Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively is so just one of the people, while Helena Christensen is categorically not. Ms. Lively went to Café Habana over the weekend and waited in line! For more than half an hour! Meanwhile, Ms. Christensen walked up to the eatery but kept on walking when she saw there was a wait. [P6]  read more »

Even if real estate is New York's version of the movie biz, and even if Barbara Corcoran and Louise Sunshine are the grand dames of high-end realty, you wouldn't expect they'd sell out an "Advance Business and Communications" class for brokers.

But The Observer has learned that there's no space left in the Real Estate Board of New York class that's being taught next Monday by the ladies, plus Clark Halstead (who started his own eponymous brokerage after co-founding Sotheby's International Realty).

If you're an ambitious agent, show up at REBNY's Lexington Avenue headquarters at 5:30, and push your way in. Ms. Corcoran (whose first book is called If You Don't Have Big Breasts, Put Ribbons in Your Pigtails & Other Lessons I Learned from My Mom) might give some hints about her new work. And Ms. Sunshine, according to a publicist, will be talking about "how she transformed new condominium development into an upscale lifestyle approach." Sounds awesome.

What kind of person is Barbara Corcoran? She founded New York City’s most gargantuan realty brokerage (which she sold on September 9, 2001 for about $70 million) and has written a best-selling business book, If You Don’t Have Big Breasts, Put Ribbons on Your Pigtails. Plus, she’s a pixie-like TV personality with an upcoming CNBC star vehicle.

And she knows just what kind of person you are.  read more »

• Are the Clintons the First Family of Manhattan? They've left their presidential mark on fancy restaurants (Tavern on the Green), hip restaurants (Spotted Pig), quasi-hip clubs (Crobar), karao, and even karaoke bars (2nd on 2nd). [Gridskipper]
• The Atlantic Yards project is hard to wrap one's arms around (it's 22 acres big), but Curbed has an omniscient guide to understanding the ins and outs. But it goes to show that even the experts don't know how much it will cost, or how long it'll take. [Curbed]
• Realty queen bee Barbara Corcoran thinks the above-mentioned Web site is "always so very sweet" to her. Does she read it? [B.C.]
• If you're a broker, and you photoshop a listing for a house that's eventually bought by the city's most important real-estate appraiser, you're probably going to get caught. [Matrix] - Max Abelson]]> http://www.observer.com/node/35840#comments Real Estate Atlantic Yards Barbara Corcoran Manhattan Fri, 09 Mar 2007 12:29:19 -0500 Observer Staff 35840 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/node/35305 A state judge threw out Barbara Corcoran's lawsuit Monday that tried to collect $1.3 million in commissions for introducing him to the investors who salvaged his Riverside South project.

  In the suit, Corcoran claimed that the sale of the high rises to Extell and the Carlyle Group last year triggered the payment of the outstanding portion of the $4 million commission that Trump had promised. But Judge Richard Lowe III wrote tha, according to their contract, the commission was only due when Trump sold his share in the Hudson Waterfront partnership, and not when the partnership sold off the land.

  In the meantime, Trump will pay 2.5 percent of the distributions received from his investment, and, unless an appeal changes anything, Corcoran will pay Trump his legal fees. -Matthew Schuerman]]> http://www.observer.com/node/35305#comments Real Estate Barbara Corcoran The Carlyle Group LLC Thu, 02 Nov 2006 13:42:21 -0500 Observer Staff 35305 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/node/34485 Honestly, we haven't been reading much of The Press lately, ever since the cartoon debacle. But "The 50 Most Loathsome New Yorkers" issue remains a classic.

  However, this year's list is quite different, with an influx of real estate big wigs. Bruce Ratner, Larry Silverstein, David Walentas, Shaya Boymelgreen, and Michael Shvo all make the list. Barbara Corcoran and Steven Roth--who were on last year's-- are spared.

  Considering that none of these guy made the list in 2005, why are they now so loathesome in 2006? Perhaps, the ever-changing editorial team at The Press is now filled with more avid Curbed readers, rather than critics of downtown hipster DJs. - Michael Calderone]]> http://www.observer.com/node/34485#comments Real Estate Barbara Corcoran Larry Silverstein Michael Shvo Steven Roth Thu, 30 Mar 2006 06:59:35 -0500 Observer Staff 34485 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/node/34473
  
  
  It's been almost impossible to escape the Corcoran Group's rebranding effort, that began on the Internet and spread throughout the city. The new ad campaign appears in magazines, at bus stops, and on billboards. Photoserve.com takes a look at how the brokerage tapped photographer Tina Barney--who rarely does commercial work--for the campaign.

  And also how it reflects the post-Barbara Corcoran transition.

  "I really wanted all the photography to be original.," says [Christina Lowris, VP, marketing and advertising]. "In the past we've used stock images for our advertising --and then I've seen them later in some hotel magazines. This is a whole new branding exercise for us as Barbara [Corcoran] has sold the company and the advertising and the photography we use is reflecting that."

  - Michael Calderone]]> http://www.observer.com/node/34473#comments Real Estate Barbara Corcoran Christina Lowris The Corcoran Group Inc. Tue, 28 Mar 2006 08:45:25 -0500 Observer Staff 34473 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/node/34126
  In December, Barbara Corcoran told The Observer that if she wasn't invited to the Gods and Goddesses-themed holiday party, she would probably crash it.

  We're actually not sure if Babs ever made it, but from the sound of this "event report," Corcoran CEO Pam Liebman was definitely in control of the festivities.

  "Liebman then commanded everyone to “have the best time ever,” at which point New Kids on the Block’s “Hangin’ Tough” blared through the room. An intentional goof, the music stopped as soon as Liebman declared that the song did not belong at the party, and she needed the emperor to bring out a new DJ. Soon the emperor emerged (another actor), followed by a troupe of dancers, as the DJ switched the soundtrack to Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl.” Then dancers dressed in Roman garb performed onstage, and the guards handed out red feather fans to the Corcoran employees."

  Yes, this is where all those broker commissions wind up at the end of the year. (BizBash via Gawker)
  -Michael Calderone
  ]]> http://www.observer.com/node/34126#comments Real Estate Barbara Corcoran Gwen Stefani New Kids On The Block Pam Liebman Tue, 24 Jan 2006 13:34:00 -0500 Observer Staff 34126 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/node/33954
  After brisk sales, some billionaires are taking a step back from the 15 Central Park West, according to the New York Post. And at Trump Park Avenue, a prince moves into the apartment above A-Rod for $6.2 million.

  Barbara Corcoran first joked about firing CEO Pam Liebman, and then rode off into the sunset.

  The New York Post looks at what $1 million can buy you these days in Manhattan.

  Richard Meier and Renzo Piano have a friendly chat in the New York Times. Piano: “The fact that art is robbery is well known--robbery without masks. In some ways that's good. It's robbery where you give back, like Robin Hood.”

  And the Top of the Rock is ready to battle the Empire State Building. -Michael Calderone
  ]]> http://www.observer.com/node/33954#comments Real Estate Barbara Corcoran Central Park Pam Liebman Renzo Piano Mon, 31 Oct 2005 03:04:00 -0500 Observer Staff 33954 at http://www.observer.com http://www.observer.com/node/37561 “I had become an expert at airbrushing,” said 56-year-old Barbara Corcoran.  read more »]]> http://www.observer.com/node/37561#comments Barbara Corcoran FOX News Network LLC Manhattan The Corcoran Group Inc. Sun, 28 Aug 2005 20:00:00 -0400 Michael Calderone 37561 at http://www.observer.com