The building has been open for around a year and there are only six condos still unoccupied. Considering the rate at which people are buying them up I’d be surprised if there are any more open units come the spring. I know that for us the big selling points were the amazing views of the river and the location only a few blocks from our office right in Midtown, but the in-house gym and pool and the valet parking certainly aren’t bad features either. The playroom looks pretty awesome too, but as a 29-year-old single guy I generally don’t have a lot of excuses to go in there. It’s enough to make me kind of envious of the parents in the building.

All of the details are just about finished and 10 WEA is shining. Modern brushed stainless steel door knockers and gleaming silver condo unit signs have been placed outside all doors, adding a unified look and elegance to the hallways.

The new laundry room in the basement is completed, and I found it very useful when I needed to wash several blankets, as well as when I returned from vacation and had 3 suitcases full of clothing to wash.

The gym now uses special electronic keys for added security and convenience. Many cardiovascular machines are equipped with quality televisions and controls. The gym was giving out free headphones when I was there, which, in addition to the new water cooler, makes the workout entertaining and refreshing. In the front of the gym are three impressively large, flat screen televisions as well.

Finally, if you don’t come to the gym much, stop by and see the gym attendants who are always doing whatever they can to share knowledge, advance and training tips.

A new board of directors was elected this week. 10 WEA is proud to congratulate Vejay Lalla, Marilyn Phillips, Andrew Cohen, Bridget Hinds, and Danny Wurwarg. Many well qualified residents ran for positions. We’re impressed that the sponsor himself, Andy Cohen, chose to sit on our board. Dialogue was engaging and interest among fellow unit owners was high. This year’s board promises to be a passionate, caring group of prestigious members.

So it’s the holiday season and time to think about the people who think about us all year long. I’ve been trying to determine the proper tip amount and have read some articles on the Internet pertaining it. It seems that you should start with a base of $25 for each staff member and a base of $100 for the superintendent, and then increase the amount based on the extent of your relationship with the individual to a $300 maximum.

Our staff is incredibly dedicated and helpful so I am predicting an unusually generous spirit among residents in the building.

- I just learned today that the concierge will mail letters so there is no reason to walk to a mailbox. Maybe everybody else in the building already knew that…

- Abigail Michaels is the concierge service that 10WEA has a relationship with. Check out the services list on their website. I didn’t know how many services they offered until I decided to call today for housekeeping. If you’re busy and need something done they can take care of it for you.

- The laundry / drycleaning service offered in the lobby actually is very fast. I always have in the past arranged for a drycleaner to pick up my stuff, but I tried the building’s service and was impressed. There is often no line and you can just hand the attendant your clothing and he’ll know your apartment number and take care of it. No need to worry about cleaning slips unless you prefer it.

- They distributed a slip of paper listing the names of the building’s staff for the purpose of holiday gratuities, but it is also very convenient if you just need a little reminder of what everybody’s name is.