Boulevard Magazine Vancouver, 2023 ISSUE 5

2023 NO. 5

VANCOUVER LIFE AT ITS FINEST

Spaces to love

S

GRANDMILLENNIAL CHIC Embracing pops of colour, bold patterns and maximal florals

STYLE ADVANCED

A BOWL OF “JUST RIGHT”

Eclectic, bold fashion and jewellery, and layers of patterns and texture

Start the day with elevated porridge

From Concept to Cooking Your Tailored Kitchen Awaits Combining standard & custom cabinetry sizes and features helps create your dream kitchen while optimizing your investment.

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Beauty on the inside. And out.

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photography by Andrea Ferrari

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A LAKEVIEW COMMUNITY

B R A N D I DE NT I T Y G UI D E L I N E S

N O V E M BE R 2 0 2 0

A M A S T E R - P L A N N E D C O M M U N I T Y A R R I V E S I N W E S T K E LO W N A

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Set high above the horizon, Shorerise is an exclusive master-planned community that offers an elevated way of life. Inspired by the surrounding mountains, valley, Westside Wine Trail and Okanagan Lake below, this is a place where the architecture is distinctively Okanagan and the hillside trails offer a world of wonder outside your front door. Here, you’re only moments away from the beach, the lake, a round of golf, a hike or a glass of wine savoured with family and friends.

R EG I S T E R F O R P R I O R I T Y U P DAT E S

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Coquitlam B.C., Canada

CONTENTS 60

48 FEATURES

34 SHOWSTOPPER ON THE COVER Photo by Ema Peter The stunning Vancouver home of Ross and Melissa Bonetti, owners of the design business Livingspace.

HOT PROPERTIES

34

Livingspace helps create this oasis of luxury

“JUST RIGHT”

By Lisa Manfield

By Ellie Shortt

42 STYLE ADVANCED Eclectic, bold fashion and jewellery, and layers of patterns and textures

By Lia Crowe + Jen Evans

52 GRANDMILLENIAL CHIC

Maximalism is the new minimalism, and heirlooms are back

By Laura Goldstein 12

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60 A BOWL OF

Elevated porridge

66 A HEAVENLY RETREAT

Corta della Maestà

By Laura Goldstein

34

52

42

DEPARTMENTS

14 CONTRIBUTORS 16 EDITOR’S LETTER Chic granny

By Susan Lundy

20 LIFE. STYLE. ETC. Jessica Nobrega

By Lia Crowe

22 WELL AND GOOD I’ve got you covered

By Kaisha Scofield

24 GOOD TASTE The spice is right: Ethical Table

70 SECRETS AND LIVES

By Don Descoteau

30 WEEKENDER

Revelations: North Vancouver

By Susan Lundy

48 BUSINESS CLASS

Stephen Maser

By Angela Cowan

72 NARRATIVE Dear Diary

By Susan Beiderwieden

74 BEHIND THE STORY

By Lia Crowe

A rare find: Selina Ladak at Stittgen Fine Jewelry

By Lauren Kramer

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contributors “Writing about our visit to Pieve

SUSAN BEIDERWIEDEN WRITER DEAR DIARY

Santo Stefano and the Little Diary Museum reawakens memories of that August day and briefly returns me to Italy. It also rekindles my curiosity as an amateur sleuth to uncover more about the individuals and institutions that buy, collect, read and preserve the diaries of everyday people.”

With a background in nursing that hopscotched Susan through different settings and different roles, she is now able to travel and write creative nonfiction stories about those experiences—when not at home in Victoria, walking and exploring the diversity of island life.

“I knew going into Pamela’s

MODEL/MAKEUP STYLE ADVANCED

PAGE 42

BOULEVARD GROUP PUBLISHER Mario Gedicke mario.gedicke@blackpress.ca 250-891-5627 MANAGING EDITOR Susan Lundy ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lia Crowe

PAGE 72

JEN CLARK

2023 ISSUE 5

home that I would experience an aurora borealis of visual delight, and seeing Pam’s treasures felt like sugar plums dancing in my head. Because of this, I chose to keep my makeup simple by adding just a flick of extra lashes on the outer edge, paired with a blurred rosy lip. For Pam—other than tapping on a little rouge and mimicking her favourite lip colour “black honey”—there was no need to mess with her iconic style.

I’m still dreaming about this photo shoot and the magical beings that were buzzing around creating it.” Jen is a Victoria-based makeup artist, who offers services in styling, props and art direction.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susan Beiderwieden, Angela Cowan, Lia Crowe, Don Descoteau, Jen Evans, Laura Goldstein, Lauren Kramer, Susan Lundy, Lisa Manfield, Kaisha Scofield, Ellie Shortt

DESIGNERS Lily Chan, Nel Pallay, Maria Lobanova, Tammy Robinson, Crea Zhang ADVERTISING SALES Vicki Clark, Carien Wessels PHOTOGRAPHERS Lia Crowe, Don Denton, Albert Law, Ema Peter ILLUSTRATION Sierra Lundy

“I’ve gone swimming with dolphins

LAURA GOLDSTEIN

in Eilat, Israel and kayaked with whales in Hawaii, but my idea of extreme sports is climbing that bridge to the top of the mountain in Italy to stay at the gorgeous Corte della Maestà and eating great food!”

Born in Toronto, Laura was an arts and sports publicist and writer for 30 years.

Tired of shovelling snow, she and her husband moved to BC 15 years ago. A highlight of her long career was covering the Kate Middleton and Prince William tour of BC in 2017.

DISTRIBUTION Marilou Pasion Marilou@blackpress.ca 604-542-7411

VANCOUVERBOULEVARD.COM Boulevard Magazine is published 6 times per year by Black Press Ltd. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. The publisher is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs.

WRITER A HEAVENLY RETREAT

PAGE 66 14

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We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada

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PHOTO BY LIA CROWE

chic granny

“I have a Mother’s Day gift for you,” said my daughter Danica in May. She was sitting at the island in our kitchen, visiting from her home in Connecticut for the first time in eight months. “It’s actually already on your phone.”

“Huh,” I thought, as I went to grab my phone. Could she have added an app to it remotely? Amazing what kids can do these days.

“It’s in a photo,” she said. She’s embedded a QR code into an image? Even more impressive!

Danica had sent the photo to me two weeks earlier. It’s a sweetly silly photo of Danica and her husband Tim in their kitchen.

“What do you see in the photograph?” Danica asked me now as I returned to the kitchen. “Zoom in.”

Okay, there’s Danica and Tim, a corner of the countertop, the fridge. I looked more closely at the fridge. I saw a drawing of a bat. A card. A clutter of what looked like tickets and a couple of photographs. A calendar. I moved down the fridge.

“Is that…?” I gasped. I dropped the phone and rushed to envelop my daughter in a huge hug. A pair of ultrasound images revealed the gift: my daughter was expecting a baby girl and was already 11 weeks into her pregnancy.

Danica and Tim had told just a few people, wanting to get through the first trimester before spreading the word. But now she was bursting to talk about it, and to be honest, she talked pretty much solidly for the next 24 hours, pausing only to sleep. It was wonderful! I needed to know every detail and she was eager to provide!

“Shall I start at the beginning?” she asked happily.

“Maybe not the very, very beginning,” I answered.

Many of the stories in this issue of Boulevard refer to a home design trend called “granny chic.” I’ve titled this column “Chic granny” even though, to be honest, it’s unlikely anyone would ever call me—and my go-to jeans and beloved but well-worn boots—“chic.” But chic or not, I’m thrilled to finally become a grandma.

Danica’s two-week visit included a little getaway that I’d planned for the two of us near Parksville on Vancouver Island. Our days evolved spontaneously, leisurely, and wrapped in the warmth of exploring the new world my daughter was entering. In some ways it was bittersweet, knowing our lives were about to change so dramatically. For me, it felt my life as a mother—my glorious life as a mother—had come full circle as my firstborn prepared for her firstborn. I knew that in this moment, she wouldn’t yet be able to grasp the immensity of being a mom—the soaring joy, the staggering love and even the unbidden fear that comes with having your life so intricately interwoven with another human being.

“Will it change our relationship?” she asked, as we meandered along, arm in arm. Here’s the thing, I thought later as I considered this. Every stage of our life together has altered our relationship. We grew together and yet apart as she went from babyhood into childhood, teenhood and adulthood. But while the expression of our connection may have changed over the years—especially as the strings of dependency loosened—our bond, or the essence of that which ties us together, is so strongly linked, it will never sever. The lifeblood of our relationship will endure.

But in the moment, I just smiled. “You will be struck by the intensity of love for your daughter, and that in turn will make you truly understand my love for you.”

I know that I am so blessed to have my daughters exist so profoundly in my life. And though our connections will continue to evolve, our deep love will transcend all stages of our lives together, from birth to death and all that there is in between. I may not be a chic granny, but I will be a grandma blessed.

Susan Lundy Managing Editor Susan Lundy is a former journalist who now works as an editor, author and freelance writer. Her latest book, Home on the Strange, was published in 2021 via Heritage House Publishing.

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life.style.etc.

JESSICA NOBREGA, FOUNDER, MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, GRACE & FLOW WORDS LIA CROWE

X PHOTOGRAPHY NINA DOMBOWSKY

“P

etite, positive, light and fresh!” is Jessica’s response when asked to describe her personal style. “And my husband says, ‘airy’, ha ha.”

Jessica’s daily practice for success is built around mindfulness and eternal optimism—“I am always looking for the sunshine on dark days.”

Before launching Grace & Flow, Jessica worked as a business development manager for a fast-paced environmental consulting firm. She had just had her second child and felt completely burnt out.

“I was living with ‘perfectionist over-functioning syndrome’ and absolutely needed a break.

So, I returned to my yoga practice, restored my health and vitality, and fell in love with connecting the fabric of the Okanagan Valley with my love of health and wellness.”

Outside of work she’s passionate about camping, spending time outdoors and skiing.

“I have two boys, ages 10 and 13, and we pretty much live up at SilverStar over the winter season!”

Asked what her best life lesson is so far, Jessica says, “To be present. Too often I would find myself distracted to avoid feeling the hard feelings or to avoid difficult conversations.

Now I understand the immense benefits of noticing how I feel and what that manifests like in my body, and then consciously choosing how I want to react.”

And what is good style to her?

“Confidence and posture. Being comfortable in your own skin.”

STYLE INSPIRATIONS & LIFE Style icon: Kelly Ripa.

Favourite artist: I love nature photography: Darren Hull or Viktoria Haack.

Favourite musician: Half Moon Run. Era of time that inspires your style: 1960s (Brigitte Bardot).

Favourite cocktail or wine: Peak Cellars Skin Kissed Pinot Gris.

Album on current rotation: Daisy Jones & the Six. Favourite flower: Peonies.

Favourite city to visit: Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany.

Favourite app: Lightroom and InShot. I love taking pictures.

Favourite place in the whole world: Costa Rica.

One thing that consistently lifts your spirits during hard times: The little joys in life. Birds chirping, hugs from my kids. A coffee made for me by my adoring husband.

FASHION & BEAUTY Uniform: Yoga clothes.

All-time favourite piece: Fitted distressed jeans from Vici Dolls.

Currently coveting: Another fitted leather jacket.

Favourite pair of shoes: Heels when I’m at an event, fuzzy slippers when I’m at the office; otherwise, I'm barefoot most of the time.

Favourite day-bag: My Bordeaux Alma Sling

by Opelle in Toronto.

Favourite work tool: Rose gold MacBook.

Favourite jewellery piece or designer: I like to wear pieces that are meaningful, given to me, or locally made. Right now, I am wearing rings by Wolf + Woman and earrings by Hillberg & Berk.

Fashion obsession: Dresses!

Accessory you spend the most money on: Leather jacket by Mint Velvet.

Necessary indulgence for either fashion or beauty: Sahajan Radiance Face Serum.

Moisturizer: Sahajan Nourish Creme Riche.

Scent: Essential oils.

Must-have hair product: Schwarzkopf OSiS Dust It root boost powder.

Beauty secret: I love the Grace & Stella gold eye masks.

READING MATERIAL Fave print magazine: Mama Disrupt (Australia).

Last great read: Anything by Canadian author Susanna Kearsley.

Book currently reading: The Lost Carousel of Provence

by Juliet Blackwell.

Favourite book of all time: Hard to pick just one! I re-read a few that are around intentional thoughts, goals and actions to manifest and create a joyful life. Some of these are: A Happy Pocket Full of Money by David Cameron Gikandi, Map of Consciousness by David Hawkins, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, Do Less by Kate Northrup.

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well + good

I’ve got you covered 22

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Taking time to understand the health and overall functioning of our skin WORDS KAISHA SCOFIELD

L

istening to your body is an art form. For some, it can take decades of trial and error before learning exactly what the body needs. With practice, however, we can recognize subtle indications; for example, the nervous system gives signals when we are run down and need some rest and relaxation. Our muscles and cardiovascular system help us recognize when we need to lower our training volume; and our digestive system has ways to tell us when we might need to swap out pizza and beer for salad and a smoothie.

It may seem strange, but what we are doing is tuning into our body’s organ systems: fatigue is expressed in the brain, overtraining can present in the heart and lungs, poor dietary choices show up in the stomach and intestines. We become accustomed to the warning signs when these areas of our body need a bit of extra care. The largest organ system in our body, however, is often the most baffling: it’s the integumentary system, which includes your skin.

Forming a physical barrier between the external environment and the internal environment, the integumentary system serves to protect and maintain, and includes the skin (epidermis, dermis, hypodermis), associated glands, hair and nails. Together, it all works to protect you from germs, helps to keep your body temperature regulated, controls part of your immune system, synthesizes vitamin D, grows your hair, helps blood flow, controls your sense of touch, helps nerve function, grows connective tissue and cushions muscles and bone.

Despite its long list of crucial functions in and around the body, most of us only pay attention to our skin when it is reacting. If we have a breakout, sunburn or rash, the response is often to put on a cream, maybe drink an extra glass of water and hope for the best. We rarely take the time to understand the health and overall functioning of our skin, perhaps because the information available from skin companies is too general for everyone’s individual skin needs.

I was curious about my own skincare, so I turned to a professional, the lovely Jamie Wright, a classically trained skin therapist with a specialization in massage and energy work.

Jamie practices out of Philosophy MD and Bernstein & Gold in Victoria, where she helps her clients to enhance their skin health alongside their overall wellbeing. I am lucky enough to have had the pleasure of being treated by Jamie and can attest to the fact that she is a true skin magician.

I spoke to Jamie in a question-and-answer session about all things skincare: Kaisha: What is the most common issue you see with your clients?

Jamie: Guests seek my expertise for a multitude of reasons, the most common being that today’s lifestyle causes a greater demand for moments of tranquility. I see many of my “favourites” monthly and believe they seek tension release to a renewed complexion.

Kaisha: How can we listen to our skin for signals of overall physiological stress, for example, dehydration, exhaustion, general stress and anxiety? Can we use our skin as an earlywarning system for when we need to slow down?

Jamie: With stress being such a major contributor to our overall health, it makes perfect sense that our skin will mirror how our nervous system is functioning. Our skin is our largest organ and proves that fatigue leads to increased inflammation, breakouts and a compromised skin barrier. If people are seeing some of these warning signs it can be a message to slow things down and take time to nurture themselves.

Kaisha: In nutrition, there is a deep belief in the importance of bio-individuality, meaning that there is no diet or nutritional practice that works for everyone, and it is our job to help our clients learn about their individual digestive needs.

Is there a similar necessity for skincare?

Jamie: Vitamin C and retinol are widely regarded as the golden standard in achieving optimal skin health, offering powerful antioxidant and rejuvenating benefits. This being said, we are all diverse and it is important to speak to a trained practitioner for guidance on your skincare journey.

Kaisha: How does the skin change throughout our various stages of life? How can we make these transitions easier for our skin?

Jamie: Aging is a gift, and the key to longevity lies in embracing it while prioritizing self-care to foster both our physical and emotional wellbeing.

In conversation later, Jamie says that for people thinking about seeking out the expertise of a skin therapist, “It isn’t just about vanity, it’s about health. A broken skin barrier can be a sign of seemingly unrelated issues! Diabetes, Parkinson’s, cardiovascular issues, bone density!”

There is so much more to skincare than face masks and puffy eye serums. If you have been ignoring your skin health, this is your sign to treat yourself and your skin to some love with a professional like Jamie.

Of course, we wouldn’t leave you without some product recommendations from this expert. Jamie’s winter favourites are: • SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF with Ferulic Acid • SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2 • Colorescience No-Show Mineral Sunscreen • ZO Retinol Skin Brightener • Éminence Organic Stone Crop Cleansing Oil • Éminence Organic Bamboo Firming Fluid • Éminence Organic Facial Recovery Oil

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good taste

PHOTO BY MIKE SONIER.

photos in Van folder

The spice is right Chef Mike Sonier travels the world to turn international flavours into Ethical Table spice blends WORDS DON DESCOTEAU 24

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Oceanfront Resort Sooke

P

erhaps the best phrase to describe chef Mike Sonier is “travelling food artist.”

He has a knack for elevating combinations of simple local ingredients and unique flavours into works of art that dance on the palate.

Having developed his craft back home in Moncton, NB and transferred his culinary talents to BC 15 years ago, Mike has put distance between himself and the full-time commitment of owning and operating his own restaurant.

These days he’s often in exotic and sometimes remote locales, experiencing the outdoors and local food culture, building relationships with growers and other chefs, and sharing his discoveries online and in person, through exclusive catch-andcook style presentations.

I meet with him via FaceTime, as he chats with me from a friend’s restaurant in Mexico City. He sounds happy to be living his dream: exploring the world and discovering new flavours to combine creatively into his dishes. Many of those international tastes have been incorporated into the growing line of spice blends (eight and counting) that he has created, and now markets through his Ethical Table Food Co. “I literally spend my day at the markets,” he says enthusiastically. “The whole point of the travel is to discover new ingredients and experiences within the communities and learn from the culture. Every single ingredient tells a story, and each blend tells the story of my travels.”

Taco seasoning Pura Vida, for example, draws on Mike’s extended culinary discoveries in Costa Rica and Mexico; Caribbean Jerk seasoning was inspired by a months-long catamaran trip spearfishing and free diving in and around the Bahamas. Canadian Seas is blended as a perfect enhancement for fish and seafood, and Mike’s cooking experiences on the east and west coasts played heavily into its makeup.

Not surprisingly, this Vancouver resident’s travels tend to steer him away from touristy areas. He prefers to connect with people outside those centres to learn firsthand about local food and foraging traditions, and then use his skills preparing meals from scratch to craft his own combinations.

Mike effectively uses the Ethical Table recipe web page, as well as short videos on social media, to show exactly what that looks like.

In one, the viewer is placed in the middle of the Caribbean for a squid fishing outing. Subsequent clips narrated by Mike show how he used squid ink as an ingredient in making fresh

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25

pasta, and the squid tubes for crispy calamari with stuffed jalapeños—all prepared on the boat.

Other posts show him making other amazing dishes from scratch, many of which include cooking or finishing with specific Ethical Table spice blends.

A former restaurant consultant who put together farmto-table concepts here and on Canada’s east coast for about 10 years, Mike initially launched Ethical Table as a catering company specializing in pop-up special events that promoted sustainability and cultivated connections between local farmers and the community. He has added a distinct international flavour to that side of the business in the past five years.

“The more collaborative work I do now is doing super-fun and inspiring events with other chefs,” he says.

He points to a recent 10-course dinner he teamed up on in Mexico, with each course paired with a different type of mezcal. He also partners with wineries and is a chef with Veuve Clicquot, which hosts special champagne-inspired dinners and cooking classes in France and North America (see The New Makers Collective post on Ethical Table’s Instagram page).

“What I’m after now is to showcase, of course, the beautiful local ingredients—that’s always part of my concept—but also to make really exciting, out-of-the-norm experiences. That’s why I travel the globe the way that I do.”

He has worked hard to maintain the ethical, sustainable approach with which he began Ethical Table. All herbs and spices in the blends are certified organic, and even the Canadian-made packaging is eco-friendly. Any imported ingredients, such as the Costa Rican coffee beans that go into 26

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PHOTO BY LAURENT GLOOR.

“What I’m after now is to showcase, of course, the beautiful local ingredients—that’s always part of my concept—but also to make really exciting, out-of-the-norm experiences. That’s why I travel the globe the way that I do.” the Maple Espresso dry rub/marinade, are sourced through fair-trade companies.

While the pandemic initially delayed the launch of the spice blends, Mike says, they have proven to be extremely popular with home cooks looking to jazz up their meals.

“The feedback I get from the consumers is absolutely amazing and I think the best part is that it’s an ongoing story. My goal with this is to follow my adventures and to share all the inspiration and recipes through my travels. It’s a great way for me to connect with people in their own homes and in their own kitchens.”

With the pandemic forcing people to cook more at home, and currently inflation making eating out a pricier undertaking, connecting with home cooks this way has left Mike feeling good about his contribution.

“I started this company as kind of a passion project. Everyone always asked for my spice blends and rubs in my restaurant, so I wanted to give them something to take home. As we went through COVID, I realized it’s something that’s more crucial than just having a little spice blend floating around; I feel like it’s something that’s needed. Everyone loves to cook.”

Telling stories through food seems to be second nature for Mike. Inspiring others to craft their own food adventures— and helping them forge a stronger connection to their culture through food—is a skill he continues to develop, one trip and one meal at a time.

Find recipes, a list of spice blends and more at ethicaltable. ca and follow Mike’s adventures at instagram.com/ethicaltable.

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weekender

Revelations Discovering North Vancouver WORDS SUSAN LUNDY

The problem became apparent the moment we stepped into our corner suite at North Vancouver’s Seaside Hotel. What struck us first—even before we noted the cosylooking king bed or the egg-shaped swing hanging near the window or the bathtub beside a floor-to-ceiling window in the expansive marble bathroom—was the breathtaking view.

The entire wall facing the ocean was glass and looked directly 30

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across the water at the Vancouver skyline. This room had so many little touches and comforts, the problem was obvious… we weren’t going to want to leave it.

Already, our visit to North Vancouver had been a revelation.

My husband and I started our day hiking with our canine travel companion, Zorro, in Capilano Canyon—just one of four canyons and multiple hiking options in North Vancouver.

View from North Vancouver toward downtown Vancouver.

PHOTO BY REUBEN KRABBE, COURTESY DESTINATION BC.

Choosing to enter the area at the Cleveland Dam, we drove up, out of the city, through a residential area and, within minutes, were staring across the Capilano Reserve at Grouse Mountain.

It seemed impossible that this wilderness could be so close to an urban area. After crossing the bridge above the dam, we entered a huge forest with multiple criss-crossing paths that swallowed up all the hikers, leaving us seemingly alone on the trails.

From here, we drove down to Lower Lonsdale, North Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood—and another revelation. The area extends four blocks up Lonsdale Avenue and two blocks east and west, but its heart is The Shipyards on the waterfront.

As we explored this bustling district, full of shops and eateries, we found Shipbuilders’ Square, where a community stage presents concerts, plays, markets and buskers at various times throughout the year, and Shipyard Commons, a covered public space for year-round gatherings, with a splash park in the summer and an outdoor skating plaza in the winter.

Also nearby is Lonsdale Quay, where a SeaBus connects the North Shore to downtown Vancouver. I was glad I set aside time to explore the Quay Market & Food Hall, with its 80-plus shops and food vendors selling everything from unique clothing to handmade chocolates.

Public art abounds at The Shipyards, much of it commemorating the thousands of people who worked here from 1906 to 1992. Apparently, over 450 ships were launched from this site during the many years of shipyard operations.

And the Seaside Hotel? Located right in the middle of all this wonderfulness!

After our hike and exploration of The Shipyards, the rest of our first day revolved around food—so many options! For lunch we settled on the dog-friendly porch of Raglan’s Bistro with its cosy and colourful tiki-vibe, great food menu and intriguing cocktail list.

For dinner, we chose to bring a delectable array of seafood from the hotel’s exclusive restaurant, Seaside Provisions, back up to our room (remember our problem?). The atmosphere inside the restaurant is warm, welcoming and buzzing with energy, while the menu presents a quandary for any seafoodloving diner. Between the raw bar (including oysters and ceviche), the small plates (like tacos and lobster rolls) and the mains (scallops, seafood pasta, risotto and steak frites), selection was tricky. And while our dinner was divine, it turns out that happy hour at Provisions is the real locals’ go-to event. It runs Tuesday to Sunday 3 to 6 pm, with daily drink specials and half-price small plates.

Day two began with an early dog walk along the North Shore Spirit Trail, a clearly marked 35-kilometre greenway that will ultimately extend from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove.

My walk meandered along the waterfront, through a float home community and past an off-leash dog park. But you can only get so far on foot! So, later that morning, we put Zorro into a backpack and rented e-bikes from Reckless Shipyards.

With pedal power, we quickly zipped along the trail, eventually cycling under the Lions Gate Bridge and all the way to Ambleside Park in West Vancouver. Every time I get on an e-bike, I am reminded of how wonderful it is to explore on two wheels with a little help on the hills! If we didn’t have a full itinerary set for the day, we could easily have spent the next several hours exploring North Van on the bikes.

But we had plans, and those plans included beer! The Shipyards Brewery District features some eight breweries that line East Esplanade Avenue, just a block up from the Seaside Hotel.

The North Shore claims fame to the birth of Canada’s craft beer-brewing boom started back in 1982, when Horseshoe Bay Brewery began brewing Bay Ale. That microbrewery is long gone, but the North Shore abounds with enough breweries to be a destination on the BC Ale Trail—and we enjoyed B O U L E VA R D

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PHOTOS COURTESY NORTH SHORE TOURISM ASSOCIATION

a few hours sampling their wares in cute, dog-friendly roadside patios.

But then? Another shock as we stepped through a door and into a whole different world. Esplanade Avenue is a busy industrial street, noisy at times. But a hush fell over us as we entered Copperpenny Distillery Co. and met owner Jennifer Kom-Tong for a tour of this new gin distillery that has already won multiple awards. Jen and her husband Jan Stenc spent 25 years in the film industry, travelling the world as set decorators, and you can immediately sense this influence. Set up like a European cocktail lounge, the tasting room—where you can sample gin, order classy cocktails and enjoy bar bites—is both lavish and cosy. It could not be more different than the street outside.

Both Jen and Jan grew up in North Vancouver and, while they don’t have a background in distilling, their creativity and dedication to perfection have resulted in the perfect cocktail of flavour. Sitting at the exquisite bar, we sampled several gins, impressed with all, but most intrigued by the unique oyster shell gin, created in partnership with Fanny Bay Oysters. To say we were simply impressed with this distillery would be a massive understatement.

And so it turned out that Copperpenny, along with the Seaside Hotel, Capilano Canyon and everything else, all amounted to yet another “problem:” we don’t live in North Van. But no worries, we’ll be back.

PHOTO: KINDRED & SCOUT/ DESTINATION VANCOUVER

PHOTO: BRETT HITCHINS/ MUSEUM OF NORTH VANCOUVER

PHOTO: COURTESY FISHWORKS.

PHOTO: COURTESY NORTH SHORE TOURISM ASSOCIATION

do.

see.

eat.

sleep.

Hike! North Vancouver is built on the lower slopes of mountains that rise almost a mile above sea level, and is composed of six mountain peaks: Black, Strachan, Hollyburn, Grouse, Fromme and Seymour. With all these valleys, canyons and mountains, this is a Mecca for hikers, climbers and mountain bikers. The hardest part might be deciding which area to explore first.

Visitors to The Shipyards District can enjoy a bit of culture exploring a range of exhibits at MONOVA (The Museum of North Vancouver), located near the Lonsdale Quay. Also in the area, the Polygon Gallery features contemporary art with a focus on photography, emphasizing contemporary work within the context of historical and international art.

If you love seafood and a cool dining experience, Fishworks is a must-do—but make a reservation! This restaurant—with its high ceilings, natural wood accents and art from local artists—specializes in fresh, sustainably harvested seafood and a diverse wine selection. We had the seafood tower ($78 for two), feasting on an abundance of oysters, scallops, prawns, clams and mussels, crab legs, lobster tails and calamari. Swoon.

Seaside Hotel is a dog-friendly boutique property with 71 deluxe rooms and suites with stunning panoramic views. Our corner suite was probably one of the most memorable rooms we have ever stayed in—stylish, unique and extremely spacious. The view of the Vancouver skyline, revealed or concealed via motorized window coverings, changed as the hours went by, ending each day in a mesmerizing display of distant city lights.

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Showstopper An oasis of understated luxury is the perfect in-situ showcase for Ross and Melissa Bonetti’s design business WORDS LISA MANFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY EMA PETER

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N QUICK FACTS:

270 square feet of frontage 6,500 square-foot home, including garage 4 bedrooms 5.5 bathrooms

estled at the top of a lush embankment in West Vancouver’s Caulfeild neighbourhood is a stunning cliffside home that pushes the boundaries of the West Coast modern aesthetic design.

Delicately crafted, fortress-strong and outfitted in modern European classics, it’s the second home that Ross and Melissa Bonetti built and designed in collaboration with Vancouver’s BattersbyHowat Architects.

The owner of Livingspace, a Vancouver leader in Italian home design, Ross called on his friends at BattersbyHowat to help him evaluate the empty lot, which he stumbled upon amid one of his daily walks. Largely covered in brush, the lot consisted in part of a sheer cliffside slope covered in prickly bushes that dropped steeply toward a ravine and railroad track.

He knew it would be a challenging build, but it was the 270 square feet of frontage that immediately caught his interest.

“We explored the property by drone before I made an offer,” he says. “It was clearly a tough site to work on, but I knew BattersbyHowat was up for it.”

It proved to be a three-year project that has emerged as a shining showcase for modern design—outfitted entirely in products from Livingspace. Today, Ross regularly tours clients and prospects through his personal space as evidence of what’s possible with rock-solid architecture and a creative eye for elevated design.

“It’s essentially become an extension of our storefront,” he says.

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OPEN-PLAN LIVING GOES HORIZONTAL A true model of open-plan design, this 6,500-square-foot, four-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bathroom West Coast oasis elevates minimalistic design and neutral tones with majestic facades, surprising pops of colour and convenience, and durable materials for ultra-functional spaces.

Accessed from the recessed driveway, a large glass front door opens almost directly into the open living space—all greys, whites and beiges—with its airy 15-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling east-facing windows that open onto the landscaped courtyard beyond.

An immediate case in point for creativity, the flat roof exterior is inverted on the interior, creating a reversed ceiling by way of a triangular hemlock frame that emerges just beyond the entranceway and into the great room, and is echoed again in the master bedroom. Meticulously crafted wood slats panel the precision-architected angles, mirroring the exterior landscape and creating a large, visual point of interest inside. Simple pot lights dot the wood panels above, shining light down onto the heated concrete floor, which has been ground down to show the aggregate stone.

To the left of the entrance, a hidden closet and playfully wallpapered powder room offer colourful contrast to the neutral tones.

“It’s a nice surprise for guests when they come around the corner and discover this wall,” Ross says.

Immediately to the right of the entrance, a staircase leads up half a level to an open gym area and Ross’s office, which has nearly 360-degree-views of the outside patio to the right, great room in the centre, and cliffside to the left, all thanks to oversized windows.

“I don’t like separation,” Ross says of the open design. “I can sit here in my office and see what’s going on all around me.”

The gym, partitioned only by an oversized Porro bookshelf, features quiet Technogym equipment, such as an elliptical machine and a cable gym, to temper any travelling sound.

Everything in the house is “foundationally correct,” says Ross, noting that it’s an ode to BattersbyHowat’s talent and an essential requirement for the precision architecture involved in creating aligned open spaces.

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PRECISION ARCHITECTURE AND ELEVATED SPACES Every single space in this home is fully functional and subtly elevated with subdued design. In the living room, low couches and chaises from the Paola Lenti collection offer sitting space for 12 but are easily cosy enough for two to snuggle up with books or to watch a show.

Porro system cabinetry lines the walls, wrapping around the interior from the front entrance to encase the built-in TV and fireplace, while art from the Monte Clark Gallery adds brilliant splashes of colour throughout the home.

In the adjoining kitchen, original Bocci 14 lights spotlight the indoor eating space for 12, while the black Molteni kitchen, complete with hidden aluminum cabinets and electric drawers, keeps appliances and dishes well contained.

Around the corner and into a long hallway that leads to the main-level master bedroom, a built-in bar space has a

wine fridge, sliding Molteni bar door and Sub Zero fridge drawers, providing a convenient area to make hot and cold beverages.

Then, the open-concept design extends right into the master bedroom, located at the end of the long hall, where an angled back wall points the bed toward floor-to-ceiling windows that highlight the forest view beyond. On the opposite side, the room opens onto an open double bathroom and adjoining walk-in closet, again featuring Porro millwork. A washer and dryer hidden conveniently within the walk-in closet make laundry easy.

Downstairs, three additional bedrooms offer space for these empty nesters to welcome back adult children, and host guests, while the lower hallway also serves as a storage space. There, a seemingly endless wall of sliding-door cabinets conceals carefully labelled containers—everything needed for last-minute entertaining.

“We never have to look for our plastic wine glasses,” Ross laughs.

The lower level is rounded out by a full mudroom that connects to the front courtyard, a three-car garage and adjoining storage space for bikes and sports equipment.

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BEAUTY INSIDE AND OUT When the weather is favourable, the Bonettis spend their mornings enjoying their private space in the courtyard, where BattersbyHowat created a tall concrete retaining wall to shield the house from the street above. A flank of Portuguese laurel hedges augments the sense of privacy and greenery, while rose bushes dangle tantalizingly toward the pool below.

The basalt stone patio creates an elongated space for poolside lounging, and a 23-metre lap pool and hot tub are 38

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perfect for a warm-up, cool-down or a water-lover’s workout.

Toward one end of the courtyard, angular patio stones lead to a tranquil wild garden space with a barbeque and meditation corner; at the other end, stairs lead up to an elevated patio that opens off the gym, and below it, a hidden door opens onto a shower room and changing space, which is lined in colourful—and waterproof—koi-themed wallpaper.

Then, moving back through the great room toward the west side of the house is the evening patio, a prime spot for

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dinnertime lingering by the glow of the sunset and greenery below.

Ross’s showcase is a true testament to the power of natural elements coming together with modern architecture to create a space that is both beautiful and inviting.

“People walk in and don’t know why it feels so good in here,” he says. “Everything lines up, and it really gives the place a harmonious feel.”

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SUPPLIERS

Furniture: Paola Lenti, Porro, Knoll, Roda, Ivano Redaelli Lighting: Bocci, Flos Kitchen: Molteni&C Closet: Porro Gym: Technogym equipment Art: Monte Clark Gallery Wallpaper: London Art

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Plaid jacket and necklaces (stylist’s own); vintage Scottish cape (no brand) ($395), from House of Savoy; silk pants by Lauren Vidal ($80) and red leather ankle boots by

BY FAR ($250), both from Turnabout.

Style Advanced

he spotlight with eclechion and jewelry, layers d textures, pieces that tell f one who refuses to play by grow older, of one who dresses ght, who revels in high style and mitted a life lived creatively. This wn inner “chic-granny”, mix new the hand-me-down broach from that and challenge the norm while surh the pieces that tell the story of your

Pamela Madoff

fashion

Style advanced Occupy the spotlight with eclectic, bold fashion and jewellery, and layers of patterns and textures. Choose pieces that tell a tale: a story of those who refuse to play by the rules as they grow older, of those who dress for their own delight, who revel in high-style and beauty, and are committed to a life lived creatively. This year, unleash your own inner "chic granny.” Mix new with vintage, wear that hand-me-down brooch from a favourite, stylish aunt, and challenge the norm while surrounding yourself with the pieces that tell the story of your life.

PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE STYLING JEN EVANS

X

Vintage blue track jacket by Adidas ($48), blue wool pants by Banana Republic ($98), plaid blazer by H&M ($75), all from House Of Savoy. Beaded head band ($35), vintage seahorse brooch ($45), both from Vanity Fair Antiques and Collectibles, Booth 44. Necklace, stylist’s own, and bracelets, Pamela Madoff.

Red and black knit dress by Hugo Boss ($325), black leather heels by Miu Miu ($37), black and gold woven belt (no brand) ($48), all from House of Savoy.

Tights and scarf, stylist’s own.

Vintage floral print blouse by Laura Mae ($55), plaid blazer by Georges Rech ($125), black leather loafer ($165), Liberty of London clutch ($65), all from House of Savoy, Plaid pants by Max Mara ($49) from @magicfriendmaker Insta Shop and fishnet socks, stylist’s own.

Remy mesh top in huge wave geo camel by Diane Von Furstenberg ($325), patch pocket wedding blazer by Smythe ($795), both from Bernstein & Gold; lamb fur vintage designer headband ($89), enamelled cat brooch ($49), vintage necklace with cat ($159), all from Vanity Fair Antiques and Collectibles, Booth 44.

Models : Jen Clark and Pamela Madoff.

Makeup by Jen Clark.

Photographed on location at the beautiful, heritagedesignated home and garden of Pamela Madoff.

A huge thank you to Pamela for graciously hosting our team for the day.

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A rare find Jeweller Selina Ladak is as unique as Stittgen’s precious pieces WORDS LAUREN KRAMER

W

hen Selina Ladak opened Stittgen Fine Jewelry in West Vancouver in 2003, it was a leap of faith and hope. The last high-end jewelry store on the North Shore had recently closed, and with Selina’s many years of experience in the industry, she felt there was a gap in the market that her new store would fill.

“West Vancouver is the most affluent municipality in Canada, and although there were some challenging times in our early years, we always had faith that we could make the business work,” she says.

At Stittgen, which is named for the late German-Canadian jewellery designer Karl Stittgen, the majority of jewellery pieces are hand-forged by an on-site master goldsmith who is constantly coming up with new designs.

“It’s become a really rare scenario in jewellery acquisition to talk to the designer that will handcraft your unique piece of jewellery,” says Selina, noting that most jewellery stores sell pieces that are made in mass quantities using a CAD/CAM manufacturing process, or churned out in thousands from molds in overseas factories.

“We create jewelry the traditional way, forging it by hand and using time-honoured techniques. And our on-site goldsmith is a master goldsmith, which means she’s had seven years of specialized training, followed by years of experience.”

As a young adult, Selina studied psychology, education and criminology at Simon Fraser University, working part-time for a downtown Vancouver jewellery retailer to earn extra money.

It was the 1980s, and she knew nothing about the industry when she first began.

“I worked at a store in Pacific Centre and we weren’t trained to understand stone quality or cut—we just regurgitated the information that was on the tag,” she recalls.

X PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

A natural sales specialist with an ability to gain the trust of her customers, Selina found herself intrigued by the jewellery industry. After graduating, she accepted a position at Swedish Jewellers in West Vancouver and began working full-time, eventually moving into a management position.

“I found I enjoyed the relationships I built with customers as I worked with them to come up with the right piece, and search for the right stone,” she said. “It’s such a happy moment, especially when you’ve exceeded their expectations.”

When that store closed in the late 1990s, Selina began exploring the idea of launching her own store.

“The idea of opening my own business excited me, and everything just fell into place,” she recalls.

The 1,200-square-foot store on West Vancouver’s Bellevue Avenue is spacious, bright and classy, with carefully curated pieces of jewellery displayed in gallery-like cases.

“I always told Selina, you have no idea how lucky you are to be in this environment, with cruise ships going by in the summer and wonderful clients who are like friends,” says Mobeen Ladak, Selina’s spouse and business partner.

He spent most of his career in the software industry and helped with the business after hours.

“Selina has built a very collaborative work environment where everyone truly works as a team. And once customers have walked through the door, she and her staff are amazing at handling the sales.”

Unlike her early years in the mall, Selina was determined that her staff be educated on colour, carat, cut and clarity of a stone, and that they understand how best to showcase a stone in a setting. Many of the jewellery pieces have a story behind them—like the blue lagoon pendant, named for the colour of an Icelandic lagoon the goldsmith visited while on vacation.

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“Our tagline is ‘Let a Stittgen piece tell your unique story,’” says Selina. “We find that this resonates with a lot of our customers.”

For one customer’s 40th wedding anniversary, the goldsmith created a centre-of-life pendant with a ruby surrounded by 40 diamonds. For another, who wanted a piece that reflected the tree farm they owned, Stittgen’s goldsmith designed a ring with a tree and a forest.

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“It’s miniature art, and there is so much thought, love and attention that goes into each piece, you almost don’t want to give it up when it’s completed,” she says. “But when you see a customer wear and enjoy a piece designed at Stittgen, it’s such a proud moment.”

Earning the trust of a client is a responsibility she and her team take seriously, especially because the jewellery industry can be beset with mistrust.

“It’s miniature art, and there is so much thought, love and attention that goes into each piece, you almost don’t want to give it up when it’s completed.

But when you see a customer wear and enjoy a piece designed at Stittgen, it’s such a proud moment.”

“We hear stories all the time from customers who come to us with jewellery they bought elsewhere. They thought it was one thing, but it turned out to be another,” says Selina.

“Even appraisals and certificates can misrepresent a product when done by unscrupulous people. In the diamond business, customers are sometimes told that their diamond is two grades higher than what it actually is, but that they’re getting it for a special price. Usually, in this industry, you’re getting what you pay for.”

Many of Selina’s clients are repeat buyers who come to her because of a trusted relationship, and because they appreciate Stittgen’s designs.

“We’re fashion-forward but we’re not trendy,” she explains. “Our pieces are built to last and tend to be passed on from one generation to the next.”

She recalls one couple who came into the store to determine a ring size. They had already selected a ring that they were going to purchase online, sight unseen, for $35,000, and Selina knew that spending so much money on a diamond they’d never even seen was a bad idea.

“I was able to sell them a much bigger diamond for half the price of what they were going to spend online,” she said. “For $17,000 we created the exact ring that the bride wanted, but with a bigger and better stone.”

Engendering trust with clients is Selina’s strength, Mobeen adds.

“Selina has the ability to engage with a client, immediately build trust and rapport, understand precisely what they want, and guide them towards the pieces that will satisfy them,” he says. “They love working with her because of her integrity, her honesty and her ability to help identify what they are looking for.”

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Grandmillennial chic Maximal replaces minimal and heirlooms make a comforting comeback WORDS LAURA GOLDSTEIN PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

Fashion aficionados know that the design pendulum always swings back to the past to influence the future, and interior design and decor emulate that cycle.

With the proliferation of grandmillennial or “granny chic” home decor on Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok, the design trend has gained significant traction even with millennials and Gen Zers, who are cognizant of the environmental impact of disposable pieces. But don’t be fooled: if the trend makes you think of stuffy, plastic-covered sofas, shag toilet seat covers and overwhelming tchotchkes, that’s a misnomer. As the antithesis of minimalist, Scandi clean lines and neutrals, grandmillennial chic embraces pops of bright colours, bold patterns, maximal florals, including wallpaper, wicker and rattan, chinoiserie, and vintage and heirloom furniture.

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As the antithesis of minimalist, Scandi clean lines and neutrals, grandmillennial chic embraces pops of bright colours, bold patterns, maximal florals, including wallpaper, wicker and rattan, chinoiserie, and vintage and heirloom furniture.

“I lost my aunt last summer and inherited a lot of her heirloom pieces,” says Kyla Bidgood, creative director of the award-winning interior design practice, Bidgood, in Victoria.

“She was my cool aunt—single her whole life, well-educated, refined and extremely well-travelled. She was my inspiration and muse for this project.”

We are actually sitting in “this project,” entitled Heirlooms, constructed inside the spectacular, newly opened Gabriel Ross on Government Street in Victoria, after a two-year building renovation. The 13,000-square-foot showroom, envisioned in gallery settings over two floors, is an intriguing adventure to walk through. After 30 years in Rock Bay, the downtown location doubles the previous space, sparking new ideas, from furniture, lighting and accessories to coffee table decor and design tomes. Alison Melis, Gabriel Ross partner and CFO, worked with Kyla to bring the Heirlooms living room/dining area vignette to life. It’s an eclectic mix of colourful iconic furniture that elicits memories of the past with a modern twist.

Kyla reframes the concept of grandmillennial chic to embrace emotion and longevity.

“My interpretation revolves around the art of collecting heirloom pieces that are carried with you and potentially passed on, rather than a trend or style for people to emulate,” 54

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she explains. “The most interesting homes reflect peoples’ travels and finds, as opposed to a contrived aesthetic. The idea is a physical and progressive reflection of their life and personality. And a big part of that is quality,” she adds. “Gabriel Ross is known for quality and, if a piece is not well made, it’s certainly not going to last.”

Many pieces of the furniture in Heirlooms appear modern yet designed with elements rooted in the past. For example, created by architect Piero Lissoni for Kartell, the Largo modular sofa system anchors Kyla’s vision in quintessentially textured black-and-white houndstooth fabric, an optical illusion popularized in the 1920s and originating in Scottish tartans.

Later, it became a classic of 1950s fashion by Christian Dior.

And yes, the pattern is based upon the shape of hunting dogs’ teeth!

Oriental art and denim textures create a mesmerizing pattern of orange and blue swirling florals in Moooi’s Rendezvous Tokyo Blue Rug that, upon closer inspection, hides playful macaque monkeys.

If you’re a fan of films from the Golden Age of Hollywood, you’ll remember seeing actresses like Ginger Rogers in their swanky penthouse boudoirs, usually in a fringed pouf in front of their vanity table. Kyla has included two in the living room

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vignette. Moooi’s Amami Poufs in deep blue velvet have long, sensuous fringes that will conjure your inner grandmillennial chic movie star.

Mother Nature would approve of the gigantic yellow LZF Dandelion pendant light made from wood veneer by Germanborn designer Burkhard Dämmer, and originally created in 1996. In the dining vignette it’s suspended over a Karakter Castore dining table made of clear glass with a Carrara marble base designed by Italian sculptor Angelo Mangiarotti in 1975.

My own maternal grandmother had a huge impact on me design-wise. I vividly recall (and have inherited) her love of the colour blue and the porcelain Real Old Willow-pattern dishes

by Booths. The chinoiserie craze in England during the 18th and 19th centuries influenced the production of the Real Old Willow pattern. It depicts star-crossed Chinese lovers eloping together over a bridge, and the cobalt blue-and-white pattern has become a timeless heirloom classic. I think of my late grandmother with love every time I use the dishes.

Riffing on the resurgence of chinoiserie in grandmillennial chic decor, Kyla has included Moooi’s funky interpretation entitled Blow Away Vase by Royal Blue Delft in the dining area vignette. A porcelain blue and white vase looks exactly like it’s had a run-in with a tremendous gust of wind.

So, I wonder, does one entice millennials and Gen Zers to take an interest in collecting heirlooms, and can they afford to even do so?

“I think they are much more aware of the environment and not to be wasteful and how things might have a second life,” Kyla says. “Vintage is of great interest to the younger generation; the hunt is fun, and because the cost of living is insane, they are being a bit more creative to furnish an apartment.”

“When you look on social media, you’d be surprised at just how sophisticated some young people are when it comes to design,” Gabriel Ross’s Alison adds. So, if grandparents or parents are downsizing, it’s an ideal opportunity to inexpensively start collecting meaningful heirlooms to mix and match with modern pieces.

As the master of maximal shoe design for over 50 years, John Fluevog Shoes has joined forces with Vancouver’s Otto Studio, which produces paper-based removable wallpaper that’s perfect for renters wanting to curate a grandmillennial chic floral vibe.

“We were thrilled to be asked to do a limited-edition wallpaper collab with John Fluevog Shoes,” say co-founders Jen Cook and Hannah Lee of Otto Studio.

The two intrepid entrepreneurs launched their wallpaper company during the COVID-19 pandemic, intentionally targeting DIYers who wanted to bring some joy into their apartments while working from home.

“Fluevogian Florals was originally a mural in John Fluevog Shoes’ New York City store. The mural was torn down when they renovated, so this retro pattern is like a homage to that,” Jen explains.

“We also have florals in a decal pack that are great for kids’ rooms and for covering laptop lids and thermos bottles. It’s definitely a nod to the ‘60s and ‘70s ‘flower power’ era,” adds Hannah.

The sky is the limit when it comes to imaginative wallpaper applications.

“We had a client who used the easy-to-remove wallpaper along the bottom of their kitchen island,” notes Jen. 56

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“Although design movements don’t change according to geographical locations, as designers we do like to tweak design stories for specific client requests,” says Lu Kapp, senior interior designer at Lakehouse Home Interiors in Kelowna.

“I’m really loving large print wallpaper applications, oversized florals as well as grass cloth, which creates a fabulous organic feel. And as a more local Okanagan interpretation, I’m often adding gorgeous rattan pieces of furniture that can be grandmillennial chic, but at the same time, add a hint of beachy West Coast cool to my projects.”

Interior design styles may come and go but grandmillennial chic endures because it triggers nostalgia that we all crave in uncertain times. Granny would approve.

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food and feast

A bowl of “just right” Elevated porridge for an enticing morning routine WORDS ELLIE SHORTT PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

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In my mind, porridge is perhaps the perfect intersection of simple comforts and a limitless palette of creativity and innovation. It’s prep-ahead friendly and immensely filling. The number of bases, toppings and iterations are endless, and it lends well to seasonal inspiration.

’m a morning person. Whether this is by default or design is up for debate, as growing up I regularly partook in early-start activities that had me at school by 7 am. My dad is also a morning person. He grew up on a working farm in Olds, Alberta, often putting my 7 am starts to shame with 5 am chores. He then became a physician, and early mornings remained a staple in his schedule, which meant that he had the honour of chauffeuring me to my various crack-of-dawn extracurriculars. He didn’t mind and neither did I. Our quiet mornings before the other members of our household had fully arisen remain some of my fondest memories. We wouldn’t say much to each other while our bodies and minds slowly woke up, but our shared routines and rituals got us calmly out the door, rarely with a sense of frantic rush.

One such ritual began the evening prior as my dad laid out all the ingredients needed to make morning porridge. Having two Irish parents, porridge was less a breakfast option than a way of life for him, and I fondly remember big pots of oats gurgling away at my grandmother’s house whenever we visited.

I adopted my dad’s ritual, as we shared porridge in the wee hours before heading off to our early endeavours. This unassuming-yet-grounding routine set the tone and pace for the day ahead, and even now in this season of new motherhood and the chaotic swirl it sometimes brings, I’ve found myself anchored by this ingrained respect for morning routines, and stick-to-your-ribs satisfying breakfasts.

A few years ago, while visiting a friend in London, England, I found my reverence for porridge fortified upon discovering a charming and trendy little breakfast joint called 21 Grains in Covent Garden. I was lured there by the promise of their buzzed-about porridge bowls, with ingredients and descriptions that felt fresh and exciting. One was adorned with plum and bay compote, lemon cream, almonds, cinnamon and thyme, and another with chia pudding, blackberries, almond butter, cacao and fresh mint. I was inspired and comforted to see others passionate about porridge.

There are many other restaurants and cafes throughout the world that offer unexpected and elevated takes on gruel, and if you go on even a short stroll down a porridge-inspired Pinter-

est board, you’ll see some remarkable masterpieces. I tell you all this as a friendly reminder to perhaps give porridge another try if you’ve sworn it off as boring or bland, or if you’ve seen these artistic iterations and feel like they’re unattainable in your already stretched morning time situation.

Clearly, I’m passionate about porridge, and my mission is to prove that oatmeal is anything but “oatmeal,” or that an artistic bowl of breakfast-time beauty is more accessible than you might think. In my mind, porridge is perhaps the perfect intersection of simple comforts and a limitless palette of creativity and innovation. It’s prep-ahead friendly and immensely filling.

The number of bases, toppings and iterations are endless, and it lends well to seasonal inspiration. So, if it’s encouragement and the eternal challenge of where to start that are holding you back, I offer some of my top tips for making your bowl of porridge not too boring, not too elaborate, but “just right,” as our pal Goldilocks might say.

NOT-SO-BASIC BASE

Porridge in its many forms is a worldwide and ancient phenomenon. Steel cut oats in Ireland, teff in Ethiopia, quinoa in the Andes, farro throughout the Mediterranean, bulgur throughout the Middle East and millet throughout Asia—the porridge base is as varied. Therefore, my first tip is to get out of that rolled-oat rut and try a new grain, or even a combination of grains. Add in some seeds as you stew it for additional texture and taste. A ground flax or chia will smooth out a grittier grain like millet or bulgur and offer a wealth of nutritional benefits such as additional omega 3, 6, and 9. The more grains (and seeds) you experiment with in general, the more nutrient variety you’ll access, as they each contain their own unique makeup of various vitamins and minerals. So don’t hold back, and play around with a multi-grain (and -seed) mix.

BE FLUID WITH YOUR LIQUID

Most grain-cooking instructions will call for water, but I recommend trying out something creamier for the most luxurious texture. Classic cow milk is a great traditional choice,

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or you can opt for a non-dairy version such as coconut, almond or hazelnut, all of which offer something a bit different. Because the goal is to create a softer mushier texture, you don’t have to be as fussy about liquid ratios and cook times.

My general rule when making a porridge base is to double the amount of liquid you would need to cook the grain regularly. So, if the basic teff instruction says 1 cup of teff to 1.5 cups of liquid, up the liquid to 3 cups. You may need to add more liquid as you go, especially if you’re like me and prep the base ahead of time and reheat before enjoying (often grains absorb more liquid as they sit).

LEARN TO LOVE LAYERING

The key to almost any good dish is layering various textures and flavours that are contrasting yet complementary. The same theory applies here. Something creamy like yogurt, chia pudding, a chocolate sauce or a nut or seed butter offers a smooth accompaniment to the grain base. Some crumbled crunchy nuts, seeds or coconut chips break up a more homogenous consistency. Chopped dried fruit is not only sweet and tangy, but also texturally exciting with an added chewiness. Pair the dried fruit with fresh, fried or stewed fruit (such as a compote or a coulis) and you’re delivering even more flavour and textural juxtapositions that are pleasing to the palate.

GO ON, GET A LITTLE SPICY

One of the easiest, simplest ways you can spice up an otherwise bland bowl of mush is to do just that…add some spice! When stewing my grains, I almost always add some cinnamon, a bit of vanilla, a pinch of sea salt and then whatever other seasoning inspires me: nutmeg, clove, ginger, cardamom…sometimes all of it!

DON’T BE SCARED OF SAVOURY

Picturing a bowl of porridge, one often thinks of sweet and cozy like apples and cinnamon, but a whole world opens up when you realize you can add any ingredients you want, especially those more on the “savoury” spectrum.

Congee (Chinese rice porridge) is often served with an egg, and, of course, in Italy, risotto (essentially a cheesy creamy porridge) is a popular dish eaten at various meals throughout the day. To give your grain base more of a savoury edge, cook it with broth, and then play around with toppings like sautéed veggies, micro-greens and eggs. Even mixing and matching sweet and savoury can be particularly transcendent: try adding herbs and balsamic vinegar to a fruit compote, and then pairing it with a rich and creamy cheese like mascarpone.

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Millet and Chia Pudding Porridge with Honey Fried Bananas, Coconut and Lime *Makes about 2 servings Ingredients ½ cup millet 2-3 tbsp ground flax 2-3 cups coconut milk (start with 2 cups and add more if needed) 1 tsp pure vanilla extract Sea salt 1 tsp cinnamon ¼ tsp ginger Coconut oil or butter 1-2 bananas, peeled and sliced in half lengthwise 1 tbsp honey (plus extra for drizzle) ½ cup chia pudding, divided ⅓ cup coconut yogurt, divided Zest of one lime ¼ cup chopped cashews, divided Optional garnish of coconut flakes Directions *Note: you’ll need to make the chia pudding ahead of time. To do so, combine 5 tbsp chia seeds with 1 cup coconut milk and 1 tsp of honey in a sealable jar (like a medium-sized mason jar). Give it a good stir or secure the lid and give it a big shake, making sure all the seeds are evenly dispersed in the milk. Let sit overnight in the fridge and stir before serving.

In a medium-sized pot, bring the milk to a boil. Add the millet, ground flax, vanilla, sea salt and spices, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally until all the liquid has been absorbed and you have a creamy porridge consistency (this may take 20 to 30 minutes and may require adding more milk at some point). Remove from the heat and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat a frying pan to medium-high heat. Add a small amount of coconut oil or butter (about 1 tbsp) and honey (about 1 tbsp) and then the sliced banana. Fry on each side for a minute or two, until the banana slices are caramelized on each side. Set aside.

To assemble, spoon 1 cup of the cooked millet-flax mix into a bowl, layer with some fried banana, about a ¼ cup of chia pudding and a couple spoonfuls of coconut yogurt, and then top with some chopped cashews and the lime zest. Drizzle with honey, if desired, and a sprinkling of coconut flakes. Repeat for the second bowl and enjoy!

Cardamom Bulgur Porridge with Fresh Figs, Hazelnut and Chocolate Tahini Sauce *Makes about 2 servings Ingredients ½ cup bulgur 2-3 tbsp ground chia seeds 1 ½ to 2 cups hazelnut milk, divided (start with 1 ½ and add more if needed) 2 tsp pure vanilla extract, divided Sea salt 1 tsp cinnamon ¼ tsp cardamom Butter ½ cup bittersweet chocolate chips ¼ cup tahini 4-6 fresh figs, cut in half ⅓ cup Greek yogurt, divided ¼ cup chopped hazelnuts, divided Maple syrup or honey for drizzle *Shown here with optional garnish of edible flowers Directions In a medium-sized pot, bring the milk to a boil. Add the bulgur, ground chia, sea salt, vanilla and spices, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally until all the liquid has been absorbed and you have a creamy porridge consistency (this may take 20 to 30 minutes and may require adding more milk at some point). Remove from the heat and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat a small saucepan to medium. Melt 2 tbsp butter, and then add the chocolate cups, tahini and a couple tbsp remaining milk. Reduce heat to low and stir/whisk consistently until the chocolate is melted and the sauce is smooth.

Remove from heat and set aside.

To assemble, spoon about 1 cup of the cooked bulgur-chia mix into a bowl and layer with a couple spoonfuls of Greek yogurt. Top with a few fig halves and some chopped hazelnuts.

Drizzle with the chocolate tahini sauce and a bit of maple syrup or honey if desired. Repeat for the second bowl and enjoy!

SEAFOOD MARKET • DELI • FISH & CHIPS

WILD. SUSTAINABLE. WEST COAST SALMON

Seafood Paella

Ingredients: Serves 6-8 ¼ tsp saffron 1 lb white fish (lingcod or rockfish), cut into 2” pieces ¼ cup high heat oil (canola or grapeseed) 8 head on spot prawns ½ lb squid or octopus, thinly sliced 1 Tbsp smoked paprika Check 4 roma tomatoes, diced our website 3 cloves garlic. Minced for more 1 bell pepper, diced great seafood 1 onion, diced 7 cups flavourful stock recipes 2 ½ cups paella rice ½ lb clams or mussels Directions: • Place saffron in ¼ cup of hot water and allow to steep.

• Season the fish with salt and pepper.

• Place your pan over medium/high heat and add the oil.

Sear the fish and prawns in the oil allowing it to brown.

You do not need to worry about cooking through at this point.

• Once the fish has colour, remove it from the pan and set aside.

Add the squid, peppers, onions, garlic, and paprika and cook about 5-6 minutes until soft.

• Add saffron water and broth, bring it to a boil, and season well.

• Sprinkle rice over the broth and stir to incorporate.

THIS IS THE LAST TIME YOU WILL STIR THIS DISH. • Sprinkle tomatoes over the rice and cook for 10-12 minutes still on medium/high heat. If your pan is larger than your heat source move the pan around a few times to ensure that it cooks evenly.

• Reduce the heat to low, add the seared white fish.

• Place the clams or mussels in the rice hinge side down so they can easily open. Cook for another 5-10 minutes over low heat until liquid is fully absorbed and shellfish pops open.

• Remove from the heat, add prawns, and cover with foil for 5 minutes before eating.

WILD, SUSTAINABLE, LOCAL, TRACEABLE

4675 Arbutus Street Vancouver 604.266.1904

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5-Grain Savoury Porridge with Tamari Shiitakes and Six-Minute Eggs *Makes about 2 servings Ingredients ½ cup five-grain mix (equal parts pearl barley, quinoa, farro, teff and rice) 2-3 cups broth (start with 2 cups and add more if needed) Sea salt 2 eggs 1 loose cup shiitake mushrooms 1 tsp tamari sauce 1 tbsp sesame seed oil 1-2 radishes, thinly sliced, divided 1 spring onion, sliced, divided ½ loose cup micro-greens, divided Optional garnish of sesame seeds Directions In a medium-sized pot, bring the broth to a boil. Add the grain mix, some sea salt (unless your broth is already quite salty), reduce to a simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally until all the liquid has been absorbed and you have a creamy porridge consistency (this may take 20 to 30 minutes). Remove from the heat and set aside.

Meanwhile, bring a small saucepan filled with water to a boil. Using a slotted spoon, gently place the eggs in the boiling water, turn the heat down to low, cover and cook the eggs for 6 minutes. Once cooked, place the eggs in an ice bath, and allow them to cool before peeling and slicing in half.

Heat a saucepan to medium-high heat. Add the sesame seed oil, mushrooms and tamari sauce. Sauté until soft and slightly crispy on some edges. Remove from the heat and set aside.

To assemble, spoon about 1 cup of the cooked five-grain mix into a bowl and arrange some radish slices, a halved egg, some microgreens and a bit of chopped spring onion on top.

Garnish with some sesame seeds, or any other toppings you’d like, repeat with the second bowl and enjoy!

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Steel Cut Oats with Bay Plum Compote and Mascarpone *Makes about 2 servings Ingredients ½ cup steel cut oats 1 ½ to 2 cups milk (start with 1 ½ and add more if needed) 1 tsp pure vanilla extract Sea salt 1 tsp cinnamon ⅛ tsp clove Olive oil or butter (about 1 tbsp) 2 loose cups sliced plums (I used Italian plums) 1 tsp balsamic vinegar 1 tbsp maple syrup (plus extra for drizzle) 2 bay leaves About ½ cup mascarpone, divided 2 tbsp to ¼ cup smooth almond butter, divided 1 loose cup fresh blackberries, divided ¼ cup chopped almonds, divided Optional garnish of hemp hearts Directions In a medium-sized pot, bring the milk to a boil. Add the steel cut oats, vanilla, sea salt and spices, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally until all the liquid has been absorbed and you have a creamy porridge consistency (this may take 20 to 30 minutes and may require adding more milk if necessary). Remove from the heat and set aside.

Meanwhile, heat a small saucepan to medium. Add a small amount of olive oil or butter (no more than 1 tbsp) and then the sliced plums, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup and bay leaves. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and cook, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes, until the plums are soft and stewed. Uncover and cook on simmer for a few more minutes until it thickens slightly. Set aside.

To assemble, spoon about 1 cup of steel cut oatmeal into a bowl and layer with a couple spoonfuls of plum compote and some mascarpone, and then top with a few blackberries and some chopped almonds. Drizzle with almond butter and a bit of maple syrup if desired, and garnish with a sprinkling of hemp hearts. Repeat for the second bowl and enjoy!

travel

If the literary classic The Secret Garden enchanted you as a child, Corte della Maestà’s walled enclave with its towering arbours and olive trees, potted blue hydrangeas and hidden statuary will captivate all your senses as an adult.

Past, present and A heavenly brocantage at Corte della Maestà retreat WORD LAURA GOLDSTEIN

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X PHOTOGRAPHY GIOVANNI DE SANDRE STUDIO GDS

The bridge looks daunting, but chalk it up as part of the adventure. Iron Man and Iron Woman we are not, so the spectacular views of Italy’s Calanchi Valley serve to distract us as we trudge along the modern and very busy 300-metre pedestrian-only bridge ascending almost vertically into the teetering medieval mountain town of Civita di Bagnoregio, about 90 minutes from Rome.

A little truck ferries luggage up and down the bridge, much to our relief. From afar, our first impression is “this must be a film set; surely this can’t be real.” We have time-traveled back

to an Etruscan village, built 2,500 years ago and sculpted on volcanic rock perched atop the mountain.

An earthquake devastated the hamlet in 1695, and today, although only 11 people live in the village full time, it’s attracted adventurous tourists beguiled by the bridge and the elegant Corte della Maestà hotel. Entering through the ancient stone archway, every step is history. Narrow cobblestone passageways and walls festooned with climbing roses meander off the main piazza, a dizzying maze to the uninitiated. Having just come from the teeming crowds in Rome, we crave “dolce far niente”—slowing down to enjoy the beauty and the sweetness of doing nothing.

Our charming host and hotel manager, Cristiana Melis, is waiting and she leads us through a hidden leafy wooden door that opens into Corte della Maestà (translated to “court of majesty”).

If the literary classic The Secret Garden enchanted you as a child, Corte della Maestà’s walled enclave with its towering arbours and olive trees, potted blue hydrangeas and hidden statuary will captivate all your senses as an adult.

“I discovered Civita almost 30 years ago visiting a patient of mine,” explains owner Paolo Crepet, a well-known Italian psychiatrist, author and TV personality. “It’s constructed like a dream but it’s not a hermitage, it’s an emotional experience,” Paolo and wife Cristiana have spent decades renovating the chic antique-filled property, once a 14th-century bishop’s palace, now transformed into a boutique hotel. The two met years ago when she was an arts publicist for an exhibition of Federico Fellini’s illustrations for many of his legendary films. In fact, one of the hotel’s first guests was film director Giuseppe Tornatore, who won an Oscar for the heartfelt masterpiece Cinema Paradiso and is a long-time friend of Paolo.

Their mutual love of the arts and scouring antique and flea markets, Paolo’s passion for auctions and Cristiana’s intrinsic ability to make everything at once both homey and exquisite (she should have been an interior designer) make our stay the highlight of our 25th wedding anniversary trip to Italy.

All four-bedroom suites are stunning. Resembling old master still-life paintings, each harbours its own treasures and fascinating back-stories that Cristiana has conceptualized with antiques mixed with contemporary furnishings.

It’s no coincidence that we are staying in La Scrittrice (The Writer Suite) with its own private entrance off the garden. The cabbage-rose-patterned wallpaper in the sitting room mimics the rose-clustered pergola outside and is a reproduction plucked from Virginia Woolf ’s London home, as is the antique writing desk. An original 16th-century fresco has been left untouched on the wall of the cosy bedroom and a wrought iron headboard towers over strewn plump pillows. The bed is topped with a chartreuse mohair blanket for chilly nights (there is a different colour in each suite), which Cristiana imported from New Zealand. Her penchant for antique portrait paintings, mostly of women, helps decorate the walls.

The Abbess Suite, which opens onto a little balcony, takes its name from the ornate wrought iron four-poster bedframe that once belonged to the abbess of a monastery. It’s a tribute to the book The Abbess of Castro by Renaissance writer Stendhal.

An early 19th-century French oak fireplace and iron bathtub complement the suite’s interior.

A vision in gold, with an ornate headboard acquired from a 19th-century theatrical production, The Sleepwalker Suite is an homage to the theatre and to Italy’s grand tradition of opera, while The Intruder Suite looks out through windows B O U L E VA R D

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Our first impression is “this must be a film set; surely this can’t be real.” over the valley and the house of the late Argentine poet and writer Rodolfo Wilcock, a great friend of famed Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges.

Unusual wall sconces, beaded lamps and gilded mirrors cast and reflect shadows on the ancient stone walls of each suite.

Entering the hotel’s la cucina (kitchen), it’s hard to know where tp rest your eyes first as it overlooks an immense garden planted with fig, persimmon and lemon trees. A crystal chandelier from Brussels, circa 1930s, dominates the vaulted stone ceiling, antique copper dessert molds adorn blue Italian tiled walls, and beautiful serving pieces from France are everywhere.

They all reflect Cristiana’s obsession for brocantage, the art of collecting vintage items.

“It’s been a passion of mine since I was a girl,” she confides.

“It was so much fun visiting second-hand dealers and flea markets in France and Italy looking for unusual objects and treasures.”

And the breakfast! The la cucina, under the supervision of the couple’s playful black and blonde Labrador sisters, Ortensia and Olivia, is the rustic centre of activity in the mornings.

There are jams and jellies made from the garden’s abundance, heavenly cappuccinos, the freshest eggs and prosciutto, cheeses, cream puffs and tarts (hmm, maybe walking up and down the 68

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bridge is a good idea), all presented on decorative china and vintage glassware. Hazelnuts on the table, we learn, are grown in the nearby valley for Ferrero Rocher, makers of those luscious gold-foil covered chocolates and Nutella.

One morning Cristiana surprises us by setting up breakfast on a pink, hand-printed Lisa Corti tablecloth, on a table under a wrought iron gazebo in the courtyard.

“How in the world did they get the gazebo up the mountain?” I ask, dumbfounded, learning that it had to be brought up the bridge in sections and reassembled piece by piece.

Elsewhere in the hotel is the cavernous stone Wolf ’s Lair, a cosy hideaway with an enormous fireplace. Once the ancient cistern, now converted into a home theatre, it’s filled with books, games, a Forneris piano and, of course, a large film screen. Imagine watching Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, glass of wine in hand.

Venturing out of Corte della Maestà for dinner we are delighted at the number of restaurants off the main piazza.

They receive fresh produce supplies almost daily via moped deliveries. Not only do Osteria Al Forno di Agnese and Alma Civita serve delicious specialties but, to our surprise, we meet several fellow Canadians dining there.

Corte della Maestà is truly the bridge between past and present—a heavenly retreat from our daily lives.

IF YOU GO:

Corte della Maestà is located in the mountain village of Civita di Bagnoregio. The train stops at nearby Orvieto. From Rome, it’s about 90 minutes. If you drive, there is parking at the beginning of the bridge or Cristiana Melis can arrange for a driver to pick you up at Orvieto Station. cortedellamaesta. com

FRANCESCA AMANTE LEADING THE WAY IN KELOWNA

Founder Public Speaker Real Estate Agent Project Specialist

@frescaamante @amante.realestate @amante.conferences @amante.talks.podcast

francescaamante.com

secrets and lives — AND THE 7 SINS

with STEPHEN MASER

W

hen Stephen Maser became a financial advisor nearly two decades ago, he jumped at the chance to become an entrepreneur.

And while his business has grown and expanded across the country, his priorities have remained the same: offer the highest level of service possible to every client who walks through his door. That not only means prompt communication and informed guidance in his role as a financial advisor, but it also means offering a high level of transparency and education as well.

“It can be intimidating to pick up the phone and talk to someone in an industry that speaks a language you’re not familiar with,” says Stephen, founder of Aura Wealth Management at Raymond James Ltd. “Our focus is to reduce that anxiety, and to give our clients the knowledge they need to better understand their relationship with us, as well as with their own money.”

He designed his business

WORDS ANGELA COWAN 70

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X PHOTOGRAPHY LIA CROWE

It’s the restaurant scene that always excites Stephen when he’s meeting clients in Vancouver. philosophies with an emphasis on empathy, making sure people came away feeling heard, and secure enough to ask questions.

“My grandmother was the last one-room schoolteacher in Southern Alberta and her love of teaching and learning was deeply ingrained into me at a young age,” he says.

These philosophies impact every aspect of the business, including the name itself.

“Aura Wealth Management is meant to elicit a certain mindset—a calmness. The name of the practice holds a lot of meaning for me, for many reasons,” he says, adding that one of those reasons is that it’s named for his wife, Laura, only with the “L” dropped.

Born and raised in Alberta, Stephen moved to the Okanagan in 2011 with his family. He quickly fell in love with BC, and when he had the opportunity in 2015 to take over a business centred in Victoria and Vancouver, he jumped at the chance.

Now he travels out to Vancouver Island multiple times a year to support those relationships, maintaining an exceptional level of service that his clients have come to expect.

“I’ve got clients spread out all over in Canada and the US, and I feel it’s important to go there and see these people,” he says. “What took me there was business, but I enjoy going back quite a bit.”

While Vancouver has a plethora of cultural and culinary attractions, it’s the restaurant scene that always excites Stephen when he’s meeting clients here.

“I’m a big fan of Minami,” he says, referring to a contemporary Japanese spot in Yaletown that helped introduce the flame-seared technique into Vancouver’s sushi scene. And he also notes Nightingale—known for its award-winning wine list and farm-to-table excellence—as a regular favourite.

The 7 Sins ENVY:

Whose shoes would you like to walk in?

Leonardo da Vinci. I’ve always found him fascinating and been really envious of his intelligence and ability to master multiple disciplines. After reading Walter Isaacson’s book about him, I began to wonder how one sees the world when possessing genius like his.

GLUTTONY:

What is the food you could eat over and over again?

I grew up on a cattle ranch in Southern Alberta, so a great steak is always my go-to, paired with a red Bordeaux.

GREED:

You’re given $1 million that you have to spend selfishly. What would you spend it on?

I’m not a hugely materialistic person, so I’d likely spend it on world travel. If I had to pick a thing, I’m a sucker for a beautiful car, so probably an Aston Martin DB9 Volante.

WRATH:

Pet peeves?

Socks with sandals. I mean, come on, people. Really?

SLOTH:

Where would you spend a long time doing nothing?

Troncones, Mexico. Some wonderful friends of ours introduced us to this tiny little surfing village a few years ago. It’s quiet and relaxing with little to do but walk the secluded beach, read, eat at the local restaurants and generally unplug. It is old Mexico in the best way.

PRIDE:

What is the one thing you’re secretly proud of ?

I’m proud of the fact that I was able to successfully build my business from nothing, especially in an industry that’s very difficult to survive in.

LUST:

What makes your heart beat faster?

Easily my wife, Laura. Not only is she beautiful, but she is also wickedly intelligent and accomplished in her own right. She challenges me in ways no one else ever has.

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narrative

WORDS SUSAN BEIDERWIEDEN

X ILLUSTRATION SIERRA LUNDY

DEAR DIARY 72

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AUGUST 10/22: THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

I’ll skip details about a frazzled morning with kids and grandkids off to Rome. Leaving everyone except Mark and me. He drove half of them into the train station in Arezzo with the others following. Alone with the sounds of the dishwasher and wash machines, the emptiness hits. Now what?

It will be hot, so I close doors and windows against the noon sun. This VRBO villa is perfect for our family, but too quiet for two. The three-storey house sits on the edge of town between vineyards and the Tuscan Hills and Apennine Mountains in the distance. There’s not another soul in sight, and tonight it will be just us and the night noises.

When Mark returns, we plan the next few days, alone. The void fills with anticipation as we drive to Pieve Santo Stefano, home to the Little Diary Museum. Pieve is an unassuming town of 3,320 but was once loved by Lorenzo de’ Medici. Located 70 kilometres east of Florence, Pieve must have offered refuge from mosquitoes and heat, and relief from political intrigue. During the Second World War, the town was evacuated and razed by the fleeing Nazis. Only the former palace and a few churches hint at its ancient charm. Each year the town and museum host a three-day event to announce the winner of the best diary of the year.

Mark knows I journal and found us this unusual, out-of-the-way museum to explore.

Who reads the diaries of other people? Are diaries and journals the same? Why do I think diaries are the more scandalous form of auto-writing? And what country collects the diaries of its ordinary citizens as part of its national archive?

We drove through a narrow river valley in a forest reserve with steep mountains that was more like BC than the Tuscany of countless books or movies. Where are the pastel towns, domes, towers and endless vineyards?

When we arrive, our introduction to the Little Diary Museum starts in the hot office of one of the historians. Mark and I are embarrassingly unilingual so the guide provides a personalized tour in English. We will not be able to read any of the diaries and once again, I regret my inability to learn other languages.

The strangeness of the day wears off, replaced by the magic of the museum. Hours evaporate as we hear stories that are the “accidental social history of everyday Italians.” There’s the story about a solider and his love, a memoir by an architect who was the victim of a terrorist attack in 1970, a Jewish man who writes about fascist racial laws in Italy, and a farmer from Naples remembering his years in a Siberian prison.

A narrow corridor houses the overflowing Memory Wall. The alphabetized 20-drawers are filled with ephemera: mementos, letters, drawings, photos and postcards and, when opened, a voice.

Actors were enlisted to read each diary to give voice to that story.

Did I mention there are currently over 10,000 diaries?

The term diary is used in the broadest sense, as some are no more than scraps of paper. There are those smuggled out of the infamous Regina Coeli prison in Rome where 335 prisoners were held and executed by the SS. Among them was 17-year-old Orlando Posti, student and partisan, who rolled notes into his shirt collars which his mother collected for laundering. He wrote about his dreams and desire to become a doctor, about his girlfriend, but not the war or life in a closet-like cell with four other men.

In a windowless, air-controlled room, behind glass is the Bedsheet Diary of Clelia Marchi. A peasant woman who lacked paper to tell her story, she used an embroidered linen bedsheet that was part of her trousseau. In tiny neat writing she filled the sheet from top to bottom, pouring out her grief over the death of her husband of 60 years.

A closet-like room is dedicated to the eccentric founder, Saverio Tutino, a journalist. In 1984 when he was searching for a home for his papers, he asked in a national paper if other Italians had a diary in a drawer somewhere. If so, he said, do not let it become mouse food.

Diaries began to flow in and continue to arrive at the museum at the rate of nearly 200 a year. According to Edward Posnett, in The Guardian, “All are accepted and read regardless of pedigree or literary merit.” He said Tutino collected the “unwanted, forgotten and awkward documents to create a type of literary salvage,” which were alphabetized, catalogued, archived and taken out only a few times a year.

This all changed in 2007, when actor and playwright Mario Perrotta visited the museum for its 25th anniversary. Upon discovering the archived diaries, he spearheaded the drive for a permanent site to display the collection. In his book, The City of Diaries, Perrotta commented that the alphabetical nature of the catalogue forced people into an “eternal closeness,” in which “enforced cohabitation might place a fascist whose surname begins with F next to a freedom fighter whose surname begins with G.” Both Tutino and Perrotta imagined the diaries moving about at night to free themselves to search for similar stories to share.

Back in our villa, I imagine the drawers on the Memory Wall gliding open after hours and in the inky darkness, luminous beings, flitting about like fireflies, filling the air with rustling, gurgling and voiceless babbling sounds until dawn.

Suddenly, a loud BANG comes from somewhere in the dark of our almost empty villa…

AUGUST 11/22: THE “RUSTLING OF OTHERS”

Daylight chases away my irrational fears, though my imagination ran wild last night. Awake long after Mark, in the dark, the loud noise made my heart race and didn’t make sense. The gate was locked, the kitchen grate was closed and the massive front doors were barred with a four-foot arm. If this had been a movie, someone would investigate the shadowy halls and dank cellar—but not me. I stayed put, turned on all the lights and a comedy on TV to lull myself to sleep.

Now in the light, armed with coffee, I search for the source of last night’s noise. I expect to find a wounded bird and broken vase on the second floor, where there’s a large fireplace with a chimney open to the elements. We’ve already chased out stray birds and mad hornets.

There’s nothing out of place when I check, so I return to my journaling outside. While collecting my train of thoughts about my last entry, I absentmindedly notice that the patio is damp.

Tutino described the sound of the diaries moving about in the museum at night this way: “There is a type of special noise, a rustling sound of sprouts pushing up from the Archive after all these years… filled with the stories of Italians.”

Rustling, like the word susurrus, is a whispering noise. Not like the one I heard last night, but more like the soft breeze stirring the trees now. Looking up, I see an open shutter on the second floor.

Ah, mystery solved! The wind must have come up to catch an unsecured shutter and slam it against the house, startling me.

I finish writing and close my sunflower-yellow journal as it’s time to explore another hilltop town. My thoughts linger on the role diaries play in preserving history and what happens to the “visceral first-hand accounts” of everyday people? Umberto Eco says, “to survive, we must tell stories” and our diaries and journals are home to some of those stories. What will become of them?

Who will mind your diary?

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behind the story It all started with a conversation between Boulevard’s Lia Crowe and interior designer Kyla Bidgood about how the “advanced style” aesthetic— made famous by New York legends such as Iris Apfel and Ari Seth Cohen—has become a celebrated interior design trend. That conversation grew into an overall theme for this edition of Boulevard. Those unfamiliar with the term “advanced style” can turn to the words of Ari Seth Cohen, who is the creator of Advanced Style, a book, blog, documentary and website project devoted “to capturing the sartorial savvy of the senior set.”

He says, “I feature people who live full creative lives. They live life to the fullest, age gracefully and continue to grow and challenge themselves.”

When considering this as a theme—a celebration of lives lived creatively, mature fashion mavens and the “granny chic” aesthetic that has filtered down to every age group—and thinking about the words of Ari Seth Cohen, one person immediately jumped to mind: longtime Victoria city councillor Pamela Madoff.

“She possesses such sartorial savviness with her unique style that abounds with colour, rich fabrics and bold jewellery,” syas Lia. “I once had the privilege of photographing her home for Boulevard a number of years ago, and saw that her house is an extension of her style: it overflows with wonder, playfulness and an appreciation of beautiful things. At that time a nugget of an idea started to form in my mind, and I found myself thinking that one day I would love to shoot a fashion story in her home.”

It was our pleasure that when asked, she said yes! It was an honour to feature Pamela in this issue, photographing her and her home, styled by herself, and using the treasures she has collected over a lifetime. Thank you, Pamela, for sharing your home, your wardrobe and a few cookies with us!

PHOTO BY LIA CROWE

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