While the economy is still on the downside and home sales are not yet bouncing back, there are a number of realtors in the New York area who are making it work for them.  Here, we feature 10 real estate personalities with great backgrounds and results. In today’s market, only the best real estate marketers are finding success.  Especially in a competitive market like New York, you’ve got to have something special to be making it.

Gregg Rand is the managing partner of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Rand Realty in New York’s Hudson Valley.  In 2009 he switched from his longtime brand affiliate to Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate to keep the company relevant and customer oriented.

Allen Rothman is the Senior Vice President of Halstead Property, LLC.  They are located on Columbus Avenue in New York City. His background as an attorney specializing in real estate law makes him a valuable asset to Halstead Property, LLC.

Michael Shvo is an exceptional, young New York real estate developer.  He believes that real estate should be marketed in a similar vein a other high end items and should have great attention to customer experience and service, comprehensive marketing, and massive market research.  He develops high-end residential properties through the New York area.

Dolly Lenz is a high profile broker for Prudential Douglas Elliman.  From New York herself, Dolly has become one of the best paid realtors in the business today, and she’s a bit of a colorful real estate celebrity as well.

Keith McNally isn’t a real estate agent, but he’s certainly had his influence on the real estate market in New York.  Formerly a bell hop, he’s now a restaurateur extraordinaire, helping to turn neighborhoods over and to create their renaissance with his eateries.  He has his eyes set on reviving Greenwich Village at the moment with his Minetta Tavern.

David Levinson founded L&L Holding Co. in 2005, a firm that owns and manages a portfolio that includes 5 million square feet of property.

Joseph Sitt of Principal Thor Equities has his fingers in the Coney Island amusement district.  He’s hoping to create a new, modern Vegas on the Atlantic – we’ll see if it actually happens.

Connie Milstein is a Principal and Co-Founder of a New York City property management and development company called Ogden CAP Properties.  She is an important person to know in the New York real estate world, as she is also a Governor of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY).

Sam Chung is the President of the McSam Hotel Group.  He is New York City’s most prolific developer of hotels.

Darcy Stacom is a flashy, successful New York real estate mogul.  She is considered to be one of the city’s top investment sales brokers who was born in New York and raised in Greenwich.

A reader just pointed out to us a great source for absolutely free items – Craig’s List.

Now, I recommend that you proceed with caution – don’t meet the given in any dark alleys – and make sure that Free really means free – but check this out

These are some treasures on offer for Free at Craigs List New York now:

• 6.5 ft artificial Christmas Tree in Briarwood (just in time!)
• 30 gallon fish tank with a red slide turtle in Staten Island (hi, is this turtle big enough for a meal?)
• 27″ GE Color TV (East Village)
• A cat (Canarsie)

Aside from that there are a lot of matresses and futons and some people claiming to have sports tickets.

Happy shopping this weekend!

The New York Times announced this week that in 2011 they would be moving to a pay model for online access to the popular NYTimes.com. The Wall Street Journal has managed to attract a loyal online following despite charging for unlimited access.

Personally,  I would pay for unlimited access to the New York Times, eithe r through my paper Subscription or online – I don’t think the quality of my life would be the same!

The big question is how many other people feel the same way – and can put up the PayPal to prove it!

Would you pay? comment below!

New York still the source of inspiration for style worldwide!

The new O & X New York collection of sunglasses has just arrived in Brazil, exclusively in Curitiba, in Eric Gozlan Lunettes.  The O&X New York brand is a division of Kio Yamato Optics, the famous Japanese designer optical, and features pieces with inspired by the urban culture of New York as well as contemporary themes from around the world.  The collection combines a blend of sophistication, class and style combined with cutting edge technology and modern design. The glasses are available as prescription frames in various colors, materials, including  titanium and acetate, and combinations that reflect the unique magic of New York City.

Who knew that New York could inspire sunglasses! Personally, I would have guessed Miami or Los Angeles!

MYFOX New York is reporting that a New York City based Police/Fire Department team pulled two children alive from the remains of a two-story building in Haiti on Tuesday.
The children appeared to be severely dehydrated but remarkably well otherwise. The rescuers hurried the 8-year-old boy and the 10-year-old girl to the only fully operating hospital in the area – an Israeli tent hospital – where they are said to be getting top care.

The same team from NYC has found 4 additional survivors in the earthquake rubble since they arrived over the weekend.

Makes you proud to be from this fine city!

Crains New York is reporting that a team of nine doctors, as well as additional staff from the Hospital for Special Surgery arrived in the Haitian capital over the weekend on a borrowed corporate jet.

“The volunteers, apparently the first group of New York physicians to arrive on a hospital-sponsored mission, mobilized quickly after the chief executive of Synthes, a medical device manufacturer, told Dr. Helfet the company would put its corporate jet and pilot at his disposal for the mercy mission.”

It’s good to see New York pitching in together with delegations from around the country and around the World.
Great to see Israel sent a fully-equipped field hospital. Good to see a trickle of aid starting to come from Arab countries.

New York City officials destroyed tons of new, unworn clothing and footwear last year that had been seized in raids on counterfeit label operations, abandoning a practice of giving knockoff garments to groups that help the needy.

Some heads need to get knocked together over this. I understand perfectly why copyright holders would have concerns, but if those concerns can be met adequately then of course the clothes should be used. Destroying perfectly good clothes? How terrible.
Closing Pipeline to Needy, City Shreds Clothes – NYTimes.com

If you go to the Bedford-Stuyvesant YMCA on Bedford Avenue on a given evening, you just might be able to catch a peak at the Splashers.  These 40 senior swimmers have set their sights to the Empire State Senior Games, a statewide competition in June that is for athletes ages 50 and older.

As spunky Splashers co-founder Earl Patton, 74, says, “We intend to bring home the gold this year. We still have the competitive spirit. We’re all fired up!”

These games, which will take place at the campus of SUNY-Cortland will see 2000 athletes compete in 22 land and water sports.  This will be the Splashers third year in the competition.  They have yet to bring home a gold, but they’ve got their goal for this year in place!

The Times reports:

On Monday morning, Mr. Rollino went for a walk in his Brooklyn neighborhood, a daily routine. It was part of the Great Joe Rollino’s greatest feat, a display of physical dexterity and stamina so subtle that it revealed itself only if you happened to ask him his date of birth: March 19, 1905. He was 104 years old and counting.

A Brooklyn institution, Joe Rollino was killed in a traffic accident on Monday morning. One of the last of the old-time strongmen he was arguably, pound-for-pound, the strongest man who ever lived. Even at 103, he was still capable of unusual feats:

Mr. Rollino wowed the crowd at the party … he told stories about the old days, of course, but he was more than just talk, even at 103. Mr. Rollino put a quarter in his teeth. Then he bent it.

Goodbye Joe.
The Great Joe Rollino, Bender of Steel, Is Dead at 104 – NYTimes.com

I am happy to report that since my last visit to Coney Island, which I will admit was several years ago, there has been good news for those who believe in retaining the great landmarks of the past, and not just as memorials but as living, breathing places for visitors to enjoy.

It was brought to my attention that New York City purchased almost 7 acres of land from Thor Equities and is inviting amusement park operators to submit proposals (RFP.)  According to my source those in Coney Island are expecting a great season this coming summer. I hope I will be able to be there. Maybe I’ll even take a ride on the Wonder Wheel, on one of those crazy moving cars!