THE OFFICIAL IN-FLIGHT MAGAZINE OF SILVER AIRWAYS
T h e
I n - F l i g h t
greenbrier bound A holiday hideaway that’s sure to please
M a g a z i n e
driving canopy road Take a scenic trip in Tallahassee
o f
beauty & the batik Artist Tiff Barrett colors The Bahamas
kiss & tell Make new friends at Dolphin Encounters
The ClassiC World Time 速
TIME DESIGNED
What’s Inside Volume 1 | Issue 3 | 2012
FEATURES 10 Welcome Aboard 15 Flybys 16 Wish List 56 In-Flight Service 57 Customs Information 58 Route Map
PLACES TO GO 21 Florida’s Fun Dining Finds A handy guide to eight restaurants worth visiting.
48 A Gift of Greenbrier Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia is a milliondollar experience with every amenity at your fingertips.
DON’T MISS 26 The Pizza d’Resistance Giotto Pizzeria at Graycliff’s Humidor Restaurant is a slice of Italy in the heart of downtown Nassau.
45 Tallahassee’s Tall Order Situated just off Florida’s northern I-10 corridor and stretching along the state’s Panhandle, Tallahassee is a place where college town meets cultural center, politics meets performing arts, and history meets nature.
DEPARTMENTS
CREATIVE ENDEAVORS 28 Smooth as Silk Batik artist Tiffany “Tiff” Barrett colors her world in the fabric of The Bahamas. GETTING PERSONAL 33 A Kiss is Just a Kiss Four California sea lions win hearts and ease minds at Dolphin Encounters. LIVING WELL 37 Love on The Rock Maggie Bain shares how to love the one you love better in her book, Love on The Rock.
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52 What’s Your Fantasy? Key West’s Fantasy Fest is not for the faint of heart, but it’s a festival like no other.
54 Coral Sands’ Four Cottages Offer Dream Homes Away From Home All the peace and quiet on one of Nature’s best beaches. Now better than ever with chic cottages.
While You’re There
Discover the Villas at Cape Santa Maria, an unmatched opportunity to own prime beachfront real estate in the beautiful south Bahamas. Each 1,800 square foot vacation home is beautifully appointed with rich hardwoods and Italian marble and gives you uninterrupted views of the Caribbean Sea. Enjoy full access to all the amenities of Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort and maximize your return on investment with the villa rental program.
PUBLISHER KENT JIMISON PUBLICATION DIRECTOR WENDY CLEMENTS EDITOR DIANE PHILLIPS CREATIVE DIRECTOR JANICE HARDY
CAPE SANTA MARIA
• BEACH RESORT & VILLAS • LONG ISLAND • SOUTH BAHAMAS
TOUR THE NEW VILLAS - IF YOU INVEST, YOUR VACATION IS ON US.
SALES & INFORMATION: 1-242-338-5273 • Toll Free: 1-800-926-9704 www.capesantamaria.com • Email: villas@capesantamaria.com
OB 4048b OAK BAY MARINE GROUP Air Currents magazine 4.625” x 4.75” prepared July 28, 2007
EDITORIAL STAFF ALEXAVIA DORSETT Craig Eldon ADVERTISING SALES KENT JIMISON TRAVEL MEDIA INTERNATIONAL (954) 346-0712 ADVERTISING SALES FOR FLORIDA & GRAND BAHAMA ADVERTISING OPTIONS, INC. (561) 736-7390 ADVERTISINGOPTIONS@EARTHLINK.NET CONTRIBUTING writers louise hendry • margie kaye CONTRIBUTING photographers cookie kinkead • Andy Newman Rob O’Neal • Patricia Santos
TRAVEL MEDIA INTERNATIONAL 10001 VESTAL PLACE CORAL SPRINGS, FLORIDA 33071 (954) 346-0712 FAX (954) 252-2123. KJMSN@AOL.COM EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT (242) 394-0677 DIANE@DPA-MEDIA.COM
Nya has a secret she must never share. A gift she must never use. A world she must never question. And a sister whose life depends on her doing all three.
The Shifter • Blue Fire • Darkfall Published by Balzer & Bray, An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Sold at bookstores ever ywhere, or online at: www.barnesandnoble.com • www.amazon.com • www.indiebound.org www.harpercollinschildrens.com
www.JaniceHardy.com
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SILVER SKIES© 2012 is published quarterly for the approximately 1,000,000 passengers who travel annually on Silver Airways. Copyright 2012 by Travel Media International. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or in whole is prohibited. All opinions expressed in SILVER SKIES are solely those of the contributors. While every reasonable care has been taken, neither SILVER SKIES nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage to photographs and material submitted to this magazine. Information contained in these pages is subject to change without notice. Volume 1, Issue 3, 2012. Subscriptions available for $16.00 per year. Please send check or money order to: Travel Media International, 10001 Vestal Place, Coral Springs, FL 33071, Attn: Subscriptions.
MY STORY, MY DESIGN
Sterling silver charms from $25
My PANDORA jewelry reflects my passion, my moments and my own unique look. It tells who I am, where I’ve been and where I’m going. Tell the world your story with PANDORA jewelry. PANDORA.net
#284 Bay Street • 242.302.2800 Marina Village, Paradise Island Harbour Bay Shopping Center Mall at Marathon • Palmdale LPIA Departures Lounge
Welcome Aboard
Soaring Ever Higher… for You! Dear Valued Customer,
W Freestyle Turtle 36” x 36” acrylic on linen
fishartista®
• Original paintings • Gicleés on paper & canvas - all sizes • NEW Mini-Giclees w/easel • Notecards, holiday cards & posters
Head over Heels 30” X 40” acrylic on linen
In fine gift shops throughout Abaco
772-341-6566 www.rody.com kim@rody.com VHF ch.16: “Spirit”
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elcome aboard and thank you for flying with us today. Whether it’s your first time flying the Silver skies, or you’re a frequent guest aboard our planes, we truly value your business and understand the extra special strides we must continually make to earn your trust and continued patronage. You may have heard or read some variation of this welcome aboard another airline before. Words are one thing, but at Silver Airways, we really do care, and we really are working hard to live up to your needs and expectations each and every day. The proof is readily apparent in our planes, most notably our flagship Saab 340Bplus models. Silver Airways operates one of the newest, most advanced fleet of turboprop aircraft among all regional carriers based in North America today. No doubt you’ve noticed the comfort you’re experiencing right now is comparable to much larger jet aircraft you may have flown on in the past. We selected these state-of-theart aircraft expressly to make your in-flight experience the best it can be. We’ve also recently grown our route network, again with your needs in mind. It gives us great pride to note that Silver Airways now operates as far south as The Bahamas and Florida, as far north as New York and Pennsylvania, and as far west as Montana. We serve our nation’s capital from our new hub at Washington-Dulles International Airport. We’re also growing our presence at the world’s largest airport, Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Add it all up and we’re now taking more of you to more of the places that you really want to go than ever before. On the operational side, we continue to make strides as well. Our on-time performance system wide is near 90% which is one of the best in the industry, while our flight completion rate has soared to over 99%! Make no mistake about it, though; we understand that there still exists room for improvement. To ensure we continue to keep our operations promises to you, we’re harmonizing a myriad of processes across our maintenance functions to better maximize in-service flight time across our entire fleet. We’re making sure to hire the best, most qualified flight crews for your comfort and safety. And to better communicate with you in real-time, we’ve expanded our corporate profiles on Facebook and Twitter as part of a comprehensive customer experience upgrade. Our goal is to become the world’s #1 regional airline, but we can’t get there all on our own. Your input and feedback are invaluable to our efforts, so please be in touch. Let us know how we’re doing and help us to continue soaring ever higher for you! Sincerely, Darrell Richardson CEO, Silver Airways
Graycliff. FiveStarLuxuryatitsBest.
Good taste, great cuisine, superb wines, award-winning cigars and gracious living all come together at Graycliff Hotel and Restaurant, a beautiful, historic mansion, in the heart of Nassau.
THE HOME OF RELAXED ELEGANCE West Hill Street, Nassau, In The Bahamas
(tel) +1242.322.2796 (toll-free) +1800.476.0446 www.graycliff.com
The Hassle Free Way to Fly
Streamline your travel needs with Silver Airways SunPacs, the most affordable way to buy tickets with added benefits on Silver Airways!
Pensacola
• No penalties for reservation changes or cancellations • United Airlines MileagePlus® frequent flyer program • Name transferable • Two complimentary checked bags per passenger 50 pounds maximum per bag • Available in packs of 12 or 24 One-ways • Valid for travel in either direction • Valid for one full year from date of issue • Prices and taxes determined by your city pair selection • Last seat availability *Reservation required, non-refundable, no re-issue or extension
Tallahassee Jacksonville Gainesville
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Freeport
Marsh Harbour
Bimini
N. Eleuthera Governor’s Harbour Key West
Great Exuma
Call 1-800-296-7010 or 954-302-6980 • 954-302-6982 or purchase electronic tickets on-line at www.gosilver.com
Flybys pie sweet pie No trip to Key West is complete without a visit to the Key West Key Lime Pie Company. From its awardwinning key lime pies and bars to key lime lollipops and even bath and body products, the company is taking the humble key lime pies to new heights. The company has even been featured on the popular Food Network show “Throwdown” with Bobby Flay. Chef Flay competed with Key Lime Pie gurus Jim Brush and Alison Sloat to see who could prepare the best key lime pie. Brush and Sloat have a culinary rags to riches story, originally selling their signature pies on the side of the road before being named the Nation’s Best Pie by the American Pie Council. Sweet! To order online visit www.keywestkeylimepieco.com.
CHILLED, NOT STIRRED The latest James Bond thriller, Skyfall, hits the big screen in November with Daniel Craig as the dashing, daring hero who solves the crime, gets the beautiful woman, and drives the car every man dreams of. But this time there’s one big difference, though you have to be quick to get it. The classic martini, the symbolic thirstquenching reward for the man's man who's been ordering it shaken, not stirred for 50 years, has been replaced by Heineken, the Dutch beer that will now be the official frothy foam of the super-sleuth. Though the beer actually played bit parts in five Bond movies before, the solid brand placement deal that had business and Hollywood tongues wagging was considered a financial coup for producers and a fashion blastoff for the suds manufacturer.
Now You See It, Now You Store It A new line of collapsible bags is making travel a whole lot easier. Designed and manufactured by Biaggi, the easy-to-tote, easy-to-store suitcases, duffles, and backpacks launched earlier this year is taking the travel tote and gear market by storm. With cushioned linings, telescoping aircraft grade aluminum handles, and lightweight nylon construction, Biaggi fourwheeled spinner totes and suitcases are based on a concept similar to folding tables and collapsible bikes—fully functional when open and easily storable under a bed, in attic, garage or cabinet when not in use. Backpacks start at $79 and the top-of-the-line-suitcases sell for under $350 at most locations. Available at fine luggage stores, Dillards, and online at www.eBags.com.
Red, revved, and one of a kind There's rare and then there's this 375MM Ferrari PininFarina Spyder, believed to be the last in the world in original condition. Once driven by American world champion Phil Hill, the car is now owned by Austrian Andreas Mohringer, who's shipping it to Nassau, Bahamas to take part in Bahamas Speed Week 2012 along with dozens of iconic and classic race cars from the UK, U.S., Canada, and The Bahamas. The series of events kicks off November 26 and includes an island tour with racing machines zipping around Nassau's cleared streets at speeds of up to 135 miles an hour, a hill climb, time trials, a lavish Paddock Club (fully catered) and a gala ball with charity auction. Most hotels are offering special deals. Mention Bahamas Speed Week and go on www.BahamasSpeedWeek.com for more information or www.BahamasSpeedWeekShop to buy tickets or memorabilia. Volume 1 Issue 3 • 15
Wish List
David Yurman Boutique Bay Street (242) 302-2878; Crystal Court at Atlantis; Marina Village; Paradise Island; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island; Bimini Bay, Bimini; Port Lucaya Marketplace, Freeport, Grand Bahama. (242) 302-2878.
Tiffany & Co. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800; Crystal Court at Atlantis, (242) 363-3956; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma.
Holiday Hopefuls
What’s on your holiday list? From Cartier to Tiffany, Tag Heuer to Movado, the very best vacation treats are just a stroll away.
Breitling John Bull, Crystal Court at Atlantis (242) 363-3956; Marina Village, Paradise Island; Port Lucaya, Marketplace, Freeport, G.B.; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Dunmore Town, Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma.
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gucci John Bull, 284 Bay Street; Nassau, (242) 3022800.; Mall at Marathon; Harbour Bay; Marina Village; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island, Eleuthera and Emerald Bay, Exuma.
Marcial de Gomar’s Emeralds International, LLC, 104 Duval St Key West (8770 689-6647. Handmade Colombian emerald ring in 18KT red and yellow gold by Marcial de Gomar exclusively at Emeralds International.
Cartier Cartier Boutique, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2872; Crystal Court at Atlantis, (242) 363-5808.
Coin of the Realm Nassau, Charlotte and Bay Streets. (242) 322-4862.
Amijones John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800. Marina Village, (242) 363-1141.
Angelique de Paris John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas, (242) 302-2800. Marina Village, Paradise Island.
Chanel John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 3022800; Crystal Court at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Nassau; Dunmore Town, Harbour Island; Fisherman’s Village, Bimini Bay Resort & Marina.
Marc Jacobs 284 Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas (242) 302-2800, Crystal Court at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Marina Village, Mall at Marathon, Harbour Bay, Palmdale, Nassau; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Dunmore Town, Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma; Port Lucaya Marketplace, Freeport, Grand Bahama.
Ippolita Jewelry John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800.
NIKON John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800; Crystal Court at Atlantis, Paradise Island; Dunmore Town, Harbour Island; Fisherman’s Village, Bimini Bay Resort & Marina.
Volume 1 Issue 3 • 17
Wish List
Graycliff West Hill Street across from Government House, Nassau. (242) 302-9150.
Bellarri John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800. Emerald Bay, Exuma.
Marcial de Gomar’s Emeralds International, LLC, 104 Duval St Key West; (877) 689-6647. Rough Colombian emerald chandelier earrings by Marcial de Gomar in gold and sterling silver exclusively at Emeralds International.
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Chanel John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 3022800; Crystal Court at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Nassau; Dunmore Town, Harbour Island; Fisherman’s Village, Bimini Bay Resort & Marina.
Tag Heuer John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800; Marina Village, Crystal Court at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Nassau; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island; Port Lucaya Marketplace, Freeport, Grand Bahama.
Tiffany & Co. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2800; Crystal Court at Atlantis, (242) 363-3956; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma.
Movado John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 3022800; Crystal Court at Atlantis, Paradise Island, Marina Village, Mall at Marathon, Harbour Bay, Palmdale, Nassau; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Dunmore Town, Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma; Port Lucaya Marketplace, Freeport Grand Bahama.
Coach 303 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 326-0557.
michael kors John Bull, Crystal Court at Atlantis (242) 363-3956; Marina Village, Paradise Island; Port Lucaya, Marketplace, Freeport, G.B.; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Dunmore Town, Harbour Island; Emerald Bay, Exuma.
The Perfume Shop Nassau, (242) 322-2375. John Bull, 284 Bay Street, Nassau, (242) 302-2872; Marina Village, (242) 363-1152.
Marcial de Gomar’s Emeralds International, LLC, 104 Duval St Key West; (877) 689-6647. Bridal designs by the Sylvie Collection exclusively at Emeralds International.
Pandora John Bull, 284 Bay Street; Nassau, (242) 302-2800; Mall at Marathon; Harbour Bay; Marina Village; Marsh Harbour, Abaco; Harbour Island, Eleuthera, and Emerald Bay, Exuma.
Volume 1 Issue 3 • 19
Places to Go
To a real aficionado, the search for the perfect Cuban means only one thing—the hunt for the perfect sandwich.
Places to Go
Florida’s Fun Dining Finds Eight dining delights you won’t want to miss by Louise Hendry
S
o many choices, but when it’s time to eat, you want to make the most delicious choice possible. Fortunately, Florida is filled with fine dining options. Here’s a handy guide to eight restaurants our reviewers think are worth visiting.
food for thought Left: Have a seat at Milos. Top right: Milos’ special Grilled Whole Fish baked in sea salt. Below: One half of Christner’s Del Frisco’s Prime Steak & Lobster.
KEY $$$$$- above $50 per person $$$$- $35-$50 per person $$$ - $20-$35 per person $$ - $10-$20 per person $ - under $10 per person
Estiatoriomilos, Miami Beach Estiatoriomilos (Milos for short) has taken Miami Beach by storm with a 3.5star rating from The Miami Herald after the celebrated Montreal restaurant opened its fifth location in the Miami area in March 2012. A family name built from the recipes of hard work, loyalty, and honesty, Milos is true to its roots in every sense of the word. Guests are welcomed into the 210-seat restaurant with a striking 13,000
pound hand-cut marble installation straight from the mountains of Dionysus outside Athens. While every element tells a story—from the hand-selected flowers to the oversized urns imported from Greece—the design at its core speaks to the food—simple, clean, and timeless. A stand-out feature is the fish market display where diners select their own dinner. Signature dishes include Milos’ special paper-thin sliced zucchini and eggplant paired with kefalograviera cheese and tzatziki, grilled octopus wild santorini capers, red wine vinegar and olive oil and grilled whole fish baked in sea salt. Lunch & Dinner: $$$$$
Volume 1 Issue 3 • 21
Places to Go
Christner’s Del Frisco’s Prime Steak & Lobster, Orlando
room for more The dining room at Christner’s Del Frisco’s Prime Steak & Lobster, Orlando, where beef is king and the wine selection is 5,500 bottles strong.
Spanning more than 15,000 square feet, Christner’s Del Frisco’s Prime Steak & Lobster (“Christner’s”) has been a part of the Orlando dining scene since the early ’90s. Today, Carole Christner and her son David carry on the family business, building on its reputation for good food, great service and a welcoming atmosphere. Christner’s offers meticulous service in an intimate and relaxed setting. Homemade delicacies set the pace. Each meal begins with piping hot bread and is seasoned with personal touches like homemade salad dressings and signature desserts like Mandarin orange cake. Each ingredient is carefully selected with a serious focus on beef—every serving, be it the U.S.D.A. Choice Plus filet mignon, U.S.D.A. prime strip, U.S.D.A. prime ribeye or U.S.D.A. prime porterhouse
Inspired by a moment in time, FIXs’ interiors highlight the muted tones and sepia hues of an era of silent Charlie Chaplin films. is aged, corn-fed and cut fresh-toorder. Attention to detail doesn’t end there. Cold-water lobster tails are imported from Australia and the restaurant boasts a wine portfolio of more than 5,500 bottles. In traditional steakhouse fashion, all steaks and chops are served a la carte style with a choice of 12 side dishes, including house favorites like lobster macaroni & cheese, potatoes au gratin, and osage spinach. Not to be missed is an abundant seafood selection that includes lobster bisque, crab cakes, fried calamari, salmon, tuna tartare, and shrimp cocktail. Dinner Only: $$$$$
The 1st Name in Exuma Real Estate Judy Hurlock, BRI Broker
242.357.0600 242.345.0400 Judy@coldwellbankerbahamas.com
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Places to Go
3800 Ocean Restaurant, Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island, Riviera Beach 3800 Ocean’s culinary team brings modern American-style menu items to the shores of Palm Beach. The menu changes seasonally, but you’ll find dishes like Pan-Roasted Florida
Black Grouper, potato-artichoke hash, blue crab remoulade, sweet herb broth, Ingrid’s New England Day Boat Scallops with wild mushrooms, Swank Farm greens, Ssweet onions, lobster nage, and truffle bubbles. 3800 Ocean offers panoramic oceanfront views. Lunch & Dinner: $$$
ocean goodness 3800 Ocean offers panoramic views and delights of the sea.
Volume 1 Issue 3 • 23
Places to Go
FIX at the Blue Moon Hotel, Miami Beach Inspired by a moment in time, FIX’s interiors highlight the muted tones and sepia hues of an era of silent Charlie Chaplin films. The menu’s AllAmerican cuisine is heavily influenced by local ingredients. FIX also offers late-night fare with a full bar featuring an ever-changing selection of craft beers on draft and freshly muddled cocktails. FIX’s signature is breakfast,
with its “All Day FIX” served from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. and includes Rice Krispie-Crusted French Toast, Compart Duroc Pork Belly Benedict, and Rock Shrimp and Stone Crab Omelet. FIX also offers lunch and dinner items such as the Fried Oyster Po Boy, Roasted Portobello Wrap, and larger entrees like the Oven-Roasted Peruvian-Style Chicken. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner: $$
wrap it up Bacon-wrapped dates from Sugar Cane Raw Bar & Grill. Photo by Andrew Meade.
Sugar Cane Raw Bar & Grill, Miami One of Miami’s most popular and revered restaurants, this James Beardnominated three-kitchen concept is overseen by Food & Wine’s Best New Chef, Timon Balloo. Balloo’s Trinidadian-Chinese heritage is evident in the menu, which features global tapas, a raw bar and robata grill. Signature dishes include Bacon-Wrapped Dates, Goat Cheese Croquettes, Duck and Waffles, and Whole-Roasted Chicken. More adventurous eaters can enjoy chicken livers, pig ears with barbecue spice, and truffle and parmesan crispy chicken feet. Despite his travels and television appearances, Chef Timon hosts monthly Dinner with Friends for 14 people with a local chef co-host. The intimate group enjoys six specially prepared courses and experiences a home-cooked dinner in a cozy setting with two of Miami’s top culinary talents. Weekend Brunch, Lunch & Dinner: $$$
SushiSamba, Miami Beach Fusing the ingredients and traditional dishes of Peru and Brazil with the precision and techniques of Japan, SushiSamba is a favorite of celebrities and diners worldwide, with locations in South Beach, New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, and recently, London. Signature dishes like Antichuchos, Moqueca Mista, and the BoBo Brazil roll (seared Wagyu beef, avocado, kaiware, shiso, red onion and
24 • Volume 1 Issue 3
Places to Go
McKitchen, Miami
sea-licious Chillean Sea Bass from SushiSamba.
Award-winning chef Dena Marino, has been lauded by Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Gourmet and Wine Spectator, and has appeared on the Food Network to battle with Masiharu Morimoto on Iron Chef America. She recently opened McKitchen in Miami, her first Florida restaurant. Marino, a protégé of Michael Chiarello, serves rustic Italian cuisine with a modern twist like Roasted Pear and Cheese Fiochhi with
Award-winning chef Dena Marino recently opened McKitchen in Miami, her first Florida restaurant. a white truffle cream sauce and Soft Shell Crab Piadena with carrot slaw, avocado spread and roasted lemon. Lunch & Dinner: $$$
chimichurri ponzu) capture the flavors of Peru, Japan, and Brazil, while innovative and colorful designs reflect the energy and spirits of these nations. Weekend Brunch, Lunch & Dinner: $$$
Delicious Key Lime Pies are what we make... star power Star chef Kris Wessel brings New Orleans flavor and seafood to Miami at Red Light.
Red Light Miami, Miami Star chef Kris Wessel brings New Orleans flavor and seafood to Miami with dishes like Oyster Stew, Barbecue Shrimp, and Steamed Mussels. He has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation for “Best Chef–South Region.” The New York Times featured his rustic dinner-style sit down as one of the “Top 5” destination restaurants in Miami. In 2012, Wessel competed on Food Network’s competitive cooking show, Chopped, and won. Red Light opened in October in The James Royal Palm Hotel. Lunch & Dinner: $$$
making people smile is what we do! –National Pie Champions 2008/2009 –Food Network Throwdown with Iron Chef Bobby Flay –Handmade in Key West
• Eggless pies • Gluten-free key lime pies • Large assortment of gourmet key lime treats
• Nationwide shipping of all our products • Great corporate gifts • Custom gift baskets
www.keywestkeylimepieco.com “Prevent scurvy...eat more key lime pie” Volume 1 Issue 3 • 25
Don’t Miss
The Pizza d’Resistance Giotto Pizzeria is a slice of Italy in the heart of Nassau by Diane Phillips
W
pizza perfection When the Caribbean’s first fivestar hotel and restaurant, Graycliff in Nassau, Bahamas, creates an authentic pizza experience, you can bet it will be the pizza d’resistance. Photos courtesy of Patricia Santos. 26 • Volume 1 Issue 3
hen Enrico Garzaroli, founder of the famed Graycliff Hotel & Restaurant in Nassau, Bahamas and the first five-star restaurant and hotel in the region—takes on a project, he throws himself into it like a football player with a clutched ball, a clear 50-yard run and a touchdown within grasp. Over-the-top, no shortcuts. No out of bounds and definitely no room for mediocrity. So it’s not surprising that when the creator of the most elegant of Bahamian restaurants, the
most exquisite of boutique historic hotels, the best wine cellar for hundreds of miles around, the finest cigars outside or inside of Cuba, decided to turn his attention to pizza, what emerged was not just pizza as we know it but a pizza experience. Opened late this summer in the Graycliff complex on Nassau’s West Hill Street, Giotto Pizzeria is a slice of Italy in the heart of downtown Nassau. Guests sit at a half-circle wooden bar or a long, heavy wooden table that looks like it belongs in a
century-old dine-in kitchen. In contrast to the folksy feel of multi-colored fabric tablecloths and napkins, flatware is silver, plates are Royal Doulton, and the pizza oven is an $80,000 work of stainless-steel art. Everything from the type “00” flour to the logs for the open fire that complements the ovens is imported from Italy—tomatoes, fresh basil, other herbs and spices, the best olive oils—all different varieties for different pizza combinations. Garzaroli is so proud of the cases of imported
Don’t Miss
slice of life Chef Ramon uses the best ingredients to create ultra-thin crust pizza, inviting the flavor of exotic toppings from salmon to shrimp scampi to dominate. canned tomatoes you’d think he had grown them himself. He calls for a can to be delivered to our table, where the pizzas he wants us to taste are spread out like artwork. Salmon. Tuna. Lamb. Steak. Combinations you’ve never dreamed of. Bruschetta that makes you forget how to count calories. Dessert pizzas that are half pizza, half crepe, and all sinfully extraordinary. Garzaroli talks about ingredients with a reverence, and his attention returns to the can in front of him. He opens it, sticks his finger through the juice and plucks a tomato, urging us to taste so he can prove these are not just your ordinary red plump canned goods. And they’re not. Conversation flows, and between the restaurateur, the ambience, and the food, we expect to hear Volare or see a gondola float past.
Garzaroli is so proud of the cases of imported canned tomatoes you’d think he had grown them himself. Here on an historic street where the world’s rich and famous dine and walls that could talk would tell stories that would be spellbinding, we’ve discovered the pizza par excellence, the pizza d’resistance at Giotto Pizzeria. Don’t miss it.
Giotto Pizzeria in Nassau, Bahamas, shares the space with the popular Humidor Churrascaria Brazilian Steakhouse, and the soon-to-be-opened biergarten. Eventually, West Hill Street will be morphed into the Graycliff Heritage Village to include a selection of boutiques, locally made crafts, and culinary spots. The historic block will be re-done in cobblestone from Government House on the east to the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas at the western end. The Graycliff Cigar Company and lounge opened in its new location earlier this year, a German-style biergarten is nearly finished, and a chocolate factory is set for opening by year-end. Part of the theory is that visitors to The Bahamas and local residents want more than shops and excursions. They want a town plaza to sit and enjoy a cappuccino, a wine or a concert, or to stroll with family and loved ones. They don’t just want to take home tee-shirts. They want to take home memories. So the cigar factory is set up not just for observation of the professionals sorting tobacco, rolling, pinching, and packaging, but for guests to sign up for cigar rolling lessons ($75/hr). In the children’s room in the chocolate factory, little ones will be able to play, spray, toss, and tumble in chocolate. At a proposed Androisa batik factory, guests will see the process that transforms solid fabric into colorful garments. For Enrico Garzaroli, the village is the culmination of a life of dreaming big. The hard-working entrepreneur has a taste for life’s finer things, including the best in cigars, brandy, food, and even swimming pools (check the pool behind Graycliff with its elaborate hand-painted tile floor by Sergio Furnari, a famous Italian artist commissioned by Garzaroli as a birthday gift for his wife). It must be genetic. The entire family, wife Anna Maria and daughter Roberta, are part of the family business, and son Paolo is the brains and energy behind the Graycliff Divans, airport lounges in Nassau, and Nashville, Tennessee that make waiting for a flight a luxury. Enrico Garzaroli has become a one-man brand who, despite Wall Street woes and wobbles, is creating a new main street in The Bahamas where a little old-fashioned stroll can become a life-giving experience. Volume 1 Issue 3 • 27
Creative Endeavors
Each piece is an original, taking weeks to produce from concept to completion.
Smooth as Silk
Bahamian batik artist creates a kaleidoscope of color on cloth by Craig Eldon
O beauty and the batik Artist Tiffany “Tiff” Barrett
28 • Volume 1 Issue 3
ften it’s the little things that make the biggest impression. In the case of batik artist Tiffany “Tiff” Barrett, this concept rings true in a variety of ways—her warm greeting with a bright smile outside her makeshift studio in the heart of bustling Nassau,
the playful snickers from her twin children, 4-yearold Haile and Isaiah, her carefully wrapped Rastafarian locks and, at the center of it all, the meticulous details found throughout her strewn silk artwork on her countertop.
A collage of bright and pastel colors dances across fabric canvas to form tales of flora and fauna. One features a Loggerhead turtle subtly smiling with a vibrant hut nestled in the backdrop. Another boasts the eyecatching burnt red-orange hues of a Royal Poinciana’s flamboyant display of flowers. Each piece is an original, taking weeks to produce from concept to completion. “Batik has both brilliance and subtlety of color and you’re manipulating two mediums, wax and dye, to produce layers and textures,” said Tiff, the name by which her art is known. “Because of the permanence of the art form, it requires a level of
Creative Endeavors
Creative Endeavors
Tiff’s mother took her to a one-day batik class. She was fascinated from the first hour.
commitment and a need for planning and patience.” The traditional cloth printing art of Indonesia, batik is a dyeing technique that uses wax and colorful dyes to decorate a piece of fabric. Traditional prints are deeply rooted in Hinduism, but the art form has made its way onto the catwalks of London and now into the art galleries and craft stores of The Bahamas. One work of art can take weeks to spawn in Tiff’s mind. Only when she has resolved that it is ready in theory will she begin the painstaking process of laying out the habotai silk sheet (a lightweight silk, also known as China silk), sketching a rough outline, tracing selected areas with a 30 • Volume 1 Issue 3
tube of wax called a gutta, painting the various layers of colors with fabric dye, drying it overnight, steaming and drying it overnight a second time. If by any chance there’s a slight flaw in the finished product, it’s disposed of and the process starts from scratch again. Tiff attributes her perfectionism to her mother and her love of nature to her father, and considers her success accidental in the literal sense. After years as a popular eco-tour owner and operator in Grand Bahama, a terrible car collision left her debilitated with severe neck injuries. For someone who touted herself as an outdoorsman, inactivity led to depression, and as a therapeutic gesture Tiff’s mother took
her to a one-day batik class. She was fascinated from the first hour. Today, the entrepreneur-turnedartist divides her time between three passions—her children, husband Ras Hailu, and her art. “I have my family’s support entirely,” she says. “My twins are my most outspoken critics and my husband is a pillar for me at all times.” Original Bahamian batik artworks by Tiff are available at Uniquely Bahamian in the Lynden Pindling International Airport or at Bahama Art & Handicraft on East Shirley Street, Nassau. To learn more about the artist, visit: www.tiffbahamas.com or call: (242) 558-7974.
South Eleuthera‌The Best Kept Secret in The Bahamas for World-Class Diving and Fishing Ocean Fox Cotton Bay is a small, professional scuba diving and deep sea fishing operation out of Davis Harbour Marina on South Eleuthera (approximately a one hour drive south from Governor’s Harbour). We offer incredible diving with wall dives, pinnacle reefs, small boiling holes, and a shark site, all in crystal clear water. Enjoy snorkeling and beach combing as well as deep sea fishing for dolphin, wahoo, tuna, marlin and sailfish. If your desires include the ocean, be it scuba diving, snorkeling, beaches or fishing, then let us customize a trip to meet those desires.
Ocean Fox Cotton Bay www.oceanfoxcottonbay.com (242) 334-6300
Getting Personal
Getting Personal sea lion around Right: Alex, 13, and her sister, Lindsey, 16, were happy to cool off in Blue Lagoon’s waters, home to Dolphin Encounters in Nassau. Left: Lindsey makes a new friend.
A Kiss is Just a Kiss Unless it’s puckered up by a sea lion by Diane Phillips
A
lexandra Welch will never forget her first
kiss. “He was all fuzzy and the whiskers tickled and I was trying to move my face, but I kept laughing,” said the 13-year-old from Southport, NC. “It was so cool. I want to come back next year and do it again.” The curly headed teen giggled as she was tickled by the lovable water dweller, hugging and being hugged back by one of eight sea lions on an island called Blue Lagoon off Nassau, Bahamas.
“The animals have definitely won the hearts of the school children and guests who have met them.”
On this day, Alex and her sister, Lindsey, 16, were happy to cool off in Blue Lagoon’s waters, home to Dolphin Encounters and, for the past seven years, four California sea lions displaced by Hurricane Katrina along with four pups born under human care. For the original sea lions, being transported from the Mississippi Gulf coast to the safety of the expanded natural lagoon and cove off Nassau was ideal. Marine Mammal Director Kim Terrell, who trained four of the displaced sea lions back in Mississippi, followed them to The Bahamas, and today her bond is stronger than ever.
“It’s sad the way it had to happen, but I’m grateful that they had a great place like this to come to. The sea lions’ lives with Dolphin Encounters has been an extremely productive and educational experience,” Terrell says. “The animals have definitely won the hearts of the school children and guests who have met them.” Terrell thinks of her “offspring” as loving ambassadors of the warm waters. Through participation in the Makea-Wish Foundation, they’ve brought smiles to the faces of children suffering from cancer, making them forget for just a little while the Volume 1 Issue 3 • 33
Getting Personal
25 years of Marine Upholstery experience, creating Outdoor Furniture that weathers the elements.
Oasis
chic living
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East Shirley Street, Nassau, Bahamas www.oasisoutdoorliving.com | 242-393-4498 | 242-394-7408
34 • Volume 1 Issue 3
These animals have so much personality and I never even knew that. I loved being hugged by PJ; he was such a sweet creature. battle raging within while they enjoy the unabashed hugs from the gentle marine mammals. It’s hard to watch a California sea lion at work without wondering how they don’t just topple over. Adult males can easily approach eight feet in length and weigh up to 800 pounds. Females reach almost six feet and weigh in at about 220. Yet, they are amazingly agile. They hug a child without knocking them over. When it’s time for a swim, they thrust their foreflippers into gear and propel as if they were paddling a boat. Their admirable traits—intelligence, agility, and survival instincts—are counteracted by what some folks might think are less admirable. It’s hard to keep a good male at home and females are just as polygamous, moving between territories during breeding season. But once a pup is born, that wandering female transforms into a stay-at-home mom with “mother-pup” calls like a dinner bell.
Getting Personal Much of what happens at Blue Lagoon is for entertainment and recreation, and in 1989, Dolphin Encounters was the first attraction to be launched. From the 20-minute boat ride to the island to interacting with swimming dolphins or waddling sea lions, it’s a consistent TripAdvisor positive experience, a Bahamas Ministry of Tourism Cacique awardwinner, and an all-around crowd pleaser. But to the Bahamian family who founded Dolphin Encounters, and marine mammal director Terrell, it’s about education and conservation. The website, www.dolphinencounters. com, is a Wiki-like world of marine mammal information. Their research programs and conservation efforts have won plaudits. Every year, thousands of school children experience swimming with a dolphin or watching a sea lion at play— children who might not otherwise have the slightest contact with the amusing and tender creatures of the sea’s shallows.
Alexandra Welch will never forget her first kiss. “He was all fuzzy and the whiskers tickled and I was trying to move my face, but I kept laughing.”
fuzzy kisses Alex gets a sloppy welcome. For a teen like Lindsey Welch— raised in Florida, now living on the coast of North Carolina, working in a surf shop after school, a kid to whom being the water is as natural as finding
a friend on Facebook—playing with a sea lion was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “It was really exciting to be able to interact with them so closely, and it’s much more unusual than swimming with the dolphins. Not only was it enjoyable, it was a learning experience. These animals have so much personality and I never even knew that. I loved being hugged by PJ; he was such a sweet creature. They even kissed us which was kind of smelly, but still cute. It’s something that will always stick out from all my memories.” Lindsey, maybe PJ remembers you as a memory that stands out, too.
Volume 1 Issue 3 • 35
Living Well
With unflinching honesty, she shares her own experiences including the range of good, bad, and betterforgotten moments.
Living Well
Love on The Rock
Maggie Bain shares how to live, and love, better by Diane Phillips
T
here are thousands of self-help books on the market brimming with tips on everything from how to make a million to how to bake a better cannoli. But none of them tell us how to love the one we love better. Maggie Bain, certified relationship and intimacy coach, and veteran nurse specialist, set out to fill that gap. In her just-released book, Love on The Rock, Bain gets to the heart of matters of the heart; why some loves last, and why others that start out so strong fade. The book’s name is not a misnomer—The Rock symbolizes Nassau, the island Bain has called home since 1988. She offers such practical, sensible advice that it almost becomes a GPS for retaining excitement, creativity, and
genuine communication in a relationship. In chapters like Rock Duets, Rock the Boat, and Rock My World, she explores the power of empathy, the damage of secrets, the danger of small irritations allowed to fester, and most of all, the ultimate importance of friendship in an enduring love relationship. With unflinching honesty, she shares her own experiences, including the range of good, bad, and better-forgotten moments that made up what she calls her “exquisite marriage of 23 years.” But she is also painfully frank about the rougher moments of that marriage—a rare time when he wanted to make love and she did not. It had been an especially tough day at the hospital. She came home to face housework, dinner preparations, and a mountain of laundry. “In all these years, how often have I ever said ‘no’ to you?,” she asks her husband, an exchange she shares as she opens up about the most intimate inner life of her marriage. He cajoles, flatters, approaches her again about how appealing she is, that he just cannot get enough of her. He does everything but listen, using every tactic
except the one that might have worked—empathy plus a helping hand. “A caring thought turned into a kindhearted deed has a power within itself,” she writes. “Thoughtfulness,” she says in the Rock Candy chapter, “is the sweetness, the filling at the center of the candy that makes it more than an attractive outer coating.” The theme of giving, kindness, gentleness, but also being willing to receive love, permeate the easyto-read book and at first may seems like the stuff of common sense. But Love on The Rock, with its pages of required self-tests, jolts us into remembering that common sense does not mean commonplace. Making love work takes constant nurturing, turning a walk into a dance and a dance into lifelong romance because you made the effort to learn how to love the one you love better. Even answering questions like listing the top five things that are your antidote to the blues. Are they easily accessible? Do you need to update your list? What things have been talked about but never accomplished in the relationship? What has been preventing you? Just
like class, it’s easy sifting through the pages. But the homework of Maggie Bain’s little gem will really get you thinking—and it might just teach you to sit up, pay attention, and achieve the highest grade of all by learning how to love better.
Born in Nigeria, raised in Scotland, trained in the U.K. in critical-care nursing and midwifery, living in The Bahamas since 1988, and pursuing a career in nursing, Bain recognized the impact that relationships had on health, wellness, and spirit. She felt so strongly about the interweaving of physical and mental wellbeing that after 30 years of top-level hospital and intensive private nursing, she switched focus to study human sexuality at the Florida Sex therapy Institute, returning to The Bahamas as the first board-certified sex and intimacy therapist and coach, becoming a popular radio host and newspaper columnist, and breaking new ground in an emotionally conservative and reserved culture. She has been compared to “a mixture of Dr. Laura and Dr. Ruth, but with a style all her own with a Scottish twist and blazing blue eyes that just never quit and seem to see all.” Love on The Rock is available in bookstores, on www.amazon.com and through www.RockSolidLove.com.
Volume 1 Issue 3 • 37
Fly Out Free!
Imagine...
yourself at
Pigeon Cay!
FERNANDEZ BAY VILLAGE CAT ISLAND - BAHAMAS
Discover Paradise If you're seeking an authentic out island experience, look beyond Paradise Island and discover Fernandez Bay Village. This private island resort offers pristine white sand beaches and crystal
Pigeon Cay promises romance and offers the ultimate in privacy, seclusion and breathtaking views. Each of the seven cottages is equipped with all comforts of home and all are steps from the beach, located along a private 3-mile stretch of white, powdery sand beach. Instead of glitz and glamour, there is nature at her finest, incredible beaches to walk or run, turquoise waters to swim or snorkel, hills to climb or bike, caves to dive, or play a round of golf on a Par 6 course.
clear water for snorkeling, fishing and diving. Relax beach-side in one of the hammocks or sip a cool drink at the Tiki bar. Stay in romantic cottages perfect for couples looking to get away from it all, or a 2 bedroom beach house well suited for families and larger groups. Learn more at www.fernandezbayvillage.com
Reservations: 800-940-1905 / Front desk 242-342-3043 www.fernandezbayvillage.com
Pigeon Cay Beach Club Cat Island, Bahamas Phone/Fax 242-354-5084 e-mail: pigeoncay@starband.net www.pigeoncay-bahamas.com
Visit www.MyOutIslands.com for details.
Sammy T’s Beach Resort
Cat Island, Bahamas
Awaken your soul...
The peace and quiet, the food, the staff, is what makes Sammy T’s the place you are searching for. Our resort has the feeling of home, and we like to think that we have invited some friends over for a couple of days, just to relax and regenerate themselves.
Cat Island is renowned for its totally tranquil atmosphere, its lush natural vegetation and miles of untouched spectacular beaches, including our private beach nestled within a cove. Sammy T’s offers a varied and entertaining schedule of sporting and leisure activities.
The resort features six individual one- and two-bedroom villas. All rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, ceiling fans, DVD library along with full bedroom and living room furnishings and a kitchenette with a microwave, refrigerator and coffee maker.
Sammy T’s Beach Resort • Bennett’s Harbour, Cat Island • The Bahamas • www.catislandbeachresort.com
AirCurrents2010.qxp:AirCurrent2010 6/30/10 2:19 PM Page 1 (242) 354-6009 • Fax: (242) 354-6010 • info@catislandbeachresort.com
...like no other place on earth
• • • • •
• • • •
Boats for rent and guides for hire Renowned Bahamian-American cuisine Freight & passenger air service available Full-service marina - deep water dockage
Friendly, casual atmosphere Beautiful secluded beaches Incredible SCUBA, snorkeling & fishing Charming waterfront cottages Unique swimming pigs, nurse sharks & iguanas
www.stanielcay.com | info@stanielcay.com | Bahamas: 242.355.2024 | US: 954.467.8920
The Hottest Deal in The Baha mas...When Turtles Fly! Who said that for rates to be this low it would have to be when turtles fly?! Searching for discounts on Bahamas Hotels? Our ‘When Turtles Fly’ package prices start at just $599 per person for 3 nights deluxe accommodations, round trip airfare on United Airlines from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Treasure Cay, Bahamas (TCB) and all taxes and service charges on both flight and room. Based on double occupancy in either a Deluxe Club Room or Waterfront room. Add on nights at 79-$99 per person per night.”
SKY’S THE LIMIT
Put your feet up, relax and enjoy a book on our lovely pink sand beach. Or you can find food, solace and the beverage of your choice at the Bistro, with a full-service swim-up cocktail bar. Sky Beach Club seamlessly blends modern amenities with the splendor of unmatched natural beauty and excellent service.
Accommodations range from luxurious poolside bungalows to 3200-square foot, four-bedroom, four-bath villas with private pools. Our elegant residences feature an abundance of glass to capitalize on the breathtaking views. Every detail is dedicated to modern luxury, comfort, and total privacy.
Sky Beach Club Resort Amenities Include: Amazing views of the Atlantic and the Caribbean. Secluded pink-sand beach. Contemporary dining in the Bistro. Infinity edge beachfront pool with swim-up cocktail bar. Gated resort community.
Energy efficient green construction. Concierge Services for island activities, fishing charters and pre-arrival pantry stocking. Located 7 minutes south of the Governor’s Harbour airport.
For information on Reservations or Real Estate Sales contact us at (800) 605-9869 or visit our web site www.SkyBeachClub.com
A Perfect Day at Small Hope Bay
Great diving and so much more!
What is your idea of the perfect island vacation? If it is scuba diving one of the largest and most unexplored barrier reefs in the world, great snorkeling, superb bonefishing, laying in a hammock, exploring nature, more Bahamas diving, having a cold Kalik, strolling on the beach, reading a good book, meeting interesting people, spending time with your family, or by yourself, I think that I have the place for you ... This small Bahamas all-inclusive resort is more than just another Bahamas hotel, we are the most established dive resort in the Caribbean. Our environment is very safe, peaceful, secluded, and a great romantic getaway. Come join us for a new adventure, a true Bahamas experience, a family vacation, a relaxing holiday retreat on the beach, or the Caribbean vacation of your dreams.
Celebrating 50 Years of Perfect Days!
With only 21 cottages and all inclusive rates, the Perfect Day is right here ...
www.smallhope.com
See our blog and testimonials. Follow us on YouTube, YouTube Testimonials, Facebook & Twitter
Totally All-Inclusive Small Hope Bay Lodge
Fresh Creek, Andros, Bahamas (800) 223-6961 • (242) 368-2013/2014 SHBinfo@smallhope.com
Tallahassee’s Order
Tall
Canopy Roads & Camellia Gardens Meet Majestic Waterways & Meandering Trails
F
on the road again Left: Miccosukee Road. Above: Maclay Gardens State Park. Photos courtesy of Visit Tallahassee.
rom year-round manatee spotting to strolling through bountiful gardens, from casting a line for the big one to paddling down one of its five pristine rivers, Tallahassee is a slice of the unexpected side of Florida. In contrast to the flatlands, open roads, and tall palms that make up the majority of the peninsula, Tallahassee is graced with ancient mossdraped live oaks intertwined with glossy leaved sweet gums. Together, they form
sheltering shadows over nine protected canopied roads, and with its rolling hills and meandering waterways and rivers, Tallahassee is one of the most diverse biological regions in the United States In fact, The Nature Conservancy considers the area to be one of “America’s Last Great Places.” Whether by land or water, breathtaking landscapes, amazing wildlife and recreational Volume 1 Issue 3 • 45
this old house Top: Goodwood Main House. Above: Goodwood Museum Gardens.
46 • Volume 1 Issue 3
activities abound for outdoor enthusiasts, explorers, trailblazers, and adventurers of all types to feed souls or claim serious bragging rights. Tallahassee’s canopy roads, originally old Indian trails now lined with huge, moss-draped live oaks, provide scenic driving adventures for visitors. Downloadable maps that cover 78 miles are available and include the unique history of these roads. Because of its location in northwest Florida, Tallahassee experiences a genuine change of seasons. Majestic trees give way to flowering flora at Maclay Gardens State Park. Shades of pink—crimson, rose, fuchsia, and carnation—
paint the landscape with graceful camellias, blossoming dogwoods, fragrant redbuds, and royal azaleas. Secret gardens, reflecting pools, and stunning floral architecture lend to the enchanting ambiance of the park, complemented by five miles of hiking trails that afford spectacular lake views. Goodwood Museum & Gardens has been restored to capture the early 20th-century design and landscape, and features roses, heirloom bulbs, centuries old live oak trees, and magnolias surrounding the stately antebellum mansion. Hikers, cyclists, runners, and equestrians alike will
revel in the number of nature trails in Tallahassee— cutting through dense hardwood forests, traversing ravines, climbing bluffs, and wading through swampy wetlands. Of interest is nearby Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve—the largest natural geological exposure in Florida. Spectators gather annually in March for the Red Hills International Horse Trials held at beautiful Elinor Klapp-Phipps Park. One of the premier equestrian event competitions, it attracks the world’s best riders from 11 countries and 28 states. Equally stunning is the St. Marks Historic Railroad Trail, valued nearly as much
a walk on the wild side Left: Alfred B. Maclay State Gardens. Below: Cypress forest.
for its history as its scenery. Once an active railroad dating back to 1837, the trail is now popular among cyclists, stretching 16 miles north to south through quaint communities and covered forest preserves, and ending in the small coastal town of St. Marks, where trail blazers often enjoy the freshest seafood from any number of waterside restaurants before heading back—a reward for a bike ride well done. Branching off the railroad, the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge imparts 75 miles of marked trails—including intersecting with the Florida National Scenic Trail— with each mile marker revealing a new habitat or species for examination, including eagles, otters and wetland wildflowers. Attracting more than 300 species of birds, waterfowl,
and migratory monarch butterflies, the refuge is a birder and butterflywatcher’s paradise. Named the largest forest in Florida, the Apalachicola National Forest spans 571,088 acres and includes 2,735 acres of fresh water streams, rivers, lakes, and natural springs. Nature enthusiasts travel the 67-linear-mile Florida Trail, explore the Leon Sinks, a geological area full of sinkholes and caverns, and gaze at the eye-catching open prairies filled with wildflowers at the Apalachee Savannas. Visitors take in the sight of a vanished Fort Gadsden, formerly the Apalachicola River outpost during the War of 1812. Home to one of the last extensive wiregrass and long leaf pine communities in existence, the Apalachicola National Forest provides a glimpse
into Florida’s beauty before people arrived. The natural wonders that can’t be seen on foot can be seen by car on the Big Bend Scenic Byway— recently designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration as a National Scenic Byway— and more than 200 miles of driving trails circumvent the region. Visitors recreate the steps that are forever ingrained in the region’s heritage—those of the Apalachee tribe, Creek Indians, and Spanish Conquistadors. Starting at the Tallahassee Regional Airport, the two-day loop melds the best of landscapes together—passing through hardwood hammocks of rich pine forests speckled with streams and rivers, then snaking southward along the coast to salt
marshes, bays, and sand dunes. Tallahassee shares natural beauty and unparalleled outdoor adventure with an upbeat vitality. A fusion of cosmopolitan flair and charming personality defines the spirit of Florida’s Capital City—where it all comes together for visitors. Situated just off Florida’s northern I-10 corridor and stretching along the state’s Panhandle, Tallahassee is a place where college town meets cultural center, politics meets performing arts, and history meets nature—a place where the vibrancy of what to do is matched only by the city’s inviting hospitality. Additional visitor information is available from Visit Tallahassee at www.VisitTallahassee.com or (800) 628-2866.
Volume 1 Issue 3 • 47
A Gift of
T By Diane Phillips 48 • Volume 1 Issue 3
he thought of wrapping up a hotel and putting it under the tree is so laughable it turns the smiles at the end of your eyes into rivers of crinkles unless, of course, it’s the promise of a stay at the historic Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The Greenbrier is not for everyone. It’s not for those who think a hotel off the
highway with warm cookies at the check-in counter and a free breakfast of powdered eggs is a deal. It’s not for those to whom good style is monochromatic and good taste is always understated. The Greenbrier is for those who eschew the ordinary, love eccentricity, relish good service, and treasure exploring a world of fine décor, sports, activities, and history sprawled across more than 200 years
and 6,750 acres, almost all as finely groomed as a thoroughbred at the Kentucky Derby. In other words, the Greenbrier is on my bucket list and should be on others for dozens of reasons. There’s the brilliant swash of color during the fall foliage explosion, the warmth of fireplaces and friendships at the holiday season, the famed red and white floral gardens of
Greenbrier A surprisingly sumptuous, perfectly appointed Christmas gift
spring, and the green grass and pools of summer. But most of all there’s the history that seeps through every season, and every reason to taste this delicacy of hospitality. The property and the hotel, or series of hotels on the property, have had so many incarnations that it’s not surprising stories abound of ghosts, though friendly they must be because there are no reports of guests fleeing in
the middle of the night. The site was first identified in the 1770s by a local woman who claimed the sulphur hot springs relieved her chronic arthritis. Word spread and visitors flocked for “the taking of the waters,” a phrase in current vernacular in spas to describe the healing effect of fountains of running waters on the body. The first hotel was built on the site in 1858, and a
few years later during the Civil War, changed hands between the Confederate Army and the Union Army, nearly burning to the ground at one point. That hotel was torn down in 1922, and the one that stands now with its 710 rooms, added in different phases, has had so many roles it would pre-qualify for a real estate Oscar. It’s been everything from an Army hospital in World
Volume 1 Issue 3 • 49
it’s beginning to look a lot like christmas Top: The Cameo Ballroom. Above: The Springhouse in the snow. War II to a detention or ‘relocation’ center for detainees of German or Japanese descent. During the Cold War of the 1960s, the U.S. government had a secret bunker built underground as a safe haven for the U.S. Congress in case of attack. It was stocked with 30 years’ 50 • Volume 1 Issue 3
worth of supplies and remained a deep, dark secret until a Washington Post Magazine article exposed it in 1992. The supplies were still intact and untouched when the now-exposed bunker was immediately shut down and converted into another amenity on the Greenbrier property, open for visitors and serving as a backdrop for many a souvenir photo. Between its valleys of military second-ment, the hotel—that has carried several monikers including White Sulphur Springs— was the heartbeat of high society. Its high ceilings, wide hallways (said to be designed to accommodate hoop skirts), flowing, fabric décor with wide-belted drapes, and floral and richly patterned upholstered
oversized chairs, sofas, and lounges by society designer Dorothy Draper, gave it a distinctive—if visually overthe-top—flair. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor danced the night away in the grand ballroom. Twenty-six presidents have stayed at the Greenbrier and there is a photographic retrospective of each visit in the President’s Cottage Museum. The guest list roster includes the likes of Andrew Jackson, Davy Crockett, and Dolly Madison, along with the more recent headliners Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, and Bill Gates. Despite its rich history and its brave attempts to keep up appearances with daily rituals—tea time in the main dining room from 4:15 pm—and man-
The guest list roster includes the likes of Andrew Jackson, Davy Crockett, and Dolly Madison, along with the more recent headliners Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, and Bill Gates. winter wonderland Above: A sleigh ride through the wintery woods. Right: The Presidential Suite.
cave rituals, falconry and duck shooting, and other unique offerings, the cost of operating such a property was simply overwhelming and C&O, which had owned it twice during its see-saw history, filed for bankruptcy, citing $500 million in debt and $100 million in assets. In 2009, a highly successful local man named James Justice bought the property for $20 million, vowing to repay creditors and revive the fading Greenbrier. Industry observers knew the Justice Family Group, LLC had its work cut out for them. One New York Times article referred to it as “a time machine throwback to earlier notions of luxury and leisure in America.” Justice, who stands 6’7,” agreed it was a tall order, but was—and is—committed to filling it. He’s restored the horsedrawn carriage, opened a new steak house, Prime 44, a small casino for hotel guests only, refurbished the spa that is now an immense
40,000 square feet, and with new drive, suffused the staff with old-fashioned values—something he says never grows old. Though much is made of the décor and its effusive rhododendron motifs, striped walls, and blackand-white-checkered marble floors, the reality is that the Greenbrier is actually not so much a throwback as a retreat. Numerous dining options— most with sport coat or jacket suggested—excellent tennis facilities, riding, four championship golf courses (resident pro emeritus is Tom Watson), good country music, acres upon acres of biking, hiking, and walking trails, gardens that go on forever, and yes, it does have Wi-Fi. It’s a whole lot of what was good about yesterday when real estate space was not at such a premium and you could stretch out instead of building up. But it’s also a whole lot about today, when, for a pretty penny
you can have a milliondollar experience with every amenity at your fingertips. You might even talk someone who loves you into putting that certificate for a stay at Greenbrier under your Christmas tree, Chanukah bush, or next to your Kwanzaa candle.
Volume 1 Issue 3 • 51
s ’ t a h W ur Ynotasy? Fa
hail to the king Revelers costumed as jellyfish escort the float carrying “King Neptune” down Duval Street.
E
t s e W y e K o t e m o f C o l a v i t s e F e h t r o f s l a v i t s e All F
52 • Volume 1 Issue 3
ach year since 1979, thousands of revelers have flocked to historic Duval Street for the Key West Fantasy Festival. Organized by businessmen Tony Falcone, Joseph Liszka, and the late Frank Romano and Billy Conkle to stimulate Key West’s economy in October, the slowest tourism period of the year. The festival has grown to a 10-day event with visitor numbers climbing constantly, peaking in recent years to more than 100,000 people, with hotels, restaurants, and bars bursting at the seams. Highlighting the revelry, creativity, and easy-going
By Alexavia Dorsett nature of the resident “conchs,” as Key Westers are fondly known, the festival is not for the faint of heart. Designed to test your stamina, it’s an endless list of activities and themed events that include balls— the Royal Coronation, the annual Headdress Ball— costume parties, street fairs, drag queen contests, celebrity impersonations, AIDS fundraisers, and a masquerade parade for pets and their owners. The culmination of the fete is the Fantasy Fest float parade featuring the elected King and Queen Conch. The “Mardi Gras of Key West,” Fantasy Fest
costume fun Right: Greg Donlon walks in his “Aquaman” garb. Middle right: Parade participants costumed as lionfish proceed down Duval Street. Far right: Susann D’Antonio and her husband Bobby showcase their “Neptune’s Reef” winning entry during the Pier House Pretenders in Paradise costume competition.
go deep Below: “Creatures from the deep” proceed down Duval Street during the Captain Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade.
eight is enough Daniel Bitnar moves on stage during the Pier House Pretenders in Paradise costume competition. stretches with endless parties day after day and night after night. The pounding of the goatskin drum and the sounds of the horns in the Bahama Village Goombay Festival signal the festival’s start. Lively libations and tempting dining opportunities present themselves nonstop, adding to the party atmosphere. Every street
corner and venue is packed with flirty frolickers parading around in scantily clad designer duds, far more daring and risque than anything you’ll see on the high-fashion runways of Paris or New York. Other partygoers are fully adorned in nothing but body paint with accents covering those areas not intended for public viewing. Key West royalty is crowned at the Royal Coronation Ball, an annual fundraiser and benefit for AIDS Help, an organization that provides support and assistance for HIV-infected residents of the Florida Keys.
One of the biggest crowd-pleasers is the Pet Masquerade & Parade, giving the island’s furry four-legged population a chance to dress up and strut their stuff before crowds of thousands. One day is carved out for children, with music, crafts, games, activities, and food. Every year’s fest has a different theme—this year’s is conch—but all have the same aim—to create an environment where anything goes, so long as it is not illegal, and preferably not conservatively dressed. It’s a marriage of parades and parties where revealing costumes are de rigueur,
The ‘Mardi Gras of Key West’, Fantasy Fest stretches with endless parties day after day and night after night. partygoers and their playfulness is outlandish or just plain wild. It’s a let go, let live, oft-freaky, full-oflife-street scene that gives opportunity for expression. Visit www.fantasyfest.com for information on the festival that is unlike any other. Photos courtesy of Rob O’Neal and Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau/HO
Volume 1 Issue 3 • 53
photo by cookie kinkead 2010
A steady stream of vacationers, honeymooners, lovebirds, fishing buddies, and individuals looking to spend quality time away seek out this glorious destination year round.
By Margie Kaye
Coral Sands’ Four Cottages Offer Dream Homes Away From Home A s if the worldrenowned pink colored sand beach, sun streaked turquoise water, delectable island fare and laid back luxurious amenities weren’t tempting enough to make you pack your bags for the Coral Sands Resort in Harbour Island, Bahamas, the resort has recently added four new beachfront one and two bedroom colonial style cottages and another two-bedroom cottage to their inviting selection of accommodations offering just a few more reasons 54 • Volume 1 Issue 3
for you to come and stay a while at Coral Sands. Brimming with attention to detail and indulgent comfort, these beautifully appointed dream cottages are awash in environmentally friendly function and designer décor, making them the ideal destination for an island escape. A wondrous blending of luxury and tranquility converge for the ultimate in relaxation. One twobedroom and two onebedroom cottages are located directly on the
oceanfront with breath taking ocean views; the other one bedroom model is nestled just 100 feet from the beach with a spectacular ocean view. The cottages each feature plush memory foam king size beds stylishly dressed in fine Anichini linens, crowned with headboards and surrounded by custom night tables, a desk, and bookshelves beautifully designed to house your belongings, creating a comfortable and homey feeling.
Walnut plank wood floors adorned with area rugs add drama and warmth to each cottage, where every mood is enhanced with custom lighting and decorative blackout window drapes. Whether enjoying a book perched in the oversized reading chair, watching television on the 32” flat screen television or winding down to music on your iPod, every comfort and convenience is there for the guests to enjoy. After a day spent basking in the sun, you can wash your cares away in the
sensuous free standing bathtub illuminated by soft chandelier lighting or step into the large walk-in shower boasting oversized jet shower heads and a bench for a spalike experience. A round decorative porthole window invites sunlight, sunsets and star gazing, and adds to the essence of seaside serenity. If you can’t get enough of nature’s beautiful surroundings, retreat to your spacious outdoor covered terrace with designer lounging furniture and day beds, and all the fresh air you can inhale. The cottage wet bar complete with refrigerator, coffee maker and tea kettle keep your favorite libations and snacks close at hand for enjoying an intimate happy hour day or night. You can double your pleasure and your living space in the new two bedroom cottage, Sea Oats, the ultimate beach front villa at Coral Sands featuring the same artistry
and architecture of the one bedroom cottages. Sea Oats features two elegant master bedrooms, two luxurious bathrooms, kitchenette and dining areas presenting the ideal scenario for families and friends traveling together and maintaining their privacy when desired. The master Colonialstyle bedrooms are cloaked in warmth with walnut plank floors, area rugs and designer furnishings built with sheesham sustainable wood. Elegant French doors stretch nine feet tall welcoming sunlight and awe inspiring views of the world famous pink sand beach just steps down the path leading from the cottage. The living/sitting room offers a tranquil setting, as does the spacious outdoor covered terrace. With ceiling fans stirring the intoxicating ocean air and an array of inviting patio furniture grouped atop the Ipe hard wood decking, the living is
laid back from sun up until sun down, and then some. The beauty of this quaint 37-room boutique hotel lies in the understated elegance that transcends the property, set along the notorious pink sand three mile stretch of beach recognized as the most beautiful beach in the Caribbean by the Travel Channel, and consistently voted as one of the top five beaches in the world. A steady stream of vacationers, honeymooners, love birds, fishing buddies, and groups looking to spend quality time away seek out this glorious destination year round. With consistently warm weather in the 70s and 80s, balmy nights and breezy days make for a comfortable stay with a no-brainer light dress code and mindset of “anything goes.” Staying on the lush grounds at Coral Sands is an all encompassing date with down time, but if the adventurer in you beckons, Coral Sands’ efficient and friendly staff will happily arrange various island excursions including deep sea fishing, scuba diving, bone fishing, and scenic tours by bicycle or golf cart. Whether a picnic on a private island is on your wish list or an historic tour of Dunmore Town is right up your alley, your hosts will make it happen for you. When night falls and dinner plans call, gourmet dining is what’s on the menu at the resort’s own Terrace Restaurant, considered to be among the
finest restaurants in The Bahamas, and boasting a new and delectably varied menu. With culinary creations orchestrated by Executive French Chef Ludovic Jarland, there are tempting selections of surf and turf elegantly plated and sumptuously prepared to your liking. The chef often appears tableside to make his personal recommendations for a guaranteed palate pleasing experience. Pan Seared
Mahi-Mahi in a Salsa Verde Sauce, Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb, and Caribbean Bouillabaisse overflowing with an assortment of lobster, grouper, shrimp, mussels and clams bathed in a vegetable broth are among the favorites ordered each evening, along with creative spins on the fresh catch of the day. With all there is to savor at this beautiful island resort, isn’t it time to unpack your bags and stay a while? Paradise awaits at Coral Sands, where the living is easy in your home away from home. Chapel Street, Dunmore Town, Harbour Island, Bahamas. www. coralsands.com 800-468-2799 or 242-333-2350.
Volume 1 Issue 3 • 55
In-Flight Service
In-Flight Service NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES Complimentary on ALL Saab 340Bplus Flights
Coca-Cola, Diet Coke Sprite Club Soda Ginger Ale Tonic Water
Orange Juice Cranberry Juice Apple Juice Bloody Mary Mix Spring water
Complimentary Coffee and a selection of teas available upon request ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES Available for purchase on All Saab 340Bplus Flights BEER $5 Budweiser Lite, Corona Extra, Heineken WINE $5 Chardonnay, Merlot SPIRITS $6
ABSOLUT Vodka Tanqueray Gin Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
Glenlivet Scotch Canadian Club Whisky Jim Beam Black Bourbon
Complimentary assorted snacks available Beverage and Snack options may vary by flight
56 • Volume 1 Issue 3
Customs and Immigration
Customs and Immigration U.S. I-94 Arrival/Departure Record All travelers who hold a U.S. visa are required to complete an I-94 Arrival/Departure Record (one per person, including infants). Write in English, in capital letters. Be sure to include the street name and number, city and state of your address in the U.S. If you are transiting through the U.S., you may write TRANSIT and your final destination country. The Customs and Border Protection officer will place the I-94 Departure Record in your passport after inspection. Make sure you return the Departure Record to the airline representative before boarding your return flight. U.S. Customs Declaration All passengers (or one passenger per family) are required to complete a Customs Declaration before arrival in the U.S. Write in English, in capital letters. Be sure to include the street name and number, city and state of your address in the U.S. If you are transiting through the U.S., you may write TRANSIT and your final destination country. Please read both sides of the declaration and place your signature at the bottom of the form. Expedited Passport Control and Customs Clearance in the U.S.—Global EntryTM W W W . G L O B A L E N T R Y . G O V U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)pantone offers the Global 8401 metallic pewter EntryTM program in order to expedite the processing of blue is Pant 307c pre-approved, low-risk international travelers entering the U.S. Upon returning from international travel, Global EntryTMenrolled travelers may bypass the regular passport control line and proceed to the Global EntryTM kiosk. Global EntryTM program participants scan their machine-readable passport, U.S. permanent resident card or U.S. visa on the kiosk, place their fingertips on the scanner for fingerprint verification and make a customs declaration. The kiosk will issue the traveler a transaction receipt and direct the traveler to baggage claim and exit. Trusted
Traveler
Net work
The following travelers are eligible for enrollment in Global EntryTM: • Citizens and residents of the U.S. • Citizens of Mexico who hold a U.S. visa • Citizens of the Netherlands who are enrolled in Privium • NEXUS members • SENTRI members Application for enrollment in the Global EntryTM program is available at the Global On-Line Enrollment System (GOES): goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov. It costs only US$100, which covers enrollment in the program for a five-year period. The government will review the applicant’s information while a background investigation is conducted. Applicants undergo an interview with CBP officers at an Enrollment Center in the U.S. before final approval is granted.
Global EntryTM is available in the following cities: Atlanta (ATL), Boston (BOS), Chicago (ORD-O’Hare), Dallas (DFW), Detroit (DTW), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Honolulu (HNL), Houston (IAH-International), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Montreal (YUL), New York (JFK), Newark (EWR-Liberty), Orlando (MCO-International and SFB-Sandford), Ottawa (YOW), Philadelphia (PHL), Seattle (SEA), San Francisco (SFO), San Juan (SJU), Toronto (YYZ), Washington, D.C. (IAD-Dulles), and Vancouver (YVR). For detailed information, go to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection site, globalentry.gov. Countries participating in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP): Andorra Hungary New Zealand Australia Iceland Norway Austria Ireland Portugal Belgium Italy San Marino Brunei Japan Singapore Czech Republic Latvia Slovakia Denmark Liechtenstein Slovenia Estonia Lithuania South Korea Finland Luxembourg Spain France Malta Sweden Germany Monaco Switzerland Greece Netherlands United Kingdom
Volume 1 Issue 3 • 57
Routes
Silver airways is proud MileagePlus partner
NY
Jamestown Franklin Cleveland
Johnstown
Havre Wolf Point
Glasgow
MT Lewistown
OH
Sidney Glendive
Billings
Routes listed in fuchsia are included in the MileagePlus program. Routes listed in black do not participate in the MileagePlus program.
Dubois Altoona
Morgantown Clarksburg
Parkersburg Beckley
Miles City
Bradford
PA
Washington D.C.
WV Lewisburg
Staunton Shenandoah
MD
VA
Muscle Shoals Greenville Tupelo
Atlanta
Pensacola Meridian
Tallahassee Jacksonville
LaurelHattiesburg
AL
GA
MS
Gainesville
Orlando Tampa
Treasure Cay
Palm Beach Fort Myers
Fort Lauderdale
Freeport
Marsh Harbour
Bimini
N. Eleuthera Governor’s Harbour Key West
Great Exuma
58 • Volume 1 Issue 3
B E S T
F O R
I S L A N D
C A S T A W A Y S
All Butler The World’s First All-Butler Resort Sandals Emerald Bay is the world’s first All-Butler Resort, where every guest can enjoy the services of a personal butler who will take care of every want and need. From unpacking your suitcase to an impromptu picnic or dinner on your balcony, your butler is always on call — en-suite, by the pool or on the beach.
Global Gourmet
‘‘
The five restaurants that comprise the resort’s notable dining collection offer pairings of International cuisine with Beringer varietals corked exclusively for Sandals.
Caribbean’s
Best Golf Course
‘‘
TRAVEL & LEISURE GOLF MAGAZINE
®
Ocean Drive A GREG NORMAN-DESIGNED GOLFER’S PARADISE
The Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club is a Greg Norman-designed 7,200-yard, par 72, championship golf course that hugs a rocky coastline, with emerald fairways and prevailing trade winds edged by the sea.
Your exotic private escape I S W I T H I N E A S Y R E AC H Sandals premieres a new level of luxury with the introduction of the world’s first All-Butler, Oceanfront Resort—Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas. This magnificent, award-winning resort offers its guests pampered intimacy amidst the secluded islands of The Exumas. Guests will find oceanview, butlerserviced rooms, suites and villas filled with features to indulge body and spirit. Aficionados of world-class pleasure will discover a 29,000 sq. ft. Red Lane® Spa◆ featuring Dermalogica® products, a pro-grade tennis center and a Greg Normandesigned golf course.* If you seek out-of-the-ordinary luxury in the Out Islands, come experience your own exotic, private escape at Sandals Emerald Bay.
For more information call your Travel Agent or 1-800-SANDALS or 305-284-1300
sandals.com ◆
Spa services additional. *Green fees additional. Unique Vacations, Inc. is the worldwide representative for Sandals Resorts.
®
Emerald Bay Great Exuma, Bahamas
An Oceanfront Resort ROOMS, SUITES AND VILLAS APPOINTED TO PERFECTION Picture a sprawling island home, where the fine furnishings are inspired by the British West Indies, all the technologies are in place for your comfort, and windows overlook an endless sea of blue. This should give you the sense of what a typical suite is like at Sandals Emerald Bay. There are 183 rooms, suites and beachfront villas, and all come with the services of a butler trained to the exacting standards of the Guild of Professional English Butlers.