Dolce Vita Magazine Toronto Fall 2011

SOARING INTEREST IN

AMANDA LANG A RIDE WITH

FORMULA ONE’S

YOUNGEST WORLD CHAMP FEDERICO FELLINI: THE FATHER OF

LA DOLCE VITA Publications Mail Agreement # 40026675

THE SPECTACLE OF

IRIS APFEL PLUS

BEHIND THE SEAMS AND THE STOVE WITH LARRY ROSEN AND MARK MCEWAN

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56 34 The House in Good Taste: The ‘modage’ design philosophy of Woodson & Rummerfield 36 Soak up the seductive style of Moll Anderson

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Departments

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WINE & DINE

SUCCESS STORY

PHILANTHROPY

26 Rare fashion bird Iris Apfel continues to soar 52 At Home with Amanda Lang: A veteran business journalist goes far beyond Bay Street

REAL ESTATE

46 Bac on the Market: Settle into life at Villa Les Colombières 48 A Walk in the Park with design-builder Sam Mizrahi 20 In the Closet with Sylvia Mantella: Enter a couture wonderland 58 Scene: All catwalks lead to AltaRoma 64 Sartorial Success: Guest fashion editor Larry Rosen will get you out of a stitch

TRAVEL

28 Picture Porto: Guest travel editor Kevin Brauch takes us to Portugal 44 Where Design Matters: Rest your head on international architecture

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LUXURY

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47 Art Infusion: Buy or rent an artist’s take on life 56 The fantastical world of Federico Fellini 61 New Kid on the Block: Nathan Sawaya

ON THE COVER

FASHION

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ART & ENTERTAINMENT

43 Come to Your Sen5es: Delight your faculties and your good judgment will thank you 50 The Spoke Club: Wine up or wind down with the city’s quick-witted kin 67 Objects of Desire: Get ready to rock and catch a fever with these great finds

HOME DECOR

40 The Art of Investment: A guide to antique buys with guest art editor Patrick van der Vorst www.dolcemag.com

19 The Dish on Dining with guest food editor Mark McEwan 55 Moving Forward Each Day with Tuesday’s Children: Hope after 9/11 62 Speaking of Vital Voices: A word on female advancement with Alyse Nelson

LIVING LA DOLCE VITA

14 From Tuscany, With Love: Let the sweeping hillsides and local wines capture your heart 16 The Sights and Smells of Cisternino: It can’t get any sweeter than this 18 The Jewel of Amalfi Coast: A destination vacationers only dream of

AUTOMOTIVE

30 Lap of Luxury: In the fast lane with Sebastian Vettel 32 Infiniti IPL G37 Coupe: Hop into the front seat of a powerful ride

BEAUTY

24 Fall into Beauty for a season of sexy skin

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

10 Dolce VIP Parties: The Golden Age of La Société, Rock of Ages Gala Benefit, Downtown Porsche Grand Opening & Women’s Track Day, PACE Polo for Heart fundraiser

IN EVERY ISSUE

6 Publisher’s Note 39 Editor’s Picks 55 Readers’ Survey: Fill out our survey for your chance to WIN fabulous prizes 66 Horoscope: Find out what the stars have in store for you this fall

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publisher’s note

‘‘ Y

OUTH HAS NO AGE.”

FALL 2011 • Volume 15 • Issue 3 www.dolce.ca

– Pablo Picasso

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Michelle Zerillo-Sosa • michelle@dolce.ca MANAGING EDITOR

Madeline Stephenson • madeline@dolce.ca DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & MARKETING

Angela Palmieri-Zerillo • angela@dolce.ca DIRECTOR OF NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Susan Bhatia • susan@dolce.ca

We

are often reminded that youth is beauty almost daily by media and society. I personally disagree with the belief that beauty diminishes as age advances.

On the contrary, I believe that a person becomes even more beautiful as he or she goes through life and embraces his or her age, rather than fighting it. I feel a person’s age is a mental state, not a physical one.

Feeling old is something that happens once we lose our drive to live life to the fullest and continue to discover daily miracles. Our eclectic cover girl Iris Apfel is an inspiration to readers of all ages. I love her intelligence, spunk and drive for life. And we can’t ignore her colourful spirit. Apfel is the epitome of staying young forever. Her beautiful eyes shine with anticipation of what this new day will bring, and her attitude is living each moment as she wishes and not by anyone else’s standards.

See her story on pg. 26.

Sylvia Mantella is yet another dynamic character who defies the socialite definition in a paparazzi-watching world (pg. 20). She is a living contradiction for anyone who mistakenly might think she lives an empty high-society lifestyle. Her love for her family is second-to-none; her passion for collecting iconic international designer wardrobe is a reflection of her love for beautiful things. Envy can easily creep up and overcome the soul. I doubt one can be jealous of Sylvia as he or she reads how this woman brings joy to anyone who is fortunate to cross her path.

ART DEPARTMENT Dark blue waves kiss the shoreline of Conca dei Marini, Amalfi Coast.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Fernando Zerillo • fernando@dolce.ca SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Christina Ban, Omar Cushnie GRAPHIC DESIGNER A bracelet from cover girl Iris Apfel’s coveted jewelry collection.

Serafino Catallo WEB PROJECT MANAGER

Steve Bruno EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT BEAUTY/HEALTH & TRAVEL EDITOR

Angela Palmieri-Zerillo FASHION & HOME DECOR EDITOR

Michelle Zerillo-Sosa SENIOR WRITER AND COPY EDITOR

Simona Panetta PROOFREADER

Simona Panetta WRITERS

Michael Hill, Madeline Stephenson CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Kevin Brauch, Mark McEwan, Larry Rosen and Patrick van der Vorst CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Athaina Tsifliklis, Richard Ravenhawke SALES/EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Athaina Tsifliklis INTERN

Laura O’Marra Sylvia Mantella shows me her diverse couture shoe collection and how a girl can never have too many shoes!

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sabrina Bollenbach, Burger Sotheby’s International Realty, Michael Gomez, Vanessa Lenz, Valeria Mitsubata, Arnal Photography, George Pimental, Christoph Strube of Judy Inc., Dean West VIDEOGRAPHER

William Lem PUBLISHER

This issue is full of inspiration and authentic ways to enjoy La Dolce Vita. Enjoy!

ADVERTISING I can hardly contain my excitement at the PACE Polo for Heart as I pose for a photo with international superstar/fall 2010 Dolce cover guy Nacho Figueras, and Sir Justin R. Fogarty, council with Heenan Blaikie.

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T: 905.264.6789 Toll Free: 1.888.68.DOLCE info@dolce.ca • www.dolce.ca OFFICE MANAGER

Lina Posteraro

Michelle Zerillo-Sosa Publisher/Editor-in-Chief 6

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES

FRONT COVER Iris Apfel

Photo By Vanessa Lenz FALL 2011

www.dolcemag.com

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GUEST EDITORS

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a dolce vita means many things. It can be the taste of fresh ginger cake, the significance of George III Old English table forks, a winding train ride up Portugal’s ‘river of gold’ or the fit of a tailor-made suit. We hope these four passionate contributors remind you to appreciate all of life’s sweet pleasures.

MARK MCEWAN FOOD What’s better than asking your waiter to recommend his or her favourite dish? How about asking the chef. In “The Dish on Dining” (page 19), celebrity chef Mark McEwan gives his fall recommendations for all four of his upscale Toronto restaurants.

From Bymark’s quince tart tatin with bourbon caramel mousse, to North 44’s grilled pizza with shaved truffle, fontina cheese, white rice and fresh thyme. You’ll have a lot to feast your eyes on.

PATRICK VAN DER VORST ART A former Sotheby’s director explains why the current economy is making art a “safe” alternative investment. In “The Art of Investing”(page 40) Patrick van der Vorst guides us through the intricate aisles of the art market, from what to buy, what to sell and what to avoid. “If you want to buy long-term and not make a quick return on investment, buy against the market!” says the founder of Value My Stuff, a prominent online antique appraisal service.

KEVIN BRAUCH TRAVEL Kevin Brauch’s recent brush with Portugal comes to life in “Picture Porto” (page 28). “Names of Port companies spelled out, Hollywood-like, in huge white letters atop the roofs of port lodges along the Douro, symbolize this city’s identity,” says Brauch, who’s perhaps best known as host of the hit show The Thirsty Traveler. If you’re going to take travel advice from anybody, let it be from a man whose day job consists of sipping wine, dining and destination hopping.

LARRY ROSEN

FALL 2011 • Volume 15 • Issue 3 www.dolce.ca DOLCE VITA MAGAZINE • FALL 2011 VOLUME 15 • ISSUE 3

Dolce Vita Magazine is published quarterly by Dolce Publishing Inc. 111 Zenway Blvd., Suite 30 Vaughan, Ont., L4H 3H9 T: 905.264.6789 • Toll-Free: 1.888.68.DOLCE F: 905.264.3787 • info@dolce.ca www.dolce.ca Publication Mail Agreement No. 40026675

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Dolce Publishing Inc. 111 Zenway Blvd., Suite 30 Vaughan, ON L4H 3H9 All rights reserved. Any reproduction is strictly prohibited without written consent from the publisher.

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Dolce Vita Magazine reaches over 900,000 affluent readers annually through household distribution and newsstand sales across Canada and at all Barnes & Noble stores in the United States. Inquiries about where else Dolce Vita Magazine is available for sale should be directed to Transmedia Group Customer Service: 905.428.7541 The yearly subscription fee is $16.80. Send cheque or money order to Dolce Publishing Inc. 111 Zenway Blvd., Suite 30, Vaughan, Ont. Canada L4H 3H9 ISSN 1206-1778 NEXT ISSUE: WINTER 2011

The opinions expressed in Dolce Vita Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or advertisers.

Dolce Publishing Inc. does not assume liability for content. The material in this magazine is intended for information purposes only and is no way intended to supersede professional advice.

We are proud to be a Canadian company that has successfully published magazines for the past 15 years without any government funding or financial assistance of programs to cover editorial costs. It has all been possible thanks to the wonderful support of our readers and advertisers.

FASHION Every man must read “Sartorial Success” (page 64) before stepping out this season. Fall fashion tips for work and play are delivered straight to your doorstep by Larry Rosen, chairman and CEO of Canada’s famed quality menswear company Harry Rosen Inc. “To put together a standout look, it’s often the little things that make the difference,” says Rosen.

Follow us at twitter.com/dolcemag This magazine is printed on Recycled Paper.

Up to

©2011 Dolce Publishing Inc. Printed in Canada 8

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www.dolcemag.com

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Dolce VIP Parties

HE GOLDEN AGE

OF LA SOCIÉTÉ WRITTEN BY SIMONA PANETTA

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harles Khabouth’s Ink Entertainment makes its mark again with a crowd-pulling destination for Toronto’s socializing pooh-bah. The June grand opening of the French bistro La Société was a mere prelude to its instant success, drawing September stargazers to coalesce for TIFF-inspired dishes and celebrity dinners. “On any given night, when you go in, every seat or almost every seat is taken at dinner,” says Khabouth. La Société’s rich décor and quality imported furniture is apropos to Parisian design sensibilities, which spill throughout mahogany interiors designed by Munge Leung. www.lasociete.ca

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1. Nightclub impresario Charles Khabouth with La Société partner Danny Soberano. 2. Musician manager Jake Gold with F-List creator Leesa Butler, à la mode. 3. National Post society columnist Shinan Govani and Tony Longo, La Société floor boss and Ink Entertainment’s director of food and beverage. 4. Holt Renfrew’s director of communications Moira Wright and guest. 5. Dancerchoreographer and So You Think you Can Dance Canada judge Blake McGrath. 6. Socialite Ainsley Kerr. 7. Joe Brennan and Daniel Greenglass of Toronto’s J.F. Brennan Design/Build

8. Shinan Govani with friends. 9. Magazine editor Suzanne Boyd and media mogul Moses Znaimer.

10. Christian Vermast of Chestnut Park Realty with Dr. Graham Smith and Stylist Wendy Natale.

11. CP24’s Melissa Grelo and Charles Khabouth. 12.

Roots co-founder Michael Budmna and Diane Bald, Roots design director.

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY SABRINA BOLLENBACH

OF AGES ROCKGALA BENEFIT

WRITTEN BY LAURA O’MARRA

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he Royal Ontario Museum hosted the inaugural Rock of Ages Gala on June 2, 2011, raising funds to acquire the rare and unique Kirwin collection of ores and minerals. The collection will be used as a teaching resource for the scientific community and public, while being housed in Toronto’s facilities. www.rockofagesgala.com

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1. Sal Badali (chair, ROM Board of Trustees) with Bill Simmons (U of T assistant vice president, university development) 2. Douglas Kirwin (geologist, Kirwin Ore Deposits Collection) with Monica Lin (director of advancement at U of T) 3. Sonny Gordon (chairman, board of directors Dundee Corporation) with Ned Goodman (president and CEO Dundee Corporation) 4. Kimberly Tait (associate curator, mineralogy at the ROM), Dianne Lister (president and executive director, ROM board of governors) and Catherine Beckett, Rock of Ages gala organizing committee member 5. Nadim Allidina and Pam Sethi (Barrick Gold Corporation) 6. Chantal Gosselin (vice president, Goodman Investment Counsel) with Patrick Anderson (chairman and CEO, Dalradian Resources Inc.) 7. Warren Irwin (president and chief investment Rosseau Asset Management) with Constance Shaw 8. John Jentz (managing director of investment banking, Clarus FALL 2011 officer, www.dolcemag.com Securities Inc.) with Robert Dixon (vice president of institutional equity sales, Clarus Securities Inc.).

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PIMENTAL

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PIMENTAL

Dolce VIP Parties

DOWNTOWN

GRAND OPENING & WOMEN’S TRACK DAY WRITTEN BY LAURA O’MARRA

At

68 Parliament St., Helen Ching-Kircher, CEO of Downtown Fine Cars, unveiled one of Porsche’s largest new dealerships in Toronto. The state-of-the-art facility features a modern design that complements the sleek and stylish nature of the Porsches it houses. At a later date, Porsche invited women to Mosport International Raceway to test their driving skills alongside professional drivers. Funds raised were donated to Mount Sinai Hospital’s women’s breast cancer unit. www.dfcauto.com

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1. Downtown Porsche raises the roof by celebrating its grand opening in high style. 2. From Left to Right: Nick Rajewski (regional manager of Porsche Cars Canada), Trevor Arthur (director of sales, Porsche Cars Canada), Dixie Kicovich (executive director, Porsche Cars North America), Dave Kurtz (vice president area south, Porsche Cars North America), Louis Martin (marketing specialist, Porsche Cars Canada), Joe Lawrence (president and CEO, Porsche Cars Canada), Thomas Illner (director of after sales, Porsche Cars Canada), Roberto Fazio (director of finance, Porsche Cars Canada), Christine Elliott, (Ontario PC MPP, Whitby-Oshawa), Helen Ching-Kircher (president and CEO, Downtown Fine Cars Group) with husband Peter A. Kircher, John Cappella (director, network development) and Jean Gagnon (regional manager after sales). 3. Philip Leong (vice president and director, RBC Dominion Securities), Cindy Liu (director, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Toronto), Helen Ching-Kircher and Kuo-jan Wang (director, general Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Toronto). 4. Galen Flaherty, Christine Elliott, Helen Ching-Kircher and Peter A. Kircher, and Quinn Flaherty. 5. Crowds gather at Mosport International Raceway for Downtown Porsche’s annual all-ladies racetrack day. 6. Jasmin Rawlinson (director, marketing Porsche Cars Canada) and Helen Ching-Kircher. 7. Helen Ching-Kircher with Dolce Vita Magazine publisher Michelle Zerillo-Sosa.

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POLO FOR WRITTEN BY LAURA O’MARRA

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1. Ellen Reeves (executive director, PACE Polo for Heart), David Sculthorpe (CEO, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario), Mike Egan, co-chair, PACE Polo for Heart, Princess Diya Kumari and the Maharaj of Jaipur (Narendra Singh) and Sheila Clark, co-chair, PACE Polo for Heart . 2. The Brookfield Financial team with title sponsor Pace Credit Union 3. Justin Fogarty of Heenan Blaikie LLP with friend 4. Canadian Mountie with Ralph Lauren model and polo player Nachos Figueras 5. Angela Palmieri-Zerillo (director of operations and marketing, Dolce Publishing) with daughter Allegra.

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he thunderous sound of hooves accompanied renowned polo player and Ralph Lauren model Nacho Figueras as he galloped with the Maharaj of Jaipur and the Royal Indian Polo Team at the 2011 PACE Polo for Heart fundraiser. From June 17 – 19, 2011, players of the ‘Sport of Kings’ rode side-by-side, raising money and awareness for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario and Southlake Regional Health Centre’s cardiac care unit. With two international polo matches a day, the event generated $100,000 for each charity. www.poloforheart.org 5

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| TUSCANY 1. Tuscany’s golden hillsides are an unforgettable sight.

2. The Ponte Vecchio area of Florence is lined with many shops and boutiques full of local jewelry. 3. The classic tale of Pinocchio was originally written in Florence, and dolls of the character can be found all over Tuscany.

4. Florence’s stunning piazza is surrounded by classic architecture, perfect for outdoor dining. 5. La Gigliola’s pastoral landscape is full of thriving vegetation, adding to the charm of each villa. 6. La Gigliola’s Winery produces several local wines, including this full-bodied, fl avourful bottle of Camporsoli.

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TUSCANY, WITH LOVE

FROM

Great food, rich culture and stunning scenery – there’s much to do under the Tuscan sun.

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PRODUCED BY MICHELLE ZERILLO-SOSA / WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HILL

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he home to many influential Italian innovators, like Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo Galilei, Tuscany is one idolized region no traveller would ever want to miss. The capital is Florence – its city centre a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site – where sightseers can stand in awe of the city’s many artistic and architectural wonders, including the Pitti Palace and the Piazza della Signoria. Of course, this city will be at the top of your must-visit list for Tuscany, but to escape the throngs of bustling tourists, we suggest taking to the countryside to really absorb that rural Italian culture.

One such location is the municipality of Montespertoli.

Only about 20 kilometres southwest of Florence, Montespertoli is home to several ancient churches, such as the Pieve of Santa Maria, the Church of Sant’Andrea and the Castle of Montegufoni. Many of the first settlements in the area date back to Etruscan times before Roman rule united Italy.

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For your stay, we propose looking to the outskirts of this idyllic town to the pastoral property of La Gigliola. This delightful 17th century villa thrusts visitors into the heart of an authentic Italian setting, as this is still a lively working estate today. The property features several adjacent apartment suites with multiple bedrooms, and is strewn with rustic furnishings, adding to the rich ambiance. These magnificent fi xtures are balanced with more modern amenities to convey the comforts of home.

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La Gigliola is certainly not short on space, either. With over 150 acres of serene property, multiple swimming pools, tennis courts, winery and oil vineyards, this placid property caters to your every desire. Enjoy delicious alfresco dining under the inviting Tuscan sun, sample the wine from the estate’s personal winery or simply take in the inspiring view of the unsullied landscape and stunning mountains.

Anna Piazzini +39 3386444400 info@lagigliola.it www.lagigliola.it/en www.dolcemag.com

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| CISTERNINO / APULIA

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THE SIGHTS AND SMELLS OF CISTERNINO Within arm’s-length of a stunning coastline, this medieval village is surrounded by history.

PRODUCED BY MICHELLE ZERILLO-SOSA / WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HILL

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Go for a relaxing dip in the property’s pool, bathe in the sun, or just take in the wondrous scenery surrounding Casa Calongo.

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hile Italy’s southwestern coast is indeed a crowning jewel, the southeast is no slouch, either. With the Adriatic Sea to the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Gulf of Taranto to the south, Apulia (or Puglia in Italian) is an outstanding region that forms the heel of Italy’s boot. The area is rich in both history and culture, and while there are many locales to entice eager tourists, we recommend giving the township of Cisternino a try.

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4 1. The Bhole Baba Ashram offers a quiet retreat for the spiritually inclined. 2. Cisternino’s piazza delights with fine alfresco dining amongst an energetic atmosphere. 3. Le Ceramiche del Sole is one of Cisternino’s many local shops, crafting splendorous, detailed pottery. 4. Casa Calongo’s classic architecture adds to the quaint, rustic feel of its rural locale. 5. Each villa is decorated with exquisite furnishings and vivid artistic works. 6. The area’s rich, rust-coloured soil sees many fruit and olive trees flourish. 7. Casa Calongo’s many luscious gardens are filled with fresh fruit, including these delicious figs. 8. A simple Buddha is a welcoming emblem for meditation.

Sitting in the historic Itria Valley with a cosy population of 12,000, Cisternino offers a charming gateway to antiquity. A quick drive through the valley reveals the many UNESCO-preserved trulli buildings, with their recognizable cone roofs that populate the area. A relaxing stroll through the weathered stone lanes of the commune’s medieval quarter will take you past elegant, ancient shops and homes that are still in use today.

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Of course, once the sun begins to set, you will be in need of accommodations, and what better place to satisfy your craving for traditional Italian décor than Casa Calongo. This delightful location is situated on 1.5 acres of gardens and olive groves, surrounding you in that blissful Italian lifestyle. Furnished with alluring antiques and authentic ethnic accessories, Casa Calongo’s three well-sized apartments and four trulli dwellings are welcoming retreats for those desiring modest refinement. Make a splash in the residence’s sparkling swimming pool, or stroll through the 16

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property’s private gardens – lush with fruit trees that are free to pick.

Hop in your Italian sports car and take a quick 10-minute drive through 400 kilometres of the Adriatic’s unspoiled coastline. Bask on the sandy shores of its many beaches or dine in rustic restaurants and sip on a bottle of local vino while overlooking the immaculate waterfront.

Michaela Sabine Beckert +39 0804448723 michaelatony@yahoo.it www.myperfectvilla.com (ID: 1516)

Providing impeccable designs, passion & commitment with each event, LET US INSPIRE YOU! 905.303.6656 I www.dizenniofloral.com

Visit Our Newly Renovated Studio This Fall 2011

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1. Conca dei Marini’s beach draws the attention of locals and tourists alike. 2. The crystal clear waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea offer refreshing afternoons with family. 3. Conca dei Marini’s postcard-like harbour is lined with local boats. 4. The view from the villa will leave you breathless. 5. The quaint yet classy villas walk out to sunny terraces overlooking the water. 6. On the road into town, this plaque greets visitors to Conca dei Marini.

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THE JEWEL OF AMALFI COAST

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With an attraction known as the Emerald Cave, you know this location is a gem.

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PRODUCED BY MICHELLE ZERILLO-SOSA WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HILL

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picturesque landscape that arouses envy from the friends of those who visit its cinematic backdrop, Italy’s Amalfi Coast is renowned the world over for its spectacular climate and even more incredible scenery. If you’re ever cruising along the winding roads of this iconic and striking region – the cool breeze dancing in your hair and the salty taste of sea breeze wafting through the air – and find yourself in need of lodgings for the evening, look no further than Conca dei Marini.

Located in the Salerno province of the Campania region of southwestern Italy, you will fi nd this quaint semi-rural fishing village perched along the cliff 18

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side overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. The town’s buildings blend seamlessly with the coastline, providing an unspoiled feeling to the area’s natural landscape. There are several lovely hotels occupying the region, but to immerse yourself in the Mediterranean lifestyle of this pretty little town, there is a remarkable collection of private villas available for rent, such as the Amalfi Garden Villa.

These personal accommodations offer both timeless elegance and modern luxuries. Bask in the warm sunlight on spacious sun decks or take in the enchanting view of the crystal waters and rugged mountains from your own private terrace, enjoy the region’s succulent seafood under romantic www.dolcemag.com

candlelight, and while the moon glistens over pristine waters, stroll down to one of the area’s many beaches for a refreshing dip. You can also take a boat trip to the Grotta dello Smeraldo (the Emerald Cave), and relish in its natural beauty.

While you stroll through the town’s scenic architecture, be sure to take in the sweet smells of local gardens rife with lemon groves. Because of the town’s central location within the Amalfi Coast – about 10 minutes away from Amalfi itself – it is an ideal spot to explore the rest of the region. +44 07899087165 info@amalfigardenvilla.com www.amalfigardenvilla.com

DISH

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ON DINING WITH

MARK McEWAN WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HILL

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noted restaurateur and TV star with an eponymous gourmet market and two cookbooks, Canadian celebrity chef Mark McEwan leads a four-course life. When he made the time to wine and dine us at Fabbrica, his most recent gastronomic venture, nothing was left off the table. The food is phenomenal, the atmosphere: outstanding; but the culinary master doesn’t stop there. To keep Torontonian tummies topped up, McEwan dishes his favourite fall fare at all four of his first-class restaurants.

RECOMMENDATIONS Appetizer: Soft scrambled eggs with crisp pork belly, crème fraîche, pork gravy and shaved black ONE truffle. Main: Braised short ribs, caramelized parsnip, carrot-horseradish purée, Yorkshire pudding and natural sauce. Dessert: Sticky toffee pudding with brandy butter sauce..

BYMARK

Appetizer: Seared foie gras with sage donut, peach compote and white balsamic reduction.

Main: Pappardelle with braised rabbit, lardons and squash. Dessert: Quince tart tatin with bourbon caramel mousse.

“Rabbit is a personal favourite, it’s not necessarily the most popular dish, but it’s really interesting, it shows some diversity amongst the restaurants. The foie gras with the sage and the peach is really, really tasty. And the caramel mousse is – again caramel, fall – very different than the others, but it’s a dessert that works really well.”

Appetizer: Grilled octopus with Genoa salami, peperonata, chili and wild arugula.

FABBRICA chickpeas, Main: Black pepper potato gnocchi with braised baby goat and housemade sheep’s milk ricotta.

Dessert: Zeppole – warm donuts with cinnamon sugar, orange cream and white chocolate sauce.

Appetizer: Grilled pizza with shaved truffle, fontina cheese, white rice and fresh NORTH 44 thyme. Main: West Coast halibut baked in banana leaf with leek hearts, braised onions, coconut and coriander, served with basmati rice.

Dessert: Fresh ginger cake, pear tatin with honey chèvre ice cream.

“Octopus is a big favourite of mine, so I recommend it any time I have it on a menu. The gnocchi with the brazed meat, I just think it’s really delicious and very reflective of the restaurant in terms of its Italian roots. The donuts are a slam dunk.”

“The halibut in the banana leaf I came up with the recipe 10 years ago. My interpretation of that recipe, and any time I have tried to take it off the menu, I have had riots from my clients.

I like it for the fall season because it’s a hardy fish dish.”

PHOTOS BY ARNAL PHOTOGRAPHY

“I think for the fall they’re really reflective of the season, the scrambled eggs would sort of confuse most people, but it’s a really great item. The short ribs are classic for everybody, and there’s the dessert, the sticky toffee pudding, we basically put it back on in the fall and its always been a personal favourite of mine.”

When dining at Fabbrica, Mark McEwan recommends starting with the grilled octopus and Genoa salami, chickpeas, peperonate, chili and wild aruglula (left).

For your main, he suggests the black pepper potato gnocchi with braised baby goat and housemade sheep’s milk (centre). And for dessert, indulge in zeppole: warm donuts topped with cinnamon sugar, orange cream and white chocolate sauce (right).

Guest Food Editor Mark McEwan Mark McEwan: Host of The Heat on Food Network Canada and author of Mark McEwan’s Fabbrica: Great Italian Recipes Made Easy for Home and Great Food at Home. He’s also the lead judge on Top Chef Canada.

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Sylvia Mantella is a natural in front of the camera, in a pink rose gown by designer Monique Lhuillier.

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Sylvia

IN THE CLOSET WITH

MANTELLA WRITTEN BY ATHAINA TSIFLIKLIS

A

regular at Toronto, New York and Paris fashion weeks, Sylvia Mantella compares runway shows to an electric feeling, making it clear that for her, fashion is more than just clothes. “Valentino, McQueen, and Balmain,” Mantella says confidently, when asked about her favourite designers. “I love the art work. I love the work that it takes to make these pieces.” Choosing Valentino Garavani for the timelessness, Alexander McQueen for the beauty, and Pierre Balmain for the edge, Mantella fills her closets with one-ofa-kind creations.

A self-described collector fighting the overused term ‘fashionista’ and the negative connotations that can coincide, Mantella pushes straight into the fantasy she calls home. Creating a wonderment of Mantella life, an Alice Adventure is painted, with larger-thanlife design and eccentric furniture. Colours burst from every corner of her home, with fresh flowers, lush accessories, and well-dressed art.

PHOTO BY DEAN WEST

Mantella gives meaning to every possession, owing her love of a Marilyn Monroe art piece to the history it holds. Her favourite photograph of the late actress was originally taken by celebrity photographer Bert Stern, one of the last to capture the beauty of Monroe. Stories blossom out of a cultured woman, as she pushes past her backyard’s 200-year-old French door, and into her flourishing life.

“I have been collecting art for years.” And by art she means anything worth looking at, be it an antique entrance, or the original works of the late Alexander McQueen. “It came very organically because I just love and appreciate the beauty in things, and even if it’s not something that I would typically wear or I would typically

www.dolcemag.com

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Syliva Mantella graces the stairs of her Canada home in a black skirt by Kim Ironmonger and a bustier by David Fielden.

EVEN IF IT’S NOT SOMETHING THAT I WOULD TYPICALLY WEAR OR I WOULD TYPICALLY BUY, I CAN STILL APPRECIATE THE WORK AND THE COMPLEXITY OF SOMETHING.

’’

PHOTO BY DEAN WEST

– SYLVIA MANTELLA

Dreaming up each room as if it were being brushed on a canvas, Mantella’s home reflects her love of fashion in every way. From light dancing off crystal chandeliers, to a coquettish arrangement of handbags on her armoire, everything that breathes between the walls, floors, and ceilings have been carefully selected to complete a gallery worthy home.

Adding more colour to her life are her three talented children and husband Robert, president and CEO of Mantella Corporation, in which she acts as director of branding and image. “He is my biggest fan and he’s a total protector,” she says. Unveiling his wife as “brilliant, passionate, and magical,” Robert admits that he wasn’t fond of dresses and gowns until he saw his wife wearing them. “I’m often amazed when she appears from her dressing room.”

According to Holt Renfrew stylist Patrice Favreau, Mantella posesses a flair that goes beyond fashion. When the two met six years ago, Favreau mentioned in passing that he had no plans for the holidays. “She said to me, ‘No one should ever stay home alone for the Holidays,’ and invited me over for

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PHOTO BY SARAH MANTELLA

buy, I can still appreciate the work and the complexity of something.” Mantella stands statuesque on her grand staircase, wearing a custom floor-length skirt by Toronto designer Kim Ironmonger and bustier by David Fielden.

PHOTO BY DEAN WEST

Christmas dinner.” He now considers himself an adoptive member of her family.

After viewing a PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) video years ago, Mantella knew it was time to make meaningful alterations, one being her refusual to wear fur. “There are humane ways to do things in life.

There are humane ways to treat people and there are humane ways to treat animals.” With her heart tied to animal rights, Mantella and her husband transformed their Florida residence into a 20-acre zoo, where they house and care for exotic animals that were abused or neglected. With monkeys, lamas, wallabies, two-toed sloths, and more, the Mantellas have employed three full-time zookeepers for the natural property that is surrounded by trees and fresh bodies of water. This animal haven paints a raw portrait of the family. “You can’t change the world, but you can change what you do, and sometimes that might make a difference.”

When the storybook closes at the end of each day, Mantella believes that the reflection in the looking glass should be grand in more ways than one.

www.dolcemag.com

PHOTO BY SARAH MANTELLA

Some might say Mantella’s life reads like a fairytale. “It isn’t perfect, but it’s perfect for me,” she says, her full attention turning to her son as he enters the room. This idealistic world goes beyond their Thornhill, Ont. home, and attempts to touch as many lives as possible. “I think it’s just absurd to have such goodness in your life and not give back.”

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FALLBEAUTY INTO FACE THE NEW SEASON WITH ALL THE RIGHT ESSENTIALS. PRODUCED BY ANGELA PALMIERI-ZERILLO WRITTEN BY LAURA O’MARRA

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CHANTECAILLE ULTRA SUN PROTECTION Achieve younger looking skin by protecting yourself from harmful UV rays. Combining SPF 50 and carnosine, Chantecaille Ultra Sun Protection smoothes and brightens skin while preventing collagen breakdown. www.chantecaille.com

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LANCÔME VISIONNAIRE An advanced skin corrector that will reduce wrinkles and pores while correcting skin imperfections such as sun damage and acne marks.

Lancôme’s latest skin care product takes years off your face with ease. www.lancome.ca

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MAISON LANCÔME VINTAGE FRESH GLOW Depicting a 1940s scene from Paris, Lancôme’s new blush is the perfect blend of rose pinks and glittery gold, giving you a classic and refined finish. www.lancome.ca

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ROUGE G LE BRILLIANT Full-bodied and brilliant in colour, Guerlain’s lipstick line is a sure way to brighten up your fall. The subtle shine creates a sophisticated look that will transform your lips from lifeless to luscious with a simple application. www.guerlain.com

DIORSHOW LINER WATERPROOF We all love a smouldering smoky eye for an evening out. Create the dramatic effect with Dior’s latest Navy or Carbone eyeliner.

Waterproof and smooth, this product goes on precisely for an enduring look in a matter of moments. www.dior.com DOLCE VITA MAGAZINE

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CHANTECAILLE PROTECTION NATURELLE Balance and protect your skin with this light and translucent product, equipped with SPF 46. Mineral powders soften the complexion by absorbing moisture to even out skin tones without a heavy look. The functional flow-through brush applicator is great for those on the go. www.chantecaille.com

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CHANTECAILLE BIODYNAMIC LIFTING SERUM Hydrate your skin, smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles with the latest technology in facial serum.

This product gently restores, brightens and clarifies skin using raspberry stem cells to activate DNA repair for long-lasting results. www.chantecaille.com

SÉRUM DE ROUGE Available in six lustrous shades, this new collection is enriched with 10 times more active ingredients than your classic lipstick. Pucker up with vitamin A, mango butter and SPF 20 protection for soft, kissable lips. www.dior.com

Creating a beautiful utiful tiful n ti new ew w

Tooth reconstruction, such as veneers, crowns and onlays, often require at least two or three appointments. This would involve impressions and having to return a second time for the insertion.

With CEREC, your veneers, crowns or onlays are made and bonded all in one visit, allowing the patient to walk away with a beautiful smile.

The tooth is prepared, and then scanned with an electronic camera, which allows the patient to view the process in action with no impression required.

The restoration is designed from a three-dimensional scan, then precision-milled from a porcelain block.

The CEREC Cad-Cam creates tooth-coloured porcelain restorations that are accurately fitted in just one visit.

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Sitting 34 floors above the prestigious neighbourhood of Yorkville, The Accolade Dental helps to keep the edge off with freshly made cappuccinos, an iPad for web browsing and TVs in each room. “We believe in making patients as comfortable as we can,” says Dr. Jack Slome. “Patients like to know they are going to be well-looked after, that procedures are going to work reliably, and that they’re going to be well-treated – these things are very important.” www.dolcemag.com

But comfort isn’t just about indulgence – it also includes utilizing equipment to suit the routine of contemporary customers. “We have technology where we can perform dental treatments in a day instead of over a couple of weeks,” explains Dr. Slome. Its CEREC machine, for example, can produce crowns, veneers and onlays within a few hours, as opposed to the traditional means, which can take several appointments. Patients of The Accolade Dental Centre are in and out, ready to show off their new smile – all in one session.

And at the end of the day, isn’t that what professional dental care is all about?

“Look good, feel good and have a great smile – that’s our goal,” concludes Dr. Slome. www.accoladedental.com 416.928.6828 DOLCE VITA MAGAZINE

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Iris Apfel attends the Couture Council of the Museum of FIT’s Alber Elbaz lunch at the Rainbow Room in New York City.

Á Available from Iris Apfel’s Home Shopping Network line, this turquoise snake charmer multi-stone cuff bracelet gives a ssslender, sssensational look.

I A RIS

Ï The blue agate and bead necklace from Apfel’s Yoox.com line sparkles like the crystal clear Caribbean waters.

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PHOTO BY CONDE NAST

THROUGH THE EYES OF

PFEL WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HILL

Though she’s seen many days, this fashion icon’s stylistic vision is as fresh as it is invigorating.

It was about halfway through our interview on a rainy Thursday morning when Iris Apfel asks if I would mind pausing while she grabs something quick to eat.

She politely explains that a frantic morning had consumed any free time for food.

Denying the 90-year-old former interior design and fashion icon a snack would simply be inexcusable, so I hastily oblige. In between bites of goat cheese and raisin bread, she details her day thus far, which includes a lengthy phone call www.dolcemag.com

with acclaimed fashion designer Oscar de la Renta. Wait. The Oscar de la Renta? “He wants to borrow some of my Spanish clothes for an exhibition that he’s doing,” she replies passively.

As the rain continues to pour, our conversation flows.

Interestingly enough, it was her 90th birthday only a few days before. That’s right; at an age where most would be confined to a Floridian retirement community this “rare bird” still struts with plenty of spring in her step. “The best thing is I don’t have to worry about how I look in a bikini,” she jests, but earnestly adds, “I don’t think being old should be hidden, it’s a blessing, you should celebrate it, and just because a number arrives doesn’t mean you have to lie down and roll over.”

And she certainly isn’t. With her enormous, iconic, owl-eye spectacles, she’s on the verge of launching an “inexpensive” line for the Home Shopping Network, featuring accessories of big, bold and bright colours ideal for everyday use. “I wanted people of Middle America, or those who couldn’t afford too much, to partake in something that was a little big different, usually reserved for people who can afford it.”

A second project she’s exceptionally excited for has Apfel bringing her no-holds-bar sense of panache to Yoox.com this October. A multi-

Å A third item from her Yoox.com line, this ready-to-wear banana leaf resin necklace goes with any casual outfit. Ë Big and bold is how Apfel rolls, and with five strands of large wooden beads wrapped casually around your neck, no one will say you’re trying to hold back.

Ë Also from her Yoox.com line, these pink rhinestone and Buddha pendant earrings are ideal for those longing to make a statement.

coloured explosion of colours and styles decorate this line’s three categories, ranging from ready-to-wear to exclusive high-end, to pieces from her personal collection. Apfel explains that this venture is “a bit offbeat, everything is very simplified, it’s very organic, it’s very graphic, it’s large, it’s bold, it’s primarily made of natural materials and I think it makes quite a statement.”

Holly Brubach, former fashion writer for The New Yorker and a creative consultant for Yoox.com, feels fashion lovers should keep their eyes out for several of Apfel’s striking pieces, which include a 15-strand necklace made from small black kamagong wood beads, Buddha earrings and rhinestone flower cuffs. www.dolcemag.com

“She has the eye of a connoisseur and the irreverence of a teenager,” says Brubach. “Iris is ann inspiration and counts ts among her fans designers as diversee as Dries Van Va Noten and Ralph Lauren. In a field that idolizes youth and beauty, she reminds us that age is irrelevant where style is concerned, and the best fashion objective is not participating in a trend but becoming yourself.”

If there’s one individual who knows what it’s like to make a statement with flair, it’s Iris. Her residence is a museum of timeless beauty that houses everything from antique furniture to flea market knick-knacks and 17th DOLCE VITA MAGAZINE

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JEWELERY PHOTOS BY VANESSA LENZ PHOTOGRAPHY

That’s just the world Iris Apfel so gracefully inhabits these days. Between phone calls with global fashion icons, book signings and gearing up for the September launch of her Home Shopping Network line, its incredible that the eclectically clad fashionista finds time. But what else would you expect from a woman who’s been thrust into the global spotlight with her own exhibition at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2005, her wardrobe immortalized by photographer Eric Boman in Rare Bird of Fashion: The Irreverent Iris Apfel, (Thames & Hudson, 2007); and is the subject of an upcoming Albert Maysles documentary?

PORTO icture

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success. Long live the rustic, easy lifestyle and hope that it remains as so for as long as it can.

H

ow do we judge a trip? How do we remember a journey? I choose to believe the overall success of any vacation or business travel has a direct relationship with the authenticity of a location and its people. This I learned in Portugal. Growing up with no close friends of Portuguese nationality or any knowledge of this European gem, I never had the reason or thought of visiting. But surprises usually make the best gifts.

Hotel Ipanema Park Hotel Rua de Serralves, 124, Porto Port House Taylor Fladgate & Yeatman Rua do Choupelo, 250, Villa Nova de Gaia Quinta Vargellas Estate (Taylor Fladgate) Resto Dom Tonho Restaurant Cais da Ribeira, 13 22 200 4307 Cais de Gaia (Avenida Diogo Leite)

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Porto, known as Oporto in English, is Portugal’s second largest city and defi nitely one of Europe’ best-kept secrets. Founded by the Romans at the mouth of the river Douro, it’s a city ripe with old-world charm and respectful of its rich seafaring past.

Port Wine, ultimately the reason why I was there – to participate in the autumn grape harvest – also plays a significant part in Portugal’s global reputation.

Names of Port companies spelled out, Hollywood-like, in huge white letters atop the roofs of port lodges along the Douro, symbolize this city’s identity.

Only upon beginning the trek back home, when boarding the plane and reflecting back on the past 10 days does the realization that the people I met, the experiences I had, and the quality of life one leads in Portugal made my time there seem much more like a holiday than a business trip.

A slow, winding train journey up the ‘river of gold’ to winemaking country, ‘r touring many of the Quintas and in every instance being welcomed as an extended family member further add to my belief that the bucolic charm of Portugal is the reason for its quiet

www.thirstytraveler.tv

4

1. A sublime view of Quinta de Vargellas Estate in the Douro Valley. 2. Quinta de Vargellas’s wine cellar. 3. Taylor Fladgate port stands out in Quinta de Vargellas’s tasting room. 4. Dom Tonho Restaurant dazzles Kevin Brauch’s taste buds.

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Names of Port companies spelled out, Hollywood-like, in huge white letters atop the roofs of port lodges along the Douro, symbolize this city’s identity.

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Roasted chicken and chips served on a metal plate, eaten standing up at the bar surrounded by hungry truck drivers and city labourers and washed down with unlabelled house red wine stands out as the most memorable experience while there. To this day, that simple lunch continually ranks as one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten.

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BRAUCH’S BESTS

WRITTEN BY KEVIN BRAUCH

Guest Travel Editor Kevin Brauch In his former years as a bartender, Kevin Brauch spent days and nights in Toronto’s busiest restaurants and bars making a name for himself. Today, he’s better known for having one of the best jobs imaginable: travelling the planet drinking the world’s finest spirits and wines while indulging in delectable international cuisine as host of The Thirsty Traveler, a series that airs in over 75 countries.

The often-nominated Gemini award-winning presenter also hosts MegaWorld, CheF*OFF! and Iron Chef America. www.thirstytraveler.tv

Cont’d from page 27

century masterpiece paintings. Donning unapologetic, eye-catching attire that would put a Jackson Pollock painting to shame, Apfel embodies the very essence of style, breaking the preordained confines the fashion industry shapes. “To me, what something costs or who made it has never meant anything – I just buy anything that looks good to me and I like. I trust my own intuition and my own taste. I just trust myself,” she says, while also explaining how her influential mother, who helped pioneer costume jewelry, taught her the value of accessorizing from a young age. “She always preached the gospel of the little black dress and lots of accessories – you can change everything around and turn one dress into a hundred outfits.”

This appreciation for detail was part of the reason why her and her husband’s company, Old World Weavers, was commissioned to restore the interior fabric of the White House, completing most of the work during the Nixon administration. Apfel, however, feels the most stylish American president was Ronald Regan. “Besides from his clothes being impeccable, he knew how to carry them, and he always looked appropriate … Ronald Regan had style,” she explains.

Like a chic philosopher, Apfel confidently walks beyond the boundaries of dictated dress, observing with unhindered vision that if fashion is meant to be a conduit for selfexpression and style is a reflection of who we are, why are we letting others decree what we should wear? “I think people are fearful,” Apfel explains. “There’s a tremendous heard mentality. Everybody says they want to be different but they’re afraid to do it. A lot of it is because they don’t know how.”

INTERIOR DECOR

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A point she expounds with a tale from a book signing in Palm Beach. A local dealer had approached Apfel and graciously thanked her for changing her life. The sentiment seemed rather odd to Apfel: how could she possibly affect someone’s life by simply wearing clothes? But as the dealer explained, she was always afraid of looking like a “freak” and instead “slavishly followed the crowd”. Thanks to Iris, however, she realized that by not having to look like everybody else she didn’t have to think like everybody else, either. And for Apfel, not thinking for yourself is a big no-no. “I think the biggest fashion faux pas is looking in the mirror and seeing someone else.”

“I think people dress either who they think they are or who they would want to be. Many people are wannabes,” she adds. “You say a lot about who you are or who you would like to be by the way you dress.”

That is just the fearless mentality this queen of creativity embraces. She still recalls her days at the University of Wisconsin, where she made fashionably progressive strides by wearing jeans – something conventional by today’s standards, but in the 1940s was quite the revolution. She ventured to an army surplus store in search of the elusive denim, but Cont’d on page 65 www.dolcemag.com

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LAPLUXURY OF In the fast lane with Formula One prodigy Sebastian Vettel.

Sebastian Vettel makes a pit stop on Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal during Canada’s 2011 Grand Prix.

T

PHOTO BY STEVEN TEE/LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

WRITTEN BY MADELINE STEPHENSON

here are three words you should never say to Formula One’s youngest World Champion: “Not too fast.”

I learn this lesson seconds after slipping into the passenger seat of a 2011 G37 IPL Coupe at Infiniti’s media event at Montreal’s Circuit Icar.

The luxury auto brand’s newest global ambassador, Red Bull racer Sebastian Vettel, takes the wheel, as he whips me through the track just days before the Canadian Grand Prix. “So we’re going extra fast!” says the 24-year-old with a mischievous grin.

I take Vettel’s words as a warning as he peels out, thrashing the concrete with brazen force, letting all 330 ponies out of the gate. Conducting an interview

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while being jackhammered left and right by a car that’s travelling about 220 kilometres per hour can be a challenge, but when you only have three minutes to chat with a defending world champ, somehow you figure it out. “It’s quite, quite tough you know. People don’t think that it’s very physical but it is very much so,” says the German racer, who can be seen flying up to 360km/h when competing. “When you are about to start a race, you feel your heart beat and of course you’re nervous, but it’s positive.”

The evolution of Vettel was set in motion when he first stepped into a gokart at age 3. You could say that the rest is history, but that would be cutting the book short – the F1 pole leader

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Designers Walk is Canada’s Leading Design Centre.

No Invitation Required. still has a long road of victories ahead.

“I don’t really care about the age,” says Vettel, his blond hair and blue eyes painting an even more youthful appearance. “Maybe when I’m old you know, it’s nice if up to that point no one has beaten that record to look back and say, ‘look I was quite young when I achieved that.’”

Vettel reflects on the irony of going wheel-to-w wheel-to-wheel with his childhood idol, Mich Michael Schumacher (who he now repeatedly outraces). “It’s a bit strange, because yyou know, I’ve been looking up to Mic Michael basically all my life …

I started karting when he was already in F1, so if i you think of it from that way it’s quite, quite special,” says Vettel, drifting side-to-side with a smile.

“Make k sure you don’t go like this on the roads,” he jokes.

Along with his astonishing F1 track record, Vettel attracts more attention with his high-spirited, unmanufactured persona. Clearly not a product of public relations polishing, Vettel’s greenness has him revealing the female nicknames he has for his cars and how he splashed celebratory champagne on a national guard after winning Monaco’s Grand Prix.

As my ride ends, Vettel’s begins. A gruelling 70 laps later at Montreal’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, he stood second on the podium next to Red Bull teammate Mark Webber. Six Grand Prix’s have passed since our Montreal rendezvous, and after a tearful win in Italy Vettel has a tough-to-beat 112 point lead. If he goes “extra fast” at the next circuit, he’ll secure his second consecutive world championship, an impressive feat for a racer of any age.

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WHAT DOES

MEAN TO YOU?

You have to keep that spirit of the joy of living, and la dolce vita implies, I think, it implies sensuality, I don’t mean sensuality as in jumping in and out of the sack. I mean eating well, smelling good things, looking at beautiful things, touching, feeling, all those things, being sensual is a very important part of living. I think if you’re not you’re like a robot.

– Iris Apfel

SOME DREAM ABOUT IT, OUR READERS LIVE IT 905.264.6789 | www.dolcepublishing.ca

www.infiniti.ca www.dolcemag.com

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Although the extra ponies are just a pedal push away, the IPL G37 doesn’t sacrifice on fuel economy.

INFINITI

G37 COUPE WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HILL

J

ust when you thought Infiniti couldn’t squeeze any more power out of its G37 Coupe, along comes the Infiniti Performance Line (IPL). Due to the familiar exterior of the 2011 Infiniti IPL G37 Coupe, at a quick glance, you might not notice the subtle yet confident styling that gives this sleek car a stronger, more aggressive posture. And that would be a shame, because this muscular Coupe can stand assuredly, thanks to a boost in both power and performance.

If that new IPL badge throws you off, just think along the lines of BMW’s M series or Mercedes’ AMG line. While its performance upgrades are not quite as extreme, Infiniti’s IPL G37 Coupe still brings noticeable enhancements that don’t come with the massive price jumps accompanying the aforementioned automotive lines.

Through engine modifications and an improved exhaust system, Infiniti has managed to squeeze an extra 18 more horsepower and 6 more pounds of torque from the 3.7-Litre V-6 engine, pushing out a total of 348-HP and 276 lb.-ft. of torque. Stiffer front and rear suspension and sport-tuned steering also give more athletic handling and smooth the ride for this rear-wheel-drive beauty.

Although the extra ponies are just a pedal push away, the IPL G37 doesn’t sacrifice on fuel economy. For a vehicle that thrives on performance and power, it still achieves 11- L/100 kilometres in the city and 7.4-L/100 km on the highway – quite impressive, especially for a sports car.

IPL G COUPE

Engine: Horsepower: Torque lb. ft.: Economy L/100km: 0-100 kph: Base MSRP:

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3.7-L V-6 348 276 11.0 City, 7.4 Hwy 5.8 sec $57,200

GENERAL SPECS.

INFINITI

All IPL G Coupe interiors include red-stitched leather-appointed front sport seats and driver’s power torso and thigh support adjustment, red-stitched steering wheel, Silk-Obi aluminum trim, and aluminum pedals and footrest.

Inside, stylish red stitching accents the steering wheel and red leather seats, while aluminum trim, pedals and footrest gives a masculine accent. All the bells and whistles you’ve come to expect on the base G37 are here as well, like remote keyless entry, push-button ignition, automatic temperature control, touch screen navigation system, and a Bose sound system with 11 speakers, just to name a few. And although you’re limited in paint options – Graphite Shadow and Malbec Black – the IPL G37 comes laced-up with 19-inch split 7-spoke rims bound with Bridgestone performance rubber.

Infiniti also plans to add a convertible IPL G Coupe to the line up for spring 2012, but if a hard top is what turns your crank, than look no further than the IPL G37.

www.infiniti.ca

KWC EVE represents the symbiosis of two vital elements: light and water. The jointless integrated pull-down aerator is equipped with KWC LUMINAQUA速 LED-technology. The light is activated by a light switch integrated into the pull-down aerator and, as a powerful, long-lasting light source that uses very little power, is a pleasure to use.

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THE HOUSE IN

GOOD TASTE The freethinking, California dreamin’ disposition of Woodson & Rummerfield’s pushes the state line of old Hollywood glamour towards a modern vintage design philosophy.

WRITTEN BY SIMONA PANETTA

F

Modern-vintage interiors find the right balance with Ron Woodson and Jaime Rummerfield, right.

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Just like his partner, Woodson drummed to the beat of the art scene from a young age. His father was a musician who worked with the likes of Sammy Davis Jr., and while he played the blues, Woodson was drawn to colour, enrolling in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art when he was 10 for art classes. “For me, I am like [Rummerfield] … I always had this gene, if you will.” When the two first met through mutual friends in 2004, a chemical reaction likened to what happens when you mix yellow with blue together developed, making for a primary introduction that painted a green horizon for the design duo. “We literally go into the same store separately and pick the same thing,” says Woodson, a collector of vintage cufflinks. Apart from natural inclination, both designers graduated from architecture programs in the U.S. The yin-yang principals dress client homes in effortless extravagance, reminiscing the minimalist days of Jean-Michel Frank and the faux-fur throws and crystal chandeliers that tickled Eileen Gray’s fancy. In an ode to good decorating,

PHOTOS 1&2 BY DOUGLAS FRIEDMAN. PHOTO 3 BY ANGIE SILVY

PHOTO BY JONATHAN SHAPIRO

or Los Angeles-based designers Ron Woodson and Jaime Rummerfield, beautifying spaces isn’t about dedicating blueprints to particular times or places. It’s about expressing relationships: affairs between scale and texture, vocabularies of colour and proportion. It’s about unions of the old and the new – the modern and vintage – or what the design pair has branded ‘modage.’ “A lot of old Hollywood history, a lot of the opulence of the icon era of Hollywood – are big factors of inspiration … But just like in fashion, you have to have a modern twist or an edge to it,” says Rummerfield, whose esthetic sensibilities were first inspired by her bohemian parents and artsy grandparents. “I decided I was going to be an interior decorator from painting murals on the wall in my bedroom. I just, I don’t know, I knew.”

Striking a harmonious cord with musical clients, ‘modage’ finds a home in Courtney Love’s Spanish estate.

Woodson and Rummerfield penned their book High Style (Chronicle Books, 2008), where they include homage to the good taste of Elsie de Wolfe, who is credited for having invented the profession of interior design in her heyday. Lady Mendl, as she was commonly referred to, authored The House in Good Taste in 1913, a read that continues to have influence in the industry. The design duo is always searching for something different, offering clients a versatile experience with rare finds plucked from antique stores, flea markets and art expos from sleepy towns across the world because, “A great space tells the story of the people who spend time there,” they write.

Clients include haute couture brand the House of Versace, celebrities John Travolta and Kelly Preston, and recording artists Courtney Love and Christina Aguilera.

PHOTO BY JONATHAN SHAPIRO

“We are big enthusiasts when it comes to historical value of pieces and architecture,” says Rummerfield, whose grandmother collected trinkets and furniture from the 1940s – 1960s. In their design diary they explain, “Beauty is not buying your furniture from one retailer or paying top dollar.

Beauty is a unique mix of objects from around the world, from the past and present, family heirlooms and mass market finds that reflect you, your life and your interests. We find beauty in the most unexpected places and find joy in sharing it with others, and we’ve dedicated our life’s work to showcasing the wonderment of living well.” Woodson currently resides in Los Angeles with his partner and dogs Petra and Niles.

Rummerfield and her husband also live in the City of Angels with five-month-old son, Jack. www.wandrdesign.com

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MOLL ANDERSON Her seductive style may not have always been evident, but her unwillingness to quit eventually revealed an exquisitely decorated passion.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL GOMEZ

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HILL

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www.dolcemag.com www.dolcemag.com

‘‘

It’s never too late to be who you were meant to be,” says interior designer and lifestyle expert Moll Anderson. This phrase, a personal favourite of hers, is from her first book, Change Your Home, Change Your Life (Thomas Nelson, 2006), a saying that echoes the words of renowned author George Eliot, and one that best sums up her life. At 40 – an age where most are settled into their personal and societal roles – Anderson boldly jumped into the world of interior decorating, a realm where she had little professional experience, but plenty of personal practice. This daring departure uncorked an untapped gift, revealing her true calling and uncovering the passion that redefined her life.

quit,” reminises Anderson. “I always somehow had the ability to believe that I was destined to do something special.” But now, where to begin?

“One of the things [Oprah] had suggested was to put yourself into a situation where you can learn your trade,” recalls Anderson. Taking a measly $10/hour position at a local design studio, Anderson did just that. A chance encounter with a new customer was all the born-again interior designer needed. “Owning” her newfound role, Anderson unleashed her once-overlooked talent, dazzling her first real client with an inherent gift for design. “I innately understood scale,” says Anderson. “I didn’t realize It all started with an episode of that people sat down and Oprah. Anderson had recently figured it out and calculated moved to Nashville, Tennessee to it. I could just look at a room – Moll Anderson test her luck as a musician, but and see it differently.” And was now pondering the merits that is a statement free of ego of this change. As she sat on the or pretension. A quick perusal couch in contemplation, Oprah through her latest book, The Winfrey was on the big screen discussing life makeovers. Seductive Home (Moll Anderson Productions, 2011), The inspirational TV host made a simple suggestion: pull out exemplifies this ability, cataloguing her decorative triumphs old photographs and review your life. Seeing as she hadn’t and demonstrating her eye for elegance. completely unpacked, Anderson dug out her old photo albums and flipped through the pages. What she found was ach of her immaculate layouts is full of detail, a collection of stunning before-and-after photos from every coloured flawlessly and befittingly balanced in scale. address she had occupied, and every friends’ home she had Space flows without hindrance, but everywhere you redecorated. And there it was: forgotten photos had become look, tiny particulars seduce the senses and arrest attention. a powerful catalyst for change. This simple moment of Anderson describes this in her book as ‘sensory scaping.’ existential self-discovery revealed the road before her, a road “The key to a seductive home,” she writes, “is to immerse she knew she was destined to walk. “I was never willing to your surroundings in elements that capture the senses.” For

I COULD ‘‘ JUST LOOK AT A ROOM AND SEE IT DIFFERENTLY.’’

PHOTO BY BEALL + THOMAS

PHOTO BY BEALL + THOMAS

PHOTO BY MICHAEL GOMEZ

E

Left: Elegantly arranged dining not only adds class to any meal, but also creates a welcoming atmosphere, showing guests that their presence at your table is appreciated. Centre: This romantic dinner ensemble radiates traditional affluence, and demonstrates love for that significant other. Right: Anderson’s masterful vision balances colour and scale, creating multiple focal points around the room without it ever looking crowded.

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PHOTO BY MICHAEL GOMEZ

Interior designer Moll Anderson puts the finishing touches on an elegant dining experience.

Anderson, these elements are paint, lighting, music, flowers and fabric. “Those five things, no matter where you live, whether it’s one small room or a sprawling mansion, those five things are essential to creating a seductive atmosphere.”

These essentials transform rooms into thriving ecosystems of furniture, accessories and design. Like a master painter, whenever Anderson puts her designer’s brush to a spacious canvas, the final product is nothing short of spectacular.

A

deep appreciation for art and flowers also influences her style. She encourages others to add both to their homes, especially in the bedroom. “When you wake up to art, it is really, really, really important that it be something that makes your heart happy … especially in the master bedroom because that is part of it. This is about closing the door and having a sanctuary for the two of you.”

All these elements, however, are only instruments for design. Any home should be a manifestation of the owner – a reflection of personal style. “You will be most comfortable in your space when you wear the room. You find out who you are by looking in your closet and seeing what you’re most comfortable in. I mean, I can walk into anybody’s closet and determine what their home should look like,” says Anderson, who personally adores donning attire by Gucci, Donna Karan and Michael Kors. “I also tell people to dress for the life they want to have,” she adds.

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ut all these decorative tips and tricks only scratch the surface of her actual aspirations. Anderson’s spaces aren’t pieces of art on display for others to admire: they are meant to be enjoyed. Quit saving everything for that special occasion, she feels, “just start living, because this is it. We don’t know how much time we have, and we have got to seize the moment.” Use that fine china more often, run a warm bath and pour yourself a glass of champagne in that crystal stem wear, just make the most of every day. “I don’t understand when people complain about having to get dressed up to go to a function, either. I’m thinking, ‘are you kidding me?’ Enjoy the process!”

At 51, Anderson still lives for every moment, experiencing life for everything it should be. She was a woman who was never willing to quit, always believing she was destined for greatness. For her, the sweet life is “living life passionately in your best possible way.” This philosophy was how she eventually found her true calling, a true testament that it’s never too late to be who you were always meant to be. www.mollanderson.com

The Seductive Home illustrates Moll Anderson’s first-class flair for decorative grace. www.mollanderson.com

EDITOR’S

P

ICKS

MANAGING EDITOR MADELINE STEPHENSON

Above all, there’s nothing better than the sound of crunching leaves in the fall.

EXPRESS YOUR PERSONALITY AND LIFESTYLE

CONTEMPORARY

I was one of the two million people that fell in love with David Chilton’s breakout book The Wealthy Barber. Renewing his vow to guide Canadians through the world of money, The Wealthy Barber Returns with fresh insight and the same great sense of humour. www.wealthybarber.com

MODERN

CLASSIQUE

After interviewing the founder of Falling Whistles, a non-profit organization campaigning for peace in Congo, I felt deeply connected to the cause. The atrocities that happen there are unthinkable. One whistle at a time, this group is helping rehabilitate war-affected women and children. www.fallingwhistles.com

Bill Cunningham New York paints a poignant portrait of an inspiring 83-year-old New York Times fashion and society photographer.

Somehow this film had me laughing and crying in the same breath. www.zeitgeistfilms.com

SINCE 1986, MARTIN DANIEL INTERIORS HAS BEEN PROUD TO DEFINE THE TRUE ELEGANCE OF FINE ITALIAN FURNISHINGS

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There’s something about Feist’s voice that arrests me. Her next album Metals arrives in October and after hearing a few samples, I can’t wait. www.listentofeist.com

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THE ART OF INVESTING What makes a vase worth $68 million? Former Sotheby’s director Patrick van der Vorst helps us calculate the sum of all arts.

WRITTEN BY PATRICK VAN DER VORST

follows the emerging economies, and after the rise of Russia 10 years ago, and the craze for its art that followed, the next collectable areas in line are Middle Eastern and Indian art, where we already see prices going up dramatically. All the results in these areas have been eclipsed, however, by the success of the contemporary art market, which is incredibly strong at the moment. With record-breaking prices being achieved continuously in contemporary art, it is still an opportune time to step into this market: buy young artists, do your research, and get well advised. Keeping that in mind, you can’t go too wrong, and of course, you will have the pleasure to have a lovely work of art to enjoy in your own home! e!

Value My Stuff founder Patrick van der Vorst is doing what he does best: determining the value of art.

WHAT SELLS WELL AT THE MOMENT? Despite the overall economic downturn, some areas of the art market are performing extremely well. This has come as a surprise to many people, as usually the art market suffers during times of economic decline. This recession, however, has seen consumers seeking refuge in luxury items and brands, gold and expensive works of art, as these are now regarded as new commodities and ‘safe’ alternative investments. The strongest segment in the current art market is Chinese works of art. You might probably have heard about the 16 inches yang cai vase with 40

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famille rose decoration which was as discovered in the U.K. and recently ly sold for £43 million ($68 million Cdn) in a local salesroom just outside London at a provincial auctioneer. At ValueMyStuff.com, we have seen a major surge in the number of valuation requests for Chinese ceramics and works of art, with people dreaming of discovering the next £40 million vase in their attic. Bear in mind that the most successful porcelains are the ones specifically made for the Chinese market, rather than export porcelain meant for the West during the 17th and 18th centuries. Usually the art market www.dolcemag.com

Ï Worth buying a set of 10 George III Scottish silver Old English pattern table forks, maker’s mark LB, Edinburgh, 1805, engraved with the initial ‘R’. 1805

WHAT TO BUY? If you want to buy long-term and not make a quick return on investment, buy against the market! With top prices still being achieved for the very best of antiques, the whole middle and lower market for antiques has effectively collapsed. There are no young buyers stepping into this market, and established collectors are holding out for only the very best, rare pieces. Very few young people still want a nice piece of silver or a lovely English mahogany set of dining chairs. Hence, the prices

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are rock bottom at the moment, and it is a very good time to step into all these traditional collecting categories such as antique furniture, silver and ceramics.

For example, you could invest about $500 in a lovely 18th century coffee pot with good hallmarks on it (eight years ago, something like that would have been worth $1,200). These markets are always cyclical, so the interest and taste for these items will certainly return and revive over the next few years.

Those interested in renewing their interiors should consider purchasing design furniture. It’s an area that has seen a major surge in interest five years ago, and now the market is slightly saturated with many pieces being offered. As the market can only absorb so many, quite a few very interesting pieces of design furniture can slip through the net for relatively modest prices.

WHERE TO BUY? The salesroom is always a good place to start looking. Auctions are great places to train your eye, as one can feel the objects, touch them and inspect them up close. Try your local fairs, or even browse the Internet. You might pick up an interesting piece for a couple of hundred dollars at a local auction room or regional fair. In my view, auctions are always the most objective of places where items are being offered, as at the end of the day, the market will decide on the exact value and final hammer price. The most reliable auction houses will have their catalogues online, and often allow live bidding over the Internet, which makes the whole process accessible. It’s quite important if you are consigning an item for sale, as it significantly contributes to the publicity. Online catalogues can be viewed all around the world, and many dealers check them regularly and buy items that they have spotted that way.

Interesting items can be found in both generalist and specialist sales. You may have more chance to find bargains in generalist sales, where all items might not always have been catalogued properly (it can be more timeconsuming, though, as you will have 42

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to visit the exhibition and inspect all items there). If you are seeking a very specific, targeted item, than it might be worth checking the specialist sales.

Worth selling is a Chinese porcelain famille-rose yellow ground medallion bottle vase, the base with Guangxu mark and probably later in the period.

1875-1908

WHAT TO AVOID? Å Generally speaking, don’t buy anything in poor condition, unless it’s an exceptional and rare item.

The cost of having a piece of ceramic or furniture restored can be quite high, and you don’t want to be caught out after you have purchased goods. Å Don’t be naive and buy anything from dealers or auction houses that don’t seem reliable. Check out staff biographies, for example, or catalogues of their previous sales. Å Steer clear from buying high-value items over the Internet without having inspected them first-hand or advised by a reliable expert. If you do buy online, make sure the seller accepts returns, or has a proper refund policy. It’s always good to ask for a second opinion before proceeding. Å In most cases with art, when things seem too good to be true, it’s because they are too good to be true, and there is almost always an issue with the actual object. Dig deep and investigate those cases to find out why the item is being cheaply offered.

WHEN BUYING, WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO LOOK OUT FOR? Å Condition: When buying a work of art, the very first thing is to ask the auctioneer or dealer for a condition www.dolcemag.com

report. This will list if the item has been restored, has been cleaned, altered, etc. The condition has a direct effect on the price, and thus it is important to know exactly what has happened to the item over the years. Whilst for example, a restored break is entirely acceptable in ancient Roman marble sculptures, yet a few people will tolerate a 1970s piece of design furniture to be restored, and thus will impact the price dramatically. Å What is guaranteed? The important part of the description of any item in a catalogue is the very first line, which is called the ‘guarantee line.’

It often appears in bold and is what the auctioneers guarantee about the item: date, manufacture/artist. It’s the auctioneer’s liability. Make sure the whole item is guaranteed, and not just parts of it. For example, an auction house might guarantee an 18th century mahogany chest of drawers, but not the gilt-bronze handles on it, and thus it is important to carefully understand what is guaranteed. Å Provenance: Is there any special provenance that comes with the piece? This can severely impact its value. The Duchess of Windsor’s handkerchief sold for $4,000, whereas the intrinsic value would only be $10. Å When buying at auction, make sure you are aware of the commissions to pay on top of the hammer price.

Lastly, I would say that when you buy art, it is important not just to like the piece, but you have to be mad about it! You will go on a journey with any work of art that you buy and thus it is important you choose the right object to do it with. Happy hunting!

Guest Art Editor Patrick van der Vorst For more than a decade, Patrick van der Vorst served as a director and head of department for the famed auction house Sotheby’s London.

A force in the antique art world, he’s now the founder of ValueMyStuff.com, an online antique appraisal service staffed with dozens of experts from various collecting fields who are trained to assess the value of art. Value My Stuff gained great prominence in 2010, when a deal was struck with two investors on the BBC version of Dragons’ Den. www.valuemystuff.com

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S

touch

The only thing that compares to lifting the lid of a Tiffany & Co. box is unlocking the door to your very own 1,700 sq. ft. Tiffany suite. You can do just that on the 14th floor of St. Regis New York, where you’ll sleep in a plush bed with a signature Tiffany aqua-coloured headboard and awake to warm croissants. www.stregisnewyork.com

Apple&Bee’s puts its money where its mouth is with this embroidered wooden handle clutch made from organic cotton and lined with soft bamboo silk. www.appleandbee.com

COME TO YOUR

SEN5ES

CLUTCH ME

SOUNDS OF SOLEIL

hear

WRITTEN BY MADELINE STEPHENSON

see

BRACE YOURSELF

These beautiful jewel tones can take a simple outfit to town. Wrap your wrist in this beaded Made in Italy bracelet as you open yourself to a country of colour. www.strawberrylane.ca

THAT’S A MOUTHFUL

Your most tantalizing sense will get a taste of heaven when it collides with the authentic Italian cuisine of Sotto Sotto.

Further satisfy your scintillating buds with a red or white shower from its extensive wine list. www.sottosotto.ca

COME CLEAN

Let the glorious scents of Tuscan fields fill the air as you lather yourself in the aromatic allure of vegetable-based soaps. Ideal for sensitive skin, these handmade Italian cleansers set the bar high. www.strawberrylane.ca

With an inspiring soundtrack that captures the essence of every unforgettable scene, Cirque du Soleil’s’ latest spectacle Totem should make its way to the top off your to-do-list. www.cirquedusoleil.com

taste

smell www.dolcemag.com

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ALILA VILLAS ULUWATU

WHERE DESIGN MATTERS BEAUTIFUL ARCHITECTURE IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF THESE INTERNATIONAL GETAWAYS.

THE OPPOSITE HOUSE

PHOTO BY MANUEL ZUBLENA

HOTEL SEZZ

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HILL

PLAYA VIK JOSE

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TORRE DI MORAVOLA

ALILA VILLAS ULUWATU, BALI The water may crash against the shore of Bali’s Bukit peninsula, but you don’t need to worry about getting drenched. You are safely perched high above the sea in your private cabana, overlooking the Indian Ocean at the Alila Villas Uluwatu. Designed by award-winning Singapore architectural firm WOHA, this stunning destination infuses contemporary luxuries with Bali’s rich culture. The final product is a wonder rarely seen in traditional retreats, gracefully swinging over a natural plateau. Each of the 84 villas is built with an open concept, and features a private pool and cabana.

The openness allows the ocean breeze to dance throughout, and seamlessly entwines the interior with the outdoors.

WHILE MANY VACATION DESTINATIONS OFFER A MULTI-PAGE MENU OF PAMPERING PLEASANTRIES, FEW DO SO WITH ARTISTIC ARCHITECTURE THAT RENDERS A LASTING IMPRINT ON GUESTS. HERE ARE JUST A FEW GLOBAL LOCALES THAT NOT ONLY INDULGE,

www.alilahotels.com/uluwatu

BUT INSPIRE.

HOTEL SEZZ, SAINT TROPEZ, FRANCE A pristine French Riviera haven that’s filled with the private yachts of millionaires, models and movie stars, Saint Tropez easily stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s most luxurious locales. So what better place to strut side-by-side with the opulent elite than Hotel Sezz?

A member of Design Hotels, Hotel Sezz’s 35 rooms are more like private residences, while its two spectacular villas glisten with charm and privacy through a personal pool and garden.

Sharp, simple designs present a refined modern esthetic, which focuses on utilizing light and allowing the salty breeze to effortlessly waft through the nearly three acres of property. Lush gardens of flowers and trees juxtapose these straightforward structures, adding balance to the Mediterranean mood. www.hotelsezz-sainttropez.com

THE OPPOSITE HOUSE, BEIJING, CHINA In the heart of Beijing’s Sanlitun Village, an emerald palace prosperously stands, ready to astound all those who grace its lobby.

Contrasting old-world ideals with novel designs, The Opposite House’s collection of 98 contemporary studio-suites breathe freely with a spacious, upscale loft design. Natural light floods every corner, as warm, welcoming wooden flooring sprawls under foot. These Zen-like rooms are a soothing divergence to the darker, bolder, more eclectic styling of The Opposite House’s public amenities, such as the sci-fi seeming pool and workout room, the inventive atmosphere of Bei restaurant, the funky design of the late-night bar and club Punk; and the esteemed sculpture collection of The Art House. www.theoppositehouse.com

TORRE DI MORAVOLA, MORAVOLA, ITALY As you march up a winding stairwell, surrounded by medieval stone and architecture, it may become clear you’re climbing through history, but not so obvious that you’re entering a bastion of blissful serenity. For while this 10th century watchtower was once a symbol of keen military strategy, today it is the Torre Di Moravola – a tranquil sanctuary that melds ancient fortification tactics with the luxuries of modern living.

Overlooking the Carpini valley and riding the ridgeling between the two feudal towns of Montone and Gubbio, this fortress of leisure pampers guests with a 25-metre heated pool, seven seductively elegant tower suites, open massage pavilions, and alfresco dining with fare cultivated on the surrounding grounds.

PLAYA VIK JOSE IGNACIO, URUGUAY On the southeastern coast of South America resides a little country that might not be your first thought for a lavish holiday. Outside of a temperate climate and great surfing, Uruguay is home to the Playa Vik Jose Ignacio – an architecturally captivating beachfront retreat that is as much art as it is abode. A central, sculptural structure of arched titanium and glass is wrapped by six individual flower-crowned casas.

These inspiring edifices scream originality, as each room is furnished with modern comforts and lined with local Uruguayan and international art. Blending nature and architecture, the Playa Vik Jose Ignacio represents harmony between the natural and the manufactured with you peacefully unwinding in the middle.

www.moravola.com

www.playavik.com

www.dolcemag.com

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BAC ON THE MARKET The home is where the art is at Villa Les Colombières.

O

ne must wonder if at midnight Villa Les Colombières turns into a Woody Allen set, where beloved artists and poets beckon you to join them for a grand dinner party. Above the village of Menton on the French Riviera rests an estate with a storied past, where long ago artists and dignitaries like Jean Cocteau and Joseph Joffre mingled at gala receptions.

It all began in 1920 when Emile and Caroline Ladan-Bockairy asked their good friend, 19th century architect and illustrator Ferdinand Bac, to help them in their search for a winter home.

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Bac discovered a seasoned escape and what would become his greatest undertaking: Villa Les Colombières.

Throughout his life, Bac excelled at various roles, which included garden designer, painter, writer and decorator.

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man with an appreciation for the natural world, Bac took to his newfound project like a Roman emperor’s scholar, resurrecting the vacant manor and its surrounding gardens into a mosaic of antiquity and the recollection one would find in an art gallery. “I feel myself in a way the student of Hadrian, the great solitary man, a refined and www.dolcemag.com

disdainful traveller, who wanted to transform a garden into the temple of his memories and who carved in it an immense nostalgia,” wrote the celebrated artist in 1926. As the child of Charles-Henri Bach, the illegitimate son of Jérôme Bonaparte and brother to Napoléan, the Stuggart-born Bac studied art in France and frequently bumped heads with the likes of Victor Hugo and Richard Wagner during his travels.

T

he hallmarks of an artist inspired by travel ring true through the sprawling estate.

Upon entrance, visitors

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BURGER SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

WRITTEN BY SIMONA PANETTA

“THE HOUSE AND GARDEN WERE PART OF THE FASHIONABLE CÔTE D’AZUR CIRCUIT IN THE 1920S AND 1930S AND EVERYONE VISITED, FROM F. SCOTT FITZGERALD TO COCO CHANEL.” – Michael Likierman

are whisked through a sensorial experience of Greece, Spain and Italy.

A patio carved with the illustration of Homer’s Odyssey establishes the home’s historic essence, with an impressive interior of frescoed works of art, sculptures, intricate busts and stained glass windows that overlook the Mediterranean. Completed in 1925, Les Colombières and its extravagant seven-acre grounds of well-tended gardens have been deemed a historical monument. Apart from its mythology inspired art, Les Colombières welcomed wounded Italian officers a haven of recovery in its sun-filled rooms during World War II. Today, the villa and its park – which were once a luxurious bed and breakfast – have been curated by its current owners, who in 1995, renovated and restored Bac’s historic work while integrating modern elements. “[Les Colombières is] one of the rare houses with big private grounds masterfully laid out by Ferdinand Bac on a hillside with stunning sea views.

The house and garden were part of the fashionable Côte d’Azur circuit in the 1920s and 1930s and everyone visited, from F. Scott Fitzgerald to Coco Chanel. General Charles de Gaulle made a speech in the garden in 1945, when Menton became French again,” says homeowner Michael Likierman, who held with his wife a theatrical and musical millennium party in the house and garden for 150 family members and friends.

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dding to the treasured days of this Florentine palace are 14 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms, a swimming pool, elegant terraces and reception areas, as well as a guesthouse nestled in its landscaped gardens. +33 (0)4 93 38 50 33 €22 million www.burger-sothebysrealty.fr

ART INFUSION

2

Whether renting or buying, these works fuse life with splendour and an artist’s unique view of life.

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HILL

1

5

3

4 1. In Mark Strutt’s “Big Thinkers,” dark cracks and wrinkles contrast the soft dirt-covered faces on a pair of solemn elephants, allowing the audience to share a simple moment of peaceful intrigue with two serene giants. www.thefocusgallery.ca 2. Overlaying the style and imagery of contemporary realism with elements of abstraction, this piece by Onyeka Ibe offers a dreamlike lens into an intimate moment of the 2006’s International Artexpo New York Best Solo Artist’s life. www.harbourgallery.com 3. Carved out of stone by an unknown artist, this bear statue can be purchased from the Art Gallery of Ontario for $400 or rented for $20/month. www.ago.net 4. Self-described as an “expressionistcolourist,” French painter Jean Claude Roy holds a deep passion for Newfoundland’s landscapes, and uses a rich, eclectic pallette to transform this love into a surreal wonderland. www.harbourgallery.com 5. Recently selling for $278,500 Cdn at a Sotheby’s auction, this oil painting by renowned Canadian painter David Milne demonstrates his impressionist-influenced style that embraces modernist experimentation. www.sothebys.com www.dolcemag.com

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A WALK IN

THE PARK:

am izrahi SM Luxury design builder Sam Mizrahi’s valuable insights, on the house.

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WRITTEN BY MADELINE STEPHENSON

hen the founder of Mizrahi Design Build conceived a plan to place a new multi-million dollar development at the gateway of an affluent Toronto neighbourhood, he knew it would have to resonate. “People are wary of change,” he says, an observation he’s gained from years of breaking ground in the historic roads of Forest Hill, Yorkville, and Richmond Hill. “Every single design and building that I do, I look at how it would come in concert with the entire community, and how it would blend in as if it always belonged there.”

Sam Mizrahi is standing at the portico of his latest pièce de résistance: Lytton Park Townhomes. His sleek black Porsche 911 Turbo is parked out front, further boosting the curb appeal of a six-suite structure embedded in 19th century culture and the classical elegance of colonial architecture. Bronzed from a recent jaunt to southern France, the revered real estate CEO is a pinstriped paradigm of the new age developer, a walking 24-hour billboard that takes the brand beyond 9 – 5.

He adheres to the mentality of the generation-why not era: those that break from tradition and challenge past ideologies.

As he swings open the solid oak door of the 3,500 sq. ft. luxury model suite and treads across a natural hardwood foyer towards the dining room, a sense of belonging is palpable. Mizrahi’s voice echoes through the halls of one of two remaining unoccupied residences as he proceeds to reflect on his adolescence, the days when his family exposed him to grand environments from around the globe. “What I really took note of was how beautiful these small little details really were that at the glance of an eye would go by.” The early introduction to European elements and ancient traditions left Mizrahi with old-world reveries that would linger. Today, his peripheral design awareness continues to be ignited by a deepened infatuation with international architecture; weaving the amorous elements of Paris, Prague and Florence into Toronto’s polychromatic fabric. “You have to breathe soul into the home,” says the 40-year-old, who exhaled his initial fervor for design more than two decades ago.

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Mizrahi was in the midst of developing his first real subdivision in the summer of ’89, when Canada’s housing market was anxiously resting on the edge of an eroding economy. To boot the anticipation of an impending pop, he had the added pressure of competing with a neighbour who was simultaneously working on a similar project. “That was where it really sparked, it was the catalyst in terms of the passion,” he says. Under the sweltering sun of those summer months, he also received a valuable business lesson, one that would amortize over the next 20-plus years.

A rendition of Sam Mirzrahi’s next development with partner Khalili, the 133 Hazelton Residences in Yorkville, Toronto.

“What I found was to create product so that even in recessionary times, you can still monetize it, you can still sell it because it’s superior to everything else.”

Three recessions later and Mizrahi has become known as a leader in sustainability through Energy Star Green House Certified practices and adhering to the internationally recognized standards of ISO 9001, a demanding quality management system that’s scarcely seen in the housing industry. As for his opinion on the current state of the market, no news is razor-edged enough to burst his bubble. “I think you create your own market,” he says, adding that Canada’s real estate industry is insulated by a superior banking system and large immigration rates that he believes will continue to carry the economy. In good times and bad, the design builder whose become known for having an obsessive-compulsive dedication to documenting every project detail, is faithfully married to his craft.

‘‘

EVERY SINGLE DESIGN AND BUILDING THAT I DO, I LOOK AT HOW IT WOULD COME IN CONCERT WITH THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

’’

– Sam Mizrahi

Admittedly not immune to life’s challenges, Mizrahi says that when turbulance strikes, he simply puts his pilot cap on to soar above the clouds for some aerial insight. “When I’m up there, I feel like I’m a bird, and it gives me a different perspective on everything.

I look at the city in a different way.”

This foreshadows his ambition to aim even higher for his next endeavour: 133 Hazelton Residences, a 38-suite luxury condominium in the heart of Yorkville.

PHOTO BY DEAN WEST

The imminent upscale project is the talking-point of his next meeting, one he’s suddenly rushing off to. Standing back on the portico to bid adieu, Mizrahi willfully leaves the keys behind. With the roles reversed, he somehow manages to say, ‘My house is your house,’ without a single utterance. www.mizrahicorp.com Sam Mizrahi makes himself the centrepiece in Lytton Park Townhomes’ model suite dining room.

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The Spoke Club’s private cellar features a glass wall that gives members an optic sip of wines from around the world.

This volutionary ub HASexper THE MEMBERS-ONLY n down to a FINE ART.

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SPOKE Club

WRITTEN BY MADELINE STEPHENSON

A

private hideaway on one of often see members doing business Toronto’s most popular streets together as a result of meeting here … it serves as a second home to the just happens naturally,” says president Pierre Jutras, glancing at city’s quick-witted kin. This the panoramic views of exclusive members-only Toronto from the rooftop King West sanctuary might patio. As a work-andsound a little stately, but if you step over its invisible playground, The Spoke velvet rope you’ll quickly Club functions quite realize that there’s more efficiently; a screening behind its curtains than a room for films and boardroom meetings, deck of face cards. Designed several dining areas for individuals affiliated Pierre Jutras, president of for private parties and with the arts, media and The Spoke Club. dinners, a gallery for entertainment industries to meet, greet, wine up or wind down, The showcasing and admiring art, a library Spoke Club is a full house of vibrant, for quiet time and of course, cocktail bars. creative minds.

With movie screenings, gallery exhibitions, wine tastings, debate society dinners, fundraisers, launches and author sessions held every month, the three-tiered club with its exposed brick and raw hardwood acts as an organic platform for networking. “We

C

onceived in 2004 by the next generation of Canada’s esteemed Weston family, Alannah and Galen, The Spoke Club is evolving the concept of exclusive establishments, echoing a similar sentiment to Soho London’s The Groucho Club and New www.dolcemag.com

York City’s Norwood. “[Galen] has always cared about the arts, and that is the primary reason he opened the club,” says Jutras. Combine that with Alannah’s history as an art critic for The Daily Telegraph, and you have a picture-perfect partnership.

S

o how does this club keep its heart beating in an industry that’s infamous for short lifespans?

“You stick to your guns and you separate yourself from everybody else by filling a need that is not offered,” says Jutras, emphasizing that its niche environment is intended to co-exist with its neighbours, rather than compete.

While you certainly shouldn’t judge this club by it’s covertness, you should judge its books, as every member is asked to reveal their favourite literary piece upon signing up so it can be added to the library; one of many silent subtleties at The Spoke Club. www.thespokeclub.com DOLCE VITA MAGAZINE

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CBC’s senior business correspondent and co-host of The Lang & O’Leary Exchange, Amanda Lang.

AT HOME WITH

AMANDA

LANG

Bulls, bears and a Labrador, this is the world of Amanda Lang.

The persistent bark of Amanda Lang’s dog makes the doorbell inaudible. A few seconds later, her chocolate Lab shows its true colour. “This is Bella,” says Lang before introducing herself.

Based on the clacking of her kitten heels, the crispness of her navy blue suit dress and the subtle curls that sweep her shoulders, one might assume the senior business correspondent is seconds away from going on-air, but the backdrop of her Forest Hill hallway provides clarity. Her day at CBC started early, and she’ll be back there soon 52

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to discuss bottom lines and bailouts on The Lang & O’Leary Exchange, and anchor The National on behalf of Peter Mansbridge.

When the photographer arrives moments later, she has no qualms with his request to privately takeover her upstairs office to set-up, a space Lang jokingly refers to as her “cloffice” based on its acquisition of her wardrobe. The intimate interior of her home is a quiet reflection of what Lang represents: a thriving, unostentatious appeal. This is

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPH STRUBE OF JUDY INC.

WRITTEN BY MADELINE STEPHENSON

the Lang that viewers have come to love, 18-year-old boy named Chris MacLeod especially when rebutting the capital who was doing remarkable things driven claims of her on-air counterpart despite suffering from cystic fibrosis.

Kevin O’Leary, who she’s had an on- “I’ve never forgotten the experience of again-off-again television romance interviewing him and telling his story,” with since the days of Business News she says, adding that McLeod has since Network’s (BNN) SqueezePlay. Part of opened his own law firm fighting for her job means playing a well-informed Canadians jailed abroad. “Everyone devil’s advocate with the mutual has a story if you just take time to stop fund magnate and Dragons’ Den star, and listen to it.” often introducing leftist ideologies to balance the tug-of-war. “It’s interesting, Lang’s journalism skills later led her [O’Leary] goes around saying I’m the to New York City, where she held prettiest communist working on TV. My family thinks I’m Amanda Lang takes a backyard break with really right wing, so it just her jogging partner Bella. depends on where you sit in the spectrum,” says Lang, whose father Otto was a respected Liberal force appointed to Pierre Trudeau’s cabinet.

Despite their volatile on-air exchanges, Lang defends her colleague. “The thing that is great about [O’Leary] is that he’ll sometimes say the thing a lot of people would say but most of us don’t even dare, and so there’s something refreshing with that.”

Lang, while highly ambitious, admits she’s not a goal-oriented person. It may have a negative connotation, but lacking a life map has proved to be one of her biggest assets. “The only goal I ever had was to be an architect … So the one thing I had set out to do as a specific choice was actually, in the end, the wrong thing.” Ever since that realization, Lang has lived a life driven by intuition. “I just trust the voice, whatever it is, and I don’t think too much about it, I just go with it and it’s worked super, super well for me,” says the 41-year-old Gemini-award winner.

It’s that voice that took her to Toronto in the early ’90s, to fill an administrative role at The Globe and Mail, a gig that ultimately launched her journalism career when it evolved to an assistant editor position. Lang still remembers the satisfaction she had from one of her first assignments at the paper, a feeling that continues to drive her today. It was a profile of personal heroism about an

the business beat for the Financial Post, Report on Business Television (now BNN) and CNN. She returned to Toronto in 2002 to work for BNN, where she spent many years further developing her profile as Canada’s leading business journalist. With several successful years and many strong bonds made, the choice to leave for CBC two years ago wasn’t as easy, but when Lang was approached with an opportunity to broaden her reach and expand her experience by exploring unchartered areas as the business face of the network, she found it impossible www.dolcemag.com

to turn down. “From the very first second until today its felt right; something about the place and the people and the way it works, it was definitely the right move,” she says, crediting CBC’s chief correspondent Peter Mansbridge as one of the people who helped smooth her transition.

Lang likely didn’t know it at the time, but Mansbridge had long been a fan of hers and was quite eager to see her join the network. “She’s got a great natural ability to convey a story to an audience,” he says. Since fulfilling her new role, Lang has permeated the boundaries of business, covering hard-hitting stories for The National such as Canadian soldiers adapting to life back home after completing their combat mission in Afghanistan.

“She’s obviously multi-talented, she’s not one-dimensional, she has a good sense of stories beyond her regular beat, she understands politics and she looks for the big stories on the international scene that impact not just her area but other areas as well,” Mansbridge adds.

Long before Lang saw the bright lights of CBC’s massive multi-camera studio, affixed with floor directors and that much-discussed glass desk, it was simply her and a wall box camera. “It always just felt like me and this thing, and the thing almost has this personality for me.” She attributes this intimate start to what’s helped her overcome an innate shyness that would otherwise conflict with the idea of speaking to millions of viewers every night. For Lang it’s about connecting with her interview subjects, which in turn translates to the viewers. “It’s just sort of me talking to one person and that one person is every person, I guess.”

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a final time, she discovers she’s been nominated for another Gemini. Looking genuinely surprised, she lets out a slight smile. Win or lose, Lang is in it for the long-run. “What I love about what I do is the chance to talk to people, the chance to learn things and help people understand the world better. So to the extent that I can do that, that’s what I want to pursue. What that looks like?

I’m not going to start planning now, it’s worked out so well so far.”

‘‘EVERYONE HAS A STORY IF YOU JUST TAKE TIME TO STOP AND LISTEN TO IT.” – Amanda Lang

Amanda Lang perches on the ledge of her swimming pool. She spends her days treading the deep waters of the business world.

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MOVING FORWARD EACH DAY WITH TUESDAY’S CHILDREN WRITTEN BY SIMONA PANETTA

P

ositivism finds its way in a gripping compilation of memorandums written by relatives of those lost in the tragedy of 9/11. Compiled by a non-profit charity that provides programs and services to those living with the aftermath of terrorism’s destruction, The Legacy Letters: Messages of Life and Hope from 9/11 Family Members, delivers 100 stirring entries on life and remembrance from husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, siblings and grandparents. “The Legacy Letters is about moving forward – it was never about memorializing or looking back, it’s about, ‘how do I move on with my life in a positive way, how can we, as an organization, provide the tools and resources necessary for families to move on,’” says Terry Sears, executive director of Tuesday’s Children. All royalties from the sales of this book, edited by Brian Curtis, go to Tuesday’s Children, which has provided a counselling and mentoring shoulder to lean on to 10,000 people impacted by 9/11. The charity also supports international victims of terrorism, recently reaching out to those affected by the Norway tragedy.

To donate, visit www.tuesdayschildren.org

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PHOTO BY MARCELLO GEPPETTI

WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HILL

Screen legend Sophia Loren and a young Christian De Sica in 1961 as they break during the filming of La Riffa – one of four episodes in the film Boccaccio ‘70.

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the screen fades to black after Nights of Cabiria, the audience buzzes with praises of “genius,” “innovator” and prai “classic.” This early cinematic classic “cla

by F Federico Fellini, one of the most highly regarded filmmakers of all time, high was a part of TIFF Bell Lightbox’s “Fellini: Spectacular Obsessions” and Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery’s “Fellini: The Dolce Vita Years” – exhibitions celebrating the career, achievements and influence of arguably Italy’s greatest filmmaker.

This recent Toronto exhibition showcased the evolution of Fellini’s style, shifting from neorealism to the surreal, subconscious explorations of dreams and fantasy. “Federico Fellini is one of the great masters of cinema,” says Noah Cowan, artistic director at TIFF Bell Lightbox and curator for the Fellini exhibit. “Fellini really fills in the news these days … and I think he can tell us about our celebrity obsessed culture.”

As one of his earlier works, Nights of Cabiria (1957) stems from Fellini’s neorealist roots, where his films were

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Fellini’s keen eye and spectacular vision made him a cinematic legend. In fact, his memorial service in Rome drew roughly 70,000 people, and the Federico Fellini Airport in Rimini, Italy was named after him.

PHOTO BY MARCELLO GEPPETTI

DREAMLIKE VISION, CEREBRAL STYLE AND ENDLESS IMAGINATION – THAT IS THE POWER OF FELLINI.

PHOTO BY AUTURO ZAVATTINI

FEDERICO

FELLINI

Paparazzi capture Mickey Hargitay and Jayne Mansfield in what Fellini introduced to the world: a society obsessed with celebrity culture.

FONDATION JÉRÔME SEYDOUX-PATHÉ ©

COLLECTION OF CHRISTOPH SCHIFFERLI

COLLECTION OF CHRISTOPH SCHIFFERLI

Anita Ekberg plays with a kitten moments before her famous Trevi Fountain scene in La Dolce Vita.

From left to right: A horde of photographers anxiously anticipates the arrival of Sylvia, Anita Ekberg’s movie star character in La Dolce Vita. In a fitted dress, Anita Ekberg climbs a winding stairwell in La Dolce Vita. Marcello Mastroianni checks himself in the mirror on the set of La Dolce Vita.Federico Fellini stands in a prayer-like pose looking towards the heavens.

“What people didn’t understand about Fellini,” adds Bondanella, “was he was “W actually one of the best scriptwriters in the neorealist period.” In fact, Fellini was act nominated for an Academy Award in 1947 for Best Writing, Screenplay for his nom work on Roberto Rossellini’s Rome, Open City. wor His cerebral method was rich in imagination, bringing challenge and criticism, humour and melancholy. In La Dolce Vita (1960), for example – a film which hum marked a stylistic turning point in his career – not only does Fellini introduce the world to the term “paparazzi,” he magnifies society’s growing obsession with celebrity culture, presenting beauty while exposing the darker, superficial flipside of the ‘the sweet life.’ “In many ways, Fellini sort of anticipated a PR society, a kind of Murdoch sort of world of fake journalism,” says Bondanella. Although often critical, Fellini’s work has inspired fashion designers, hotels, restaurants and publishers to embrace the sweet life, as Cowan explains, “Because of La Dolce Vita he really became a kind of symbol of European style and elegance.”

Throughout his prestigious career, Fellini was nominated for and won a mountain of international film awards. Six of his films captured Academy Awards, including Best Foreign Language film for La Strada in 1957, Nights of Cabiria in 1958, 8 1/2 in 1964 (which also made GQ’s “The 25 Most Stylish Films of All Time” list) and Amarcord in 1975, Best Costume Design, Black and White for La Dolce Vita in 1962, and Best Costume Design for Fellini’s Casanova in 1977. In 1993, he was also presented with an honorary award from the Academy in recognition of his cinematic accomplishments, only months before he died of complications from a stroke.

PRIVATE COLLECTION

A behind-the-scene photo of Brigitte Bardot on the set of Il Disprezzo, snapped

by Marcello Geppetti. This man was one of the principle influences for Fellini’s character Paparazzo in La Dolce Vita.

PHOTO BY AUTURO ZAVATTINI

PHOTO BY MARCELLO GEPPETTI

littered with tales of wacky dreamers, circus performers, prostitutes, seducers and swindlers. They revolve around “the provinces,” or about crazy provincials always dreaming and going to Rome, which, of course, Fellini did himself. “He was really actually involved in this whole post-war renaissance of Italian cinema,” says Peter Bondanella, a retired distinguished professor emeritus of comparative literature and film studies in Italian at Indiana University, and author of The Cinema of Federico Fellini (Princeton University Press, 1992).

Today, Fellini’s influence still runs deep. Great filmmakers, such as Martin Scorsese, Stanley Kubrick, Terry Gilliam, Spike Jonze and Woody Allen have all pointed to Fellini as an influence. His powerful, dreamlike imagery and compelling storytelling not only demonstrated his vision and complete understanding of art, but most importantly, showed the world what the power of imagination could do.

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cene S

CRYSTAL CLEAR

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AltaRoma

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CULTURED COUTURE

Art, fashion and novelty culminated in an exhibition of neo-couture at Rome’s Limited/ Unlimited event. A collection of designers revealed its own interpretations of dressmaking, with limited-edition items ranging from clothes and accessories to shoes and jewelry at the Palace of Italian Civilization.

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Standing tall and dignified, these white gold earrings with four rose-cut black diamonds add ear-catching glamour for a night on the town. www.rasko.com 416.226.5000

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Rub shoulders with Jean Schlumberger’s stunning conique necklace, swathed in exquisite diamonds and red spinels set in 18-karat gold and platinum. www.tiffany.com The diamond drop earring steps outside the box with dazzling blue tourmaline and a platinum backdrop. www.tiffany.com

Blaze of Glory Scale the thermometer of fashion with this season’s fieriest shade.

A passionate pursuit in persimmon orange radiates warmth and seduction for a modern woman inspired by history. www.abedmahfouz.com

Plunge into the depths of untold beauty with renowned jewelry designer Jean Schlumberger.

The Four Flowers ring blooms with marquise diamonds and a cushion-shaped tanzanite set in 18-karat gold and platinum. www.tiffany.com

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NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

Some may build their legacy through conventional business means, but brick artist Nathan Sawaya has constructed a successful career with a child’s toy. WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HILL

W

“I think if anything I draw from my own emotions, I draw from my own journeys. A lot of my pieces have to do with metamorphosis, going through some transitions, and that’s just based on my own journeys,” he adds.

hile many adults turn away from the pleasures of childhood, abandoning ideas of play for more mature, productive pursuits, artist Nathan Sawaya felt the most constructive course was one most of us had disassembled and discarded long ago: Lego. This simple child’s plaything laid the foundation for Sawaya’s true passion, building a niche market for nostalgic art lovers, one brick at a time.

Growing up, Sawaya was always quite the artist. He enjoyed drawing, painting, and of course, playing with Lego. “I was kind of the kid who would build what’s on the front of the box and then tear it apart and build something else.”

But as he aged, he didn’t consider art a viable means of making a living. So, he did what most would deem normal and stepped into line. He went to law school, graduated and found a six-figure job at a New York law firm.

However, all the court cases in the world couldn’t fulfill the soon-to-be brick artist’s longing for a creative outlet. He spent his free time writing, drawing and sculpting, until one day he just thought, ‘Well, what about this toy from my childhood? Could I create something, a large-scale sculpture made out of Lego?’ The final product was a black-and-white self-portrait and a catalyst for his blocky obsession.

“I don’t think there’s anything I can’t build out of the medium,” says Sawaya.

Like any great artist, Sawaya also makes statements with many of his pieces. Perhaps his most iconic artistic work is “Yellow,” a piece depicting a man tearing open his chest as loose Lego bricks spill out.

Similar works include “Red,” where a terrified man’s body is literally falling to pieces, and “Blue,” where a seated individual puts his arm together, brick by brick. As he explains, “Yellow, Blue and Red came about when I was going through changes in my life; I found that they speak to a lot of people on different levels.”

Sawaya’s The Art of the Brick museum tour is currently showing in Melborne, Australia, and ran in Paris from April through July of this year. www.brickartist.com

After leaving a secure law career, Sawaya returned to his roots, transforming a boyhood toy into meaningful art.

Since 2000, he has built an incredible collection of sculptures, ranging from a scale model slot machine, iPhone and skateboard, to a four-foot tall bumblebee, an oversized glass of milk and chocolate chip cookie, and lifesized statues of TV personalities Conan O’Brien and Stephen Colbert. He also recently created two replicas of the iconic lions at the entrance to the New York Public Library in honour of its 100th anniversary.

Å Perhaps Sawaya’s most iconic piece “Yellow” makes a statement towards the human condition, while embracing the medium all at once.

D

epending on size, works take roughly two to three weeks to finalize, consisting of upwards of 30,000 bricks, and generally running from $10,000 – $20,000.

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happened more than 15 years ago, but Alyse Nelson can still hear the deafening silence that shook the auditorium after former First Lady Hillary Clinton made a momentous declaration in Beijing. “If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, it is that human rights are women’s rights, and women’s rights are human rights,” said the current United States secretary of state at the United Nation’s Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. In an effort to make actions louder than words, Clinton joined forces with Madeleine Albright, the first woman to become a U.S. secretary of state, to incept The Vital Voices Global Democracy Initiative.

That life-changing message left Nelson compelled: she joined the program as deputy director, eager to further lift the platform of female empowerment.

Undulated by the ripple effect of change brought on by some of the greatest champions of women’s rights, Nelson inherently understood that raising 62

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WRITTEN BY SIMONA PANETTA

PHOTO BY MICKY WISWEDEL

Vital Voices

Alyse Nelson on a Vital Voices program in India.

2

1. Alyse Nelson, centre, with Vital Voices Global Leadership Network members Hafsat Abiola (left) and Inez McCormack (right). 2. Vital Voices Global Leadership Network member Nanda Pok.

awareness on female advancement does the world good. “I knew I needed to do the same, I wanted to commit myself to raising the voices of those who had been silenced by circumstance.”

Today, Nelson is the co-founder, CEO and president of Vital Voices Global Partnership, a Washington, D.C.-based non-governmental organization that supports a universal network of female leaders in their pursuit of constructive www.dolcemag.com

change in their communities. Such women include Burmese Nobel Peace Prize recipient and general secretary of the National League for Democracy Aung San Suu Kyi, whose resilient voice was condemned and censored by the Burmese government with an almost 15-year house arrest term, and Kakenya Ntaiya, the first woman to attend college in her native Maasai village in Africa. In 2008, Ntaiya’s impetus to break ground in women’s

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PHOTO BY CHRIS WRIGHT

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These entrepreneurial and political endeavours by women are what fuel Vital Voices, which provides progressionists with leadership, economic development and political participation training.

Interviewing hundreds of international leaders and playing an instrumental part in the implementation of Vital Voices conferences and projects around the world, Nelson believes that all it takes is one woman – whether she’s protesting in the Middle East or marching in Argentina – to challenge the disparities in gender equality for another woman to rise. Involved in the mission since her Clinton-Albright days, Nelson is one such woman.

Q&A WITH ALYSE NELSON What are some of the most significant obstacles or opportunities that you have overcome to spread and/or advance the charity’s message/reach across the world?

In the late 1990s, when Vital Voices first emerged as an initiative of the U.S. Department of State, so-called ‘women’s issues’ were largely relegated to the periphery – it was rare to read about women’s rights in the media, and women were not a focus in discussions on foreign policy. We knew that no country could move forward if half its population was left behind, but this message wasn’t common in the mainstream. No one was telling the stories of these extraordinary women leaders who move their communities forward – women taking daily risks, working on the front lines of change to protect human rights, create economic opportunity, and advocate for progress within their governments and through civil society … We have seen that in countries where women’s rights are respected and where women have access to opportunity, societies are more open and free, children are healthier and better educated, and economies are more stable. Though leaders in the public and private sectors are increasingly turning to women – whether as catalysts for economic growth, defenders of human rights, or advocates for democracy and transparency – there is a

PHOTO BY MICKY WISWEDEL

rights opened the doors of the first girls school in Enoosean, Kenya – her dream now reality.

Vital Voices of Asia: Women’s Leadership and Training Summit, held September 2010 in New Delhi, India.

“THERE IS A GROWING

REALIZATION THAT THE WOMEN OF THE WORLD DON’T NEED OUR HELP, WE NEED THEIRS.” – Alyse Nelson

growing realization that the women of the world don’t need our help, we need theirs.

Of the 200 international leaders you have interviewed, who left a lasting impression on you?

I have been truly privileged to meet some of the greatest women leading our world forward. This March, I had the rare opportunity to speak with Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon. The experience is still very much on my mind; I know that I will always think back on those few hours as some of the most surreal and inspiring of all my life.

In a lifetime of leadership, Aung San Suu Kyi has never hesitated to stake her voice, her freedom or her safety to preserve an ideal. The risks she has taken, and the persecution she has endured at the hand of a military junta, do not compare to the worth she sees in protecting values of equality, democracy www.dolcemag.com

and justice. She sees beyond risk, beyond temporary indignity, because she knows that worlds built on injustice cannot stand. Her compassion and strength are humbling, and the reality she imagines asks more of each of us.

Since its founding, how has Vital Voices grown in terms of transforming the lives of women around the world?

For 14 years, our honorees and program participants have been these ripples in a tide towards global progress. The power of our work and our mission rests in each of them. Their stories and their character inspire action in others, who inspire others still, and without even knowing it, one woman has lit a spark that comes to life as a woman leader for the rising generation. I think our reach has expanded, and our network continues to grow, because the idea of women’s leadership resonates across culture, geography, and generation.

To learn more, go to www.vitalvoices.org DOLCE VITA MAGAZINE

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SARTORIAL SUCCESS

Fashion aficionado Larry Rosen lets the cloth out of the closet on what every man should wear this fall.

WRITTEN BY LARRY ROSEN

Å Every man needs a power suit, either black or navy. The kind of suit you can wear to the boardroom meeting, you can wear it out in the evening to a special event, it can be worn really dressed up with a white shirt or you can put it with a blue or striped shirt for less formality. It’s your core power suit.

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Å Every man should own a dark dressy pair of jeans.

We all have those wash-out jeans for the weekend, but it’s really smart with a sports jacket to wear sharp, dressy jeans.

FALL 2011

www.dolcemag.com

DARK DENIM BY DENHAM

Á Every businessman looks great in a grey suit. I like showing grey these days with purple or black. The other thing I love to do with a grey suit is show it with a brown or tan shoe. It looks so great off-setting the grey or brown with a matching belt.

‘HARWICK/CORNER’ SUIT BY BOSS SELECTION ‘CASIN’ SHOES BY BOSS SELECTION

SHAVEN CASHMERE TURTLE NECK BY CANALI

‘LENARD/GARDENS’ SUIT BY BOSS SELECTION ‘CREMM’ SHOES BY BOSS SELECTION

Å Every man should have a navy blazer. It can be dressed up or down. You put it with a pair of jeans or chinos and it looks great.

It’s the one jacket that goes everywhere and does everything for business.

EYEGLASSES Glasses get modern, too. Change your glasses every couple years so you have a more contemporary, smart look.

TIELESS SUIT You see this more with modern suits. Men will wear a bold dress shirt with lots of striping but no tie. It’s the open collared suit look.

It’s modern, and its great for business.

It goes out in the evening.

BROWN SHOES Showing a brown shoe with a navy or grey suit screams sophistication.

ACCESSORIES To put together a standout look, it’s often the little things that make the difference.

Guest Fashion Editor Larry Rosen Larry Rosen currently serves as chairman and CEO of Harry Rosen Inc., a successful Canadian quality menswear retailer eponymously founded by his father in 1954. In addition to his passion for fashion, Larry is an avid philanthropist, involved in several initiatives, from the Harry Rosen United Way campaign to Harry’s Spring Run-Off, which both raise funds for prostate cancer. Harry Rosen’s 50, 000 sq. ft. flagship store in Toronto is located at 82 Bloor St. W. www.harryrosen.com

TWO-BUTTON BLAZER BY ISAIA

Å Every man should have a cashmere sweater – a little luxury. I really encourage people to get something colourful.

Navy and black in cashmere is elegant but it’s great when you have a nice fresh colour, it just adds so much dimension.

Cont’d from page 28

they refused to sell her any because they were made exclusively for men. “I don’t care if [women] don’t wear them, I want a pair,” she protested. After weeks of pestering, and being literally thrown out, they finally conceded and ordered her a pair – you better believe she wore them with pride.

Being proud of her looks has always been something Iris ascribes to.

More than comfortable in her venerable skin, she is appalled at modern women who fruitlessly obsess over maintaining a 20-year-old’s figure. “Wasn’t it Chanel that said, ‘Nothing makes a woman look so old than trying desperately to look young?’” Acknowledging that plastic surgery seems to be a “way of life,” Apfel just laughs at the insincerity that accompanies the physically altering procedures of modern surgery.

As she notes, “I think if people put something inside their heads instead of outside their heads they would be much better off.”

And while she’s had access to a senior’s

bus pass for decades, her insight for the contemporary world doesn’t just end with facelifts. She’s very much attuned to the disconnect created by our wireless devices. While we may celebrate the increased connectivity of our smartphones and tablets, Apfel is wary of its affects on social organization. “It’s like the cellphone has replaced one of your sensory organs.

These kids are like attached to their machines. I just think technology is a wonderful thing, but it can be carried to an extreme,” she says, adding much of today’s youth lack “personal curiosity” – a trait she used throughout her life to explore and experience the world around her, and not just read about it on a Wikipedia page.

It’s incredible to think what today’s generation could learn from this woman. She understands the blessing and the curse created by our society’s accessibility to everything. Today’s wired generation has the world at its fingertips, but too much is readily available. Apfel feels, “Things are

made too easy, and it’s not good. I mean you have to knock yourself out a little bit to understand something.” Instead of obsessing over the debutants and dilatants glamorized on prime-time television, up-and-comers should be concerned with working from the bottom. “Most of the young people I know want to start at the top, I mean they’ll play at being an intern, but they don’t want to get their hands dirty.”

Although the day started dreary, Apfel brought some much-needed colour. Her lust for life is an inspiration not just for the fashionable, but for all longing to embrace that childlike whimsy within.

Even at her age, she’s still eager to experience the world and live every day to its fullest, as she concludes, “la dolce vita implies, I think, it implies sensuality, I don’t mean sensuality as in jumping in and out of the sack. I mean eating well, smelling good things, looking at beautiful things, touching, feeling, all those things, being sensual is a very important part of living. I think if you’re not you’re like a robot.”

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horoscope

WRITTEN BY RICHARD RAVENHAWKE

LOOK to the

Stars

SCORPIO

Oct 21 – Nov 21

New connections may bring lasting friendships and maybe more if you play your cards right. The key is in playing the cards. Your ability to schmooze and dazzle people with your deep sense of understanding will be tested. Be direct and shoot from the hip – people will respect you for the straight shooter that you are.

SAGITTARIUS

Nov 22 – Dec 21 Family issues that may have been forgotten could be coming to the surface. Watch, listen, and learn.

Everyone has an opinion, and everyone is right, or at least, that is what one would have you believe. Let the truth come out in its own time and focus on what you see, not what you hear.

CAPRICORN

Dec 22 – Jan 19 It may be time to focus on the home for just a minute or two. There are issues that need tending and people that need your presence. It may even be time to spice up the romance a bit, as lately you may be finding things rather routine. It is a time to focus inwardly.

AQUARIUS

Jan 20 – Feb 18 Sudden changes have you looking around and wondering what has happened. Things change and people change, and sometimes it can be a thankless world. When it is time to move on, we have to read the writings on the wall. Bigger and much better things are to come.

PISCES

Feb 19 – Mar 20 Crossroads can be a tough call. There are so many options and much indecision, but sometimes the simplest answer is the best one. All you have to do is put one foot in front of the other. If you do that, then you can be guaranteed that you will always get somewhere!

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ARIES

Mar 21 – Apr 19 If you find your energy dwindling, it may be time to change it up a bit and focus on things that are good, as well as fun for you. Maybe a good idea would be joining a gym, or spending more time outdoors. Perhaps it would be good to find a new hobby or an old hobby that you may have forgotten. It is time for spice!

TAURUS

Apr 20 – May 20 If you are having a hard time choosing, opt for the ones who smile with their eyes. Lips can be deceiving, whereas the eyes reveal a person’s true character.

Watch carefully and observe through careful eye contact. The truth shall set you free!

GEMINI

May 21 – Jun 20 Choices can be made blindly, or with thought, and careful consideration for those around you who have always been there. How will you make your decisions?

The pressure of others can lead us astray from our path if their influence isn’t backed by sincerity. You will only get to choose once, Gemini. Good luck!

CANCER

Jun 21 – Jul 21 Relationship options seem to be presenting themselves, and they will keep on coming for a little while. All you need to do is pick one, however, there is nothing wrong with exploring your options www.dolcemag.com

Actor-activist Leonardo Di Caprio turns 37 on Nov. 11.

to make an educated decision. For those already involved, you may find yourselves taking the time to reconnect.

LEO Jul 22 – Aug 21 Love could be in the air for Leo! For those amongst us who are single, this could mean finding something with very serious potential indeed! For those already attached, it could mean a chance to re-connect on romantic levels. (It would be about time!) It’s time to get out the party hat and blow off some steam! Paint the town red! Or maybe even electric plaid!!

VIRGO

Aug 22 – Sept 21 Aren’t we being quite the perfectionists lately! Take a break and a nice breath from micro-analyzing life’s meaning. Life has been moving fast and it is time to simply just sit back and ‘be’ for a while. You will be glad you did.

LIBRA

Sept 22 – Oct 20 Business is picking up at a very fast pace. The wave that you have been waiting for may finally be arriving. As the saying goes: Watch what you ask for, because you may receive it. It seems as though you are a one-person army and your efforts could pay off in a big way.

Richard Ravenhawke 416.898.HAWK (4295) richardravenhawke@yahoo.com www.ravenhawkpsychic.com

ROCKER READY Let your inner rock star loose and strut with style in these sexy skinny jeans accentuated by criss-crossing lace from Hudson Jeans. www.hudsonjeans.com CLASSIC CUSTOM KITCHENS La Cornue’s handmade kitchen ranges are not only crafted with care, but fitted with first-rate fixtures brimming with esthetic charm. www.lacornue.com

CLEARLY BRIGHT Kartell follows up its iconic Ghost Chair with the Bourgie lamp: a classically shaped source of light that exudes modern innovation with its polycarbonate make. www.kartell.it

PRODUCED BY ANGELA PALMIERI-ZERILLO WRITTEN BY MICHAEL HILL

JUNGLE FEVER As if straight from the heart of the Amazon comes Aguaclara’s 2012 collection. Exotic yet elegant, this stunning piece highlights your curvy figure. www.aguaclara-swimwear.com

GROWING GEMS From dawn till dusk, Baccarat’s Fluers de Psydelic collection sparkles with natural beauty. www.cupidodesigns.com DRESS WITH LOVE Fall into a cloud of ethereal beauty with Atelier Aimée. Hailed for its enchanting, one-of-a-kind gowns, this bridal design house sets you upon a whimsical experience of fine silk, tulle and hand-sewn crystals. Set the stage for your biggest day with the unique creations of a European trademark available at Studio Sposa, a leading bridal boutique with niche brands. www.studiosposa.ca 905.893.8100 www.dolcemag.com

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