This is great news for the Downtown area after having to deal with the unsightly hole for the last three years since property owner, Vornado Realty Trust of New York, halted construction.

Now it will be Ritz Carlton Hotel developers, Millennium Partners, to take over the site and  join Vornado Realty Trust of New York. As for the terms of the deal, they have yet to be disclosed, but this deal has been some of the most exciting news for the real estate world in Boston. The project outlines are broad, but people can expect roughly a 39-story building with retail stores and restaurants filling out the base.

For more information about the latest news on the new tower project in Downtown Crossing shopping district, please read the Boston Globe article, Deal set for a tower on gaping Filene’s site.

Boston Food Swap

The World Food Swap Day event will be held at Space with a Soul on January 22 beginning at 2:00pm. To participate in the event, you must bring foods that have been either homemade, homegrown or foraged by you. Examples of the types of food items typically brought to the event include herbs, spices, fruits, vegetables, pastries, cookies, jellies, pastas and honey. Admission to the event is free with advanced registration recommended. Neighbors can get together to offer a variety of foods. Gauge interest by placing a flyer in the community area of your Boston condominium or apartment complex.

Space with a Soul
281 Summer St.
Boston, MA 02108

Boston Wine Expo 2012

This weeklong event introduces Bostonians to some of the best wines offered from around the globe. From January 16 to January 22, expo attendants can sample and purchase wine from vendors. Those interested in learning more about wine can also attend one of the seminars being held daily. Residents living in Boston waterfront condos may be interested in the event due to their close proximity to the seaport area. Single day and two-day admission tickers are available.

Seaport World Trade Center Boston
200 Seaport Blvd.
Boston, MA 02210
(617) 385-5000

Concerts and Shows

A slew of concerts and shows are being held in January 2012 in Boston. Featured events include Kelly Clarkson performing at the Wang Theatre on January 26 as part of her Stronger Tour 2012 and singer Aimee Mann taking the stage at Somerville Theatre on January 19. For teens, they may be interested in attending the Impact Wrestling World Tour at Plymouth Memorial Hall on January 21. A meet and greet option is available for ticket purchasers. Downtown Boston condos and apartments are closest to these venues.

Geckos: Tails to Toepads

This new exhibit opens at the Museum of Science in Boston beginning on January 22 and running through May 6. It is being sponsored by National Geographic and will feature live geckos. Through interactive tools, attendants can see gecko night vision, listen to gecko calls and locate camouflaged geckos. The Museum of Science is easy to get to and is located near numerous Cambridge apartments and residences.

Museum of Science

1 Science Park

Boston, Massachusetts 02114
(617) 723-2500

The Back Bay neighborhood is one of the most popular areas to live in if you are looking for a combination of culture and luxury. The area is full of authentic Victorian brownstones, many of which have been renovated to contain some of the best examples of luxury Boston real estate. The area offers unrivaled shopping opportunities in Prudential Center and Copley Place. Many businesses have located their offices to this district, making your commute much shorter if your employer is among them.

North End is the city’s oldest residential district and is home to award winning real estate like Lincoln Wharf. Also known as Little Italy, this neighborhood is small but packed with cozy restaurants, charming parks and friendly residents. Historical sites like the home of Paul Revere live side by side with high end boutiques and cafes serving authentic Italian gelato. Numerous street fairs and festivals give you a good chance to mingle with your neighbors during the spring and summer.

Walk to the Boston Public Gardens or admire the Federal-style architecture from your new luxury condo in the Beacon Hill neighborhood. As the home of the Massachusetts State House, this area is full of both historical sites and cultural hot spots. You can have both sweeping views of the city and peace of mind by choosing the quiet and protected borough of Beacon Hill. It is considered the most prestigious neighborhood in the city, having been the home of John Hancock, Anne Sexton and Uma Thurman.

For anyone with discerning taste, Boston real estate offers some excellent rental and purchase options. For years, Warren Residential Group has been a leader in the Boston luxury real estate market. Whether you are looking at Cambridge condos, Brookline apartments or a Boston loft, the trusted professionals at Warren Residential Group are here to help. The Boston real estate market, along with surrounding areas, offers a wealth of luxury housing options for those with fined taste and exacting standards.

Searching for the perfect Boston rental can be frustrating and time consuming. If you are planning to relocate to Boston from out of town during the coming year, Warren Residential Group looks forward to the opportunity to work with you during your search. For clients relocating from outside the Boston area, locating the perfect rental can seem even more complicated than for those moving locally. Let the family at Warren Residential Group make your search not only pleasant, but productive as well. The group at Warren hopes to make each client a client for life, not simply a one time transaction. While the Boston luxury condo and apartment market offers a number of excellent options for anyone looking to rent, having the best Boston Realtor by your side throughout your search will ensure that you find the perfect condo or apartment.

For those planning to buy or sell in the Boston luxury market in 2012, the staff at Warren Residential Group is looking forward to the opportunity to work with you as well. Whether your goal is to sell your Boston luxury condo or purchase your dream Back Bay condo, the group at Warren is here to help you navigate the process. By combining the latest in technology with unsurpassed customer service, the Warren Residential Group can assist you to buy or sell your Boston luxury real estate. At Warren Residential Group, we understand how important selecting the perfect property is to our clients and we know how to help you find that perfect property. If selling your property is on the agenda for 2012, the group at Warren has the experience and expertise to find the right buyer for your luxury Boston real estate.

Our clients have made the past year productive, successful and, most of all, enjoyable for those of us at Warren Residential Group. As the year winds down and we look ahead to 2012, we want to thank each and every one of you who have allowed us the opportunity to work with you this past year. Along with wishing each of you a happy holiday season in your new home, we hope for a prosperous and fulfilling new year. For those of you contemplating the purchase, sale or rental of a luxury Boston property during the coming year, we hope you will keep the Warren Residential Group in mind when the time comes.

While the area surrounding the shopping district of Newbury Drive may be a nice place to visit, you may find it may it is even nicer to live there. With many Boston realtors ready to serve you, Boston relocation may be possible. Whether you are looking to buy a south end condo or are looking at downtown Boston apartments the in the Newbury Street district are a great selling point. After all, when you’ve spent an afternoon browsing at Martin Lawrence Galleries, shopping at Alex & Ani, and getting pampered at Emerge Spa and Salon wouldn’t it be great to head home to your luxury Boston condo or apartment?

360 Newbury Street, is one place that will keep you in the middle of all the shopping on Newbury Street, during the holidays and beyond. Here you can choose from gorgeous Boston loft style rentals or condos depending on your needs. There are also several other luxury Boston condos in nearby places such as battery wharf or even Cambridge apartments right across the bay.

Whether you are a student in one of Boston’s prestigious universities looking to make your time in the city memorable, or are laying down long term roots living somewhere luxurious like Brookline apartments will definitely have a marked effect on your stay, and allow you plenty of opportunity for shopping on Newbury street.

With the wide variety of Boston luxury apartments available in downtown Boston, South end, Cambridge, and more contacting a Boston realtor at Warren Residential Group can help work with your budget to find a Boston Condominium or apartment that is affordable but still gives you the Newbury Street style pampering you deserve.

Whether you are traveling in Boston, already live in the area, or just know you’re going to want to spend a lot of time doing exciting and relaxing things like holiday shopping on Newbury street, checking out the real estate in the area is definitely worth your time. With great floor plans, top notch amenities, and access to breathtaking views of the harbor and Boston Skyline you’ll see that living a little above Newbury Street can make a real impact on your lifestyle.

If you do decide to take that leap and live in style in a luxurious Back Bay loft or other premiere residence you’ll be comforted to know that being able to furnish and decorate your new surroundings with all the great purchases you can make on Newbury Street is practically right around the corner. You can pamper your living space while you pamper your life and make an impression your friends and business associates will remember just like you remember holiday shopping on Newbury Street.

What are you waiting for? Make the call to start seeing Back Bay luxury apartments and condos, and take the first step to living the high end life you’ve always wanted.

The city announced earlier this week to members of a citizens committee reviewing the project that the developer will increase the number of affordable units in the building.

Simon Property Group will now be building all 48 of its required affordable Boston condos and Boston apartments, rather then the previously agreed 10 units, with the rest residing in the South End or Back Bay.

The massive project will have a mix of 318 condos and apartments ranging from affordable studios, one-bedrooms, two-bedrooms and luxury suites.

If you would like to know more about the project, or interested in apartments or condos for sale in the Back Bay, please contact our real estate experts today!

When speaking with your Warren Residential realtor, ask about the shops, restaurants and bars located close to the condos you will be looking at. If you know that you will not be spending a lot of time in the kitchen of downtown Boston apartments, this may be more important information than whether the stove is gas or electric. Although, many residents who love to entertain, will want to make sure the kitchen looks high end. You will definitely find granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances that will impress the most ambitious chef. Since many of the restaurants also provide catering to the local area, you will want a large comfortable dining room in your Boston luxury condo where you can easily entertain large groups of family and friends. You will also find hardwood floors throughout the Boston apartments and large rooms for large furniture. Once you have finished your night on the town, come back to a peaceful and serene master retreat.

Another important aspect to look for when choosing the location of your new Boston waterfront condo is the proximity to your employment. If you plan to use the public transit system, make sure there is a location close by. If you are planning to drive your own vehicle, look for a condo that provides parking. Some of the luxury buildings also provide transportation for residents close to the down town area. All of these are important when considering which condo to purchase. Since you do not want to spend all of your time commuting to and from work – you need to find a centrally located unit that will give you the luxury you are looking for and the convenience you require.

Finally, discuss the amenities offered with Boston condominiums. You will be able to choose from a trendy loft to a three or four bedroom unit that gives you the space you need for guests and your home office. If you want a luxury master bath with a jacuzzi tub, these will be items to include on your must have list. After a long day at work or a weekend shopping, relaxing in a hot bath with relieve all of your stress. One of the best amenities of many of the Boston apartments is the dry cleaning service available for a monthly charge. If you do not have the time or patience to deal with these types of chores, find a building that offers this great service.

Once you have found the perfect condo in downtown Boston, begin enjoying all the city has to offer. Whether you are entertaining friends in your loft apartment or stopping by one of the night clubs or cafes, you will be glad you live in the Battery Wharf area.

Every city has its own special holiday traditions that define the season for city dwellers and visitors alike. For the denizens of Washington DC, the lighting of the National Christmas Tree at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue marks the advent of the holiday season. In New York City, the annual tree lighting ceremony at Rock Center is the must-attend event of the holidays. For the citizens of Boston, one of those special events is the Zoo Lights display at Stone Zoo in Stoneham.

Located on 26 acres next to the Spot Pond Reservoir on Pond Street, the Stone Zoo was established in 1905 by park superintendent Charles Price. Originally called the Middlesex Fells Zoo, its name was changed in 1969 to honor zoo director Walter Stone. Stone Zoo is currently managed under the auspices of the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston.

Open year round, the zoo offers attractions for people of every age. The animals there run the gamut from snow leopards to llamas to African crested porcupines. Other displays allow a glimpse into the lives of gray wolves, river otters, coatimundi, jaguars, black bears, ring-tailed lemurs, flamingos, emperor tamarins and several kinds of monkeys. During the summer months, there is even a hands-on barnyard where children can interact with goats and sheep.

But when the cold sets in, the barnyard is closed down and some displays stand empty, their residents now kept indoors to protect them from the cold. This might make it seem as though there’s not much to do at the zoo in the winter, but Stone Zoo, it turns out, has a card up its sleeve. For over a decade now, Stone Zoo has offered patrons a special holiday treat. Starting on Thanksgiving day and running through New Year’s Eve, the zoo is transformed into the magical winter wonderland known as Zoo Lights.

During Zoo Lights, the entire zoo is decked out for the holidays. Every shrub and tree is festooned with sparkling lights. The zoo’s many evergreens become living Christmas trees, decorated with garlands and brightly colored balls. Every tree-lined path is ablaze with twinkling lights. Even the bare hardwood trees are dressed for the season, their trunks and branches glittering with light.

Though the pageantry changes every year, exhibits from seasons past have included giant teddy bears sporting bright red bows, penguins busily wrapping presents and loading them onto sleighs, old time streetlights hung with wreaths and Snoopy on his doghouse delivering presents.

One particularly charming tableau is presented in an actual log cabin that was discovered on the zoo grounds. The cabin is believed to have been built by loggers in the 1900s. During Zoo Lights, it is decorated to represent an authentic, homey pioneer Christmas, complete with Christmas tree, period gifts and a bevy of woodland creatures gathered around the tree. Santa is usually there, too, and children will have the chance to visit with him and have their pictures taken with his reindeer.

Those who plan to make Zoo Lights a part of their family holiday tradition will need to do a little advanced planning. There is no bus line to the zoo, so those who wish to attend must make other travel arrangements. Families with homes in the nearby Boston luxury real estate will find it a short drive. Even those with W Boston Residences shouldn’t have to drive more than 20 or 35 minutes and parking is available. Everyone should, however, allow a little extra travel time because of holiday traffic.

Out-of-town travelers who have come to Boston for the Zoo Lights experience, may want to make it part of a longer stay. Renting a Boston loft for the week of Thanksgiving or exploring the possibility of subletting Beacon hill apartments could turn visiting this single travel destination into a real holiday get-away. Downtown Boston condos are also a possible choice for holiday rentals.

Whether visitors are long-time Boston residents, or simply holiday travelers, an evening at Zoo Lights makes the perfect addition to the holiday festivities.

Find winter fun on the slopes of New England ski getaways

Stoweflake
Stoweflake is a luxury, family run resort at the base of Mount Mansfield. It has won a both Condé Nast Traveler’s 2010 Gold List and Foder’s Choice Top 10 Destination Spas in the U.S awards. The resort has a pub serving Vermont style cuisine and a Bistro using seasonal ingredients. The spa offers 120 different treatments, sanctuary lounges, beauty salon, mineral soaking pool, fitness center, a sauna and Jacuzzi. Guest rooms have comfortable furnishings and New England charm, some are even dog friendly. All guest rooms have gas fireplaces.

If you live in a Boston condo, be it downtown, Beacon Hill or Battery Wharf, you can reach Stoweflake in three and a half hours.

Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa
1746 Mountain Road (Route 108)
Stowe, VT 05672
1-800-253-2232
www.stoweflake.com

Mountain View Grand
Nestled in New Hampshire’s White Mountains the Mountain View Grand prides itself on providing personal service, a romantic setting and over 100-years of history. The main dining room has views of the surrounding mountains, fine dining and an extensive wine cellar. Its Tavern serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a casual atmosphere. Guest rooms have mahogany furnishings, luxury bed linens, mountain or garden views, a walk-in closet, free Internet, and a turn down service.

Situated at the top of the hotel is the luxury spa offering treatment packages for both men and woman, a beauty salon, nine different facials, and hydrotherapy.

If you’ve just bought some Boston real estate and are looking for the best ski areas within easy reach of the city, Mountain View can be reached in three hours.

Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa
101 Mount View Road
Whitefield, NH 03598
866-484-3843
www.mountainviewgrand.com

Omni Mount Washington
The Omni Mount Washington oozes majestic, old fashioned charm, modeled in Spanish Renaissance style and built in 1902. Since it opened its doors it has been a popular getaway for the rich and famous, Babe Ruth and Thomas Edison among them. The hotel has retained its historic features, which add even more to its atmosphere. The ski slopes provide night skiing and snow making for those days when mother nature isn’t providing any. Facilities include, a luxury spa, indoor pool, a grand formal dining room, cocktail lounge, live entertainment and casual bar.

You can reach the Omni Mount Washington Resort from your Boston loft or Cambridge apartment in just under three hours.

Omni Mount Washington Resort
310 Mt Washington Hotel Road
Bretton Woods, NH 03575
603-278-1000
www.omnihotels.com

The Balsams
Another historic grand resort, The Balsam, nestles between the mountains on 8,000 acres of pristine forest in the far north of New Hampshire. The hotel is famous for being the location where the first votes in a Presidential election are made. Accommodation consists of both traditional and modern styles. Facilities and services include a hair salon, flower ordering, fitness center, laundry and transportation. You can eat in one of four different locations in the hotel and either enjoy fine or casual dining

One of the furthest New England ski resorts from your luxury Boston condo, it takes just over four hours to reach The Balsams. However, the trip is well worth it.

The Balsams
1000 Cold Spring Road
Dixville Notch, NH 03576
1-800-255-0600
www.thebalsams.com

Rabbit Hill Inn
For a smaller, charming New England escape Rabbit Hill Inn may offer just what you want. Rabbit Hill is a luxury bed and breakfast inn near the White Mountain ski slopes. The inn’s history dates back to 1792 and it still has most of its original charm. Each guest room is unique and all are traditional, comfortable and have working fireplaces. Luxury rooms have a double spa tub, walk-in shower, and canopy bed. The atmosphere is romantic, even the hearty buffet breakfast is lit by candlelight.

Rabbit Hill Inn
48 Lower Waterford Road
Lower Waterford, VT 05848
802-748-5186
www.rabbithillinn.com

Harbor Towers - Luxury on the Waterfront

Whether you’re newly relocated to Beantown or have spent your entire life along the Clarendon Back Bay, Battery Wharf, and Fenway Park, it’s time to upgrade to a new, luxurious way of living. The Boston real estate industry is as diverse as the people who live within the doors of residences from South Boston apartments to the downtown Boston condos, and everything in between. When you’re ready to make a move, let your trained and dedicated Boston realtor take you through the doors of the Harbor Towers luxury residence.

Well-situated to all that Boston has to offer in terms of dining, entertainment, sports and socializing, these new Boston waterfront condos are true luxury real estate. Sit high in the sky as you take in the hot spots of North End and Faneuil Hall. Walk instead of trying to battle for a parking space. You may never want to leave your new condo when you spend time indulging in our outdoor pool, concierge service and breath-taking views of Charleston and Fort Point Channel.

Harbor Towers has something to suit each potential resident’s discerning taste. Our one bedroom, one bath upscale condominiums offer between 748 to 884 square feet. Want more room to spread out, cheer on the Sox on game day or unwind after a long day in the Financial District? Upgrade to our three bedroom, 3.5 bath residency, with a comfortable 2,510 square feet, and one of our lowest price-per-foot condos in all of Harbor Towers. Our largest accommodation includes 3,609 square feet of space, five bedrooms and 4.5 baths.

Every one of our luxury apartments includes a balcony, dishwasher, microwave, disposal, air conditioning and gas range. High quality hardwood floors and water views are also a part of your new living experience. The condos are all cable/satellite ready so you can plug in or unplug and unwind. These residences, which offer the utmost in quality, security and attention to detail through our always-on doorman and concierge, are move-in ready and just waiting to accommodate your every desire. We’ve recently remodeled our lobby and elevators, giving the Harbor Towers a brand new feel for less than you’d pay for new construction. You’ll also find our grounds immaculately landscaped for an enjoyable evening stroll or a couple of hours to soak up the sun with a book and a cocktail.

Life in Boston can be stressful, whether the Sox are in the Series or not. With such a fast pace, demands on your time and so many apartments available, you may find it difficult to choose or even devote enough quality attention to selecting where to live. But with Harbor Towers, your living starts here. We’ll arrange a tour on your schedule, when it’s convenient for you. We can work around your long hours at the office, hospital, clinic or golf course. We know Boston, and we know real estate. Our realtors will even help you choose whether renting a condo may be a better way to get your foot in the door. Pick Harbor Towers as your new address, and start living.