BocaRaton

Gold Vending Machine Lands In South Florida

Over the summer I saw a gold-dispensing vending machine displayed in Las Vegas, now shoppers in South Florida can buy gold from a machine in a local mall. The first Gold to Go machine in the U.S. has been installed at an upscale mall in Boca Raton. The company's first machine went in at the Emirates Palace hotel in Abu Dhabi and since then they have popped up around Europe. According to a report in the AP, the Abu Dhabi machine is so busy it has to be restocked every couple of days. The machine in Boca Raton works like an ATM and dispenses gold encased in a small black box with a tamperproof seal.

Prices are refigured every 10 minutes to reflect the price of gold (plus packaging, certification and a 5% markup). The machine holds 320 pieces of different-sized bars and coins. Because it will hold around $150,000 in cash and gold, it will have the attendance of an armed bodyguard as well as being watched by several live security cameras.

Tags: BocaRaton, Gold to go, gold vending machine, Gold vending machines

Dennis Kozlowski's Real Estate Sell-Off

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Crimes and Misdemeanors

We've been watching disgraced Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski sell off his stuff for a long time. There was a lot of to sell, fine antiques, a classic sailing yacht and of course, some very tempting real estate. Problem is, the real estate isn't moving quite so quickly. Kozlowski's homes have sat on the market for a while despite their obvious charms. Meanwhile, Kozlowski himself sits in a jail cell, convicted in 2005 of crimes related to his receipt of over $80 million in purportedly unauthorized bonuses.

His Nantucket home is one of the island's best. The classic shingled home is a short walk from the beach and has perfect Atlantic views. Kozlowski had a talent for spending money and this home is done with the finest of finishes. The formal living room has a wood burning fireplace with marble surround and opens to casual living space with wet bar, entertainment center and a wall of rounded glass that slides open to the deck and path to beach. The dining room overlooks the deck and another wall of glass doors lead to the barbecue area and outdoor dining. There is both a catering kitchen and a regular kitchen as well as a wine cellar and two laundry rooms. The first floor bedroom suite has a fireplace and sitting area with sliding doors out to the deck and there are two other bedrooms on this floor. Upstairs there is a library with a fireplace and French doors out to the deck and the master suite has two fireplaces and a sitting area as well as a walk-in closet and a sumptuous marble bathroom. The property also includes a guest cottage and a garage that holds a home gym/fitness center with a second floor that has studio living space with a full bath and wet bar. The Wall Street Journal reported last year that the home had been reduced from the asking of $23 million to $16.45 million which is the number the listing still shows.

In my opinion, it's Kozlowski's Boca Raton, Florida place that will be the harder sell. The Real Estalker recently profiled this estate although South Florida Blockshopper shows it has been on the market since July. The eight-bedroom estate takes up a plush 1.6 acre spot in the elite community known at The Sanctuary and includes a tennis court, guest house, pool and over 600 feet of deepwater shoreline.

The Moroccan-inspired style includes long halls framed in pointed Gothic arches, plenty of beige, dark heavy wood, cooling tile floors and wrought iron. It's lovely but there's nothing particularly unique to recommend it except size and bland splendor. it is listed at $24.9 million putting it at the very top of the still-luxurious but sagging Boca Raton market.

My guesses as to final sale prices? I think each home will sell for around $15 million. Leave me your guess in the comments below.

Gallery: Dennis Kozlowski In Nantucket

Gallery: Dennis Kozlowksi In Boca Raton

Tags: boca raton, BocaRaton, dennis kozlowski, DennisKozlowski, nantucket, real esate, RealEsate, tyco

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Rock Hall, a New B&B in Connecticut's Litchfield County

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Rock Hall, a four-room B&B in Colebrook, CT, is now open for its first summer season, and it's a great New England getaway for fans of Florida, architecture, or just an unusual story.

Rock Hall was built in 1912 by Addison Mizner, the architect whose Mediterranean Revival style was behind the development of Boca Raton as a resort community. Mizner built this 10,000 square foot home some six years before he went to Florida -- where he'd eventually go bankrupt and die.

But before all that, in Connecticut's Litchfield Hills, Mizner received this commission for Jerome Alexandre, a bond trader. Alexandre was heir to the Alexandre Steam Ship Lines fortune, a company which once sailed between New York and Mexico -- perhaps explaining Alexandre's taste for Spanish-style architecture?

Anyway, fast forward to present times, Rock Hall was bought as a country home by another bond trader, Michael Somers, managing director of Dillon Read and Company (most recently a part of UBS) and his wife Stella, a designer. Let's just say that investment banking isn't what it once was, and so late last winter, Michael became an innkeeper. The Somers transformed their country manor into a B&B and have repaired to an apartment on the top floor of the home. (Their former master suite, now Chamber #2, would be the room to reserve.) Stella is a delightful hostess, and Michael has channeled his energies into his long-time hobby, cooking -- he makes a mean house-cured gravlax.

Tags: architecture, bedandbreakfast, boca raton, BocaRaton, connecticut, florida, investmentbanking

Boca Concours to Offer First Examples of New Audi and Ferrari Supercars in America

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

Florida might very well change its slogan to "the State of Old and New", with pensioners going there to retire and children flocking there for the theme parks. Old and new are what will draw the crowds to the Boca Raton Resort & Club later this month, where the 3rd Annual Boca Raton Concours d'Elegance will take place. Hosted by celebrity emcee Howie Mandel, the event will not only feature some of the most elegant creations in automotive history, but will also include two of the latest: the very first examples of the Ferrari California (below right) and Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro (above) to come to the American market. As in other similar auctions, bidders will be vying for the opportunity to own the first example of either (or both) of these stunning supercars when delivery begins in North America, the auction itself effectively confirming that the V

10-powered Audi will in fact be making it Stateside, probably sometime next year. Considering that previous auctions in Boca have drawn some exceptional examples of automotive excellence, we doubt the new Audi and Ferrari will feel lonely up there on the auction block.

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Tags: audi ar8 5.2 fsi quattro, audi r8 v10, audi r8 v10 north america, AudiAr85.2FsiQuattro, AudiR8V10, AudiR8V10NorthAmerica, boca raton, boca raton concours delegance, BocaRaton, BocaRatonConcoursDelegance, first ferrari, first r8, FirstFerrari, FirstR8

Boca Raton Resort & Club Unveils $220 Million Revamp

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

The Boca Raton Resort & Club (above), designed by legendary architect Addison Mizner in 1926, has just unveiled a stunning $220 million dollar refurbishment. Upgrades include a revamp of the hotel's Palm Court and lobby by famed interior designer Thierry Despont, who has created a "return to casual life in an elegant environment drawing on Mizner's DNA"; the re-opening of the 212-room Beach Club designed by Fiona Thompson of Richmond International; the new Boca Bungalows, designed by Alexandra Champalimaud; the opening of Serendipity, known for its famous frozen hot chocolate, the first of its kind located outside of NYC; and the first Southeast outpost of Morimoto, from Masaharu Morimoto of Iron Chef fame, also designed by Thierry Despont.

The BRR&C's amenities include a half-mile stretch of private beach, the acclaimed Spa Palazzo, two 18-hole championship golf courses, 30 tennis courts and a full-service marina. The property, which is set to join the Waldorf=Astoria Collection in 2009, "embodies the modernity, elegance, and the sophistication of one of the most historically significant resorts in the United States, and is poised to redefine that guest experience for the 21st century." See the gallery for images.

Gallery: Boca Raton Resort & Club

Tags: Addison Mizner, AddisonMizner, Beach, Boca Raton, Boca Raton Resort Club, BocaRaton, BocaRatonResortClub, Florida, Morimoto, Serendipity, Thierry Despont, ThierryDespont

Rolls, Ferrari & Bugatti in Boca Raton Auction

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions

On Jan. 1 - 4, Kruse International will auction off almost 1,000 cars at the Boca Raton South Florida Collector Car Auction, held at the Royal Palm Polo Club. There are several valuable and notable autos on offer, including the 1956 Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith with coachwork by H.J. Mulliner from the 1981 Dudley Moore movie Arthur (above), estimated at $200,000. Other big ticket items include a 1972 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI Landault, one of only five built and formerly the official car of the President of Gabon in Africa, est. at $2 million; a brand new 2009 Bugatti Veyron, est. at $1.7 million; a 2003 Ferrari Enzo, est. at $1.3 million; a 1973 Ferrari Daytona Spyder, formerly the property of Rod Stewart, est. at $600,000; and a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing, est. at $450,000. See the gallery for pix.

Gallery: Boca Raton Auto Auction

Tags: Boca Raton, BocaRaton, Bugatti, Ferrari, Kruse International, KruseInternational, Mercedes-Benz, Rod Stewart, RodStewart, Rolls Royce, Rolls-Royce, RollsRoyce

Lake Boca Raton, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Can it really be a year since I've checked out a house on Lake Drive in Boca Raton. Florida? I suppose so, it's been a year since I've been there to visit my family. Today's home is a seven-bedroom mansion right on Lake Boca. The home, created by architect Tom Benedict and builder Bill Szymanski, is luxurious but not quite as exceedingly lavish as some in the area. The open foyer and floating concrete staircase make for a grand entrance. The living room faces the lake and pool and has a bar with aquarium and multiple sitting areas. The home has two full kitchens, a home theater, study, library, gym and an elevator to tie it all together. The grounds include gardens, infinity edge pool, summer kitchen and private terraces. The home has 150 feet of waterfront with a boat and jetski lift and full power dock. And if there is anything I've learned about Lake Drive it's that the yacht out in front is at least as important as the car in the driveway. This home is listed at $19.95 million. You are going to need a big boat.

For more prime properties and lush locations, see Luxury Homes and Mansions.

Gallery: Lake Drive

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Tags: boca raton, BocaRaton, estate of the day, florida real estate, FloridaRealEstate, lake boca raton, LakeBocaRaton

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Major Housing Developments Planned For Boca Raton

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Things in Sarasota, Florida may look grim for condo real estate but condo life is booming in Boca Raton, Florida. One Thousand Ocean is a new seven-story building which includes 52 one and two-story villas, penthouses and beach villas. The units have ocean views and luxury appointments. The building is also home to an expansive fitness center, a children's playroom, large garages and private elevator landings. There is a lounge/club room with a catering kitchen and conference area and a pool and beach cabanas. The personal amenities include concierge service and a residential staff to attend to your needs such as housekeeping and valet service. Afraid you will be bored? One Thousand Ocean is next to the pink palace known as the Boca Resort and Beach Club giving you access to nine restaurants and bars, a large spa and beauty salon, a golf school, two golf courses, 30 tennis courts and a marina.

Another luxury development, The Reserve at Blue Lake, is also planned for the area . It will consist of 172 luxury single-family and town homes and prices will range from the $600,000s to $1.4 million. Sales should start in March and the development will be completed in late 2008.

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Tags: boca raton, BocaRaton, condominiums, florida

French in Boca, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

This ornate home in Boca Raton, Florida sits on a lakefront lot. While many Boca residents opt for the Mediterranean look the owner of this house went full French regency on the exterior. This house was designed by architect Randall Stofft with a limestone facade, mansard room and iron railings. Inside this nearly 13,000-square-foot home has been decorated within an inch of its life. The home has seven large bedrooms including a large master suite and the overall style is richly opulent. This home is listed at $16.95 million. After the jump, enjoy the photo shoot.

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Tags: boca raton, BocaRaton, florida, real estate

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Bocara, Affordable Boca Raton

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates

Boca Raton, part of Florida's Gold Coast, is home to some amazing homes. For those looking for a condo or townhouse in the area, now there is Bocara, a new community on the site of the former St. James Club. Amenities include a 5,000 square foot clubhouse with a fitness center, racquetball court, clubroom and business center. There is also a pool, deck, poolside bar, tennis and volleyball courts and a barbecue area. The complex offers 196 two and three bedroom condominiums and 28 town home residences with vaulted ceilings, granite kitchen counters, stainless steel appliances and cultured marble bathroom counters. Reasonable by Boca standards, the homes start from the mid $300,000s.

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Tags: boca raton, BocaRaton, condo, condo complex, condominium, florida real estate