Pizza, Please!!

I don't know about you, but i love a really good pizza. Thin crust, medium crust, Chicago style--it's all good. So I was very happy, when months after I began working at Dermot Company, I discovered one of our West Village commercial tenants is Two Boots Pizza.

Two Boots is one of my favorite pizza purveyors. Famous Ray's (no matter which one you consider real or original) has got nothing on The Boots! The decor is pretty sweet--funky, eclectic, cozy, retro, fun. The West Village staff plays some of the best music one could ask for. The place is appealing to hipsters, anti-hipsters and the smart/lucky tourist/out-of-towner who stumbles on it.

Brilliantly crafted pies with fresh ingredients in awesome combinations. Something to satisfy every taste and every taste bud. Sure, you can order yourself a typical pie with typical toppings if you like; mushroom, spinach, sausage, anchovies (ick), but really, why bother when you've got a pizza place with offerings called, Cleopatra Jones (roasted peppers, Italian sausage, onions), Larry Tate (spinach, plum tomatoes, fresh garlic on a white pie), Tony Clifton (wild mushrooms, sweet red pepper pesto, vidalia onions), The Bird (as in Charlie Parker--spicy buffalo wings, blue cheese dressing, jalepenos, scallions on a white pie), and The Newman? (hellooo, Newman...) I like a place that names food after television characters and musicians. And, come on--sweet red pepper pesto!? I've got three letters for that: OMG.

Toppings are just part of the pie. A brilliant crust is the foundation of the pizza love and for me, the "some love it" "some hate it" element is the cornmeal dusting on the underside of that perfect crust. Oh baby--come to poppa!

Yup, they've got the calzone and the eggplant parm hero--Two Boots offers the stuff you expect at a good pizzeria, but they go one step beyond. They rock a Roasted Portabello Hero with goat cheese (yes!) and a Blackened Catfish Po' Boy. I haven't tried the latter, but by the looks and smell of it, i would have loved it in my non-vegetarian days!

The West Village is jam packed with great things to eat, but when it comes to one of America's favorite comfort foods, these guys kick proverbial butt. I've been a Two Boots fan for years, and they have locations strategically placed all over NYC. It just gives me a little bit of pleasure knowing one of our buildings is home to the one I frequent.

Hmmm...I wonder if I can get a free Tony Clifton to go in exchange for the unsolicited kudos...

~b

And the Winner Is...

This summer we had some fun with our colleagues in broker-land...

Not only did we tell agents we would reward them with an American Express gift card for renting certain apartments, but the agent who rented the most Dermot apartments in all of our New York portfolio, would receive their very own, hot off the assembly line 16gb iPad with WiFi +3G!

Well, let me tell you, friends, the competition was fierce! People like their electronics! After a month of slugging it out, Jonathan Gess of Brick Real Estate in Brooklyn, pulled it out with a last minute Hail-Mary.

Jonathan admitted that he would never buy an iPad for himself, but was VERY excited to have someone hand him a shiny new iPad of his own. That weekend he sent me a note saying it, "is the coolest thing EVER. I love it. Thank you so much!"

Hey Jonathan, you're welcome, and you earned it! It's nice to give people we like working with their props!

~b

New Dermot Digs -- Virtual and Literal!

Well, welcome to Dermot Company's less than formal communication with the world! Our hope is that while you can visit our corporate websites for apartment listings, property management and investment opportunities, this is the place where you can connect with the actual humans who make up Dermot Realty Management.

And just like our move to this web spot, at the end of July, the denizens of Dermot moved from our cramped, humble quarters in Columbus Circle, steps away from Central Park, to a FAB-u-lous new space at 729 7th Ave. Sure, it's in the heart of the Times Square area and surrounded by a billion tourists, and not steps from Central Park, but we are at the center of New York City's excitement. We're also insanely convenient to get to and in a beautiful work space. Our new home was designed by our own team headed up by proud papa, Michael DiGiacomo.

There's still some settling in to do--moving is never really done until you've been in a place for months. I think we're still waiting for the cable guy.

Anyway, we will be posting things from time to time that will not just have to do with our properties. There's a lot going on in New York so we will also be sharing that with you. Stuff in neighborhoods where our residents live and play, tips about surviving in this brilliant city, and, who knows, maybe someone in accounting has a stellar recipe for eggplant parmesan they want to share.

you never know...