“Summertime. And the livin’ is easy.”When asked about the opening line of the classic Gershwin song from Porgy and Bess, Stephen Sondheim noted, “That and is the exact right word. Summertime when the livin' is easy, is a boring line compared to Summertime. And the livin’ is easy."
If you appreciate that sort of exactness, then this month's newsletter is for you as I'm sharing the exact Real Estate Agent to contact if you are considering the Aspen Valley. The exact pizza at the exact pizzeria in Studio City. And, not coincidentally, the exact version of Summertime to listen to on those mornings when "you rise up singing."
So turn up the volume, kick off your flip-flops, and dive right in.
Wishing you the best summer/ps.
Rocky Mountain High - Meet Annie Baldo
That’s where Annie Baldo comes in. A native Brazilian, Annie fell in love and relocated to Aspen Valley 25 years ago. After spending 17 years managing luxury brands, both there and in NYC, she turned her passion for design and customer service into a vibrant real estate practice.
You can meet her in the video below and if you are considering any of the towns in the Roaring Fork Valley (Aspen, Basalt, Snowmass), I’d love to introduce you to my friend Annie.
Boulder To Denver: Meet Chris Hurwitz
While Chris Hurwitz grew up in the northern Chicago suburbs, he moved to Boulder, Colorado in 2011 and hasn’t looked back. As a member of the Kelly Moye Team, consistently one of the top producing teams in the Mountain States Region, Chris, a licensed physical therapist and father to Oliver 8, and Freya 6, puts his heart and soul into making his client’s homeownership dreams a reality.
If you are considering the greater Boulder/Denver area, from Centennial to Longmont and all points in between, I'd be thrilled to introduce you to Chris.
MY LA: Studio City
Having spent the better part of the past two months managing my listing in Studio City, I’ve become reacquainted with its many pleasures; restaurants, hiking paths, shops and of course that farmers market. In a word: Terrific!
Now, if it's been awhile since you last had a chance to visit the "hood over the hill," there's a whole lot of new going on. Here are 3 cool things for you to check out.
The Write-Off Room
A music venue created for musicians by a musician, the location itself has been a hotspot for nightlife since it opened in 1936 as Rex’s White Cabin. 5 years later, it reopened as the Zomba Café, an upscale burlesque theater, and then from 1968 through January 2021, it was Oil Can Harry’s, the oldest gay club in LA, known for its retro and country western vibes.
Calleen Cordero
Calleen Cordero began designing her own line in 1999 with a simple idea to make handmade artisan quality footwear, handbags and accessories as authentic as it was beautiful, as comfortable as it was luxurious, and as nourishing to the soul as it was to the eye. Now you can explore all their creations in person at their flagship Boutique on Ventura Blvd in Studio City.
Roberta's Pizza
Roberta's has opened its 2nd LA location at the Sportmen’s Lodge. Originally out of Brooklyn, it was named one of the top 15 pizzerias in America by USA Today. Known for its wood fired pizzas and hipster "Tiki Disco" parties, try the Bee Sting; tomato, mozzarella, soppressata, basil, chili, and honey.
What Makes A Timeless Classic?
What is it about certain songs that make them timeless? Relevant across generations, cultures, and genres?
Summertime composed for the opera Porgy & Bess by George Gershwin with lyrics by DuBose Heyward and Ira Gershwin is one of those songs. First recorded in 1935 by Abbie Mitchell with Gershwin himself playing piano and conducting the orchestra, it has since been recorded over 25,000 times by such diverse and generational performers as Miles Davis, Lana Del Rey, Willie Nelson, the Walker Brothers, Annie Lennox and the Ohio Players.
While the majority of those 25,000 recordings are no doubt faceless covers, there are a great many fabulous versions, rich in nuance and purpose.
Below are 5 that really stand out for me. Do you have a favorite?
So grateful for my clients who collaborated on a listing strategy that brought remarkable results. Here are the highlights:
#5: Billie Holiday
#4: Billy Stewart
#3: Charlie Parker
#2: Angélique Kidjo
#1: Ella & Louis
JUST SOLD Part 1: Studio City, CA
So grateful for my clients who collaborated on a listing strategy that brought remarkable results. Here are the highlights:
THE STRATEGY:
• Pre-inspection to uncover what buyers would likely find during inspections, eliminating escrow surprises.
• Compass Private Exclusive to gauge pricing before going live on the MLS
• Staging so the home looks and feels move-in ready for buyers with limited imaginations.
• 6 Open Houses in two weeks for the widest exposure in the shortest amount of time.
THE RESULTS:• Appraised at $895,000• Sold at $1,003,500 (establishing a new benchmark in the neighborhood)
I’m thrilled for my clients whose dream to move their family from Texas to Oregon is now complete. And I’m grateful to be working with James & Nicolette, a wonderful team out of Portland, who did an outstanding job finding a perfect home and negotiating a terrific under-asking price.
JUST SOLD Part 2: Lake Oswego, OR
The Referral Network is Working!
I’m thrilled for my clients whose dream to move their family from Texas to Oregon is now complete. And I’m grateful to be working with James & Nicolette, a wonderful team out of Portland, who did an outstanding job finding a perfect home and negotiating a terrific under-asking price.Most people don't spend much time vetting Real Estate Agent in their own neighborhoods - let alone across the country. That's why I created the Small Network, a select group of top-producing Real Estate Agent that I have personally vetted and recommend.
Should your real estate dreams extend beyond LA, please consider me a resource to help you source the right agent for you.
A native Angeleno, I grew up in a "show-biz family" and began my career as a third-generation theatrical agent impacting the careers of actors including the likes of Crispin Glover, Ray Liotta, and Demi Moore.
This is The Art of Representation
A native Angeleno, I grew up in a "show-biz family" and began my career as a third-generation theatrical agent impacting the careers of actors including the likes of Crispin Glover, Ray Liotta, and Demi Moore.After beginning a family, I traded Sunset Blvd for Madison Avenue and spent the next 20 years in advertising, creating and implementing marketing strategies that drove new business growth, resulting in the successful onboarding of clients such as Coca-Cola, Comcast, Electronic Arts, Nike, Pinkberry, Princess Cruises and the US Army among many others.
I now apply those same principles of agency; integrity, accountability, and perseverance on my client's behalf as we work together to define and fulfill their real estate investment strategies.
[email protected] | 310.717.8536 | DRE: 02074499
