The White House in United States

Its history, and the history of the nation's capital, began when President George Washington signed an Act of Congress in December of 1790 declaring that the federal government would reside in a district "not exceeding ten miles square, on the river Potomac." President Washington, together with city planner Pierre L�Enfant, chose the site for the new residence, which is now 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. As preparations began for the new federal city, a competition was held to find a builder of the "President�s House." Nine proposals were submitted, and Irish-born architect James Hoban won a gold medal for his practical and handsome design.

Construction began when the first cornerstone was laid in October of 1792.

The White House has 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and 6 levels in the Residence. There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators.

For relaxing time of the President, the White House has a variety of facilities available to its residents, including a tennis court, jogging track, swimming pool, movie theater, and bowling lane.

The White House has a unique and fascinating history. It survived a fire at the hands of the British in 1814 (during the war of 1812) and another fire in the West Wing in 1929, while Herbert Hoover was President. Throughout much of Harry S. Truman's presidency, the interior of the house, with the exception of the third floor, was completely gutted and renovated while the Trumans lived at Blair House, right across Pennsylvania Avenue. Nonetheless, the exterior stone walls are those first put in place when the White House was constructed two centuries ago.

People of America would be upset if they won't see the interior of the famous White House, so public tours are available. Requests must be submitted through one's Member of Congress.

These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Fridays, and 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Saturdays (excluding federal holidays or unless otherwise noted). Tour hours will be extended when possible based on the official White House schedule.

For the huge number of people that want a chance to see inside the White House, tours are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. Requests can be submitted up to six months in advance and no less than 21 days in advance. You are encouraged to submit your request as early as possible as a limited number of spaces are available. All White House tours are free of charge.

 

source: http://famouscrib.blogspot.com/

Mortgage Refinance :California Home Improvement Loan(San Francisco)

California Home Improvement Loan : Their home is also worth far more than the new mortgage that is being proposed, even with the recent down turn in property values that are plaguing the country and in particular California. The proposed improvements to their home will no doubt increase the sales value of the home should they wish to sell their home at some future date. Outstanding questions we have for this applicant include : the amount of earthquake insurance they have on the home; property insurance; confirmation of asset value of the home; cursory examination of the plans and quotes for the work they plan to have completed  and confirmation of other current loans that either of them may have.

We also like the planning and the organization that this couple seems to have entered into regarding the improvements that they are contemplating. Several would fall into the maintenance category, i.e. the roof and the driveway, while the remainder are improvements which will enhance the value of the home both in terms of resale value as well as personal enjoyment.  We believe this applicant will be an excellent candidate to have this mortgage refinancing application approved.
Home Improvement /Mortgage Loan Amount :: $50,000

Home Loan Application and Processing Speed (when do you need the funds):: We would like to start this project over the next couple of months. We have the design finalized with the help of an architect friend of ours. He has even prepared the plans for us to follow. We need to hire the contractors, however we are obviously waiting until we have approval for the home improvement loan that we are looking for. While there is no specific date that we need to get this project started, we would like to have it completed within the next 6 months.
Do you currently have a mortgage? :: Yes, a small mortgage of $75,000 which we would like to merge with this new additional home improvement loan.
Bank Name and Branch :: Wells Fargo, Webster Street
What City/Town, State and County do you live in? :: San Francisco, California
Zip ::94124

What is your employment field? :: Tour guide at the Alcatraz Jail Museum
Employment Position :: Museum Manager
When are you paid? (monthly/weekly/biweekly):: Bi-weekly
Your credit rating to be � excellent, fair, or bad? :: Excellent, I think. We have not missed any payments on any loans or credit cards that I am aware of.
How did you find us? :: Searching for home improvement loans on the Internet
How are you paid? (direct deposit/paper check):: Both my wife and I are paid on a direct deposit basis.
Gross Amount Per Paycheck :: Combined family income � $ 85,000
Do you agree to have this information published online, without your PRIVATE information of course? :: Yes

Extra information here please (some detail):: While we do not make a lot of money combined, we both have stable jobs which we have been working at for over 15 years.  I am the manager at the museum in charge of transportation and ticketing. Basically I make sure that all of our tourists are transported safely and quickly on the museum ferry�s and that the ticket sellers have all of the information they need to enhance our sales and answer any questions that our guess may have. My team is also responsible for cash management. My wife is a legal secretary for a local lawyer in downtown San Francisco. She has also been with him for over 15 years. We are both very stable in our jobs.

Note to Lender :: We have lived in our home for over 15 years and only have a $75,000 mortgage on the home. Actually this is the balance remaining after 15 years of payments.  It is time to do some upgrades to our home. We need to replace the roof, install a new driveway, upgrade the front steps and siding as well as the landscaping. On the inside we plan to have the basement finished and also install new appliances in the kitchen. Our plans also include new cupboards and counter tops  for the kitchen as well as the single bathroom.  This is a lot of work and we plan to accomplish this all over the next six months in 3 stages.  Stage 1 is to get the basement work completed, stage 2 will focus on the kitchen and bathroom and the last stage will be all of the outdoor work.  As we mentioned earlier we have all of the plans for the landscaping, the kitchen and the basement work ready. So we think we have all of the planning work done and now need to proceed with getting some of the work completed. Your loan is required to help us accomplish this. The total refinanced loan amount will be $125,000 which is only 25% of the estimated value of the home.

Category: Home Mortgage Loan	APR 3.17%	APR 4.069%	APR 4.812%
Loan Principal	$50,000	$50,000	$50,000
Payment Schedule	Monthly	Monthly	Monthly
Length of Term	5	15	30
Amount to be paid	$54,027.79	$65342.47	$86188.88
Total interest paid	$4,027.79	$15342.47	$36188.88
Paid per installment	$888.13	$358.04	$236.13

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Arnold Schwarzenegger Biography

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born in Thal, Stiria, Austria, July 30, 1947, age 64 years) is an actor, bodybuilder, Republican politician, and businessman who now serves as the 38th Governor of California. He was elected on October 7, 2003 in an expedited election to replace Gray Davis from the governor's position. Schwarzenegger sworn in on November 17 to assume the remaining term of office of Davis until January 2007.

Schwarzenegger initially stateless Austria. After working briefly in the United Kingdom, he moved to the United States in 1968. Since 1983, he had double nationality (United States and Austria). He was married to Maria Shriver.

Celebrity Homes Luxurious

Credits: Halstead Property, halstead.com, listing ID 1165698

The apartment is 6,600 square feet and has 28 windows and 23 closets. This home also features soaring 11-foot ceilings and views of Central Park.

Credits: River 2 River Realty Inc. at 646-416-6846

You�re looking inside Lindsay Lohan�s former Manhattan pied-a-terre, Luxist.com reports. The asking price for this 40th floor apartment in the Atelier building is $1.25 million. The Atelier�s amenities include a marble lobby, basketball and volleyball courts, a rooftop lounge, sun deck, fitness and yoga center and indoor swimming pool, says Luxist.com.

The two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment features floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Empire State Building, according to NBC New York. Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo reportedly own a place in this building as well.

Credits: Michael Doherty: 617-262-9500

Baseball player Manny Ramirez has put his Boston apartment on the market, according to Citylife Real Estate, the listing agent. Ramirez�s 37th-floor penthouse apartment at the Ritz Carlton Towers Boston is listed for $8.5 million.

The home is 4,500 square feet and has four bedrooms and an 800-plus-square foot private terrace. The building offers a concierge, doorman and sports club.

Ramirez�s place was extensively renovated with the highest quality finishes and includes three valet garage parking spaces. It has 270-degree panoramic views of the Back Bay, Charles River, Public Garden, Beacon Hill and Boston Harbor.

Credits: Kuper Realty � Agent: Liz Blue Braden

Pictured here is Tony Parker and Eva Longoria�s 5,500-square-foot, five-bedroom, four and a half bath Mediterranean style estate, which is set inside a 24-hour gated community.

Distinctive architectural elements accentuate the mood of the Parker/Longoria home including a tile roof, massive interior columns, window walls with recessed lighting and soaring ceilings.

Credits: Kuper Realty � Agent: Liz Blue Braden

The Parker/Longoria master suite is centered by a unique tray ceiling and includes a double-sided fireplace that opens to a whirlpool tub in the master bath (to match the pool, perhaps?). The home includes a study lined with mill work built-ins, a media room with flow to an outdoor terrace and a specialized storage room.

Credits: Mel Bouzad/Getty Images

Brangelina may soon be New Yorkers.

In a week where Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were both nominated for Academy Awards, the Daily News reported Oscar�s golden couple were planning a move to a sprawling $40 million estate on Long Island�s Gold Coast. The Sassafras estate � a 22,000-square-foot Tudor-style mansion that boasts 18 bathrooms � would make the commute easier for Angie on her new film, �Salt,� which began shooting in the area in March.

Meanwhile, Pitt and Jolie are putting their Malibu home (pictured above) on the market, Pitt said at Newsweek�s Oscar roundtable. According to Forbes, the three-bedroom, 4,000-square-foot home has bamboo floors, a pool, tennis court, stairway straight to the beach and sits on three acres of land. Pitt paid $8 million for the property, Forbes reported.

Credits: Roberts/News

Manhattan�s 15 Central Park West is the celebrity residence du jour these days. Sting, Denzel Washington, Bob Costas and Lloyd Blankflein all reportedly own places in the building, according to Realestalker.com. The exclusive building overlooks Central Park and featues a large motor court (so the stars can come and go without being seen by us �common folk�), a private theater (told you the VIPs like their privacy�), 20 wine cellars, room service, a fully stocked library, and a huge pool, according to Realestaker.com.

Credits: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images

Shaquille O�Neal put his 16,960-square-foot Miami Beach home on the market for $25 million in January 2009, according to Active Rain Real Estate Network. The home has eight bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a six-car garage, gym, tennis court, indoor racquetball court and a pool. It sits on more than 2.5 acres and overlooks the water.

Credits: Appleton/News

Looks like Ricky Martin is truly living la vida loca. His hot New York City pad at 40 Bond St., designed by starchitect Ian Schrager, features floor-to-ceiling windows, 24-hour concierge services provided by the staff at the Gramercy Park Hotel and a hip location in downtown Manhattan.

Credits: David Goddard/Getty Images

It seems Mr. Ritchie �snatched� this estate right out of Madonna�s hands in the divorce. Ashcombe House, former home of the couple, is nestled in the lush English countryside in Wiltshire. This Georgian manor sits on 1,134 acres. Madonna has said of the home, �It�s the most beautiful place in the world.� If only she could have been as enthusiastic about her marriage�

Credits: Alec Byrne/AlecByrne.com

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne recently bought this 10,953-square-foot Hidden Hills, Calif., home for an estimated $10 million. The home has six bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and sits on a 2.3-acre lot. Other celebrities that reportedly live in Hidden Hills include Denise Richards, Matt Leblanc and Lisa Marie Presley.

Ozzy and Sharon sold their former Beverly Hills mansion � where their MTV reality series was filmed � to Christina Aguilera and her husband, Jordan Bratman, for roughly $11 million.

Credits: Getty Images/Getty Images

Looks like Christina Aguilera got exactly �what a girl wants� with this stunning home (until she and hubby Jordan Bratman recently upgraded to the Osbourne�s old home!). This mansion, worth a reported $3.7 million, sits atop a hill in an exclusive gated community in Hollywood Hills, Calif. The house sports five bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a screening room for 18, a gym, a pool, and a 12-person spa with a fireplace, according to Baller House.

Credits: Everett Fenton Gidley

Actor Frankie Muniz, star of �Malcolm in the Middle,� tried to sell this 4,000-square-foot gated home overlooking Sunset Strip in the Hollywood Hills for a reported $3.8 million in the fall of 2007. But even celebs get hit by the housing slump! He subsequently reduced the price of the five-bedroom, four-bathroom mansion to a reported $3.6 million in 2008.

Credits: Alec Byrne/AlecByrne.com

Heiress Paris Hilton obviously does not live �the simple life.� The actress recently bought this Beverly Hills mega-mansion, which sits across the street from Avril Lavigne�s home, for a reported $6.25 million. The roughly 7,500-square-foot, five-bedroom, Mediterranean-style home features six bathrooms, a swimming pool, spa, gym, maid quarters and a wine closet.

Credits: Russell Turiak/Getty Images

The lavish home of Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld is no laughing matter! They bought this enormous East Hampton, N.Y., estate for a reported $32 million from rocker Billy Joel. The home includes a 22-car garage and a baseball diamond, according to ABC News. OK! Magazine named it the #1 celebrity party house.

Credits: Giancarli/News

Just like the Kennedy family themselves, the Kennedy Compound is classic American � a series of white-trim clapboard homes, typical of vacation residences on uber-exclusive Cape Cod. The compound is located on 6 acres of waterfront property along Nantucket Sound and features a movie theater, sauna, swimming pool and tennis court.

Credits: Jason Kirk/Getty Images

Looks like Courteney Cox hit pay �dirt� with the recent sale of this unique Malibu home she owned with husband David Arquette. The couple sold the home for an estimated $33.5 million, according to Realestalker.com. The home, located on the same stretch of beach where Jennifer Aniston lives, was designed by famed architect John Lautner.

Credits: Mike Fuentes/Getty Images

Ms. Lopez isn�t �Jenny from the Block� anymore, judging from this home! This fabulous Miami Beach estate is worth an estimated $9.1 million. The roughly 10,000-square-foot mansion is reported to have a gym, sauna, pool and Jacuzzi.

Credits: Lucky Mat/Getty Images

Actress Halle Berry �s sprawling home in West Hollywood, Calif., has four-bedrooms, a swimming pool, a hot tub and two �fire pits� made of volcanic lava, according to Female First. Looks like the home is as hot as Ms. Berry herself!

Credits: GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images

The classic movie star with the classic Italian villa. Yes, ladies, take a deep breath, you know I could be talking about none other than heartthrob George Clooney with his 15-bedroom Italian home, Villa Oleandra, on Lake Como�s shores. In the summer, Clooney throws frequent dinners with famed guests including Al Gore and Quincy Jones, according to Time Magazine.

Credits: Jason Kirk/Getty Images

Seems the queen of daytime TV is also the queen of real estate (and the queen of about a million other things!). Oprah Winfrey owns this beautiful, 42-acre, 23,000-square-foot Montecito, Calif., estate, complete with barn, gardens, an orchard, two ponds and a lake. She paid an estimated $50 million for it, which the Los Angeles Times reported is one of the highest amounts ever paid for a private home in the U.S.

Credits: Russell Turiak/Getty Images

The home of director Steven Spielberg is truly picture-perfect. The East Hampton, N.Y., estate is valued at $25 million and reportedly features a state of the art film studio (of course!), stables and a guest house.

Credits: GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images

No celebrity real estate gallery is complete without arguably the most famous piece of celebrity real estate in the nation: The Playboy Mansion. The mansion, owned by Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, is more than 21,000 square feet, sits on 5.3 acres and is worth an estimated $50 million. The Beverly Hills home has a wine cellar, game room, private zoo, tennis courts, waterfall and swimming pool area (including the famous grotto). But perhaps the most famous �features� of the house can�t really be listed as real estate�

nydailynews.com

Fashion designer Petra Ecclestone's

Fashion designer Petra Ecclestone's new Bel Air mansion?

FILE PHOTO dated Thursday, October 7, 2004. It is being reported that fashion designer Petra Ecclestone has made an offer to buy Candy Spelling's Holmby Hills mansion. Petra has reportedly offered $75 million, half of the original asking price, still making it one of the most expensive homes in the United States. Petra is the daughter of Bernie Ecclestone, the CEO of Formula One Management. ORIGINAL CAPTION: Candy Spelling, widow of entertainment mogul Aaron Spelling is placing "The Manor" in the exclusive Holmby Hills neighborhood on the market for a jaw-dropping $150 million, making it by far the most expensive home for sale in the U.S. The 6-acre mansion "The Manor" at 594 Mapleton Drive in Bel Air, Los Angeles, has 123 rooms, a bowling alley, swimming pool, gymnasium, tennis court, screening room and four 2-car garages. Spelling bought the property in 1983, a house that had belonged to Bing Crosby, He demolished the original house and built this mansion.

Fashion designer Petra Ecclestone's new Bel Air mansion?

 

Fashion designer Petra Ecclestone's new Bel Air mansion?

 

Fashion designer Petra Ecclestone's new Bel Air mansion?

 

Fashion designer Petra Ecclestone's new Bel Air mansion?

 

 

 

10 Great Haunted Hotels in America

10 Great Haunted Hotels in America

Ghosts are generally referring to the afterlife. Ghosts are also associated with spirits or ghosts who leave the agency because of the death. Definition of ghosts in general different for each religion, civilization, and customs.
1. Provincial Hotel (America)

Many ghost hunters and guests come only to hear the story about the ghost stories about this hotel. and the ghost hunter accidentally came here to prove with their own eyes
2. Hotel Del Coronado (America)

The most famous legends and ghost stories at this hotel is the ghost of Kate Morgan, who stayed at this hotel in 1892 to meet with the husband who has lost
3. Stanley Hotel (America)

Hotel, which opened in 1909, haunted by Flora Stanley, the wife of the hotel owner, who likes to play the piano late at night. His spirit is said to often appear and haunt the guests who came
4. Le Pavilion Hotel (America)

lots of strange noises in the night, vaporous, and the frequent appearance of a figure standing at the foot of her bed guests. Coverlets Sheets and lift into the air, from the afternoon until past midnight
5. Heathman Hotel (America)

Room 703 is the most haunted places. Guests who leave the room will be surprised to find a towel used besih back, a glass of water out, tables and chairs move on their own. of records Hotels melaporan that no one uses an electronic key to enter the room. but the incident happened too often to be assumed as a prankster
6. Sagamore Hotel (America)

Located in the unspoiled Adirondack Mountains, the Sagamore features the Historic Hotel, with elegant decor, and The Lodges, decorated in the style of a relaxed Adirondack style. Many golfers say that ghosts exist disisni who stole their golf balls and their dates, and you could hear him laughing out loud. They said he would chase the ball and steal your woman from behind a tree
7. crescent Hotel (America)

Guests have many reported sightings and other strange events in a number of guest rooms, lobby, and dining room.

You do not need to live in a haunted room to see a real ghost at the Crescent Hotel. Outdoor Recreation, the ghost of Dr. Norman Baker often appears, he ran a controversial hospital and health resort in the building during the 1930's. Many people believe that the spring that flows under the hotel is an attractive energy ghost sightings.

Is this just a publicity trick to help the hotel is nearly bankrupt? It could, but this hotel is actually starting to do business properly before the ghost was seen

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8. Ramada Plaza Hotel (America)

Rumor has it that Walter Schoreder (hotel owner) was murdered, and her spirit is haunting disturb guests by turning on the tap water, lights, scream, and appeared to
9. Queen Mary Hotel (America)

is a floating city flooded with great elegance, with a strong mystical ambience.
listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and also remains one of the most famous places in California.

Guests of the Hotel Queen Mary who dared to accept the challenge by the Self-Guided Tour Shipwalk.

Many strange events and noises beats, disembodied voices, apparitions and ghosts walk the halls and stairs have been reported by staff, visitors, and researchers at the ship docked.

Many witnesses ghosts have a different experience aboard the Queen Mary Hotel

10. Carolina Inn (America)
Guests often tell followed by a man who disappeared when they turned to face him. Staff and guests are also told that the appearance of a man, wearing a black suit wearing a knitted hat, long blue Parker-style coat is often menghatui brand

Modern Apartment That's Not Chilly in New York City

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JENNIFER BUSH: You've managed to make a big, contemporary New York apartment so friendly. DAVID MANN: The owners are a young couple with two little girls, and they live casually. They wanted a versatile space that was comfortable and cozy, but also gracious and elegant for entertaining. We took down walls on the main floor, creating a spacious, open feeling--the feeling of a great room.
Or a loft.
It's sort of a bridge between uptown and downtown--an uptown loft. It could have been cold and austere, but the rich tones of the furniture, fabric, and floor stain give it warmth. So do all the textures, ranging from horsehair to velvet. And the long curtains add softness to the great room.

The curtains and shades in the apartment are about as simple as simple gets.
Well, I find an inherent honesty in simplicity. And I like everything to be easy.


You created two very distinct seating areas in the living room.
Breaking the space down in scale makes it more livable. One of the seating areas is centered around the fireplace. It has tailored, somewhat rigid furniture and is a little more formal--they use it for drinks before dinner when they entertain. The other is centered around the art wall and is more cushy. It's where the family relaxes, reads, watches TV. The one area rug covers both areas and connects them and gives the impression of an island floating in the middle of white space.

Why did you leave that sizable gap between the two areas?
It forms a kind of walkway that guides you to the terrace--the views of Central Park and the city are absolutely amazing. And keeping all the furnishings fairly low allows for nice sight lines. When you're entertaining, the focus is on people, and this way you can easily see guests come and go. We wanted furniture that wouldn't be louder than the view or the art--they're serious collectors. Those are the most important elements. The furniture plays a supporting role.

It definitely doesn't shout for attention. 
A lot of midcentury furniture is leggy and open, so a room doesn't feel weighed down. And the dining chairs are clear. They completely go away.
Still, the dining area has a commanding presence.
It's the central hub of the home--it's at the crossroads of everything on the main floor. The table has leaves at either end that can be opened for entertaining large groups, or collapsed when it's just the four of them. There are hidden pocket doors so that it can be closed off from the kitchen for entertaining or retracted when it's just the family. The downside of an open-style space with no walls is cooking odors, dirty dishes, mess.
This place looks as if it has never known a single messy moment.
They wanted a simple, streamlined home with everything in its place, so we made sure there was lots of storage. In the kitchen, the paneled walls conceal an appliance garage for the toaster, mixer, coffeemaker. The glass doors in the living room are flanked by paneled walls that hide built-in storage units. They're seven feet long and nearly two feet deep. The one on the left holds a large television and the one on the right holds a bar. And there are extra shelves above and below to stash stuff.

What do you think makes for an ideal entertaining space, whether it's big or small?
Diversity of space--you see that here. When you entertain, you need to contain energy as well as give it breathing room.
I'm not following you.
The key is proper flow and sequencing from the moment you enter a space. You should have a gracious and unencumbered entry and different, intimate seating areas. This entry is spare, with a soaring ceiling, and then it moves into that cushy seating area, which can contain the energy.

There are quite a few sexy, shiny touches scattered about, from the mirrored coffee tables to the gleaming stainless steel in the kitchen.
We were aiming for a balance between reflective and matte. So, for example, in the foyer there are hanging mirror-ball lights and glossy dark-brown floors, but you look through to the great room to the matte textures of the rug and upholstery. The dining table also reads very matte. I like the contrast, the layers of visual interest.

All the public rooms are off-white, but you painted the private rooms a rich gray.
The idea was to make them retreats. The library and home office is a retreat from family life, where the adults can read a book or have a conversation behind closed doors. The bedroom is more spa-like, a retreat from the busy world. It's actually a metallic silver. It has a glimmer and gives off a nice, soothing glow. The carpet is hand-knotted silk, and it also has a shimmer. And we painted the ceiling the same color as the walls, so the room envelops you in softness and warmth. With the blackout shades behind the curtains, it's a total submersion in this quiet, calm environment.
Produced by Robert Rufino.