Leonard Steinberg

• A skinny, possibly "gloomy" Harlem townhouse is granted "Estate of the Day" honors at Luxist. Why? The 1910 house has a planted terrace, garden, 12-foot-high parlor floor, and original details like mahogany-framed windows and carved staircase. [Lux]
• The 'New Park Slope' bears shockingly little semblance to the original. Unless the old Park Slope was a pioneer of comfort and style, and a modern and exciting residential corridor, and "rich with the ambience and energy..." [Curbed]
• Pity the poor Greenwich VIllage KFC/Taco Bell! Even though it miraculously provided Villagers with both tasty fried chieck and Challupas, a few measly rats have put the restaurant in peril. To be fair, though, technically it was a "rat infestation." [NY1, via everyone]
• The Observer's favorite mega-uber-luxury broker, Leonard Steinberg, works the "art week" angle into selling his condos at 200 11th Avenue. "Most units have double-height ceilings, which gives you a tremendous opportunity to display sculpture and artwork... It is not attracting the Kevin Federlines of the world." [Real Deal] - Max Abelson
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It seems that now is the right time to start looking at the first half of 2006. And broker Leonard Steinberg, of Prudential Douglas Elliman, has just dropped the newest "Luxury Letter" in our inbox.

So how's the high end--or "luxocrat"--market looking right now: "slower, yet strong," says Steinberg.

After an unusually robust, bonus-fueled first quarter, the market certainly cooled in the past 6 weeks....cooling to a more normal pace, that has some skeptics worried. But worrying is par for the course in the real estate world.

Of course, Mr. Steinberg mentions 15 Central Park West--where business is booming (and cocktails are flowing)--to show that pricey apartments are moving.  read more »

However, one thing that the brokerages don't give in their official market reports--which are expected to be released tomorrow--is a bit of gossip. According to Mr. Steinberg's July lettter, a 5,500-square-foot apartment at 40 Bond Street has gone to contract for over $15 million. Unfortunately, the Herzog and de Meuron-loving buyer still remains a mystery.

- Michael Calderone

Last November, Ian Schrager and Aby Rosen invited about 25 of Manhattan’s top luxury real-esta  read more »