I am immensely passionate about real estate, which is why I became a sales associate in 2010. Like all of us, I have a number of other passions which I like to explore in my free time.  Last year, I found myself missing the fun, community and self-expression associated with being on stage so I founded th AfterWork Theater Project, New York’s first recreational theater company for non-professional performers.

AWTP creates theater with the sole purpose of fostering community and recreation.  We provide every day people with the opportunity to rehearse and perform fully-staged plays and musicals in New York City, no audition required.  Participants pay a tuition and are part of the production. Parts are decided on what we call “Launch Day” where the cast shares their skills in order to see where individual strengths are. We work with non-professional actors only and see the program as simply fun, making no claims about furthering the acting careers of our cast members.

For our first production, we took on HAIR: the American Tribal Rock Love Musical and the results far exceeded any of our expectations.  The cast consisted of 35 members ranging from ages 18 to 65 and the participants ran the gamut from a high school graduate to a senior-level attorney. We rehearsed for two and a half months and then performed for an audience of family, friends and more. The cast bonded in a beautiful way and the whole process took people back to their youth, not to mention helping release the stresses of our daily working lives. The spirit of HAIR is all about breaking down walls and freeing the human spirit and that’s what the AfterWork Project is all about.  I even got a beautiful new listing out of it.

We are currently preparing for our next season when we’ll rehearse and perform Jonathan Larson’s Pultizer Prize winning musical: RENT.

Read the glowing New York Times review of the AfterWork Theater Project’s production of HAIR here.

This week’s question: How do you improve a space with viewless windows?

The CORE Agent verdict: When windows don’t provide views, create a visually pleasing scene inside.

Agents are often tasked with finding a beautiful apartment with views, but not every home comes with stunning vistas. A lack of views can be a major obstacle when selling an apartment but there are ways to draw the attention away from what’s missing and focus on the positives of the space.

An eye-catching ceiling light elongates the space and draws attention inward.

Patrick Mills suggests “making the interior living space the center of attention.” With out natural light an apartment can feel dark and uninviting but if you can think creatively there are ways to brighten a space. Patrick stresses the importance of a cultivating a fun and welcoming atmosphere, “whether it’s using interesting lighting choices or adding candles, there are always way to make viewless properties seem brighter and more energetic.”

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There’s nothing like a multi-level apartment to make you feel like you’ve escaped the tight confines of the city. Owners love being able to split up common areas and bedrooms, or just the ability to create a large master suite with total privacy. Here are our favorite duplexes (and one that’s larger) on the market right now.

Where: 211 East 51st Street, PHB
Size: 3 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
Asking: $5,750,000
Listed by: Tom Postilio

This Midtown East penthouse has a lot going for it besides its central location and vast interior space. Both levels are surrounded by over 1,600 square feet of private terrace space, nearly wrapping around both levels. The inside is in mint condition, and we love the generous proportions of all the rooms. And, of course, you can’t forget the ceiling height, which make the spaces apper even more grand than.

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It’s a New Yorker’s dream: a living space big enough to invite friends and family over without worrying about everyone stepping on each other’s toes. Sometimes even luxury homes don’t come equipped with grand entertaining spaces, but the three that follow on this list don’t have that problem. For all you aspiring hosts out there, here are our favorite party-ready pads.

Where: 72 Reade Street, 4 FLR
Size: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
Asking: $5,750,000
Listed by: Michael Graves

A big and bright floor-through loft in TriBeCa is perfection when it comes to entertaining. The contiguous dining, living, and family room space creates a massive area for all the action, with a large L-shaped terrace at the end to handle the overflow. (And, come summer, everyone will be knocking down your door.) The open chef’s kitchen and high ceilings are a loft-lover’s delight.

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Lofts are perhaps the most New York way of living. Airy and spacious, they are the romantic manifestation of the city’s transformation from industrial grit into a chic urban utopia. High ceilings, wide open spaces and cast-iron never go out of style, and here are three of our favorites.

Where: 200 Mercer Street, 2-A
Size: 4 bedrooms/4 bathrooms
Asking: $4,500,000
Listed by: Patrick Mills and Evan Greenberg

This SoHo triplex makes the best use of combining the loft style with a more traditional, townhouse-like layout, creating a common area that is expansive and open but still allows the privacy of a separate floor for bedrooms and an informal media room. What really makes the place special, however, is the third level which simply consists of a large bedroom or office and a huge private outdoor terrace.

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Where: 163-165 West 18th Street, 8-C
Size: 2 bedrooms/2 bathrooms
Asking: $2,175,000
Listed by: Evan Greenberg and Patrick Mills

We probably sound like a broken record when it comes to Chelsea–galleries, bars, restaurants, hotels, the High Line, etc.–but we just believe in the neighborhood and its attributes that much. This two-bedroom apartment in a boutique condominium on West 18th Street really is an eye-catcher, and it’s easy to see why: Top of the line appliances are everywhere, all bathed in light from the floor to ceiling windows. All this, in the best location around. (There we go again.)

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