to my dispute with Butrin. That is, don’t think I’m against rich people having fun in Cannes. I’m all for it. Envy is a bad feeling. Just remember that the average price per square meter in Moscow exceeded US$5,000 two weeks ago. Remember that, and congratulate the construction sector on its favorable pricing environment. Please, don’t bring up the fact that if your salary is $2,000 a month and your wife’s is $1,000 (not exactly a poor family, right?), then you could stop drinking, eating, buying clothes, and giving your mother a gift for March 8 (International Women’s Day) for twelve years, after which you might be able to buy a three-bedroom apartment in a five-story building. By the way, the article mentions my favorite, Maxim Temnikov, who believes that “Russians have gotten out of hand—they’re demanding salaries of $800.” He was dancing go-go. Builders Without Complexes
enlarge photo ... Quotes: This year, the organizers of MIPIM (the International Market for Real Estate Professionals) in Cannes happily reported that three times as many Russians had come as the year before. At the same time, every self-respecting Russian company hosted an evening reception or disco. As a result, guests could attend three or four events in a single evening. ... This year there were so many Russian events in Cannes that the management company IFD Kapital even launched a special service to help people navigate the parties. ... The next day, Inteko and the Moscow city government hosted a high-profile society reception. Every year, the company chooses some landmark venue for its party, usually a museum. Last year it was the Automobile Museum, and this year it was the Musée de la Castre, located in a 12th-century castle. ... Later they were joined by ... Denis Kitaev, son of Nina Kitaeva, head of Moscow’s architecture administration, and CEO of the construction company Evocom. ... At the next table, Maria Roslyak, chair of the board of Bank Ogni Moskvy (from me: as I understand it, this is the daughter of Moscow Vice Mayor Roslyak), and Leonid Kazinets, president of Barkli Corporation, were enjoying oysters. ... The following day, Shalva Chigirinsky hosted a return reception. VIP guests were flown by helicopter to his Maria Irina villa in Monaco. Everyone else made their way there using the map enclosed with the invitation. First-time visitors were amazed by the large beautiful garden, the pool, the splendid house, and the view over Monaco. ... On the forum’s penultimate day, no fewer than three parties were scheduled. Renova-Stroy Group held a poolside evening at a villa in Cannes. Peresvet-Invest hosted a reception at the Palm Beach casino club. Ksenia Sobchak was supposed to emcee the disco, but no one ever saw her appear. So not only the guests but the hosts of the evening as well headed off to Mirax Group’s beach party. Descending from the pier onto the beach, guests entered “outer space” — they were greeted by aliens. The climax of the evening was the appearance of a hologram of Sergei Polonsky in the hall. He sat in a huge chair in the middle of cosmic space, dodging asteroids. “I’m glad to welcome representatives of the best companies here — Don-Stroy, Inteko, Barkli...,” hologram Polonsky began his speech. “Everyone gathered here is the best in this country, in this world, in this universe.” ... Late that night, when the alcohol at the Mirax party ran out, those still eager to keep the fun going headed to Le Baoli, where a disco hosted by the French magazine GQ and Penny Lane was underway. ... On the last day of the exhibition, there was no one at the stands, in the clubs, or in the restaurants — three days of intense work and heavy drinking had proved too much for many of the participants.