Real estate is once again the focal point of every news organization. But this time, it has nothing to do with interest only mortgages, faulty credit default swaps, predator lending or foreclosing. It does, however, coincide with one of the oldest real estate mantras in the business.
Location, location, location.
Developers desire to build a mosque in close proximity to the site of the World Trade Center, and as expected, this has created a public relations eruption of volcanic proportions. For the mass media, this story is rife with both political and religious controversy. When a story is fueled by these two incendiary topics, it's akin to throwing a match into a pool of gasoline. So I thought the safest route to take was none at all. As New Yorkers, and as Americans, you're either on one side or the other and I'm opting out of the discussion.
However, I do question one thing. Of all the possibilities, and I mean anything that's humanly plausible, was a mosque the best we could come up with? Was there even anything else on the list? A second choice? Nobody ever talks about what was rejected.
A mosque or....a pet shop?
Or how about a mosque or a Cheesecake Factory? When it comes to downtown New York, you're bound to have naysayers no matter what you choose. But then it hit me. The one thing that we can all agree on as neutral territory. Something which crosses all classes, and serves as all things to all people. And at a universally acceptable price point.
A 7-11.
Think about the marketing. Come to the 7-11 near 9/11. It flows beautifully. These convenience chains typically have foreign ownership, many from regions near the Middle East. There won't be praying (unless you ate the Beef Jerky), and no fear of racial epithets. Just Slurpies and an occasional Big Gulp. And that sure is easier to swallow than the heated battle between politics and religion. Also,the cops love 7-11, so customers will always have a sense of security walking around the neighborhood.
Alright, maybe it's too abstract. Maybe we shouldn't make 9/11 real estate about 7-11 food. So how about a Barnes and Noble? But not just any Barnes and Noble. This one would only carry specific books - - those on the historical relationship between the U.S. and the Middle East. Books that explain the meaning of the Koran, and others that provide justification for Israel. Most importantly, it would carry books that honor those workers, policemen, and firefighters that fought heroically that fateful day. When looking back on 9/11 with a historical eye, it would be nice to be fully armed and educated.
As long as we're brainstorming, let's not rule out a hospital. Wouldn't that be great? A medical facility near the site for 9-11. The WTC Memorial Hospital. We all know how the boys on Wall Street like to live hard. Between drinking, snorting coke, or popping Vicadin, there's certain to be a dearth of prospects stopping by on their lunch breaks for unexplained chest pain. All the favorite hospitals of New York Magazine are all located in midtown and above, so a downtown hospital that people can trust would be unique and necessary.
Now if you just can't break free from the concept of having a religious entity in the area, one that could provide a certain catharsis for all that transpired there a decade ago, may I suggest a temple that would connect with both national and international congregations. A place where everyone prays to one God without fear of loathing or reprisal.
An Apple Store.
It even looks like a temple, with a big Apple on the front. It brings smiling faces from all over the world, who all speak a common language - Mackintosh. As we traverse through the store, we'll be singing praises to the Apple God - Steve Jobs. And we'll pray. We'll pray that the next iPad has a video camera, or that Verizon will finally win a contract for the iPhone. No political strife, no religious controversy. Just people from all walks of life discussing the future. Discussing the future without forgetting about how these products, through pictures, and old video never let us forget the past. This Apple Store could even run promotions where a percentage of the proceeds go to the victims' families from 9-11 who never got the help they needed.
Now that's a mosque we can all agree on.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
No Demi-Glaze
This country loves celebrities. England has their royalty in Buckingham Palace and we have ours in Beverly Hills. For most of us these deities remain at a distance on You Tube or the Boob Tube, but every so often, we actually come face to face with one of these celebs and maybe even have the opportunity to speak with them. And just as the right moment presents itself.....we say something completely stupid.
"I love your movies." "I have all your songs on my iPod." "Will you marry me?" Our brains go numb, our synapses no longer connect and we speak like we just completed the first grade.
Our family has always been different. Not necessarily better, just different. When my wife and I attended an after party for a Tom Selleck movie, we cornered Mr. Selleck near a decorative fruit table. My wife grabbed a grapefruit and asked if he'd sign it. Tom, respectfully declined and said, "if I signed a grapefruit for you, I'd have to sign a grapefruit for everyone." At an ABC party in the early 90's, I spotted Donald Trump. His wife at the time was Marla Maples and I knew just what to say to get his attention. "Mr. Trump, I saw your wife last night." Both he and his bodyguard looked at me with venom. With a slight hesitation, I finished, "in the Will Rogers Follies. Her performance was great." The Donald relaxed and needless to say it was a quick conversation.
So when I was told that my kids had an opportunity to meet Demi Lovato of Disney fame, I couldn't really impart any celebrity approaching wisdom. I just set the stage for them. "You'll be in a posh manhattan hotel, and she'll be in the process of being interviewed by the press to promote Camp Rock 2. She'll probably have time for a quick hello, maybe a picture and then your brief brush with fame will be over." Now for those parents out there, especially those with daughters, you already know that meeting a Disney Channel star is a big deal. Demi Lovato plays with the Jonas Brothers and is the second coming of Miley Cyrus.
My girls needed to bring their A games. They began researching and discovered that Demi Lovato was teased so badly in school that she was forced to be home schooled. As a result, she's now heavily involved with an anti-bullying charity. They went out and bought a teddy bear, placed it in a pink box with a note that saying they'd love to bring the message to their schools. And just in case she thought it was a good idea, they prepared their email addresses.
The big day arrived last week. They went to the hotel, received special access and waited patiently for Demi Lovato to make a quick appearance. My wife and I came armed as well with cameras, sharpies, and pictures. But we had no idea what to expect. They could scream, they could cry, they could be shy. What would they say to their idol when it was crunch time?
The big moment arrived. Demi was escorted by a Disney employee. She first introduced herself to me and my wife, and we thanked her for making the time to meet our girls. My wife commented on how different her hair looked, clearly admitting that she watched Demi as much as her kids did on the Disney Channel. Now Demi moved on to the kids. Just her and them.
They introduced themselves and asked if they could give her a present. She graciously accepted and the kids explained that it was in honor of her work with her charity. Next came the perfunctory picture where she allowed three different shots. Clearly busy, Demi looked like she was ready to move on. Then they did something unexpected.
They asked if they could sing Demi one of her songs. Now this could have many different repercussions. First, she could say that she didn't have time. Or maybe she had the time, but my kids will sing off key. Or foget the lyrics. Demi agreed. My oldest daughter went first and jumped right into ""This is Me" from Camp Rock. The lyrics were perfect, the notes were perfect. Demi smiled separately at both my wife and I. My daughter finished and Demi told her how good she was. Several members of the Disney staff applauded. A true professional, Demi turned to my younger daughter and asked if she wanted to give it a try. A little more reserved, and slightly shy, she also got through the song with flying colors.
At the end of the day, I asked my kids if they ever thought they'd be singing in front of one of their heroes. They were still in shock. But little did they know what they accomplished; meeting a celebrity and engaging her for a few minutes. They performed much better than their parents would have at their age or maybe at any age.
In a stressful situation, they performed like champs. And for that, they're my heroes.
"I love your movies." "I have all your songs on my iPod." "Will you marry me?" Our brains go numb, our synapses no longer connect and we speak like we just completed the first grade.
Our family has always been different. Not necessarily better, just different. When my wife and I attended an after party for a Tom Selleck movie, we cornered Mr. Selleck near a decorative fruit table. My wife grabbed a grapefruit and asked if he'd sign it. Tom, respectfully declined and said, "if I signed a grapefruit for you, I'd have to sign a grapefruit for everyone." At an ABC party in the early 90's, I spotted Donald Trump. His wife at the time was Marla Maples and I knew just what to say to get his attention. "Mr. Trump, I saw your wife last night." Both he and his bodyguard looked at me with venom. With a slight hesitation, I finished, "in the Will Rogers Follies. Her performance was great." The Donald relaxed and needless to say it was a quick conversation.
So when I was told that my kids had an opportunity to meet Demi Lovato of Disney fame, I couldn't really impart any celebrity approaching wisdom. I just set the stage for them. "You'll be in a posh manhattan hotel, and she'll be in the process of being interviewed by the press to promote Camp Rock 2. She'll probably have time for a quick hello, maybe a picture and then your brief brush with fame will be over." Now for those parents out there, especially those with daughters, you already know that meeting a Disney Channel star is a big deal. Demi Lovato plays with the Jonas Brothers and is the second coming of Miley Cyrus.
My girls needed to bring their A games. They began researching and discovered that Demi Lovato was teased so badly in school that she was forced to be home schooled. As a result, she's now heavily involved with an anti-bullying charity. They went out and bought a teddy bear, placed it in a pink box with a note that saying they'd love to bring the message to their schools. And just in case she thought it was a good idea, they prepared their email addresses.
The big day arrived last week. They went to the hotel, received special access and waited patiently for Demi Lovato to make a quick appearance. My wife and I came armed as well with cameras, sharpies, and pictures. But we had no idea what to expect. They could scream, they could cry, they could be shy. What would they say to their idol when it was crunch time?
The big moment arrived. Demi was escorted by a Disney employee. She first introduced herself to me and my wife, and we thanked her for making the time to meet our girls. My wife commented on how different her hair looked, clearly admitting that she watched Demi as much as her kids did on the Disney Channel. Now Demi moved on to the kids. Just her and them.
They introduced themselves and asked if they could give her a present. She graciously accepted and the kids explained that it was in honor of her work with her charity. Next came the perfunctory picture where she allowed three different shots. Clearly busy, Demi looked like she was ready to move on. Then they did something unexpected.
They asked if they could sing Demi one of her songs. Now this could have many different repercussions. First, she could say that she didn't have time. Or maybe she had the time, but my kids will sing off key. Or foget the lyrics. Demi agreed. My oldest daughter went first and jumped right into ""This is Me" from Camp Rock. The lyrics were perfect, the notes were perfect. Demi smiled separately at both my wife and I. My daughter finished and Demi told her how good she was. Several members of the Disney staff applauded. A true professional, Demi turned to my younger daughter and asked if she wanted to give it a try. A little more reserved, and slightly shy, she also got through the song with flying colors.
At the end of the day, I asked my kids if they ever thought they'd be singing in front of one of their heroes. They were still in shock. But little did they know what they accomplished; meeting a celebrity and engaging her for a few minutes. They performed much better than their parents would have at their age or maybe at any age.
In a stressful situation, they performed like champs. And for that, they're my heroes.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
A Cure for Charities
The economy stinks, but people are still buying iPads. The stock market is in a holding pattern, however, hotels are booked and vacation travel has exploded. Home furnishing retail is getting crushed, but upscale restaurants are crowded again.
Uncertain times can definitely cause changes in our buying patterns, but the one area nobody talks about is charity. Are we giving as much as we used to? Do we just wait for another disaster to strike similar to New Orleans or Haiti, so we can simply text our donations to the Red Cross?
Some of us still have our favorite charities and give if our finances allow. Then there's the other contingency that walks, runs, bikes, skips, jump ropes, or rollerblades to raise money for a worthy cause that's personal to them. Through email blasts, many of these people can reach hundreds of friends at once asking each one to "sponsor" them and pay a few bucks by the mile. So it wasn't until recently that I realized that they may be leaving significant money on the table.
First of all, walking and running are certainly tests of endurance and in turn, the participants ask us to pay for their efforts. Again, a great concept, but so mundane that the maximum money raised is capped before you get to the starting gate.
Let's forget about all this child's play and go for the real deal. Like lion taming. Man, wouldn't that be a cash cow? You finish a walk, you get 5 bucks per mile. But you pull a Ziefield and Roy, and hell, I'd pay $100 a minute. If you don't survive, we'd just create another charity for you - - "Finding a Cure for Lion Taming." Sky diving is another good one. If you get on your bike and ride 100 miles, the best case scenario is $5 a mile. But if you jumped out of an airplane at 15,000 feet, people would pledge a couple of grand and you'd get prominent placement on You Tube.
Alright, maybe these are a little too dangerous. So how about putting people in uncomfortable situations for cash. And it would vary by individual. If someone doesn't like to speak in public, you offer to pay $500 for a half hour speech, and money goes up if the audience increases. People who avoid the dentist because they've seen Dustin Hoffman in "Marathon Man" or for any other reason, would receive several hundred for a cleaning and a grand for root canal. People who are afraid of heights get higher jackpots depending on the size of the building. The crown at the Statue or Liberty is worth $250, but the observation deck at the Empire State building or Seattle's Space Needle would begin at $1500.
With this strategy we accomplish two things. First, more money for the charity. Next, you help people conquer their fears and work on self improvement. In a sense, it's like double charity.
The tag lines for fundraising would sound more interesting too. "Speed Racing for Sinusitus", "Bungee Jumping for Brochitis", "Shark Swimming for Syphilis.". Marketing these charities would be much easier, as these names just roll right off the tongue. But I don't expect any drastic changes in the near future. So we'll still be paying for people to walk or ride bicycles. And the charities will continue being underfunded.
But as soon as they come out with" Russian Roulette for Rheumatoid Arthritis", I suspect that we'll all start donating monthly with direct deposit accounts.
Uncertain times can definitely cause changes in our buying patterns, but the one area nobody talks about is charity. Are we giving as much as we used to? Do we just wait for another disaster to strike similar to New Orleans or Haiti, so we can simply text our donations to the Red Cross?
Some of us still have our favorite charities and give if our finances allow. Then there's the other contingency that walks, runs, bikes, skips, jump ropes, or rollerblades to raise money for a worthy cause that's personal to them. Through email blasts, many of these people can reach hundreds of friends at once asking each one to "sponsor" them and pay a few bucks by the mile. So it wasn't until recently that I realized that they may be leaving significant money on the table.
First of all, walking and running are certainly tests of endurance and in turn, the participants ask us to pay for their efforts. Again, a great concept, but so mundane that the maximum money raised is capped before you get to the starting gate.
Let's forget about all this child's play and go for the real deal. Like lion taming. Man, wouldn't that be a cash cow? You finish a walk, you get 5 bucks per mile. But you pull a Ziefield and Roy, and hell, I'd pay $100 a minute. If you don't survive, we'd just create another charity for you - - "Finding a Cure for Lion Taming." Sky diving is another good one. If you get on your bike and ride 100 miles, the best case scenario is $5 a mile. But if you jumped out of an airplane at 15,000 feet, people would pledge a couple of grand and you'd get prominent placement on You Tube.
Alright, maybe these are a little too dangerous. So how about putting people in uncomfortable situations for cash. And it would vary by individual. If someone doesn't like to speak in public, you offer to pay $500 for a half hour speech, and money goes up if the audience increases. People who avoid the dentist because they've seen Dustin Hoffman in "Marathon Man" or for any other reason, would receive several hundred for a cleaning and a grand for root canal. People who are afraid of heights get higher jackpots depending on the size of the building. The crown at the Statue or Liberty is worth $250, but the observation deck at the Empire State building or Seattle's Space Needle would begin at $1500.
With this strategy we accomplish two things. First, more money for the charity. Next, you help people conquer their fears and work on self improvement. In a sense, it's like double charity.
The tag lines for fundraising would sound more interesting too. "Speed Racing for Sinusitus", "Bungee Jumping for Brochitis", "Shark Swimming for Syphilis.". Marketing these charities would be much easier, as these names just roll right off the tongue. But I don't expect any drastic changes in the near future. So we'll still be paying for people to walk or ride bicycles. And the charities will continue being underfunded.
But as soon as they come out with" Russian Roulette for Rheumatoid Arthritis", I suspect that we'll all start donating monthly with direct deposit accounts.
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