The Richness of Crestwood Living

Filthy Rich Entertainment is BACK for a new season!!!
Would I dare to brag about thousands of views and multiple celebrity promotions on just 25 posts? Why yes, yes I would! Get ready for a new year of top shelf blogging! Ladies and gents, buckle the seat belts on your G5 and enjoy the ride...

The Richness of Crestwood Living

If you happen to find yourself cruising with the top down on a Sunday afternoon in Westchester county, I highly recommend passing through a quiet neighborhood filled with beautiful and extravagant homes known as Crestwood. This posh neighborhood is perfectly located in the middle of Eastchester, Tuckahoe, Bronxville and Scarsdale. You'll know you're in the right place when you see a classic model Porsche parked right next to a new one! Late Monday evening I attended a dinner soiree a few blocks away in the town of Bronxville. I must say that I was impressed by the number of restaurants and quaint boutique stores that were located within a few blocks of each other. Being smitten with the area, I of course had to invest and purchase a piece of property there for myself.

I was originally drawn to Crestwood about six years ago when I noticed a fairly large house being built in the neighborhood. Calling it a house may be a tad insulting since Home Plans Incorporated states that mansion plans begin around the 5,000 square foot mark. After all, the late gangster Al Capone's mansion in Miami was indeed around 6,000 square feet. Needless to say, I was dazzled by the magnificent architectural work and even more by the $20,000 Baccarat crystal chandelier hanging above the foyer window. As you should already know, this was definitely my cup of tea!

According to city-data.com, the median household income of Crestwood is over $100,000 and the average home is valued around $811,325 to $1.2 million. In the heart of town you can find the Crestwood train station. With Manhattan just 30 minutes away, business tycoons can enjoy a hot cup of coffee and the crisp feeling of the Wall Street Journal as they ride to work. During the Christmas season, a tree lighting ceremony takes place outside of the station and beautiful lights and decorations fill the entire neighborhood.

Crestwood itself is an independent community. Equipped with their own representatives, the neighborhood has successfully established its own identity as a unified community filled with grand estates, an appealing mix of professional people, its own fire department and the Roman Catholic Church of Annunciation. Many children in the neighborhood attend Annunciation school which is conveniently located on Westchester Avenue in Crestwood, New York (as stated on their website).

Skeptics of the area like to point out the school system and knock the uppity atmosphere. They try to put down a neighborhood that successfully strives to be its own entity. I believe that everyone has a certain job. Skeptics are meant to be skeptic, I however, am meant to sit in my versace tiled bubble bath drinking a glass of vintage 1961 Dom Perignon and not think about such skeptics... Cheers!

Sincerely yours, 

The Wolf of Crestwood

Did It My Way...

       

Frank Sinatra said it best, "For what is a man, what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught. To say the things he truly feels; and not the words of one who kneels. The record shows I took the blows- and did it my way!"

My Father used to always say, "No matter what, always keep your cool." He was a signed musician with a top ten hit on the Boston charts. He was also the headliner at the famous Copacabana in New York City during the days of gentlemen and gangsters. I have been told that I took on some of his personality and style. My Father always stressed the importance of how a man should represent himself.

I try to live by the standards: dress well, speak noble, and be better than you were yesterday!
Whether your actions are James Bond like or business chic, the heart of a man is meant to represent honor and leadership. On occasion I'll drive to my office listening to classical music. Does that make me a better person? Probably not, but I do believe there is a richness to it and I can appreciate the culture it represents. I also find myself drawn to certain types of films that showcase certain characters that I can relate to. Just the other afternoon, I read an article about the Sex and the City star Chris Noth. He played the older sophisticated gentleman known as "Mr. Big" on the Golden Globe winning series. He appeared in 41 episodes as a big shot executive who was always seen driving in a Mercedes Benz. I think it is important to teach the younger generations about old school class! In fact, according to Statisticbrain.com- 76% of women date men that are at least five years older than them. Take a note fellas... 

I recently viewed a film titled Crazy, Stupid, Love starring Ryan Gosling. Ryan's roll of a wealthy well dressed gentleman type brought the style of the 50's into the 2000's. After dating around, he realizes that the one thing missing from his life is a good woman. Emma Stone plays the sassy love interest in the movie. After realizing that the guy she was with wasn't up to par, she captures the attention of the professional bachelor and things take off from there. The connection between the two characters is a perfect combination of sexy and cute. (You may have to watch the movie to get that line)
As you should know, I am a fan of all things classy. There is scene in the film where Ryan is courting Emma and makes her a stylish drink called an Old Fashioned to set the mood.

Gentlemen write this down: Place a sugar cube in the bottom of a glass and soak it with a few dashes of Aromatic Bitters. Add a splash of water and muddle the sugar until it dissolves. Add one large ice cube and 2 oz. of bourbon. Use a vegetable peeler to remove a piece of an orange peel. Squeeze the peel over the drink to express oils of the orange. Finally, place orange peel on the glass as a garnish and enjoy.

The Chrisleys, The Housewives, The Kardashians Oh My!

Money, fame and wealth have taken over prime time television! 
We most definitely have come a very long way from the millionaire Thurston Howell III on Gilligan's Island and the wealthy Park Avenue business man Mr. Drummond on Different Strokes. Shows like Keeping up with the Kardashians, Chrisley Knows Best and The Real Housewives have brought fancy cars, luxurious homes, and glamorous lifestyles right into our very own living rooms!

In 2007, Ryan Seacrest and Eliot Goldberg created a reality show that would change reality television forever. Keeping up with the Kardashians gave home viewers a look into the lives of the pretty and privileged. The show developed multiple spin offs which to no surprise, became just as successful and also jump started the careers of the youngest sisters Kylie and Kendall. I was personally introduced to Kim, Kourtney and Khloe and found them to be quite lovely in person. I must say that I do enjoy Khloe's ability to keep the show lighthearted and funny even through the toughest of times. If you are an avid reader of my articles, you know Scott Disick (Kourtney's boyfriend) and I share similar interests such as watches, fashion, boats, and luxury cars. His posh personality adds a certain charisma to the ever growing franchise.
Fans are currently sitting on the edge of their seats awaiting the latest spin off, Kourtney and Khloe take The Hamptons! The girls recently opened a new Dash clothing store in the Hamptons located near Ralph Lauren. I recently passed by Dash Miami while I was vacationing there this summer. I was only there for a moment but the store seemed very busy and the location was superb. I couldn't stay long because I was on my way to the Versace Mansion but sadly it had closed early that afternoon. I did however settle for a yacht cruise down the famous Millionaire's Row, but I'm not complaining of course... 

New to the wealth on prime time is a family show titled Chrisley Knows Best. It is a delightful show about family values and success. The father of the show is Todd Chrisley. Todd certainly has a larger than life personality! Although Todd is a millionaire, he keeps his family level headed and in good moral standing. Some may view Todd's personality as a little overprotective but as you watch the show, you can obviously see that his actions are purely out of love. In a recent episode, Todd's son Chase deliberately goes against his father's wishes and sneaks out with his friends. The very next morning, Chase finds a boot placed on the front tire of his Range Rover. It may sound a bit extreme but you do have to admit, it does sound entertaining! You may recall an article I had written some time ago expressing my excitement for the new Mercedes Benz E class. I was inspired to write that piece because Todd purchased that particular automobile in one of the earlier episodes. Of course I ended up buying the Mercedes and I am very pleased thus far. Great marketing you might say.

Who doesn't fancy themselves a little Real Housewives franchise? Year after year we watch in suspense how each family grows in controversy and style. Is it the shiny new Bentley in the driveway that captures our attention? Could it be the many diamond studded Breitling watches that appear throughout the series that lures America to tune in? I believe it just may be the insanity that goes on in every family that makes for good T.V. Either way, there is no question that money and family issues do mix!  



 

Bringing Classy Back!

I was attending a dinner party late Friday evening and a discussion arose about how people used to dress back in the good old days. I had a picture of my grandfather on my phone and showed it to the table to point out how well dressed he was. It was easy to see that even the most expensive of t-shirts could not compare to a fine tailored suit. Why did I choose a photo of Sean Connery to head this blog? This photo spoke to me on many levels. First and most obvious, this is a clip from a James Bond film. From the bow tie to the brandy decanter, you can get a sense of how gentlemen were portrayed years ago. In old movies, everyone is dressed well and manners were present at all times. You can still see this behavior today but it is often acted out by those of royalty or old wealth. What happened to the cool classy things people used to do? Can we bring classy back?
For example, there is something to say about a person who has a library in the home or a wine cellar in the basement. It adds a sort of sophistication to the house. Playing a competitive game of chess or sipping tea in the afternoon has high class style to it. I love the simple idea of having my hands wrapped around a cherry wood steering wheel surrounded by gold trimmed accents on a 30' bowrider on the open water. I find playing a musical instrument shows culture and work ethic to one's life resume. In fact, I am currently in the beginning stages of learning the piano. While conversing with my good friend Brian last week, he asked me if I was playing the piano because I thought it was a "fancy" thing? I wasn't thinking of it that way but the old sport was spot on! I do believe that it is a very classy skill to add to my repertoire. What beautiful sophisticated woman wouldn't mind a nice glass of Harlan in front of the fireplace while the sound of a piano filled the room? Beethoven once said, "Music should strike fire from the heart of  man, and bring tears from the eyes of woman."
Have you ever asked yourself why the opera is so special or why giving a fancy name like caviar to fish eggs makes it a delicacy? It may not be the contralto you're attracted to from the balcony of the Royal Opera House in London or the crisp pop of wild sturgeon roe from the Russian Tea Room in New York City. What draws you in just may be the representation of these things. We like fancy. We want exclusive. It is quite expensive to enjoy the finer things in life but the feeling you can get from it is priceless.          

Dress To Success

Filthy Rich Entertainment is back to blog for a new season!
I would like to personally thank my readers for following my articles and taking interest in my world!
Filthy Rich Ent. is the official blog for D-Star Entertainment LLC.
My first blog post was viewed by only 21 people. Now I average about 200 views per post. That 's over 3,300 views on just 17 blog posts.

You should have heard the term "dressed to impress" a few times in your life. In order to be successful, one must project success at all times (American Beauty 1999). Perfection may be difficult to reach but the simple act of reaching may be all you need to become successful. Simple changes in attitude and perception may help a person get on the right path. John Gotti used to always have his car washed, a fresh hair cut and a clean pair of shoes on. He took pride in his attire because his appearance meant something. Donald Trump said, "Remember one simple rule: dress for the job you want to have, not the one you have." There are constant fashion trends that can confuse a person on what to wear and how to look. I fancy the old money look. My motto is: "If what you're wearing goes well with a Rolex on your wrist, you're fine." Everyone knows that I 'm a fan of James Bond. Where do you think the Scott Disick's and Leo DiCaprio's got their fashion sense from? The timeless style of polo shirts and slacks have been a staple of the wealthy since the 1800's. From Wall Street to the golf course, this look is accepted as an everyday wear.
Designer Ralph Lauren made it easy for men and women to look good with his popular clothing line. We have been seeing his famous Pony logo since the 1970's. In fact, it was the recognition he got as the clothing designer for the film The Great Gatsby that secured his upper class image. As we all know, Gatsby is the poster boy for the mysterious, rich and successful. When I was a child, my father used to wear pajamas around the house. At the time I thought it looked uncomfortable and I couldn't understand why a t-shirt wasn't his choice of lounge wear. When I got older I began to understand that that's what gentlemen used to wear in the good old days. The classy pajama and pipe or cigar in hand look was a very Bond like back then. Playboy owner Huge Hefner still sports this look today! Fellas, don't be scared to wear your church clothes on a Monday, your lady will appreciate it.

"It's amazing, this suit actually makes me feel like a better person." -Nick Cage (The Family Man)