25A February Issue 2015 by 25A Magazine

Gold Coast Luxury Magazine

Travel The World With Private Jet

Bridal Romance Issue

February 2015

25A

news Anchor

Morrison means business

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Wedding Salon of Manhasset

AUSTIN SCARLETT

Anywhere in the World.

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contents February 2015 Cover

72 An Interview with Ashley Morrison 12 Publisher’s Note

Fashion 22 Wedding Couture Oleg Cassini, Other Voices, Other Rooms Maggie Norris Eliann: NYC’s Luxury Purse Designer Rising Star in Haute Fashion A Wedding at Per Se

Beauty Beauty (nu) BestBridal Look nuBest Salon And Spa’s Signature Treatments Winter 2015

Regimen

What’s Tilting Your Scale She Can Be Shaping Up Before The Big Day Nutrition Tips to Look and Feel Your Best

CHANEL Black acetate square sunglasses with pale gold and crystal temples and polarized gray gradient lenses, made in Italy, $600

contents February 2015 Design

The Art Of Bathing Margreet Cevasco & Vasi Ypsilantis The Design Duo J/R Luxe Manhattan's Luxury Property Dynamic Brokerage Duo

Feature The Charles M. Pratts and Henry C. Folgers of Glen Cove and Standard Oil Deep Friendship 1865â&#x20AC;&#x201C;1935 Long Island In Winter

Celeb Joycelyn Engle Vice President of Supenova Media Geraldo Rivera Competes For Charity On NBC's The Celebrity Apprentice

Taste Celebs Go Gluten-Free At WILD Restaurant Think Soup Kenta brings a new look, of Modern Asian Cuisne

Travel Romantic Getaway to Las Alcobas Seeking Wentworth in New Hampshire Everwunder Wonders Of The World By Private Jet Journey Four Seasons Hotel Toronto Travel Trends For Adventures 2015 The Spectacular CARNIVAL Of Lucerne

Live Effortlessly.

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888.563.2902 · TheResidencesLongIsland.com The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Long Island, North Hills are not owned, developed or sold by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. or any of its affiliates (“Ritz-Carlton”). RXR North Hills Phase I Owner LLC uses The Ritz-Carlton marks under a license from Ritz-Carlton, which has not confirmed the accuracy of any of the statements or representations made herein. The complete offering terms are in an offering plan available from sponsor. File No. CD-14-0036.

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contents February 2015 Art A Penny For Your Thoughts Abstract Artist Deborah Held

Auto 106 Azimut Yacht Presents Azimut 77S

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Poem Wedding Blessing Two Historical Novels; The American Heiress and The Dressmaker

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Event Deck The Halls Christmas Party at Coe Hall Star Studded Event to Benefit Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center LA Screening And Private Dinner For Song One Party Scenes From The New York Circuit The Glitterati Packed Opening of Annie Wattâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Show at Gallerie Dumonteil in Manhattan SHAG Celeb. Trunk Show 25A Cover Party Featuring Richard Salgado Held at Hendricks Tavern

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Publisher’s Note

Chase Backer Publisher

Happy 2015 and welcome to 25A’s first issue of the New Year! As we enter into this New Year, I am pleased to have the beautiful and talented, television anchorwoman, Ashley Risk Morrison on our cover. You will read her fascinating journey on how she became the anchorwoman she is today. February being our bridal and romance issue, I’m sure you will find some great bridal gowns from Oleg Cassini and the wedding salon in Manhasset, and much more for all you soon-to-be brides. Continuing with our romance theme, Valentine’s Day being in February as well, you will surely be inspired by our features in this issue. From Stephen Grants feature article on Deep Friendship to Victoria Crosby’s Wedding at Per Se, not to mention Monica Randal’s, Long Island in Winter. Need to get away or make reservations for Valentine’s Day? Venus Quintana takes us to Kenta for some modern Asian cuisine, and Elizabeth Adams goes gluten free at Wild restaurant. Our travel trends can suggest many adventures for you in 2015 or just let Ever Wunder inspire you to relax, gaze, celebrate or dine. Valentine’s Day is the time to express your love for those special people in your life. The people I love are my children and my family. To them and to you, 25A readers, I wish you a very happy Valentine’s Day!

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Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC, P.O. Box 1227, Westwood, NJ 07675-1227 Tel: 1-877-877-3735 www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com © Copyright Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited 2012. The Rolls-Royce name and logo are registered trademarks.

Gold Coast Luxury Magazine

25AA

November 2013

25A

Long Island’s Gold Coast Luxury Magazine

Long Island’s Gold Coast Luxury Magazine Publisher Chase Backer

Publisher Chase Backer Editor-In-Chief Jason Feinberg

Editor-In-Chief Pernilla Hughes

Nassau County Exec Ed Mangano Maksim Chmerkovskiy Megan Hilty Gateway Canyons Resort

Jr. Art Director Rebecca Townsend Office Manager Lori Biddiscombe Ofﬁce Manager Lori Biddiscombe Asst. Office Manager Linda Cunningham

TIM

MATHESON

Asst. Ofﬁce Manager Stefanie Rodriguez Director of Financial Marketing Georgia Gerosaus

December 2013

25A Gold Coast Luxury Magazine

February 2014

25A

LAURA BELL

Gold Coast Luxury Magazine

BUNDY

25A Gold Coast Luxury Magazine

March 2014

KATIE

LEE

Oleg Cassini Vera Wang The Gateway to Machu Picchu Bridal/Romance issue

Cover photo by Nigel Barker

Fran Drescher Courtney Reed Eden Roc at Cap Cana Baker House 1650

BOBBY

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April / May 2014

Food Issue Alex Guarnaschelli Kingside Damaris Phillips Vitae American Cut Revel Gold Coast Chefs

Gold Coast Luxury Magazine

Mother's Day Gift Guide Voltaire's Castle The House on Fort Hill

Anthony Rapp Basketball Legend

CLYDE FRAZIER

TOCJUN2014_A.indd 11

Copy Editor Carla Santella Director of Strategic Marketing Prof. Jack Mandel Editor-at-Large Gwen Wunderlich-Smith Director of Financial Marketing Georgia Gerosaus Features Editor Victoria R. Crosby Editor-at-Large Gwen Wunderlich FitnessEditor Editor Kristy Castagna Fashion Debi Pine Food Editor Morgan Features EditorClara Victoria Caruso Fitness Editor Pam Polestino Food Writer Venus Quintana Food Editor Venus Quintana Contributing Health Editor Scott B. Wells, M.D. Contributing Health Editor Brustein Scott B. Rosen, Wells, M.D. Nutrition Editor Lindsay M.S., R.D. Nutrition Brustein Rosen, M.S., R.D. SocietyEditor EditorLindsay Christopher Robbins Society Editor Christopher Robbins Arts and Travel Editor Diana Pinck Arts and Travel Editor Diana Pinck Features Writer Stephen Grant Features Writer Victoria Crosby Gold Coast Writer Monica Randall Gold Coast Writer Monica Randall

Event Coordinator Tina Ruggiero Contributors Contributors AndreaCorreale, Correale,Kristy Shane Fonner, Olivia Katz, Jane Lerman, Liz Mendoza, Aline Andrea Marie,Fonner, Alyssa Natalie Nightingale, Ilena Ryan, Shane Gaebelein, Olivia Jamie Katz, Jerome, Norah Lawlor, Norah Bradford, KimLiz Radovich, Darwen, Elizabeth Adams Miller, Diana Erbio, Jane Lerman, Mendoza,Elizabeth Kelly O’Malley Mattone, M.D., JamesMineo, Rothaar, Maria Dello Andrea Aline Marie, Alyssa Nightingale, Ilena Ryan, Iris Wiener Contributing Photographers Contributing Photographers Dean Fogel, James Woodley, Patrick McMullan, Tom Fitzgerald & Pam DeutchPatrick McMullan man, Deann Arce, Van Cushny, Paul Gerben, Clifton Parker, Paul Prince, Kat Deann Arce, Van Schiano, Cushny, Paul Gerben, Rabbit, Johnny Jennifer Thomas, Stacey Skordas, Wayne Herrschaft, Clifton Parker, Paul Prince, Kat Rabbit, Ric Marder Johnny Schiano, Neil Tandy, Jennifer Thomas Contributing Photo/Videographer Benno Klandt Contributing Illustrator Robert Bergin Contributing Photo/Videographer Benno Klandt Advertising Account Reps Paul Anthony, Trish Cope Contributing Illustrator Robert Bergin Hair & Make-up NuBest and Spa Trish Cope Advertising Account RepsSalon Paul Anthony,

Contact: Contact: 1057 RdRd 1057Jericho Jericho East Norwich, NY 11732 East Norwich, NY 11732 516.864.2525 (f) 516.399.2444 (f)www.25Am 516.399.2444 agazine.com For advertisment please call 516.864.2525 for more information. facebook/25amagazine twitter/25amagazine Writers, Models, Musicians and Photographers please inquire ©www.25Amagazine.com Copyright 2013 by 25A magazine, All rights reserved. 25A magazine is published ten times per year. Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher facebook/25amagazine twitter/25amagazine and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as such and unconditionally assigned Musicians for publication subject to 25A magazine’s right to edit. Writers, Models, and Photographers please inquire

© Copyright 2014 by 25A magazine, All rights reserved. 25A magazine is published ten times per year. Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher and editors are not responsible for unsolicited material and it will be treated as such and unconditionally assigned for 5/20/14 5:14 PM publication subject to 25A magazine’s right to edit.

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Available at Bloomingdale's

Tara Tulle ballgown with Silk Duchess Satin hand rolled bias applique on skirt.

Austin Scarlett Available at Wedding Salon of Manhasset

SERAPIAN

New at Bloomingdale’s Men’s Case. Gray with black trim textured leather medium duffel, $1,595. Pebbled leather briefcase, $1,525.

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Isabelle Armstrong

WEDDING COUTURE

Emilia Available at Wedding Salon of Manhasset

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Austin Scarlett Jubilee

Augusta

Strapless tiered organza ballgown with tiered skirt and soft pink underlay. Available in Soft White/Rose Petal as sampled, Ivory and White. Available at Wedding Salon of Manhasset

Off-the-shoulder Silk Faille dropped waist ballgown with sculpted ruffle train. Available at Wedding Salon of Manhasset February 2015 | 23

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Kenneth Pool

WEDDING COUTURE

Meredith Strapless dropped waist ballgown with shimmer tulle Available at Wedding Salon of Manhasset

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Isabelle Armstrong Abigail Available at Wedding Salon of Manhasset

February 2015 | 25

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Kenneth Pool

WEDDING COUTURE

Isa Hand-beaded, crystal embellished gown with dropped waist and layered tulle skirt. Available at Wedding Salon of Manhasset 26

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Isabelle Armstrong Eliza Available at Wedding Salon of Manhasset

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Kenneth Pool

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Aleshia Corded lace fit to flare gown with sheer back, draped lace ruffle and tulle skirt. Available at Wedding Salon of Manhasset 28

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Isabelle Armstrong

WEDDING COUTURE

Helena Available at Wedding Salon of Manhasset

February 2015 | 29

couture

25A Oleg Cassini Other Voices, Other Rooms

This Oleg Cassini story evokes the collection’s blend of feminine and formal elements. “Other Voices, Other Rooms” is set in a pale yet airy interior that echoes the rococo architecture of a Parisian drawing room; the floral moulding, grand window-spaces and clean lines complement and accentuate exquisite dress details, like cascading lace and intricate beading; a soft play of shadow and light further illuminates the gown’s detailing and graceful silhouettes. “Other Voices, Other Rooms” feels true to the bride who is above all, elegant, polished and refined. The Oleg Cassini collection is inspired by a bride who is graceful and sophisticated. She is poised and self-assured, with an elegance that’s effortless. She seeks out luxury in its most modern forms, not what’s excessive or over the top; she appreciates clean lines, expert craftsmanship and exquisite detailing. She knows what’s at the forefront of fashion but never chases trends. As a bride, she aspires to possess beauty that is memorable, striking…and all but impossible to look away from. The following concepts transport the Oleg Cassini bride to some of the world’s most refined, culturally rich cityscapes, each with its own very specific, very sophisticated aesthetic and cinematic allure. The following concepts transport the Oleg Cassini bride to a world combining architectural elements with exquisite dress details. They capture the Oleg Cassini brand essence and inspire the bride who is elegant, polished and refined.

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Rhett Off-the-shoulder Silk Mikado trumpet gown. Skirt gathers into voluminous bow train.

Austin Scarlett Available at Wedding Salon of Manhasset

Chloe Silk Mikado trumpet gown with bustier style seaming. Shown in Rose. Also available in Soft White and Ivory.

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aggie Norris Couture

aggie Norris is a consummat artist, infused with a passion that has taken her to the very height of design, Haute Couture. A world where art and beauty meld into a dialogue of craft and expertise. “My affinity to the Haute Couture craftsmanship is because of its unyielding perfection.” Ms. Norris’ journey in the fashion industry began with Ralph Lauren, as a Creative Designer. Shortly thereafter, she was deemed the Senior Design Director, in charge of the Women’s Collection. Thirteen years later, Ms. Norris left Ralph Lauren and moved to Europe. There she continued to follow her passion and worked as the Chief Designer of Mondi’s Women’s Collection. In 2000, Maggie returned to America and by utilizing her expansive knowledge and worldly experience, matched with her incomparable taste, she launched Maggie Norris Couture in Manhattan, New York. Maggie’s Collections are influenced by her own style aesthetic, as well as the many cultures she has encountered while traveling the world. Such collections as Baluchar, Homage, Ballada, Equestrienne and even

Eco-Couture are reminiscent of the opulence of Russia, the delicacy of India, the colors of Morocco and the “Eco-Aware” global explorer. Maggie Norris has always designed her collections in an attempt to create pieces that are refined, unique and timeless. Due to her unyielding willingness to maintain the highest quality, Maggie Norris Couture creations are cherished by many notables including, Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts, Alicia Keys, Diane Keaton, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Beyonce and First Lady Michelle Obama. Collaborating with Artists and Photographers such as Annie Leibovitz, Nelsons Shanks, Audrey Schilt, Anna Kiper, Julie VerHoeven and Terry Richardson has always been a focus for Ms. Norris. Furthermore, Maggie’s Couture pieces have been featured in such publications as Vogue, Vanity Fair, WWD, and The New York Times and have been exhibited in museums such as the V&A, the Museum of the City of New York and The Museum of FIT. While Couture remains an integral part of Maggie’s principle, Maggie Norris New York will launch its first Pret-A-Porter Collection. The collection will portray a similar style and sophistication her clients have come to worship. Maggie Norris has fused the quality of Couture with Ready-to –Wear seamlessly.

Brooke Shields- “Seraphine” Corset, fabricated from an assemblage of eclectic vintage documents. Portraying incredible beading and floral appliqué, garnished with crystals and gold threading. Sebastian Marrovici, a principal dancer at the New York City Ballet, adorned in a gold Silk Taffeta Cummerbund. Interpretation of Michelangelo’s “Pietà”.

Maggie Norris left to right: “The Dragon Lady” by Artist Nelson Shanks featuring “Katarina” Couture Corset by Maggie Norris Couture. Photographer” Joseph Dolderer www.NelsonShanks.com. Krystal Joy Brown wearing Maggie Norris Couture. Photographed by David White. Styled by Cynthia Altoriso. Model wearing Maggie Norris Couture photographed by Dan Lecca.

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ANZHELIKA STEEN-OLSEN FounderofEliann

NYC

Luxury Handbag Line Of Choice Among World-Renowned Socialites, Celebrities

RISING STAR IN HAUTE FASHION Empowering Women With Chic Handbag Designs By James Rothaar

t has been a very eventful year for Anzhelika Steen-Olsen, the founder and creative director of NYC-based Eliann. Her company is rapidly becoming the luxury handbag line of choice among world-renowned socialites, celebrities, and empowered women that are able to own any bag, clutch, or purse of their choice. A lot has happened between our first encounter and now… and things are spirally upward marvelously for the nouveau chic label that cannot keep up enough stock in house to satisfy its high-society clientele. The rapidly rising designer label is currently working on its first exclusive line of products for a national retailer for Fall 2015. Handbags by Eliann have made appearances at the most prestigious red-carpet events of the year, ranging from New York’s premier event, the Angel Ball, to the Academy Awards presentation in Los Angeles. Academy-award winner Darlene Love was seen at the weekend Oscar festivities carrying a clutch by Eliann. Songwriter and socialite

Denise Rich carried an Eliann-designed clutch to NYC’s Angel Ball. Anna Lynne McCord opted to carry an Eliann bag to the pre-Oscar bash, the Hollywood Domino. The Eliann bag line has cropped up everywhere VIP women gather. “My art and passion for life find their freedom in my bags, Anzhelika Steen-Olsen, said. “Our style specifically, expresses a wordless communication that all refined women understand … celebrating and reflecting diversity in the society where we all live.” Eliann creations are available in NYC specialty boutiques and online through Polyvore. Ms. Steen-Olsen’s collection also will soon be available on ahalife.com too. “Our profile has been raised even more this year through various celebrities, musicians and actors carrying Eliann bags,” said SteenOlsen. “I especially enjoy working with celebrities to make one-of-kind pieces. It is quite an honor to see these various publications refer to me as the designer of the stars! February 2015 | 45

A Wedding at Per Se By Victoria R. Crosby

wedding at Per Se is a very elegant event. I attended such a wedding on a warm autumn day. It was a second marriage for both bride and groom. She was radiant in a floor length strapless white gown and he was debonair in a bespoke suit. Some of the sixty or so guests were dressed in formal attire and others were not. The bride’s teenage son played the piano as guests took their seats in a room, filled with white flowers and candles, one of the several private rooms off the main dining room. The groom’s teenage daughter read a bible verse, and his young son acted as the ring bearer. The service was followed by a cocktail reception. The food served at the wedding dinner in the main dining room,

overlooking Central Park and Columbus Circle, was similar to Per Se’s tasting menu, including their famous Oyster and Pearls dish, small portions beautifully presented, each a little work of art, but with many courses and with special wines for each course. You leave Per Se feeling neither hungry nor satiated, but very satisfied. The modern decor is warmed by a glowing fire behind glass. The service is always impeccable at Per Se, which is one of several restaurants in the country owned by Chef Thomas Keller, and has the reputation as being one of the finest in New York. The first time I was there was for lunch, and one of the wait staff brought over a small stool so I didn’t have to place my handbag on the floor. It is small details such as this that make it a memorable experience, even more so perhaps than the amazing food and wine.

(nu) Best

Bridal Look

Photo by Ed Zorz, Zorz Studios

By nuBest Salon and Spa

uBest is noticing that more brides are asking for airbrush makeup, which is your best bet for your big day. It lasts longer, has a more natural finish and looks flawless in photos. Airbrush makeup is also perfect for the long haul, resisting smudging or running the way traditional makeup is prone to doing. More and more brides seem to be doing away with dramatic makeup in favor of softer, more natural beauty with a perfect complexion and subtly glamorous finish. The Nude Look - The perfect look for any bride, especially those celebrating their nuptials with a daytime or early evening wedding, this look is based around delicate flesh tones of beige, tawny and rose with highlights of champagne and platinum. Lips are muted with a soft hint of pink or berry for color, while cheeks glow with a touch of golden peach. Eyes are subtly defined with warm, smoky shades of chocolate and sable. Romantic/Ethereal - Taking a page out of the Pre-Raphaelite playbook, this look combines a soft hairstyle with one dramatic feature - either the eyes or lips. Key shades include soft plums, bordeaux, muted crimson and brick reds, perfectly suited to dark or red hair. Lips should remain matte, while dewy, translucent skin and plenty of lashes complete the look. Classic With A Twist - For the bride who wants some Old Hollywood drama in her look, a face centered on a softly smoky eye is the way to go. Layering

shades of grey and taupe rather than the harsher, more traditional black, the eyes should be finished with some type of liner and plenty of mascara to keep the look soft and sensuous. Cheeks should have a neutral glow while lips should be paired down to let the eyes shine.

Beauty Tips: *Start with a face primer that minimizes pores- Retexturizing Face Primer by nuBest salon and spa. *Blotting papers are a must have to decrease shine during the day for photos. *Setting spray will keep makeup in place for hours on end. *White eyeliner brightens whites of eyes and makes eyes look more open and alive.

Hair Trends: Hair is worn loose and flowy. Wavy hair is gently pulled back and paired with a simple and delicate headpiece that won’t dictate the style. Smaller, brooch and comb-style hairpieces are becoming more and more popular for this reason. On the other end of the spectrum is tight and sleek hair, which is a more striking, dramatic look. Curls or tendrils are done away with in favor of clean lines and a simple silhouette. Hair & Make Up done by nuBest Salon and Spa

Signature Treatments Winter 2015

et’s face it: Winter can be a real drag, but everything you need for an amazing staycation is located right at nuBest salon and spa. There are some basic indulgences that no one should have to live without. nuBest salon and spa has the perfect antidote to fighting the winter blahs -- the nuBest signature facial and the nuBest signature massage. These pampering treatments are the perfect way to escape the winter doldrums, while leaving you feeling refreshed and relaxed.

By nuBest Salon and Spa

This massage is designed to activate the healing powers of the body with special attention given to the feet. Warm towels, lightly scented with essential oils are applied to the feet followed by a reflexology massage. The treatment lasts 75 minutes and is only $125.00.

The nuBest signature facial is a highly personalized treatment that improves the skin’s texture, replenishes moisture, and leaves skin glowing. Our signature treatment includes a thorough cleansing of the skin around the nose, cheeks and chin followed by a gentle yet brightening exfoliation. Gentle extractions are made if necessary. A relaxing face, décolletage and hand massage is given, followed by a special hydrating eye mask to reduce puffiness while firming fine lines and wrinkles. The treatment is 75 minutes of pure relaxation and rejuvenation and is only $120.00.

About nuBest salon and spa: For over 41 years nuBest salon and spa has been the beauty destination for fashionable people who want to look and feel their best. Michael Mazzei and his staff of over 125 beauty professionals provide world-renowned services including; hair design, hair color, hair straightening and perming, facials, massages, eyelash extensions, traditional and air-brush make-up application, spa nail services, waxing, threading, laser hair removal, special bridal services and personalized Spa parties, all in a cutting edge space of over 20,000. Sq. ft. Michael and his son Jamie, and nephews Vincent and Christian are proud to be an integral part of the beauty community and look forward to continuing their tradition of creativity and excellent service.

The nuBest signature massage is a customized full body treatment that focuses on releasing tension, relaxing muscles, and improving circulation.

NuBest salon and spa is located at 1482 Northern Boulevard, Manhasset, NY 11030. Please visit our website at www.nubestsalon.com

t a

g Y n i t our l i T S ’s ca By Maria Dello, CN

For decades, people have been on at least one type of diet—or, shall we say, “die it.” First we had the grapefruit diet, and then we tried the cabbage soup diet until more popular Atkins, Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig diets came about. Weight loss can vary from the five pounds we gained in the wintertime to the 20 pounds accumulated since high school. We have all felt the need to diet at some point in our lives, and some people seem to be on a lifelong diet. But why is it so hard to part with the pounds? Is it our daily routine, or does it all boil down to chemistry? What works best and seems like a simple, logical solution is a healthy lifestyle that includes eating balanced meals, portion control, exercising on a regular basis and resting. Math is important, too: the ratio of calories in / calories out plays a significant role. Additionally, muscles have memory, which implies that being fit in our younger years results in better health as you age. Genetics also play a key role; having one overweight parent increases your chance of “inheriting” the same body type by 70 percent. What happens when you go to the gym four days a week and eat healthy, but the scale is still not moving? First, ask your doctor to monitor how your thyroid is functioning. Hypothyroidism, a condition of this gland, is known to hinder weight loss. Second, examine the level of mercury in your body. It may sound irrelevant, but eating too much fish high in mercury will increase the mercury concentration in your body and thus inhibit weight loss. Once the body reaches its fill of this toxic chemical, your natural defense system kicks in and begins to store the mercury in the adipose tissue in an attempt to protect the organs. Speaking of chemicals, certain medications like anti-depressants can also deter weight loss as part of their side effects. In these cases, too, check with your doctor and figure out the best tests and steps to take. Third, look at DHEA, a.k.a. “the youth hormone,” produced by the adrenal glands. Low levels of DHEA, typical in early adulthood, can be associated with abdominal fat and loss of energy. Although obvious, another important factor is stress, which is the leading cause of disruption in our natural rhythms. You can’t talk about weight gain without referring to metabolic syndrome, better known as syndrome X or insulin resistance syndrome, also a precursor of diabetes. Some of the telltale signs are high triglycerides, abdominal obesity 50 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

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and a high body-fat ratio. Metabolic syndrome is the single best predictor of future heart disease, diabetes, stroke and some forms of cancers. By simply ordering blood analyses and combining the findings with a quick family history, the metabolic syndrome can be identified and the steps necessary to intervene will be clearer. As it turns out, there is more to consider than the number of calories you consume. Living healthy should be a part of life. Our first 25 years are a gift, but we sometimes take advantage of our youth without much thought about consequences. We then spend the next phase trying to correct the damage we’ve done. So how about going back to the basics for a change? Some simple steps might entail exercising regularly, monitoring your stress levels and keeping a food journal. Holding yourself accountable always goes a long way. When the body is nutritionally sound, it works like a Swiss clock. Assume a nourishing lifestyle, and you will eventually find the answers to a healthier you.

Maria Dello, CN is a Certified Medical Nutritionist and owner of Dellonutritionals, located at 75 Plandome Road in Manhasset, NY. Ms. Dello was recently seen on NBC’s The Today Show, and frequently appears on television nutrition segments. She also previously co-hosted WOR 710AM Radio’s, “The Heart Show,” where she lectured about weight loss, diabetes, and family nutrition. Ms. Dello is dedicated to her passionate goal of teaching, guiding, and educating every individual who walks in her door or visits her website about the benefits of a salubrious lifestyle and diet. Maria’s proven combination of the most curative nutritional advice and latest state-of-theart technologies, coupled with the one-on-one support and daily guidance in her Manhasset office, makes her one of the gems of Manhasset’s North Shore. Many North Shore doctors have recommended Maria to their patients with successful results. For more information on Maria Dello, CN, visit www. Dellonutritionals.com or call 516-365-1222.

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Gravity In Motions foremost training staff, with their precision, expertise, and versatility, reflects the state of art training facility itself. Lose bodyfat, increase strength, improve athletic and sport specific performance and get fit – Gravity In Motion helps reach goals. It is a fun-filled activity zone for Youth Birthday Parties, entertainment. Activities include wall climbing, zip line, monkey bars, and padded turf facility!

Now offering Custom Ryde: tilt and turn on the RealRyder or Ryde straight on a stationary bike. Check out our At the Barre/TRX®/Cardio Core/POUND®classes. The beauty of exercising in this day and age is that you have the ability to choose from many excellent workout choices to have the health and body you have always wanted. No more excuses.

Our challenging Group Fitness Program features classes running the gamut from heart pounding cardio to pilates and feel the burn sculpting. We also offer an extensive dance program for Children, Teens and Adults starting at 3 1/2 years old, including ballet, lyrical and hip hop. Or, workout in our fully equipped state of the art gym either independently or with one of our certified personal trainers.

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regimen

25A Shaping Up

For Your Big Day!

Its finally happening, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re getting married! While strategically planning your big day to ensure that By Kristy Castagna it will be as picture-perfect as youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve dreamed it, looking your absolute best in that dress or tuxedo may be the most important detail. Wedding pictures are forever and will be looked at for generations to come. While wedding planning can take up most of our time and money, having a workout routine is imperative to getting your mind and body wedding ready. Finding a diet and exercise plan that fits into your schedule and budget may seem harder then choosing your reception venue. In our area there are many great new and exciting workout facilities that can keep you motivated and focused. Here are a few examples of facilities in our area. Soul Cycle is located in Roslyn and Woodbury is a high intensity cycling class that provides a full body workout in just 45 minutes. Burning close to 700 calories in a single class while the instructors and music motivate you to push yourself is a great way to get the mind and body in shape. Pure barre has many locations throughout our area. Pure barre is a total body workout that is inspired by ballet. The 52 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

ballet barre is utilized to sculpt muscles and elongate your physique. During a 55 minute class at pure barre you can burn an average of 400 calories. This is best to tone your body. Title boxing fitness club kickboxing class a high impact workout with many convenient locations that can get you in shape while you punch out your planning frustrations. Getting slim and toned will not make you a better bride but it can help you become your healthiest you! Remember that confidence is your best accessory! Enjoy the moments of your wedding day as you create memories that will last a lifetime. Congratulations and cheers to a happy lifetime! Kristy Castagna, LMT, is a licensed massage therapist. A graduate of the New York College of Health Professions. An active member of the American Massage Therapy Association. She can be reached at KristyCCC@me.com or at (516)779-2542

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Roger B. Katz, MD

regimen

25A

Nutrition Tips to Look and Feel Your Best Whether It’s A Wedding, A Reunion, Or A Big Night-Out, Here Are Some Simple Tips And Tricks To Ensure You’ll Look And Feel Your Absolute Best Before The Big Day: By: Lindsay Brustein Rosen, MS, RD

Avoid Bloating Your Belly

Break The Fast

You don’t want your perfect outfit to look anything less than perfect on you. Avoid anything loaded with sodium for at least 24 hours before party time. Steer clear of foods like pickles, potato chips, and Chinese take-out. It is a good idea to limit carbonated beverages, too, which can add sodium and make you feel gassy. Stick to bubble-free drinks like water and decaffeinated green tea.

Have a hearty breakfast that includes a high fiber carbohydrate with a lean protein source. A perfect example would be one slice of Ezekiel or whole grain bread with a scrambled egg, or a plain Greek yogurt with berries and nuts/seeds. This meal will keep you satiated and prevent overeating later in the day.

Decaffeinate Yourself

Snack before you arrive at the event to curb your appetite and prevent you from overeating later. Try a handful of roasted almonds or walnuts, a mozzarella string cheese, or some raw vegetables and hummus.

Limit your morning cup of java to one…at most. Stock up on iced or hot herbal teas as well as natural water with a slice of fresh lemon, orange, or cucumber. Caffeine is a diuretic so it can lead to dehydration, depleting your energy levels.

Snack Before

Space Out The Alcohol Start the evening with a calorie-free, non-alcoholic beverage. Satisfy your thirst before having an alcoholic drink. Alternate alcoholic beverages with water or club soda to keep you hydrated and able to enjoy every minute of fun. Be Picky Choose carefully between foods you definitely will eat, those you will sample, and those you will skip. Just because there are many food options that you may like, or may not usually eat, this doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mean that you should eat them. Aim to fill your plate with 50% vegetables, 25% lean protein, and 25% high fiber starches to keep your energy up, hunger down, and tummy flat. Keep Your Focus Away From The Food. While good food is certainly an important part of an enjoyable party, be sure you keep it in perspective. Appreciate the other great things: socializing with family and friends, the beautiful decorations and ambiance, music and dancing. No Matter What, Stay Positive Even if you did overdo it at the party, keep things in perspective. Move on, and get back on your healthy diet and fitness regimen the very next day!

nutritionbybru.com Lindsay Brustein Rosen, MS, RD is a registered dietitian and the founder of Nutrition by Bru, a nutrition counseling and consulting practice in New York. She received a Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from New York University, and has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, as well as the Greater New York Dietetic Association.

design

25A

The Art Of Bathing Text by Kim Radovich, Photos by Ric Marder

n our busy, fast paced lives we often forget how essential it is to pause, reflect and recharge. The master bath, when thoughtfully designed and decorated can offer that reprieve.

I began to contemplate the aesthetics of bathing when I embarked on the renovation of my own master bathroom. Harbor Hill was built in 1906 and renovated in the 1930's and in spite of many updates the 56 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

bathroom was shabby, outdated and disjointed. With cabbage rose wallpaper, mauve Formica countertops, a linoleum floor and equally dated fixtures and hardware it had most likely been renovated in the mid1960's and in much need of a re-design. I wanted it to serve as an extension of the master bedroom suite and reflect the old world ambience that resonates with the home while providing all of the comforts of modern state-of-the-art fixtures and fittings.

Calacatta marble tile is clean and bright but offers cool grey and warm golden veining allowing enough movement to serve as the foundation for the room. An Elegante Calcutta counter top sits on the double sink console with acrylic crossbars reminiscent of those so popularly used during the first few decades of the twentieth century. Frameless doors frame the large marble tiled shower with both rain head and body sprays. The soaker tub is the focal point in the room and a treasured watercolor nude is framed above it. Double French doors with eglomise mirror lead to the walk in and linen closet respectively.The room was ample so my antique bergere chairs upholstered in a slubby silk have found a happy home here adjacent to the

tub. The room, well lit with petite recessed halogen lights, a polished nickel chandelier and simple nickel sconces are outfitted with linen shades. Of course, all are on dimmers so the mood from a functional bathroom to a spa-like romantic retreat is created with a flip of the switch . Accessorized with plush white Egyptian towels, candles and a fabulous sound system the room becomes the perfect escape after a harried day. The art of bathing has become a lost tradition in our culture and certainly one worth resurrecting. February 2015 | 57

design Margreet Cevasco

Vasi Ypsilantis

Margreet Cevasco & Vasi Ypsilantis

The Design Duo

anhasset-based kitchen & interior designer Vasi Ypsilantis of Vasi Ypsilantis Design Associates and owner of Poggenpohl Long Island, along with Sea Cliff-based interior designer Margreet Cevasco of Margreet Cevasco Design, partnered with Mitco Construction on Phase II of the Kitchen & Dining renovation for the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island, a respite for families of seriously ill children, located in New Hyde Park. This is the second year the design duo poured their heart and soul into the Kitchen & Dining area with a 1,600 square foot expanded open living area which was transformed into a universally accessible

58 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

living environment that’s spacious enough for multiple families to cook and dine simultaneously, while offering an uplifting and comfortable feeling. “Our combination of design and contracting expertise enhances the project’s creativity and functionality, since Margreet and I both employ a similar design aesthetic. Teaming up on renovations can be a challenge, but we’ve enjoyed 10 years of successful showhouse projects, residential renovations and endearing friendship. We share the same goal which is to make these dream kitchens and living spaces a reality for parents and families who are seeking the comforts of home,” said Vasi Ypsilantis.

The contemporary space features several design and architectural details that accentuate the room and offer a dramatic outcome: the enhanced coffers created to offset low drop ceilings, energizing green wall color, whimsical chandeliers, cerulean sliding pantry doors that make a bold statement alongside classic white European frameless cabinetry and state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances. The kitchen layout functions to support both cooking, storage and eating at any hour of the day or night and multiple integrated appliances complete the design. Additional shelves were built-in to the expanded pantry so each family can store grocery items. The adjacent dining area with cozy banquette seating offers a soothing home-like setting that helps guests unwind and offers a moment of relaxation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we can allow families caring for their children in the neighboring hospital some comforts of home and a

living space that supports them, then we have achieved our goal,â&#x20AC;? said Margreet Cevasco. Vasi Ypsilantis, owner of The Breakfast Room, Ltd., has been creating one-of-a-kind kitchens for more than 20 years. Her firm provides full-service interior design and building/contracting services, along with the finest customer service experience. Margreet Cevasco Design is a full service interior design firm located in Sea Cliff, New York. Her decades of experience, vast resources and talented network of professionals guarantees the most satisfied clients. Together, the Design Duo has collaborated on previous showhouses, including last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Heart of the Home, Mansions & Millionaires at Caumsett, and more than 10 residential projects. February 2015 | 59

J/R LUXE

MANHATTAN’S LUXURY PROPERTY DYNAMIC BROKERAGE DUO By Elizabeth Darwen

eading luxury residential real estate team J/R Luxe brings together Jennifer Roberts and Randi Fisher, who have a combined four decades of experience in buying and selling premier homes in New York City. Possessing a fierce commitment and passionate enthusiasm for Manhattan’s luxury real estate, Jennifer and Randi have seen the ups and downs of the residential market and can offer their clients a refreshingly hands-on and bespoke real estate service, whilst drawing on their impressive knowledge of the emerging opportunities across all the city’s diverse neighborhoods. What sets J/R Luxe apart from many is their boutique, personalized approach. They provide honest, insightful advice for their clients with sensitivity during what can be a stressful and emotional time. “By listening to our clients and understanding their specific needs, we can ensure a seamless and comprehensive experience from start to finish,” says J/R Luxe co-founder Randi. Jennifer says they would almost never pressure a client into purchasing the first home they are shown. “It is so much more than just about closing transactions for us. It’s about each client’s personal experience and journey,” she says. J/R Luxe also emphasizes discretion and professionalism when completing sales and purchases for clients who wish to remain anonymous. Together, Jennifer and Randi have seen the fluctuations of the New York real estate market and know how to navigate it, whatever the

circumstances may be. Both long-time Manhattan residents, they boast thorough and up-to-date knowledge of all New York neighborhoods, and bring a keen eye for value and sharp negotiating skills to the table. As trusted advisors to a wide-ranging international clientele, both globally and domestically, J/R Luxe has expanded its reach into many valuable overseas markets such as Asia. They understand and are accustomed to handling the nuances of international real estate transactions whether they be financial, legal, or cultural issues. For those moving to New York City for the first time, Jennifer and Randi provide a complete concierge service; from advising on private schools to smaller details such as organizing an art curator, they work together with their clients to ensure they feel comfortable at all times. Both Jennifer and Randi are equipped with a high-powered professional and academic background. Jennifer received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and holds an MBA from Fordham University in marketing and finance. She then went on to work as a lobbyist in American Express’ Government Relations Office and as a financial analyst at Bloomingdale’s. Randi is a graduate of Tulane University and before finding her niche in real estate had a busy career in finance and trading securities. Both Jennifer and Randi reside in Manhattan with their families. For more information visit jr-luxe.com.

danielgale.com

Helping North Shore Families Set North Fork Roots

The History of My Family on the North Fork

My father grew up spending summer days on the Peconic Bay boating and swimming with his cousins, creating bonds, and now I watch my own children sharing laughs and building those bonds and memories with their cousins in the same way. I consider it a blessing to raise my own family here in this amazing place. It’s so rare these days to have a family as conncected and bonded as ours. I attribute that to the vision my great grandparents had when they bought their summer home here over 70 years ago. There is something enchanting about this place. Maybe it’s the views of vineyards, horse farms, and open space on your drive out. Maybe it’s waking up to see the water from your bedroom window, or watching the sunset over Long Island Sound as you sip a glass of wine, before you head out to dine in one of the many wonderful restaurants serving fresh seafood from our local waters and produce from a variety of North Fork farms. You find yourself in a completely different world of peace and paradise, only 90 minutes away from Manhattan. Although I have had the pleasure of enjoying family residences in HHI SC, Palm Beach FL, and Manhattan, home for me and my family has always been the North Fork.

Here is a sampling of homes recently sold to families looking to make their North Fork memories.

East Marion, NY – Sold MLS# 2569472. LP $3,950,000.

Cutchogue, NY – Sold MLS# 2563602. $1,799,000.

Donielle Cardinale, CBR

Associate Real Estate Broker Gold Circle of Excellence Mattituck Office 10095 Main Road, Mattituck, NY 631.298.0300, c.631.872.9558 doniellecardinale@danielgale.com

Jamesport, NY – Sold MLS# 2642175. $895,000.

Let me help you find your North Fork dream home

Each office is independently owned and operated. We are pledged to provide equal opportunity for housing to any prospective customer or client, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.

features

25A

The Charles M. Pratts and Henry C. Folgers of Glen Cove and

Standard Oil

Deep Friendship 1865–1935

Signed photo of Charles M. Pratt of Standard Oil Co.Mrs. Charles M. Pratt, c1885, Courtesy of Amherst College Archives and Special Collections.

Signed photo of Henry C. Folger as president of Standard Oil Co. of New York for afraternity brother, Courtesy of Amherst College Archives and Special Collections.

By Stephen H. Grant tories abound about prosperous New York clans summering on Long Island’s Gold Coast during the Gilded Age. Yet behind the extravagance of their mansions and the glitter of their receptions, who can name one deep friendship?

Charles Millard Pratt (1855–1935) and Henry Clay Folger (1857–1930), both first sons, met in PS 15 elementary school in Brooklyn when the Civil War was raging. Charlie left for school from his parents’ mansion; Henry from a modest clapboard home. Henry received an academic prize from Charles Pratt Sr., who was the world’s largest oil refiner in 1870. Henry’s 62 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Uncle James founded Folgers Coffee in San Francisco. Sadly, the heiress to the coffee fortune, Abigail Folger, perished among the Charles Manson murders in the California desert in 1969. After attending Brooklyn’s Adelphi Academy, Charlie and Henry enrolled in Amherst College in western Massachusetts, rooming together for four years in the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity on the main drag of the town of Amherst. Only three blocks away lived Emily Dickinson! There is every reason to believe they never met. Henry and Charlie were studious on campus; Emily was reclusive at home.

Studio portrait of Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Folger and Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Pratt, c1885, Courtesy of Folger Shakespeare Library.

February 2015 | 63

The Charles M. Pratts’ eldest son Morris died of cancer while an undergraduate at Amherst College, Courtesy of Author’s collection. One week after graduation in 1879, Henry started working for Pratt Oil Works, part of Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Co. After a summer touring the American west, Charlie joined Henry where they spent their entire careers and came to hold senior executive positions at Standard Oil. Charlie and Henry were welcomed into the firm as among the first who were college educated. Rockefeller Sr. and Pratt Sr. and most of the men around them had no more than secondary schooling. Charlie’s duties eventually included president of Charles Pratt & Co., director of Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey, and vice-president of Standard Oil Co. of Kentucky. Henry became director of Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey, president and board chair of Standard Oil Co. of New York, succeeded by Herbert L. Pratt. While some of these company names may ring dim bells today, Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey became Exxon and Standard Oil Co. of New York became Mobil. Linked by Brooklyn schooling, an Amherst education, and toil in the petroleum industry, the pair of young gents further bonded by marrying bluestocking alums of Vassar College on the Hudson River in upstate New York. Charlie wed Mary Seymour Morris in 1884 with Emily as bridesmaid and Henry, best man. In 1885, Henry married 64 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Emily Clara Jordan, with Vassar grad Lillie Pratt, maid of honor and Charlie, best man. Henry had met Emily at Charles Pratt Sr.’s home on Clinton Avenue, Brooklyn at a literary salon. Both Mary (Latin and Greek) and Emily (general studies) taught secondary school until they married. As hinted above, the financial means of Folgers and Pratts were vastly different. Henry’s father, a wholesale milliner, suffered from the Panic of 1873. It left him with seventy-five cents in his pocket, he wrote in an autobiographical sketch. Henry was forced to live frugally in college. After buying a towel for seventeen cents, he hastened to write home to his mother asking whether he had been cheated. In contrast, Charlie received packages of pickled oysters from his mother, regaling the brothers with what came to be known as “Pratt’s spread.” Henry dropped out of Amherst junior year as his family could no longer pay tuition. For a spell he lived at home and took courses gratis at the City College of New York. Obviously aware of the roommate’s dire situation, the Pratts stepped in decisively, loaning Henry the money to be reinstated at Amherst and finish his college education. Henry was forever grateful, repaying the loan as soon as he could.

Alpha Delta Phi fraternity brothers with hats and canes, Amherst College, 1879, Courtesy of Amherst College Archives and Special Collections. Lying in the Folger Collection in the underground vault at the Folger Shakespeare Library two blocks from the U.S. Capitol, I found evidence of Henry’s first of many debts he would pay off over more than a half-century. On June 27, 1878, when they were on summer break before senior year, Charlie loaned him $100 ($2,500 in today’s money). “Three years after date,” Henry wrote, “I promise to pay to the order of Charles M. Pratt $100 at 7% interest, signed Henry C. Folger Jr.”

early editions of Shakespeare’s works. He purchased the Warwick Castle library for 10,000£ ($48,000 at the time). Again, Henry turned to the Pratt family to advance him the money. Charlie’s reply came with one condition: Folger had to invite him to his house for a private lecture on the collection. By this time, the Charlie Pratts lived at 241 Clinton Ave., in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The Henry Folgers had recently relocated as tenants from 212 Lefferts Pl. to 24 Brevoort Pl. also in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

By 1890 Henry Folger had started to collect what he called Shakespeareana, anything to do with the Bard. It started as a hobby and gradually became an obsession. He was earning a comfortable living, constantly investing in his Company. In 1896 Emily Folger earned a master’s degree from Vassar in Shakespeare Studies. She was the perfect companion to lend scholarly assistance in developing the collection. The couple was childless; Henry’s books became “his boys.”

These last years of the century was the period when Henry and Emily Folger started renting summer homes in Glen Cove, near the 700 acres of Pratt family’s properties in the northernmost part of the city, Dosoris. Charlie and Mary Pratt moved into their wood-shingled summer home facing Long Island Sound in 1890. In a play on Mary’s middle name, Seymour, they named the mansion that looked out on the Long Island Sound, Seamoor. The Folgers bought their first home when they were in their 70s: 11 Saint Andrews Lane in Glen Cove, across from the Nassau Country Club and the railroad station. For comparison, Seamoor occupied 130 acres, the Folger home, two.

In 1897, Folger learned that the entire library of the Earl of Warwick in England would be auctioned off. The collection contained several

February 2015 | 65

Front façade, Seamoor, residence of Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Pratt, Glen Cove, LI, 1890–1947, Courtesy of Robert R. Coles LI History Collection, Glen Cove Public Library. Front façade, 11 St. Andrews Lane, residence of Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Folger, Glen Cove, LI, 1928–1936, Courtesy of Folger Shakespeare Library. Amherst College has always tried to keep up with its alums’ activities by soliciting periodic reports sent to a class secretary. Today such solicitations are encouraged quarterly, to correspond with the publication of a graduates’ journal. In Folger and Pratt’s day the appeal was moderate: every five years. While grads today are likely to be more open and communicative, in the Victorian era people were more reserved. In 1894, Folger timidly shared, “I have delayed answering your circular intentionally, as up to the time of its receipt I had no history to report. Yet there is no reason why something shouldn’t happen to make me a person of interest to others at any time. I don’t dare wait longer, lest I be omitted altogether.” A decade later, Henry had screwed up his courage to divulge aspects of his life that he was accustomed to keep private. “For me, the history of the 5 years just passed is quickly told. I can report no children born, no books written, no degrees received. Still, the years have been full of hard, and in the main, satisfactory work. The days have been given to business, in which a responsible position in the Standard Oil Co., has called into play much patience and offered a field of unlimited originality and thought. The nights have been employed in bringing together a library of Shakespeareana. In the gathering of books I have been signally fortunate during these years, quite beyond my greatest hopes, and have made a collection of material illustrating Shakespeare which I believe will soon be notable.” The term notable was an understatement. The couple acquired 92,000 books (on average, six books a day) on Shakespeare and his times plus hundreds of thousands of other items that he donated to the American people in the institution he financed and endowed, the Folger Shakespeare Library. Since Henry and Emily consulted book auction catalogues every day to 66 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

acquire new Shakespeare treasures, they could easily turn from Literature to another category where books for sale were described. Knowing that Mary Pratt was building up a serious book collection on butterflies, Emily perused the catalog section under Science on Lepidoptera. Every Christmas, and on other occasions over thirty years, Mary wrote a letter of thanks to Emily, with Charlie sending a second note of gratitude to Henry. Charlie to Henry in 1906, “Your scientific books on our hobby were more than welcome.” In 1918, “You have made a very fine addition to our butterfly collection of scientific books.” When Mary wrote Emily on Christmas Day 1918, she referred to Henry as “Mr. Folger” and to butterfly books as “my hobby.” Some of the gifted books were old and rare indeed. One was a volume in Latin, Muscarum scarabeorum, from 1646 by Wenceslaus Hollar. Halfhidden in the back of this book lies a handwritten note from Henry on the back of his business card, confirming his ever-analytical mind: “1646 strikes us as an early date for butterfly engravings.” Once, Folger returned a butterfly book in a pitiful state to Quaritch’s bookshop in London due to what some would consider a minor flaw. As he explained: “You sent me recently a very nice lot of books on butterflies... I have these books rebound and use them for presents. When I sent to the binder Wright’s Butterflies of the West Coast of the United States, 1906, he found, on checking it up for binding, that it lacked a signature, pp. 241 to 255, but in its place had a duplicate signature. This they did not discover until after they had torn off the binding. I am returning the volume for such disposition as you think can be made of it, and for such credit as you think is fair, as of course, I cannot use it in a scientific library.” Folger had his standards.

Discovered after his death in 1930 were stacks of butterfly books Henry had set aside for future gifts. As Mary noted, Henry “even took the time and trouble to assemble and arrange groups of pamphlets and had them bound for us––surely a labor of love for one whose mind and hands were so full of matters of enduring importance that an interest in mere butterflies might well have been as transcient [sic] as the lives of the subject.” Today 1,440 butterfly books lie in the stacks of Special Collections in the Amherst College library, a bequest from the Pratts. Folgers and Pratts commiserated with each other movingly when struck by family deaths. After Charlie and Mary’s first son Morris died while an Amherst undergraduate student in 1910 following years of illness, Charlie penned to Henry: “Mary and I thank you with all our heart for your letter of sympathy and its affectionate token of kindness.” Four years later, when Henry’s father died, Charlie’s expression of sympathy resonated with deep emotion. “My dear old Friend, I did not know that your dear Father had been ill until this morning when I saw the notice of his death. I should have gone to you today to learn the facts more than all else to express my sincere sympathy. You had twenty years more of human companionship with your Father than I did with mine. We were both blessed in being intimately associated and affectionately personally drawn to these men. These memories are very precious. So I know how you feel your loss and how great the loss is. May God help you to bear it! I have found it helpful to live over in spirit the life my Father and I had together on earth. He isn’t so far away as one might think. Nor is your Father to you. Try to take up your busy life again with that thought. Charlie.” Charlie uses a sweet, big-brother tone in writing to Henry; he was eighteen months his senior. For two couples with a Brooklyn winter address and a Glen Cove summer residence, the Pratts and the Folgers displayed remarkably different patterns when they traveled. Outside of the rare business trip taking Henry to the west coast, you could find the Folgers a) on a spring health retreat to the Homestead in Hot Springs Virginia, b) on a fall visit to the Wallingford, Penn. home of Shakespeare scholar, Horace Howard Furness, or c) in England on a Shakespeare pilgrimage and book-buying spree. The Pratts’ travel program was more peripatetic. Charlie and Mary chose Alaska as their unusual honeymoon destination in 1884. Charlie, Mary, and eldest son Morris visited Europe in 1892. With all five children, the Pratts spent ten months in Europe in 1897. In Pasadena in 1908 and in Hot Springs, Calif. in 1909 they sought a better climate for their twentythree-year-old son Morris, who was plagued with “attacks.” Morris died on July 15, 1910 in Bethel, Maine, of brain cancer. Charlie celebrated the memory of his first son by donating a new dormitory to Amherst College, the first by an alum. Charlie’s classmates roomed in Morris Pratt dormitory at their thirty-fifth reunion. Henry kept up a constant stream of correspondence to his best pal Charlie when the latter was out of the office, especially when the Standard Oil Co. was going through the four years of trials leading to the its breakup into thirty-four companies by the Supreme Court due to monopolistic

practices. In 1909, Charlie expressed from California his gratitude for Henry’s thoughtfulness. “Your weekly memos are of great interest.” In 1911 he wrote from the Mediterranean in appreciation for Henry’s “most interesting collection of papers, pamphlets, and books.” In return, Charlie encouraged Henry, at the grindstone, to take a vacation, and “play 72 holes with peace of mind.” For her part, Mary Pratt admired Emily’s industriousness, writing “your energy is wonderful and I salute it.” Viewing the couple in retrospect, Charlie opined to Henry, “I find much comfort in thinking of you and Emily and the steady unchanging philosophy of life which each of you has never varied since I first knew you.” Absolutely on target, the characterization of the Folgers as single-mindedly devoted to Shakespeare, loyal friends and alums, was recognized by all. Charlie worked at the firm for forty-three years; Henry for forty-nine. However, on the side, Charlie devoted himself to running an educational institution, the Pratt Institute, which his father founded in Brooklyn in 1887. Charlie’s list of educational and philanthropic activities was prodigious, including director of the Long Island Rail Road, American Express Co, and Brooklyn Academy of Music, as well as trustee of Amherst and Vassar College. Charlie admitted that in 1899 he let up due to “nervous strain.” In 1914 he confessed, “I have retired from business.” Engaging only in charitable activities from then on, Charlie hung on at Standard Oil until 1923. By 1924, he was on his way to becoming an invalid. Henry, however, was in it for the long haul, without interruption, for almost five decades. Charlie died of bronchial pneumonia in 1935, five years after Henry of an aneurism following a prostate operation. After Henry died in 1930, Mary spent more time with Emily. They took long walks together in the country and at Coney Island. When Emily returned from her lonely task of dedicating the Folger Shakespeare Library in 1932 without Henry by her side, Mary had festooned the St. Andrews Lane home with flowers. Charlie, Henry, Mary, Emily. Two couples, two alma maters. Parallel professions, similar interests. Industrialists and philanthropists. In the Gilded Age where Glen Cove and Standard Oil Co. spawned names associated with wealth and success on the outside, these Pratt and Folger couples demonstrated in many forms how their steadfast fidelity and deep friendship, through thick and thin, reflected inner core values.

Author of the biography, Collecting Shakespeare: The Story of Henry and Emily Folger (Johns Hopkins Press, 2014), to celebrate the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth, Stephen H. Grant of Arlington, Va. wrote an earlier biography, Peter Strickland: New London Shipmaster, Boston Merchant, First Consul to Senegal (New Academia, 2007), an Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training “Diplomats and Diplomacy Book.” Before turning fulltime to writing, he served as Foreign Service officer with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), with long-term assignments in Ivory Coast, Guinea, Egypt, El Salvador, and Indonesia. His website is www.stephenhgrant.com, on which one can find blogs and book trailers. February 2015 | 67

features

25A LONG ISLAND IN WINTER By Monica Randall

The Currier & Ives Skaters in authentic Victorian costumes.

bout a hundred years ago, here on Long Island, Winterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s were experienced in an entirely different way than they are now. Perhaps it was the struggle to stay warm, the lack of central heating that made people more resilient and so they seemed to embrace the cold. This new breed of sturdy folk invented ways to turn a day of snow and ice into a kind of fairyland of activity that simply boggled the mind. Years ago on a good freeze the local North shore ponds and lakes would be filled with happy skaters whirling about from morning to night. New York city's Central Park lake was recorded to have had fifty-thousand skaters one cold Sunday afternoon speeding along the ice to keep warm. Here on the Gold Coast many of the estates had artificial lakes built for rowing in the summer and skating in the winter, with bon fires along the 68 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

edge, and a brass band playing lively music in the gazebos, and garden pavilions. In our frenzied age of modern technology, the concept of getting together with friends for a party on the ice seems as abhorrent as taking a ride in a horse drawn sleigh. At Marshal Fieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2,000 acre property in Lloyd Neck, there were hundreds of workers to maintain the estates vast farm. They were all given snow days to enjoy tobogganing on the long rolling hills, and ice sailing on the man made lake. At the turn of the last century ice sailing was a popular pass-time, where you hold onto a large wood framed sail and let the wind whirl you about the ice. Ice boating was popular out East at Lake Ronkonkoma, where hand crafted ice boats, equipped with wide side runners and sails that in a good wind could reach speeds of up to fifty miles an hour.

Ski-juring was a popular but dangerous sport on the estates in Old Westbury. Town and Country Magazine, 1914

Ambrose Clark, hosted old fashioned sleigh rides at his OldWestbury estate, Broadhollow.

Fox-Hunting in the snow was not for faint-hearted.

Photo by Monica Randall

Sail-Skating on our frozen local ponds during the 1920’s.

SKI-JURING Ski-juring became popular with the estate crowd when the Baron-Pierre de Coubertin, a European fan of weird sports managed to introduce it during the 1928 Winter Olympics games. At the time the thousands who attended the event found it boring to watch an athlete on skis being pulled along by a race horse. But the idea caught on here in Old Westbury where just about everyone had a horse eager to prance through miles of snow with their master or groomsmen in tow. It was a dangerous sport as horses are easily spooked and many a skier got conked in the head when his mount suddenly stopped short. The same principal was used when the model T Ford first came out, where as many as four skiers would hook up to a long rope and let the car do all the pulling. Horse drawn sleighs were an ongoing affair at Broadhollow, AmbroseClark’s five hundred acre estate in Old Westbury. As soon as there was four inches of the white stuff, family, friends, and estate workers boarded the vintage sleighs and rode around from dawn to dusk. Clark who hated gas engine cars never allowed them to be driven on his property as he felt it stressed

out his pampered ponies. During the winter months, sleighs were the only way to get around.

ICE TENNIS Ice tennis became popular during the Victorian era, where outdoor tennis courts were flooded and the game was played by quick stepping skaters on the ice. This was not a sport for the faint hearted, where you needed Olympian skills and special blades to maneuver the game.

SKATING PARTIES Glass works genius, L.C. Tiffany had an artificial pond built right outside his front door at Lauralton Hall, for his annual holiday skating party. Guests wore Victorian costumes and skated to the music of the entire New York Philharmonic orchestra who were brought to the estate by a private rail road car. Tiffany had a special spur that ran from the Oyster Bay rail road station up to his six hundred acre estate. A glittering twenty foot tree glistened on the frozen pond while a servant dressed in a polar bear costume handed out cups of spiked cocoa to ward off the cold. February 2015 | 69

LONG ISLAND

Hollywood Ice Review, 1950

IN WINTER

The great Sonja Henie was a frequent guest at the Vanderbuilt mansion in Centerport.

Sonja Henie

Certain experiences alter the way you see things, and once that happens there’s no going back. For me, as a little girl in the fifties, it was seeing Sonja Henie perform at Madison Square Garden in the city, aglow in lights and blinding sequins. Life took on a new magic, and like every other kid in America who saw her blazing across the ice, wanted to be just like her. But, even Sonja was drawn to the glamour of the Gold Coast. While in New York for her sold out ice reviews at the garden, she would often stay as a guest at the William K. Vanderbilt estate in Centerport. She even had her own French style bedroom on the main floor, that was said to be a near replica of one at her beloved home in Norway. 70 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Black Ice On the North Shore, Beaver Dam in Mill Neck was the place to skate. It was surrounded by some of the oldest estates in the area, and was bordered by the Long Island Sound to the North, and the very exclusive Beaver Dam Skating club to the South. When the swan filled lake froze, it was not uncommon to see hundreds of skaters gliding around to the music that could be heard from the clubs loud speakers. One year back in the early eighties when it was still legal to park along the causeway on the waters edge, the temperature outside dropped twenty-five degrees overnight. In nature this is a very rare phenomenon and it causes the ice to appear black. When the water freezes that quickly it creates tension and pressure that when released, often causes an audible anomaly called, singing ice, where strange rumblings, and violin groans can be heard. In European countries, like Scandinavia, when people heard those sounds, they thought the lakes were haunted by the ghosts of those who may have drowned in them over the years. Some of the more superstitious folk even claimed to see the faces of the dead peering out at them through the ice. A creepy though perhaps, but hardly likely to happen at Beaver Dam as the water is only about three or four feet deep. Your more likely to get nipped by a hungry snapping turtle than drown. On a very cold day in January, word was out that the lake had finally frozen. In the pre-dawn cold the surrounding pine trees seemed to dance with indigo light. The rising sun glistened off the shards of ice jutting up along the lakes edge. I had never seen black ice before and was almost afraid to venture out on it. In the chilling stillness, no birds were chirping in the surrounding trees. Everything looked and felt strange as the entire lake was transformed into a pristine universe of black ice. You could see clear down to the murky bottom. I parked the car and laced up my skates, then hesitated before taking that first stroke. It felt like being on top of a glass fish tank. Staying close to the ponds edge, I began doing figure eights on the clear virgin ice. As I traced each circle over and over. The blade cut a thin white line that looked like chalk on a blackboard. There was a kind of rhythm and hissing sound that built up as I traveled round and around. Then the strangest thing happened. About a dozen small fish were following the pattern of my blade, they were swimming below the surface making figure eights along with me. It was just the weirdest thing I’d ever seen happen on the ice. Fishermen will often tell you that fish are attracted to shinny objects in water, so it may have been the sun reflecting off the silver blades. At some point I stopped skating bent down and tapped the ice and the fish scattered in all directions, vanishing in the murky gloom of whatever lay beneath. I continued to practice and a few minutes later the fish were following me again. Suddenly from overhead there was the sound of flapping wings of a magnificent bald eagle, who perhaps seeing the gathering of mesmerized fish thought he’d make an easy meal of it. He swooped down, landing with a thud, then slid along the ice, his talons acting like skate blades with built in toe picks. Frustrated, the eagle began pecking with his beak against the ice to get at his prey, but the fish vanished. Having given up, the magnificent bird flew off making a loud screech. Music was beginning to drift from over at the rustic club house and you could see a handful of skaters warming up at the spacious clubs man made rink. But non of the locals had ventured out on the black pond that day.

There is also a colorful and energetic group of skaters called The Frisky Prunes, where you have to be over sixty to join. They often take to the ice at the Christopher Morley Rink in Manhasset. The club was founded by Larry Tillotson, who at age ninety seven has won so many medals he’d fall over if he tried to skate while wearing them all at the same time. At age eighty he competed at the Olympic Arena in Lake Placid, and took home the silver in freestyle. Tillotson is known for his custom 24 karat gold blades, and is one of the few skaters in the world to perform a death spiral without a partner, using his right arm to pivot his entire body in a circle while parallel to the ice. At almost ninety eight, you can still see him at the Morley rink giving pointers to the younger generation.

The Secret Of Winning A Gold Medal

Have you ever dreamed of standing on a podium before a huge audience and having a medal bestowed on you by some dignitary, or competition judge? You need not skate like Sonja Henie or Brian Boitano, as amateur skating competitions are open to all who are reasonably skilled. The secret is that the older you get the better your chances are of winning. Why? you may ask, because you won’t have any competition! Your rivals are probably all dead, or crawling on all fours, or drooling in some rest home, but not you. There is a catch, you must be able to skate, and then you need to register for a competitive event. These are held all over the country, through out the year. When you’re finally standing there on the ice and they call out your name over the loud speakers, you are required to complete all foot work, jumps and spins, but even if you fall your almost sure to win. No American sports institution is allowed to discriminate against you because of your age. They have to find a place for you in your age group. The judges have to take you seriously, the same as the young wipper-snappers who are going off to the Olympics. The judges must observe and score your performance even if your ninety and all your teeth are flying out of your head as you take your last spin, they must give you that medal. When I was fifty, my coach talked me into entering the North East Reginals in Lake Placid. She said I couldn’t lose. She was right. I was the only one

Photo by Lou Bello

Aside from the private and secluded Beaver Dam Club where you almost have to be a descendent of George Washington, or have ancestors who came over on the Mayflower to get in, there are other unique skating clubs where anyone can join. The Currier & Ives Skating Club has been around for almost twenty years and is made up of skaters who like to travel back in time. They have been features on major TV stations wearing authentic Victorian costumes, many of them rescued from the old Gold Coast mansions just before they were bulldozed. Members in hooped velvet skirts, luxuriant fur trimmed jackets, with matching hats and muffs, glide along the ice to the strains of Strauss waltzes. They have performed at Long Island rink openings, Central Park, and the new outdoor rink at the annual Charles Dickens Festival where the entire town takes part in historic Port Jefferson. The Currier & Ives Skaters even travel with their own gilded and velvet lined swan shaped ice sleigh that is a near replica of one used by Queen Victoria during the 1880’s.

Photo by Nick Amadio

North Shore Skating Clubs

Larry Tillotson, now 97, wearing his gold and silver medals at the Morley Rink in Manhasset.

The author skating to, Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite at Lake Placid competition.

competing in free-style at that ungodly age, even though I fell on a single axel, at the end of the event, I stood on the podium and was presented with a gold medal. Usually, when I share that story, I leave out the part where there was no one else to compete against. Meletta Brunner competed against Sonja Henie in the 1927 Olympics. She came in seventh, but she was still skating in a short velvet skirt at Rockefeller Plaza Rink at age ninety four years young. In 1937, when the Rockefeller Ice rink opened off Fifth Ave., the star performer was an 82 year old skating champion named Oscar Richards. He created a media sensation as he twirled and jumped on the new frozen pond beneath the famous seventy foot Christmas tree. Tony Conti of Great Neck, is still competing at age 84 and has won every competition he has entered here on Long Island. He is best known for his Frank Sinatra routine skating to “New York-New York”, wearing a tux and top hat. There is something about skating that keeps you younger longer. Research studies show that the more you move, workout, push yourself and follow your passion in whatever sport you enjoy the less likely you are to become ill. Doing any kind of sport increases the supply of oxygen and blood to your muscles. Staying active sends positive signals to the brain, and makes you more alert and optimistic about life in general. Katherine Hepburn, who lived to be almost a hundred claimed her fountain of youth was to swim in the Long Island Sound every day, even in the dead of winter with snow falling all around her. Here on Long Island, we have over fifty indoor and outdoor skating rinks that anyone can enjoy. Its a sport that keeps your body and spirit vibrant and healthy. Sources: Cosmic Skating, Harnessing the Power of Music and Ice, by Monica Randall, to be published some time next year. Suggested reading: Younger Next Year, by Christopher Crowley & Dr. Henry S. Lodge. Authors note: There is also a 1 hour illustrated lecture program called Winter Dreams available to clubs and libraries. For info call: 516-921-7438. February 2015 | 71

Photo by James Woodley

An Interview with Ashley Morrison By Victoria R. Crosby

elevision news anchor woman Ashley Morrison never planned on being on TV when she was a little girl growing up in Columbus, Indiana. Instead, she was a competitive athlete who began playing tennis when she was 6 years old, playing in tennis tournaments by the age of 8 and went on to be awarded by her peers and coaches

the Mental Attitude and Sportsmanship Award. Ultimately, her domination on the tennis court earned her a four year full athletic scholarship to North Carolina State University, where she was AllACC, team captain for 2 years and elected to North Carolina Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Captains Table.

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25A Ashley Morrison Photo by Dean Fogel

Her Life Was So Busy She Was Not Getting Enough Sleep Sometimes Not Getting To Bed Until Midnight During our interview, Ashley told me the reason she majored in broadcast journalism in college was because many of the athletes were communication majors and since she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do, she decided she would major in it too. “ But I also loved business and economic courses and they came easily to me so I also took a lot of those courses as electives” she said. Her first jobs after college were actually in the world of finance. She was a series 6 & 63 licensed financial planner, specializing in multimillion dollar estate tax planning cases, but Ashley soon realized working in finance was not what she really wanted to do for a career. So she began sending out a 3-minute news reel that she made during a college internship at WRAL. Ashley quickly landed a job just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina anchoring and producing a taped six minute segment of the local news that ran every 24 and 54 minutes after the hour. “Basically I was a one woman show” she said. The show was repeated throughout the day and it gave her the experience she needed to move up into bigger markets. In just three months, she landed a gig as the 10 pm anchor in Worcester, Massachusetts at WGMC-TV. A year later she was named morning news anchor at FOX 61 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, then the morning news anchor at KRQE in Albuquerque, New Mexico, then for a brief time in Boston at FOX 25, before landing at WPIX, Bloomberg TV and finally at CBS News in New York City. Ashley lived in Manhattan for nearly 12 years, but then moved to the suburbs of Darien, Connecticut for better schools and sports programs for her son Jack. After nearly 5 years working for CBS News as a business news anchor and executive producer for Money Watch, getting up in the middle of the night for work, commuting back and forth from Darien to NYC 5 days a week and being a mom, her life was so hectic, she was barely getting any sleep, usually just a few hours a night. She had to be up at 12:30 am, so she could get to work at CBS News by 2:30 am. She had to choose what business news would air, write her copy and be on the air at 4 am for the CBS Morning News. After that, she did 22 more live hits for local CBS affiliates all over the country, CBS Radio and taped segments for the CBS satellite feed, then back to Connecticut to take care of her son, sometimes not getting to bed until 9 pm, only to wake back up at 12:30am to do it all over. She says “I was always exhausted. Always. Even when I was with Jack helping him with his homework, cooking dinner or at his sports games, I wasn’t really mentally present." So when CBS executives told her they wanted her to start doing Money Watch from the New York Stock Exchange, which would have added at least another hour in travel time, she decided “I just couldn’t physically do it.”

Photo by Dean Fogel So Ashley decided to quit her high profile gig at CBS and take some time off to figure out her next move. She took a girls trip to Miami, Florida with some of her close friends and they encouraged her to try a slower, calmer pace of life. Two months after that trip , Ashley made her life changing decision to move to Florida. To leave her well paying job, without another job offer, was a brave and courageous thing for her to do. But after some continued strain in her personal life, along with her work related stress, she decided it was time to make a bold move. “I packed up my car and drove down to Miami with my son Jack in just two days and I have never regretted it.” Ashley was able to score her and her son a five bedroom house with a pool, in a great school district, with excellent sports programs for Jack, who is now nine years old. With her extensive and impressive level of national and network television experience, expertise, looks and personality, she is the whole package, so it wasn’t long before Ashley landed a job in Miami. She was back on-air just weeks after she arrived as freelance reporter at WSVN channel 7 and within a few months, she was offered a five year contract to anchor the Saturday morning show “Today In Florida”. “The people at WSVN couldn’t be any nicer. It’s a family oriented station and they made me feel like part of the family right from my first day. I am grateful to all of them for that and to the vice president of the station, Alice Jacobs, for the opportunity she gave me and for her support. Working there has been amazing and I am so grateful. I love going to my job.” Ashley now has more time to spend with Jack, her life is more normal and she is truly happy.

Photo courtesey by Ashley Morrison Her advice to other women in stressful situations of juggling careers, raising a family, and perhaps dealing with other private stresses, is this: “If you are in a situation that isn’t working for you, you can change it. Believe in yourself and have confidence. Being willing to take a chance. Be brave. You’re stronger than you think.” Her inspirational story is like a Lifetime movie, complete with a happy ending. Ashley did have a small role as a news reporter in the 2013 Steven Soderbergh psychological thriller Side Effects, starring Jude Law, Rooney Mara Channing Tatum and Catherine Zeta Jones. In 2013, she was also named to her high school’s first ever Hall of Fame. Ashley Morrison has been working with Richard Salgado, aka Big Daddy, as part of his Big Daddy Celebrity Golf Classic at Oheka Castle, to benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. (see the cover story in the December/January issue of 25A) Working with St Jude’s, she says helps her “to keep things in perspective.” In December of 2014, Ashley and Richard were also part of the Champions for Charity event at Tiffany at Americana Manhasset, which raised over $800,00 in donations to various non –profit organizations, including to St. Judes, according Americana Manhasset. At the event, Ashley was presented with citations for her charity work from both Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, as well as Nassau County Legislator Brian Curran. She also works with with boxer Chris Algieri, originally from Huntington, Long Island, who is another celebrity supporter of St Jude’s. Since the inception of Champions for Charity in 1996, over 8.5 million dollars has been raised. You can find Ashley Morrison on Facebook.

celeb

25A JOYCELYN ENGLE ice President of

oycelyn Engle, Vice President of Supernova Media a Film and TV production company with a public relations and music division in New York with a branch in Beverly Hills, is a feature film writer, director, producer and she is also a stage director, talent manager, casting director, author, and image an`d speech consultant. Joycelyn actually began producing at age 8, when she visited her aunt in California with her mother and in preparation for her 9th birthday she gathered together every child on the block ranging in age from 13 years old down to 2 1/2. She held rehearsals everyday in her aunt’s back yard, and every child had a role. Joycelyn directed the production and also did the choreography for the musical dancing and singing numbers. Joycelyn also wrote to Ross Hunter a top motion picture producer for Universal International Studios in Hollywood when she was 7 years old, and he so kindly responded to this little girl. He continued writing and advising her until Joycelyn’s wedding day. Joycelyn is the Executive producer and recurring host of “The Di Palma Forum”, a celebrity discussion TV show on national and family issues. Her husband is Count Joseph Di Palma, an attorney with a Royal title which he does not enjoy using. She also wrote, directed, and produced the films, “The Innocent and

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the Damned” and the highly acclaimed motion picture Awakened this past year starring award winning actors Julianne Michelle, Steven Bauer, Edward Furlong, John Savage, Sally Kirkland (OSCAR nominee and GOLDEN GLOBE winner), Stelio Savante, Sean Stone and Bryan Dechart. Joycelyn also made a cameo appearance as Dr. Rockwell in the movie. She has produced and cast a number of feature films over the years including Shannon’s Rainbow aka Amazing Racer for which she received a commendation for casting; however, Awakened, which had a good theatrical release and is now available in homes in the US, Canada and many cities around the world ON DEMAND and on HULU, is quite special, since it is a supernatural suspense thriller with many twists and turns and a surprise ending touching on LIFE AFTER DEATH. Awakened makes audiences THINK while being entertained. This former actress/model who had her own school and taught acting and speech for over 20 years has produced off-Broadway plays and written a number of screenplays and in-depth magazine articles on Howard Hughes, Elvis Presley, Jon Voight and other super personalities. She has been written up in quite a few newspapers, including The New York Daily News, and she was interviewed on TV by Regis Philbin, Mike Douglas and Joe Franklin. Joycelyn also wrote, produced and narrates two hit CDs on speech and image including, “Speak & Act for Success with Joycelyn Engle” available on Amazon.

She is board member and auction chair of Steven Spielberg’s “Children at Heart Celebrity Auction and Dinner”, an annual black-tie Celebrity Auction and Dinner in New York to benefit The Children of Chernobyl. This important star filled event has honored top celebrity such as Michael Douglas, Jon Voight, Jesse Eisenberg, Kirk Douglas, Whoopi Goldberg, Burt Reynolds, Liev Schrieber, The Cast of the Sopranos and JOYCELYN ENGLE ! Joycelyn is a wife and mother of two and a young grandmother of one, aka “GG” Glamorous Grandmother. To join the national contest for AWAKENED and a chance to win great prizes including a VIP invitation to be a guest at a RED CARPET event and chat with the stars, a lovely piece of jewelry, lunch with a star and a “walk on role” in a film, send your thoughts on LIFE AFTER DEATH and the MESSAGE

of Awakened to Jeff or Amanda at joycelyn.engle@gmail.com. Also “like” Awakened on Facebook and Twitter. AWAKENED is also available now everywhere on HULU. And the fabulous national Awakened CONTEST prizes include a beautiful piece of jewelry, lunch with a star, a red carpet party and a WALK ON ROLE in a film ( possibly with a few WORDS). To be eligible to win send your thoughts on the “message” of AWAKENED, also on life after death and how you felt about the surprise ending to Joycelyn. engle@gmail.com, and also “like” AWAKENED starring Julianne Michelle, Edward Furlong and Steven Bauer on Facebook and Twitter. Winners will be announced on July 1, 2015. February 2015 | 77

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25A

GERALDO RIVERA COMPETES FOR CHARITY ON NBC’S THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE By Clara Morgan celebrated a career spanning 40 years, has practiced a uniquely effective brand of television and radio journalism, pursuing and break-ing stories that make a difference in people’s lives. Since the start of his news career, Rivera has cov-ered seven wars, conducted exclusive interviews with the likes of Fidel Castro and Charles Manson, authored eight books, and received more than 170 awards for his work in television journalism. A dedicated philanthropist, Rivera has shown commitment to several New York charities and organiza-tions, particularly those caring for the developmentally disabled and Autistic. This stems from his groundbreaking Peabody-Award winning investigations of the grim institutions that once dominated the treatment landscape. He selected Life’s WORC, an organization that supports individuals with those disabilities, as his benefiting charity for The Celebrity Apprentice.

elevision journalist, news producer, and dynamic public advocate Geraldo Rivera continues to com-pete for his chosen charity Life’s WORC in the seventh installment of NBC’s “The Celebrity Appren-tice,” fronted by Donald Trump. Rivera, who currently hosts specials under the moniker “Geraldo Rivera Reports” on Fox News Chan-nel (FNC) and a daily show on WABC RADIO 770, competes against 15 other celebrities in Donald Trump’s boardroom as they vie for the top prize of $250,000. They try to avoid elimination each week in the face of deadlines, intellectual challenges and intense scrutiny. This season, the late Joan Rivers appears on two episodes as one of Trump’s trusted advisors, herself the winner of season 2 of The Celebrity Apprentice. Early on in Season Seven it become clear to the other contestants celebrities including “Deadliest Catch” star Captain Sig Hansen, musician Kevin Jonas, Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson, TV personality Leeza Gibbons -- that Geraldo is a formidable and cutthroat contender. Now with under three weeks remaining until the winner is crowned, Geraldo has survived grueling competition to be one of the re-maining seven contestants and has led his team to victory as project manager twice. To date he has raised an enormous $580,000 for his charity. Rivera, a Peabody and Emmy-Award winning journalist, who recently

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“Life’s WORC is greatly honored and appreciative that Geraldo has chosen us as his charity of choice as he competes on Celebrity Apprentice,” said Life’s WORC Assistant Executive Director, Matthew Zebat-to. “Geraldo’s commitment to people with developmental disabilities and intellectual challenges is well documented. You can bet that our staff and the people we support will be in front of our TV sets root-ing for him!” The Celebrity Apprentice airs on Mondays at 8:00pm CST on NBC. Visit NBC’s official show site: www.nbc.com/the-apprentice for more information or Geraldo Rivera’s official website for his weekly blog: www. geraldo.com

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here does Paul McCartney take his family for dairy-free cheesecake? Where does Chelsea Clinton seek out glutenfree pizza? With these kinds of celebrity endorsements, a trip to Wild Restaurants in the West Village (2013) and Williamsburg (2014) suddenly became a priority. Sophia Bush, Sara Jessica Parker, Julianne Moore, and Susan Sarandon are amongst lists of notables that have stopped by. So what’s the draw? In a word, gluten-free! Perhaps another secret of this amazing restaurant is its pizza classes that teach the benefits of gluten-free baking, while students can indulge on their creation during your lessons at the West Village Branch. The sister restaurant to the original in the west village, a much-awaited grand opening was hosted in a 1000 square- foot uniquely decorated greenhouse hidden in the back of the restaurant. And it was a smash.

The homemade Papardelle with large fresh sautéed mushrooms and truffle oil, laced in shavings of imported Parmesan cheese, was absolutely delicious and kept quite good company with the house- roasted chicken. The difference is that no hormones or antibiotics make these dishes remarkable and their house specials simply sang. Moving on to the pizzas, I simply had to try the “Skinny Bitch” made with grilled zucchini, eggplant, cherry tomato, pesto and marinara. The Pear Fig Gorgonzola with fresh rosemary and The Wild White made with mozzarella, ricotta, truffle oil and cracked pepper came next. I was told that Sir Paul loved the BBQ Vegan Chicken Pizza.

Conveniently situated, these are great, multi-faceted establishments for both authentic and fresh gluten-free homemade cuisines, in addition to sizzling classic, urban and everything- in- between. Average wait time is 7 minutes.

It was time to try the desserts, including all unbelievably gluten- free Flourless Chocolate Cake along with the best Tire Misu in Brooklyn, proving to be an excellent choice. For me, it was what came next that was the pièce de résistance. Wild’s founders are an interesting group with eleven-time restaurateur Walid Hammami and his wife Rachelle, who is the Executive Chef at Wild Brooklyn with business partner/author Miki Agrawal.

The décor features an eclectic blend of beautiful woods and antiquities, framed by poetic expressions written by Miki. The pizza ovens keep a warm glow in the two restaurants, and treats emanating from the vintage-style eateries are noteworthy.

All in all, I found both Wild Restaurants to be a breath of fresh air and certainly a spot that I would return to for a really great meal or a fun night on the town. Wild Restaurants are already burning up the local dining and nightlife scene!

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Think

SOUP By Andrea Correale

Andrea Correale, president of Elegant Affairs, is a celebrity caterer and the new national entertaining expert for the Lenox brand. Andrea has been featured in multiple magazines and on television networks such as People magazine, Woman's Day magazine, Oprah.com, FOX 5, WCBS, Bravo, VH1, Lifetime , and Martha Stewart Living. L'Oreal Paris Academy calls her their lifestyle expert with a series of entertaining videos used to inspire women nationwide. elegantaffairscaterers.com

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By this time, you’ve made it through the holidays and are probably feeling pretty full – you’ve cooked or eaten a lot (or both), and are looking for a change of pace. Soup is a great way to replace heavier meals, especially after a time of plentiful eating. Food historians say soup is probably as old as the history of cooking, but it’s evolved a lot since its early days. Now, it’s on gourmet restaurant menus, made with top ingredients. It’s also not just a precursor to a meal anymore; soups are becoming the main event. Because it’s so customizable and can function as a full meal, why not bring soup to your own kitchen? To make a great soup, you need your own stock. Some people buy it premade, but these options are high in sodium. Making it from scratch allows you to control the nutritional value (less salt, organic ingredients, etc). A basic stock is easy: take a chicken carcass, cover it in a pot of water, add vegetables such as celery, onions, carrots, as well as herbs and salt and pepper. Beef stock is a similar process, but use veal or beef marrow bones

that have been pre-browned in the oven. Let the stock simmer for a few hours (the longer you let it cook, the more intense the flavor), and put some in the freezer so you can have it any time. When you’re making soup a meal, load it up with protein, veggies, and healthy starches. For protein options, chicken and beef are great, but you can also use pork loin, seafood, turkey or chicken sausage meatballs, or meat-filled dumplings, for example. Add plenty of vegetables to give the soup more body. Healthy grains or beans, such as barley, quinoa, farro, amaranth, millet, rye, and even mung beans and lentils will add high amounts of fiber and nutrients, while bulking up the broth.

You can also make pureed soups, which are a bit thicker and typically use vegetables like peas, potatoes, squash, beans, cauliflower, broccoli, or tomatoes as a base. Cook your vegetables until they’re tender, add some liquid (vegetable stock or water), seasonings, and puree with a handheld or regular blender. To make it creamier, you can use cream or milk, but there are also dairy-free substitutes like coconut or rice milk. Add additional proteins and grains for some bolder flavors. What’s great about soups is they allow you to be as creative as you want, while warming you up on a cold day. It’s the perfect time to make soup part of your winter meal plans. February 2015 | 83

brings a new look,

Modern Asian Cuisine to Melville

“Re-inventing old ideas and implementing new ones are fundamental to the success of any business. To re-emerge with a new presence, a riveting promise and a fresh approach is extremely desirable, especially in an industry where consumer tastes are continuously changing.”

By Venus Quintana

ormerly known as Nisen 110, Kenta boldly announced itself in January, revealing a contemporary style and warm ambience combined with modern Asian cuisine. Hospitality pioneers James Ragonese and Chef Jason Lee are no strangers to the philosophy of change, as they successfully bring their prolific expertise to the sushi-saturated Route 110 strip in Melville. Managing co-owner, Ragonese and Executive Chef and co-owner Lee are both veterans of the Phillipe Chow Restaurant Group. Kenta’s interior reveals an eclectic blend of modern styles, combining earthy tones and clean lines to create a most sensory dining experience. Emanating a radiant energy, the eye-catching space evokes the beauty of the Japa-

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nese countryside with its bamboo wall coverings and stunning backdrop of red mosaic tesserae. In the main dining room, polished concrete floors are offset by caramel, studded leather banquettes, while an outdoor patio provides al-fresco dining for the warmer months. For those seeking a more casual ambiance, the striking wood-framed bar showcases a single-slab, tree trunk bar-top; perfect for an informal meal or a signature cocktail. The arresting décor sets the stage for the equally matched cuisine. Heading the kitchen is culinary genius, executive chef Jason Lee, who has crafted a modern Asian menu with Japanese influences. On the night we visited, we requested to eat at the mercy of what transpired to be a most exquisite

tasting dinner. Kentaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s menu is both ambitious and diverse, with a wide selection of hot and cold appetizers, salads, entrees and sushi, sashimi and specialty rolls. Our meal started with mini lobster tacos- mouth-sized creations filled with succulent Maine lobster ceviche. The tuna poke impressed on all levels with its crispy layers filled with tuna, avocado, scallions, lime ginger soy and sriracha. Kobe meatballs were perfectly cooked and served with a sweet glaze, wasabi aioli and crostini. The Sake Clams are like a Japanese version of baked clams with panko, garlic and pasley finished with sake and lemon. Salads feature a tuna steak salad with shaved Parmesan, crisp garlic, pine nuts and balsamic and Crispy Calamari and Watermelon Salad with green chili citrus yuzu. Kitchen entree highlights included a miso Chilean sea bass with lemon shimeji mushrooms and basil oil; braised short ribs with coconut rice and kaffir lime; and prawns with a sweet, spicy sauce. Kentaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sushi bar offers a full menu including sushi, sashimi, maki rolls and specialty rolls. We enjoyed two specialty rolls that ran away with first prize: the Non-traditional roll was filled with spicy snow crab and avocado and topped with fried shumai, spicy mayo and eel sauce. The Dark

Knight roll impressed with spicy white tuna, jalapeno crunch covered with salmon, avocado and topped with spicy mango sauce and wasabi mayo. For the perfect sweet ending, sink your teeth into the signature deep-fried Oreos. To compliment your meal, Kenta offers a wide array of cocktails, wine and sake. Try the signature Kentini made with Absolut vodka, lychee juice, pineapple juice, triple sec and splash of Chambord. Whatever your tastes, Kenta will have your palate coming back for more! Kenta 1197 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, NY, 11747 [631] 421-8000 | www.kentali.com The restaurant is open Monday through Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from 3 to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 9 p.m. Reservations recommended. February 2015 | 85

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Romantic Getaway to Las Alcobas

Las Alcobas, a former residence, was crafted into a series of private intimate alcoves, reflecting its Spanish namesake, “Alcobas.” With just 35 guest rooms and suites, this intimate hotel is situated in the chic Polanco district of Mexico City, home to some of the city’s hottest restaurants, bars and boutiques. Luxury stores from Cartier to Louis Vuitton are just a stone’s throw from the hotel -- perfect for purchasing a surprise gift for that special someone. Upon arrival to the hotel, guests are presented with a choice of handmade Mexican soaps that use natural local ingredients from Mexican soap maker Manos que Curan (“healing hands”), alongside a suggested selection of soothing bath rituals. Rooms are an oasis of calm, and the spa bathrooms feature whirlpool tubs and rain showers. The snacks and non-alcoholic beverages in the curated minibar are complimentary and replenished daily, and include a selection of nostalgic Mexican sweets to enjoy.

This Valentine’s Day, Las Alcobas is offering a “Spoil Your Partner” package which includes: -A one-night stay in a luxury room -Chocolate-covered strawberries and a bottle of Paul Goerg Premier Cru Champagne upon arrival -Breakfast in bed: a full Mexican-style breakfast delivered to the room -Two 60-minute treatments at the hotel’s Aurora Spa (choose from Aurora Signature Massage, Deep Tissue Arnica or Aromatherapy Massage) -Romantic dinner for two at the hotel’s farm-to-table Anatol Restaurant: a tasting menu with full wine pairings. The package starts at $895 per night plus taxes, and is valid throughout the month of February 2015.

❤ “Spoil your Partner” - Romantic dinner at Anatol Restaurant: Rosemary – Sea salt Hot Parkerhouse Rolls Whipped soft Truffle butter ~ Olive oil Poached Salmon Beets, fennel, salmon caviar, mint citronette ~ Slow Roasted Crispy Mandarin Duck Breast Duck a l’orange consommé, foie gras tortellini, kumquat, scallion ~ Molten egg yolk and cheesy flatbread Potato, guanciale, black pepper, pecorino, quail egg ~ Milk Braised Veal Breast Roasted prawns, artichoke, butter, lemon, oregano, preserved tomato ~ Satin Chocolate Raspberry, hazelnut, passion fruit

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PLANNING ON HAVING AN AFFAIR?

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Seeking Wentworth in New Hampshire A

jetset

By Diana Erbio

undreds of grand hotels once resided along the coast and in the mountains of New Hampshire. A survivor is the Wentworth By the Sea, located on New Castle Island.

Always slotting some time to uncover local history into our vacation agenda, the journey of historic discovery was launched when we read that the Wentworth By the Sea Resort had a role in the negotiations that ended the Russo-Japanese War, which led to President Theodore Roosevelt’s Nobel Peace Prize. The hotel had played host to 25 Russian and Japanese peace conference delegates free of charge for 30 days in August of 1905. The delegates shuttled back and forth to nearby Portsmouth Naval Shipyard for formal negotiations and on September 5th the Treaty was signed at the Shipyard. The wood paneled lounge at the Wentworth where my husband and I enjoyed cocktails, hand cut white truffle fries, crispy Maine crab cakes and other tasty treats was suitably named after Roosevelt. The upholstered chairs surrounding scattered tables made it the perfect place to ponder our Roosevelt connection. Being Long Islanders we are of course familiar with Theodore Roosevelt’s home, Sagamore Hill and remembered having seen the two Samurai swords given to President Roosevelt by Count Komura and

the silver plated candlestick that held the candle used to seal the Treaty of Portsmouth when we visited TR’s beloved home in Oyster Bay. Also on New Castle Island, about a mile from the Wentworth By the Sea, are the remains of Fort Constitution, previously known as Fort William and Mary which was the destination of Paul Revere’s little known first ride which began December 13, 1774. Few outside of New Hampshire know that Paul Revere rode from Boston to Portsmouth New Hampshire to warn that British Troops were coming to take over the fort. The Sons of Liberty and 400 men, with the goal of securing the ammunition, subsequently raided the fort and removed 98 barrels, approximately 5 tons of gun powder. It turns out that the British ship was not destined for Fort William and Mary, but it caused Royal Governor John Wentworth to recognize that things were changing and on December 20, 1774 he wrote this about his disobedient colonial subjects in a letter to the Earl of Dartmouth, “No jail would hold them long and no jury would find them guilty.” Royal Governor John Wentworth? My husband and I thought we had stumbled onto the namesake of our hotel. The Wentworth name set the

seed that sprouted the offshoots we would follow up on. We noticed a Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion listed in a travel guide and figured it must be the Governor’s home. Not so fast. It turns out there are many Wentworths, and many places in New Hampshire named Wentworth. The WentworthCoolidge Mansion was located across a small waterway from New Castle Island and had been built by a Royal Governor Wentworth, but this home belonged to Governor Benning Wentworth who was the uncle of the future Royal Governor John Wentworth. Just as there are many Smiths in the history of our hometown, Smithtown. Here in New Hampshire there were many Wentworths.

At the golden hued Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion we learned about Colonial Royal Governor Benning Wentworth. The tales of the unpopularity of Benning Wentworth struck my husband as being a bit unfair. Imagine going down in history with the legacy that you were not well-liked? My husband thought there had to have been something good that the Governor had done. I read a plaque outside the home that said Benning Wentworth had been responsible for bringing lilacs from England to New Hampshire. The lilac is now the state flower of New Hampshire. That is something nice I offered. An annual Lilac Festival is held on the Mansion grounds each year celebrating the nation’s oldest lilacs brought by the unpopular Governor Wentworth. My

husband seemed happy that we had found something redeeming about the disliked Wentworth. We were led through the home starting at the oldest section first, by our twenty-something guide to the past who pointed out the original wall paper still in place. As we made our way through the home our young guide told us to disregard a strange chest of drawers that was half finished and other objects d’art that seemed out of place. The Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion was supporting an art exhibit, she explained.

Museum. The historic community dates back to the 1600s and was one of the first settlements in America. British settlers named it for the wild berries that grew there, but its value as a port soon brought about a name change, Portsmouth. The 10-acre site has authentically restored houses and shops, period gardens, and costumed role players. It presents the daily lives of ordinary people who lived there, from Colonial times until World War II. We explored homes of the era of Governor John Wentworth, but none had been his residence.

I thought it odd to include art pieces unrelated to a historic house, but then forgave the obtrusive pieces because part of the house’s history was centered about art. In 1885 John Coolidge had purchased the home and all members of the family painted, sculpted or carved.

When we returned to the Wentworth Hotel and parked ourselves in the Roosevelt Lounge we had drinks and some Maine Crab and Artichoke Dip with grilled flatbread. I decided to do some online research and found that Governor John Wentworth’s homes in New Hampshire are not preserved as historic sites. One grand home, north of where we stayed had burned to the ground and only markers exist today. His other home was a rental and now stands as the Mark Wentworth Home, a nursing facility for the elderly not far from the Wentworth Hotel we vacationed at. It is named not for John Wentworth’s father Mark, but for a turn of the 20th century doctor. I told you there were many Wentworths in New Hampshire, but now it was time for our vacation agenda to turn poolside.

After our expedition through the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion our search for Governor John Wentworth’s home continued. The nearby WentworthGardner home must be it. We entered the Georgian home further up the Piscataqua River from Fort William and Mary and learned that the structure had been built in 1760. We nodded at each other. This had to be Royal Governor John Wentworth’s home. We mentioned this to our guide. No, it was not. This was the home of Thomas Wentworth, nephew of the disliked Royal Governor Benning Wentworth of the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion and brother of our Governor John Wentworth. Thomas Wentworth was no

slouch as he was a member of the prominent Wentworth family. The mansion was a wedding present from his parents Elizabeth and Mark Hunking Wentworth. The home’s grand fireplaces were faced with original hand-painted Bristol tiles. A panel above one fireplace was 48” wide pine board which was significant. We were told Colonists could not use planks of lumber greater than 12” as that was “the King’s” lumber. A 48” board in a private home was meant to impress, as only the well-connected had access to lumber that belonged to the Crown. The home was well worth the visit, but our search for Governor John Wentworth’s home would continue. That evening back at the Wentworth Hotel, we savored lobster beneath the original frescoed ceiling of cherubs, rose garlands and gold leaf in the Main Dining Room and plotted our next step. Perhaps Governor John Wentworth’s home was one of the 32 buildings on their original sites a few minutes drive away at the Strawbery Banke

SIDEBAR Wentworth by the Sea Hotel and Spa, 588 Wentworth Road , New Castle, NH. 888-252-6888. http://www.wentworth.com/. Most rooms and suites have waterfront views. There are marina suites and three grand turret suites. The original building was built in 1874 by the Campbell family and I am told the “Wentworth” in the resort name originates with Royal Governor Benning Wentworth, whose rambling home sits on Little Harbor in Portsmouth in view of the Wentworth by the Sea. (Benning was the disliked Wentworth, but he is credited with bringing lilacs to America.) Note: What had been the Roosevelt Lounge at the Wentworth in 2011, is now part of the newly renovated Salt Kitchen & Bar. The new space blends historic charm with contemporary sensibilities where tasty treats like Hearth Baked Fontina dip served with wood fired flatbread, rustic hand-rolled gnocchi or wood oven baked oysters can be enjoyed while plotting the next historic jaunt. The hotel continues to pay homage to its Roosevelt linked historic roots with a case in the Grand Ballroom reception area that contains souvenirs from the Treaty summer, a wall-sized map of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Trail, historic photos from 1905, a small steam launch that was used for transportation between the hotel and the Shipyard and a Portsmouth Peace Treaty Living Memorial Cherry Tree – descended from the Washington DC cherry trees that Japan gave to the US in thanks for American assistance during the Russo-Japanese War peace negotiations. Strawbery Banke Museum, 14 Hancock Street Portsmouth, NH. Open daily May 1 through October 31. 603-433-1100. http://www.strawberybanke.org/. Fort Constitution formerly known as Fort William and Mary is one location we found that Governor John Wentworth had actually resided at, although only for a short while before returning to England in anticipation of a full fledged revolution. On Route 1B at U.S. Coast Guard Station, New Castle. Self-guided walking trail; free. 603-436-1552

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Relax With Valentines Day falling on a Saturday this year, make a grand gesture by sweeping your partner away to Nizuc Resort & Spa. From sunning at one of the multiple pools or indulging at one of the six world-class restaurants or even simply enjoying a rejuvenating spa session, the Nizuc Resort & Spa in Mexico offers the ultimate way to spoil your loved one. For the more active set, paddleboards and kayaks await on the beach, while two on-site tennis courts are ready to test your skills. Nizuc is a place to enjoy the luxe life where the warmth of the Mexican spirit envelopes each guest upon arrival and keeps the romantic spirit from that point forward. http://www.nizuc.com/

ever wunder

By Gwen Wunderlich-Smith

February’s cold chill may make you want to snuggle up by the fireplace, but forget it. With so many events approaching bundle up, brave those freezing temperatures and get out the door. Even though it’s the shortest month of the year, there are mysteries that need to be solved and getaways to escape to, dinners to be had and New Year’s to celebrate. Enjoy, Happy Valentine’s Day and we’ll see you under the stars! 92 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

Gaze Celebrate Valentine’s Day with romance under the stars at the Hayden Planetarium. At the Museum of Natural History’s famed planetarium enjoy a night of jazz, champagne, chocolate and hors d’oeuvres in a warm and intimate setting. Inside New York’s most romantic theater, get swept away, nuzzle up with that special someone and sit back for a view of the stars and love stories based on the ancient celestial past. Tickets run for $125 per person and starts at both 6pm and 9pm. http://www.amnh.org/

Solve Based on a Sherlock Holmes story, on February 21 at 5:00, The Metropolitan Museum of Art plays host to “The Dancing Nude Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt.” The crime scene includes a crumpled copy of a scavenger hunt involving nudes in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where the lead suspect works on ancient manuscripts as a cryptographer. The chase is somehow linked with the dancing figure email and maybe these messages can prove the suspect innocent and they need your help! See if your team of private investigators can figure out this unusual murder mystery scavenger hunt. Tickets are $44.50, but hurry because space is limited! http://www. watsonadventures.com/

Celebrate The Chinese New Year is just as bright and boisterous in New York as in China. New Year celebrations, according to ancient Chinese tradition, symbolize the start of spring and new soil. Crowds fill the streets to enjoy entertainment of dancers, multicolored costumes and giant dragons which march to the rhythm the gongs and cymbals. If you have never witnessed a Chinese New Year party, be sure to do so this year, it’s the year of the Goat after all and that stands for good health and fortune. Who doesn’t need a little of that /The Chinatown Luna New Year Parade and Festival is February 22 and is free for all.

Dine Roslyn based Limani makes for the ideal romantic evening out on the town. Greeted by an elaborate entrance design symbolizing the ribs of a ship’s hull, soaring ceilings and traditional marble columns, the Greek inspired décor provides not only a one of a kind dining experience, but will surely impress your Valentine’s Day date. This upscale restaurant is the perfect setting for either a romantic evening or for gatherings with friends and family, with fresh and artisanal food, Greek music subdued in the background, and five star service. This highly adored restaurant has just opened its second restaurant in Rockefeller center. To book a reservation visit www.limaniny.com.

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Wonders of The World by PRIVATE JET JOURNEY Day 1: Miami | Prelude to AdventureArrive in Miami and transfer to your accommodations at the FourSeasons. This evening, meet your tour leadership team and fellowguests over cocktails and dinner, sharing the anticipation of theincredible adventures ahead. Days 2-4: Peru | Timeless Machu PicchuFly south for Peru, seat of the ancient Inca Empire. Your first nightincludes a private tour and dinner at the Larco Herrera Museum, keeperof the largest collection of pre-Columbian artifacts. The next day,take a local flight to Cusco for a guided city tour, followed by aprivate dinner at the Convent of San Francisco, accompanied by amusical performance. Your final day begins with a ride on board theluxurious Hiram Bingham train -- reserved exclusively for your party --to unforgettable Machu Picchu. Arrive at this mysterious site afterthe morning crowds have departed, walk its ghostly terraces and takein the spectacular surrounding views. Enjoy Pisco Sours, entertainmentand a private dinner on the train back to Cusco. Days 5-6: Easter Island | The Lost WorldFly nearly 3,000 miles over the Pacific to one of the most remote --and enticing -- destinations on earth: Easter Island. The grandeur ofits monolithic moai statues enigmatically gazing out to sea is rivaledby its intense natural beauty, with a postcardworthy view seeminglyin every direction. Arrive to a greeting of flowers and warm smilesfrom your Rapa Nui hosts, followed by a sunset cocktail and Hotumatuaritual, a celebration of the island’s mythic founding. The next day,visit the Orongo ceremonial village (site of the island’s “birdman”rituals) and witness a demonstration of Haka Pei, a thrilling form ofdownhill sledding. Following a barbecue on the beach, explore the townof Hangaroa and visit the Father Sebastian Englert Museum, where thehistory of the island is brought to life. It houses the only knownmoaifragment that retains its original white eyes. Continue to theHanga Roa market to browse for locally made craft items and interactwith local merchants. Celebrate tonight at a special umu(earth-cooked) feast in a Rapa Nui home, with local dignitaries inattendance. Days 7-9: Samoa | A Tropical InterludeYour Pacific voyage continues, taking 94 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

you across the InternationalDateline and pausing for a stop in Samoa, where you have a day tounwind and relax. Samoa is as close to paradise on earth as you willfind, with balmy tropical breezes blowing in from an emerald-blue seafringed by pristine beaches. On arriving, you are greeted by acolorful local dance troupe, followed by a welcome drink at yourresort. Spend the next morning touring the island, including thevillage of Vailima, last residence of Robert Louis Stevenson.Following a barbecue lunch on the beach, spend an afternoon enjoyingthe resort’s many optional activities. Choose from a variety of wateractivities in the island’s stunning reefs, a game of tennis or arejuvenating spa treatment. Mark the end of your stay in Samoa with acelebratory fia fia, a feast of Polynesian dishes accompanied bydancers and fire-spinners. Days 10-12: Australia | Wonder Down UnderCross the Southern Pacific to Australia, where you touch down inSydney, celebrating your arrival with dinner overlooking SydneyHarbour. Embark on a harbor cruise aboard a privately chartered yachtthe next day, arriving at beautiful Shark Island. Spend a leisurelyafternoon experiencing authentic Australia on this private islandreserved exclusively for your group, and learn the arts of didgeridooplaying and boomerang throwing, taste local wines and cheeses and hearauthentic Outback songs from a true-blue troubadour. On your thirdday, a chartered helicopter flight whisks you over the Greater BlueMountains to the Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa, a 4,000acrewildlife and conservation reserve offering a quintessential Aussiebush experience. Take your pick from an amazing menu of optionalactivities, including a trail ride on horseback; a painting lessonwith a local artist; winetasting; cooking class; a guided nature tourto see kangaroos, wallabies and wallaroos; or a rejuvenating spavisit. Return to Sydney for a private performance and dinner at theiconic Sydney Opera House, overlooking the stunning city skyline. Days 13-15: Cambodia | The Temples of AngkorBoard your private jet for a flight across the Equator to Siem Reap,Cambodia, seat of the former Khmer Empire. After arriving, meet with alocal archaeologist and Angkor

Wat expert, a prelude for your journeyback in time tomorrow; tonight’s welcome dinner is held at atraditional Khmer house. Angkor Wat is one of Asia’s most stunningcultural wonders, and you commence your exploration of it at sunrise,riding to the site by tuk-tuk, followed by a Champagne breakfast.Spend the day exploring Angkor Wat, along with nearby Angkor Thom,Bayon Temple and Ta Prohm, pausing for a private lunch behind one ofthe temples. Enjoy a serene glimpse of local life with a sunsetcocktail cruise on Tonle Sap Lake. Dinner at your hotel tonight isaccompanied by a poolside Cambodian market, set up just for you. Beginthe next day offering alms at a Buddhist monastery. Visit Banteay Srei(the Pink Temple), and then continue toSam’s Brothers Clean WaterProject. In the afternoon, enjoy a spectacular scenic helicopterflight over the temple site and floating village. Bid farewell toCambodia with dinner at stunning Thommeanon Temple, along with anentertaining shadow puppet show.Visit Sam’s Brothers Clean Water Project, an A&KPhilanthropy-supported project dedicated to providing clean drinkingwater to rural areas. Days 16-17: India | The Romantic Taj MahalFly to Agra, India, this morning, and arrive at your hotel to afestive welcome befitting a maharajah. Settle into your room and takein the view from your balcony -- all rooms at the Oberoi Amarvilas facethe Taj Mahal. See the famous monument from another perspective thisevening at a performance depicting the story of Shah Jahan, builder ofthe Taj, and his beloved Mumtaz Mahal, the empress who was entombedwithin it. Begin the next day with a visit to the Taj Mahal itself. Nophotograph does the monument justice -- it looks as if it were paintedonto the sky and is both strikingly simple and graced with finedetails, particularly the pietra dura (inlaid stonework) of thecenotaph. Witness for yourself the way its luminous marble skin takeson the pink and orange hues of the sunrise. Continue with visits toAgra Fort and Itmad-Ud-Daulah, commonly known as the “Baby Taj.” Afteran afternoon at leisure, return to the Taj Mahal, its marble nowtinted gold with the fading daylight. Return to your hotel in time foran exclusive Mughal-themed dinner, along with a performance of Kathakdance, a pantomime-like art with roots back to the nomadic bards ofancient India. Days 18-20: Turkey | Where East Meets WestBoard your private jet for your flight to Istanbul, Turkey, toexperience the city where East meets

West and where cultures havecollided and connected for centuries. Arrive before opening hours toprivately explore both the dark vaults of theBasilica Cistern and thetimeless Hagia Sophia, a church that became a mosque and then, in themodern era, a secular museum, mirroring Istanbul’s own journey throughhistory. Step back in time even further when you visit the Hippodrome,where chariot races once entertained crowds. Your day concludes withanother extraordinary private visit, this time to theTurkish andIslamic Arts Museum. Emperors and sultans alike led their empires fromthe Topkapi Palace, which you tour in private the next morning,enjoying the elegant gardens before the crowds arrive. Connect withcontemporary life with a stop at the Grand Bazaar, followed by astroll in the Pera District and Galata, the old Jewish Quarter. Oneevening includes a sunset cruise and dinner at a rooftop restaurant,showcasing the spectacular cityscape of domes and minarets; the nextnight, Ottoman Court musicians provide accompaniment to your farewelldinner in a private hall of an Ottoman palace. Days 21-24: Morocco | Desert WondersArrive at Morocco’s Er Rachidia airport, where your A&K desert team isready to escort you by four-wheeldrive vehicle through the city ofRissani and into the desert for a drive across the dunes. Mount acamel for a ride up the famous Erg Chebbi sand dunes to your privatetented camp, where A&K founder Geoffrey Kent is waiting to welcomeyou. Join Geoffrey for cocktails while watching a spectacular sunsetover the dunes, and then enjoy an unforgettable night in the Sahara,complete with a traditional performance by Gnaoua tribesmen andstargazing in the vast desert skies. The next day, accompanied byGeoffrey, fly over the Atlas Mountains to Marrakech, arriving in timefor lunch and an exclusive demonstration of Arabian horsemanship.Drive to Souk Smarine, a maze of stalls bursting with textiles andhandcrafts, for a shopping extravaganza and a chance to take in thecity sights. Your final day starts with a visit to the BenYoussefmadrasa and the Bahia Palace, followed by bustling, livelyDjemaa el-Fna square, a kaleidoscope of activity. Later, enjoy acarriage ride to the Majorelle Gardens, known for their vividcobalt-blue buildings. For your final evening, gather with Geoffrey atA&K’s exclusive Palm Grove camp for a lavish Berber feast, anunforgettable celebration of your world-spanning adventure. Depart for Miami via your private jet the next day.

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25 A FOUR SEASONS HOTEL TORONTO FLAGSHIP STANDING TALL AS A VISION FOR THE FUTURE By Norah Bradford

our Seasons brings home 50 years of experience and innovation with its Toronto, Canada outpost. Back home at last: in the city where it all began, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts has come full circle when it opened its new flagship on Yorkville Avenue at the corner of Bay Street in 2012. The stunning 259 room hotel serves as the Four Seasons’ vision for the future, representing the world’s best luxury travel experience and the modern center of a city’s social and business life. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts was born with the opening of the company’s first location in 1961, a motor hotel on Jarvis Street in downtown Toronto. The fondly-remembered Inn on the Park opened two years later and continued to operate just down the road from the present corporate offices until the mid-1990s. In a joint venture, the company briefly operated a business oriented hotel downtown in the 1970s. The first Four Seasons location in Yorkville was open from 1978 until earlier this year, when the operation moved down the street to its new building – the current Four Seasons Hotel Toronto. Described by esteemed art and architecture critic John Bentley Mays as “a strong jolt of intelligent, urbane elegance,” Four Seasons Toronto was designed by architectsAlliance, and built by Menkes Construction Ltd. Sweeping into the drive (heated for Canadian winters, of course) past Claude Cormier’s visionary roseless rose garden, guests circle the grand fountain designed just for this space. Alighting on a 12-colour mosaic with a floral overlay from the etched glass canopy above, the urban “carpet” is the creation of Cormier and Hotel interior designer Yabu Pushelberg, inspired by the Persian rugs popular in the Victorian era as a nod to Yorkville’s more traditional architecture. Ascending a floating staircase to a loft above dbar, travellers and the city’s food lovers alike will find a uniquely Canadian setting for Michelinstarred Chef Daniel Boulud’s Café Boulud. Rosalie Wise Designs has created a bold, contemporary space rising from billion-yearold stone floors quarried in southwestern Ontario, with local woods, warm textures and abundant natural light surrounding cosy tables. The ambiance is further enhanced by a collection of paintings from internationally acclaimed pop artist Mr. Brainwash, available for sale via Yorkville’s Gallery One. For those shunning the limelight or seeking an extra sense of occasion, a private dining room accommodates up to ten guests.

any Four Seasons hotel worldwide. More than 2,700 square metres (30,000 square feet) of space includes 17 treatment rooms with several suites for two, a pool, a nail and hair bar, men’s and women’s change rooms with separate steam rooms, and a Spa boutique. “We call it a ‘spa in the sky’ thanks to its lofty position above Yorkville and gorgeous views in all directions,” says award-winning Senior Spa Director Todd Hewitt, who leads a staff of more than 70. “A winding pathway flows gently from one realm of beauty and serenity to the next.”

There are spas, and then there are Four Seasons Spas. Spanning the entire 9th floor and part of the 8th, the new Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Toronto is the most expansive urban spa in the city, and the largest of

Four Seasons Hotel Toronto 60 Yorkville Ave., Toronto, ON M4W 0A4, Canada Phone: (416) 964-0411 Website:fourseasons.com/toronto/

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Casino Themed Parties DJ’s for All Occasion’s | Green Screen Photo Favors | Movies Under the Stars | Invitations

516-867-1203 www.NYCasinoParties.com info@NYCasinoparties.com

Travel Trends As 2014 draws to a close, Kensington Tours’ polled its team of Destination Experts to see what trends they saw on the horizon for travel in 2015. Offering award–winning private guided tours to 95+ countries, this team of seasoned nomads, globetrotters and adventure enthusiasts came back with this wanderlust worthy list of insightful new trends and tips from around the world for those who really want to see it in 2015.

Namibia –Safaris, Sea & Sand Offering far more than just the quintessential safari experiences, diamonds and watermelon wine, this Southern African gem is shining stronger than ever before and is packed with action and adventures. Celebrating 25 years of independence in 2015, there is skydiving, dune boarding and mobile safaris in the Namib Desert, kite surfing & champagne dolphin sailings in Swakopmund, hot air balloon flights over Namib, Naukluft Park, rock climbing in Spitzkoppe, archeology in Twfelfontein, and one can’t forget Sossusvlei’s Big Daddy. www.kensingtontours.com/tours/africa/namibia

Egypt – Back on the Bucket list The Pyramid’s haven’t gone out of style, in fact the Land of the Pharaohs is back and better than ever. Those who spent the last few years mulling over Egypt are making plans to check it off their 2015 bucket lists. Savvy shoppers know that prices are going to rise and this may be the last chance to save on private Egyptologist guides, pyramid entries, luxury properties and the most elite Nile cruises. Luckily jetsetters aren’t yet back “en masse,” which means that there are times that travelers can still have the Sphinx, Karnak, Valley of the Kings, or even the Pyramids of Giza to themselves. www.kensingtontours.com/tours/egypt-to-india/egypt

For Adventures 2015 Myanmar – Opening New Doors Myanmar is now welcoming more travelers to their seemingly time-locked land. No denying the former kingdom of Burma is the epitome of exotic and has been on the hotlist for the past couple years, yet until recently there hadn’t been near enough in the way of hotels to keep up with demand. 2014 saw the launch of luxury collection Irrawaddy River cruises such as the Sanctuary Ananda, Belmond’s Orcaella and the AmaPura. For those that prefer to sleep on dry land, Hilton hotels just launched 2 of 6 new properties across the country and the new Kempinski Hotel Nay Pyi Taw just opened its doors for President Obama in November 2014! www.kensingtontours.com/tours/asia/myanmar

Memories Of The Magna Carta A mere 800 years ago, on June 15, 1215, King John of England signed a little something we know as the Magna Carta, changing western world’s concepts of freedom forever (though it certainly took time). To mark the anniversary, the British Library will put all the original charters on display. The perfect reason for history buffs to once again delve deep into the movements of medieval kings and queens, church and state, as great powers clashed and monarchies quaked. The Experts at Kensington have designed educational opportunities with specialized guides offering behind the scenes looks at famed museums, universities, and historical landmarks. www.kensingtontours.com/tours/europe/england/quintessential-england-

The Spectacular

CARNIVAL

Lucerne

Photos and text by Diana Pinck

rains down onto the jubilant crowd, and all the “Guggermusige” erupt simultaneously in a cacophony of different tunes, while the crowd starts to sing and play along, or dance merrily and shout: “Yippee! It’s Carnival again! Carnival is here!”

hile the Carnival in Brazil and the Mardi Gras in New Orleans are familiar to most, the Carnival in Lucerne, Switzerland is truly an insider tip, and the locals would prefer to keep it that way. The general consensus amongst hard core “Fasnächtler” - the name for the masked revelers in Swiss German dialect - is that one should either make an effort and don a costume, or stay the hell at home - or perhaps go skiing in the nearby Alps. I therefore strongly recommend coming prepared, if you ever plan to attend the Fasnacht in Lucerne. Your costume is your party pass, and you will be immediately accepted as a Fasnächtler. A costume will also set you apart from the “civilians”, “Muggles” or “gaffer” - all somewhat derogatory terms for those who just come to watch. On Fat Thursday, 6 days before Ash Wednesday, The festivities start with the “Urknall” or Big Bang: In the pitch black winter morning, all of Lucerne’s 80 or so costumed marching bands - called “Guggermusig” in dialect - and hundreds of masks, congregate very quietly in and around the Kapell Square, spilling over into the narrow streets and onto other town squares. Then, at precisely 5AM, the Fritschi father ignites the confetti canon which erupts in a big “BANG”. Confetti like rainbow colored snow

The festivities continue all week with bands marching helter skelter through the old town. They frequently stop on squares to take a brake or play, while bystanders dance or sing along. What is amazing about the Fasnacht in Lucerne is the creativity and labor that goes into all the costumes and floats, not only of the Guggermusige, but also of individual masks and small groups. Very often little theater productions and musical numbers are prepared and performed in pop up performances all around town. Everybody admires one another and great respect is given to outstanding and innovative costumes. The first mention of the Fasnacht in Lucerne is recorded in the mid 16th century by the notable Swiss chronicler Diebold Schilling. To this day it is an outstanding experience, a brilliant and unique facet in the “theater of life”. For more information on dates and events go to: www.luzerner-fasnacht.ch

artform

25A

Art A Penny For Danny Galieote’s Amusing Paintings

Here’s A Night Cap For You, Dear

anny Galieote’s paintings are undoubtedly pretty and expertly rendered. In addition the surprise element in the narrative of the paintings draws you in for a closer look. A good example of this is his painting “Shit, Chipped A Nail”. At first notice one registers the elegant lady in her billowing, silk, 50ties style dress. You are drawn in to take a closer look. Suddenly you notice that the lady is holding a frying pan behind her back, and then shockingly, there is a man lying knocked out under her, while she is calmly examining her manicure. Galieote explains: “I like to paint the thoughts that people think, but that we - luckily in most cases - don’t act upon.” In psychology these thoughts are termed ‘intrusive thoughts’. “Who has, for example, never wanted to eavesdrop on a conversation” he says and laughs. Stylistically Galieote’s tableaux have a 40ties and 50ties quality to them. Galieote: “I love the clothes and the hairstyles, the cars and the desaturated colors that we associate with that time. I think we see it as kind of

Revelation No.1

The Clearing

a golden era, when the world was still whole and proper, which of course it was not.” By adding unexpected elements into this seemingly perfect world the artist creates tension, and a narrative. We start wondering about the characters in the painting. What are they up to and how did they get here? Who is the other person in the story that we do not see? Often Galieote will not show the faces of the characters in his paintings: “I think people can associate better with the characters in my paintings, if I do not show the face.”Galieote states his grandfather as his greatest influence on his particular style of painting.“ I just thought he was so cool, how he dressed and the way he talked. When I paint I often have old movies playing in the background. Galieote also likes to peruse antique bookstores for inspiration: “You never know what you will find: old LIFE magazines, old ads or pictures from the 40ties and 50ties.Inspiration is everywhere, sometimes even in a snipped of overheard conversation” To find out more visit www.dannygalieote.com & ArcadiaContemporary.com

Your Thoughts Written by Diana Pinck

Revelation No. 2

Shit, Chipped A Nail

Teamwork

Whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Boss

Frankly My Dear, I DO Give A Damn

Seafood Tonight

artform

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Abstract Artist Deborah Held

eborah Held’s home in Oyster Bay Cove has a very large garage, which she has converted into an art studio which is filled with her paintings, as is every wall in her house. Deborah started to paint more than twenty years ago after giving up her law practice, as “law wasn’t where my heart was.”

She and her husband, Michael, met in law school and they raised their children in Oyster Bay Cove. Deborah started to study privately in oils and acrylics, and took weekly classes for ten years with Dix Hills artist Lorraine Kulik. As she studied art over the years Held has evolved into an abstract artist, and works on collages, using all sorts of recycled materials, and encaustic paintings.The encaustic paintings are created using beeswax and damar resin with pigments. It is a tricky medium to work with, but results in unusually beautiful paintings and Held said she was “inspired to begin 104 | 25A www.25Amagazine.com

By Victoria R. Crosby a new creative endeavor.” The encaustic paint is applied molten and then fused. It can go from liquid to solid and back again so the painting can be reworked with heat. Encaustic paintings are not usually framed behind glass. Held also has a studio in Red Hook, Brooklyn with a view of the Statue of Liberty in the Hudson River. The water view inspired her to begin a series of paintings of fantasy fish, using acrylic iridescent paint, which she has hung some on foam core and strung them from the rafters so they move. Ms. Held also studied voice for ten years with a voice teacher in Manhattan, and when she is in Oyster Bay, sings with the choir at Christ Episcopal Church. She likes to sing classical arias, art songs and the American songbook, often for fundraising events. When asked which she enjoyed the most, or how she defines herself, as an artist or a singer, she responded that she is “an artist who sings.”

Always looking for fresh ways of expression Deborah likes to sculpt in marble bronze and alabaster, and has recently created many mobiles, which hang in her Red Hook apartment, catching the breezes off the river, and are reminiscent of, and inspired by Alexander Calder. From their Red Hook waterfront apartment, a converted warehouse, and perfect artist’s residence, Deborah and Michael can see ocean liners , ferry boats and water taxis; the rooftop terrace has panoramic views of the city. There are trendy restaurants nearby, and of course plenty of galleries to exhibit art. Deborah often works on as many as five or six paintings at a time, sometimes finishing a work very quickly, or sometimes reworking an old painting that didn’t quite satisfy her.

Another series was inspired by listening to classical music, composers such as Beethoven and Mozart, while painting. She calls them her “Painted Music” series. Her work, Held said, is influenced by artists such as Matisse, Picasso, Cezanne, Turner and Mondrian, among others. She says that “one of the things I aim for in my work is the visual excitement, created by a dynamic tension between positive and negative spaces, that engages the viewer”. Deborah Held also has a studio in her home in Vero Beach, Florida, where she and her husband spend the winters. While in Vero Beach she exhibits at The Artists Guild Gallery. She has also exhibited extensively on Long Island and in Brooklyn. For further information visit DeborahHeld.com

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23,6 m (77’5”) 20,08 m (65’11”) 5,48 m (17’11”) 56 t 3 x VOLVO D13 – 900 mHp (662 kW) Drive 3 x Volvo Penta IPS 1200 Maximum speed 36 nodi/knots Cruising speed 32 nodi/knots Fuel capacity 4.200 lt (1109 Us gls) Water capacity 1.100 lt (291 Us gls) Cabins 4 + 2 crew Berths 8+1 /crew 2+1 Builder Azimut Yachts Exterior designer & concept Stefano Righini Interior designer Carlo Galeazzi People capacity max 16

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Wedding Blessing A Poem by Victoria R. Crosby Written in honor of the marriage of Prince Charles to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall It’s not about the wedding gown or the length of the bridal train, but the marriage of two people and how long their love will remain. It’s not about the wedding feast or the number of guests who attend, but the vows of the bride and groom who promise to love ‘til the end. It’s not about the wedding cake or how many flowers or tiers, but the love of the couple for each other that will last throughout the years. It’s not about the honeymoon Or where the couple will stay, but how they will care for each other until their dying day. It’s not about youth and beauty, which are transient at best, but a deeper understanding that brings love that is truly blessed. © copyright 2005 Victoria R. Crosby All rights reserved

Victoria Crosby is available for poetry readings, which entertain and inspire and power point presentations on historic preservation at libraries and other venues. For further information, contact 516.864.2525. Victoria Crosby has been Glen Cove’s poet laureate for 20 years and her radio show Oasis, for relaxation and inspiration, on WHPC 90.3fm can be heard every Thursday at 2pm and any time at NCC.EDU/WHPC.

Two Historical Novels;

The American Heiress and The Dressmaker By Victoria R. Crosby

or those who can’t get enough of the British and American society stories, here are two novels that bring both together. Although fictitious, America Heiress by Daisy Goodwin is a story based on what was quite a common occurance many years ago, when impoverished British nobility married wealthy American women. This is the first novel for Daisy Goodwin, who has a degree from Cambridge University and is a London Sunday Times columnist. She takes the reader on a journey from the opulence of Newport in the 1890’s to a grand old estate in Dorset, England, and tells the story of a wealthy, beautiful young woman, aptly named Cora Cash, and her ambitious mother, who hopes to find a titled son in law. This historical romance is a perfect read; fast moving and filled with descriptions of beautiful gowns by Worth, fabulous jewels, and the cultural differences in American and British life. There is an interview with the author included at the back of the book, in addition to questions for a reading group and a bibliography of recommended reading in the same genre.

The Dressmaker by Kate Alcott, a journalist in Washington DC, take place in 1912, as the young protagonist, Tess Collins, an aspiring dressmaker and designer, meets a famous designer, Lady Lucile Duff Gordon, on the docks of Cherbourg, France, and boards the ill fated Titanic as her personal maid. Tess, Sir Cosmo and Lady Duff Gordon are among the survivors, however the lifeboat the Duff Gordons were in was less than half full, and they did not go back for survivors to help those in the water onto the boat. In the Author’s Note, Kate Alcott tells how she used the transcripts of the US Senate Hearings in her narrative as Sir Cosmo and Lady Duff Gordon were actual passengers on the Titanic, as was Margaret Brown (aka the Unsinkable Molly Brown) who also is a character in this novel, along with several other well known real life passengers. Lucy Christiana Duff Gordon used Lucile as her professional name, and her couture fashions were of The House of Lucile. This weaving together of fact and fiction makes this a fascinating novel. These two novels satisfy the reader’s love of history, style and fashion of the period, as well as the dilemmas of social and moral values during difficult times.

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Deck The Halls

Christmas Party at Coe Hall

Christmas at Coe hall is like a magical memory of a bygone era. Twinkling lights and other Christmas decorations adorn every room, Guests were offered a glass of champagne as they entered, to the lovely sounds of a guitar echoing through the large reception area. Guests were then greeted by Coe Hall’s Executive Director, Henry Joyce. Oysters and sushi were plentiful as were passed hors d’oeuvres. A delicious buffet dinner was served in the dining room, catered by Jeff Lawton Events, with all wine donated by Banfi Vintners. Guests were entertained by Bob Merrill and his band, and Quatrain, a roving Barbershop Quartet. Dr. Michael Coe, world famous anthropologist and a descendant of the Family who built Coe Hall, was a guest at the party. Another VIP attending was Dr. James Watson, who was being congratulated on the sale of his 1962 Nobel

Pierre and Paula Gonthier

Katherine Marshall

By Victoria R. Crosby

Prize gold medal, which had just been sold at auction at Christie’s for over four million dollars. Dr Watson generously planned to donate the proceeds to several charities. A few days after this party it was reported that the buyer was Alisher Usmanov, a Russian billionaire, who was very impressed by Dr. Watson’s research and his charitable intentions. Usmanov’s objective was to return the medal to Dr. Watson, with a desire that the money will be donated for scientific research. A silent auction, which included many exciting items, helped to raise additional funds, which are important in helping to restore, renovate and decorate the former estate of William Robertson Coe and Mai Rogers Coe. For further information about Coe Hall, and the beautiful gardens of Planting Fields Arboretum, visit plantingfields.org.

Denise Duval Pugsley and Virginia Pierrepont

Dr Cynthia Paulis

Dr. Michael Coe, Dr James Watson, and Henry Joyce

Margaret and Tom Stacey

Bill and Ursula Niarakis with Michael Butkewicz

Suzi and Dustin Chase

Your Affair Could Be a Work of Creative Artistry

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Star Studded Event to Benefit Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Film star Julianne Michelle chaired the event and the Celebrity Host Committee also included: Billy Bob Thornton, Rita Cosby, Jennifer Esposito, Larry King and Tina Louise. Photos by Kristin L. Gray

China Tian, Julianne Michelle & Maggie Julianne Michelle Norris

Peter Halpin, Tina Louise

Guests

Peter Halpin

Britt Buchmeier, Jeffery Michaels

Joshua Duksin, Elena Turina

Anna Lakomy

Loretta Wallner, Cass Almendral, Jen Hansen

Chi-Chin Sun, Dr. Julissa

Guests

Felicia Wong, Joycelyn Engle

Daniella, Robert Dipippo, Kathrina Amanda Pennfield, Edward Pennfield Miccio

Tara Fothergill, Peter Halpin, David Moylan

Joycelyn Engle, Daniela Monterosso, Larry Romano, Joan Surace

Olha Kaly, Christhian Andrews, Ruya Koman

Julianne Michelle, Elena Turina, Joshua Duksin Kathrina Miccio, Daniella

Angelina Rivera, Stef Zanapoulo, Melissa Surace, Gensei Santiago

Guests

Julianne Michelle, Chase Backer, Robert Dipippo

Julianne Michelle, Tina Riggerio, Chase Backer, Eddie Amarante, Guest, Brian Mehling Robert Dipippo

Members of the Hollywood elite and the world’s most prolific philanthropists joined efforts to support Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, at the first ever Winter Fête, hosted at the beautiful Church Street Tavern on December 11th, 2014. Social and Hollywood notables included: Julianne Michelle, Larry Romano (King of Queens), Rita Cosby (TV News correspondent and Host, NY Times Best selling author and WABC host), Tina Louise, celebrity artist William Quigley, famed designer Maggie Norris, Hollywood film producer and publicist Joycelyn Engle, actor Peter Halpin, Grammy Nominated composer and film director Cristhian Andrews and more. Julianne Michelle, who looked stunning in a gorgeous VTF camel gown, chaired this amazing and worthy event, and DJ Stylus spinned a variety of tunes as guests enjoy cocktails, dinner, a silent auction, a live auction by acclaimed auctioneer Patrick Tully, delectable desserts, including alcohol infused cupcakes by The Written Cupcake, and other surprises. The after party festivities continued at Patrick McMullan and Noel Ashman’s latest hotspot, The Leonora, in Chelsea. Coveted auction items included: a one week stay at the exquisite Horizon Blue villa in Cannes, France, a silver python clutch handcrafted in NYC by

Natalie Pinto, Larry Romano, Emily Monterosso, Joe Monterosso, Teresa Surace

Julianne Michelle, Robert Dipippo, Rita Cosby, Kathrina Miccio, Daniella

Guest, Larry Romano

Joycelyn Engle, Nataline Pinto, Joan Surace

Kathrina Miccio, Daniella, Robert Dipippo

Jay Cannald, Michael Travin

Camille Zarsky, a Sweat Life tote bag filled with health and wellness goodies, a limited edition Michael Jordan print famed celebrity artist William Quigley, a one week stay at a beautiful beach house in Kiawah island, a music recording and production package with Grammy nominated Cristhian Andrews and Supernova Worldwide, business class air on China Southern Airlines, a signed Awakened movie poster, a children’s themed party package by Brookland Fairies, and many more. Additional sponsors and donors included: Swerve Fitness, GLAMSQUAD, Emma NYC, Supernova Media, Resident Magazine, 25A Magazine, Spice Market, J. Fletcher Creamer Foundation, Carolee, Brian Mehling, Henry and Janet Hunt, Lesny JN Felix, Kim van Beek, Minnie Rose, Commerce restaurant, Pampelonne Rose, Kristin L. Gray, and more. Proceeds benefit Sloan Kettering Cancer Center which is the world’s oldest and largest private institution devoted to prevention, patient care, research and education in cancer. Its scientists and clinicians generate innovative approaches to better understand, diagnose and treat cancer. MSK’s specialists are leaders in biomedical research and in translating the latest research to advance the standard of cancer care worldwide.

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LA SCREENING AND PRIVATE DINNER FOR SONG ONE HOSTED BY JEAN SHAFIROFF WITH DIRECTOR KATE BARKER-FROYLAND AND ANNE HATHAWAY By Clara Morgan

Jonathan Rice, Jean Shafiroff, Illeana Douglas, Lionel Richie, Anne Hathaway, Kate Barker-Froyland, Jenny Lewis, Thomas Froyland ©APInvision Pictures

PARTY SCENES FROM THE NEW YORK CIRCUIT By Clara Morgan

“Excerpts at Swifty’s” Art Show Featuring Artist Barry Seidman: Patricia Attoe, James Lipton, Rebecca Silver ©Pauline Shapiro Photography

“Excerpts at Swifty’s” Art Show Featuring Artist Barry Seidman: William Wright, Barry Seidman, Mrs. Wright ©Pauline Shapiro Photography

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The Glitterati Packed Opening of Annie Watt’s Show at Gallerie Dumonteil in Manhattan By Diana Pinck

he VIP Opening of Annie Watt’s first solo show “Impromptu Portraits” at Gallery Dumonteil on Park Avenue and 57th Street was indeed a most glamorous affair. Over 400 of New York’s art loving High Society faced the deluge of the dreadful nor’easter, to support , their beloved celebrity and society photographer. The opening was hosted by Geoffrey Bradfield, Barbara and Donald Tober, Gillian and Sylvester Miniter, Eleanora and Michael Kennedy and Ambassador John Loeb and Sharon Handler Loeb. On display were photographs of Internationally known A-listers, including stars of stage and screen, social dynamos, power brokers, fashion designers, great chefs and restaurateurs, drag queens and media notables and more. Among the famous faces featured in the show were Bill and Hillary Clinton, Neil Patrick Harris, Oscar de la Renta, Barbara Walters, Prince Andrew, Whoopi Goldberg, Iris Apfel, Diane von Furstenberg, Donald Trump, Donna Karan, Dr. Oz, Henry Kissinger, Hugh Jackman, James Earl Jones, Christie Brinkley, Candice Bergen , Bruce Weber, Kathie Lee Gifford, Catherine Zeta Jones,

Henry Kissinger

Eleanora Kennedy, Annie Watt, Michael Kennedy

Ambassador John and Sharon Loeb

Amelia Ogunlesi, Bayo Ogunlesi

Michael Kennedy, Eleanora Kennedy

Mario Buatta

Victor DeSouza, Jean Shafiroff

Donatella Versace, Janet Jackson, Glenn Close, Meryl Streep, Gloria Steinem, Itzhak Perlman, Jane Fonda, Joan Rivers, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Paris Hilton, Robert De Niro, Sarah, Duchess of York, Sir Elton John, Zubin Mehta and ZZ Top. Annie Watt’s has a special gift of making her subjects feel at ease. She also lives by the philosophy of “doing well by doing good”, covering hundreds of charitable functions each year and donating a portion of the proceeds of print sales to the fund-raising organization. As a result, Annie’s bright smile and unflagging professionalism continue to make her one of the most welcome photographers at any A-list event. The traveling exhibition is timed to coincide with the launch of a new specialty photo agency, www.anniewattagency.com. The combination agency and website is designed to make it even easier for her clients, subjects and the media to access her ever-growing body of work.

Maya Angelou

Spike Lee

Carolina Herrera

John Wegorzewski, Diana Pinck

Nicole DiCocco

Gillian And Sylvester Miniter

Whoopi Goldberg

Muffie Potter Aston

Ann Van Ness, Patriacia Shiah

Geoffrey Bradfield

SHAG Celeb. Trunk Show Shag Boutique in Roslyn, featured a Trunk Show showcasing the latest fashion trends and must haves. Ann Corn and Randi Butwin are the owners of Shag Boutique. They offer the newest, hippest, and most exciting pieces for your lifestyle. Of the pieces showcased, the most inspiring were from The SIS Jewelry Collection. Simone I Smith, wife, mother, cancer survivor and entrepreneur, married to rapper/actor LL Cool J, and mother of four, presents her new line of jewelry, aptly named SIS. A Sweet touch of Hope, “The Lollipop collection.” Simone was diagnosed in 2004 with stage III chondorosarcoma in her right tibia bone, which required an invasive surgery that altered the appearance of her lollipop tattoo. Inspired by her experience “Simone says” the tattoo looked

like someone took a bite out of it.” The lollipop pendant now represents her brave journey. The candy symbolizes how sweet life is, the bite symbolizes what cancer does to you and your family, and out of the bite came her logo. This beautiful and stylish lollipop pendant will help raise funds and awareness to The American Cancer Society. For each piece in the collection sold, $1 is donated. Simone’s journey to getting well has inspired her to help other cancer survivors. Shag Boutique is located in the village of Roslyn, NY on the north shore of Long Island. Main store address is, 1370 Old Northern Blvd, Roslyn, NY 11576

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25A Cover Party Featuring Richard Salgado Held at Hendricks Tavern Photo by Rowena M Husbands & Diana Pinck Gillis and George Poll’s Hendricks Tavern in the Village of Roslyn was the perfect setting for this Cover Party with the most scrumptious cuisine (as always) with an amazing lively atmosphere. The DJ was spinning the hits and the Conga drum player had us dancing “All Night Long”. There were a few surprise entertainers and celebrities. B.B Thomaz, Europeans answer to Beyonce performed on demand. The Casino section was a big hit looking like Vegas as you glanced across that room. The silent auction was a big hit as well with one of a kind autographed sports memorabilia rasing money for LIJ hospital, close end dear to Big Daddy’s heart as they have saved his life years ago when he had a brain aneurism. What a wonderful and memorable evening, thanks to Gillis Poll and George Poll.

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Hendricks Tavern

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