The Edition Issue#2

Corporate Goes Casual Office Dress Codes Redefined AN ODE TO DAD DENIM

BUENOS AIRES

THE CITY OF SEDUCTION

CHRISTIAN BALE COURTING CHAOS

RISE OF THE SEX ROBOTS

RUSSIA’S TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY

EAST BOUND & DOWN

It’s Time for True Luxury

A

quick look in the Oxford Dictionary will reveal that the definition of luxury is “a state of great comfort or elegance, especially when involving great expense."

Immediately scenes from Miami Vice spring to mind, because this definition, although technically correct, is like Don Johnson’s white suit – it’s a marker from a time that’s well and truly past.

Contemporary luxury isn’t about how much others see you spending, but about the experience such expenditure affords you. If you look at some of the most important lifestyle pillars, travel, dining and wellness, the experiential aspect of luxury is now king, to the point where we’ll happily fork out serious cash to ride the Trans-Siberian Railway in Tsarist style, sit at a coveted chef’s kitchen table to immerse ourselves in a unique culinary occasion; or supplement our busy lifestyles with bespoke wellness products and rituals. The experientialism of luxury has also reached into lifestyle brands, with consumers now looking to interact with brands they love like never before.

Astleys of London has always been about great experiences; since its founding in 1862 on London’s Jermyn Street, Astleys’ pipe divan was a destination of discovery and discourse among the city’s gentry. Now, as a revitalized and realigned lifestyle brand for today’s discerning consumer, Astleys will continue to lead the luxury experience, with innovative pop-ups, interactive social occasions, and inspiring content – both online and in print – that promises to invigorate the senses and inform the next generation of modern gentlemen.

As I write this, the team is preparing to roll out our initial product lines, each of which is designed to complement your lifestyle choices and elevate your identity, much like an original Astleys pipe once did. It’s the beginning of a very exciting chapter in Astleys’ history, and we invite you to be part of our experience-driven journey of true contemporary luxury.

Joe Batchelor, CEO Astleys of London

MANAGING EDITOR Nick Walton nickwalton@artemiscomms.com ART DIRECTOR Don Riosa driosa84@gmail.com CHIEF SUB EDITOR Philippa Walton MARKETING AND ADvERTISING sales@artemiscomms.com

The Edition is owned and published by Astleys of London (Hong Kong) Limited, 1801-1802 LKF 29, 29 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong. www.astleysoflondon.com CHIEF EXECUTIvE OFFICER Joseph Batchelor CREATIvE DIRECTOR Fred Kirby PRODUCT DEvELOPMENT DIRECTOR Richard Weil

The Edition is produced by boutique custom publishing agency Artemis Communications Ltd 8C Golden Sun Centre, 59-67 Bonham Strand West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong T: +85297369434 www.artemiscomms.com This publication may not be produced or transmitted in any form or by any means, in whole or part, without the express prior written permission of the publisher. All information contained in this publication is from a reliable source. The publisher assumes no responsibility to any party for the content, including any errors or omissions therein. Views of contributors and advertisers do not necessarily reflect the policies of Artemis Communications Ltd or Astleys of London (Hong Kong) Limited.

CONTRIBUTORS Jo Stewart is a Melbourne-based author, features writer and editor.

As a professional editor, writer

She has documented expeditions to

and photographer, Cindy-Lou

Antarctica and the Simpson Desert, and

Dale creates non-fiction for

has contributed travel, food, pop culture

numerous publications around

and human-interest stories to more

the world. Her specialist genres

than 40 publications including Monocle,

include high-end travel, luxury

International Traveller, Time Out, Mindfood

motoring and affluent lifestyles.

and Lonely Planet. In this issue she

In this issue she slips behind the

looks at how distillers and bartenders

wheel of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

are incorporating cannabis into their concoctions.

Rebekka Ayres is a fashion

Christian Darkin writes on

and arts journalist who writes on

science and technology for

the social and political interests

newspapers and magazines

of pop culture. She is a regular

all over the world. He's also

contributor to titles including

the writer of three science

ZOO Magazine, Teen Vogue,

documentaries for broadcast TV

L’Officiel Hommes, The Last

and the author of ten novels with

Magazine and Wonderland.

scientific themes for children

In this issue she looks at the

and young adults. In this issue he

fascination of dad-inspired

looks at the future of food as well

fashion among millennials.

as the evolution of the sex robot.

Leonard Kerman is the director

Based in Maui, Hawaii, Lisabeth Fauble is a non-fiction writer

of Capital Markets and Stakeholder

focused primarily on brain

Management for TheraCann

health, stress-free travel, and the

International Benchmark

arts. In this issue she explores

Corporation, where he manages

how cannabis could save

strategic M&A activity and raises

contact sports by protecting

both private and institutional

brain health, help with pain

capital. In this issue he looks at the

management, and deter opioid

importance of providence in the

addiction in athletes.

cannabis scene.

Sherry Amatenstein, LCSW is

Adrian Brijbassi is the co-founder of

a NYC-based psychotherapist,

mobile game Trippzy and is a former travel

author of four books including the

editor at the Toronto Star and former

anthology How Does That Make You

assistant news editor at New York Newsday.

Feel?, True Confessions from Both

Adrian is also the editor of the digital

Sides of the Therapy Couch and

magazines Vacay.ca and VacayNetwork.

howdoesthatmakeyoufeelbook.com, and

com, and the editor of the acclaimed

has written for many publications

“Inspired Cooking” cookbook. In this issue

including Playboy, The Week, Reader’s

he hits the streets of Buenos Aires for our

Digest, Vox.com, The Washington Post,

Gentleman’s Guide.

New Yorker and The Observer.

David Bowden is a freelance photojournalist specializing in travel, food and the environment.

While being an Australian national, he has been based in Asia for over two decades. He is the author of several books including Enchanting Langkawi, which provides a wonderful introduction to the resort island and its main tourist attractions.

Tony Logan started his writing career as a fashion journalist in 2008, writing for several men’s fashion blogs such as Man of Many, Vouch Mag and Primary Mag. This experience created an opportunity to become a fashion contributor and have his own style column in The Stndrd. Besides writing, Tony is also the founder and creative director of Tony Thrifts, his vintage inspired brand which specializes in product design and personal styling services.

Est. 1862 Jermyn Street

Contents 10

The Journal

Knowledge is Power

11

Essential Events Where You Need to Be & When

15

Spirits

Tribute to a Legacy

16

Timepieces Homage to Aviation

17

Urban Diggs

Made in Manhattan

22

Discussion

The Plastic Pollution Solution

26

Astleys Man

Courting Chaos

34

Style

Corporate Goes Casual

36

Fashion

An Ode to Dad Denim

18

Society Rise of the Sex Robots

Contents 46

Travel

East Bound & Down

54

Kit Out

Style on the Steppes

56

Disruptor The French Connection

60

Office Politics

Navigating the Post #MeToo Office Landscape

64

The Cook

The Boy from Encino

66

Gastronomy

The Future of Food

70

Libation

High Spirits

74

Auto

Re-writing the SUV Rule Book

76

Wellness

Can Cannabis Save Contact Sports?

42

A Gentleman’s Guide The City of Seduction

THE JOURNAL

Knowledge is Power

Welcome to The Journal, Astleys’ online lifestyle portal, a showcase of inspirational and educational content that helps define today’s modern man, from insightful interviews and thematic travel features to how to guides to life’s most important rituals. Check us out at www.astleysoflondon.com Tiki Season Check out the best Tiki bars in San Fran, the cocktail culture’s birthplace.

When Size Matters The 2019 MercedesBenz GLS is a People Mover with Class

What Your Tie Says About You From Windsor to Four-in-Hand, here’s what you’re telling the world about your style.

BA Opens New Club Lounge at JFK With gourmet dining, a signature beer and an army of resident mixologists, what more could you want before your Trans-Atlantic flight?

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Doing the Galapagos in Style Luxury cruise line Silversea has unveiled new details of Silver Origin, the cruise line's first ever destinationspecific ship.

Essential Events

Electric Forest Music Festival

Hampton Jazz Festival

Lollapalooza

Hampton, Virginia June 28-30, 2019

Chicago, Illinois August 2-5, 2019

Who doesn’t love a bit of live jazz? Even the mildest enthusiast out there is guaranteed to enjoy the slick bass-lines and soulful sax of classic Americana; bringing together the country’s most prolific jazz and R&B performers for the past 50 years, the Hampton Jazz Festival is the one-stop destination for all aspiring cool-cats.

This festival needs no introduction. Since taking up permanent residence in Chicago’s Grant Park this once trifling event has taken the country by storm and now attracts over 170 world-class bands across eight stages, along with a 160,000-person turnout.

Apart from the awe-inspiring music, there’s gourmet food and an art market which you can peruse during your down-time - but don’t expect to have too much of it.

Pageant of the Masters

Toronto International Film Festival

L’International des Feux

Laguna Beach, California July 7-August 31, 2019

Toronto, Canada September 5–15th, 2019

Quebec, Canada June 29-July 27, 2019

Since its founding in 1976, TIFF has grown to become a permanent destination for film culture in celebration of the visual arts. Now attracting over 480,000 people annually, it’s one of the largest publicly-attended film festivals in the world. Films to look out for include Paul Greengrass’ 22 July, which recounts Norway’s worst ever terrorist attack; Rosamund Pike as legendary war correspondent Marie Colvin in A Private War; and Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut, A Star is Born.

You’ve probably seen fireworks before, but if producing the most breathtaking display was an Olympic sport, this would be the stadium; world-renown companies - each representing their respective country - compete tooth-and-nail to give you the best display imaginable. Each night is themed differently; this year boasts a pyrotechnically-simulated Austrian dance (you heard that right) as well as a James Bond-themed finalé featuring performances by Paul McCartney, Adele, Shirley Bassey, Tina Turner and more.

Rothbury, Michigan June 27-30, 2019

Time to venture into the forest for this five-day multi-genre event, which focuses on electronic and jam band genres. Held in Rothbury, the Electric Forest has quickly garnered a reputation amongst festival goers as one of the year’s hottest new tickets. Headliners include Odesza, Kygo and Zeds Dead.

California has always been a hub for avant-garde, grandiose artistic displays and this arts festival is no different. Centered around performances of tableaux vivants (living pictures), recreations of classical and contemporary paintings are brought to life by superimposing real-life actors within the frame. They’re accompanied by a professional orchestra and intricate set-design and situated within an outdoor amphitheater.

THE EDITION ISSUE#2 11

DIALOGUE – HOT LIST Live Wires

New Jet for Four Seasons Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts will up the luxury ante when its newest private jet arrives in early 2021. The new A321LR aircraft, part of the new Airbus NEO family, is being fully customized by Four Seasons in preparation for its launch and promises even more space for private jet guests and staff to mix and mingle at 38,000ft.

Replacing the hotel group’s current Boeing 757 aircraft, key features of the new jet include a new spacious lounge area, 48 custom handcrafted seats designed by Optimares, with leather from Italian producer Poltrona Frau, and new menus crafted by an onboard Four Seasons executive chef. The jet will be used on Four Seasons’ series of luxurious adventures, which bring together properties, leading restaurants and landmarks around the world on multi-day itineraries.

What hits 60mphr in just three seconds and yet does its part for the planet? Harley-Davidson’s new LiveWire electric motorcycle is the answer. With sleek, muscular design lines and a city range of 140 miles, this new battery-powered pocket rocket offers onroad thrills sans clutch and gears – all you have to do is flex that wrist and hold on. The new LiveWire boasts a high-voltage lithium battery which can be charged using an onboard Level 1 charger cable, which can connect to any household outlet, or public Level 3 charge stations. The LiveWire model comes equipped with an Electronic Chassis Control (ECC) system, designed to give the rider more confidence and control in less-than-ideal situations, while cellular telematics connectivity, powered by Panasonic and accessed via the Harley-Davidson app, allows you to check bike vitals, see its location on a map, and get security alerts if it’s been bumped, tampered with or moved.

Pint Sized Power

From the Highlands to the Ozarks If you’re looking for an out-of-this-world golfing experience, Missouri’s Big Cedar Lodge has opened its third golf course, the Coore & Crenshaw-designed Ozarks National, an 18-hole championship course that smacks of the best of Scotland. The Ozarks National, which joins existing courses by Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, is set on a series of ridges that offer sweeping views, scenic fairways and challenging punchbowl greens that require a little short game faith. The course will soon be joined

by Tiger Woods-designed Payne’s Valley to create one of America’s most competitive golf destinations.

12 THE EDITION ISSUE#2

Said to be the world’s lightest DSLR with a moveable screen, Canon’s new EOS 250D is a travel essential that’s packed with cuttingedge technology.

Successor to Canon’s multi-award winning EOS 200D, the EOS 250D has a guided user interface for easy operation, a large 24.1 megapixel Dual Pixel CMOS APS-C sensor, 4K movie capability, super-fast and responsive autofocus, and excellent connectivity to smart devices. In addition, the camera features DIGIC 8, Canon’s latest image processor which powers many of its functions, including 4K movie recording, 4K time-lapse and 4K frame grabs from 4K movies.

A Modern Man Cave Punch Bowl Social is set to open a 22,000sqft location in downtown Phoenix's Roosevelt Row district this fall. The combination restaurant, bar and entertainment venue will feature a custom-built 360-degree bar and outdoor patio, ping-pong, darts, board games, video games, bowling, private karaoke rooms, and more. Punch Bowl Social Phoenix will also feature the brand's indoor Putt Club, a new social experience that is anything but a standard mini-golf course. In Punch Bowl Social fashion, the course will start and end at an epic bar where guests will enjoy craft cocktails and scratch-made sharable food.

Dialogue – Collectables

Mightier Than the Sword Two new writing instruments from German fountain pen guru Graf von Faber-Castell capture the enduring spirit of Japan’s Samurai class.

T

he Samurai of ancient Japan knew a thing or two about precision and craftsmanship – just ask anyone unlucky enough to be at the end of their blades. These ancient warriors now offer the inspiration behind Graf von FaberCastell’s self-proclaimed Pen of the Year for 2019, the limited-edition Samurai and Samurai Black.

Instilling the spirit and precision of Japan’s legendary sword masters, these mesmerizing writing instruments are each works of art. The Samurai Pen of the Year, limited to 400 fountain pens and 120 ballpoints, features a barrel of dark-stained magnolia wood in an imitation of the samurai’s long sword.

The barrel is embellished with engraved Japanese script in 24-karat gold varnish that says, “Today I win against myself of yesterday”, a quote by great samurai warrior Miyamoto Musashi. The cap is engraved with the symbol for tsuba (hand guard) created by Musashi, which represents loyal soldiers who offer protection.

Both the cap and hand-forged grip are coated with ruthenium and delicately decorated with artistic inlays inspired by Japanese sword covers.

In contrast, the Samurai Black version, limited to 330 fountain pens and 100 ball pens, features a black lacquered metal barrel coated with 24-karat gold and embossed with tapered lines to imitate the armor of Japanese warriors. Another Musashi quote – “Cultivate both your spirit and wisdom” – is engraved on the outer cap, while the Japanese character for samurai can be seen in the tamahagane inlay within.

The end cap is adorned with the same tsuba symbol.

Both cap and grip are covered in an anthracite-grey PVD coating made from titanium, while the 18-karat gold nib of the fountain pen is coated with ruthenium.

Each of these exclusive writing instruments is presented in a sophisticated polished black wooden box, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by Count Charles von Faber-Castell.

THE EDITION ISSUE#2 13

Dialogue – Culture

Lock & Load

Firearms are a controversial topic in the US but a new exhibition at the Nevada Museum of Art aims to elevate guns to that of an art form. By Nick Walton

C

enturies before active shooter drills became common place, the production of firearms was a collaborative effort that tapped into the coveted talents of the finest artisans. The artistic embellishment of firearms reaches back to the Renaissance, when goldsmiths, sculptors, woodworkers, jewelers and engravers would recreate captivating mythological, hunting and wildlife scenes on the sides of muskets, flintlock pistols and blunderbusses.

The Art of the Gun: Modern Sporting Firearms from The Robert M. Lee Collection (November 2019-February 2020) focuses on the efforts of small groups of artisans, some of whom are still actively working in the US and Europe. Highlights of the exhibition include engraved firearms by Paul and Alan Brown of Bloomfield; Philippe GrifnĂŠe and Alain Lovenberg of Belgium; and Phill Coggan, Ken Hunt and Rashid el Hadi of the United Kingdom. Drawn from the Robert M. Lee Collection, known as the finest firearm collection in the world, some of the pieces have never before been seen by the public.

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Dialogue – SPIRITS

Tribute to a Legacy Over the past century or so, Louis XIII has carved a niche for itself among the most esteemed cognacs on the planet. Now the House has looked back into its rich history to pay tribute to one of its most inspirational leaders with the Louis XIII Black Pearl.

F

or a house that has made a name for itself producing the very best cognac possible, it’s no small feat to step up the game and create something that truly inspires. However, Louis XIII, which uses old and precious eaux-de-vies, sourced from Grande Champagne and selected by generations of cellar masters to create unforgettable odes to the Cognac tradition, has done just that with Black Pearl.

Paying tribute to former Louis XIII Chairman André Hériard Dubreuil, Black Pearl is presented in a striking 35cl decanter crafted by French artisans Baccarat from crystal laced with precious metals that give a luminous effect. Within the decanter is a spirit that includes rare drops from a single tierçon, hidden within Dubreuil’s own cellar, a time capsule-like space that’s cooler, darker and damper than the rest.

Numbered and limited to just 1,498 breathtaking decanters inspired by a royal flask found on the battlefield of Jarnac, fought in 1569, the Black Pearl is the epitome of refinement and complex beauty: the delicate symmetry of the decanter’s lacework combines with the meticulous detail of the iconic medallions, with their minute pearl inlays, revealing the pure iridescence of hand-blown crystal decorated with precious palladium plating.

Despite the liquid's age and pedigree, you’ll find fresh, floral and intense earthy aromas as well as remarkable notes of dried roses, honey, myrrh, cigar box, plum, honeysuckle, leather, figs and passion fruit that gradually give way to the scent of wet chalk and woody undergrowth and leave nothing but smooth elegance in their wake. All for just US$12,485.

THE EDITION ISSUE#2 15

DIALOGUE – TIMEPIECES

Homage to Aviation

Breitling’s newest limited-edition series taps into the airline brands that defined the commercial jet age. By Nick Walton When we think of powerful branding, the airlines that dominated early jet travel are bound to spring to mind. The likes of Pan Am, BOAC and TWA became household names that offered the world to new generations of travelers. Inspired by the great airlines, Breitling has created the Navitimer 1 Airline Editions, a capsule collection that captures the essence of these lingering legacies. Built on the watchmaker’s Navitimer 1 model, and powered by the Breitling Manufacture Caliber 01 movement, all models feature a bidirectional rotating bezel fitted with the famous circular slide rule, and distinctive straight hands that give the watches a dynamic, contemporary interpretation of a classic look.

The Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 Swissair Edition features a transparent sapphire caseback with a printed Swissair logo. Its 43-millimeter stainless-steel case is presented with a black dial, silver subdials, and a choice of vintage-inspired black leather strap or a stainless-steel mesh bracelet.

The chronograph celebrates the former national airline of Breitling’s home country.

16 THE EDITION ISSUE#2

The Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 Pan Am Edition is distinguished by one of the most recognizable logos in the history of aviation, printed on its transparent sapphire caseback.

For decades, Pan American World Airways was a dominant force in commercial aviation and, long after the airline ceased operations, it is still closely linked with the excitement of air travel. The Pan Am Edition has a stainless-steel case with a blue dial, silver subdials, and is presented with a choice of vintage-inspired brown leather strap, a Breitling Air Racer bracelet, or a stainless-steel mesh bracelet.

The third release in the series, the Navitimer 1 B01 Chronograph 43 TWA Edition also has a transparent sapphire caseback, this time adorned with the logo of Trans World Airlines, which was based in the US and a familiar sight at the world’s major airports throughout most of the twentieth century. This stainless-steel watch has a silver dial, anthracite subdials, and a choice of vintageinspired brown leather strap or stainless-steel mesh bracelet.

DIALOGUE – URBAN DIGGS

Made in Manhattan

New York is having a moment in the sun with the arrival of a raft of chic hotels across the city. Here’s some of our favorite new haunts in Manhattan. By Nick Walton.

Moxy Chelsea Sophisticated yet playful, the 349-room Stonehill Taylordesigned Moxy Chelsea opened in February and blends an exciting, botanically-inspired design with a touch of Italian romance at the heart of the city’s Flower District.

Guest rooms have been designed by Yabu Pushelberg and are cozy and functional – our favorite has to be the double-height Mondo Suite with its oversized wet bar, full kitchen, and views of the Empire State Building through industrial-styled windows. Be sure to leave time for a bite at Francesco Panella’s Feroce, a lively Italian restaurant where classics are given a kick into the now.

Park Terrace Hotel Another newbie brings a touch of Downtown chic to Midtown. The Park Terrace Hotel features 226 guest rooms, each of which boasts views of the Empire State Building, Bryant Park or the New York Public Library through floor-to-ceiling windows. Another creation by Stonehill Taylor, the hotel’s guest spaces are bright, fresh and inviting, with cutting-edge technology (including lightning fast Wi-Fi) and a slick, minimalist design persona.

The hotel’s year-round terrace, with its views across the park’s canopy of London plane trees, is the best place for leisurely breakfasts, and evolves during the day into an elegant cocktail destination where signature libations by Gates Otsuji are inspired by the vitality of the Big Apple.

The Edition Times Square The newest addition to Marriott’s Edition hotel collection, The Edition Times Square opened in February on Seventh Ave and 47th Street, and boasts 452 guest rooms as well as its own 5,000sqft performance space, a 1,900sqft studio, and an expansive beer garden and event deck overlooking the iconic namesake square. The second Edition property for the city, the hotel occupied the 12th to 40th floors of the 20 Times Square complex, home to a nine-story-high billboard that adds to the iconic lights and sounds that are Times Square. Be sure to visit the chic rooftop cocktail bar and to book well ahead for corner suites that overlook the bustle of the Big Apple far below.

THE EDITION ISSUE#2 17

Society

18 THE EDITION ISSUE#2

Society

Rise of the Sex Robots It seems Sci-Fi classic Blade Runner was more prediction than fantasy as technology catapults sex dolls into the realm of the replicant, discovers Christian Darkin.

Photo credit: Shenzhen All Intelligent Robot Technology Co.,Ltd ai-aitech.com

THE EDITION ISSUE#2 19

Society

S

ex dolls are nothing new, but up to now they've been fairly absurd objects – unrealistic, comical inflatables with all the sex appeal of a balloon animal. However, things are changing, and the days of puncture repair kits and bicycle pumps are over. Today, sex robots (as they’re now being quite accurately called) are solidlybuilt and come with life-like thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) skin, and a range of customizable faces and body shapes.

Not only that, but they’re starting to move and talk.

Eye, head and lip movements are matched with the kind of artificial intelligence seen in Alexa and Google Home to create a latex pal you can have a basic, if stilted conversation with.

“I’m the world’s first affordable robot with a practical purpose for in-home use, or in-bedroom use… ha ha ha!,” says sex-doll Harmony (now called Realdoll X), a product of the Realdolls company, during a recent interview. Harmony doesn’t just speak, she also listens, remembering what she’s been told, building up a picture of her owner and modifying it with user selectable personality traits. You can also forget identical, mass-produced dolls – it’s now possible to have your robot built exactly to your requirements, if you have a few thousand dollars to spare.

The development of Harmony and her kind has been rapid. The global sex toy market is worth an estimated US$20 billion and it’s growing fast. Once it became clear that there were people out there prepared to pay, the move from inflatables to more solid, anatomically-accurate dolls with realistic (and in some cases temperature controlled) skin was a fairly obvious one. However, it wasn't until AI and voice recognition technology became widely available that it became possible to turn simple dolls into the sex robots of the future.

With mobile apps providing a handy way to control, and refine the robots' behavior, development is now racing ahead. Facial and head movements are set to be followed soon by other animatronics. Hip movements will be first, predictably enough, but the motion of arms and legs isn’t far away.

With the arrival of sex robots, robot brothels haven’t been far behind. A Canadian company, KinkySdollS was recently blocked by the city council of Houston, Texas from opening a robot brothel after 10,000

20 THE EDITION ISSUE#2

signatures were received in opposition to the plan. The petition said, “Robot brothels will ultimately harm men, their understanding of healthy sexuality, and increase the demand for the prostitution and sexual exploitation of women and children.”

KinkySdollS sells its sex robots at around US$3,000 a piece, and already runs a similar outfit in Toronto. The company initially tried to get around rules by describing its offering as a “rent before you buy” service. However,

Society

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said the brothel was “not the sort of business that we advertise for, or we seek to attract”. The campaign against the plan was led by church groups including Elijah Rising, an organization that campaigns against sex trafficking. However, they’re not the only people opposed to the technology.

The Campaign Against Sex Robots, launched in 2016, sees the appearance of pleasure droids as potentially contributing to the inequalities in society. They suggest that it reduces human empathy and objectifies women.

Manufacturers counter that they are also producing male sex robots (although the market appears to be considerably smaller), and that such devices should in fact reduce the threat of prostitution and abuse. But in the near future, male and female robots may become a part of everyday human relationships.

“I have moderated and advised on many sex doll sites and have talked to over 1,000 owners about their reasons for entering into a synthetic relationship,” says Brick Dollbanger, owner of ‘Harmony’, and a sex robot enthusiast.

“I do see them as propelling a radical change in human relationships. It’s 90 percent men to ten percent women who make this change, and the predominant reasons are frustration with their inability to create or maintain a human relationship or loss of a spouse of many years and the following depression caused by this.” However, the sex robot advocate says the technology is also allowing those in a relationship to branch out sexually. “I also am seeing more and more married couples using the dolls to alleviate the mis-matched libidos in their relationships.”

with each other through a robot while they are apart, allowing them to hear and speak to each other through the doll. Sexting could be set to take on a whole new meaning.

In the long run, perhaps sex is not the function that will drive the widespread adoption of humanoid robots. It’s hard to imagine a world in which everyone had their own sex robot, given the stigma that still exists and the cost of the hardware. However, if a humanoid robot was handy around the house, able to answer your google questions and help with the babysitting or the cooking, kept your diary for you, and go out to the shops, or to meetings in your place, then surely the little extra hardware needed to make them fully-functional would be an upgrade many would consider.

In the meantime, cash from the early adopters is starting to drive an industry that may eventually lead to realistic android technology for all. “Using sex robots as a vehicle of economics to push this technology forward makes perfect sense,” says Brick. “The R&D I have seen so far is amazing; they have started with the head and are moving down the body creating human like movement.”

New developments are set to allow couples to connect

THE EDITION ISSUE#2 21

Discussion

The Plastic Pollution Solution It is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and experts predict that if we continue to disregard it, the planet will eventually choke from this mass of plastic pollution.

Fortunately, one young eco-pioneer may have a solution, discovers David Bowden.

22 THE EDITION ISSUE#2

Discussion

THE EDITION ISSUE#2 23

Discussion

E

nvironmental issues rank as one of the biggest concerns for millennials, and one young Dutchman realized in 2011, after a Greek diving holiday, that enough was enough. Seeing more plastic than fish while diving, Boyan Slat set about doing something positive for the environment. Discovering that plastic takes hundreds of years to degrade and that decades of accumulated waste was slowly choking the seas and killing marine life, especially in an area twice the size of Texas that was dubbed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) when it was first identified in 1988, Slat founded The Ocean Cleanup (TOC) in 2013 to tackle maritime plastic pollution once and for all.

Having raised over US$30 million, Slat’s non-profit organization has been working on developing and testing advanced technologies to collect trash using a series of floating barriers and screens that filter plastic from the seawater. Feasibility studies involving 70 scientists and engineers found that 92 percent of the GPGP’s 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, which weight nearly 80,000 metric tons, were large objects and fragments – the likes of plastic bottles, jerricans, buckets, toys, food containers and, most problematic, ghost nets, miles of tangled discarded fishing nets that snare wildlife. TOC’s technology, which was unveiled in 2017, is designed to remove 50 percent of this vast ever-moving gyre every five years.

24 THE EDITION ISSUE#2

The team’s plan is to deploy a series of 2,000 footlong, passive floating, u-shaped barriers that rely upon wind, waves and currents to direct floating plastic into screens extending down nine feet from the barriers.

The barriers concentrate the plastic in one area for harvesting, sorting, processing and recycling, while GPS, cameras and sensors set along the length of the boom will communicate the system’s progress and indicate its presence to passing marine traffic. The time from harvesting to recycling is expected to be six months, with the funds raised from recycling to be used to continue the clean-up efforts.

The system launched in late 2018 after a three-week trial run outside San Francisco, and the boom (affectionately named Wilson after Tom Hank’s volleyball companion in Cast Away), support ship – a tug donated by shipping company Maersk – and team are now starting initial efforts in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), one of five such patches identified, which collectively accumulate a significant portion of the 320 million metric tons of plastic waste dumped in the oceans each year.

The team of scientists has also worked on preventing bycatch – the unintentional trapping of marine life – and biofouling, when marine organisms latch onto and weigh down the barriers. To tackle the first issue, TOC designed barriers that allow marine life such as fish and

Discussion

turtles to pass through the screens without risk of being trapped.

“If we make the technology work, the cleanup will happen,” said Slat at the end of the three-week sea trial of System 01, the first booms, which took place 240 nautical miles off California, in the Pacific Ocean. “The trials are essential, as the team needs to understand the problem before being able to solve it.”

The success of the project is dependent upon the barriers moving faster than the plastic. After several weeks of testing, the team reported the good news that the system had stayed intact, and while there were reports of damage to the screen, the team of experts decided to continue onwards, to the GPGP, which is situated halfway between California and Hawaii.

“The real celebration will come once the first plastic returns to shore,” says Slat. “After 60 years, mankind has been putting plastic into the oceans; from that day onwards, we’re taking it back out again.” The ultimate goal is to have 60 barrier systems focused on the GPGP over the next two years.

Technology is the most potent agent of change. It is an amplifier of our human capabilities - Boyan Slat

While TOC predicts that 90 percent of all ocean plastics could be removed by 2040, Slat also has his critics, who cite the high costs and inefficiencies of System 01, which targets larger pieces of trash found near the surface, and misses microplastics – plastic broken down into minuscule pieces by the oceans as well as resin pellets used in plastic manufacturing and microbeads used in health and beauty products – that are playing havoc on the ecosystems of the world’s oceans.

Researchers also claim the project will destroy neustons, ecosystems of tiny but fundamental surface-dwelling creatures that act as an important nursery (their existence is what draws animals like turtles to floating plastic, which coexists in the same environment). Unfortunately, little is known about neustons and therefore the effect Slat’s revolutionary system might have on them.

Slat’s Wilson boom has faced trial by ordeal out in the Pacific, with components being torn by currents, restricting the amount of actual plastic it was able to capture. However, Slate's youth, his energy, and his bold solution have created awareness of one of the planet’s biggest environmental crises, and therein lies a small victory.

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Astleys Man

Courting Chaos Fresh from yet another acclaimed chameleonic turn on-screen, Christian Bale continues to be an industry enigma despite his worldwide renown, discovers Peter Wallace.

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Astleys Man

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Astleys Man

C

hristian Bale must surely be the most mysterious individual in modern show business. A legendary work ethic – coupled with a bizarre penchant for otherworldly physical transformations as part of his intense acting methodology – has made him a household name. His cinematic output reads like a who’s who of great modern films, from The Machinist to The Fighter, Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, American Psycho, American Hustle, and The Big Short. Along the way, he’s become an expected face come awards season, with four Academy Award nods and one win to his name.

45-year-old nods. “It's a miserable process in either direction. When you gain weight, you're stuffing your face and eating in a way that's not healthy for your body. And when you're losing weight, you're constantly thinking about food, you avoid socializing because that usually involves eating and drinking, and you're going to bed hungry, which is not a great feeling. But I knew that I would have to gain enough weight and find that pivot point where I could play both the older Cheney and then also tighten up somewhat to play the younger Cheney. But I think I need to stop doing this because it's tough on your body and I’m thinking a bit more of my mortality now that I'm in my mid-forties.”

So, when the first trailers for his latest project, Vice, appeared, showing an almost unrecognizable Bale having tacked on 40lbs to more realistically inhabit the guise of former Vice President Dick Cheney, it came as little surprise, in spite of its objective impressiveness. The world has come to expect such pedal-to-the-metal performances from the Welshborn star; not for the first time, however, Bale’s body is beginning to have its say.

Still, all the stresses he has applied on his physicality over the years have clearly reaped their rewards, haven’t they? After all, anyone in Bale’s position among the entertainment elite would surely be justifying such a career with the greatest indulgence in the profession’s many perks away from the camera.

“I think I've reached my limit with this one,” the

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But in his private life, Bale is a strict nonconformist who has tried to remove himself from the trappings of fame with a ruthless passion. Though his work as Batman in the Dark Knight films alone has made him

Astleys Man

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Astleys Man

I like feeling that I'm on a mission when I'm doing a movie. I kind of like the insanity of it all. I like the chaos fabulously wealthy, he lives a "very simple" lifestyle, even going so far as to take to the streets of Los Angeles in a ramshackle pickup.

“I can put my motorcycles in the back!” he explains.

“And no one is ever going to steal it. I've had it for 13 years and it does the job. Maybe as a teenager the idea of having a Ferrari would have made me happy but now I just don't have any desire to own a luxury car.

All I want out of my car is to be able to drive it.”

This understated philosophy, it seems, is something Bale adopted from childhood. “It's probably the

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example of my father,” says the actor. “He was a middle-class entrepreneur and he never indulged in luxury. He always wore plain clothes and he would only buy a new car if the old one broke down. His attitude was that you looked for happiness in the things you do in life and the people around you. You don't need a lot of money to be happy. That attitude somehow got passed along to me.”

But Bale’s uneasiness with the trappings of his vocation expand far beyond what’s currently parked on his driveway. His recent Oscar nod for Vice shows beyond a doubt that he is still widely regarded as one of Hollywood’s top talents. However, throughout Bale’s long cinematic career – which began in earnest as a thirteen-year-old for Stephen Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun – the star has oftentimes come close to walking away from the silver screen.

“It was hard for me sometimes,” he reveals. “I would say to myself, ‘I don't really feel like doing this film, but I can't live with myself if I don't do it because it really helps my family.’ I didn't go through school thinking I wanted to become an actor. It was something that happened at an early age and it was a situation of: I must do it. I couldn't quit acting because I had a sense of responsibility to my family and I accepted that. So that's why I have this love/hate thing with acting. But that can be a healthy thing. If all you do is love film, or love acting, you're just going to imitate what you love.

Astleys Man

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Astleys Man

It takes people to hate it at the same time to make any change to what they're doing.”

receive a rejection: “I'm always convinced I won't be able to do it,” he agrees.

Such an understanding of the positives and negatives came in handy when Bale prepared to play Cheney for Vice. “I didn’t have any interest in just looking at him as a villain,” he muses. “I think that would have been absolutely predictable and a bunch of bloody Hollywood liberals just doing their slog and vilifying somebody. I had people who would come up to me and say, ‘Hey, please, he’s not a demon, don’t do that,’ while other people who would say, ‘Give it to him, he’s a war criminal, he should be locked up.’ He brings out really strong reactions in people, but if I am open about my political views, it’s going to ruin the performance and it’s going to ruin the film. I don’t want people thinking about that.”

So why then does Bale continue to subject himself to the silver screen? “It's all about the emotions and adventure of it,” he smiles. “I especially like to throw myself into extreme situations. Acting is more interesting and more challenging when you can get yourself into some dangerous situations both mentally and physically, whether I'm working with Werner Herzog in the jungle or I'm feeling euphoric because I've lost so much weight for a film like The Machinist. With The Machinist, it was a case of how far mentally I could take the discipline of wasting away and I became obsessed about it.

Far from being a conundrum just for audiences, Bale proves a dilemma for seasoned directors as well. His wife of nearly two decades, former model Sibi Blazic, has been known to tell filmmakers to keep at a stubborn Bale should they

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I like pushing myself and taking risks and working with people who want to go to those places, too. I like feeling that I'm on a mission when I'm doing a movie. I kind of like the insanity of it all. I like the chaos."

In this, something resembling playfulness stirs

Astleys Man

in the typically serious Bale. It may have taken him years to begin enjoying the industry life but, on-screen at least, “there was a point where that happened, and I felt I wanted to absolutely do it to the hilt.” Away from acting, there’s that same blend of intensity and liveliness – not least when, in preparing for a role or shooting a movie, his work leaves his wife feeling “like she's married to a different guy during that process.”

“My family know me, and they're used to it; what I love most about my job is that it allows me to behave obsessively, without anyone being able to criticize me for it!” he laughs. “But I could not have had as interesting or satisfying a life working in this business without having had [Sibi] as a great partner at my side. She's my best friend, she's my rock. I owe her everything because of her support. Making films without her would not have made any sense to me. She also has the patience of a saint!”

“Robert Duvall told me something when I was seventeen.

He told me not to have my life revolve around movies and acting. Live life properly; have friends who have nothing to do with it. Don't drift into this circle of competitiveness and just associate with other actors. That's when life becomes really dull. Nobody wants to see actors who all they know is about acting. It's easy to become this kind of artistic, diva-ish, precious person in this business, because people treat you automatically as if you're something special. Our work might enable us to achieve something artistically interesting and vital, but as far as our personal lives are concerned, we aren't necessarily that interesting.”

The couple have two children, Emmaline, born in 2005, and Joseph, born in 2014. With his mother having worked as a circus performer, it appears that the entertainment industry may well be in the Bale bloodline – even if the star is adamant that his eldest at least will not follow in his footsteps.

“Absolutely not,” he remarks. “I'm very happy that my daughter Emme, who is very aware of my job, finds it very boring. I never liked the attention I received as an actor and I've always tried to protect my private life. Every day I spend with my daughter makes me a better man – she's the one who keeps my feet on the ground and makes me forget everything that is unimportant in life.

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Style

Corporate Goes Casual With big names in the banking world now adopting a more flexible approach to corporate dress codes, Tony Logan looks at changing mindsets and essential wardrobe additions.

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he conventional way of doing business may be the same, but the look of it is noticeably different. In the wake of a recent revisal of the Goldman Sachs dress code, companies are looking to adapt to the needs – and demands – of a younger workforce. So why the sudden change and how does this affect our wardrobe requirements? Here are a few tips to keep in mind when upgrading your attire for the modern world.

Why the cultural shift?

If you had working parents like mine, I’m sure you heard the phrase “dress for the job you want not the job you have”. However, today people are dressing for the job they have the way they want, with companies that have been captains of their industries for years now taking lessons from successful startups that put emphasis on individuality in the workplace in order to attract and retain the most promising and talented workers (read millennials).

This shift in the workplace culture not only changes the way we work but how we get dressed for it, with adapted dress codes designed to not only make employees feel

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more comfortable but also be more appealing to the customers they serve.

“Casual wear helps employees to look more approachable, which every business wants from a customer service aspect,” says Clayton, an assistant experience manager at Nordstrom. “Having the choice of a more casual dress code helps represent everyone’s individuality, which a lot of companies are now encouraging.” The takeaway here is that employees want the opportunity to be viewed as an individual while still feeling part of a company.

Who is adapting to the change?

Tech giants like Google, Apple, and Facebook, which have long been the poster children of what a casual work environment embodies, are now being joined by powerhouses like Goldman Sachs, who are tweaking their dress codes to better suit a workforce that, in the case of the finance industry, is heavily made up of Millennial or Gen Z generations - people born after 1981.

Why is this a big deal? For starters, the banking industry

Style is one that’s always been image conscious. No matter how persuasive your banker is, you might have a hard-time receiving information about your 401k and retirement if he or she rocks up to meetings in a graphic tee, cargo shorts, and flipflops. Secondly, Goldman Sachs has long been synonymous with dark suits and sensible ties think Patrick Bateman in his signature pinstripe suit and spiffy suspenders.

However, the times are changing, and the bank recently announced to its staff "Given our one firm philosophy and the changing nature of workplaces generally in favor of a more casual environment, we believe this is the right time to move to a firm-wide flexible dress code. Of course, casual dress is not appropriate every day and for every interaction and we trust you will consistently exercise good judgment in this regard.”

So, while Goldman Sachs employees aren’t dressed down in college sweatshirts and sneakers sipping lattes at the office like Silicon Valley worker bees, the days of the office power suit might be over. So, how casual can we get at work?

And what’s deemed as suitable and appropriate for the office? The answers will certainly vary depending on your industry but to avoid making a costly mistake I wanted to outline some pieces that are acceptable in any work environment.

Button Down Collar Shirt This casual piece is a smart choice for a business casual setting for a few reasons. If you want to dress it up for an executive meeting you can put on a blazer. For a more relaxed atmosphere, you can roll up your sleeves and let your top-button lose. The only thing that can derail this piece is how it fits - keep in mind that even in a casual work setting you want a shirt that looks just as good tucked in as it does out.

Dark Denim If you’re lucky enough to wear jeans to work, there are a few things you may want to keep in mind.

It’s important to keep the denim dark and neutral, avoid any rips (you’re not a Calabasas cougar after all), and opt for a more tailored fit. Nothing is worse than having wide jeans that give off the illusion that they're swallowing your shoes.

Wingtips or Drivers

Wearing sneakers may violate your dress code policy and if so, no worries, you still have stylish options available. Wingtips will keep your business casual look intact while providing a

smart alternative to wearing sneakers, while Drivers offer the laidback style of loafers and a certain European formality.

Sports Coat

Dressing casual doesn’t mean you can’t look sharp it just means you get to be comfortable in style. A sports coat offers a comfortable but stylish alternative that doesn’t require a necktie, tie clip or even pocket square. It really doesn't get any simpler than that, and even better, you can leave it at work and keep your commute casual.

The power of the dress code, which used to be stored in pages of an employee handbook, is now being put in the hands of employees.

This change may seem unorthodox, but it’s a concept that is beginning to be widely accepted. Mary T. Barra, the chairwoman and CEO of General Motors, believes that making changes to the company culture starts with the small details, such as the dress code.

“Tackling an issue that was foundational to company culture, like dress code, helps drive positive culture change throughout the company,” says Barra. Who knew our work satisfaction, devotion to a company and need to be an individual could all be connected to what we wear? Secretly I think we knew all along, we’re just glad that companies are now getting the memo.

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Fashion

An Ode to Dad Denim The trend towards your father’s weekend wardrobe is far more than just the search for comfort, discovers

Rebekka Ayres.

L

ooking out from the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Lucile Avenue in Silver Lake, men – who would have counted as boys just a matter of months ago – slink around in silhouettes that speak far beyond their years. Fuddy-colored slacks sit a little too spacious, turned-up hems skirt skate shoes at the mid-foot, and denim is bleached to a shade of barely-there blue, riding high at the waist. Why are the young and beautiful dressing like their dads?

Retro revivals are nothing new, but this one is unusual in that the unwitting style icon at the center sits so close to home. So pervasive is this affection for fatherly dressing, Lyst named ‘Dad’ fashion one of its most critical trends of 2018, with core pieces like fleeces, “ugly” shirts and sneakers enjoying a spike in searches, up 439 percent on the previous year.

It's in denim that we appreciate the persona at its most satirical, with brands proudly proclaiming their Dad styles in in-store signage, while vintage ‘80s classics return to shelves. Titles from The New York Times to The Wall Street Journal have weighed in to pick apart the phenomenon, declaring the onset of “dadcore”, and penning think-pieces fronted by the mirthful disclaimer, “Don’t Forget Your Dad is the OG Hypebeast”, but when even A$AP Rocky revealed his affectionate nickname for Balenciaga’s clunky, viral Triple S Sneakers, (dubbed “the Larry Davids” in an interview with GQ Style), it’s incumbent to ask: What’s stirring the tide for a knowing youth to make like the middle-aged men who raised them?

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Fashion

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Fashion First, let’s pin down a definition: An attuned eye will note that not every father is fair game for imitation; not the styleconscious pram-pushers of today, but a specific incarnation of Dad, situated part way between the stiff upper lip, suitand-tie patriarch and the pre-millennium Enlightened Man a figure that features heavily in the flash-heavy Kodak prints that testify a millennial childhood. Unlikely poster boys span Jerry Seinfeld to off-duty Obama, but there are shades of grey in this spectrum too, with concepts like Off-White's Art Dad capsule and Balenciaga’s infamous SS18 runway show, inspired by fathers with their kids in the park, rendering the character with a surprising degree of nuance.

Ludvic Orlando, founder and CEO of Los Angeles boutique Golden Age, has felt the swing with full force through the surge in sales of vintage denim. “We’ve certainly seen a clear rise in the sales of functional wear, uniforms and workwear, which are noticeably more comfortable on the body, but also allow scope for a more unique look,” says Orlando. “The pendulum’s swung from the skinny jeans of the Hedi Slimane era of Saint Laurent, moving to the more relaxed fit that has dominated the catwalks the last couple of years, plus through streetwear collaborations between giants like Levi’s and Supreme with the more underground brand Vetements”.

While it’s said that fashion's cycle of style operates on a 15-year orbit time, dad-dressing mines back a little further, to a mid-’90s still in the honeymoon period of Clinton and

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Fashion

Not every father is fair game for imitation; not the style-conscious pram-pushers of today, but a specific incarnation of Dad, situated part way between the stiff upper lip, suit-and-tie patriarch and the premillennium Enlightened Man - a figure that features heavily in the flash-heavy Kodak prints that testify a millennial childhood

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Fashion

dial-up internet. For the 20-something ironists of today, harvesting tastes from outside of the sweet spot isn't just an instinctual behavior formed by internet-fueled bricolage, but necessary if one is to carve out a unique identity in a world where social media quickly cannibalizes subculture and spits us out as sheep.

To this end, taking cues from the antithesis of self-conscious good taste reads like the logical extension of Normcore, which itself, was the early 2010's answer to differentiation when constant connection was just taking stride. It may be six years since Normcore was first coined by forecasting agency K-HOLE, but its ideas have barely aged in half a decade, managing to slice through the super-irony of a disaffected youth who were extinguishing any indulgence in earnest self-stylization in an attempt to appear utterly unremarkable. Dad Fashion, for all its protestations to decadence, self-consciousness and style, can be considered the ultimate expression of generational identity on the rocks. While intellectualizations of the trend as an economic indicator read a little overbaked, it's not absurd to say that for those looking out to a lifetime of debt

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and dwindling hope of home ownership, dressing like a Gen X-er is an exercise in expectation management.

For Amy Leverton, the writer behind the brilliantlyincisive blog and book Denim Dudes, it’s as much a reaction to a fraught economy as it is a sarcastic celebration or a hankering for the good old days.

She cites the 2008 financial crash as a seismic shift. "During times of economic downturn, people tend to move towards more careful choices as well as wardrobe staples that make them feel secure and reassured,” she says. “A more masculine, rugged look started to take over towards the end of the decade with the arrival of more heritage values, then the resurgence of the classic ‘90s stonewashed 501s – that was a jean that many millennials wore as kids or saw their dad wear.”

Irony doesn't just dictate the direction of clothes being worn, but rather oils the cogs of the trend with a delicious sense of schadenfreude: The Teenager, after all, was capitalism's creation, carving out an identity marker where there was none, in order to milk a new market. Any aspiring young adult of the '50s would have shuddered

Fashion

While intellectualizations of the trend as an economic indicator read a little overbaked, it's not absurd to say that for those looking out to a lifetime of debt and dwindling hope of home ownership, dressing like a Gen X-er is an exercise in expectation management.

at the thought of looking like one of their parents.

Now, they're taking it upon themselves to close the gulf – with relish, if not questionable style.

At this stage in anti-fashion's discussion with itself, any dramatic shift in style becomes deeply personal – a way for the achingly hip to distance themselves from late adopters. As tribe differentiation goes, the loose notion of the clueless dad is pretty untouchable; it’s harder to look gauche when your “thing” is being a good three steps behind.

But for all who say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, Leverton’s interpretation of the irony at play offers an important reminder that it’s also the highest form of intelligence. “We're going through a period of extreme uncertainty both politically and environmentally, and Gen Y are about to be in charge. They are driving culture and change in all aspects of our world, and by adopting the baby boomer uniform – the generation that got us all into this mess – it just feels really empowering,” she says “It’s a bit of an F You statement”.

A curse is as good a cure as any, and if nothing else, a feat for the younger self who gets the last word, safe in the knowledge he can’t get grounded.

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A Gentleman’s Guide

The City of Seduction Delve into the South American capital that never sleeps. By Adrian Brijbassi.

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A Gentleman’s Guide

10 a.m.

Drop your bags off at Faena Buenos Aires in Puerto Madero, the city’s gentrified port district. This sexy urban hideaway features 88 Philippe Starck-designed rooms and suites dressed in red velvet and cream, with marble bathrooms, polished timber floors and bespoke furnishing. The hotel is also home to El Cabaret, an intimate theatre inspired by the tango clubs of the 1920s, a Library Lounge that serves classic cocktails given a kick into modernity, and whimsical Bistro Sur, one of the country’s leading avant-garde dining experiences.

1 p.m.

Carlitos (or Don Carlos) is a culinary institution in trendy La Boca. Featuring exotic cuts of meat and an inexpensive wine list, this charming little spot will put you elbow-to-elbow with locals as you fuel up for your explorations. While you can order from the menu, you’re best to listen to amicable owner Don Carlos Zinhola, who is known to tell patrons, “you sit, you eat what I want you to eat.” Expect plate after plate to keep coming until you surrender and say, “No mas.” The restaurant specializes in grilled organs, such as chicken hearts and calf liver, but you may be surprised how good they taste.

2.30 p.m.

Across the street from Carlitos is one of the most famous football stadiums in the world. Officially named Estadio Alberto J. Armando but known by fans as La Bombonera (“The Chocolate Box”), the football ground has seen some of the country’s most important games and the feats Diego Maradona performed on the pitch are still spoken about with reverence in surrounding La Boca. You’ll be able to learn the rich heritage of the stadium during daily tours.

4 p.m.

Four blocks from La Bombonera and Carlitos is Caminito, the narrow strip of bars where tango in Argentina was invented.

Shows happen constantly on small outdoor stages until about 6 p.m. each day while street performers cajole passersby to join them for a quick lesson and a campy pose. It’s as touristy as Buenos Aires can get but still worth a visit because of how important tango and the culture that supports the dance is to the city.

8 p.m.

A trend in Buenos Aires is dining in paladars, unlicensed restaurants operating in the homes of residents. At Paladar Buenos Aires, sommelier Ivana Pinar invites up to 20 guests to her apartment in the Villa Crespo neighborhood for a sevencourse, wine-paired dinner prepared by a professional chef.

Reservations can be booked online and experiential cooking classes are also available.

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A Gentleman’s Guide

11.30 p.m.

Florería Atlantico is a speakeasy hidden beneath a flower shop in ritzy Retiro. Despite its chic surrounds, the bar doesn’t cultivate an air of exclusivity, just excellence. Florería Atlantico has landed on top of every conceivable ranking of leading bars in the city, and the continent. It’s a true speakeasy, with dim lights and a long, narrow lounge that makes it impossible to avoid human contact while sidling to your seat.

Once settled in, you’ll listen to contemporary Latin music, with a touch of jazz and funk, while mixologists concentrate on creating drinks that wow. Even the vessels they’re served in are distinct: El Charro Azteca, made with gin, grilled pineapple and chimichurri, arrives in a small round bowl similar to what herbal teas are served in, while the globally-inspired drinks menu features drawings resembling nautical maps from the earliest explorations that led Europeans across the southern Atlantic Ocean.

2 a.m.

Buenos Aires comes alive after midnight, so hold off on bedtime and search out a milonga, a late-night tango party that takes place in halls and clubs throughout the city. If you go, learn some tango etiquette (there are many do’s and don’ts on the dance floor) and get ready to be impressed by the moves you witness and the friendly Porteños you meet. Tip: At a milonga, men are expected to dance with the same partner for three songs in a row, conversing between each, and women are expected to always accept a dance request. The Buenos Ayres Club provides lessons for beginners who are then encouraged to practice their steps alongside dancers who are more advanced.

10 a.m.

Start your day exploring San Telmo, the city’s oldest neighborhood, with a coffee at Cafe Z. It’s an easy-tomiss hole in the wall operated by a former accountant who imports his beans from Honduras and roasts them in his home before serving you the best java in Buenos Aires. Sip from your cup as you pass art galleries, boutique shops, bustling squares, and historic buildings on your way to San Telmo’s teeming public market. Housed in an attractive limestone building that dates to the 19th century, the market features stall upon stall of temptations. Pick from empanadas, pizzas, and breaded veal sandwiches, or choose a traditional sweet treat like alfajores, lemonflavored cookies shaped like macarons and filled with dulche de leche. In need of a thirst-quencher? Visit Bar El Federal, which celebrates its 155th birthday this year, and order a Fernet and Coke. The bitter concoction is Buenos Aires’ favourite drink.

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A Gentleman’s Guide

4 p.m.

Head to Recoleta for a tour of one of South America’s most historic cemeteries, one which features monuments and mausoleums so intricate they could pass as works of art. The most famous tomb belongs to Eva Peron. Although it’s simple compared to several of the others in this ornate city of the dead, you won’t have trouble finding it. Just follow the crowd.

Argentines still line up daily to stand for a few minutes in front of Evita’s resting place to pay their respects and cry for her, too.

8 p.m.

showcased at Makena typically have passionate followers, creating an energetic atmosphere and a spectacle that may also turn you into a fan before the night is done.

8 a.m.

Hail an Uber to Rivadavia Avenue and dine at Las Violetas, a grand, Parisian-style cafe serving decadent pastries and savory delights. High tea is even an option in this gem that dates to 1884. A nice way to wrap up a visit to one of the world’s most gratifying cities.

The most acclaimed steak house in Buenos Aires is Don Julio, ranked No. 1 in Argentina by Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants. The service is impeccable, with smartly dressed waiters presenting meat choices tableside (go for the tenderloin) and then slicing your selection with care after it’s prepared. Surrounding you are shelves of empty wine bottles scrawled with messages and glowing reviews from past patrons.

Be sure to add to the collection by signing the bottle of Malbec you finish while savoring a meal that’s sure to place among the best you’ve ever had. As a bonus, Don Julio is in Palermo, away from the tourist attractions and in the center of the city’s energetic nightlife scene.

11 p.m.

Work off the calories from your dinner with a 15-minute walk to Makena Cantina Club. If you missed out on the Seattle grunge scene that brought the world Nirvana and Pearl Jam, you’ll revel in a stop at this hot spot, which features an elevated stage above the bar. The configuration allows performers to sing directly to the club’s balcony dwellers while the patrons on the floor wave adoringly from below. The local bands

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travel

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travel

East Bound & Down Riding east on the Trans-Siberian Railroad is an opportunity to trace Russia’s rich history, but the longest train journey in the world need not be without its creature comforts, discovers Nick Walton

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travel

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ike a well-tuned chorus, the railways band, resplendent in its crisp, military-styled uniform, strikes up as the towering red locomotive of the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express wheezes its way into Moscow’s Kazansky Railway Station. It’s nothing if not impressive, nine gleaming passenger carriages in azure blue, touched with gold lettering, and pulled by both an electric locomotive and, if only for the first hundred miles, a historic steam engine, complete with red Soviet star on its boiler plate.

Kazansky, one of nine railway terminals in the Russian capital, is a fitting departure point for the Trans-Siberian. Dedicated to the rail lines that radiate east to Kazan, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok, the station’s soaring curved roof, bustling concourses, and steaming, chuffing trains offer the perfect send-off on the world’s longest railway journey.

No rail route has captured imaginations like the

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Trans-Siberian. Opened in stages between 1891 and 1916, this steel ribbon runs the length of the world’s largest country, offering a 6,214-mile lifeline that passes through eight time zones and across rivers, lakes and mountain ranges as it connects the west with the vast expanses of Siberia, the “Sleeping Land”, which sprawls from the Ural Mountains to the Pacific. The most expensive rail line ever constructed, it’s also a time machine of sorts, and traveling east across the permafrost of Siberia, the Trans-Siberian offers travelers a chance to step back through Russia’s rich and often tumultuous history.

With the band’s serenade comes the arrival of the guests, 69 on this run, who are guided by young stewards in freshly pressed blue uniforms.

The traditional Trans-Siberian train journey may be iconic, but it also comes with challenges and discomforts, from language barriers and grueling scheduling to the chance of an MSG overdose from railway catering. However, the Golden Eagle, a

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luxurious rendition operated by the United Kingdom’s Golden Eagle Luxury Trains, offers fine-dining, daily excursions, insightful lectures and plenty of privacy for guests across all classes.

My Silver Class compartment has a small table, a bench seat in blue velvet that my carriage’s shy, ever-smiling stewards Angeleka and Denis convert into a bed each night, an LCD screen that offers access to an extensive collection of documentaries, and a combination toilet and shower. There are little compartments for all my belongings and as I unpack we depart with a lurch and a bump, the locomotive chuffing and roaring up to speed, ranks of grim Moscow suburbs and factories topped with towering red and white smoke stacks quickly giving way to verdant countryside.

There has never been more interest in luxury rail travel and on this 12-day journey across Russia I’m joined by passengers from Australia, Holland, India, Singapore, Taiwan, Spain, the United States, and Brazil.

There’s even a jovial Dutch television crew filming the journey for a new series on Netflix called Cruise on Rail.

Passengers size each other up on the first night in the train’s two sumptuous dining cars, where we enjoy the first of many elegant meals, complete with cut crystal, gleaming silver, and ever-smiling young wait staff hailing from across Russia.

Nothing short of a tractor pull prepares you for sleeping on the Golden Eagle; while the bed is very comfortable, and the cabin cool and cozy, the train never stops its shuddering, samba-like sway as it races east, and at times I find myself gripping the bed’s wooden sides through the turbulence. Seemingly endless cargo and passenger trains race past, each a blur of color and a roar of squealing wheels and howling horns. It’s both exhausting and exhilarating. However, the next morning we’re greeted by blue skies that reach towards the horizons, and the soft, motherly voice of our train manager, Tatiana, an Irkutsk-native, who briefs us on our first destination, Kazan.

Unlike the regular Trans-Siberian trains, the Golden Eagle’s itinerary is packed with optional excursions. In Moscow, we visited Red Square and the Kremlin before feasting on borsch and dumplings at the iconic Café Pushkin, while in Kazan, an ancient city at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers that remains an economic and political powerhouse, we delve into the Unesco-listed Kazan Kremlin (the word simply means fortress in English and many cities have their

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own “Kremlin”), climb to a viewing platform within the spectacular Qolsharif Mosque, and listen to traditional Tartar opera over a gourmet lunch.

In Yekaterinburg, a city founded by Peter the Great in 1723 that was until the 1990s completely closed to foreigners due to its many armament factories, we step back in time again. Under a blazing mid-morning sky our guide Natalia whisks us to the spectacular Church of the Blood, built on the site of the execution of Tsar Nicholas II by the Bolsheviks. Russia is having a Romanov renaissance and the church was built in 2003 in place of the original structure, which was destroyed in the 1970s by then local party boss Boris Yeltsin (an act he would later express regret for in his memoirs), to tap into a growing reverence for Russia’s royal leaders past.

From there I head for the Yekaterinburg Military Museum, an expansive collection of military hardware produced in the city, ranging from Hind attack helicopters and armored trains from Stalin’s era, to MiG fighter bombers and fragments of Gary Power’s US spy plane.

In Novosibirsk, or “New Siberia”, our first true Siberian city, we take a peek behind the scenes at the city’s breathtaking Opera House, one of the largest in the world, and trace the history of the Trans-Siberian Railway among the century-old locomotives of the Museum of Railway Technology. Further east, in Irkutsk, for centuries an important trading post between Russia and China, I learn to prepare classic Russian dishes like Schi soup, blinis and Siberian dumplings, before visiting a weathered mansion-turned-museum

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dedicated to the aristocrats who failed in their Decemberist uprising against the Tsar in 1825 and who were exiled to remote Siberia for their crimes.

We spend the warmth of late afternoon dining on brilliant home cooking and testing our metal in a Russian banya sauna with the Shugantsev family at their countryside dacha, a collective of beautiful cottages wreathed by summer gardens.

Outside Ulan Ude, on the cusp of Mongolia, we meet the Old Believers, a community of orthodox Christians whose ancestors fled the persecution of Russia’s 17th century Tsars, only to find a home in the often-harsh heart of Siberia, where temperatures can drop to below -40°C. Over a lunch of hand-rolled meatballs and cured fish, village elder Galina sings love songs and haunting dirges in her native tongue and tells of the year it took her family to walk to the valley she now calls home.

A highlight of the journey east is Lake Baikal, the

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deepest on the planet, and home to 20 percent of the world’s fresh water. In a deserted cove where the train links up with another vintage Soviet-era steam locomotive that will pull us around the sea-like lake’s edge, I join a few brave souls in taking an early morning dip, the freezing waters sending us howling and laughing for shore, truly invigorated. By dusk we’re enjoying a lakeside barbeque prepared by the train’s culinary team and capture the sunset over the lake’s dramatic setting.

A few days later our journey on the Golden Eagle is nearing its end. After a day spent across the border, in Mongolia’s manic capital city, where 15 guests depart the train, we set off on three non-stop days of riding the rails to Vladivostok, during which there are chances to polish our Russian, attend guest lectures and piano recitals, or join Tatiana to discuss modern day Russia and life as a local. During this downtime, the train’s chefs also prepare spectacular Russian feasts laced with traditional fare, from sturgeon

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caviar and golubtsi cabbage rolls to zakuska, and pickled vegetables. However, I spend most of the sprint across Siberia soaking up the wild landscape, with its birch and spruce forests, and riots of wildflowers, from my cabin.

Here in the far east, the sky turns heavy and silver, and pine forests arrive like the first dustings of snow; before long they dominate the horizon. Each passing village, with its timber houses the color of molasses and beehives and flowering potatoes in the yards, is a legacy described in broken concrete and abandoned factories with darkened windows. In places it’s hard to tell where the wooden cottages end and the piles of winter firewood begin. Each settlement is seemingly under siege from the vastness of the landscape, each a swimmer clinging to the lifeline that is the Trans-Siberian. The signal fades from my phone as the light fades from the sky, and the air fills with pine and wood smoke as one cargo train after

another passes, headed west from the Pacific into the interior.

We arrive in the port city of Vladivostok, our appetite for Russia’s vast wilderness sated, our understanding of this diverse and awe-inspiring landscape deepened. Will I miss the challenge of walking the train’s length while it shudders and jerks; the chance of being thrown from bed; the utter isolation from the world beyond? Perhaps not.

But I know I’ll miss the Golden Eagle, with its smiling crew who have all become friends, and I already miss Siberia, seeing Russia old and young, and the sense of discovery that await Trans-Siberian travelers around every bend.

Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express, 15 days Moscow-Vladivostok, from US$16,695 per person, twin share. www.goldeneagleluxurytrains.com

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KIT OUT No self-respecting man will ply the world’s rail lines without a decent hat. The Sörmland Felt Hat from Fjällräven is not only a sophisticated touch to any ensemble, but will ensure you stay toasty, whether you’re passing through the Siberian steppes or the Scottish Highlands. Made from felted highquality wool, it’s easy to pack and quickly recovers its original shape.

Style on the Steppes Make a statement next time you’re riding the rails with these train journey essentials.

By Nick Walton

Ensure you’re packing the essentials and still looking the part of an intrepid adventurer with the leather Military Duffle from Whipping Post. A chic recreation of the canvas duffels used by Vietnam-era GIs, this striking weekend-ready bag features adjustable straps, heavy duty brass fixtures, an oversized shoulder pad for additional comfort, and thick handles for ultimate versatility.

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You’ll turn heads with this plain lightweight Escorial Scarf in port from Joshua Ellis. Functional and stylish, this packing essential is made from the finest wool – that’s Escorial by the way – from hand-picked flocks from across Australasia, sheep that are descendants of the Spanish Royal flocks of El Escorial. How’s that for an ice breaker?

KIT OUT A striking combination of good looks and unparalleled performance, the Leica CL is a compact dynamo for shooters of all skill levels. With an APS-C sensor, a built-in highresolution electronic viewfinder, fast auto focus performance thanks to a 49-point AF system, and a Leica Summicron-TL 23 mm f/2 ASPH lens, the CL series is unobtrusive yet delivers superior image quality. Pair it with the Leica protector in brown leather for a timeless look.

Never miss another train with the new Montblanc 1858 Geosphere in khaki green, which pays tribute to the legendary timepieces of Minerva in the 1920s and 30s. With a vintage-esque polished bronze case enriched with aluminum, the watch features a highly-functional in-house complication, fluted crowns, and a domed sapphire crystal glass, while the green dial boasts cathedralshaped hands with a “cloisonné” design that is coated in beige SuperLumiNova.

Be ready to explore on foot with these new Brunello Cucinelli sneakers, which combine refined velour calfskin uppers with a soft suede trim and a lightweight and unstructured shape. Made up of three EVA layers that are glued by hand, the soles ensure comfort and flexibility.

Keep a sharp eye out along the route with the CL Companion binoculars from Swarovski Optik. Offering improved viewing, intuitive use, and individual style, this new generation of binoculars is ideal for travel. A new balanced optics concept provides users with an unforgettable yet comfortable viewing experience, with high-contrast images that are razor-sharp and color-true, and an intuitive, ergonomic design that’s both rugged and slim.

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Disruptor

The French Connection Ballerina-turned-entrepreneur Allison Parc has pioneered the role of terroir in whisky and turned heads with her bold yet elegant French single malt, discovers Nick Walton.

You took a gamble, entering the whisky game at 25 and sinking your life’s savings into the venture. Did you ever fear things wouldn’t work out?

At first, absolutely! However, I knew I was doing something unique. When Brenne first launched in 2012, there were so few French single malt producers, and no other single malts in the world were being aged exclusively in new French Limousin oak and cognac casks. The challenge, of course, was to anticipate if and hopefully when consumers would embrace what I had created.

Was whisky a rebellion against the demands of your ballet career?

Not quite! I had left ballet before discovering the wonders of whisky – that’s not to say my life as a ballerina wasn’t stressful. My constant need to be thin and flexible meant a strict diet. When I retired from ballet, I was finally able to indulge in wine and whisky, and it was love at first sip. To be honest, I find a lot of similarities between whisky and ballet – there’s a clear balance between science and artistry in both. The marriage of precision and creative expression found in ballet is also what makes for a great whisky.

What inspired you to make whisky in Cognac?

I had always looked to France as a partner to create a terroir-focused whisky, because

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so many of their consumable goods are very regionalized. They also have a rich distillation history, not just with Cognac, but with Calvados and Armagnac as well. France was also home to the largest number of Scotch drinkers for a very long time, so it seemed like the perfect trifecta. Ultimately, it came down to finding my partner – I had been introduced to a third-generation cognac distiller who had begun making a single malt whisky that was never bottled, just designed as a “house spirit” to enjoy at home. When I tried his whisky, which was four years old at the time, I knew I had found something special. We began working together, and I eventually had the idea to age the whisky in his used cognac barrels. The rest is history.

Has it been a challenge producing a spirit in France from your base in New York?

I like to joke that I live out of my suitcase, constantly traveling between New York and Cognac. This ensures that I stay pretty much on top of everything happening at the distillery in France. Luckily, I’ve become quite fluent in French over the years, so there’s not as much of a language barrier as there once was. The biggest challenge is making sure that I get all my orders in before their hiatus in August.

Whisky takes time – what motivated you to create a single malt?

My first idea was to start an import company

Disruptor

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Disruptor

importing single malt from non-traditional countries that are focused on terroir. As a consumer, I wanted to experience those whiskies, and they just weren’t here at the time. When I went out and started meeting a lot of distillers and educating myself on all aspects of whisky, I realized people weren’t focusing on terroir as a method of production and innovation as I thought it possible. Then I thought, if no one is doing it the way I believe possible, let’s scratch the idea of an import company and start a whisky using all the techniques I see possible and see if we can get a sense of place in the taste.

You source many of your ingredients from the surrounding Cognac region. How important is going local, going indigenous and going organic, and what do you hope it inspires in other producers?

It’s an exciting time for single malt drinkers, as they’re able to explore regional identity through locally-sourced products. On the production side of things, I think it is our responsibility to use distilling methods that are kind to the planet and using heirloom grains grown organically is a wonderful way to do so. I hope that more consumers demand this of companies and use their spending power to support those of us who have moved away from some of the traditional techniques in favor of more environmentally-friendly practices.

Did you really distribute your first whisky via Manhattan’s Citi Bike?

Yes, I did, starting on October 1, 2012. I was a team of one until partnering with my distributor, Samson & Surrey, in 2017. I peddled around to a few of the top bars, restaurants, and retailers in the city, delivering bottles of Brenne Estate Cask by hand. The first shipment sold out within two months!

You’re an advocate of whisky terroir; what should we be looking for in Brenne French Single Malt?

To me, Brenne is incredibly invocative of the south of France – it has an aroma of fruit and French patisserie like crème brûlée and burnt caramel, and a palate of banana, tropical fruits, and warm spices like cinnamon and clove. Not only is this due to its locally-sourced ingredients, but it’s because of our use of cognac casks. The spirit is elegant, approachable, and unique, all the while respecting tradition.

What are some of the challenges you

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face being a woman in the overwhelmingly male-dominated spirits industry?

When I was first getting started, every day felt like a new challenge. It took a long time for men in the industry to stop gatekeeping - while at events, I would go through my spiel about the product, and someone would always ask if I actually enjoyed drinking single malts. I’d have to swallow hard before answering their questions, as I had just finished explaining that Brenne is founded on my love for the category. Some people would even think I was a paid promotional model before learning that Brenne was my creation!

With that said, we have come a long way, and I’ve worked hard alongside many female distillers, brand ambassadors, and founders to change the perception that whisky is a man’s drink. At this time, I’m the only woman to have received Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky award for World Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year.

How should we be ordering and enjoying your whisky?

Brenne is a unique single malt – it’s important to try it neat first, to get to know its fruity, creamy, and floral flavor. After that, go for a Brenne Highball – preferably with Perrier and a slice of orange. In the summer, I also recommend sipping Brenne Estate Cask on the rocks with a grapefruit peel. Brenne is also quick to liven up a classic cocktail like a Manhattan, Sidecar, or Old Fashioned.

Disruptor

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Office Politics

Navigating the Post #MeToo Office Landscape NYC-based psychotherapist Sherry Amatenstein examines the changing office landscape in the wake of the #MeToo movement and gives modern gents a few tips on how to avoid rough waters.

M

atthew Ross admits his actions might be viewed as excessive – even slightly paranoid. To protect his small company from potential lawsuits by female employees, the 28-year-old co-owner and chief operating officer of Reno-based The Slumber Yard, a sleep and mattress review website and accompanying YouTube channel, has not only purchased an Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) policy, which offers extra protection for employers against wrongful termination, sexual harassment and discrimination suits, but also strives to avoid one-on-one conversations with female underlings by either having another person in the room or having the interaction occur in an office equipped with a camera.

Prior to starting The Slumber Yard, which currently has eight male and four female employees, Ross and his (male) business partner worked in a Los Angeles investment bank that exuded a Wall Street vibe. “We’ve seen how guys can quickly act like they’re in a locker room and make sexual comments,” the COO admits, adding, “We strive for a positive working environment but in today’s ultra-sensitive society, you can’t be too careful.”

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Perhaps this is an over-correction to the post #MeToo moment but statistics give some credence to Ross’ fears. In 2018 the number of lawsuits filed

by The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) jumped 50 percent in one year. And a survey between LeanIn.Org and SurveyMoney found one in six male managers admitting to feeling uncomfortable mentoring a female colleague.

Another troubling finding from the LeanIn.Org.com poll is that Mike Pence’s much-ridiculed practice of not dining with a woman unless his wife is present is becoming more the norm with a staggering 30 percent of male managers uncomfortable to even work alone with a woman, over twice as many as before #MeToo erupted with accusations against Harvey Weinstein in October 2017.

Since women silently endured flagrant sexual harassment, abuse and discrimination for decades, their anger and sense of righteousness has added to the murkiness about what should and should not be correct behavior by men. Laura Kammermeier, creator of Nature Travel Network, says, “Do we really want to stamp out flirting and the gentle kindnesses of comments like: ‘What a nice sweater"? Lori Sokol, executive director and editorin-chief of Women’s eNews, an award-winning, non-profit digital news service aimed at women worldwide, says flatly: "It's very simple. If a straight man would feel uncomfortable about being the recipient of a behavior, touch or comment from a gay man, then that’s a behavior, touch or comment he shouldn’t make toward a woman.”

Sound advice, and yet as a NYC-based psychotherapist, I work with many well-intentioned men who feel clueless about how to attain the twin objectives of treating women correctly and not be accused of improprieties. Each male public figure newly charged in the court of public opinion with disrespectful or worse conduct (we’re looking at you, Uncle Joe!) levels fresh fear. And mature men are finding it more difficult than millennials to process the changes as the latter are more adept at questioning societal power dynamics.

The urgency of bringing clarity to proper corporate behavior is borne out by a recent Pew Research Center poll which found 50 percent of the 6,251 surveyed believe the increased focus on sexual

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harassment makes men more doubtful about how to interact with female co-workers while 21 percent of women see decreased professional opportunities for themselves.

Guidelines to a More Productive, Less Paranoid Environment – It’s Not Rocket Science Realize Women are Not Lying in Wait to Accuse You Carrie Pitzulo, Ph.D., an expert in gender studies and author of Bachelors and Bunnies: The Sexual Politics of Playboy, says, “A very important point for men to realize is that women are not spending all their time at work on the lookout for harassment and insults hurled at them. Rather, most women are going about their day and if men are professional and courteous, it will be fine.”

Have Empathy for Women’s Feelings Pitzulo says, “Once you realize women have been operating in fear and silence for ever, it will help you want women to feel safe and operate accordingly.

Ask questions about her experiences and really listen to her answers.

Don’t Touch or Say Something…

Well…Stupid An “innocent” tap on the shoulder to you may be something else entirely to your co-worker. What’s a stupid comment? Something that would outrage you if it was said to a woman you cared about.

If You See A Male Colleague Acting Inappropriately, Speak Up Otherwise you are contributing to the problem.

Attend Women’s Conferences and Employee Resource Groups (ERGs).

Evidence is mounting that 96 percent of organizations see progress when men are engaged in gender inclusion programs. If your boss does not have such programs, suggest that one be initiated.

It is uncomfortable to change dug-in behaviors but ultimately it’s way less uncomfortable than eternally walking on eggshells. A patient of mine gave perhaps the most astute piece of advice I’ve heard: “Try working at not being an asshole!”

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The Cook

The Boy from Encino Chef Phillip Frankland Lee is no stranger to bold

culinary concepts. With six restaurants under his belt, the LA native is quickly building a gastronomic empire.

He speaks with Nick Walton about inspiration, health scares and bringing back a sense of theatre and luxury to the Californian contemporary dining scene.

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The Cook What first inspired you to cook?

I got my first chef’s knife when I was three years old.

My dad said, “I don’t know what else to get him, all he wants to do is cook.” I don’t have a moment in time when something clicked for me, I just sort of always wanted to be in the kitchen.

Growing up in Los Angeles, what were your culinary motivators?

Growing up in LA, specially the San Fernando Valley, I was exposed to a lot of different cuisines; I mean, there aren’t many other places outside of Japan that a 13-year-old boy is buying sushi books with the goal of one day being a sushi chef. Los Angeles is amazing in the way that we are the ultimate melting pot, and what the chefs who grew up in LA are doing today is not fusion as we’re not trying to mix one culture with another, it’s simply using the flavors of our childhood to create something unique.

For most of us, childhood was filled with everything from falafels to nigiri.

You’ve worked with some of the heavy hitters of the LA and Chicago dining scene, including Quinn Hatfield and Stefan Richter; what influence did these chefs and that experience have on your own culinary style?

Early on in my career I knew I wanted to open my own restaurant, so it was important to me to train under the best. I set out to work under Laurent Gras at L2o (unfortunately he left the restaurant just as I started), Michael Cimarusti at Providence, Chef Quinn at Hatfield’s, Stefan Richter, Neal Fraser etcetera. I knew that if I was to be successful, it was imperative to go and learn from those who I admired most.

You opened your first restaurant, Scratch|Bar in Beverley Hills with your pastry chef wife Margarita. What is scratch cooking and are we likely to see more of it?

I think more and more restaurants are embracing the idea of making everything in-house. I read somewhere that the definition of the word “restaurant” is “a place where people pay to sit and eat meals that are cooked and served on premises”. I’m a very literal person, so I took that to mean that if you buy your bread or butter or smoked salmon from someone else then you, by definition, are no longer a restaurant, and I didn’t just want Scratch|Bar & Kitchen to be a restaurant, I wanted it to be the restaurant.

What inspired the move of Scratch to Encino?

I grew up in Encino, I grew up riding the carousel that is in the courtyard of where Scratch|Bar & Kitchen resides.

It was important to me as a Valley boy to go over the hill and learn to cook and then bring what I had learned back to where I grew up.

You also created a vegetable-driven concept called Gadarene Swine; what was the motivation for this eatery and how are diner’s perspectives on vege-forward restaurants changing?

I

got

diagnosed

with

cholesteatoma

just

after

Scratch|Bar opened, and that was a very scary time in my life. I really dislike medication and so my wife put me on a crazy eight-week diet, alcohol free, vegan, the works, and believe it or not the tumor started shrinking.

After the tumor was removed, I couldn’t help but feel that food isn’t just supposed to be art, it’s supposed to be our life source. And so, with this new-found ideology I set out to open a fine-dining vegetable-only tasting menu restaurant. Since the closure of The Gadarene Swine, I haven’t seen another tasting menu vegan restaurant open, but that’s ok, I plan to revive the concept soon!

You now own six restaurants in LA and Montecito, outside Santa Barbara, including your newest, The Silver Bough. How do you maintain the balance of being a chef and a business owner and do those roles ever conflict?

It’s incredibly difficult to balance the two roles as they require an entirely different set of tools and skills and in many ways approaching your work as a chef when you are exposed to ownership responsibilities is counterproductive to creativity. However, I’ve been practicing the balancing act for six years now and at this point we have a very large team behind the scenes that hold all the restaurants together. It wasn’t until our third restaurant that I realized it was time to step back and empower those around me to grow and make mistakes and learn and thrive. With the opening of The Silver Bough and my commitment to being present for service every night, I have handed off a lot of my workload to allow me to be in the kitchen again.

Silver Bough is a fascinating concept that adds a touch of theatre to the dining experience, complete with ticket sales; what story are you trying to tell with this intimate eight-seat concept?

The story we are trying to tell is one of luxury. The world we live in is unfortunately very dark and with The Silver Bough, we do our best to transport our guests out of the world they live in and into another.

What ingredients and techniques are you currently experimenting with?

We recently got a freeze dryer that has been a lot of fun to play with.

Where are we likely to find you dining after hours?

In Santa Barbara, Margarita and I are either getting a pepperoni pizza at Bettina or Hot Pot at Lao Ma Tou.

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Gastronomy

The Future of Food From 3D printed pastries to beef steaks free from cruelty, scientists are increasingly dominating the kitchen, discovers Christian Darkin.

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n 2016, in London, a pop-up restaurant called Food Ink brought together artists, architects and chefs to create a dining experience unlike any other. Everything in the restaurant, from the tables and chairs to the cutlery and even the food itself, was created using 3D printers. It was billed as the ‘future of food’, but is this new gastronomy just a gimmick, or is it part of a revolution in food technology?

Three-dimensional printing has been around for a while now. Printers using plastic that’s melted and formed into shapes are increasingly common and today you can 3D print with everything from silver and gold to ceramics and even wood. In fact, anything that can be made to come out of a nozzle as a gel or paste and then quickly solidified can be fed into a 3D printer.

Consequently, it wasn’t long until chefs recognized that chocolate fit that description, as did dough, cake mix, pates and purées, giving life to a new style of gastronomy that’s as much science as it is culinary tradition.

Already, you can visit the La Enoteca in Barcelona and order a dish containing a 3D printed seafood purée.

Chef Josiah Citrin also uses 3D printing at the two Michelin starred Melisse restaurant in Santa Monica.

Dinara Kasko is another innovator. She designs 3D printed molds from which she creates exquisite desserts. The young Ukrainian chef taps into skills learnt while studying architecture and design to create sweets with striking geometric designs, from cubes and triangles to perfect spheres.

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“For me, the 3D printer is just a standard tool in my kitchen, like a mixer. I work with it almost every day,” she Kasko. Her pastry art includes a mesmerizing 3D printed chocolate cake commissioned for the 70th anniversary of Land Rover, and a series of sweets inspired by both the shape and flavor of classic American cocktails.

The evolution of commercial food printers is helping fuel this innovation. Until only a few years ago, food printers were limited to producing sugarheavy if not eye-catching constructions. Now however, contemporary models, including the ground-breaking, WiFi-connected Foodini from Barcelona-based Natural Machines, are able to print up a feast.

Chloe Rutzerveld, a self-described food designer, is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

She imagines printing not simply food, but entire ecosystems.

“We have to learn to look at our food differently”, says the innovator. “The Earth's population

(Clockwise from top left) Pastry chef Dinara Kasko; 3D printing allows for some unique designs; Egg on Carpaccio by chef Carles Tejedor of OilMotion; a burger

by Mosa Meats.

Gastronomy steps in a new race for slaughter-free food.

Now, companies are fighting it out to reduce the costs and improve the quality of so called in-vitro meat, harnessing cellular biology to create meat from animal cells rather than living creatures. At the forefront of this technology are firms like Memphis Meats, Mosa Meat, at which Dr Post is chief scientific officer, and Finless Foods, all of whom hope to produce supermarket ready products within the next year or so, at prices that compare with farmed meat.

However, Chloe Rutzerveld wants to take in-vitro meat a stage further, by abandoning not just animal farming, but animal meat altogether. “In a world in which meat becomes scarce, how far are meat consumers willing to go to continue eating meat?” she wonders. Her ‘In-Vitro Me’ project envisages producing a personal bioreactor in which people could grow cultures of their own stem cells, on their own bodies. If she’s right, we could end up eating ourselves.

continues to grow rapidly so we have to use our raw materials wisely.” One of her design ideas is to print seeds, spores and yeast into an “edible breeding ground” which then grows over several days to form a meal. She’s still a ways away from creating a grow-your-own snack, but it’s an intriguing idea.

Of course, 3D printing is just one of the revolutions hitting food. The real holy grail of future food is to not simply print recipes out of the pulped pastes of food products, but to actually construct the ingredients themselves at the cellular level. The race is now on to commercially grow meat without the need for animals.

The first lab-grown beef burger was produced in 2013 by Dr. Mark Post at Maastricht University. It was cooked and eaten in London at a demonstration for journalists. The patty cost US$300,000 and took two years to produce in an experiment funded by Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google. Unfortunately, it wasn’t generally hailed for its taste by those who tried it, but it was the first

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Libation

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Libation

High Spirits

From spirits infused with hemp botanicals to classic cocktails spiked with CBD, there are many new ways to drink your green, discovers Jo Stewart

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Libation

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(Clockwise from top left) The Donnie Vegas ‘Marga-weed-a'; Humboldt have been pioneers in the hemp spirit scene; Joel Schmeck's Dank Memes.

avvy bar owners know that a mustdrink cocktail can put their bar on the map. The emergence of cannabis cocktails in hip West Hollywood bars following California’s changed legal stance on cannabis in 2018, signalled a whole new approach to mixology, with classic concoctions laced with CBD (cannabidiol), the nonpsychoactive compound found in marijuana, by inventive drinksmiths. However, for many bars, the Green Rush didn’t last.

Legal roadblocks saw CBD cocktails appear on (and then disappear from) bar and restaurant menus across the US. With legislation varying from state to state, it can be tricky for owners to stay on the right side of the law, even if drinks don’t contain any THC, the hallucinogenic chemical found in cannabis that gets you ‘high’. Despite the challenges, discerning drinkers can still find weed cocktails in pockets of the USA. Located in the borough of Queens, Adriaen Block has garnered plenty of buzz as the first CBD restaurant and bar in New York City. Proudly proclaiming to ‘bring the Dutch back to the block’, the bar produces low ABV modern classics -

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including the Stoney Negroni, a blend of Cocchi Americano, Tio Pepe dry sherry and Floc de Gascogne - dosed with a CBD tincture.

Providing a genuinely good non-alcoholic alternative, Adriaen Block’s cocktail menu also reflects an emerging trend for mixing CBD tinctures with Seedlip, the world’s first non-alcoholic distilled spirit.

Over on the west coast, it’s unsurprising that the free-spirited city of Portland, Oregon is home to several bars serving CBD-spiked cocktails. In the Alberta neighborhood, late night dive bar Donnie Vegas slings hot dogs, beer and ‘taptails’ (cocktails on tap) that include a frozen CBD margarita (aka the ‘Marga-weed-a’) containing 5mg of hempderived CBD per serve. Also in Portland, Irving Street Kitchen's lead bartender Joel Schmeck has incorporated CBD into his menu with the Dank Memes, which is inspired by the fresh hop season, and blends local Volstead vodka with grapefruit syrup, silky 'Pilsner shandy foam' and a tincture of fresh hops and lemon CBD oil.

The move towards weed-laced alcoholic drinks is on; companies like Colorado’s New Belgium

Libation

Brewing and Cali’s Lagunitas Brewing have joined many others to create brews infused with cannabis terpenes; producers like Florida’s Fat Dog Spirits have added hemp-seed to their vodkas and gin; and last year’s investment of US$4 billion into Canadian cultivation company Cannabis Growth Corp by wine and spirits conglomerate Constellation Brands shows the alcohol industry sees cannabis – whether it’s THC or hemp-derived CBD –as a serious contender.

However, this doesn’t mean a raft of alcoholic drinks boasting a THC punch is on the horizon; more likely are beverages in which CBD – and eventually THC – replace alcohol as the star ingredient.

After working in the wine and spirits industry for more than a decade, Victoria Pustynsky created Aurora Elixirs, a brand of premium, alcohol-free, CBD-infused tonics that can be drunk on their own or mixed with spirits.

The Oregon-based brand is now available in eleven states including Oregon, Kentucky and Tennessee, and is proving popular with a wide cross-section of society.

“We have a following that spans from millennials to seniors,” says Pustynsky. “Consumers come to CBD for many different reasons. Although Aurora Elixirs are for recreation first and foremost, they do provide a delicious vehicle for the balancing effects of CBD.”

After years of experimentation, Abe Stevens of Humboldt Distillery has taken another approach to incorporating cannabis into the craft vodka he brews in Humboldt, the famed marijuana-growing region in northern California.

“We use hemp instead of marijuana, which is a strain of cannabis that's much lower in THC. Our vodka is produced in a way that it doesn't have any THC, so it's legal in all 50 states,” says Stevens. “What it does have are the aromatic terpenes, which gives it its distinctive flavor and aroma.”

Awarded a double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Humboldt's Finest vodka complements many cocktails. As a botanicallyinfused spirit, it’s regularly used as a replacement for gin by a new generation of green-leaning bartenders.

“It's got an appealing herbal aromatic character. Bartenders are excited about it because it gives them a new tool to work with in their creations," says Stevens. He suggests pairing the vodka with other herbal components like cucumber, mint, basil, thyme or oregano. “One of my favorites is the Hemp Highball. It uses a jasmine simple syrup and cucumber, and pairs well with the aromatics in Humboldt's Finest.”

It may be some years until you can enjoy a cocktail with the effects of a joint, or a gin that’ll get you high, but in the meantime, cannabis seems to have a new home behind the mahogany.

The brand’s two flavors - Grapefruit Rosemary and Lavender Spice - are sold everywhere from liquor stores to grocery co-ops.“The flavors are mild and botanical. We’ve attempted to make the drinks taste like they are derived from the cannabis plant but in the very best way - green, floral, citrusy and slightly bitter,” says Pustynsky, who is finding both drinkers and non-drinkers alike are fans of the brand.

“Our elixirs taste great when combined with certain spirits, but the alcohol-free alternative has been the sweet spot. Food and beverage professionals say that it’s the perfect way to bypass alcohol but still participate in the occasion because the drinks are reminiscent of cocktails in a bottle, with the bonus of the non-psychoactive cannabinoids in our hemp extract.”

Tonics containing THC are the natural next step for the brand, with Pustynsky planning to launch a range of THC elixirs in late 2019.

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Rewriting the

SUV Rule Book

The intimate relationship Rolls-Royce has with its patrons is unquestionable. The British marque doesn’t do mass crowd-pleasers; instead it takes in its clients’ eccentricities and delivers vehicles that directly cater to them. The fact that the first year’s production of the Cullinan - Rolls-Royce’s answer to the SUV - sold out, plays testament to that, discovers Cindy-Lou Dale.

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olls-Royce isn’t fashionably late to the SUV party but has really been waiting and watching other manufacturers. It’s reconstructed the SUV concept and perfected it, delivering a vehicle of choice for kingmakers, powerbrokers and high net-worth individuals.

Aided by a camera system that reads the road ahead, the SUV glides over dirt tracks with a self-leveling air suspension that miraculously absorbs off-road ruts and bumps. But the fun starts with a flick of the ‘Everywhere’ switch.

This is when the Cullinan tightens its muscles to tackle some off-piste action.

The Cullinan is an off-road Phantom, with a different purpose. It’s ostentatious and outrageous, and oversized but to see the Cullinan in motion is a thing to behold – it commands monumental presence.

Although the Cullinan is graceful, with a modern energy, the traditional concept of beauty here is superfluous. The roofline gets faster as your eye travels along its length; there’s strong metal touch-points throughout, and large protective spears above the sills that break up the body’s side volume. If ever there was a statement car, this is it.

What lies beneath the unique-to-Rolls-Royce architecture is a recalibrated version of the Phantom’s vast 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 and, despite the near 2.7-tonne kerb-weight, it drags the Cullinan to 60mph in just five seconds.

On the tarmac, the Cullinan purrs along productively, sequestered from its surroundings. The V12 is almost silent (hello 100kg of insulation), the silky ZF eight-speed automatic-only gearbox is magnificently smooth, and thanks to foam lined tyres, wind and road noise is barely perceptible. Regards handling, witchcraft embeds it to the road, which is what you’d expect from the world’s most refined SUV. There’s a perverse pleasure in pointing the Cullinan up a rocky pass and letting it get on with it (whilst keeping the Dom Perignon chilled). Off road it disguises its heft well and can be confidently hustled along, driving with nothing more than telepathy. On twisting country roads it’s particularly able and delivers a satisfying roar when driven boldly.

At almost 7ft wide and 17ft long, the body is stumpy. Add to that a height of 6ft and you’ve got yourself a mobile viewing platform, with a mean-looking warrior face, and laser headlights, complete with vertical and horizontal lines. To emphasise the car’s tough remit the long bonnet sits higher than the front wings and the traditional hand-polished Parthenon grille sits proud of the bodywork.

The opening price is US$325,000, which most customers will double by the time they’ve added their own bespoke extras like the Recreation Module – a motorized drawer which is a viewing platform, complete with folding leather chairs.

This is, in so many ways, a ludicrous car. The looks may be defiant, the price daunting, and whether you actually like it or not is irrelevant – this is what Rolls-Royce customers want: a boutique off-roader that’s rewritten the SUV rule book.

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Wellness

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Wellness

Can Cannabis

Save Contact Sports?

For nearly a century, marijuana has borne an unfortunate stigma as a braincrippling substance throughout much of the world. But modern research suggests cannabis possesses singular medical properties that could help protect brains and aid in recovery from sports-related injuries. By Lisabeth Fauble

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hether it’s hitting the field or cheering on your home team, contact sports are a favorite pastime for many men around the world.

However, playing contact-heavy sports comes with the risk of painful physical damage, including head injury.

Repeated blows to the head cause the brain to bruise and twist.

If it happens enough times, this bruising can cause the formation of a poisonous protein called tau. Tau spreads throughout the brain, killing brain cells and causing a condition known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE. CTE carries symptoms like aggression, paranoia, impulse control issues, memory problems, confusion, depression, and thoughts of suicide. Professional and amateur athletes in boxing, American football, hockey, and soccer have the highest risk for CTE ̶ in American football it’s practically a given, with 110 of 111 American footballer’s brains testing positive for CTE in autopsies, according to studies by the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank, a collaboration between the Concussion Legacy Foundation, Boston University and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Former NFL player Kyle Turley has become one of the most outspoken advocates for cannabis use in sports. After retiring from professional football, Turley experienced bouts of severe anxiety, paranoia, and mood swings accompanied by crippling pain. Eventually, he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and dementia thought to be linked to CTE.

Jerusalem’s Hebrew University Medical Faculty.

Cannabis can also be a highly-effective alternative to opioids for pain management and recovery, with fewer side-effects and significantly less risk of dependency. Polls indicate former NFL players are four times more likely to succumb to opioid addiction than non-players, one more reason professional athletes like Turley have become some of the biggest advocates for cannabis in sports. A survey by The Tylt of 6,000 millennials found that 93.2 percent believe marijuana is a better option for athletes than prescription opioids.

Former NFL running back Ricky Williams was publicly reprimanded for his cannabis use throughout his 11 seasons.

Williams blamed the NFL's anti-cannabis policy for his early retirement at 29, citing concern over his repeated brain injuries and an unwillingness to use addictive pain pills that don’t protect brain health for his pro-cannabis stance. Instead, Williams has built the world’s first marijuana-friendly gym, Power Plant Fitness and Wellness, demonstrating that cannabis' is not just a lazy man’s pastime, but can be a valuable tool for improving both mental and physical health.

Turley blames years of being over-prescribed painkillers and other drugs for sports injuries for masking the underlying neurological issues that led to his current condition. Turley has sworn off prescription pills completely, including anti-psychotics prescribed for dementia symptoms, claiming cannabis is “unbelievably powerful and better than any psych medication I was ever given. It gave me my life back.”

Today, Williams and Turley are no longer alone in their quest to make cannabis more available to professional athletes. A group of former pro athletes, including NFL quarterback Jake Plummer, lineman Eugene Monroe, linebacker Derrick Morgan, defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, defensive end Marvin Washington and many more, have come together to form When the Bright Lights Fade, a campaign that promotes sports injury awareness and funds research into cannabis’s potential for athletes. The push to recognize cannabis as a viable pain management and neuroprotective agent for athletes has become so strong, it’s only a matter of time before the pro-cannabis movement becomes a pro-sports reality.

Some current research concurs with Turley, showing that both the CBD and THC in marijuana help improve brain recovery from common sports-related brain injuries like concussions.

Cannabinoids activate brain receptors in our natural endocannabinoid system, reducing neuropathic pain and anxiety while encouraging nerve cells to heal. One animal study showed that endocannabinoids can help avert brain damage by protecting against cell death, improving blood flow to the brain, and reducing inflammation, according to studies by the Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products at

“I suffer from traumatic brain injury from playing this sport. I’ve seen this firsthand in multiple scans of my brain. I understand that it’s an occupational hazard”, said Turley in a Freedom Leaf interview. “The fact that there are zero medications to stop the progression of this condition should impel everyone to search for an answer to this problem. If we want to save football, then we’ve got to start looking at solutions, not just count concussions. Cannabis is that potential savior. Seventy percent or more of the players use cannabis in the NFL today, because they know it works.”

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American Desperado: My Life as a Cocaine Cowboy

by Jon Roberts & Evan Wright

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ith Narcos dominating Netflix and a plethora of other true crime-driven programming captivating global viewers, the adventures of real criminals have never been more in vogue. One of the greatest accounts to come out of the Colombian cartels, Evan Wright’s American Desperado: My Life as a Cocaine Cowboy tells the story of super-criminal (and co-author) Jon Roberts, the star of successful documentary series Cocaine Cowboys, who died in 2011.

Based on conversations between veteran journalist and drug kingpin that began in 2008 and lasted three years, this no-holds-barred account follows Roberts' colorful criminal life as a Gambino family mafioso, from witnessing his first murder at the tender age of seven, to years spent as an assassin in Vietnam, to his high-flying lifestyle in Miami – complete with muscle cars and pet cougars – as the Medellin Cartel’s most effective smuggler.

As heartfelt as it is gripping, the book tells the story of influence, intrigue, greed and the insatiable cocaine addiction of 80s America, with all the colorful characters and close-calls of a modern-day Netflix drama. At the core is Roberts’ desire to protect his own son from a similarly flamboyant but ultimately violent.

Scrupulously documented and relentlessly propulsive, this collaboration between a bloodhound journalist and one of the most audacious criminals ever is like no other crime book you’ve ever read. Jon Roberts may be the only criminal who changed the course of American history.

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The Last Word

Plant Providence In the rapidly evolving legal cannabis market, consumers need to know what they’re buying, says

Leonard Kerman.

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ou may be a grandfather looking to relieve his arthritis, a gent looking to be proactive about heart health, or a millennial looking to make some brownies for a party, with the cannabis market going from illicit to recreationally legalized, even those who have indulged their entire life are new to this evolving freight train and at the end of the day it’s about what’s in the medicine.

Much of our pertinent history of cannabis is how it has been consumed illegally and in the illicit market, what mattered was the name. Drug dealers pushed the likes of Bubba Kush, Sour Diesel, and Pink Cookie Dough, each being a strain of cannabis that provided a different kind of high. People assumed that those products, if named correctly, would yield the same result from batch to batch, session to session. However, studies show that over 90 percent of what is called Bubba Kush or Sour Diesel isn’t even in the same plant family. As a result, the levels of THC and CBD, (the most common psychoactive and therapeutic chemical compounds in cannabis respectively) are likely way off what you predicted. Imagine going to the drug store to find that each bottle of Aspirin was totally different from the next, and that sometimes it wasn’t even Aspirin, but Gravol. That’s insane. How can that be a regulated market?

For all consumers the new wave of regulation is the best possible thing. Going forward, the product will not be defined by its name but by its percentages of THC and CBD, making it much easier for both consumers and ‘budtenders’ to predict what’s required as a dose.

Additionally, regulated products will be free of toxins and other unwelcome additions. Historically, illegal cultivators would lace cannabis with harder drugs

like LSD or cocaine to up the kick, meaning someone looking for a mellow result instead found themselves in hospital with a racing heart because the product they purchased was full of cocaine. This is flat out dangerous. The regulated market is designed to stamp that out, and that’s why the ‘where did my product come from?’ question is so important.

Not everyone is happy about cannabis coming out of the dark. Gangs and organized crime have made millions pedaling marijuana globally and they’re looking for holes in the supply chain to mix illegal supply with the legal supply to keep that tap running. They’re checking to see who’s loading what and where and how the supply can be manipulated. I’m not trying to scare you, but this is the reality of any product moving from prohibition to legalization. Governments have realized this and mandate a strong seed-to-sale regiment.

Knowing where the seed and plants are at all times gives consumers confidence that the products they’re purchasing don’t contribute to crime or corruption.

Governments are also looking for more elegant solutions to ensure the supply chain cannot be broken, including blockchain infrastructure that can verify who has touched the plant and where it’s been, and the use of molecular tags that can survive alterations to the plant and can be retrieved at any time. This, in conjunction with an irrefutable ledger, will create a stronger seed-to-sale system that will protect you, the consumer, and the legal market.

Twenty years ago, food didn’t have the same disclosures of its contents that it does today, and that’s a direct result of the general public wanting a more transparent market. The cannabis industry should be no different.

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