A local musician, a comedian and a tech startup CEO all walk into a bar. It's not in a high rise or even on the new Music Lane like Soho House, instead, it's in an unassuming warehouse-like building built on an old home and lumber barn in East Austin.

The Pershing, a low-profile but highly-coveted luxury club tucked away on East 5th Street and Pedernales, is the watering hole of some of Austin's most famous creatives and elites. It's even been said to be the host of a certain business executive with a keen interest in cryptocurrency.

The Pershing likes to air on the side of mystery. The "Keepers of the Austin Flame," as they call their members, can reach out to management to show interest, then they are approved based on their involvement with the community. To officially become a member, the club charges an undisclosed fee. That doesn't mean they aren't inclusive though, General Manager Kyle Lauterbach said; the club just wants to create a family.

"There's two things that I think are great for somebody that wants to belong to this space," Lauterbach said. "They see a value in the community that we're building, and they're somebody that's creating positive change. That's it."

Opening in 2018, the club is named after the neighborhood in which it was originally built, and retained the original three-story house and barn structures. The club has since slowly filled to nearly 350 members (nearing capacity) mainly by word of mouth.

Here's a look at the club-slash-private concert hall that nearly 350 of Austin's most influential residents call home.

The Pershing Bar is dimly lit and stocked with liquor from sustainable sources. (The Pershing)

The Pershing's clubhouse mixes luxury with comfort. Downstairs, bartenders greet members by first name from behind a dark marble bar. The bar itself is stocked with sustainable liquor brands hand-selected by Director of Beverage Adam Bryan, who "helped bring craft cocktails to Austin" and permanently changed the way business development director Dannye Donnell views martinis.

As members venture farther into the space, they enter several unique rooms, each with their own unique flavor. Dark greens, golds and browns give the space a sophisticated feel. A poker room sits just upstairs; Donnell said plenty of banter is found between guests after business hours. The white room, which Donnell said is the most popular, gives the feel of being outside without the oppressive summer heat.

There are spaces for companies to work throughout with organizations often renting out the conference room to host events throughout the day. Once laptops are shut off, howeverLauterbach says at about 5 p.m.members can head up a ladder to the hookah lounge, the ultimate child's fort decked out with floor pillows galore.

"I've had members eat their lunch here and do their work for a little bit, call friends over for dinner and play poker and next thing they know it's one in the morning," Lauterbach said. "It's really a place you can spend several hours of your day and not feel stuck."

Across the courtyard is the gallery hall, a private concert venue converted from the property's old barn. Gary Clark Jr., who is also a member, has performed in this space, as have other famous musicians and members of local artist collective Black Fret. The club has branched out, too, introducing comedy shows and new genres to the space every week.

Because many members are creatives themselves, Lauterbach said that every experiential concert is so absorbed by its audience that the entire space could hear a chip drop.

"It goes to show how much your members care about music when you walk in there and it's completely silent," Lauterbach said. "People are so dialed in."

The Pershing's outdoor space can best be enjoyed on summer evenings when heat gives way to a warm breeze. (The Pershing)

The outdoor courtyard is host to evening fun in the summer. The club hosts Tiki Thursdays every weekwhen Austonia visited, Donnell was out finding coconuts, and Lauterbach was wearing a festive Hawaiian shirt.

During the pandemic, the club was only closed for two business days, thanks to innovative planning from Lauterbach. Lauterbach introduced "Ten Foot Happy Hours" in the summer, installed UVC air sanitation systems, and even offered pina coladas while members waited for their COVID test, which was offered daily. When Lauterbach noticed that many service workers were overlooked during early vaccination, the club even offered a vaccine drive that saw over 4,000 in the industry get vaccinated.

"We're passionate about helping with vaccinationthe service industry really got brushed over, (and) they were some of the most vulnerable people in this timeframe," Lauterbach said.

The Pershing's upgrades will include a new pool, private cabanas, coworking spaces, and eventually, lodging for the "Keepers of the Austin Flame." (The Pershing)

While the club is partnered with other clubs across the world and many hotels within the city, a slate of new upgrades will allow the club to become a self-sufficient haven.

In 2022, the club will break ground for plans including a swimming pool, courtyard gardens, private cabanas, co-working spaces, and private casitas for residents to stay. A new steam room and sauna will be introduced and outdoor spaces will expand as well.

While head chef Chris Bissell is now operating his fine dining out of a food truck in true Austin fashion, the club will also begin work on a new kitchen in July to expand event capabilities.

Link:
East Austin's exclusive club, The Pershing, brings luxury and comfort to Austin's most influential residents - Austonia

Like wavescrashing on the beach, a tsunami of eager homebuyers has hit theJersey Shore. MotivatedbyCOVID-19 restrictions, new remote working opportunities, low-interest ratesanda love of sun and sand, buyers from asfaraway as Connecticut are flocking to theShore fora betterquality of life.

Northern New Jersey home sellers are taking their profit from the sale of their homes, downsizing and opting for the fun of resort-style living at the Jersey Shore. Photo courtesy of Coldwell Banker Realty

The JerseyShore market isnt hotits on fire,said PerryBeneduce, executivedirectorand broker at Diane Turton Realtors.Founded in 1985,Diane Turton Realtors maintains 18 offices in Monmouth and Oceancounties.

The biggest problem in todays market is inventory,Beneducesaid. In addition to a good supply of local buyers,peoplearemovingto theShore fromnorthern New Jersey, Manhattan,the Hamptons and even Connecticut. Itscommon for a home to be sold a day or two after its listed.We aregettingoffers above asking price,andthere arebidding wars for someproperties.

Rob Norman, president of Coldwell Banker Realty in New Jersey and Rockland County, N.Y., added that Coldwell Banker offices throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties also are selling at a record pace.

Robert White, who manages our Spring Lake office, shared local sales data,which speaks volumes to this high level of activity, Normansaid.Days onmarket are coming in at about 45 days today vs.67 days in 2020. Inventorysupply is now 1.7 months. It was at 4.1 months in 2020.

Motivated by COVID-19 restrictions, new remote working opportunities, low-interest rates and a love of sun and sand, buyers are flocking to the Shore for a better quality of life. Photo courtesy of Coldwell Banker Realty

Norman noted that Coldwell Bankerrepresents many smaller beach communities that average 60 to 75 sales a year. In 2019, the averageShore communityhadabout 45 to 55 home sales. He explained that,in 2020, sales increased about 50% to 60% in most of those markets with 75 to 85 sales.

DavidSchoner, vice president ofColdwell Banker New Homes,addedthat there has been a major paradigm shift in the real estate market,which has impacted sales of both resale homes and new construction.

For years,the trend, especially among younger people,was toward major urban areas,Schonersaid. People who worked in Manhattan wanted to live close to their jobs and the lifestyle amenities ofTheCity. Now thatmany can work remotelyand the restaurants, night clubsand other points of interest are either closed or open at reduced capacity, theres been a reversal of priorities,and the outward migrationfrom urban marketshas accelerated.

New-home communities at the Jersey Shore marketed by Coldwell Banker New Homes are selling quickly. Only two of the attached, single-family homes in the famed Officers Row collection at East Gate in Oceanport remain available. Coldwell Banker New Homes also represents North Pointe at Sea Bright, a waterfront condominium community that is about 50% sold out, and 365 Ocean Boulevard, an upscale condominium community in Long Branch that is roughly 90% sold out.

Coldwell Banker New Homes represents North Pointe at Sea Bright, a waterfront condominium community that is about 50% sold out. Photo courtesy of Coldwell Banker Realty

The new construction market at theJersey Shore is strong across all community types and construction styles, according to Craig Cherry, New Jerseydivisionpresident of Toll Brothers.

Weveexperienced a strong demand for ournewhomes at the New JerseyShore,and weve outpaced oursalesprojections in every category, Cherrysaid. Our luxury single-family homes, townhomes and active-adult lifestyle communities are all very busy.

In response to the shortage of housing inventory at the Jersey Shore, Toll Brothers is building quick-delivery homes that can be occupied in less than 90 days. While these homes offer fewer opportunities for selections than those built for the buyer from scratch, quick-delivery homes do incorporate the styles, finishes and technological features that are popular in this fast-paced market.

Toll Brothers is building quick-delivery homes that can be occupied in less than 90 days, like its Hammond home design in Monmouth County. Photo courtesy of Toll Brothers

According to Cherry, homebuyers are looking for flexible space and more personalization in new homes as well as state-of-the-art technology and multiple home offices to accommodate work-from-home and remote learning scenarios. Energy-efficient elements, like home charging stations for electric vehicles, are now priorities for homebuyers.

Toll Brothers iscurrentlybuilding singlefamily homes, low-maintenance townhousecommunities, and activeadult amenity resortcommunitiesin Monmouth and Ocean counties. Prices start as low as the $600,000s foractiveadult communities and from $1.2 million for large,singlefamily estates.

Jane Betancourt, director of sales at The Lofts Pier Village,explained that homebuyers at the Jersey Shorewantstylish new homesinresort-stylesettings.The Lofts,which is set in the heart ofPier Village in Long Branch,offers acollection of elegant condominiumsin a scenic,beachfrontenvironment.The community is distinguished bya full complement of indoor and outdoor recreational facilities.

We have both primary and vacation home residents who love the city-by-the-sea atmosphereandnumerous lifestyleamenitiesof Pier Village, Betancourtsaid. Fine restaurants, shops, the beach and the boardwalk arewithin walking distance ofour luxurious condominiums. Plus, our homeowners can take their laptops out to their private terraces and workat homewhile they soak in magnificent ocean views.

The Lofts, which is set in the heart of Pier Village in Long Branch, offers a collection of elegant condominiums in a scenic, beachfront environment. Photo courtesy of Extell Development Co.

Betancourtexplainedthatpeoplearemovingout of the New York Cityareaand payingtop dollar for homes innorthern New Jersey communities.NorthernNew Jerseyhome sellersare thentaking their profits,downsizingand opting for the fun of resort-styleliving at theShore.She addedthatthe Lofts offers a tax abatement,orPILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) program, whichmakes The Loftsaneconomicalplace to live.Shealso pointed outthathomeownersat The Loftscan saveup to $400,000 in property taxes over the course of 30 years.

The Loftsembraces the Jersey Shore lifestyle with amenities such asabeautifullylandscapedoceanfrontdeckthatfeatures alap pool,cabanas,gas grills and cozy fireside seating areas.Indoors, the private state-of-the-art fitness center is complete with both mens and womens locker rooms, plus the latest fitness machines and a yoga/personal training studio. Indoor facilities also include a club room, game room and childrens playroom,making The Lofts family friendly.

Condominiums at The Lofts arerichlyappointed by the sameExtellDevelopment Co.design group that is responsible for the firms opulent Manhattan residences.The Loftscurrentlyis about 85%soldout. Onebedroom condominiums start at $619,000.

Experts agree that the real estate market at the Jersey Shore is hot,andits onlygetting hotter. With the summer seasonandthe peak selling months now in full swing, they expect competition for homes at the Shore to intensify even more.

Stan Lemond is an award-winning marketing consultant and writer who has more than 40 years of experience. His work has appeared in The Star-Ledger, Staten Island Advance, Trenton Times and South Jersey Times as well as Jerseys Best.

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2021 issue of Jerseys Best. Subscribeherefor in-depth access to everything that makes the Garden State great.

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Waves of homebuyers land at the Jersey Shore in search of leisurely setting - Jersey's Best

When the COVID emergency started, half of New Jersey workers began working from home. A new survey finds many of them dont think they will ever go back to the office full-time again.

According to Dan Cassino, the executive director of the Fairleigh Dickinson University poll, when the pandemic started the assumption was we would stay home for a couple of weeks to bend the curve and then everything would go back to normal. But a few weeks turned into almost 16 months.

He said right now, as the pandemic is winding down, only 27% of workers have returned to their place of business full time, 28% are splitting their time between the workplace and working from home, and 35% are still working from home, and they like that.

We thought there was going to be a snap-back, end of the pandemic, everything was going to go back to normal, he said. But at least in terms of work, we are never going to go back to normal, and most people in New Jersey dont even want to.

He said the poll finds a quarter of New Jersey voters (26%) insist they will never go back to the office full time.

He also noted a significant number of workers stopped taking mass transit and used a private vehicle to get to work when the pandemic started, and some of them are expected to continue to drive to work when they do go into the office.

The poll finds a significant difference in work preference between Democrats and Republicans.

About half of Republicans, 47%, say they want to go into work full time. Only 20% of Democrats say that, said Cassino.

The survey finds 67% of Democrats are still working from home at least some of the time, compared to 49% of Republicans.

He pointed out part of that is because of differences in demographics. Democrats are more likely to be women, younger and more likely to be college educated, and all of those characteristics lead people to like remote work more.

The workers with a college education want to stay home or have the sort of flexible work experience, he added. Less educated workers, also older workers and Republicans, they just want to go back to the office.

The poll also finds 55% of men think they will be back at the workplace by the end of the year, compared to 48% of women.

He noted if more New Jersey workers remain in New Jersey it will mean fewer taxes are collected in New York and Pennsylvania, and a possible tax surplus in the Garden State.

The FDU survey was conducted between June 9 and June 16 using a certified list of registered voters in New Jersey.

Voters were randomly chosen from the list, and contacted in one of two ways. Three-quarters of the respondents (608) received an invitation through SMS (text) to fill out the survey online, via a provided link. The other quarter of respondents (193) were contacted via telephone, using the same registered voter list.

You can contact reporter David Matthau at David.Matthau@townsquaremedia.com

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A new poll finds some NJ workers won't go back to the office - New Jersey - New Jersey 101.5 FM

The Bottom Line

It's another good ol' fashioned Jersey heat wave. There are three things that make extreme heat even more uncomfortable and unbearable:1.) Humidity. Almost always a given here in New Jersey.2.) Warm and muggy overnights. Directly related to #1.3.) The length of the heat wave. This time around, it will last 4 or 5 days total.

It's worth mentioning that Monday will be the Garden State's 9th 90+ degree day of 2021. That's pretty significant. By the end of this run of heat and humidity, that streak could grow to 13. That ties the record for June 90s, set in the scorchingly hot summer of 2010.

High temperatures are expected to soar into the lower 90s across most of the state. And the heat index, the "feels like" or "apparent" temperature, factoring in the humidity, will probably reach about 95 to 100 degrees.

A Heat Advisory continues through Wednesday evening for most of the state. The pieces of the Garden State that fall out of the advisory - South Jersey and the immediate coast - will just barely miss the criteria for "dangerous heat".

You know the drill. Heat is dangerous, but only if you don't take care of yourself. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Stay extra hydrated, ro replace the fluids lost from sweating. And take frequent breaks from the heat, ideally in air conditioning.

These are the days that the Jersey Shore really hopes and prays for a sea breeze, to keep the heat and flies inland. I think that will be the case at the beaches Monday. But we'll probably still see 80s on the beaches Monday afternoon. Still with high humidity, of course.

Overhead, you'll find a mix of sunshine and clouds. The chance of a stray shower or thunderstorm is low, but not zero. Best chance would be as temperatures cool Monday evening, in northwestern New Jersey only.

One of the worst parts of any heat wave is when we don't cool down at night. Everything - humans, animals, flora, infrastructure, etc. - needs to push a "reset button" during hot, humid weather. That's not really going to happen Monday night, as lows only dip into the mid 70s.

Let's do it again. Lots of hazy sunshine will push high temps into the lower to mid 90s. That is almost 10 degrees above normal for late June, by the way. Once again, the heat index will approach triple digits. Once again, a late-day shower is possible in NW NJ.

I'm not sure which day of the week will be our hottest, but Wednesday is definitely a candidate. (My forecast goes as high as 98 degrees in the urban center of NE NJ and/or SW NJ.)

Not only will it be hot and humid, but we'll pick up a "blast furnace" southwest wind up to 20 mph. Yes, that breeze will keep the hot air moving around. But it will also transport even more hot air into the Garden State. Look for high temperatures in the lower to mid 90s once again.

There's also a decent chance for widespread scattered thunderstorms Wednesday evening through Wednesday night (8 p.m. to 4 a.m.) If you manage to get a little bit of rain, it will cool you off temporarily.

Ah, the big cooldown day! Having said that, some thermometers may still reach 90 degrees, especially in South Jersey. And then we face a heavy rain threat.

It looks like rain will fill in around midday Thursday, lasting through Thursday night. Given the "juicy" humid air, that rain will probably pour at times. Embedded thunderstorms and marginal severe weather could be concerns.

Here's where things get tricky. Especially since all eyes are on the big 4th of July Weekend coming up.

Your holiday weekend forecast will be largely dictated by how "cleanly" Thursday's cold front passes through the state. The GFS model favors a "not clean at all" outlook, keeping scattered rain and unseasonably cool temperatures over NJ through Friday 7/2, Saturday 7/3, and part of Sunday 7/4. That particular model forecast shows up to 5" of rain as a result of that extended stretch of wet and unsettled weather.

However, I favor the Euro model - not only because it's a more optimistic forecast, but because the dynamics and numbers make a bit more sense. As the front exits on Friday, so do our chances of widespread rain. Probably about an inch of healthy rainfall total. Temperatures would end up cooler than normal for Friday and Saturday, and conditions would still be pretty humid. But at least we'd see substantial periods of dry, sunny weather. And both Sunday 7/4 and Monday 7/5 would be spectacularly summer-ish.

So there are your two scenarios for the first five days of July. Neither is perfect. But the Euro would definitely be more conducive for boardwalks, beaches, backyards, and fireworks. Over the course of the next two days, we'll zero in on which solution trends more likely. Stay tuned!

Dan Zarrow is Chief Meteorologist for Townsquare Media New Jersey. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter for the latest forecast and realtime weather updates.

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NJ's second heat wave of 2021 is on: Monday will be day 2 of 5 - New Jersey 101.5 FM

Monday, June 28

FAMILY: Butterflies of Bali, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily, Krohn Conservatory, 1501 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. Timed ticket entry. Runs May 8-Sept. 6. Reservations: krohn.ticketspice.com/butterflyshow.

FAMILY: Journey to the North Pole: Christmas in July, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday, Entertrainment Junction, 7379 Squire Court, West Chester. Beat the summer heat with this climate-controlled magical-themed walk-through attraction. Runs June 26-July 31. $9.95-up. Free parking. 513-898-8000; entertrainmentjunction.com.

HEALTH: Outdoor Fitness Series, 7 p.m., Winton Woods, 10245 Winton Road, Springfield Township. Rotating series of HIIT, boot camp and zumba every Tuesday June 1-Aug. 31. greatparks.org.

RECREATION: Aqua Adventures, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, Land of Illusion, 8762 Thomas Road, Middletown. Floating obstacle course, beach, swimming area, volleyball and game area. You can also rent paddleboards, private cabanas and boats. $29, $24 kids. landofillusion.com.

RECREATION: Trivia on the Square, 6-8 p.m., Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. Weekly through Oct. 11. Free. myfountainsquare.com.

COMEDY: Joe Dombrowski's School's Out for Summer Tour, 7:30p.m.,Funny Bone Comedy Club, 7518 Bales St., Liberty Township. $36-$70. liberty.funnybone.com.

MUSIC: Acoustic Lunch Series, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Piatt Park, 100 Garfield Place, Downtown. Runs Tuesdays and Thursdays June 1-Aug. 31.

MUSIC: Summer Concert Series, weekly, Nature Park, 4337CooperRoad, Blue Ash. This week: The New Liberty Dance Orchestra. blueashevents.com.

TOURS: Hillforest Victorian House Museum, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 1-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Hillforest Victorian House Museum, 213 Fifth St., Aurora. Guided tours of historic home. $10, $4 ages 7-13, free ages 6-under. Discounts on Thursdays for seniors and veterans. 812-926-0087; hillforest.org.

FAMILY: Summer Series for Kids, noon-1 p.m., Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum, 1763 Hamilton Cleves Road, Hamilton. Every Wednesday in June and July, the museum hosts fun activities for kids and families. pyramidhill.org.

FILM: Summer Cinema, 9-11 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. This week: Jurassic Park. Free.

MUSIC: Party on the Purple, 6-10:30 p.m., Festival Park, Newport. Summer series features live music, food trucks and drinks. Runs May 5-Aug. 4.This week: The Everyday People Band.

MUSIC: Reggae Wednesday, 6-9p.m., Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. Live reggae music. Runs weekly May 12-Oct. 13. Free. myfountainsquare.com.

MUSIC: Wednesdays in the Woods, 7-9 p.m., Burnet Woods Bandstand, 3251 Brookline Ave., Clifton. Live music from Amador Sisters. Free. cliftonculturalarts.org.

ART: Residue, noon-5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, The Carnegie Gallery, 1028 Scott St., Covington. 12 artists create objects that encourage interactionand community engagement. Curated by Maria Seda-Reeder. Runs June 17-Oct. 2. Free. thecarnegie.com.

COMEDY: Kvon, 7:30p.m.,Funny Bone Comedy Club, 7518 Bales St., Liberty Township. Ages 12-up family show.$25-$42. liberty.funnybone.com.

DANCING: Salsa on the Square, 7-10 p.m., Fountain Square, 520 Vine St., Downtown. Weekly dance series with live salsa bands. Runs May 6-Sept. 30. Free. myfountainsquare.com.

FAMILY: Children's Museum reopens, Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Wester Ave., Queensgate..

FAMILY OPENING: Ice Age Gallery Reopens, Cincinnati Museum Center, 1301 Western Ave., Queensgate. Beloved gallery reopens with updates and additions.

FILM: Movies in the Park: Dolittle, 7 p.m., Glenwood Gardens, 10397 Springfield Pike, Woodlawn. Craft and art vendors 5 p.m., film at 7 p.m. greatparks.org.

MUSIC: Music on the River, 7-9 p.m., Civic Park, 111 E. High St., Lawrenceburg. Family-friendly atmosphere with live music, food trucks, vendors and beer garden. Bring lawn chairs. Free.This week: Parrots of the Caribbean.

MUSIC: Roots Revival, 7-9 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Free.

MUSIC: The Takeover, 6-9 p.m. Thursdays, The Square at Union Centre, 9285 Centre Pointe Drive, West Chester Township. Free live music Thursdays June-August. This week: 90 Proof Twang. westchesteroh.org.

RECREATION: Free First Dayat Great Parks of Hamilton County. Experience over 17,700 acres of natural habitat, nearly 80 miles of trails, lakes and river access, playgrounds, dog parks, golf courses and more without the need for a Great Parks Motor Vehicle Permit. greatparks.org.

COMEDY: Sam Morril, Funny Bone Comedy Club, 7518 Bales St., Liberty Township. Runs July 2-3. liberty.funnybone.com.

FESTIVALS: Taps, Tastes & Tunes, 5-11 p.m. Friday, noon-11 p.m. Saturday, noon-9 p.m. Sunday, National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting, 8070 Tylersville Road, West Chester. Presented by Miller Lite. Live music, food and beer. Fireworks 9:10 p.m. on Sunday. cincinnatifestivalsandevents.com.

FILM: Hollywood Drive-In Theater, 9:15 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 1538 Cedar Ave., College Hill. Friday: Bohemian Rhapsody. Saturday: Independence Day.$25 per car. hollywooddriveintheater.com.

MUSEUMS OPENING: We Are The Story: A Visual Response to Racism, 10 .m.-5 p.m. daily, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, 50 E. Freedom Way, Downtown. Exhibition showcases 53 quilts highlighting the history of civil rights, police brutality and racism in America. Museum admission is $15, discounts for children and seniors. Exhibit is additional $5, $3 children, free members. Exhibitis free for all guests on Wednesdays and Sundays. Runs July 2-Sept. 24. freedomcenter.org.

MUSIC: Fifth and Vine Live, 7-10p.m. Friday-Saturday, Fountain Square, 520 Vine St. Downtown. This week: Soul Quest on Friday, Cracker on Saturday. Free. myfountainsquare.com.

MUSIC: Concerts in the Park, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Victory Park, 2078 Mills Ave., Norwood. This week: Skip, Hop & Wobble. Free.

MUSIC: Friday Flow, 6-9 p.m., Washington Park, 1230 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine. Free.

THEATER: Shakespeare in the Park, 7 p.m., Eden Park, Seasongood Pavilion, 1600 Art Museum Drive, Mount Adams. Romeo and Juliet. Free.

ART OPENING: Breathe!: Artists Respond to the Crises of Our Age, 6-9 p.m., Wave Pool Gallery, 2940 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington. Artists Erika Nj Allen, Kim Anno, Sharareh Khosravani and Stephen Slaughter explore the physical, emotional and political approaches to finding resilience. wavepoolgallery.org.

COMEDY FESTIVAL: Grottofest, noon-midnight, The Comet, 4579 Hamilton Ave., Northside. All-day comedy festival featuring 5 shows, 2 stages and more than 30 area comics. Hosted by Bombs Away! Comedy. Drink and food specials for pass holders. bombsawaycomedy.com/grottofest.

CONCERTS: Midwest Explosion, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Hamilton County Fairgrounds, 7801 Anthony Wayne Ave., Carthage. Car and bike show during the day, concerts start at 6 p.m. OnSaturday: Juvenile, 8 Ball & MJG and Too Short. Sunday: Jagged Edge, Keke Wyatt, Carl Thomas. $25-up. midwest-explosion.com.

HOLIDAY: LaRosa's Balloon Glow, 6 p.m., Coney Island, 6201 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. Free to view balloons and fireworks; regular park admission applies. $10 until 2 p.m., $15 after 2 p.m. coneyislandpark.com.

MUSEUMS OPENING: In a New Light: Treasures from the Taft, Taft Museum of Art, 316 Pike St., Downtown. Runs July 3-May 1. Exhibition highlights Anna and Charles Taft's vision as art collectors and their legacy to the people of Cincinnati.

MUSIC: Summer Concert Series, 6-9 p.m., Harry Whiting Brown Community Center, 205 E. Sharon Road, Glendale. Live music on the lawn every Saturday in June-July.This week: Michael Kelsey.

SHOPPING: WestSide Market, 10 a.m., 3719 Harrison Ave., Cheviot. Small business pop-up market in downtown Cheviot showcases more than 100 local vendors, food trucks and family-friendly activities. westsidemarketcincy.com.

CONCERTS: Red, White & Boom, 8 p.m., Riverbend Music Center, 6295 Kellogg Ave., Anderson Township. Cincinnati Pops annual Independence Day concert returns. John Morris Russell conducts. Also featuring bluegrass artist Annie Moses Band and operatic star Chris Kenney. Rossi's fireworks follow performance. $15-up. cincinnatisymphony.org.

*Find our full list of Fourth of July events at Cincinnati.com/thingstodo.

SHOPPING: Art on Vine, noon-6 p.m., Fountain Square, 525 Vine St., Downtown. Shop for local art, direct from the artists. artonvinecincy.com.

SHOPPING: Tri-State Antiques Market, 7 a.m.-3 p.m., Lawrenceburg Fairgrounds, 351 E. Eads Parkway. Five acres with over 200 vendors selling antique, vintage and retro merchandise from a variety of time periods. Early bird admission 6 a.m. Modern amenities include paved walks, contemporary restrooms, free parking and variety of food vendors. Market is both indoors and outside. Future market dates are Aug. 1, Sept. 5 and Oct. 3. $4. lawrenceburgantiqueshow.com.

TOURS: Historic Mount Adams Walking Tours, 1 p.m., Mount Adams Bar & Grill, 938 Hatch St., Mount Adams. 2-hour guided walking tour of neighborhood. Wear comfortable shoes and mask. Runs Sundays through Oct. 31. Benefits Mount Adams Civic Association. $10. mtadamscincy.org.

FILM: The Sundance Film Festival Short Films Tour comes to Garfield Theatre, 111 Garfield Place, Downtown for two weekends:July 9-11 and July 16-19. 92-minute program features seven short films from Canada, Hong Kong, the USA, France/Turkey and South Korea. $10 advance. cincyworldcinema.org.

Excerpt from:
Things to do in Cincinnati this week: June 28-July 4 - The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Zoning Board of Appeal yesterday rejected a proposal by the owner of a two-family house in Roslindale to subdivide her land and build a single-family house in what is now the backyard.

Pamela Bardhi of West Roxbury, who owns a two-family house at 233 Metropolitan Ave., had sought permission from the board to carve roughly 6,900 square feet off the rear of the 14,000-square foot lot and build a 3,000-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bath single-family home there. A 20-foot-wide easement that extends to the back of the property would serve as a driveway and access for emergency responders, she told the board.

But the board voted 7-0 to reject the plans.

"This board has not been very open to having a subdivision created in this way," board Chairwoman Christine Araujo said. Araujo said the main concern is privacy, not just for the neighbors on either side of the two new lots, but of the people who would live in the existing house.

Bardhi said she would be willing to plant trees to help preserve privacy.

The plan was also opposed by the mayor's office and the offices of City Councilors Ricardo Arroyo, Michelle Wu, Annissa Essaibi George and Michael Flaherty. Conor Newman of the mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services said "there was a lot of resistance expressed by the neighbors" over the privacy issue.

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If you have a big backyard in Boston, don't think you can just put a second house back there - Universal Hub

If Brexit split the United Kingdom from the rest of Europe, so, too, has Covid-19. Paris and Rome have begun to reenergize their critical tourism markets, but London remains largely shut down.

But it doesnt have to be as bad as it sounds. Across the U.K., new hotels are offering respite to the Covid-weary, with a range of experiences youd think would require crisscrossing the globe. They include gorgeous estates attached to wineries, a collection of seaside cottages, grand golf and wilderness resorts, and renovated town houses in London that make you feel as if youre sleeping in a princes private apartment.

Whether youre looking to plan a trip as soon as quarantine requirements lift or are homebound within the U.K. and itching to get away, you can take advantage ofthese notable openings this summer.

These four spots are completely distinct from one another, highlighting the vast variety of experiences that can be had in the U.K. What they do have in common, though, is an emphasis on the outdoorsand enough space for all the social distancing you might require.

The main Georgian house at the Newt in Somerset.

Source: The Newt in Somerset

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The Farmyard at the Newt, SomersetIt was right before the pandemic that Karen Roos and her husband, the billionaire and South African telecom giant Koos Bekker, opened the doors to their long-anticipated second hotel, the Newt in Somerset. As owners ofthefarm-to-table restaurant and hotel complexBabylonstoren in South Africa,the duo went with asimilaragrarian-gone-luxe vibe for the Newt.

Now the pair has not only reopened the Newt but also expanded it with a more family-friendly annex, the Farmyard, with 17 rooms on a former dairy farm adjacent to the Newts main Georgian estate. The lodgings themselves are less formal but equally stylishwith massive wood beams and steam showers. Several suites have two bedrooms to accommodate both parents and kids. Theres also grazing livestock, arestaurant for all-day dining, and a fabulous pool. Make time to visit the on-site cider press, which uses heirloom apples found all across Somerset, and to traverse the viper, a snaking, 40-foot-tall elevated walkway thatcuts through an oak forest teeming with butterflies.Rooms from $1,400

On the grounds of the Pig in the South Downs in Sussex.

Source: The Pig Hotel

The Pig in the South Downs, Sussex Its hard to believe youre fewer than 50 miles away from London when you arrive at the Pig in the South Downs, the eighth outpost from the porcine brand known for its intimate yet impeccably styled countryside retreats, each attached to an equally lauded restaurant. The property itself is an old Regency house that has only a handful of rich-toned rooms (plus a few suites in converted, standalone field wagons), but the experience is reallyabout whats beyond the walls: 4,000 vines of chardonnay, pinot noir, and pinot meunier, and a two-acre farm to supply the chefs. Beyond that is a tangle of medieval hamlets, some with stellar markets and castles to explore, as well as the yachting capital of Chichester, with its many enticing boutiques. Rooms from $470

A bedroomat Three Mile Beach in Cornwall.

Source: Three Mile Beach

Three Mile Beach, CornwallThe creators of this idyllic seaside enclave, with 15 cheery cottages that look like candy dots along the shore, know a thing or two about what luxury travelers want: They run one of the U.K.s most widely respected bespoke travel companies, Audley. Herethey blend the best of a private home rental (hot tubs on the decks, barbecues) with five-star amenitiessuch as surfboard rentals that show up on your doorstep. A collection of food trucks, staffed by a rotating selection of the areas best chefs, is right there on the sand. All of it faces a three-mile-long beachhence the namein sunny, scenic Cornwall, where you can see dolphins bobbing and gray seals sunbathing. And when youre all topped up on Vitamin Sea,there are the many cafes and pubs of St. Ives Bay to explore, plus a number of coastal walks so beautifultheyve been designated National Trails.Rooms from $600

A taxidermists heaven at Ardfin.

Source: Ardfin

Ardfin, JuraIf Scotland is a golfers nirvana, Ardfins championship style course meets the countrys exceedingly high standards. But that would be selling the place short: Built over a decade by an Australian hedge fund trader as a roughly $28 million bet on the wild Inner Hebridean isle of Jura, its 13-room estate house is a cornucopia of sumptuous colors and patterns, with access to a glimmering indoor pool and 12,000 pastoralacres for whale watching, fishing, and deer stalking.

Its proximity to Islay makes for easy distillery hopping, and Juras natural bounty shows up at the restaurant in the formed of grilled lobster and charred venison. Golf or no, its a destination unto itself. Rooms from $1,875

Whether youre looking to celebrate the great city of London or find a highly upgraded version of sheltering in place, you can enjoy these three new options that willremain relevant beyond this summer.

A Grande suite at the Nomad London.

Source: The Nomad Hotel

Nomad LondonThe first international version of New Yorks Nomad brand of hotels occupies the former Bow Street Magistrates Court and Police Station, a grade II-listed building of historic significance opposite the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. To someits known as the place where luminaries such as Oscar Wilde and Vivienne Westwood once stood trial.

Now its 91 rooms fill old jail cells and magistrates offices, reconfigured by the design masterminds Roman and Williams to offer significantlymore comfortable layouts than those historical figures endured. The gilded clawfoot bathtubs and downstairs restaurantin an airy atrium somewhat reminiscent of the Manhattan locationmay not bear any resemblance to the buildings past life, but the Victoriana dcor, remaining cell doors, and dramatic entryway, sized to accommodate horse-drawn carriages, are reminders of the stories these walls could tell. Rooms from $445

The Londoner sits at the urban hub of Leicester Square.

Source: The Londoner

The LondonerWhat is a super boutique hotel? Its hard to define, butthe Londoner invented the category and aims to be the first one of its kind when it opens next month, with 350 rooms in a 16-story tower off centrally located Leicester Square, a few minutes walk from the National Gallery. Thats relatively large by the typical conventions of boutique hotels, but its hardly worth building a reputation around.

More impressive is the cool, residential styling that directs your eye towardentire walls of windows overlooking the citythe feeling of being lofted in a glassy oasis thats both separated from the hustle and bustle and yet stillconnected to it. That same ethos extends to the indoor pool, where cabanas look like cocoons with sand-toned walls, and to the Whisky room, a mirrored jewel box with only14 seats hidden behind a secret passageway. Its the perfect way to ease yourself back intocity life,knowing that you have a sanctuary to return to the minute its all too much. Rooms from $567

The Phylly room at Henrys Townhouse.

Source: Henrys Townhouse

Henrys TownhouseThe best hotels tell a storyand Henrys Townhouse tells that of an old tenant, Henry Austen, brother to famed writer Jane. Thanks to their close bond, his home is where she did some of her best-known writing, including parts of Sense and Sensibility. Now the pretty Marylebone townhouse is in the hands of a new creative duo, film director Steven Collins and his wife, the antiques dealer-turned-boutique owner whose first name is also Jane. Each of the houses seven rooms is named for and inspired by Henrys real-life relatives and packed with so many Georgian antiques you may be surprised to find Dyson hair dryers in the bathrooms and Bollinger Champagne in the minibar.

Henrys room is a predictable standout, with a double four-poster bed and portraits in gilded frames. Rounding out the accommodations is a simple selection of dining spaces, including a homey dining room, where breakfast is served around a refectory table, and the library-like sitting room named for Jane Austen herself. Currently its available only for buyouts, but the owners plan to run it as a traditional hotelwith nightly room rentalsas soon as Covid-19 restrictions lift.Buyouts from $6,700; room prices to be made available as restrictions lift

The Mall andAdmiralty Arch serveas thegatewayto Buckingham Palace.

Source: Admiralty Arch

If youre not ready to gamble on a trip to the U.K. given the current quarantine requirements, which require 10 days of confinement from Americans and travelers from other amber countries, theres another good reason to wait. Next yeara series of exciting new hotel projects is set to unveil across the capital city, with entries from several titans of luxury that are currently missing from Londons landscapes. Some are the result of more than a decades worth of location scouting, searching for the perfect historic building with bones worthy of a six-star brand.

Take the Raffles, due to open in Winston Churchills Old War Office building, an Edwardian Baroque masterpiece of architecture sandwiched between Trafalgar Square and the Palace of Westminster. The company bought it from the Ministry of Defense for 350 million ($486 million) in 2014 and has been working with designer Thierry Despont on the interiors ever since. If all goes according to plan, its 125 rooms and 85 apartments will become available in 2022.

Theres also Admiralty Arch, built in 1910 as a national memorial to Queen Victoria and where the governments intelligence division operated during the two World Wars. Maybe even more significant, its the departure point for many James Bond sagas, and its arches form a key point in annual royal processions. Since 2015 its been under renovation by Waldorf Astoria, which is working with British artisans to fill it with 100 hotel rooms and four residences. Its also scheduled to open next year.

Add to those a forthcomingentry from Peninsula Londonin Knightsbridgedetails on that one are scantand youve got plenty of light at the end of the tunnel for this beloved capital of culture.

Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg Terminal.

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The Best New Hotels in Londonand Beyondto Book This Summer - Bloomberg

This week,RED Developmentannounced that construction is underway on the $300 million development ofThe Grove, the highly anticipated mixed-use destination on the northwest corner of 44th Street and Camelback Road that features the recently announced hotel,The Global Ambassador, by restaurant innovator Sam Fox.

Arguably the most high-profile intersection in the Valley, the 15-acre development also features a signature four-story Class-AA office building, several ground-floor retail spaces and restaurants; two additional two-story office buildings; a self-storage facility by Hibernia Capital; a covered parking structure; and a luxury apartment building byStreetLights Residential. Completion of the first phase is expected in the latter half of 2022 with final completion and the hotels opening slated for fall 2023. The Grove is also home to the new, state-of-the-art Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury private training facility that opened in late 2020.

READ ALSO: Sam Fox will bring The Global Ambassador hotel to Valley

Between RED, Sam Fox and the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury, The Grove is being thoughtfully designed and created by local companies with proven track records for building exceptional developments, said Mike Ebert, managing partner at RED. On the office front, The Grove will feature the first new Class AA office campus in the area in close to 20 years. In the coming weeks, well be announcing the first office tenants, which are currently set to surpass state records for price-per-square-foot leasing rates.

Already making headlines around the country, The Global Ambassador is an internationally inspired hotel that will merge impressive hospitality, culinary and wellness experiences within one perfectly and precisely curated destination. The hotel will blend a refined and elevated hospitality experience created through a global lens and locally connected. Every detail of the well-appointed hotel has been meticulously poured over, studied and designed by Fox himself. Each element is purposefully designed to elicit one cultivated experience that is rich in charm and sophistication. As a dynamic restauranteur, Foxs stellar lineup of inventive culinary offerings defines The Global Ambassador. The hotel boasts five original dining venues with cuisine influenced by the vibrant flavors found all over the world. The piece de resistance will be the Mediterranean rooftop restaurant that overlooks the iconic Camelback Mountain. The world-class amenity offering includes a Wellness Center complete with an expansive fitness level and ultra-luxe spa where health, beauty and fitness experts will curate treatments and practices designed to put the mind and body in perfect balance. Fox is co-developing The Global Ambassador with his trusted collaborator, business partner and friend Brian Frakes ofCommon Bond Development Group, a company known for its notable lifestyle development projects.

I think this location at 44th Street and Camelback Road is the most prime piece of real estate in Arizona. It just doesnt get better than this the convergence of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, plus its in my own backyard, said Fox. As with all of our projects, The Global Ambassador will be rooted in the surrounding community and the hotel will take that to the next level. When you first walk in, youll notice how open and all-encompassing the ground-level is, which allows travelers and locals to mix, mingle and connect. From one space to the next, the energy plays off one another. We want people to reconnect and celebrate being together. Welcoming people into our neighborhood is the premise and foundation of The Global Ambassador.

The Grove will also be home to the fifth Arizona residential community by StreetLights Residential, a trusted leader in the multifamily industry that takes a design-centric approach to urban development. The building will feature 58 two and three-bedroom luxury apartment homes with custom design features and finishes including wood flooring, quartz countertops, mini bars, spa-like bathrooms with walk-in showers and premium Sub-Zero and Wolf kitchen appliances with custom ready finishes to match built-in cabinetry. The buildings amenities include a lobby with access to a full-service concierge, a clubroom and resident bar, two fitness studios and an elevated pool deck with private cabanas, lounge seating and outdoor fireplaces.

We believe this is one of the best pieces of real estate in the state of Arizona, and we are excited to be part of this transformative project, said Greg Nadeau, vice president of development over the Arizona region for StreetLights Residential. We have carefully crafted our residential building to complement the architecture of the district, delivering sophisticated and boutique feeling apartment homes designed for a similar style of living experienced in the surrounding Paradise Valley and Arcadia neighborhoods.

Demolition on the sites former buildings is fully completed and the initial site work including the parking garage excavation, shoring, underground utility work and waterproofing is now complete. Footings and the office building columns are currently being poured.

The Camelback Corridor is nationally recognized as the most prestigious office location for premier businesses in the Valley, and The Grove will only further enhance the strength and vitality of this area, said Christine Mackay, director, Phoenix community and economic development. As the first new Class AA office campus in two decades, we look forward to seeing the significant positive impact this development will have on the neighborhood in attracting world-class tenants.

Leasing for the office building is now underway with tenant announcements expected in the coming months. For more information on The Grove at 44th Street and Camelback, visitREDDevelopment.com/The-Grove. For more about The Global Ambassador, visitGlobalAmbassadorHotel.com.

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RED Development breaks ground on $300M The Grove in Phoenix - AZ Big Media

There's a house on Milltown Road in Brewster that's been there for a long, long, time, and now it's on the market, and could be yours.

In a world where almost everything is disposable, and most people prefer new builds to old school charm, there's a home in Brewster that's been standing since it was built in 1720, and now is on the market.

This home has been well maintained and tastefully restored and decorated to reflect it's charm and character. The home is listed at $315.000, and is 1,310 square feet with 2 bedrooms and one bathroom. The house also sit's on a little under an acre of property.

Of course there have been a number of updates since 1720 including being professionally decorated, a new well pump and pipes, an equalizer tank, and central air conditioning. There's two drive way entrances and plenty of parking for all. The home is just minutes to Brewster train, I84, and just a short drive to Connecticut.

So let's go back to a simpler time and take a look inside this classic Colonial Saltbox.

18th Century House In Brewster

A Look Through CT's Most Expensive Home Currently on the Market

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Take a Look Inside This 300-Year-Old Brewster Home - kicks1055.com - kicks1055.com

Design offices including Esrawe Studio and Rojkind Arquitectos have unveiled plans for Asbury Beach Club, a resort in New Jersey that will feature sand-coloured concrete sunshades.

The club is located on the Atlantic Ocean in Asbury Park, a seaside town on the Jersey Shore coastal strip of New Jersey in the USA.

The project is a collaboration between Mexican studios Rojkind Arquitectos, Esrawe Studio and Cadena Concept Design plus American firms Anda Andrei Design, which is headed by Ian Schrager's former designer Anda Andrei, and New York firm Slade Architecture.

Asbury Beach Club will include two sites on the beach, a public lot on the north side and a private lot on the south side.

Due to the beach club being built on a floodplain with a zoning height limit, the building has been designed to be low-rise.

Held up by umbrella-shaped concrete columns, the development's roof doubles as an elevated pool deck reached via various staircases.

Changing rooms, exclusive cabanas and an outdoor sand gym will be housed on the private lot's lower level.

"This enclosed lower level is [going to be] clad in reclaimed wood to match the original boardwalk," said Esrawe Studio, whichwas named interior design studio of the year at Dezeen Awards 2020.

The concrete columns will extend to the public north side of the club, where a cluster of them will form a shade canopy.

Underneath the canopy, there will be seating and other public amenities, including showers and restrooms.

Sculpted from sandy-coloured concrete, the development's curved shapes will echo formations such as sea caves.

"When water, wind, sand and rocks interact, they alter the morphology of the earth to create niches, cavities and semi-open spaces interconnecting land and sea," said Esrawe Studio.

A privacy screen composed of precast concrete cylinders mounted on a thin steel frame designed to look like beach grass will be built on the building's west side.

To ensure maximum privacy for guests, this screen will extend 8 feet (3 metres) above the pool deck on the side facing the street.

The screen's precast cylinders and steel frame will taper along the north and east sides of the building until the screen is only a thin metal railing on the beach, providing open views to the sea.

Other projects informed by their surroundings include a stone-clad house in a woodland close to Antwerp which is reflected in the large pond that it overlooks, and a lakeside house in Sweden clad with pine slats to match its forest setting.

Project credits:

Architecture, interior design and furniture: Esrawe Studio, Rojkind Arquitectos, Slade ArchitectureBranding: Cadena Concept DesignScale models: El Ambris, Alejandro Uribe, David FloresRenders: Yair Ugarte

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Asbury Park beach club will be formed from sandy concrete canopies - Dezeen