Walk with me for a moment—down tree-lined streets and tucked-away courtyards, past limestone façades and gilded elevators that still open with a quiet clatter. To be sure, the Gold Coast is a neighborhood where I sell real estate, but it is also a place that has shaped me. I’ve walked its corners for decades, watched its skyline shift, and guided more buyers and sellers through these blocks than I can count.

But here’s the thing: the real story of the Gold Coast isn’t in the MLS. It’s in the stories behind the stories.

Back in the 80s, the second building I ever lived in after moving to Chicago was 1300 Astor—yes, the one perched on stilts above the old Maxim’s. I paid $675 a month for a one-bedroom and felt like the cat’s meow. I’d look out the windows and dream, peeking across the street into the gracious co-ops with their classic moldings and formal grandeur.  That feeling of elegance and possibility? It never left me. In fact, it’s what pushed me to work harder—so I could one day help others find their own story here.

That’s why, to this day, when I walk these streets—from Bellevue to North Avenue—I see beyond the structures to memories, moments, entire lifetimes playing out in limestone, brick, and glass.

But let’s talk buildings, because that’s where the stories live. The co-ops at the corner of Astor and Goethe are some of my favorites—1301 Astor, with one apartment per floor in a stunning Art Deco tower: 1255 and 1325 Astor, full of understated grandeur and romantic architectural details. These are homes that whisper history.

Then there’s 1550 N. State Parkway, where I’ve sold many residences. Walking into that lobby feels like stepping into a Parisian hotel—think Plaza Athénée or the George V. It’s timeless, it’s gracious, and it’s the kind of building that doesn’t just impress—it welcomes.

But the magic of the Gold Coast is also present in its corners. It’s Restoration Hardware for a sun-dappled coffee, or the Third Coast Café across the street for a wonderfully unfussy celery root salad that’s one of the best things you’ll ever eat. It’s the way Astor Street curves gently past historic mansions, the way morning light hits the lakefront from Burton Place, the quiet dignity of every block.

I’ve watched this neighborhood evolve for decades, and I’ve helped clients—many who’ve become dear friends—find their place in it. I’ve sold homes with Juliet balconies that catch the breeze just right, and ones with fireplaces that still crackle with stories of holidays long past.

These aren’t just listings to me. They’re part of a living, breathing neighborhood I know in my bones. The Gold Coast is elegant, yes—but it’s also layered, deeply personal, and at times delightfully quirky. And it’s this blend of history, charm, and a touch of old-world romance that keeps me devoted to it.

So when someone asks, “Why the Gold Coast?” I smile. Because the answer isn’t just in the square footage or the marble baths. It’s in the streets themselves—the ones I’ve walked a thousand times. The ones I know by heart. And when you’ve worked a neighborhood this long, you begin to read it like a story:

• Chapter One: How the sidewalk gardens smell after the rain.
• Chapter Two: Which windows catch morning light just right.
• Chapter Three: Who lived there before, and what it meant to them.

That’s the real Gold Coast. Beyond prime real estate, it’s a collection of personal histories, details, and lived-in elegance. I know which buildings let pets up to the roof deck, which door staff remember your birthday, and which lobbies feel like the opening scene of a very good movie. I’m not saying this to boast—though I am proud of the years I’ve spent here. I’m saying it because place matters. And when you find someone who doesn’t just know the listings but understands the story each home is telling—you’re already halfway home.

And if you're ready to discover what stories this neighborhood might hold for you—well, I’d be honored to walk you through it.