Rowayton Real Estate Rose in 2016

Annual update..

Green's Ledge Lighthouse, antique postcard.

Rowayton's residential real estate market rose in 2016.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- Total active listings were unchanged;

-- Number sold were up 13 percent;

-- Sold volume gained by 25 percent, and

-- Average sale price rose 11 percent.

For more:

 Photo: Pinterest.

Darien Real Estate Dips in 2016

Annual update...

A spring afternoon in Darien.

Darien residential real estate dipped in 2016.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- Total active listings up five percent;

-- Number sold down 10 percent;

-- Sold volume off 13 percent, and

-- Average sale price declined three percent.

For more:  

Photo: K. Allen

Darien Ends Slow Real Estate Week

Weekly update...

Wishing you a wonderful 2017.

Darien ended 2016 with a slower, holiday residential real estate week.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- No new listings of property for sale;
-- No price changes;
-- Two accepted offers;
-- One property going under contract, and
-- Three closings.

For more: 

Architectural Digest: The Best Kitchens of 2016

Center of the home...

There's a kitchen design for almost every taste.

Like the hearth in generations past, the kitchen continues to be the center of the home, architecturaldigest.com reports.

From classic to modern, there's a kitchen design almost everyone.

For a slides show of architecturaldigest.com's best choices for 2016:  http://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/the-best-kitchens-of-the-year

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Ten Outdated Home Design Trends

Gone in 2017...

Past their prime?

In the new year, ten once-stylish decor themes will be oh-so-outdated, Kelsey Kloss reports on elledecor.com.

For a slide show for what's fading: http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/trends/news/g3472/outdated-home-trends/?src=TrueAnth_ELLEDECOR_TW&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_content=58641b2a04d301698242a229&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter

Photos: Tumblr.

Expert: Why Home Buying is Better Than Renting

Pay yourself...

Financial success and security.

David Bach, a financial planner, explains why buying a home is one of the best investments you can make: http://businessinsider-yahoopartner.tumblr.com/post/154131655648/theyre-just-wrong-a-financial-expert-fires

For a video of Bach's presentation:  https://twitter.com/businessinsid

er/status/813384890125197312/video/1  (If the audio doesn't work, stop the video and restart it.)

Photos: Pinterest.

What Not to Say When Buying a House

Mum's the word...

Heed your agent's advice.

If you're in the throes of house-hunting, chances are you're excited -- whether it's your first home or your fifth, Liz Alterman reports on realtor.com.

But before you step into a home and stick your foot in your mouth, heed these top things never to say to sellers or their agents, she wrote.

For a video and more:  http://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/eight-things-to-never-say-when-buying-a-home/?cid=soc_2017editorial_20161224_68982426&adbid=812735607516512257&adbpl=tw&adbpr=17351940

Photos: Pinterest.

Why Do Cats Love Boxes So Much?

Odd...

There's noting like a good old box.

Your cat’s continued indifference toward her new Deluxe Scratch DJ Deck may be disappointing, but there is an object that’s pretty much guaranteed to pique her interest, Brian Gardiner reports on wired.com.

That object, as the Internet has so thoroughly documented, is a box. Any box, really. Big boxes, small boxes, irregularly shaped boxes—it doesn’t matter. Place one on the ground, a chair, or a bookshelf and watch as Admiral Snuggles quickly commandeers it, Gardiner added.

For more of Gardiner's interesting article:  https://www.wired.com/2015/02/whats-up-with-cats-and-boxes/?mbid=social_twitter

Great place a nap.

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Holiday Time is Smile Time

Merry Christmas...

Happy days.

Some fun videos to start off your new week:  

-- John Lewis: Buster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr6lr_VRsEo

-- John Lewis: Man on the moon:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuz2ILq4UeA

-- John Lewis: The penguin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPFJAr7GDyk

-- John Lewis: The bear and the hare: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW2EmATcb6o

-- Sainsbury: Mog's Christmas calamity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuRn2S7iPNU

-- Temptations: Christmas: https://www.youtube.com/user/temptationsbrand

-- Mercedes: Santa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMjPpTz3EYg

-- M&S: Merry Christmas from Mrs. Claus:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5QPXhStb5I

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Musical Moments: Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker Suite

Holiday season favorite...

Kristina Shapran and Ivan Mikhalev.

Musical Moments features music and artists I've enjoyed over the years.

Today's selection is Tchaikovsky's holiday season favorite, The Nutcracker Suite:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8J8urC_8Jw

Best wishes for a very happy holiday.

Photo: Pinterest.  

Darien Sees Slower Weekly Real Estate Market

Weekly update...

Nap time.

Darien's residential real estate market slowed for the holidays in the week ending today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- No new listings of property for sale;

-- One price change;

-- Four accepted offers;

-- One property going under contract, and

-- Three closings.

For more: 

Musical Moments: Carey, All I Want For Christmas Is You

Happy holidays...

Just you.

Musical Moments features music and artists I've enjoyed over the years.

Here's an all-time seasonal hit, Mariah Carey's famous All I Want For Christmas Is You:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQViqx6GMY

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

How A Christmas Story Became an American Tradition

Holiday classic...

Now you've done it.

The cinematic season once ruled by Irving Berlin, Charles Dickens, and It’s a Wonderful Life now belongs to a little 1983 sleeper of a movie, A Christmas Story, Sam Kashner reports on vanityfair.com.

A look back at how Bob Clark’s new holiday classic upended the sentimental old order by showing something every family could recognize: http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/11/how-a-christmas-story-became-an-american-tradition

Everybody keeps warning Ralphie.

Ralphie's dream, as well as those of thousands of other boys his age. It was a red letter day when yours arrived, and soon there were BBs everywhere.  The rifle is still available at Daisy for $39.99.

Home for Christmas.

Photo: Tumblr.

Meet the Man Who Turns Pop-up Books Into Works of Art

Hand-crafted...

Pop-ups: Standing the test of time.

While advancements in technology may have people constantly looking at their phones, pop-up books seem to withstand the test of time, Chris Snyder reports on businessinsider.com.

Meet Matthew Reinhart, a skilled pop-up book designer who has worked with a number of different brands that fans love, including "Game of Thrones," "Star Wars," and Lego:  http://www.businessinsider.com/how-a-pop-up-book-is-made-2016-11

Photo: Giphy.  

New Spiderman Homecoming Looks Like a Hit

Spidy returns...

I don't believe it.

A new Spiderman film is on the way, and it looks like a winner.

For the fun trailer to Spiderman Homecoming, which opens July 7, 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9DwoQ7HWvI

Photos: Tumblr, Google.

Dive Into Your New Week With a Smile

Have a good one...

Wow, the nearly impossible and rarely attempted hover dive.  Note her superb balance, style, poise and timing.  And her graceful fluttering, allowing a seemly effortless hover.  A perfect 10.

-- Dos Equis: He bowls over-hand: https://www.youtube.com/w

-- Dos Equis: He is the life of parties: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP0DaZBmwQI

-- Dos Equis: He plays handball:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5HX7y1yDi4

-- Coca Cola: Christmas 2015: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuMGR5jMKKs

-- Waitrose: Home for Christmas:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtKYdG9r0Pk

-- Protect Tigers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B0VZQ1FpCw

Photo: Giphy.

Musical Moments: Mitchell, River

Holiday favorite...

Joni Mitchell.

Musical Moments features music and artists I've enjoyed over the years.

Today's selection is a seasonal favorite, Joni Mitchell's beautiful River: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAK9Pj5-QXY

Photo: Pinterest.

Darien Sees Seasonal Slowing in Real Estate

Weekly update...

'Tis the season.

Darien saw a seasonal slowing in residential real estate in the week ending today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- Three new listings of property for sale;

-- One price change;

-- No accepted offers;

-- One property going under contract, and

-- Eight closings.

For more:  

New Star Wars Rogue One Opens Tonight

What critics say...

Are you with me?

Movie critics got their first look at "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" on Monday night, Daniel Victor reports on nytimes.com.

As their reviews spread across the internet on Tuesday, it became clear there was little consensus about the film.  The reviews were mostly positive, but there were several notable exceptions, Victor wrote.

For more about the new film, which has showings in Connecticut starting at 8:30 pm this evening:  http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/13/movies/reviews-star-wars-rogue-one.html?_r=0

For the new film's trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frdj1zb9sMY

Definitely on my must see list.

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Ho, Ho, Ho, Learning the Santa Spirit

Jolly old souls...

Busy days...and nights...as Christmas nears.

How do you learn to be a Santa Claus? You go to Santa school, of course, Becky Little reports on nationalgeographic.coom.

Since 1937, the Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School has taught its students to be jolly old souls. This year, about 200 students attended the school in Midland, Michigan, to learn how to be a good Santa or Mrs. Claus, says Tom Valent, who runs the school with his wife, Holly, Little wrote.

For a wonderful video on what it takes to be a memorable Santa:  http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/12/santa-claus-school-christmas-holidays-video/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=link_tw20161208news-santaschool&utm_campaign=Content&sf45485323=1

Photos: Pinterest, Google.

Places You Can't Find on Google Maps

Blocked...

Zooming in.

Google Maps is one of the most amazing pieces of technology to come out of Silicon Valley. You can explore the entire world without ever leaving the comfort of your living room, techinsider.com reports.

However, there are a few places on Earth that Google won't let you see, the service added.

For an intriguing video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTGzI7Fr0Fo

Photos: Tumblr, Google.

Five Signs You'll be Successful

Success traits...

How sweet it is.

There are certain traits successful people share, businessinsider reports.

For an insightful video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9oj5JMzeqY

Photos: Tumblr, Pinterest.

Ready, Set, Smile for the New Week

Fun ahead...

Better but still needs practice.

Ready, set, smile for the new week:: 

-- Dos Equis: Most interesting man:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J8oJ0oEN70

-- Dos Equis: Mission to Mars:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4NzyWiG20Y

-- GEICO: Try it:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8skzjsaJc8

-- GEICO: Great answer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj_RHi1klRU

-- Nike: Someday:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4LrTkWq9jU

-- SNL: An old standby:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L5Xkb78KxY

Photo: Pinterest.

Musical Moments: Vivaldi, Four Seasons

Wonderful...

Winter in Rome.

Musical Moments features music and artists I've enjoyed over the years.

Today's selection is Vivaldi's wonderful Four Seasons:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRxofEmo3HA

Photo: Tumblr.

Darien Finishes Slower Real Estate Week

Weekly update...

Reminds me of rafting with the family on the Snake River near Jackson Hole many years ago.

Darien finished a slower residential real estate week today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- One new listing of property for sale;

-- Three price changes;

-- Two accepted offers;

-- One property going under contract, and

-- Two closings.

For more: 

John Glenn: The Passing of an American Icon

Early Space Age hero...

John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962.

John Glenn, a freckle-face son of Ohio who was hailed as a national hero and symbol of the space age as the first American to orbit the Earth, then became a national political figure for 24 years in the Senate, died on Thursday in Columbus, Ohio.  He was 95, John Noble Wilford reports on nytimes.com.

For more about an aerospace pioneer who helped restore American prestige in the space race in the early 1960s: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/08/us/john-glenn-dies.html?_r=0

 Glenn's historical flight received front page, banner-headline treatment by the New York Times.  I also featured it as the lead story for the newspaper I published for the Air Force while serving in Italy.

Glenn on the cover of LIFE.

Photos: Pinterest.

Remembering the Deadly Pearl Harbor Attack

75th anniversary...

Battleship Row on the day that lives in infamy.

It's still here.  Seventy-five years later, the U.S.S. Arizona is still resting on the seafloor in Pearl Harbor, asleep in gray, silty water, Jeremy Berlin reports on nationalgeographic. com.

It's been there since December 7, 1941, when 353 Japanese planes mounted a surprise assault on American naval forces stationed in Hawaii.  The attack killed 2,403 United States personnel, injured 1,178, drew the United States into World War II, and altered the course of history forever, Berlin wrote.

For more, including a video offering a rare glimpse of some of the remnants from the attack resting on the bottom of Pearl Harbor: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/12/pearl-harbor-attack-anniversary-arizona-memorial/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_content=link_tw20161207news-pearlharbor&utm_campaign=Content&sf45313253=1

Photo: Giphy.

IBM Watson: Expert New Assistance Through the Cloud

Charlie Rose interview...

IBM's John Kelly.

Charlie Rose recently sat down with IBM senior vice president John Kelly, the man in charge of the famous IBM Watson project, and asked, "Who is Watson?  What is Watson?"

You may know Watson as IBM's Jeopardy-winning, cookbook-writing, dress-designing, weather-predicting supercomputer-of-all trades, as Brian Barrett recently wrote on wired.com.

But how does Watson work?

Watch Kelly describe how IBM Watson not only learns but is providing valuable new insights to assist many through the Cloud:  https://charlierose.com/videos/29530

IBM Watson logo.

Photos: Charlie Rose, IBM.