The People's Coffee-Table Book

Just in time for election day, Rizzoli is publishing the "first-ever tribute to Gracie Mansion." Ironically, Mayor Bloomberg--who famously chose to reside in his five-story, Beaux Arts townhouse on 72nd Street instead of at the mayoral mansion--wrote the book's foreword. Indeed, the 206-year old mansion has a rich history beyond housing the city's mayors; that practice only began in 1942 with Fiorello LaGuardia. Since Mr. Bloomberg dubbed it the "People's House," Gracie Mansion has served as a prime spot for visiting dignitaries, summer barbecues, and numerous receptions. In this picture, he's squeezing buns at the August 3rd People's Barbecue. Wait--sorry. That was an invite-only reception for movie and television stars (including Victoria Gotti and Susan Lucci). With expanded access to family quarters, tourism shot up almost percent in the past year. Tourists can now gawk at the beautifully restored interior or search for Donna Hanover's exercise machine that woke Rudy up early in the morning. However, The Real Estate imagines that if someone else is given the chance to occupy the mansion come November, those upstairs bedrooms will be sealed off once again. - Michael Calderone