He's got one posh pad, and views

Feelings of jealousy are difficult to contain around real estate developer Curtis Kemeny, especially as he gives a tour of his Newbury Street penthouse.

"The secret to 360 Newbury Street," he says of the former office building that he converted to posh condos, "is that I built my house, and dragged 53 other people with me to fill the other units."

Kemeny, CEO and president of the Boston Residential Group, occupies 3,000 square feet in the northeast corner of the building that sits at the intersection of Newbury Street and Massachusetts Avenue. The building, the former home of Virgin Records, was given an award-winning renovation by architect Frank Gehry in the 1980s. The first floor of Kemeny's duplex penthouse has 24-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows with lordly views of the Charles River and Newbury Street. When he starts listing off all the finishes - walnut floors, Sub Zero appliances - my envy flares intensely.

"It's the ultimate bachelor pad," he says. "I'm a divorced guy with no kids, so I figured that I've got a few years where I can enjoy having a bachelor pad."

This spring, Kemeny, 45, will unveil his latest development, 285 Columbus Lofts, in a space once occupied by the Red Cross. Condos in the building, which is slated to open in April, will sell between $650,000 and $1.6 million. It sits at the corner of Columbus Avenue and Clarendon Street, an area that is experiencing a minor condo boom. Kemeny compares the interiors of 285 Columbus to "a European boutique hotel."

The Brookline native, who grew up in a real estate family, recently sat down to share some of his Boston favorites. And yes, his bachelor pad penthouse ranks near the top of the list.

Culture vulture: "I've been on the board of overseers at the ICA for the past few years. It's a really special organization. I love art and contemporary art, and the people who are involved there are really fantastic. When I talk about Boston becoming more sophisticated, more international, and more urbane, that's really embodied by the ICA. It's cool, young people making art accessible to everyone."

Top shops: "When I'm suited up, I wear Brioni suits and I buy those at Neiman Marcus. The Italian designers tend to work well for me. Typically I might shop at Alan Bilzerian or Neiman Marcus for something to wear out on Friday or Saturday night, but it's going to be more Prada or Gucci. I might wear an Etro shirt with a Brioni blazer, and some Prada pants. I'm not a guy who's on the latest trend. Classical elegance for me is important."

Nightlife hangout: "The Beehive is my place. [Club partner] Jennifer Epstein is a good friend. I love live music. When I was younger, I would go to a place like the Cantab, or I would go to the Lizard Lounge and hang there. But at my age, the Beehive is more the answer. It's people who are a little bit more mature, and it's interesting and sophisticated."

Where he dines: "I spend a lot of time eating out with friends. I'm a big fan of B&G Oysters. Rocca is a fantastic restaurant and Michela [Larson] is a great friend. I think they're doing a great job at Gaslight, and I spend a lot of time at Myers + Chang (left). I'm a big wine and cheese guy. South End Formaggio is where I get cheese, ham, dried fruit, nuts, and fresh bread."

Sweating in style: "I love the Equinox gym. I was wondering when they were coming to Boston. It's a Manhattan take on a gym. The decor is really stunning, and the spin classes are great."