Recent Comments:
Dream World Villa on the French Riviera, Estate of the Day {Luxist}
Mar 26th 2011 8:21AM It would take Americans to call the area 'La Californie...' Please!!! The arrogance and ignorance are boundless, I knew, but this takes the cake."
I do see boundless arrogance and ignorance here, but all of it seems to be coming from the commenter. THAT is what really takes the cake. It takes real ignorance to leap to the erroneous conclusion that Americans MUST be responsible for naming this section of the French Riviera. And it takes real arrogance to use such an erroneous conclusion as a basis for an unprovoked attack on an entire country and its 300 million citizens.
In fact, the residential neighborhood of 'La Californie' was named by the French themselves - not by any Americans. Had Americans named it, the State's name would probably have been spelled correctly. The name "La Californie" is not new to that area either. It dates back to the days when local residents desired to promote their hometown as the perfect resort, and to that effect they publicly compared it to a place that was then well known for its beautful, healthful climate, i.e. California. In fact, there's a Belle Epoque mansion in that neighborhood that has been known since it was built as "Villa La Californie." Again, the name has nothing to do with Americans or their alleged ignorance.
Please indeed!
"FYI: the area is called the Corniche."
Really? By whom? There are three old corniche roads running along the Cote d'Azur - the Moyenne being the one nearest to Cannes - but I have never once heard anyone refer to the region itself as "The Corniche." Never. Ever. The term "corniche" refers to a certain kind of mountain road, and that's the only way I've ever heard it used by the people there. And even if there were in fact some individuals who chose to use the title, "The Corniche" in referring to the region around Cannes, it would be totally irrelevant to the name "La Californie" and its origins. That name only applies to one particular residential neighbood on the east side of a hill above Cannes. As far as I know, nobody here has claimed that the entire area was called "La Californie".
If you're hellbent on bashing America, You might at least have the decency to do it based on actual facts rather than building your case on silly assumptions or outright fabrications,
Felder Avenue, Estate of the Day {Luxist}
Mar 20th 2011 10:13PM This may not be my ultimate dream house, but I'm very thankful to Spectacular Bid for sharing this listing. It just goes to show that, with a little effort & forethought, one can still find/build a modern house with individuality, personality and charm at a fairly reasonable price. I'd take this house over a standard (or larger) McMansion any day.
Summit Ranch, Estate of the Day {Luxist}
Mar 20th 2011 10:03PM The property itself is nice, as are the views, but the house is a little meh to me. I can't say I like the decor either, but then again, I don't guess the furniture is staying with the house after it's sold anyway, so....
Far From Wolf, Estate of the Day {Luxist}
Mar 19th 2011 3:59AM I'm not sure that pelt came from a Siberian or from some other sort of tiger, but no matter what subspecies it happened to be, I seriously doubt that it's a recent kill. The skin is most likely an anique, therefore hanging it on a wall in Maine would obviously do nothing to harm the world's current tiger population. What should they do, ask P.E.T.A. to give the pelt a proper Christian burial?
Topridge, Estate of the Day {Luxist}
Jan 2nd 2011 2:53PM Various interweb references notwithstanding, ever since its opening in the 1850s, access to Llewellyn Park has been restricted by a peripheral fence and a private police force. The only way to enter the community was, and still is, to go through a set of gates and past a gatehouse (designed by A. J. Davis) manned by a guard 24 hours a day. It is exactly the same set-up used at Tuxedo Park, and it's been that way since the beginning. Even today, non-residents cannot drive or walk into Llewellyn Park without first obtaining a visitor's pass. I've read that the gated community of Lake Forest (near Chicago) pre-dates Tuxedo by quite a few years, and there may have been other earlier gated places as well. Tuxedo Park probably gets the glory because of the size of its homes, the level of wealth of its residents and its historical exclusivity, but I'm pretty sure it was not actually the first gated community in the U.S.
Villa Lewaro, Estate of the Day {Luxist}
Jan 2nd 2011 2:49PM Actually the NAACP did have it for a while. Alelia Robinson bequeathed the home to that organization, just as her mother has requested of her, but the NAACP immediately sold it off (at a bargain basement price) because they needed cash more than they needed a big house in Irvington, NY. And I'm not sure if this is true, but I read somewhere that the gentleman who restored and occupied Villa Lewaro recently was the first African American to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange.
Topridge, Estate of the Day {Luxist}
Nov 20th 2010 5:47PM Various interweb references notwithstanding, ever since its opening in the 1850s, access to Llewellyn Park has been restricted by a peripheral fence and a private police force. The only way to enter the community was, and still is, to go through a set of gates and past a gatehouse (designed by A. J. Davis) manned by a guard 24 hours a day. It is exactly the same set-up used at Tuxedo Park, and it's been that way since the beginning. Even today, non-residents cannot drive or walk into Llewellyn Park without first obtaining a visitor's pass. I've read that the gated community of Lake Forest (near Chicago) pre-dates Tuxedo by quite a few years, and there may have been other earlier gated places as well. Tuxedo Park probably gets the glory because of the size of its homes, the level of wealth of its residents and its historical exclusivity, but I'm pretty sure it was not actually the first gated community in the U.S.
On a side note, I grew up in Orange County, NY, not far from Tuxedo, and when I was a kid it was very easy to get past the guards at Tuxedo Park's gate by making up a story about going to apply for a job at the club, or going to mow a lawn or something. They'd let almost anyone in back then. Apparently things have changed. Recently, two of my siblings, both of whom are liar accomplished liars, tried to get in for a look-see, and both were quickly given the bum's rush. Good for those guards...safety first!
Topridge, Estate of the Day {Luxist}
Nov 19th 2010 6:39PM As far as Tuxedo being the first gated community in the U.S., wasn't Llewellyn Park in West Orange, NJ established quite a bit earlier than Tuxedo?
