Aaron Wheeler

Dine About Town is back in San Francisco for 2009. From January 15th through January 31st, many restaurants (including some really top notch restaurants, like Town Hall) are offering special three-course, prix-fixe menus. Lunch is available for $21.95 and dinner for $34.95. Prices are per person and do not include beverage, tax, or gratuity. Please ask for the official Dine About Town menu when you are seated.

To view a complete list of participating restaurants and make reservations online via OpenTable, please click here. You are also welcome to submit a request at our Concierge Desk and we would be delighted to make recommendations.

Talking about the "top" seems to be in fashion. There are shows for Top Chefs, Top Models, and more. Not to be left out, I'm going to start a new weekly feature called "Top Listing".

Here is how it works: Each week, I am going to pick a community, or a luxury hise rise building, and feature the most expensive listing currently available, talk about what you get for the investment, and discuss the market trends.

There is a certain glitz and glamour associated with hotel living, and hotel residences certainly are of appeal. So, for the pilot espisode, I am going to start with the St. Regis Residences in San Francisco.

The top listing for this luxurious hotel residence tower is unit #31B which is currently offered for, at the time of writing, $2,698,000. Major props to Robyn Kaufman at Pacific Union for the fabulous listing. [Editorial comment: If your listing is featured here, this is not intended to be a solicitation for that listing. It is intended to educate our fine readers about opportunities in the San Francisco luxury real estate market]

This corner unit has 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and approximately 1,731 square feet of living space. The open floor plan has gorgeous western views, a gourmet kitchen with Poggenpohl cabinetry, gas cooktop, and convection oven, large master bedroom dressed in Merbau hardwoord floors, limestone capped window ledges, custom shutters and custom paint, and a grand master bathroom all dressed up in Carerra marble. You can view a slideshow online.

Residents enjoy their own exclusive lobby. Service in the cutting edge residential tower is forward thinking and individualized with impeccable attention to detail. Residents have direct access to the hotel, Ame restaurant, and hotel lounge. For more information about the fabulous amenities of the St. Regis Hotel, San Francisco, please see my previous article discussing the hotel.

The discussion would not be complete without doing a little financial analysis on the property. Take a look at the chart below showing the price trend for the top quartile of the condo market in the South of Market area of San Francisco:

This area has certainly taken a dip in this challenging economic environment, and the high-end luxury market certainly has not been spared.

There have been eight (8) sales in the building this year with an average price of $2,689,375. The lowest price sale was $2,100,000 for unit #25F and the highest price sale was $3,950,000 for unit #33A. The two most recent sales for B units are #37B (slightly smaller with 1,639 sq ft) selling for $2,500,000 and #22B (slightly larger with 1,805 sq ft) selling for $2,600,000. Both units sold in July 2008.

To learn more about this fabulous property, or to schedule a private showing, please contact me.

There is a saying: "If it appreciates, buy it. If it depreciates, lease it." There is no greater example of this than when it comes to exotic cars - they are habit forming not to mention expensive and the car will depreciate faster than some hedge fund portfolios. Think about this -- If one were to pursue their investment portfolio the same as when buying an exotic car, said portfolio would always be in the red. How does that make sense? Luckily there's a support group for those who enjoy the ride but aren't fans of the financial hangover, and it's called the DRIV Luxury Car Club in San Francisco. I recently had the opportunity to meet with Brad Johnson, Managing Partner, to test drive the latest additional to their portfolio, the Audi R8.

Audi has incorporated the name and the genes of the five-time Le Mans winner, the Audi R8, into a spectacular sports car. It is a fascinating driving machine and the pinnacle of the Audi brand. The mid-mounted 420 hp V8 engine, quattro permanent all-wheel drive and Audi Space Frame aluminum body form the basis for truly outstanding driving dynamics. Even at first glance, the performance caliber of the car is plain to see. The Audi R8 sits wide and low on the road, the strongly accentuated rear end appearing to flex its muscles like a sprinter anticipating the strike of the starter pistol against the blank. Behind the doors, a large-surface "sideblade" air deflector sweeps between the wheel arch and the roof section, delivering air for the V8 to breathe as well as for cooling. The paint finish of the sideblade is coordinated with the body color or can be finished in a beautiful tapestry of carbon fiber as has been optioned on the DRIV Mugello Blue R8 which is one of only four in the country with the sandstone tan leather interior (as of mid-November). When viewing the car from the rear, the observer looks through tempered glass directly at the V8 - the very high revving heart of this dynamic sports car. Indirect engine compartment lighting by white LEDs bathes the handcrafted engine in an otherworldly glow reminiscent of the Doc Brown "Back to the Future" Delorean ... but much cooler. The performance figures are equally impressive: the R8 accelerates from a standstill to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 187 mph ... that is Ferrari hunting territory at approximately two-thirds of the price.

The range of optional extras leaves virtually nothing to be desired. A Bang & Olufsen sound system, featuring an output of 465 watts and 12 specially designed speakers, delivers surround sound of the highest standard. A microphone-based vehicle noise compensation system adjusts audio levels to changing road conditions and speeds. The acoustic parking system and a rear-view camera (think targeting display from a Star Wars X-Wing fighter) help the driver to maneuver into even the tightest of spaces. The radio/navigation system, featuring a large-format color monitor and MMI keypad, combines extensive functionality with extreme user-friendliness.

Brad asked me to pass along to our readers that for a limited time, you can choose any membership level and get double the driving time. Select the $8,000 Introductory Membership and get between 12 and 20 driving days or the $15,000 Leisure Membership and get between 25 and 44 driving days. This puts you behind the wheel of the Audi R8 for under $600 per day. And yes, complimentary days for extended reservations are still included further driving down your overall cost allowing even more seat time. For more information, contact Brad at (866) 539-8680 or visit www.clubdriv.com.

I just came back from Las Vegas and I wanted to provide a report on my latest dining experience, Stratta at the Wynn. The restaurant is named after the chef Alessandro Stratta (who also is the chef for the fine-dining restaurant Alex at the Wynn). I would describe the cusine as regional Italian cooking.

I created my own tasting menu of three of the truly signature dishes at the restaurant. I started with clams casino with peppers and pancetta, followed by a fabulous Veal Parmigiano in a chunky tomato sauce and topped with buffalo mozzarella. Amazing.

Last, but certainly not least, I finished with "bombolini" (think beignets). These little delicacies are filled with Nutella and served with a side of freshed whipped cream for dipping. Wow.

The restuarant has an extensive wine list primarily consisting of smaller, boutique producers. A wonderful Wattle Creek Pinot Noir from Monterey County was paired with the veal - fabulous.

For other dining recommendations in Las Vegas, and the San Francisco Bay Area, please feel free to submit a request through the Concierge Desk and I would be happy to assist you.

What's one of my favorite places to stay when in Orlando, Florida? I would not even blink an eye - my answer would be the Ginn Reunion Resort. I recently stayed there while speaking at the National Association of Realtors conference. Not only will I discuss why I enjoy the property so much, I will focus on the state of the real estate market within the resort.

Ginn Reunion Resort, located off the I-4 corridor in Orlando, is within minutes of such famed theme parks as Walt Disney World®, Universal Studios Florida® and SeaWorld®. In fact, eight of the top 15 tourist attractions in the country, along with The Mall at Millenia, Downtown Orlando and the International Airport, are just a short drive from Ginn Reunion’s front gate.

For less than what you would pay to stay in a traditional five star resort such as the Ritz-Carlton, you can stay in your choice of a luxurious, fully-equipped condo or single family home. You have access to a wealth of amenities including multiple golf courses (designed by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Tom Watson), clubhouse, spa, fine dining, and an interactive water park that nearly defies description. This multi-level reality includes a collection of pools, water slides, a lazy river and a splash factory with water jets and a giant water-filled bucket that adds to the energy and excitement that is enjoyed here on a daily basis.

The level of service was first class at all times. The staff are very friendly, and want to make sure that your stay is enjoyable. I especially appreciated all of the late-night dining deliveries to my condo after being at the conference all day.

If you are brave, there are numerous residential real estate opportunities available. I say this because Florida has been hit hard, and values have dropped significantly. I wish I had a crystal ball, but I do not, and there is no telling when the Central Florida real estate market may start to recover. Properties that were once selling in the $600,000 range may now be selling in the $300,000 range.

The resort is divided into different communities, such as Seven Eagles, Centre Court Ridge, Reunion Grande, The Villas, and Homestead, where you can choose anything from 1, 2, and 3 bedroom condos to large, luxurious single family homes. Homeowners, if they choose, can rent their residences through Ginn's Rental Management Program to resort guests.

Recently, and due to the value of the dollar, there have been a large number of international buyers that have been expressing interested in the property. It is especially important for these buyers to leverage the services of a reputable currency broker to keep foreign exchange costs in line (another post on this later).

I specialize in hotel-residence and condo-hotel properties. If you are are interested in learning more about the opportunities at Ginn Reunion Resort, please fill out an information request and I will get information to you right away. I'm also a licensed real estate broker in Florida, so I can help guide you through the offerings that are available and help you find and select the perfect home.