About Amanda
I’m a disgruntled LIRR commuter by morning, real estate journalist by day, insomniac by night, and cancer butt-kicker for life.
Where To Find Me
Visit to the World Trade Center
Published July 11, 2011 | Visited 7 and 4 World Trade Center today for my job. Here are some pics I took – the best ones will be in Bisnow Wednesday and Friday.
$380 Million
Published January 5, 2011 | I, like 99% of other Americans who played Mega Millions last night, did not win the $380M jackpot. Or even part of it.
But what the heck would I do with that much money? I can’t even decide what to do with $38 in my pocket sometimes.
Lisa Brewster
So, I thought about what I’d do (after making sure people around were taken care of properly):
- Donate significant portions to my three favorite cancer charities: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Journey to the Cure, and I’m Too Young For This!
- Donate a significant portion to Stony Brook University Cancer Center as a thank you for treating me
- Establish scholarship funds for Fordham University and St. Mary School, so students who can’t afford to go to either school could have a chance like I did
- Upgrade The Ram‘s office and technology, and upgrade the technology in Fordham’s Communication & Media Studies department as needed
- Likely a pipe dream, but convince the Sisters of St. Joseph to reopen The Academy of St. Joseph and upgrade the school so it can properly compete with other private schools on Long Island
- Buy an abandoned movie theater – preferably Islip – upgrade it, and name it “A Theater Near You” (which I thought was the name of every theater when I was three years old)
- Buy a house, preferably with a pool and near a library
- Make sure every food pantry on Long Island is well stocked
- Build a shelter or transitional housing
- Buy some commercial real estate
- Open up my own bookstore
- Travel the world
I’m sure I’ll think of other things. What would you do with that much money?
End of an Era
Published September 19, 2007 | Yesterday, I attended a town meeting that addressed the fate of the Islip Triplex movie theater, which closed down in September 2006 after almost 60 years. It was subsequently purchased by local developer J.J. Nazarro Associates, who plans to raze the historic brick building and put a mixed-use retail center in its place.
However, Islip resident Marcalan Glassberg wants to turn it into a multi-use arts center, incorporating a dinner theater, performing arts center and an art cinema. You can read the background story at the New York Times and Islip Bulletin.
The town meeting was touted as a “Save the Theater,” but judging from the reaction of a good portion of the attendees, the gathering was anything but. Continue reading
Wheeeeeeee!
Published April 29, 2006 | Got the ride the pace car three laps around the NASCAR track in Charlotte yesterday at around 100 m.p.h. (after signing a relase form, of course). At some points, it just felt like driving on the Garden State Parkway. Quite fun!
Perks of Real Estate Journalism
Published March 15, 2006 | Last night I went to a dinner with the CEO of an international hotel company at his New York hotel. I assumed it was going to be a press dinner to introduce his new hotel in China. The PR reps were so happy I showed up early that I got a sneak preview of the hotel. Then they tell me about dinner – it was called “Taste of New York,” a progressive dinner. I chatted up the CEO for a bit about the hotel, then they brought me into a meeting room, where the appetizers were set up.
OK, meals have appetizers. But these were amazing. There was a Peking Duck in the middle of the room, posed and looking at us, with individual plates of duck around him, and the freshest sushi I have ever eaten in my life. It melted in my mouth. Dim sum completed the spread, while a famous NYC bartender mixed his signature martini. The PR rep was quick to get me a glass of Chardonnay. I met a few other people from Dow Jones, Reuters, and an investment magazine, but the 15 or so people that were in attendence mostly belonged to the hotel group. Continue reading