May/June 2021 by bedfordnewcanaanmag

M AY | J U N E 2 0 2 1

M A Y / J U N E

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BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

HARMONIOUS LIVING

BEDFORD VILLAGE | OFFERED AT $2,750,000 Wonderful, classic 4-bedroom family house sits nestled on 6.9 gorgeous, open acres on a great country road - a prime location just minutes to the village and transportation. Graciously-proportioned rooms with great family space that takes full advantage of views of the outdoors. Take the nearby BRLA trails down to the Beaver Dam River and walk for miles. Sparkling heated pool, 3-stall Barn, fenced paddocks and detached 2-car garage. Enjoy Bedford at its best!

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A NOTE FROM

@BEDFORDNEWCANAANMAG Since the beginning of communications there have been influencers. In all forms of print, TV, and all other media, there have always been the few who have influence over the many. Public relations, marketing and advertising people work to shape, package and publicize the message, often using spokespersons of every variety to deliver it - and, collectively, they make up the influence industry. And there have always been those who have some attributes, style or opinion that’s so highly valued by an audience, that they hold sway over mass behavior, and are able to specifically trigger commercial action and consumer purchase - think Oprah. The Internet offered, for the first time, an open platform for anyone to communicate directly, all the time, with a mass audience, and without material advertising expense, and those quick to pivot to any internet-based, or at least internet-involved strategy, thrived as Internet influencers - like Martha Stewart. Then came social media - including MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, blogs and, more recently, Tik Tok, but more than anything else…Instagram! …And there’s been such a seismic shift in the influence industry - indeed, the nature of influence - in the less-than-a-decade that Instagram has been around, that the term ‘influencer’ is now meant to specifically describe the cadre of Instagram personalities who have amassed large numbers of ‘influenced’ Instagram followers. The Kardashians, who reportedly get paid millions of dollars per post to wear, show or otherwise involve or endorse a product in order to influence the purchasing decisions of their hundreds of millions of followers, are probably the most famous of the new influencer breed. But there are plenty of Instagram influencers with hundreds of thousands and even millions of followers - and a whole lot of them have made an Insta-bundle! And many more have tens of thousands of followers and are making money or fulfilling some other purpose offering their more targeted influence, with their usually most identifiable and often most devoted followings, for commercial messaging.

Separate and apart from my position as President of Bedford & New Canaan Magazine, I, too, am an influencer. I run @nolagourmand, the top food Instagram in New Orleans. NOLA = New Orleans, and ‘gourmand’ because it sounds like gourmet to most people, but really means someone who enjoys food…a little too much! I started it as a Tulane undergrad, mostly to get food comped - and that worked! I stayed at Tulane for B-school and then worked at New Orleans-based Lucid (a tech company that’s become the largest player in the market research space) until starting as President of B&NC Mag a year ago, and I’ve worked hard (and eaten a lot too much) to ‘organically’ grow @nolagourmand one follower at a time...to 27k pretty loyal followers... and still growing. It’s mostly posts of delicious food in and around NOLA, and I include some curated sponsored content. I’ve also done some social media consulting, with a focus in the food industry. But it’s not because I’m an influencer that I recognized The Fat Jewish parking his canary yellow Harley in front of the Bedford Playhouse last summer. I recognized him because I am one of his TEN MILLION FOLLOWERS @thefatjewish! And have been since he got started about a decade ago. I was blown away by how friendly he was and more than a little surprised to find out that The Fat Jewish, whose real name is Joshua Ostrovsky, works out of an office on the Bedford Green, together with his business partner, who also lives in Bedford, David Oliver Cohen. With B&NC Mag always top-of-mind, I immediately posed doing a feature on The Fat Jewish...and this May/June Influencer-themed issue, with The Fat Jewish on the Cover, is the result. Our Fat Jewish interview with Josh and David reveals a lot about the men behind the influencer...and their incredible business journey beyond @thefatjewish, building BABE Rosé, and now starting a bank! And I’ve included features on seven other influencers, each with a local connection, in this May/June issue: New Canaanite, Sue DeChiara, @zhush, and B&NC Mag Homes Editor, an Instagram influencer with 150k followers; Armonk native, Ilana Dunn, The Face of Dating, @seeingotherpeople; Layla Lisiewski and Jessica Blouin, the founders of @newcanaanmoms, @northernwestchestermoms, and now the entire Local Mom’s Network; New New Canaanite, Stephanie Sandler, President of the market research and insights firm, IFOP North America; Bedford locals, Charlotte and Sophie Bickley, who have created a style empire with @yin2myyang, with 170k combined followers; New Canaanite, Diana Spier, who runs the interiors account @dianarosespier, with 24k followers; and, Brittany Hennessy, who recently moved to New Canaan, and quite literally wrote the book about influence, titled Influencer.

Although influence industry experts vary on precise numbers, influencers now take-in at least $10 Billion a year representing a whopping bite out of the traditional media budget! And while the followers have up until now been mostly Millenial and Gen Z, there are over a billion people currently using Instagram! And it’s reported that older users - and particularly during Covid - are Insta-dopting it (and abandoning Facebook). As Susan Magrino, the powerhouse CEO at the helm of Magrino PR, a giant in the influencer industry for almost thirty years, puts it in the feature on her we’ve included in this issue, “You just can’t compete with the reach. You have to make social media a part of every program and you almost always want to involve Instagram and influencers who can move huge audiences.” Influencer media is legitimately criticized for being entirely superficial - and that’s probably fair. The nature of the Instagram post does not allow time for anything detailed - it’s like a whole media with severe ADHD. Posts have to be instantly appealing and visually stimulating; most sound involves exclamation rather than explanation. The thing being ‘sponsored’ is not necessarily qualified by, or even presented as the focus of the post (eg. the influencer might just be wearing a brand of jeans in a post from a nightclub). Influencers are more about image, like the Marlboro Man, than lots of words, like Tony Robbins. The very metric used to measure influencer media is impressions - and Instagram does not release enough of the key analytics on influencer impressions to fully illustrate how, why or whether all the influencer impressions have an effect. And, generally speaking, the influencer media has thus far been consumed with consumerism, where the power of being able to get a message out to a massive number of people tuned into an Instagram can be put to use for good causes.

It’s simply amazing that so many interesting influencers are Bedford & New Canaan Magazine locals, and I hope you enjoy reading about them as much as we did meeting them!

To be sure, I believe the written word and visual image are the most effective tools for delivering a message. Substance matters. Readers spend more time with, and then thinking about, print messages. Because B&NC Mag readers spend an average of an hour with each issue, the magazine is a particularly effective communications vehicle.

Truly yours, CASEY KAPLAN

President 10

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

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A NOTE FROM

It’s simply amazing that so many interesting influencers are Bedford & New Canaan Magazine locals, and I hope you enjoy reading about them as much as we did meeting them!

Truly yours, CASEY KAPLAN

President 10

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

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BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

M AY / J U N E I N F LU E N C E R I S S U E

CONTE N TS

p.21

B&NC Mag Publisher, Michael Kaplan, explains why he’s getting (back) into biking, and why he’s chosen a custom fit, titanium frame, custom designed SAGE bicycle to take the ride.

CLASSICALLY INFLUENTIAL: SUSAN MAGRINO DUNNING

p.126 p.122

I’M GETTING (BACK) INTO BIKING AND…

I’M GETTING A SAGE! WHERE TO GET FIT

B&NC MAG follows @the_laura_young, a lifestyle Instagram with 7.4K followers (and a fitness focus), around the top spots to work out in our area.

Susan Magrino Dunning runs MAGRINO PR, her powerhouse public relations firm, is Martha Stewart’s go-to PR person, and has a bevy of impressive clients in several lifestyle divisions. We sat down for a chat about her impressive career, and got inside her beautiful New Canaan home and very impressive closet.

p .4 7

ZEN & THE ART OF BEING A ROCKSTAR: MICHAEL SABATH

For the Instagram-less, who have no idea who The Fat Jewish is, or that his phenomena even exists… He’s got over TEN MILLION FOLLOWERS. He recently sold his Rosé company, Babe, to Anheuser Busch… and he’s about to open a bank out of his office on the Bedford Green!

h s i w e J t The Fa

On a recent visit home from L.A., Katonah’s musical prodigy, Michael Sabath, son of Bruce Sabath (previously featured in Bedford Magazine) and Karen Sabath (B&NC Mag’s Green Editor), shares some thoughts with B&NC Mag’s Arts & Culture Editor, Drew Bordeaux.

p . 1 1 5 LOOK THE PART Influencers can offer a window into a seemingly perfect life and appearance. But it’s not without effort! B&NC Mag polled a bevy of influencers to find out what tips, tricks, and treatments they’re using to get ‘the look’ - and confirmed that there’s no secret: the perfect smile, skin, hair, wardrobe, and even a flat stomach...are all available locally!

WEDDINGS & EVENTS Jewel Box Weddings p. 32 Becoming Mr. & Mrs. Burnham p. 34

p.58 BECOMING BEDFORD’S BODACIOUS BANKER

p.136

POSITIVE INFLUENCE: SHERI WEST & LIVEGIRL

Founded in 2014, LiveGirl, Inc. is a Connecticut-based nonprofit organization that builds confident, inclusive leaders. LiveGirl’s mission is to prepare the next generation of diverse, brave female leaders with the skills, community, and connections so that ALL girls may thrive and make a positive impact on the world. 12

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Bedford Vows: The Willits p. 36 Time to Vacci-brate: Dan Pearson & Lakeside Productions p. 40

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M AY / J U N E I N F LU E N C E R I S S U E

CONTE N TS

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B&NC Mag Publisher, Michael Kaplan, explains why he’s getting (back) into biking, and why he’s chosen a custom fit, titanium frame, custom designed SAGE bicycle to take the ride.

CLASSICALLY INFLUENTIAL: SUSAN MAGRINO DUNNING

p.126 p.122

I’M GETTING (BACK) INTO BIKING AND…

I’M GETTING A SAGE! WHERE TO GET FIT

B&NC MAG follows @the_laura_young, a lifestyle Instagram with 7.4K followers (and a fitness focus), around the top spots to work out in our area.

p .4 7

ZEN & THE ART OF BEING A ROCKSTAR: MICHAEL SABATH

h s i w e J t The Fa

WEDDINGS & EVENTS Jewel Box Weddings p. 32 Becoming Mr. & Mrs. Burnham p. 34

p.58 BECOMING BEDFORD’S BODACIOUS BANKER

p.136

POSITIVE INFLUENCE: SHERI WEST & LIVEGIRL

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

Bedford Vows: The Willits p. 36 Time to Vacci-brate: Dan Pearson & Lakeside Productions p. 40

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THE ZHUSH: SUE DECHIARA

With 150k Instagram followers, 57k Pinterest followers (@sued), and 15,000 - 20,000 weekly active readers on her website (thezhush.com), Sue DeChiara is a significant influencer. The @zhush followers are a focused and highly desirable affluent target audience concentrated in the homes space.

7 9.

101.

IN TOWN INFLUENCE:

LAYLA LISIEWSKI & JESSICA BLOUIN Layla and Jessica were local moms that realized the need for a truly local resource to aggregate research and information that they could trust… so they built it together. Beginning in our region (where both moms reside), they started @newcanaanmoms and @northernwestchestermoms (amongst many others), and have now grown into @thelocalmomsnetwork.

91.

THE FACE OF DATING: ILANA DUNN

After having run the Hinge (dating app) social media for over three years, Ilana recently moved on to start her own podcast on dating in the modern-era. Seeing Other People has thousands of weekly listeners, its Instagram account boasts almost 10k followers, and Ilana herself has an impressive following of 9.6k, @ilana.dunn.

1 0 7. THE STYLE SISTERS: INFLUENTIAL INSIGHTS: STEPHANIE SANDLER

After a 15+ year career at Chanel, creating and leading the US Consumer Insights Division, Stephanie has taken on the role of President of IFOP North America. Now more than ever, her focus is putting science behind spending… and determining where influence truly lies.

CHARLOTTE & SOPHIE BICKLEY

Having found initial success in the early days of Instagram, the Bickley sisters decided to give it their all - and follow their passion for fashion… on their shared account they tout 106k followers, @yin2myyang, and each sister has an impressive following of their own, Charlotte with 45k on @chbickley, and Sophie with 20k on @sophbicks.

INTERIOR INFLUENCE:

INFLUENCING THE INFLUENCERS:

With her first home in Bedford, and now a new home in New Canaan, as her blank slate, Diana has painted a pretty beautiful picture on @dianarosespier - and it’s all about home! With a focus on interiors, decor ideas, and great finds, her following has grown to over 24k.

As the business of being an influencer has grown into an industry, early experts have emerged to explain and educate - the influencers and the influenced. Brittany wrote the book on influence, quite literally: Influencer, and boasts more than 18k followers of her own @mrsbrittanyhennessy.

DIANA SPIER

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BRITTANY HENNESSY

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THE ZHUSH: SUE DECHIARA

7 9.

101.

IN TOWN INFLUENCE:

91.

THE FACE OF DATING: ILANA DUNN

1 0 7. THE STYLE SISTERS: INFLUENTIAL INSIGHTS: STEPHANIE SANDLER

CHARLOTTE & SOPHIE BICKLEY

INTERIOR INFLUENCE:

INFLUENCING THE INFLUENCERS:

DIANA SPIER

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BRITTANY HENNESSY

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For Further Information Contact: E. Wayne Nordberg, Co-Chairman/Co-CIO . 212.364.1845 Alan L. Bazaar, Co-Chairman, CEO, & Partner . 212.364.1841 16

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Philip E. Richter, Co-Chairman, President, & Partner . 212.364.1848 Andrew Norris, Co-CIO . 212.364.1839

152 Bedford Road, Second Floor Katonah, NY 10536 M A Y / J U N E

2 0 2 1

email: info@hbwmllc.com www.hollowbrookllc.com

For Further Information Contact: E. Wayne Nordberg, Co-Chairman/Co-CIO . 212.364.1845 Alan L. Bazaar, Co-Chairman, CEO, & Partner . 212.364.1841 16

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

Philip E. Richter, Co-Chairman, President, & Partner . 212.364.1848 Andrew Norris, Co-CIO . 212.364.1839

152 Bedford Road, Second Floor Katonah, NY 10536 M A Y / J U N E

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email: info@hbwmllc.com www.hollowbrookllc.com

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Susan Magrino Dunning

CLASSICALLY Influential

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Julia Dags

BY Casey Kaplan

HAIR & MAKEUP BY Jean Neubohn

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BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

Susan Magrino Dunning

CLASSICALLY Influential

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Julia Dags

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CLASSICALLY INFLUENTIAL

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CLASSICALLY

Influential

Susan Magrino Dunning runs MAGRINO PR, her powerhouse public relations firm, with about fifty trusted and loyal staff, from corporate offices on Park Avenue South. She’s been Martha Stewart’s go-to public relations person since Martha’s second cookbook back in 1983, and has a bevy of impressive clients in lifestyle divisions including luxury consumer goods, travel, real estate, food and beverage, and special events. To name just a few, MAGRINO represents: Cuisinart, California Closets, Sur la Table, Drew Barrymore’s brands, Scout Bags, and Fortnum & Mason; Casa de Campo Resort, The Fontainebleau in Miami, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, and other hotels; Moet Hennessy USA and Whispering Angel, and many other fine wines and spirits, including Bruno Mars’ SelvaRey rum; Christie’s International Real Estate; the Kips Bay Show House, Literacy Partners, the Alzheimer’s Association, the James Beard Foundation Awards, and Grace Farms Foods, and; MAGRINO even handles public relations for The New York Public Library! And they’ve started to venture into the CBD space with Canopy Growth products.

Committed to owning her own business before hitting the age of 30, Magrino took a $10,000 loan from her father, a successful Wall Street lawyer turned successful commodities trader, got her sister Allyn to join her, and started the Susan Magrino Agency - now simply called MAGRINO PR (with Susan as CEO and Allyn as President). “I had Martha, who gave me the plain-and-simple Martha-like advice about naming my business to ‘just call it your name’, and then we signed Charlie Rose, and Frederick Fekkai, and Chris Blackwell, and I was quickly pretty busy. I paid that loan back in less than six months! And the business has grown pretty steadily ever since; with about three-quarters of all our new business coming from referrals! We will be celebrating thirty years in business in 2022, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we can accomplish for our clients and the great people we have on staff making it happen! We continue to have amazing momentum in both PR and digital, and we are actively recruiting for a number of positions.”

Susan was ‘leaning in’ before Sheryl Sandberg got out of college, and has been a major influencer since long before influencers were even a thing. Susan shattered the glass ceiling of the previously male-dominated world of public relations, and she’s been the model of a powerful, positive, and successful business woman ever since. ...And Susan is a New Canaanite! Magrino grew up and went to public school in West Orange, New Jersey, then went to Skidmore College, focusing on English and Art History. As Magrino recalls, “It was the beginning of the boom-boom 80’s, junk bonds were the new thing and the stock market was going wild, and there was a sense - or at least I had a sense that a lot of the old constraints were off, and that you could do bold things and achieve great success. I’ve always been a big believer that you have to be yourself fully, and apply yourself fully...and you can make anything happen. I recognized that just about everything I would do in business would be a first-woman-this or firstfemale-that milepost, and that my generation of young women would be defining the new post-Gloria Steinem workplace, but I really have always just thrown myself into it - without really thinking about being a woman doing it.” Magrino landed a job at Crown Publishing, and spent nearly a decade there, learning the ins and outs of the public relations trade. “It was really a special time. Nancy Kahan at Crown was a true leader, and gave me tremendous responsibility right out of the gate. One of my first assignments, in 1986, was running the national book tour for Patti Davis’ not-too-flattering portrait of her parents, the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, and First Lady Nancy Reagan. Patti had gone rogue and had no secret service protection, and we were swamped at every stop by eager reporters and an angry mob. I learned early on that a lot of the business of public relations was ultimately going to be based on the relationships I had to build and earn with book editors, the media, news rooms, and, well, just about everybody involved in getting out your message.”

“It’s all about knowing the right opportunity when you see it, and never looking back. I came to work interested and able. I had a real drive and a need to prove my independence. And I was all-in. But what I realized early on was to recognize the enormous opportunity I had at Crown, and then I did everything I could to make the most of it. I built relationships. And, most important amongst them, Martha, who has been my friend, supporter, mentor, ‘sister’ ...and client, since I started working on her very first cookbook tours at Crown.”

Magrino reflects,

Magrino with Martha Stewart

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Magrino with her sister Allyn

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Magrino reflects,

Magrino with Martha Stewart

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Magrino with her sister Allyn

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Over the years, Magrino has keenly navigated the onset of the internet and the digital age of communications, and stayed at the forefront of social media and influencer marketing. She says, “I’ve always challenged myself to be a forward thinker. You just can’t compete with the reach. You have to make social media a part of every program and you almost always want to involve Instagram and influencers who can move huge audiences.” But, Magrino is also mindful that, “Ultimately, it’s really more about the message than the media. Clients have to appear real, and that’s all about credibility, trust and integrity. We assess each client’s objectives and study the long and short-term messaging that will get them there. We design an integrated media and communications plan, and we have the know-how, technology and relationships to get that message broadcast to the intended audience. It’s a tough business, there’s a lot of blocking and tackling, and yet there’s a bespoke nature to the communications machine. It takes a team and, I believe, a team incentivized with the opportunity of responsibility - like I was back at Crown. I love the process of mentoring all my people. I’m so happy when we can promote someone who starts as an assistant to move up through the ranks, or when someone who has grown up with us gets a desired position elsewhere or goes out on their own. I think it’s critical in business to quickly recognize your strengths and weaknesses, and build a team designed to help. My team at MAGRINO is the best in the business.” But beyond MAGRINO’s methods and practices, Susan’s effectiveness is rooted in an almost unique ability to establish and stay on message. Susan knows how to set the narrative, avoid distraction, and deliver. It requires experience, confidence, perspective, preparation, patience, knowing the reaction before it comes, and, sometimes, self-sacrifice. As Instagram becomes more and more a vehicle for short blasts by and about people and products, Magrino remains the kind of traditional, no-nonsense, unflappable, one-stop-shop influencer, who never stops having your back, can best bring about epic long-term results, and who you want in your corner when the going gets tough. On the personal side, Susan’s singular focus on business may have played a role in her waiting until 2004 to get married - to James Dunning Jr., a former investment banker and media CEO, and a youth focused philanthropist. James is a longtime New Canaanite and a long-time benefactor of the New Canaan public schools and of St. Luke’s, and a supporter of their athletic programs. James has two sons from a previous marriage, who were raised in New Canaan and attended the New Canaan Country School and St.Luke’s, before heading off to boarding school. (And, his son, James III, now lives in New Canaan, with his wife Katie and their 3 children.)

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Susan and James have an apartment in New York City and homes in Jupiter, FL and Orient, Long Island, but spend as much time as they can at their home base in New Canaan. The New Canaan home is designed in a comfortable country style, with a pool and plenty of spaces for entertaining. Susan’s favorite space in the house is the sunroom off of her kitchen - that gives the feeling of being outside, while still being able to enjoy a supremely plush sofa. The entire house is designed for pleasure - open and airy, with one room flowing to the next, and the entire home being a grand entertaining space, perfect for the holidays or for time alone. The interior is at once perfect without appearing to be too decorated, and that mark of a great decorator is the work of New Canaan based Krista Fox Interiors. Every aspect of every room has been completely thought out and carefully designed and there’s an abundance of cozy places to sit - with friends or a good book. The house is minimal, clean and sleek, but also filled with momentos, prized items (each with their own story), and photos.

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the bed, chaise lounges, an over-the-top marble and bathroom suite with Waterworks fittings, and an even-more-over-the-top closet. “Jim just didn’t have any space before, so we decided to do an addition onto the house to create my dream closet that I had always wanted - although, thinking about it now, Jim is still not getting much space!”, Susan explained. She’s a fashionista to say the least; although it’s clear that Susan values relationships far more than things, she has quite the impressive collection of couture and an abundance of clothes for any occasion or season.

Susan calls the dream closet, the ‘closet of all closets’ and her ‘fashion laboratory’. “I wanted everything to be open. If I can’t see it, I don’t know what I have and just don’t wear it. There are no bulky doors, I have closet sticks so I can easily move things around, and I get to look at all of these amazing pieces that each bring me joy. I worked with California Closets to customize every aspect of the space; they have such knowledgeable professionals and they customize everything and make it fit your needs and your wardrobe. Working with them was a joy, and all their work turned-out to be beyond my expectations. From the vintage Heywood Wakefield vanity painted a high gloss white, to the showcase hanging racks, the cupboards, and of course, the massive island filled with drawers for undergarments, casual clothes and jewelry - I love every inch of the room.” The closet is clearly one of Susan’s happy places, and every item in the closet has a story of its own just like the momentos around the rest of the house - from the Gucci skirt suit that Susan was eyeing at Roundabout in Greenwich for months, to the linen dress that she got on vacation in Italy with Jim, or the tweed Chanel coat that she says was her first major splurge piece after starting MAGRINO - Susan lights up talking about every piece. In fact, Susan is known for her fabulous clothes and impeccable looks. Her personal Instagram @susanmagrino7 boasts a following of almost 8k, where she regularly posts photos of her daily outfits - always styled to the nines from head to toe.

Susan pulled-out one such item and reminisced, “I went to a book party for Slim Aarons at Kaufmann de Suisse on Madison Avenue. I was invited by Sirio Maccioni, the famous restaurateur of Le Cirque, and I had purchased this vintage first edition copy of A Wonderful Time - Slim Aarons’ very first photobook after becoming well known as the photographer for Town & Country. His tagline was: attractive people, doing attractive things, in attractive places. I brought the book to the party and Slim signed it for me, and it’s one of the things that I really treasure.” “Although we spent many months during Covid here, this home was intended, when we built it, to be a weekend getaway and a place of relaxation outside of the City. So we wanted the master suite to reflect that; and we completely reimagined the space to be luxurious and retreat-like.” And, it is indeed like something you’d find at the most luxurious Parisian hotel; an overly plush carpet, custom bedding, a travertine stone fireplace across from

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Susan and James are members of St. Marks Church, and Susan is a member of the local Hannah Benedict Carter Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Susan sits on the Advisory Board of the Glass House, and is active in philanthropies supporting art, design and food. Her sister, Allyn Magrino Holmberg, also lives in New Canaan, and sits on the New Canaan Tourism & Economic Development Advisory Committee, and Susan’s niece and nephew went to the New Canaan public schools. Susan’s mother, Mary Cross, lives in New Canaan, too. Susan Magrino is, indeed, a local!

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And, ironically, three of Susan’s top-four most admired people in business are also locals! Of course there’s Martha Stewart, about whom Susan declares, “Very few people get to grow up in business with a mentor like Martha. She’s been in my corner 30+ years and counting, and I’m eternally grateful for her friendship and support.” Then there’s Ralph Lauren, because, Susan says, “No one is more clear and disciplined in their vision than Ralph, and it’s been an honor over the years to have worked with him and his family.” And Philip Johnson, who Susan admits to admiring from across the dining room at the Four Seasons Restaurant, when she took her power seat at her power table and he took his, back in the day when lunch in the iconic dining room was the citadel of big movers and big moves in the business world. “Johnson achieved incredible success in business, and was lucky to live long enough to see most of his designs and projects realized. He changed our view of architecture and was the original modernist and minimalist. Although, I don’t think I could ever have the discipline to live in The Glass House! ...And I bought my table and chair from the Four Seasons at the auction when the restaurant closed, and now use it for my own power lunches and as my desk - where it sits in my office in New Canaan!” The only out-of-towner in Susan’s group of four most admired businesspeople would be Sacha Lichine, the Creator of Chateau d’Esclans and Whispering Angel Rose, who Susan admires for singularly redefining the meaning of rose wine - with the validation of LVMH acquiring a majority stake. Magrino’s table from the Four Seasons

Though she’s nowhere near the end of her career, and in fact probably just hitting her stride as MAGRINO prepares to celebrate its 30th Anniversary, Magrino has herself reached a point of accomplishment which warrants comment. In 2019, Susan was honored by New York Women in Communications with their prestigious Matrix Award, recognizing women in the media in support of their mission of female empowerment. More recently, Squawk Box on CNBC dubbed Magrino, the ‘Queen of Public Relations’. And it’s important, and right, to take note of the barriers Magrino has broken as a female, her female perspective of the business community, the world’s view of her as a woman in business, particularly useful lessons particular to being a woman in business that she may wish to impart, and the great things Susan is doing to pay it forward with a focus on things she does for women. Magrino is indeed a vanguard of female corporate chiefs.

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But as and when Magrino’s real measure is taken, it may be that she has so smartly and successfully performed, as to transcend being judged as a business woman versus a business man, and instead become one of the first of a newest generation of women who’ve come to be seen only as a business person, and evaluated absent gender-based criteria. And it’s interesting that Susan’s champion, Martha Stewart, would be one of the other premier women who might be similarly viewed. By any and all standards...it should and must be simply said that Magrino is a giant, a titan, on top of her game, and does it all with confidence and grace. 28

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CHILDHOOD HUNGER DOESN’T STOP

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As an example, Hue recently designed a Gatsby-themed micro-wedding, held at the enchanting Abbey Inn and Spa, along the Hudson River in Westchester, NY. The magnificence of the venue is the very essence of turn-of-the-century opulence, and the couple wanted to reflect the highsociety charm of the roaring ‘20s. The bride wore a vintage-inspired ebony and ecru sequined gown and carried a bouquet of burgundy heart garden roses, crimson calla lilies, and pale pink peonies, offset by exotic blooms, eucalyptus, curly willow, and peacock feathers. That floral design was repeated on the sumptuous tablescape, which was laid out on top of an ivory crushed-velvet linen, smothered in a blanket of moss and farm-fresh berries, with antiquarian leather-bound copies of The Great Gatsby, and extra-long white taper candles in a vintage candelabra. The dark chocolate bride and groom’s cakes were positioned atop antique enamel clock faces, a nod to time being a precious commodity and how, with time, what’s old often becomes new once again.

COVID CUTS THE COUNT

Covid has required that all events are limited in size and held with social distancing guidelines. Weddings have been limited, at different times and in different places during the pandemic, to 100, or 50, or even those in a ‘bubble’. Couples with existing wedding plans have scrambled to adjust, and tales of cancelling wedding invitations sent to hundreds of guests - who are, by definition, the couples’ families and most valued friends are the norm. Amidst ongoing Covid restrictions, and continued uncertainty with when things will change, or if it will ever ‘go back’ to normal...it’s difficult to plan for something big! Even before Covid, the trend was to more intimate affairs. Partly because of the sheer expense of weddings, and probably also in part to a growing social decorum amongst those who can afford anything surrounding the propriety of the kind of lavish spending that’s involved. Wedding after wedding, couples are reporting to B&NC Mag that they’re thrilled with the smaller ceremonies and celebrations that they’ve managed to pull off during Covid. Though the fairy tail of a wedding like Princess Diana’s is deeply embedded in the nuptial psyche, the reality is that getting married is really one of the most important, personal and emotional days of life, and it may be best shared with only the best and closest of family and friends. Everyone included will feel the day was that much more special. Anyone excluded will or should understand the new normal, is probably themselves at least a little bit relieved not to have to attend, and can be better served with marital celebrations arranged to fit the association (eg. a trip to Austin to visit the group of relatives there; a tasteful dinner party for the work associates that were going to get invited to the big wedding and not really fit-in, or; a raucous weekend with all the friends from college). At least some of the people who were going to be invited to the big wedding will no longer be friends ten or twenty years later anyway. And every couple will later treasure the first home they were able to purchase sooner, the vacation house they get ahead of schedule, or going on the trip they always dreamed of, with the nest egg they save cutting things down to size.

The smaller wedding is a positive opportunity! René Hue, the founder and owner of Murmuration Ltd. of Brookfield, CT, calls the new ideal a ‘Jewel Box’ event, and says, “You can have a small footprint and still be extravagantly luxurious. It’s a chance to have more intimacy and really get to spend at least a bit of time with each of the special people invited. To make it most meaningful, I think each event should include a narrative unique or special to the couple, that weaves through the entire occasion. A storyline that reflects the couple’s personality or interests makes for warm and lasting memories.” Rene has been designing, planning, and managing bespoke weddings and events for over a quarter century, and adds, “Smaller weddings allow couples to concentrate funds on sometimes overlooked parts of the wedding, such as elaborate tablescapes, luxurious furnished vignettes, decadent décor, and even diverting activities and gifts for guests… all of which, again, help tell the couple’s story.”

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“From the moment Martha and her mom walked through the door, I knew I wanted her as an ALSW bride. Equal parts sweet and beautiful, we connected over a mutual love of the world of bridal and about her upcoming wedding. We styled her gorgeous Suzanne Neville gown with a matching lace topper, and think she looked absolutely stunning on her wedding day.”

Wedding

Martha Lee Civitillo and David Hunter Burnham were married in a beautiful ceremony at the Asylum Hill Congregational Church on September 19, 2020.

-Ashley Krauss (A Little Something White)

Martha and Dave met in August of 2016 when they were set up by a mutual friend. Martha tells the adorable story, saying, “ I almost cancelled, but Dave somehow convinced me to at least stop by and meet him at Stamford’s Alive at 5 concert series, where Cee Lo Green was supposed to be performing. A horrific rainstorm, with trees down in the road and electricity going out, made driving to Stamford pretty dangerous, and then when we met there, the concert was cancelled. Apparently, Mother Nature didn’t get the memo that we were meeting the future love of our lives that night! Although the date seemed doomed, we found relief from the storm in a nearby bar and talked, drank and danced the night away. And we discovered our mutual interests in travel, summering on Fishers Island, sailing, and spending winters skiing at Stratton. And the rest, as they say, is history.”

Then Covid got in the way of the couple’s plan for their big June wedding party at the Hartford Golf Club. ...And that’s when the about-to-be Burnhams came up with a novel solution...As Martha recalls, “Connecticut issued Covid restrictions that made it impossible to have more than 100 people in one place. We had about 250 guests who originally RSVPed ‘yes’, and although that was going to shrink a bit with some folks not being able to attend, we were still looking at over 150 people - and we wanted to celebrate with all of them! So...instead of just one party…we had two! We had two different seatings under a beautiful tent at The Club. I had memories of playing golf and tennis there with my Dad, and it’s just four doors away from the house I grew up in… so there were many wonderful memories for me there - and it was the perfect place to make some new ones. We had a memorable first-dance - and then a memorable second first-dance, two rounds of speeches - with tears both times, and two dinners and two parties - and what seemed like ten times the fun. Having two wedding parties made it possible for us to celebrate safely with everyone we love!”

After dating for more than two years, Dave had secretly been designing a custom ring with a family diamond from his GreatAunt Hazel. He had asked Martha’s Father and Mother for their blessing at Christmas, which, of course, they gave with happy tears of joy. Dave proposed on a beautiful weekend, with both the Civitillo and Burnham families present, in the rose garden at Martha’s parents’ home. “It was so incredible to be able to celebrate with both of our families right there, cheering and popping champagne!” Dave said. 34

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Martha’s father, Bill, passed away in January 2019, so Marth’s brother, Wiggs (William), walked her down the aisle, and the couple had multiple elements to honor Bill throughout the event, including that two of Martha’s friends wore neckties from Bill’s collection, and that a layer of Bill’s favorite flavor of ice cream was added to both of the wedding cakes. Martha and Bill are living in New Canaan and loving married life.

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Martha Lee Civitillo and David Hunter Burnham were married in a beautiful ceremony at the Asylum Hill Congregational Church on September 19, 2020.

-Ashley Krauss (A Little Something White)

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LIZ & JD

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WILLITS

The couple were originally planning an April 2022 wedding, to be held at the Duke Chapel. Liz went to Duke and JD went to nearby and rival North Carolina Chapel Hill - but the couple did not meet then. They met in Boston in 2016. Each had moved there after graduating from college, and on Liz’s first night in town, she went out with her sister, Lindsay, who also lived in Boston, to what Liz describes as “a gross dive bar,” called The Red Hat. JD was there... the two sparked...and they began dating. Two years later, Liz got into the Business School at Duke, and the couple were long-distanced...but JD got into the Business School at UNC a year later...and the couple were reunited in North Carolina - although again at rival schools. ...As Covid continued, the couple realized their 200+ person plan for the Duke Chapel was, at best, a distant possibility and, having been together for over four years, they decided they just didn’t want to wait anymore.

LIZ & JD WILLITS

Liz grew up in Bedford in a big white house just off the Bedford Green, went to school at Rippowam Cisqua, and her family are members at Bedford Golf & Tennis. So, on a weekend trip to Bedford in the Fall of 2020, about six months after they were engaged, the couple decided to change their plans and put together a much smaller, family-only wedding at the Walker’s family congregation, St Matthew’s Church. “I came up to Bedford and my mom and I basically planned the entire thing in the course of a weekend!” Liz recalls with a smile.

Elizabeth (Liz) and Jefferson Dillard (JD) Willits became Mr. & Mrs. Willits on October 17, 2020. The ceremony was held at the St. Matthew’s Chapel in the Woods, a romantic spot with wooden benches that fits about 30 people comfortably, followed by a reception at GlenArbor, and their wedding night at the Roger Sherman Inn. “We were just so thrilled to get to celebrate with our families. It was a perfect weekend in my hometown, and we’re just so happy to be married,” Liz says glowingly. The couple were engaged on March 11, 2020. Covid cut-in on JD’s plan to propose to Liz in Paris, surprising her on her way back home from a trip she was on to London for her MBA. Calling a pretty cool audible, JD took Liz to Sea Island, where JD’s family spends a lot of time, and JD popped the question - and got the right answer - on a beautiful day at the beach.

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Summing up the whole experience, Liz remarks, “Marrying JD is a dream come true and our wedding was like in a fairy tale. Ironically, I feel like Covid changed our experience for the better. I wanted the big affair - and will still celebrate with each and every one of the friends we had on our 200-person invitation list - but the more intimate gathering we had was truly special. We were thrilled with every aspect of our wedding day, and I’m tickled that Bedford & New Canaan Magazine is featuring me as a ‘Bedford Bride’.”

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LIZ & JD

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LIZ & JD WILLITS

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Celebrate your lifecycle events on our beautiful grounds or in our majestic Sanctuary...

TIME FOR A

VACCI-BRATION! He looks like every soccer dad and he’s probably one of the most unassuming, soft-spoken, even demure, guys around; but make no mistake, Dan Pearson is the life of the party! Always has been - and when people start partying again always will be! Chances are, you’ve partied with him - and don’t even realize it! ...Remember the affair you went to, before Covid, when everyone got up to dance and the whole production seemed so perfect, and how the music was just right, with a sweet mix of all kinds of your favorites...that’s when you partied with Dan. ...And you’ve checked the pictures and you still don’t recognize him!?... To explain...until Covid hit, Dan’s Lakeside Productions was supplying the DJ or live music, the MC, lighting, magicians and other diversionary activities, and everything else necessary for about 50 affairs a year, mostly local, including all varieties of bar mitzvahs, sweet-sixteens, weddings, fundraisers, and other celebrations

...Now you remember him!

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Gabe Palacio, at Caramoor

WEDDINGS & EVENTS

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He got started as a kid growing-up in Island Park, Long Island. Dan recalls, “When I was only 12, a friend of mine who had a pair of Technics turntables in his house turned me on to the idea of mixing. I remember going there for hours after school every day and learning how to mix and blend all kinds of music. We’d pretend we were hosting and throwing parties in his parent’s basement. Eventually, we managed to convince a dad in the neighborhood to have us DJ his daughter’s sweet-sixteen. It wasn’t anything big, but it was a paid gig and the referrals we got from it launched our first business. I was really into music, I really liked the feeling of making a party move, and having a pretty entrepreneurial way to make some cash was pretty cool. We started to get a lot of work, and actually built one of the biggest party businesses on Long Island. When I started at Adelphi and wanted to focus on school, we sold the business to an even bigger company - for enough to cover my own partying for a while! And I still DJed for that acquirer, and did some work in local bars and restaurants, while I was in college.” While at Adelphi, Dan got an internship doing overnights at the radio station WLIR on Long Island, and was as enthralled with the business of spinning discs on the airwaves as he had been with spinning discs at private parties. That led to another internship, at Columbia Records, where Dan got an introduction to the label side of the business. “I landed a full-time job at Columbia in the Radio Promotion Department before I even got out of college. It was super-exciting! Columbia was the big time! I liked doing the business of radio promotion. It’s a really special feeling when you’re driving around in a city somewhere on a trip to call on the radio stations in that area, and you hear the tune you’re promoting playing on the radio. And then maybe even a second and third time later in the same day. You know that was you - and that you’re really doing the job for the talent you’re representing. And radio is what makes music famous, and is still one of the quickest ways to break a band - you can really make a difference in the artist’s life and career. After Columbia, I worked for Universal/Motown, and Virgin, and had a job at MTV for a while where I worked on the VMA’s. Then I landed a position with a hip hop label called TVT Records, my first independent label, and loved being able to work so directly with the artists. I was part of a small team that was able to cross some of Pitbull’s early music into the mainstream and was totally sold on the independent experience. I moved to Glassnote Records, where I was able to break their first multi-platinum artist, SecondHand Serenade. I drove around the Country for two years, visiting just about every radio station, getting their hit Fall For You played. Then I joined the team Steve Greenberg put together at S-Curve, and had success with artists like Andy Grammer, We The Kings, Duran Duran, and others. Somewhere along the way, I formed Lakeside Management Group and Lakeside Promotion, and I’ve been able to apply the same strategies and work ethic developing our roster of artists.” “‘In 2014, with Lakeside Productions, I got back into the party production business as my primary focus.” Pearson explains. “The whole music production business is really complementary to my promotion and management business; I have a lot of top artists I can call on to perform at parties if people want to do something really fabulous - like when we had Andy Grammer perform at Mario Lopez’ wedding, or Paul Loren perform at J Lo’s birthday gala in Las Vegas. With my background, having been involved in the music promotion and record business, and having DJed at M A Y / J U of N E events, 2 0 2 1 thousands I have a really deep understanding of how and what music brings a party alive.”

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

TIME FOR A

...Now you remember him!

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Gabe Palacio, at Caramoor

WEDDINGS & EVENTS

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BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

#1 HOULIHAN LAWRENCE

AGENT IN ARMONK

#16 OF ALL AGENTS COUNTYWIDE FOR SELLERS, it is selling your home for the highest price in a timely matter with

targeted marketing based on our knowledge of Where Buyers Come From.

The good news, now, for

FOR BUYERS, it is putting my local resources and market expertise to work for you.

Pearson and Lakeside

LOOKING TO CAPITALIZE ON A STRONG SELLERS’ MARKET ? NOW IS THE TIME.

Productions, is that people

A M Y S I N G E R Real Estate Salesperson

are beginning to party again. It will be dependent on what happens with the virus, and restricted by new and evolving rules for social distancing, but Pearson notes that the Covid drought appears to be coming to an end. “We’re finally starting to get events on the calendar. We’ve got a bunch of parties planned for this Summer for people who want to make sure they can have their celebration while it’s OK - even with a limit of 50 or a 100. And then people who’ve accepted that a smaller event is now the new normal, and who are ready to get their event planned now for next year - when there’ll be huge pent-up demand for every place you can hold an event. Whatever happens, we’re ready. We’re the best in the business and we’re reasonably priced. We can work with social distancing and still put on great events. And we’ve spent a lot of time during Covid picking some great new locations, inside and outdoors, and thinking about how to do the best post-Covid parties in all kinds of interesting places, and in all the new configurations people will be partying. Caramoor is a great example. I’d love to produce an event under the tent or in their fabulous gardens.”

M 914.772.3526 | ASinger@houlihanlawrence.com amysingerhomes.com Source: OKMLS 1/1/20-12/31/20, total dollar volume of single family homes sold by Houlihan Lawrence agent, Byram Hills school district, OKMLS, total dollar volume sold, by agent, Westchester County.

An emphasis on outdoor education has never been more important. Learn how we are using Bedford as the backdrop for our curriculum. Schedule a virtual tour with our Admissions team by calling 914-244-1296 or emailing admissions@rcsny.org.

Dan lives in Katonah, with his wife, Candace, and their three young kids, and admits, “I’ve been very fortunate that the management and promotion side of our business continued to do well during Covid, but I’ve missed being directly around and involved with playing music for people. I’ve assumed the role of Family DJ, and I’ve been blasting my favorite tunes around the house just about 24/7 - or at least whenever the kids aren’t sleeping. They usually want to hear their favorite show theme songs and anything that plays on Kidz Bop, but I sneak a few of my party favorites into the mix. When I’m feeling the ‘80s - I play Whitney Houston, I Wanna Dance With Somebody; ‘90s - Montell Jordan, This Is How We Do It; When I’m looking for a sing along - Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey; Something for the girls, I go with - Beyonce, Single Ladies, and; If I want to get my wife’s attention, I play - Ed Sheehan, Perfect. Oh, and then for something that will get the whole family moving, I pull out all the stops - Signed Sealed Delivered, Stevie Wonder - works every time!” 42

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

WEDDINGS & EVENTS

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AR MON K B ROK ER AG E 3 9 9 M A I N S T R E E TA R M O N K , N Y 1 0 5 0 4

M A Y / J U N E

See you around the neighborhood!

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BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

#1 HOULIHAN LAWRENCE

AGENT IN ARMONK

#16 OF ALL AGENTS COUNTYWIDE FOR SELLERS, it is selling your home for the highest price in a timely matter with

targeted marketing based on our knowledge of Where Buyers Come From.

The good news, now, for

FOR BUYERS, it is putting my local resources and market expertise to work for you.

Pearson and Lakeside

LOOKING TO CAPITALIZE ON A STRONG SELLERS’ MARKET ? NOW IS THE TIME.

Productions, is that people

A M Y S I N G E R Real Estate Salesperson

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

WEDDINGS & EVENTS

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AR MON K B ROK ER AG E 3 9 9 M A I N S T R E E TA R M O N K , N Y 1 0 5 0 4

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See you around the neighborhood!

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BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

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Zen and the Art of Being a

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SPRING

SUMMER

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FALL

Katonah’s Musical Prodigy,

Michael Sabath,

spends a day with B&NC Mag’s Arts & Culture Editor, Drew Bordeaux.

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Many of us remember our early twenties as a time when we were studying for college exams, or making the best of our first ‘real world’ job. Not so for Mike Sabath, a Katonah native who eschewed the paths of his peers and followed his heart to a career in music. And what a career it already is: At 22, he’s evolved from a boy who drummed in the family garage band to a formidable producer, songwriter and musician. A whiz-kid who said ‘NO’ to Harvard, his roster of collaborators already reads like a quick scan of the Billboard Hot 100 charts, a list that includes Meghan Trainor, Lizzo, Selena Gomez, The Jonas Bros., and more. On a brief visit home and respite from his busy life in LA, Sabath and I went on a walk in the Ward Pound Reservation to discuss his musical inspirations, his critical decision to turn down the Ivy League, how the & NEW CANAAN 47 pandemic has impactedBEDFORD his thinking, and how he navigates the crazy music business.

EXTRAORDINARY WHISKEYS RELEASED IN BATCHES EACH SEASON THROUGHOUT 2021.

Five years in the making, the American whiskey collection: 12 brewers, 12 beers,12 whiskeys and 80 barrels of spirits.

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Zen and the Art of Being a

AVAILABLE NOW

SPRING

SUMMER

ROCKSTAR

FALL

Katonah’s Musical Prodigy,

Michael Sabath,

spends a day with B&NC Mag’s Arts & Culture Editor, Drew Bordeaux.

Brunch • Lunch • Dinner Reservations suggested

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN Phone: 203-431-0796

www.baileysbackyard.com

M A Y / J U N E

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M A Y / J U N E

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As a distinguished producer, Sabath feels a deep connection to his inspirations. His admiration takes shape as a forearm tattoo with a quote from the legendary producer Rick Rubin that simply states, “Leave space.” I asked where his love of the recording studio originated. “I watched the Linkin Park Jay Z Collision Course video, like literally every day. I was obsessed with that.” Sabath continued, “I loved seeing them at the boards, them being in the booth. Watching the recording process was sick to me, it’s like you’re watching the moment that it happened and then it’s forever. Creating music is so special, and art in general, because it’s like it just happens one time, and then it literally exists for eternity. That’s so powerful.”

Within moments of meeting Mike, I felt like I was speaking with an old friend, and his ease and mild-mannered disposition defy the age-old tropes of the young, maladjusted, hotel-trashing rockstar. Throughout our conversation he offered a mix of boyish wonderment about the world we’re living in, with a mature sense of purpose that drives his creativity. There was also a hint of ‘cosmic knowingness’ about the right next move whether it’s a micro choice on what note is best for a song or a macro one on what’s best for himself as an artist.

When asked about his start in music, Sabath modestly offered, “It was just little moments when I was six to ten... I was playing drums and singing while my dad played piano and guitar and my brother played guitar and sang. We would literally cover Green Day, you know, whatever. So I was always performing. It was drums first, I was always behind but on stage, and now that I think about it, I feel like that has infiltrated a lot of my approach and vibe as an artist. Because I’m slowly sitting into whatever it is, the whole coming into the front, but it’s like my vibe is ‘the drummer’. I like being there, but I’m not trying to make it all about me.”

“I WATCHED THE LINKIN PARK JAY Z COLLISION COURSE VIDEO, LIKE LITERALLY EVERY DAY. I WAS

Two of the days that had the biggest impact on Sabath’s rise were marked figuratively, and in-one case literally, by their ups and downs. On the day he did his first noteworthy collaboration with the artist Wale, he almost didn’t make it because he was stuck on a rollercoaster. On a trip to Six Flags in LA with his friend Pete, the two embarked on a Superman-like ride harnessed only by their chests. “We’re going up, up, up, up, and at the top of the drop, it just shuts off.” The ride froze long enough for crowds to form and once things were fixed, they were still forced to finish the ride. While he was stuck, Sabath had received a call to make his way to the Atlantic Records studios post-haste, as a window to work with Wale had just opened up. Nauseous (and still wearing the theme park appropriate shorts and t-shirt), he set out on an hourlong Uber ride to the studio and pulled it together long enough to deliver an important and well-received performance in the recording booth.

Another example of the stars aligning in Sabath’s favor came on the day he turned down Harvard. “I knew I was going to at least take a gap year. Because you can for them, you can take a gap year and then go, there’s no problem. So I knew I was going to do that, but then half way through the gap year I was just like no. I just didn’t want to do that yet, you know? Just wasn’t time, I wanted to try to keep going with music, so I literally emailed Bill Fitzsimmons, the Dean of Admissions at Harvard, and I wrote a whole letter, and boom, boom, boom, and within maybe two hours of sending that email...I got my first offer from Sony!”

OBSESSED WITH THAT.”

It’s clear that Sabath’s success as a collaborator is because, at least in part, he brings a calmness and positivity that make him the musician you’d most want to have in a room. So in a time when being in the same room as his collaborators isn’t always an option, I asked how he is fairing - from a distance. Sabath observes, “The pop industry, like the songwriting pop industry, is doing sessions on Zoom. They’re literally at home making songs on Zoom which is wild. For some of my friends it’s kinda working - which is great for them - but it’s really difficult to capture that magic on video chat. To me the best music is just...it’s real energy in real moments.”

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

ZEN AND THE ART OF BEING A ROCKSTAR

M A Y / J U N E

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M A Y / J U N E

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ZEN AND THE ART OF BEING A ROCKSTAR

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

“I WATCHED THE LINKIN PARK JAY Z COLLISION COURSE VIDEO, LIKE LITERALLY EVERY DAY. I WAS

OBSESSED WITH THAT.”

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

ZEN AND THE ART OF BEING A ROCKSTAR

M A Y / J U N E

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ZEN AND THE ART OF BEING A ROCKSTAR

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

All Your Building Needs Under One Roof

BRADSELL CONTRACTING

And those real moments have shaped Sabath’s love of music and sense of purpose when it comes to creating, even when times get tough. “This is... It’s just what we love to do. It becomes a bigger thing because humans love art, humans love when people are real, whatever it is that connects them to their art...but nothing deeper than that moment, just being captured. And that’s why I love being here, because it’s simple and it reminds you that you’re just a person and it’s not that deep. One day you’re Paul McCartney and you wake up hearing Yesterday in your dream and record it. And then it’s one of the greatest songs of all time. That moment is just a moment, but its impact is its own thing, and that takes on a life of its own.”

Painting

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E x pand your

Outdoor Living Space Let us add or refurbish a deck, a porch & more! Enhance your outdoor living!

Michael snaps a selfie with Miguel.

48 Elm Street (203) 594-7656

Michael performs with Meghan Trainor on the Ellen DeGeneres show.

Michael in the middle with Verdine White from Earth Wind and Fire (striped shirt) and Kenny Moran (white shirt).

Commercial & Residential Maintenance Service

“I HAVE AN INCREDIBLY

About coming home from L.A.to Katonah to visit family, which LOVING AND SUPPORTIVE Michael does often, and how his family has reacted to his stardom, he offered, “I have an incredibly loving and supportive family and really appreciate getting to have time together. And coming home FAMILY AND REALLY means a chance to hit Camerons in Cross River to pick up my APPRECIATE GETTING TO favorite sandwich - the Buffalo Blue - and then usually go back the next day for an egg and cheese on a roll with hash browns, hot HAVE TIME TOGETHER. sauce and salt and pepper. My family has been in my corner every step of the way, and it gives me joy to share the journey with them. I think they were cheering so loud in Katonah, watching on TV the day I appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres show with Meghan Trainor, that neighbors in Katonah came over to see what was up. And it was my absolute pleasure to have my Mom, Dad, and Brother Jeremy and his wife, with me at the Grammy Awards, along with my fantastic manager Don Isaac to all celebrate Lizzo’s wins for her album Cuz I Love You - which I’m so proud to have worked on.” When I asked Sabath where he wants to be in ten years, he responded, “I just hope that I’m happy, and that I’m still making music, and have made a lot of great art that I’m proud of, have made real relationships, and have contributed to society as a whole in a positive way.” As for who Sabath admires most professionally, he names musical artist Eddie Benjamin, “Because he is extremely educated and skilled and passionate about music in a really special way that inspires me.” And when I tested Sabath on which four musicians, dead or alive, he would put together to play with him in a five-piece band, he quickly declared, “No question on that count... John, Paul, George and Ringo.” 50

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

ZEN AND THE ART OF BEING A ROCKSTAR

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BEDFORD GREENWICH NEW YORK beyond just sales...

BRIAN J. SHEERIN Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Cell: 914-610-0934 Office: 914-401-9111 brian.sheerin@raveis.com

95 Katonah Avenue | Katonah, NY 10536

All Your Building Needs Under One Roof

BRADSELL CONTRACTING

Painting

Carpentry

914-234-3492 • bradsellpc.com

E x pand your

Outdoor Living Space Let us add or refurbish a deck, a porch & more! Enhance your outdoor living!

Michael snaps a selfie with Miguel.

48 Elm Street (203) 594-7656

Michael performs with Meghan Trainor on the Ellen DeGeneres show.

Michael in the middle with Verdine White from Earth Wind and Fire (striped shirt) and Kenny Moran (white shirt).

Commercial & Residential Maintenance Service

“I HAVE AN INCREDIBLY

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

ZEN AND THE ART OF BEING A ROCKSTAR

M A Y / J U N E

2 0 2 1

BEDFORD GREENWICH NEW YORK beyond just sales...

BRIAN J. SHEERIN Licensed Real Estate Salesperson Cell: 914-610-0934 Office: 914-401-9111 brian.sheerin@raveis.com

95 Katonah Avenue | Katonah, NY 10536

Savor the Flavors of Summer! Ahhh, the joys of the season ahead. Sunny days, warm nights. Sizzling backyard barbecues. Cold beers on a hot afternoon. Gathering with loved ones for a meal outdoors. The Market can help make it all happen. Start with grill-ready cuts of chicken, beef, pork, or fresh seafood fillets prepped to sear and serve.

New Canaan Gallery and Frame features an extensive selection of quality, high end and affordable frames, artisan design consultants and state of the art custom picture framing equipment. Your artwork is able to withstand the test of time with the help of our expert conservation and archival techniques that feature various options from meeting your basic framing needs to offering 24k gold hand embellishments. Highest Review Rate in the area

Stock your fridge from our wide selection of craft beers, locallyproduced microbrews and sparkling hard seltzers.

(203) 966-8483

Round out your meals with the freshest local fruits and vegetables, and a sumptuous, just-baked dessert from our Bake Shop.

www.newcanaangalleryandframe.com 33 East Avenue, 2nd Floor, New Canaan, CT 06840

Need a break from cooking? Order from our Catering Menu, and let our talented chefs prepare your entire meal. Plan a trip to The Market any time the spirit of Summer entertaining moves you.

THE 2021 TURTLE INVITATIONAL

And for a fun Saturday afternoon of outdoor shopping and sampling, join us in the Square for Kiwi’s Outdoor Market; June 5th, July 10th and August 7th, 11am to 3pm.

Every two years, the Turtle Invitationl brings together spectacular vehicles and hundreds of passionate enthusiasts for a weekend of camaraderie, cars, cocktails, and conversations, to benefit the Malcolm Prey Achievement Foundation.

Your Gourmet Grocery Store & So Much More!

55 Westchester Ave, Pound Ridge NY 10576 914.764.5736 www.poundridgemarket.com

Remember Their Sacrifice

MEMORIAL DAY

Monday, May 31st

Non-show cars that are an Audi or a Porsche will have Platinum Turtle parking status on the show field, courtesy of Danbury Porsche Audi. Photo: Bearded Mug Media

SEPTEMBER 25 & 26 at the Turtle Garage in Bedford register to attend online

Stock your fridge from our wide selection of craft beers, locallyproduced microbrews and sparkling hard seltzers.

(203) 966-8483

Round out your meals with the freshest local fruits and vegetables, and a sumptuous, just-baked dessert from our Bake Shop.

www.newcanaangalleryandframe.com 33 East Avenue, 2nd Floor, New Canaan, CT 06840

Need a break from cooking? Order from our Catering Menu, and let our talented chefs prepare your entire meal. Plan a trip to The Market any time the spirit of Summer entertaining moves you.

THE 2021 TURTLE INVITATIONAL

And for a fun Saturday afternoon of outdoor shopping and sampling, join us in the Square for Kiwi’s Outdoor Market; June 5th, July 10th and August 7th, 11am to 3pm.

Your Gourmet Grocery Store & So Much More!

55 Westchester Ave, Pound Ridge NY 10576 914.764.5736 www.poundridgemarket.com

Remember Their Sacrifice

MEMORIAL DAY

Monday, May 31st

Non-show cars that are an Audi or a Porsche will have Platinum Turtle parking status on the show field, courtesy of Danbury Porsche Audi. Photo: Bearded Mug Media

SEPTEMBER 25 & 26 at the Turtle Garage in Bedford register to attend online

Don’t neglect your oral health due to the pandemic. Your oral health matters for your overall health. We are safe. We are all vaccinated. We have strict measures in place to ensure your safety. We fog and limit capacity. We have a 100% safety rate for our patients. You can trust your health with us. Pound Ridge Cosmetic Dentistry is the right choice for your health.

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

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BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

15 HONEY HOLLOW RD POUND RIDGE, NY

THE #1 SELLING OFFICE IN NORTHERN WESTCHESTER 2020.* *Based on OneKey MLS New York statistics, sold transactions 1/1/20-12/31/20 in Bedford, Lewisboro, Mt. Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge and Somers

WHAT A SPECIAL PLACE WE CALL HOME. INVENTORY IS AT AN ALL TIME LOW. IF YOU’RE THINKING OF SELLING, OUR TALENTED TEAM** IS READY TO HELP YOU PLAN. **6 Ginnel agents ranked in the top 15 Agents in Northern Westchester*

BEDFORD OFFICE

914-234-9234

POUND RIDGE OFFICE

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ACCESS TO THE EXCEPTIONAL

VISIT GINNEL.COM/SPRING

15 HONEY HOLLOW RD POUND RIDGE, NY

THE #1 SELLING OFFICE IN NORTHERN WESTCHESTER 2020.* *Based on OneKey MLS New York statistics, sold transactions 1/1/20-12/31/20 in Bedford, Lewisboro, Mt. Kisco, North Salem, Pound Ridge and Somers

BEDFORD OFFICE

914-234-9234

POUND RIDGE OFFICE

914-764-2424

ACCESS TO THE EXCEPTIONAL

VISIT GINNEL.COM/SPRING

h s i w e J t a F The IN BECOM

’S B D R O F ED

BY Michael Kaplan 58

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Julia Dags

ODA

BANK S U O I C

For the Instagram-less, who have no idea who The Fat Jewish is, or that his phenomena even exists… He’s got over TEN MILLION FOLLOWERS and has managed to parlay his top influencer status into millions of dollars of sponsorships, placements and promotions…He recently sold his Rosé company, Babe, to Anheuser Busch, for many millions more… He’s about to open a bank - intending to revolutionize banking for the technology-enabled…And, his office is on the Bedford Green!

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h s i w e J t a F The IN BECOM

’S B D R O F ED

BY Michael Kaplan 58

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Julia Dags

ODA

BANK S U O I C

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BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

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The Fat Jewish

The Fat Jewish, an influencer persona that’s part P.T. Barnum, part Cpt. Lou Albano, part Kardashian, and part Rodney Dangerfield, is actually two people! First, there’s the guy pictured on the canary yellow Harley, with the two-tonesof-red hairdo, on the B&NC Mag May/June 2021 Cover - that’s Joshua Ostrovsky, 38, who is indeed Jewish, the son of Russian immigrants, and who grew up on Riverside Drive in Manhattan, went to Dwight, and Camp Eisner, and whose wife, Caitlin King, who he met on Facebook, gave birth in February to Josh’s first child, Buddy Kobe King. Then there’s Josh’s usually-off-screen creative partner and BFF, David Oliver Cohen, 40, also Jewish, who grew up in Washington, D.C., went to camp at Frenchwoods Performing Arts, studied Acting at N.Y.U., and who moved to an equestrian estate in Bedford at the beginning of Covid, with his wife, Cristi Andrews, and kids, Penelope and Hal. They were weekenders in Bedford before the Pandemic but now have the kids at Rippowam Cisqua School, and are happily making Bedford home base.

Starting ‘em young! Josh gets baby Buddy involved in the fun

Together...they’re a pair!

David and his wife Cristi in front of their Bedford home

In their comedic two-part synchrony, and even physically, Ostrovsky and Cohen are reminiscent of Laurel and Hardy or Abbott and Costello. And in their ability to happily share the contribution and profit, maybe something like Ben & Jerry, Hewlett & Packard, or Levi & Strauss. Over the years, David has taken on more of the strategy and more of the corporate affairs of the business, but he’s completely involved on the creative and ideas sides as well, and Josh is obviously the ‘face’, but is a diligent and keen businessman, who’s focused in many details of the business. As The Fat Jewish, they jumped on the first tidal wave of influencers. They had already garnered about 3 million followers by 2012 - when large advertising dollars really started to shift from traditional media to influencer spending. And they’ve since grown the following to its current 10+ million behemoth, and have a substantial roster of clients paying thousands for the privilege of including their product in a Fat Jewish post.

Josh and his wife Caitlin pose for a maternity shoot – nachos included 60

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Starting ‘em young! Josh gets baby Buddy involved in the fun

Together...they’re a pair!

David and his wife Cristi in front of their Bedford home

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Josh and David were both destined for fame - or whatever it is that has enabled the multi-billion dollar influencer business - from the get-go! In 2010 the United Talent Agency, which was representing each of them, introduced the two separate clients - without a specific plan, but with the suggestion that the two might do something big together. David had already starred in a Nickelodeon Sitcom, Taina; done a year in the Broadway musical Rent; been in some movies in L.A., and; acted as Kip Lonegan on the soap opera As The World Turns (when he met his wife, Cristi Andrews, who was hosting Bet The House, a game show, ironically, on Nickelodeon). Josh had already been a correspondent, doing celebrity interviews on the E! Channel, and gained some notoriety in a rap group called Team Facelift, where he went by the name ‘The Fat Jew’. When David and Josh first got together, as writing partners, they developed a drama called ‘Mazel Tuff’, about a family of Hasidic Jews and their criminal behavior - think The Sopranos but with black hats. They went on to sell that and three other shows to TV Networks, but quickly realized that their work together growing their social media audience was much more interesting and much more lucrative.

I scheduled to meet Josh and David at David’s house in Bedford, before going down for photos on the Bedford Green and an all-afternoon schmooze at Bedford 234. Josh pulled up David’s driveway on his very noticeable, canary yellow Harley Davidson, and wearing pink leather chaps and a leather vest, with no shirt - revealing the tattoos all over his body, such as: Obama on a $5000 Dollar Bill, on his arm; Anna Nicole Smith, on his back, and; The New York Magazine Logo, on his chest. So, you’re not as fat as you look in all your pictures. Josh: Yeah, I recently lost 60 pounds. I never want to be in shape, but I wanted to look less like Shrek. I’ve got a kid coming soon, so I decided it was time to slim down to a mediocre ‘dad bod’. David: I’m a bit concerned. Not about his health, but, like you say, ‘where’s The Fat Jew?’. I’m not sure if The Dieting Jew works. The Svelte Jew definitely doesn’t really have the same ring to it, but I am proud of him for treating his body less like a trash can.

In 2014, the pair realized that if they owned the content, and they also owned the audience, they should consider launching their own product.

So they launched BABE Rosé served in a can and it simply blew up the market! After being acquired by Anheuser Busch in 2019, the two are now consulting AB on the brand.

Madonna shoots with Josh for BABE.

...And they’ve used their time in Covid to, incredibly, and with the Fat Jewish character only peripherally involved, conceive of and build a new business: a BANK - intended to do nothing short of upending the way Millenials and Gen Z do their banking! They’ve already completed a $12M seed-round to get FUTUREBANK going!

The two are just a couple of pretty regular and real, really smart and very funny, extremely affable, young guys...who’ve turned their influencer shtick into an empire!

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In 2014, the pair realized that if they owned the content, and they also owned the audience, they should consider launching their own product.

So they launched BABE Rosé served in a can and it simply blew up the market! After being acquired by Anheuser Busch in 2019, the two are now consulting AB on the brand.

Madonna shoots with Josh for BABE.

The two are just a couple of pretty regular and real, really smart and very funny, extremely affable, young guys...who’ve turned their influencer shtick into an empire!

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THE FAT JEWISH

David on Taina

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And, to get it out of the way, what’s with all the tattoos? What do your parents have to say about it? My Dad didn’t even want me to feature you in the magazine because his immediate reaction to hearing about a character called The Fat Jewish raised his generational sensitivity to the anti-semitic reaction you might cause, and his concern about the negative stereotypes you might be perpetuating. As my Russian Jewish immigrant ancestors might ask: “Vat do you have to say for yourselv?” Josh: It’s a bummer to me that you, or your dad, or anyone gets anything negative from me. I get that it comes from combining ‘fat’ with ‘Jewish’, and that Jews in America don’t normally shout about their Jewishness, and that my look doesn’t fit the stereotypical image for ‘my son, the Jewish doctor’. But I’m proud of my Jewishness, I created a persona around who I really am, and we think joking around about some of the funnier aspects of modern Jewish culture and sociology is ‘good for the brand’ and, hopefully, funny. I think, at least in the social media world, we actually help make Jewish culture more a part of mainstream culture. I may be irreverent, but we make it OK for Jewish kids to be a little more proud and open about their identity. I get posts that are like, ‘I live in Iowa, thank you for making it cool to be Jewish’, so I guess I’m basically the Millennial Sandy Koufax? My parents didn’t love the tattoos at first, but they understand that it makes me happy, and they’re proud that I am changing the way traditional ‘success’ looks. I’m not in a rock band, I’m not a starving artist, I own a bank and get to go to work every day in sweatpants if I so choose...with tattoos of all kinds of incredibly stupid things. My folks get that my life is cool. ...I will say that one thing they actually hated...was the standup ponytail I’ve had sticking straight-up on my head for the last few years, that I’ve called the ‘hairection’...and my folks are pleased I just cut that off in favor of this new two-tone crew cut look. David: Fat Jewish is what I call ‘palatably edgy’, but we try really hard to never be offensive. We’ve always been mindful that we have to be ‘corporately acceptable’ if the brand is supposed to be a business. We try to keep it kosher. Then how did you - or The Fat Jewish - go from being just another zany and irreverent Jewish character, to the SuperJew of Social Media, the Moses of Marketing, the Einstein of Eyeballs and the Rabbi of Digital Response - and worshipped like the Idol of Influencers? What was the path, and what are your secrets for building an enormous following, and turning that following into a business? Josh: Those are very strong, well played sir! Over the years I’ve favored Jewther Vandross, Whitney Jewsten, and The FatJew of Liberty. But seriously, I think what we’ve focused on is accessibility and community building. I am The Fat Jewish, I live the brand, it’s my real life, I’m never faking it, and despite all the notoriety that comes with being a provocateur, I like to be approachable, welcoming and friendly, and I love meeting people. I think our followers can sense that they’re getting a genuine look at me and my world, and unlike almost any one of the other people with large social media platforms, I answer every single message I receive. My schedule is too hectic now, but for a long time I had a policy that if you invited me somewhere, I’d go. Not for money, just to make memories. I’ve officiated like 10 weddings (yup, I got certified on the internet), gone to proms, on camping trips, went to a bris once - that was weird...all types of places and events just to meet people. I’m not a corporation running a funny Instagram page, I’m a real human being who will actually hang out with you, and maybe make some questionable drunk decisions, and that type of community building has taken the brand to new heights.

David: What we’ve worked hard to do - that’s maybe a bit different - is to use the audience as our guide. Social media provides a constant focus group with instant response to your every word. We listen. Over time, we became experts at Millennials. A lot of businesses talk about listening to the customer - our business is listening to the customer. The audience has grown and grown pretty steadily over the last decade, with about 10 million followers, currently. We have a read on a large portion of a highly desirable target audience, so when we decided to make a product for that audience, we were able to reverse engineer the development of that product. We basically asked them what they wanted - and, at least indirectly, they told us. Going back to what Josh said about being ‘accessible’, that’s the secret ingredient. We have interactivity with our followers and there simply aren’t too many influencers with our size audience who have that to offer to advertisers. I think we both recognized very early on in the game that The Fat Jew had to be, or become, more than just a look. Let’s face it, Josh is no Brad Pitt, and we both knew the shelf-life of The Fat Jew’s celebrity would not last forever. Our value is in the community of, and our communication with, our audience. How did you get into the rosé business? And how did you make that work? Being an influencer can be totally virtual, but selling and distributing rosé requires operational ability and scale. David: We listened. It was early 2015, we had around 9 million followers, there’d been a rosé shortage in the Hamptons... which was a very scary time indeed...and we decided that we didn’t want our kids growing-up in that kind of world... In all honesty, we wanted to start taking what we’d learned from the whole experience of the brand and the influencer business to another level. We didn’t know anything about the beverage business other than what we liked, but we saw a huge surge in demand for alternative and more drinkable alcoholic beverages. We noticed that Millenials had very little brand affinity when it comes to wine. Whispering Angel’s Summer In A Bottle rosé was already a thing, but it was very Hamptons-exclusive, with a price point that’s aimed at The annual Pink Party in the Hamptons - celebrating Babe Rosé only the upscale consumers in the category, and wasn’t the kind of category-buster we imagined. We did a lot of market research...and then a lot of product and packaging testing - and decided to do rosé in a can. Back in 2010, separate from and before The Fat Jewish, my brother and I had created a Twitter account called @whtegirlprobs (White Girl Problems), featuring a fictional female Millennial that called herself Babe Walker, who attracted millions of followers. That character was kind of emblematic of our target market for the rosé, so we called it ‘BABE’. So, Josh, my brother Tanner, and I, contracted for the first 10,000 cases of wine and started selling it. Summer 2015 the wine went viral on Instagram. We quickly learned the supply and distribution parts of the business, and we managed to bring in $1,000,000 in revenues in our first year. At the first annual Pink Party, Josh and David had the pool filled with rosé

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Josh: I think being outsiders in the wine industry really helped, because we got to think ‘out of the crate’ about establishing and building the brand. We utilized our marketing abilities to leverage sales - without having any of the credentials of a known winery or vintner, or the sophisticated pallet of wine snobs that usually gives credibility to a new offering. After we had scaled the company from the three original founders to a huge organization with millions of dollars in sales, we started to get approached by potential acquirers. Being perceived as naive or green was definitely an advantage. We met with some huge venture capital firms and a couple of other commercial giants, but eventually we went with Anheuser Busch. They really get it, and we were huge fans of their brands, because we’re actually not really wine guys and are actually fans of their beer. We only made wine in a can because consumers were demanding it! AB said, ‘We’re buying this company for you and your brains’. They understand that there’s a new world of brand loyalty out there. And it’s really working, AB sold millions and millions of cans of BABE Rosé in 2020! We’re actively engaged in the marketing and biz dev, advising them on how to keep it fresh and interesting. BABE is now the Official Wine Sponsor of the NFL - so there will be a guy at a Packers game in camo overalls crushing rosé in a can. It’s absolutely incredible to make wine accessible to so many new types of people. Now what?

Josh bumps into an equestrian as he attempts to put on his pink chaps on the Bedford Green… she showed him how it’s done!

David: Well, again, we’ve listened to the audience to find our direction. We’re really pretty purposeful about everything we do. We looked around for the biggest white space we could find. Where is Millennial and Gen Z demand most unserved? And what we found is a massive gap between the way Millennials handle, or want to handle, their finances, and the practices of traditional banks. Millennials and Gen Z-ers hate their banks. They view banks as uncaring corporations with outdated tech who don’t care about their needs. They have no connection or loyalty to any particular brand. The perception and reality is that traditional banks charge outrageous fees and penalties, lend money to nefarious industries, and have some of the worst customer service in the history of the world. 11,000 Americans turn 18 every day - and they’re going to need a bank account. Robinhood quickly became the go-to app for Millennials and

Gen Z - and it’s already worth $11 billion! Chime is a banking app that addresses some of the needs of lower income bank customers with advanced tech, and it’s already worth $15 billion! 30 million Americans now run their own business, and that number will double in the next five years! 67 million Americans consider themselves freelancers and earn income outside a W-2! The digital age of the entrepreneur is upon us, and there are no banks that address the needs of this rapidly expanding and evolving workforce, or the new businesses they start. We’re going to build the bank that meets the Millennial and Gen Z demand.

Josh: Millennials and Gen Z are focused on quality and authenticity. They’re not easily swayed by marketing, as they’ve been on the Internet their whole lives and have been marketed to since birth. But when young people find a brand they connect with they become loyal devotees and enthusiastic advocates. We understand them - and they trust us. FUTUREBANK is going to be the bank for them.

Josh: The thing is, FUTUREBANK is revolutionary. We have two goals. The first is to elevate and democratize the experience of banking for everyone in this country. We are the first ever membership bank, which means you pay a monthly fee, and everything is free. No fees, no penalties, world class customer service - you literally can speak to someone on video almost 24/7 - ridiculously awesome tech, complete integration of all the financial apps, like Venmo, that you currently love, the list goes on and on. The big dusty legacy banks are built on antiquated technological platforms, and they don’t provide people with great customer service unless maybe if they keep a ton of money in their account - and then the bank lends to causes that are objectionable to a lot of Millenials and Gen Z. At FUTUREBANK, everyone pays their membership fee, so everyone gets the same awesome stuff. Think less Chase, more Netflix. The second goal of FUTUREBANK is to address the shift in how America works. In the next five years, over 50% of the people in the U.S. will be freelancers. There are millions of new small businesses and disruptive start-ups formed every year. We are shifting away from a W-2 based economy, and nobody is addressing the fact that people, regardless of age, don’t know how to do any of the financial stuff associated with the new financial lifestyle. Whether you’re fresh out of college and starting a sneaker company, or you’re a 50 year old massage therapist, you need tools to run your operation. That’s why FUTUREBANK will offer a suite of services designed to accommodate the demands of our audience and the necessities of the new economy. You’ll be able to do your invoicing, bookkeeping, payroll, and taxes, and rely on us to provide all kinds of business literacy and tools in areas including business formation, intellectual property, and operations. FUTUREBANK is literally the future of banking! Does FUTUREBANK signal the end for The Fat Jewish? David: No, not at all. We still have more than 10 million followers who are actively engaged. The Fat Jewish will not be the ‘face’ of FUTUREBANK, but we’ll certainly tap our audience, and experience as influencers, to inform and support every facet of the bank’s mission, marketing and operation. OK. Well I often conclude my interviews with the question: Who are the four people, dead or alive, who you would have to a fantasy dinner tonight? You two guys are so zany, I’m almost afraid to ask, but… Josh: I’ll handle this one. First, George Washington - because he really went hard his whole life, with wooden teeth, and was in the booze business like us, but went beyond to do bigger things - like us. Second, Martha Stewart - the original influencer, and because she’s a model of both female empowerment and how to upend an industry. Then, Malia Obama - who I heard has been DJing, and who’s really cool and a great representative for her generation. Oh, and Pamela Anderson - for so many reasons. The real question is, will Washington like the blintzes and latkes, washed down with some BABE Rosé?

But starting and operating a bank is a gargantuan task! How can you two guys pull this off? David: First, we’re building a great team. My father-in-law, Frank Newman, is a former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Treasury and seasoned banking executive, including having served as CEO of Bankers Trust and Shenzhen Development Bank and CFO at Bank of America and Wells Fargo. He’s a co-founder of FUTUREBANK and has been instrumental in helping deal with the regulators. Halle Madia, formerly the Chief Experience/Talent Officer at SoulCycle, is another co-founder and will serve as our Chief Culture Officer. We’ve got the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell, IBM’s Promontory, and a team of top-notch advisors in our corner. And we’re now completing a seed investment round - at an extremely healthy valuation - with a who’s-who of strategic investors and famous folks who are also going to help with our marketing. 66

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Josh bumps into an equestrian as he attempts to put on his pink chaps on the Bedford Green… she showed him how it’s done!

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@ZHUSH

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Influencing didn’t really exist in the way that we know it today when Sue DeChiara got started in 2009. “Facebook and twitter were around, but there was definitely no Pinterest or Instagram, and certainly no TikTok yet. In the influencing world it was really just blogs at that point,” says DeChiara, the founder of The Zhush (Zhush - meaning to primp or fluff up (je + oosh) and B&NC Mag Homes Editor. Back in 2009, Sue was in the process of completely renovating her Pound Ridge home and re-doing a condo in Vermont and her blogging interest stemmed out of a search for design inspiration, “I don’t ski, so I spent all my time up in Vermont trying to make the place amazing. I really credit all that downtime in Vermont with how this business got its kickstart. I was reading all these home decor blogs and, at the time, a lot of the shelter magazines were shutting down. So I would Google designers that I’d hear about, and all of these blogs would come up. A large community popped-up online around women decorating their homes, chatting about things like ‘I love this wallpaper’ and ‘have you thought about trying this paint color’. So I decided to start my own blog.”

Through a decade of growing The Zhush, Sue’s own homes have been a canvas for her to experiment and post about the decorating process and results. ...And there’s plenty of ‘zhushing’ going on...as the DeChiaras sold their home in Pound Ridge and, about six years ago, moved to a stately red-brick Georgian in New Canaan. From picking paint colors to selecting trim for drapes, whether or not to wallpaper, what accents bring a pop of color to the room, and other fun design hacks,

There was no grand plan at the outset, and Sue had no idea how far The Zhush would go. It started as a hobby, or even a secret… “When I got started I didn’t tell anyone about it because I was too embarrassed. My brother knew because he helped me set up the site, and my husband, Adam, and my Dad… but that was it! I honestly thought they might be the only people reading. But then one day I got the idea, just messing around with the sidebar, to put ‘located in Pound Ridge, NY’. The folks at the Record Review must have had some Google alert or something, because about a week later they emailed me and asked me to write something for the newspaper. I was shocked - but in a good way. And then the more I did, the more I got into the whole thing.” At one point, The Zhush even encompassed an online storefront. Sue recounted, “For almost six years I ran a store through The Zhush website. Sourcing the stuff was fun, but the logistics weren’t as much fun for me. UPS would damage and lose things, I’d be on vacation and getting angry emails about someone’s broken paperweight, the inventory component was a nightmare. It was taking up more time than it was worth, and I knew it was going to be even more difficult to scale. The blog was really taking off - with scale being evident and achievable even before the blog became a business.”

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SUE IS A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION AND INFORMATION TO HER LOYAL FOLLOWING. READERS ARE FIXED AND FASCINATED! Sue, or ‘The Zhush’ as some of her friends have lovingly grown to calling her, is a true influencer, in every sense of the word. She has 150k Instagram followers (@zhush), 57k Pinterest followers (@sued), and 15,000 - 20,000 weekly active readers on her website! “I get messages from people all the time telling me that ‘they painted a room based on my advice and it turned out great’, or that ‘they purchased an eccentric printed chair based on one of my posts’, and often even including photos of the spaces I helped to inspire. That’s the best part! It’s really rewarding when people tell me that they took my advice from the blog, and show me that it all worked out.” M A Y / J U N E

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And The Zhush is a business! She works with brands to create affiliate content on their behalf, and collaborates with some major companies, but says, “Sponsored posts are only about 15-20% of what I do, and I turn down a lot of stuff if it doesn’t feel like it’s the right fit for my brand and my readership.” She only takes on brands and partnerships when it’s truly a fit with Sue’s lifestyle and her following - and only if she actually likes and uses the product. Sue was an attorney before becoming a mom, and she was still busy being a mom when she started the Zhush, but with her daughters, Olivia and Samantha, now both off to college, and her son, Aaron, at New Canaan High School, Sue says, “The Zhush has become a full time job! But I love what I’m doing, so at least 95% of the time it doesn’t feel like work!”

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BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

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wallauer-whiteplainsny.com

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

Environmentally Responsible Healthy Energy Efficient

INFLUENTIAL INSIGHTS

STEPHANIE SANDLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY Sydney Sheehan

Knowing which influencers have influence, with whom and how deeply their influence extends, the demographics and behavior of each influencer’s audience, and ultimately what influencer impressions will trigger a purchase decision, is a science. Billions in influencer ad spending depend on having the right answers...so advertisers turn to market research firms, IFOP lead among them, to gauge and forecast consumer behavior. IFOP’s 2021 Affluent Consumer Insights Study is a bellwether for understanding affluent lifestyle spending, as findings such as that ‘87% of affluent women have not delayed luxury purchases during Covid’, can be crucial to ad spending decisions. M A Y / J U N E

New York and Stamford

marnerarchitecture.com

contact: lmarner@marnerarchitecture.com

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INFLUENTIAL INSIGHTS

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

Environmentally Responsible Healthy Energy Efficient

INFLUENTIAL INSIGHTS

STEPHANIE SANDLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY Sydney Sheehan

New York and Stamford

marnerarchitecture.com

contact: lmarner@marnerarchitecture.com

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INFLUENTIAL INSIGHTS

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

INFLUENTIAL INSIGHTS

STEPHANIE KNOWS QUITE A BIT ABOUT THE PARADIGM SHIFT IN MARKETING AND THE CUSTOMER JOURNEY, HAVING SPENT MOST OF HER CAREER AT CHANEL, FOCUSED ON CREATING DESIRE AND EMOTIONAL CONNECTION.

After graduating from law school, Stephanie became in-house-counsel at Chanel, specializing in Intellectual Property - protecting the trademarks and nabbing counterfeiters. Then Maureen Chiquet became Chanel’s US President (before taking on the role of Global CEO)...and Stephanie’s mentor. Stephanie recalls, “Maureen spent her career working at companies where the customer was at the center, and in order to lead effectively and achieve substantive business results, she would always say that you have to listen at every level. Chanel instituted a creative contest to understand how luxury was shifting in the eyes of a new generation, and I was one of 5 people in the US selected to help define how luxury was evolving and what that meant for the brand and its future. Eventually I moved to the business side, focusing on marketing, communications and product development in New York and Paris, and Maureen gave me the opportunity to create Chanel’s US Consumer Insights Division. ...But first, she sent me to the front lines for a summer, to work in our boutiques and behind the beauty counters. I learned more that summer - firsthand - from the sales associates and clients themselves - than from any marketing course. Leading the Insights Division, I made it my business to wrap the research in an actionable package for marketing - in order to concretely help drive sales and image. Maureen taught me that the consumer is always front and center.” Throughout her insights-focused career in the luxury world, Stephanie had worked closely with IFOP, as IFOP is the go-to ‘couture of research’ agency for luxury and beauty brands, known for bespoke and hands-on attention to every customer. ...And Stephanie is fluent in French as well as luxury. ...So it was no surprise when IFOP recently tapped Stephanie to be US President of the French-based company. Stephanie says simply, “They know I understand the power of research.” Reporting on IFOP, and the news of Stephanie joining the company, WWD (Women’s Wear Daily) quoted Stephanie as saying: “Everybody is being overwhelmed with so much data. But I don’t want to provide clients with just information. I want to give insights on what the data means for the brands and their products. Unlike other research agencies, IFOP has specific expertise focused in specialized luxury categories, and utilizes a wide array of quantitative and qualitative research methods.”

“We’re not in the Madman-era anymore. Advertising and consumer decisions are part of a more storied journey, rather than a linear path. Someone might see a TikTok video, take note of the product, and then make the decision to purchase after seeing a print ad with a fixed impression. And a retail store is just one of many touch-points in the consumer journey these days - and its role is shifting.” Stephanie Sandler, the recently appointed President of IFOP North America, says. “It makes it more complex for marketers and sales teams to effectively target their customer, but exciting because they need to pivot quicker, and test and learn, in order to create new ways of connecting and engaging. This is why watching and listening to your customers- where and how they shop, who is influencing them, how they are responding and why- is so important. For brands, having been historically more wholesale dependent, it’s a new frontier!”

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

INFLUENTIAL INSIGHTS

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INFLUENTIAL INSIGHTS

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

INFLUENTIAL INSIGHTS

STEPHANIE KNOWS QUITE A BIT ABOUT THE PARADIGM SHIFT IN MARKETING AND THE CUSTOMER JOURNEY, HAVING SPENT MOST OF HER CAREER AT CHANEL, FOCUSED ON CREATING DESIRE AND EMOTIONAL CONNECTION.

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

INFLUENTIAL INSIGHTS

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INFLUENTIAL INSIGHTS

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

INFLUENTIAL INSIGHTS

When a company makes the decision to launch a new product, IFOP is a business partner helping plot a strategic path forward to ensure success through sizing market potential, profiling the customer and identifying purchase triggers. As Stephanie explains, “As a marketer, I know what a company needs to understand in order to build a brand, launch a product, invest wisely in media and CRM, and enhance a client experience on or offline. Direct to consumer brands, in particular, think they know the consumer just from what she/he buys - but there needs to be more in the consideration set for strategic decision making… ‘how did the client come to you’ and ‘why?’”, in order to continually recruit new customers and build client loyalty over time.

Auctions • Purchases • Appraisals Art • Jewelry • Decorative Art Antiques • Modern Furniture

Contactless and socially distanced home visits available. Locally owned.

566 East Boston Post Road • Mamaroneck • NY 10543 212.717.7500 • info@shapiro auctions.com www.shapiroauctions.com

Although Stephanie has been a city girl most of her life, having been born and raised in Manhattan, she and her wife, Libby Kountzman, and their 2-year-old daughter, August, made the move to New Canaan in March. Libby is an award winning architect and designer, and has been managing the renovation of their new south-side home. August will be starting nursery school this Fall. And the young family is enjoying their new life in New Canaan and thrilled to already be meeting incredible people in and about town.

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

SHOP 1375 N Main Street Sheffield, MA 01257 (413) 644-6892 PRE-ORDER www.thepass.co

@thepass.co

INFLUENTIAL INSIGHTS

M A Y / J U N E

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CONNECT @thepassdotco

PLEASE CONSUME RESPONSIBLY. This product may cause impairment and may be habit forming. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement. Do not operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence of this drug. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older. KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. This product has not been analyzed or approved by the FDA.There is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana should not be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The intoxicating and impairing effects of edible products may be delayed by 2 hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222. This product may be illegal outside of the commonwealth of Massachusetts. M A Y / J U N E 2 0 2 1 BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN 8 3

INFLUENTIAL INSIGHTS

Auctions • Purchases • Appraisals Art • Jewelry • Decorative Art Antiques • Modern Furniture

Contactless and socially distanced home visits available. Locally owned.

566 East Boston Post Road • Mamaroneck • NY 10543 212.717.7500 • info@shapiro auctions.com www.shapiroauctions.com

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

SHOP 1375 N Main Street Sheffield, MA 01257 (413) 644-6892 PRE-ORDER www.thepass.co

@thepass.co

INFLUENTIAL INSIGHTS

M A Y / J U N E

2 0 2 1

CONNECT @thepassdotco

IN-TOWN INFLUENCE

LAYLA LISIEWSKI & JESSICA BLOUIN

OF THE LOCAL MOM’S NETWORK

@THELOCALMOMSNETWORK

YOUR SKIN RESET 100% natural • 0 fillers • 0 synthetics Made fresh on our farm in Vermont, visit tataharperskincare.com *Text TATANYCT to + 18334110645 To receive $100 towards your next purchase *Use the unique code sent to you at checkout on tataharperskincare.com on any orders over $200. Offer is available to Bedford, New York and New Canaan, Connecticut residents only. Limited to one per customer & household and maynot be used in combination with any other offer or discount. Excludes gift cards, bundles, sets, and in-home spa accessories. Cannot be redeemed for cash. Valid through 6/30/2021. By signing up via text, you agree to receive recurring automated promotional and personalized marketing text messages (e.g. cart reminders) from Tata Harper at the cell number used when signing up. Consent is not a condition of any purchase. Reply HELP for help and STOP to cancel. Msg frequency varies. Msg & data rates may apply. View Terms {http://attn.tv/tataharper/terms.html} & Privacy {https://attnl.tv/p/JYp}.

@NORTHERNWESTCHESTERMOMS @NEWCANAANMOMS PHOTOGRAPHY BY Alexandra Blair

It seems almost obvious that grouping local moms on social media would produce some of the most dedicated and trusting audiences, and that successful influencers in this category can have outsized influence on their followers’ purchases and other decisions. After all...not even a group of local dads would mess with any group of local moms! ‘Local Moms Network’ has an effective and scalable model to harness this force. M A Y / J U N E

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IN-TOWN INFLUENCE

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

IN-TOWN INFLUENCE

LAYLA LISIEWSKI & JESSICA BLOUIN

OF THE LOCAL MOM’S NETWORK

@THELOCALMOMSNETWORK

@NORTHERNWESTCHESTERMOMS @NEWCANAANMOMS PHOTOGRAPHY BY Alexandra Blair

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IN-TOWN INFLUENCE

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

IN-TOWN INFLUENCE

Imagine your child’s future.

Layla Lisiewski and Jessica Blouin met in 2018 and launched The Local Moms Network with the common goal of making life in the suburbs easier to navigate. Both were on career breaks with business backgrounds. Jessica graduated from the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and worked in marketing at Mastercard. Layla graduated from Brown University and had a career in financial services at Merrill Lynch. They both felt like they were spending endless time pouring over information to make informed decisions on everything from home contractors to where to send their kids to camp. “As a parent, there are so many decisions that you have to make every day, for your home, your family, your children. I was devoting so much time to finding the best lawncare companies, safe household cleaning supplies, meal options for families, orthodontists, after school programs… and on and on. And I figured that other moms might want to benefit from all that research too,” Jessica explains. At that point, Jessica and Layla were introduced by a mutual friend in New Canaan over lunch. Layla recalls, “The moment Jessica and I met we instantly connected. After my own experience endlessly searching for resources and activities for my three and now four - young children, and our conversation that day,

You want the very best for your child. An active, joyful learning environment that will challenge your child to think deeply, question confidently and act generously is closer than you think.

GO BOLDLY. 635 Frogtown Rd, New Canaan, CT • (203) 801-5608

FOR MORE ABOUT OUR ADMISSION EVENTS

WE KNEW THERE WAS A

www.countryschool.net/visit

New Canaan Country School is a co-ed, independent day school for students in Pre-K (ages 3 & 4) through Grade 9 living in Westchester and Fairfield counties. Graduates excel at top day, boarding and public secondary schools and go on to lead lives of impact and purpose. For more information, please visit countryschool.net.

NEED FOR A PARENT’S MODERN-DAY CONNECTION

AWA R D -WI N N I N G P R O F E S S I O N A L O R G A N I Z E R S

TO THE COMMUNITY. And we knew we would be the ones to build that together.” Both women felt that they could fill the gap in the market for local trusted content and resources to help busy moms like themselves. And so, The Local Moms Network was born. The pair started the endeavor by launching The Local MomsNetwork platforms in Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien, Westport, Stamford, Ridgefield and Fairfield where they brought on talented local moms that knew the communities inside and out. This manifested as both an online resource, including guides, articles, monthly newsletters and even a discounts section, and Instagram accounts for each location. ...Less than three years later, the CT locations have over 77K in followers (the New Canaan account, @newcanaanmoms, has a following of just over 6k)!

we create sustainable solutions for lifelong organization “I ﬁrst hired Tidy Nest to help with my basement. The experience of working with them was beyond all expectation. They were meticulous, thoughtful and patient. I have since hired them for three more major projects ( including my restaurant ) and the results were all the same fabulous. They gave me back my spaces in a way I could have never envisioned.”

Layla and Jessica have expanded the endeavor and built a true digital media company, serving local markets across the country. The Local Moms Network now boasts over 100 locations in 30 States!

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

IN-TOWN INFLUENCE

— Rosie, New Canaan M A Y / J U N E

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BEFORE

AFTER

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN 8 7 TIDYNEST.COM | @TIDYNESTTEAM | INFO@TIDYNEST.COM

M A Y / J U N E

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IN-TOWN INFLUENCE

Imagine your child’s future.

You want the very best for your child. An active, joyful learning environment that will challenge your child to think deeply, question confidently and act generously is closer than you think.

GO BOLDLY. 635 Frogtown Rd, New Canaan, CT • (203) 801-5608

FOR MORE ABOUT OUR ADMISSION EVENTS

WE KNEW THERE WAS A

www.countryschool.net/visit

NEED FOR A PARENT’S MODERN-DAY CONNECTION

AWA R D -WI N N I N G P R O F E S S I O N A L O R G A N I Z E R S

Layla and Jessica have expanded the endeavor and built a true digital media company, serving local markets across the country. The Local Moms Network now boasts over 100 locations in 30 States!

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

IN-TOWN INFLUENCE

— Rosie, New Canaan M A Y / J U N E

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BEFORE

AFTER

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN 8 7 TIDYNEST.COM | @TIDYNESTTEAM | INFO@TIDYNEST.COM

M A Y / J U N E

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www.BedfordStone.com

Fabulous Farmhouse Estate

284 a damS S treet , B edford h illS , n ew Y ork 10507 | 914-666-6404 | S ince 1925

Iconic New Canaan Treasure

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Where Customer Service Never Expires

Mother’s Day Celebrating Mother’s Day for Over 57 Years!

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OPEN 7 Days a week 8am - 5pm

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203-743-0267

“A Gift Certificate from Hollandia is always appreciated”

4 Elm Street, New Canaan, CT

Gift, Garden & Home

103 Old Hawleyville Road, Bethel

203-792-0268

hollandianurseries.com

Largest Garden Center in Fairfield County

www.BedfordStone.com

Fabulous Farmhouse Estate

284 a damS S treet , B edford h illS , n ew Y ork 10507 | 914-666-6404 | S ince 1925

Iconic New Canaan Treasure

757 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, CT • $4,200,000 • 7 bed, 6.5+ bath • 7k+ sqft • 4+ acres

Where Customer Service Never Expires

Mother’s Day Celebrating Mother’s Day for Over 57 Years!

In Bloom • All Seasons • All Reasons

95 Stony Hill Rd., Rt. 6, Bethel

OPEN 7 Days a week 8am - 5pm

OPEN 7 Days a week 9am - 6pm

203-743-0267

“A Gift Certificate from Hollandia is always appreciated”

4 Elm Street, New Canaan, CT

Gift, Garden & Home

103 Old Hawleyville Road, Bethel

203-792-0268

hollandianurseries.com

Largest Garden Center in Fairfield County

THE ST YLE SISTERS

(.25) Jane Manuel.pdf

16/04/2021

15:10

SOPHIE BICKLEY

CHARLOTTE BICKLEY

@YIN2MYYANG

CMY

Jane was raised in New Canaan and moved to Charleston 18 years ago. Since then, Jane has become an expert on the area and all that it has to offer. Let Jane show you why Charleston is one of the Country's top destinations.

Charleston, South Carolina

Style and fashion Instagramers may best exemplify today’s prototypical influencers. In the model - and the shadow - of the Kardashians, the style and fashion Instagram-ophere is flooded with those who profess and display nothing more than their own style and fashion...and with huge audiences of followers whose consumer behavior and spending is deeply influenced. Style and fashion is presently the lifeblood of Instagram influence.

Chic. Modern. Luxury. MADE IN ITALY

www.Harper-Lawrence.com

@harperlawrence

917-361-3700

M A Y / J U N E

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THE STYLE SISTERS

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

THE ST YLE SISTERS

(.25) Jane Manuel.pdf

16/04/2021

15:10

SOPHIE BICKLEY

CHARLOTTE BICKLEY

@YIN2MYYANG

CMY

Charleston, South Carolina

Chic. Modern. Luxury. MADE IN ITALY

www.Harper-Lawrence.com

@harperlawrence

917-361-3700

M A Y / J U N E

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BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

THE STYLE SISTERS

“We were always into fashion. Even when I was a young kid, I loved taking pictures of my outfits,” Charlotte Bickley, now 26, reminisced about the start of her influencer career. “My senior year of high school, during spring break, I stumbled across Instagram in the App Store. It looked so different than it does now! So I made an account called @chbickley, and kind of started to document my college tour visits, random things with friends, and my dogs...and I’d post pictures of my outfits. By sophomore year at Syracuse I’d reached a few thousand followers and by my senior year - 2016, my account was really beginning to take off. A lot of it probably had to do with the Instagram algorithm favoring me as an early adopter, and also to my extra-loyal ‘Red Men’ followers from ‘Cuse, but I knew I was on to something big.”

Charlotte has about 45K followers on her individual account, @chbickley...and Sophie has almost 20k followers on her separate @sophbicks Instagram account...while @Yin2MyYang has grown to over 105k followers! And it’s still a fulltime job for the sisters. “We feel really fortunate. We’re grateful that we get to work together and do something we love. This comes so naturally to us both, and we get to have a great time,” Sophie says.

“Sophie is two years older than me,” Charlotte continued, “...and had already graduated from Hobart & William Smith, and was working at a job focused on influencers in fashion. I’d interned at Bergdorf Goodman the summer before. We eventually realized we could be doing more in the growing influencer realm and frankly, without too much definition - we started @Yin2MyYang.”

It’s not all as effortless as the girls make it look. Although they say the styling part comes naturally, building and maintaining a brand requires real work. The sisters plan long photoshoot days to capture mass amounts of content, and while shopping is a fun hobby for most, it’s a necessary part of the job for Charlotte and Sophie. It also takes significant time and effort to gain and manage partnerships with brands. Charlotte cautions, “Although I post a lot, and about pretty much all aspects of my life, I’m really careful about what I show with my friends and other people in my life. I would never want anyone to feel like their privacy is being invaded. So I’m always trying to read the room to be sensitive to what other people’s comfort level is.” Sophie added…

“We thought the name @Yin2MyYang highlighted how we couldn’t be more different - especially in our sense of style - but how we’re only complete together.” Sophie declares. “We started showing the same outfit styled in two different ways. Or multiple options that showed off each of our unique senses of style. Our distinct contributions formed a harmony. The brand gained traction right away.”

“WE REALLY BUILT THIS FROM THE GROUND UP!” Charlotte and Sophie grew up in Bedford and it’s, frankly, an understatement to say ‘they were always into fashion’. Their Dad, Ian Bickley, was the President of Coach International when the girls were in high school and, before retiring, led the acquisition of Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman and the formation of Tapestry Group, where he ran strategic alliances. Ian now serves on the board of Crocs and Natura Group (a Brazillian brand that owns Asos and Bath & Body Works, amongst other international brands). Charlotte says, “Coach will always be special to all of us. It’s really where this all began for me and Sophie. We still have great relationships in the company, and are grateful for @Yin2MyYang to coordinate with, and work for, Coach. Of course, we miss the amazing fashion shows they did pre-Covid, and we’re hoping that comes back soon as the world begins to heal!”

Charlotte picks up on the story… “About a year into the account, in March 2017, we had this ah-ha moment. I was out of college and working as a buyer at Bergdorfs. ShopBop reached out to see if we wanted to be part of their ‘modern America’ campaign. It was meant to be a grassroots campaign. Rather than only showing their stuff on professional models, they wanted normal girls to show off how their lines could be styled and worn. We were paid only $1,000 total, but we were so excited to do it.” And it was at this point that the girls determined to go all-in on @Yin2MyYang. Charlotte and Sophie each quit their day jobs and committed their all to sourcing, styling, creating content, engaging with followers, growing the brand, and running the business of @Yin2MyYang. “From there, we got really lucky with a lot of our partnerships.” Sophie simplifies several years of hard work, continuing, “We worked with Bumble for a while, as what they called ‘Queen Bees’, spreading the word about their various dating and networking programs. We got some major shoutouts from big accounts. Danielle Bernstein tagged us a few times, and Arielle Charnas would repost us when we’d post wearing her line. We got to be on the cover of Quest magazine. And we had an amazing partnership with Keds - they sponsored our trip to Coachella in 2018 to post on their behalf… so we styled our looks around their new line of shoes.”

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THE STYLE SISTERS

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Sophie and Charlotte with their Dad, Ian Bickley.

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THE STYLE SISTERS

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THE STYLE SISTERS

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

THE STYLE SISTERS

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Sophie and Charlotte with their Dad, Ian Bickley.

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THE STYLE SISTERS

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

S pecial Packages • Clos et Therapy • Person al Shoppin g

70 Westchester Avenue 10576 914.232.3283 & b 914.793.0737. Will try to get pictures today. www.styledbypollygoodyear.com

POUND RIDGE 70 Westchester Avenue 10576 - 914.232.3283

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• ULLA JOHNSON • BIRDS OF PARADIS • A PIECE APART • LILLA P • REBECCA TAYLOR • • JUMPER 1234 • CHAN LUU • REPEAT CASHMERE • ELA RAE...

S pecial Packages • Clos et Therapy • Person al Shoppin g

70 Westchester Avenue 10576 914.232.3283 & b 914.793.0737. Will try to get pictures today. www.styledbypollygoodyear.com

POUND RIDGE 70 Westchester Avenue 10576 - 914.232.3283

BRONXVILLE 70 Pondfield Road 10708 - 914.793.0737

• ULLA JOHNSON • BIRDS OF PARADIS • A PIECE APART • LILLA P • REBECCA TAYLOR • • JUMPER 1234 • CHAN LUU • REPEAT CASHMERE • ELA RAE...

INTERIOR INFLUENCE

CREATORS OF CUSTOM BED, BATH AND TABLE LINENS

DIANA SPIER

“…the most beautiful embroidered linens in the world.” –veranda magazine 140 Elm Street, New Canaan (upstairs) 212.753.6700 www.leron.com info@leroninc.com

@DIANAROSESPIER PHOTOGRAPHY BY Sydney Sheehan

Sometimes referred to as micro-influencers, Instagramers with audiences that are too small to move the needle for any mass consumer brand, like Coke or Ford, can be most valuable for advertisers looking for a more pinpointed campaign. Local brands and retailers are looking for influencers with geographically defined followers, and many advertisers require a specifically focused audience to make the ad spending efficient. Gaining 10,000 followers can be pivotal, as it’s a critical step in getting the ‘swipe up’ feature on Instagram stories, and micro-influencers like @Dianarosespier, with 24,000 followers, are now a focus for many marketers looking for influencers with a more defined, engaged, dedicated and loyal following than the mega-influencers can offer. Laura9 6

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

Olivia

Riders MUpA

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INTERIOR INFLUENCE

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

INTERIOR INFLUENCE

CREATORS OF CUSTOM BED, BATH AND TABLE LINENS

DIANA SPIER

“…the most beautiful embroidered linens in the world.” –veranda magazine 140 Elm Street, New Canaan (upstairs) 212.753.6700 www.leron.com info@leroninc.com

@DIANAROSESPIER PHOTOGRAPHY BY Sydney Sheehan

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

Olivia

Riders MUpA

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INTERIOR INFLUENCE

BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

Photo by Tim Lenz

INTERIOR INFLUENCE

Diana started her Instagram account in 2014. As a new stay-at-home mom living in Bedford, she was looking for hobbies, and was in the process of decorating her first home. “I was just taking pictures of my house. Instagram was still pretty new, and I figured it could be fun to post some of the pictures I was taking. It was a personal, private thing. I was doing it just for kicks,” Diana says. But as she began using hashtags and posting regular content, all while keeping her anonymity, the account, then called @BedfordRose, began to grow. In her Bedford home, Diana tried out some flamboyant trends, like painting a room hot turquoise and using bold wallpaper. And her eyecatching décor began to attract a following. “As the account grew, I got more and more into decorating. I’m not a professional decorator by any means, but I was having a lot of fun, and I thought maybe one day it could lead to something,” Diana recalls. @BedfordRose reached a crossroads, as Diana describes it, when the Spiers moved from Bedford to New Canaan in 2017. The account had amassed about 6k followers, which was enough that Diana knew she had something worth pursuing, but also enough that the account required a real time commitment. “That’s when I realized I could really grow this thing if I focused, and implemented some small tweaks.

AND, WITH A NEW HOUSE IN NEW CANAAN, I HAD A NEW BLANK CANVAS TO WORK WITH!” she exclaimed. And as the content was no longer Bedford-based, Diana changed the account name to @dianarosespier, and began to incorporate herself into the feed more as well. Diana’s interiors-focused following began taking off right before Covid, and gained significant traction during the pandemic, as many folks were spending much more time in their homes and looking for inspiration to make their spaces feel more special. She attributes the success to posting daily, strong content, networking and collaborating with other influencers, and always being willing to build up others. For Diana, her brand has been more about the connections she builds and the fun she’s having, than turning her hobby into a business. As Diana sums it up, “First and foremost, I’m a mom. I have two kids, a boy and girl. But my youngest is off to kindergarten next year – so I’m only going to have more time to make this even bigger and better. Sometimes I get partnerships with companies that make sense for my brand or my home, and that’s always fun… but what I’ve enjoyed recently is creating a bit of a design consulting business. Followers would reach out all the time asking for advice, or maybe needing a specific item to fit a space, or just wondering what would look good to complete a room. So I’ve started working with them to source some great stuff. Still, being part of the local influencer community has really been most rewarding. I get to meet new people constantly, and I’ve made so many great friends and connections from doing it!” 98

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Do built-ins give you goose bumps? They should. Full-Service Interiors and Custom Cabinetry

www. christinefrisbee.com

@christinefrisbeedesign

www.lafrenchgoose.com

Finest selection of contemporary European stoves, fireplaces and grills Phoenix Outdoor Grill

40 Westchester Ave. Pound Ridge NY 10576 M A Y / J U N E

2 0 2 1

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Ilana Dunn, an Armonk native and Byram Hills graduate, has become the Face of Modern Day Dating.

The pair re-launched their podcast in January 2021, under the new name, Seeing Other People. The podcast already has 20 episodes, a handful of Patreon subscribers, a merch store, and a corporate sponsor! In addition to the podcast, the Seeing Other People brand has amassed over 9k followers on @seeingotherpeople, and Ilana, separately, has over 9k followers on her personal account. All of their content, from the podcast to Instagram posts and reels, to TikTok videos, is all centered in the idea that everyone is going to have a different dating experience - and that’s okay - but people can feel more comfortable by talking about it, and hearing about what others have been through. “We don’t want someone to feel bad for double texting, or for being too forward on a date. There are no real rules for dating, and so we just want to help people feel comfortable and confident in what they’re doing...and laugh off the bad dates together,” Ilana said.

After a stint in the music industry, including on Nick Jonas’ private management team, Ilana scored a job as a video and content producer at Hinge - the dating app used by millions, and especially popular amongst the Millennial generation. “I’m not sure I was actually qualified, but I convinced them I was. My job was to be the ‘face’ of Hinge; get people engaged; create a positive impression of the brand. When I started, Hinge was still a start-up, so I could do anything I wanted, and experiment and run with wild ideas. I created segments MY JOB WAS like ‘Dump or Deal’ where I went out into public spaces and asked people, TO BE THE Jay Leno style, if something would be worth putting-up with, or was good cause for dumping a date; I hosted a ‘FACE’ OF set of awards, and; I produced brief episodes discussing the biggest pain HINGE points daters face in modern dating.”

Although the podcast is one vehicle for their brand, Ilana explained that a lot of their engagement comes from short-form content. “I learned so much from my time in the content division at Hinge. I was able to use that time to figure out what people are going to enjoy but not necessarily ‘like’, and what will get people to ‘like’ a post but maybe spend less time on it… and I’ve been able to apply all of that to the Seeing Other People brand. Most people aren’t going to discover us and immediately become podcast listeners, so it’s really about mastering this formula for 30-second clips that become Instagram reels and TikTok videos. It’s soundbites really. That’s what goes viral.” And it’s clear that Ilana does know what she’s doing! In just the last few months, Ilana and Jonah have had TikToks with hundreds of thousands of views, and Instagram reels that have hit 561k and 911k views! It’s as simple as putting a song on a meme (generally defined as a humorous photo with text or a post that contains just text that’s spread and shared rapidly by social media users), but the important part is creating memes that users will identify with and share. Instagram Reels has turned into the biggest form of discovery for the Seeing Other People brand, and is how most new listeners are arriving at the @seeotherpeople podcast. Ilana credits this grassroots method with the podcast and the brand’s initial and early success: “When people enjoy our content and it’s in a shareable, digestible format, like an Instagram post, they’ll share it with friends or post it to their own story… That’s how we get the word to spread quickly and how we get people to find out about us.”

At one point during her tenure at Hinge, Ilana even started a podcast with a guy who she had met on a Hinge date. “We matched in the Summer of 2019 and had an amazing first date - like something out of a Bachelor 1:1 episode. And there was a second and a third date, but I had recently gotten out of a relationship that I just wasn’t over, and although I really like Jonah as a person, I wasn’t really ready to be in a relationship. So we agreed to stay in touch. … I genuinely meant that I wanted him in my life in some capacity, and so a few months later we met up as friends, and came up with the idea for ‘Dating Sucks,’ a Hinge-produced podcast about the ups and downs of dating.”

In addition to the heavy social media focus, the pair have also been making guest appearances on other podcasts with cult followings including We Met At Acme and Brunch Boys’ Jeremy Jacobowitz’s ‘Brunch With ____’ podcast.

And about the transition from being the ‘Face’ of Hinge to now becoming, more generally, the ‘Face of Modern Day Dating’, Ilana says, “I love everything about what I’m doing. I like the entrepreneurial process. I feel like everything I did in college and in my previous jobs gave me the right tools to make this happen. And it’s really exciting to just go for it... and then really make it happen!”

But as the content strategy at Hinge changed, Ilana “...realized that I wanted to be able to run with my own ideas and have creative license, and that I probably wasn’t going to be truly happy working at any company.” Then the pandemic hit, and while quarantined at her parents’ house in Armonk, Ilana reached out to her old co-host of the podcast ‘Dating Sucks’, Jonah, with a new idea…

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The Best Breast Care You Can Get… And it’s Right in Your Community World-Class, Holistic Breast Care Close to Home Should you need it, you will find today’s most advanced and complete breast care right here in Westchester. “Being part of the Northwell Health team in Westchester is hugely beneficial for my patients,” says Dr. Andrew Ashikari, Breast Cancer Surgeon at Northern Westchester Hospital and Phelps Hospital. “As a patient here, you can expect high-quality care, forward thinking innovations, access to the latest clinical trials and so much more. We’re really bringing the best of everything to our patients. It’s the best breast care you can get, and it’s right here in your community.” From your very first visit, breast experts at both hospitals are focused on providing the best oncologic care: surgical, medical, and radiation, and also ensuring that you are cared for holistically – physically, emotionally and mentally.

The Best Care Begins with Screening “Screening is the best tool we have to fight breast cancer,” says Dr. Alice Police, who leads the Breast Care Program in Westchester. “Because of COVID-19, many women are skipping their mammograms. It’s important to get your mammo, so we can catch breast cancer at its earliest and most treatable stage. We’ve put maximum safety measures in place to prevent exposure to the coronavirus of anyone who comes to the Hospital.”

Advanced Treatment and Improved Quality of Life All patients at the Northwell Health Breast Care Program in Westchester have access to advanced treatments that not only deliver the best possible clinical outcomes, but also have an important positive impact on overall well-being. For example, Intra-Operative Radiation Therapy delivers a single dose of radiation directly to the tumor site during surgery for early-stage breast cancers that have not spread. This allows the patient to skip the traditional four-to-six-and-a-half-week course of external beam radiation after surgery. “Patients don’t need to go back and forth to the hospital five days a week. Think about how that benefits anyone’s hectic schedule,” states Dr. Andrew Ashikari.

Aesthetics Matter One advanced technique offered in Westchester – the nipple-sparing mastectomy – offers superior cosmetic results over a mastectomy, with an equally positive emotional impact. “One of the reasons I joined Northwell Health in Westchester,” says Dr. Ashikari, “is because both Northern Westchester Hospital and Phelps Hospital believe in caring for women holistically. These hospitals are committed to ensuring that a woman feels confident after undergoing surgery for breast cancer.”

Clinical Trials “As a patient here, you have access to the latest clinical trials,” says Dr. Pond Kelemen, Breast Surgeon at Phelps Hospital and Northern Westchester Hospital. “In the trials, we analyze treatments to see if survival rates are improving, but we also study how our patients feel. How is your level of confidence and your physical and emotional well-being? All are so important.”

The Bruce and Andrea Yablon Cancer Health and Wellness Program “All our breast cancer patients are welcome at the Bruce and Andrea Yablon Cancer Health and Wellness Program,” says Dr. Ranjana Chaterji, Breast Surgeon at Northern Westchester Hospital. “The program offers free therapies that relieve stress and anxiety that you may feel from receiving a cancer diagnosis and/or treatment.” Reiki healing, acupuncture, aromatherapy, guided imagery, oncology medical massage, and reflexology are some of the treatments offered. Patients also benefit from free health coaching, fitness and exercise plans, pastoral care, and nutrition counseling. “It’s an honor to be able to offer my patients these services.”

To schedule a consultation, call 833-W-Breast

Mammograms save lives.

Remind the women in your life to schedule their mammogram today. nwhgetyourmammo.org (914) 666-1625

To schedule a consultation, call 833-W-Breast

Mammograms save lives.

Remind the women in your life to schedule their mammogram today. nwhgetyourmammo.org (914) 666-1625

INFLUENCING THE INFLUENCERS BRITTANY HENNESSY

Est.1967

Norwalk, CT

Danbury, CT

520 West Avenue 203.939.9771

70 Beaver Street 203.792.8700

Murmur 1.2 pg ad.qxp_Layout 1 4/6/21 2:52 PM Page 1 www.

KingswoodKitchens.com

@MRSBRITTANYHENNESSY PHOTOGRAPHY BY Frances Isaac

As the business of being an influencer has grown into an industry in and of itself, early experts have emerged to explain and educate - the influencers and the influenced. Experimentation and experience in the evolving world of influencer commerce can be used to inform the potential and future for the next generation of influence.

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INFLUENCING THE INFLUENCERS BRITTANY HENNESSY

Est.1967

Norwalk, CT

Danbury, CT

520 West Avenue 203.939.9771

70 Beaver Street 203.792.8700

Murmur 1.2 pg ad.qxp_Layout 1 4/6/21 2:52 PM Page 1 www.

KingswoodKitchens.com

@MRSBRITTANYHENNESSY PHOTOGRAPHY BY Frances Isaac

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Maybe no one else understands the power of social media quite like Brittany Hennessy. She has been ahead of the curve, and at the forefront of all of the social media trends, since before the platforms we use today existed. Brittany wrote the best-selling book called Influencer, and is now working on her second on the topic. She has worked at major magazines and publishing houses, consulted and brand-built for major influencers, and even built her own following @MrsBrittanyHennessy. And, Brittany and her husband and business partner, Alexander, recently moved with their 6-year old son, also Alexander, to New Canaan – and Brittany is due in August with their second boy. Brittany made her entrée to the influencer realm with a blog, back in 2007: Chi Chi 212. As a Public Relations intern and assistant at Abrams Artist Agency (now A3 - and morphed into an influencer agency), Brittany was hob-knobbing with the who’s-who of New York City, and attending all of the best events and parties. “Most of my job was focused on attracting and retaining talent. The blog was this fun thing that I really started doing on the side. Being at all of these fun things, and working with celebrities and models, I knew what was going on in the NYC social scene. I’d write gossip-esque blog posts… and it really took off quickly. I had tons of readers, big publications like New York Magazine would pick up my posts, and Page Six was constantly stealing my content. I once even planted a fake story about ‘The Situation’ from The Jersey Shore not being able to get into a club to prove it!” Brittany laughs. After a few years at Abrams, Brittney spent some time working in hospitality; mostly nightclubs and restaurants in the Meatpacking area, and again, mostly focused on popularizing a location by attracting talent and fame. But as the blog continued to gain regular readers and loyal followers, new opportunities arose. Brittany reminisced, “In 2011, I got invited by Nivea to come to Germany for a promotional trip. It was a ton of fun. I was hanging out with Rihanna! Although most of us on the trip were focused on blogging, they asked us to tweet while we were there. Twitter had been around for a bit, but still hadn’t really taken off, and not a ton of people were on it yet. But that was what really introduced me to the world of app-based social media.”

ONE OPPORTUNITY LED TO THE NEXT, and Brittany’s tenacity, forward thinking, and networking landed her a job at a new PR agency, called Horizon. An old blogging friend was handling the brand clients, and Brittany was asked to come on and handle the people. “That was the first influencer job I had. It was in 2014. I was probably one of the only people to have this kind of job at the time. We were working on mostly television and consumer products and goods, and my job was to get influencers to participate with those campaigns. It was pretty soup to nuts, but I quickly grew to love the casting part. Picking the right people with followings on YouTube, or a blog, or Instagram, that fit the brand image, and could quite literally influence their loyal followings to purchase the goods we were promoting.”

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What became frustrating to Brittany was the deckmaking, pitching, and analytics required to ‘sell’ influencer campaigns to brands. Although lots of companies were dipping their toes into the world of influencer marketing, not everyone had fully embraced it yet. “I didn’t want to have to convince people of why this works – it does!” Brittany says, “So I went looking for influencer casting jobs at companies that were already over that hump. I applied for this job at Hearst that I just had to have. I got rejected, but found a friend who I’d met on the Nivea Germany trip that worked there, actually managing the position I wanted, and went around the system… and landed the job! It was a perfect fit. I was completely focused on selecting influencer brands that fit with a campaign or story, and working with that influencer to build a relationship and create relevant content.” After a few years of working at Hearst, pioneering the “We’ve helped so many people leave jobs to do this full influencer industry, Brittany had quite a few stories time!” Brittany said. to tell – both about what made certain influencers successful, and cautionary tales about others. “There Carbon August also helps brands centralize their was this one campaign where I had a $10,000 budget corporate strategy for influencer engagement. They’ll to work with an influencer. We told her what we wanted work with a beauty company to help make the and asked her to put together a proposal. She asked for transition from drugstore to luxury, or be part of a new $2,500. And she even wrote an entire email to justify product launch for a luxury brand. The name, Carbon that amount. From my perspective it August, is derived from... Carbon, meant I had extra budget to allocate which is the connector atom, and “WE’VE elsewhere, but I wanted to shake her and influencers are the master connector... tell her she was worth more and should August, which has been woven HELPED SO and be asking for more. A lot of these people into the Hennessey family name, as just didn’t know what their value was at it’s the month of their anniversary, the the time…” Brittany explained. That’s MANY PEOPLE month young Alexander was born and when her husband suggested, ‘why don’t his middle name, and the month their you write a book?!’. LEAVE JOBS next son is due. As Brittany says, “We’ve adopted the name and kind of go by the Influencer became a sort of guide for the TO DO THIS August Hennessys. industry. How to build an audience, how to pitch brands, how to have a cohesive has her finger on the influencer FULL TIME!” Brittany strategy. “I figured there would be people pulse and understanding how trends who wanted to read it, but I was shocked will impact what’s to come. She thinks by the reception. After the release of the book, people that the future of influencing is in direct product were tagging me in their stories every day, telling me development and sale. All of these people with massive about what an impact it had,” Brittany says with the followings have spent the past 5 to 7 years promoting sense that she was truly surprised by the success of her products for brands and companies. They often get paid book. lots of money or get great perks to do that, but they don’t really get a piece of the action. So, we think the Following the release of Influencer, Brittany and her trend will move more towards influencers creating their husband started Carbon August, which specializes in own products to go along with their image and brand. building and optimizing influencer brands; coaching, We’ve seen it happen already. Years ago, only people like helping with contracts, connecting with brand contacts, the Kardashians were able to do this, but we’ve been streamlining a workload, and building the necessary working with some of our clients to move into this backend that an influencer needs to run their business. space, and we see that it’s working. M A Y / J U N E

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As for the future of the platforms themselves, Brittany thinks Instagram will always have a place, but pointed out the evolving shift in content focus from longer form posts to images to video clips. She loves seeing the talent that is emerging on TikTok, and the outlet that it’s created, especially for a younger generation. “When we were kids, you could be good at school or good at sports. But I think it’s really cool that now, some kids have this other thing. They can create content and have millions of followers to justify other interests,” Brittany says. She mentioned how many people complain about things like their kids spending too much time playing video games, and instead proposed social media as a positive outlet for that type of hobby, “If you’re going to do something that’s not traditionally valued, get on social media and do something positive with that…. Get on Twitch and make a ton of money! Kids can have multi-million dollar brands these days!”

Have you taken full advantage of the financial opportunities available to you? Are you taking advantage of deferring taxes through retirement accounts?

Do you know your optimal time to maximize Social Security benefits?

Do you have adequate life and long-term care insurance?

Have you considered creating trusts to be used now or in the future?

Do you hear from your financial advisor on a timely basis?

If you answered “No” to any of these questions, call 203.662.6308 for a complimentary financial refresh.

I am a resident of New Canaan, and have been advising high-net-worth families and institutions since 1992. JAMES BAKAL, AWMA®, CLTC® First Vice President / Investments, Financial Advisor, Private Client Group Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, 800 Post Road, Darien, CT 06820 203.662.6308 | jbakal@janney.com | For more information about Janney, please see Janney’s Relationship Summary (Form CRS) on www.janney.com/crs which details all material facts about the scope and terms of our relationship with you and any potential conflicts of interest. © J A N N E Y M O N TG O M E R Y S C OT T L LC • M E M B E R : N Y S E , F I N R A , S I P C • R E F. 2 5 8 3 0 2 - 0 42 1

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Brittany pointed out that Covid had a particularly large impact on the influencer industry. “There was less money being spent by brands, a lot got put on hold or postponed. That was paired with the biggest social justice campaign ever, which took place on social media. And with cancel-culture alive and well, brands and influencers were being particularly careful to try to avoid being labeled as out of touch or trying to hock products. The word ‘influencer’ sometimes gets this negative connotation… people think that because there are some ‘bad’ influencers that all influencers or the idea of influencing is bad. But there are bad everythings! Bad models and chefs and teachers; and those industries as a whole and all of their professionals aren’t labeled as bad. The beauty of this industry is that it brings real people into the process. It democratizes brand power, and actually gives more of a voice to consumers and regular people. But, during Covid, it really forced a lot of people who were doing this full time to assess how to be nimble and stay afloat when those sponsorships dry up.”

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Brittany’s next book, Founder, set to publish in early 2022, focuses on how to start a business in the age of personal brands. “Influencer was about how to position yourself to capitalize on a brand deal, or how to make money on the backs of established businesses through building a following. Now that we see followers actually buying the things that influencers suggest to buy...it seems obvious influencers should start selling things of their own. Founder gives influencers the tools required for running the business itself, especially in a niche industry,” Brittany explained. About being a leading authority on all things ‘influencer’, Brittany muses, “I’m an expert in a field that didn’t even exist when I had to pick a major. I tell people all the time: if you don’t know what you want to do yet, don’t worry...the thing probably hasn’t even been invented yet!”

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203-972-8100

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Have you taken full advantage of the financial opportunities available to you? Are you taking advantage of deferring taxes through retirement accounts?

Do you know your optimal time to maximize Social Security benefits?

Do you have adequate life and long-term care insurance?

Have you considered creating trusts to be used now or in the future?

Do you hear from your financial advisor on a timely basis?

If you answered “No” to any of these questions, call 203.662.6308 for a complimentary financial refresh.

Lampert, Toohey & Rucci LLC

Residential and Commercial Real Estate | Zoning and Title Issues | Construction Contracts | Construction and Commercial Litigation | Trusts and Estates

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203-972-8100

Philip Toohey Greg Williams

David Rucci Arthur Zinn

46 Main Street, New Canaan, CT

Jason Gladstone Harvey Melzerr BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

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Laurel Ridge Luxury Townhomes

Convenience, Quality Construction, and Cost Savings

The luxury townhomes in Lakeside at Laurel Ridge, South Salem, New York enhance the joys of home ownership, while eliminating the headaches. The townhomes provide quality construction, a convenient location, a setting of natural landscaped beauty, and a neighborly community.

Phil Pine, president of Laurel Ridge Development, says there are advantages to a townhome versus a comparably priced single family home. Most notably in the real estate taxes, maintenance costs, and utility bills, providing an average annual savings of $24,000. The overall carrying costs of a Laurel Ridge townhome is less than half that of a single family home.

For many Laurel Ridge residents, the savings is only a small part of the decision to purchase there. Other advantages include easy access to local shops, restaurants, transportation hubs, cultural centers, and recreational amenities.

Each townhome offers about 3,000 sq. ft. of living space, so even those who are “down-sizing” really aren’t sacriﬁcing much by way of space. According to Pine “People leaving their larger home are concerned about moving into a smaller space. When your kids and grandkids come to visit, you have plenty of room.

These three bedroom townhomes are spacious, with an open concept ﬂoor plan, are well designed for form and function, including a separate home ofﬁce".

“It doesn’t feel like a townhouse or a condominium. It feels like a house.” said more than one resident.

Lakeside at Laurel Ridge is part of an enclave of 46 townhomes on 10 acres, with a lake, walking paths, tennis courts, and multiple swimming pools. The remaining 10 townhomes are under construction and will be ready for occupancy starting this Spring. Select homes have lake•views and decks+from which to enjoy that view. 3 Bedrooms Home Ofﬁce • Minutes from New Canaan,

Upscale Downsize Ridgeﬁeld and Pound Ridge

• Real Estate Taxes $8,200

• Shopping Minutes Awayto enjoy,” Pine said. In addition to standard features,•including Common Fees Under There are some beautiful sunsets fireplace, attached two-car heated garage, and three bedrooms,• there is opportunity for further customization including elevators. The Lakeside Views $360/month • Pool, Tennis, Walking Trails flexible space of the finished walk-out lower level accommodates more than one purpose, choices ranging from home office, home theater, gym, and family room with wet bar.

There are some beautiful sunsets to enjoy,” Pine said. In addition to standard features, including fireplace, attached two-car heated garage, and three bedrooms, there is opportunity for further customization including elevators. The flexible space of the finished walk-out lower level accommodates more than one purpose, choices ranging from home office, home theater, gym, and family room with wet bar.

Laurel Ridge is walking distance to the Oakridge Common Shopping Center with a gourmet market, pharmacy, nail salon, dry cleaner, wine and liquor store, craft beer store, dentist, child care facility, pet groomer, and holistic veterinarian.

One resident said “We think the location is perfect, and it’s less than ﬁve miles from three gorgeous towns: Pound Ridge, New Canaan and Ridgeﬁeld, and it’s only a hop, skip and jump to Greenwich and Darien.”

Come and see beautiful Laurel Ridge in person. For a personalized tour please contact Donna Blais at 914.533.7520.

914.533.7520 914.533.7520 || lakesidelaurelridge.com lakesidelaurelridge.com

914.533.7520 | lakesidelaurelridge.com

450 450Oakridge OakridgeCommon, Common,South SouthSalem, Salem,NY NY10590 10590

450 Oakridge Common, South Salem, NY 10590

This is not an offering, the complete terms are in an Offering Plan available from the Sponsor File #CDlS-050

Laurel Ridge Luxury Townhomes

Convenience, Quality Construction, and Cost Savings

These three bedroom townhomes are spacious, with an open concept ﬂoor plan, are well designed for form and function, including a separate home ofﬁce".

“It doesn’t feel like a townhouse or a condominium. It feels like a house.” said more than one resident.

Upscale Downsize Ridgeﬁeld and Pound Ridge

• Real Estate Taxes $8,200

Come and see beautiful Laurel Ridge in person. For a personalized tour please contact Donna Blais at 914.533.7520.

914.533.7520 914.533.7520 || lakesidelaurelridge.com lakesidelaurelridge.com

914.533.7520 | lakesidelaurelridge.com

450 450Oakridge OakridgeCommon, Common,South SouthSalem, Salem,NY NY10590 10590

450 Oakridge Common, South Salem, NY 10590

This is not an offering, the complete terms are in an Offering Plan available from the Sponsor File #CDlS-050

LOOK THE PART

LONGER • LEANER • STRONGER We Provide Privates, Duets, Reformer,Tower, Pilates Mat, and Yoga.

Shop FitnessA pparelA t Our In-Studio Boutique. Lululemon, Manduka,Tavi Noir, and Alo

Whether in an intimate group class setting or tors will guide you through a 50-minute session with attention to detail, precision, and a focus on your core with every movement.

Influencers can offer a window into a seemingly perfect life. For many, a lot of the appeal is based on a flawless appearance. With some making that unattainable image a part of their brand, and others building a business dishing on the behind-the-scenes how-tos. B&NC Mag polled a bevy of influencers to find out what tips, tricks, and treatments they’re using to get ‘the look’ - and confirmed that there’s actually no secret: the perfect smile, skin, hair, wardrobe, and even a flat stomach...are all available locally!

102 Park Street

New Canaan,C T

HAIR EXTENSIONS

203.490.6333

Hair extensions are a great way to enhance your overall appearance, with minimal daily upkeep. The best and safest option for extensions is the Invisible Bead Extensions method. It offers an opportunity to add volume or length, or even fix a bad haircut. Whether the focus is an updo, or a complete transformation, the method is known to be the healthiest for your hair; the extensions are beaded and sewn with few points of contact so there’s no breakage… no heat, glue or adhesive. Additionally, rather than trying to match an existing extension color to your hair, these methods both involve coloring the extensions at the same time as your natural hair to offer a more cohesive look and feel. And, with IBE, you don’t have to worry about beadwork showing… expert and experienced technicians are able to hide the bead work so that it blends right, even when you flip your hair over.

www.coreburnpilates.com

Where to get them locally: Nicole Strachan recently opened The Vault hair salon in New Canaan. She is Invisible Bead Extension certified and has brought on a team of experienced experts with certifications in invisible bead extensions who will work with each client to customize their look.

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The Vault is new to New Canaan! Nicole focused on creating a beautiful and tranquil space with a team of four expert stylists. In addition to their expertise in extensions, Nicole and the team are at the cutting edge of the latest color and cutting techniques.

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BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

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LOOK THE PART

LONGER • LEANER • STRONGER We Provide Privates, Duets, Reformer,Tower, Pilates Mat, and Yoga.

Shop FitnessA pparelA t Our In-Studio Boutique. Lululemon, Manduka,Tavi Noir, and Alo

Whether in an intimate group class setting or tors will guide you through a 50-minute session with attention to detail, precision, and a focus on your core with every movement.

102 Park Street

New Canaan,C T

HAIR EXTENSIONS

203.490.6333

www.coreburnpilates.com

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STYLE

VENEERS Your smile is part of a first impression. Before new acquaintances know anything about you, they notice your teeth. But not everyone has the time for braces. And even after years of dental work, some smiles just aren’t perfect. From a bad gum-line to stained or misshapen teeth, there can be lots of reasons to consider veneers. Some of the most famous smiles were made perfect with veneers: Tom Cruise, George Clooney, Kylie Jenner, and Demi Moore… and so many of the top influencers too. This January, Buzfeed said, “Having a perfect white smile and shiny teeth is like the equivalent of having the latest designer bags these days.” It’s the secret to a perfect smile and allows you to completely transform your look. Where to get them locally: Helaine Smith at Pound Ridge Cosmetic Dentistry has been specializing in veneers and smile rehabilitations for over 20 years. She has specialized training in veneers and works with the best ceramists in the United States to ensure the most natural looking, personalized smile. Additionally, Helaine works with clients who need updates or fixes to older veneers. Her practice is discrete, and even offers privacy appointments upon request.

SKIN: BOTOX & RF MICRONEEDLING It’s no secret that everyone strives for perfect skin. The goal is a clear and youthful complexion that appears natural and radiant. ...But, with age, comes wrinkles! Botox has of course been around for decades and has become popularized because it’s so effective at treating wrinkles and expression lines. In the hands of a trained professional, Botox is one of the safest and most effective treatment methods available.

A big part of having an amazing look is being well dressed. Although everyone wants straight white teeth, fresh and youthful skin, beautiful thick hair, and a toned stomach… style is more about expressing your individuality. Every influencer has a different style, and what they wear is even part of their brand. It’s also the easiest thing to fix or change about your look for an upgrade or update. But finding clothes that make you feel confident and good isn’t always easy. Local style experts: MaisonMarché is a travelling pop-up shop that makes the experience of finding your best look fun and elevated, while also focusing on the importance of styling and sourcing complete outfits. Each pop-up location is considered to be a different fashion ‘curation’, and MaisonMarché’s founder, Sarah Easley, works with more than 75 global brands to provide access to styles you can’t easily find at local stores or boutiques. Sarah and her team of stylists focus on helping her clients create a signature style shaped around their life, budget, and overall aesthetic. Sarah explains, “It’s empowering for someone to look and feel their best. It’s our goal to provide local access to global brands so each client discovers new independent brands and learns how to wear these special pieces for everyday life.”

Microneedling is a newer treatment that uses collagen induction therapy (small needles to penetrate the skin’s surface and spur the body’s natural healing mechanism). Collagen is a protein that makes up the majority of our skin’s connective tissue, and provides our skin with the plumpness, and volume of our youth. As collagen is depleted, our skin thins out and loses its natural regenerative qualities, leaving us defenseless to environment issues such as weather, gravity, pollution, and more. Similar to classic microneedling, we recommend RF microneedling (radiofrequency technology) which penetrates inner layers of skin to tone and tighten. The procedure reduces wrinkles, discoloration, blemishes, scars and acne, and promotes exfoliation, hydration, moisturizing, collagen production, elasticity, and a general glowing complexion.

Polly Goodyear is a personal shopper and personal stylist. She helps clients with anything from styling outfits for an upcoming trip or event, to helping them build an entirely new wardrobe - and while she is based locally and can come to your house - she also offers virtual services, including a tool that allows you to upload the existing items in your closet so that Polly can shop to compliment those existing pieces and create cohesive looks. Polly describes what she does saying, “My approach isn’t about high fashion or covering yourself up, and it doesn’t matter what you weigh or what size you are. Everyone deserves to look good & feel their best. I love to help people find the right items for them, and be more confident as a result.”

Where to get them locally: Stacey-Jo Murray has been a nurse practitioner for 20+ years and started the Rejive practice in 2014 with a focus on turning back the clock, using all medical grade equipment, treatments and products. She is a botox expert and specializes in Pixel 8 RF Microneedling, which uses heat energy to contour and has minimal downtime.

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SKIN: LASER

Where to get the fractional laser treatment locally:

When considering laser treatments, keep in mind, not all skin cosmetic lasers are created equally. Fractional lasers, cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), target damaged skin with microscopic laser columns that penetrate deep into your skin to expedite your body’s remodeling of collagen. And since the laser treats only a fraction of tissue at a time, it leaves the surrounding tissue intact, which promotes very rapid healing. The treatment resurfaces your skin by stimulating the growth of new and healthy skin cells, from the inside out. As the skin heals, dark spots fade, wrinkles smooth, and skin texture and complexion improve.

“

As a teenager, I spent a lot of time in the sun. I paid a price for that tan because over the years, my skin became covered with brown spots that made me look much older than I was. The laser treatment made a real difference by reducing the dark spots, refining fine lines and giving me a younger, fresher, glowing appearance. Patient Testimonial

SKIN IS A WINDOW TO YOUR WORLD Laser Therapy Improves the View Wrinkles & Textural Irregularities

CareMount Medical Dermatology, 110 South Bedford Road, Mount Kisco. CareMount dermatologists Dr. Ross Levy and Dr. Benjamin Rosenberg utilize the advanced Lutronic eCO2™ Plus laser. Before beginning treatment, the dermatologist will evaluate your skin condition, help you understand your treatment options, and give you a better idea of possible results based on your unique situation. Dr. Ross Levy is the Chair of the Dermatology Department at CareMount Medical. He is board certified in Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery. He has extensive experience with dermatologic lasers and other cosmetic procedures, and has been in practice for more than 20 years. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. Dr. Benjamin Rosenberg has more than a decade of experience in dermatology with a focus on cosmetic procedures. He is board certified in Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. For more information about CareMount’s laser treatments and comprehensive dermatology services, or to schedule an appointment online, go to caremountmedical.com/ dermatology.

“

If you’ve considered treatments for your skin but have shied away from invasive or surgical procedures, there are newly advanced lasers that can help you with skin concerns without taking drastic measures. In just a single treatment, aging, sun-damaged or scarred skin can benefit from improved tone, texture and radiance, with targeted fractional skin resurfacing treatments.

Skin is a window to your world. If you’re not happy with your skin, and you feel like you’re not presenting well to the outside, you’re not going to feel very good inside. Lasers offer a non-invasive option for a number of skin conditions with remarkable results. Ross Levy, MD, FAAD, Chair, Department of Dermatology CareMount Medical

CareMount Medical Dermatology offers the latest technology in laser treatments to treat a variety of cosmetic skin concerns. The fractional laser’s resurfacing technique is used for: • Fine lines and wrinkles (such as crow’s feet and brow lines) • Sun damage • Pigmentation and age spots • Surface scarring (related to acne and surgical scars) • Actinic keratoses (rough, scaly patch on the skin that develops from years of sun exposure) What are the benefits? • Smoother, fresher, younger-looking skin • Improved tone and texture • Reduction of unwanted brown spots • Reduced fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes • Improved appearance of acne scars and surgical scars • Quick and efficient treatment of large areas, which can take hours with other devices

Sourced from Lutronic

Pigmented Lesions

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Ross S. Levy, MD, FAAD, CareMount Medical

Benjamin N. Rosenberg, MD, FAAD, CareMount Medical

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SKIN: LASER

Where to get the fractional laser treatment locally:

“

SKIN IS A WINDOW TO YOUR WORLD Laser Therapy Improves the View Wrinkles & Textural Irregularities

“

Sourced from Lutronic

Pigmented Lesions

Sourced from Lutronic

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Ross S. Levy, MD, FAAD, CareMount Medical

Benjamin N. Rosenberg, MD, FAAD, CareMount Medical

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LOOK GREAT ON ZOOM! By: Eva Scrivo With over 25 years of experience doing hair and makeup for television and film, I know firsthand the power of skillful makeup application. But, at no other time has on-screen-time played such a major role in our everyday lives. And because Covid suddenly hastened this phenomenon, many are woefully unprepared to look their best on Zoom, Facetime and our other personal broadcasts. It requires two elements – proper lighting and a few professional makeup techniques. First, you need to have a balance of light on each side of your face. This can be achieved with two small light fixtures to the left and right of the computer monitor. I have even used candlelight and it looked great. The way your face is lit can also be affected by the position of the camera. You don’t want to be looking down at the screen, which tends to create shadows and unflattering downlighting on your face. You can elevate your computer to face level by placing it on a few books. You can achieve the same effect by lowering your chair. Many try to take advantage of natural light, but that is not always a viable option. Not to mention the change of light throughout the day, and depending on the season. Once the lighting is properly positioned, a few professional makeup techniques can do wonders: • Apply concealer in thin layers.Allow the first layer to dry then gently tap on a bit more for added coverage. As long as the concealer is not too light for your skin tone, this HDTV technique works like magic! • Adding a touch of bronzer warms the skin and brings life to a dull complexion, as the camera can really wash you out. • Shading the neck area with darker powder or foundation, makes it look smoother by minimizing fine lines and wrinkles (this is a long-practiced technique for news anchors). This also works well for men! • Finally, add more polish to your blow dry and create extra height in the crown. To achieve more root volume, hold the hair up toward the ceiling while drying it (rather than pulling it down toward the floor). Creating more lift in the hair also makes your facial structure look more lifted, which is flattering for almost everyone! LOOK THE PART

2021 SUMMER SEASON Classical / Roots / Jazz / World / Family Fun

June 19–August 8 30+ Concerts!

Katonah, NY

PUBLIQuartet

Joan Osborne

This Thisisisnot not the thehospice hospice you youhad had ininmind. mind. Thank Thank goodness. goodness. Most of us think of aofhospice as aasdark, Most ofprobably us probably think a hospice a dark, depressing place where people go to depressing place where people godie. to die.

Amjad Ali Khan & Sharon Isbin

Leonidas Kavakos

Natu Camara

Plus: • Free Days to Explore the Grounds • Historic House Tours • Sound Art • Concerts on the Lawn • Garden Listening

TheThe Regional Hospice Center for for Comfort Care && Regional Hospice Center Comfort Care Healing is nothing likelike that. Nothing likelike that, at all. Healing is nothing that. Nothing that, at all. It isItaisgorgeous, light andand airyairy 36,000 square footfoot a gorgeous, light 36,000 square center located in Danbury. More likelike a hotel. It’s It’s thethe center located in Danbury. More a hotel. onlyonly oneone of its in Connecticut. Yes,Yes, people come of kind its kind in Connecticut. people come herehere to live out their last days, weeks or months. But to live out their last days, weeks or months. But we we putput thethe emphasis on on living. emphasis living. That means giving ourour patients andand their loved ones That means giving patients their loved ones thethe opportunity to live fully in the faceface of loss. opportunity to live fully in the of loss. OurOur goalgoal is toismake every dayday thethe bestbest it can be for to make every it can be for each andand every patient—from babies to adults. each every patient—from babies to adults.

What to Expect:

To To learn more, see see MakingtheBestofEveryDay.org learn more, MakingtheBestofEveryDay.org

FULL CALENDAR & TICKETS:

TheThe Regional Hospice Center for for Comfort Care Regional Hospice Center Comfort Care & Healing. & Healing.

caramoor.org / 914.232.1252

WeWe willwill change thethe wayway youyou think about hospice. change think about hospice.

• Reduced Venue Capacity • N.Y.S. Health & Safety Protocols

Making thethe Best ofof Every Day Making Best Every Day MakingtheBestofEveryDay.org MakingtheBestofEveryDay.org 203.702.7400 203.702.7400

LOOK THE PART

2021 SUMMER SEASON Classical / Roots / Jazz / World / Family Fun

June 19–August 8 30+ Concerts!

Katonah, NY

PUBLIQuartet

Joan Osborne

Amjad Ali Khan & Sharon Isbin

Leonidas Kavakos

Natu Camara

Plus: • Free Days to Explore the Grounds • Historic House Tours • Sound Art • Concerts on the Lawn • Garden Listening

What to Expect:

To To learn more, see see MakingtheBestofEveryDay.org learn more, MakingtheBestofEveryDay.org

FULL CALENDAR & TICKETS:

TheThe Regional Hospice Center for for Comfort Care Regional Hospice Center Comfort Care & Healing. & Healing.

caramoor.org / 914.232.1252

WeWe willwill change thethe wayway youyou think about hospice. change think about hospice.

• Reduced Venue Capacity • N.Y.S. Health & Safety Protocols

Making thethe Best ofof Every Day Making Best Every Day MakingtheBestofEveryDay.org MakingtheBestofEveryDay.org 203.702.7400 203.702.7400

WHERE TO GET FIT

B&NC Mag follows

Hot Hatha and Beyond

Instagram with 7.4K followers, that highlights Laura Young’s fitness journey over the past few years. Laura is a second grade teacher at South School in New Canaan and lives nearby with her husband, Ben, and their Labradoodle, George.

My experience at Hot Hatha and Beyond was incredible! Owner Whitney Riegel Mooney has created a safe and serene studio located in her New Canaan home. I had the joy of practicing one morning with a small group of welcoming yogis. Whitney guided us through 60 minutes of static poses that offered the perfect balance of challenge and relaxation. The temperature of the studio was an invigorating 110 degrees, which intensified the practice in all the best ways. I left feeling sweaty and rejuvenated. In addition to the smallgroup classes she hosts in her studio, Whitney also specializes in private and Zoom yoga sessions. I found Hot Hatha and Beyond to be the perfect place to sweat-it-out and clear my mind, while challenging my body.

@the_laura_young, a lifestyle

B&NC Mag asked Laura to share some of @the_laura_young’s influence in the local fitness market...

BY Laura Young

Pure Barre Pure Barre Darien will always hold a special place in my heart. As someone who frequents just about every fitness studio in Fairfield County, Pure Barre is one I find myself going back to time after time. Owner Laura Sabia has created an environment that is both inspiring and motivating. The studio offers a variety of classes ranging from ‘Classic’ barre to cardio-centered ‘Empower’ and resistance-training ‘Reform’. The classes are low-impact, total-body workouts that will lift and tone every muscle - in just 50 minutes. Another great thing about Pure Barre is that the instructors offer modifications for nearly every exercise. Whether you are healing from an injury or looking for pregnancy-safe moves, the classes at Pure Barre can be tailored to your particular needs. No matter what season of life you are in, you’ll be sure to lift, tone, and burn at Pure Barre Darien.

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Mason Strength There is nothing I love more than a workout that is tailored 100% to my particular needs and ability. When I visited Mason Strength for a training session with owner, Dan Belli, I was unsure of what to expect. But, Dan asked tons of questions about my fitness background and created a session that was the perfect workout. By the end of our hour together, Dan had managed to get me cycling through several sets of exercises, working on the skierg machine, and pushing a sled across the gym. It felt awesome! Mason Strength offers private training, tandem training, and pre/ post natal training. I was amazed at how quickly our session went by, and I left feeling ready to conquer my day. PHOTO BY Sydney Sheehan

Sama Yoga

Coreburn Pilates

Rebekah Jacobs, the owner, describes Sama Yoga Center as a traditional yoga studio that welcomes every age, body, and ability. Walking through the door, I immediately felt the warmth and friendliness of their community. The studio is adorned with motivational words painted on the walls and even has a beautiful outdoor garden for practice outside during the warmer months. The class was rejuvenating and accessible to all levels. I attended a Friday evening class, and it was the perfect way to wind down after a busy week. The class was safely filled with distanced and masked yogis, many of whom have been practicing at Sama for years. What I loved most about being at Sama Yoga Center was feeling the inclusivity and friendliness of the Sama community.

Before my visit to CoreBurn Pilates in New Canaan, I hadn’t stepped on a reformer machine or taken a mat class in years. I was excited to give it another try! With six locations in Westchester and Fairfield County, New Canaan is the latest studio to join the CoreBurn family. During our session, owner Tamara Slupchynskyj had my mind focused and every muscle shaking. CoreBurn’s method focuses on controlled and precise movements that engage every muscle to the fullest possible extent. This pilates is low-impact, but still packs all the punch of a cardiovascular work-out. The studio space is open and bright, and absolutely beautiful. I look forward to conquering more sessions on the reformer at Coreburn Pilates - New Canaan’s hottest new pilates studio!

WHERE TO GET FIT

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B&NC Mag follows

Hot Hatha and Beyond

@the_laura_young, a lifestyle

B&NC Mag asked Laura to share some of @the_laura_young’s influence in the local fitness market...

BY Laura Young

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Sama Yoga

Coreburn Pilates

WHERE TO GET FIT

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487 East Main Street • Mt. Kisco, NY

800-486-7553 914-666-5802

LN# WC17260-HO5 CT HIC.0560846

grand

ntrance We design and build high quality wrought iron gates and railings, wood gates and fencing, automated gate systems, security and entry systems, handcrafted stone walls, pillars, stairs and patios.

see our gallery of pictures at grandentrance.com

Your Marble, Stone, Tile and Grout Can Look NEW Again!

“Where family, knowledge, and passion come together to create an unforgettable customer experience.”

3 LOCATIONS

Branchville, Since 1933, 720 Branchville Rd, 203-544-8958 ■ Over 2500 wines from over 15 countries ranging from $6-$600 Including top selling national brands with a focus on smaller production, organic and natural wines

■ Wine of the Month Club

■ Over 500 Ales and Lagers including Connecticut craft beers

■ Private in-home tastings

■ Over 600 Spirits and Cordials including rare Scotches and Bourbons ■ Easy online shopping at anconaswine.com with a choice of local delivery or instore pick-up at our 3 locations

■ Educational tasting at our off site Annex space

Wilton, Since 2009, 5 River Rd, 203-210-7399 Ridgefield, Since 2018, 17 Governor St, 203-544-9017

■ Wine Cellar Consultation and Management ■ Special orders: never a problem ■ A wonderful selection of fine cigars

anconaswine.com Family Owned Since 1933

■ Highly Educated Staff With Three Certified Sommeliers ■ Everyday Mix Case Discount “Save 6% on 6 bottles and12% on 12 bottles”

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487 East Main Street • Mt. Kisco, NY

800-486-7553 914-666-5802

LN# WC17260-HO5 CT HIC.0560846

grand

see our gallery of pictures at grandentrance.com

Your Marble, Stone, Tile and Grout Can Look NEW Again!

“Where family, knowledge, and passion come together to create an unforgettable customer experience.”

3 LOCATIONS

■ Wine of the Month Club

■ Over 500 Ales and Lagers including Connecticut craft beers

■ Private in-home tastings

■ Over 600 Spirits and Cordials including rare Scotches and Bourbons ■ Easy online shopping at anconaswine.com with a choice of local delivery or instore pick-up at our 3 locations

■ Educational tasting at our off site Annex space

Wilton, Since 2009, 5 River Rd, 203-210-7399 Ridgefield, Since 2018, 17 Governor St, 203-544-9017

■ Wine Cellar Consultation and Management ■ Special orders: never a problem ■ A wonderful selection of fine cigars

anconaswine.com Family Owned Since 1933

■ Highly Educated Staff With Three Certified Sommeliers ■ Everyday Mix Case Discount “Save 6% on 6 bottles and12% on 12 bottles”

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I’M GETTING (BACK) INTO BIKING AND...

I’M GETTING A SAGE! BY Michael Kaplan

I turned 62 in January, and have been having what you could call a mid-life crisis... since probably around my 30th! I’m gripped by the notion that, no matter how much I’ve done, where I’ve been, what I’ve seen, and/or how great it’s been...it’s not enough, there are places I still must go, sights that need seeing, fun that needs finding, and even greater adventures yet to experience.

Then I used money I got for my bar-mitzvah to buy a white 1973 Raleigh Grand Prix 10-speed ‘English Racer’ with Simplex derailleur, and spent a lot of days riding around like Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer on wheels with my friend Michael Cohen (no relation to that Michael Cohen), who had gotten a somewhat better, canary yellow Fuji Newest (because his Dad was a partner in the ad agency that was representing Fuji). No matter what I did, he was always a little faster, and I have to admit some envy about that Fuji of his, with the fancy Campagnolo derailleur.

With that reference; I’m getting (back) into biking! At least partially Covid-inspired, last Summer I started to go for some short rides on the Giant road bike or one of the Specialized or Cannondale mountain bikes in the garage - and I really enjoyed the exercise and the time alone and outdoors. Now I’m focused on taking some epic bike trips. I want to use biking to get into better shape, but I have some fun-filled, interesting and luxurious adventures in mind which are really the driver. Biking was big for me as a kid. Until at least when I finished junior high school, my 1960s, Schwinn Stingray 3-speed, with the banana seat and monkey handlebars, was my principal and essential means of transport to just about everything and everywhere. 126 126

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I’M GETTING (BACK) INTO BIKING AND...

I’M GETTING A SAGE! BY Michael Kaplan

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What has caught my eye, and captured my imagination, are great bike trips. Views and vistas. Feasts and fiestas. I read a 2018 article titled ‘The seven best rides in the world’ in 1843 Magazine, wherein Tom Vanderbilt, self-described as having become a “cycling addict in middle age”, wrote, “Every serious cyclist worth his or her electrolytes carries around an inner list of ‘someday rides’, a dream landscape comprised of ferocious Alpine climbs, harrowing coastal descents and arresting scenery (topped off, of course, with enigmatic locals and restorative local elixirs).” A ride called Col de la Bonette on a section of the Mercantour National Park in France’s southern Alps was Vanderbilt’s first choice, and right here in America, Vanderbilt topped his list with: winter riding on Mt. Lemmon and around Saguaro National Park, in Tuscon, Arizona; the ‘Six Gaps Ride’, going east-to-west between towns in Vermont, and; the ‘Maui Monster’ 10,000 foot climb - and descent - of the Haleakala volcano in Hawaii. And there are numerous companies who have spectacular group trips running through wondrous places all over the U.S. and world. One outstanding adventure I’ve noticed is Bike Odyssey’s ‘Lionheart’, tracing Richard the Lionheart’s 12th Century odyssey from Venice, north through the Dolomites and Austrian Alps to Vienna, along the Danube into Bavarian Germany, and finally through the vineyard-clad rolling hills of Alsace, Burgundy and the Loire, ending in Aquitaine, France...and staying in European castles and other first-class accommodations, and eating gourmet food the whole way!

I JOKE AROUND - BUT The summer I was 15, I went on an American Youth Hostels trip (with about 8 kids and two (older kid) guides), riding from Springfield, Massachusetts to Canada, and then back to Boston and the Cape, with a few days finishing in Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. I remember having everything I had with me in my orange panniers, riding just about all day long on most of the days, staying in a lot of pretty grungy hostels, getting so familiar on the bike that I could shampoo while riding in the rain...and feeling a real sense of accomplishment each day and overall. The next summer, when I was 16 and my friend Michael Cohen graduated from high school a year ahead of me, we took a train to Boston, got on the ferry to Provincetown, and spent a couple of weeks we still recount regularly, riding and camping, as I had done on the AYH trip, up and down the Cape, and around and around Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. ...But then cars, and girlfriends who didn’t share the enthusiasm for biking or camping, and college, and then living in New York City, got in the way...and, regretfully, biking has never really been a big part of my adult life. I’ve enjoyed fun rides on vacations with my wife on vacations in San Francisco, Hawaii, Key West, and Acadia, but I really can’t say I rode much until last Summer - when Covid inspired any outdoor and socially distanced activity, no less one you can do with friends and family.

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NOT REALLY - THAT I’M LOOKING TO CONQUER THE WORLD’S GREATEST DESCENTS! MILESLONG GENTLE, GLIDING DOWNHILLS, WITH SPECTACULAR SCENERY, AND EXCELLENT PLACES TO STOP AND EAT!

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And this time around...I’m going to have the best bike!...I’m going to have the ‘canary yellow Fuji’ that makes me go faster than Michael Cohen - and all my other buddies... I’m getting a custom-fit and custom-built SAGE all-Titanium ‘Barlow ’ gravel bike! ...And to get started with my bike trip planning I’m working on a trip to - you guessed it - the Cape, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. I chose titanium over carbon for comfort and durability. Titanium is a tad more forgiving than carbon, and that translates into some shock absorption and a smoother ride. And I read that titanium’s ‘give’ relative to carbon might mean a couple hundredths of a second for an olympic biker taking-off from the line in the velodrome...but I’m sure that my performance will be more affected by having a more comfortable ride. Also, titanium means less cleaning, less maintenance, and a far longer usable life than the more brittle and fracture-prone carbon alternative. The titanium frame I’m getting will weigh only about 3.5 pounds! I chose a ‘gravel’ bike, because it really suits all my purposes. It will be good on the road - and, again, even if I give up a few seconds in a race with a road bike, being way more comfortable on the gravel bike than the road bike, because of the more upright position and the more absorbing frame, will mean better performance for me in the long run both in terms of speed and longevity. And I’ll be able to take the gravel bike on off-road stuff, like rides on rail trails, paths or near the beach, without having to switch from a road bike to a mountain bike to do so. Choosing a gravel bike was like choosing the sporty SUV instead of having to get a sports car and a truck.

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NOT REALLY - THAT I’M LOOKING TO CONQUER THE WORLD’S GREATEST DESCENTS! MILESLONG GENTLE, GLIDING DOWNHILLS, WITH SPECTACULAR SCENERY, AND EXCELLENT PLACES TO STOP AND EAT!

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I CHOSE SAGE FOR A BUNCH OF REASONS In the world of titanium bike frames, SAGE is known for using deep analysis and innovative design techniques to craft a one-of-a-kind experience for each rider. SAGE gives careful consideration to each individual in order to exceed even the most demanding customer. SAGE bikes have won all kinds of awards, including Road Bike of the Year from Road Magazine, Editor’s Choice Award from Road Bike Action, as well as Gear of the Year Award from Men’s Journal. And several of my bike-guru friends immediately recommended SAGE as the best choice for me, including my brother-in-law, who rides a Seven Axiom SL titanium bike, and is now wanting to trade-up to a SAGE. Even more critical, for me, was the ability to get my SAGE bike custom-fit and custom-built. When I’ve biked with my wife over the years, I’ve never really felt comfortable on my bike, and had a pretty constant strain in my shoulders and lower back, even if I adjusted the seat or tried to ride in different positions. And there were a lot of times when I felt like my wife was having a much easier time than I was, and that I was having to really push it just to keep up. Everyone and everything told me that a great fit would mean all the difference in my output and staying power. SAGE, based in Beaverton, Oregon, is owned and run by David Rosen, and produces a total of only a few hundred road, gravel and mountain bikes each year - a tiny fraction of the number of mostly Chinese-built bikes mass produced by the dominant bicycle manufacturers, such as Specialized. David is passionate about producing the best titanium bicycles, and personally dedicated to providing each customer with the best possible bike and fit. David grew up in New York City, attended Birch Wathen K through 12, and went to Greylock and Brandt Lake sleepaway camps. He started riding a bike at 5, and recalls, “I distinctly remember my first crash. In Central Park. I was on my blue Mongoose BMX bike - which was actually a pretty nice bike, and I was coming down the paved ramp coming off the Reservoir and I didn’t see, and went right over a metal curb, and shredded the whole side of my body. As a young teenager, I used to spend hours doing laps around the Park. You could ride on the bridle paths then, and a bike makes it much easier to get

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around the City. And later on, maybe in my early 20s, I started using the bike to really explore the far reaches of Manhattan, and then Brooklyn, and then out over the George Washington Bridge and up through the Palisades and into Bear Mountain State Park. I got really comfortable on a bike, and always thought I’d love to be in the bike business.” A career start at Macy’s learning customer service in the shoe department, and then into marketing and management...led to a job in supply chain demand planning with Nike...which led to David’s post9/11 move to Oregon...and, at age 48, what is now a 19-year marriage to his former Nike travel agent. “I’d decided I was going to pursue a career in some part of the bike business, and got a job in sales and marketing with a division of Fallbrook Technologies that made NuVinci variable transmissions. I bought a titanium bike from a friend of mine who had a company in Oregon and who was importing the frames from China, and I loved the feel of the titanium. But when I bought a second bike, it was terrible. It was constructed all-wrong for me, and it was impossible getting it fixed in the U.S.A. I decided I could do it better. I incorporated in 2012, started to produce bikes in 2013, and moved to using only frames made in the U.S.A. starting in 2014. I contract a forgery in the East Coast to supply our custom-designed frames, and employ a craftsman here in Oregon who builds some of our more bespoke or unusual orders. I have the advantage of a steady domestic supply, that wasn’t interrupted by Covid like it was for many other bike companies, and so I’m not totally dependent on in-house manufacturing that’s so often interrupted for other small companies by labor or supply-chain issues. Yet I still have the capability to build every bike as a one-off. I may source rims in Utah and hubs in Portland and can change parts around based on cost, specs, and availability. But personally controlling the frame design is more than just a romantic idea, it’s critical to making the right bike for each rider. Over the last ten years the percentage of bikers interested in road racing has decreased and the trend has been to larger tires and more comfortable engineering. My original designs are the evolution of years of learning bike geometries and understanding how customizing the structure will perform in each frame for each rider and style of riding.”

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David explained to me that building me the perfect frame and bike was wholly dependent on my providing an accurate ‘fitting’ - and arranged for me to meet with expert fitter, Chad Butts, at his Endurace Werx bike fitting studio in Montrose in western Westchester. Chad’s fitting business is a part of his life’s work as a bike performance trainer and consultant, and high school bike team coach. It turns out that there’s a real art to great bike fitting, and that great bike fitters are a scarce resource. Getting a fitting with Chad is like meeting with Yoda. He’s the Bike-Fit Whisperer. Chad wired me up to show the relative position and angle, and the pattern of movement, of my feet, ankles, knees, hips, back, shoulders, head, elbows, and wrists, and to read my EKG while I pedalled. And he put me on an adjustable test bike, which allowed Chad to experiment with the height and length of each frame component and setting the frame relative to the handlebar, seat and pedal positions while monitoring what each change did to my performance. I gave Chad feedback on how each change felt to me - and Chad either noted the data or told me the pain would go away once I started riding more, or if I could hold my back somewhat straighter and my elbows closer together. He coached me on my ankle position and stroke, and there was an immediate marked improvement in performance visible on the computer screen. It was exciting to see how directly fit and positioning could and would influence output - even for an out-of-shape rider going 5 or 10 minutes at a time for a total of only about an hour. And it was interesting to learn a little about how my body moves and works on a bike. Quite frankly, I really enjoyed the whole experience. It was a self-centered and self-satisfying exercise, kind of like seeing a psychologist but for a physical purpose, and a reaffirming step in the overall self-indulgence of getting myself the best bike. Later that day, Chad produced a full digital report of my fitting, and had a separate discussion with David to go over the results and his recommendations. Then I had another call with David to design the bike. He started by getting a general sense of my budget, and explained that, without going crazy on the paint job or taking the weight requirement for any component to a ridiculous extreme, I could put the bike I wanted together for just under $10,000. David went on, “Some folks go to town on the artwork for their bikes, and I engage a noted commercial artist to bring customer visions to fruition. The artwork alone on the purple Chris King Launch Bike I made for the 2019 Chris King Builder Show, was $7,500 on top of the cost of the bike.” I wanted SAGE’s standard brushed silver finish with seracoat rather than paint and chose that for the welds as well (I’ll be able to buff out any scratch), and was fine with choosing components for their functionality and durability and not with weight as the singular criteria... so I pulled the trigger on my new SAGE Barlow...with a purple SAGE logo on the downtube and a canary yellow Bedford & New Canaan Magazine logo painted on the top tube.

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Disc brakes are standard. I’m getting SRAM’s wireless electronic drivetrain, which means I can change gears by signaling the derailleur from buttons on the handlebar, and I chose SRAM in part because the battery for the system is housed on the derailleurs for a very clean aesthetic . The fork will be an Enve All-Road and will be made of carbon, and I think we’re going with Enve wheels as well. The tires on my gravel bike will be way less temperamental than those on a road bike, and actually come equipped with a sealant that gets you home despite a hole. And we’ve gone with an Ergon Pro seat, opting here for maximum comfort even if it means a few more ounces. I talked with David for a while about riding. His favorite places to go around Oregon. A few of his dream rides. And when I asked who he’d most like to go out with on a ride any afternoon, David quickly said, “Definitely Michael Jordan. I grew up a Knicks fan, but I’ve always admired Jordan’s competitive fire and desire to win. He inspired my business philosophy; my drive to succeed at making the best bike in the world. ...And Steve Jobs, due to his unflinching desire to make great products.” Then, after a bit more reflection, David added, “Also: John Tomac - His poster was on my wall as a kid and he’s in the Cycling Hall of Fame for a variety of disciplines; Lance Armstrong - Say what you will about the cheating, doping, bullying, etcetera, I enjoyed watching him race and I cheered him on. I met him once and he was everything I expected him to be and, despite what’s happened, I would still love to ride with him, and; Eddie Merckx - The greatest cyclist of all time. He won everything multiple times over. He was the Michael Jordan of cycling.” And then, after even a bit more thought, David said humbly, “But you know, the reality is that I really enjoy riding with my friends - and I don’t get to do it enough. While it would be nice to ride with famous people, they are still people after all, and the bike is a great equalizer in that regard. I have fun riding with my friends, and I hope to be riding with them for many years to come. It’s those relationships I cherish the most.”

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...And I’ll follow up on the great rides I’ll be taking…

O U LI K

I’m expecting delivery of my new SAGE Barlow around the time this issue of B&NC Mag is delivered. I can hardly wait! I’m trying to start working out, as I’m mindful that losing a few pounds from my waistline will be just as effective as - and a lot cheaper than - cutting pounds from the weight of the bike. I’m committed to riding the bike...a lot. I feel confident in all the choices I’ve made and comfortable knowing that, without having to do much maintenance at all, my SAGE will be ready to ride, every time, until I can ride no longer.

RT HE

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...And I’ll follow up on the great rides I’ll be taking…

O U LI K

RT HE

“Upgrading the design of the Summit Club golf course and bringing it into the 21st century has been a wonderful experience for Bryce Swanson and myself. We have taken the original design and made it a more thought-provoking classic golf course. ”

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Rees Jones,

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information or for a personal tour at 914.273.9300 BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN

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Positive Influence SHERI WEST & LIVEGIRL

LIVEGIRL has influence at another level! Influence beyond consumer tastes and spending... LIVEGIRL has a positive influence on lives! ...Although billions of dollars in ad spending now flows through the new generation of social media influencers - and influencers now impact many billions more in consumer spending...it’s worth noting that, at least thus far, consumerism is the overwhelming essence of most influencer marketing and commerce...and that there’s real opportunity in the ever-expanding universe of influencers to achieve great gain and purpose for good and charitable causes. Sheri West is a real life superhero. She’s definitely the Mrs. Incredible (Elastiwoman) of New Canaan - only Sheri’s superpower is stretching to run LiveGirl (‘live’ rhymes with ‘give’), a most outstanding charity actively and successfully involved in empowering young women... and Sheri doesn’t even need a superhero’s uniform. She’s a dynamo, who appears far too young, fit and energetic, to be the mother of three in high school and college, and to have started LiveGirl in 2014, after a two decade career, at Pepsi and then GE, in Corporate Finance and Leadership Development. Sheri uniquely combines passionate zeal with polished business acumen. She is the visionary leader of LiveGirl, an innovative nonprofit girls leadership organization. The scope and impact of the good work LiveGirl is doing is simply stunning! LiveGirl is all about building confident, inclusive leaders. LiveGirl serves thousands of girls annually in its innovative, evidence-based leadership development and mentoring programs. Their free-of-charge after-school programs range from middle school Confidence Clubs, creating a safe space for girls at a crucial developmental stage in their lives, to She Works, a career-readiness and internship program for college-aged women. From pre-teen to young adult, LiveGirl equips young women with the skills, mentors, role models, and experiences necessary to thrive and gain social mobility. Remarkably, when schools closed in March 2020, LiveGirl moved all of its regular programs online and added new programs, such as She Cares 1:1, to provide mental health mentoring. Since its founding, LiveGirl has reached over 10,000 girls in grade 5 through college, including 65% girls of color.

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Sheri explains, “Studies show us that girls’ confidence plummets during puberty and never recovers. It is particularly difficult for girls of color, who are bombarded with negative messages on both race and gender. We get involved with the girls in middle school and stay with them through college. The girls relate to our mentors and begin to form a sisterhood. In middle school, we coach girls to lead themselves. In high school, we teach them how to lead others. And then we have She Works, where we match each young woman in a paid internship, and equip them to lead in the workforce. Building empathy is the key. We’ve seen that the direct involvement in our girls’ lives that we offer really makes a difference long-term.” Currently, LiveGirl runs out of a small office on the back side of Walter Stewart’s Market, with 3 full-time employees, 20+ diverse part-time mentors, a large network of interns and volunteers, and an annual budget that is funded from about 30% corporate sponsorships/grants and most of the remainder from private donations. The organizational structure, reach, implementation and effectiveness are all outstanding. And, while Sheri’s MBA from Michigan State and all her professional experience are evident, it’s simply astonishing that Sheri’s been able to do what she’s done with LiveGirl - and raise all the money to do it. LiveGirl college intern Brianna Milano spreads positivity in the sisterhood.

Leilah Saint Louis has been involved in LiveGirl through high school and launched her nonprofit Black Out Stamford through the LiveGirl League.

Raise your hand if you’re a confident, inclusive leader!

So, how does LiveGirl build confident, inclusive leaders? LiveGirl builds self-esteem by providing girls with a safe space to try new skills and experiences themselves. LiveGirl equips each girl with the tools to be self and socially aware and to discover the power of her voice. And LiveGirl provides opportunities for young women to build authentic bridges to people whose lives are different from their own. Post-program stats such as 86% “feel confident as a leader” and 91% “know how to deal with conflict” demonstrate impact. Saxe Middle School Counselor Sarah Beltran sees that impact. “Through LiveGirl, girls build self and social awareness and develop their ability to communicate, make sound decisions, and nurture positive relationships,” Beltran said. “LiveGirl compliments our school-wide Social Emotional Learning initiatives beautifully.” Neya Krishnan, a New Canaan High School senior, is a shining example of what young women can gain through LiveGirl. “LiveGirl taught me that anything and everything is possible,” Krishnan said. “The specific leadership skills I learned - resilience, public speaking, advocacy, and networking - are the superpowers I need to rise.”

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Positive Influence SHERI WEST & LIVEGIRL

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Leilah Saint Louis has been involved in LiveGirl through high school and launched her nonprofit Black Out Stamford through the LiveGirl League.

Raise your hand if you’re a confident, inclusive leader!

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POSITIVE INFLUENCE

LIVEGIRL NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT!

Sheri bursts with pride when she talks about LiveGirl, or more particularly starts to tell the individual success stories of young women who have been deeply impacted by the program. But, like other superheroes, she’s humble about her herculean contribution with LiveGirl, and prefers to boast about her family’s role; her husband, Brian, sits on the LiveGirl Board; her daughter Olivia, a UPenn-bound senior at New Canaan High School, co-hosts the mother/daughter Confident Podcast and serves as President of the LiveGirl Leadership Council, and; her sons Conor, a Duke University sophomore, and Donovan, a Saxe Middle School eighth grader, have contributed in various other ways. She unassumingly explains the genesis, saying, “Our family agreed to pay it forward and do more after we hosted a student through the Fresh Air Fund. We witnessed the life-changing impact that access to positive support, mentors, and role models can have - and the awesome power to give Janiya the confidence that she ‘belonged’, and we probably learned as much about ourselves as she did about herself and us. I realized I wasn’t doing enough and that we could all do more. I now define community beyond my zip code... and believe we can scale our innovative model to help end gender and racial inequality.”

Zero Energy Ready, Passive House, LEED, and National Green Building Standard Certified Homes

Ryan Raveis Co-President

Chris Raveis

Bill Raveis

Co-President

Chairman & CEO

Welcome to the best just got better. We’re a family firm. And firm as a family. It counts for everything in the real estate business. Our cutting-edge ideas have shaped the real estate industry since 1974. If there’s a better way to sell homes, you can trust us to find it. At William Raveis, we have always been in the business of better. Providing our agents with better marketing, better tech, better tools, and better teamwork which combine for a smoother sale. With the launch of Raveis Premium, our new suite of state-of-the-art tech and services, we’re proud to take the home-selling process to the next level. Welcome to the #1 family business in the Northeast and Florida. BPC Green Builders, Inc. & BPC Green Builders of New York, Inc. 138 BEDFORD & NEW CANAAN POSITIVE INFLUENCE (203) 563-9909 BPCGreenBuilders.com

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POSITIVE INFLUENCE

LIVEGIRL NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT!

Zero Energy Ready, Passive House, LEED, and National Green Building Standard Certified Homes

Ryan Raveis Co-President

Chris Raveis

Bill Raveis

Co-President

Chairman & CEO

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The Beauty of Good Health Colors are vibrant and spirits are alive – traditions are celebrated as new seasons arrive. From children to families to elderly care – health often dictates the good times that they share. We’re inspired each day to care for this community – each day brings unique purpose and opportunity. Life’s precious moments are what people treasure – to care for your health is our mission and pleasure.

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May/June 2021

Articles inside

I’M GETTING (BACK) INTO BIKING AND… I’M GETTING A SAGE

CLASSICALLY INFLUENTIAL: SUSAN MAGRINO DUNNING

WHERE TO GET FIT

POSITIVE INFLUENCE: SHERI WEST & LIVEGIRL

LOOK THE PART