Im happy and unhappy to say that today the last bit of the money was transferred from my account to buy an apartment on Central Park West/89th Street intersection. I am now officially BROKE . This time it is extremely serious but at least I have somewhere to stick my head in in New York, LOL.
Anyway, back to the story, I am really looking forward to moving in at the end of this year or next (have to have a baby first and after they will allow me on a plane) but it would be great if you can give answers to my musings about living in New York. Essentially, they are all about settling down for the first time:
1) What extras do New York people have (such as which sport club membership, where does one go for beauty treatment and all the vain stuff, LOL)?
2) What is this thing about the place being a cooperative? The managing agent, the directors of the cooperative whom we met, our property lawyer and our estate agent assured me there is no serious trick behind it but I am holding a bit of scepticism. So it would be great if you can tell me the worst case scenario associated with a cooperative building because to be honest, the process of acquiring it was a bit fussy with these unnecessary crossholding structures and the proprietary lease instead of outright freehold.
Despite all the weird and wonderful agreements in place, I am thinking that a cooperative building is like a company so they can vote (i.e. kick) me out of the building! This question is the most important and it would be great if you can clarify because this concept of cooperative (and condominium) is very American and both my house in London and apartment in Paris are freehold.
3) Who are the best interior designers in New York? I would do it myself if I am familiar with where to get things but it is too challenging for my airy head so I will probably have to plonk money for this one-off cost. The only one that I know of through Architectural Review (and has contacted her office) is Barbara Barry but she is in Los Angeles. It is possible to have her but it would be great if you can tell me other really good people: the apartment as it is now is great but I want a real cream Park Avenue Princess style like Charlotte York's in Sex and the City .
4) What do unemployed people with a baby do all day in New York, LOL?
5) Oh yes, one last question I promise. Please tell me straight whether I bought into the right location or not. I am a bit confused because New York is not as clear cut as London or Paris where you know immediately which bit is good and bad. May be it is because the streets stretch from the top to bottom and left to right of Manhattan. I am wondering slightly whether we made the right choice because we had to option to go to Park Avenue but in the end my husband chose this one because it has the reservoir view and further on to the Guggenheim and to a lesser extent the Metropolitan but then obviously the cliché is Park Avenue Princess. So I would really appreciate it if you can tell me did I go to the wrong side of the park? Or even did I go to the right square mile because my American friends whom I used to work with says you want the ones further down south in the 60s and 70s rather than 89th? You can criticise as much as you want!
Anyway, back to the story, I am really looking forward to moving in at the end of this year or next (have to have a baby first and after they will allow me on a plane) but it would be great if you can give answers to my musings about living in New York. Essentially, they are all about settling down for the first time:
1) What extras do New York people have (such as which sport club membership, where does one go for beauty treatment and all the vain stuff, LOL)?
2) What is this thing about the place being a cooperative? The managing agent, the directors of the cooperative whom we met, our property lawyer and our estate agent assured me there is no serious trick behind it but I am holding a bit of scepticism. So it would be great if you can tell me the worst case scenario associated with a cooperative building because to be honest, the process of acquiring it was a bit fussy with these unnecessary crossholding structures and the proprietary lease instead of outright freehold.
Despite all the weird and wonderful agreements in place, I am thinking that a cooperative building is like a company so they can vote (i.e. kick) me out of the building! This question is the most important and it would be great if you can clarify because this concept of cooperative (and condominium) is very American and both my house in London and apartment in Paris are freehold.
3) Who are the best interior designers in New York? I would do it myself if I am familiar with where to get things but it is too challenging for my airy head so I will probably have to plonk money for this one-off cost. The only one that I know of through Architectural Review (and has contacted her office) is Barbara Barry but she is in Los Angeles. It is possible to have her but it would be great if you can tell me other really good people: the apartment as it is now is great but I want a real cream Park Avenue Princess style like Charlotte York's in Sex and the City .
4) What do unemployed people with a baby do all day in New York, LOL?
5) Oh yes, one last question I promise. Please tell me straight whether I bought into the right location or not. I am a bit confused because New York is not as clear cut as London or Paris where you know immediately which bit is good and bad. May be it is because the streets stretch from the top to bottom and left to right of Manhattan. I am wondering slightly whether we made the right choice because we had to option to go to Park Avenue but in the end my husband chose this one because it has the reservoir view and further on to the Guggenheim and to a lesser extent the Metropolitan but then obviously the cliché is Park Avenue Princess. So I would really appreciate it if you can tell me did I go to the wrong side of the park? Or even did I go to the right square mile because my American friends whom I used to work with says you want the ones further down south in the 60s and 70s rather than 89th? You can criticise as much as you want!