Olly, olly oxen free!

Earlier this month, the stars, titans of finance and assorted rich people who call Superior Ink home got some good news: the building, which was seriously damaged in Hurricane Sandy, was ready for re-habitation. Residents have been able to return since December 8, several sources told The Observer.

In mid-November, management informed residents—which include  Mark Jacobs and Hilary Swank and Kings of Leon's Caleb Followill—that they might be not be able to return for months because seawater had entered the building's pipes. Some residents were reportedly quite miffed that they would have to extend their stays at The Mark and The Pierre.

Fortunately, they were able to resume the luxurious life on West 12th Street sooner than expected. Much like 88 Greenwich Street, which re-opened after eight weeks, significantly shorter than the four months that management originally predicted. Hey, better sooner than later! Unless you've just moved all your belongings into a six-month sublet.

And the building's re-opening hasn't only meant the return of residents, but also sales listings--more than a few were pulled from the market after the Hurricane struck, including units 14A, B and C.

The units, which are listed with Corcoran's Robby Browne, Chris Kann and Jennifer Ireland, were all pulled from the market on November 16, the day the news broke about the possibility of a displacement lasting many months. And they all returned this week, asking their pre-Sandy prices—$15.7 million, $9.5 million and $15.7 million respectively. Mr. Browne did not return a request for comment.

But it seems that neither the storm, nor the damage it caused, nor subsequent displacement slackened potential buyers' interest in the building. In fact, a two-bedroom, two-bath unit on the third floor entered contract just two weeks after Sandy spewed its seawater into Superior Ink. Last listed for $5.24 million with CMB Realty, LLC brokers Mete Basakinci and Leila Chaouche, the unit was officially in contract on November 18, according to Streeteasy.

Earlier this month Town Residential broker Brett Miles told The Wall Street Journal that buyers were still eager to seal the deal on a $4.4 million two-bedroom that they signed a contract on a few days before the storm struck. He also said that he'd pulled a one-bedroom listing off the market after Sandy, only to have other brokers continue to call about it.

At the moment, the only other available units in the building are the $14 million townhouse and a rental that is available Jan. 1 for $15,000 a month.

kvelsey@observer.com

How about an outdoor shower?

In a New York Times article on outdoor showers and the urban dwellers who love them, one of Corcoran's top brokers confesses to his love of the luxury, modesty be damned.

"Who wouldn't want to shower looking at Central Park?" Robby Browne asks The Times. Indeed! Who wouldn't? Especially when one has just such a shower on the terrace right off one's master bedroom on Central Park West, even if countless windows do look down into the shower through its lattice roof.

Mr. Browne's outdoor shower. (New York Times).

Mr. Browne does confess to considerable modesty (for a man who loves outdoor showers, anyway):  “I would feel self-conscious getting into a hot tub on my terrace,” he said. “But there is something very liberating about being in the shower.”

Other outdoor shower enthusiasts are less concerned about being caught, with or without towel. A 51-year-old contractor, for example, tells The Times that he takes morning showers on the roof deck that he shares with other residents of his Williamsburg building.

Which highlights the primary hurdle to having an outdoor shower in the first place: New Yorkers share everything with their fellow New Yorkers, whether they like it or not. Noise, colds, cooking smells, cigarette smoke, outdoor showers in big apartment buildings, or the views of a private terrace shower. After all, in New York, the primary luxury is space.

kvelsey@observer.com

"They started in 2005, and it wasn't until 2008 that there were closings," listing agent Robby Browne of Corcoran told The Observer, referring to the conversion of the property from offices into condo lofts. "It took so long to get them in, they had to do something else with their families."

SLIDESHOW: Thirty Windows for 360-Degree Village Views at 147 Waverly. >>

Mr. Ells bought the 3,375-square-foot loft for $5.75 million, relisted it for $7.25 million that April, rented it a few months later, and now it has sold for $6.1 million to Sam Frankfort, according to city records. He is the 32-year-old son of Lew Frankfort, the Coach CEO who transformed the stodgy $6 million-a-year purse maker into a behemoth $3.6 billion international brand. "The guy who bought it is so happy," Mr. Browne said, without revealing who the buyer was.

The three-bedroom has a master suite on a small wing off the pentagonal-shaped loft. The home's marquee feature is the 30 windows, including a 60-foot-long wall of them running along a huge great room, which includes the kitchen, dining and living rooms and a library. "Nothing in the Village has views like it," Mr. Browne said. "From the seventh floor up, you can see the Washington arch, Battery Park City and up to the Empire State Building, and because it's in the historic district, all the views are protected. You'd have to go to the river for anything close, but then you're not a block from the subway."

For those looking for their own 360-degree Village views, Mr. Browne mentioned that he just put the listing for the ninth-floor unit on the market for $7.5 million. It features four bedrooms, a fireplace, "and sustantially better views," the broker said. According to StreetEasy, the aristocratic-sounding Alastair Tedford—co-founder of private equity outfit Albion Investors—bought the home for $5.96 million in July 2008.

"It's one of the coolest buildings in the Village," said Mr. Browne, who had the listing with fellow Corcoranites Chris Kann and Greg Sullivan.

SLIDESHOW: Thirty Windows for 360-Degree Village Views at 147 Waverly. >>

Correction: A previous version of this article misspelled Mr. Browne's name without the "e." The Observer regrets the error.

Read past Manhattan Transfers. >>

mchaban [at] observer.com | @mc_nyo

The apartment in question belonged to Glenn Close and husband David Shaw: a 19th-floor corner property at The Beresford, originally listed in January for $11.8 million before being reduced by $1 million in late March (the couple bought the apartment in 2005 for $6.025 million). Rumors ran rampant, and while theories ranged from well-informed brokers convinced the apartment had entered contract to a Daily Intel post suggesting Ms. Close may be having second thoughts and staying at the storied Emery Roth-designed gem, no one could say for sure. Tight-lipped listing agents Robby Browne and Maria Pashby remained mum on the affair.

Lo and behold, city records now reveal that the two-terraced apartment was indeed in contract and has since sold to Continental Properties managing partner Mark Fisch and wife, Rachel Davidson, for $10.2 million.

Flush with French doors leading to two generous "entertaining" terraces, the two-bedroom apartment in the building's superior park-front D-line provides views east over Central Park and south over the Planetarium and beyond, down the length of the park to Manhattan's southern skyline. "19-D is one of New York's and certainly Central Park West's most glamorous apartments," touts the proud listing.

Mr. Browne politely declined to comment for this article while Ms. Pashby, currently traveling in Portugal, could not be reached for comment. The petit apartment, by Beresford standards (only 2,300 square feet), was originally the parlor floor of an opulent duplex at the famous building—which counts Jerry Seinfeld, Richard Holbrooke, Diana Ross and John McEnroe among residents—and boasts a 19 by 25 foot corner living with a wood burning fireplace as well as two studies. Even the "happy, large" kitchen/dining room has park views!

Ms. Close currently stars in Fx's Damages, described by The New York Times as, "Law & Order as rendered by Marcel Duchamp" due to its artful manipulation of the Bernie Madoff scandal which inspired it. The series, which co-stars Ted Danson as the nefarious Madoff character, is filmed in Manhattan, dispelling any theories that Ms. Close is picking up her Marchioness de Merteuil petticoats for another filming location. It is unclear where Ms. Close and Mr. Shaw, a managing partner at the private equity firm Black Point Group, will decamp to, but one criterion should be a display case, or, at the least, some prominent shelving: in her move from The Beresford Ms. Close will be wrapping three Tonys, one Obie, three Emmys and two Golden Globe awards in bubble wrap before moving (she has been nominated for an Oscar five times, though has never taken the Ken-like statue home).

Late last fall, the Post reported that Mr. Fisch was in contract to buy an $11.5 million four-bedroom, four-bathroom abode at The Dakota. The apartment, which flaunted a 29-foot living room with floor-to-ceiling windows and was perused by home-hunting Alec Baldwin, was originally listed for $24 million, making it one of the historic building's most dramatic price cuts. However, rumor has it that the bugle-blazing article proved a dangerous liaison for the Fisches, thwarting their board application and forcing the deal to fall through.

But it seems Mr. Fisch, who is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a trustee at the Metropolitan Museum, has settled for the better Beresford sacrificing two bedrooms for two terraces and park views (The Dakota apartment was a four-bedroom that looked onto the courtyard; The Beresford has only two bedrooms but has two studies and, of course, the views).

The Beresford listing poetically concludes, "it's rare when something like this comes on the market, as the combination of space and volume, indoor and outdoor private areas, sunrise and sunset, make this an especially remarkable home." From the looks of it, sunset on the 19th-floor of the Beresford is to die for, which might explain Mr. and Ms. Fisch's fatal attraction to the high-floor apartment.

cmalle@observer.com

Bigwig Bond Street developer Adam Gordon enlisted his trusted Sancho Panza architect ally, Steven Harris, to completely renovate and redesign the Renaissance Revival townhouse. Mr. Gordon bought it in bought in 2006 for $5.6 million, and spat it back out two years later at a listing price of $25 million.

>>CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS OF THE TOWNHOUSE

Shockingly, the price didn't take and Mr. Gordon was forced to switch brokers and sharpen his knives for some price-chopping. Dropped to a more palatable $22.5 million (and then further down to $19.5 million), the nearly 10,000-square-foot townhouse solicited attention from celebrity oglers such as Matt Damon and wife Luciana, as well as from Alex Rodriguez, who, according to the Post came sans entourage to peruse the three powder rooms and "glass-enclosed penthouse atelier." Mid-February, in the same Post article, it was reported that the developer was considering an offer to turn the single-family mega-dwelling into the new Kips Bay Decorator's Show House; two bids from high-flying New York financier family men; and had turned down a request to film a reality TV show at the mansion with a horde of Victoria's Secret models as tenants.

With two kitchens and laundry rooms, a gym, a media room and two terraces—one north-facing, one south-facing—one can understand why the West Side address is described in the listing as, "the ultimate residential masterpiece for the most discerning." The six-bedroom, seven-bathroom, three powder-room abode, listed by Brown Harris Stevens brokers Wendy Maitland and Reid Price, also boasts a planted rear garden. When asked for comment on the sale, Mr. Price told The Observer, "Unfortunately, we're not allowed to comment on it. I wish I could tell you all about it, but the buyer has asked for privacy." (Mr. Gordon also declined to give details, citing a confidentiality agreement.)

Asking for privacy often equals celebrity, but the way egos go these days it could be anyone. We may have to wait for move-in day to find out. Stay tuned.

cmalle@observer.com

Slideshow: The $19.5 M. Townhouse

More Manhattan Transfers from Chloe Malle:

A Majestic Departure? Conan Lists His CPW Apartment for $29.5 M.

You're My Loft, Blue! Ferrell Goes to Contract in West Village

La-La's Public Health Maestro Buys N.Y.C. Condo for $2.62 M.

Now it means something else entirely. Luxury listings don’t smell like wide-plank walnut flooring anymore: This weekend’s Times, for example, pointed out that the wireless executive who just listed his five-fireplace penthouse for $15 million has been named in a shareholder lawsuit following his firm’s stock collapse.

But $15 million is nothing. Corcoran senior vice president Robby Browne just listed a $32.5 million, 30th-floor duplex at 515 Park Avenue, which comes with two additional “studio/guest suites with baths and kitchens.” According to city records, the place belongs to Christopher H. Browne, whom Money magazine, in a November 2007 profile titled “The Prince of Value,” called a member of the aristocracy of American investing. (His firm, Tweedy Browne, was co-founded by his father, who worked next door to and brokered deals for securities godhead Benjamin Graham.)

The investor and his broker (no relation) would not comment for this story. It’s entirely possible that the apartment is being sold because, say, he’s moving somewhere sunny, or because he’s even trading up in the neighborhood.

But, then again, Tweedy Browne’s year-end letter to investors, which normally begins, “We are pleased to present,” recently opened with, “Under current stock market conditions, we find that phrase rather disingenuous.” According to its Web site, Tweedy Browne’s Global Value Fund was down 38.31 percent last year, after double-digit gains in 11 of the past 15 years.

On the bright side, according to floor plans, Mr. Browne has a private elevator landing that leads to a 23-foot-long gallery, then to one of those wet bars, then to a 75-foot-long stretch of entertaining rooms along Park Avenue. The master bedroom suite alone has a 16-foot-long walk-in closet, a 13-foot-long gym, a 23-foot-long sitting room and a “bedroom gallery.”

mabelson@observer.com

Last night, Avenue magazine threw a launch party for their newest--real estate-centric--issue. In a spread that stretches over 23 glossy pages, the kings and queens of Manhattan real estate strike their finest poses.

For Warburg Realty's Richard Steinberg, the movie-star spread was fitting. "It's the East Coast Hollywood," he said.

Nevertheless, it was still surreal to be drinking with a roomful of the elite--especially with glistening (and very flattering) portraits adorning the walls.

There's the "Moguls" (the Zeckendorf boys); "Leading Ladies" (11 in all, six from Corcoran, and rougly two-and-a-half smiles total); and "The Boss" (Donald Trump sitting in the boardroom, flanked by the straight-faced kiddies).

"I knew nothing about New York real estate," said photographer Josh Lehrer, standing beneath his Trump family portrait. "I guess this was a crash course. You know what surprised me? Every one of these people knew how to work it and pose."

By putting the real estate powerhouses-turned-models together, one might fear a bitter clash of egos. You have Linda "The Diva" Stein, Louise "The Icon" Sunshine, and Dottie "The Movie Star" Herman? (Not to mention, the issue also features Dolly "The Rainmaker" Lenz sprawled across a piano a la Michelle Pfeiffer, as Page Six mentioned today).

"You know, everyone gets along," explained Avenue's svelte publisher Julie Dannenberg, the evening's hostess. "And they have to! They have known each other for a long, long time."

Mr. Steinberg--one of the" Leading Men"--agreed. "For the most part, the members of the top tier genuinely like each other. There's enough to..."

"Go around," added Corcoran's Sharon Baum, one of the "Leading Ladies."

Robby Browne, her gregarious Corcoran colleague, gave their hostess a quick kiss.

"I wasn't really looking forward to it," admitted, Mr. Browne, regarding the seven-man "Leading Men" shot. "But it was wonderful!"

"He's God," Ms. Dannenberg intones as he glides away.

The plush elegance of Guy Regal's eastside gallery certainly added to the event. In the front window, a blown-up print of "Leading Ladies" rests against two Italian Baroque credenzas.

"We've always been important people," said "Leading Lady" (and Sotheby's luxury broker) Nikki Field. "Now we're just more visible."

- Max Abelson

The Pleasure Chest may be best known for a Sex and the City episode involving the "Rabbit," but the West Village sex shop has been around for decades.

Although it has remained in the same family's hands since purchasing the building in 1981, the four-story townhouse was recently sold for a little over $3 million. Pleasure Chest president Brian Robinson decided to unload the unique building because he was now living out on the West Coast, spending his time running the Los Angeles shop.

"The building is really cool," said top Corcoran broker Robby Browne, who worked alongside colleagues Maria Pashby and Chris Kann. "It’s like a post-modern structure."

Upstairs, there is a triplex apartment with excellent views. And the downstairs shop should be able to keep up with the rent.

"Now we’re on the Sex and the City tour," said Mr. Robinson. "We get about 5,000 girls a month!"

Hopefully, the new owners will be ready when the tour buses arrive.

-Michael Calderone