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28 THE FRONT PAGES WHAT’S WHAT From art exhibits and hotel openings to wellness escapes and adventure travel.
38 WATCHES TIME AHEAD The future of watchmaking is all about upcycling for the environment.
46 JEWELRY INTO THE WOOD Beautifully carved wood adds natural warmth to gold pieces.
52 GETAWAYS OUTDOOR RECESS Connecting to nature has become a central tenet in a new wellness travel wave.
68 GETAWAYS FOREVER WILD The allure of wide-open spaces, sweeping vistas, and untamed wilderness is as strong as ever.
76 CITY UPDATE CHEAT SHEET NYC A short list of some favorite places around town to eat, drink, shop, and spa.
80 FINE DINING DINNER AND A SHOW VIP spaces in highly acclaimed restaurants offer unparalleled experiences. Plus, a unique cooking lab.
88 TECH BETTER HOMES New devices to master your domain near, far, and virtually.
92 GOLF TECH GAME ON Ten noteworthy discoveries from the 2022 PGA Merchandise Show.
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Connecting more countries than any other airline.
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94 GOLF TECH STAY AND PLAY Florida’s prestigious PGA National Resort is made new.
98 AUTOMOTIVE KINGS OF THE ROAD Five extra-large SUVs that meet every need— and then some.
116 TRAVEL MALTA’S KNIGHT LIFE BECKONS A tiny Mediterranean island nation rediscovers its own charms.
122 ADVENTURE BEYOND THE BIG FIVE Exclusive lodges specializing in encounters with Africa’s elusive and extraordinary residents.
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106 THE LUXURY LOOK ALL-ACCESS GRANTED A rush of adrenaline brings you to the great outdoors in more ways than one.
130 TRAVEL ONE PLACE, TWO WAYS Santa Fe, the oldest state capital in the United States, is an epicenter of American culture.
112 AVIATION FLYING HIGH Private jet charters are looking toward a future that’s brighter than ever.
132 TRAVEL ONE PLACE, TWO WAYS Puerto Vallarta, a coastal resort where Old Hollywood glamour meets modern Mexican beach vibes.
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134 TRAVEL BOCA RATON’S REBIRTH A city and a 1920s-era grand dame get their glamorous groove back.
138 SPORTS HIGH SEAS ADVENTURES You can have a great saltwater game fishing story of your own.
176 FURNISHINGS ECO-CONSCIOUS STYLE Manufacturers across home categories are focusing on ecological responsibility.
182 REAL ESTATE LIVING HISTORY Architectural gems with unique historic backgrounds are the latest residential trend.
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144 FASHION DESERT HEAT Spring into summer’s hot days and cool nights with a mix of casually chic looks.
192 ARTIST PROFILE TECHNICOLOR BOUQUETS Flowers in all their fleeting glory sustain the vibrant work of Japanese artist Azuma Makoto.
166 ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN AT HOME AT SEA These six superyachts show what living on the water in style can be.
204 THE LAST PAGES WHAT’S NEXT From new restaurants, bars, and spirits to fun shops and coffee-table books.
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On the Cover
J
apan’s indigenous Shinto culture is rooted in the belief that spirits reside in all natural things: trees, water, wind, rocks, flowers. When Buddhism arrived to the island from China in the sixth century, ikebana—the Japanese art of floral design rooted in religious offerings of flowers to the Buddha—expanded upon the idea that a blossom could open minds and hearts to much more than the beauty of the petals themselves. Azuma Makoto, one of the most important floral artists working in the world, did not attend ikebana school or study artistic composition with the masters. Still, his understanding of nature as a transcendent and illuminating force seeps through the very pores of his botanical masterpieces, perpetuating a dialogue around the dualities of tradition and modernity. The Buddha believed that death could be used as a tool to awaken us to life, and that’s maybe as close to a summation of what Makoto’s work does at its best. “There exists a kind of beauty that reveals itself only in the face of death,” Makoto writes in Encyclopedia of Flowers III, a photographic catalog of his daily work in Tokyo over a period of two years. When Makoto speaks of flowers, he speaks about the way they “present themselves to us.” In his Chiaroscuro series, they present themselves in between life and death. They are “chiaro” (light) and “scuro” (dark), their essence in harmony with the spring equinox—a time when light and darkness are evenly split, just before light prevails.
LUXURY MAGAZINE’s profile of Azuma Makoto begins on page 192.
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What’s What ART, CULTURE & DESIGN
American Realist Winslow Homer (1836–1910) often engaged with charged subjects like race, politics, and the environment in his art. Winslow Homer: Crosscurrents (metmuseum.org) reconsiders his work through the lens of those ever-current themes. See approximately 90 oils and watercolors at the Metropolitan Museum, New York through July 31. Winslow Homer: Force of Nature (nationalgallery.org.uk) opens at the National Gallery in London on September 10.
Chinese fashion designer Guo Pei creates extravagant, dream-like clothes using unconventional dressmaking techniques and lavish embroidery. Remember Rihanna’s yellow fur-trimmed cape from the 2015 Met Gala? Guo Pei: Couture Fantasy (above) displays 80 works from past Paris and Beijing runway shows, transforming San Francisco’s Legion of Honor Museum into a palace of couture through September 5. legionofhonor.famsf.org A grand collection of fine and decorative arts features in Hubert de Givenchy Collectionneur, an upcoming auction at Christie’s Paris and online. More than 1,000 lots from Old Master paintings to neoclassical armchairs come from Givenchy’s palatial homes in Paris and the Loire Valley. Online sales June 8–23, live sale June 14–17. christies.com Working with three primary colors (plus black and white), Piet Mondrian (1872–1944) took his color-block paintings to new levels of pure abstraction. 150 Years of Mondrian (left) showing at Fondation Beyeler, Switzerland, June 5–October 9. fondationbeyeler.ch
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Cézanne spans the full career of French Post-impressionist painter Paul Cézanne (1839– 1906), widely considered the father of modern art. Ninety oil paintings, 40 watercolors and drawings, and two sketchbooks will be exhibited at the Art Institute of Chicago (artic.edu), May 15–September 5; and at London’s Tate Modern (tate.org. uk), October 6–March 12, 2023. Celebrating the 91-year-old’s career as a painter, sculptor, fabric artist, and activist, Faith Ringgold: American People includes personal and autobiographical pieces that tell collective histories from the Harlem Renaissance (1920s and 1930s) to the 1960s civil rights era. Showing at the New Museum, New York, through June 5. newmuseum.org The Philadelphia Show celebrates the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s 60th anniversary on the East Terrace (at the top of the “Rocky Steps”). A welcome return to in-person programming after two years of virtual events, the standout weekend features 40 exhibitors of fine art, design, and antiques from across the country. April 29–May 1. thephiladelphiashow.com
Important International Art Exhibitions The global pandemic, climate change, and the relevance of art in these unstable, uncertain times are some of the themes that artists, architects, dancers, cinematographers, and musicians will explore at the 59th Venice Biennale, featuring 213 artists from 58 countries, April 23–November 27, 2022. labiennale.org Established by museum founder Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney in 1932, the Whitney Biennial 2022: Quiet as It’s Kept is the longest-running, by-invitation survey of American art. At New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art, April 6–September 5. whitney.org Curated by the Indonesian arts collective Ruangrupa, Documenta Fifteen promises to document the art of our times, just as previous editions of this sprawling show that takes place every five years. In Kassel, Germany, June 18–September 25. documenta-fifteen.de
Courtesy Images, From Top: Guo Pei; Mondrian/Holtzman Trust c/o HCR International Warrenton, VA USA/Robert Bayer, Basel
Following the success of Immersive Van Gogh, immersive art exhibits with 360-degree projections and virtual reality components are having a moment. Klimt: The Immersive Experience (immersiveklimt. com) opens in cities across the world, and you can expect to see a staggering amount of the color gold. Claude Monet: The Immersive Experience (monetexpo.com) showcases more than 300 dreamy, largerthan-life reproductions of i\ Impressionist paintings and sketches. Frida: Immersive Dreams (immersive-frida.com) displays spectacularly cinematic images of the icon’s most recognizable work.
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What’s What HOTELS Mandarin Oriental Shenzhen on the top floors of the 79-story Upper Hills skyscraper has 178 rooms and suites with marble baths and Diptyque toiletries. Eight dining options include a classic Cantonese restaurant helmed by Chef Fei, whose Guangzhou outpost Jiang has two Michelin stars. The retro rooftop MO Bar offers impressive views of Shenzhen Bay. From $420; mandarinoriental.com
In Paris’ exclusive 16th, Saint James Paris (above), a neoclassical masterpiece and the Paris home of the exclusive Saint James Club, recently finished a full transformation directed by trendy architect and designer Laura Gonzalez. Inside find 48 rooms, some with terraces and others with winter gardens. To relax, wander old-fashioned gravel paths among greenhouses and beehives and book treatments in
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the Guerlain spa. From $665; saint-james-paris.com Château Voltaire has opened close to the Opéra, Palais Royal, and Tuileries Garden, with 32 charming rooms and a top-floor apartment with a terrace planted in wildflowers and fruit trees. Brasserie l’Emil has the warm atmosphere of a small village eatery. From $515; chateauvoltaire.com Delightful and dazzling, the sister property to Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Villa Passalacqua opens in June. The swaggedand-gilded villa has been transformed into an exquisite, 24-suite hotel on the shores of Italy’s Lake Como. Find an open-air gym in an olive grove, book outdoor spa treatments, and launch from a private dock with a selection of vintage boats. grandhoteltremezzo.com The Maybourne Hotel Group, operators of Claridge’s, The Connaught, and The Berkeley in London, as well as The Maybourne Beverly Hills, opens The Maybourne Riviera, a strikingly modernist hotel on a rocky peninsula above the stillsleepy village of RoquebruneCap-Martin on the French Riviera. In addition to 69
rooms and suites with private terraces and sea views, enjoy outsized gastronomic offerings, including restaurants from the legendary chef Mauro Colagreco (find his three-Michelin-star Mirazur in nearby Menton) and global super-chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. From $2,423; maybourneriviera.com Opening in April in Ibiza’s Old Town and near the marina, the boutique, 53-room The Standard, Ibiza will operate an all-day, street-level restaurant that spills out onto pedestrianonly Vara de Rey. After hours, the space transforms into an intimate nightlife experience (an alternative to Ibiza’s mega-club scene). For larger friendsand-family groups, book Casa Privada—14 hotel-serviced rooms and a rooftop pool. From $625; standardhotels.com
Rosewood São Paulo (below) opened in January in the restored historical landmark Matarazzo Maternity hospital. The knockout vertical garden tower is by big-name architect Jean Nouvel and Philippe Starck designed the 160 rooms. Choose between two swimming pools (one on the rooftop, the other tucked into a lush garden) and two restaurants, but do not skip the jazz club and cocktail bar. From $557; rosewoodhotels.com
Courtesy Images, From Top: Can Ferrereta Hotel; Saint James Paris; Rosewood São Paulo
This 32-room, art-filled country hotel by the family behind Saint Frances Hotel in Palma opened last year. Can Ferrereta Hotel (above) on Mallorca’s lesserknown southeast coast features summery colors and designforward furniture, poolside dining, and a spa with a hammam. From $625; hotelcanferrereta.com
Opened in August on a 21-acre private island in peaceful Udai Sagar Lake, the palatial Raffles Udaipur India is a short boat ride away from the historic city of Udaipur. The 101 spacious guest rooms and stately suites come with personalized butler service and many have their own pool and cabana. Don’t miss high tea at Sunset Point. From $706, including breakfast; raffles.com
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What’s What HOTELS
Soho House has opened an outpost in a former hosiery factory in Nashville. The 47-bedroom hotel/members’ club is designed with nods to its industrial roots and to the city’s musical heritage. The rooms feature a mix of furniture made by local cabinetmakers and vintage accessories. From $440/night; annual, all-access membership to 28 SoHo Clubs worldwide from $3,200; sohohouse.com
The jewel-box 12-room hotel Ett Hem, a private residence (built in 1910) in Stockholm, is transforming an adjacent townhouse into three Scandi-chic residences furnished with vintage and artisan-made furnishings. Available for longer stays starting this fall, the new spaces complement existing ones by Ilse Crawford (founding editor of British Elle Decoration). Outdoors, the secret-garden courtyard is perfect for summer breakfasts or to wind down in the evening with a chilled bottle of wine. etthem.se
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SPOTLIGHT: Prince de Galles Hotel, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Paris The Art Deco Prince de Galles remains a landmark on Avenue George V in Paris’ Golden Triangle, in the glamorous 8th Arrondissement. Public rooms project a sophisticated French film noir glamour and the 115 rooms and 44 suites mix contemporary and classic Art Deco looks with rich hues of purples and browns, with cocoa-colored marble floors. To celebrate its 90th anniversary, the hotel partnered with French crystal firm Lalique to renovate the hotel’s largest suite. Berlinbased designer Patrick Hellman, known for both precision and
extravagance, was tapped to helm the project. The result? Minimalist contemporary rooms in ebony, gold, and marble with views of the Eiffel Tower and Paris skyline, even from the bathtub. Experience energizing or relaxing massages and facials in the private wellness suite, which includes a personal hammam. Charismatic chef Akira Back, the owner of more than a dozen eponymous restaurants in major cities from Dallas to Dubai (including some with Michelin stars in Seoul and Singapore), has opened his first restaurant
in Europe at the hotel. Londonbased design firm Blacksheep conceptualized the Art Deco and Japanese fusion aesthetic to complement the cuisine—modern Japanese with a Korean-American twist. AB tuna pizza, toro caviar, salmon carpaccio, and seared suzuki are served on plates featuring artwork inspired by the chef’s mother. Le Patio, an elegant courtyard bar with French Moroccan décor, transports you to North Africa for a meal or refreshing cocktail. Book a cabana for additional privacy. From $1,000; marriott.com
Courtesy Images, From Top: The David Kempinski Tel Aviv/Sivan Askayo; Ett Hem; Marriott International (2)
Opened in March across the street from the city’s scenic Mediterranean Sea promenade, The David Kempinski Tel Aviv (left) adds 250 rooms and five kosher dining venues to town, as well as Israel’s first House of Macallan whisky bar. At night, the large 34th floor lounge hosts a busy rooftop bar. From $550; kempinski.com
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What’s What ADVENTURE & TRAVEL
The refined-rustic Hotel Jackson hosts an over-thetop rodeo and fly-fishing experience that includes private air to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, VIP seats for the
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rodeo, and guided fly-fishing for native cutthroat on the storied Snake River. But first, get outfitted with a bespoke cowboy hat while sipping Wyoming Whiskey. $25,000; hoteljackson.com For long-distance walkers: The Island Walk (opened in 2020, 435 miles over 32 days or choose any of the smaller 32 sections) follows the outer perimeter of Canada’s Prince Edward Island. Along the way, enjoy endless beaches, gorgeous vistas, quaint small towns, craft breweries, and restaurants serving fresh oysters, lobsters, and scallops. Overnight in country inns. theislandwalk.ca Experience world-class salmon fishing in some of Alaska’s most remote and pristine streams only accessible via floatplane. Return for a salmon roe and wine pairing and a tasting of local oysters at Salmon Falls Resort (right), which last year launched its breathtaking Misty Fjords Floatplane Flightseeing tour. salmonfallsresort.com
The Grand Adventure (above) offers a modern take on mystery writer Agatha Christie’s iconic travels through three itineraries, including Africa. Inspired by detective novel The Man in the Brown Suit, the trip includes a stay at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, travel on the Blue Train, gourmet picnic lunches, private vineyard visits, and surf lessons (yes, Agatha Christie surfed). $7,195/ person; blacktomato.com
Courtesy Images, From Top: The Ranch Italy/Tyson Sadlo; Black Tomato (3); Abercrombie Kent/NPS; Salmon Falls Resort
On June 1, Abercrombie & Kent founder Geoffrey Kent will take 22 guests on a 12-day adventure—The American West by Private Air (below). Explore four majestic national parks (Arches, Grand Teton, Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone) and visit some of California’s vaunted wineries and restaurants, including French Laundry. Fly over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter, enjoy a white-tablecloth picnic in Yellowstone, and rest assured, a full-time physician is on board. From $135,000/person; abercrombiekent.com
The Ranch at Malibu retreat center in California has launched a permanent outpost at the historic Palazzo Fiuggi, located in a private 20-acre park in Italy. Known for its restorative waters since the early 14th century, this region (50 minutes from Rome) has been visited by kings, popes, and even Renaissance master Michelangelo. The Palazzo Fiuggi Wellness Medical Retreat (left) can accommodate up to 25 guests on a seven-night, eightday stay. The rigorous routine includes four-hour hikes in the Apennine Mountains, strength and core training sessions, yoga, and daily massages complemented by a nutrient-dense, plant-based diet. From $9,100/person; theranchmalibu.com
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What’s What ADVENTURE & TRAVEL
For the horsey set: Book with Black Tomato (above) to go behind the scenes at Coolmore Stud Farm and Ballydoyle Racing Stable in Ireland. Take private visits to the racing museum
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opened by local resident and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (Cats, Evita, and the still-playing-on-Broadway Phantom of the Opera). Overnight at the newly opened Cashel Palace Hotel, a grand country house with 42 rooms and a hyper-local restaurant. blacktomato.com From England’s green-andpleasant countryside to the alpine landscapes of Switzerland and the lavender fields of Provence, The Scenic Route with Four Seasons launches a new collection of road trips. Thirteen Four Seasons properties are included among six drivable adventures, each designed with help from hotel concierges. fourseasons.com Become a world-record holder by gliding over all eight peaks in the Himalayas in a custom-built glider piloted by experienced sky-surfer Klaus Ohlmann. The adventure starts with on-the-ground training in Nepal. Available through London-based Untold Story; $1 million; untoldstorytravel.com
Follow the guideposts of Old World wines and Michelinstar dining through Rioja, Spain, home to preserved castles, tiny medieval villages, and more than 500 wineries. Stop at estate winery Marqués de Murrieta and taste historic vintages at Bodegas Luis Cañas, one of Rioja’s oldest family wineries. Dine on acornfed Iberico ham at Posada Mayor de Migueloa and in Logroño, visit more than 50 pintxos (tapas) bars. Don’t miss two-Michelin-starred El Portal de Echaurren. Book through the Rioja Alavesa Wine Route website. rutadelvinoderiojaalavesa.com
With Antarctic outfitter White Desert, pair luxury and adventure in the remote Queen Maud Land. You can go fat-tire biking, ice climbing, and abseiling, and return to base camp for a welldeserved drink in the rustic-chic lounge tent at Wolf’s Fang. And there are warm showers. Booking into 2023. From $62,500/person, six days; white-desert.com Yachting Partners International debuts Eleonora (below), a newly built carbon copy of the elegant 1910 Nathanael Greene Herreshoff–designed schooner Westward. Sleeps eight guests and nine crew. $77,350/week; ypiyachts.com/en u —Irene Rawlings
Courtesy Images, From Top: Hoshino Resorts; Black Tomato/Discover Lough Derg; Yachting Partners International
Learn the secrets of longevity from the healthiest and longlived people at Hoshinoya Okinawa’s Blue Zones Wellness Stay (above). Feast on plantbased dinners cooked with fresh local ingredients and Awamori cocktails. Try aquatic exercises and other hands-on, wellnesscentric experiences. Retreat fee from $562/person for three days, plus hotel from $1,142/ night/room; hoshinoya.com
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Time Ahead
The future of watchmaking is all about upcycling to save the environment—and these brands are at the forefront. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JONATHAN POZNIAK MARKET EDITOR PAUL FREDERICK
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CHOPARD Alpine Eagle XL Chrono in Lucent Steel A223 and ethical rose gold, $27,500; chopard.com Developed in partnership with German welding manufacturer Voestalpine Böhler, the 70-percent recycled Lucent Steel A223 is a unique precious metal produced after four years of research. The high-performance, hypoallergenic steel is 50 percent harder than other steels and is prized for its signature lucent quality that gives it an ethereal incandescence.
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ZENITH Defy Midnight with Snowflake strap, $9,000; zenith-watches.com Partnering with LVMH start-up Nona Source, Zenith introduces seven haute couture watch straps hand-tailored from excess fabrics of different colors and textures. Featuring rubber backings, the straps are interchangeable using the Defy Midnight watch’s quick-strap-change mechanism.
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MONTBLANC Summit Lite Smartwatch, $725; montblanc.com Instead of using virgin aluminum, Montblanc sources a recycled aluminum that makes up 80 percent of the entire smartwatch case. Additionally, the packaging is made of 100-percent ecologically friendly recyclable paper.
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ULYSSE NARDIN Marine Chronometer Torpilleur with R-Strap, $7,900; ulysse-nardin.com Focusing its sustainability efforts on ocean and marine life conservation, Ulysse Nardin’s environmental commitment follows United Nations guidelines and warns about plastic polluting the oceans with its new R-Strap made from recycled fishing nets for its Diver, Marine, and Freak watches.
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PANERAI Submersible Chrono Mike Horn Edition, $20,500; panerai.com Personalize it with three new UpCamo recycled straps inspired by the Italian military uniform and made of 100-percent upcycled fabric with black rubber. Comes in new recycled plastic watch box as well.
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BREITLING Superocean Automatic 44 Outerknown, $4,150; breitling.com Committed to clean oceans and beaches through its partnership with surfer Kelly Slater’s sustainable clothing brand Outerknown, Breitling’s new Superocean Outerknown dive watch also introduces 18 ecologically responsible straps crafted from a yarn of regenerated nylon waste, one source of which is fishing nets from the world’s oceans.
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WHERE TO FIND
Pe a c e o f M i n d
A sunset cruise. Friendship on the fairways. A shoreline stroll with a sweetheart. On Kiawah Island, a private community just minutes from Charleston, SC, nature truly nurtures along our 10-mile beach, rippling marshlands and waterways, and ancient oak forests. When you live on Kiawah, it’s nice to know that peace of mind is no further than your own backyard.
A C U R AT E D C O L L E C T I O N O F H O M E S A N D H O M E S I T E S W I T H C L U B M E M B E R S H I P S A V A I L A B L E .
k i a wa h is l a n d .co m / l u xu r y | 87 7. 895 . 31 03 ObtainthePropertyReportrequiredbyFederalLawandreaditbeforesigninganything.NoFederalorStateagencyhasendorsedorjudgedthemeritsofvalue,ifany,ofthisproperty.Thisisnotintendedtobeanoffertosellnorasolicitationofoffertobuyrealestateinanyjurisdiction whereprohibitedbylaw.ThisofferismadepursuanttotheNewYorkStateDepartmentofLaw’sSimplifiedProcedureforHomeownersAssociationswithaDeMinimisCooperativeInterest(CPS-7).TheCPS-7application(FileNo.HO16-0007)andrelateddocumentsmaybeobtained from the sponsor. This project is registered with the State of New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Real Estate Commission. Obtain and read the NJ Public Offering Statement before signing anything (NJ Reg#16-15-0011 and 0012). An affiliate of Kiawah Partners.
Into the Wood
Beautifully carved wood adds natural warmth to gold pieces. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JONATHAN POZNIAK MARKET EDITOR PAUL FREDERICK
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MESSIKA Black hawk bracelet in rose gold with ziricote wood and diamonds, price upon request; messika.com
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SILVIA FURMANOVICH Marquetry round geometric ring in yellow gold with diamonds and louro preto and ivorywood, $3,080; Bergdorf Goodman, 800-558-1855 Opposite from top: RUSH JEWELRY DESIGN Draper ring in yellow gold with ironwood and pearl, $5,180; rushjewelrydesign.com DAVID WEBB Ski slope ring in yellow gold with rosewood, $8,200; davidwebb.com
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VERDURA Caged earclips in yellow gold and cocobolo wood, $7,500; verdura.com Opposite from top: SEAMAN SCHEPPS Classic medium link bracelet in yellow gold and walnut, $10,600, and boat link bracelet in yellow gold and rosewood, $7,950; seamanschepps.com
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Outdoor Recess
Connecting to nature has become a central tenet in a new wellness travel wave. BY NORA ZELEVANSKY
Montage Healdsburg
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Courtesy MontagePhoto Healdsburg/Christian Credits Horan
ost hotels and resorts give a token nod to wellness with ubiquitous yoga classes, basic massages, and in-room amenities like lavender bath salts. The following nine restorative properties take into account that spending time outside decreases anxiety and blood pressure and increases immunity and self-esteem. Expert practitioners and intentional, often al fresco facilities ensure healing is not just an added benefit of being on vacation but rather a goal and an expectation of the journey.
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MONTAGE HEALDSBURG Healdsburg, California Floor-to-ceiling windows invite nature into the spa, which opened in early 2021. Views over wine country’s Alexander Valley with Mount Saint Helena in the background affirm the motto of the property, “immersed in nature.” Among the spa’s outdoor wellness offerings is Yoga Among the Vines. The multilayered signature treatments may incorporate honey sourced from an on-site apiary as a natural humectant, lavender plucked on property, and, soon, antioxidant-rich grape seed body treatments from local wineries. “We can learn so much from nature if we can recognize our own reflection in the beauty of our surroundings,” says Carrie Sotebeer, director of spa. “The deeply rooted oak trees and how they’ve weathered so many storms and still stand strong are a perfect example.” montagehotels.com
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Courtesy Inness (9). Opposite Page: Courtesy Montage Healdsburg/Christian Horan (3)
INNESS Accord, New York This hotel, restaurant, members club, and nine-hole golf course soft opened in July 2021, and its natural surroundings are ideal for unplugging. Set on 225 pastoral acres in upstate New York, the vibe here is a far cry from the Dirty Dancing–era resorts that once populated the Catskills with its bleached-out, quiet, and minimally organic aesthetic in the 28 cabins and 12 farmhouse rooms. A partnership between restaurateur and architect Taavo Somer, Brooklyn design firm Post Company, and others, the ethos is still about family and gathering, yet “the overall interaction with the landscape was a bit of an experiment,” explains Leigh
Salem, co-founder of Post Company. “Since the site was originally an 18-hole golf course, we had the opportunity to witness what happens when you let nature reclaim the land, where the tall grasses overtake the manicured. In the end, this juxtaposition became integral to the experience of the property, where people are encouraged to explore the land.” Thoughtful details encourage guests to enjoy the outdoors, such as the restaurant’s location at the top of a hill overlooking the pond and farmhouse, so guests stroll to and from dinner. The spa facilities will soon include four miles of running and parcourse trails. inness.co
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QUINTA DA COMPORTA Comporta, Portugal In 2019 hotelier and architect Miguel Câncio Martins designed and opened Quinta in the coastal town of Comporta to evoke “a genuine sense of belonging.” For him, well-being begins with caring for the local ecosystem: Between pine and orange trees, not far from the shore, the sustainable property boasts a 130-foot, solar-heated infinity pool, a circular watering system, electric bicycles, and reclaimed building materials. The aesthetic, complete with landscaped sand, also speaks to nature’s inherent tranquility, combining clean contemporary lines with an airy indoor/outdoor farmhouse feel. Neutral colors essential for a sense of calm are punctuated by pops of colorful art by local craftspeople.
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“It was important to me that the hotel fit in perfectly with the natural habitat,” says Martins. For its regularly scheduled yoga, meditation, and life coaching retreats, the restaurant sources from its on-site vegetable garden and creates plant-based menus upon request. The Oryza Spa is housed in an elevated barn constructed with 100-year-old reclaimed wood, stone, and bamboo. The sauna and hammam overlook the rice fields, where raw ingredients will be grown for Quinta’s clean product line used in signature facials and massages. Also available are energy treatments like acupuncture and fire cupping. quintadacomporta.com
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Courtesy Quinta da Comporta (5)
Also opened in 2019, this retreat off a main Hamptons drag is driven by Japanese principles of wabi-sabi, or the beautiful impermanence and imperfection of nature. Passing a large lava stone Buddha, guests enter a world—at once geometric and organic—based on the elements of earth, wind, air, and fire. During curated overnight retreats or spa days, a sense of clarity, openness, and precision pervades the large windowed spaces. “From the architecture to the treatments, our intention is to connect our guests with nature,” says Jodie Webber, creative director and head of healing arts, who notes that the resort has added more outdoor experiences since the pandemic began. “We host oceanside meditations and movement classes.” The 13 guest studios have Japanese hinoki, or modern air massage tubs, with windows that face a private courtyard, so, even in winter, “guests see the sky, trees, and climbing hydrangea while they relax.” In-room soaps are crafted with the fragrances of local flora. Among the range of available services are hydrotherapy treatments, massages, bodywork, facials, breath work, yoga, and self-care workshops incorporating sound baths, shamanic healing, and even plant spirit ceremonies. “When we disconnect from the natural world, it is very easy to lose a sense of belonging and balance,” Webber says. “Reconnection with nature is a beautiful process.” shousugibanhouse.com
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Courtesy Shou Sugi Ban House/Fredrika Stjarne (4)
SHOU SUGI BAN HOUSE Water Mill, New York
Courtesy Joali Being (3)
JOALI BEING Raa Atoll, Maldives Founder Esin Güral Argat of Joali Being, the first nature-immersive well-being retreat in the Maldives, says, “Nature is healing and purifies the soul. We are fortunate to live in one of the most naturally beautiful and incredible destinations in the world … we would be remiss to not incorporate nature into our well-being experience.” Opened in November 2021, the island paradise was conceived with biophilic design principles or “a scientific system of integrating architecture and design with nature … to achieve harmony by eliminating negative vibrations.” Guests take transformative journeys and personalized Immersion Programs based on four pillars: mind, skin, microbiome, and energy. Guided by experts, the program targets everything from nutrition and fitness to “sensory exploration” and “soulful reconnection,” often integrating nature. A Discovery Sound Path, set in the lush jungle, is a perfect example of how to harness the outdoors in an innovative way: This meditative sound therapy garden is a retreat for music and sound healing. joali.com
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Since opening in July 2020, Miraval Berkshires has introduced innovative ways to foster healing and personal development. The resort offers countless spa treatments inspired by everything from Ayurveda to energy healing, incorporating flower- and herb-based Laurel Skin products tailored specifically for this property, including a Tulsi Rose Balm. But they also offer an outdoor Challenge Course with 20 different curated problem-solving experiences such as Soul Flight and Warrior Challenge involving elements like zip lines, climbs, and leaps of faith. To come into further self-awareness, guests can take meditation and art classes, interact with the farm and garden, or explore mindful equine therapy with resident horses, said to effectively release past trauma. Every element of this experience has been considered in encouraging equilibrium. “While the aesthetic is an important aspect of creating a pleasing environment, the design goes deeper,” says Simon Marxer, director of spa and well-being. miravalberkshires.com
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Courtesy Miraval Berkshires (3)
MIRAVAL BERKSHIRES Lenox, Massachusetts
LOS POBLANOS HISTORIC INN Albuquerque, New Mexico geese fly overhead towards the Bosque, the cottonwood forest. The setting is beyond measure.” Hacienda Spa, opened in 2021 in the farm’s original hacienda, reflects the same slow-living energy, incorporating a garden, a lotus pond, and an enclosed courtyard with a Moorish foundation and kiva pueblo fireplace. A circular Wellness Yurt, tucked in the woods, is a perfect, peaceful setting for meditation and yoga classes from restorative to vinyasa flow. Treatments include nature-connected rituals like a Seasonal Facial reflective of the changing high-desert climate and integrate products made from homegrown botanicals such as a signature lavender salve. lospoblanos.com
Courtesy Los Poblanos Historic Inn (5)
In the 1930s, the site of Los Poblanos was established as an experimental farm designed in part by famed New Mexico architect John Gaw Meem and pioneering landscape architect Rose Greely. At the heart of the 25acre property is a 45-room hotel with an award-winning field-to-fork restaurant and curated Farm Shop. During their stays, guests wander rose and wildflower gardens, lavender fields, and secluded woods, and befriend alpacas and guinea fowl at the organic farm. “Peacocks stroll by the patios as diners enjoy the beauty of the setting sun on the Sandia Mountains [in] their signature watermelon color,” says Wes Brittenham, director of horticulture. “Sandhill cranes and Canada
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AMANERA Rio San Juan, Dominican Republic
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For more of the best places around the world to get mindfully and physically healthy, log on to our comprehensive 2022 Wellness Guide at luxurycard.com/wellnessguide.
Courtesy Aman (5)
If anyone can speak to an intersection of wellness, nature, and travel, it’s upscale hotelier Aman. Their destinations throughout the world have long offered elevated rituals with local inspirations, particularly since launching their location-specific, multiday Wellness Immersions. In recent years, the company has expanded these programs with preventative medicine and the outdoors in mind. At Amanera, set between the jungle and ocean in the Dominican Republic, try mind- and body-expansive immersions like Healing Through Lunar Forces, based on indigenous Taino beliefs and practices, which includes three to five days of yoga, medicinal walks though the virgin forest to learn about herbal remedies, and multiple treatments including a New Moon ceremony with palo santo smudging. aman.com u
Harbor View Hotel Celebrating over 130 years of island time just off the coast of Massachusetts in the quintessential New England village of Edgartown.
EDGARTOWN, MA MARTHA’S V INEYAR D harborviewhotel.com (844) 979-1056
Simply Pura Vida
In November 2021, New York self-care concept THE WELL went international, setting up shop at Auberge Resort’s Hacienda AltaGracia in Costa Rica, a country defined by ecotourism and a celebration of nature’s bounty. BY SERENA FRENCH
If your idea of breakfast is a Bloody Mary, a plate of bacon, and a cigarette, then Costa Rica has no shortage of beautiful hotels where you can park yourself on a sun bed. But if you want a taste of the essence of “Pura Vida” from a perch of heavenly grace, then look to the country’s interior. Nestled between the clouds and the lush southern highlands, a former family estancia has been reinvented as a haven of wellness and adventure in the cradle of the living mountains. Hacienda AltaGracia opened as a hotel in 2015, conceived by Costa Rican businessman Alberto J. Esquivel as a cluster of villas set in an agricultural community in Perez Zeledon. Originally a countryside retreat for Esquivel’s children and now under the stewardship of Auberge Resorts, the property regularly ranks among the top resorts of Central America. New owners set about renovations in 2020, brought in New York–based THE WELL to run the wellness center, and reopened the resort in November 2021.
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Courtesy Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection/Oliver Pilcher (6)
On the approach coming into the private airstrip, the vivid landscape of San Isidro valley spreads out like a green velvet carpet, as well as from every window of the resort’s 50 casitas. With private terraces and plunge pools, the safari-style quarters provide a tempting cocoon of luxury to retreat to. But save that for a rainy day. Adventure awaits. Bonding with biodiversity is high on the menu here. You can climb a tree in the high canopy of the Puma trail or hang in a net like a white-faced capuchin drinking in the sounds of a nocturnal rainforest bath in a high-wire meditation. The stables are an original part of the resort, with more than 40 horses in the equestrian program. Learn how to saddle up the caballista way and take a beginner’s trot around the ring or tour the Talamancan foothills on the 180-acre resort’s trails. Off saddle, explore equine healing or take in the show at the ring with an authentic family-style barbecue dinner. Among the 35,000 new plantings as part of the newly reenvisioned property, the local small producer cooperative
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THE WELL AT HOME If you can’t make it to Costa Rica anytime soon, but feel the need to detox, get energized, lose a few pounds, and be more balanced, try THE WELL Cleanse. The 15-day whole foods–based meal plan effectively—and easily—sets you on the right path toward eating healthier. The experts at THE WELL, under the knowledgeable guidance of their chief medical officer, Dr. Frank Lipman, who designed the program, help you every step of the way to optimize your gut health. Ongoing email and text messages send you encouraging support with ideas for, say, delicious morning smoothies or late-afternoon snacks. Along with a supply of Gut Complex supplements and Clean Green Detox Protein powder, an easy-to-follow guide clearly spells out what you can enjoy (low-sugar fruits like berries and green apples) and what you can avoid (high-sugar fruits like bananas and grapes); how to build a cleansefriendly plate, whether you’re ordering at a restaurant or assembling a meal from items in your fridge; and loosened guidelines for effective maintenance once the 15 days have ended. Health coaches talk you through hurdles and help you modify any dietary guidelines that may be too difficult to achieve. It’s all carefully constructed to teach you which foods to avoid that cause inflammation and lethargy. Best of all, it offers you a long-term plan that fits your lifestyle. As the Welcome Kit states, this cleanse is not about deprivation; it’s the first step toward improving how your body feels and functions. $249, available at select locations; the-well.com u —Deborah Frank
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Courtesy Images From Top: The Well; Hacienda AltaGracia, Auberge Resorts Collection/Oliver Pilcher
has planted 7,000 coffee trees in collaboration with local coffee cooperative Los Jilgueros, with a view to a future homegrown cup. While the hacienda waits for the first yield, a guide will take you on a two-hour bird-watching hike over bridges and up the mountain trail to the coffee plantation at Cedral, a farm at an elevation of almost 8,000 feet. The reward at the top is a tasting of the best cup of coffee in Costa Rica. Los Jilgueros beans are raising awareness about the goldfinch, the endangered bird with the beautiful song for which the coffee is named. Though the resort is a mountain retreat, water is a main feature, and not just at the Instagram-worthy infinity pools with valley panoramas. THE WELL has taken the helm of one of the largest wellness facilities in Central America and the integrated holistic approach is guided by the local connection to Pachamama, as Mother Earth is known here. The 20,000-square-foot spa has eight rooms and a menu of signature treatments, ranging from Hierbas Y Flores, a realigning massage with herbs and flowers, to a detoxifying Maderoterapia, a lymphatic massage with wooden tools. Visiting practitioners lead yoga, meditation, and breath work classes and outdoor crystal sound baths at local ranchos. The crowning centerpiece is the Casa del Agua, the original indoor pool with glass walls where the hour prior to treatments is well spent with a view: dry brush in the shower and lounge on the heated marble platforms slathered in mud and herbs, rinse off and follow it with a head-clearing plunge. A newly crafted experience takes guests on the Guaco trail past the Crystal Rancho, where there is a bathing pool at the edge of the Rio Calientillo. In a four-hour treatment for two dubbed the River Bath, baptize yourself in the stone pool filled with water diverted from the river heated by a wood-fire cauldron and lose track of time gazing at the surrounding virgin jungle. The post-bath massage listening to the rushing current will wash away all the remaining cares. “There’s a natural energy thanks to Costa Rica’s biodiversity, which creates a powerful healing environment,” says Vivianne Garcia-Tunon, vice president of development for THE WELL. “We are located near one of Earth’s five ‘Blue Zones.’ Through the healing power of nature, we want travelers to be able to feel true transformation in body, mind, and soul.” aubergeresorts.com
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I N S P I R I N G I N EV E RY D I R E C T I O N Obtain the Property Report required by federal law and read it before signing anything. No federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. This is not an offer where registration is required prior to any other offer being made. Void where prohibited by law. In South Carolina, Cliffs Realty Sales SC, LLC, 635 Garden Market Drive, Travelers Rest, SC 29690 and 3430 Walhalla Highway, Six Mile, SC 29682, Lauren Fine Buckland, Broker-in-Charge. In North Carolina, Cliffs Realty Sales NC, LLC, 1908 Brevard Road, Arden, NC 28704, Lauren Fine Buckland, Broker-in-Charge. Copyright: © 2022 Cliffs Land Partners, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Forever Wild
The allure of wide-open spaces, sweeping vistas, and untamed wilderness is as strong as ever. The serenity and vastness of these landscapes is a chance to escape from the stress and routine of city life. The silence and solitude offer an opportunity to slow down and unplug. Here, some inspiration to sketch out a plan to reassess, recover, and rediscover the world’s last isolated places.
Courtesy Katherine Han (2)
BY IRENE RAWLINGS
Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, Brazil
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LENÇÓIS MARANHENSES NATIONAL PARK Brazil Explore the wild and remote northeast coast of Brazil. Here, the vast Lençóis Maranhenses National Park stretches 40 miles up the coast and 30 miles inland. Its name in Portuguese translates to “bedsheets” because the area is an ephemeral sea of brilliant white dunes that are dotted by hundreds of azure freshwater lagoons during the rainy season (January–June). The base for exploration is the resolutely rustic Atins, a small fishing town that borders the national park. The streets are made of sand and there are virtually no lights at night. It may not remain under the radar much longer, as the international kitesurfing crowd has discovered it. Visit between June and August, when the lakes are full and the heat is less intense. ROUTE Fly into Sao Luis and take private land and boat transfers to Atins or Santo Amaro. LODGING Le Ferme de George (georges.life) in Atins is whitewashed with windcooled rooms. Iconoclastic hotelier Thierry Teyssier runs Constellation Hacienda ($1,600; 700000heures. com) in Santo Amaro. NOT TO MISS Naya Traveler (nayatraveler.com) organizes tailored trips to Brazil and Lençóis Maranhenses that can include four-wheel drive excursions, kitesurfing, and moonlit horseback tours of the park. From $1,200/ person/day.
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SIWA OASIS Egypt Cross miles of golden dunes to reach ancient Siwa—a remote oasis of mineral springs, salt lakes, and endless groves of olive and palm trees. According to legend, Cleopatra actually bathed in Cleopatra’s Pool, the naturally bubbly freshwater springs you can still soak in today. You can also go sand boarding, ride Arabian horses in the Great Sand Sea (straight from scenes in The English Patient), and imagine when Alexander the Great consulted the oracle of Ammon at the temple here after he’d conquered Egypt. October to April is high season.
From Left: San Hoyano/Agefotostock; Courtesy Abercrombie & Kent
ROUTE Drive nearly 12 hours from Cairo or fly by private helicopter service (helicopter4you.com). LODGING Taziry Lodge ($380/person/ day, all-inclusive; taziry.com) is an authentic eco-lodge with thick adobe walls, handwoven rugs, and organic Siwa-Moroccan cuisine. There’s also the desert-chic Adrere Amellal ($700/person/day, all-inclusive; adrereamellal.com). NOT TO MISS Abercrombie & Kent (abercrombiekent.com) will craft a tailor-made trip to Siwa (including an overnight in Alexandria). From $10,000/person.
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LONGYEARBYEN Svalbard, Norway
LODGING Radisson Blu Polar Hotel (from $260; radisson.com) or Funken Lodge (from $250; funkenlodge.com), a modern-Scandi hotel repurposed from the mining era’s heyday. NOT TO MISS Tallship Company’s (tallship-company.com) three-masted sailing ship navigates among steep fjords. Zodiac safaris venture out to view polar bears, walrus colonies, blue whales, and belugas. Sometimes narwhals can be spotted from the deck. From $3,500/person/week.
Courtesy Norway Tourism (3)
Svalbard, an archipelago in the Arctic Circle, just 650 miles from the North Pole, is one of the most remote regions in Norway. Longyearbyen’s population of 2,550 is outnumbered by its 3,000 polar bears and the sun never sets during polar summer from mid-April to late August. The historic Huset restaurant is famous locally for its flavorforward Arctic cuisine (expect reindeer burgers and eider duck eggs) and 20,000-bottle wine cellar.
ROUTE Take a three-hour flight from Oslo.
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From Left: Courtesy Dusty Klein/Laurie McConnel; Camillo Berenos/Alamy Stock Photo; Trish Punch/Alamy Stock Photo
FRANK CHURCH RIVER OF NO RETURN WILDERNESS Idaho It can take hours of driving to reach this remote area, one of the largest wilderness areas in the lower 48 states. The wild and scenic Middle Fork of the Salmon River flows through it—100 miles of thrilling rapids, clear pools, natural hot springs, pine forests, and towering granite cliffs—cutting a gorge deeper than the Grand Canyon. The area is home to wolves, bears, and native cutthroat trout. About seven launches are allowed per day, so it is possible to float the river in nearly complete solitude. From June to September is the season, although the river runs high in early summer, which intensifies rapids. Route Drive 26 miles on dirt roads from Challis, Idaho, or fly into the Indian Creek Airstrip, a backcountry dirt landing strip. Lodging Reserve designated campgrounds (fs. usda.gov) or book with a certified outfitter who arranges all the details—including permits. Not to Miss Sun Valley–based Far & Away Adventures (far-away.com) offers guided “glamping” river trips, with carpeted walk-in tents, comfy cots, and flannel bedding. Morning coffee is brought to your tent. Riverside, enjoy chef-cooked lunches and dinners with wine. $3,500/person/six days.
ST. KILDA Scotland
INIS MEÁIN Ireland
Find some of the United Kingdom’s most dramatic sea cliffs and sea stacks in this tiny, barren, wildly beautiful archipelago. The area, located 100 miles west of the Scottish mainland, was abandoned in the 1930s. So although no humans live here, it’s home to millions of birds. The northern gannet colonies are so dense that, from a distance, they look like snow. Climb to the highest point on the island, the 1,400-foot summit of Conachair, for a 360-degree view. Based on weather patterns, May and June are the preferred months to visit.
Green grass, ferns, and mosses blanket this lonely 3.5-acre island. You can wander meandering roads for hours without seeing another soul. But you are not the first to visit, as you notice the distinct remains of prehistoric ring forts. Dry-stacked stone fences crisscross the land, divided into hundreds of small farmettes—some grazing a single cow. There are towering cliffs to marvel at and deserted beaches to explore. Come upon a thatched pub, designated by the bright sounds of traditional fiddle music, and order the gin distilled with dillisk, a locally foraged seaweed. The PADIcertified can dive from here to some of Ireland’s most spectacular underwater terrain and expect encounters with ancient-looking, harmless-to-humans basking sharks.
Route Traveling by boat, it’s 2.5 hours from Harris and 3.5 hours from Skye. The seas around St. Kilda are notoriously rough and sometimes it can be too dangerous to disembark. Lodging Several historic stone cottages have been refurbished for overnight guests and there’s a basic tent-camping site; both are administered by the National Trust for Scotland (nts.org.uk). Not to Miss Local outfitter Sea Harris (seaharris. com) arranges private charters, overnight stays, a climbing guide, and a personal chef.
Route From Rosseveal (near Galway City) travel 40 minutes by Aran Island Ferries (aranislandferries.com). The daily, 10-minute flights via Aer Arann Islands (aerarannislands.ie) are convenient, but frequently canceled due to fog. Lodging At Inis Meáin Restaurant and Suites (from $3,000/four nights, all-inclusive; inismeain.com) stay among five sleek accommodations and dine at an award-winning restaurant in a lowslung stone building. Open March–October. Not to Miss Stock up on stylish wool, linen, and cashmere Aran fishermen–inspired sweaters at the Inis Meáin Knitting Company’s factory store (inismeain.ie).
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More Off-the-Map Destinations MINNESOTA BOUNDARY WATERS Over a million acres of pristine wilderness to hike or explore by canoe. fs.usda.gov PITCAIRN ISLANDS Book a berth on MV Silver Supporter to visit these four remote South Pacific islands populated by just 50 people—descendants of the 18th-century HMS Bounty mutineers. visitpitcairn.pn ALDABRA ATOLL, SEYCHELLES One of the Outer Islands and virtually untouched by humans, it’s home to more than 150,000 giant tortoises and is a breeding site for green and hawksbill turtles. seychelles.travel DECEPTION ISLAND, ANTARCTICA Visit an abandoned whaling station on an active volcano. Enjoy the snowy, pepperedwith-penguins landscape from one of the hot springs. deceptionisland.aq
The only way to get here is by boat through a thick tropical forest, which acts as a protective shield for vulnerable tribal culture and important archaeological sites. Like legendary paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey, you can paddle down the river for one-on-one visits with the elaborately painted Kara tribe, the rasta-coiffed Hamer people, and the lip-plate Mursi. End each day at an open-air dinner under the African skies before falling asleep to the sounds of nature. It’s best to visit during the dry seasons: August to October or December to January. ROUTE Fly into Addis Ababa, travel by private land transfer to Omo Valley, and private boat down the Omo River. LODGING Lale’s Camp (from $29,295/two people/five nights, all-inclusive; journeysbydesign.com), a comfortable tented camp with a traditional safari feel on the eastern bank of the Omo River. NOT TO MISS Naya Traveler (nayatraveler.com) organizes individually tailored trips to Ethiopia and the Omo Valley. From $900/person/day.
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OYMYAKON, SIBERIA Tour the frozen tundra via reindeer sleigh. Winter temperatures regularly plunge to negative 50 degrees Fahrenheit with knee-deep snow. visityakutia.com ANDORRA This 180-square-mile, Catalan-speaking nation full of craggy cols and high-perched lakes is sandwiched between France and Spain in the Pyrenees. It’s known for its legendary technical climbs. visitandorra.com ROCK ISLANDS, PALAU Hundreds of rocky, difficult-to-reach islands with blue lagoons, coral reefs, and the famous Jellyfish Lake—full of harmless jellyfish and safe to snorkel. pristineparadisepalau.com u
From Top: Martin Zwick/Agefotostock; Dave Stamboulis/Agefotostock
OMO DELTA Ethiopia
TORNGAT MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK, CANADA Explore this vast, Inuit-run nature reserve in Arctic Labrador from a fenced-in base camp (protection from the omnipresent polar bears). thetorngats.com
HERE, E VERY DAY
feels like an escape.
Just east of Atlanta, Reynolds Lake Oconee is a private waterfront community where Members from around the country thrive, and where passions and friendships flourish. With six championship golf courses, a lakefront Ritz-Carlton® and a range of acclaimed restaurants, shops and amenities, the vibrant destination is a favorite choice for families looking to retire, relocate or even just change course and reset.
B O O K Y O U R R E A L E S T AT E P R E V I E W to experience our friendly community for yourself as part of our lifestyle visit. Enjoy up to three nights in one of our cottages or at The Ritz Carlton®, two rounds of golf, a two-hour boat rental and more. Cottage packages are $299 per night and hotel packages are $399 per night.*
Homesites from
$100K-$2.5M •
Homes from
$400K-$5M+
RE Y N OL D S L A K E O C ONE E . C O M / L U X URY • ( 86 6 ) 590. 5 1 7 0
*Rates and availability are subject to change and excludes holidays. Club credit for promotional purposes only. The Ritz-Carlton seasonal rates start at $399 November-March and $499 April-October. Real estate and other amenities are owned by Oconee Land Development Company LLC and/or other subsidiaries and affiliates of MetLife, Inc. (collectively, "OLDC" or “Sponsor”) and by unrelated third parties. Reynolds Lake Oconee Properties, LLC ("RLOP") is the exclusive listing agent for OLDC-owned properties in Reynolds Lake Oconee. RLOP also represents buyers and sellers of properties in Reynolds Lake Oconee which OLDC does not own ("Resale Properties"). OLDC is not involved in the marketing or sale of Resale Properties. This is not intended to be an offer to sell nor a solicitation of offers to buy OLDC-owned real estate in Reynolds Lake Oconee by residents of HI, ID, OR, or any other jurisdiction where prohibited by law. As to such states, any offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy applies only to Resale Properties. Access and rights to recreational amenities may be subject to fees, membership dues, or other limitations. Information provided is believed accurate as of the date printed but may be subject to change from time to time. The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee is a private commercial enterprise and use of the facilities is subject to the applicable fees and policies of the operator.
For OLDC properties, obtain the Property Report required by Federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. Void where prohibited by law. WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED, OR DISQUALIFIED THIS OFFERING. An offering statement has been filed with the Iowa Real Estate Commission and a copy of such statement is available from OLDC upon request. OLDC properties have been registered with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen at 1000 Washington Street, Suite 710, Boston, Massachusetts 02118-6100 and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection at 1700 G Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20552. Certain OLDC properties are registered with the Department of Law of the State of New York. THE COMPLETE OFFERING TERMS ARE IN AN OFFERING PLAN AVAILABLE FROM SPONSOR. FILE NO. H14-0001. Notice to New York Residents: The developer of Reynolds Lake Oconee and its principals are not incorporated in, located in, or resident in the state of New York. No offering is being made in or directed to any person or entity in the state of New York or to New York residents by or on behalf of the developer/offeror or anyone acting with the developer/offeror’s knowledge. No such offering, or purchase or sale of real estate by or to residents of the state of New York, shall take place until all registration and filing requirements under the Martin Act and the Attorney General’s regulations are complied with, a written exemption is obtained pursuant to an application is granted pursuant to and in accordance with Cooperative Policy Statements #1 or #7, or a “No-Action” request is granted.
Cheat Sheet NYC
Manhattan is bustling with new businesses that were put on hold for the past two years and old classics that have been revived. Here, a short list of some favorites. BY EMMA BLUM
Sona High-end Indian cuisine (below) brought to you via a collaboration between actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas, restaurateur Maneesh Goyal, and chef Hari Nayak. More than the elegance of the white tablecloths and mirrors inspired by Mumbai’s Art Deco period, the focus here is authentic Indian food with a subtle modern twist. After indulging in crab puri with caviar and sublime butter chicken, save room for the carrot cake. 36 E. 20th Street; sona-nyc.com
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Viand This Madison Avenue diner (below) serves the best turkey sandwich in New York City. Grab a quick breakfast or lunch and it will become your new local favorite, if it isn’t already. 673 Madison Avenue; viandnyc.com
Courtesy Images, Clockwise From Top: Public Hotel/Nikolas Koenig; Tamara Beckwith/NYPost; Sona/Melanie Dunea; Public Hotel/Liz Clayman (2)
EAT Popular Located in the Public Hotel (right), this Lower East Side restaurant is serving Peruvian specialties, like classic ceviche, oysters, and pisco cocktails (below), with energetic flair. The atmosphere transports you to a tropical oasis as you watch patrons cha-cha the night away to live Latin music in the Cantina bar. 215 Chrystie Street; publichotels.com
Courtesy Images From Top: Soda Club/Eric Medsker (3); The Flatiron Room/Frank Fan Wu (2)
DRINK The Flatiron Room Voted the Best Whisky Bar in America for 2021 by Whisky Magazine, this destination (below) for the spirit’s enthusiasts and jazz lovers is not the typical NYC nightclub. The music is timeless and the vibe is a throwback to anohter era. By-appointment spirits classes and whisky tastings, with a 1,000-plus-bottle whisky library. 37 W. 26th Street; theflatironroom.com
Soda Club This plant-based restaurant (above & left) in the East Village features 200 natural and organic wines that can be carefully paired with delicious vegan Italian dishes. True to its name, the club also serves handcrafted fountain sodas among its inviting interiors featuring hints of psychedelia, such as velvet teal barstools and a deep purple accent wall. 155 Avenue B; overthrowhospitality.com
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Vicki Morav For a quick escape, visit this skincare clinic (right) designed by architect Matthew Kelly. Renowned celebrity aesthetician Vicki Morav has transformed an Upper East Side townhouse into a one-of-a-kind space where her clients can relax and recharge. The multi-level oasis includes spectacularly designed treatment rooms embellished with crystals, infrared saunas, and a curated retail store. 19 E. 71st Street, Ground Floor; vickimorav.com
JINsoon Hand & Foot Spa For elegant and simple nails, keep religious appointments among the four JINsoon Hand & Foot Spas (above) located in Manhattan. Jin Soon Choi remains the most influential nail artist in the industry, and her long-wearing nail lacquer line is both healthy and ecofriendly. jinsoon.com
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Alala Visit the flagship store (below) of the athleisure brand inspired by the modern woman’s all-day wardrobe for clothing crafted from technical, detailed materials. Comfortable and edgy, they can be worn to the gym and the office. 372 Bleecker Street; alalastyle.com u
SHOP Scent Bar Compared to the perfume floor of a department store, this SoHo shop is a breath of fresh air. Find fragrances neatly organized by scent in an atmosphere that’s never overwhelming. 244 Elizabeth Street; luckyscent.com
Courtesy Images, Clockwise From Top: The Well/Kris Tamburello; Viki Morav Spa; Alala; Scent Bar/Ezra Lemus; JINsoon Hand & Foot Spa/Adrian Wilson
SPA THE WELL In need of a reset? Take fitness and movement classes, book various spa services, and even fulfill necessary medical appointments. The wellness destination (right) also features its local, organic, and vegetableforward Kitchen & Table restaurant, considerably sized steam and sauna rooms, and a meditation room—most likely the quietest place in the city. 2 E. 15th Street; the-well.com
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Fine dining at the kitchen table: VIP spaces in three of the country’s most highly acclaimed restaurants offer unparalleled experiences. BY SHAUN TOLSON
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wo nondescript doors along a back living room wall at The Inn at Little Washington (theinnatlittlewashington.com) swing open and the kitchen entrance is dramatically revealed. Standing just inside, a junior-ranking chef is dressed in an altar boy’s ceremonial garb and while waving a thurible of incense, he leads me past the entire kitchen staff lined up in formation. At the center of that inverted V, cloaked in a Dalmatian-print apron and smiling graciously, is the “Pope of American Cuisine,” Patrick O’Connell. As The Inn’s proprietor, O’Connell also serves as the three-star Michelin restaurant’s grand conductor. Nightly, he directs dozens of chefs through a seven-course grand concerto, and the lucky few who are seated on either side of a Baronial fireplace at the restaurant’s two exclusive kitchen tables not only bear witness to the show (often enjoying extra courses throughout the meal), they can also marvel at the kitchen itself—an elegant space inspired by the Royal Dairy at Windsor Castle—which is nearly as captivating as its maestro. “Most chefs want the biggest kick-ass thing on the plate, the best sweetbread dish ever created. That isn’t enough for me,” O’Connell says. “I want to take you somewhere you’ve never
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Cuisine Images: Courtesy The Inn at Little Washington (3). Portrait: Courtesy The Inn at Little Washington/Gordon Beall
Dinner and a Show
been. I want to seduce you. The food has to be flawless, but food is only a vehicle. It’s only one element. The food is a lure into the experience.” Early in his culinary career, the now 76-year-old recognized his opportunity to create a finedining mecca in the tiny village of Washington, Virginia—a hamlet set on the edge of the Shenandoah National Park, 90 minutes west of the nation’s capital. To understand the restaurant’s full potential, O’Connell withdrew his life savings from the bank and flew to Europe, specifically to the most heralded fine-dining restaurants in the French countryside. “Going to the three-star restaurants in France and willing to spend your life savings on a meal, you had expectations,” he laughs. “It was intimidating, but it was also greater training than anyone could’ve bought in culinary
school. Nobody at the time did a better theatrical magic act than the French. They had studied from the days of the monarchy how to make people feel, so they were light-years ahead of us. They had mastered the theater—the dining experience— when Americans didn’t even know what it was.” Today, O’Connell and his team are masters of their own culinary theater; and those fortunate enough to dine at O’Connell’s kitchen table in Virginia receive such a private performance. The sense of devotion bestowed on them, accompanied by The Inn’s unparalleled hospitality, comes from O’Connell’s insistence that every member of the staff focus on how a guest is likely to feel during their meal, not to mention the expectations guests are likely to have. “It’s all in how you do it,” he says, “and how much you care about exploring the ultimate potential.”
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Photo Credits
Stylistically, there’s very little that bonds Alinea (alinearestaurant.com) to The Inn at Little Washington. For 17 years, the fine-dining institution in Chicago has cultivated a global reputation for its dedication to modernist cuisine—a far cry from the classical French–inspired dishes served by O’Connell some 550 miles away. Yet Executive Chef and Co-founder Grant Achatz acknowledges that the success of Alinea’s kitchen table experience is rooted in theatrics, presentation, and performance as much as the flavors of each dish. “Everybody loves to see behind the curtain, so to speak,” he says. “So we think about experiences at Alinea much like a play. It’s a very progressive, avantgarde eating experience that lasts several hours.” The Alinea kitchen table, set in a glass-enclosed room covering 12 square feet near the center of the kitchen, is more than just a front-row seat to the action. It’s a stage in and of itself—a place where Achatz and his team can deliver experimental dishes and gauge their success by patrons’ immediate reactions. “As an incubator and a testing ground, it allows us to do some things that we just can’t do out in the main dining room,” Achatz explains. “By sheer proximity, that facilitates a lot of opportunity. It allows us in the kitchen more freedom.” That freedom is contingent upon guests relinquishing much of their control. That’s not a difficult ask, given that the restaurant’s modern take on indulgent food already requires most diners to step outside of their comfort zones. However, Achatz acknowledges that the kitchen table will always be served the first iteration of a new concept. So long as guests are comfortable with it, Alinea’s chefs will talk with them after to learn what they liked and disliked about the dish. “All of a sudden our guests feel involved, like they’re making the dish better,” he says. “We’re making the dish and testing with them, so they are making the dish better.” The enclosed nature of Alinea’s kitchen table also means that Achatz and his team can manipulate that environment in precise ways to change the dining experience. The room may be filled with a scented fog, for example, or the lights can be turned off. Even the introduction of specific sounds can prompt diners to taste ingredients in different ways. “We’re very conscious about optics and the sensory experience for the guest,” he says. “The environment that they’re in can influence how the food tastes and the perception of it.”
Courtesy Images Clockwise, From Bottom Left: Daniel/Thomas Schauer (3); Daniel/Bill Milne. Opposite Page: Courtesy Alinea (3)
At Daniel (danielnyc.com), Chef Daniel Boulud’s flagship fine-dining restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, a meal in the Skybox is a hybrid of the two aforementioned kitchen table experiences. The chef ’s table is aptly named, as it’s located in a cozy room perched 10 feet above the kitchen offering a bird’s-eye view over the pass and a number of cooking stations. But the room, which is decorated with artifacts and photos that depict Boulud throughout the decades, is also adjacent to Boulud’s office—and the four-seat table often serves as an extension of the chef ’s office during the day. In that respect, the Skybox operates as a chef ’s table in the most traditional way. “It’s first and foremost the personal table of the chef,” says Boulud. “We live our lives in the kitchen and we always need a table nearby. All day long, I have my meetings here.” Unlike at Alinea or The Inn at Little
Washington, the chef ’s table at Daniel is not open to general reservations. Those who would like to experience it can inquire about the table’s availability, but it’s at the restaurant’s discretion as to when the table is reserved—and who can reserve it. Those who gain entry to the Skybox can expect a decadent meal accented by Champagne, caviar, and other lavish ingredients that may not grace the restaurant’s à la carte menu. Specialty dishes can also be created for Skybox guests, so long as Chef Boulud and his team receive those requests in advance. Take canard à la presse, for example, a dish that requires five days of preparation. It utilizes an antique, silver-plated meat press, which sits on display in or near the Skybox when not in use. It’s believed that Boulud’s press was crafted near the end of the Victorian era, while the dish’s original recipe is possibly half a century older.
The dish itself is uncomplicated—roasted duck served in a sauce enhanced by its own juices—yet its simplicity belies the dish’s rich flavors. Boulud’s recipe includes a port-andred-currant-jelly marinade; and for guests who order the dish, the chef sometimes uncorks birth-year vintages of red wine, adding a splash to the already sumptuous sauce. While the Skybox’s eight-course tasting menus are extravagant and memorable for their classical French dishes, it’s the personal experience that makes the most profound impression on guests. “The privilege is the intimacy here, with all the staff at your disposal,” says Boulud. “It’s your own private dining room, but you have all the stuff you wouldn’t have at home. You don’t have 20 chefs at home to prepare you a tasting menu, and you don’t have five butlers to serve you dinner. It’s the ultimate dream to feel at home, but to have this full experience.”
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Three’s Company
Stars align for these renowned Japanese chefs cooking in New York City. As Michelin-starred restaurants go, Japan is teeming with culinary excellence. The Land of the Rising Sun boasts more than 400 restaurants with at least one Michelin star—only in France can you find more. The United States, by comparison, ranks sixth on that list with 198 starred restaurants, but its most populous city, New York, has benefited from a trio of acclaimed Japanese chefs who have set down roots in the Big Apple over the past decade.
Chef Hiroki Odo In 2012 Chef Hiroki Odo accepted the executive chef position at Kajitsu (kajitsunyc.com), a Midtown Japanese eatery specializing in Shojin cuisine. The style of vegetarian cooking is considered the foundation of all Japanese cuisine and is prominently prepared in Buddhist temples across Japan. Six years later, he opened his eponymous kaiseki restaurant, Odo (odo.nyc), a speakeasy that specializes in multicourse meals comprised of simple dishes crafted to showcase the purest flavors of the ingredients. Chef Tadaaki Ishizaki As one of Japan’s preeminent chefs specializing in Japanese-style dry-aged beef, Chef Tadaaki Ishizaki has spent the past decade extensively researching and
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testing the methods by which delectable flavors of the meat can be enhanced through the dry-aging process. In 2016, Ishizaki moved to New York and initially served as the executive chef at Salt and Charcoal (saltandcharcoal.com) in Brooklyn. More recently, he joined Chef Odo’s Sky Blue Hospitality group, which includes the aforementioned kaiseki restaurant Odo, as well as Hall (hall.nyc), a casual all-day eatery, and Muse (sushimuse.com), a sushi delivery and takeout concept. Chef Mitsunobu Nagae In 2017, Chef Mitsunobu Nagae relocated to New York City as a founding team member of L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon. It was a harmonious union given that Nagae had dedicated himself to French cuisine as
an 18-year-old in culinary school. During his tenure at L’Atelier, the restaurant earned two Michelin stars. Later, Nagae transitioned to Shun/Le Jardinier, where he worked as chef de cuisine and helped the restaurant earn a Michelin star only six months after opening. Now, Chef Nagae is set to open a restaurant of his own called L’Abeille (labeille.nyc) in Tribeca. The 50-seat eatery will specialize in creative and seasonal French cuisine prepared in the fine-dining tradition but served in a casual environment and with more approachable prices. In that way, L’Abeille will become one of New York’s few “bistronomies,” a term coined in 2004, which reflects a new category of bistros that are led by young, innovative chefs motivated not by Michelin stars but by the chance to make haute cuisine accessible to a broader audience.
Courtesy Odo/Cody Rasmussen (2)
Meals at Odo are simple dishes in their purest form.
Celebrating Our History. Continuing The Legacy. Since 1970, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars has showcased Napa Valley’s amazing wines to the world. Experience timeless terroir with acclaimed Cabernet Sauvignon from our historic estate vineyards and continue the legacy with us.
Scan to learn about our legacy of craftsmanship. St agsLeapWineCellars.com
SWC 1828002 ©2022 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Napa, CA
Eat Like a Local
From top: S.A.L.T. Lab aboard the Silver Moon; in Crete, traditional cuisine is brought to life in presentation and technique.
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Think food on cruise ships and a bonanza buffet at midnight comes to mind. But for gourmands who want to experience a region’s culture through its cuisine the Silversea S.A.L.T. program is the most immersive culinary program on the high seas. The acronym stands for Sea and Land Taste, and it represents the ultra-luxury cruise line’s most ambitious effort yet to provide a cruising experience like no other. “The brand is about indulgence,” says Barbara Muckermann, chief commercial officer for Silversea Cruises. “We always start with the guests and what they want in developing our programs.” With S.A.L.T., Silversea has accomplished the nearly impossible considering the federal regulations and restrictions about food on ships that have been in place for decades. “It’s a lot of work to do this concept,” says Muckermann, “and that’s what we wanted to revolutionize. Honestly, it took a lot of craziness to make it happen!” One of the revolutionary moves was hiring a food anthropologist who delves beyond the recipes and into each ingredient, why it’s used, where it comes from. “If you don’t have someone on staff to help and support the team, imagine the mistakes in describing a particular dish,” explains Muckermann. “We have a food anthropologist for the authenticity.” S.A.L.T. was originally designed to launch in South America and the fact that it was initiated in Greece sailing out of Athens on one of the newest flagships, Silver Moon, is proof the formula works. “We can pick and choose and change the wines, the lectures, but the program stays the same,” says Muckermann. “We tested it in Asia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and the format holds.” That format is pure immersion in the
behind the scenes of how a restaurant prepares its menus, how farms grow biodynamic crops, how a food magazine editor puts together a story turning it into, essentially, live storytelling. “The whole idea is taking a narrative, journalistic approach and recreating the experience for guests,” says Adam Sachs, director of S.A.L.T. and an awardwinning travel and food journalist. “We consider who the main characters are and what they can teach us … [the locals] are great ambassadors of the region.” Shore excursions take guests off the beaten path from tourist-laden venues to lunch on a beach in Paros, for example. “The restaurant is on the south side of the island on this little pebble beach,” says Sachs. “There are six to eight tables right on the sea and trees that give a bit of shade. A dusty, sandy path leads to the white wood-burning oven where Mario, the co-owner with his wife, bakes bread every morning. Other restaurants may also have great views, but the sweet spot here is in the heart of the owners who can express their passion in a way that’s right for this audience.” Back on the ship, S.A.L.T. Kitchen serves regionally inspired dishes with a menu that changes at every port to reflect the local gastronomy, and S.A.L.T. Lab offers hands-on cooking classes with visiting chefs and cookbook authors. The mixologists at S.A.L.T. Bar experiment with regional wines and spirits to serve up unique cocktails. No two adventures are the same, and as Sachs puts it, “We offer in-depth experiences that are more than just a meal. It’s about what the place has to offer from people in the know.” Price based on cruise itinerary and stateroom booked; silversea.com u —Deborah Frank
Courtesy Images From Top: Silversea Cruises/Matteo Imbriani; Silversea Cruises/Lucia Griggi (2)
Silversea takes cruise cuisine to the roots of a region and immerses guests in a cultural, historical, and anthropological food experience.
FIVE
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ONE THOUSAND THE
POUNDS
DEGREES
OF
REST OF THE WORLD
OF
STEEL.
INTENSE
DISAPPEARS.
DISCOVER THE NEW 2022 LINEUP THE HYBRID FIRE GRILL
H E AT.
K A L A M A ZO O G O U R M E T.CO M
TECH
Better Homes
New devices to master your domain near, far, and virtually.
LIGHT BULB HEALTH MONITOR A light bulb installed at home that changes color to signal an impending health crisis is the idea behind a new monitor from Sengled. The company has added radar into a smart light bulb to monitor vital signs, such as heart rate and body temperature. Connected via Bluetooth Mesh to follow a person from room to room, it can detect when a senior has a fall, for example, offering a surveillance method that is less intrusive than a camera. The technology should be available in late 2022. us.sengled.com
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SMART AIR PURIFIER Cleaning products company Clorox wants to scrub your air clean with an air purifier made for rooms 320 square feet and larger. Critically, it employs a HEPA filter and an active carbon filter operating in tandem to remove bacteria and viruses as small as 0.1 microns, and gives realtime feedback via its digital display. A color-coded light indicates air quality status up to six levels from green/good to maroon/ hazardous. $90–$280; cloroxhomeappliances.com
REMOTE CONTROL The new Eco Remote by Samsung doesn’t take AA batteries. Instead, solar panels on the back supply operating power, as does the control’s ability to harvest radio frequency energy emitted by your home Wi-Fi router to allow charging in dark rooms. A miniature antenna can capture the Wi-Fi signals from a distance of up to 131 feet. The company’s aim is to reduce the huge number of batteries discarded into landfills each year. samsung.com
INVISIBLE HEADPHONES These are being called invisible headphones because the sound they transmit can’t be heard by anyone else. The Noveto N1 uses proprietary audio beaming technology to send ultrasound silently through the air until it converges as audible pockets of sound just outside the listener’s ears. Facial recognition software and motion detectors help the N1 track head movement so the signal is always on target within a 3-foot range. The N1 is Bluetooth-ready and can communicate with an Alexa voice assistant. noveto.com
All Images Courtesy Listed Manufacturer
BY FRANK VIZARD
NOISE-CANCELING HEADPHONES Eliminating extraneous noise can be a blessing, but sometimes you don’t want to be completely oblivious to surrounding sounds. The Technics EAH-A800, the audio brand’s new flagship noise-suppression headphones, features two modes: one is more immersive while the other makes it easier to hear voices. A built-in microphone uses wind suppression circuitry for improved conversation. They’re Bluetooth capable with a 50-hour battery life. Given Technics’ reputation for high fidelity, expect sound quality to be superb. $350; technics.com
SOLAR ROOF SHINGLE A roof shingle that also collects energy from the sun for use in homes is a game changer as a clean, sustainable power source. Timberline Solar from GAF Energy, developed in conjunction with North America’s largest roofing manufacturer, GAF, is less than a quarter-inch thick and blends in well with surrounding roof shingles. Large, often aesthetically unappealing, roof-mounted solar panels are no longer necessary to get the required energy efficiency. gaf.energy
SMART SUNGLASSES Unlike traditional photochromic or transitional lenses, the ones used in the new Dusk smart sunglasses from Ampere are electrochromic. This means you can adjust the tint level in just 0.1 seconds via a phone app or touch controls on the left side of the frame. The glasses are equipped with tiny speakers for easy listening as well as a microphone: Press a button on the right side to access Siri or Google Assistant. $295; ampereshop.com
MOSQUITO REPELLER Thermacell mosquito repellers stand like armed sentries around outdoor spaces, at the ready to repel stinging invaders. Each LIV module contains a scentfree, smokeless solution that is heat-activated for dispersion. The modules are controlled by a smartphone app with a Wi-Fi connection to a central smart hub, so the system can be configured for timed activation or an automatic shutdown when not needed. Thermacell says each module covers approximately 315 square feet within a 20-foot zone. From $700 for a starter pack of three modules; thermacell.com
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AUGMENTED REALITY GLASSES While virtual reality is its own universe, augmented reality technology is designed to be an aid in this one. For example, overlaid informational cues can appear on special glasses— most early designs channeled Clark Kent. Now, ActiveLook’s NexT platform offers a more fashionable view that can be used by any sport professional, eyeglass manufacturer, or tech company. The lightweight, sporty design has a small, heads-up type display that appears on the inside of the lens, presenting navigational aids as well as metrics including heart rate, speed, elapsed time, distance, and elevation. Toggle between various data points using gestures. The battery lasts more than 12 hours. activelook.net
AIR QUALITY MONITOR Thanks to COVID-19, we’re more aware than ever that things in the air that you can’t see can be very harmful. The Airthings View Plus air quality monitor makes the invisible visible, offering peace of mind, as well as notice when action is required. Of the measurements made by the device, the carbon dioxide reading is of immediate interest, as it’s seen as a proxy for ventilation. Another key measurement is for particulate matter, which is indicative of pollution caused by smoke, for example. Radon, airborne chemicals, temperature, and humidity are also monitored. Just wave your hand in front of the device for a quick red, yellow, or green light check and log in to the app, which tracks air quality over time. $300; airthings.com
ROBOTIC LAWNMOWER Mowing the lawn can now be deferred to your robot. WORX Landroid robotic mowers are available in three sizes—for oneeighth, one-quarter, and half-acre lots. From a smartphone app, you can set and forget it; the Landroid will work for an entire season, or log in remotely to start a job anytime. It can also be controlled via the LCD screen on the mower itself. Powered by rechargeable lithium batteries, the mower features a floating blade system that automatically adjusts as it encounters obstacles like rocks or sticks. Landroid sensors will either prompt the robot to turn around or shut down when it encounters a pet dog, for example, and it even knows when it’s raining—a built-in weather sensor prompts the mower to return to base so it doesn’t cut wet grass. Among a variety of accessories is a radio link module to extend the Wi-Fi range. From $950; worx.com u
All Images Courtesy Listed Manufacturer
FLAT-FREE BICYCLE TIRE A flat-free tire made for driving around an inhospitable Martian environment is set to be made for riding bicycles on Earth. The NASA-developed technology is made from a shape memory alloy material, NiTinol+, so it can bend, unbend, expand, and contract, and then quickly return to its original shape. The LA-based SMART Tire Company is adapting it for a bicycle tire called METL and hopes to eventually use the technology for vehicles. Pricing isn’t set, but expect to pay a premium akin to a racing tire. This new METL technology should also reduce the number of tires destined for landfills. smarttirecompany.com
Live where home feels like...
an escape.
Set within the tranquil hush of South Carolina’s Lowcountry is Palmetto Bluff, a protected sanctuary of natural wonder you can call home. Here, 20,000 pristine acres and 32 miles of riverfront offer homeowners endless adventure, boundless beauty, and days that energize, enrich, and inspire. Stay for a little or stay for a lifetime. It never leaves you. For real estate inquiries: 843.891.1303 | palmettobluff.com/luxury
Obtain the Property Report required by federal law and read it before signing anything. No federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. This does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy where prohibited by law. The complete offering terms are in an offering plan available from sponsor. File no. H-110005
GOLF TECH
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Game On
Ten noteworthy discoveries from the 2022 PGA Merchandise Show. BY SHAUN TOLSON
GOLF CLUBS
1. It used to be that buying a full set
of clubs was an option reserved only for beginner golfers. Those full sets were affordable and provided an easy introduction to the game, but it wasn’t long before novice players outgrew them. In the past, those players would then have to spend a great deal more to furnish a complete bag—full, 14club sets for the average, experienced player didn’t exist. Stix has changed that model. Most golfers will find that every club in this stylish, all-black set performs admirably. (Some may find the driver hard to control—even when equipped with a stiff shaft—but such afflictions don’t hamper any of the other clubs in the set.) $1,000; stix.golf
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2. When viewed from above, the debut
putter from Makefield looks like a stealth jet. But that has little to do with the club being CNC-milled from aircraft-grade aluminum alloy. Instead, the shape allows for nine weights of varying density and material to be strategically positioned in three rows—one out near the toe of the putter head, one near the heel, and one at the center. Positioned where they are, those weights offer maximum forgiveness for off-center strikes and deliver the majority of the putting stroke’s energy into the equator of the golf ball. That force transfer allows the ball to begin rolling with topspin almost immediately, assuring that putts remain online with greater regularity. From $400; makefieldputters.com
3. At the Haraken display during the
demo day portion of the PGA Show this year, language barriers made it difficult to learn a lot about this Japanese fairway wood’s construction, which meant the club’s performance had to tell the whole story. It only took a couple of swings to know this 3 wood was expertly engineered. Each shot produced a piercing ball flight with plenty of distance—two characteristics that confirmed clubmaker Kentaro Hara’s assertion that the club produced shots with “strong trajectories.” The Docus Design fairway wood carries a steep price tag, but its performance offers a commensurate return on the investment. About $524; docus-golf.com
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GOLF CART ALTERNATIVES
All Images Courtesy Listed Manufacturer
4. Inspired by surfboards and
DIGITAL ACCESSORIES
6. The Shot Scope Pro LX+ is the first
longboards, the GolfBoard debuted in 2014 with a revolutionary riding experience, albeit one that some golfers found too challenging or intimidating. By contrast, the Golf Skate Caddy Tourer delivers the same thrilling experience, but it’s more stable to operate and more comfortable to ride. In particular, this alternative vehicle only requires riders to angle the steering column right or left to change direction, since the base platform where riders stand remains in a fixed state. Powered by a lithium NMC battery, it can reach maximum speeds of 10 mph. $3,470; golfskatecaddy.com
product to operate as a laser-powered rangefinder and a GPS-aided device. Enhanced with 7x magnification, a 900yard range, and target-lock vibration, the device as a range finder is accurate to within a yard. As a GPS-powered accessory, the Pro LX+ is preloaded with more than 36,000 courses, and it can provide distances to hazards, layup zones, and to the front, center, and back of every green. The device also includes 16 tracking tags with smart GPS chips for a player’s clubs, allowing it to act as a shot-tracking device. $350; shotscope.com
5. Prior to this year, Motocaddy
As portable launch monitors become more widely used, GPS technology specialist Garmin has entered the fray with its lightweight Approach R10. Utilizing radar technology, the compact device tracks more than a dozen metrics in real time, including club speed, club path, ball speed, launch angle, spin rate, and carry distance. Users can customize the main screen of the affiliated app to display three data points—all valuable tools when analyzing a swing. From there, swipes left reveal additional metrics for further analysis. With a Garmin Golf Membership, the Approach R10 also doubles as a golf simulator with access to more than 42,000 courses from around the world. $600; garmin.com
produced motorized golf carts with a variety of features. Some could be controlled through the use of a slim remote control; others required a hands-on approach but offered a fully integrated GPS system. The new M7 GPS model combines both features. Powered by a high-capacity, waterproof lithium battery, the M7 GPS holds a charge long enough to play 36 holes of golf; it features responsive remotecontrol technology; and it’s equipped with a high-resolution LCD touchscreen display showing GPS-aided course maps with dynamic green views that allow users to move the flag based on where the hole is cut on a particular day. $1,900; motocaddy.us
7.
8.
The new Golfzon TwoVision simulator is the leader in replicating the conditions and the challenges of a real round of golf. The system’s swing plate is equipped with five hitting surfaces: fairway, two distinctive patches of turf that resemble different types of rough, and two similarly distinctive patches of densely packed, tall bristles that replicate the conditions of both fairway and greenside bunkers. Of even greater significance, that swing plate can tilt and rotate in 24 directions, which means when golfers are faced with an uneven stance on the screen, the swing plate moves under their feet to replicate the slope of the terrain. From $48,500; golfzongolf.com SWING AIDS
9. Golfers who aspire to strengthen
their cores, improve their balance, and quicken the speed of their swings can do so with the Golf Forever swing trainer, which is comprised of an asymmetrical bar, weighted ball attachments, and a 15-pound Latex training cord. The training aid includes three months of access to guided workout videos, as well as recorded golf lessons taught by British Open champion Justin Leonard. Once that initial trial membership expires, a Golf Forever membership costs $25/month. $200; golfforever.com
10.
Lag Shot Golf has created a flexible training device equipped with a wedge, 7 iron, or a driver club head. With a Lag Shot club, golfers can now improve the tempo of their swings as they hit golf balls. That detail is significant, as golfers’ practice swings are often different than the swings they make when attempting to hit a ball. With purpose-built versions for men, women, and juniors, Lag Shot allows all players to refine their swings and collect visual feedback from the shots they hit. From $87; lagshotgolf.com u
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GOLF TECH
Stay and Play
Florida’s prestigious PGA National Resort is made new.
PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, which first opened in 1980, is embracing a new “1960s Palm Beach chic” aesthetic following a $100 million, 1.5-year renovation of all 360 rooms and public spaces. The transformation has injected the property with some muchneeded energy, while new food and beverage outlets are putting a creative spin on classic dishes. At the Butcher’s Club, for example, Executive Chef (and Top Chef winner) Jeremy Ford accentuates traditional steakhouse entrées with spiced sides—like cumin-roasted carrots—and indulgent sauces, like smoked beef fat hollandaise. The resort also boasts two
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new courses. The former Squire Course, circa 1983, which was in desperate need of a renovation to improve drainage and overall playability, has been converted into an 18-hole layout called The Match. The course, designed by architect Andy Staples, now serves as a venue for non-stroke-play golf matches played among friends. “The new layout,” says Staples, “is an exciting reflection of how most non-professionals enjoy the game at their respective home courses, where winning the predetermined ‘match’ is the main goal without the stress of having to post a score.” Additionally, a portion of the old Squire Course was converted
Courtesy PGA National Resort (2)
BY SHAUN TOLSON
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CANNON-LIKE D I S TA N C E
New PXG GEN5 Irons are a master class in cannon-like performance, laser-like accuracy, angelic forgiveness, meticulous quality, with drop dead sexy looks, and a feel so soft it’s like warm butter on a hot biscuit. Hit these new GEN5’s just once and you’ll agree, playing with these babies is like having a PhD in better golf. Put “KaBoom Baby!” on your side.
ANGELIC FORGIVENESS LASER-LIKE ACCURACY INCREDIBLE SOUND & FEEL
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“An Adirondack chair is set up as a starting point for each hole, but they can really play from anywhere.” Taking that suggestion to heart, players may decide that on the fifth hole, rather than hitting flip wedge shots over a lazily flowing creek to the massive green, they’d prefer to test their luck hitting 55-yard bunker shots
out of a sand trap several paces to the left. The results may not be as successful, but the freedom to play the hole in an unconventional way is liberating. “We’ve unbuttoned the top buttons of our golf shirts,” Broderick declares. “It’s not our grandfather’s game anymore. We’re taking it in a new fresh direction.” u
Courtesy PGA National Resort
into the 9-hole short course called The Staple, where aggressively contoured greens sit 60 to 130 yards away from the Adirondack chairs that delineate the teeing ground for each hole. “This course will be great for beginners and instruction and also advanced players who want to practice their short game,” says Jane Broderick, PGA National’s director of golf.
Located deep within the rocky, forested terrain of the Missouri Ozark Mountains, Big Cedar Lodge is a remote haven of natural beauty that brings conservation to life. Connect with family by connecting to the great outdoors.
b i g c e d a r. c o m
Kings of the Road
Five extra-large SUVs that meet every need for power, towing capacity, a comfortable ride, and then some.
Courtesy Mercedes-Benz USA
BY MARK HACKING
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Mercedes-Maybach GLS600
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assist system. Also included is a touring package with adaptive air suspension system and a Wi-Fi hotspot. All leather and chrome touches aside, the focal point of the interior is the massive, curved OLED screen—actually, three screens knitted together. The display houses the main gauge cluster, infotainment system information, and augmented reality navigation system. A technological showpiece capable of hauling a day cruiser, the Cadillac Escalade is ready for its close-up. From $76,295; cadillac.com With its throwback styling, the all-new Jeep Grand Wagoneer is the most interesting entry in the luxury large SUV segment. The three-row vehicle rides on a frame adapted from the Dodge Ram but incorporates an independent rear suspension system to provide an inspired compromise between adventure-ready capability and relaxed comfort. An adaptive air suspension system ratchets things up more, raising the ride height by 3.6 inches and creating the ability to wade through 2-foot-deep water. Under the hood, the Grand Wagoneer features a 6.4-liter V8 (471 hp; 455 lb-ft)
with enough pulling power (towing capacity is 9,850 pounds) to meet the demands of almost any imaginable recreational challenge. All versions of the Jeep come standard with the brand’s legendary 4-wheel drive system, which helps create traction under heavy loads. When not towing anything, the Grand Wagoneer has the goods to deliver above-average offroading capability for this class of vehicle. Inside the spacious cabin, the Jeep has an especially striking digital gauge cluster and infotainment system setup. The center console features a 12-inch touchscreen mounted above a separate 10.3-inch touchscreen devoted to the climate control system. In addition, two of four trim levels have another 10.3-inch touchscreen for the front-seat passenger. To cap things off nicely, the available rear-seat entertainment system comprises another two 10.3-inch touchscreens for the second-row seats. The Jeep brand is a huge success story around the world; the addition of the Grand Wagoneer represents a missing piece of the puzzle. This mammoth SUV has plenty of luxury and capability baked right in. From $87,995; jeep.com
Courtesy Images, From Left: General Motors; Jeep. Opposite Page: Courtesy Lincoln
T
he completely reinvigorated fifth-generation Cadillac Escalade rightfully retains its status as the flagship model for the storied American brand. For good reason too: The Escalade features a towing capacity of more than 8,000 pounds and is something of a style-monger, with its massive and boxy design standing out in a crowded field. There are two engines, two drive configurations (rear-wheel or 4-wheel drive), five trim levels, and two wheelbase lengths (regular and extended) to help make your ride a unique choice. In terms of performance, it’s a tough call between the 6.2-liter V8 (420 hp; 460 lb-ft) and the turbodiesel 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder (277 hp; 460 lb-ft); the latter offers close to equal towing performance and better fuel efficiency. Of the five trim levels, the Sport Platinum and Premium Luxury Platinum models are the rulers of the roost, featuring full semi-aniline leather seats in all three rows, a rear-seat entertainment system with dual 12.6-inch screens and a high-end audio system from AKG with 36 speakers, and Cadillac’s noteworthy Super Cruise driver-
When the current-generation Lincoln Navigator debuted in 2018, it absolutely raised the bar for the “cruise ship class” of large SUVs: advanced engine-transmission combination, the best seats in the business, and surprisingly lithe styling were among its standout features. Now, a revised version of the Navigator is here and it looks better than ever: revision highlights include refreshed exterior styling, a larger 13.2-inch infotainment screen, and an all-new, semiautonomous driving system called ActiveGlide. In terms of comfort, the Navigator already had many of the bases covered, but now it’s verging on grand slam territory—and second-row passengers are the main beneficiaries. Heated/cooled massaging seats and a 5.8-inch digital touch display to control all climate settings are now available for the rear seat. Chauffeured passengers can also enjoy more entertainment options through the available Lincoln Play with
Amazon Fire TV built-in entertainment system, with wireless audio, streaming, and 16 GB of storage for each of two 10.1-inch screens. In terms of capability, the Navigator soldiers on with a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 (450 hp; 510 lb-ft), linked to a 10-speed automatic transmission routing power to either the rear wheels only or to all four wheels. With the available heavy-duty trailer tow package, towing capacity is a sparkling 8,700 pounds, which makes the Navigator a competitive entrant in this group of titanic vehicles. For maximum levels of luxury, the hot ticket is the extendedwheelbase edition and the Black Label trim level, which includes the Revel Ultima 3D audio system with 28 speakers, standard all-wheel drive, and unique 22-inch wheels. Driving the Navigator is a genuine luxury experience, mirroring that of vehicles twice as expensive. $78,405; lincoln.com
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acceleration. The powertrain also delivers 7,700 pounds of towing capacity, more than enough to haul a 28-foot boat trailer. The standard adjustable air suspension system helps move things along smoothly and keeps all passengers in complete comfort. With only two rows of seats in a large SUV with a three-row footprint, there’s plenty of space for everyone to stretch out— second-row passengers have an extra 4.7 inches of legroom when compared to the regular GLS600. It’s a toss-up as to who’s got the best seat in the house. All seats feature heating, cooling, and massage functions, while
passengers in the back also enjoy poweroperated leg rests, pillowy headrests, and, yes, actual seat pillows. Up front, the driver and co-driver get to enjoy the Maybach’s expansive digital dashboard. The instrument panel is a 12.3inch reconfigurable display that flows seamlessly toward the identically sized center console touchscreen, which is powered by the MBUX interface with voice activation. The Mercedes-Maybach GLS600 is a stellar SUV, a combination of supreme luxury and inspired mechanical underpinnings. From $161,550; maybach.com
Courtesy Mercedes-Benz USA. Opposite Page: Courtesy Jaguar Land Rover
With the introduction of the MercedesMaybach GLS600, the German manufacturer sends its prestige sub-brand out to challenge the likes of Bentley and Rolls-Royce head-on. It’s a smart move and the starting point for the Maybach, the resolute GLS600 full-size SUV, is an inspired one. With the Maybach version, there’s one notable compromise—only two rows of seating—but every conceivable luxury amenity is included as standard equipment. The Maybach is powered by a twinturbocharged 4.0-liter V8 (550 hp; 538 lb-ft) that incorporates a 48-volt mild hybrid system for increased efficiency and quicker
The newest entrant on our list, the fifth generation of the legendary Land Rover Range Rover, is a bit of an outlier here— it’s less outwardly flashy than the other four vehicles but promises to be no less capable or luxurious. This sleek seven-seater is powered by either a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder with a 48-volt mild hybrid system (395 hp; 406 lb-ft) or a thundering, twinturbocharged 4.4-liter V8 (523 hp; 553 lb-ft). Other iterations will follow, including a plug-in hybrid variant and the recently announced high-performance SV. For now, the Range Rover line comes in three different trim levels and two body lengths, regular and extended wheelbase. All versions come standard with Land Rover’s class-leading part-time
all-wheel drive system with six different driving modes, the most extreme of which is engineered to take you further off the beaten track than most will ever go. Also standard is an electronic active locking rear differential for greater control in tough conditions, rear-axle steering for increased maneuverability around town, and towing capability of 7,716 pounds for those weekend adventures. Plenty of plush features balance out all this rugged engineering, including a standard 13.7-inch digital instrument panel, 13.1-inch curved infotainment touchscreen with Amazon Alexa voice control, and genuine leather and wood appointments throughout. The list of desirable options includes upscale sustainable wool-blend upholstery, a rear-seat entertainment system with twin 11.4-inch displays, and a Meridian audio system with 35 speakers. If you’re searching for a truly high-end big SUV with more than sufficient capability, the new Range Rover needs to be at the top of the shopping list. From $104,000; landroverusa.com
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Off the Beaten Track
To take road trips to greater extremes, you’ll have to go off piste with your approach to vehicle accessories. There are too many on the market to mention—including many offered by the vehicle brands featured in this article—so we suggest focusing on one key concept: versatility.
Based in California, Nomad Kitchen Company designs and manufactures kitchen systems for camping, overlanding, and tailgating enthusiasts. The company has created the first and, to date, only vehicle-mounted kitchen with space for food preparation, cooking, and cleaning. Nomad’s modular approach to kitchen systems gives SUV owners welcomed design flexibility. From $750; nomadkitchenco.com
Launched through a crowdfunding initiative, iKamper is a South Korean manufacturer of rooftop tents built to the very highest standards. The current model range includes four tent styles and a wide array of accessories designed to bring a healthy dose of glamping to your next rest stop. The Skycamp, X-Cover, and Skycamp Mini each won a Red Dot Design Award, giving iKamper three straight years of honors from 2018–2020. From $3,200; ikamper.com u
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All Images Courtesy Listed Manufacturer
The amount of gear needed for a rugged adventure always seems to exceed the space available, no matter how cavernous the SUV interior. From skis and bicycles to tents and onboard kitchens, specialty equipment demands versatile roof racks. Colorado-based GOBI Racks has forged a hard-earned reputation for offering systems that are incredibly rugged and innovative. Their credo: Racks and accessories don’t have to be ugly to be powerful. From $1,600; gobiracks.com
AS FAITHFULLY AS THE TIDES
Ocean Reef is more than a club, it’s family; a family that holds tradition, privacy and belonging at its core. That’s why generations of Members continue to connect and to enjoy the countless amenities all within this private club community. There are only two ways to experience Ocean Reef Club’s Unique Way of Life – as a guest of a Member or through the pages of Living magazine. Visit OceanReefClubLiving.com or call 305.367.5921 to request your complimentary copy.
THE LUXURY LOOK
All-Access Granted
Polaris’ latest low-slung three-wheeler delivers a rush of adrenaline on the open road, while the newest hiking gear brings you back to nature in the great outdoors. PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANKIE BATISTA STYLING BY HEIDI MEEK
I
f you’ve long thought of urban driving as more drudgery than fun, you’ve been behind the wrong wheel. More specifically, you’ve been relying on one too many wheels. The Polaris Slingshot SL, an open-air three-wheeler, captures the thrill of piloting a go-kart in a street-legal package. A lack of doors, no roof, and only 5 inches of ground clearance can do that. Priced from $26,799, the Slingshot SL, like all five Slingshot models, is customizable through a bevy of accessories. Some are merely aesthetic, while others are more functional, such as excursion tops, wind deflectors, and storage bags for personal belongings. Drivers who analyze performance specs and powertrain configurations might dismiss the Slingshot’s capability on paper. But given the vehicle’s curb weight of just over 1,600 pounds, the 178 hp and 120 lb-ft of torque generated by its Prostar 4-cylinder engine packs a punch. This sleek, petite, low-riding autocycle (its official classification) incites an adrenaline rush at moderate speeds precisely because it is sleek, petite, and low-riding.
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The driving and riding experience is not unlike a motorcycle; and those who have experienced one—especially passengers— will particularly enjoy the Slingshot, since the autocycle delivers the same exhilaration without the need to hold on. (Be forewarned: Drivers and passengers must follow state motorcycle helmet laws.) Still, the Slingshot is more car than bike, and motoring purists can order theirs with a traditional manual transmission (complete with a floor-mounted clutch and a center-console shifter); though an AutoDrive transmission ($1,750 extra), accented by optional paddle shifters, does broaden the consumer base. Upgrade to the Signature LE (from $35,000), which features styling enhancements such as a tri-tone paint scheme and customized interior LED lighting alongside traditional automotive comforts that include heated and cooled seats, a backup camera, and a 7-inch touchscreen display complete with GPS navigation, weather and traffic overlays, and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Once you have reached the end of the road and are ready to set out on foot, the
Danner Trail 2650 is a versatile, lightweight (around 12 ounces per shoe) hiking shoe (from $170) that provides plenty of stability and underfoot protection on rocky or uneven terrain. When even more stability is needed, Black Diamond Equipment Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles ($140) can extend as long as 55 inches and their natural cork grips are comfortable in hand, even when the occasional white-knuckle grip is required. The 36-liter Patagonia Altvia Pack ($180), constructed from rugged recycled nylon, features a breathable back panel and shoulder straps built around a frame that can support heavier loads for longer, overnight excursions. It offers ample storage space for necessary gear, like the 16.9-ounce Grayl UltraPress Water Purifier ($90), a compact bottle that can filter river or lake water into purified drinking water in just 10 seconds. And don’t forget the Garmin inReach Mini ($350), a lightweight and compact satellite communicator that provides two-way messaging, offers location-sharing capability, and is equipped with an interactive SOS alert system in case of emergency. —Shaun Tolson
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VINCE polo, $245; vince.com HUGO BOSS jeans, $178; hugoboss.com BELL & ROSS watch, $5,100; bellross.com
POLARIS Slingshot SL, from $26,799; slingshot.polaris.com HELMET provided by Slingshot
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ARC’TERYX shirt, $175; arcteryx.com KÜHL shorts, $79; kuhl.com PARKS PROJECT socks, $20; parksproject.us DANNER TRAIL 2650 hiking shoes, $180; danner.com ELECTRIC sunglasses, $220; electriccalifornia.com BELL & ROSS watch, $4,300; bellross.com PATAGONIA Altvia backpack, $180; patagonia.com GARMIN inReach Mini GPS, $350; garmin.com GRAYL UltraPress Water Purifier bottle, $90; grayl.com BLACK DIAMOND EQUIPMENT Trail Ergo Cork trekking poles, $140; blackdiamondequipment.com PETZL Actik Core headlamp, $70; petzl.com
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Photo Credits
2021’s Gulfstream 800
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Flying High
With unprecedented demand and historically low supply, private flights are currently hard to come by—yet private aviation’s future is brighter than ever. BY BAILEY STONE BARNARD
Courtesy Gulfstream Aerospace
E
veryone in the private aviation industry says the same thing: Demand is up, way up—unprecedented, in fact. That is thanks to the global pandemic of the last two years driving wealthy travelers to private terminals and planes from public airports and first-class seats aboard commercial aircraft. Where private jet travel may have seemed like an extravagance for many who could afford it before the pandemic, avoiding public modes of transportation has now become a priority. And with more people flying privately than ever before, both new and used private aircraft can be impossibly hard to come by. Add to that the ongoing, pandemic-fueled supply-chain woes slowing production of new aircraft for a perfect storm that both private flight providers and travelers must weather. But brighter skies are on the horizon. “In the past two years, a lot of people have taken their first bite of the juicy apple that is private aviation,” says Matteo Atti, executive vice president of innovation for VistaJet, a leading European private flight provider that has grown to become one of the world’s largest. “And so, the market is really opening up to a customer group that has never touched it before. And that
is what I think will accelerate innovation across the entire industry.” On the aircraft side, common anecdotes of 2020 and 2021 included charter flights cancelled and passengers left on the tarmac due to lack of available backup planes when crew or mechanical issues arose. In response, flight providers are making massive investments in new aircraft as manufacturers launch new models. Last year saw the introduction of several new private jet models, among them the Dassault Falcon 10X and Gulfstream 800, the biggest and best from those builders, and a new HondaJet concept capable of transcontinental flight. Of course, customers will have to wait at least a few years for those models to become certified and enter service. For currently certified models, providers like VistaJet, as well as NetJets, Flexjet, and Jet Edge, are putting down hundreds of millions of dollars to claim jets years before they come off the assembly line. Meanwhile, flight providers and travelers are clamoring for private flights now. But private aircraft inventory has dropped to historic lows, which means flight service providers continue to scramble to find enough planes and, in many cases, are not accepting new members. And so, if
not innovation, at least accommodation continues among those providers. “NetJets is consistently operating well beyond pre-pandemic flight volume,” says Patrick Gallagher, the company’s president of sales, marketing, and service. “[Fractional aircraft] owners have experienced business as usual in their recent travels, but a few have felt the challenges that coincide with heightened demand across the industry.” That resulted last August in NetJets—the world’s largest operator of private jets— grounding the sale of new jet cards, its solution for on-demand flights requiring short-term financial commitments. Flexjet, the second-largest fractional aircraft operator, halted its jet card sales two months later. At press time, reports indicated that those sales might resume in spring. “There are no signs right now that point toward the market slowing down,” says Jonah Adler, chief commercial officer at Jet Edge, a rising star among flight service providers, with one of the faster-growing fleets. “Our best advice to all of our members is try to plan your travel as early as possible, get your trips booked, and then you don’t have to worry about it.” Here, a detailed look at what to expect from each provider right now.
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JET EDGE
In March, Vista Global acquired US charter operator Jet Edge, which was already fast-growing and well-positioned despite pandemic-related shortages. The move is sure to help Jet Edge meet increased flight demand. “There’s an incredibly large number of unhappy fractional and jet card customers out there right now,” says Adler. “As crazy as it sounds, one of the things that is really driving people to our platform is the fact that we actually have availability. We have airplanes. We have room in our system to service new members. It just happens to be that we’re able to do it on the best equipment in the industry.” Since its founding in 2007, Jet Edge has focused on managing its fleet of charter aircraft—ranging from super-midsize Gulfstream G280s to large-cabin, long-range BBJs—owned by individuals who make their planes available for charter. But with the support of $265 million worth of investments it received last year, the company has shifted focus to purchasing aircraft and making them available to its members. “In the current market, we are the only operator of Challenger and Gulfstream aircraft that added a significant number of planes in 2021 and will continue to do so through 2022,” says Adler. “We are adding aircraft at a time where there’s almost no availability in the market.” Last year, Jet Edge took delivery of over 20 aircraft, including 13-passenger Gulfstream GIVs and G450s, as well as 8-passenger Challenger 300s and 350s. And it expects 20 more this year, bringing its fleet size to 95 planes. The company is outfitting the newly acquired aircraft with custom interiors and the latest tech for its Reserve members, who pay a fully refundable deposit from $100,000 to $500,000 to use as a travel fund with fixed hourly rates. “It’s a simple, simple program,” says Adler. “And there’s essentially no commitment. I think because we’ve made it so easy, it’s easy for people to come on board.” flyjetedge.com
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Jet Edge’s Gulfstream interior
Bombardier Global 7500
NETJETS
When NetJets announced its suspension of jet card sales, it cited a waitlist of more than 2,000 customers. Pausing that part of its business allowed the industry leader to focus on customers who have made larger financial commitments in the form of fractional jet ownership. The company says it will continue accepting deposits for fractional owners planning travel for 2022 and beyond, so by and large, current customers who plan ahead are not seeing an interruption of service. But even for the most stable company in the industry, with the financial
backing of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, NetJets’ infrastructure is stretched thin. “NetJets’ flight demand is currently exceeding all other highs in our 57-year history, and we have seen daily flight demand increase by about 30 percent compared to pre-pandemic volumes,” says Gallagher, noting that NetJets filled 350 new positions last year, including 300 new pilots, to help accommodate the increased demand, in addition to growing its fleet substantially. As part of a $2.5 billion investment, NetJets will be adding 80 new aircraft
to grow its fleet to more than 850 jets by the end of 2022. Those include Bombardier’s ultralong-range Global 7500, the largest and most-capable aircraft in NetJets’ fleet, and the transatlantic Global 5500. In October, NetJets inked a $1.2 billion deal with Embraer to option as many as 100 new Phenom 300E regional jets for its US and European fleets, with deliveries beginning next year. So, travelers frustrated that they have not been able to become NetJets customers in the last two years need only be patient. More planes are en route. netjets.com
Courtesy Images, From Left: Flexjet; Vistajet; Wheels Up. Opposite Page, Courtesy Images From Top: Jet Edge; Netjets
FLEXJET
Like much of the industry, Flexjet has been forced to limit new business due to strained flight availability. Flexjet suspended new jet card sales, rather than price gouge wouldbe customers. And while it increased its jet card reservation lead time from one day to five days and added peak surcharges, Flexjet is still maintaining lead times and signing up new fractional owners and lease holders, with new jet deliveries scheduled throughout 2022. Flexjet—owned by Directional Aviation, which is also parent company to Sentient Jet, FXAIR, PrivateFly, and other industry leaders—is investing $850 million to grow its fleet to 231 jets, including 50 more aircraft the company expects to enter its fleet by the end of the year. Those planes include Bombardier Challenger 350s, Gulfstream G650s, Embraer Phenom 300s, and Embraer Praetor 500s in North America and Embraer Praetor 600s and Gulfstream G650s in Europe, with four new planes entering its fleet each month since the end of last year. The company hired some 170 new pilots last year and says it plans to add 300 more by the end of this year, in addition to 100 service and operations staff. Flexjet is also building an ultra-modern headquarters and operations center outside Cleveland, which will help it manage the ongoing demand for private jet travel. flexjet.com
VISTAJET
Since its founding in 2004, VistaJet has become one of the leaders in European jet travel, along with NetJets Europe. More recently, VistaJet’s parent company, Vista Global, expanded its international market share, especially in the United States. “We had a 300 percent growth of new program members in North America,” says Matteo Atti of the last year, citing VistaJet’s subscription-based charter model, influx of new aircraft, and importantly, flight availability for new members as a big draw to U.S. travelers. “We made our bets on how the market would grow many years ago, and our pipeline of deliveries has been very strong.” Last April, VistaJet took delivery of the first two Global 7500s, with up to 12 more scheduled to enter its fleet over the next two years, plus 10 Challenger 350 super-midsize jets. With its recent acquisitions, including US charter operators Jet Edge this year and XOJET in 2018, Vista Global has massively expanded its access points for US-based travelers and become the world’s largest charter operator. “While previously, a lot of American customers would refer to regional providers and then find ad hoc charter when they were in Europe, Asia, or the Middle East,” he says, “we see a lot of them looking for a trusted partner that can serve them in this country and on every other continent.” vistajet.com
WHEELS UP
Though the company is less than a decade old, Wheels Up has rapidly become an industry powerhouse. It started as a regional provider, offering short flights aboard its branded fleet of King Air 350i turboprops and then adding longer-range Citation Excel/XLS and Citation X jets. In 2020, Delta Private Jets merged with Wheels Up, quickly making it one of the largest operators by flight hours in the country with more than 11,000 members accessing its fleet of more than 1,500 owned, leased, managed, and partner aircraft. Beyond its owned fleet of King Airs and Citation jets, Wheels Up now offers flights on all aircraft types, from light to large-cabin jets. Last year, the company introduced its Up for Business program to better serve corporate travelers with options for charter, management, and ownership. Due to massive increase in demand, it was forced to put a 90-day travel moratorium on new members from last November to February, so that it could continue serving its current members. With record earnings in 2021, the company says it is making investments across the board in order to ensure its ability to satisfy current demand and deliver on members’ future expectations. wheelsup.com u
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A tiny Mediterranean island nation rediscovers its own charms with a new emphasis on local cuisine. BY FRANK VIZARD
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he sun-soaked Mediterranean archipelago of Malta lies 100 miles south of Sicily. As the 10th smallest country in the world, it doesn’t take long to travel from one end of the main island to the other, but, like the TARDIS phone booth in the long-running British sci-fi series Doctor Who, Malta is bigger on the inside. A British influence runs deep here. While the country has been independent since 1964, the British held sway in Malta since Napoleon was encouraged to leave. The native Maltese is the official language, yet English is universal. There’s a statue of Queen Victoria in the capital city Valletta’s Piazza Regina (or “Queen’s Square”), although you may have to push a few café chairs out of the way to see her. Her throne sits adjacent to the 175-year-old Caffe Cordina (caffecordina.com), a popular eatery with outdoor seating where menu highlights include the Ftira Maltija sandwich alongside a glass of Cisk lager. Distinctly Maltese, the local favorite mixes tomato paste with tuna, onions, olives, capers, and herb oil topped with local peppered goat cheese. The vaulted ceiling inside the restaurant recalls a Viennese coffee house, decorated with six frescos by local artist Giuseppe Cali that depict various rulers through Maltese history, from the Phoenicians to the Knights of St. John to the British. In 2005 the country’s president came to the café to unveil a work by Madeleine Gera showing Malta’s entry into the European Union.
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Courtesy The Malta Tourism Authority. Opposite Page, Courtesy Images Clockwise From Bottom Left: The Malta Tourism Authority (2); Caviar & Bull/Daryl Cauchi; The Phoenicia Malta
Malta’s Knight Life Beckons
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You can think of Valletta’s old city as essentially one giant castle, defined by the Great Siege of 1565 when the Ottoman Turks battled the Knights of St. John, an order comprising knights from all over the medieval world. From Valletta’s walls, look out to the imposing Fort St. Angelo, a critical bastion during the Great Siege and the seat of the Grand Master leading the knights. Today, water approaches to Fort St. Angelo are filled with yachts—Malta hosts the annual Rolex Middle Sea Race (rolexmiddlesearace.com). You can also make the harbor crossing by hailing a small, traditional water taxi called a dghajsa. The craft, akin to a gondola, is centuries old and makes it easy to imagine even a Grand Master being ferried across the waters. While it seems every civilization within sailing distance has settled in Malta for a time, its most mysterious residents are its earliest. Neolithic underground burial chamber Hal Saflieni Hypogeum descends to three levels. Above ground, the Temple of Hagar Qim overlooks the sea and dates to between 3600–3200 BC.
Valletta overlooks a magnificent harbor that has been a wellpositioned maritime destination for centuries. It’s also a city created by knights and as such retains a medieval quality full of narrow streets with stone statues of saints looming above intersections. Mark your progress around town by noting the auberges, former residences of the knights by place of origin. Of the original eight, the five survivors—all in modern use—include the Auberge de Castille at Leon, the Auberge d’Aragon, the Auberge d’Italie, the Auberge de Provence, and the Auberge de Bavarie et Angleterre. One auberge was demolished to make room for the Anglican Church of St. Paul, and two others were lost during World War II during the harrowing siege of the island by the Nazis. Another marker is St. John’s Co-Cathedral, which houses two Caravaggio paintings. The most impressive is The Beheading of St. John the Baptist, commissioned by the Knights of Malta and considered to be among the greatest artworks of all time. Another landmark is the five-star Phoenicia Hotel (phoeniciamalta.com), located just outside the walls of the old city. Among its long list of luminous guests are British royalty, who favor its expansive gardens.
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Courtesy Images Clockwise From Top: Caviar & Bull/Daryl Cauchi; The Phoenicia Malta; The Malta Tourism Authority. Opposite Page, Courtesy The Malta Tourism Authority (2)
DINING While you can still get a traditional full English breakfast, Maltese cuisine, in fact, is on a major rebound thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, when farm-to-table went from a trendy movement to a matter of necessity. “One change due to COVID is that before, most food was imported,” says Stefan Hogan, executive chef at the classically stylish, fivestar Corinthia Palace Hotel (corinthia.com). The premier 1962 property is the point-oforigin for the Corinthia Hotel brand, which has more than a dozen international properties. “When the ports shut down, people turned to local farmers. That change has become permanent with an emphasis on using locally sourced ingredients. Farmers are reaping the benefits whereas before they had been marginalized.” Beyond major hotel kitchens, the emphasis on local recipes continues. Drive 20 minutes south to the picturesque fishing village of Marsaxlokk, where a table at Michelin-starred restaurant Tartarun
(tartarun.com) means you’re within sight of the boats that brought in dinner. Meanwhile, a 20-minute car ride north from Valletta to Saint Julian’s takes you to Caviar & Bull (caviarandbull.com), which caters to meat lovers. Saint Julian’s is known for its nightlife, long seaside promenade, the popular Balluta beach, and 301-room Malta Marriott Hotel & Spa (marriott.com), newly refurbished with a fine restaurant of its own. One of the country’s most unique and exclusive experiences brings you back in time to Malta in the 17th and 18th century. The Taste History (tastehistory.mt) team of chefs and researchers, in conjunction with local museums, scoured historical records for ingredients and recipes to recreate meals ranging from a pauper’s savory snack to a corsair’s celebratory dinner. The attention to detail is impressive: Your octopus starter is served on a numbered wooden plate that corresponds to a crewmember’s rowing position on a sailing ship of old. Pink
Champagne from France would be the aristocratic luxury drink of choice. Binding Maltese culinary experiences together is a local wine scene whose quality visitors may find surprising: Ta’ Betta, Marsovin, and Meridiana are among the top producers. You can have an intriguing introduction to Maltese wine via a tasting session at boutique operation Markus Divinus (markusdivinus.com). A short walk down a rural dirt lane leads to a former explosives storage site, where immersive lessons by local expert Mark Borg detail the indigenous gellewza grape. This emphasis on the local extends to artisans of a different stripe as well. Stephanie Borg’s Studio Boutique offers her graphic expressions of Malta on a wide variety of homeware (stephanieborg.com) while internationally known Maltese designers Charles and Ron Van Maarschalkerweerd pair fashion with seasonal Maltese fare at their combo boutique/café flagship store (charlesandron.com).
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With Valletta as your headquarters, several day trips are in easy reach. A 20-minute drive inland rivaling this capital city in medieval charm is Mdina, a fortified town that was an early capital of the archipelago. St. Paul’s Cathedral is a 17th-century Baroque masterpiece that takes its bellringing and salvation very seriously with twin bell towers and matching clocks (only one tells the correct time as the other is to confuse the devil). Mdina was a stand-in for King’s Landing in the first season of the popular Game of Thrones series and the nearby Rabat houses St. Paul’s underground catacombs dating back to Roman times. You can continue driving another 15 minutes and cross to the other side of the island, where the Blue Grotto sea caverns offer spectacular ocean views. On the adjacent island of Gozo there is much to be explored, including the Ggantija Temples (derived from the Maltese word for “giant”), built from massive limestone blocks and predating Stonehenge. If Malta has an outdoor playground then Gozo is it. Reached via a short ferry ride that runs on a regular schedule, it features Mgarr ix-Xini. Overlooked by a Knights of St. John watch tower, this is a beautiful spot for boating, swimming, and snorkeling, as are nearby Dwejra Bay and the Blue Lagoon off Malta’s tiny third island, Comino. Other scenic spots on Gozo include the Tal-Mixta Cave that opens onto a stunning view of the red sands of the beach at Ramla I-Mamra and the monumental shrine to Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu. There are enough churches in Malta, a country of just over a half million people, to overwhelm even devout Catholics. The place to dine in Gozo is the charming Country Terrace (countryterrace.com), which dates to the 16th century and serves fresh lampuki, the unofficial Maltese national fish, available from August through December as the schools migrate by the island. Top-flight accommodations are available at the 137-room Kempinski San Lawrenz (kempinski.com), which is like a five-star hilltop monastery made of limestone, with extensive gardens, pools, and a spa—very fitting as it’s yet another well-documented location where the Knights of St. John enjoyed their creature comforts.
GETTING THERE Fly to Malta on Turkish Airlines (turkishairlines.com) via Istanbul. Business class on the carrier’s Dreamliners is spacious and wellappointed. Catering comes courtesy of DO & CO, an Austrian company famous for its gourmet fare. You’ll also be surprised by the quality of Turkish wine available. Istanbul is a major hub with two exclusive lounges spread over an expansive mezzanine space: a businessclass lounge and a Miles&Smiles lounge open to all business-class passengers and those in economy class with Elite, Elite Plus, Star Alliance Gold, and Turkish Airlines Corporate Club memberships. u
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Courtesy The Malta Tourism Authority (2)
BEYOND VALLETTA
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Beyond the Big Five
Commune with painted dogs, roam among chimpanzees, and immerse in meerkat society at these exclusive lodges specializing in encounters with Africa’s most elusive and extraordinary residents. PHOTOGRAPHED AND WRITTEN BY PAUL RUBIO
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ions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalos: The Big Five are forever enshrined in the vision of an African safari. But the rare, secretive, and lesser-known creatures, from pangolins to servals to mountain gorillas, are assuming the safari spotlight, and the classic Out of Africa fairy tale is changing. From the sand dunes of the Kalahari to the cloud forests of Rwanda, select ultra-luxury lodges are honing in on such species-specific encounters and proving that Africa’s wild riches span far and wide.
Opposite, clockwise from top left: An Angolan black-and-white colobus monkey in Rwanda’s Nyungwe National Forest; a serval at Asilia Namiri Plains in Tanzania; meerkats standing guard near Jack’s Camp in Botswana; a bat-eared fox at Tswalu in South Africa’s swathe of the Kalahari.
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ASILIA NAMIRI PLAINS, TANZANIA For feline-forward sightings In 1994 much of the short grass plains of Tanzania’s eastern Serengeti National Park were designated off-limits, as part of The Serengeti Cheetah Project through the Wildlife Conservation Society. The goal: Reverse an alarming decline in the number of cheetahs in the Serengeti and foster the return of a sustainable population. Twenty years and more than 100 cheetahs later, the project was deemed successful, and the land was reintegrated into Serengeti National Park. Soon after, eco-conscious operator Asilia Africa planted roots with a tented camp in the heart of Tanzania’s cheetah country, which also happens to be the top locale to encounter—and even photograph—Africa’s other secretive cats. Natural Attractions Twice-daily journeys into surrounding grasslands highlight cat-spotting smaller felines like caracals, African wildcats, and servals. Why? Namiri Plains happens to be one of the few places on Earth where these nocturnal creatures can be encountered regularly during daylight hours. Of course, there are also the beautiful cheetahs—and lots of them. It’s not uncommon to spend an entire morning following a hunt, start to finish. (But be warned: This experience is not for the faint-hearted.) Creature Comforts Transformed in 2019, Namiri Plains is now one of the Serengeti’s premier tented camps. This collection of 10 permanent, solar-powered tents were hewn from ancient sedimentary rock and theatrically draped in canvas. Each features a dreamy outdoor sala and bathtub that overlooks the Ngare Nanyuki riverbed, frequented by elephants. From $972/ person/night, all-inclusive; asiliaafrica.com
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TSWALU, SOUTH AFRICA A holy grail of rare wildlife sightings South Africa’s largest privately owned reserve is the highlight of the green Kalahari, an ethereal semi-arid expanse where lush plant life peppers—and at times blankets—the red-clay earth and surrounding sand dunes. Measuring an impressive 463 square miles (larger than the entirety of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park), Tswalu takes a low-impact, high-value approach to ecotourism with two boutique camps, The Motse and Tarkuni. At any given time, there are no more than 28 guests combing the vast, magnificent landscapes in search of southern Africa’s most mysterious residents. Natural Attractions Though present year-round, elusive desert species like aardvark, aardwolf, and pangolin make cameos aplenty during the brisk evenings of winter, June through August. Shadow Tswalu’s all-star team of researchers and ecologists as they lead groundbreaking studies into the secret lives of Kalahari’s icons. In any season, embark on walking safaris to meet myriad populations of meerkats, up-close and personal. Travel by Land Rover to cross paths with roan antelopes and bat-eared foxes while keeping an eye out for massive black-maned lions, camouflaged cheetahs, or shaggy brown hyenas lurking in the thicket. For the ultimate bird’s-eye views of the green-speckled desert landscapes—plus a bit of rhino spotting—opt for a helicopter that reaches the far corners of the reserve. Creature Comforts At The Motse, cozy up in one of nine legae (Tswana for “home”), each underscored by an expansive sala overlooking the rust-hued terrain. Families or larger groups can stay at the five-bedroom private homestead, Tarkuni, for an even more bespoke experience. While every home-cooked meal at Tswalu is excellent, a multi-sensory dinner at Restaurant Klein Jan is one of Earth’s most memorable, and exclusive to Tswalu guests. South African, Michelin-star chef Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen weaves storytelling into a multicourse meal of heritage Northern Cape cuisine. Dinner begins in the living room of a 100-year-old farmhouse and moves to a subterranean root cellar, before transitioning into a more modernist, open-kitchen setting. From $2,027/person/night, all-inclusive; tswalu.com
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ONE&ONLY NYUNGWE HOUSE, RWANDA A primate- and bird-watcher’s paradise In unspoiled western Rwanda, One&Only Nyungwe House gives intrepid travelers the rare opportunity to explore Central Africa’s most enchanted forest—and in high style. The exquisite 22 rooms are set within a working tea plantation at the edge of Nyungwe National Forest, encircled by mist-shrouded mountains home to 13 species of primates, most notably chimpanzees, and 300 species of birds. Natural Attractions In this far-flung cloud forest, the quest to find and photograph primates is top priority, beginning with the most challenging: chimpanzees. Visitors rise by 4 a.m. to venture deep into the near-impenetrable forest in hopes of encountering a community feeding high in the trees at sunrise. Unlike habituated gorilla troops, chimpanzees are skittish, erratic, and sometimes intimidating (read: prepare to work hard and sweat for your sighting). More easily seen are the Angolan black-and-white colobus monkeys, including the largest troop in the world at more than 500 individuals. Around the lodge, encounter gorgeous L’Hoest’s monkeys or pop into the National Forest proper where blue monkeys abound, as do red-tailed monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys. The bird-watching near the lodge is also tops. Keep an eye out for the black-andwhite-casqued hornbills that frequent the area, and team up with the lodge’s resident birdwatcher to observe some of the area’s 27 endemics, including the red-collared mountain babbler and the breathtaking Rwenzori turaco. Creature Comforts Stilted guest rooms and suites nearly reach the forest canopy, making it easy to admire wildlife from the comfort of your cozy outdoor living room. In both suites and common areas, interiors skew distinctly Rwandan, underscored by displays of traditional basket work, galleries of Rwandese geometric art, and other distinguishing ornaments. Meals are served in the lodge’s restaurant at night, but by day, they are enjoyed in swoon-worthy setups within the towering forests and undulating tea hedges. An infinity pool and spa complex integrate elements of wellness into the greater Nyungwe experience. From $2,100/night/room, all-inclusive; oneandonlyresorts.com
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RWANDA’S REBIRTH Face time with mountain gorillas is the anchor of any trip to Rwanda (visitrwanda.com). Whether fawning over newborns in the Amahoro troop or bowing down to the silverback of the Agashya family, interacting with gorillas is a true experience of a lifetime. But in recent years, Rwanda’s safari footprint has expanded beyond one-off gorilla encounters, and the country is now trending as Africa’s latest safari hot spot. Nyungwe House put the country’s primate-rich west on the map, while Magashi (wilderness-safaris.com), a luxury tented camp by Wilderness Safaris, is exposing travelers to Rwanda’s savannah-strewn east, home to the Big Five and famed for its prolific fish-eagle population and catfish-hunting leopards. At the same time, travelers are opting for multiple gorilla treks in Volcanoes National Park, plus excursions to see the cheeky and mischievous golden monkeys. New ultra-luxury lodges are meeting this demand for extended visits to Volcanoes. Among the newcomers is One&Only Gorilla’s Nest (oneandonly.com), an 86-acre garden oasis opened in late 2019 near the foothills of the national park. In addition to 21 free-standing lodges and suites, the property boasts multiple restaurants and experience venues, including the past residence of wildlife expert Jack Hanna and a boma used for live dance performances.
HOW TO SAFARI IN RWANDA Much like in Kenya, Micato Safaris (micato.com) ranks top of the food chain among luxury safari outfitters operating in Rwanda. Count on them to handle all the minutia required in making your bespoke primate safari possible. This includes securing the requisite advance permits for wildlife encounters, organizing all internal transportation (by vehicle, plane, and helicopter), managing current COVID regulations (plus arranging all testing), booking the best accommodation possible, and tipping all your porters, guides, and staff along the way. In Rwanda, you’ll have a personal safari director and driver at your disposal, from touchdown to takeoff, ensuring a flawless journey.
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JACK’S CAMP, BOTSWANA A veritable meerkat manor Back in the 1960s, voyager Jack Bousfield pioneered safaris in the salt pans surrounding Makgadikgadi Pans National Park in remote, southern Botswana. Fast forward to present day, as his son, Ralph, honors his father’s legacy through Jack’s Camp, famed for its distinctive big-top design, campaign-style furnishings, on-site natural history museum, and access to Earth’s most charismatic colonies of meerkats. Natural Attractions Seasonal flooding transforms this otherwise barren swathe of the Kalahari into an artistic patchwork of pinks and black-and-white stripes as lesser flamingos flock to the mineralrich salt pans and Burchell’s zebra migrate en masse to source fresh grass. However, the principal draw to Jack’s remains a chance to see native, desert-adapted residents such as honey badgers and spring hares (aka African kangaroos), and, of course, meerkats up close. Timing is everything for interacting with meerkats face-toface. Under the direction of your safari guide and one of Jack’s
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meerkat specialists, you’ll settle near a den before sunrise. When the meerkats awake, they’ll exit, cautiously approaching with curiosity. They’ll start chattering in their special language, and one may even climb on your head to scout for possible predators. Don’t be surprised if the entire colony soon decides to pile up on you. It’s Meerkat Manor unfolding in real time! Note that while such encounters can never be guaranteed, request a visit with the celebrity BBC colony for your best chances. This is the very group that’s appeared on countless documentaries and television shows and allowed the world to fall madly in love with meerkat society. Creature Comforts Fresh off a 2021 refurbishment, Jack’s Camp features nine oversized tented suites, draped in bold, textured ensembles of reds and greens, intentionally evoking a safari style of yore. A pool pavilion overlooks the palm-studded desert while a main tent houses an entire natural history museum, rife with cabinets of curiosities and taxidermy. From $1,450/person/night, all-inclusive; naturalselection.travel
TULUDI CAMP, BOTSWANA Okavango Delta excellence In summer 2019, conservation-led outfit Natural Selection debuted their most intimate camp yet, set in the 494,000-acre Khwai Private Reserve of the northern Okavango Delta, an area famed for prolific avifauna and robust populations of the endangered African painted dog and leopard. With just seven tented treehouse suites, endless wide, open spaces, and a maximum of three vehicles per sighting, Tuludi delivers a highly personalized safari experience, including days in which you may never encounter another guest outside of camp. Natural Attractions The mopane woodlands and floodplain grasslands teem with colorful and eclectic birdlife that wows even “non-birder” types. Ogle saddle-billed storks as they preen, watch lilac-breasted rollers light up the sky like fireworks, scour the reeds for lesser jacanas, and prepare for a physics-defying takeoff by a colossal marabou stork (affectionately called the Boeing 747 of the safari world). Guides will push Land Rovers to the max through the marshes, following herds of red lechwe and sitatunga while waiting for the cries and calls of African painted dogs (also known as
African hunting dogs or wild dogs). Follow the high-pitched sounds to reach a frenzied pack, sometimes up to 21 strong, in the process of plotting out their next hunt. Helicopter rides reveal the untouched nature as far as the eye can see—and countless stocky elephants playing and parading in the floodplains. Creature Comforts Tuludi’s treehouses encompass elevated tented suites handsomely appointed and illuminated by soft goods in bright, African prints. An outdoor bathtub and shower complement an al fresco leisure platform, including a swing chair, daybed, and plunge pool. Design-forward, multi-tiered common areas are built in and around the landscape, intersected by centuries-old trees and connected by wooden platforms and swing bridges. Service is top-notch, as are the hearty cuisine and caliber of field guides. On longer stays, opt for a night under the stars in the new, open-air sky bed suite. Following sundowners and a multicourse dinner, admire the twinkling night sky and then retreat behind the bed’s mesh draping, falling asleep to the nocturnal calls of the wild. From $915/ person/night, all-inclusive; naturalselection.travel
EXPLORE BOTSWANA’S WATER WORLD Safaris in northern Botswana are typically achieved by both land and water, thanks to a vast network of rivers, floodplains, and the land masses in between. In the Linyanti Wildlife Reserve, north of the Okavango Delta, much of the highoctane action unfolds along ancillary waterways such as Osprey Lagoon, site of Wilderness Safaris’ recently reopened DumaTau camp. Fresh from a top-to-bottom rebuild by noted design firm Luxury Frontiers (Artichoke Design handled the interiors), safari favorite DumaTau offers a new ultra-luxe approach to Botswana’s water world. Expanded suites, embellished by curiosities, maps, and pops of pink, feature private plunge pools and optimize views by way of an outwardfacing design. A new relaxation center, gym, and spa, plus clean-eating menus, allow the safari experience to also be one of wellness. While it’s possible to still explore in traditional 4x4 style, the excitement here lies in safaris by boat and mokoro (dugout canoe), both of which lend to up-close encounters with birdlife and swimming elephants. From $1,887/person/night, all-inclusive; wilderness-safaris.com u LM SPRING/SUMMER 2022 129
One Place, Two Ways Santa Fe
BY IRENE RAWLINGS
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Sazón Oversized paintings give the space an art gallery–like feel. Start with a tasting of silky, spicy moles followed by fried squash blossoms and huitlacoche tacos. Must order: Chef Fernando Olea’s signature sopa de amor (blue crab meat in a creamy, piquant poblano broth). One of the city’s largest selections of tequilas and mezcals. sazonsantafe.com
Gruet Sparkling Wines Pinot noir and chardonnay grapes grown in the bonedry sandy soils of New Mexico make excellent méthode champenoise sparkling wines. Enjoy flights from the family-owned and -run winery served in various local establishments, including the official Gruet Tasting Room at Hotel St. Francis. gruetwinery.com
Turquoise and Silver Visit the open-air marketplace at the historic Palace of the Governors building to buy jewelry directly from Native American artisans. Registered vendors are vetted to ensure authenticity. Walk across the street to The Rainbow Man store—a maze of rooms chock-full of vintage Navajo blankets, hand-carved folk art, original Edward S. Curtis photographs, and antique Native American jewelry. nmhistorymuseum.org; rainbowman.com
Canyon Road Artists from all over came here as early as the 1920s because, as Georgia O’Keeffe said, “There’s so much more space between the ground and sky out here it is tremendous.” Now Canyon Road is a magnet for collectors with more than 100 galleries, restaurants, and secret-feeling passageways leading to contemporary artists’ studios. Join monthly evening art strolls. visitcanyonroad.com
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Back at the Ranch This tiny, blue-trimmed adobe with creaky wood floors is packed to its rafters with handmade cowboy boots—more than 700 pairs—in every imaginable color and style. Founder Wendy Henry was in the fashion business in New York before moving to Santa Fe, where she designs boots that are stylish and comfortable. Custom orders ship worldwide. backattheranch.com STAY: The Inn of the Five Graces On a narrow street in the city’s most historic neighborhood, the adobe-and-river-rock compound conceals secluded courtyards and Silk Road–inspired guest rooms straight from the pages of Arabian Nights. The 25 rooms and suites are decorated in jewel-toned silks, rugs from Afghanistan, and sofas in striking Turkish kilims. From $825, including breakfast; fivegraces.com
Courtesy Images, Clockwise From Top Left: Tourism Santa Fe; Heritage Hotels & Resorts; Back at the Ranch; The Inn of Five Graces; Tourism Santa Fe; Brooke Williams
ART AROUND TOWN Founded in 1610, the oldest state capital in the United States is the epicenter of Anglo, Spanish, and Native American art.
Courtesy Images, Clockwise From Top Left: David Foxhoven; Santa Fe Opera; Tourism Santa Fe; Bishop’s Lodge/Ingalls; New Mexico TRUE; New Mexico Tourism
COUNTRYSIDE DISCOVERIES Called the Land of Enchantment, New Mexico features ancient dwellings, historic pueblos, and bubbling hot springs.
Frito Pie A favorite snack or salad in the southwest, Frito pie is on the menu in many Santa Fe restaurants, including The Shed, Harry’s Roadhouse, and even the Five & Dime General Store on the Plaza. But locals swear by the version at Tesuque Village Market, a pretty 10-minute drive from Santa Fe. tesuquevillagemarket.com The High Road Take this scenic byway that meanders through a piñon-and-juniper landscape. Drive past low-rise adobe towns, touch the healing dirt at El Santuario de Chimayó (a National Historic Landmark), and have lunch at Doc Martin’s inside the historic Taos Inn. The kitchen, helmed by eighth-generation Taoseño chef Nité Marquez, specializes in Northern New Mexican dishes. Take the “Low Road” along the Rio Grande River on the way back.
Santa Fe Opera This stunning openair building with views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains hits a high note hosting summertime performances from international operatic superstars. Tailgating before concerts is tradition, as in-town restaurants pack hampers (with wine) or you can preorder a picnic from the Opera. Go early for premium parking in the upper lot. July 1–August 21. santafeopera.org Festivals Traditional Spanish Market (July); Indian Market (August), Indie Film Festival (October); Albuquerque International Balloon Festival (October). Local favorites: Wine & Chile Festival (September; 50+ restaurants, 75+ wineries) and the International Folk Art Market on Museum Hill (July; 150+ artisans from 150 countries). santafe.org
Ojo Santa Fe Soak in a bowl-shaped hot springs pool or in your private enclosure with towels, robes, and a fragrant piñonburning kiva fireplace. You can also book a signature cactus-flower full-body scrub and grab lunch (quinoa burger or chile relleno) prepared with ingredients from the Ojo Farm. ojosparesorts.com STAY: Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection Housed in a legendary landmark building on more than 300 secluded acres of gardens, horse pastures, and forest-cloaked mesas. The interior design for the 100 rooms, suites, and casitas was inspired by international fashion muse Millicent Rogers. Book yoga and spa treatments at the Stream Dance Spa and join in immersive experiences with chefs, artists, and outdoor guides. From $750; aubergeresorts.com u
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One Place, Two Ways Puerto Vallarta BY BRUCE WALLIN
Huaracheria Fabiola This family-owned shop has crafted custom sandals for everyone from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (size 16) to Richard Burton, who put Puerto Vallarta on the tourist map thanks to his well-documented affair with Elizabeth Taylor while filming The Night of the Iguana in the then-sleepy fishing village. Choose from a range of leathers and colors to create the perfect huarache, moccasin, or flip-flop for him or her. From $20; +52.322.222.9154 Tacos to Tasting Menus Al pastor tacos are a local art form; stop into Sonorita to sample some of the city’s best. Head to Merida Grill for gourmet Yucatecan cuisine, IK Mixology for Mediterranean fare with beach views, and Tintoque for Vallartanese chef Joel Ornelas’ creations in a riverfront setting. sonorita.com.mx; meridagrill.com. mx; theikbar.com; tintoque.com.mx
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Rhythms of the Night Created by Cirque du Soleil cofounder Gilles Ste-Croix, this surreal and spectacular show is performed in a remote stretch of jungle-shrouded coast about an hour’s cruise from the Puerto Vallarta marina. Catch the early boat and arrive in time for sunset cocktails and dinner before witnessing an extravaganza of acrobatics, pyrotechnics, and mythology. From about $100; vallarta-adventures.com Agave Education Escape the city for a day on the tranquil beaches around Punta de Mita (Careyeros is a nice option), followed by an evening tasting of tequila, raicilla, mezcal, and more at the Conrad Punta de Mita resort’s Agave Studio in the Árbol restaurant. Sample a range of regional spirits—including a raicilla of the resort’s own making—paired with local delicacies. From $130; conradpuntademita.com
Vallarta Botanical Garden Set high in the Sierra Madres about 45 minutes south of town, this world-class botanical garden comprises 81 rugged acres of manicured collections and wild jungle. Stroll the many hiking trails to view orchids and other native Mexican plants, then cool off with a dip in the river below. From $10; vbgardens.com STAY: Casa Kimberly Channel Puerto Vallarta’s enduring romance at Casa Kimberly, a nine-suite hideaway set in the former villas of Taylor and Burton. On a hill in Gringo Gulch, the elegant estate looks out to red-tile roofs, the blue Pacific, and the verdant hills of the Sierra Madres from its Iguana Restaurant & Tequila Bar. Book the 2,500-square-foot Elizabeth Taylor Suite to enjoy the view from a private wraparound terrace. From $375; casakimberly.com
Courtesy Images, Clockwise From Top Left: Huaracheria Fabiola; Puerto Vallarta Tourism (2); Casa Kimberly; The Agave Studio; Puerto Vallarta Tourism
COUPLE IN THE CITY Old Hollywood glamour meets a modern Mexican vibe in this beach resort’s romantic heart.
Clockwise From Top Left: Courtesy Puerto Vallarta Tourism (1); iStock (2); Courtesy Auberge Resorts Collection; Courtesy Puerto Vallarta Tourism; Courtesy Riviera Nayarit Tourism
FAMILY ON THE BEACH Find fun and adventure for all along the Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit coast.
Whales and Waterfalls Charter a yacht to explore Banderas Bay, stopping at Los Arcos National Marine Park—a cluster of cave-covered islands near Mismaloya—for snorkeling and paddle boarding before continuing south to the accessible-onlyby-boat-or-by-foot town of Quimixto. Hike to a local waterfall for swimming and rock jumping before cruising back north and, from December through mid-April, spotting humpback whales along the way. From about $2,500; vallartayachtcompany.com Surf Sayulita The bohemian beach town of Sayulita has become overrun with tourists, but it’s still the Riviera Nayarit’s best spot for learning to surf. Take the clan to Lunazul Surf School to get everyone up and riding on the gentle swells along Sayulita Beach. For more experienced surfers, Lunazul can arrange trips to La Lancha and other top breaks. Lessons from $45; lunazulsurfing.com
Turtle Release From early summer through fall, olive ridley turtles lumber ashore to lay their eggs in the sand up and down the coast. The ensuing hatching season (roughly July through December) presents an unforgettable experience for visitors, who can participate in the release of the palm-sized babies. Several hotels have turtle conservation and release programs of their own; concierges at other properties can point you to a nearby program. Stroll the Malecón Spend a day in downtown Puerto Vallarta, walking the famed boardwalk that runs between the city’s Los Muertos and Camarones beaches. Visit Tierra Huichol to browse beaded artworks by the indigenous Wixárika people and Galería de Ollas for Mata Ortiz pottery. Refuel with a taco-eating trip around town with Vallarta Food Tours. tierrahuichol.com; galeriadeollas.com; vallartafoodtours.com
Spear Your Supper Search for snapper, triggerfish, and other edible species on a spearfishing expedition in the bay. Three- or four-hour excursions (minimum age 10) will teach you the art of pursuing your prey, safely operating the spear, and, with some luck, bringing up a fresh catch to enjoy as ceviche on the boat ride back or dinner that night. Price upon request; spearmex.com STAY: Susurros del Corazón Opening this summer, this Auberge Resorts Collection property sits on a sandy beach 45 minutes from the Puerto Vallarta airport in an exclusive stretch of the Riviera Nayarit (Four Seasons, St. Regis, and Conrad are all neighbors). Surfing, snorkeling, fishing, and other pursuits are all readily available from the 59-room retreat, which also includes three beachfront pools, an 11-room spa, a kids’ club, and 30 private residences. From $925; aubergeresorts.com u
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Boca Raton’s Rebirth
A city and a 1920s-era grand dame get their glamorous groove back.
Photo Credits
BY ANTONIO FINS
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Above and left: The main entrance of the Cloister at The Boca Raton
Courtesy The Boca Raton (2)
I
t’s a quintessential South Florida dusk with a coral sunset sky against palmshaded greens and links. A grapefruit and Zacapa rum Hemingway Daiquiri is served on a patio of one of the countryclub lifestyle options available to guests at The Boca Raton in the swanky eastern end of the ritzy enclave. The nearly century-old property, formerly known as the Boca Raton Resort & Club, catered to business executives until 2019, when tech billionaire Michael Dell’s MSD Partners bought the iconic resort—which doubles as a private club—and launched a multi-year, $200 million overhaul. Dell’s team is reconfiguring and reimagining the marquee property as five distinct themed hotels (called Beach Club, Yacht Club, Bungalows, Cloister, and Tower) to appeal to different guest demographics. The objective is to lure luxury leisure travelers with a unifying concept: glamour. Says Daniel Hostettler, The Boca Raton’s president and CEO, “it is our goal by 2026 to be one of the top-end resorts in the United States ... but with a modern view toward what the luxury traveler is looking for, which is a highly curated, highly personalized level of service. The real goal is to go back to when the hotel was in its heyday in the ’30s and
’40s. It was the place to see and be seen. And to me, that’s what the experience needs to feel like once again.” Famed developer Addison Mizner built the resort in 1926 as an oasis for wintering old-money wealth and society. It later attracted nouveau riche IBM whizzes who, at the technology conglomerate’s Boca campus, unveiled the world’s first personal computer decades later. For years, Wall Street’s top players convened here for an annual summit that lured industry titans like former New York Stock Exchange Chairman Richard Grasso and motivational speakers such as former New York Yankees Manager Joe Torre. In 1999, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan gave a speech on the 70th anniversary of the 1929 stock market crash. But by the time Dell’s team stepped in, the business model of booking conventionsized groups filling 1,000 rooms seemed anachronistic and the property’s overall appeal was dated, if not stale. That was a feeling magnified as surrounding Boca Raton buzzed to a chic, trendy vibe. New condominiums, restaurants, and shops reenergized the city’s downtown and
attracted thousands of new residents from Manhattan, the Tri-State region, Chicago, and California, says real estate veteran Bonnie Heatzig. “I think they feel a breath of fresh air,” Heatzig says. “They see Boca Raton and South Florida as a place for a fresh start.” The result, a boom—as sales of estate homes and mansions in the neighborhoods along the hotel’s East Camino Real Road address (already valued in the seven- and eight-figure range) sizzled. Same for the adjacent Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club community. And Heatzig says, she is booked solid with prospective clients interested in a $6 million unit she has listed at the Mizner Grand condominium complex nearby. Since renovations began and the main hotel reopened in December, The Boca Raton has been another draw. “The transformation of this 200-acre, dreamy resort into a worldclass destination is just a magnet,” says Heatzig. “That’s what people want in a luxury market. They want lifestyle.” Hostettler says he is conscious of the juxtaposition of The Boca Raton with the city’s newfound energy. “There is an entire renaissance and sort of a shift in the city toward a more modern interpretation of luxury,” he says.
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According to Hostettler, the unique and interwoven history of the resort to the city required extra care in handling The Boca Raton’s makeover to achieve a balanced merging of past and present in a way that remains competitive and relevant into the future. “You have to pay close attention to the history, especially since the entire city of Boca rose up around this phenomenal property,” he says. “But at the same time, we wanted to bring up the service level and interiors for the modern traveler. It is a gentle balance. We’re trying to be historic, however, on trend with what the modern luxury traveler is looking for.” The answer, at least in part, are the five distinct lodging choices and the complimentary amenities. The resort’s hub is the Cloister, 294 rooms in the historic center, which appeals to families, conference attendees, and history buffs—as well as for those looking for more bustle, since it’s close to restaurants and connected to the 50,000-square-foot spa. Guests are welcomed to a grand entrance by a 1929 bronze statue of a young girl postured in a nevertheless-she-persisted demeanor against the property’s main façade in warm coastal white, creamy tones. Adjacent is the iconic, flamingo-pink, family-oriented Tower: 28 stories high, where guests enjoy butler-concierge elite service. Rooms are limited to 12 per floor, each with expansive views, and connect so families can contour up to three-bedroom corner suites. Those looking for longer stays will be at home in the Bungalows that once catered to the IBM techies. Today, they’ve been refurbished with a mid-century modern— “think Mad Men,” Hostettler says—and residential feel provided by full living rooms, kitchens, and patios. The Yacht Club sports 112 adults-only suites with sleek European elegance, and
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terraces overlooking a 34-slip marina able to comfortably fit vessels up to 150 feet. The Beach Club reaches for a hipper, younger vibe and is the resort’s oceanside locale. It’s a five-minute water-taxi ride from the main resort site across the Intracoastal. It features the Marisol restaurant and exotic seafood specials such as harissa-rubbed pumpkin local swordfish on a bed of tomato salsa and Greek yogurt potatoes. The hotel’s amenities are also open to locals who purchase club memberships. Those include access to basics like fitness centers, the golf course, tennis and pickleball courts, and croquet on the lawn. But the gems are the restaurants and recreational facilities. One is the four-acre Harborside Pool Club that counts three swimming pools (including one just for
“It is a gentle balance. We’re trying to be historic, however, on trend with what the modern luxury traveler is looking for.” —Daniel Hostettler adults), a lazy river, two slides, cabanas, chairside service, and firepits. A very different feel is at the recuperative Spa Palmera, nestled among palms and a 100-year-old-plus banyan tree. The therapies include a deep-tissue Sensory Awakening Massage with aromatic peppermint, eucalyptus, and basil, plus an inhalation bowl of rose petals. The contrast therapy has alternating heated basalt stones and cold marble in circular motions to soothe and restore aching muscles.
Two other must-dos on the property are the MB Supper Club and The Flamingo Grill. MB Supper Club is a throwback to the former Monkey Bar at the resort. Set in a speakeasy cardroom from a century ago, the decadent décor sports whimsical wallpaper with monkeys smoking cigars, monkey sconces, plateware from the 1940s, and vintage black-and-white photos procured from the local historical society. The Supper Club’s classic menu lists beef Wellington, crab Louie, and oysters Rockefeller, with explanations on the history of the dishes—the onion soup dates back to 1867, for example. Dinner is price-fixed with a choice of appetizer, main course, and dessert. The bar serves up legendary cocktails like sidecars and sloe gin fizz. Nightly entertainment ranges from Latin to jazz. The Flamingo Grill overlooks the golf course. It’s an airy, breezy, and sunlit Florida room motif with pastel pinks—including the felt on the pool table—and greens on velvety furnishings and a chandelier made of Murano glass with more than 50 pink-andwhite lattimo glass petals. Entrées include cajun snapper and veal Milanesa—and a banana split flambéed tableside. Two other hot spots are Sadelle’s at The Boca Raton, serving its famous bagels, and the next-door, European-themed Palm Court, which offers cocktails, charcuterie, caviar, and light bites. The resort’s extensive renovation isn’t quite complete; Hostettler placed it at 80 percent done in late January. Two more signature restaurants, one Italian and one Japanese, are on the way. Like Flamingo Grill, they are being created in partnership with Major Food Group from New York. And the latest must-have, a surf rider pool, is also slated for the pool club. More is coming, says Hostettler, but all building toward a uniform, alluring objective. thebocaraton.com u
Courtesy The Boca Raton (4)
Clockwise from top left: One of the many courtyards; the pool and lounge at the Beach Club; a living room in the Tower suites.
Photo Credits
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High Seas Adventures
You can have a great saltwater game fishing story of your own. BY LARRY OLMSTED
“He came out unendingly and water poured from his sides. He was bright in the sun and his head and back were dark purple and in the sun the stripes on his sides showed wide and a light lavender. His sword was as long as a baseball bat and tapered like a rapier and he rose his full length from the water and then re-entered it, smoothly, like a diver and the old man saw the great scythe-blade of his tail go under and the line commenced to race out.” —Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea
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n Ernest Hemingway’s 1952 novella The Old Man and the Sea, the elderly fisherman’s first glimpse of the 18-foot marlin he would battle for three days and nights was based on the author’s years of experience fishing marlin out of Havana. At home on Key West, he often chased tarpon, Florida’s signature game fish, about which author A.W. Dimock had earlier penned a similarly evocative description: “That twisting, gyrating body, garmented in glistening silver and enveloped in a cloud of sparkling diamonds, was unlike any denizen of Earth.” Dimock’s Book of the Tarpon (1911) sparked a high-society fishing frenzy; and Hemingway’s later story won the Pulitzer Prize, spawned an Academy Award–winning film, and seven decades later, still inspires global travelers to charter sportfishing boats in pursuit of their “Old Man” moment. Besides the thrilling action, the appeals of saltwater game fishing are many, and even before the first strike; time on the water drinking beers with friends in often tropical locales rarely disappoints. But the real beauty of this activity is that it requires only interest, not expertise, and even first-timers can break records. In every top destination around the globe, there are staffed, fully equipped charters awaiting the would-be angler, complete with crew expertise. Passionate and knowledgeable hobbyists can get as handson as they want, but otherwise crew will bait lines, set up trolling, and upon a strike, tell you when to climb into the fighting chair,
hand you the rod, and explain what to do. Yet when you pull the fish from the sea, minutes or hours later, whether it is a 30-pound tuna or a half-ton marlin, the thrill is all yours. Saltwater fishing can be done from the beach or pier, and fly-fishing enthusiasts may take their light tackle to the ocean to test their skills against much larger fish, but for the vast majority of travelers, saltwater game fishing is an offshore, deep-sea pursuit using heavy tackle and specially designed boats 35 feet or longer. In most cases, those taking charters are seeking a particular regional prize, but unexpected quarry is the norm, and a singleday trip can net a dozen different catches, adding to the mystique. The notable exception to the deep-sea rule is salmon, typically fished inshore on protected straits and bays near land rather than open ocean, and it is done from smaller boats (but it is no less thrilling). Saltwater game fishing spans many dozens of species, including little-known catches such as roosterfish, snook, and bonitos, but a handful of prizes remain the stuff of anglers’ dreams, and worth traveling thousands of miles to pursue. With almost all modern, professional charters, only fish for consumption, such tuna and salmon, are kept to be enjoyed at the table, while billfish and many others are always released back into the wild—after the pictures are taken. These four are the most coveted saltwater game fish to wrangle, alongside details about the best places to find them.
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Courtesy Casa de Campo Resort & Villas
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Courtesy Images, From Left: Tropic Star Lodge/Hannes Ribner; Casa de Campo Resort & Villas (2)
BILLFISH The kings and queens of the sea are the four main species of billfish: marlin, spearfish, sailfish, and swordfish. Marlin can be blue, black, white, and striped, the latter being the “smallest” with a world record of 494 pounds. The others can be over half a ton. The billfish world-record holder (for nearly 70 years) is a 1,560-pound black marlin. The International Game Fish Association (IGFA), which maintains records, defines a fishing Grand Slam as an angler catching three specific fish in a 24hour period. There are many regional and obscure variants, such as Florida’s Inshore Slam (red drum, spotted seatrout, and flounder). But for bragging rights, the Grand Slam that counts is a trio of billfish, and in the world’s best fishing grounds, such as Panama, it is possible to catch and release four for the coveted Super Slam. For world-record catches, far-flung marlin hot spots include Australia’s Cairns, Portugal’s Azores and Madeira islands, and Fiji. Closer to home, the best include Hawaii’s Kona Coast (home to multiple world records), many Caribbean islands (à la Hemingway), Panama, and Mexico’s Baja peninsula. All offer ample charter boats, but for top resorts with their own marinas and one-stop, world-class fishing vacations, standouts include Panama’s fabled Tropic Star Lodge (tropicstar.com), a classic Grand and Super Slam destination, and Mexico’s Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto by Danzante Bay (villadelpalmarloreto.com). Further up the peninsula and surrounded by protected natural reserve waters and islands, Loreto is far less crowded than Los Cabos.
The marina at Casa de Campo Resort & Villas
For the past three years, fishing website The Billfish Report has ranked the southeastern Dominican Republic as the most consistent location in the world, and it is hard to beat legendary Casa de Campo Resort & Villas (casadecampo.com.do), a toptier golf destination with a well-equipped marina. The area is a standout for blue marlin, other billfish species, and prized catches such as mahi-mahi, wahoo, and tuna. With a long season for white and blue marlin and sailfish, the billfish capital of the continental United States is the Outer Banks of North Carolina, which has a dizzying array of both inshore and offshore fishing. With thousands of rental homes, the region lacks a dedicated fishing resort but has a world-class marina, Pirate’s Cove (fishpiratescove.com), with a large modern sportfishing charter fleet and an on-site cook-your-catch restaurant.
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TUNA There are more than a dozen very different types of tuna with world-record categories, and the biggest exceed even marlin—the giant northern bluefin can run over 1,600 pounds. But the most sought after is the yellowfin, a perfect combination of size (up to 400 pounds), fight, beauty, and taste (it’s known on restaurant menus as ahi). Yellowfin swim in schools, making multiple fast and furious catches common, and are found widely all over the world. Fortunately, they also tend to be prevalent in the same places as many marlin: Hawaii’s Kona Coast is legendary, Panama is an excellent spot, and many world-record catches have occurred off Mexico’s Baja peninsula. Panama’s Tropic Star Lodge and Baja California’s Loreto Bay are top fishing resorts where multiple types of marlin and big tuna can be found. The Outer Banks of North Carolina also offer excellent yellowfin fishing, while the state’s southern tip, Cape Hatteras, has world-class bluefin fishing in winter. The large Atlantic bluefin is the other coveted tuna, and the most prized for eating. But it is a colder-water catch, hence National Geographic’s reality show Wicked Tuna is set in Massachusetts, and the current world record was caught in Nova Scotia.
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From Top: Adobe Stock; Courtesy TPC Danzante Bay (2). Opposite Page, From Top: Adobe Stock; Courtesy Waterfall Resort (2)
Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto
SALMON Among all the world’s fish, salmon are especially prized because they offer great sport in beautiful settings and are exceptional for eating. Because Atlantic salmon is commercially extinct, most salmon consumed are farmed, be it from Iceland, Scotland, Norway, or Nova Scotia. Wild caught is more expensive, more desirable, more natural, tastes better, and is exclusively from the Pacific, which essentially means Alaska. There are five Pacific salmon: king (Chinook), silver (coho), sockeye, pink, and chum. King are the largest, averaging 20–40 pounds and 3–4 feet long, but can run up to 80 pounds. Almost everyone who fishes salmon visits the 49th state, where there are several dedicated fishing lodges, most of which will trim, vacuum pack, and flash freeze your catch to take home, so anglers enjoy a year’s worth of feasting on great memories. Two properties are standouts, and as early as 1992 the iconic reference book Saltwater Gamefishing praised the skilled staff at Waterfall Resort Alaska (waterfallresort.com), with more than a century of fishing tradition on an island within the Pacific Northwest’s Inside Passage. The outfit offers a mix of lodge rooms, cabins, suites, and townhomes, a custom fishing boat fleet, and expert guides with all-inclusive fishing packages. Its more upscale sister resort Steamboat Bay Fishing Club (steamboatbay.com) is operated in the style of a private club with gourmet cuisine and state-of-the-art gear. Both locations offer exceptional opportunities for king and silver salmon along with desirable halibut (up to 300 pounds).
Waterfall Resort Alaska
TARPON The “silver king” of game fish, tarpon are prized as the rare shallow water (3–4 feet) fish capable of diving more than 100 feet. Thus, these ferocious fighters can take hours to reel in. They can reach 8 feet and weigh nearly 300 pounds. Florida is the world’s best place for tarpon fishing, from the Keys up the west coast, but the epicenter is the islands off Fort Myers, Sanibel, Captiva, and Boca Grande. There are many marinas and charters here, and one resort with its own marina is Captiva’s South Seas Island Resort (southseas.com). In the Keys, Hawks Cay Resort (hawkscay.com) on tiny Duck Key has a well-equipped marina, while the small Bahia Honda Sporting Club (bahiahondaclub.com) near Key West is one of the only all-inclusive fishing lodges in Florida. u
The harbor at Waterfall Resort Alaska
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DESERT HEAT
Spring into summer’s hot days and cool nights with a mix of dressed-up/dressed-down, but always casually chic, looks. PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACK GUY STYLING BY HEIDI MEEK From left: LORO PIANA shearling jacket, $8,575; loropiana.com KITON T-shirt, $840; kiton.com ZEGNA shorts, $595; zegna.com RAY-BAN sunglasses, $224; rayban.com
GAUGE81 dress, $370; gauge81.com ANITA KO 18k gold necklace, $11,350; anitako.com VALENTINO sunglasses, $469; valentino.com BOWLUS trailer, fully customizable and updated for 2022 with additions to the highly designed chef’s kitchen, directionally vented A/C system, and new LED vertical taillights. From $235,000; bowlus.com
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BRUNELLO CUCINELLI sweater, $1,445, and shorts, $1,495; brunellocucinelli.com The refreshed taillight design on the 2022 BOWLUS increases visibility for safety and adds a more modern aesthetic to the iconic teardrop shape of the highend recreational trailer.
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IRO jumpsuit, $695; iroparis.com COS earrings, $49; cosstores.com
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From left: NAKED CASHMERE blazer, $595; nakedcashmere.com CANALI T-shirt, $198; canali.com COS pants, $135; cosstores.com BIRKENSTOCK sandals, $225; birkenstock.com
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NAKED CASHMERE bra top, $125; nakedcashmere.com NORMA KAMALI pants, $165; normakamali.com TEVA sandals, $90; teva.com BOTTEGA VENETA earrings, $810; bottegaveneta.com DJULA white gold with diamonds chainlink bracelet, $86,850; djula.fr
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MONCLER vest, $1,060; moncler.com ERES swimsuit, $360; eresparis.com VIONIC hiking boots, $190; vionicshoes.com DAVID YURMAN gold earrings, $2,075; davidyurman.com VHERNIER rose gold ring, $6,800; vhernier.com
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NORMA KAMALI bikini top, $375, and bottom, $200; normakamali.com CELINE sunglasses, $400; celine.com FRETTE bath towel, $150; frette.com
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A.L.C. top, $450; alcltd.com REVEL REY bikini bottom, $100; revelrey.com DAVID YURMAN earrings, $300; davidyurman.com MICHAEL KORS sunglasses, $135; michaelkors.com
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BALENCIAGA hoodie, $895; balenciaga.com BONOBOS pants, $99; bonobos.com LORO PIANA sneakers, $995; loropiana.com
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Opposite: ALO tank, $78; aloyoga.com DOLCE & GABBANA pants, $1,145; dolceandgabbana.com MONCLER hiking boots, $695; moncler.com BELL & ROSS watch, $3,400; bellross.com
NAKED CASHMERE vest, $625; nakedcashmere.com BUCK MASON pants, $150; buckmason.com
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PHILOSOPHY DI LORENZO SERAFINI sweater, $565; philosophyofficial.com LULULEMON shorts, $68; lululemon.com BALENCIAGA sneakers, $1,150; balenciaga.com
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JIL SANDER sweater, $550; jilsander.com ORLEBAR BROWN shorts, $245; orlebarbrown.com BIRKENSTOCK sandals, $225; birkenstock.com MICHAEL KORS sunglasses, $170; michaelkors.com
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MONCLER jacket, $1,875; moncler.com SPIRITUAL GANGSTER bra, $58; spiritualgangster.com LULULEMON shorts, $68; lululemon.com BALENCIAGA shoes, $1,050; balenciaga.com VERSACE belt bag, $925, and sunglasses, $342; versace.com
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ALICE AND OLIVIA dress, $295; aliceandolivia.com PRADA boots, $1,250; prada.com DAVID YURMAN gold earrings, $4,800; davidyurman.com ANITA KO choker, $15,550; anitako.com
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From left: HALSTON dress, $495; halston.com PRADA boots, $1,250; prada.com ALEXANDER MCQUEEN antique silver earrings, $540; alexandermcqueen.com BUCK MASON shirt, $225, and pants, $150; buckmason.com OUTERKNOWN T-shirt, $48; outerknown.com MAISON MARGIELA X REEBOK boots, $1,150; maisonmargiela.com
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DANIEL PATRICK jacket, $350; danielpatrick.us ZEGNA joggers, $1,950; zegna.com Y-3 sneakers, $300; adidas.com HUGO BOSS sunglasses, $590; hugoboss.com
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SALVATORE FERRAGAMO shirt, $890; ferragamo.com LORO PIANA pants, $625, and jacket, $2,350; loropiana.com VINCE sneakers, $250; vince.com Opposite from top: BRUNELLO CUCINELLI jacket, $4,995; brunellocucinelli.com SPIRITUAL GANGSTER bra top, $58; spiritualgangster.com BOTTEGA VENETA skirt, $1,200; bottegaveneta.com VINCE jacket, $525; vince.com
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COS shirt, $99, and pants, $135; cosstores.com VINCE sandals, $225; vince.com GIORGIO ARMANI sunglasses, $356; giorgioarmani.com
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At Home at Sea
These six superyachts demonstrate what living on the water in style can be.
Courtesy Francesco Struglia
BY JORGE S. ARANGO
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Motopanfilo
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MOTOPANFILO Shipyard: Benetti, benettiyachts.it
Exterior Deck Design/Interiors: Lazzarini Pickering Architetti, lazzarinipickering.com Length: 37 meters Accommodations: 10 + 6 crew
The Motopanfilo motor yachts popular in the 1960s and ’70s with Prince Rainier, David Bowie, Michael Caine, and other jet-setters, says Carl Pickering, “were very simple, refined boats with a restrained palette of materials: teak, mahogany, white lacquer, and polished stainless steel.” When reimagining this classic for our time, he explains, “We worked with a lighter wood and integrated it with mirror panels. We also changed the positions of the materials. The original had small portlights and walls of mahogany paneling and white trim and ceilings. We reversed that rapport in the main deck saloon”—glass replaced the mahogany, creating a new rapport with the exterior, and wood was positioned on the ceilings and floors. Other signature Motopanfilo elements were interior transverse and longitudinal bulkhead ribs, which Pickering and Claudio Lazzarini lightened by reinterpreting them in a contemporary way. Lastly, cabin walls follow the shape of the hull, heightening the marine relation rather than perpetuating the sense of living inside the orthogonal walls of an apartment on land.
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Courtesy Lazzarini & Pickering (2). Opposite Page: Courtesy Rossinavi/Michele Chiroli (2)
Exterior Design: Francesco Struglia, francescostrugliadesign.it
FLORENTIA Shipyard: Rossinavi, rossinavi.it Exterior Design: Studio Vafiadis, vafiadis.com Interiors: Studio A++, a2plus.green
Carlo Colombo is a titan of Italian design, having created furniture and objects for the country’s most prestigious brands. Bespoke versions of some of these—from Flexform and Giorgetti, for example— appear throughout his interiors for Florentia. Studio A++, which he formed with architect Paolo Colombo, imagined the interiors as embracing monochromatic spaces. “Through the sinuous shapes of the furnishings, the refined materials, and a color palette of light but warm shades,” Carlo Colombo says, “we have created a perfect example of timeless Italian style.” Materials are quintessentially Italian: Canaletto walnut, marble, leather. Lighting is particularly innovative. Curved lines cut into the ceiling and are backlit “to recall the movement of the waves,” he explains. And over the presidential suite bed, he designed a sculptural shape of molded plastic that’s coated in liquid metal. Made by Italian master craftsmen, it reflects the sea outside, further immersing the owners in the marine environment.
Length: 52 meters Accommodations: 12 + 11 crew
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EXCELLENCE Shipyard: Abeking & Rasmussen, abeking.com Exterior Design: Winch Design, winchdesign.com Interiors: Liaigre, studioliaigre.com Length: 80 meters
As Art Deco posters of transatlantic ships, charging locomotives, and sleek Bugattis remind us, the era was enamored with streamlined silhouettes. So, too, was the owner of this yacht. “The client wanted an Art Deco–inspired interior, with details drawn from his impressive automotive collection,” says Ignacio Oliva-Velez, senior partner of yachts and aviation for Winch. “Automotive references are found throughout her interior. The backs of the deep, cream sofas in the Sky Lounge take their inspiration from Cadillac seats, and the day heads are all inspired by classic cars like the Bugatti Royale and Ferrari Daytona Spyder.” Additionally, rippled wood panels incorporating 28 hardwood varieties are deployed like art, and a spectacular staircase spirals up a triple-floor atrium that also accommodates a glass elevator.
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Courtesy Liaigre/Michal Baginski (4)
Accommodations: 14 + 20 crew
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GRANDE TRIDECK Shipyard: Azimut Yachts, azimutyachts.com Exterior Design: Alberto Mancini, amyachtdesign.com Interiors: Achille Salvagni, achillesalvagni.com Length: 38.22 meters Accommodations: 10 + 7 crew
So much is revolutionary about the Grande Trideck, including an extra deck at the stern and totally reconceptualized layouts. Achille Salvagni refrained from segmenting the main salon between lounging and dining functions, instead placing dining on the upper deck. This allows for a luxuriously expansive salon with an open sense of flow unrivaled on the water. “I curved the walls to meet seamlessly with the ceiling and floor,” he says. “This vessel gets its sinuous and cocoon-like ambiance thanks to the lack of 90-degree angles.” In fact, it’s a feng shui master’s fantasy. Furniture lines swoop and snake. Lighting forms directly from the ceiling like upside-down craters. Lamps grow directly from chests and bars at a rakish angle, monolithic with their surfaces. In the seating area, Japanese koto wood paneling ripples in and out like rolling waves. Even the owners’ bronze-colored tub is oval. The flow of chi will have no obstructions here.
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M/Y NJORD BY OCEAN RESIDENCES DEVELOPMENT Shipyard: Meyer Werft, meyerwerft.de Exterior Design: Espen Øino, espenoeino.com Interiors: Various Length: 289 meters Accommodations: 117 residences, ranging from 1,600 square feet to 9,000 square feet
Courtesy Achille Salvagni (2). Opposite Page, Courtesy Lazzarini & Pickering (2)
Like an uber-exclusive terrestrial residence club, Njord (to be completed 2025) will offer outstanding amenities: a marina, yachting/sailing club, expedition and dive center, six restaurants, a Chenot spa, various member-only watercraft, two helicopters, a cinema, and more. “The makeup of the community is confidential,” says Alain Gruber, COO of Ocean Residences Development. “However, all are sophisticated, highly educated, well-traveled, openminded, and curious adventurers who share a passion for learning and discovery.” Anyone lucky enough to be invited to purchase ($9.165 million and up) can pick from a team of nine prominent designers—including Kelly Hoppen, David Linley, and Taylor Howes—headed up by Jean-Michel Gathy of Denniston and Francesca Muzio of FM Architettura. “Unique to Njord is our commitment to ocean science and research,” Gruber says. “We will have a fully equipped oceanographic and atmospheric research laboratory onboard. All residents will enjoy worldclass services and amenities while sharing a common purpose to leave a positive legacy in their wake.”
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SL44 Shipyard: Sanlorenzo, sanlorenzoyacht.com Exterior Design: Zuccon International Project, zucconinternationalproject.com Interiors: Liaigre, studioliaigre.com Length: 44.5 meters
Courtesy Liaigre/Mark Seelen (3)
Accommodations: 10 + 10 crew
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To fuse French chic and Asian aesthetics, Liaigre’s Guillaume Rolland used, he says, collective memory rather than anecdote. For instance, a round doorway would be an anecdotal (read: predictable, even cliché) Asian detail, while a portal with a frame that subtly curls upward at the base “comes directly from your culture and memory.” Achieving this subliminal fusion depends on creating “a dialogue between two cultures that’s expressed in contrasts—dark and light, glossy and matte,” as well as on exquisite distillations of beauty from both cultures. Asian: terrariums that recall bonsai, touches of red, a green onyx bar as an unexpected riff on jade. French: oak paneling “like you find in a Parisian hôtel particulier,” a semi-elliptical arch in the owner’s bath portal like Pont Neuf in Toulouse. The cumulative effect is irresistibly sensual and tactile. “People who own wooden yachts want to touch their boats,” says Rolland. Go ahead—stroke, caress, explore. u
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FURNISHINGS
Eco-Conscious Style
Manufacturers across home categories are rethinking materials and production systems to create new products and reenvision classics with ecological responsibility in mind. BY JORGE S. ARANGO
Fine & Dandy Co., a Toronto customdesign wallcoverings company, prints on papers made of post-consumer recycled content using low-VOC inks. They also partner with Eden Reforestation Projects on reforestation initiatives. Pricing varies; fineanddandycompany.com
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The award-winning Nuez Lounge BIO by Spanish firm Andreu World is the latest piece in Patricia Urquiola’s collection. Its foldable shell is made of a thermopolymer generated by live microorganisms. The entire chair, from base to back, is recyclable. From $1,995; andreuworld.com
Sanayi313 enlisted the talents of printmakers and sisters Deniz Yeğin Ikiışık and Pınar Yeğin of Istanbul-based Rumisu to design whimsical placemats on compostable paper. The pad of 45 contains five different designs. $30; shop.sanayi313.com
All Images Courtesy Listed Manufacturer
Armadillo, the first Australian rug brand to become a B Corporation (exhibiting the highest standards of social and environmental performance), has introduced Odessa, an all-natural, ultrasoft rug available in Arborio (shown), Caraway, Kohl, and Zinc. $4,550–$7,850; usa.armadillo-co.com
Chris Wolston’s Temperature’s Rising collection of highly original furniture and lighting for The Future Perfect includes this one-of-a-kind Hand chandelier, woven completely of ethically sourced Colombian wicker. The artist is open to commissions and requires 20–25 weeks’ lead time. Price upon request; thefutureperfect.com
Artist Olafur Eliasson has been fascinated by rhomboids for years. A new version of his Secret Cubic Shelves for Moroso is made from recycled and recyclable iron and has a nontoxic powder coating. Available in basalt, clay, and sand colors. About $12,860; moroso.it
Italians have a way with bed linens, but they haven’t always been sustainably produced. Mydo World is changing that with 100-percent organic hemp sheets, pillow cases, and duvet sets that come in simple gray and natural white with piping. $190–$2,151; mydo.world
Aina Kari, a plastic-free brand, covered every base with its Considered Home Fragrance range, including natural waxes from traceable supply chains; recyclable, biodegradable, FSC-certified packaging; and fragrances free of phthalates and parabens. From $205; aina-kari.com
Ezra Ardolino of Timbur combined robotic and CNC manufacturing methods with FSC-certified Baltic birch plywood in his signature, stack-lamination technique for the Stack Bubble console, part of his recently debuted furniture collection. $16,500; through tulestefactory.com
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An update of Herman Miller’s best-selling Aeron chair now contains between .5 and 2.5 pounds of plastic per chair, the equivalent of 23–114 plastic water bottles. The company estimates it can divert over 150 tons of plastic from the oceans per year. From $1,795; store. hermanmiller.com
The beauty and breadth of Paola Lenti’s new Eres outdoor furnishings collection is astonishing enough. But the added allure is they’re made with 100-percent sustainable materials like hemp, bamboo, raffia, igusa grass, and abaca. $1,760–$16,000; paolalenti.it
British interiors company House of Hackney has debuted paints that contain low VOC levels. They arrive in recyclable tins with an FSC-certified wood stirrer made from byproducts that otherwise would have been thrown away. From $104; houseofhackney.com
Wool has been a sustainable material since ancient times. Now, Revival Atelier is distributing pillows designed by Istanbul-based Handan Özcan. They’re plant-dyed and handwoven by Turkish artisans (does not include insert). $135; revivalrugs.com
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Coming to Light
Whether emanating from the ceiling or a wall, the floor or a table, these introductions shed a stylish, often playful light on any subject.
All Images Courtesy Listed Manufacturer
Imagine opalescent puddles of light suspended in midair—sometimes on their sides—and you get the idea behind Philadelphia designer John Pomp’s new Radiant Collection. It includes sconces, flush-mount ceiling fixtures, and chandeliers. From $2,700; johnpomp.com
For Fireborn, Lasvit brings together roughcut chunks of glass and a grid of metal rods that can be configured in infinite ways and sizes. The glass is available in clear, smoke, or amber, among other treatments, and the metal is coated to look soldered. From $40,000; perspectives.lasvit.com
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Artist Andy Goldsworthy said the essence of drawing was “the line exploring space,” which is exactly what Ciszak Dalmas’ Ambrosia light for Marset does, poetically. The modular system is available in matte gold or black finishes. $2,160–$4,030; marset.com
Rodolfo Dordoni’s newly designed product for Foscarini, the Nile table lamp, debuts in June. It partners a marble base with a blown-glass diffuser, its shape and angles inspired by the famous bust of Nefertiti, the queen consort of Egypt. Price available in June; foscarini.com
Bernd Goeckler has introduced a survey of lighting by septuagenarian Italian designer Roberto Rida. The stunning table lamps incorporate remnant pieces of vintage Murano glass framed within a variety of sculptural bases. $9,500–$29,500; berndgoeckler.com
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All Images Courtesy Listed Manufacturer
Philippe Nigro of Barovier&Toso, founded in 1295, used the brand’s signature rostrato glassblowing technique for the Opéra Suspension lamp, made of Venetian crystal and available in brushed finishes of nickel, gold, and copper. $13,300–$22,600; jblightingcollection.com
Luca Nichetto’s Space Invaders line for Shanghai-based Stellar Works is a playful riff on Chinese lanterns. The Dhala table lamp is made of large Murano glass beads assembled within a solid metal frame and illuminated from within by LED lights. $2,500; us.stellarworks.com
Henge’s new Test line of lamps (table and floor) were designed by Ugo Cacciatori and come in a lunar-like polished Ice Onyx or an earthier Rapolano travertine, which emits light through holes in the honed stone. $1,100; henge07.com
The Volo pendant by Cerno (left) is a combination of spun metal, leather, and walnut that elevates the common dome pendant to something timeless and elegant. It comes in a variety of finish options for the exterior and interior, all handcrafted in California. From $1,550; lumens.com
Canadian lighting firm Bocci (right) recently introduced the 100 pendant light, which cobbles together a grouping of unique handblown shapes into a single suspension light. The designs can be treated modularly to create infinite chandelier combinations. From $695 each; bocci.com u
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REAL ESTATE
Living History
Architectural gems with unique historic backgrounds—in the United States and around the world—take on new lives as ultra-rare, multimillion-dollar homes.
C
BY IRENE RAWLINGS
entury-old New York City buildings debuting as luxury condominiums may be one of the biggest real estate trends of the moment. From Brooklyn to Downtown Manhattan to the Upper West Side, more and more sought-after listings have fascinating former lives as banks, libraries, convents, office buildings, and department stores. Prime examples include the 1913 Woolworth Building (once the tallest building in the world), 100 Barclay (formerly the New York Telephone Company), and 67 Vestry (once a warehouse for The
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Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company). Christopher Totaro, an agent at Warburg Realty, says that historic buildings are ripe for conversion. “Since land is at such a premium in New York today, developers are looking for every square inch of real estate they can find, and historic buildings are often it because zoning and landmark preservation laws don’t allow them to be torn down,” he says. “These buildings also help create a unique story for the condo.” This process is not unique to New York and is now being repeated throughout the world—from Berlin to Barcelona, Paris to Prague, and London to Lisbon.
Courtesy Images From Left: Macklowe Properties; 555 West End Avenue/Joel Pitra/DDrep (2). Opposite Page, Courtesy Macklowe Properties (2)
ONE WALL STREET New York Originally built in 1931 as the home of Irving Trust (later the Bank of New York), this is one of the most important Art Deco buildings in the United States—a cathedral of commerce at the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway, opposite Trinity Church, and adjacent to the New York Stock Exchange. Now, legendary developer Harry Macklowe is converting the landmark building into 566 residences that range in size from studios to four bedrooms. It is the largest office-toresidential conversion in the history of New York City. “We see ourselves as stewards of this incredible building, part of the fabric of this city, which could not be replicated in today’s world,” says Lilla Smith, director of architecture and design at Macklowe Properties. Smith can enumerate the many challenges of converting an office building—starting with the rebuild of the stairs and elevator shafts and going on to “replace every pipe, every wire, and creating kitchens, bathrooms, and closets so residents could have all the advantages of living in a prewar landmark, but also have the best of today’s conveniences inside the building.” Some of the building’s amenities
include a 75-foot lap pool on the 38th floor with views across Manhattan and New York Harbor, as well as a private dining club and landscaped garden terrace on the 39th floor overlooking the Statue of Liberty. For work, residents can use a full business center, co-working spaces, conference rooms, podcast rooms, and multiple areas to host business meetings. “These services are all extensions of the home office, a critical component of today’s business and of life in the building.” says Richard Dubrow, the company’s director of marketing. “We’re seeing a fairly diverse buyer, but they share the same passion for prewar architecture and, therefore, love the ethos of the building.” Younger people are buying the studios and one-bedrooms. Couples with growing families are interested in the larger apartments. Empty nesters are moving back from the suburbs and looking to have a pied-à-terre in the city. One Wall Street’s business plan envisions the building being the central hub of the neighborhood with retail space, including a 50,000-square-foot Whole Foods occupying the lower levels of the building. From $1.13 million; onewallstreet.com
555 WEST END AVENUE New York Built in 1908 by architect William A. Boring (he also designed the Immigration Station at Ellis Island) this Beaux Arts building was a private Catholic school until being transformed into 13 distinctive homes. Massive original windows flood the rooms with natural light; soaring ceilings (12 to more than 20 feet) give the residences a loft-like character. Each home has classic elements, such as a gracious entry foyer, walk-in pantry, eat-in-kitchen, and staff rooms. Italian marble baths have soaking tubs and Toto toilets. The Solarium Penthouse (created from the original top-floor gym) features a vaulted ceiling and private rooftop terrace. According to Alexa Lambert of Compass Development: “Many high-networth buyers in the Manhattan market are looking for a one-of-a-kind home: something unique that feels special to them. They’re drawn to buildings like 555 West End Avenue, which retains the character of the neighborhood while marrying it with the finishes and services of a new development.” From $7.5 million; Solarium Penthouse, $18 million; 555westendave.com
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TRIBUNE TOWER Chicago The Tribune Tower of the Chicago Tribune newspaper on the Magnificent Mile has been converted into 162 residential units that complement the historic beauty of this 34-story 1925 building. The grand lobby sets the tone for the classically designed (one- to four-plusbedroom) residences with high ceilings, wide-planked hardwood floors, marble fireplaces, and city views through huge windows. “It’s a beautiful historic building that’s just been given another 200-plus-year lifespan,” says Strachan Forgan, an architect with SCB,
THE FAIRMONT CENTURY PLAZA Los Angeles Century Plaza offers beauty and The original Century Plaza charm,” says Mary Ann Osborn, Hotel, a mid-century modernist managing director of sales and masterpiece designed by marketing, The Century Plaza Minoru Yamasaki, opened in Residences. “These qualities 1966 and quickly became a are rooted in Century Plaza’s favorite of Hollywood’s A-listers. unique and remarkable history, The Emmys and Grammys have and they support the home’s both been held here. Closed value because it can’t be in 2016, a multibillion-dollar replicated elsewhere.” Owners construction and renovation of the townhouses and singleproject brought the building story homes designed by Yabu back to life, and it reopened Pushelberg enjoy access to in 2021 as Fairmont Century all hotel amenities, as well Plaza, a five-star property with as a resident-only concierge 400 rooms and 63 fully serviced floor. From $2.16 million; Fairmont Residences. “The thecenturyplaza.com historic architecture of
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the firm that converted the landmark building. The project has a private park, a health and wellness facility designed by The Wright Fit, and an indoor lap pool that opens to an outdoor terrace directly behind the iconic “Chicago Tribune” sign. There’s also a billiards room, the Crown Terrace, and a wraparound terrace with a catering kitchen, grill, and herb garden that’s framed by buttresses and elegant tracery. A big plus: private parking and an on-site car wash. From $1 million; tribunetower.com
Courtesy Images, Clockwise From Bottom Left: Idha Lindhag (2); 1420 Boulevard Mont-Royal (3). Opposite Page, Courtesy Images From Top: The Fairmont Residences at Century Plaza (2); Tribune/Jim Tschetter
KASHA PARIS France Founded by American couple Alon and Betsy Kasha, Kasha Paris is a real estate development and interior design firm that specializes in finding and renovating apartments for high-end French and international buyers. Since 2004, the team has designed more than 100 refined, turnkey apartments, mostly in the ultrachic Left Bank neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Working predominantly in 18th- and 19th-century buildings, the architecture and design team innovatively
modernizes the layouts to adapt them to today’s lifestyle (adding air-conditioning, air filtration, double-paned windows, and modern kitchens), while maintaining their architectural integrity. The result? Quintessential Parisian charm. In addition, Kasha Paris provides a continuity of services—everything from purchase to setting up utilities and insurance to preparing the home for the owner’s arrival. Only two or three apartments available at any one time. From $2 million; kasha.paris
1420 BOULEVARD MONT-ROYAL Montreal, Canada Built in 1924 on the slopes of Montreal’s imposing and beloved Mount Royal, this former convent has been converted into 151 grand and distinctive residences—each entirely different from the others because everything is madeto-order for the homeowner. Working with developer Corev Immobilier, owners can choose how their rooms are to be configured and situated vis-àvis the views, the number of bedrooms, style, design,
and choice of appliances and materials. A grand entrance through the vast marble foyer sets the tone here. In addition to the indoor-outdoor pool, well-equipped gym, squash court, 24-hour concierge and valet service, restaurant, and indoor parking, there’s a majestic heritage chapel with marble columns and a beautifully painted ceiling that can be used by residents for cultural and artistic events. From $1.2 million; le1420.ca
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Under Construction
According to research compiled by the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury program, the luxury real estate market saw a dynamic year in 2021 fueled, in part, by the extraordinary growth in the volume of wealth. Between 2019 and 2020, individual wealth rose by more than 21 percent, and escalated to 79 percent when comparing January through August 2021 to the same eight months of 2019. Data from the end of 2021 shows that the volume of real estate wealth in the luxury property market is greater than both the full years of 2019 and 2020. As continued growth is projected to continue in 2022, baby boomers are driving the growth with many owning three or more properties, primarily in the country or resort towns. A resurgence of city living is being driven by younger urban repatriates with a net worth of $5 million or more. Many of those interviewed expressed a desire for sustainability and authenticity. Coldwell Banker Real Estate gathered the latest wealth research and data generated by WealthEngine, Wealth-X, and other thirdparty sources and combined it with anecdotal evidence from Coldwell Banker Global Luxury Property Specialists in the field.
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Courtesy The Lana/Ahmad Annaji (2). Opposite Page, Courtesy 555 West End Avenue/Hayes Davidson
The Lana Residences Dorchester Collection, Dubai; Dorchester Collection hotel duplex, below
The Solarium Penthouse, New York
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THE RESIDENCES MANDARIN ORIENTAL Mayfair, London On prestigious Hanover Square and near chic shopping on Bond and Regent Streets, 79 residences (from studios to four-bedroom penthouses) occupy the top floors of the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, designed by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners to resemble the surrounding, graciously proportioned Georgian-era buildings. Warm, livable, minimalist interiors by Thomas Juul-Hanson go hand in hand with privileged access to hotel services, including in-residence dining and daily housekeeping. Enjoy the private roof bar overlooking Mayfair and dedicated 24-hour residential concierge. From $2.59 million; mo-residencesmayfair.com
FORTÉ ON FLAGLER West Palm Beach, Florida This 24-story building on the West Palm Beach waterfront overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, offering 41 four- to five-bedroom homes with wraparound balconies. Two flow-through residences per floor can be combined for a full-floor residence. Amenities include his-and-hers walk-in closets, private and secure underground parking with charging stations, and a dedicated concierge for accessing premium tickets to VIP events, private and commercial air bookings, personal shopping services, and coordinated fitness and spa services. From $7.38 million; fortewpb.com
Courtesy Images, From Left: The Lana; The Residences Mandarin Oriental; Forte on Flagler; Montage Cay; Six Senses; The Cape on Kiawah
THE LANA, DORCHESTER COLLECTION Dubai The legendary Dorchester Collection has partnered with visionary real estate developer Omniyat for a waterfront development in the heart of Dubai. One of the two Foster + Partners–designed towers houses the five-star Dorchester Collection hotel; the other is 39 ready-tomove-in residences with double-height ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and expansive terraces with Burj Khalifa views. Two-, three- and four-bedroom residences, plus six ultra-exclusive penthouses (each with its own pool). Marble baths and Gaggenau kitchens. Twenty dedicated yacht berths. From $3.9 million; dorchestercollection.com
THE RESIDENCES AT MONTAGE CAY Abacos, Bahamas This collection of 47 oceanfront residences is spread out among five private enclaves across a 53-acre private island. Architecture and interior designs sync with the island’s whitesand beaches and the brilliant color of the surrounding Sea of Abaco. Oceanfront homesites include a six-bedroom layout that can be personalized. Owners have access to the wellness programs, dining options, and other amenities of the island’s 50-suite Montage hotel. A 46-slip deep-water marina accommodates yachts up to 110 feet. From $6.6 million; montagecayresidences.com
SIX SENSES RESIDENCES CRANS-MONTANA Switzerland The first Six Senses resort in Switzerland offers 17 ski-in/ski-out residences furnished in an airy, contemporary style. Three- to five-bedroom units have big balconies with views from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn and direct access to forest trail, open-slope, and off-piste skiing. Residents can enjoy the five-star resort’s restaurants and spa facilities. Kerry McClinton-King, business development, Six Senses Residences, says, “Swiss property value historically appreciates well in ski resorts and the Swiss Franc is one of the strongest currencies in the world.” From $8.5 million; cransmontana-residences.com
THE CAPE ON KIAWAH Kiawah Island, South Carolina On 14 acres of wooded uplands, rivers, salt marshes, and sand dunes, The Cape is an enclave of residences and penthouses in a pristine, last-ofits-kind oceanfront setting. Two- to four-bedroom floor plans range from 1,590 to 3,735 square feet. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame both sunrise and sunset views. A huge draw is the opportunity to join the celebrated Kiawah Island Club: two championship golf courses, clay and Har-Tru tennis courts, water sports, and restaurants celebrating Lowcountry cuisine. From $2.695 million; thecapeonkiawah.com
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The Art of Living Aston Martin Residences Miami goes beyond sports cars to express the brand’s design and performance ethos in the home— and introduces a three-story penthouse that takes it to new heights. BY IRENE RAWLINGS
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Courtesy Aston Martin Residences (4)
A sculptural and dramatic standout on an already brilliant skyline, Aston Martin Residences Miami is the legendary British automotive brand’s first venture into luxury real estate. The curvaceous, 66-story, sailshaped tower is the tallest residential building south of New York City and is located on one of the last parcels of developable land on the Downtown Miami waterfront—at the point where the Miami River meets Biscayne Bay. To realize its concept, Aston Martin partnered with Miami-based global property developer G&G Business Developments and as Germán Coto, CEO of G&G, puts it, “our vision was to build a love letter to Miami and a new benchmark in ultra-luxury living.” A work of architectural art designed by Miami-based Revuelta Architecture International and Bodas-Miani-Anger Architects, the building features 391 one- to five-bedroom residences and duplexes with Gaggenau kitchens, endless glass windows, and sliding glass doors to private balconies with panoramic views of Biscayne Bay, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Miami skyline. A personal butler service takes the stress out of home management and complements concierge services for residents. Aston Martin’s design team, led by EVP and Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman, created the bold and modern interiors and amenity spaces throughout the property to reflect Aston Martin’s dynamic vision. Each of the residences has sleek white walls, ceilings, and floors made from stunningly chic white Thassos marble imported from Greece. This grand but subtle design allows the aqua blues of the Atlantic to contribute to each residence’s indoor-outdoor ambiance. Seven Signature Collection penthouses— the ultimate members-only community— have private pools, large terraces, and their choice of the specially commissioned Aston Martin DB11 Coupe or the DBX Riverwalk
Limited Edition SUV (each model limited to just 47 vehicles). Modern and sophisticated, the DBX comes in jet black with 22-inch sport wheels and an obsidian black interior with piano-black wood veneer. At the pinnacle of the property, the Triplex Penthouse is a magnificent three floors (levels 63–65) accessed via private elevator. The 27,000-square-foot residence has seven bedrooms, eight baths (plus six powder rooms), and a wraparound terrace on each floor. There’s also a private pool, gym, spa, and spacious staff quarters. One of the big draws? A multimillion-dollar, limited-edition (only 24) Aston Martin Vulcan, a showpiece
“Our vision was to build a love letter to Miami and a new benchmark in ultra-luxury living.” —Germán Coto of automotive art with a formidable 820-hp, V-12 engine—for track driving only—that the owner will receive to fully complement their Aston Martin lifestyle. “Every aspect of the unique Triplex Penthouse has been carefully considered in creating the crown jewel of the Aston Martin Residences Miami, offering unparalleled beauty,” says Coto. “As well as enjoying the most enviable views of the ocean, Biscayne Bay, and the Miami skyline, the owner will possess the first and only Aston Martin Residences Penthouse in the world. This is the ultimate expression of luxury design and
the Aston Martin Art of Living beautifully.” Sky Amenities (over 42,000 square feet, across four levels near the top of the tower) are connected by a graceful glass staircase between the building’s 52nd and 55th floors. Available to all residents, they include a two-level fitness center overlooking Biscayne Bay, a spinning studio, a boxing gym, a virtual golf room, a business center, and two movie theaters, as well as a full-service spa, beauty salon, and barber shop. Residents with yachts appreciate the direct access to Biscayne Bay via a private, 900-foot, full-service, deepwater superyacht marina. A permanent art gallery (3-D virtual for now) on the 52nd floor will showcase rotating collections by established and emerging artists and galleries. The virtual art gallery provides a flavor of talent to expect, with contemporary artists like Julian Lennon (photography), Fabio Mesa (stunning abstracts), Aaron Schwartz (ink-and-photo prints), and Robi Walters (now showing his collage-and-sculpture from recycled materials) having exhibited their work. “Art and design are woven into the soul of the Aston Martin Residences,” says Coto. “Every decision we make is born from an intrinsic love of beauty and passion for excellence, with meticulous attention to detail. We imagine residents will fill their homes with beautiful artworks, and we’re creating the art gallery to offer a secluded and exclusive space for our owners to immerse themselves in an ever-changing canvas of contemporary art. We hope the art gallery will inspire residents in their daily lives.” In architecture, interiors, and over-the-top amenities, Aston Martin Residences Miami embraces a love of beauty and an appreciation of art in all forms, an aesthetic that both developer G&G and iconic carmaker Aston Martin share. From $1.5 million to $59 million; astonmartinresidences.com u
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Flower 20
Technicolor Bouquets
Flowers in all their fleeting glory sustain the vibrant work of Japanese artist AZUMA MAKOTO. BY BROOKE MAZUREK
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embroidered white lab coats. The softness of the environment stemmed from Makoto’s unassuming presence and the stalks of cherry blossoms he was observing that day. For me, the draw to his work had begun with the bright flowers he’d frozen inside of ice blocks at a Dries Van Noten fashion show in 2016. The installation was stunning in scale, breadth, and texture. It also triggered an overwhelming feeling I couldn’t quite articulate. The ice was melting. The art, disappearing. And you wanted it to stay, just as it was, even if only for a little while longer. Makoto’s studio walls were covered back then as they are now with intricate blueprints. “I see flowers in my dreams,” he says. “[Like dreams], flowers are short-lived, so I keep a lot of notes.” But what stayed with me most from that initial visit all those years ago was something quieter—a single photograph. Against a black backdrop, an arrangement of dahlias and delphinium could be seen actively dying. The petal colors were so saturated, they almost seemed edible or synthetic. Electric, even. And yet the flower stems could no longer hold themselves up. They hunched with the elegance of a weeping willow, forming a composition evocative of a Dutch Golden Age still-life. Cut flowers are dying from the moment they are clipped. “That’s what this is about,” Makoto says, “noticing a flower throughout its existence, up to the end.”
All images courtesy ©Azuma Makoto ©︎Shiinoki / AMKK
O
ver the course of 20 years, the Japanese botanical artist Azuma Makoto has made a study of flowers. He has frozen and vacuum-packed them, torched and drowned them. In the middle of the Nevada desert, he once launched an arrangement 30,000 feet into the stratosphere, and then went the opposite direction, sending bouquets 7,000 feet into the darkest depths of the Pacific Ocean. “The through line in all of these works is how deeply we care for flowers as living things,” says Makoto, 45. “I want to handle flowers not just as material, but flowers as life.” Each project exists as a sort of unfolding, a feeling that arises and then inspires new direction, all while his collaborator and childhood friend, photographer Shunsuke Shiinoki, documents the process with an exacting lens. As a creative team, they operate like punk versions of Lennon and McCartney—Makoto with his bleached blond hair and Shunsuke with his head full of dreads—each working off the other’s talents with a kind of intuitive symbiosis. They are entirely self-taught and their work is entirely driven by the flowers. I first met Makoto five years ago in his underground design studio, a brutalist space in Tokyo that is all concrete slabs, hard angles, and temperature controls. There were stainless-steel worktables and
X-ray Flowers
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Iced Flowers
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How has life amid the pandemic been? How have things changed for AMKK, the Azuma Makoto Flower Tree Research Institute? With regard to creative expression through flowers, my activities are becoming more primitive. I have been doing these trees, for example, where I’ll take a rotted tree in the forest, shape it, and express something with it artistically. With flowers, instead of taking the ones grown in a vinyl greenhouse for maximum vitality, I’ll use weeds from the side of the road in a project. For me personally, it’s all connected to that primitive idea. In terms of the flower shop, the number of people wanting to buy flowers has actually gone way up. With everyone staying home, people want something that is comforting, emotionally healthy—and flowers can be used for this purpose. Rather than big jobs or projects, I have experienced a kind of renewal in terms of how people and flowers
relate to each other. I’ve spent all this time here in Tokyo doing not so much business-tobusiness, but rather a lot of flower orders for individual customers. As a florist and a flower shop owner, that has been such a great experience. It’s why I started doing this in the first place. Is there a particular kind of flower you notice people connecting with? It’s not a color trend per se, but I feel that everyone has been looking for flowers that have a lot of vitality. When people’s emotions are slumped, they want bright, vivid colors. When the world economy is really good and everything is going fine, people surprisingly want white or blue, for example. Coolercolored flowers. It’s an emotional thing. How do you structure a typical day at the flower shop?
I start at about 5 in the morning and do the watering to revive the new flowers that have come in from the market. I generally finish the flower shop’s work by midmorning, and in the afternoon I have meetings and work on preparing for future projects. Many ancient texts describe that earlymorning window as a kind of sacred time. There is such a time when the energy is concentrated, and for flowers it’s absolutely in the morning. I don’t have scientific proof of this, but I’ve been touching flowers for 20 years and I can say this with certainty. The mood of an afternoon flower arrangement is completely different from one in the morning. In the past, I think people knew these things instinctively. The sun goes up, and then the sun goes down and it’s time to sleep. I have a feeling that such primitive ideas are going to become essential in the future.
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Shiki1xsandstone
You’ve spoken about communicating with flowers when you’re working with them. How exactly does that work? It’s not a conversation in words … it’s a feeling. Like a secret code, a sign. I’m constantly feeling it. I feel it most strongly when I work in the morning, I feel that the code I’m receiving from the flowers is at its strongest then. That’s why I absolutely never play music in the studio when I’m creating something, because I want to take in that feeling. Your work examines the fragility of humans and flowers. If our bodies were put through some of the forces plants endure, for example, we would tear. We would break. Since the Earth was born it has changed and evolved over and over, but across many eons
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there have always been plants and flowers. It’s connected to the structure of flowers. I did a project using X-ray photography to look into why flowers have the shapes that they have. An airplane or a car, these things can be inspired by flowers. I’m actually now looking for numerical data to calculate why flowers have these shapes and why they are so strong. I have a deep interest in that, and it’s thematic for me—the structure of flowers. It’s interesting the way science and unquantifiable realms come together in your work. Japanese people are distinctive in this way, combining both sensory things as well as concrete things, and creating an expression out of both. I think that’s important, the
extreme cutting edge combined with something in the mind or in history. Do you know the golden ratio? It’s also there in the tradition of ikebana. It’s done out of feeling, but when you put it into numbers it all comes together and makes sense. Is sacred geometry something you’ve studied with plants and flowers? I started from scratch. I’m still studying now. It’s also not the case that I went to ikebana school. But literature, old literature, is something that I’ve always studied. There’s such a long history of flowers. In the Mesopotamian civilization, people made offerings of flowers, and there are archeological remains of this. And it still continues to this day, the tradition of laying
Shiki1xmonument
flowers. As long as people are alive, they will need flowers. There’s a massive history that we are repeating and creating from, and so it’s essential to make new discoveries. The word that comes to mind is “continuum.” There aren’t really any people who dislike flowers, are there? Maybe they’re not interested in flowers, but nobody hates flowers. So, why? I have a theory about this. After flowers bloom, they fruit, we eat the fruit, and flowers sustain us. It’s directly related to being alive. It’s deeply connected in our consciousness, not a consciousness that we remember but a collective consciousness. Environmentalism is at the heart of what you guys do. Brands, especially luxury
brands, have not always been a part of the conversation, or they’ve been a part of it on a very surface level. But it seems like you’re introducing them to new ideas? Recently, the luxury brands are embracing the paludarium, a device that originally was like a greenhouse concept that uses very little energy and really respects the plants without cutting them. A very big brand approached and asked me if I could make one for them, and now I’m working on a project to turn the whole store into a greenhouse. It’s fascinating! Think of greenhouses all over the world, except they’re stores, and they are selling really expensive jewelry there. It’s really exciting. [Makoto moves through his studio to show another project]. In Japan there’s this tradition of shimenawa,
a wreath usually made of straw, but I’m making one out of iron. This cultural tradition is fading away nowadays, but I want it to stay. This sense of reverence for tradition, is this something your family imparted or is it something that developed later in life? I grew up way out in the country [in Fukuoka], and our family always respected those traditions. In the past 20 years, though, this type of culture is suddenly disappearing. Each of these traditions has a meaning. Japan is a country with a long history, and I think that’s so valuable, so I felt that if we don’t do something now then we’ll run out of time. Incidentally, I did gain a lot of respect for that sort of thing from my parents. We were what you might call a conservative family, and so they made sure
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Burning Flowers to teach me the traditions of Japan. My father was a chef, a culinary professional. From him I learned that an artisan is someone who makes something to benefit people. My mother really loved flowers and spent a lot of time in the garden. Every day she decorated the doorway with flowers in a Japanese style. I was one of three brothers, and we were in an environment full of flowers and full of nature. I didn’t have a particular interest in flowers or desire to be a florist, but when I look back on it, I recognize that I grew up in that kind of environment. I wanted to be a musician, I always made music. Expressing myself was my life, and that was music for me. Now I express myself through flowers. Nobody is unhappy to receive them, and music is the same—it encourages people, gives people important moments. People entrust their feelings to flowers when they can’t put them into words, and that was ultimately a big part of my decision to take this path as a flower shop owner. To give people emotion, in a supreme way. An artistic bundle of life energy, given to a person. Growing up in the countryside, was the plan always to move to a big city? I didn’t dream of Tokyo to be exact, but Tokyo meant access. Currently, we’re aiming to relocate to Hakone, where you can see Mount Fuji. I’d like to be a bit closer to nature. I have been able to do global work, and so I have become aware that I don’t actually need to be in Tokyo. Rather than my hometown, I’m shifting to Shizuoka. I feel energy there. I want to grow flowers. I want to be in a natural environment. In the next 20 years, what more do you hope to accomplish? It won’t be much different from what I’ve been doing so far—engaging with flowers and giving people new discoveries through them. I think that 20 years from now, things will be very different in every way. People will need to live in harmony with nature, there’s a hint of that happening now. I want to communicate that idea to people. I feel that’s the calling that’s been given to me. And by doing that, I think I can change the world. u
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COEXISTENCE 01 from “Encyclopedia of Flowers III”
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EXCLUSIVE TO CARDMEMBERS
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The Ultimate Convenience CHAT.
BOOK.
GO.
Luxury Card marks are property of Black Card LLC. BLACKCARD is a registered trademark used under license. Luxury Card products are issued by Barclays Bank Delaware pursuant to a license by Mastercard International Incorporated, owner of registered trademarks MASTERCARD, WORLD ELITE MASTERCARD and the circles design. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2022 Black Card LLC.
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What’s Next SHOP
Julien Farel Eau de Mer Volumizer Spray does more than just give hair body and fullness. Farel created the multitasking styling product to also keep hair clean and the scalp healthy, which is the focus of all his anti-aging shampoos, conditioners, and treatments. A salt-infused formula for every hair type, it doesn’t dry out strands or make them stiff but rather provides smoothness and sun protection. Spray on the re-texturizer then brush it through from roots to ends and let dry. Results are added oomph with an all-natural, polished look. $38; julienfarel.com
Spend the night in landmarked 1912 building Zanotta House (above) in NYC’s Greenwich Village to test-drive furnishings from storied Italian brand Zanotta and items from like-minded project partners: Viabizzuno lighting, Bellino linens, CC-Tapis carpets, Kvadrat textiles, and others. Invite-only and overnight stays are gratis. zanotta.it
Four Seasons Hotel. A newly launched fragrance, Palais Monarche 218, was inspired by the delectable scents of Vienna’s famed coffee houses, including almond, pear, cinnamon, vanilla, whipped cream, and madeleine cake. Perfumier Ben Krigler (the great-great-grandson of the founder) calls the release a “lavish gourmand creation.” $565; krigler.com
The House of Krigler (right), the ultra-luxe and centuriesold global perfume brand, has opened an apothecary-style boutique in Houston’s tony
Posh Upper East Side New York antiquarian shop Creel and Gow (left)—room upon room of objects owner Jamie Creel has collected around the world—has opened an outpost in Hudson Valley’s quaint Millbrook. Expect the unexpected: Chinese opera headdresses, 19th-century gilded-glass apothecary jars,
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statement necklaces by LouLou de la Falaise, hand-woven table linens, African tribal masks, Mauritian carpets, and an exclusive line of rattan furniture made in Tangier, Morocco. creelandgow.com
Featured at the glam Lapis Spa at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, Lab to Beauty (above) products are vegan, hempderived, sustainably farmed and sourced, and made in the United States. Brightening Body Wash & Bubble Bath ($50) has anti-inflammatory CBD and the cooling tingle of rosemary mint. The Green Cure Facial Mask ($60) is made with a super-green blend of matcha, French green clay, and CBD. labtobeauty.com
Courtesy Images From Top: Terrain; University of Wisconsin Press; Simon and Schuster; Drew Doggett.Opposite Page Courtesy Images, Clockwise From Top Left: Jonathan Pozniak; Zanotta; Lab to Beauty; The House of Krigler; Creel and Gow/Zach Troos.
In time for gardening season, Terrain (left) at Styer’s has East and West Coast locations or order online: Japanese-made garden tools (from $88), earthfired terra-cotta pots (from $8), Dutch Sneeboer trowels ($59), Barebones waxed canvas bags ($78), and Swedish splitting axes ($148). shopterrain.com Aviteur, the Italian luxury lifestyle brand by Patricia Gucci (granddaughter of Guccio Gucci), has launched the Cristallo Weekend Bag Collection: carry-on bags including a laptop bag, a
Books All Abroad: A Memoir of Travel and Obsession by Geoffrey Weill, president of travel PR company WEILL, is not only a captivating travelogue filled with remembrances of a lost era of travel, but a coming-of-age story with tender details about his cultured, eccentric, and mostly lovable family. University of Wisconsin Press. $29; uwpress.wisc.edu The Islander: My Life in Records and Beyond by Island Records founder Chris Blackwell is an uplifting, warmhearted memoir. Blackwell propelled U2 and other important bands and musicians to stardom, but he is perhaps best known for introducing reggae—and Bob Marley—to the world. Gallery Books. $29; simonandschuster.com Wild: The Legendary Horses of Sable Island coffee-table book by photographer Drew Doggett tells the story of wild horses that roam freely on isolated and remote Sable Island, one of Canada’s farthest offshore
islands. Forward by Dr. Jane Goodall and featuring more than 100 photographs. Choose a signed copy ($135) or a limited-edition autographed copy with a companion print ($375). drewdoggett.com Georg Baselitz is a prolific artist who, at the age of 84, is still an iconoclast. This book traces the development of the artist’s unique style from his earliest work to the creations of his eighth decade. The boxed edition with a print signed by Baselitz is limited to 100 copies. Thames & Hudson. $1,353; thamesandhudson.com Annie Liebowitz: Wonderland is a gorgeous anthology of 350 fashion images (many previously unpublished) by Liebowitz, one of the top portrait photographers in the world. A wide range of subjects featured: Nicole Kidman, Serena Williams, RuPaul, Lady Gaga, Kate Moss, Rihanna, Karl Lagerfeld, and Nancy Pelosi. Forward by Anna Wintour. Phaidon. $90; phaidon.com
lightweight backpack, and an ultra-chic pet carrier. From $2,500; aviteur.com Celebrated Swiss beauty brand Valmont opens a flagship boutique on the ground floor of New York’s posh Carlyle Hotel and a brand-new spa on the third floor—introducing their high-performance Luminosity Skincare Collection (from $145) and the warm-and-fresh-forspring fragrance, Just Bloom ($290). Luminosity is plant-based and specifically tailored for the next generation of women. lamaisonvalmont.com
Paris in the 1920s with Kiki de Montparnasse embraces the creativity, diversity, and extravagance of Paris’ Left Bank, the epicenter of culture in the 1920s. Kiki de Montparnasse was a cabaret performer, actress, and model for Modigliani, Calder, and Man Ray. The images in this largeformat, slipcase volume tell the story of the incredible artistic flowering of the now-mythical Montparnasse neighborhood. Assouline. $195; assouline.com Helmut Newton Legacy spans more than five decades of the legendary photographer’s work, including many rediscovered images. Taschen. $100; taschen.com Japanese Screens explores the 1,300-year-old history of the partitions—from ceremonial use to functional and decorative. Illustrated, bound in the Japanese style, and housed in a handsome clamshell box. 3,000 numbered copies. Abbeville Press. $175; abbeville.com
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What’s Next FOOD & DRINK
A car, culture, and culinary hub opens in New York City’s Meatpacking District. Genesis House (as in Genesis, the luxury arm of South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group) debuts as the first international project curated by Michelin-starred Onjium from Seoul. The tasting menu includes modern twists on traditional Korean royal cuisine with dishes including a salad of chilled abalone, scallops, soy-marinated-and-steamed sea bream, black cod, and prawn skewers. genesishouse.com The globally acclaimed chef, recently awarded three Michelin stars for her restaurant in London’s Connaught hotel, opens Hélène Darroze at Villa La Coste in Provence in partnership with Château La Coste, an award-winning winery and sculpture garden. In a glass-walled pavilion surrounded by vineyards, the restaurant spotlights Mediterranean cuisine. Three- and five-course
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menus pair with organic and biodynamic reds, whites, and rosé from Château La Coste Estate and from other French growers. villalacoste.com Community-minded Esmé in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood (opened in August 2021) offers a 10- to 15-course, ever-evolving tasting menu of nontraditional dishes such as peaches and prawns with basil tapioca or racletteand-fresh-truffle pierogis served on plates made by local potters. The white-walled interior feels like an art gallery with its rotating displays by local artists. Bar Esmé offers à la carte small plates. esmechicago.com Whimsy, an immersive and theatrical dining experience, debuts at The St. Regis Washington, D.C. As the fivecourse meal progresses, the room magically transforms to match each course—from treetops to starry sky to ocean floor. Up to 32 patrons spread across two tables are seated at 6:30 for the restaurant’s one nightly seating offered Tuesday through Saturday. $195/person; whimsy360.com
Flavor-forward and exquisitely plated dishes from vegan pioneer Matthew Kenney’s 40plus restaurants are megahits. The swanky Adesse is newly opened at Selfridge’s in London and New York City’s brand new SCEN is committed to a zero-waste philosophy. In London, enjoy innovative dishes including the wild mushroom and root vegetable burger, jackfruit “crab cakes,” and raw zucchini and tomato lasagna. In New York, order oat milk smoothies, carrot lox bagels, beet- or mango-based sushi, and nutrient-dense rice bowls. matthewkenneycuisine.com Talented young chef Tom Meyer opens Granite in Paris’ Les Halles, promising a food adventure in five or seven courses. It starts with a glass of Champagne and a small mound of black caviar surrounded by golden petals made to look like a tiny sunflower, then gnocchi filled with steamed shellfish and garnished with cockles in a lemony sauce, and a sublime roast pigeon in a sauce of its own deeply reduced jus. For dessert: a modern riff on homey rice pudding. granite.paris
Eat in or order take-home meals (maybe a roasted chicken and abalone congee potpie) at Yangban Society, a 5,000-square-foot Los Angeles restaurant helmed by Meadowood alums Katianna and John Hong. Patio, booth, and communal seating at long tables. yangbanla.com Highlighting what can be farmed, fished, and foraged near Malmö in southern Sweden, Karl-Mikael serves a five-course Nordic menu. Dishes you might find on the menu (changes daily) include grandma’s sour-milk bread, mussels with smoked seaweed, and wild strawberry meringue. karl-mikael.com With a mirrored and graffiticovered entrance straight out of a Blade Runner movie set, 893 Ryotei is the newest creation of legendary Berlin restaurateur Duc Ngo (famous for trendy eateries like Kuchi and Madame Ngo). A Japanese-inspired menu with extraordinary sushi is accompanied by a long list of sake, and the chicest people sitting at tables next to you. 893ryotei.de
Courtesy Images, From Top: Esmé/Sandy Noto; Genesis House/Daniel Krieger. Opposite Page, Courtesy Images From Top: The Maybourne Bar; Peychaud’s; The Cigar & Whiskey Bar; Oyster + Martini Bar
RESTAURANTS Atop the Renzo Piano– designed Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center in Athens, Greece, Delta serves one seating of only 12 tables nightly—a 17-course panoply of contemporary Greek cuisine. Ingredients are sourced from local farms and fishermen or grown on the restaurant’s own farm. The wine list showcases Greek varietals. deltarestaurant.gr
Cordials, infusions, tinctures, preserves, ferments, bitters, and vinegars at Diversión in Houston are all made from scratch (with many ingredients sourced from the bar’s own urban farm). Expect immersive cocktails like the tiki-inspired A Day at the Beach or Cava and Caviar (berry-infused bubbly and briny hackleback caviar). diversioncocktails.com
BARS Rodeo Bar, a quintessential Texas roadhouse inside Dallas landmark The Adolphus, Autograph Collection reopened in 2021 following a major refresh. Go for the Tex-Mex menu and strong drinks, plus live western, country, and rock music on weekends. Locals know the place for “refined grit and authenticity.” adolphus.com
With its pastel pink façade, rustic interiors, and wood-burning fireplace, Tribeca hot spot Tiny’s unveils its Oyster + Martini Bar (above). The cozy five-seat bar offers a show-stopping menu of oysters, seafood crudo, and unique twists on classic sips with its Black Truffle Martini and Pink 007 (made with pink gin). tinysnyc.com
The Painter’s Room, an intimate little place on the ground floor of Claridge’s in London, draws inspiration from 19th-century artists of sunny Provence. A bar staff in traditional artist smocks serves cocktails such as Homage (a blend of Brut Rosé, Campari, and absinthe) and the almond blossom–scented Saint Remy, created by head mixologist Nathan McCarley O’Neill, to recall Van Gogh’s Almond Blossoms paintings. claridges.co.uk Atop a Jazz Age skyscraper in NYC’s financial district is Overstory, the 24-seat bar with the $24 cocktails, including Easy Money (vodka, coconut, yuzu, lime leaf, soda). Take the American International Building elevator to the 63rdfloor restaurant SAGA, and up the stairs you’ll find the new bar and its wraparound terrace. Reservations recommended. overstory-nyc.com
and Pardon; top-shelf whiskies from Suntory to The Macallan) opened fall 2021. In December, the hotel introduced The Maybourne Bar (above). Created by interior architect André Fu and helmed by head mixologist Chris Amirault, the spot is swathed in burr walnut paneling and the bar is carved from solid Turkish green onyx. Order from an innovative but unfussy cocktail menu, and if drinks turn into dinner, order a Maine lobster roll with smoked trout roe or a dry-aged smash burger with million island dressing. maybournebeverlyhills.com
In the 1930s, apothecary Antoine Amédée Peychaud created bitters as a medicinal drink from a family recipe. Now, his former New Orleans residence is the French Quarter’s newest cocktail bar, aptly named Peychaud’s. The entire drinks menu focuses on classics (above) like Ramos Gin Fizz, Pimm’s Cup, and Sazerac. maisondeville.com
The Maybourne Beverly Hills has elevated cocktail hour to new heights. The Cigar and Whiskey Bar (right, rare smokes from Arturo Fuente
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What’s Next FOOD & DRINK famous for its immunity-boosting sweetener with propolis, turmeric, and ginger. Astor Apiaries (astorapiaries.com) produces from rooftop and backyard bees in Brooklyn and Queens and sells New York City raw honey.
FOR YOUR BAR Dom Pérignon Vintage 2008 Rosé is available after 12 years “in the cellar” to achieve the intensity, minerality, complexity, and harmony of the singlevintage blend of pinot noir and chardonnay grapes. $329; domperignon.com Created by acclaimed Londonbased wine writer Matthew Jukes and served in a charming small-bottle format, Jukes Cordialities deliver a fresh beverage experience for anyone craving a nuanced, citrus-andherb drink—without the alcohol. $48.50/box of nine bottles. jukescordialities.com The Last Drop Distillers’ mission is to find extremely rare spirits— often hidden for years, like a 1925 Grand Champagne Cognac (a single barrel concealed at the back of a cellar in 1940 and forgotten by the family for nearly 80 years). The 2022 Collection comprises 177 bottles of Japanese blended malt whisky from the big-name Hanyu Distillery ($5,700/bottle); 163 bottles of a 44-year-old
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single malt from Glenturret Distillery ($6,120/bottle); and 375 bottles of Hors d’Age Petit Champagne Cognac ($4,400/ bottle). lastdropdistillers.com The Macklowe (above) is the brainchild of Julie Macklowe, an entrepreneur with a lifelong passion for single malt whiskey (her personal collection numbers hundreds of rare vintages). In collaboration with renowned master distiller and blender Ian MacMillan, the first release (just 237 bottles) from her private reserves comes in a vessel inspired by Macklowe’s own trusty flask. $1,500; themacklowe.com Penfolds, the Australian wine producer founded in 1844, is releasing the final installment in its “g” series. Penfolds g5 is an energetic blend of the exceptional 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018 vintages of Grange (an Australian heritage icon and one of the world’s most collected wines). $2,630 for one of 2,200 limited-edition bottles; penfolds.com
FOR YOUR PANTRY Small-batch Huilerie Beaujolaise Calamansi Vinegar (below) from a French artisanal producer has a bright-and-tangy tangerine vibrancy and tastes almost like a shrub or drinking vinegar. $25; store.177milkstreet.com
Honey comes in an infinite number of colors, textures, and tastes. Santa Fe Honey Salon (santafehoney.com) specializes in Southwest flavors like mesquite, cactus, and desert wildflower. Try Big Island Bees (bigislandbees. com) for Hawaiian macadamia nut blossom. Bjorn Colorado Honey (bjornscoloradohoney.com) is
Truff hot sauce blends ripe chili peppers, organic agave nectar, black or white truffle, and spices like coriander (the secret combination of ingredients delivers unprecedented flavors). Taste at your own risk: Original (hot), White Hotter (fiery), or mayonnaise infused with red jalapeño and winter truffle. truff.com After Pappy Van Winkle ages its legendary craft bourbon, the deeply charred oak barrels are put to a new use: ageing maple syrup. The result? Pappy Van Winkle 23-Year Bourbon Barrel Aged Pure Maple Syrup Limited-edition Batch (below) with intense flavors of vanilla, caramel, butter, and oak. Great on pancakes, for making barbecue sauce, or instead of simple syrup in cocktails. $48; pappyco.com u —Irene Rawlings
Courtesy Images, From Top: The Macklowe; Huilerie Boujolaise Calamansi Vinegar/Devin Sullivan; Pappy Van Winkle
Chocolatier Larry Burdick earned his chops at a confiserie in Bern, Switzerland. Back in the United States, he founded L.A. Burdick Chocolates (in 1987) and made, among other things, the charming chocolate mice so popular in Switzerland. Dark, white, and milk chocolate mice and dark chocolate penguins are made by hand, so each has its own character. From $38/box of nine; burdickchocolate.com