bay or Boston rentals or sales, or about the market in general, please ask me!  My cellphone number is 617 528 8461 and my email address is willy.charleton@nemoves.com.  I’d love to hear from you.

Click Here for Big News!

I’ve got some big news to share with you!  I’ve joined the Coldwell Banker Back Bay office!  For the past four years I’ve been renting apartments, including managing rental properties for the last two years.  It’s been great, and I’m excited (and ready) to move into residential sales.  I’m confident that with Coldwell Banker’s experienced team working with me, it’s going to be a great year!

I’m really excited to join Coldwell Banker in Back Bay.  The office is one of the most active in the city, and has a great reputation for helping clients in a variety of capacities.  Coldwell Banker hold the first place for market share in the US.

I will be putting a lot of my focus into sales, but I will still have time for rentals.  I’ve done them for so long, I can’t give them up now.  I can’t let all this rental know-how go to waste!  This expertise will help me with sales.

If you or anyone you know needs a real estate agent, please let me know.  I’m always happy to help. Please call, email or shoot me a text!

All the best,

Willy

617 528 8641

willy.charleton@nemoves.com

Coppa Enoteca

There are plenty of places around that call themselves an enoteca. While I know they’re generally considered wine bars, I never looked up the meaning of the word until today. It translates to “wine repository.”

If Boston’s South End is known for anything, it’s gentrification and good food. They usually go together. Coppa has been around for as long as I’ve been around, so at least 11 years. It’s owned by 2 well known local chefs, Ken Oringer and Jamie Bissonnette. They know what they’re doing.

Along with great food and an ever changing menu, the place is also very charming. That’s real estate talk for “it’s really small.” But there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, until you want to make a reservation and they’re booked. As we approach summer and patio season, I expect their available seating to double.

Now for the important part, the food. I’ve eaten here a number of times. Every meal was great. They have a lot of atypical meats, but I usually stick to simple, vegetarian dishes like salad, pasta and pizza. My friend Jesse loves the pizza with shaved cow heart. I’ll take his word that it’s good.

So the other day Jesse and I found ourselves in the neighborhood. He wanted a Spritz and I wanted some cheese. So we stopped by for a quick bite. Here’s a tip, the menu is the same all day, and the restaurant is much less crowded during the day. Along with a delectable menu, they also have a rotating variety of specialty cocktails, like Spritzs.

If you find yourself looking to try a new restaurant, or in the area, I highly recommend it. Although, I would say avoid it if you’re in a large group.

Gynostemma and Chill?

I’m not really a tea drinker, but this is as close as it gets and I love it. Dragon Herbs Spring Dragon Longevity Tea. It’s not technically tea, because it’s not from the tea family. But I think it’s better.

The main ingredient is gynostemma. Jiaogulan is a vine in the gourd family, native to eastern Asia. It’s commonly known as “the poor man’s ginseng,” or “ginseng at tea price.” But that’s only because so few have caught on. And it doesn’t need to be 100 years old to provide benefits.

The most active compounds in gynsotemma are gypenosides. There are over 100. Gypenosides are what make gynostemma an adaptogen and cancer fighter. A saponin is technically soapy sugar. If you make gynostemma and stir it vvigoursouy, you’ll see it foam. To me, that means it’s more hydrating. The surface tension is lower and the molecules are more slippery allowing them to get into places they otherwise wouldn’t. Someone fact check me.

Just like most adaptogens, it’s a tonic herb. That means you use it to maintain and refine your already good health. It works to keep you balanced. It’s really great at helping the body adapt to stress. Mental and physical. It’s not a cure, and benefits increase with duration of use. Ideally, you want to drink this on a regular basis. I find it really calming, and typically throw a big pot of water on with 2 tea bags when I get home for the evening.

One of the highlights of this magical grass, is the flavor. It’s not too strong, slightly sweet and a tad pungent. It makes a great hot or iced tea. And it lives up to it’s name of poor man’s gingseng. The Spring Dragon tea runs about $8-10 a box, depending on where you get it. 20 bags in a box. One box makes 3 cups of tea. I’ll do the math. Carry the two and that’s about 16 cents per cup of tea. I think that’s a colloquial cup, not 8oz.

You can find it on Amazon, or if you’re local, at Cambridge Naturals in Porter Sq.

Willy's Wet Wellies

There aren’t too many dudes out there who wear rain boots these days.  Especially in the city.  I don’t know why, they’re so practical.  They protect not only your feet, but your pants too!  Occasionally I see guys where the low hunter rain boots.  It’s better than nothing.  

I bought my first pair of hunters in 2006 and at the time was one of the only people I knew that had them, which was pretty neat.  Then they blew up and every legging-wearing yoga-attending girl from 18-35 got a pair.  Then my dad got a pair.  We both had the basic green ones with navy fleece liners.

Fast forward to my move to Boston.  Shortly after arriving here with my hunters, they wore out.  The tread wore so thin that several leaks developed.  Time to move on.

Me and my first Range Rover. Photo by Alyse Dufour

In researching for this article, I noticed that since my initial purchase, the brand line up has changed quite a bit.  At the time, I wanted the Men’s Royal Hunter.  Handmade, vibram sole, leather lined legs and fleece lined feetsies.  Sounds ideal, right?  As I recall, they were pushing $400 and I couldn’t find any in the US in my size.

As you can see, these STILL have pretty beefy tread. The leather legs have only gotten softer. They’re still waterproof. I couldn’t really ask for more.

Do any of you remember The Tannery on Boylston between Arlington and Berkeley?  The original Back Bay Tannery.  It was more of an outlet.  Everything was always on sale.  I think for the entire time they were open, Hunters were buy one get one half off.  For the pair, not individual boots.  It was quite a place.  Some of the best deals around, and you could haggle.

Now let me tie those two previous paragraphs together.  Without any intention of getting new boots, I walked through the Tannery.  And what did I find.  They had a single pair of men’s Royal Hunters.  And in my size.  Well, half a size too small, but not enough to matter.  Especially for $99.  Not bad, considering they’re still going strong 8 years later.

All in all, I think they’re extremely useful and comfortable. On top of that, I think they usually look pretty good too!

175 Marlborough St #2

Like many other Sundays, I spent the afternoon touring open houses. There were a total of 17 today. I made it to five of them. There’s a really good selection out there right now, but one really stood out. 175 Marlborough Unit 2. The listing agent is Ryan Clunan (617 686 4966 rclunan@campionre.com) from Campion and Co. It’s a five bedroom, three full and two half bathroom triplex with a roofdeck, outdoor space and a tandem parking spot. The building itself has only three units. The asking price is $4,999,000 for 4,171sq ft of space. Taxes are $55,472 and the condo fee is $1,830/mo and includes heat and water.

Now that that’s out of the way, here are the photos. The layout was really interesting with interiors windows and balconies, along with several staircases. At the end of the day, it’s a large condo with a single family feel.

I love this atrium. South facing. The brass looks well maintained.

I’m a big fan of the kitchen. No marble countertops. Full size sub, plus I noticed some drawer refrigerators.

There’s a pretty good sized patio off the kitchen.

This condo had a really interesting feel to it. The rooms were compartmentalized but everything was open. You’ll see when you scroll down, the center of the unit is pretty much hollow.

When I was in the unit, I counted four bedrooms. I think this was the fifth. High ceilings, big windows and built ins. My only complaint is the lack of working fireplace.

This walkway/balcony connects the master bedroom with the study.

Again, that great southern exposure.

I’m not really a bath guy, but I could definitely see myself having a soak to that view, if I lived there.

The top floor has a cozy family room, with even more built ins-not pictured.

And to top it off, there’s a private roof deck. So that makes 2 outdoor spaces. Oh, and did I mention it includes parking too? I think I did.

The listing agent for this property is:

Ryan Clunan 617 686 4966 rclunan@campionre.com

MLS# 72463240

Never Had a Daiquiri Like This Before

Part of this blog post series of cocktails required buying a cocktail recipe book. I’m not going to tell you the one I am using for inspiration because I don’t particularly like it. I tweak the recipes anyway.

I always thought of a daiquiri as a mixed drink. Last time I had one was at La Floridita and it was a blended strawberry drink. But then I came across a recipe for a non-blended version. What struck me was the simplicity. Only 3-4 ingredients. White rum, lime, sugar. I didn’t count ice, and also added a little salt. So here it goes. You’ll need these things

2 oz. white rum

3/4 oz, lime juice

1/4 teaspoon of sugar, I used maple because it’s what I have. Thought about using honey.

1/2 pinch of sea salt

Metal ice cubes. I used these because my ice was not yet frozen. It’s been hours, what gives!

I dropped the sugar in the glass, followed by the lime juice. Squeezing half a lemon gave me exactly 3/4 oz of juice. I added the rum, pinched in some sea salt. Swished around. Placed the ice carefully, so as not to splash. And you’re done.

I’m sitting here, sipping and writing. I love how basic this is. It almost tastes like it could remove paint, but in a good way. Like when you drink turpentine. Oh you don’t drink turpentine? Never mind. I did add a little extra lime juice, but just a splash more. Limonene is actually a great solvent. If I had lime essential oil, I would try that too.
I think of alcohol as a delivery system and sugar too, to an extent. This drink delivers lime juice. Nothing wrong with that. If I were really feeling like making a mess, I would’ve pressed the limes in the hydraulic press pictured behind the ingredients. That really gets all the juices and oils out of the lime, including the peel. The peel is where most of the really good stuff is.

I’m thinking I should do a taco night sometime, and make a pitcher of this stuff. In that case, I’d definitely press the limes. Maybe pair it with some local heirloom biodynamic non gmo organic fermented blue corn hard shell taco shells filled with sprouted beans and rice, an heirloom cacao chili mole sauce, ghee sautéed local in season biodynamic preist blessed non nightshade vegetables. Or maybe I’ll just order chipotle and unwrap everything so no ones knows. We’ll see.

As you can tell, this drink is going to my head.

Antique of the Week: Clandeboye Estate

This week’s antique of the week is a collection of antiques inside an antique. I first saw this place on BBC’s The Country House with Dan Cruickshank. I watched the whole series on YouTube, but this was my favorite. I’ll post the episode at the bottom of the page.

The house is located in Northern Ireland and is home to Lindy Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava. She inherited the estate from her cousin and husband, Sheridan Frederick Terence Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 5th Marquess of Dufferin and Ava. In this case, I think the incest was tolerable because Sheridan was a dandy, and they produced no offspring.

Lady Dufferin’s father was an interesting fellow. He was a member of parliament, one of the first citizens to own a private plane in England, and financed Jacquea Cousteau’s ship, Calypso.

But anyway, this house was made cool by Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava. I’ve spent some time researching this but don’t necessarily recall all my sources so don’t take anything I say as fact. He inherited the house when he was young. His father died of an opium overdose overseas. Or maybe it was on the sea, I can’t remember.

Frederick Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 1st Marquess of Dufferin and Ava

He wasn’t good with money. He was always trying to make improvements on the house. The estate used its land to make money, but many tenants were in arrears and the 1st Marquees was kind hearted. When the local economy tanked, he employed his tenants and gave breaks on rent. But he also had to keep up with appearances.

He was an intrepid explorer. He took out a loan to commission a schooner, Foam, for travels across the sea. I think at some point he traded it in for a steamship to head to Egypt.

His extensive travels gave him a unique understanding of the world, which helped his diplomatic career. It also helped that he was very close with Queen Victoria. His first major appointment was as the Governor General of Canada, which he held for 6 years. Returning to England, he became the Ambassador to Russia and shortly after the Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire.

When he returned from Constantinople, his dream came true. He was appointed the Viceroy and Governor General of India.

Lucky for us, onto of all of those appointments and travels, Lord Dufferin was a collector. He brought everything back from everywhere.

How about those Narhwal tusks!

Here’s a link to the episode:

Antique of the Week: Olive Green Arne Norell "Kontiki" Safari Settee and Ottoman

If I had the space and the money, I’d be a broke a hoarder. There are so many cool things out there! And I can never settle on any single style I like. If I were to have a large house and do it up, each room would be totally different. A classic dark wood paneled office/library. An Art Deco sitting room. A safari-like hallway. And lots of storage.

I love the brass buckles. Gives it that touch of sophistication.

Anyway, this week’s antique of the week is a seat and ottoman. Or more precisely. a settee. A sofa holds three or more people; a settee holds two. This particular one was created by Swedish designer Arne Norell. Previously, I’d never heard of this dude. But if you search 1st Dibs, there are over 200 of his pieces for sale. I think that’s saying something because he’s been dead since 1971. However, his company, Norell Mobel, is still around.

As you can guess, the origins of this chair are the safari. It’s called campaign furniture. Furniture that easily folds or breaks down for travel, originally used in military campaigns. I can’t say that this settee and ottoman break down for easy traveling, but that is the inspiration.

“You got a sexy ass body and your ass look soft”- Ying Yang Twins

I’m a fan of the color. Maybe because it could just as well replace my current settee. My apartment isn’t big enough for a sofa. I think it also looks comfortable! I love putting my feet up.

Well that’s about all I have to say about that. I found this gem on 1st Dibs. It’s currently located in NoHo, Los Angeles with $495 shipping to the contiguous United States. The settee itself is $6,800.00. Width: 30" Depth: 22" Height: 10" and Seat Height 16”.

The Perfect Martini. Literally, or maybe figuratively.

“Fondue sets, martini shakers and juicing machines: three things the world could live completely without.”

— Douglas Coupland

Let me explain the stupid title. If you order a perfect martini, you’re going to get a drink that’s equal parts vermouth and vodka or gin. But mine’s perfect because it “has all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.”

Truth be told, I’ve never made a Martini before this one. That is to say, this is the first time I’ve made a martini. The first time I had one was at The Atlantic in Edgartown. Got it dirty. I’ve tried a few different styles, and find that my favorite is a dry gin martini on the rocks with a twist.

I feel like gin is a tincture. It’s alcohol, but with a variety of herbs and spices. Hell, I make this stuff at home, practically! I’ve read reviews of people making their own gin by soaking juniper berries and other spices in vodka for a month and then straining them out. I assume you could do something similar with essential oils.

On the first night of Hanukkah this year, I found myself at Total Wine and came upon Farmer’s Gin. I’d read good reviews, and it’s organic. So I’m assuming they use better quality ingredients than the standard. When I thought of doing this cocktail series, I picked up the cheapest dry vermouth at Whole Foods. It was a limited selection anyway. It’s particularly frustrating to me that alcohol isn’t considered a food and doesn’t require the same labeling.

When I was in high school, my friend Remy gave me Gucci ice trays.

Here’s the recipe. You’ll need to do some prep.

Put a glass in the freezer. If you’re going to follow this recipe exactly, you’ll need a low glass and not a cocktail glass. Make sure you have ice too. You’ll need:

2.5 oz Farmer’s Gin

.5 oz Dry Vermouth

Lemon

Ice

In your frozen glass, pour the gin and vermouth. Stir.

Add ice.

Slice a piece of the lemon peel, and rub it along the lip of the glass, then drop it in.

Swish swash, mix it all up.

Voila!

Seriously, iPhone portrait mode is not that good.

Antique of the Week: Cartier Smoking Compendium

I love tabletop accessories. Especially ones that are useful. An example would be this Cartier Smoking Compendium. If I had this, I might take up smoking! Only organic, pure tobacco cigarettes obviously. Just kidding, I’m not taking up smoking cigarettes.

This is a “compendium” because it’s not only a cigarette dispenser, but also a cigarette lighter! But get this, it dispenses your cigarette, already lit! I want to see that in action. For those of you marijuana smokers, it would probably works for joints too.

What makes this piece even cooler, is that it has Boston ties! It was produced for Cartier by Shreve, Crump and Low. Maybe you’re not aware, but Shreve, Crump and Low was founded in Boston in 1796! It’s currently on Newbury between Arlington and Berkeley.

This compendium was designed by Clark Warner Parker in 1928 and was released around 1930. I did a little research on this guy, but only found other patents. Including one for a transmission. It was released for sale through Cartier and Dunhill.

Now for the not so good news. This thing is $36,500.00. It’s offered by Foundwell. If you happen to scoop this, please let me know. I would love to see it in action

Antique of the Week: Sycamore Maple Art Deco Console Table

The moment I saw this, I knew I wanted it. As it remains for sale, my desire to purchase it increases. However, I don’t have a place for it. There’s one spot in my apartment it could work, but it’s just a little bit too deep. And I have I hard time parting with money.

I see this, and I think Art Deco Pagoda. It’s got an odd number of levels, and the top and bottom surfaces flare upward. I also think the contrast of the ebony and sycamore is eye catching. There aren’t any photos of this, but apparently the uppermost surface is a removable tray.

It’s solid Makassar ebony, with sycamore maple veneer. Makassar Ebony is named after the largest port of the island it originates from in Indonesia. It’s also known as black ebony. Apparently, it’s rarer than it used to be because so much was cut up and assembled into furniture.

There’s not too much riveting information, at least regarding this post, about sycamores. They’re pretty common ornamental trees. I’m confident in saying there are a few between the Public Garden and the Comm Ave Mall.

This console was designed by August Zinsmeister and manufactured by Gebroeders Reens. I’d never heard of either of these dudes, so I did some research.

Zinsmeister was an architect. That’s about all I know right now; his wikipedia page is in Flemmish or Dutch or whatever they speak in the Netherlands, which is where he was from. Most google results brought me back to this console, or something similar.

There’s also not much readily available information about Reens. Everything google brought me was just more furniture made by this guy. All Art Deco.

This console is located in the Netherlands. It’s being offered at $3776.95. It’s 29.14in. tall, 47.45in. wide and 17.72in. deep. I also found this on 1st Dibs. 7 day return policy. The seller’s details aren't listed, but they do have eight 5-star reviews and one 1-star review. That last one was probably just a cranky shopper.

Romeo y Julieta Petit Churchill

I never thought of myself as a cigar smoker, until recently. In early December, my friend Jesse and I took a trip to Havana. Now, I’m into cigars. It was really nice sitting back and essentially forcing myself to relax for anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour and a half. Aside from setting the time aside, the breathing pattern and nicotine helps.

My plan was to smoke a variety of cigars, and then choose my favorite and bring back a box of those. While I wish I brought other boxes back as well, I decided on the Romeo y Julieta Petit Churchill. Let me tell you why. There are several reasons. The flavor, the strength, the time and the price.

The flavor is great. It’s not overpowering, but has flavors of wood and vanilla. I find that it gets stronger as you smoke it. I don’t know if that’s because my tastebuds are more dilated, there’s more accumulation in my mouth or the flavor has changed as i’m smoking tobacco that’s been filtering smoke for half an hour. Probably a combination. It’s a nice diameter, so you get a nice, full draw.

Tolerance is probably hard to compare, but I didn’t think it was too strong. I could feel a nice buzz, but at no point have I ever been like “Oh my God, I’m going to be sick” or anything close to that.

I’ve timed my smoking a few times. It ranges from 45 minutes to an hour. More than I would have thought for a cigar this size. It’s 4” long.

One of the big reasons I went for this one, because I did smoke plenty of cigars I enjoyed, was the price. A box of 25 was $97 and change. I also liked Cohiba Silgo II, but those were closer to $350 for a box of 25. I wasn’t ready to drop that much on my first box. I couldn’t even be sure I was going to continue the habit. I have. And I wish I got a box of those too.

From what I gather, drink pairing with cigars is an art of its own. I found my favorite pairings with this are either a Cuba Libre with Havana Club 3 year and Tukola, or bottom shelf Four Roses Bourbon. It’s non GMO.

Anyway, as a new, entry level, novice, noob cigar smoker, I highly recommend the Romeo y Julieta Petit Churchill. But I hear it’s got to be from Havana. From what I’m told, the non Cuban RyJs aren’t nearly the same.

Antique of the Week: Regency Brass Inlaid Rosewood Metamorphic Bench

My interests are always changing.  Recently, I’ve been more and more into interior design.  This year, I spent some time decorating my apartment a little bit.  After 10 years, I finally just got window treatments.  My research has more formally introduced me into the world of antiques.  I now love antiques.  If I’m on my phone and not on Instagram or Robinhood, I’m on 1st Dibs or EBTH (Everything But The House).

I also want to get back into blogging.  I miss the writing, it really helps me organize my thoughts.  I also tend to research and verify facts more meticulously.  It’s also a nice reminder of things.  For a year I had almost a post a day, organized and scheduled.  A new weekly post I’m starting is…wait for it….wait for it…Antique of the Week.  This is the first one.  Enjoy.

Here we are with a Regency Brass Inlaid Rosewood Metamorphic Bench.  While at first glance, it might be “eh” to some.  But if you look closer, the brass inlay is very cool, for lack of better wordage.  I’m no experienced antiquities master, but I don’t think I’ve seen anything like that before.  Remember, this is my first Antique of the Week!

I know that I like this piece, but I did have to look up “regency” and “rosewood” to better understand this bench.  Regency is descriptive of the period when the bench was made.  The Regency was a time in the UK when King George III was considered unfit to rule, and his son ruled as Prince Regent (1811-1820).  So, from there we know the bench is from early 19th century England.

Rosewood is not wood from a rose tree.  A rose tree is actually a collecting of bushes grown together.  Rosewood is a hardwood legume.  It gets its name from the sweet smell it retains for quite some time.  I love the grain in this.

But wait, there’s more!  When the seller says “metamorphic,” they mean metamorphic.  This is the 19th century version of Transformers.  Lift up that leather bench seat, and you’ve got yourself a ladder, or “library steps” as they’re described.

Now for the other kind of details.  I found this on 1st Dibs.  It’s listed for sale by Antiques Period in Beacon Hill.  It’s offered at $12,000.  18in. high, 34 1/2in. wide and 16 1/2in. deep. Opened, 36in. high and 49in. wide.

People Tell Me I Smell

It might be because I don’t wear deodorant. But hopefully not.

I like scents, I’ve always liked scents. Call me olfactoryfashioned. They’re primal. They skip the brain. You can tell me you don’t know what I’m talking about, but I won’t believe you.

There are certain scents that stick out in my life. Sometimes I’ll be somewhere and get a whiff of something and will involuntarily recall a memory. There are some scents I’ll never forget, When I was like 5, my aunt had this perfume from Victoria’s Secret. It smelled so good. It was in a conical beveled bottle, with the sprayer at the larger end. I’ve spent too much time searching the web for retired Victoria’s Secret perfumes. The closest I’ve come to it, is a combination of Tom Ford Patchouli with a hint of Tuscan Leather.

My mom’s really into essential oils, which has gotten me into essential oils. For the past few years I’ve been experimenting with different blends. When people tell me I smell, usually it’s patchouli. I love the scent. I use patchouli detergent. But I also wear it. Here’s my favorite combo. About equal parts of all. It’s an art, not a science.

Patchouli

Bergamot

Vetiver

Black Pepper

I just drop these along my forearm, and then rub against the other one. Oh, I should note that I do one at a time. I’ll put 5-6 drops of patchouli and rub that in, get some heat generated. Then move onto the next and do the same thing. It lasts for most of the day. People probably think I’m strange when they see me sniffing my arms.

Couldn’t be any more obvious iPhone portrait mode.

It’s a really earthy smell. Me not good with words. It’s mossy? Leathery? A little bit like floral dirt?

Winedown Wednesday: The Old Fashioned Way

Today, most people look high and low for an excuse to be lush. Back in the day, it was a little bit more of a necessity, so I hear. The water was contaminated. Hm, doesn’t seem like we’ve come too far. It’s a different kind of contamination though. I think it’s funny when I hear or read about people saying how there’s no need to have a water filter. Tell that to the residents of Flint, MI or Chicago, IL. They might as well be decanting out of crystal.

Back to the point of the post. I’m becoming more social, which inevitably means having people over to my humble abode. I used to never have anything to drink around. Then I started keeping a bottle of red wine around. Frey Wine’s table red. It’s cheap and it’s one of my favorites. No added sulfites either. Then I had some friends over that I know like white wine, so I bought the white version.

They came over, we’re noshing on cheese and crackers and I ask if anyone wants a drink. Someone spit back at me with a request for a mixed drink. I’m thinking to myself, I could do a white wine spritzer as a mixed drink, but that’s about it.

I pondered about the incident, and came to the conclusion that having a bar might be a nice feature. It struck me as a grown-up thing to do. I occasionally get a mixed drink when I’m out on the town. Some of my friends are big on a cocktail before dinner. It’s supposed to be a digestive aid, right? When we went to Cuba, my friend Jesse noted that drinking with the meal would prevent any chance of food borne illness.

This is supposed to be a recipe for an Old Fashion. Let me just get to it.

The first old fashion I ever had was 3 years ago in Montana. I remember the night vividly, because I remember what I wore. A turtleneck with a polo shirt over it. What was I thinking?? Got dressed before the drink too. It was sweet, but good.

This one is made with Urban Moonshine digestive bitters. Alcohol is a great delivery system, so why not throw in some great herbs? Four Roses is my favorite bourbon. It’s cheap, and it’s made with non gmo corn. I like maple sugar, because as far as sugar goes, it’s nutrient dense. The only reason I used these stainless cubes, is because I didn’t have any ice prepared and didn’t want to wait. A vacating tenant left these in the freezer, so I grabbed them.

As I write this, I’m thinking to myself I should focus on concision this year. Here’s the recipe.

You’ll need:

2 oz Four Roses Bourbon

A splash of Gerolsteiner Sparkling Water

1/2 tsp Maple Sugar

1/2 tsp Urban Moonshine Bitters

Orange Peel

Ice or Stainless Steel

The process:

Drop the sugar in the glass.

Add bitters.

Mix and dissolve, rotating the glass to coat the interior.

Add bourbon.

Add orange peel.

Splash with soda.

Add ice cubes or stainless steel cubes.

Enjoy!

The Gift Guide You've All Been Waiting For

I wanted to put together a gift guide for this season.  I originally just had a list of things I wanted or thought were cool and was going to publish that and call it a day.  But it was boring.  It was not fun to write.  I asked my friend to write a women’s version.  But then I started asking my friends what they wanted for Christmas, and thought that would probably be a much more realistic gift guide. 

#1.  Cash

When I texted with “what do you want for Christmas?” My friend sent back the cash emoji.  At first I thought it was lame.  That’s not the most thoughtful gift.  But it is useful.  And in retrospect, when my mom asked me what I wanted this year, I said cash.  

#2. D. Porthault Towels

I’d never heard of these towels. The washcloth is $105.  For that price, they must be special. A bath towel is $425.  I like the beach towels, but the bath towels and scalloped edges aren’t really my style.

#3.  Cartier Trinity Ring

I like jewelry for gifts, because it’s usually something you wouldn’t buy for yourself.  This piece is actually three rings intertwined.  And it’s symbolic.  One ring is pink gold, representing love, another yellow gold, representing fidelity and white gold representing friendship. It’s $800.

#4.  33 Round 9mm Glock Magazine

Some of you may be able to guess who said this.  He doesn’t have a Glock right now, but soon.  He’s looking at it as an investment piece.  I don’t know if he realizes if he ever were caught outside the house with over 10 rounds, he’d probably be reprimanded. This will fit all 9mm Glocks.

#5.  Jeager Le-Coultre Reverso Tribute Calendar in Pink Gold

This one is my now submission.  I love the classic Reverso, but this one is just a little bit nicer.  Designed in the early 1900s for polo players, the face “reverses” to protect the dial.  It’s kind of pointless for the Tribute, because it has a face on both sides.  The face width:height ratio is 1:1.618. This watch is manually wound.   How am I supposed to know when my tinctures are ready without a $20,000 moon calendar?  “In a testament to the pure watchmaking sophistication of this timepiece, the moon phases have been hand-hammered by Jaeger-LeCoultre's craftsmen for a textured result that conjures a perfect representation of the moon.” $24,000.

#6.  Dessert

I think food can be a great gift.  Especially if you make it yourself.  One friend said she wanted someone to come to her house and make a bunch of healthy desserts, like banana cream pie. Here’s a banana cream pie I made a while back. I guess I should probably start soaking those nuts.

Inside 480 Beacon St #1

This is not your typical Back Bay condo. It’s half a building; the first 3 floors. Four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, plenty of outdoor space AND parking! For what more could you ask?

What is this, Versace’s house?

What if I told you this was a frat house? Not now, but before it looked like this. That would be enough to make me join a frat. This condo is massive. It’s 3 stories, nearly 3,500 square feet. Let me apologize now. I did not take enough photos. I didn’t even take one of the kitchen. Not sure what came over me. Because the kitchen was fantastic. No white marble in sight. Plenty of space to move around and chop. At the bottom, I’ll link to the website for the condo where you can see the official photos and video. By the way, the listing agent is the lovely Catherine Bassick of Compass. She was super friendly. I think it’s pretty obvious when I walk into these places, I’m not in the market and it’s frequent that the listing agent won’t give me the time of day. Not here.

The master bedroom was large with Charles River views. Everything feels proportional. Outside the bedroom were 2 big his and hers closets, with laundry and a bathroom.

The master bath was a little more simple than I was expecting, but I have no issues. I’m a fan of the towel warmer.

This was a sunken den, street side. Perfect for cozying up.

This office is the technical 4th bedroom. But I think the office makes sense. It opens up to some ground level outdoor space, which leads to a garage with 2 parking spaces. I believe there’s also a deck on the second story, but I must’ve missed it.

To get the full picture of this condo, I urge you to check out www.480beaconst.com. Seriously, check out the kitchen. Catherine’s provided a plethora of photos, and even a video tour. Her contact info is kk@catherinebassick.com, 310 795 8521.

Inside 346 Beacon St #4

This weekend, I went to a handful of open houses. Only two are worth writing about. They’re both spectacular, so I’m going to dedicate an entire post to each one. This 2 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom condo at 346 Beacon was my first stop.

Pretty much every building on Beacon has a decent façade, but you never know what you’ll find when you enter. I knew we were off to a great start when even the atrium is gorgeous. Arianna Brown from Gibson Sotheby’s was running the open house. She was extremely friendly and knowledgable about the property. Cute too. I saw her later the same day running a second open house, which was still really nice, but didn’t make the cut. Had a private roof deck though.

The kitchen is pretty much the center of the condo, which I really like. It’s bright and open, even though it doesn’t have any windows. Although, I can’t say it’s perfect. I don’t like the only sink being on the island, and white marble counters are not functional. Otherwise, it’s great.

Those are Charles River views. I love this place. The space and how it’s used and decorated. I think the sellers should offer it furnished.

A little half bathroom between the living room and kitchen. This is in a little hallway with a staircase leading up to the master bedroom

Is there a word for the second bedroom in a two bedroom, that’s not the master? That’s what this is. It’s street side Beacon. It’s on the other side of the kitchen from the living room. I love the style of the room, and the way it’s decorated. However, I would do a murphy bed and make this more of an office.

Fullsize bathroom off the second bedroom. I’d do the master bath similar to this. You’ll see.

The master bedroom’s a pretty good size. More Charles River views. I also love the walk-in closet. Arianna mentioned that this used to be two bedrooms, but the current owners remodeled the place. Looks like they did a great job to me. If I had to guess, I’d say the couple works in design.

The master bathroom is also pretty big. It’s definitely beautiful, but not necessarily my taste. If I bought his place, I wouldn’t change it. If I were the one that remodeled, I’d probably done something a little more traditional.

Now for the stuff not pictured. Asking $2,595,000. There’s a parking space. There’s laundry in the unit. The taxes are about $24,000/year and the condo fee is $1,200 and includes heat and water. At first I thought that was a lot, but it really isn’t considering this condo is just under 2,000 square feet with high ceilings and laundry. Water and heat can add up quickly.

If you have any questions about this property or would like to check it out, I urge you to reach out to Arianna Brown at Arianna.Brown@sothebysrealty.com or 617 549 4207.