| Property records show the comely couple scooped up their Halsey Lane house in February of 2001 for $2,750,000 and, according to listing information, the property has been dubbed Too Many Maples. Desirably located South of the Highway–that's Montauk Highway puppies–on a 1.2 acre pie-shaped parcel, the turn of the century farmhouse style residence measures in at approximately 5,500 square feet and offers 7 bedrooms and 10.5 bathrooms, a large number that ensures a minimum wage terlit gurl be on call 24/7 to deal with any back ups and etc. Listing information also indicates the fully hedged mini-estate includes a large heated swimming pool, a guest house and an artist's studio where we imagine Mister Gere spends his summer mornings meditating in the nood. Okay, we don't know if the man meditates buck nekkid, but we like to imagine that he does. Anyhoo, the 100+ year old residence has been updated and upgraded with modern conveniences while still retaining the original charm and rambling quality of a house that's been added onto in a willy-nilly fashion over the years as the owners needed another bedroom, another bathroom or stuck a screened porch on to the back so they could do jigsaw puzzles on warm summer evenings without being eaten alive by the horrid mosquitoes that plague the Hamptons. The three story and much gabled getaway is graced with a lovely wrap around porch on what was originally the front of the house. However, the main entrance appears to be approached from the side via a circular gravel drive that is partially shaded by a pergola like porte cochere. The stair hall sets the tone for the mood of the entire house–as it should–where a simple and subdued palette sets off by some spectacular wood floors, a couple of vintage light fixtures and an elegantly turned newel post that anchors the wonderfully wide staircase. Listen children, Your Mama can understand why this house and its day-core may not be to every person's preference or enjoyment. In fact, it's not even what Your Mama and the Dr. Cooter would do had the scratch for a nine million dollar farmhouse in the Hamptons which, of course, we do not. None the less, we find the Gere/Lowell abode and it's relaxed, weekend house of a very rich yet thoughtful person atmosphere to be almost beyond reproach. So y'all can make whatever sassy and snappy comments about all the plates that are stuck to the walls throughout the house, but we are going to refrain from our usual snarky remarks. The living room is warmed by a corner fireplace, is stuffed with some comfortable looking seating and is separated from the formal dining room by a pony wall. Ordinarily we're not so keen on pony walls but, surprisingly, it's sorta working here. The farmhouse style table in the large dining room is surrounded by 8 mis-matched wood chairs and is lit by a pair of simple drum-shaped chandeliers. A mid-century sideboard adds to the eclectic but well conceived decorative melange. The stunning wood floors continue into the kitchen–Your Mama loves us some wood floors in a farmhouse kitchen–where simple white cabinetry is topped by simple, but expensive, white marble counter tops. A large work island defines the work flow and hosts a quasi-commercial style stove, a two- drawer dishwasher and a breakfast counter where googly eyed guests can pull up stools and watch Mister Gere whips up some French Toast in his robe on Sunday mornings. Built into a well lit and windowed nook, the kitchen dining area is appropriately wrapped in wainscoting and the built in benches have been piled with down cushions and pillows in mis-matched striped and patterned fabrics. The children will note that a Scrabble game sits on the table. It warms the cockles of our cold, dark heart that the Gere/Lowell clan plays Scrabble because Your Mama loves playing us some Scrabble. A small paneled den house features a built in book case with actual books in it as well as a good sized flat screen tee-vee so that no one need ever miss a single episode of the bizarre and dee-lishusly camp boob-toob extravaganza that is RuPaul's Drag Race where a bunch of catty queens are made to, "lip sync for their lives." Gorgeous! Upstairs, the master bedroom features a high peaked ceiling with beautifully exposed wood trusses, a wood burning fireplace for the Hallmark card types who like to get bizzy Valentine's Day style and French doors that lead to a private terrace. Although we really don't know if it's the case or not, given that there ar 10.5 terlits for 7 bedrooms, Your Mama would like to think that each of the guest bedrooms claims a private pooper. It seems almost unfathomable that Mister Gere and Miz Lowell would want to sell this near perfect weekend getaway. However, it does not appear that they are giving up the East End altogether because property records show that in November of 2005 the property rich pair picked up another Hamptons pad when they paid $6,900,000 for a 4+ acre water front property on Actors Colony Road in North Haven– that's up near Sag Harbor people. In August of 2007, the couple paid $12,000,000 to purchase one of those delightfully ka-razy kribs in artist/filmmaker Julian Schnael's hot pink architectural folly in the far West Village that he calls Palazzo Chupi. However, it appears the pair are not so interested in living in the Chupi with the pajama clad Mister Schnabel because just seven (or so) months after closing on the 4 bedroom and 4 bathroom full floor flat, they flipped it back on the market with an asking price of $17,995,000. According to the always helpful Street Easy, the asking price was later reduced to $15,000,000 where it languished before being taken off the market in early February of 2009. As an aside and just for fun, here's a short list of things the children may not know about aging gracefully Mister Gere: He's an accomplished pianist; He grew up with and was great friends with famed photographer Herb Ritts; He turned down the lead role in Die Hard which subsequently went to Bruce Willis; And he went to the University of Massachusetts on a gymnastic scholarship which means the young man could (and perhaps can still) bend his body up like a damn pretzel. Lucky Miz Lowell. View larger photos |
| Esther Davidowitz Editor-in-Chief Richard and Me January 22, 2009 Like most everyone else, I love reading about celebrities. If I happen to see a gossip magazine at a salon, spa, or doctor’s office, I pick it up. I like knowing who’s hitching up with whom, who’s cheating on whom, who’s divorcing whom, who’s coming out of rehab (again!) and who’s going in (again?). It’s not only entertaining (love those candid photos of Brangelina and their ever- increasing U.N. brood) but, actually, informative. ’Cause, though celebrities may be more beautiful, more successful, and more wealthy than we non-celebs are, truth be told, Celebrities ’R Us— they’re just men and women, just like the rest of us; men and women who fall in love, fall out of love, go through good times, go through bad times, fall low, and rise high. But, not all celebrities intrigue me equally. And, of course, not all celebrities are grist for the rumor mills. On my office bookshelf sits a framed photo of Richard Gere, a gift from Westchester Magazine Publisher Ralph A. Martinelli. Ralph knows how I feel about the award-winning actor, a Westchester resident and now a Westchester restaurateur. He had the photo framed for me. I’ve tried and tried again to get Gere to consent to an interview, for not only professional but for personal reasons. I’ m a fan. But he was always too busy, shooting a film in LA or advocating for human rights in Tibet. And, then—lucky me—I was invited to a Westchester gala at which Gere was an honorary guest. We were introduced. We even posed for a photo together. I seized the moment. Richard and Me Our first meeting: Richard Gere and me at Northern Westchester Center for the Arts 25th Anniversary Gala “How can I get you for my magazine?” I asked, handing him my business card. “I’m so sorry,” he answered, “but Westchester is home and I really like my privacy here.” Alas, I understood (darn it!) and told him so. Still, I made sure to also tell him, “If you ever change your mind, please, don’t hesitate to call.” The phone in my office rang. “Is this Esther? Hello, this is Richard Gere.” Talk about a dream come true. ...And, if you are wondering, what do I think about Gere now—now that I’ve gotten to know him better? Let’s just say, I’m an even bigger fan. |
| And this week, while holidaying with a group of friends and relatives on the Caribbean island of St Barths, the Hollywood heavyweight was once again showing his affectionate side. As the adults supervised a beachside digging session he was pictured giving a warm hug to a one of the party. While other men reserve displays of emotion for the odd occasion, Richard, a committed Buddhist since the mid-Eighties, is so in touch with his feelings he once declared: "Bravery is about a willingness to show emotional need". His passion for the religion is shared by his actress wife Carey Lowell, who accompanied him on the vacation along with their son Homer. Earlier in the week, the couple were seen strolling the resort together and snapping pictures of the eight-year-old as he played in the sand. |
| December 31, 2008- January 5, 2009 I'm not looking - honestly! Richard Gere averts his eyes as he is surrounded by topless beauties on the beach Being surrounded by topless women is a dream for most men. But Hollywood legend Richard Gere obviously didn't know quite where to look when he was surrounded by two sunbathing beauties on the beach. The red-faced star looked distinctly uncomfortable as he tried to avert his eyes while his wife and son took a dip in the sea. Keeping his head down: Richard Gere tries to not to look as he is surrounded by topless women on the beach in Saint-Barthelemy He made sure he kept looking straight ahead at wife Carey Lowell, 47, and son Homer James Gere, eight, as they went for a swim. The Pretty Woman star only allowed his gaze to wonder momentarily as he disguised his eyes behind a cap and sunglasses. Gere is enjoying a relaxing break on the Caribbean island of Saint-Barthelemy with his family. Richard laughs as wife Carey Lowell and son Homer James return from a dip in the sea |
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| HERE’S a couple of smooth characters holidaying in the way only movie stars can. James Bond DANIEL CRAIG is no doubt plotting Hollywood domination with RICHARD GERE as he joins the Officer And A Gentleman star on a yacht off St Barts. |
| ICT Board Chair Richard Gere will receive the Joel Siegel humanitarian award this week at the 14th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards. The awards ceremony will air live on VH1 this Thursday, January 8 at 9 pm EST. For more information about the award, please visit the VH1 website. Last year this award went to Don Cheadle for his work on Darfur in Sudan. All of us at ICT congratulate Richard on receiving the Joel Siegel Award. We know that his leadership, commitment and compassion inspire the hundreds of thousands of world citizens like you who stand with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people. Richard will be accepting the award in person and we expect the award presentation to feature a short video on Richard’s involvement with the Tibet issue and ICT. I encourage you to watch. This is a great opportunity for a wide audience to hear more about Tibet and ICT. |
| Richard Gere at River Keepers Charity Auction Watch HERE |
| Richard Gere 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards held at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium - Arrivals Los Angeles, California - January 8, 2009 |
| January 27, 2009 Share using Watch Matt Dillon and Richard Gere at Riverkeeper's Art Auction! Posted by ExtraTV Staff on January 27, 2009 1:40 PM Matt Dillon, Richard Gere, Bobby Kennedy and Martha Stewart are expected to attend Riverkeeper's Reflected Light IV Art Auction and cocktail party -- and you can watch the event! The auction benefits Riverkeeper, a member-supported environmental organization protecting the Hudson River, its tributaries and the New York City drinking water supply. |
| South Fork Summer Shuffle for Gere February 8, 2009 Richard Gere seems to like keeping his brokers busy. After reportedly offering his residence in Julian Schnabel’s Palazzo Chupi for $15 million, he and wife, Carey Lowell, have recently put their sprawling farmhouse in Water Mill on the market, asking $8.8 million (records show that they paid $2.75 million in 2001). It sits on 1.2 acres, and has a guesthouse, art studio, and a pool. Gere and Lowell also own a 6,000-square-foot place in North Haven near Jimmy Buffett’s, where they’ll likely relocate. Gere’s publicist said that the actor has no comment. |
| SELLERS: Richard Gere and Carey Lowell LOCATION: Water Mill, NY PRICE: $8,800,000 SIZE: Halsey Lane, 7 bedrooms, 10.5 bathrooms DESCRIPTION: It's easy to imagine living here. Since the turn of the century, rooted in time sits this lovingly renovated farmhouse. Cozy comfort with high-end luxury. Hiding behind the hedges, merging fantasy and fairy tale, a place to call home. 7 bedrooms, 10 baths, heated pool, guest house, artists studio and not too many maples. YOUR MAMAS NOTES: Being that it's the dead of winter here in the northern hemisphere, Your Mama thought the children could use a little dose of the summer to come so today we're going to discuss two pricey properties in posh Water Mill, NY. That's the Hamptons babies. The first property we'd like to discuss, which we read about in New York magazine, is owned by one of the film industry's sexiest and most outspoken Buddhists. That's right children, we're talking about American Gigolo Richard Gere and his good lookin' wifey Carey Lowell who have recently listed one of their (two) Hamptons hideaways with an asking price of $8,800,000. |
| Richard Gere: Poop in Peace, For a Price Feb 11th 2009 11:06AM If you have ever wanted more bathrooms than you know what to do with -- then Richard Gere has got what you need. Gere recently put his seven bedroom, 10.5 bath, Long Island farm house up for sale for a cool $8.8 mil. While there are other nice luxuries -- like a heated pool, guest house and an artists studio -- the main draw here is the ridiculous number of bathrooms. |
| Recent News Page XIV Click Here March 13, 2009 |