White House Value Rises to $400 Nearly Million

Appreciating value...

1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

Want to buy the White House? Well, you can’t. But if you could, it would go for just under $400 million, Zoe Eisenberg reports on rismedia.com. 

According to Zillow, the White House has appreciated 15 percent since Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009, and is currently valued at $397.9 million, Eisenberg wrote.

For more on one of the most famous houses in the world:  http://blog.rismedia.com/2017/white-house-worth-nearly-400-million-says-zillow/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=eNews

Marine One taking off from the White House.

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Gold Medal: U.S. Wins Top Culinary Prize

The Olympics of cooking...

America's first place culinary team.

A team of American chefs last Wednesday won the biennial Bocuse d'Or culinary competition -- the equivalent of the Olympics for professional cooks -- for the first time in the contest's 30-year history, Florence Fabricant reports on nytimes.com.

For more about the unique win:  https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/25/dining/bocuse-dor-usa-win-chef-competition.html?_r=0

Photo: nytimes.com. 

Start Your New Week With a Smile

Fun...

Ready, set...oops.

Start your new week with a smile: 

-- Progressive:  The Newbie:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckw-l948n7s

-- Progressive: Prank protection:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l01CbHp2YgE

-- Buick: Party cake: https://www.ispot.tv/ad/Amuc/2017-buick-encore-late-to-the-party

-- GEICO: Undercover agent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGUfPVSzOjU

-- GEICO: National parks:  http://www.tvcommercialspots.com/insurance-and-services/geico-tv-commercial-if-you-love-national-parks-you-tell-everyone-its-what-you-do-if-you-want-to-save-15-or-more-on-car-insurance-you-switch-to-geico-its-what-you-do-hey-travel-tip-never-l/

-- GEICO: Talking plates: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLmvyWEyR7w

Photos: Giphy, Pinterest.

Musical Moments: Joni Mitchell, Both Sides Now

Lovely...

Joni Mitchell.

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

Today's selection is Joni Mitchell's lovely Both Sides Now:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCnf46boC3I

Photo: Pinterest.  

Darien Adds Real Estate Inventory

Weekly update...

The Eiffel Tower in winter.

Darien residential real estate added inventory with 15 new listings of property for sale in the week ending today.

Other results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- Four price changes;

-- Six accepted offers;

-- No properties going under contract, and

-- Three closings.

For more: 

Top Places to Buy Real Estate Overseas

Life abroad...

Gondola to Mount Monserrate with Bogota below.

Looking to invest overseas? Live and Invest Overseas recently released their ranking of the top nine places to buy real estate overseas in 2017, Kathleen Peddicord reports on rismedia.com.

The top four places hail from Portugal and Colombia. Other locales on the list include the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Brazil and Cape Verde in Africa. One of my favorites is Bogata, where I spent a weekend many years ago while on a business trip to South America.

For more:  http://blog.rismedia.com/2017/buy-real-estate-overseas-2017/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email

Time for a bite to eat in Bogata.

The Hotel del Salto and the Tequendama Falls near Bogota.

Photos: Pinterest.

Billions of Journeys Seen for Chinese New Year

China on the move...

Good luck wishes for the Year of the Rooster.

Hundreds of millions of people are expected to be on the move this week as China gets ready for one of the biggest celebrations in the world, bbc.com reports.

Chinese New Year, which this year falls on Saturday 28 January, sees people from across the country head home or, increasingly, abroad to mark the occasion.

There will be 2.5bn road journeys, and millions more will make trips by air or rail so they can welcome in the Year of the Rooster with their loved ones.

For more, including a fascinating video:  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-38724062

Photos: Pinterest.

Qantas Non-Stop Flights London to Australia in 2018

17 hours non-stop...

Orchestrated pre-flight operations.

Passengers will be able to fly from London to Australia non-stop when airline Qantas launches its new service in March 2018, bbc.com reports.

Australia's national carrier says it will connect Perth, in the west of the country, to the UK capital using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, the bbc added.

The 9,000 mile (14.498km) flight will take 17 hours, according to the bbc.

For more:  http://www.bbc.com/news/business-38280722

For an intriguing video on how the Qantas route compares with other globe spanning flights:   https://twitter.com/BBCWorld/status/808326618523561984/video/1 (If audio doesn't play, stop the video and restart it.)

Photos: Tumblr, Google.

Secrets Home Stagers Don't Want You to Know

Looking good...

How to layer a room.

Why do some houses look so great?

Home stagers share some secrets to make your home look like it was styled by a pro, Jennifer Hernandez reports on architecturaldigest.com.

For tips on home staging: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/real-estate-staging-secrets-the-pros-dont-want-you-to-know?mbid=social_twitter

Photos: Pinterest.

A Happy Way to Start Your New Week

Smile...

Scram!

A happy way to start your new week:

-- Progressive: Park Ranger:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npsQbE69Bys

-- Progressive: Super Diner:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrezzhrQkSQ

-- GEICO; Fast forward: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJpSKywjTcU

-- GEICO: Tiki's barber shop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6uW4nHTyj4

-- Honda: Big Game:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTaCT8ZmdJA

-- AllState: Mayhem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksPRXokdKyo

Photos: Pinterest.

Musical Moments: Adele, Raitt, I Can't Make You Love Me

A beautiful classic...

Bonnie Raitt.

Adele.

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

Today's selection is I Can't Make You Love Me, popularized by Bonnie Raitt and more recently by Adele.  Both are classics I hope you'll enjoy.

For Raitt's version:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW9Cu6GYqxo

For Adele's performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp97AWIeMbo

Photos: Google, Pinterest.

New Listings Lead Darien Weekly Real Estate Results

Weekly update...

Bryant Park, John Salminen.

Twelve new listings led Darien residential real estate results for the week ending today.

Other results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- Seven price changes;

-- Two accepted offers;

-- One property going under contract, and

-- Four closings.

For more: 

Home Improvements With the Best Payback

Return on investment...

Consider cost vs. value carefully with home improvements.

Attic insulation, entry door replacement and minor kitchen remodels offer some of the best returns on investment for mid-range home improvement projects, Nick Caruso reports on rismedia.com.

At the lower end, he lists bathroom remodels, master suite additions and adding a bathroom.

Caruso's complete list might surprise you, but it could also save you some time, effort and money:  http://blog.rismedia.com/2017/cost-vs-value-report-2017/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=eNews

Photo: Pinterest.

Organized Chaos: Moving Day at the White House

The transfer of families...

Moving day at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

The most frenzied American ritual you've never seen is called the "transfer of families," Bonnie Berkowitz reports on washingtonpost.com.

"I call it organized chaos," Gary Walters, who choreographed several transfers of families in his 21 years as the White House chief usher.

For an excellent report on the frenzied hours of White House moving day and more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/local/white-house-transition/?tid=sm_tw

Moving in the Obamas' house hold goods in 2009 during President Obama's inauguration.

Photos: Google, washingtonpost.com.

Family-Friendly Kitchen Designs

Heart of the home...

Stunning kitchen designs.

The heart of the home, the kitchen, is the one place where you're sure to find family and friends cooking, eating, and enjoying each other's company day in and day out, architecturaldigest. com reports.

The secrets to family-friendly kitchens include room for mingling and comfortable seating, the service added.

For a slide show of kitchens that incorporate these ideas: http://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/family-friendly-kitchen-designs-slideshow?mbid=social_twitter

Photos: Pinterest.

Sneak Peek: New Gadgets for 2017

Coming soon...

Look for even newer gadgets in the future to capture the public's imagination and be featured by the media.

For a video featuring a new Telsa, iPhone, Nintendo Switch and more: https://twitter.com/businessinsider/status/814133072878706688/video/1  (If audio doesn't work, click video off and back on again.)

Photos: Tumblr, Pinterest.

Start Your New Week With a Smile

Fun...

Still handles like a dream.

Start your new week with a smile:

-- Buick: More than you expected:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ1OObvAENQ

-- Buick: Hedge clippers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0fM2sl-b8k

-- H&R Block: Movie set:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G86fXfIv1fM

-- Google: Happier holidays:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oZ8xV86JxY

-- Apple: Take mine:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8mR33cp_Fk

Photos: Tumblr, Pinterest.

Musical Moments: Spectacular New Hamburg Symphony Hall Opens

Gorgeous...

Grand Hall of the new Hamburg Elbphilharmonie.

After nearly a decade of anticipation, Hamburg's gorgeous new symphony hall opened this week.

For a wonderful tour by drone of the stunning new Elbphilharmonie: http://www.classicfm.com/music-news/drone-tour-elbphilharmonie/#vvLICkgGRuvXL3bl.97

For a nytimes.com report about the new facility: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/10/arts/music/elbphilharmonie-an-architectural-gift-to-gritty-hamburg-germany.html?_r=0

For a video of the new symphony hall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RlRSNVqZSI

With thanks to my friend Hector Fuentes for letting me know about the Elbphilharmonie.

Hamburg's new Elbphilharmonie,

Photos:  nytimes.com.

Darien Sees an Uptick in Real Estate Activity

Weekly update...

Darien saw an uptick in residential real estate activity in the week ending today.

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- 14 new listings of property for sale;

-- Two price changes;

-- Three accepted offers;

-- No properties going under contract, and

-- Seven closings.

For more: 

Busting the Friday the 13th Myth

Origin of a superstition...

Knights Templar in the Holy Land.

The origins of superstition can be hard to pin down, Becky Little reports on nationalgeographic.com.

Friday the 13th is one such example, she wrote.

For a not-so-boring story about a band of ancient knights:  http://www.nationalgeographic.com.au/people/busting-the-myth-of-friday-the-13th-and-the-knights-templar.aspx

Photo: nationalgeographic.com.

Musical Moments: Raitt, Adele: I Can't Make You Love Me

A beautiful classic...

Bonnie Raitt.

Adele.

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

Today's selection is I Can't Make You Love Me, popularized by Bonnie Raitt and more recently sung by Adele. 

For Raitt's version:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW9Cu6GYqxo

For Adele's performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp97AWIeMbo

Photos: Google, Pinterest.

Next time on The Allen Report:
FBI Advice: Cover Your Laptop Camera.

New Guide: The Best Colors of 2017

Decorating ideas...

Some older design ideas.  For newer suggestions, see below.

Pantone declared Greenery their 2017 color of the year, and the Internet flooded with advice on how to wear, buy, use and decorate with the verdant hue, architecturaldigest.com reports.

But Pantone is far from the only paint company to name an annual shade: Benjamine Moore's pick was revealed with much fanfare a few months ago, and a handful of other color experts have called out additional shades on the rise, the service wrote.

For a slide show and guide to the what AD considers the best colors:  http://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/pantone-benjamin-moore-behr-color-of-the-year?mbid=social_twitter

Photo: Tumblr, Pinterest.

Rocket Mortgage: Has it Lived up to the Hype?

Build it and they will come...

Going home with Rocket.

Rocket Mortgage blasted into our world during 2016’s Super Bowl 50 between the Broncos and the Panthers, Maria Patterson reported on rismedia.com.

The first completely online and on-demand mortgage process, Rocket Mortgage was created to take a complicated and confusing mortgage process and make it fast, simple and transparent, thereby encouraging many hesitant buyers to enter the market, Patterson wrote.

Where does Rocket stand one year later?  

The short answer: Rocket has gone far beyond its original projections, she wrote.

For more about the company's remarkable record last year: http://rismedia.com/2017/01/08/rockert-mortgage-lived-hype/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=eNews#close

Is the Rocket Mortgage a fast ride to trouble?  See why an expert said no on cbsnews.com: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/is-the-rocket-mortgage-a-fast-ride-to-trouble/


Photo: rismedia.com.

The Five Biggest Tech Controversies of 2016

News makers...

Fake news was in the news.

From exploding batteries to fake news, 2016 was an interesting one for tech controversies.  

For a brief video on the five biggest controversies that hit the tech world in 2016:https://twitter.com/businessinsider/status/813762368006037504/video/1  

(If audio doesn't play, high stop on video and then restart it.)

Photos: Tumblr, Pinterest.

Fun Ways to Start Your New Week

Enjoy...

Look, Ma, I'm flying like Dumbo!

Here's a fun way to start the new week:

--  Etrade: Benedict Arnold: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYhwtRJp0y8

--  Etrade Mobile:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwvOF-s39-w

--  Ford: The specialists: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RDb_yWt9Zk

--  Ford: Yes, we carry tires: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZsHayQexBs

-- Old Spice:  Be harder: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3V6vcmjv20XJcK80g5K5ow?v=mVKP25UPp78

Photos: Pinterest.

Musical Moments: Dench, Send in the Clowns

Marvelous...

Judi Dench.

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

For a wonderful video of Dame Judi Dench and her marvelous Send in the Clowns:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvZex3Qf7QQ

Photo: Pinterest.

Darien Kicks-off 2017 Real Estate Market

Weekly update...

Darien's Ring's End Bridge in winter.

Darien kicked-off its 2017 residential real estate market this week

Results, according to the Darien MLS, were:

-- Ten new listings of property for sale;

-- Five price changes;

-- One accepted offer;

-- No properties going under contract, and

-- One closing.

For more: 

A Fascinating "To Do" List for 2017

Busy year ahead...

Plant, a new book exploring the botanical world, is on the list.

JPMorgan's annual holiday reading list has been given an upgrade,

Matt Turner reports on businessinsider.com.

To mark the 10-year anniversary of the reading list, the US bank added on a few

cultural and musical recommendations, Turner wrote.

For a roundup of fascinating "to do's" for 2017:  http://www.businessinsider.com/jpmorgan-nextlist2017-2016-12/#the-desert-and-the-cities-sing-discovering-todays-israel-3

Photos: Pinterest.