Venice Magazine

TM

WINTER 2016

FORT LAUDERDALE’S MAGAZINE

KATIE CASSIDY

AND YOU THOUGHT 2016 WENT FAST...

ED MORSE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

OVE R 7 0 Y E A R S OF E XC E L L E NC E EDMORSE.COM

EXPERIENCE THE LAS OLAS Holiday LIFE

One Mile of Style LasOlasBoulevard.com

S H O P | D I N E | S TAY | P L AY

It’s time for mistletoe and twinkling lights. Time to find special gifts and share holiday gatherings with family and friends. Time to experience the joy of Las Olas Boulevard. Where a great array of boutiques, galleries, and restaurants bring the holiday spirit to life.

Great wine.

Great food.

Great living.

LAVISH LIVING

Relaxed Napa Valley luxury, married to stunning Atlantic vistas, makes for the perfect pairing.

Located directly on the sand in beautiful Fort Lauderdale; Auberge Beach offers a taste of the wine country, with a dash of understated elegance –– for those with an appreciation for great wine, great food and great living. The healing power of pleasure awaits...

Welcome to Auberge Beach.

2200 North Ocean Blvd.

Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305 (954) 719-6297 AubergeBeach.com

Oral representations cannot be relied upon as correctly stating representations of the developer. For correct representations, make reference to this brochure and the documents required by Section 718.503, Florida Statutes, to be furnished by a developer to a buyer or lessee. This Condominium is developed by PRH FAIRWINDS, LLC (“Developer”) and this offering is made only by the Developer’s Prospectus for the Condominium. Developer, has a right to use the trade names, marks, and logos of: The Related Group, Fortune International Group, The Fairwinds Group, and Auberge Resorts, LLC, each of which authorizes the use of their respective logos and names, but none of which is the Developer. Neither Auberge Resorts LLC, nor any of its affiliates or related persons (the “Auberge Group”), is related to, affiliated or associated with, or a partner in the business of the Develop , PRH Fairwinds, LLC, or any of Developer’s affiliates or related persons. No representation, warranty or guarantee is made or implied by the Auberge Group with respect to any statement or information made herein or otherwise about the Condominium. Neither the Auberge Group, nor any of its directors, officers, employees, or agents has or will have any responsibility or liability arising out of, or related to, this publication or the transactions contemplated by this publication, including any liability or responsibility for any statement or information made or contained in this publication. Auberge® is the registered trademark of Auberge Resorts, LLC and used by license agreement. In the event the Auberge® license should lapse, this Condominium and any hotel affiliated with this Condominium will not be permitted to use the name Auberge®. The managing entities, hotels, brands, artwork, designers, contributing artists, interior designers, fitness facilities, amenities, services, and restaurants proposed are subject to change. The Developer is not incorporated in, located in, nor a resident of, New York. This is not intended to be an offer to sell, or solicitation of an offer to buy, condominium units in New York or to residents of New York, or in any other jurisdiction where prohibited by law unless the condominium is registered in such jurisdictions or exempt. Your eligibility for purchase will depend upon your state or territory of residency. This offering is not directed to any person or entity in New York by, or on behalf of, the Developer or anyone acting with the Developer’s knowledge. No purchase or sale shall take place as a result of this offering, until relevant registration and filing requirements are met, or exemptions are confirmed. Any art depicted or described may be exchanged for comparable art at the Developer’s discretion. Consult the Prospectus for all terms, conditions, specifications, and Unit dimensions. Reproduction for private or commercial use is not authorized. 2015 ® PRH AIRWINDS, LLC, unless otherwise noted, with all rights reserved.

ON-ROAD PERFORMANCE AND OFF-ROAD CAPABILITY ARE NO LONGER MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

LEVANTE. THE MASERATI OF SUVs. STARTING FROM $72,000* The all-new 2017 Levante goes far beyond the limits of ordinary SUVs, combining sports-car performance and off-road capability with the luxury and exclusivity of a Maserati. The Levante and Levante S feature a powerful Ferrari-built, 3.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 engine and Maserati Q4 intelligent all-wheel drive for sure-footed traction in virtually all conditions.

Standard five-way air suspension adjusts within milliseconds for seamless driving dynamics on- and off-road, while Maserati Skyhook adaptive dampers deliver the comfort of a luxury SUV with the handling agility of a sports car. Meanwhile, distinctive Italian styling, a luxurious interior and a unique exhaust note affirm its Maserati heritage. Go beyond the limits of ordinary and arrive at Levante. By Maserati.

MASERATI OF FORT LAUDERDALE 5750 N. Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 / 954.773.8727 / www.MaseratiFL.com *Maserati Levante MY2017 base MSRP $72,000; Maserati Levante S MY2017 base MSRP $83,000. Not including dealer prep and transportation. Actual selling price may vary. Taxes, title, license and registration fees not included. Š2016 Maserati North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Maserati and the Trident logo are registered trademarks of Maserati SpA. Maserati urges you to obey all posted speed limits.

ALWAYS WATCHING NEVER SEEN

®

THE GLOBAL LEADER IN WIRELESS MARINE Security Monitoring Tracking Surveillance Acoustic Deterrent Cloaking Systems

BOTANIKO WESTON

THE ONE PLACE FOR YOU TO LIVE LIFE TO ITS FULLEST Modern living in perfect harmony with all that Weston has to offer.

Residences at Botaniko Weston embrace the unique character of their surroundings. These extraordinary spaces are not limited by their walls and windows – rather, they strive for harmony between the indoors and out.

A generous use of glass brings light into the home and offers soothing views of the outdoors. Gracious interiors feature natural textures and colors throughout, for a relaxed yet upscale atmosphere. These are interiors created with an eye toward peace – so you can keep yours on what’s most important.

Imagine a family-oriented, master-planned community that takes an energetic approach to the everyday. Residents of the 125 architecturally distinctive homes enjoy access to 14 meticulously maintained park and

recreational areas, fully equipped equestrian facilities, and one of the best soccer academies in the region — a role model program designed to maximize youth players’ capabilities and teach good sportsmanship. Toprated public and private schools can be found within a short distance, and an adventurous children’s play area. When it comes to family fun, there are endless activities to enjoy and all the components that make for an ideal active lifestyle. Whether an avid cyclist, a recreational biker, or using a bike to get to and from school, Weston’s 46 miles of marked bike lanes assist cyclists in getting where they are going safely. With all of its beauty, tranquility, and access to nature, Weston is acclaimed for its exceptional quality of life.

“We seek to ‘build better,’ enhancing the best parts of a neighborhood to create a foundation for an exceptional community.”

– David Martin

This project is being developed by Terra Weston Residential, LLC (“Developer”), which has a limited right to use the trademarked names and logos of Terra Group. Any and all statements, disclosures and/or representations shall be deemed made by Developer and not by Terra Group, and you agree to look solely to Developer (and not to Terra Group and/or any of its affiliates) with respect to any and all matters relating to the marketing and/or development of the project and with respect to the sales of residences within the project. Oral representations cannot be relied upon as correctly stating the representations of the developer. This is not intended to be an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to buy real estate to residents of NY, or in any other jurisdiction where prohibited by law, and your eligibility for purchase will depend upon your state of residency. All images and designs depicted herein are artist’s conceptual renderings, which are based upon preliminary development plans and are subject to change without notice in the manner provided in the offering documents. All such materials are not to scale and are shown solely for illustrative purposes.

BOTANIKO WESTON

“Weston is idyllic and peaceful, but still offers all of the optimal elements for energetic living.”

– Chad Oppenheim

BUILD A LIFETIME OF MEMORIES IN THE MOST INVITING LANDSCAPE Ranked no. 8 of the Best Places to Live in America, Weston offers an exceptional place to make a home.

Situated in an idyllic setting, Botaniko Weston brings nature right to your doorstep — dense greenery unfolds around a multitude of stunning lakes and bodies of water. A cozy picnic area overlooks the surrounding lakes, making it the perfect place to pack a lunch and take in the sights and sounds that can only be found in such a pristine natural habitat. Botaniko Weston puts the world at your fingertips, and makes enjoying the dynamic surroundings second nature for its fortunate residents. With a culturally diverse population, the town of Weston is composed of the finest residential

neighborhoods and a varied corporate, commercial, and retail environment.

There is also a rich array of year-round cultural and community events and a beautiful Mediterranean-style Town Center with shopping, dining, and nightlife experiences. While Weston is renowned for its peaceful ambience — and ranked as one of the top 8 best places to live in America — residents of Botaniko Weston will enjoy the added measure of security and peace of mind provided by a gatehouse that is staffed 24 hours a day with cameras and state-of-the-art closed circuit television.

125 modern luxury homes situated on 121 graciously landscaped acres in Weston.

Designed by visionary team Chad Oppenheim, Roney Mateu, , Terra, VStarr and Landscape Design Workshop.

Botanikoweston.com | T 954 372 8501 | Sales Gallery 16479 Botaniko Drive North Weston, Florida 33326 Exclusive Sales and Marketing by Terra Realty, LLC.

BALHARBOURSHOPS.COM

9700 Collins Ave, Bal Harbour, Florida

®

YOUR LIFE ON THE WATER AWAITS 35 modern residences with unobstructed views of the historic Bonnet House Museum & Gardens and the Atlantic Ocean, just steps from the Galleria Mall.

920 Intracoastal Drive Fort Lauderdale From $595/SF aquablufortlauderdale.com

REQUEST YOUR PRIVATE APPOINTMENT AT THE SALES GALLERY TODAY (954) 398-5787 | info@oceanland.com

Sales Center Open 7 Days 1800 E. Las Olas Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 OceanLand.com

Sales & Marketing by:

Š2016 Ocean Land Investments, Inc. Developer does not make any representation or warranty as to the actual size, dimensions, or square footage of any unit. Developer reserves the right to change or modify floor plans, materials and features without prior notice or obligation. Oral representations and/or renderings cannot be relied upon as correctly stating the representations of the developer. For binding representations, make reference to the documents required by Section 718.503, Florida Statutes, to be furnished by a developer to a buyer or lessee.

Private Residence on Hibiscus Island Corporate Showroom 2818 Center Port Circle Pompano Beach, FL 33064 9 54.735.8223 www.InteriorsBySteveng.com

Boutique Showroom 18288 Collins Avenue Sunny Isles Beach, FL 33160 305.974.0161

ARTIST CONCEPTUAL RENDERING. DEVELOPER MAY CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

SUPERIOR LOCATION. LARGER RESIDENCES. STARTING AT $1.2 MILLION. ONLY 95 BEACHFRONT RESIDENCES / OVER 85% SOLD / NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION 2 Bedrooms, 3 Bedrooms and 4 Bedrooms Available

ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS BROCHURE AND TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE.

SALES GALLERY ADDRESS: 3020 N.E. 32ND AVENUE, SUITE 117, FT. LAUDERDALE T. 954 719 4818 / PARAMOUNTresidences.com

THE RESIDENCES AT W FORT LAUDERDALE WITH PANORAMIC VIEWS, REIMAGINED INTERIORS AND RESORT-STYLE AMENITIES, THE RESIDENCES AT W FORT LAUDERDALE PRESENT A DARING NEW VISION FOR OCEANFRONT LUXURY LIVING.

OCEANFRONT TWO BEDROOM FURNISHED CONDOMINIUM RESIDENCES STARTING FROM THE $900’s CALL US AT 954.908.2094 OR VISIT WFORTLAUDERDALERESIDENCES.COM

EXCLUSIVE SALES & MARKETING BY

Oral Representations cannot be relied upon as correctly stating the representations of the developer. For correct representations, make reference to the brochure and to the documents required by Section 718.503, Florida Statutes, to be furnished by a developer to a buyer or lessee. This is not intended to be an offer to sell, or solicitation of an offer to buy, condominium units to residents of any jurisdiction where prohibited by law. Your eligibility for purchase will depend upon your state of residency. This offering is made only by the Prospectus for the condominium and is subject to change. The Residences at W Fort Lauderdale are not owned, developed or sold by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., W Hotel Management, Inc. or their affiliates, nor by The Related Companies or The Related Group. RRERF Condo Unit Owner, LLC uses the W® trademarks and trade names under a license from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. If this license is terminated or expires without renewal, the residential project will no longer be associated with or have any right to use the W® brand trade names or trademarks. The Residences at the W Fort Lauderdale Hotel are owned and sold by RRERF FL Condo Owner, LLC., which is a bulk buyer as provided in 718.704(3). The complete offering terms are in an offering plan available from Sponsor. File No. CD15-0205. Sponsor: RRERF FL Condo Owner LLC, c/o The Related Companies, LP, 60 Columbus Circle, New York, New York 10023. Property Location: 3101 Bayshore Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304. All dimensions are approximate and subject to construction variances. Square footage exceeds the usable floor area and includes columns, mechanical pipes, shafts, shaftways, chaseways and conduits and other common elements. Furniture depicted herein is for demonstration purposes only. Minor inaccuracies in square footage and inaccuracies in layout and room dimensions as shown on this floor plan will not excuse a purchaser from completing the purchase of a unit without abatement in price or recourse against Sponsor. Sponsor reserves the right to make changes to a Unit in accordance with the Offering Plan.”

1900 South East 15th Street, Fort Lauderdale on the Intracoastal Waterway

Family Owned and Operated Since 1948

LAUDERDALE MARINA SINCE 1948

Three Generations ~ Since 1952

Only Eight Expansive, Super-Luxury, Waterview, Sunset Lake Residences, and Six Deep-Water Yacht Slips.

Steps from Las Olas and the Beach.

Three- and Four-Bedroom Residences from $2.3M to over $3M. Visit our Sales Gallery at 2300 East Las Olas Blvd, 4th Floor.

SUNRISE BLVD

954 233 3512 353SUNSET.COM

EAST LAS OLAS BLVD ATLANTIC OCEAN

353 Sunset Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 Broker Participation Invited Artist’s Conceptual Rendering.

SE 17th ST

Oral representations cannot be relied upon as correctly stating representations of the developer. For correct representations, make reference to the documents required by Section 718.503, Florida statutes, to be furnished by a developer to a buyer or lessee. Prices, plans and specifications are subject change to without notice. Void in States where prohibited. Additional restrictions may apply.

MARKET EXPERTS. SINCE 1911.

We’ve been growing our network for more than 100 years. When it comes to connecting the right property and buyer…experience matters.

For the full list of Douglas Elliman locations, visit elliman.com/offices/florida

KNOWN GLOBALLY. LOVED LOCALLY. With 16 South Florida offices and 6,000 agents nationwide plus the international scale and scope of Knight Frank Residential, the world’s largest independent property consultancy, the Douglas Elliman network reaches across 58 countries and 6 continents.

Chances are, your buyer has worked with us before.

1111 LINCOLN RD, SUITE 805, MIAMI BEACH, FL 33139. 305.695.6300 © 2016 DOUGLAS ELLIMAN REAL ESTATE. EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY.

2900 NE 37th Street, Fort Lauderdale $13,800,000 | Web# RX-10272391 Steven Solomon 561.289.3609

LUXURY HAS ARRIVED IN POMPAN O BEACH

Sabbia Beach is poised to deliver a signature take on refined oceanfront living on Pompano Beach, just as the city goes through a renaissance centered around the Pompano Beach Pier and Atlantic Boulevard. Contemporary luxury has found its way to Pompano Beach. Now is your chance to claim it for yourself.

This offering is subject to errors, omissions, prior sale, change of price, or withdrawal without notice, and not intended to solicit currently listed property. This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy condominium units in states where such offer or solicitation cannot be made. Prices, plans, and specifications are subject to change without notice. Void in states where prohibited. Additional restrictions may apply. Artist’s conceptual rendering.

ORAL REPRESENTATION CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THIS BROCHURE AND TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE.

O N T H E O C EAN | O F TH E O C E AN Starting from the $900,000s 954.781.9700 | SabbiaBeachCondos.com Sabbia Beach Sales Gallery: 723 North Ocean Boulevard, Pompano Beach Developed by:

Architecture by:

Interior Design by:

Exclusive Sales and Marketing by:

RISING OUT OF THE SAND STARTING FROM THE

$900,000s

SAB BIA BEACH CONDOS

Under Construction- In the Heart of the “New” Pompano Beach The historic city of Pompano Beach is becoming something new, something exciting, something that luxury condo buyers are buzzing about. Block by block, the city is transforming into a chic, vibrant and multi-dimensional destination for buyers who want to shop, play, work and live on the oceanside. In the heart of it all: Sabbia Beach, the city’s first ultra-luxury oceanfront residential development in almost a decade.

Since 2009, over $10 million has been invested to revitalize Pompano Beach, including Pompano Beach Fishing Village, a 4.2-acre site that’s soon to become an energetic oceanfront collection of nightlife, shopping, and dining destinations, including Pompano Beach House and Oceanic Oceanfront Dining, and a walking area shaded by majestic date palms and native greenery. The stunning $16 million parking garage recently opened and a wide, well-lit multi-million-dollar fishing pier is currently underway. Dunes have been restored, and playground and exercise areas are nestled beneath the shade of newly planted trees.

S P O RTS & E N T E RTA I N M E N T

IN STYLE

P R E M I U M S E AT I N G

CORONA BEACH HOUSE

CLUB LEXUS A L L- I N C L U S I V E

All-Inclusive Food, Beer, Wine & Soda

Available for Hockey & Events

Private Seating Area with upscale lounge

GO TO FLORIDAPANTHERS.COM/PREMIUM OR CALL 954.835.7828 TO SPEAK WITH A PREMIUM SALES REPRESENTATIVE

Fort Lauderdale, Florida 3 bedrooms, 3 baths $1,275,000 Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate Search F10033597 on ColdwellBankerHomes.com

OUR EXPERTISE IS

LEGENDARY

Since 1933, Coldwell Banker Previews International has represented the world’s finest homes, including some of the most iconic properties in America. Market your distinctive residence with a name that stands the test of time. Contact a Previews Property Specialist today. ®

®

Coral Springs 954.753.2200 | Fort Lauderdale Las Olas 954.527.5900 | Fort Lauderdale Beach 954.781.9393 Hollywood 954.963.1600 | Plantation Lakeside 954.452.1999 | Southwest Broward 954.434.0501 | Weston 954.384.0099

COLDWELLBANKERHOMES.COM Asia, Africa, Australia, Eur ope, Nor th America, South America

The property information herein is derived from various sources that may include, but not be limited to, county records and the Multiple Listing Service, and it may include approximations. Although the information is believed to be accurate, it is not warranted and you should not rely upon it without personal verification. Š2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker, the Coldwell Banker logo, Coldwell Banker Previews International and the Previews logo are registered and unregistered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. 12963FL-11/16

You’re On Las Olas

A much-loved staple of Fort Lauderdale’s culinary and nightlife scene,YOLO is a foodie’s delight. Well-known for its innovative menu, happy hour and Sunday brunch, we serve up an eclectic mix of Contemporary American cuisine in a vibrant, chic and sophisticated atmosphere, right in the heart of downtown Las Olas.

Reservations: 954.523.1000 | YOLORestaurant.com | 333 East Las Olas Boulevard | Fort Lauderdale FL 33305

THE RIT Z- C ARLT O N • FO RT L A U DER DALE • 5 M ILLIO N S U S A N R I N D L E Y. C O M

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2388 NE 30TH CT, LIGHTHOUSE POINT Kevin Kreutzfeld 866.221.3699

509 IDLEWYLD DR, FORT LAUDERDALE Liz Caldwell 866.221.1826

Premier Estate Properties Presenting Properties Exclusively In Excess Of One Million Dollars TM

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$ 3.85 MILLION Info: www.f10031217.com

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2620 NE 41ST ST, LIGHTHOUSE POINT Lennen/Rotella 866.221.6383

2816 NE 25TH CT, FORT LAUDERDALE Kevin Kreutzfeld 866.221.3699

& 954.525.0018 2424 East Las Olas Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301

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$ 3.588 MILLION Info: www.f10036359.com

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805 FLAMINGO DR, FORT LAUDERDALE Vanucchi/Bobby 866.221.3722

2342 NE 29TH ST, LIGHTHOUSE POINT Lennen/Rotella 866.221.6383

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$ 3.295 MILLION Info: www.f10017231.com

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411 N NEW RIVER DR, FORT LAUDERDALE $ 1.375 MILLION Liz Caldwell 866.221.1826 Info: www.f10032606.com

premierestateproperties.com DISCLAIMER: The written and verbal information provided including but not limited to prices, measurements, square footages, lot sizes, calculations and statistics have been obtained and conveyed from third parties such as the applicable Multiple Listing Service, public records as well as other sources. All information including that produced by the Sellers or Listing Company are subject to errors, omissions or changes without notice and should be independently verified by any prospect for the purchase of a Property. The Sellers and Listing Company expressly disclaim any warranty or representation regarding all information. Prospective purchasers’ use of this or any written and verbal information is acknowledgement of this disclaimer and that Prospects shall perform their own due diligence. Prospective purchasers shall not rely on any written or verbal information provided when entering into a contract for sale and purchase. Copyright 2016 Premier Estate Properties Inc. All Rights Reserved

Liz Caldwell & Partners

Your Insiders for High-End

R a re H a r b o r B e a c h O p po r t u n it y $10 M i l l i o n I nf o : w w w. F 1 0 0 2 6 3 6 9 .c om

Liz Caldwell 954.646.6332 lizcaldwell.info

Karin Gillette 954.249.9008 karingillette.info

Michelle Dery 954.296.1473 michelledery.info 2424 East Las Olas Blvd.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Premier Estate Properties Presenting Properties Exclusively TM In Excess Of One Million Dollars

premierestateproperties.com

On The Inlet $2.75 Million V ideo | Info: www.F100385 78 .com

Rio Vista Deepwater Residence $1.795 Million V i d e o | I n f o : w w w. F 1 3 7 6 9 7 3 . c o m

Exclusive Affiliate DISCLAIMER: The written and verbal information provided including but not limited to prices, measurements, square footages, lot sizes, calculations and statistics have been obtained and conveyed from third parties such as the applicable Multiple Listing Service, public records as well as other sources. All information including that produced by the Sellers or Listing Company are subject to errors, omissions or changes without notice and should be independently verified by any prospect for the purchase of a Property. The

Real Estate

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Two Story Penthouse $5.999 Million V i d e o | I n f o : w w w. F 1 3 6 4 4 8 5 .c o m

Las Olas Isles Deepwater Estate $4.199 Million V i d e o | I n f o : w w w. F 1 0 0 3 8 0 6 4 .c o m

Idlewyld Intracoastal Estate $3.85 Million V i d e o | I n f o : w w w. F 1 0 0 3 1 2 1 7 .c o m

Tw o Story Presidential Suite $1.5 Millio n V i d eo | Info: www.F 10025273.com

Las Olas Grand $1.375 Million Info: ww w.F100326 06.com

Las Olas Isles Deepwater TH $1.275 Million Info : w w w. F 1 3 7 8 0 0 5 . c o m

Sellers and Listing Company expressly disclaim any warranty or representation regarding all information. Prospective purchasers’ use of this or any written and verbal information is acknowledgement of this disclaimer and that Prospects shall perform their own due diligence. Prospective purchasers shall not rely on any written or verbal information provided when entering into a contract for sale and purchase. In the event a Buyer defaults, no commission will be paid to either Broker on the Deposits retained by the Seller. “No Commissions Paid until Title Passes.” Buyer pays title insurance, Florida documentary stamps, and all other closing costs for New Construction and land use. Copyright 2016 Premier Estate Properties Inc. All Rights Reserved

18 LUXURY RESIDENCES FROM $950,000 620 BAYSHORE DRIVE | FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH THEWAVEONBAYSHORE.COM ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER.

FORT LAUDERDALE

DAN TEIXEIRA | 954.952.5990 | GIGI GIUSTI

puBLiSHer’S Letter

It’s hard to believe that Venice magazine is entering its fourth year. Not so long ago, we launched my long-held dream of giving Fort Lauderdale a magazine that it deserves, with a voice that reflects the culturally rich, sophisticated city— and tight-knit community—I’ve always known it to be.

It seems like yesterday that we were walking into the W Fort Lauderdale to celebrate our premiere issue with cover model Tori Praver. It was a night that will live with me forever as I saw first-hand my friends, family and neighbors really embrace this new publication. But for me it’s always been—and will always be— more than just a magazine. These pages carry a bit of my soul in every issue, so you can imagine how vulnerable I was feeling that night!

I never could have expected everything that has transpired since. We’ve been fortunate to receive many awards and recognition for our great stories, including fashion spreads that have pushed the envelope and celebrated Fort Lauderdale like never before. I’m a firm believer that a picture is worth a thousand words, and there have been countless times when the excellent work of our photographers has left me speechless.

On behalf of our entire team, I’d like to thank our advertisers, who constantly are there to support us. This journey would not be possible without you. And, I owe a special thanks to Cheryl Stephenson, marketing director of Bal Harbour Shops, who was the first to believe in me. She gave me the opportunity of a lifetime when she entrusted me with Bal Harbour magazine, and then continued to support the efforts of our fledgling publishing company, Whitehaus Media Group, Venice’s parent organization.

As the publisher of Venice, I’ve been fortunate to have had so many incredible experiences, but none more valuable than meeting the people I now call friends.

From that first late night at Riverside Market speaking with developer Bradley Deckelbaum, when both of us exchanged stories about our hopes and dreams (mine was Venice and his was Riva), a friendship has grown where the last item on the table is business.

There’s also Teddy Morse who, before Venice, I only knew slightly; now I can sink in his sofa to catch the last round of the Masters. He was the first advertiser to support Venice and still continues to at our events and so much more. And Brent Lahaye from Noodles Panini, who never hesitates to text me when his famous mussels are available because he knows how much my daughter Sofia loves them. Not to mention the sweetest of sweets, Steve Crombe from Sweeter Days Bake Shop, a must-stop when you’re having red velvet cake withdrawals.

And then there’s Brian Freed from Stache Drinking Den + Coffee Bar, who not only taught me what a real drink is, but also how to make it correctly. Brian and his family are now a big part of our family and will be for life.

Venice has brought a lot of us together. How incredible is it what a little ink and paper can do to a great community like Fort Lauderdale? I hope that we can continue to share your stories, earn your business and, most of all, be worthy of your friendship.

See you around town, my friends.

Carlos A. Suarez Publisher

52 venicemagftl.com

Carlos and Lori Suarez with their daughters, Sofia and Coco, at Bal Harbour Shops Collectors Weekend.

PHOTO BY WORLD RED EYE

Time Flies

Available at

peterglenn.com North Miami — Miami — Delray Beach — Ft. Lauderdale — West Palm Beach (800) 818-0946

EDITOR’S LETTER

Ten years ago I lived and worked in Miami. While the Magic City wasn’t quite the exhilarating cultural hub that it is today, even a decade ago it still bustled with excitement. So when I told my Miami friends that I was leaving my cozy Coral Gables nook of an apartment to move to the much quieter, much less glittery Fort Lauderdale, they all looked at me with sympathy. One friend even chided, “Oh, Fort Lauderdale? I call that ‘Little Dade.’”

How things have changed. In the years since I started calling Fort Lauderdale home, it’s transformed into a hot spot for world-class music festivals (Tortuga, anyone?), art institutions (NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale comes to mind) and dining (if you haven’t tried my favorite spot, Burlock Coast, do yourself a favor and book a reservation).

This change didn’t come by accident. We owe much of the transformation to so many great city officials and individuals, such as developer Dev Motwani and his family, including mother Ramola.

Dev grew up in Fort Lauderdale, where he and his brother rode their bikes around the beach blocks and had a front seat to the spectacle that was “spring break in the 1980s.” They had the vision and depth to realize that it wasn’t just a year-round spring break destination. Instead, they saw more than just potential here; they saw the soul of the city. Read more about Dev’s story in our profile of him, written by David Lyons, and what he has in store for Fort Lauderdale’s beachside neighborhood, including the upcoming Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Fort Lauderdale.

And he isn’t the only one. Lee Brian Schrager, the founder and brilliant mastermind of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, has brought his hugely successful culinary and beverage celebration, which sees more than 65,000 attendees on an annual basis, to the 954. Last year he created the Taste Fort Lauderdale series, which took—get this— Miami residents to “Little Dade.” And for the upcoming SOBEWFF, Schrager is expanding the menu of events with DRINK Fort Lauderdale, Broward County’s first-ever late-night festival party that will take place in FATVillage. Read more on page 98.

In this issue, we also reflect on our ties to London, which got even stronger with recent announcements of direct flights out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Britain’s most popular city is experiencing a moment of artistic renaissance, particularly from its South Bank neighborhood, something Fort Lauderdale residents can appreciate.

If this issue shows anything, it demonstrates that so much excitement is happening throughout the globe, and in particular our beloved Fort Lauderdale. While Miami will always have a special place in my heart, I must admit that my move to Fort Lauderdale 10 years ago was probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

Nila Do Simon Editor-in-Chief

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PHOTO BY KAI SIMON

Little Dade

Editor-in-Chief Nila Do Simon in London during the summer.

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Founder/Publisher Carlos A. Suarez carlos@venicemagftl.com Editorial Director Sarah G. Harrelson sarah@whitehausmediagroup.com Editor-in-Chief Nila Do Simon nila@whitehausmediagroup.com Executive Editor Tali Jaffe Minor Associate Art Director Adriana Sandoval Graphic Designer Deming Harriman Editorial Assistant Jessica Idarraga Contributing Editor Lori Wagner Suarez lori@venicemagftl.com Copy Editors Linda Brockman Eric Newill Contributing Writers Charlie Crespo Madison Flager Christie Galeano Elyssa Goodman David Lyons Vicky Moon Jan Norris Jameson Olive Contributing Photographers Lyall Aston Rafael Balcazar Felipe Cuevas Gary James Joshua Jordan Masha Maltsava Douglas Mott Eduardo Schneider Publisher Gail Feldman gail@whitehausmediagroup.com Associate Publisher Lori Warriner lori@whitehausmediagroup.com Account Executives Michelle Loccisano michelle@venicemagftl.com Elizabeth Resnick elizabeth@whitehausmediagroup.com Director of Marketing & Events Marissa Cornejo Broennle Public Relations Susan Penrod Pre-Press/Print Production Pete Jacaty Retoucher Matt Stevens Senior Accountant Judith Cabrera Interns Jasmin Curtiss Michaela Greer Andrea Moratinos Chief Executive Officer Mike Batt

For advertising information or to subscribe, visit venicemagftl.com VENICE MAGAZINE is published by Whitehaus Media Group 551 Breakers Avenue, Suite 1206 Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304 Tel. 954.982.2046

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CONTENTS

Model Victoria Anderson shines in this season’s contrasting colors. Emilio Pucci blouse and pants, available at Aventura Mall, emiliopucci.com.

CITY COOL Your guide to style, culture and more.

71

THE OPEN ROAD George Clooney and business partner Rande Gerber travel by motorcycles to Mexico.

88

RIDE ALONG Markley Medina brings us the Uber VIP Experience.

92

A RISING SUN How the Florida Panthers became a hot ticket for South Florida fans.

94

CHEERS TO THAT South Beach Wine & Food Festival continues its expansion into Broward County.

98

HER RACING STRIPES Belinda Stronach is taking horse racing to a whole new level.

100

NEW WAVES Developer Dev Motwani discusses his upcoming Four Seasons project.

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®ROBERTOCOIN

NEW BAROCCO & CENTO COLLECTIONS

THE GALLERIA AT FORT LAUDERDALE WESTON COMMONS

PHOTO BY GARY JAMES

CONTENTS

DESIGNER QUARTERS The visionary architects behind the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences. 106 ISH TALES On Mile Marker 82, there lives a flavor hunter who is reshaping Floribbean cuisine.

110

IN BLOOM Stepping out of her father’s shadow, actress Katie Cassidy is defining her role as an actress.

118

IN CONTRAST Dark and light hues work in harmony this season.

126

STREET PARTY Life’s a carnival with prints, ruffles and bold accessories.

136

SHIFT TO NEUTRAL Bring on the beige this season and allow neutrals to take command of your closet. 146 WINTER’S LIGHT Inspired by the equestrian lifestyle, we find ourselves in a resplendent season.

154

THE WRITE STUFF Best-selling writers bring their universe of content to the Fort Lauderdale reader.

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This season’s menswear looks find inspiration in equestrian wear. Turn to page 154 to discover them.

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PHOTO BY RAFAEL BALCAZAR

CONTENTS

It’s a new era for the Miami Dolphins and their reimagined Hard Rock Stadium.

PLEASED TO MEAT YOU NYY Steak’s Walter Apfelbaum discusses the dying art of butchering.

180

ANY GIVEN SUNDAY A photo essay during game day with the Miami Dolphins.

184

BANK ON IT A trip to London’s South Bank.

198

ON THE HIGH SEAS In today’s world of superyachts, it’s either go big or go home.

204

TRUE HORSEPOWER Jimmy Torano is a man on a horse on a mission.

212

SHAKE IT UP Oceans 234 introduces the Deep Eddy Tropical Mule.

214

THE SEEN Peer into Fort Lauderdale’s social scene.

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TM

WINTER 2016

FORT LAUDERDALE’S MAGAZINE

KATIE CASSIDY

IN RETROSPECT Parker Playhouse’s 50-year history holds enough memories for a theatrical performance.

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ON THE COVERS VICTORIA ANDERSON (left) photographed by JOSHUA JORDAN and styled by SEPPE TIRABASSI. Makeup by CARLO LONGO and hair

by MURIEL VANCAUWEN. GUCCI vintage jacket and pants, available at Bal Harbour Shops, gucci.com; TOMAS MAIER bikini top, available at Bal Harbour Shops, tomasmaier.com; DOLCE & GABBANA belt, available at Bal Harbour Shops, dolcegabbana.com. KATIE CASSIDY (right) photographed by MASHA MALTSAVA and styled by SEPPE TIRABASSI. Makeup by REBECCA RESTREPO and hair by CHARLIE TAYLOR. IVIE JOY FLOWERS flower crown.

CONTRIBUTORS DOUGLAS MOTT Photographer

KIM GRIJALVA Creative Director

Originally from Ohio, Douglas Mott entered the world of photography at the highest level when he was given the opportunity to assist famed photographer Richard Avedon. From this amazing experience and subsequent toplevel assisting relationships, he launched his career in New York and London 15 years ago. Today, he can be found in Maine and Manhattan, or wherever the assignments take him. For this issue of Venice, Mott photographed a fun and whimsical fashion story at a carnival.

Designer and creative director Kim Grijalva has more than 20 years working in the advertising industry.

Degrees in industrial design and theater led Grijalva to a career obsessed with creating storied images and campaigns. With fashion and A-list resort clients, Grijalva has been the recipient of numerous awards, including Gold ADDY's for her work with partner and photographer Gary James for the Dr. Weil brand images and Whitehaus Media Group’s Botaniko magazine. Grijalva's love for equestrian lifestyle was the inspiration behind this month’s menswear piece captured at her West Palm Beach farm.

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ELYSSA GOODMAN Writer

JOSHUA JORDAN Photographer

Elyssa Goodman is a writer and photographer based in New York City. The South Florida native’s work has appeared in Elle, Marie Claire, Glamour, i-D, VICE, New York magazine’s The Cut, The New Yorker and Artforum, among many others. She also curates the blog Miss Manhattan. For Venice, Goodman profiles actress Katie Cassidy, whose high-flying skills are front and center in her portrayal as Laurel Lance (or Black Canary) in the TV show “Arrow.”

Becoming a fashion photographer was a slow transition for Joshua Jordan. He started his professional career in architecture, where his interests in aesthetics eventually led him to fashion. Jordan draws inspiration from his on-the-move lifestyle, having grown up in New Orleans and then living in Austin, London and New York.

His work has graced the pages of Vogue, i-D, Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE and Surface, among others. In this issue of Venice, Jordan photographs a fashion story with an homage to menswear.

CONTRIBUTORS

SEPPE TIRABASSI Stylist

FELIPE CUEVAS Photographer

Seppe Tirabassi is a fashion stylist based in New York City. He began his fashion career assisting with Vogue Fashion Directors Clare Richardson and Sarah Gore Reeves. During that time, Tirabassi worked alongside many photography giants, including Patrick Demarchelier, Gilles Bensimon and Russell James. He currently contributes to Elle and Cake magazine, among others. In this issue, Tirabassi styled stories featuring Katie Cassidy and Victoria Anderson.

Chilean-born, Miami-based Felipe Cuevas has photographed a panoply of international athletes and celebrities. He was honored with a “Tribute to Music” exhibition during the 2011 Latin Grammy Awards, where his iconic photographs of Latin Grammy winners from Celia Cruz to Ricky Martin lined the red carpet outside the venue. After covering concerts and events, he added food photography to his repertoire. He has photographed several of today’s top restaurants and chefs, including Morada Bay’s Chef Ishmael Toro for this issue.

LYALL ASTON Photographer

MADISON FLAGER Writer

A former model who has worked for the likes of Diesel, Ralph Lauren and Levi Strauss, Lyall Aston is now making a name for himself behind the camera. His work has appeared in a variety of advertising campaigns and fashion publications around the globe. He says, “For me the purpose of fashion photography is to sell a mood.” For this issue of Venice, Alston contributes an eye-catching piece themed around a neutral color narrative.

Madison Flager is a New York City-based writer with South Florida roots. She currently covers travel, food, arts and culture, and has contributed to Greatist.com, China.org.cn, Boca Raton magazine and Clover Newsletter. For this issue, Flager profiles Belinda Stronach, a business mogul and the energizing force behind January's Pegasus World Cup Invitational, taking place at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino.

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CITY COOL

Style, Culture and More

Lost and Found, a site-specific installation at Rojas + Rubensteen Projects by artist Hila Amram.

Rojas + Rubensteen Projects: The Gallery That Lives and Breathes

BY ELYSSA GOODMAN

“Once, I found a butterfly on the couch that Franky Cruz, a local artist, made for the space,” Aimee Rubensteen says. “Now, we joke that we have a living, breathing gallery.”

Rubensteen and business partner Eira Rojas co-own and operate a new gallery called Rojas + Rubensteen Projects, located in Miami’s Little River neighborhood. They’ve dedicated the space not just to featuring works from local artists, but also to expanding discussions in the area's art world.

Dissatisfied with the proscriptive nature of the current art market, Rojas and Rubensteen wanted their gallery to act as a community space centered around art. “Art should be and can be accessible to anyone,” Rojas says. “I feel that the way people want to consume things is changing as well, and I don’t necessarily believe for myself that I want to sell art in an environment that feels exclusive or forbidding because art is part of a larger conversation.”

Though they’re both South Florida natives, Rojas and Rubensteen discovered their mutual desire for more accessible art spaces when they met in graduate

school at London’s Courtauld Institute of Art, from which they both received master's degrees in art history. Rubensteen also worked in New York at Sotheby's as a curatorial project manager and independent curator, while Rojas worked at London's Wilkinson Gallery, Miami’s Mindy Solomon Gallery and Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), North Miami. What drives the duo now is finding ways to effect change in the South Florida art scene and addressing topics in ways that are relevant to the area’s residents. Their current show, on display until January 29, is called “Swing State,” in which artists react to the nature of politics on the local and national level.

Fort Lauderdale- and Miami-based artists and art viewers can also stop by to sit and enjoy the space, have their work critiqued at the Community Creatives Series, and engage in panel talks with artists from the gallery's exhibitions. “We’re clearly a very new space but we’re hoping people can come in and hang out and have some coffee,” Rojas says. “Imagine one of those armchair bookstores, but with art instead of books. That’s how we’d like people to treat this space.”

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CITY COOL Art + Culture

PORTRAITS OF ELIZABETH

Blue by RPM Project

GIRL POWER Who rules the world? Girls! That’s one reason Miami artists Rhonda Mitrani, Patricia Schnall Gutierrez and Marina Font are collaborating through their newly formed RPM Project. Using technology and sculpture as environments, the trio creates narratives from traditionally feminine rituals. For their first solo museum exhibition as an artist collective, they present “RPM Project: The House Inside My Head,” at the Boca Raton Museum of Art through January 8.

bocamuseum.org

Holiday Ornament by Catherine Opie

ART ATTACK Having Art Basel

GO DECO From February 24 to May 21, the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach will present its “Deco Japan” exhibition consisting of nearly 200 works. Pulled from a collection of pieces that highlight the intricate social tensions that shaped Japan during the mid 20th century, the exhibit is as much history as it is art.

withdrawal? Let us remedy that with six globally inspired exhibits and shows that are making their South Florida debuts this season.

LIKE FINE WINE Bonnet House Museum & Gardens unveils its third annual “Making New Impressions” juried exhibition from March 9 to April 30.

Sip wine while perusing the works of local artists, which will be available for purchase.

bonnethouse.org

Los Angeles-based fine art photographer Catherine Opie encourages guests to meet actress Elizabeth Taylor on a profoundly intimate level through “Catherine Opie: 700 Nimes Road” at the NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale. The exhibit runs February 12 to June 18 and creates a portrait of Taylor’s life through photographs of her home and keepsakes. nsuartmuseum.org

BY MICHAELA GREER

morikami.org ˉ Kazˉ Songbook for Heart of the Modern Girl by Saito Kazo

WATER WORLD Koi World by Jorge Leon Montero

Taking advantage of our city’s famous waterways, the art world will celebrate modern and contemporary art like never before. Art Fort Lauderdale, dubbed the “world’s first art fair on the water,” will be held January 12-15 with a lineup of 100 artists and galleries. artftlauderdale.com

CURIOUS OBJECTS

Design Miami may have ended, but the fair’s signature collaboration with Louis Vuitton is continuing at the brand’s Miami Design District boutique. On display throughout January, the awe-inspiring collaboration showcases the installation “Objets Nomades,” composed of emblematic furniture creations that are themed around intuitiveness, desire and pleasure. louisvuitton.com

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No Teeth by Ben Morey

CITY COOL Winter Necessities

IN YOUR POCKET Impressive images shouldn’t stay trapped in your smartphone photo album.

Instead, set them free with the HP Sprocket, which instantly prints images from your phone onto 2-by-3-inch photos with adhesive backs, perfect for mounting for display. hp.com

TAKE TWO

Miami City Ballet presents “Program II,” featuring one of its signature ballets and three company premieres. The month-long performances begin on Jan. 5 and draw from artists such as Peter Martins, Jerome Robbins, Sir Kenneth MacMillan and George Balanchine. miamicityballet.org

BRACE YOURSELVES

Tired of fumbling with bulky portable chargers?

Q Designs have created sleek, lightweight bracelets to function as portable powerhouses whose built-in, rechargeable lithium battery can power most phones up to 60 percent and a standby life of three days. qdesigns.co

OPA!

The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort is adding to its dining directory with Atlantikós, a Greek restaurant that sources its ingredients straight from the motherland itself. Dishes include roasted manouri cheese from Grevena, black ink orzo paired with langoustines and grilled octopus with fava from Santorini, served each night after the customary plate-smashing ritual. stregisbalharbour.com

RUM RUNNERS

Local upstart Oak & Cane may be new to the spirit and liquor industry, but it’s already making its presence known.

Recently awarded the bronze medal winner at the 2016 New York International Spirits Competition, the Fort Lauderdale brand creates small-batch barrels of rum that’s born from Florida sugarcane. oakandcane.com

SEASON’S GREETINGS Winter essentials look a little different when you live in South Florida. Brave the season with these delights that add spark to your season.

BY MICHAELA GREER

WATER PLAY

Premium carbon elements, seawater-resistant stainless steel and ceramic coatings combine in SEABOB’s lightweight construction, which affords riders optimal handling and the ability to lift jets from the water by themselves. The company’s pledge of zero emissions and environmental pollution means that you can treat yourself and feel doubly smug about it. seabob.com

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BRANCHING OUT

Channel your inner Swiss Family Robinson with inspiration from Tree Houses Reimagined: Luxurious Retreats for Tranquility and Play (Schiffer Publishing).

The 176-page book, featuring homes built with sustainably sourced materials, is filled with everything you need to turn your dreams of treetop dwelling into a reality. schifferbooks.com

SPECIAL EDITION

Dolce & Gabbana combines the festive spirit of Miami and feminine details to create these stunning accessories from its Capsule collection. The selection of add-ons including scarves, handbags and small leather goods is exclusive to Dolce & Gabbana’s Bal Harbour Shops. dolcegabbana.com

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CITY COOL Dining News

BURLOCK COAST SEAFARE & SPIRITS

The background: Burlock Coast Seafare & Spirits, located inside The Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale, celebrates its one-year anniversary with the opening of a new farmers market, with a unique location inside the actual restaurant. In an effort to further dedicate itself to providing diners with fresh food, the market will include a variety of artisanal products and Florida-based vendors for buyers to check out.

The details: A huge supporter of the new market is Chef Gavin Pera. “Using the best and freshest fruits, vegetables and proteins available is part of Burlock’s DNA,” he says. Missed this month’s farmer’s market? Don’t worry: You can find it every second Saturday of the month. burlockcoast.com

SURF + TURF From the land to the sea, South Florida just got a lot more seasoned with these culinary additions.

BY JASMIN CURTISS

JWB PRIME STEAK AND SEAFOOD

DIPLOMAT PRIME

The background: Part of a $100 million resort renovation, Diplomat Prime recently reopened inside the Diplomat Resort & Spa to much fanfare.

The chef: Headed by Chef Nicolay Adinaguev, the boutique steakhouse shakes things up by adding his own Peruvian roots to the menu. “I use the flavors of the food that I grew up eating,” he says. “It’s what naturally flows out of me.”

The details: Although the restaurant takes pride in its prime beef, which they age in-house, the menu features a variety of seafood selections, fitting for its proximity to the ocean. “It’s not a dark, gloomy steakhouse,” Chef Adinaguev adds. diplomatprime.com

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NISI

The background: Take a trip to the Mediterranean with Nisi, Fort Lauderdale’s newest Greek restaurant.

Owners Joshua Wahler and Andy Tsavos bring a posh and sleek dining experience to the area.

The decor: “We have a beautiful space filled with authentic pieces that make you actually believe that you are in Greece,” says Chef de Cuisine Tiffany Yuken.

The details: What’s on the menu? Classic Greek dishes, including Chef Yuken’s favorites: tzatziki, lamb and, of course, baklava. nisigroup.com

The background: If you’re still looking for that lost shaker of salt, then search no further than Margaritaville’s steak and seafood specialty restaurant, JWB, which is part of “Margaritaville” singer Jimmy William Buffett’s growing hospitality empire.

The chef: In an effort to bring fresh, high-quality seafood from the ocean straight to your plate, Chef Carlo Sernaglia established the new fresh spearcaught fishing program at the restaurant, encouraging the environmentally protective method.

“It’s much more sustainable and less damaging to the environment than net and line fishing, as we are able to be very selective to take what we truly want,” Chef Sernaglia says.

The details: The catch of the day changes depending on what the local fishers spear in, bringing variety to the menu and a surprise for diners every day of the week. jwbrestaurant.com

A Historic Artists’ Estate on Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Concerts Under the Stars Thursday Evenings at 7:00pm Sweet music, balmy starlit nights, and the setting of Bonnet House combine for a truly unique experience.

January 19, February 16, March 16, April 6 Bonnet House Museum & Gardens | 900 North Birch Road | Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304 bonnethouse.org | 954-563-5393

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The images and above are proposed only and the developer reserves the right to mofidy, revise, or withdraw any or all of the same in its sole discretion and without prior notice. Without limiting the generality of the following, developer reserves the right to substitute any of the foregoing with items of similar or better value, in developer’s opinion. For correct representations, make reference to documents required by section 718.503, Florida Statues, to be furnished by developer. Prices, rendering details, and availability are subject to change without notice. Void where prohibited by law.

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MARQUE OF THE YEAR

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50TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE

1967 Pony Cars: Barracuda, Camaro, Cougar, Firebird, & Mustang

Preview February 9th and 10th Auction February 11th

Live auction presented by The Finest Automobile Auctions showcasing a hand-picked selection of world class collector cars available for sale

We invite you to join us over three spectacular days, February 10, 11 & 12, as we commemorate the 11th Annual Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance. With the attendance growing dramatically every year & raising more than ten million dollars for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, the Boca Raton Concours d’Elegance is the fastest growing Concours in the nation and the world’s largest for charity.

• Marque of the Year - Auburn , Cord, & Duesenberg • 50th Anniversary Feature - 1967 Pony Cars: Barracuda, Camaro, Cougar, Firebird, & Mustang • Display Class (Not Judged) - Vintage Professional Trucks, by Invitation Only Special Invitation to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club Members and the Museum.

Automotive Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients Dave Zuchowski, President/CEO of Hyundai Motor America Marc Cannon, Chief Marketing Officer for AutoNation TO REGISTER YOUR CAR OR MOTORCYCLE OR TO LEARN MORE, VISIT US ONLINE OR CALL TODAY. BOC ARATONCONCOURS.COM | 954.537.1010

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The Open Road If it really is about the journey and not the destination, then actor George Clooney and business partner Rande Gerber have got that concept down pat.

BY CARIS HARPER

Two men, two motorcycles and the open road, all in the hope of spreading the word about good tequila. Perhaps there’s no greater formula for a modern-day bromance than what Academy Award winner George Clooney and businessman Rande Gerber have found.

“We love tequila,” Clooney says. “On the rocks, by the shot, at times straight from the bottle.”

That’s one reason the two launched Casamigos Tequila in 2013 with friend and Discovery Land Company founder Mike Meldman. Casamigos, named after Clooney and Gerber’s homes in Mexico, roughly translates to “house of friends” and, as they put it, signifies getting away for good times. Over the last year, the ultra-premium tequila not only opened an importing company, but it also has more than doubled its volume, proving that its non-traditional approach has broken the mold in the spirits industry.

“Our idea was to make the best-tasting, smoothest tequila whose taste didn’t have to be covered up with salt or lime,” Gerber says.

Clooney and Gerber have taken an annual motorcycle trip for the past 15 years in which tequila is second only to their spontaneity. Past locations included the French Alps, the Dolomites and across the Great American Desert. They select the route as they ride—no GPS, only maps and intuition. As Clooney says, this is his area of expertise; he knows the terrain and how to find the road less traveled.

Some days they ride for 18 hours straight before looking for a place to rest.

Their most recent trip took them to the Casamigos distillery in Jalisco, Mexico.

Before heading to Jalisco, they traveled across the United States on historic Route 66, stopping every so often for fuel, to see landmarks such as the Grand Canyon, and to share Casamigos with the people they met along the way. They rode through Utah and Colorado while Gerber documented the trip on his Instagram account.

Normally, they ship their Harley-Davidsons out for a trip, but for the Jalisco trip they needed smaller motorcycles for the area’s rough terrain. Clooney rode a vintage BMW and Gerber a Honda 750. Around the distillery, they rode through the highlands, home to thousands of acres of agave plants, with thorny and blue tinted spines.

They made a tequila pit stop, where they sat and drank with some of the jimadors, farmers who harvest the agave hearts. Gerber and Clooney pulled out a bottle of Casamigos and canteen cups, sharing a drink and toasting to life. v

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MOTORCYCLE DIARIES Casamigos Tequila business mates George Clooney and Rande Gerber have toured across the U.S. and Mexico on their motorcycles.

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Ride Along Think every Uber ride is the same?

Think again. Markley Medina brings us the Uber VIP Experience.

BY CHRISTIE GALEANO PORTRAIT BY FELIPE CUEVAS

Generally speaking, an Uber trip is routine from one ride to the next. Until now. Markley Medina, 29, is the creator of the Uber Me VIP Experience and the self-proclaimed South Florida Uber King. While there are more than 450,000 daily Uber drivers in the United States, Medina has created an encounter that might just be the most pulse-raising.

As the car door swings open, a light cloud of smoke reveals a world unlike any other. Multicolored lasers and lights flash, 26-inch TV screens beam, animal masks adorn the headrests, water bottles glow green and the music beats boom in the night air. If you’re searching for an unforgettable adventure, Medina is ready to take you on the best ride of your life.

The Ride: A 2013 Chevy Suburban that seats seven, has 14 customized speakers, headlights that change color to the beat of the music, LED-lit rims and more than 25 different lasers and lights.

The Inspiration: People always have fun inside the VIP section at a club. So I decided to bring that personalized VIP vibe into my car. I have always been creative, but I needed a way to take my creativity to the next level, and Uber gave me the perfect opportunity to do just that.

The Journey: One night I had a dream that a wild Uber driver picked me up in style and took me on an epic ride. When I woke up, I knew that needed to be me. At the beginning, I didn’t have a lot of money so I bought one laser or one light every week. It took me one year to get the car to where it is today.

The Investment: $30,000, and I’ve put almost 100,000 miles on it in one year.

The Celebrities: I’ve picked up rapper G-Eazy several times in Miami. One of my best experiences was when I picked up Vanilla Ice and we jammed out to “Ice Ice Baby” in the car.

The Experience: People in my car are always smiling, and I love that. I am always bringing positive vibes to my passengers. If I can take their minds off of a bad day for even one second, I’ve done my job. Plus, thanks to Spotify I have an endless selection of playlists, so I can take passengers back to a moment in their lives with just one song, which is pretty cool to see.

Future Plans: I’d love to work with Uber and get the Uber Me VIP Experience into every city in the country. It’s all about getting the right drivers. I’ve already started expanding with one business partner who has the same high energy as I do. I’ve also recently been booked for birthday, bachelorette and even tailgate parties. Everyone wants to roll in style.

How to Book: You can find my scheduling link on my Instagram (@ubermevip).

It will take you to my Calendly site where you can schedule your ride. v

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CARMAX Uber VIP Experience creator Markley Medina says of his unique riding experience: “There are plenty of copycats. It’s flattering, but I’m always a step ahead.”

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SKATING THROUGH Today’s Florida Panthers players, including center Jonathan Audy-Marchessault, are experiencing a surge in hockey attendance among fans, something the organization has been working toward for years.

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A Rising Sun How the Florida Panthers became a hot ticket among South Florida fans.

ELIOT J. SCHECHTER/FLORIDA PANTHERS

BY JAMESON OLIVE

Far from the frozen ponds of Canada and the frozen tundra of Eastern Europe, the Florida Panthers organization is quietly carving out its own puck-centric paradise in one of the most unlikely locations in the entire National Hockey League: South Florida.

Lacing up ice skates against a backdrop of palm trees and sandy beaches, the team has been steadily working hard to forge its own traditions out of the untraditional ever since the franchise’s inaugural season in 1993.

“I don’t believe that geographical locations play a part in hockey,” says Panthers Alternate Governor Bill Torrey, who served as the team’s president from 1993 to 2001.

“No matter where you are, it’s an exciting attraction when it’s presented properly.”

In many ways, competing in a market widely regarded as a paradise of glitz and glamour, presentation—not wins and losses—has long been considered one of the greatest year-round challenges facing the NHL’s southernmost franchise. Although the Panthers can entice locals by offering a chance to take in the “coolest” game on earth, numerous losing seasons and countless roster upheavals have kept the team from achieving any sort of lasting appeal in the eyes of the public.

That was, however, until now. After winning its second-ever division title and setting franchise records for wins (47) and points (103) last season, the team has become one of the hottest tickets in town, with attendance at the BB&T Center bumping to 15,384 per game last season, impressive considering they had been dead-last in the NHL the season before at 11,265.

“It’s obviously not a traditional market in terms of hockey, but I always knew and believed that fans were looking for an excuse to come,” says Panthers Executive Chairman Peter Luukko, who oversaw the well-established Philadelphia Flyers for 25 years before joining the Panthers in 2015. “It was important to get relevant. Unfortunately, the team hadn’t played well, and I don’t think the fans necessarily felt that the organization was committed.

“That being said, I remember watching the team back in the ’90s when they played at the Miami Arena, sitting with [NHL Commissioner] Gary Bettman and talking about how we would never really know if hockey could work in South Florida until we gave it a chance.”

That chance came in the summer of 2013, when New York businessman Vincent Viola purchased the Panthers for a reported $240 million. Since then, the spending hasn’t stopped, especially as Viola continues to invest heavily in the organization, including spending more

than $200 million in an effort to lock in several key players, such as defenseman Aaron Ekblad and center Aleksander Barkov, to long-term contracts this past off-season.

That sort of money, of course, got fans talking.

“It feels good to feel like we finally have an owner who’s not only really proud to be a Panther, but who’s also willing to do whatever it takes to put us in a position to win,” says Panthers season ticket holder Todd Watson, who’s the vice president of wealth management at RBC Bank in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

“For many, many years, it wouldn’t have surprised me if the team was shipped out of town, but that’s not the case anymore,” Watson says. “We’re fans even when we lose, but this is probably the most exciting time I can remember. I think ownership did everything in their power to make that happen.”

As a former or current season ticket holder of several other professional sports franchises in South Florida, including the MLB’s Miami Marlins, the NBA’s Miami Heat and the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, Watson says the Panthers recently began to stand out in the crowded marketplace through its personal, one-on-one approach to engaging fans.

“They treat you like family,” says Watson, who attends games with his wife, Monica, and son, Daniel.

While Watson and other longtime super-fans provide unwavering support for the Panthers, many newcomers, intrigued by the team’s recent success, have also begun to dip their toes into hockey’s icy waters, resulting in a 154-percent increase in television viewership on Fox Sports Florida during the month of October this season.

If anything, these numbers are indicative of a curiosity among local fans, many in search of the next big thing in South Florida sports. With the Dolphins and Marlins in the midst of lengthy playoff droughts, as well as the sudden end of the Heat’s wildly successful Big Three era, these fans are eager to rally behind another winner, regardless if they play on hardwood, turf or, yes, even ice.

“In any community, people want to feel like they’re a part of something,” says Panthers President and CEO Matthew Caldwell. “They want some emotional attachment to the sport. We’re the only professional sports team in Broward County. We’re not in Palm Beach or Miami, although we do have a lot of fans that come from there. We feel that if we build a winner and it’s something to be proud of, those communities will rally behind us. To us, that’s what it’s all about.” v

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Cheers to That South Beach Wine & Food Festival continues its expansion into Broward County with the inaugural DRINK Fort Lauderdale.

If someone told you 10 years ago that a dilapidated, industrial zone just north of Broward Boulevard and next to the railroad tracks would be a bustling arts district in a decade’s time, you might have scoffed at the notion. On top of that, if you were told that same area would one day host a glittering event for the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, one of the nation’s premier culinary celebrations, you’d probably have doubled over with laughter.

Come February 24, that will exactly be the situation at the once-overlooked FATVillage neighborhood, which will host DRINK Fort Lauderdale, SOBEWFF’s first-ever late-night event in Broward County. Now a cultural hub with a hip millennial clientele, FATVillage has been the backdrop for monthly art walks, music festivals and indie bazaars, but never has it been associated with names such as The Food Network and Wine Spectator. Until now.

The idea behind the Fort Lauderdale event is simple: Give attendees an experiential culinary and cocktail night that can’t be emulated elsewhere. To do so, SOBEWFF creator Lee Brian Schrager enlisted the help of Giovanny Gutierrez, a social media influencer and the brains behind ChatChowTV, a popular video podcast dedicated to all things food. As a former Hollywood resident and the founder of the event series DRINK Miami, Gutierrez was the ideal choice to head up the SOBEWFF’s latest addition.

For DRINK Fort Lauderdale, Gutierrez and his team are focusing on taking guests through a cocktail time machine, starting with the early 1900s and leading up until today.

“We’re big cocktail nerds,” he says. “And we wanted people to get excited and learn about the evolution of cocktails as we take them through the decades at this event. For example, who knew that the Aviation was the main drink of the 1930s? Or that the ’70s had the Harvey Wallbanger? Or that the Cosmo, which was made popular on ‘Sex and the City’ in the 1990s, was created here in Miami?”

The event marks the 16-year-old festival’s continuing expansion into Broward County. Up until 2015, Miami-Dade’s northern neighbors had to travel to South Beach or beyond to enjoy festival foods and libations. Then came last year’s formulation of the festival’s Taste Fort Lauderdale series, which included six events in Broward County, from intimate, celebrity-hosted dinners to 500-person fetes. This year adds DRINK Fort Lauderdale to the lineup, something that Schrager says the city and festival were both ripe for.

“I grew up in Fort Lauderdale, so it’s really special to me, and heading north to Fort Lauderdale really made sense,” he says.

And while the event’s name has the work “drink” in uppercase, both Schrager and Gutierrez emphasized that it’s not all about the cocktails at this event. The streets will be closed off to traffic to make way for food trucks and carts, curated by the popular social media personality Burger Beast. While most details are still under wraps, the DRINK Fort Lauderdale team plans to activate and incorporate the adjacent FATVillage galleries and stores into the event.

“We want to do something fun with this event and provide a cool experience instead of just saying, ‘Here’s a drink,’” Gutierrez says. “When you travel around and see cool things, you want to take those ideas back to your city, and that’s what we’re looking to do here.” v

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PHOTO COURTESY OF FATVILLAGE

BY NILA DO SIMON

SOBEWFF at a Glance DATES: February 22-26, 2017 TASTE FORT LAUDERDALE SERIES HIGHLIGHTS: Seaside Eats hosted by celebrity chef Anne Burrell at the historic Bonnet House Museum & Gardens; DRINK Fort Lauderdale, taking over the popular FATVillage for one night; Bloody Mary Brunch with new hosts David Burtka & Neil Patrick Harris.

Benefiting: Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Florida International University

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Her Racing Stripes Belinda Stronach is taking horse racing to a whole new level, both on the track and away from it.

BY MADISON FLAGER PORTRAIT BY KELLY SERFOSS

B

elinda Stronach’s knack for overcoming obstacles has proved itself valuable in business, government and philanthropic ventures. Her latest challenge? Modernizing the world of horse racing.

Stronach is taking a big leap toward this goal with the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, a two-day extravaganza taking place on January 27 and 28 at Hallandale Beach’s Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino.

Set to become the world’s richest thoroughbred horse race, surpassing the Dubai World Cup with a $12 million USD purse, the Invitational is conceived by Stronach as a way to bring new fans into horse racing.

“We want this to be an event and an experience,” Stronach, 50, says. “We want this to be a global event, where eyes are not only on the horse racing, but also on the city.”

Gulfstream’s iconic Pegasus statue, which stands more than 110 feet tall, helped shape the event and was key both in planning the race and choosing South Florida as its location. Set to become an annual event, the Invitational is poised to eventually join the ranks of local staples like South Beach Wine & Food Festival and the Fort Lauderdale International Boat

HORSING AROUND In January, the horse racing world will focus on South Florida when Belinda Stronach brings the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, with a $12 million purse, to Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino.

Show. Sound like a lofty goal? For Stronach, it’s business as usual.

A savvy businesswoman, Stronach is president of the Stronach Group, which owns six racetracks in Florida, California, Maryland and Oregon. Her roster of past achievements is lengthy, and includes two terms in Canada’s House of Commons and a No. 2 ranking on Fortune magazine’s list of the World’s Most Powerful Women in Business.

These days, Stronach splits her time between Miami, Canada and the West Coast, overseeing Stronach Group operations and continuing her charitable work, much of which benefits women facing tough circumstances—breast cancer, homelessness and poor education, to name a few.

Stronach is committed to building something great in the Miami area and making Gulfstream Park a go-to spot for locals—whether for a fun night out, as a chill spot to grab beers and burgers, or as an entrée into the horse racing world. “We want this to become the Caesars of racing,” Stronach says.

Technology and style are key components in this evolution. A newly developed wagering app will be

ready for use at the World Cup, and the venue itself is getting an update. Gulfstream’s main dining room, Ten Palms, will transform into a 1950s Cuban/Miamithemed haven, under the guidance of former Ralph Lauren home collection designer Karan Brady.

The Invitational will bring together some of the best horses in the world, and while the January 28 race is the main event, there will be plenty of additional entertainment for the thousands of spectators expected to attend. Food trucks, regional food and drink, and musical performances reflecting the many cultures of South Florida will be present, Stronach says. On January 27, a charity auction will bring together owners, stakeholders and celebrities in the name of a local cause.

Stronach sees entertainment as key to modernizing the sport and bringing in a younger audience, whose median age was recently reported by The Jockey Club as 51 years old.

“We are viewing this as an entertainment company with a horse racing focus,” Stronach says. “I go to tracks and not all are great entertainment centers, and they have to become that—that’s the future.” v

RACE DATE JANUARY 28 LOCATION GULFSTREAM PARK, 901 S. FEDERAL HIGHWAY CAN’T ATTEND? WATCH LIVE ON NBC, 4:30-6 P.M.

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MAKING A SPLASH An adventure seeker, developer Dev Motwani is bringing two new projects to Fort Lauderdale’s shores, the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences and the Gale.

He’s photographed here on November 16, 2016, off the beaches of Fort Lauderdale in a VanDutch 40 yacht.

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NEW WAVE Dev Motwani grew up navigating the streets and waterways of Fort Lauderdale, but it’s his upcoming Four Seasons project that’s causing the biggest ripples.

BY

DAVID LYONS PHOTOGRAPHY BY

EDUARDO SCHNEIDER

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W

hen he was 8 years old, Dev Motwani would occupy himself with video games at his parents’ Merrimac motel in the North Beach section of Fort Lauderdale. And when customers walked through the door, he’d put the game on pause, see if a clerk was present, and check in the guests if needed. All while figuring out the sales tax for their room rates in his head.

“It was funny because I was always good at math,” he recalls. When guests questioned the validity of the precocious young man’s calculations, Motwani says, “I would punch the calculator and show it to them.”

Now 36, Motwani is a dealmaker, investor and visionary for the neighborhood where he and his older brother, Nitin, once rode their bikes as children. He is president of the family’s Merrimac Ventures, a Fort Lauderdale real estate investment firm that is in the vanguard of bringing upscale resorts to the beach and fresh development projects to downtown.

The old Merrimac, once a landing spot for spring breakers, is long gone from the family portfolio. In its stead, names like Conrad, and stunningly, the venerable Four Seasons are poised to take prominent positions across from Fort Lauderdale beach. Adding to that is the upcoming Gale Boutique Hotel & Residences, which Dev notes is a pedestrian-friendly project in North Beach.

“The Gale is a cool project because there is a 130-unit condo paired with a historic boutique hotel two blocks from where we grew up at the Merrimac,” he says.

Combined, the Motwani projects are a sizable subset of a vast makeover for Fort Lauderdale, formerly a haven for an annual spring break college crowd that infamously took the place by storm in the mid 1980s, forever changing the course of the city’s economic development plans.

In 1985, spring break got busted after 350,000 students ran amok in the streets, vandalizing motel and hotel rooms, and overwhelming an outmanned police force.

So Fort Lauderdale and its Broward County neighbors launched a reverse tourism campaign. Their message to the students: If you intend to trash our cities, you’re not wanted here. The county promptly launched campaigns to attract families interested in peaceful vacations on the local beaches. For the

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Motwani family, the shift in sentiment was devastating. Bob and Ramola Motwani had just arrived from Missouri as the new owners of the Merrimac.

“We had our own pool,” the younger Motwani says. “It felt like paradise to us as kids. For my parents, it was a nightmare because all of the business was gone.”

The family altered course, snapping up distressed hotels along the beach.

“They realized that the end game was to acquire the whole block and sell it to one of the hotel chains,” Dev says. “Most of the properties on the beach were being foreclosed. People were running away.”

His father helped spearhead a visitor bureau effort to draw tourists from Europe, Latin America and Canada. And he participated in community efforts to upgrade the beach area’s infrastructure. When he died at the age of 47, Bob left it to his wife and sons to become standard bearers for development. Initially, the proposition was a non-starter for both brothers.

“We had always said we would never come back to Florida,” Dev says. “We would never get into real estate because our vision of real estate was watching our parents struggle running these hotels.”

Both went to college. Dev attended Duke University, taking time off to work for the Al Gore presidential campaign in 2000. He worked in the White House’s West Wing, four doors away from the Oval Office.

After college, the brothers took jobs on Wall Street, Dev at Credit Suisse, Nitin at Goldman Sachs. That left their mother to shoulder most of the family business. She was the one who gained city approvals for a 320-room luxury hotel on the site of the old Merrimac and the Gold Coast hotel the family had acquired.

Dev soon wrapped himself into that deal, which had initial negotiations with now-president-elect Donald Trump. The family partnered with a New York developer, who introduced the Motwanis to Trump in order to incorporate that property under the Trump brand. While the branding and partnership never fully matriculated (it is now the site of the Ocean Resort Residences at Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach), Dev says that moment was when he saw how powerful the development side could be.

“As a kid, I mostly saw how my family dealt with real estate, never with development,” he says. “And when I saw how development worked, that’s what

SON SET Along with brother Nitin, Dev is carrying on his family’s legacy in South Florida real estate through current projects both on the beach and in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

pulled me away from Wall Street and eventually back to Fort Lauderdale.”

As the real estate boom ballooned, the sons returned home separately after earning advanced degrees in development at Columbia University. Dev started a real estate investment fund, which currently oversees $750 million in development projects. Recently, he cut a deal with New York-based Property Markets Group to develop the languishing Las Olas Riverfront, a 3.67-acre mall on the New River.

Dev is as atypical a developer as his projects. His travels abroad have allowed him to have a different perspective of what Fort Lauderdale could be. With his tight-knit family, he regularly travels to their native India, visiting relatives and eventually spreading his father’s ashes in the Ganges River in 1994. Those global experiences led to more trips, including backpacking in Europe as a college student for six weeks, hiking Machu Picchu in 2002, and his most recent adventure: traveling through northern Norway down to Germany and then racing on the Nürburgring, a Grand Prix-style track with severe elevations.

While these journeys offer only a snippet of Dev’s spirit, they also indicate how out-of-the-box his current projects can be. Take, for example, the Flagler Village Hotel, the site of which he purchased last year with plans to develop a 195-room hotel with ground-floor retail space. “The way I see it, that was a location that was available to everyone, but we acted on it,” he says.

He also worked to persuade developer Nadim Ashi to develop a Four Seasons on land the family previously owned at 521-529 N. Fort Lauderdale

Beach Blvd. Ashi, who is redeveloping the iconic Surf Club in Surfside under the Four Seasons brand, owns the Palm Beach Four Seasons and the Florida rights to the name.

“Fort Partners has a great track record with the Four Seasons already,” says Dev of Ashi’s company. “That is a relationship they brought to the table.”

Nitin is managing director of Encore Capital Management, a private equity fund with nearly $1 billion in assets. He is also a partner in the massive Miami Worldcenter development under construction, and steers the development of the Paramount Fort Lauderdale Beach, a 95-unit condo to the north of the Four Seasons site. Dev says the two work closely together. “My brother and I are partners in everything we do.”

Dev notes that he’s “bullish on South Florida,” calling it “a place where people want to be.” As part of his commitment to the community, he sits on the board of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and on the foundation board of Broward College.

So it is with a sense of irony that he sees continued strength in the Fort Lauderdale market; he attributes much of it to the very spring breakers who ran amok 30 years ago.

“What I like to say to people is that just as our visitors of the 1980s have matured, so has the market. The same people who were tearing up the Merrimac when they were 20 years old in college, they’re now 50 and they’re successful.

And they have fond memories here. But they don’t want to stay in a motel; they want to stay at the Four Seasons.” v

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DESIGNER QUARTERS Discover the design vision behind the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Fort Lauderdale.

BY DAVID LYONS

T

he groundbreaking for the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Fort Lauderdale isn’t scheduled until next year. But every week, the people who are designing the project are on a conference call, working toward the day that one of the nation’s most iconic hotel brands will come alive on Fort Lauderdale beach.

At the helm of the construction project is Miami-based real estate investor Nadim Ashi, whose Fort Partners is putting the finishing touches on the iconic Surf Club in Surfside, under the Four Seasons brand.

The 1930s club, which once catered to Winston Churchill, Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelly, is on a Four Seasons short list of properties worldwide that are scheduled to open in early 2017. The club, which is being converted into a 77-room hotel with 150 luxury residences under the direction of architect Richard Meier, has attracted a powerful group of condo buyers who include Northeast money managers and financiers.

Between the Surf Club and Fort Lauderdale projects, and another Four Seasons in Palm Beach, Ashi has a full plate. Born in Liberia to Lebanese parents, Ashi was in the information technology business (he studied engineering at George Washington University) before entering real estate. He sold an information-technology firm that he founded and then moved to Miami to start in the real estate development field.

“Basically it all started with the Surf Club,” Ashi says of his efforts to secure the Four Seasons brand for his South Florida properties. “We landed on this iconic location. We had the great vision to hire a best-in-class architect. Then, when I was looking for a service operator to manage the hotel component I started analyzing which of the firms could provide best-in-class service. When I did my sampling and looked at my experiences in Paris and Italy, I always felt the Four Seasons had a special way of servicing guests. I always felt I wanted to go back.”

He bought the Florida rights to the Four Seasons brand from Canadian owners of the Palm Beach property in 2013. As the Surf Club project unfolded, his team looked for other locations, with their attention falling on Fort Lauderdale.

“We met a great family who had the site and we decided to go after it,” he says of the Motwani family, longtime operators and developers of hotels in Fort Lauderdale. “We believe Fort Lauderdale is really ready for a project like this. It is complementary to Palm Beach and Miami.”

His development and design team for the Fort Lauderdale property includes Miami-based architect Kobi Karp, whose firm has designed more than $18 billion in projects from Miami Beach and the Caribbean to the Middle East, South Africa and Southeast Asia. British designer Tara Bernerd, another prominent international practitioner, is the mastermind behind the interior design. Fernando Wong of Miami Beach is charged with the landscape design, while London- and New York-based designer Martin Brudnizki is doing the restaurant design.

Karp says he, Ashi and the others were sold on Fort Lauderdale’s infrastructure, amenities and environment, which only recently are being discovered by many in the Greater Miami area.

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“Here you have the river, which is historic,” he says. “It comes through the town with fresh water. And there’s a beautiful shopping center in the Galleria Mall.” In addition, the growth of Port Everglades and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport has made Fort Lauderdale an international destination.

It all plays into the area as being attractive to foreign buyers. “Some people don’t want Miami,” he adds. “They want Fort Lauderdale.”

The planned buildout of a Four Seasons in Fort Lauderdale marks the first time in roughly eight years that a hotel-condo property of this caliber has been proposed in the city. (Down the road to the south is a Ritz-Carlton, which started out as a St. Regis in 2009.)

Ashi and Karp say they are determined to make the Fort Lauderdale design comport with the neighborhood, taking advantage of the beach and Atlantic Ocean.

The hotel is designed like a bow of a ship and looks like a luxury cruise liner. Today's cruise ships are 10 to 14 stories high, and this building is the same size.

“We came up with a concept that is more nautical, more like a ship,” Karp says. “Whether you are on a submarine or a cruise ship, you always come to the deck. Yes, you might have a beautiful restaurant, but ultimately you come to the public space where you can congregate and see other people. We met with the city staff. And they said, activate the ground level. We have the whole block. We took it upon ourselves to activate the whole ground level with landscaping, steps, a plaza and indoor-outdoor dining.”

There is also a pedestrian and vehicle drop-off at the ground level. “All of a sudden, the building has accessibility and visibility to the street and connects on all sides,” Karp says. “We believe the community wants and spends time with breakfast, lunches and dinners more so now than ever before, and will continue to do so.”

Wong came up with what he calls a “beautiful, gorgeous landscape design” that he dubbed a “civilized jungle.”

“It begins with the ocean,” Wong says. “How do we want to feel when we come into the Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale? I feel that the beach might be a little bit hot. I wanted to experience a feeling of coolness. We are under a canopy of trees.” So he is incorporating two monumental Kapok and Sea Grape trees, which will be relocated from around Florida, as well as 70 palm trees.

“Once you arrive you will notice the change in topography,” says Wong, whose current projects include the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach, the Surf Club in Miami Beach and the Royal Hideaway Playacar Resort in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, among others. “It becomes more lush. It becomes more fragrant. I think we were able to accomplish that. Once you are at the pool levels you will see unobstructed views of the beach, with the canopy beneath you.”

Bernerd, whose latest hotel projects include The Hari in Hong Kong, a 130room hotel, and the Thompson Hollywood in Los Angeles, says she’s looking to “lift some of the thoughts from the Bahamas” for the Fort Lauderdale project. ”My approach is to step back a few decades and look at some of the elegant arts of it.” And if her work and collaboration with Ashi, Karp and Wong indicate anything, it’s that elegance is in store for Fort Lauderdale’s shores. v

A PEEK INSIDE Renderings of the Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences in Fort Lauderdale display a seaside retreat for residents and travelers.

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GO ISH Chef Ishmael “Ish” Toro helms two Islamorada restaurants, Pierre’s and Morada Bay Beach Café & Bar.

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ISH TALES On Mile Marker 82, there lives a flavor hunter named Ishmael “Ish” Toro who is reshaping the concept of Floribbean cuisine.

BY

CHARLIE CRESPO PHOTOGRAPHY BY

FELIPE CUEVAS

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FRESH MARKET Toro’s bright menu includes an octopus carpaccio dish with olives and capers.

It’s a scene from a postcard. Weightless waves brush up between toes snuggled in the sand.

Ice clinks softly in sugary tropical drinks, which are absentmindedly stirred by a miniature umbrella. Far off, there are faint sounds of wind chimes and someone slowly warming up on a steel drum.

A short walk from the sand on the Florida Bay side of Islamorada near Mile Marker 82, a different scene entirely is unfolding.

Inside the restaurants at Morada Bay, pots and pans clank and clamor. Cooks hurry to complete their mise en place as they keep a watchful eye over simmering stock. Busboys scurry to and fro with stacks of dishes and flatware. Servers hurriedly roll silverware as they memorize the evening’s specials.

If a guest were to mistakenly wander into the

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“I was always in the kitchen with my mother, either cooking breakfast or traditional Latin-style food.”

—Chef Ishmael Toro

kitchen area in search of another mojito, the controlled chaos would be jarring in comparison to the paradise just outside. However, for Executive Chef Ishmael “Ish” Toro, who oversees it all like the conductor of a classical orchestra, the cacophony, disparate smells and nervous energy of the kitchen are paradise.

For as long as Chef Toro can remember, he’s been at home in a kitchen.

“I was always in the kitchen with my mother, either cooking breakfast or traditional Latin-style food,” the 37-year-old remembers. “By a young age, as soon as I could reach the counter, I could make scrambled eggs and sandwiches.”

At age 15, he got his first taste of working in a

restaurant, when he began a job at Schooni’s Italian American restaurant in central Florida in order to save up money for his first car. A few years later, he began to seriously think about the possibility of becoming a full-time chef.

“I started college, and I was still always cooking.

The Emerils and the Bourdains were starting to get on TV, and it seemed like you could make it a career,” says Toro, who attended the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University.

After graduating, he worked in the kitchens at the popular Perricone’s Market Place & Café and Novecento in Miami. It was the former, and especially proprietor Steven Perricone, that Toro credits for helping him develop the confidence and ability required to become an executive chef.

TROPICAL TIMES The beachside setting of Morada Bay inspired Toro’s menu, including a drink list with cocktails embracing the tropical and fruity.

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“For me, it’s hunting with flavor.”

—Chef Ishmael Toro

VEGGIE TALES Hailing from Puerto Rico, Toro has lived in South Florida for more than 15 years and brings his seamless integration of Latin, Caribbean and Italian influences to the menus at Morada Bay, including this crispy Brussels sprouts dish with bacon and soy glaze.

That confidence was certainly a required skill when Toro decided to take on a new challenge further south in Islamorada at Morada Bay. Not only would he be tasked with Pierre’s—located in an elegant two-story plantation house and noted for its unique take on French cuisine fused with world influences—but he would also be expected to run the more casual Morada Bay Beach Café & Bar. To put the scope of the position in perspective, the two restaurants combined can do anywhere from 500 to 800 covers a day in season and come with a total staff of about 140 employees.

As you might expect, Toro definitely knew there would be challenges.

“Coming into a new property like this, you have to shut up and learn,” he says. “It took me awhile to bring in the reins. Purchasing for two restaurants, learning two groups of staff, learning the current

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menus... you have to learn them all before you can even begin to start attacking the previous problems.

It was about a six-month learning curve.”

Despite the massive project, it didn’t take long for his food to shine. Blessed with a property that has herbs, Key limes, mangoes, different spices and starfruit, as well as owners committed to the best and freshest ingredients, Toro was easily able to supplement his personal style with the unique advantages of the location.

“For me, it’s hunting with flavor,” he explains.

“Being Puerto Rican and Italian, I always go to my core ingredients: cilantro, garlic, jalapeño—that’s your sofrito; that’s your base flavor. Then when you use the best local products, there’s no need to cover it up with sauces or garnishes. Just let it speak for itself.”

And his food certainly does. With a quick look

over the menu—at dishes such as mofongo with whole lobster tail and jumbo shrimp enchilada; pan-roasted mahi-mahi with cilantro green rice, tostones, and fresh Florida citrus mojo; and roasted organic half chicken topped with fresh Florida citrus mojo and served with cilantro rice, Hawaiian tostones, pico de gallo and avocado—his influence is obvious.

But even with all of Toro’s early success at Morada Bay, he knows it’s just the beginning. He’s quick to talk about how exciting it is to work with owner Hubert Baudoin—who also owns Morada Bay’s sister property, The Moorings Village & Spa— on taking the restaurants to the next level.

“I think the ownership at Morada Bay has really backed me up,” he says. “There is a really big vision, and it’s a beautiful property. I know there are a lot of opportunities to grow down here.” v

HIS MEMORIES Toro’s culinary style harkens back to childhood memories of cooking Latin-style food with his family, including this grilled veal chop.

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IN BLOOM Stepping out of her famous father’s shadow, actress Katie Cassidy is defining her role as a superhero on the rise.

BY ELYSSA GOODMAN

I

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MASHA MALTSAVA

feel like every kid’s dream is to be a superhero,” Katie Cassidy says, a chuckle in her voice.

On The CW’s “Arrow,” a reimagining of DC’s classic comic book Green Arrow, Cassidy plays Laurel Lance, who is by day an assistant district attorney in a suit and by night Black Canary, a crime-fighting vigilante clad in black leather. Though Cassidy’s character passed away at the end of the show’s most recent season, she is slated to return not just to “Arrow,” but also to many of the other DC Comics-inspired shows in The CW’s repertoire, such as “Legends of Tomorrow” and “The Flash.” Like every good superhero, she may just have resurrection on her side.

In the changing media landscape where women are more often taking on roles of strong, powerful characters, Cassidy’s Black Canary is inspiring to many, even the actress herself. “Especially today, modern-day kick-ass women are awesome,” Cassidy says. “I just loved how strong of a character she was. She’s always been very, very close to me, and when I read it I could see myself doing it. So I knew I needed to sit down and convince [“Arrow” producer] Greg Berlanti that I’m the one he should be hiring for this. And I’m fortunate enough to have gotten the opportunity to portray her.”

While Cassidy has been working in television and film for years, with “Arrow” she seems to have bloomed. “I never really dreamed I would be in this position, and I would be going to these conventions and Comic-Cons and people would be

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STYLED BY SEPPE TIRABASSI

dressed up as my character,” Cassidy says. “The show has really touched people and moved them.” In a video from the Salt Lake Comic Con earlier this year, where comic book heroes like Cassidy’s Black Canary are celebrated, audiences applauded, whistled and clapped. “We love you!” one fan shouted. A big smile peeled across Cassidy’s face, stretching all the way back to her sandy-brown hair.

“Oh, I love you, too!” she said into the microphone. On stage, she almost sparkles under the spotlights, as if she knows she belongs there.

“Honestly, I’ve always loved entertaining. I’m a third-generation actor, and I think it’s just in the gene pool. I think I was born this way,” she laughs. Her father is 1970s pop idol (and former Fort Lauderdale resident) David Cassidy, and her grandfather was stage and screen star Jack Cassidy. But make no mistake: Cassidy forged her way and paid her dues in the industry just as they did.

Cassidy, now 30, made her first television appearance in 2003 as a teenager, and has been working consistently since then in both film and television.

You may recognize her from movies such as “When a Stranger Calls,” “Click” and “Taken,” or from character arcs on now-iconic shows such as “7th Heaven” and “Supernatural,” from headlining the 2009 revival of “Melrose Place” or in her role as Juliet Sharp on “Gossip Girl.”

Interestingly, Cassidy had the opportunity to audition for NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts after high school, but couldn’t make the time slot because she had already booked another acting gig—she went to the audition on her lunch break

Ivie Joy Flowers flower crown, iviejoyflowers.com; earrings are Katie’s own.

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Business Class In Katie Cassidy’s spare time, she also runs a fashion blog, Tomboy KC, with her best friend, Lynsey Eaton. “She and I started it because we love fashion, and we balance each other out,” Cassidy says. “I was definitely more of a tomboy, and she’s definitely more ladylike, and our styles mix together.” They began the site to talk about their differences and embrace them, while also offering others a place to connect and discuss style. “We get to share what we’re into. If it’s on trend or not, we don’t really care,” she says. “It’s just about being able to dress, feeling good about yourself, feeling confident and also being able to portray part of your personality.”

3.1 Phillip Lim jacket, available at Bal Harbour Shops, 31philliplim.com; Tiffany & Co. earrings, available at Aventura Mall, tiffany.com.

from shooting, but couldn’t stay because the audition orientation was too long.

“I realized that I’m doing what I want to do and as long as I continue studying and learning and reading, I don’t necessarily need to pause.” Instead, Cassidy went to acting school in Los Angeles and continues to sharpen her skills.

“I’m always learning and honing my craft,” she says. “I love the psychology behind it, different characters and exploring. There’s obviously a lot of psychology that goes into it about why people are the way that they are and learning about different behavior. It’s always been something that I love to do.”

For Cassidy, one of the biggest lessons in cementing herself in the industry was learning to trust herself. “I think the older I get, the more I listen to my gut and my instincts,” she says. “I had to sort of let go, and I do think that’s what people want to see when it comes to a performance. It’s like when you’re watching a trapeze artist and they’re swinging from one bar to the other and there’s that moment of them in the air when they let go before they catch the next bar. That’s the moment that people want to see. It’s the same with acting: Those are those incredible moments that hopefully get captured.”

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Intrigued by the character of Laurel Lance and the idea of working in an action-based show, Cassidy joined “Arrow” in 2012. As Lance, Cassidy explores the range of her character’s experiences, from alcohol and drug addiction and hitting rock bottom to transforming into a tough, badass superhero. “Laurel has had such a wonderful arc,” she says. “I feel as though the role I’m playing currently is one of my dream roles.”

“Arrow” and the other DC Universe shows film in Vancouver, so Cassidy now lives there and films 10 and half months out of the year making, as she says, “a weekly action movie.” While the weather is a far cry from her native Los Angeles, she loves being able to experience all of the seasons. She’s also in the middle of shooting a film in Boston, among other projects.

Whenever she’s able to, though, Cassidy picks up and heads to South Florida. She calls the area her safe haven, heading here when she has any kind of break. “All I want to do is be on the beach during my days off, drinking a cocktail out of a coconut,” she laughs. Because even superheroes need a break every once in a while. v

Tomas Maier jumpsuit, available at Bal Harbour Shops, tomasmaier.com; Max Mara tank, available at Bloomingdale’s at Aventura Mall, maxmara.com; earrings are Cassidy’s own.

Photographer: Masha Maltsava Stylist: Seppe Tirabassi/Altered Agency Makeup: Rebecca Restrepo Hair: Charlie Taylor Florist: Ivie Joy Flowers

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MAKE A SPLASH

TROPIC OCEAN AIRWAYS

The Broward Center’s Spectacular Season Highlights Cabaret

January 10–22

Kenny Rogers

January 24

A Night of Symphonic Hip Hop featuring Nelly January 26 Gladys Knight

January 27

Terry Fator

January 28

Shen Yun

January 30 & 31

The Boston Pops Twyla Tharp Dance: Esplanade Orchestra February 1 Fiftieth Anniversary Tour Boz Scaggs & The Robert Cray Band Miami City Ballet: Program 2

February 2 February 4 & 5

February 13

Kristin Chenoweth

February 14

The Piano Guys

February 15

Joe Bonamassa

February 16 & 18

Disney’s The Little Mermaid Florida Grand Opera: Eugene Onegin February 22–March 5

February 9–11

Enhance your visit to the theater with one of the following options…

Enjoy gourmet dining with spectacular waterfront views before the performance as well as Sunday brunch at our on-site restaurant.

Purchase all-inclusive LATAM AIRLINES CLUB LEVEL seating for an upscale theater and lounge experience including cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Add to your Au-Rene Theater experience with tickets to the Intermezzo Lounge for pre-show cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

TICKETS at BrowardCenter.org

Follow us:

Ticketmaster | 954.462.0222 Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office

BrowardCenter

The Broward Center 2016-2017 season is presented by the Broward Performing Arts Foundation with generous support from the Salah Foundation.

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In Contrast

Dark anD light hues work in harmony this winter with these simple, unDerst PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOSHUA

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JORDAN

STYLING BY SEPPE

ateD looks.

TIRABASSI

This page: Gucci vintage jacket and pants, and platform shoes, available at Bal Harbour Shops, gucci.com; Tomas Maier bikini top, available at Bal Harbour Shops, tomasmaier.com; Dolce & Gabbana bow belt, available at Bal Harbour Shops, dolcegabbana.com.

Opposite page: Valentino top and pumps, available at Bal Harbour Shops, valentino.com; Theory sweater and skirt, available at Bloomingdale’s at Aventura Mall, theory.com; David Yurman cuff, available at Bal Harbour Shops, davidyurman.com.

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3.1 Phillip Lim dress, available at Bal Harbour Shops, 31philliplim.com; Roger Vivier sneakers, available at Bal Harbour Shops, rogervivier.com; Eddie Borgo cuff, available at Neiman Marcus at Bal Harbour Shops, eddieborgo.com.

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Bally leather jacket, available at Aventura Mall, bally.com; Adeam gown, available at Saks Fifth Avenue at Bal Harbour Shops, adeam.com; David Yurman necklace, available at Bal Harbour Shops, davidyurman.com.

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Rochas leather jacket, rochas.com; Michael Kors Collection tank suit and belt, available at Aventura Mall, michaelkors.com; Gucci platform shoes, available at Bal Harbour Shops, gucci.com; David Yurman rings, available at Bal Harbour Shops, davidyurman.com.

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Dior sweater, available at Neiman Marcus at Bal Harbour Shops, dior.com; 3.1 Phillip Lim shorts, available at Bal Harbour Shops, 31philliplim.com; Gucci baseball cap, available at Bal Harbour Shops, gucci.com; Roger Vivier slippers, available at Bal Harbour Shops, rogervivier.com.

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Dolce & Gabbana jacket, available at Bal Harbour Shops, dolcegabbana.com; DKNY dress, available at Bloomingdale’s at Aventura Mall, dkny.com; Roger Vivier sneakers, available at Bal Harbour Shops, rogervivier.com; Pamela Love necklace, pamelalove.com.

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Dior coat and belt, available at Neiman Marcus at Bal Harbour Shops, dior.com; Eddie Borgo earrings, available at Neiman Marcus at Bal Harbour Shops, eddieborgo.com.

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DKNY jacket and pants, available at Bloomingdale’s at Aventura Mall, dkny.com; 3.1 Phillip Lim blouse, available at Bal Harbour Shops, 31philliplim.com; Isabel Marant wedges, available at Neiman Marcus at Bal Harbour Shops, isabelmarant.com; Pamela Love earrings and cuff, pamelalove.com.

Photographer: Joshua Jordan Stylist: Seppe Tirabassi/Altered Agency Makeup: Carlo Longo/Ray Brown Hair: Muriel Vancauwen/Exclusive Artists Management using Label.M and Hot Tools Stylist’s assistant: Leyla Nuritova Photography assistants: Hector Adalid and Patrick McClain Digital Tech: Bryan Solarski Studio Manager: Steven Harwick Model: Victoria Anderson/Wilhelmina

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Street Party

Life’s a carnival with this season’s pretty prints, delicate ruffles and bold accessories. Don’t miss out on the parade.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY

STYLING BY

DOUGLAS MOTT

TAYLOR GREELEY

This page: Chloé blouse, available at Bal Harbour Shops, chloe.com; Alex shorts, available at Intermix at Bal Harbour Shops, intermixonline.com; earrings are stylist’s own; boots are model’s own. Opposite page: Isabel Marant top, available at Neiman Marcus at Bal Harbour Shops, isabelmarant.com; See by Chloé pants, available at Nordstrom at Aventura Mall, chloe.com; heels are model’s own; socks are stylist’s own.

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BCBG jumpsuit, available at Aventura Mall, bcbg.com; CĂŠline sunglasses, available at Neiman Marcus at Bal Harbour Shops, celine.com.

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Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini dress, available at Barneys New York, albertaferretti.com; earrings are stylist’s own.

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Jocelyn jacket, shopjocelyn.com; Jourden dress, available at Barneys New York, jourden.co; scarf is stylist’s own.

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Intermix blouse, intermixonline.com; Day pants, available at Lord & Taylor in Mizner Park, day.dk; Fendi sunglasses, available at Bal Harbour Shops, fendi.com; earrings are stylist’s own.

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Foundrae dress, available at Neiman Marcus at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale; Zara jacket, available at Miami Beach, zara.com; Alexis Gamblin heels, alexisgamblin.com; necklace is stylist’s own.

Photographer: Douglas Mott/LVA Represents Fashion stylist: Taylor Greeley Makeup & hair: Alicia Dane Producer: Melissa Vallas Photo assistant: Eric Crocombe Model: Mia Stass/Marilyn

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SHIFT TO NEUTRAL Bring on the beige this season and allow neutrals to take command of your closet.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LYALL

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ASTON

STYLING BY ALISON

HERNON

This page: Tobi dress, tobi.com; Sandro coat, available at Aventura Mall, us.sandro-paris.com; Burberry boots, available at Aventura Mall, burberry.com; Lafayette 148 New York earrings, available at Neiman Marcus at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, lafayette148ny.com. Opposite page: Lafayette 148 New York pant suit and necklace, available at Neiman Marcus at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, lafayette148ny.com.

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Lafayette 148 New York coat and cuff, available at Neiman Marcus at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, lafayette148ny.com; shoes are stylist’s own.

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Lafayette 148 New York coat and necklace, available at Neiman Marcus at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, lafayette148ny.com; Isabel Marant blouse, available at Neiman Marcus at Bal Harbour Shops, isabelmarant.com; Giambattista Valli skirt, available at Neiman Marcus at Bal Harbour Shops, giambattistavalli.com; Givenchy boots, available at Bal Harbour Shops, givenchy.com.

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Tobi romper, tobi.com; Burberry boots, available at Aventura Mall, burberry.com; Lafayette 148 New York necklace, available at Neiman Marcus at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, lafayette148ny.com.

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Isabel Marant coat, available at Neiman Marcus at Bal Harbour Shops, isabelmarant.com; Gucci belt, available at Bal Harbour Shops, gucci.com; Tobi boot, tobi.com; Jil Sander gloves, available at Saks Fifth Avenue at Bal Harbour Shops, jilsander.com; Lafayette 148 New York necklace, available at Neiman Marcus at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, lafayette148ny.com.

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Rag & Bone blouse, available at Bal Harbour Shops, rag-bone.com; Dolce & Gabbana shorts, available at Bal Harbour Shops, dolcegabbana.com; ChloĂŠ heels, available at Bal Harbour Shops, chloe.com.

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Kensie blouse, available at Nordstrom at Aventura Mall, kensie.com; Eugenia Kim hat, available at Saks Fifth Avenue at Bal Harbour Shops, eugeniakim.com; Love Token fur vest, Nordstrom at Aventura Mall, lovetokenus.com; Lafayette 148 New York pants and bangle, available at Neiman Marcus at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, lafayette148ny.com.

Photographer: Lyall Aston Stylist: Alison Hernon/Agency Gerard Artists Makeup & hair: Campbell Ritchie/Art Department Model: Melizanne Dulcedo/Wilhelmina NY

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WINTER’S LIGHT Inspired by the equestrian lifestyle, we find ourselves in a resplendent season with deep hues and rich warm textures.

CREATIVE DIRECTION BY KIM

GRIJALVA PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY JAMES STYLING BY MARCELA ALMA 154 venicemagftl.com

Ted Baker shirt and vest, available at Bloomingdale’s at Aventura Mall, tedbaker.com; Adriano Goldschmied jeans, available at Bloomingdale’s at Aventura Mall, agjeans.com; IWC watch, available at Mayors Jewelers in Aventura Mall, iwc.com; Roeckl gloves, available at Tackeria in Wellington, roeckl.de; coat is stylist’s own.

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La Martina jacket and jeans, available at Aventura Mall, lamartina.com; To Boot New York boot available at Bloomingdale’s at Aventura Mall, toboot.com; Baume & Mercier watch, available at Mayors Jewelers at Aventura Mall, baume-et-mercier.com; turtleneck is stylist’s own; bracelet is model’s own.

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Robert Graham jacket, available at Nordstrom at Aventura Mall, robertgraham.us; La Martina jeans, available at Aventura Mall, lamartina.com; Prestige saddle, available at Fox Run Saddlery in Wellington, prestigeitaly.com; turtleneck, sweater vest and wallet chain are stylist’s own; bracelet is model’s own.

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Etro jacket, available at Neiman Marcus at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, etro.com; Burberry sweater, available at Neiman Marcus at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, burberry.com; Hugo Boss turtleneck, available at Neiman Marcus at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, hugoboss.com; Polo Ralph Lauren pants, available at Bloomingdale’s at Aventura Mall, ralphlauren.com; Baume & Mercier watch, available at Mayors Jewelers at Aventura Mall, baume-et-mercier.com; ascot is stylist’s own; bracelet is model’s own.

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Maison Margiela blazer, available at The Webster at Bal Harbour Shops, maisonmargiela.com; Ami Alexandre Mattiussi sweater, available at The Webster at Bal Harbour Shops, amiparis.com; Polo Ralph Lauren pants, available at Bloomingdale’s at Aventura Mall, ralphlauren.com; turtleneck is stylist’s own; Heritage gloves, available at Tackeria in Wellington, heritagegloves.com; Fleck riding whip, available at Tackeria in Wellington, fleck-co.de.

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Isaia jacket, available at Neiman Marcus at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, isaia.it; Etro shirt, available at Bloomingdale’s at Aventura Mall, etro.com; Ted Baker pants and belt, available at Bloomingdale’s at Aventura Mall, tedbaker.com; Bulgari watch, available at Mayors Jewelers at Aventura Mall, bulgari.com.

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Ted Baker shirt and vest, available at Bloomingdale’s at Aventura Mall, tedbaker.com; Adriano Goldschmied jeans, available at Bloomingdale’s at Aventura Mall, agjeans.com; Roeckl gloves, available at Tackeria in Wellington, roeckl.de; wool coat is stylist’s own.

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Isaia jacket, available at Neiman Marcus at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, isaia.it; Etro shirt, available at Bloomingdale’s at Aventura Mall, etro.com; Ted Baker pants and belt, available at Bloomingdale’s at Aventura Mall, tedbaker.com; C. Madeleine’s vintage scarf, available at C. Madeleine’s in North Miami Beach, cmadeleines.com; Bulgari watch, available at Mayors Jewelers at Aventura Mall, bulgari.com; To Boot New York boots, available at Bloomingdale’s at Aventura Mall, toboot.com; socks are stylist’s own.

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Burberry jacket, available at The Webster at Bal Harbour Shops, burberry.com; Ami Alexandre Mattiussi sweater, available at The Webster at Bal Harbour Shops, amiparis.com; Etro jeans, available at Bal Harbour Shops, etro.com.

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Ami Alexandre Mattiussi sweater, available at The Webster at Bal Harbour Shops, amiparis.com; Polo Ralph Lauren pants, available at Bloomingdale’s at Aventura Mall, ralphlauren.com; Gucci shoes, available at Bal Harbour Shops, gucci.com; Heritage gloves, available at Tackeria in Wellington, heritagegloves.com.

Creative director: Kim Grijalva Photographer: Gary James Stylist: Marcela Alma Hair & makeup: Nina Alcantara Model: Emanuele Fiore/New York Models Stylist assistant: Taylor Dorry Shot on location at Sabal Point Farm.

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T I C K E T S AVA I L A B L E AT

THE WRITE STUFF

More than ever, today’s society is hardly at a loss for words.

In this issue, you will discover the BEST-SELLING AUTHORS whose latest works illuminate myriad insights and ideas. These writers, who will make a spring appearance at the 29TH ANNUAL LITERARY FEAST FESTIVAL, bring their universe of content to the Fort Lauderdale reader.

BY NILA DO SIMON

Featured authors: Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, Robert Olen Butler, Samantha Ettus, Linda Fairstein, Heather Graham, Mark Greaney, Andrew Gross, Yaa Gyasi, Dr. James Hamblin, Sophie Hannah, Debbie Macomber, Juan Martinez, Joyce Maynard, Lawrence Millman, Gareth Russell, Thomas Swick and Linda Thompson

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NON-FICTION Life happens. These authors document it.

GARETH RUSSELL

DR. JAMES HAMBLIN If Our Bodies Could Talk (Doubleday) When did you know you wanted to transition from being a full-time physician to writing and producing a web series?

This is a long, long story, some of which I get into in the book. But basically I never intended to stop practicing entirely; I just got into writing and couldn’t stop because I got some opportunities that I considered once-in-a-lifetime, like writing this book. I might start practicing again. I do miss it.

How did the idea of the web series “If Our Bodies Could Talk” come about?

In short, The Atlantic started a video department, and I was lucky enough to spend some time in front of the camera, and people seemed to not hate it, and I enjoyed it. So we kept making more videos, and then one thing led to another, and then President Obama came on the show.

When did you first mull the idea of publishing your debut book, If Our Bodies Could Talk?

It’s something I’ve wanted to do as long as I can remember. This one became an idea because a lot of people who ask me a lot of health questions specifically said, “You should make this into a book.”

So I did. Since college, I’ve envisioned a book of anatomy and physiology that didn’t read like a textbook. I think basic knowledge of how bodies work could keep a people healthier and happier and less concerned and beholden to marketing. And I enjoy trying to get that stuff across in story format, so here

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we are with a sort of non-traditional textbook.

What makes If Our Bodies Could Talk different from other medical books?

I’m used to writing for a general-interest magazine on the internet, where you don’t really know who your reader is going to be. It could be someone who did his or her doctoral thesis on the thing I’m writing about, or it could be someone who doesn’t really know what a cell is. I’m used to walking that line where I don’t bore the experts and don’t alienate the people who aren’t into health and science. I get into some heavy ideas in this book, actually the heaviest I could think of (end-of-life care, pharmaceutical costs, cancer genomics). I’m sure I’ve failed in more than a few places to walk the line between important and interesting, but I’ve done my best, and hope overall the book helps with basic biomedical literacy and advances some bigger ideas.

You’re fluent in many storytelling media: stand-up comedy, magazine journalism, webinars and books. What makes the long-form literary narrative such an impactful storytelling device?

I think it’s about relating to people’s stories that give life to scientific concepts that are otherwise superboring to most. That’s how I remembered everything in medical school, by trying to understand real-world cases and applications. Long-form writing lets you do more than just list stats and describe studies, and fill out a world that’s hopefully memorable.

What about Henry VIII’s fifth wife, Catherine Howard, enticed you to write a book?

When I was 18, I considered writing a book about queens whose lives had ended horribly. I picked six, but the only chapter I ever finished was on Catherine. The more that I went back to the archives, the more fascinated I became, and I realized that Catherine’s story was very different than how it is usually presented. It seemed to me that justified a new, full-length biography of her.

How do you make your storytelling of the era of Henry VIII relatable to today’s readers?

The easiest policy is usually to tell the truth, so that is what I try to do in Young and Damned and Fair. I find that people love the strangeness of another era—so I gave myself time to explain to the reader that there were incredibly detailed confession manuals sent out to priests with guides on what penance to apply on differing sexual sins. But there is also something intensely relatable through the humanity of the Tudor story.

I think if you let the truth of each figure’s personality show, then readers will be able to react and invest in the story you’re telling.

How are able to adapt to writing non-fiction after writing fiction?

You know, it is honestly a much bigger adjustment than I first anticipated. But I think the reason I feel so comfortable moving between them is that I truly love writing both.

PORTRAIT OF DR. JAMES HAMBLIN BY KASIA CIEPLAK-MAYR VON BALDEGG

Young and Damned and Fair: The Life of Catherine Howard, Fifth Wife of King Henry VIII (Simon & Schuster)

SAMANTHA ETTUS The Pie Life: A Guilt-Free Recipe for Success and Satisfaction (Ghost Mountain Books) “I’ve always loved helping people,” says author and work/life expert Samantha Ettus. “I’ve always had a hard time seeing people who don’t achieve their top potential. I joke that a bit of unsolicited advice goes a long way.”

Thankfully, Ettus has been dispensing useful unsolicited advice to millions of Americans and, in particular, women for decades. Since earning her MBA at Harvard, Ettus has been dedicated to showing women that work and life can indeed be balanced. Even Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg has listened, quoting Ettus in Sandberg’s bestselling Lean In. The mother of three, Ettus has a dizzying schedule as a bestselling author of four books, host of a nationally syndicated radio show, soughtafter motivational speaker and go-to expert who has appeared on the “Today Show” and “Good Morning America.” So who better than her to discuss work/life balance?

Ettus will be sharing her insights with Fort Lauderdale audiences on February 20 as the headlining author at the LitLunch! luncheon, where she’ll discuss her latest book, The Pie Life: A Guilt-Free Recipe for Success and Satisfaction.

The book is a guide to self-improvement by focusing on seven main parts of a woman’s life: health, relationship, career, friends, hobbies, community and children.

“In the book I guide people through being aware of how much time they dedicate to each slice,” she says. “The purpose isn’t to beat yourself up over how much time or how little you dedicate to a certain slice. Even if the hobbies are just a sliver, keep it on it your radar. Don’t remove it. What’s important is to be cognizant of these slices and don’t ignore them.

“What ends up happening is that these slices don’t just reappear. It’s important to really keep that up. Your kids are going to be OK if you go out once or twice in your life, but some women feel guilty if they do that. I want to show women that it’s OK to lose the guilt and drop the quest for perfection because that’s an impossible goal.”

Ettus had help in creating this book, including from celebrities such as TV producer Shonda Rhimes, news anchor Gayle King, Marie Claire magazine Editor-in-Chief Anne Fulenwider and several other high-profile working women.

The Pie Life showcases real-life stories as prime examples of how living with children doesn’t signal the end of a professional life.

The stories have made an impact. A reader wrote: “Your book is finally getting me out of my sweatpants.” For Ettus, hearing how readers react shows her that others agree that balancing life doesn’t need to reflect perfection. Instead, it’s become about women who are able to make the messy parts of life work for them.

“The reason why I love the pie analogy is because the most delicious pies are the gooey, messy ones with things dripping over the sides,” she says. “And that’s how life is sometimes.”

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THOMAS SWICK The Joys of Travel (Skyhorse Publishing)

A Little Thing Called Love: On Loving Elvis Presley, Bruce Jenner, and Songs in Between (Dey Street Books) How would you describe your latest book?

I begin by saying that it is a difficult process to go back and excavate old memories and feelings, and re-experience them deeply enough to articulate them effectively for the reader to empathize and relate.

When did you know you wanted to be a professional writer?

I have written poetry since I was 9 years old, and my original aspiration was to have a book published of my poetry and lyrics, perhaps accompanied by photographs I had taken.

However, my life took on so many interesting twists and turns that I felt a responsibility to life itself to chronicle my journey.

How did you come up with the general concept of your latest book?

I lived it! My belief is that in sharing our journeys, life experiences and lessons garnered along the way, we connect to each other, and in the process discover not only interesting aspects of other people’s lives—some of the mysteries of our own lives are revealed to us.

What can your fans expect from you next?

A vacation. Then perhaps a book of quotes, health, fitness and beauty tips. A lifestyle book perhaps. But first that vacation.

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JUAN MARTINEZ Convicted: The Untold Story of Putting Jodi Arias Behind Bars (HarperCollins) A gunshot to the head. Nearly 30 stab wounds.

Extensive media coverage. Taken in tandem, these elements sound like a too-crazy-to-believe Hollywood movie, but in fact this courtroom case that was famously played out on national television happened in real life. And the man closest to the case has come out with an indepth book about the shocking investigation that brought Jodi Arias a life sentence for the firstdegree murder of her boyfriend, Travis Alexander.

In prosecutor Juan Martinez’s first-ever book, Convicted: The Untold Story of Putting Jodi Arias Behind Bars, he reveals the behind-the-scenes story of the work and the effort that he put into the case. In it, he shows that Jodi Arias’ claim of self-defense was something that she fabricated, and, after months of trial, the jury eventually agreed. The book details how Martinez, as a oneman prosecution team, found clues in Arias’ witness-stand accounts that led to her conviction.

Despite the public’s obsession with the 2013 trial, which received unprecedented media coverage (Fox News Channel alone had 2.76 million viewers), Martinez says parts of his book will surprise even the most avid follower of the event.

“The story details how I went about unraveling Arias, and proving things that she claimed were true were indeed not true,” Martinez says. “For example, she made certain claims about a route that she may have taken on the trip that resulted in the killing, and that was one thing I pointed out that was mathematically impossible to do.”

And does Martinez see another book or two in his writing future? “I’m not sure, but I’d like to,” he says. “Writing this book was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, and I have so much more respect for writers now than I ever had before.”

PORTRAIT OF LINDA THOMPSON BY HARRY LANGDON JR

LINDA THOMPSON

The Synopsis: The Joys of Travel explores, through essays and stories, what I think are the seven fundamental pleasures of travel: anticipation, movement, break from routine, novelty, discovery, emotional connection and heightened appreciation of home. Many travelers are so focused on the logistics and the sights that they often overlook, or fail to fully appreciate, these joys that are an essential part of every trip (with the exception of emotional connection, which is rare and all the more precious because of that).

The Prologue: I remember vividly the day my first article appeared in The Villanovan. After my morning class I walked the length of the campus and got compliments and congratulations, it seems to me now, every few steps. (This was at Villanova, which, back in 1972, had only about 4,000 students, almost all of whom read the college paper.) It was an extremely heady and seductive experience; all of a sudden, I was not just a published writer, I was Somebody. That moment solidified my desire to become a writer— the fame! the glory!—though I have never again received anything close to that kind of public acclamation on publication.

The Backstory: Over the years, whenever I told anyone what I did for a living, the response was almost always enthusiastic. “Travel writer?!?” people would frequently say. “I would love to do that!” So I started asking myself: What is it about travel that people find so appealing? And I came up with the seven joys. There were no books that looked at travel in this way, that identified the individual components of a trip that give us pleasure. Fifteen years ago Alain de Botton wrote The Art of Travel, but that was more of an academic work, looking at artists like Flaubert and van Gogh. And Paul Theroux, the dean of American travel writers, published The Tao of Travel, but it is more of a collection of aphorisms.

The Next Chapter: I’m working on a memoir about how I became a travel writer, starting with my first newspaper job—as a feature writer, which was excellent training for a future travel writer— and covering the years I spent teaching English in Greece and Poland.

LAWRENCE MILLMAN At the End of the World (St. Martin’s Press) The Synopsis: At The End of the World describes killings in the name of religion in 1941. The setting is some extremely remote, Inuit-inhabited islands in Hudson Bay. One Inuk proclaimed himself God, another Jesus, and anyone who disagreed with them was Satan and, as a result, killed. Since I don’t think it’s possible to write about the past without writing about the present, the book also considers our current obsession with screens (TVs, computers, iDevices, etc.) and how this obsession is corrupting our sense of nature.

The Prologue: I went to live in the west of Ireland, where I discovered a wholly different way of life from what I was used to—a culture where the spoken word was vastly more important than the written one. I wrote about this culture in my first book, Our Like Will Not Be There Again, and then it was off to the races. Since then, I’ve devoted myself mostly to documenting vanishing ways of life that I value, sad to say, far more than I value the contemporary way of life.

The Backstory: In 2001, I visited the Belcher Islands in Hudson Bay and heard about the 1941 murders from various Inuit elders. I wanted to put pen to paper because the story (and the islands themselves) was virtually unknown to the outside world. But I needed a powerful nudge to write the story. That nudge occurred in 2013. You’ll have to read the book in order to find out what it was!

The Next Chapter: I’m a mycologist (mushroom expert), and I am working on a collection of short stories that feature mushrooms. You want an example? In one of the stories, entitled “Faust: A Revision,” a mycologist discovers a whole new fungal phylum because he’s sold his soul to the devil, but things get a little complicated when it turns out that he doesn’t have a soul.

JENNIFER KEISHIN ARMSTRONG Seinfeldia (Simon & Schuster) How would you describe your newest book?

I describe my books as biographies of a television show. The book essentially combines historical research, interviews and on-the-scene reporting into a comprehensive narrative about “Seinfeld,” from its inception through its still-intense fan culture today and its lasting cultural impact.

What details will avid fans of the TV show find surprising when they read the book?

One of my favorite “scoops” in the book is the story, told for the first time, of the inspiration for the “Elaine dance.” (If you recall, she was an… interesting dancer.) That actually came from none other than “Saturday Night Live” creator/producer Lorne Michaels. The writer of that episode, Spike Feresten, started his career as an assistant at “SNL,” and was so intimidated by Lorne that he couldn't even look him in the eye to give him his phone messages... until he saw Lorne dancing with Sinead O'Connor at an SNL after-party. It was, he said, just like the Elaine dance we know and love today. And it helped Spike to see that his boss was just a regular person... who happened to be a comedy god.

How do you transition from newspaper writing to writing novels?

I started writing for newspapers when I was about 16, so hopefully my writing has evolved a lot! I would say the biggest change from my first book, which was published in 2010, to now is that I actually learned how to trust the story. I was trained as a journalist, so I always knew how to track down facts and throw them together. For books, I had to learn to follow my instincts when it came to building a story—holding certain details back, not dumping them all at once or just relying on interview quotes to do the work for me.

How would you describe the power of the written word in today’s environment?

We have these fun, short ways of communicating quickly. But we need to take a longer view as well.

My book subject actually illustrates this well: There are plenty of websites, wikis and Twitter accounts dedicated to obsessing over “Seinfeld,” but only a book can tell the show's entire story.

What can your fans expect from you next?

I am currently working on a similar book about “Sex and the City.”

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FICTION Imaginative, seductive and enthralling. These fiction novels transport us to a whole new world.

HEATHER GRAHAM

DEBBIE MACOMBER If Not For You (Ballantine Books) How would you describe your newest book?

If Not For You is a story of two people healing: one physically from a terrible car accident and the other emotionally from a painful ending of a relationship.

What makes your storytelling such an adaptable narrative, even spawning off a Hallmark Channel movie?

The gift God gave me is that of being a storyteller.

To me, the book is about story. I don’t get bogged down in the details or description. Words sometimes get in the way with me. It isn’t important to me what the heroine looks like; rather, what’s important is what she’s doing and why. The funny part is that the readers will often comment on how much they enjoy the way I write description when actually there is very little in my books. This tells me that their brains fill in the details for them as they become involved in the story.

Why is the literary word still such an important form of communicating thoughts and storytelling narrative?

Books are a means of communicating, of linking with others, of peeling back the layers of life.

From the time before the written word, when stories were passed along while sitting around an open fire pit, to reading an entire book on your wrist, there is story and there will always be story.

What can your fans expect from you next?

The next book in the New Beginnings series is titled Any Dream Will Do, and the theme is redemption. The heroine is recently released from prison and looking to make a new start in life. She has learned lessons from her past mistakes and dreams of a better future.

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How would you describe your newest book?

This is the second book in my new romantic suspense series about a forensic psychologist who’s part owner of Finnegan’s on Broadway, a popular New York City pub. In A Perfect Obsession, Kieran Finnegan is in the midst of an historic discovery when a very modern body appears in a very old coffin. The site of the discovery, Club Le Vampyre, is right behind Finnegan’s so Kieran finds herself involved from the get-go—naturally drawing her love interest, Special Agent Craig Frasier. It’s hard enough finding a killer, but twice so when it turns out that Kieran’s twin brother was the mystery lover of one the most beautiful victims of the killer.

Why is the literary word still such an important form of communicating thoughts and storytelling narrative?

I firmly believe that if you can curl up with a good book and an immersive story that has the power to transform your world—if only for a while—your life will never get old! So while I’m all for the occasional emoji shorthand, it’s still through the power of words and stories that we make our voices heard and connect with others.

What can your fans expect from you next?

Coming up in a year will be a third installment of the Finnegan’s on Broadway stories, with Craig and Kieran solving the murder of a Jane Doe— who happened to thrust a baby into Kieran’s arms moments before being stabbed to death. Summer will have three more paranormal Krewe of Hunter books; all three will revolve around one couple with mysteries, murder and mayhem involving a copycat serial killer, the Quabbin, witchcraft and cults in Massachusetts.

SOPHIE HANNAH Closed Casket (HarperCollins) The Synopsis: Closed Casket is my second novel featuring Hercule Poirot and his sidekick, Edward Catchpool. Poirot and Catchpool are invited to a country house in Ireland, where a famous writer of mysteries for children announces that she is changing her will to benefit a terminally ill man.

But why would she leave everything to someone who is certain to die before her?

The Prologue: I’ve been writing for a long time.

My poetry was published before my novels. Once I was established as a psychological thriller writer, I was approached by the Agatha Christie estate to write a new novel featuring her detective, Hercule Poirot. This opportunity came out of the blue, and I was thrilled because I had an idea for a plot that wouldn’t have worked for my series detective, Simon Waterhouse. It needed a golden age detective—like Hercule Poirot.

The Backstory: I’m a massive fan of Agatha Christie, and her best books have solutions that can be summarized in four words. They’re brilliantly simple twists that are impossible to guess, but they’re totally satisfying when you read them. I had one of these brilliantly simple, highconcept ideas, which is unusual for me as my plots tend to be more complex than simple. It was an idea that suited Poirot perfectly, and I’m really proud of Closed Casket.

The Next Chapter: I have a new psychological thriller out this summer. It’s provisionally titled Did You See Melody? and is set in Arizona. It centers around a little girl, Melody, who was presumed dead seven years ago: America’s most famous murder victim. A British woman on holiday sees someone she thinks might be Melody. Then the woman goes missing….

PORTRAIT OF DEBBIE MACOMBER BY DEBORAH FEINGOLD; PORTRAIT OF SOPHIE HANNAH BY PHILLIPA GEDGE

A Perfect Obsession (MIRA Books)

PORTRAIT OF YAA GYASI BY MICHAEL LIONSTAR

YAA GYASI Homegoing (Alfred Knopf) Few millennials have the fluidity and depth to understand what happened an ocean away and nearly three centuries ago. But Yaa Gyasi, literature’s new wunderkind, has done just that in her debut novel, Homegoing. Set in Ghana during the 1700s, Homegoing is a story about familial differences at a time when the West African country was being exploited for slavery by the Europeans. Two sisters lead markedly different lives—one marries a British officer and lives a relatively privileged existence while the other is swept into slavery—and the generational tale only begins to unravel there.

Born in Ghana to a father who was a professor and a mother who was a nurse, Gyasi and her family left their home country when she was 2 for the United States. After a series of moves for her father’s career, they eventually settled in Alabama, where they became the only Ghanaian family in their neighborhood and one of a handful of African families.

But it wasn’t until a trip back to Ghana during her sophomore year at Stanford University did Gyasi begin to see the formation of Homegoing. She took a tour of Cape Coral Castle, an old fort that housed both Ghanaian slaves and those who married British soldiers. The concept of the two sisters’ juxtaposed lives came to Gyasi here. She kept it close to her heart as she graduated from Stanford and went on to receive an MFA at the prestigious Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and then plunged deeply into writing the novel.

Praise has been strong for Homegoing, with critics from around the nation acclaiming her strong character development and storytelling skills.

Though for Gyasi, it isn’t as much her words that she looks to bring to light

as it is the subject matter. “A lot of people in America aren’t really exposed to African history, specifically as a country of individuals,” she says. “I’m glad to have this book out as a sort of intro to Ghanaian history and to connect with today’s readers.”

To do this, she revived a slave term: homegoing. Referring to the belief that when slaves died, their souls would be transported back to Africa, Gyasi says, “I liked that resonance with the connection to African-Americans and the African diaspora.”

Gyasi is looking to make a little history of her own. Along with writers Colson Whitehead and Ta-Nehisi Coates, Gyasi has become this generation’s Toni Morrison and inspires other Africans and African-Americans to tell their stories.

“Publishing is incredibly white, and you do want to see moments where people are accepting more black authors,” she says. “And I hope black writers still continue to work on books that tell their stories and their points of view.”

As for her other unofficial title as one of the faces of America’s literary nouveau, Gyasi believes storytelling and novel writing are still what people crave, even as we live in the fast-paced world of tweeting and texting.

“Novel writing is a rare form of art where you can imagine being in other people’s shoes, and it can collapse the distant wall that people have,” she says. “With a novel, the ability to be discursive and let your mind wander is different than a tweet or short story. The length allows you to have a longer exploration, and that is an exciting format.”

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ANDREW GROSS The One Man (Minotaur Books) Describe your newest book: An escaped Polish Jew is convinced to return to where his parents were murdered by the Nazis to smuggle out the one man the Allies believe can help win them the war.

The anatomy of a good thriller: A growing sense that what’s at stake is greater than the hero’s capacity to control it; that the hero is trapped by the events of the situation, and cannot simply back out or call the cops; that what’s at stake is more personal to the hero than simply solving the crime or saving the world; that it is rich in atmospheric detail; and that you, the reader, care or are invested in the outcome.

The research that went into this WWII story: Well, as a Jew, the bar of historical responsibility is high when you write on the Holocaust, so you better get it right. And at this point, add something that hasn’t already been done before. I didn’t set out to write the definitive book on Auschwitz—that’s been done by people who actually witnessed it firsthand.

But having life and death control over your own characters, who are real to you, gives a sense that you are living through it yourself, firsthand. It’s energizing in a way reading the books or seeing the movies or going to the

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museums is not.

On collaborations with James Patterson: For me, working with James Patterson was like getting an MBA in thriller management. I learned how to create and foment suspense and how to keep it building to the end of the book. I also got a strong sense of how to market a book on the highest levels. And it wasn’t so bad to have someone with his credentials you could call up and discuss the little problems one always faces in a book.

The importance of the literary word: While movies and online stories deliver the immediate gratification of an impulse, books will always survive because at heart, we writers are storytellers, and that’s what people respond to. And laying it out in a book, and letting someone’s imagination wind through it as they read, will always be the most natural medium to tell that story.

What’s next: Another WWII book. I’m staying in the genre. This time, the story of how Brits and Norwegians organized a daring raid in the most hostile environment in Europe that ended the Nazis’ attempts to create an atomic bomb. It’s a story of singular heroism and courage.

ROBERT OLEN BUTLER Perfume River (Atlantic Monthly Press)

JOYCE MAYNARD

PORTRAIT OF JOYCE MAYNARD BY MICKE SEBASTIEN

Under the Influence (William Morrow, HarperCollins) When she was 14 years old, Joyce Maynard was published in Seventeen magazine.

As an 18-year-old freshman at Yale, she wrote a cover story for The New York Times Magazine. A year later, she and a 53-year-old J.D. Salinger embarked on a ninemonth love affair, which included her moving into his New Hampshire home. In more ways than one, Maynard was a part of the highest echelons of writing, all by the age of 20. Since then, she’s become one of America’s best-read fiction and non-fiction writers, writing for Vogue, Newsweek and more, and has published nine novels and four works of non-fiction (one became a film, “Labor Day,” featuring Kate Winslet and Josh Brolin). With her 10th fiction book, Under the Influence, Maynard looks to continue telling stories from her heart.

How would you describe your latest novel?

Perfume River is about our boomer generation and about our wars and about our families and how those things interact. We have access to the deepest memories of characters and how it’s affecting their present in ways even they aren’t fully aware of.

In Perfume River, the protagonist is a Vietnam War veteran who now teaches at Florida State University, all of which describes you. How much of you is in Perfume River?

Writer Graham Greene said, “All good novelists have bad memories.” So on that basis, my answer is everything and nothing. The reality about Perfume River is that I’ve been working on this novel for 60 to 65 years of my 71 years. What’s in there, however, has accumulated from my life experiences.

At the same time, there is nothing autobiographical in any informational way in the book.

How would you describe that moment when you found out you won a Pulitzer Prize for A Good Scent From a Strange Mountain in 1993?

That was the same year that All the Pretty Horses was supposed to win.

When I wrote A Good Scent From a Strange Mountain, I thought, To hell with it, that’s the book that I’m going to write. After 18 years back from Vietnam, I was full of the stories of the Vietnamese people. I had very close contact with them with my job there. So I wrote what I know about the human heart and what I know from Vietnamese people. That’s when I won the Pulitzer Prize.

How would you describe the power of the written word in today’s environment?

No other narrative form but the written word or literary fiction is able to put its narrative focus on that central, mysterious and vexing fact of our existence: Our deep inner lives are in direct communication with the external world. It helps describe our selfness, our “being-ness,” and how that is interacting with that external world among us, which includes the landscape and other people.

How would you describe your newest book?

I just yearned to write this story. It’s about a woman who is at the absolute lowest point of her life. Her marriage is falling apart, her career is poor, and she has lost her son to his father. She’s not only physically lost him, but emotionally lost him. She’s in this dark moment in her life, but here comes this magical, charismatic couple, who will use their magic wand to take away her. They seduce her, but it is not a sexual seduction. They are not as they appear. Because of that, she is forced to make a wrenching choice.

How do you transition from non-fiction writing to fiction?

It’s all about the piece. I love stories. I’m a storyteller. Whether I’m inventing a story or whether I’m telling someone’s story, I love the ability to share it. For fiction writing, it’s important to remember that the first reader is me, so I’m constantly asking myself what interests me the most. What struggles, what themes are interesting to me? And usually, the answer is the drama of human relationships.

Where did you develop this strong writing voice?

My sister and I were raised in a boot camp of writing by our mother. She was the most wonderful storyteller I’ve ever met. There was no way to grow up in my family without being a storyteller. From the age of 3, I was verbally telling stories, and she was writing them down and sending them off to be published. I started writing for Seventeen magazine at the age of 14. I’ve had this one job my whole life, and I feel so fortunate about it.

What can your fans expect from you next?

I’m writing a memoir about my husband whom I lost in the summer of 2016. Some people say it must have been very cathartic for me to write about losing him. But that’s not how I see it. Ultimately it’s not about making people pay $20 for my catharsis. When I teach a class on writing memoirs, I tell my students that it is not journal time. Instead, it’s about telling a story, and in the course of telling a story, you actually find out things about your life and where the themes lie. And if you’re anything like me, you’re always looking for what things mean.

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MARK GREANEY

Describe your newest books: Tom Clancy True Faith and Allegiance is a story about how a massive amount of classified information falls into all the wrong hands around the world, threatening America’s soldiers and spies, and how President Jack Ryan and his intelligence operative son, Jack Jr., try to save those in peril. Gunmetal Gray is the story of an American contract operative sent by the CIA to Hong Kong to locate a Chinese defector on the run from the Mainland. The defector is a computer hacker with knowledge of China’s most coveted digital secrets, and the Gray Man must get to him before he’s either kidnapped or killed by the myriad nations and criminal organizations pursuing him.

The evolution of his writing: I go both deeper and wider with my books now as compared to my early works, and craft them from the beginning with more of an eye toward the end result. I never was a “seat-of-my-pants” writer, but now I think much more about the tone, the level detail that would make the story the most fulfilling for the reader without slowing the action down, and I make other conscious decisions at the beginning that I think lead to a better product at the end.

Collaborating with Tom Clancy: Tom Clancy and I had the same agent at Penguin, Tom Colgan. Clancy was looking for a new writing partner and Colgan had published my first two Gray Man books, and he also knew from conversations that I was a huge Clancy fan. They gave me first shot back in 2011, and Tom Clancy True Faith and Allegiance is my seventh release in the series.

Taking over the Jack Ryan series: After Tom Clancy’s death in 2013, I was asked to continue the series. Obviously it was a huge undertaking, but having already co-written three Jack Ryan novels I felt like I was the right person for the job.

What’s next: I just signed on for two more Gray Man novels, coming out in 2018 and 2019. I have a screenplay I’ve been working on for a while that I’d love to finish and another stand-alone novel in the back of my head, so I’ll definitely be keeping busy.

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LINDA FAIRSTEIN Killer Look (Dutton, Penguin Random House) The Synopsis: Each of the books in the Alex Cooper series is set in some landmark area of New York City, against which part of the drama and crime unfolds. In Killer Look, the fashion industry seems to have a lovely face to the world, but as Alex Cooper finds out, it can be quite deadly, too.

The Prologue: I always wanted to write. And suspense and crime novels were a part of my childhood, with my father introducing me to Sherlock Holmes stories and Raymond Chandler books, and also with my love of Nancy Drew books. I went to college to major in English literature. My father was supportive, but practical.

He said, “You need to get a career to support yourself.” So I turned to my second passion: the law, and in particular, public service. Eventually I was asked to draw on my experience of prominent rape cases and write the book Sexual Violence.

That eventually spawned a whole career in writing, though I’m still a lawyer and do advocacy for crime victims.

The Next Chapter: In July, we’re releasing the next Alex Cooper book, Deadfall, which will be the 19th in the series. More immediately, I’ve just launched a brand-new series geared toward middle schoolers, or anyone who liked Nancy Drew novels. I grew up in the 1950s reading Nancy Drew, and it introduced me to a teenage sleuth who was very smart and solving crimes with her friends. Using that as inspiration, I created a character named Devlin Quick, and her first book in the series is called Into the Lion’s Den.

MEET THE AUTHORS What: LitLunch!

When: February 10, 11:15 a.m.

Where: The Pier Top at Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six Who: Samantha Ettus, author of The Pie Life: A Guilt-Free Recipe for Success and Satisfaction What: Night of Literary Feasts, reception and intimate author dinners When: April 1, 5:30 p.m.

Where: Reception at Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six; dinners at private homes, restaurants and clubs Who: Authors Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, Robert Olen Butler, Linda Fairstein, Heather Graham, Mark Greaney, Andrew Gross, Yaa Gyasi, Dr. James Hamblin, Sophie Hannah, Debbie Macomber, Juan Martinez, Joyce Maynard, Lawrence Millman, Gareth Russell, Thomas Swick and Linda Thompson More info: bplfoundation.org

PORTRAIT OF MARK GREANEY BY CARRIE ECHOLS; PORTRAIT OF LINDA FAIRSTEIN BY KATHERINE MARKS

Gunmetal Gray (Berkley, Penguin Random House) and Tom Clancy True Faith and Allegiance (Putnam, Penguin Random House)

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A CUT ABOVE No ordinary butcher, NYY Steak’s Walter Apfelbaum has been studying the trade since he was a teenager.

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PLEASED TO MEAT YOU A glance at Walter Apfelbaum might conjure up images of a horror movie. Here, the butcher discusses his industry’s dying art.

BY

JAN NORRIS PHOTOGRAPHY BY

FELIPE CUEVAS

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WALTER APFELBAUM ON...

Butchering filets mignons: I hate the filets. I get asked about filets all the time. It drives me crazy!

It’s the only muscle on the cow that goes right to left. You have to cut it with a band saw because it’s very soft and tender.

Being a vegan: I did it for over a year, just to see the whole other side. I felt really good. Then I just got lazy, and it was easier to make myself a steak or fish.

Modern-day butchering: It’s a dying art. There aren’t a lot of us out here.

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he bushy-bearded Walter Apfelbaum is big, burly and bald. His meaty hands wield a menacing cleaver. The rubber apron he wears, held up by rugged brass snap bolts, has bloodstains on it.

Yet he wants you to rest assured.

“I need you to trust me,” he says. “I’ll make sure you have the best meal possible.”

Apfelbaum is the head butcher at NYY Steak in the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek, where he works side by side with the chefs. He’s been with the restaurant since it opened in 2012 and is responsible for cutting steaks from whole cows, slicing through bones and muscles to get the choicest parts for diners here. On a busy night, he could cut anywhere between 600 to 1,200 pounds of meat. There’s the typical menu of steaks: porterhouses, New York strips, bone-in rib-eyes and filet mignon, all of which Apfelbaum talks about with passion and knowledge.

“The more you know about your foods—and about animals, where they come from, how they were raised, where they were pastured, and what they were fed—the better they’ll taste,” he says. “If an animal’s fed from food made in a plant, you’re not going to get that great flavor that comes from it eating natural foods.”

He’s 41 and has spent the years since he was a young teen learning about meats and the lives of the animals—from the hoof to the butcher table.

“We had a local butcher,” says Apfelbaum, who grew up on the Jersey Shore in a German household. “When you grew up in these communities, they didn’t have grocery stores in every neighborhood. It was like when you live in Europe— you have a butcher, you have a fishmonger, and we had a cheese guy and a bread guy.”

He became friends with the butcher, “an old-school German butcher,” and started hanging around his shop after high school. Apfelbaum would ride his bike to watch the man cut up and package meats into steaks and chops, break down a loin and set aside the offals. From the butcher, Apfelbaum learned about the animals when they were alive, what they ate, how they grazed, how they were born and, eventually, fattened and slaughtered.

“The better they are taken care of, the better meat they are,” he says. “It’s not about dumping them full of hormones and steroids.”

The old butcher urged the high schooler to apprentice with the nearby Hilton hotel butcher, where Apfelbaum learned to work for an institutional kitchen

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Educating people about cooking meat: Steak people are steak people, and they remember the way they had meat cooked at home by a grandma.

It’s a memory taste. But this is not your grandma’s cooking. She cooked meat to death. I hear, “Mom said this is medium.” But it’s actually well done.

Trusting him: Let me show you the way to cook the muscle properly. I need you to trust me. Once I get diners to try it, and once they’ve tasted real meat flavor and what it should be, they love it. They come back and ask for me. Some won’t stay to eat if I’m not here.

needing mass quantities. He apprenticed with a kosher butcher, too. He learned from anyone he could. Along the way, he learned to hunt and take care of his kills, as well as ensure the freshest of meats. Finally, he wound up going to school at the Culinary Institute of America in New York and was the only professional butcher to come from his class.

Refrigeration and supermarkets killed butchering as an art, he says.

Supermarkets that once had butchers went to pre-packaged meats and no longer needed those artisans to break down a whole or even half a cow stored in big meat-aging rooms.

Stores are getting smaller, doing away with butcher shops on site, and now they hire people to cut already butchered parts. “They think they can train anyone to do it,” Apfelbaum says.

He laments that in all this, something’s been lost for the cook and the diner.

“A lot of people have problems deciding what they want,” Apfelbaum says. “They don’t know what to ask for; they don’t know the cuts. That’s where I need you to trust me.

“Don’t ever be afraid of the butcher. We’re big guys, wearing suspenders, covered in meat juices. But we’re not just the guy behind the counter. Talk to us so we can kind of get an idea of who you are. For us, it’s not just about cutting a steak; it’s talking to the person, finding out what they like. Maybe they want a thicker piece of meat, or a larger strip or smaller rib-eye.”

Today, Apfelbaum says, it’s all farm-to-table. With beef, “It may not be local farms, but coming right from the farm, I’m cutting it, and it’s going out. I’m doing the best I can to respect the animals and making sure I’m picking the right meat for each person.”

Sometimes that means gently guiding the diner to try something new or cooked to a proper temperature—usually no more than medium-rare, if Apfelbaum has a say.

If the meat is quality, the only kind he works with, “You don’t need to cook it to death. A good steak is medium-rare, so it’s still got the sweetness you can taste from the acorn the animal was eating.”

He personally loves all meats and seafood. He was a vegan for more than a year, eschewing all animal-based foods—only to return to his beloved beef. “I don’t discriminate with food. I went on a raw vegan diet a couple of years ago and lost 200 pounds. I was tired of being fat. But I just started really missing proteins and meats.” v

TRADE SECRETS After picking out a steak for a first-time NYY Steak guest, Apfelbaum says: “I check on them after they get their steak and they are in complete shock. They say, ‘I can’t believe I have been eating steak wrong all my life.’”

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Any Given Sunday It’s a new era for the Miami Dolphins.

Fine art photographer

RAFAEL BALCAZAR delivers a different perspective on game day at the recently reminagined Hard Rock Stadium.

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"The superior man blames himself.

The inferior man blames others." — Don Shula, Dolphins head coach (1970-1995)

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"Before games, on Sundays, you get that feeling.

You feel it in your bones. That's OK. There's nothing wrong with it. You ask anyone who loves the game, they're gonna get that feeling. It never leaves you." — Dan Marino, Dolphins quarterback (1983-1999) 186 venicemagftl.com

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"Steve Ross is committed to building a first-class organization and a consistently winning organization. He possesses the rare combination of tenacity with heart and integrity.� — Tom Garfinkel, CEO

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“I think what coaching is all about is taking players and analyzing their ability, put them in a position where they can excel within the framework of the team winning. And I hope that I've done that in my 33 years as a head coach.”

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"The will to prepare, the guts to risk, and the desire to be the best. These are trademarks of champions." — Dan Marino 190 venicemagftl.com

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"I've been a Dolphin for 17 years, and I'll be a Dolphin for the rest of my life. That will never change." — Dan Marino

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"I come from a spirit of love, and I aim to unite—not divide." — Jelani Jenkins, linebacker venicemagftl.com 193

"The scoreboard can't make you a loser. If you walk off the field with your head up, you don't lose." — Dan Marino 194 venicemagftl.com

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Bank On It

London’s South Bank has evolved from an often forgotten destination to a burgeoning, bohemian locale with a dedicated arts community.

BY

NILA DO SIMON

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT The London Eye serves as the anchor to the South Bank’s other prestigious landmarks.

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LONDON CALLING The banks of the River Thames is home to the Mondrian London at Sea Containers, a Tom Dixon-designed boutique hotel that serves as an ode to the property’s maritime history. The building’s shape is modeled after a transatlantic liner, and the interior includes Dixon’s drip markings throughout, including in the spa.

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n a windy and at times rainy day in London, art and culture has never looked more vibrant. And one neighborhood in particular may be at the center of this cultural movement. As a whole, the United Kingdom’s largest city is experiencing a moment of world-renowned artistic expression, with names like Damien Hirst and Stella McCartney coming to mind. It’s no surprise that the prevalence of modern art is luring travelers, who are flocking to the other side of the pond to see the displays. While brilliant pieces of traditional work abound north of the River Thames, perhaps the best source of London’s eclectic culture is south of it, right on the banks of the grand waterway.

Depending on who you ask, South Bank’s most well-known landmark may be the London Eye, but other attractions are quickly usurping it as must-see destinations. The walkable district is boiling over with museums, markets and more, and a transformative modern-art-is-accessible mentality is becoming the symbol of the area.

STAY The Mondrian London at Sea Containers: Luxury meets a retro-glam vibe at this hotel located on the shoulders of the South Bank. Thanks to British designer Tom Dixon’s whimsical and thoughtful touches, the entire boutique property is decked out in stylish furnishings and unconventional art pieces. Take the lobby, for example. Inspired by the hull of a ship, the reception area features a giant copper-clad wall that runs the length of the lobby and then turns a corner, ending at the river side of the hotel. Guestrooms have one-of-a-kind, large-scale drip wall paintings by Dixon himself, as well as with his signature wingback chair.

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EAT Borough Market: With more than 100 gourmet vendors, from fish and cheesemongers to street food merchants to artisanal craftsmen, Borough Market is an outdoor space that occupies a sprawling area at the foot of London Bridge. Open Monday through Saturday (with a limited amount of vendors on Mondays and Tuesdays), the market has served the South Bank in one form or another since the 11th century. Touting its tight-knit relationship with independent vendors across England, Borough Market showcases sellers who have a finer appreciation for gourmet ingredients grown from the good earth. An entire section of the market is devoted to street food, which varies from Ethiopian cuisine to Eastern European fare, while another area displays just-picked fruits and vegetables, and another offers freshly caught seafood.

PLAY Tate Modern: No trip to the South Bank would be complete without a visit to the Tate Modern. The museum recently opened its multi-floor annex, the Switch House, adding another dimension of contemporary exhibits. While the original annex still houses famous pieces such as Henri Matisse’s The Snail and Wassily Kandinsky’s Cossacks, the Switch House is home to the next generation of art. Live installations are displayed in a section called the Tanks, a vast industrial space on the ground floor with concrete, columns and walls. But perhaps the highlight of the new annex is the outdoor observation deck, located on top of the building, on the 10th level. There, visitors have a 360-degree view of London, allowing them to see how breathtaking the city truly is. v

THE OUTER BANKS

While London’s South Bank may be home to some contemporary attractions, it wouldn’t be a wellrounded stay in the city without venturing to “the other side,” aka the north side of the River Thames.

There, expect to find a sophisticated air permeating these cultural attractions.

HANSOM LOUNGE Perhaps one of London’s best-known customs is its afternoon tea, and the Hansom Lounge inside the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel offers a contemporary spin on the traditional experience. For those unaccustomed to the British ritual, afternoon tea can be a spectacle, but the Hansom Lounge removes the pretenses while still offering an elevated experience.

Service is provided with a smile by the friendly attendants, and the savory sandwiches, scones, sweet treats and, of course, tea seem to never cease arriving.

AMETSA WITH ARZAK INSTRUCTION

GLOBAL ELEGANCE Clockwise, from top: The Hansom Lounge at St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel hosts a daily afternoon tea inside its cavernous lobby; the Michelin-star Ametsa with Arzak Instruction restaurant features a Basque-inspired menu; the ESPA Life at Corinthia is a four-story spa with 17 treatment rooms, a private spa suite, nail studio and indoor swimming pool.

GETTING THERE

Thanks to the addition of a direct route on Norwegian airlines from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport two years ago, traveling to London has never been more convenient. While on board, travelers can opt for the premium cabin, which allows for spacious leg room, complimentary drinks pre-departure, three-course dinners, and USB charger and power outlets within arm’s reach.

The Basque region of Spain is a mysterious and intriguing place, but Chef Elena Arzak of the interestingly named Ametsa with Arzak Instruction looks to shed more light on her hometown. With her background at her family-owned, three-Michelinstarred restaurant Arzak in San Sebastián, Spain (helmed by Elena and her father), she came to London in 2013 looking to introduce the British palate to Basque cuisine.

Located inside COMO The Halkin hotel, it quickly earned a Michelin star in part for its molecular gastronomy-infused menu that’s filled with whimsy.

ESPA LIFE AT CORINTHIA If opulence is the game, then the ESPA Life at Corinthia luxury spa is a major player in this field. Spread across four floors and covering more than 33,000 square feet, ESPA Life at Corinthia defies spacing constraints to offer its guests a retreat that is fit for British royalty.

There’s even a floor dedicated to thermal therapies, including a vitality pool and glass sauna. And get this— there are dedicated sleeping pods in the spa, perfect for those times when you want to slip a nap in after your massage.

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Book a Seat at Feast!

LitLUNCH! Friday, February 10, 2017 Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six Pier Top 11:15 AM to 1:15 PM Yaa Gyasi

Samantha Ettus mixes ingredients in a whole new way in The Pie Life: A Guiltfree Recipe for Success and Satisfaction. Join this best‑selling author and nationally syndicated radio show host as she describes her process of viewing life as a pie with you as the baker.

We’re saving a slice for you.

Tickets $75. On sale now at bplfoundation.org.

Samantha Ettus

James Hamblin, M.D.

LitLIVE! Friday, March 31, 2017 Barnes & Noble 6PM to 8PM Meet Literary Feast authors at several Barnes & Noble stores throughout Broward County.

LitLIVE! events are free but tickets will be required and made available in 2017 at bplfoundation.org.

A Night of Literary Feasts Saturday, April 1, 2017 Begins at Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM It would be foolish to miss Literary Feast this year. Join the fun at Broward Public Library Foundation’s signature fundraising event as we host an international roster of authors on April Fool’s Day. The event begins with a Welcome Reception and is followed by intimate dinners at private homes and fine restaurants.

Confirmed authors include: Jennifer Keishin Armstrong Robert Olen Butler Linda Fairstein Heather Graham Mark Greaney Andrew Gross Sophie Hannah Debbie Macomber Juan Martinez Joyce Maynard Lawrence Millman Gareth Russell Thomas Swick Linda Thompson

For tickets and information including sponsorships visit bplfoundation.org or call 954.357.7382 Proceeds benefit the Broward Public Library Foundation, which is committed to enhancing the collections, programs, and services of Broward County Library beyond the means of public funding.

bplfoundation @LiteraryFeast

PHOTO BY JEFF BROWN/BREED MEDIA

SAIL AWAY Designed by Benetti, one of the world’s leading builders of luxury superyachts, 11.11 has received wide acclaim for its sophisticated exterior and interior styling.

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ON THE HIGH SEAS In today’s world of superyachts, it’s either go big or go home. In an excerpt from the new The Superyacht Life, editor Tony Harris showcases how the world of yachting has inspired a nautical culture.

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Yachting is continually changing. Design, engineering and technological advancements are consistently pushing the boundaries of what is possible in order to meet owners’ demands.

Owners may want to use their yacht to get as close as possible to wildlife in Desolation Sound or swim with whale sharks in the Sea of Cortez; equally they may want to use it as a base for private partying in Ibiza or Mykonos, or perhaps celebrate the Fourth of July in Newport, Rhode Island, with their children and grandchildren.

The Superyacht Life, which is a source of inspiration on the superyacht lifestyle, initiated with the vision of a perfectly crafted book, showcasing some of the latest superyachts built. I hope it provides a unique and alluring glimpse into the unrivaled lifestyle that superyacht owners enjoy.

This book showcases superyachts from around the world as well as four essays on the latest developments in yacht design and construction. These vessels portray a vast array of differences in

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design, layout, technical specifications, entertainment options and more. You will find a complete range from large volume motor yachts to sailing yachts that have won regattas, as well as interior styles ranging from traditional nautical through Art Deco to contemporary minimalist. Each superyacht is unique, one individual’s vision and dream made reality.

The essays you find throughout the book explore how the latest design trends can transform the owner’s and guests’ experience on a yacht. Since owners’ tastes vary, vessel designers and builders are constantly being pushed to challenge the written and unwritten rules of yacht design and naval architecture.

We start with how the increased use of glass as part of the yacht’s construction is transforming the on-board experience.

Continuing with the theme of bringing owners and guests closer to the water, we look at the increasingly popular feature of beach clubs on yachts. No longer do guests have to gaze down at the sea: The

Th is Pag e: Ph o To by g u il l au me Pl is s o n ; o PPo s iTe Pag e: c o u r Tes y o f Tu r q u o is e yac h Ts ; al l Ph o To s c o u r Tes y o f Ten eu es

VIEW FROM THE TOP The Kismet’s exterior space has a private observation platform with an outdoor bed on the topmost deck, which overlooks a pool, integrated hot tub and waterfall feature.

OUTDOOR SPLENDORS The Talisman C was designed with abundant deck space so the owners could entertain guests on the sun deck, which includes al fresco dining and a glass hot tub.

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PHOTO BY LUXURY VISION PRODUCTION.

new yachting vibe is more relaxed and casual, embracing proximity to the water as part of the experience.

For those in search of silence, we cover developments in the latest diesel electric hybrid propulsion systems, which also offer environmental and efficiency benefits. Never has the sound of silence been so good. Losing contact with the rest of the world while on a yacht is a benefit to some but a real hindrance to those wanting to keep in touch with their business interests or family while cruising. Global satellite communications have transformed the connectivity aboard yachts, elevating entertainment systems on-board to a whole other level.

The yachts featured in this book demonstrate that it really is possible to turn your dreams into reality. So while you marvel at this collection of the world’s most beautiful yachts, maybe one day you will have the chance to enjoy the unique experience of building your own and discover the extraordinary lifestyle that a superyacht enables. — Tony Harris, excerpted from The Superyacht Life (teNeues).

GLOBALLY INSPIRED Australian designer Sam Sorgiovanni drew upon Balinese and Indonesian themes to create a tropical ambience with a contemporary twist for Nirvana.

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NEED FOR SPEED The Seahawk was designed with speed in mind. Its aluminium masts resulted from advanced research to make them each light yet strong.

Moreover, the exterior design and layout were completely built with a streamlined structure.

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True Horsepower Jimmy Torano is a man on a horse on a mission.

BY VICKY MOON PORTRAIT BY JAMES PARKER

For South Miami native Jimmy Torano, it all began on a pony. Taking riding lessons at 6 and competing in shows by 10, Torano naturally fell in love with horses and eventually parlayed his passion into one of the more storied careers in the history of this elegant sport.

During his last year as a junior competitor (under age 18) before graduating from South Miami High School, he moved on to train with one of the top coaches in the country, Don Stewart from Ocala, Florida.

“He was a great student, totally entertaining and a great rider,” Stewart says.

“One of South Florida’s finest.”

After high school, Torano went straight to work riding and training riders and their horses in Wellington, one of the nation’s premier equestrian communities.

Torano, now 51, has been competing since 1989 in Grand Prix jumping events, the highest and by far most challenging level of horse show competitions, both in the United States and around the world, compiling an impressive record of consistent success.

He represented his country at a number of international horse shows, including the World Cup Finals in 1999 in Gothenburg, Sweden, and, in 2000, he was a member of the U.S. Nations Cup team in Aachen, Germany. This past fall, still jumping at a world-class level, he also captured the U.S. Open Grand Prix in New York City’s Rolex Central Park Horse Show, one of the marquee events on the show riding circuit with a total prize of $216,000.

Torano regularly jets to Europe to search for horses worth thousands for his clients. With quite a few young riders under the age of 18, he usually focuses on finding hunters (horses judged on performance) and equitation horses (where riders are judged on performance, style and form).

He usually has somewhere between 25 and 35 horses at each show. He travels the circuit after the winter in Florida, to Pennsylvania, on to Saugerties and Lake Placid, New York, and finishes up indoors at the Washington International Horse Show in the nation’s capital.

Like many other top equestrians, Torano is also recruiting top Grand Prix jumpers for the type of Olympic events in which the score of the horses determines the winner.

The outsized (some more than 5 feet high) colorful jumps and water obstacles are the backdrop of this electrifying competition. Prize money goes up to $1 million.

Torano began his horse business, JET Show Stables, in Davie in 1992, and now maintains stables nearby in Wellington, as well as in Mohrsville, Pennsylvania. His

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SPORTS AUTHORITIES Along with his wife, Danielle, Jimmy Torano has been a leader in the international horse circuit.

wife, Danielle, is a top hunter and amateur jumper equestrian. Their daughter, Natalia, 9, and son, Jimmy, 5, are continuing in the tradition of their parents and are currently riding in the pony classes.

Although busy with his horses and family, Torano recently joined the board of directors of Give a Buck for Special Equestrians, a nonprofit supporting children and veterans facing difficult physical and emotional life challenges.

“Any time I can be of help, I’m there,” Torano says. “Through my involvement, we’ll be doing a dinner fundraiser this winter at the Wellington Masters Horse Show.

I hope to help raise as much money as possible.”

Sissy DeMaria, a high school friend and fellow horse lover, got in touch after launching the charity four years ago with two other co-founders. “We believe in horsepower that heals,” she says. “Jimmy’s involvement has been a game changer for us. He’s considered the prince of the horse world, a true ambassador to the sport who’s admired by some of the biggest names in the industry.”

In addition to his Give a Buck charity work, riding and training, Torano does some internet broadcasting, as well as serving as a judge at many top shows. As for the future, he says, “I’ll always be involved in riding and horse sports.” v

Torano’s Triumphs Give a Buck for Special Equestrians, based in Wellington, is a nonprofit 501(3)c that has aligned successfully with several other charities: Georgina Bloomberg and The Rider’s Closet; the Longines Global Champions Grand Prix in Miami Beach; and multiple therapeutic riding centers, including GallopNYC and SPUR (Special People Uplifting Riders).

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THE SEEN

Venice magazine celebrates its Fall 2016 issue release at Boatyard restaurant among 500 South Florida guests, including the Florida Panthers. As guests arrived, they enjoyed the sights of VanDutch yachts and drinks from Whispering Angel, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Gosling’s Rum, Laurent Perrier and Casamigos Tequila, as well as pastries from Sweeter Days Bake Shop.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DARRYL NOBLES AND WORLD RED EYE

Chris Cannata, Alexa Kapilow, Melissa Kapilow and Gabriel Saturna Ashleay Meccarielli and Heather McQuigg Bogi Egerhazi and Megan Probst

Bill Bentz and Stacey Gorrin

Carlos and Lori Suarez with daughters Coco and Sofia

Stanley C. Panther with Florida Panthers ROAR Corps

Alex Petrovic, Mark Pysyk, Keith Yandle and Aaron Ekblad

Jessica Steen and Meredith Spira

Barbie and Todd Sawisch

John Mooney and Jeana Kay

Andrew Barnett and Stacy Debore Paige Held, Andrea Scarborough and Kristin Lovejoy

Claudia and Mario Argiro 218 venicemagftl.com

Melissa and Chris Mijares

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Samantha Sarji and Jen Abbott

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Jen Kim and Rich Hugh

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Jon DeLuca and Kavita Channe

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Sami Teittinem and Iris Laura Smith

Peggy and Grey Marker

Pär and Louise Sanda Kathleena O'Connell and Steven Raymond

Alexis Altman, Michael Toroker and Maggie King

Gilles and Trichelle Rais

Lisa Anderson, Nicole Austin, Jennifer Leong and Jenny Meathe Ashly and Brian Freed

Marel Holler and Carson Hinners

Mike Nunez and Victoria Ranger-Nunez

Katia and Tom Bates

Deidre and Dr. Matt Ferenc, and Carrie Melachrino venicemagftl.com 219

THE SEEN

Guests celebrated the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2016 VIP Cocktail Kick-Off Reception, presented by the Superyacht Builders Association in partnership with Show Management and Venice. The event took place at the Super Yacht Life barge at FLIBS, where attendees enjoyed cocktails and beverages from Peroni, Partida Tequila, Stache Drinking Den and Riverside Market. Additional event partners included Ferrari of Fort Lauderdale and Dassault Falcon Jet Corp.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DARRYL NOBLES

Channing Coe and Paige Held

Samantha Sarji, Lori Suarez, Allison Brown and Jen Abbott

Brittany Butler and Maria Ares

Jen Abbott and Gilles Rais

Brian Freed with Lori and Carlos Suarez Jenna Ingraham, Lee Torain and Linda Beltran

Hallie Pasternack and Fred Burton

Julian and Lisa Siegel

Kristie Roe and Karl Hill 220 venicemagftl.com

Susan Penrod and Patrick Dupuis

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THE SEEN

Venice magazine cruises around town and beyond, covering Fort Lauderdale’s restaurant and nightlife scene. Follow us as we visit South Florida’s liveliest spots.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOWNTOWN PHOTO

Stephanie Smith, Gabriella Verne, Taylor Marks and May-Lin Fundaminsky at Louie Bossi’s Ristorante Ana Arenas and Jo-Anna Enriquez at Glitch Bar

Lauren Disesa Goldstein and Jaime Goldstein at Lobster Bar Sea Grille

Ed Forsdick and Ann Laycock at Mangos Restaurant & Lounge

Shivani Doshi and Sean Strahler at The Brass Tap

Ariana Mulders at S3 Claudia Menendez and Michael Lesmes at O Lounge

Samantha Negron, Maria Ares and Sarah Buch at Big City Tavern

Lauren Kottyarova and Kavita Channe at The Royal Pig Pub 222 venicemagftl.com

Donald Kleckner and Kerry Cursler at Louie Bossi’s Ristorante

Jennifer Mora and Carolina Palacios at YOLO

Sarah Mietlicki and Noelle Marie at American Social Bar & Restaurant

Jillian Fortin and Lauren Piper at Louie Bossi’s Ristorante

Raina Edwards and Alex Collins at Apothecary 330

Amanda Metiaer and Ashley Konehan at Mellow Mushroom

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Honorary Honorary Honorary Chairperson Chairperson Chairperson and and and Host Host Host - Kavita - -Kavita -Kavita Channe Channe Channe - TV - -TV -TV TV Host/Sports Host/Sports Broadcaster Broadcaster Broadcaster Honorary Honorary Chairperson Chairperson and and Host Host -Kavita Kavita Channe Channe -Host/Sports TV Host/Sports Host/Sports Broadcaster Broadcaster A COPY A COPY OF COPY OF THE THE OF OFFICIAL THE OFFICIAL OFFICIAL REGISTRATION REGISTRATION REGISTRATION (#CH956) (#CH956) (#CH956) AND AND FINANCIAL AND FINANCIAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION INFORMATION INFORMATION MAY MAY BE MAY BE OBTAINED OBTAINED BE OBTAINED FROM FROM THE FROM THE THE AA COPY A COPY OF THE OF THE OFFICIAL OFFICIAL REGISTRATION REGISTRATION (#CH956) (#CH956) AND AND FINANCIAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION INFORMATION MAY MAY BE OBTAINED BE OBTAINED FROM FROM THE THE DIVISION DIVISION DIVISION OF OF CONSUMER CONSUMER OF CONSUMER SERVICES SERVICES SERVICES

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THE SEEN

On the last Saturday of every month, Fort Lauderdale’s FATVillage district is flooded with guests attending ArtWalk, a street event filled with local creatives, unique vendors and food trucks.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOWNTOWN PHOTO

Tijana Stanojevic and Desanija Bozinkoceva

The staff at C&I Studios

Mike St. Surin and Sam Itayim

Matt Stone, Dwight Hudson and Aarie Cosicher

Dani Lane and Devan Jimenez

Dostana Ozdolenovska and Rositsa Tanger

Amanda Garcia

Bia Bacelo and Oscar Rodriguez

Ignacio Falco and Jose Varillas

Sasha Hernandez and Tatiana Hernandez

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Debbie Klein and Michelle Marquez

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THE SEEN

More than 500 guests joined Terra CEO Pedro Martin and President David Martin for the official unveiling of its new Botaniko Weston Sales Gallery.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WORLD RED EYE

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Carly Goellner, Beth Tache, Mariann Marinberg and Stephanie Jimenez

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Adriana and Alejandro Ambrugna

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COURTESY OF PARKER PLAYHOUSE

IN RETROSPECT

PRIMED FOR PERFORMANCES Now operating alongside theater giant Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Parker Playhouse began with one man’s dream to create a world-class neighborhood theater.

The Show Goes On Parker Playhouse’s 50-year history holds enough memories for a theatrical performance.

BY MICHAELA GREER Louis W. Parker was a problem solver who truly understood the adage that necessity is indeed the mother of invention. The renowned inventor, who created the Intercarrier Sound System, had grown weary of driving dozens of miles to see performances presented by neighboring playhouses and decided that the city of Fort Lauderdale needed to have its own theater.

As a result, he commissioned the construction of the Parker Playhouse, an Art Deco-inspired, 1,200-seat theater, complete with elaborately decorated rotundas with identical wings on either side, and featuring artwork personally selected by his wife, Milla. The building was completed in 1966 and a year later, on February 6, 1967, the curtains rose for the first time for a showing of Neil Simon’s “The Odd Couple,” starring Dennis O’Keefe and E.G. Marshall.

In subsequent years, the theater has received minor renovations, including the removal of 32 of its spacious, continental-style seats to allow for wheelchair accessibility and amplified sound. Still, representatives from the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, who now oversee Parker Playhouse operations, are proud to say that not much else has changed.

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Shelly Bradshaw, Parker Playhouse general manager and vice president of operations for the Broward Center, recalls hearing of the countless memories that the theater holds. “On opening night, Parker’s 16-year-old son, Raymond, met and sat next to Tennessee Williams,” Bradshaw says. “Years later, he brought a young lady on a first date to see ‘Romance/Romance’ and eventually married her—and they sat in the same seats that are there today.”

Since its inception 50 years ago, Parker Playhouse has continued to serve as a cultural hub for Broadway stagings, such as Elizabeth Taylor’s famed 1981 debut in “The Little Foxes,” a rare show of its kind to premiere in the state of Florida. In fact, playbills preserved since the theater’s opening boast of the many star-studded performances and best-loved plays that have graced the stage over its half-centurylong operation. The sensational performances continue well into 2017 with an impressive line-up of celebrated performers, such as singer Lucinda Williams, actor and singer Matthew Morrison, and comedian Andrea Martin, proving that the Parker Playhouse is the quintessential venue for audiences that enjoy viewing exceptional performances in locations just as rich in history. v

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