Champ D'or - The Goldfields Put Their Brilliant Chateau on the Market . . .

The subject of numerous blogging speculations, the Champ D’or Estate is again on the public’s mind, and for good reason. Long before I even saw the estate in person, this home captivated me with its mysterious grandeur. Most of all perhaps because it is one of those golden follies, built by the Goldfields no less, that real estate legends are made of. Shortly after completing the five-year project in 2002, the Goldfields decided their house was too big for their family of two and put it on the market.

I decided to take another look at the home now that it has a website of its own with virtual tours, video and a photo gallery for all your luxury real estate gawking needs. The Texas home is 48,000 square feet of chateau-inspired luxury with details like a tearoom, garden room, ballroom and private theater. One of my favorite features is the two-story mahogany library complete with a winding wooden staircase but others might love the private hair salon, steam room, weight room, giftwrap room or bowling alley. Many, many features but only six bedrooms. It has been listed at a variety of prices but is currently listed at $27,500,000 million, an extraordinarily low price compared to its past attempts on the market. After the jump, this home wins my vote for most impressive staircase.

It’s been listed for a variety of prices but is currently at $27.5 million.

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36 Hours in Dallas

The New York Times, snobby as it may be with its ridiculously convoluted crossword puzzles and stuffy political analysts, released an article in the travel section about society and arts in Dallas. I admit that I'm not a Dallas fan in general: I hate the food, the heat, the shriveled scenery, and the traffic. But out of all the places to settle in this sprawling state, I must say Dallas still has a considerable amount to offer. For instance, the famed Granada theatre never fails to impress, hosting great bands such as Andrew Bird, St. Vincent, TV on the Radio, the National, Midlake, and the upcoming tour of Flight of the Conchords. House of Blues isn't too shabby either; after all, it did house the brilliant Feist, the Stars, and Spoon.

Although much of Texas cuisine surrounds the hot and spicy flavors of the south, there's still a small cluster of haute Italian and French restaurants that please even the most critical of palates. Taverna and Talouse come first to mind.


Here's the Article:

"DALLAS may not be a world-class city, but it’s pulling out all the stops to get there. This oil-rich city is pumping millions of dollars into a new Dallas Center for the Performing Arts in the Arts District. When completed, the district will rank among the largest urban arts centers in the nation. Meanwhile, glamorous subterranean bars and edgy Asian restaurants are giving the city a cosmopolitan aura. But when it comes to entertainment, its No. 1 attraction is still the Cowboys, especially when the new, $1.2 billion football stadium opens this year, featuring one of the largest retractable roofs and high-definition televisions in the world.

Friday

4 p.m.
1) ARCHITECTURE PARK

See what the buzz is all about. Go on a walking tour of the Dallas Arts District (www.artsdistrict.org), a 19-block area straddling downtown office skyscrapers and uptown luxury hotels. Highlights include the new Dallas Center for the Performing Arts (2100 Ross Avenue, Suite 650; 214-954-9925; www.dallasperformingarts.org), a four-venue complex for music, opera, theater and dance in a parklike setting that’s scheduled for a fall opening. The center will include a drum-shaped opera house designed by Norman Foster and a cube-shaped theater designed by Rem Koolhaas. To take it all in, find a bench at the Nasher Sculpture Center (2001 Flora Street; 214-242-5100; www.nashersculpturecenter.org), a museum designed by Renzo Piano with a lush garden that features works from a collection that includes Rodin, Henry Moore and George Segal.

7 p.m.
2) CHEERLEADING COCKTAILS

Size up the city’s trend setters and assorted poseurs in their alligator boots and butter-soft tailored jackets at the Rattlesnake Bar, a plush lounge with mahogany-paneled walls and chocolate-brown leather sofas at the new Ritz-Carlton, Dallas (2121 McKinney Avenue; 214-922-4848; www.ritzcarlton.com/dallas). Order the Dean’s Margarita with organic agave nectar ($12), nibble on spring rolls with achiote pulled pork ($14), and watch heads turn whenever a posse of lanky blondes in skinny jeans and designer heels sidles up to the bar.

8 p.m.
3) SOUTHWEST SUPREME

Not so long ago, Dallas was a culinary wasteland, save for its famous barbecue. But in recent years, celebrity chefs like Nobu Matsuhisa, Tom Colicchio and Charlie Palmer have planted their flags in Dallas, joining a fresh crop of hometown talent. At the top is Fearing’s (2121 McKinney Avenue; 214-922-4848; www.fearingsrestaurant.com), a casual but chic restaurant that serves imaginative Southwest-rooted cuisine at the Ritz-Carlton. Opened in 2007, Fearing’s already enjoys national acclaim: Zagat named it No. 1 in domestic hotel dining, and Frank Bruni, the restaurant critic for The New York Times, called it one of the country’s top 10 new restaurants outside of New York last year. The current menu includes lobster coconut bisque ($14) and wood-grilled Australian lamb chops on pecorino polenta ($44). Dinner for two, about $200.

10:30 p.m.
4) PARTY HIGH

There are still men’s clubs, honky-tonks and jukebox joints in Dallas, but the city’s night life has gotten decidedly sleeker and flashier, with velvet-roped discos and bottle-service lounges. If you want a stellar view of the stars and the city’s bright lights, go to the rooftop bar of the Joule hotel (1530 Main Street; 214-748-1300; www.luxurycollection.com/joule). It features bedlike sofas and cocoonlike chairs arrayed along a slender, cantilevered swimming pool that juts out 10 stories above the sidewalk. Or, for an even better view, go to Five-Sixty, Wolfgang Puck’s new Asian-style restaurant in the glowing ball atop the 560-feet-high Reunion Tower (300 Reunion Boulevard; 214-741-5560). The rotating bar, which serves a dozen kinds of sake, offers magnificent views of a skyline edged in colorful lights and the suburban sprawl beyond.

Saturday

9:30 a.m.
5) MORNING GLORY

Need a breath of fresh air after a late night out? Head to Katy Trail (entrance at Knox Street at Abbott Avenue; 214-303-1180; www.katytraildallas.org), a 3.5-mile greenway that winds through the city’s wooded parks and urban neighborhoods. Built along old railroad tracks, the trail is a favorite of young and old, bikers and runners, strollers and dog walkers.

11 a.m.
6) DIGGING FOR ART

From the air, Dallas might look like a forest of faceless skyscrapers, but there are pockets of bohemia. The talk this season centers on Dragon Street in the Design District, where warehouses are becoming cool galleries, and boxy apartments and studios are being built. The street may still feel a tad empty on weekends, but the top draws include the Gerald Peters Gallery (1019 Dragon Street; 214-969-9410; www.gpgallery.com; appointment only through Feb. 28), with its sleek spaces and smart mix of paintings and sculptures, and the Holly Johnson Gallery (1411 Dragon Street; 214-369-0169; www.hollyjohnsongallery.com), a gleaming space devoted to contemporary artists.

1 p.m.
7) SLOWER FOOD

Chicken-fried everything may be a staple in Texas, but in Dallas organic salads and other light fare is just as popular. A trendy spot is Rise No. 1 (5360 West Lovers Lane; 214-366-9900; www.risesouffle.com), a charming bistro with a grass-green facade that serves up wonderful soufflés — a slow-paced antidote to Dallas’s manic drive-and-shop lifestyle. Try the truffle-infused mushroom soufflé ($15) with a glass of dry white.

3 p.m.
8) RETAIL OVERLOAD

Shopping is a local sport here, but there’s more to Dallas than Neiman Marcus. For slow-paced window shopping, stroll around Inwood Village (West Lovers Lane and Inwood Road; www.inwoodvillage.com), a landmark 1949 shopping center with an eclectic range of signature stores. Retail highlights include Rich Hippie (5350 West Lovers Lane No. 127; 214-358-1968; www.richhippie.com) for retro and avant-garde clothing like a finely tooled pink leather jacket ($728). Next door is Haute Baby (5350 West Lovers Lane No. 128; 214-357-3068) for cute toddler wear, like a yellow slicker with hoodie ($110). But perhaps the chicest boutique is Forty Five Ten (4510 McKinney Avenue; 214-559-4510; www.fortyfiveten.com). The prices are shocking but it’s worth a visit. Recent finds included a vintage trolley case by Globe-Trotter ($1,175) and an iron vase by the Texan artist Jan Barboglio ($550).

8:30 p.m.
9) MEX-MEX

This is the land of Tex-Mex. And while cheesy tacos and greasy nachos are the standard fare, more authentic Mexican cuisine has roots in Dallas as well. One of the most popular spots for original Mexican fare is La Duni Latin Cafe (4620 McKinney Avenue; 214-520-7300; www.laduni.com), which offers a terrific dish called tacos de picanha (beef loin strips on tortillas, $19.75). But for more inventive cuisine, try Trece: Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Lounge (4513 Travis Street; 214-780-1900; www.trecerestaurant.com). The formal dining room, dressed in cream, cacao and sepia colors, invites celebration. Kick things off with a jalapeño caipirinha ($11) or a blueberry mojito ($11) before tucking into the braised short ribs in cabernet and chile molasses ($21).

11:30 p.m.
10) COOL KIDS

Once a ramshackle district, the historic Cedar Springs neighborhood has a new energy, with gay-friendly discos, curio shops, burger bars, boutiques and galleries. To mingle with the neighborhood’s varied stripes, bop over to J. R.’s Bar & Grill (3923 Cedar Springs Road; 214-528-1004; www.partyattheblock.com), a cavernous club with brick walls, a tin-ceiling and a scuffed dance floor that draws gays, straights, middle-aged couples, midnight cowboys, frat boys and Amy Winehouse lookalikes. Nothing gets going before midnight, when the pub crawlers and night lizards come out to play.

Sunday

11:30 p.m.
11) SPORTS MADNESS

If it’s Sunday in Dallas, do as the locals do and hit a sports bar. There are dozens in town, if not hundreds, but a favorite is the McKinney Avenue Tavern (2822 McKinney Avenue; 214-969-1984; www.mckinneyavenuetavern.com), affectionately nicknamed the Mat. There is a carved-wood bar with two dozen or so rickety tables fronting the 30-odd television screens that show nothing but sports, day and night. When the Cowboys play, the joint is bedlam. Rule No. 1: Go early, stay late.

THE BASICS

American, Delta, Continental and other major airlines serve the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. A recent Web search turned up a nonstop American flight from La Guardia starting at $269 for travel in February. A car rental is optional; there are plenty of taxis in the city.

Dallas has plenty of luxury hotels. The Ritz-Carlton, Dallas (2121 McKinney Avenue; 214-922-0200; www.ritzcarlton.com/dallas) ranks near the top, with one of the finest restaurants (Fearing’s), a spa and other amenities. Rooms start at $299 and go much higher.

The Joule (1530 Main Street; 214-748-1300; www.luxurycollection.com/joule) is a new and trendy hotel in downtown Dallas, and features a Charlie Palmer restaurant, a jazzy basement nightclub called PM, and a rooftop bar with a pool. Rooms start at about $325.

The Belmont (901 Fort Worth Avenue; 866-870-8010; www.belmontdallas.com) brings back 1940s charm with modern amenities. Set across the Trinity River, this recently restored hotel has a terrace bar and inviting midcentury-style rooms done in vibrant colors. Rooms start at $125.

Postscript: February 22, 2009
The 36 Hours column on Feb. 8 about Dallas noted that the Gerald Peters Gallery on Dragon Street was a top draw in the city’s Design District. Although the gallery was contacted during the editing process to confirm the details, the editor was not told that the gallery had announced in late January that it was closing to the public on Feb. 14. It will be open by appointment only through the end of the month."

Meet Marsha

Marsha Mason’s life is like a multi-faceted crystal – each “face” a different talent. The celebrated actress of theater, film and television has garnered four Academy Award nominations (one for the popular “Goodbye Girl”), as well as an Emmy and two Golden Globes. In recent years, she also became a successful entrepreneur, producing Resting in the River Natural Products on her certified organic farm, Rio Abajo Rio, in Abiquiu, New Mexico.

Today, after years of thriving on her land by the Chama River, she feels the pull of the theater. She will soon co-star in Michael Jacob’s play “Impressionism,” along with Jeremy Irons and Joan Allen.

Truth be told, Marsha Mason never really left the theater. While running her business in New Mexico, she was reunited in 1999 with her “Goodbye Girl” co-star Richard Dreyfuss in Neil Simon's “The Prisoner of Second Avenue” at the Royal Haymarket Theatre in London.

The Land

Then four-time Oscar-nominated Marsha Mason came to Abiquiu, New Mexico years ago, the land had sat idle for many years. As she nurtured it back to life, the land nurtured her, and she created Rio Abajo Rio, her certified organic medicinal herb farm, which yielded Resting in the River Natural Products. Today, the fertile soil produces medicinals and flowers – gifts from the earth that heal and nourish. This land is mystical as well as healing and is a safe haven for the wildlife she loves. It captivates and energizes, is full of rugged beauty and precious water. Crystalline air and glorious light bring the colors of nature and dwellings in sharp relief. New Mexico’s voices echo from the past – Native American, Hispanic, Anglo – and this land holds their stories.

The name Rio Abajo Rio means River Beneath the River. The land runs along a two-mile stretch of the Rio Chama and also has ponds. In a state where water is precious and scarce, abundant water rights are available throughout the property’s 247 acres, ready to accommodate a wealth of possibilities. There is also a rainwater gathering system for the dwellings. The views across the fields to the river and beyond are both tranquil and exciting. The changes that Mother Nature brings to the land and sky are a never-ending entertainment to those who live here.

Verbage from Marsha Mason Splash Page

"

	Just minutes from where Georgia O’Keeffe’s home and surroundings breathed life into her masterpieces lies Rio Abajo Rio.
Inspired by a book on Argentinean estancias, Marsha Mason built her home as deliberately as she nurtured the land. Taking two years to complete, the main house encircles a central courtyard and a fountain – a classic estancia. It hugs the earth – a long, screened portal overlooks the fields and ponds, mountains and sky. The home’s traditional Spanish-European elements comfortably take their place within New Mexico’s ethnic mix. Stone door and window surrounds, intricate ironwork, beamed ceilings, Spanish-tiled floors, artisan-designed doors from Spain, Italy, and India, and fireplaces from Europe detail airy rooms. Thick adobe walls keep summers cool and winters warm. "

Briggs Freeman Lists Marsha Mason's Land

Hey Everyone,

Sorry I forgot to post this last time, but here is the link to Briggs Freeman's virtual tour/info micropage about Marsha's property. Check it out! It's really fascinating and provides lots of details, not just about the land and house, but also about Marsha herself and Abiquiu.

Click Me!

Marsha Mason's Mystical Land

Briggs Freeman Real Estate Brokerage of Dallas -- A luxury real estate broker that frequently handles some of the most elite properties inside (and sometimes outside) of the Dallas region -- has recently taken on the task of listing film and stage celebrity, Marsha Mason's property in Abiquiu, New Mexico.

O.k., so usually I'm not a big fan of New Mexico. My grandparents live in Portales, with a front yard view of a 40 acre peanut farm. I remember the grey/brown boredom I always felt at their secluded home, wishing that something, ANYTHING, would happen to relive my otherwise eventless days. Since then, any mention of New Mexico sprouted sprialing visions of dreary tumble weeds, tired horses chumping listlessly on dried, dusty hay, and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles of flat, brown horizon. Abiquiu, however, is something entirely different.

Here, the landscape swirls with deep, seductive hues of burgendy, bronze, gold, and azure blue. Understandably, painters from all over the world have specifically sought out Abiquiu to perfect their craft. Most notably, Georga O'Kieffe lived and painted only a few miles from Marsha Mason's property. This land breaths life, color, emotion with every curve of the rolling hill and steep peaks of the soaring mountains.




Most particularlly, though, I'm so excited to hear about Marsha Mason's property, not so much because of her beautiful adobe mansion, as for her gorgeous spralling acres of certified organic farm land. For the past several years, Marsha has dedicated much of her time to crafting a medicinal floral garden which she's used to create her singular health and beauty products, such as luxurious body butter, body wash, and fragrent body mists. Her company, "Resting in the River," promotes organic living through the use of sustainable farming practices as well as high quality beauty products. With the national move toward greener living, many "organic" farms still slide harmful chemicals into their products. Marsha Mason's land, however, ranks among the highest levels of orgnic certification: biodynamic farming. I hope that whoever purchases her beautiful property will maintain her level of organic integrity and continue to provide great products for the many of us seeking to achieve a greener lifesytle!