Max Abelson

Curbed, the smartest and funniest real estate blog in New York (besides the one called The Real Estate, natch), will be honored next month at the Historic Districts Council's Preservation Party.

The Web site's honored peers include State Assemblywoman Deborah Glick ("Friend in High Places Award") and the illustrious Broadway-Flushing Homeowners Assocation.

From the release:

Since its launch in May 2004, the website Curbed.com has established itself as the center of the virtual conservation about real estate in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and beyond. Constantly updated with the latest breaking news, Curbed has shown a great interest in covering preservation issues. Numerous stories about landmarks and potential landmarks have graced the pages of Curbed and helped to expose a huge new audience to the preservation efforts of organization sand individuals across New York City.

Mazel tov, gents!

- Max Abelson and Chris Shott

Earlier this month, a Round-Up linked to an Interior Design profile of the design world's Super Agent Man:

Meet Keith Granet, who represents the stars of interior design. How will his magic touch benefit New York? Get ready for Charlotte Moss on Madison Avenue, then a SoHo antiques boutique for Monique Gibson, "Elton John and Jon Bon Jovi's designer." Plus: Mr. Granet hates Target.

Late last week we heard from Mr. Granet, who would like to tell the world that he is not a hater. "All I said was that I did not believe in bringing designer to stores like Target "too low too fast," he wrote via email. "You can not imagine how many requests we get from designers to go directly to stores like Target."  read more »

Fair enough. Mr. Granet's full email is after the jump.

- Max Abelson

The photographs of 9/11 hold an unparalleled, monumental power over us.  read more »

This morning, assistant managing editor and web editor Jake Brooks distributed a surprising email. (It follows after the jump.)

His email announced a stunning victory over the staff of Trader Monthly at last night's softball game in East River Park. This morning, the bullpen was abuzz.

"They were worthy competition," said politics reporter Jason Horowitz.

"Except for the girls," said intern Max Abelson. Hey now.

"There was one guy who basically slid the distance from first base to second base," said Mr. Horowitz.

Were any of the Trader Monthly fellows... well, hot?

"I'm no expert," said NYTV reporter Rebecca Dana. "There was one guy.... he was sort of bridge-and-tunnel-hot."

"They were really nice," said Mr. Brooks sternly.

"Except for the one," Ms. Dana said.

"Their two best players were on vacation," Mr. Brooks said.

And what about heat exhaustion incidents?

"I had one later that evening," Ms. Dana said. To wit: "I was exhausted and hot."

"Friendly!" said Mr. Horowitz. "Friendly bunch!"

"I hit a guy with a ball," said Michael Calderone, media and real estate reporter. Indeed he did. Right in the back. And: "There was a lot of glove sharing. And bat sharing."  read more »

"Athlete's hand!" said medical reporter Lizzy Ratner. "And fungus!"

The only thing more glamorous than high-end luxury real estate in New York City and the Hamptons is a magazine exclusively devoted to covering high-end luxury real estate in NYC and the Hamptons.

"A New York edition was a natural next step for Haute Living," said publisher Kamal Hotchandaniin a morning press release. "Obviously, New York leads the way when it comes to luxury real estate." Obviously.

South Florida-based Haute Living Magazine has already covered the divas of Manhattan real estate--and, less successfully, the Cipriani Club.

Where will spin-off Haute New York be found? In "400 luxury buildings where the average price of an apartment is $4.2 million." And: "in flight on private jets."

- Max Abelson  read more »

(Full disclosure: The Real Estate's haute Michael Calderone has been a recent Haute Living contributor).

Revivals of long-gone genres are nothing unexpected.  read more »

“How long will it take for him to descend into self-parody?” Stanley Bing asks 10 pages into his  read more »

Well, we've just put out a fine, fine issue of The New York Observer, if you ask me. And it's a double issue! Which means that all of us now have a week in which to produce no issue of the Observer. Which means we're all fleeing town.

Don't really expect us to post to The Real Estate till July 5, unless one of us gets drunk and decides to ruminate on the pleasures of listening to Herb Alpert and Tijuana Brass while sitting on a porch upstate, or in Maine, or in Matewan, drinking Fog Cutters.

We'll be back with intern Max Abelson's Morning Read stylings earlier than you on July 5, so don't count us out for long. And keep writing and calling. We love all of you crankpipes!

- Tom McGeveran