This week CondoDomain sat down with Jenny Gelda and talked to her about her experience living in Lincoln Park. Jenny moved to Chicago from Boston, Massachusetts five years ago, and she’s been living in Lincoln Park for three of those years.

Why did you decide to move to Lincoln Park?

I wanted to live in a neighborhood that was safe, family friendly, and relatively close to the loop. I’m also a big fan of architecture, and I love the architectural style of many of the buildings in Lincoln Park.

Were you considering any other neighborhoods as well?

I also seriously considered moving to Streeterville, or the Gold Coast. But really, I probably could have been happy just about anywhere. There are few neighborhoods in Chicago that I genuinely dislike.

What do you like most about living in Lincoln Park?

I love the quietness and the restfulness I find here. It sometimes feels like I’m living in a small, sleepy little town—It just so happens that that town is embedded in one of the largest cities in the U.S. I really feel like I get the best of both of those worlds.

Is there anything you don’t like about living in Lincoln Park?

I sometimes wish I lived a little further away from the hustle and bustle of city life. But if I ever start to feel overwhelmed, I just spend an afternoon at the Lincoln Park Conservatory, or the Lincoln Park Zoo. The park is one of my absolute favorite places in Chicago—Or in the world, for that matter.

Do you intend to continue living in Lincoln Park?

Absolutely. When it comes right down to it, I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be!

For more information about Chicago and its vibrant neighborhoods check out this article on the CondoDomain blog!

Hugh Hefner’s original mansion was sold in 1989 to the Chicago Art Institute, who then later sold it to a developer. The Playboy Mansion, once 70 rooms, now houses single-floor residences, including the one currently on the market for $6.7 million.

The unit for sale features a 52 x 27 feet living room that still has its original paneling and tall ceilings, a spacious dining room, a cook’s kitchen, butler’s pantry, four bedrooms, and five bathrooms. In total, it’s spread across 7,874 square-feet.

This unit from the original Playboy Mansion was last sold in 1994 for $2.1 million. Interested? Contact CondoDomain at 877-852-6636 today at to schedule a viewing and tour.

Photo: Katherine Chez Malkin/Baird & Warner

There is so much great architecture in Chicago, in fact, that it can sometimes be hard to appreciate all of the architectural beauty of the buildings in Chicago.

For that reason, we’ve decided to feature a few of our favorite architectural triumphs on the CondoDomain blog this month. This week, we’ll be taking a closer look at our first architectural triumph:

The Miller House. This mid century modern masterpiece was designed by renowned architects Eero Saarinen, Alexander Girard and Daley Kiley. The building is actually located in Columbus, Indiana, but Saarinen, Girard, and Kiley spent most of their time working on the project in Chicago. Tours of the Miller House are available daily.

For more of Chicago’s architectural triumphs, keep checking the CondoDomain blog regularly!

Priced between $499k for a 1 bedroom unit and $2.5M for a 3 bedroom penthouse, this is the sweet spot for properties that sell: luxury urban condos. The result of hitting a home run with home buyers is that Gold Coast is now one of the hottest markets in the nation.

10 East Delaware has three things going for it: LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. The building is located on the corner of Delaware and State in the heart of Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood and steps to the city’s best restaurants & shopping. The beach, or your office in downtown Chicago, are just minutes from your doorstep.

Actually, there’s a lot more to it than location that make the building such a successful new construction development. Designed by world-famous architect Lucien Lagrange, 10 East Delaware boasts a classic European architecture, private services, luxury amenities, and the interior design that discerning buyers demand. Exquisite gourmet kitchens, luxury master suites, and a large private balcony grace each and every unit.

Its been a long time since such a fabulous new construction building, combing both timeless architecture and a luxurious interior, has graced the Gold Coast skyline.

For more information, or to schedule a private tour, don’t hesitate to contact us. CondoDomain specializes in buyer representation for clients who expect the highest level of service. Also, we reward our clients for entrusting us with their home purchase transaction. The CondoDomain cash reward for a unit at 10 East Delaware would be between $2,500 and $12,000. Call 877-852-6636; we’ll be waiting to hear from you!

Smashing Pumpkin’s lead guitarist Billy Corgan is looking to sell his Gold Coast condo, and has even dropped the asking price from an initial $5.5 million to just $2.85 million. That price for this celebrity real estate is a steal, considering the affluent neighborhood and the luxurious 2-bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and four fireplaces, just to name a few features. While Corgan is looking to find a buyer for his beautiful condominium with a sizable terrace, he’s planning on keeping his mansion in Highland Park. For homes for sale near Corgan’s home in the northern suburb, check out CondoDomain’s listings here.

Then there’s R. Kelly, who has a big piece of celebrity real estate in the village of Olympia Fields. But Kelly hasn’t lived there in a year; in fact, this 11,140 square foot home may go under foreclosure soon, since the singer hasn’t paid his mortgage in a year. It’s not that Kelly doesn’t have the money, but he’s trying to force J.P. Morgan Chase to get his loan modified. Olympia Fields may be a small village with a small populace, but it offers large pieces of land with luxurious houses. Olympia Fields real estate on CondoDomain can be seen here.

While Billy Corgan and R. Kelly already have quite the celebrity real estate in and around Chicago, two other stars have been looking for the perfect condo in downtown Chicago. With Eddie Cibrian’s new NBC TV show, “The Playboy Club,” filming in Chicago, he’s looking for a place to call home in the Windy City along with his wife Leann Rimes. While the couple hasn’t said what neighborhood they’ve been looking in, Rimes told a fan on Twitter that she plans to split her time between Los Angeles and Chicago.

These are just a handful of celebrity real estate properties in and around Chicago. The entertainment industry loves Chicago, and not just Second City graduate and comedian Jeff Garlin, who set up a second home in Chicago earlier this year.

Check back on CondoDomain often for more celebrity real estate listings and the hot, luxurious neighborhoods A-listers are choosing to live in.

Photo: Home in Highland Park, Karen Skurie of Baird & Warner

But that time has come and gone. In today’s real estate market, renting is king. And those same wealthy urbanites—the ones who would have balked at renting a condo on the Gold Coast five years ago—are now eagerly signing year-long leases on apartments and condos in and around the Chicago metro area.

These young professionals no longer believe there to be any sort of stigma attached to renting, rather than buying, a home. And they’re realizing that they can afford a degree of luxury and elegance, while renting, that they wouldn’t have been able to afford otherwise.

For more information on renting apartments and condos in Chicago, check out the CondoDomain blog today!

While originally built in 1916, the apartment has since been modernized, boasting granite counter-tops and a sub-zero refridgerator. The condo also features nine-foot ceilings, oak floors, stainless steel appliances, a radiant stovetop, and a Thermador double oven.

Originally priced at $826,000, Jeff Garlin only paid $592,000 for the vintage three-bedroom, two-bath unit. He bought the unit from Adam P Vrabel, who had purchased the Cameron condo in 2005 for $671,000. Garlin’s purchase price is a bit higher than other sales in the area, which, on average, sell around $390,000.

Even so, Jeff Garlin is surely moving on up in Chicago; when he previously lived in the Windy City while attending Second City, he resided in Wrigleyville with fellow comedian Conan O’Brien.

When Jeff Garlin isn’t in the Windy City, he’s living in Los Angeles’ Sherman Oaks neighborhood, in a home he purchased for $1.4 million in 2003.

But Chicago residents can have a new famous neighbor in Chicago at a more affordable price. These CondoDomain listings are all just blocks away from the star’s new summer home.

111 Maple Street #1103, priced at $327,000, features 1,050 square feet of in a split floor plan. Other features include a spacious balcony and black-out window treatments. Listed by Sarah Pollyea of Artizan Realty.

1211 LaSalle Blvd. #903, priced at $219,000, offers east views and a highly upgraded unit. With two beds and two baths in the 1,150 square feet of living space, this Gold Coast condo is a steal. Listed by Thomas Walsh of @properties.

111 Maple Street #3411, priced at $179,000, is a penthouse corner unit with dazzling views of the city skyline both from inside the unit and out on the balcony. Hardwood floors run throughout the 650 square foot floor apartment. Listed by Anita Constant of Coldwell Banker Residential.

1550 N. Lake Shore Drive #25D, priced at $480,000, provides unobstructed southern views of Lake Michigan as well as Navy Pier and the city. Parking is just $150/month for valet service. Listed by Pat Cohen of Baird & Warner.

So the question is, how much does the cachet of an address mean to you? Does Lake Shore Dr. sound better than a neighboring side street? Does Oak Street mean more than Michigan Avenue? How about State Street?

For that matter, how much does the ZIP code or city name mean to you? We’re not talking about what those factors mean for property values–those are measurable factors. What we’re referring to is the emotional cachet. Does living in 60614 mean more to you, personally, than 60613 or 60657? If all other factors are roughly equal, will you forsake a perfectly good condo because it’s in the wrong ZIP code or in Evanston instead of across the street in Chicago?

Or do property value, purchase price, school system, and other concerns matter more than what address your friends will be addressing their holiday cards to?

Feel free to weigh in with your comments.

[Source: Chicago Tribune]

In the mood to depart from the traditional Thanksgiving celebration? Check out these restaurants around the Chicago area for delicious food, beautiful atmosphere, and no mess to clean up after!

The Cape Cod Room at The Drake Hotel – Gold Coast/Streeterville

The Cape Cod Ballroom is open for an elegant brunch on Thanksgiving Day: November 25, 2010.  There are three seating available, and reservations are highly recommended. You can choose to celebrate at 11:45 AM, 2:00 PM And 3:45PM. Adult brunch is $110 and children’s are $29. Elaborate buffets and great children’s room make this the perfect place for your Thanksgiving feast!

Maggianos – River North

This Italian eatery is an unexpected treat for Thanksgiving fare, but it doesn’t disappoint. Celebrate the holiday with your friends & family at Maggiano’s Little Italy.  They’ll be serving a special Thanksgiving Day Menu that includes Traditional Roast Turkey, Country-Style Baked Ham, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Salads, Pastas, Pumpkin Praline Cheesecake, and more.

505 Zest – Gold Coast/Streeterville

This great restaurant offers a Thanksgiving buffet that features all the traditional trimmings, but so much more! Cozy up to the sushi bar for a new twist on holiday fixings. Adults pay $55 (with complimentary bubbly cocktail!), and children  5-12 are only $23 (comes with juice).

Stetson’s – Downtown/Loop

Stetson’s Chop House is offering a five course feast. For only $48 per person, this is a great deal for delicious food that delivers without breaking the bank. You have the choice of roasted turkey, prime rib, Chilean sea bass, and much more!

Mecat a la Planxa – South Loop

Mercat a la Planxa will be offering a Catalan-style Thanksgiving menu. For those of you unfamiliar with Catalan cuisine, here is a look at what it’s all about: “The essence of Catalan food lies in its sauces for meat and fish. There are five main types: sofregit (fried onion, tomato and garlic); samfaina or chanfaina (sofregit plus red pepper and aubergine or courgette); picada (based on ground almonds, usually with garlic, parsley, pine or hazel nuts, and sometimes breadcrumbs); allioli (pounded garlic with olive oil, often with egg yolk added to make more of a mayonnaise); and romesco (an almond, tomato, olive oil, garlic and vinegar sauce, also used as a salad dressing)” (Aboutbarcelona.com). Interested in this eclectic gourmet food? Call Mercat a La Planxa for a reservation today. The price per person is $65.

Contact us for information on homes in the neighborhoods mentioned above!

Park Newberry is a 12-floor, 183-unit residential complex in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago. Located at 55 W. Delaware, this building has graced Chicago’s skyline since 1998. Spacious units, quality construction, and wonderful amenities make this development a delight!

There are a variety of layouts in Park Newberry. You can choose from 1 to 3 bedrooms, with an average master bedroom size of around 182 sq. ft. Every unit features a spacious 340 sq. ft. living room. The kitchens are around 101 sq. ft., which provides residents with plenty of room to cook! These wide open spaces are perfect for entertaining and relaxing alike.

The Park Newberry is pet-friendly and provides private parking upon request. You also get the chance to explore the amenities in Park Newberry. Lounge on the sundeck located on the top floor, get business done in the conference room, hang out in the great media room, or stay healthy in the fitness center!

Interested in more information or a tour of Park Newberry? Contact us today!

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