Tours of luxurious condo 
to aid Children’s Hospital

If you're in the market for a waterfront home on the North Shore, expect to pay top dollar. But if $2.5 million is more than you can afford, you can still get a glimpse of luxury beginning next month at a new Swampscott condominium with sweeping views of the water and the Boston skyline for a good cause.

For $25, you can tour the fully furnished home from Sept. 12 to Oct. 7 to benefit Boston Children's Hospital.

The 3-bedroom condo is one of four units for sale at The Concordia, which used to be three buildings that encompassed Cap'n Jack's Inn before longtime business associates Barry Turkanis and Bruce Paradise converted it into 14 condominiums.

"We tried to build it in the flair of a small, oceanfront town," Turkanis said.

What emerged was a home incorporating classic seaside architectural elements with the amenities of a modern residence.

"When we began the project, the developers said they were looking for classic, traditional design, so I started with wall coverings in colors that would reflect the ocean," said design coordinator Jerry Rippetoe of TJ's in Cape Neddick, Maine. "From there, everything just fell into place."

As you enter the first-floor unit, a chandelier from Lucia Lighting hangs overhead in the hallway. To the left are combined living and dining areas with a gas fireplace along one wall and a built-in, flat-screen TV discreetly hidden in cabinet space along another.

The living area also has a balcony with a piped-in gas hookup to accommodate a gas grill to cook up food from the full chef's kitchen, which features green tile walls and marble countertops, bone-colored cabinets, two built-in ovens, a stainless steel gas range and a hidden fridge with custom panels on the front.

The master bedroom comes with emerald-­colored damask wall­paper, custom window treatments, a built-in reading nook overlooking the water and his-and-her bathrooms and walk-in closets.

"This is a marriage saver," interior designer and blogger Megan Meyers announced when she saw the bathrooms and closets on a tour of the condominium Thursday. "I don't think I would want to kill my husband as much."

Back at the front door, turn right, and a hallway leads to a small half-bath and a room with a washer, dryer and sink; a study; a media room; a small second bedroom with a trundle bed; a larger guest bedroom; and two more bathrooms.

Although the furnishings are only for show, the unit does come with two, custom-cut Landry and Arcari rugs.

Touring the condominium offers "an opportunity for people to enjoy a beautiful house, but at the same time support Boston Children's Hospital," which last year had more than 10,000 patient visits from the North Shore, said Michael Bornhorst, the hospital's director of corporate initiatives.

Proceeds will go to the hospital's Children's Fund, which helps the areas of greatest need, such as patient care, research and education.

Home Showcase

Address: The Concordia, 245 Humphrey St., Swampscott

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 4-1/2

Parking: 3 underground heated spaces

List price: $2.5 million

Living area: 3,760 square feet

Condo fees: Between $800 and $900 per month

Location: On one of Swampscott's main streets, 25 minutes from Boston and Logan International Airport, with easy access to public transportation.

Built in: 2013

Broker: Tom Kennedy at Gibson Sotheby's International Realty in Boston, 617-947-9201

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Sturdy Chevy Silverado shows versatility

Whether you're pulling a boat, camper or trailer, the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado not only has the towing capacity and power to handle just about any job, its sophisticated features, combined with a well-appointed cabin, can make a long road trip to a summer fun spot a lot less taxing.

Anyone who has struggled with backing up a trailer, myself included, can appreciate the Silverado's rear-view camera — it's the secret weapon at a busy boat ramp. The Silverado's trailer brake controller combined with trailer sway control further eases the task of towing, especially when your travel plans include highway speeds. Our test Silverado had a 7,000-pound towing capacity.

The truck, which topped out at just under $41,000, had a 5.3-liter V8 engine with FlexFuel capability. The pickup's combined fuel economy was 19 mpg. A base Silverado has a smaller, fuel-sipping 4.3-liter V6. For more power, Chevy offers a 6.2-liter V8, one of the largest powertrains found on a light pickup. Regardless of engine choice or trim package, a smooth six-speed automatic transmission is standard throughout the Silverado lineup.

Our test truck arrived with rear-wheel drive, which had me scratching my head a bit when you consider New England driving conditions. While great for fuel efficiency and overall driving performance, I imagine it would make winter driving challenging. Granted the Silverado is equipped with traction control to help maintain control in low-traction situations, but I still envision having to weigh down the bed over the rear axle to keep the truck tail in line over icy, snow-covered roads.

Despite the truck's size, the Silverado was easy to drive and fairly hassle-free to park, even in downtown Boston. Hydraulic body mounts helped to significantly reduce road noise. The truck's bench seats were large and comfortable. Power adjustable pedals were appreciated given the bench seating. We found plenty of room throughout the cabin for a day trip to the beach with our three children seated across the rear bench. They were content for the two-hour trip as they were able to keep their technology charged with multiple USB ports. We found the storage cubbies on the inside of the truck's large four doors useful for stowing drinks, snacks and reading materials. While I was able to stow some of my camera gear under the rear seats, the beach bags, coolers and boogie boards got thrown into the bed.

A power sliding rear window really increased the flow of fresh air when we decided to shut off the air conditioning. An easy lift and lower tailgate that prevented the gate from slamming down combined with a step cut into the bumper and handholds made bed access a cinch.

The 2014 Silverado represents a good choice for towing or as an alternative to a large SUV. A bed cap would be a must for my family to keep our garb out of the weather. I'd also go with four-wheel drive. The soon to be available safety features such as forward collision alert and lane departure warning are worth considering as well.

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Microhotel developers revise plans

Hospitality market conditions dictate that bigger is better when it comes to hotel rooms, according to a developer of a proposed microhotel in Boston's Theatre District.

Amherst Media Investors has altered its plans for a moderately priced, select-service hotel at the corner of Tremont and Stuart streets.

The Summit, N.J.-based outdoor advertising company wants to reduce the number of hotel rooms from 240 to 202 and add two stories to the building — for a total of 21 stories at 213 feet.

Amherst said the changes are necessary to increase room sizes to better accommodate visitor expectations in the current hotel marketplace, according to plans submitted to the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

The glass-faced building would total 117,000 square feet, up from the 101,000 square feet previously proposed.

The new plans are the latest in a string of development proposals that date to the late 1990s for the city-owned parcel next to the Wilbur Theatre.

Amherst's plans for three-story, Times Square-like digital video billboards on the hotel's facade have been simplified to consolidate the signage at the building's Tremont and Stuart streets corner. A rooftop bar has been removed from the design.

Amherst's new hotel development partner, Spartanburg, S.C.-based OTO Development, replaces Austin, Texas-based HotelWorks Developers.

OTO's portfolio includes 39 hotels — the closest of which is in Manchester, Conn. — and six in development. Its hotel brand partners include Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites, and Hampton Inn & Suites.

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Palmer casino proposal unveiled

Local officials in Palmer will vote Tuesday on a deal with Mohegan Sun that would pay the town nearly $3 million upfront, followed by at least $15.2 million annually, in exchange for allowing the company to build a $1 billion casino there.

If the Town Council and the management board of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority ratify the pact, the council will schedule a referendum on the deal, which also includes an estimated $23 million for sewer, water and road improvements that would expand the Exit 8 interchange on the Massachusetts Turnpike.

"It's still up in the air as to whether it's something I would want," council President Philip Hebert said. "I intend to ask the council to set aside a certain amount to be applied to the tax base."

Mitchell Etess, CEO of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, said the yearly revenue Palmer would receive would exceed its annual tax revenues and represent the largest per-capita and per-household mitigation of any western Massachusetts gaming proposal.

Iris Cardin of Palmer, co-president of Quaboag Valley Against Casinos, called the agreement a "travesty" that will bring traffic, crime and compulsive gambling.

Mohegan Sun is competing with two other companies for the only resort-casino license in western Massachusetts. Hard Rock International has proposed a West Springfield resort that residents will vote on Sept. 10, and MGM Resorts International has proposed a casino that Springfield residents approved July 16.

In eastern Massachusetts, Everett voters approved a Wynn casino on June 22. East Boston and Revere signed a host community agreement with Suffolk Downs but have yet to schedule a referendum. Milford residents have neither signed an agreement with Crossroads nor scheduled a vote.

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Cream of the crop of hot Boston market

Home prices are still surging, but the pace of the gains has steadied as interest rates continue to rise, according to the most recent S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices.

Still, there are some eye-popping properties up for sale in Boston — if you're in the market to impress.

Back Bay:

776 Boylston St. 
Unit W12B 
The Mandarin 
$13.5 million

This 5,000-square-foot, 3-bedroom, 21⁄2-bath, front-facing residence on the 12th floor of the Mandarin Oriental has Charles River views from all entertaining rooms in addition to having multiple terraces. The home is exquisitely finished with limestone and walnut hardwood floors, custom wall coverings and professionally designed lighting and is equipped with a state-of-the-art Crestron home automation system as well as a Bang & Olufsen home theater and audio system.

This home is perfect for entertaining with abundant built-in wine storage, a commercial-grade kitchen and a separate butler's pantry. The home comes with two full garage parking spaces and has plenty of storage built into the unit as well as two additional storage spaces within the building.

This home is being marketed by Megan Kopman and Jillian Adler of Campion & Campion Fine Homes Real Estate.

Beacon Hill:

56 Beacon St. 
Single-family

$12.5 million

This 8,682-square-foot, 5-bedroom, 61⁄2-bath, grand Beacon Hill townhouse beams with natural light and overlooks the Boston Common. The open, spacious parlor level includes a kitchen, family room and mudroom that opens to a large, private patio.

The spectacular dining room allows for 14-person dining. The second-floor living room boasts floor-to-ceiling windows as well as a library and office rich in detailed woodwork.

The master bedroom suite encompasses the entire third floor and has an enormous walk-in closet. Four additional guest bedrooms comprise the fourth and fifth levels.

There are two decks on these upper floors, abundant storage and eight fireplaces.

This home is being marketed by JeanneMarie Conley and John Corcoran of Otis and Ahearn Real Estate.

Midtown:

2 Avery St. 
Unit PH1D
The Ritz 
$2,995,000

The dramatic views from this home look directly toward the Charles River from the 38th floor of the Ritz Tower located at 2 Avery St. This 2-bedroom, 21⁄2-bathroom condominium has a bit less in square footage at 1,597, yet the landscape of the Boston Common, the Public Garden, the Back Bay neighborhood and Charles River bring this home to life through the 14-foot floor-to-ceiling windows.

This much coveted "D" unit floor plan includes an expansive living room with separate dining area as well as a chef's kitchen equipped with granite countertops, Viking double wall oven and separate gas cook top.

The private space includes a sumptuous master bedroom with en suite marble bath, as well as a guest bedroom with its own bathroom.

This home includes two valet garage parking spaces and is being marketed by Kathleen Cook and Kaitlyn Attfield of Atlantic Associates Real Estate.

Charlie Abrahams is a licensed real estate agent in Boston who works with buyers and sellers and can be reached for any 
additional information at: Bostonrealestate@
charlieabrahams.com.

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Tooth Fairy inflation: Price of a tooth nears $4

NEW YORK — Days of finding a quarter under your pillow are long gone. The Tooth Fairy no longer leaves loose change.

Kids this year are getting an average of $3.70 per lost tooth, a 23 percent jump over last year's rate of $3 a tooth, according to a new survey by payment processor Visa Inc., released Friday. That's a 42 percent spike from the $2.60 per tooth that the Tooth Fairy gave in 2011.

Part of the reason for the sharp rise: Parents don't want their kids to be the ones at the playground who received the lowest amount.

"A kid who got a quarter would wonder why their tooth was worth less than the kid who got $5," says Kit Yarrow, a consumer psychologist and professor at Golden Gate University.

To avoid that, Brian and Brittany Klems asked friends and co-workers what they were giving their kids. The Klems, who have three daughters and live in Cincinnati, settled on giving their six-year-old daughter Ella $5 for the first tooth that fell out, and $1 for any others. They say that $5 was enough without going overboard. They didn't want other families to think they were giving too much.

Then Ella found out that one of her friends received $20 for a tooth.

"I told her that the Tooth Fairy has only so much money for every night, and that's how she decides to split up the money," says Brian Klems, 34, a parenting blogger and author of "Oh Boy, You're Having a Girl: A Dad's Survival Guide to Raising Daughters."

Confused about what to give?

Ask other parents what they're giving, says Jason Alderman, a senior director of financial education at Visa. That can at least get you in the ballpark of what your kids' friends are getting, he says. Alderman gave his two kids $1 a tooth.

"I think we we're on the cheap side," he says. Other families gave about $5 a tooth. One family gave their kid an antique typewriter. "I have no idea how they got that to fit under the pillow," he laughs.

Visa also has a downloadable Tooth Fairy Calculator app that will give you an idea of how much parents in your age group, income bracket and education level are giving their kids, says Alderman. The calculator is also available on the Facebook apps page.

How much kids are getting from the Tooth Fairy depends on where they live. Kids in the Northeast are getting the most, according to the Visa study, at $4.10 per tooth. In the west and south, kids received $3.70 and $3.60 per tooth, respectively. Midwestern kids received the least, at $3.30 a tooth.

Then there are the heavy hitters.

After losing her first tooth, 5-year-old Caroline Ries found a $100 bill under her pillow, along with a brand new My Little Pony toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste.

But there was a catch.

Her mother, Nina Ries, also left a note saying that the $100 had to go straight to Caroline's college fund. The Tooth Fairy would give her another $20 to spend anyway she likes if she brushes her teeth every day after lunch for a month. She did, and 30 days later Caroline found $20 under her pillow.

Ries, a 39-year-old lawyer and owner of Ries Law Group in Santa Monica, Calif., says that $120 is a lot to give, but she believes that she is teaching her daughter that education and taking care of your teeth is important. Ries says her friends give their kids about $20 a tooth.

That's way more than the $1 Ries used to get for losing her teeth as a child.

"It's incredible inflation," she says.

The Visa survey results are based on 3,000 phone interviews conducted in July.

_______

Tooth Fairy Calculator: https://apps.facebook.com/449594221747991/

Follow Joseph Pisani at http://twitter.com/josephpisani.

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Boston fast food workers planning to stage strike

BOSTON — Fast-food workers across Boston are preparing to walk off the job to protest what they say are low wages and poor benefits.

The protests are part of what organizers say are similar walkouts planned in dozens of cities Thursday to push chains such as McDonald's, Taco Bell and Wendy's to pay workers more.

U.S. Sen. Edward Markey is planning to attend an afternoon rally in support of workers on Boston Common.

Organizers say they expect the nationwide strike to be the largest ever by fast-food workers. It follows a series of strikes that began in New York City last November.

McDonald's has said workers' pay starts at minimum wage but the range goes higher, depending on the employee's position and experience. It said raising entry-level wages would mean higher overall costs, which could result in higher prices.

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Global stocks rise as talk of a Syria strike eases

BANGKOK — Global stock markets rebounded Thursday as jitters began to ease about a possible international military response to the Syrian conflict.

The U.S. appeared to be edging closer to intervention in Syria after Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Tuesday that American forces were ready to act on any order by President Barack Obama. But the prospect of an immediate multinational response diminished Wednesday after the U.N. Security Council's permanent members failed to agree to a proposal to use force against Syria.

Investors have been reducing exposure to Asia's emerging markets for several weeks, anticipating that the U.S. Federal Reserve will begin withdrawing its monetary stimulus. The sell-off accelerated this week when the U.S. said it had proof that chemical weapons had been used against civilians in Syria's civil war.

The respite in tensions sent investors on a bargain-hunting spree.

"The market already had a significant drop," said Linus Yip, strategist at First Shanghai Securities in Hong Kong. "So I think for some traders, it's a good time to bet."

In early European trading, Britain's FTSE 100 rose 0.7 percent to 6,475.45. Germany's DAX advanced 0.4 percent to 8,193.73. France's CAC-40 added 0.4 percent to 3,976.58. Wall Street futures signaled a higher open. Dow Jones futures rose 0.3 percent to 14,848. S&P 500 futures rose 0.3 percent to 1,637.20.

Asian stocks also posted solid gains. Japan's Nikkei 225 index rose 0.9 percent to close at 13,459.71. South Korea's Kospi advanced 1.2 percent to 1,907.54. Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.7 percent to 21,704.78. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.1 percent to 5,092.40.

The benchmark PSE index in Manila rose 3.6 percent after data showed the Philippine economy expanded by 7.5 percent in the second quarter, one of Asia's fastest growing, as robust domestic spending insulated it from weak global demand.

"The most encouraging aspect of today's data was the continued strong growth in investment," said analysts at Capital Economics. "Recent improvements in the business environment as well as an ongoing clampdown against corruption should further support investment in the next couple of years."

Among individual stocks, energy shares rose sharply after oil prices hit a two-year high Wednesday. Japanese energy explorer Inpex Corp. jumped 5.2 percent. PetroChina Co. rose 1.8 percent.

Qantas Airways soared nearly 14 percent after the Australia flag carrier reported a modest annual profit, a sign of recovery after a record loss the year before.

Benchmark oil for October delivery was down $1.10 to $109 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose $1.09 to close at $110.10 a barrel on Wednesday, its highest finish since May 3, 2011.

In currencies, the euro fell to $1.3271 from $1.3337 late Wednesday. The dollar rose to 98.08 yen from 97.74 yen.

___

Follow Pamela Sampson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pamelasampson

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Vodafone confirms talks to sell Verizon stake

LONDON — Vodafone, one of the world's largest mobile phone companies, has confirmed it is in discussions with Verizon Communications to sell its operations in the United States.

The British wireless provider is mulling its options for its 45 percent stake in the U.S.'s Verizon Wireless, of which Verizon Communications owns the other 55 percent.

Analysts have suggested that Verizon wants to pay around $100 billion for Vodafone's stake, although reports have said that U.K. group is pressing for as much as $130 billion.

Vodafone, which has wide-ranging interests and is expanding in Europe, has long been rumored to be interested in a U.S. exit.

Net income at Verizon Communications was $2.25 billion last year.

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Three intrigue for next Microsoft CEO

Microsoft — the largest software maker in the world and a critical Kendall Square anchor — needs a new grand marshal following longtime CEO Steve Ballmer's sudden announcement that he is retiring within a year.

The Redmond, Wash.-based company needs a leader who doesn't want every product to be centered around Windows and Microsoft Office. Both have excellent brand recognition, but the problem is what people are actually recognizing — something old and stodgy. If Microsoft wants to excel as a consumer electronics company — an ecosystem of laptops, mobile technology and home entertainment via the Xbox — it needs to promote one of the following three people to the top job:

Vice President for Windows Phone Program Management Joe Belfiore: He's created the best smartphone interface on the market — and also the most under-appreciated, due to incompetent branding. But branding is something Belfiore understands. That's what is behind his recent hipster makeover, which has been striking for the few of us who watch Microsoft Windows Phone presentations. In fact, he kind of looks like a young Apple fan, with his greasy long hair and blazer. He's the perfect face for a company that needs to be cooler and hipper. He knows how to give a great presentation just like the late Steve Jobs. And it's an added bonus, at least for me, that Wall Street would absolutely freak.

Stefan Weitz, director of Bing: Imagine breaking into the search engine market and having to take on the absolute domination of Google? Weitz did just that and he did it well. Bing has clawed its way to just below 20 percent of search-engine market share, which is no small accomplishment given the barriers. But Weitz's vision goes beyond search. With Bing, he's building a knowledge base for a future mobile personal assistant that aims to leapfrog Siri and Google Now. In fact, he said in a recent interview that he wants to "recreate the physical planet inside of Bing." He's a sagacious thinker and would cause a similar stir on Wall Street, while simultaneously drawing the right buzz and attention to a consumer products segment that desperately needs it.

Scott Guthrie, corporate vice president of the Microsoft Developer Division: Also under 40 and an incredible technical leader, Guthrie isn't afraid to go open source — meaning that he's led the quest to allow developers to build applications using any language, tool or framework and publish them on the Internet. His developer tools have been a huge boon to the startup community. If he could bring his entrepreneurial mindset to the upper echelons of Microsoft, the company could be really fun to watch.

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