Weekly Roundup: Sales and prices rise in Manhattan, surfeit of celebs on the move, U.S. stats up and down, yet another historic low rate

Manhattan sales jump 9.3 percent over year earlier in third quarter, median prices climb 2.7 percent

Residents praise lifestyle of small spaces, and developers show big interest in them

Much desired sponsor apartments in co-ops bear scrutiny

11 groups lodge lawsuit seeking to block NYU expansion

Prices of single-family homes in broad region off 2.6 percent from prior year, bucking national trend

10th annual Open House New York weekend to celebrate city’s architecture, design

Land-use committee approves massive Lower East Side development

To developer’s dismay, those billionaires strive to leave individualistic impressions on One57 tower

Oscar winner sells Upper West Side penthouse for more than $1.7 million

Actress’ puts Ojai retreat legally on the market for $10 million

Nick and Meagan seek

Weekly Roundup: Existing-home sales rebound

Here’s your chance to catch up with news included to inform, enlighten and perhaps even entertain you. To read about The Big Apple, check out the other of today’s posts and look for Out and About early next week.

FOR $28 MILLION YOU CAN BUY AN AGING CELEB’S DAHLINK BEL AIR MANSION

THIS TENANT DEMONSTRATES ANEW THAT HE IS UNINTERESTED IN MAKING NEW FRIENDS

NEW-HOME CONSTRUCTION ENDS THE YEAR ON A WEAK NOTE

BUT SALES OF PREVIOUSLY OWNED HOMES BOUNCE BACK, CAUSING

Alfred leads a charmed life in a friendly New York

Photo by Bricolage on Flickr.

Alfred and I have been friends since the mid 80s, when each of us worked at the New School.  Now, we happen to live 14 blocks apart on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

Tall, urbane, a consumer of all things cultural, Alfred runs every other day in Central Park in good weather.  Otherwise, he goes to the West Side Y, where he has just taken up yoga in addition to his usual routines.

Alfred also likes to cook and occasionally hosts dinner parties.  (Hang on, Dear Reader, this post is not going where you might think.)