CURATED Magazine by Exclusive Resorts • Winter 2022

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I N FOC US

URUGUAY, PLEASE …

A new South American journey celebrates culture and cuisine.

URUGUAY. ARGENTINA. LOCAL CUISINE. High-end hotels. Done and done. As the Club’s Experience Collection grows, 2022 brings further reason to get your passport stamped. Explore culinary standouts, meet cultural tastemakers, and partake in active outdoor adventures during a nine-night journey designed to showcase South America’s finest. Itinerary highlights include visiting Uruguay’s José Ignacio—a former fishing village-turnedfashionable beachside resort town. Despite the surrounding coastline dotted with lavish homes and high-end hotels and restaurants, the city also thrums with a laid back, lowkey vibe.

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PHOTO BY: BEN WATTS

WINTER/SPRING 2022

CONTENTS

2 In Focus

5 from the CEO

6 Editor letter

7 contributors

FEATURES

EXCLUSIVE

42 country, ski + snow Steamboat Springs

50 tried + trenDing

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

58 cali cool

Newport and Laguna Beach

10 iconoclast

Design download, with Fanny Singer

12 MEMBER VETTED

Hugo Del Pazzo’s PINEA wine

14 NEW + NOTEWORTHY

New Club residences in S icily

16 DAY IN THE LIFE

Pro golfer Brendon Todd

SCENE

20 art of travel

Paravel rethinks luggage; NFTs surprise the art world

24 eye on design

New Club residences in Jackson Hole

26 RADAR

The auto industry’s electric boogie

28 WELL PLAYED

The Ranch at Malibu’s customized wellness programs

savor

32 the dish

Social Studies simplifies the art of tablescapes.

34 CHEF’S TABLE

Dustin Valette and The Matheson

36 CHEERS

Don Julio’s ultra-limited editions; Phifer Pavitt Wine’s second act

CONNECT

67 People, Places + Parties

Global events at coveted locales

72 PARTING SHOT Member DJ Brooks’ point of view

on the cover Outdoor adventure in Colorado.

photograph by Ken Kochey.

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PHOTO BY KEN KOCHEY

FROM THE CEO

D

—— At Pebble Beach for a Member golf event.

URING THE TIME IT TOOK TO PRODUCE THIS ISSUE OF CURATED, SOMETHING INTERESTING HAPPENED. As part of the Club’s re-branding vision, we fostered a concept, and eventual campaign, that “Life is Too Short for Should Haves.” As I discussed this idea with my team, I realized I was the perfect case in point: I was the type of traveler who often found himself in the “should” zone. I should have spent more time with family; I should have played more, worked less. Taken more vacations. Not halfhearted trips, but meaningful journeys—ones that positively impact your life, family, health, and longevity.

It’s impressive how, as we embody a vision—be it personal or professional—it begins to manifest. Today, I’ve moved on from “shoulds.” I make time to slow down and authentically connect with family, colleagues, and Club Members. I traveled often over the past six months for precisely the reason we came up with for this campaign—life moves fast and given what we’ve all encountered over the past two years, unpredictability can be a motivator for change and progress. I’ve taken interesting trips. Meaningful ones anchored in connection. Because as we continue to refine and evolve the Club, I’ve realized life really is too short for should haves.

My hope is that we continually help you realize the same, and in doing so, co-create memories of true connection—be it with yourself, others, or new destinations—along the way.

TRAVEL WELL. TRAVEL FAR. TRAVEL OFTEN.

JAMES HENDERSON Chief Executive Officer

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FROM THE EDITOR

O

—— At The House of Flowers in Healdsburg for a Club event, with Rachel Regan (middle) and Karrie Sims (right).

NE OF THE MOST EXCITING ASPECTS TO MY ROLE AS EDITOR OF CURATED IS MEETING CLUB MEMBERS. Given the past two years, many of these gatherings have been on Zoom or while hosting Exclusive Resorts webinars. But while putting together this issue, I’ve been fortunate to attend and co-host in-person Club events, including parties in Aspen and Napa. As someone who craves storytelling and learning of Members’ journeys and personal backgrounds, connection has never felt more prescient as we all emerge from a challenging time. During these events, attendees had a renewed appreciation for travel, interaction, and simply being together.

We capture some of these moments in our new “Connect” section (page 65). Our goal is to build on the momentum of these unique events, celebrating Members, destinations, and Club partners within these pages. We also celebrate favorite U.S. locales with feature stories on Steamboat Springs (page 40), Jackson Hole (page 48), and Southern California (page 56). While staying at The Resort at Pelican Hill and Montage Laguna Beach with my 12-year-old son, I quickly realized romance these days can be redefined.

It’s never been a more romantic time to travel with kids and family, as we return to what we cherish most. Lastly, visit our new online Club Journal, where you’ll find curated content and stories capturing the Club lifestyle, interviews with Members, and spotlights on innovative tastemakers.

ENJOY THE READ!

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M A G A Z I N E

CONTRIBUTORS

editorial editor in chief erin lentz creative director karrie sims photo director stefanie michejda copy editor sarah taylor asquith

exclusive resorts chief executive officer james henderson senior vice president, marketing joey whelan senior vice president, sales rachel regan senior director, marketing caitlin austin

brand manager, marketing samantha birnbach copywriter avery johnson

contributors Brett Berk, Jackie Caradonio, Mark Ellwood, Avery Johnson, Ken Kochey, Amy Tara Koch, Leilani Marie Labong, Elizabeth Messina, Stefanie Michejda, Jacquelynn Powers, Jen Murphy, Christopher Schultz, Nick Schroer

editorial inquiries Publisher is not responsible or liable for return or safekeeping of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photographs, or other materials. ©2021, Exclusive Resorts, LLC. All Rights Reserved. CURATED Magazine is published two times a year.

Reproduction in whole or in part of any material in this publication without publisher’s permission is strictly prohibited.

For editorial inquiries, copies, customer service, or to exhibit or distribute at a business, please inquire at info@tagmediaaspen.com. tag media

0133 Prospector Road; Suite 4102R; Aspen, CO 81611 exclusive resorts club management

1601 19th Street | Suite 500 Denver, CO 80202 For Membership information and opportunities, call 844.541.2714 or email MembershipDirector@exclusiveresorts.com advertisement herein for any product or service does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by exclusive resorts, llc or its affiliates.

Club Membership is subject to terms and conditions of Club Membership agreement. Different terms and conditions apply to different purchases.

Reservations for specific days, destinations and events subject to availability.

Experience Collection vacations, certain services, amenities and other Member benefits may require additional fees, may have limited availability and are subject to additional terms and conditions. Neither Exclusive Resorts nor any of its affiliates is responsible for, or liable with regard to, claims related to a third party’s provision of, or failure to provide, services. Club Membership does not provide or constitute, any investment, equity or ownership interest, or any real property interest. Magazine content is for informational purposes only; The Club disclaims any warranty or representation of any kind; stories do not constitute The Club’s endorsement of any cause or program. See ExclusiveResorts.com for more information. Exclusive Resorts and the Exclusive Resorts flower logo are registered trademarks of Exclusive Resorts, LLC. ©2021, Exclusive Resorts, LLC. All rights reserved.

AMY TARA KOCH

BRETT BERK

Amy is an author, journalist, and television personality who has the unique pleasure of traveling the world for her job.

She contributes to The New York Times, The Telegraph, The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Bon Appetit, The Washington Post, Travel + Leisure, Vogue, Food & Wine, and Conde Nast Traveler.

She lives in Chicago with her husband and two daughters.

Brett is a New York City-based freelance writer, who covers the intersection of cars and culture—architecture, art, books, fashion, film, politics, and travel.

His work currently appears regularly in Architectural Digest, Business Insider, Car and Driver, GQ, The New York Times, Road & Track, and Vanity Fair.

CURRENT OBSESSIONS: Chia pudding, Pure Barre, Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Acid, Vodka from Marble Distillery FOODIE FIND: Mediterranean spices by New York Shuk WHERE TO NEXT: Paris and Prague

ALWAYS TRAVEL WITH: Cash in the local currency, Moleskine notepads, Uniball MicroRoller black pens, and a suite of fullycharged devices WISH-LIST TRIP: South America: Argentina, Chile, and Peru CURRENT OBSESSION: Electric Cars

@exclusiveresorts

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Sicily, Italy

PHOTO BY PETER BOCCIA

page 14

EXCLUSIVE

ESCAPE THE EXPECTED

ICONOCLAST • MEMBER VETTED • NEW + NOTEWORTHY • DAY IN THE LIFE

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EXCLUSIVE

CULTURE SHIFT Fanny Singer is redefining how art, history, and climate change is viewed. written by LEILANI MARIE LABONG

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ICONOCLAST

ART HISTORIAN FANNY SINGER ADMITS THAT GROWING UP IN THE BAY AREA, a perceived cultural divide between Northern and Southern California may have caused a late-blooming fondness for her current city of residence, Los Angeles. After all, Singer’s mother, Alice Waters, founded the iconic Berkeley restaurant Chez Panisse 50 years ago, securing Northern California as the origin of California cuisine—a pioneering gastronomy characterized by the simple and intuitive preparation of sustainable agriculture, including the famous sun-ripened figs on a platter.

“The false dichotomy between the two ‘halves’ of California really prevented, in a weird way, my family from accessing the culture of Los Angeles,” says Singer, who now lives in L.A.’s Silver Lake neighborhood, a creative, indie haven. “It was only in my adult life that I really started to explore Los Angeles, because I was serious about contemporary art and I couldn’t ignore L.A.” Singer, who earned a doctorate in art history at Cambridge, writes about arts and culture for Wall Street Journal Magazine, T Magazine, and Artforum, among others.

L.A.’s emerging female abstract painters are currently blazing trajectories across the art critic’s radar, including Culver City’s Lauren Quin, whose layered, rippling canvases thematically feature tubes and cylinders, often to fleshly effect, and Maysha Mohamedi of Downtown L.A.’s fashion district, whose brushstrokes originate in calligraphic Farsi, her ancestral tongue. “Looking back at all the abstract painters who have been canonized as the greats, few are women,” says Singer. “It’s cool to see female artists working within that formal language.”

Singer’s critical and artistic eye has been consistently fine-tuned. She writes in her 2020 memoir, serendipitously titled—pandemically speaking, that is—Always Home, about her mother’s constant curation of her surroundings, however temporary. For example, any distasteful décor in hotel rooms could be subject to banishment in a dark closet until checkout.

“My mom is very aesthetically attuned,” says Singer, whose hereditary taste for what she calls “the visual softness and generosity of beautiful objects,” is most evident in Permanent Collection, the Berkeley-based design brand she cofounded with architect and design historian Mariah Nielson.

With functional, artisan-crafted heirlooms as Permanent Collection’s north star, the titular assortment includes Alice’s Egg Spoon (hand-forged by Bay Area blacksmith Shawn Lovell, the long-handled iron spoon sizzles a single egg over coals or flame) and a salvaged-redwood salad bowl

—— Opposite: Fanny Singer, daughter of Alice Waters, recently released a new memoir. Above: Artisan crafted kitchen tools from her design brand, Permanent Collection.

(hand-turned by West Marin woodworker Bruce Mitchell).

“As we’ve become an increasingly industrialized and technophilic culture, we’re not touching things anymore and surrounding ourselves with beauty,” says Singer. “I know this is antithetical to capitalism, but I don’t want anyone to ever throw any of our objects away. One is enough.”

Such reverence for beauty in a curated environment like the home effortlessly extends to the natural environment, and as such, the subject of climate change—specifically, how these dramatic shifts in weather are interpreted in the arts—finds a rapt advocate in Singer. After all, nature’s high-vibrational overtures manifest as both sublimely edible and miraculously immersive—that is, of-this-earth, yet otherworldly, from the fractal splendor of Romanesco broccoli to the worshipful atmosphere of giant redwoods.

For her part in activism, Singer is currently pitching a television show that explores climate change through a cultural, rather than scientific, lens. “I like lightly educating in the context of other things I find interesting,” she says, citing a triumphant example of this paradigm, which she took in during a sold-out, recent engagement at L.A.’s Museum of Contemporary Art: The 2019 Venice Biennale’s Golden Lion prizewinner, Sun & Sea (Marina), a looping, hourlong opera from Lithuania in which a sandy, indoor beach is transformed into a climate change spectacle.

Coastlines, of course, have a way of bringing horizons, literal or otherwise, into view. And from a glittering obsidian-hued shore at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, Singer’s awe for her home state always dawns anew. “It’s a stunning little pocket with an incredible view of San Francisco and the Pacific,” she says, wistfully. “Being there, I almost can’t believe that I get to be a citizen of California.”

--fannysinger.com; permanentcollection.com

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EXCLUSIVE

TERROIR INSPIRED Club Member Hugo Del Pozzo celebrates the spirit of Spain with PINEA wine. written by ERIN LENTZ

ASK CLUB MEMBER HUGO DEL POZZO IF HE WOULD HAVE PREDICTED A NEAR SELL-OUT OF HIS NEW KORDE ROSÉ DURING COVID , and in his classy yet gregarious manner, he

would have laughed it off and humbly replied no. Yet not only has his Tempranillo flown from the shelves, he also expanded PINEA’s headquarters during the pandemic. Covid-19 may be considered both a blessing and a curse, but a positive for the wine industry is that we’re drinking more wine than ever. What’s more, our collective “cheers!” celebrates the power of connection, and PINEA’s very mission is to foster memories via vino.

Korde, in fact, means “the connection of hearts through words.”

Launched just seven years ago in Spain—and located in the heart of the famous Ribera del Duero winemaking region—PINEA, named after the massive canopy tree on their land, is the vision of Del Pozzo and co-partner Vicente Pliego. As determination and luck flourished, the partners lassoed one of Spain’s most applauded master oenologists, Isaac Fernandez, to helm the winemaking team. “Our mission was to produce something truly spectacular,” says Del Pozzo. “Isaac is extremely talented, and we wanted him to be able to paint his Mona Lisa, so to speak, with our wine.”

Terroir, of course, is paramount in producing wine, and the Pinea Estate’s location near Olmedillo de Roa (120 miles north of Madrid), is considered the Grand Cru region of the Ribera del Duero appellation. At 3,050 feet above sea level, biodynamic and sustainable viticulture practices are applied to mature vineyards (30 to 90+ years) planted in slightly varying soil types, with chalky sand and abundant limestone. Deeply structured rooting systems allow for vines to thrive under extreme

temperatures without artificial irrigation. The result?

Three, 100-percent Tempranillo wines aged in French and American oak—PINEA, 17 by PINEA, and Korde rosé—all of which capture the elusive combination the region’s best wines are known for: perfumy aromatics and complexity of flavor, with structure, balance, and a unique sense of place. If the wines are considered a family, think of the original PINEA as the grande dame, 17 by PINEA the elegant daughter, and the newcomer, Korde, the sassy young son.

The story of Korde, in particular, celebrates ambition and serendipity. “Vicente wanted to produce a Tempranillo rosé,” says Del Pozzo. “When we finally tasted it in March of 2020, we realized we may have lightning in a bottle.” The two were correct. Only 3000 bottles of Korde were produced, and after a buyer in Texas sampled it, he asked to acquire as much as possible. “Our wine disappeared during Covid in the middle of Texas,” Del Pozzo laughs. Today, a coveted amount of Korde remains for those lucky enough to experience it. The dry and sophisticated rosé is fermented in ceramic eggs, with extreme controls of temperature and careful maceration to maintain its rosé structure and minerality. It’s then aged in French oak barrels from the famous tronçais and bertranges forests.

As Del Pozzo and his team look toward the future, the PINEA headquarters have been recently expanded— another silver lining of the pandemic. Though the new building allows for increased gravity-flow production capabilities and additional space for barrel aging, he still emphasizes the importance of terroir and viticulture.

“The magic happens in the field,” he says. “It’s so satisfying to see a buyer or customer put a glass under their nose and be completely disarmed. Those ‘wows’ are so energizing.”-- pinea.wine

EXCLUSIVE ACCESS Club Members enjoy complimentary PINEA wine tastings, early access to new and limited releases (coming in 2022) and special tasting events. The PINEA winery is not open to the public, but Members visiting Club properties in Barcelona, San Sebastian, and Ibiza are invited to schedule a visit. Please email info@pinea.wine and mention you are an Exclusive Resorts Member, subject to availability.

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MEMBER VETTED

—— Clockwise from top left: Vicente Pliego and Hugo T. Del Pozzo, co-founders of PINEA; the brand’s Tempranillo standouts; PINEA is aged in French and Americn oak; the fruits of PINEA’s labor.

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EXCLUSIVE

SAY, SICILY! As the newest addition to the 2022 European Collection, Sicily should top your travel wish list.

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NEW + NOTEWORTHY

THERE’S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT SICILY. Romance and

common sense. Culture and cuisine.

History and machismo. Juxtaposition is on display most everywhere in this storied city—from the cerulean blue ocean waters to the smoking volcano of Mount Etna.

Juxtaposition is also found in modern and ancient Sicily—a day trip to view the historic amphitheater in Segesta, located atop Monte Bàrbaro, will reveal Sicily’s modern autostrada in the background of your Instaworthy pics. It’s this very juxtaposition that makes exploring the largest Mediterranean island off the southern coast of Italy so much fun.

And as part of the new 2022 Exclusive Resorts Villa Collection, your headquarters are brand new, three- or four-bedroom villas combining privacy with the services and amenities of the five-star Rocco Forte’s Verdura Resort. So whether you’re after stellar wines and cuisine, dare-to-leave-me beaches, or ancient ruins, Sicily has it all— which is why this Italian outpost is a hub for chefs, architects, and innovators. Here’s your cheat sheet to Sicilian bliss.

THE HISTORY BUFF Sicilian culture has been defined by the unique intersection of ancient Greeks, Romans, and the Byzantines. Topping your itinerary? The Parco Archeologico di Selinunte (the largest archeological park in all of Europe), the Valley of the Temples, and the Ancient Greek Theatre in Taormina. And when you need to work off all that seafood, pasta, and fine wine, take a stroll along the famous Scala dei Turchi, where white cliffs kiss impossibly pristine beaches.

—— Opposite: Club residences at the Rocco Forte Verdura Resort.

Above: Sicily’s ancient Valley of the Temples.

THE COLLECTOR Sicily is famous for its traditional and colorful ceramics. While exploring most any local enclave you’ll come across brilliant plates, bowls, and pots. Visit the Caltagirone region, and you’ll discover the Regional Ceramics Museum, plus the area hosts various seminars on crafting Sicily’s obsession with maiolica and terra cotta pieces.

THE FOODIE, GOLFER & SPA LOVER Considering the many decadent restaurants, multiple golf courses, and clay tennis courts, your luxe Sicilian basecamp at Rocco Forte’s Verdura Resort may be tough to leave. Learn how to prepare Sicilian pizza and pasta during one of the resort’s cooking classes, take a mixology masterclass, or discover regional wines with an expert sommelier.

The Verdura Spa is housed in pavilions centered around an open-air courtyard— don’t miss the Thalassotherapy pools, Finnish saunas, and yoga classes. And if tee time is most enticing, three courses by acclaimed designer Kyle Phillips await.

Known for courses like Kingsbarns Golf Links in Scotland, Phillips created two 18-hole championship courses and a nine-hole, par-3 course that all play along Verdura’s incredible coastal scenery.

WHERE YOU’LL STAY Located on the southwest coast of Sicily

(80 minutes from Palermo PMO and Trapani TPS International Airports), three- and fourbedroom villas frame uninterrupted views of the Verdura Resort and the Mediterranean Sea. The luxury resort features eight restaurants/ bars, two 18-hole golf courses, a tennis club with six clay courts, a spa, a football pitch, and four boutiques.

AT A GLANCE: VERDURA RESORT Bedrooms: 3-4 Baths: 4-5 Accommodates: 7-9

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EXCLUSIVE

PAR-FECTION A new Club partnership with PGA TOUR Golfer, Brendon Todd, celebrates the power of both travel and sport. written by JEN MURPHY

BRENDON TODD’S PASSION FOR TRAVEL RIVALS HIS LOVE OF GOLF. And that’s a good thing, considering competitions keep

him on the road 30 weeks a year. The 36-year-old catapulted into golf history after executing one of the PGA TOUR’s greatest comebacks in late 2019, when he won back-to-back titles at the Bermuda Championship and the Mayakoba Golf Classic.

Bermuda and Mexico, like many tournament locations, often turn into extended

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DAY IN THE LIFE

TEE TIME BRENDON TODDS’ PRO TIPS FOR GOLF AMATEURS 1. Find the passion for practicing the game, says Todd. “Golf is a sport that you have to enjoy practicing as much as playing if you want to get to a point where playing the course is fun.”

2. Hire a teacher, or there are plenty of free tips and instructional videos on —— Opposite: Brendon Todd is known for his 2019 titles at the Bermuda Championship and the Mayakoba Golf Classic. Above: South Carolina’s Kiawah Island is a favorite golf destination for Todd and his family.

YouTube that can help improve everything from your stance to your swing.

3. A lot of beginners have a stiff, unathletic stance, he says. “You want to be in a flexed, dynamic, athletic position like if you played shortstop in baseball or

family vacations with his wife Rachel, and their three children, Oliver, 7, Scarlett, 5, and Violet, 3. “The cool thing about my job is that I get to travel to some very nice places and if I golf for six days I can sneak some vacation moments into the seventh,” he says.

Beach and ski trips are family favorites when travel is purely fun, he says. “Beach trips are great because I spend all morning jumping waves and building sandcastles with my kids, then it’s lunch and a nap, a sunset cocktail with my wife, and dinner,” says Todd. “It’s my favorite type of vacation if I need to unplug.” When he’s craving more action, he heads to the slopes. “I’m the guy who wants to be on the hill all day,” says the avid skier. His winter wish list includes stays in Colorado’s Beaver Creek and Telluride and Deer Valley, Utah. His beach bucket list coincides with some top golf courses at Club properties in Grand Cayman, Abaco, Bahamas, and Kiawah Island, South Carolina.

“The number one attraction of Exclusive Resorts is the vast array of destinations,” he says. “And right after that is having a concierge team to book your activities, reservations, and experiences so you can really take advantage of your time away.”

were about to kick a soccer ball,” he says. “You want to

“THE COOL THING ABOUT MY JOB IS THAT I GET TO TRAVEL TO SOME VERY NICE PLACES, AND IF I GOLF FOR SIX DAYS I CAN SNEAK SOME VACATION MOMENTS INTO THE SEVENTH.” -- BRENDON TODD, PGA TOUR GOLFER

be in a position of power.”

4. “Everyone is excited to see where the ball goes,” he says. “Elite level players can almost hit with their eyes closed, but starting out, you cannot take your eye off the ball.”

5. Play quickly when it’s your turn and when it’s not, be still, and move out of the way. “Use the pauses to think about your next shot,” he says.

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STYLE SIREN Paravel’s sustainable approach redefines luggage on a mission. page 20

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PHOTO COURTESY OF: PARAVEL

SCENE ART OF TRAVEL • E Y E ON D E SIGN • R A DA R • W E LL PL AY E D

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SCENE

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ART OF TRAVEL

ON A ROLL …

Paravel’s stylish perspective marries fashion and function.

—— Opposite: Paravel products can be personalized with monograms and totes feature EcoCraft Canvas. Above: Packing cubes keep travelers uber organized.

WHEN NAVIGATING A MAJOR AIRPORT WITH THE PARAVEL CARRY-ON AVIATOR, NOT ONLY WILL YOU LOOK STYLISH, BUT YOU’LL BE POSITIVELY IMPACTING THE ENVIRONMENT .

Named a 2021 Travel + Leisure Global Vision Award Winner, Paravel was launched just five years ago by co-founders Indré Rockefeller and Andy Krantz. The duo has reimagined luggage, creating travel goods

fuses sustainable design with technical

with a timeless aesthetic and forward-

performance, and the Negative Nylon Fold-

thinking sustainability.

Up, which can be folded into the size of

Like many success stories, Paravel’s

extra luggage when packing home overseas

to travel. In 2018, Rockefeller went on a

goodies.

polar expedition to Antarctica with The

Additionally, canvas duffels, totes, and

Nature Conservancy. Witnessing climate

organizers can be monogrammed with

change first hand prompted her to move

dozens of colors, vibrant embroidery, and

sustainability to Paravel’s top priority. The

hand-painted letters and emojis.

company has since upcycled two million

PHOTO COURTESY OF: PARAVAL

a water bottle for maximum efficiency or

vision came into clearer focus thanks

Getting—and staying—organized is a

(and counting) plastic water bottles, offset

cinch, too, with Paravel’s Fold-Up Wash

8,150 tons of C02 via its carbon-neutral

Kit, See-All Vanity, and the brilliant Packing

shipping program, and planted 35,000+

Cube Quad. What’s more, products are made

trees through Eden Reforestation Projects.

from EcoCraft Canvas made from upcycled

Products are time-tested and resilient,

water bottles, sustainable and recycled

with functional designs crafted for the

vegan leather, recycled polycarbonate, and

modern traveler. Favorites include the

recycled zippers—all engineered to leave a

aforementioned Aviator Carry-On, which

minimal footprint.-- tourparavel.com

“PRODUCTS ARE TIMETESTED AND RESILIENT, WITH FUNCTIONAL DESIGNS CRAFTED FOR THE MODERN TRAVELER.”

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The artist Beeple’s “Space Exploration.”

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COURTESY OF BEEPLE-CRAP.COM

SCENE SAVOR

ART OF TRAVEL

OF THE MOMENT NFTs are revolutionizing the art scene, blending tech and technique. written by JACQUELYNN POWERS

BY NOW, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT NFTS, OR NON-FUNGIBLE TOKENS, WHICH ARE DISRUPTING THE ARTS AND CULTURE SPACE (EVEN SPORTS TRADING CARDS) AS A DIGITAL MEDIUM. NFTs are “one-of-a-kind” digital assets that can be bought and sold, but which have no tangible form of their own. The technology is stored on the blockchain, similar to crypto currency.

Specifically, as it relates to art, NFTs are creating ripple effects by selling for unprecedented amounts. The musician Grimes, for example, has sold her digital art for $6 million.

Generating the most headlines is a recent sale by the artist Beeple, whose NFT fetched $69 million at a Christie’s auction in March 2021. Called Everydays: The First 5000 Days, it was the first ever purely digital work of art offered by a major auction house.

Beeple, whose real name is Mike Winkelmann, is a graphic designer based in Charleston, South Carolina. For nearly 14 years, he’s been creating 3D graphics, short films, VJ loops, and Virtual Reality pieces for brands like Louis Vuitton, Apple, Samsung, and Nike. Prior to breaking records for his NFTs, Beeple worked on concert visuals for musicians like Justin Bieber, One Direction, Katy Perry, and Nicki Minaj. In fact, Everydays reflects his evolution as an artist, a digital collage showcasing his artwork over the past 13 years, from crude sketches to complex 3D pieces, which he posted online daily.

Art advisor Spring McManus, who started her career at Christie’s, is not entirely surprised by Beeple’s recordbreaking sale, considering he’s been an innovator in the field with a big social media footprint. “What Beeple created was totally new and exciting,” McManus notes. “But more and more artists in the traditional art world are getting enticed by the medium. Artists like Urs Fischer and Daniel

Arsham have created super interesting NFTs. Musicians are also getting involved, and I am currently working with Grammy Award-winning funk music legend George Clinton to produce a series of NFTs based on his paintings and performances.”

The first one, MY DAWG, began as a painting spanning acrylics, markers, and spray paint, and was inspired by Clinton’s 1982 solo album, Computer Games. The work was then digitized and animated by DiGGital doGG, rapper Snoop Dogg’s digital media and content production company. More NFTs are coming, which will be displayed at the Spillman Blackwell gallery in New Orleans. It’s part of Clinton’s first solo exhibition, coinciding with his 80th birthday.

With big art fairs promising in-person attendance this year—including Art Basel Miami Beach in December— patrons should expect to see more NFTs on display, especially as the technology progresses. According to McManus, one of the challenges has been a solution for display, storage, and security. “An innovative platform called Blackdove is providing all of this, and I believe will become the go-to platform for display and storage of NFTs and syncing NFTs and digital collections so that they are secure yet accessible to their owners wherever they would like to display.”

The bigger question is whether NFTs have longevity, or are just another tech bubble about to burst. As we see other industries embrace NFTs, such as gaming and sports, it’s a good sign the medium is becoming popular and, therefore, here to stay. Fashion designers are making NFTs stylish, too. Gucci created an NFT for its Fall 2021 collection and Dolce & Gabbana sold their entire NFT-based collection for $5.65 million in September. “It’s a very fast developing technology that is changing rapidly,” notes McManus. “Keeping up with the trends is key.”

“MORE ARTISTS IN THE TRADITIONAL ART WORLD ARE GETTING ENTICED BY THE MEDIUM. ARTISTS LIKE URS FISCHER AND DANIEL ARSHAM HAVE CREATED SUPER INTERESTING NFTS.” -- SPRING MCMANUS, ART ADVISOR 23

SCENE

—— Clockwise from top left: Superordinate Antler Chandelier; white Jed Linen and shearling chair; artist Gray Malin’s photograph, “El Paradiso Sun Loungers St. Moritz”; safari leather chair.

ALPINE AESTHETIC Wimberly Interiors infuses the spirit of the American West into Exclusive Resorts’ new Jackson Hole residences. written by LEILANI MARIE LABONG

“JACKSON HOLE IS NOT MIAMI. IT’S NOT MANHATTAN. IT’S SOMETHING ENTIRELY DIFFERENT AND JUST AS WONDERFUL,” says Liana Hawes Young, creative director of Wimberly Interiors. The global design firm’s hospitality portfolio spans opulant, gold-rimmed suites on the Orient Express, Caribbean-style breeziness at Nassau’s Rosewood Baha Mar, and, now, what she calls the “modern meets mountains” vibe of Exclusive Resorts’ new Jackson Hole residences.

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EYE ON DESIGN

“AS DESIGNERS, WE ALWAYS WANT TO TAP INTO THE SOUL OF WHERE WE ARE.” -- LIANA HAWES YOUNG, WIMBERLY INTERIORS CREATIVE DIRECTOR

For the Nashville-based Hawes Young— whose family has been regularly visiting Jackson Hole for decades (as a non-skier, her preferred activities include traversing the Jenny Lake Trail in Grand Teton National Park, wandering the galleries at the National Museum of Wildlife Art, and having dinner at the Snake River Grill)— “capturing the spirit of the American West” for these modern residences is practically second nature.

Luckily, the history and culture of Jackson Hole (the 50-mile valley nestled between the Teton and Gros Ventre mountain ranges in western Wyoming is often confused with the town of Jackson, located at the valley’s southern end) is rich with design inspiration: More than a century before the area’s world-famous Corbet’s Couloir was ranked a doubleblack diamond ski run for its near-vertical entry chute and the landmark Million Dollar Cowboy Bar installed its kitschy saddle-topped bar stools, Jackson Hole was a pit stop for the Lewis and Clark expedition, fur trappers, and other brawny mountain men of legendary repute.

Foregoing that burly yesteryear, the forested frontier was originally populated by the Blackfoot, Crow and Shoshoni, among other indigenous tribes.

“All of this culture and history informs the design story,” says Hawes Young, who is also crafting culturally relevant settings at other Exclusive Resorts locations, including Whistler, British Columbia, and Sea Island, Georgia. “As designers, we always want to tap into the soul of where we are.” Here, she gives a sneak peek into the not-so-wild but thoroughly westerly tableau at the Club’s Jackson Hole residences.

RAW MATERIAL To evoke the style and substance of a place, an authentic use of regional materials is in order. “A lot of the worn, knotty woods, weathered leathers, and darker metals we’re using are quintessentially western,” says Hawes Young. Shearling chair upholstery and fur throws for the beds add snug to the appealingly textural palette.

BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE Though the origins of the iconic safari chair—which historically could be folded down and flat-packed for easy transportation—are traceable to the British military circa World War I, its hard-wearing leather and utilitarian sling seat conjure nights around a crackling campfire, an iconic trope of the American West. As such, Hawes Young considers the weathered, whiskey-colored leather safari seat the design’s “hero chair.”

HORN OF PLENTY A dining room chandelier made of faux antlers is a nod to Jackson’s famous elk-antler arches, located at each corner of the town square. “We always want to anchor people in their environment,” says Hawes Young.

ART OF THE MATTER

SOUND UP! SONOS DEBUTS AT CLUB RESIDENCES. Ready to up-level your vacation?

In partnership with Sonos, the world’s leading sound experience company and inventor of multiroom wireless home audio, Exclusive Resorts is debuting a Sonos pilot program in Lake Tahoe, Kapalua, La Jolla, and Kiawah Island. Members can also access personalized playlists at each Club destination.

Expect mountaininspired vibes to get pumped for powder days or chill beach tunes to elevate seaside escapes. As part of the new program, Sonos is outfitting residences with a variety of products, including the Roam, Beam, Arc, One, and Move speakers.

Taking cues from Teton County’s National Museum of Wildlife Art, where an exhibit titled National Geographic: 50 Greatest Wildlife Photographs is currently on view until April 24, 2022, Hawes Young will source paintings and prints by regional artists to portray Jackson Hole’s wild kingdom. Photographer Gray Malin’s imagery featuring skier-flecked slopes in Aspen, Deer Valley, and St. Moritz, has also been a design inspiration.

PATTERN BEHAVIOR Rugs and pillows will feature interpretations of Native American geometric motifs—admiring echoes, if you will, of sacred shapes and designs. “We do this in a way that’s tasteful and meant to honor the history and tradition of the culture,” adds Hawes Young.

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ON THE ROAD Looking for a new ride? Your next car may just be electric. written by BRETT BERK

Above: The stylish Rivian R1S tackles the desert.

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R ADAR

OVER 100 NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE EXPECTED TO DEBUT IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

ELECTRIC VEHICLE SALES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE SURGING. Registrations have more than doubled in the past year, as has market share, despite pandemic-related supply chain issues that have plagued the automotive and high-tech sectors. While fully electric cars account for just three percent of overall automotive sales, this recent growth is significant. Why? New consumers are adopting battery power, something necessary to stem the global environmental degradation wrought by burning fossil fuels. The past decade of investment and innovation that automakers have made in battery power is finally paying off in compelling product categories that consumers actually crave. Over 100 new electric vehicles are expected to debut in the next two years, from small hatchbacks, to sports cars, to luxury sedans, to every manner of SUV. Here are three of our favorites.

BMW IX: From its enhanced “double

just three seconds. Not bad for a full-size,

kidney” grille to the daring taillights, the

seven-passenger sport ute. With a giant

iX breaks with exterior styling tradition.

storage space where the engine would

Without an engine, gas tank, or exhaust

ordinarily go up front—call it a “frunk”—it

system dictating convention, the wheels

can also handle all of your (physical)

are pushed further out. What’s more, the

baggage. With 300 miles of range, first

extended cabin is a special place to be,

deliveries slated for early 2022, and a

with veloured fabric on the seats and

compelling entry price, we expect it to be a

dash, beveled glass on the shift knob and

hit. Starting at $70,000 rivian.com

auxiliary switches, and a giant, curved LCD instrument panel. With 516 hp delivered

VOLVO C40 RECHARGE: The C40

to all four wheels, it provides sure-footed,

is Volvo’s second fully electric vehicle,

all-weather grip, scoots from 0-60 mph in

but its first without a gasoline-powered

4.4 seconds, and will travel 300 miles on a

counterpart. It is also something of a

single charge. Starting at $84,195

category-buster, combining features of a

bmwusa.com

sedan, hatchback, sports coupe, and an SUV, with a unique shape that doesn’t mimic

RIVIAN R1S: Many electric vehicle

anything else on the road. These are just the

startups have come and gone in the

kinds of experimentation we like to see in

past decade. With billions of dollars in

electric vehicles. With all-wheel-drive, and a

investment from Ford and Amazon, Rivian

potent 404 hp, it can zip from a standstill to

is likely to persevere. Its first vehicle,

a mile-a-minute in 4.5 seconds. And Volvo’s

the R1T (SUV version) will be a potent

corporate focus on recycled and sustainable

pickup. With a motor at each wheel,

materials sets it apart. Though its 225-

it’s remarkably sure-footed. And with a

mile range is more limited than some other

shocking 800 hp on tap, it’s also fleet-

offerings, so is its starting price. Starting at

footed, able to accelerate from 0-60 in

$58,750 volvocars.com

CUSTOMIZED JOURNEYS All Roads North Founder Sam Highley lists Top 3 road trips for electric cars.

LUXURY CALIFORNIA COUPLES TRIP On this 10-day luxury California road trip, sample gastronomic treats in Napa and Sonoma, explore Big Sur’s lush coastal forests, and immerse yourself in Southern California’s exciting art scene. Find respite at secluded getaways perched high above a cliff or surrounded by vineyards and fragrant gardens.

COLORADO LUXURY ROAD TRIP On this 13-day, highmountain luxury road trip, you’ll mountain bike through the beauty of the Maroon Bells, soak in natural mountain hot springs, and embark on several scenic drives through the majestic Rocky Mountains.

NEW ENGLAND: COAST TO PEAKS Travel along New England’s most scenic backgrounds during this 10-day journey. You’ll meet Maine lobstermen, Vermont organic farmers, and the movers and shakers in the Berkshires art scene, all while staying in style at some of the region’s top hotels.

For full itineraries—and charging stations—on the above All Roads North road trips, visit the Club Journal at exclusiveresorts. com/club-journal and allroadsnorth.com.

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HEALTH IS WEALTH The Ranch Malibu debuts custom in-home health programs to up-level your well-being. written by ERIN LENTZ

“I THINK WE’RE AT THE BRINK OF SOMETHING,” says Bridgette Becker, The Ranch Malibu’s Functional Nutritionist and Holistic Health Practitioner. “Health is everything and it’s all connected.” The idea of taking a full analysis of health and wellness has been the impetus behind brand new custom programming at The Ranch Malibu. Long known as the California-based pioneer in nutrition and fitness, Becker’s vision—imagined with co-owners Sue and Alex Glasscock— is anchored in two tailored and highly immersive health plans.

“People want to return to The Ranch better than they came last time,” Becker explains. “They want to up-level their health and need support to do that—someone who’s going to give them all the hacks and micro-adjustments to take their health up a few levels.”

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W ELL P LAY ED

EAT THIS NOW! BRIDGETTE BECKER’S TOP SUPER FOODS. PUMPKIN SEEDS Super high in zinc.

ADZUKI BEANS They are a resistant starch, high in fiber and B vitamins, and easy to digest.

—— Opposite: The Ranch Malibu. Above, from left: Nutrition anchors the Ranch’s custom health programs; Bridgette Becker, The Ranch Malibu’s Functional Nutritionist and Holistic Health Practitioner.

So just what does that look like? Led by Becker, who offers more than 25 years of experience, The Ranch Integrative Health Plan and The Ranch 360 take a complete approach to health and healing. The two programs are designed to foster practices promoting physical and mental well-being while uncovering and addressing root causes of health concerns, rather than simply treating symptoms.

Customized plans are designed for those who wish to discover the source of internal imbalances, treat chronic health concerns, or build upon previous Ranch results.

The Ranch Integrative Health Plan is a customized nutrition and lifestyle program with ongoing support, while The Ranch 360 takes an even deeper dive, featuring results-oriented diagnostic testing and integral biomarker analysis. During the 360 program, Becker helps clients establish baseline metrics via tests including a Gastro-Intestinal Microbial Assay, DUTCH Complete Hormone Panel, Heavy Metal and Mineral Analysis, Food Sensitivity, and Blood Panels.

“This program gives us the ability to take a wide-lens look at every single part of someone’s health, and then tailor a plan that’s going to be most effective—and with total honesty about what they’re willing to do,” Becker says. Tests can often uncover unknown imbalances at the root of persistent symptoms such as pain, weight management challenges, sleep issues, digestive problems, low energy, fatigue, mood fluctuations, and brain fog.

BLUEBERRIES Amazing antioxidants.

“Between these two programs, you’re going to be able to meet people wherever they are,” Becker adds. “Some just need a few adjustments, but with the lab testing we often find something may be going on that they’re unaware of, which can change their health.”

And while both plans include important one-on-one sessions with Becker, The Ranch 360 also includes six small group virtual sessions with fellow clients, fostering further accountability. “In group, someone will admit to eating Oreos,” Becker laughs. “But because they are strangers and may never cross paths, these virtual sessions create a container that’s safe for people to be intimate and vulnerable.

It makes whatever I can do infinitely more effective.”

Becker’s ultimate goal—“to make the world a better place”—is one many of us think about, yet are shy to admit. Her grandfather was a surgeon; her grandmother fostered children on a family farm. Both mentors helped shape her passion and expertise, which she is paying forward.

“If you run into someone on the street, and you know them well enough, they’ll say ‘I’m so tired. Or stressed out. Or overwhelmed.’

We can feel 50 to 80 percent better by making changes that initially feel hard, but really are not once you habituate them. It’s looking at the body through a whole therapeutic lens.

My hope is that a good thing to come out of the last year and a half is the realization that health is everything.”

BROCCOLI SPROUTS Supports sulforaphane production, good for detoxing the liver.

BOK CHOY Great source of calcium.

FRESH HERBS Like eating fresh medicine.

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SAVOR

TOAST TO TRAVEL Don Julio celebrates ultra-limited spirits and global landscapes. page 36

PHOTO COURTESY OF: DON JULIO

Fall Bounty TH E D ISH • C HE F ’S TA BLE • C HE E R S!

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SAVOR

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THE DISH

ON TREND Social Studies simplifies the art of festive tablescapes. written by JEN MURPHY

ASK ANY GREAT HOST OR HOSTESS, AND THEY’LL TELL YOU THE SECRET TO A GREAT PARTY ISN’T THE FOOD OR THE COCKTAILS, IT’S THE SCENE. The flowers, playlist, glassware, and your tabletop’s color scheme all set the tone for a festive party.

Once the realm of event planners, the art of entertaining is something anyone can master now, thanks to Social Studies. Akin to Rent the Runway for party hosting, this two-year-old company rents entire tablescapes—think plates, glassware, flatware, votives, napkins, bowls, and runners—so you can always set a table to match the moment.

Jessica Latham, co-founder and CEO, oversaw special events for Vanity Fair for more than a decade. She and childhood friend, co-founder Amy Griffin, were frustrated by the lack of high-quality, affordable, convenient rentals for entertaining.

Their solution: a one-stop-shop for parties delivered to your door, in a box. Customers go online, choose from 40 different thematic tableware designs—like Hygge Holiday or Provence—and choose such add-ons as menus, name cards, balloons, bocce ball kits, and fresh flowers. In less than a week you’ll receive a box with everything needed for a party. When the party’s over, the box gets repacked (the host keeps the florals) and returned. Whether you’re hosting a birthday dinner for four or a wedding for 100, the company takes care of everything but food and alcohol.

The brand’s almost overnight popularity got a boost from its influential investors, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon, and Bumble CEO Whitney Herd. A recent retail collaboration with Paltrow’s company Goop sold out within one day on Goop’s website.

—— Opposite: Social Studies co-founders Jessica Latham and Amy Griffin.

Above: The Secret Garden kit, a collaboration with Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop.

Social Studies has collaborated on collections with Aerin Lauder (Super Tuscan) and LaDouble J (The Doppio)—both best sellers. The company is also getting creative with its content dubbed The Social. The brand’s online editorial platform aims to be a catch-all for party-throwing inspiration, publishing columns offering fashion advice, wine intel, and recipes from tastemakers like sommelier DLynn Proctor, director of Fantesca Estate & Winery, and cookbook author Colu Henry.

Social Studies ships throughout most of the U.S., which means if you’re family is spending the holidays at a vacation home, you can still throw a festive celebration. Plus, the company partnered with luggage brand Away to develop highly durable boxes to ensure plates and glasses don’t break in transit. If you love the look of certain lines, like Essentials, an everyday collection in muted tones that starts at $22 per place setting, and you can purchase them to keep. Filters make it super simple to find just the right look—search by color, price, style, materials (bamboo, resin, or melamine) and themes like kid- or outdoor-friendly. Social Studies recently introduced picnic and tailgate kits featuring referee koozies, mini footballs, and team color napkins. At a time when we’re all entertaining more at home, Social Studies takes the hassle out of hosting, so everyone can enjoy the party.

As a preferred partner, Club Members enjoy 20 percent off Social Studies orders (code EXCLUSIVE20). Select your favorite holiday look and ship your kit directly to your home or your U.S. Club residence. --social-studies.com

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SAVOR

FARE GROUND Chef Dustin Valette’s newest restaurant, The Matheson, spotlights agrarian Healdsburg. Here, his black book of California inspired ingredients.

DUSTIN VALETTE, HEALDSBURG’S QUICK-WITTED SUPER-CHEF AND VINTNER HAS A NEW EATERY IN WINE COUNTRY : a tri-level paean to the region’s growers and ranchers featuring a fine dining option, sushi bar, and rooftop lounge.

The piece de resistance? A computerized self-service wine wall with 88 wines on tap, many from super-small vineyards.

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PHOTOS BY: MICHAEL WOOLSEY

written by AMY TARA KOCH

CHEF’S TABLE

“VALETTE ENVISIONED THE SPACE AS A HUB FOR LOCALS AND VISITORS TO ENJOY THE BOUNTY OF SONOMA COUNTY.” —— Opposite: Chef Dustin Valette. Above: Coffee and Spice Grilled Akuashi Bavette Steak, from The Matheson restaurant.

Valette envisioned the space as a hub for locals and visitors to enjoy the bounty of Sonoma County. It’s stylish, whimsical, and fuss-free. The restaurant is also about storytelling. From the custom-built Mugnaini wood-fired pizza oven wrapped with thousands of black and copper pennies (a reminder of saving his pennies to afford the high-end appliance) to the beehive vibe of the third-floor lounge (Valette’s great-uncle was a beekeeper and the chef was obsessed with bees as a child, hence the honey comb-tiled bar and hive box-esque redwood walls), the dining experience feels personal. Lending to the warm vibe is the building’s history. The Matheson inhabits a 100-year-old edifice that once housed Valette’s great grandfather’s bakery which, not surprisingly, was a communal hub during the 1930s and ’40s.

Cali-cool ingredients such as locally foraged kombu, stinging nettles, eclectic garlic varietals, and star thistle honey sourced from a third-generation beekeeper shine in such dishes as the Tamanishiko Rice Porridge with scallops, preserved lemon, shishito spice, and chrysanthemum. On the rooftop, wood-fired pizzas are crafted with wheat flour from an organic farm and vineyard run by celebrated local Lou Preston.

The entire menu, in fact, calls upon the fruits of local artisans.

Want to tap into Valette’s purveyors? Here are some of his hit dishes, along with local ingredients and where you can source them.

BURRATA AND GRILLED PEACH “SALAD” with blistered shishitos, peach-balsamic gastrique Ingredients: Pickled green peaches and peach leaf for flavoring desserts.

Sourced: Dry Creek Peach by farmer Gayle Sullivan. Products can be found at the Healdsburg Farmer’s market​ or online at Frog Hollow.

COFFEE AND SPICE GRILLED AKUASHI BAVETTE STEAK with leek salsa verde, watercress, pickled turnip and chilled Monterey squid Thai chili, Espelette, smoked peanut, melon, mint blossoms Ingredient: Espelette pepper grown by Jack Herron of Hidden Pond Farm.

Sourced: Healdsburg Farmer’s market or purchased online from artisan farm producer: “Piment d’Ville,” grown in nearby Boonville.

CRISPY PORK BELLY toasted Espelette chili oil, purslane, garlic chips ​I ngredient: Unusual garlic varietals from Yael & Zureal Bernier of Bernier Farms.

Sourced: Healdsburg Farmer’s market. Seeds can be purchased directly Bernier Farms.

SESAME CRUSTED LOCAL AHI TATAKI with barrel-aged soy kombu emulsion, puffed rice, sesame snow Ingredient: Locally foraged Kombu seaweed from S ​ onoma’s Strong Arm Farm. ​S ourced: Sesame oil from La Tourangelle and olive. DaVero Farms and Winery sells unfiltered, cold-pressed peppery estate olive oil to slather on pasta, roasted vegetables, and salads. +WINE PAIRING: APERTURE CELLARS CHENIN BLANC This lively white from an old vine site planted in the 1940s is sold by the glass at The Matheson. Expect notes of passion fruit, nectarines, and honeysuckle—perfect to pair with seafood, especially sushi.

-- thematheson.com

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SAVOR

LET’S TALK TEQUILA Writer Mark Ellwood reveals the sophisticated nuances of Don Julio’s ultra-limited editions.

WHEN JULIO XOXOCOTLA WAS GROWING UP, THE MEXICAN-BORN NEW YORKER WAS SURROUNDED

BY ONE SPIRIT . “Seeing people in my family drinking it? That’s how I fell in love with tequila,” says the bartender, who’s about to open a new mezcal and tequila-focused space, Bar Lula, in the East Village. Tequila was an instant pick-me-up.

“Every celebration calls for tequila, but if you have a good one, that brings the celebration to another level.” The best tequilas, he adds, come around much like a birthday or an anniversary. “You probably get some of the beautiful tequilas just once a year.” There’s no better example of such party-primed spirits, of course, than the two new ultra-limited editions from Don Julio: Primavera and Ultima Riserva.

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DON JULIO PRIMAVERA The Primavera was slated to be introduced for a brief spell in summer 2022, yet the brand released a few prized bottles in 2021 as a celebratory sneak-peek—a chance for pandemicfatigued loyalists to toast the future sooner. The aptly named Primavera is bright and fruity, and a burst of sunshine in a glass.

The recipe involves taking a classic Don Julio reposado and finishing it off in casks used to produce orange wine in Condado de Huelva, a winemaking region in Andalusia in southern Spain.

This approach is a nod to the trend in orange-spiked liquor expressions (like Tanqueray’s Flor de Sevilla gin) but it’s also a canny flavor pairing. Combining two of the three flavors from a classic margarita in one, high-end expression allows you to create a grown-up riff on the cocktail with just a squirt of lime juice. Bartender Xoxocotla suggests trying it in his own version of an espresso martini (see recipe on opposite page), or with a slug of seltzer.

CHEERS!

—— From left: A Don Julio farmer in Jalisco; surveying the land with agave plants in tow; the new Don Julio Primavera; production of ultra-limited editions.

MIX IT! Espresso Primavera Created by Julio Xoxocotla

INGREDIENTS: • 1.5 oz Tequila Don Julio Primavera DON JULIO ULTIMA RISERVA Ultima Riserva is an even more rarefied treat, produced from the final agave harvest planted by the brand’s namesake founder and his family, in 2006, just before Don Julio Gonzalez died. It will be sold in small batches of individually numbered bottles until the reserves of this precious crop run out. The concept for this limited edition is an exclusive, 36-month aged, ultra-añejo focused on true flavors, rather than the overwhelming wood notes often dominating such an expression. “They put this crop aside to create something very special,” says brand ambassador Jorge Raptis, “But the key was to never lose sight of the agave, because if you can’t experience it, what’s

the point of waiting?” He likens tequila to a painting: blanco, or unaged, is a work on paper or a still sitting on the easel; it acquires a wooden frame via months spent aging in barrels. Sit too long in those casks, though, and the frame overwhelms the masterpiece. Sitting in madeira-seasoned casks creates a delicate woodsy essence of warm peach, citrus, and apricot. Serve Ultima Riserva like a fine scotch, on the rocks or opened up with a few drops of purified water, per Bar Lula’s Xoxocotla.

“It’s about going back to the roots, the raw materials,” he says, “This is one of the beauties we get from mother nature.”

• 1 Shot Espresso (Single) • 0.5 oz Coffee Liqueur • 0.5 oz Cacao Liqueur GARNISH: Coffee dust GLASS: Chilled coupe or martini glass INSTRUCTIONS: Combine all ingredients into a shaker. Add ice and shake well. Pour into a chilled coupe or martini glass.

Garnish with coffee dust.

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SAVOR

ROB MACHADO’S SAN DIEGO Known for sunshine and great surf, San Diego may be Southern California’s most desirable destination. written by SARI ANN TUSCHMAN

—— Suzanne Phifer Pavitt at her Calistoga winery.

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CHEERS!

WOMAN OF THE VINE Suzanne Phifer Pavitt is a vintner with a dream that just won’t quit. written by JACKIE CARADONIO

“TO KNOW ME IS TO KNOW THAT I LOVE A PROJECT.” Suzanne Phifer Pavitt isn’t one for understatements—but this might be the most restrained thing she’s ever said. The founder of Northern California’s Phifer Pavitt winery doesn’t just love a project; she throws herself into it, can’t be torn away from it, and, as is the case with her beloved Calistoga winery, becomes totally consumed by it.

As a former tech professional, Phifer Pavitt envisions the result of a project first, then backs into the process of making it happen, always keeping her eye on the final goal. This is exactly what she did in 1999, when, along with her husband Shane Pavitt, she decided to buy “23 acres of potential” in the Calistoga region of Napa Valley.

The mission was clear: To create a world-class winery.

Nevermind that Phifer Pavitt was better versed in coding than agriculture; her avid interest, acute palate, and intense drive were plenty to get the job done.

It ultimately took more than a decade to realize, but the rewards were reaped in spades. Phifer Pavitt, the winery, debuted its first release in 2007 with the 2005 Date Night—a Cabernet Sauvignon that has become the winery’s flagship. The couple completed their dream home (”a little piece of Montepulciano,” Phifer Pavitt says) and in 2010 opened an elegant, appointment-only tasting room. Next, there was the expansion into white wines, led by Suzanne’s father-in-law, Dr. Gary Warburton, who earned raves for his Sancerre-style Sauvignon Blancs and sparkling wines.

Additionally, there was also a project with Kentucky’s Bardstown Bourbon Company: a nine-year-old whiskey finished in the winery’s Cabernet Sauvignon barrels that sold out in a flash. Life was good.

Then, in September 2020, the Glass Fire wiped the slate clean. Phifer Pavitt lost every last vine—some of which had only just reached harvest potential for the very first time. “It was astonishing,” she recalls. “Nothing was salvageable.” But what the winery didn’t lose was just as incredible: The bottled and barreled wine, stored off-site, mercifully survived, as did the wine-making facilities,

encased in concrete and insulated with recycled denim.

When the smoke cleared, Phifer Pavitt’s next project was laid before her: It was time to rebuild. Luckily, when you’ve done everything yourself once already, you’re well equipped to improve the process the second time around—and that’s exactly what she’s doing. “We threw ourselves into recovery,” she says. “I really tried to shift my energy from profound sadness to asking, ‘What are the silver linings?’ and ‘How can we become more efficient and environmentally sensitive than before?’”

Rather than pulling everything from the ground and starting from scratch, Phifer Pavitt convinced her viticultural team to carefully remove each dead vine and replant new ones right into the charred soil, which by then was rich with nitrogen and nutrient-dense ash. “It was not the most cost-effective way by a long stretch, but we knew they’d come back even more prolific,” she says of the new vines. That kind of creative thinking and environmental sensitivity has led to more plans, including the creation of a butterfly pollinator garden and the establishment of a forest health restoration project.

Plus, the winery received a federal re-forestation grant, including applying native seeds via a drone for minimal impact in burned areas.

Right now, however, the most pressing new project on Phifer Pavitt’s plate is the 2021 harvest—a momentous occasion after a devastating 2020. Due to the drought conditions throughout California this year, the harvest will be much smaller in yield. The result? More intense and concentrated flavors. After the year Phifer Pavitt— the woman and the winery—has had, the small but mighty vintage is sure to be a fitting return. “This is our renaissance and our next phase of life,” she says. “Phifer Pavitt is alive and well.”

Club Members can book private Phifer Pavitt tastings by emailing ERmember@phiferpavittwine.com.

-- phiferpavittwine.com

“I REALLY TRIED TO SHIFT MY ENERGY, ASKING, ‘WHAT ARE THE SILVER LININGS?’ AND ‘HOW CAN WE BECOME MORE EFFICIENT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE THAN BEFORE?’” --SUZANNE PHIFER PAVITT

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Family adventure in the Colorado Rockies. page 42

FEATURES

VIEW FINDER

PHOTO BY: KEN KOCHEY

Fall Bounty STEAMBOAT SPRINGS • JACKSON HOLE • SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 41

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—— Opposite: Boots at Cowboys and Indians in downtown Steamboat Springs; Above: The entrance to residence 602 at One Steamboat Place.

A Little Bit

COUNTRY, a Little Bit SKI & SNOW story and photography by JACKIE CARADONIO

IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, IF YOU MAKE THE ACQUAINTANCE OF A LOCAL OR TWO, YOU JUST AS SURELY CAN SAY YOU KNOW THE ENTIRE TOWN.

You won’t find seven degrees of separation here, because in this Colorado ski resort with an old Western flair, there are no strangers—only neighbors. And that means if you know somebody, then you just about know everybody.

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I discovered this about five minutes into my first visit to Downtown Steamboat, when I walked into Cowboys and Indians, a store whose name was all too enticing to pass up. Filled with artifacts old and new from across the Southwest—obsidian knives with deer-antler handles, moccasins covered in ornate beading, belt buckles bigger than my fist, and boots for rough ranch hands and glamorous cowgirls alike— the store delivered all I had hoped.

Behind the glass counter filled with silver and turquoise jewelry, a young woman with a name tag that read “Callie” was quick to share her connection to the cowboy side of Steamboat Springs’ history. “I’m fifth generation,” she told me, referencing her family’s sizable ranch not far from the center of town. “Has anyone told you about the Yampa Valley Curse?” I raised an eyebrow at the foreboding name, but Callie assured me this was a friendly phenomenon. “People love it here, and even when they leave, they just can’t seem to stay away,” she said. “I mean, I left for college but it wasn’t long before I came right back.”

THE YAMPAH VALLEY CURSE (AND BLESSING) I’d soon discover that the history of Steamboat Springs runs deep, and its locals (all 13,000 or so of them) are like links in a chain—connected both to the town’s past and to each other. But first, a bit about that illustrious past: The name Steamboat Springs is a slice of historic trivia in and of itself, coined in the early 1800s by French trappers who mistook the hissing of the area’s natural mineral springs for the sound of a steamboat’s engine. Like most of Colorado and the West, the land was later settled by homesteaders, and by the early 1900s ranching had become a thriving industry. Skiing on the area’s six peaks, meanwhile, dates as far back as the 1910s, but it wasn’t until the 1950s—when the town trademarked the nickname “Ski

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—— Below, from top: Laundry Kitchen and Cocktails’ local greens of the day with roasted golden beets and candied pecans over blue cheese fondue; the living room at residence 602; Steamboat Hatter’s atelier.

Opposite: Kay McKenzie and Sam Daniels in their workshop.

“PEOPLE LOVE IT HERE, AND EVEN WHEN THEY LEAVE, THEY JUST CAN’T SEEM TO STAY AWAY.”

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Town USA”—that Steamboat Springs became the champagne powder paradise it is today.

Even now, Steamboat Springs’ dual identities of cowboy boom town and ski resort simultaneously thrive. The slopes are some of the best in the country—86 percent of the area’s 3,000 acres of trails are for intermediate and advanced athletes— yet the style is as laidback and downhome as it gets. Unlike Vail or Aspen, you won’t find Chanel or Gucci here, but you will find BAP (the local mountain apparel shop) and F.M. Light & Sons (a Western outfitter on Lincoln Avenue for more than a century).

And lately, it seems this easygoing lifestyle is more attractive than ever: In 2021, Steamboat Springs was named the fourth most expensive small town in America. Plenty of that can be traced to the area’s limited real estate inventory—so much land remains in the hands of just a few generational owners— but locals also attribute it to Steamboat’s newly established affiliation with the prestigious Ikon Pass, which gives powder hounds access to the best ski resorts across America.

Still, almost nothing about today’s Steamboat Springs seems to exist without some reference to the past, and as Callie sent me on my way with a list full of other locals to meet (plus a turquoise bracelet and a pair of silver-toed boots), I couldn’t help but feel I had one foot firmly placed in the old Wild West—and my next stop would only solidify that feeling more.

A few blocks from Cowboys and Indians, on 11th Street, the tiny workshop at Steamboat Hatter was crammed with fur felt molds, leather strips, and feathers galore. Partners in business (and in life) Kay McKenzie and Sam Daniels were having a busy day at their millinery, with clients popping in to get their heads measured for custom designs, regulars visiting to add new flourishes to their hats, and family members stopping by to ask what time they’d be coming by for dinner that night.

The duo opened their atelier in June 2021, yet their methods are as old as the cattleman’s hat itself. “We really love Western culture and we wanted to make hats the traditional way,” McKenzie

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PHOTO BY: KOKO PHOTO

LOCAL LEGENDS & DOWN-HOME DESIGN

—— Opposite: The dining room at Lime & Salt in downtown Steamboat Springs. Below: The ski town town has a rich mining history.

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told me as she fastened a hat sizer onto my head.

The challenge of replicating antiquated methods for modern customers had clearly proven wildly successful after just a few months: I was told the turnaround for my custom gray Western hat and bison leather band would be three months. But after seeing the care with which this couple had evolved a historic craft into something current and relevant (and still totally authentic), I was certain the wait would be well worth it.

Daniels and McKenzie sent me next to the Standard, a wine bar and art gallery where I found a handful of locals sipping Pinot Noir amid the striking landscape photography of local artist Dustin Posiak-Trider. From there, I crossed Lincoln Avenue to another newcomer, RD Home, a recently opened, women-owned design store and coffee shop with an eclectic collection of housewares ranging from vintage Slim Aarons ski photographs to handcrafted ceramics and vibrant pillows. Next, I was sent to Lime & Salt—not only for the mouthwatering tacos, but to check out RD’s redesign of the stylish Mexican joint, which featured graphic paintings, colorful patchwork armchairs, and a long bar covered in handmade tiles.

On my way there, I stopped at two more recommendations I’d picked up along the way: Pine Moon Fine Art, a gallery co-owned by a collective of 13 local artists (all women); and Adorn, another new and locally-owned shop—this one devoted to showcasing ethically produced designs from around the world—where I perused textiles from Turkey, beaded jewelry from Tanzania, and leather handbags from Thailand. Next, a visit to F.M. Light and Sons was all but obligatory. The giant horse statue outside practically beckoned me into the shop full of dungarees and flannel. It also brought to mind a story Callie told me about her grandfather and —— From top: Ethically made textiles and baskets at Adorn; the primary bedroom in residence 602. Opposite: The lounge at One Steamboat Place; tackling the resort’s famous powder skiing.

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other venerable locals who still rode into town on horseback every now and then. “The last time he did it was a few years back,” she said with a smile.

SKI PHOTO COURTESY OF: STEAMBOAT CHAMBER

APRÉS TABLES & A FOND FAREWELL

As the sun began to set, my stomach began to growl. Luckily, Steamboat Springs has a lively après scene—no matter the time of year—and restaurants like the riverside Aurum and clubby Double Diamonds are among the most popular.

Hankering for a little more of Steamboat history, I opted for a visit to Laundry Kitchen & Cocktails, where, after dining on wagyu ribeye with beets and blue cheese fondue, I followed general manager JJ Johnson to the back of the house, where historic photos of the centuryold building in its former life as a laundry were on display. “See how they all have their hands behind their backs?” he asked me, a tad spookily.

“It’s because they had burn marks—and even missing fingers—from working the machinery.” I had come to expect this kind of storytelling after several days in Steamboat Springs, as each new friend I made and each new spot visited became another link in the chain, the whole of which tells the long tale of this Colorado ski town.

The next morning, as I drove out of town, F.M. Light & Sons’ famous rusty roadside signs whirred past one after another, touting Levi’s jeans and Dan Post boots, and urging me to make a U-turn back to Steamboat—and I nearly did. But while I resisted the temptation to return, something told me I’d be back soon enough.

Maybe it was because, by then, I felt like I knew just about everybody in town. Or maybe it was that old Yampa Valley Curse.

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FEATURE

TRIED + TRENDING JACKSON HOLE YOUR ULTIMATE CHEAT SHEET TO EXPERIENCING THE CLUB’S NEWEST DESTINATION LIKE A LOCAL.

BY JEN MURPHY

NO MOUNTAIN TOWN RIVALS THE WILD WEST SPIRIT OF JACKSON HOLE.

In

winter, hardcore skiers flock here to test their mettle on legendary runs like Corbett’s Couloir. The mountain may be best-known for its challenging terrain, but Jackson has a mellow side. You’ll find plenty of intermediate runs off of Bridger Gondola, while beginner skiers can perfect turns at Solitude Learning Center. Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks transform into crowd-free winter wonderlands where

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visitors can snowshoe, Nordic ski, and experience epic wildlife encounters. The town of Jackson has more to offer than just gear stores and honky tonk bars (though a drink at the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar is a must). Creative entrepreneurs have infused the town with stylish design shops, decadent bakeries, destination art galleries, wine bars, and more. Whether it’s your first visit or your fifth, these local tips will guarantee you experience Jackson Hole like an insider.

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PHOTO BY: KARSTEN WINEGEART

“WHENEVER WE HAVE GUESTS IN THE WINTER, I TAKE THEM OUT ON THE HORSE DRAWN SLEIGH RIDE ON THE ELK REFUGE.” -- CHRISTIAN BURCH, MADE CO-OWNER

GAVIN FINE

Jackson-born restaurateur behind Fine Dining Restaurant Group, which includes Il Villaggio Osteria, the Kitchen, Bin22, Bodega, Bar Enoteca, and new addition, the Bistro.

FAMILY BREAKFAST “I love going to Nora’s Fish Creek Inn in Wilson.

My wife and I split a MSM [mushroom, spinach, mozzarella] omelet and then clear our boys’ leftover huevos rancheros.”

WINTER TRADITION “I’m a huge hockey fan and always attend a Moose game. They are our local adult league and play Friday and Saturday nights. The whole experience is lively, engaging, and feels very reminiscent of traditional smaller town events where everyone shows up.”

OF-MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE “Snowmobiling out to Granite Hot Springs is an experience.”

a cinnamon roll bigger than your face. If you’re looking to sit and have a morning libation with your meal, go to Genevieve and order the Cajun eggs Benedict. For a grab-and-go bite, get the KouignAmann at Persphone.”

ON THE CALENDAR “When I first moved to town, I really didn’t connect with the World Championship Snowmobile Hill Climb, which takes place each March at Snow King.

Now, I watch it from my house and know that it is comfortingly old-school Wyoming.”

FAVORITE OFF-PISTE ACTIVITY “Whenever we have guests in the winter, I take them out on the horse drawn sleigh ride on the Elk Refuge. They tuck you in the sleigh with blankets and drive you out amongst the elk and give an ecology lesson.”

LOCAL ARTISAN LOVE “I’ve also enjoyed watching Scotty Craighead’s art

SHOPPING LIST “I love shopping at MADE for unique Jackson Hole products for the home and I get my winter gear at Stio.”

FAVORITE RESTAURANT THAT’S NOT HIS OWN “Teton Thai is laidback and authentic. I change the exact order up a lot, but I always end up ordering one of their soups.”

CHRISTIAN BURCH

GO-TO APRÈS SPOT “In a town where the visitors often outnumber the locals, Cutty’s Bar & Grill maintains a locals vibe.

I head here for a beer and Bay fries after a day at Snow King Mountain Resort.”

REASON TO HIT THE ALARM “Jackson Hole does breakfast well. On Sundays, The Virginian serves classic eggs Benedict and

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PHOTO BY: HARI NANDAKUMAR

Co-owner of gentleman’s shop, Mountain Dandy, MADE, a gift shop stocked with American-made finds, and Mursell’s Sweet Shop.

—— Previous page: A statement-making welcome from Jackson.

Clockwise from top: Persephone’s iced coffee; Jackson’s Elk refuge; the popular MADE boutique features American-made finds.

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PHOTO BY: ANDREW STERLING

“I’M ADDING ARTWORK TO SLIGHTLY USED GEAR TO HELP IT BECOME NEW AGAIN, KEEP IT OUT OF LANDFILLS, AND OFFER PEOPLE AN ALTERNATIVE IN OUTERWEAR” -- LYNSEY DYER, PRO SKIER

SCHUSS! Not-to-Miss runs at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

EXPERTS ONLY: Corbet’s Couloir The tram passes over North America’s most legendary inbounds

develop through the years, from experimenting with breaking up old chairs and turning them into faux taxidermy to photographing close ups of frozen puddles.”

DINNER SPLURGE “My partner John and I go to Snake River Grill— the steak tartare is always a favorite. And we love the ambiance of Colette. We like to order a lot of plates for the table and try everything.”

TENLEY THOMPSON

Wildlife Biologist and Photographer at Jackson Hole Eco Tour Adventures WHAT MAKES YELLOWSTONE AND GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARKS UNIQUE IN THE WINTER? “They are wildly different places and offer different experiences. Yellowstone is closed to road access in the winter so you get a marvelous, quiet wilderness experience completely different from summer. You have to use a snowmobile or snow coach to explore.

January and February is the prime time to view wolves. Grand Teton’s diversity of wildlife makes it amazing in winter. It’s not uncommon to see elk, bison, big horn sheep, and moose in a span of a few hours.”

FAVORITE NATURE EXPERIENCE “Go see Old Faithful under a full moon in the dead of winter. You’ll likely be the only person watching the famous geyser blow.”

GEAR FIX “Skinny Skis is one block off the town square and has all of the things you need for a winter adventure in the park: snowshoes, winter boots, cross-country gear.”

SNOWSHOE ADVENTURE “I like to snowshoe to the Phelps Lake Overlook in Grand Teton National Park. You start at the

Death Canyon Trailhead and end up surrounded by towering spires of rock.”

LUNCH-TO-GO “Picnic is a hidden gem owned by the folks of beloved bakery Persephone. It’s located toward southern Jackson and offers terrific salads, sandwiches and cookies. You can even get picnics to-go.”

ART FIX “There are so many amazing pieces at the National Museum of Wildlife Art. As a young female biologist and artist, I love the work of Rosa Bonheur, particularly her monumental-sized painting of a stag at dusk titled “The King of the Forest.” The fact she received acclaim back in the1860s and was a master among masters is very inspiring. My all-time favorite work is “In the Evening” by Ron Kingswood. An impressionistic view of a coyote looking out into a snowstorm, it’s a view I have observed in the wild so often and is done beautifully.”

MARTY CAMINO

Executive Director of the Center for the Arts, a campus in downtown Jackson that consists of 20 independent organizations under one roof, including a 500-seat theater and art and dance studios.

NOT-TO-MISS CULTURAL EVENT The Moth Main Stage is part of a storytelling series all done live, without scripts or notes. The stories are always so fascinating, relatable, and human.

GALLERY STOP I am a big fan of Shari Brownfield Fine Art gallery.

It’s located within a quaint historic cabin in downtown Jackson, yet when you go inside, you discover a perfectly curated space with Western and wildlife art, but also really unique, beautiful pieces you won’t see anywhere else in town.

chute so mere mortals can glimpse the daredevils who drop off the cornice.

BEST BUMP RUN: Thunder If you love moguls, this steep run will test your technical prowess.

LOW-KEY CRUISER: Sundance A great warm-up run, this long blue follows the route of the gondola all the way down the mountain.

ON A POW DAY: The Hobacks These three super-steep runs on the far left side of Rendezvous Mountain feel like a backcountry experience yet you’re inbounds.

FOR WIDE-OPEN SKIING: Laramie Bowl This groomed double blue offers consistent steepness to help intermediate skiers progress.

—— Opposite: Yellowstone’s Old Faithful.

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PHOTO BY: BEN EMRICK

—— Clockwise from top: Downtown Jackson Hole; Teton Thai; the majestic Grand Teton National Park.

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WILDERNESS ADVENTURE I love snowshoeing or Nordic skiing in Grand Teton National Park during a full moon. You need a permit and must layer up, but it’s such a special experience to have the park so quiet and still.

an amazing burger, plus winter firepits outside.

If I’m going to splurge, I’ll go to Local for a locally-raised steak and proper cocktail.

PREMIERE LIVE MUSIC VENUE I hate to toot our own horn, but the theater venue at the Center for Arts downtown hosts stadium-caliber-level artists like the Flaming Lips in an intimate theater setting. We also regularly host free local programs showcasing community-favorite acts like the Woods Brothers.

WINTER INDULGENCE Usually I make a smoothie for breakfast, but when it’s cold outside I treat myself to the yumminess of Persephone’s quiche or the croque madame.

MUST-STOP SHOP If friends are in town visiting, I tell them to grab original gifts in the small mercantile shop in the Ward Hotel. If they want real souvenir stuff, I send them to Lee’s Tees on the town square, which has swag in the form of baby onesies to adult hoodies.

DINNER SPOT Snake River Brew Pub is right around the corner from us in the downtown corridor and has elevated pizzas, nice fish and chips, and

NEESHA ZOLLINGER

Yoga instructor at Akasha Yoga Studio.

HEALTHY LUNCH Healthy Being Café and Juicery has a convenient app for to-go orders, so you can skip the line. I love their turmeric lattes, while the falafel wrap or bowl is nourishing, full of flavor, and enough food to make you full but not feel heavy. They have re-usable lunch boxes that you put a deposit on and return—it feels good to make less waste.

OUTDOOR APPAREL Teton Mountaineering carries everything I need for an active lifestyle and has great customer service to help me find what I’m looking for.

NIGHT OUT I love the Glow Nights at Teton Village. Artists create installations using colored and white lights as a medium. It’s so festive and magical to have the art, the light, and the sculptures.

CARDIO FIX Cross-country skiing is a way to get into a nice flow of movement—either with my own thoughts or with a friend. Cache Creek is always a treat, but you have to be ok with the downhill (not recommended for a beginner).

MASSAGE MASTERS My favorite body workers include Hope Buchbinder and David Rogers. Both have private practices in town and know the body at a deep level. Their work is richly healing as well as relaxing.

ETHNIC FOOD FIX King Sushi is my favorite and we are also very lucky to have delicious Korean food at Bapp.

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California COOL

PHOTO BY: JACKIE CARADONIO

Erin Lentz discovers there’s never been a more romantic time to travel with your kids, especially when tucking away into the coastal coves of Newport and Laguna beaches.

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Nine miles at sea.

Dana Point on the horizon. A noon October sun warms our goose-bumped legs. We’re hunting for Top Gun. Not Tom Cruise inspired—though my 12-year-old son, Bode, is obsessed with fighter pilots—but a humpback whale. Captain Chuck and First Mate Jess pilot our Zodiac at top speed, instructing us to look for the tell-tale blow hole on the ocean’s surface.

Bode flips his baseball hat backward, faces the wind, and scans the water. I smile, not just at this epic morning, but because this trip to Southern California has been nothing short of bliss. No school. No Inbox. No to-dos. We’re on a weeklong “date.” Given the global rollercoaster we’ve all been collectively riding, I’ll soon realize romance at The Resort at Pelican Hill and Montage Laguna Beach isn’t only roses, sunset toasts, and couples massages. Romance amidst a pandemic? Smiles, first-ever whale sightings, a sun-kissed boat ride.

No screen time—love, actually.

Previous page: The Mosaic Pool at Montage Laguna Beach. From top: Club interiors at The Resort at Pelican Hill; morning surf lessons; residences at Pelican Hill feature sea views. Opposite: Pelican Hill houses the world’s largest circular pool.

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We start our journey at Pelican Hill Resort. Upon check-in to our three-bedroom villa, Club Concierge Tammy Matsunami arranges for warm cookies and milk to be delivered to our room—Bode’s version of a champagne toast to jumpstart our trip. His top priority? A dip in the largest circular pool in the world, a Pelican Hill calling card (along with its 36 holes of golf). As the sun casts cotton-candy streaks across the California coast, we toss a foam football back and forth in the massive pool—a parent’s secret to tween convo. Topics of our “happy hour:” his middle school crush, his school’s next football game, and, in typical boy fashion, what’s for dinner. Considering he recently asked me if I thought he’d wear a face mask his whole life, this chat is

RESIDENT INTERIOR PHOTOS BY: JACKIE CARADONIO

PELICAN HILL RESORT & BALBOA ISLAND

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PHOTO BY: JACKIE CARADONIO

romantic enough. And perhaps more important—as we dine at the resort’s Coliseum Restaurant beneath a nearly full moon and large palms, the noisy hum of a restaurant in full throttle indicates a welcome return to some normalcy.

Thanks to Tammy’s local intel, the following morning we’re excited to bike nearby Balboa Island.

As Coloradoans and avid mountain bikers, we at first shun the idea of renting E-bikes, thinking we need to earn our pedal strokes. Bode, however, is intrigued at the sight of Sports Rents’ tricked out E-Bikes. “Let’s cross to the dark side, Mom,” he jokes. Two minutes into our ride toward the ferry, his giggle as our bikes reach nearly 20 mph says it all. No wonder E-bikes are having such a moment, as they are non-stop fun.

Once on Balboa Island, Bode takes a video of a roller skater cruising the boardwalk—the stereotypical SoCal scene jumped to life—and we bike nearly 25 miles around the scenic island, checking out the kid’s Fun Zone before landing at Bear Flag Fish Co. for a Sunday brunch of fish tacos and calamari fries. Couples sip mimosas as the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Californication”—one of Bode’s favorite songs—streams from Sonos speakers. The afternoon feels orchestrated specifically for us—one of those vacation days where the real world remains in the rearview.

TRAIL HUNTING > CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK

Any exploration of SoCal calls for ample time on the Pacific Coast Highway, and this stretch of scenic road becomes integral to our weeklong escape. One of our favorite stops along the famous coastal drive?

Crystal Cove State Park. We decide on a moderate, three-mile hike, and as we tic-tac-toe across short climbs, steep descents, and finally to the floor of Moro Canyon, gone are the tense verbal volleys over iPhone time or homework. Instead, we talk about mountain lion habitats, the area’s restoration project, and signs warning us of rattlesnake territory. We pretend we’re in an Indiana Jones film hunting for water, and then decide to run together toward the hike’s end, for exercise. As we near the trailhead, Bode grabs my hand in mock relay victory, raising our fists to the air. “And the crowd goes wild,” he jokes.

Today, nature has been our romantic vacation muse.

Opposite: Club residences at The Resort at Pelican Hill feature large private decks. From top: A kid’s version of happy hour at Montage Laguna Beach; the California Wildflower ritual at Spa Montage; healthy fish tacos from Bear Flag Fish Company in Newport Beach.

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MONTAGE LAGUNA BEACH & AQUA ADVENTURE

From top: California dreamin’ made real; a master suite at Montage Laguna Beach; sea-to-fork cuisine from the resort’s Loft restaurant.

Opposite: Club residences at the Montage Laguna Beach.

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Next up? A stay at Montage Laguna Beach—a storied property that kisses the lip of the Pacific and is a honeymooner hotspot. And though Mom does sneak in a spa visit (can you blame me?), our Montage mission, like the many young families we notice lazing around the iconic Mosaic Pool is simple: Be together. After checking into our sprawling, threebedroom Club residence (replete with three terraces that open to the Cali coast and a S’mores kit to take to the resort’s beachside outdoor firepit), we stroll along the beach. As a now full moon dances along the ocean’s surface, I tell Bode I hope these next few days feel like some of our longest.

Family fun at the Montage includes Adventure IO—a resort program of outdoor experiences with professional athletes and local experts. Kids can surf and skim board with Blair Conklin, learn how to fly above the water on electric hydrofoils with pro Chuck Glynn, or take a family hike with Lululemon ambassador and Soul Cycle fitness instructor Remi Sullivan. If traveling with little ones (ages 5 to 12), the Paintbox program is a must, too, featuring thematically planned days of arts and crafts, plus games and creative activities both indoors and poolside. Other Montage standouts include the aforementioned Spa Montage (try the California Wildflower Ritual, which fuses massage with healing flower poultices and aromatic essences), and American coastal cuisine at the Loft restaurant.

But, back to our hunt for Top Gun: Bode, along with two other kids on the boat, eventually spy its blowhole—a loud sound about 50 feet from the boat’s bow. The captain maneuvers the boat for prime viewing, and suddenly we’re close enough to watch the whale breach the surface and then hear it’s massive tail thwack the ocean as it dips beneath the swell in search of more food. Bode turns back toward me, grins, and says, “Found him.” I squeeze his hand, and then we’re off to find a pod of dolphins.

SEA ME!

Top tables for your Cali foodie file.

SELANNE STEAK TAVERN Housed in a historic 1934 home on the Pacific Coast, this landmark restaurant continually draws a wellheeled crowd, known for the finest steaks and seafood in Laguna, with a top wine list, too. selannesteaktavern.com BEACHCOMBER CAFÉ Located at Crystal Cove State Park, this casual seaside outpost is a must for first-time visitors to the area. Order the famous tuna tacos and pair it with a spicy jalapeño margarita. thebeachcombercafe.com

RESIDENT INTERIOR PHOTOS AND BEACH BY: JACKIE CARADONIO

THE LOFT AT MONTAGE LAGUNA BEACH Perched on the fourth floor of the Montage Laguna Beach, The Loft is a favorite for sunset cocktails and tasty American classic cuisine. Plus, the bartenders (most likely former surf pros) mix up decadent espresso martinis. montagehotels.com BHUDDA’S FAVORITE SUSHI A casual Newport Beach outpost with waterfront patio dining, the sushi here is about as fresh as you can get. Make sure to order Yoshi’s Favorite and the Backflip roll as you watch a Cali sunset. buddhasfavorite.com

—— Fresh seafood from Bhudda’s Favorite.

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EVENTFUL Parties, places & people.

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PHOTO BY:16K AGENCY

CONNECT

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CONNECT

ASPEN +

NAPA

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TALISKER AND FAIRCHILD WINES, the Club hosted 125 Members and friends at a private estate in Aspen, Colorado.

AT THE HOUSE OF FLOWERS in Healdsburg, guests reconnected over Flowers’ finest vintages and test drove the new Porsche Taycan and the Porsche 911 (provided by Porsche Marin).

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROSS DANIELS AND STEFANIE MICHEJDA

—— ROW 1, from left: Glenn Bucksbaum with Shari Liu Fellows and John and Juliet Wilcox. ROW 2: Amy Tara Koch with Ricky Elias and Christina Getty; Michael Bradley and Karrie Sims. ROW 3: Sunie Solomon, Megan Williamson and Leisa Street; Sam Highley and Stefanie Schoen; Mary Allan, James Henderson, Jen and Phil Bodem. ROW 4: Wine tasting at the House of Flowers; Shane Pavitt and Suzanne Phifer Pavitt with Rachel Regan; Nick and Ashley Withers.

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CONNECT

MOROCCO DURING THE FIRST ONCE-IN-ALIFETIME JOURNEY since March 2020, Members rediscovered Morocco, visiting vibrant spice markets, the High Atlas Mountains, Fes, and more.

PHOTOGRAPHY

BY ILYASS NAZIH AND NICK SCHROER

—— ROW 1, from left: Carol March, Sherry Covell, Kristy Faus, Raymond Faus, Mark Burns, Sherry Covell, Kelly Iriye, Nick Schroer, Craig Nattress and Jon Farley. ROW 2: Jon Farley and Mark Burns; Kristy Faus, Carol March, Jennifer Mangione, Kelly Iriye and Sherry Covell.

ROW 3: Nick Schroer, Wes Covell and Sherry Covell; music in Morocco; Tom and Jennifer Mangione. ROW 4: Flavors abroad; Jon Farley and Mark Burns; Brian Iriye, Nick Schroer, Jon Farley, Wes Covell, Kevin March, Tom Mangione, Raymond Faus, Mark Burns, and Craig Nattress.

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CONNECT

PALM BEACH +

MONTECITO AT A PALM BEACH EVENT with Sentient Jet, Panerai, and Huneeus Wines, guests enjoyed a French Rivierathemed night at a private home.

IN MONTECITO, attendees dressed in tropical attire during an evening with Sentient Jet, Château d’Esclans, and Don Julio.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIKA HANDLEY PHOTOGRAPHY AND ELIZABETH MESSINA

—— ROW 1: Molly Austin and Shari Liu Fellows; festivities included cigar rolling. ROW 2: Stephanie LaNasa, Melissa Beebe, Kristin Urrutia, Irina Shaulov, and Molly Austin; a group pose during the Palm Beach event. RW 3: Palmer Brown and Jeffery Alan Marks; Kia Jam and Sarah Akbary; Lana Partridge with Scott and Ashley Harcourt; Ben Sprague and Analise Maggio.

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CONNECT

US OPEN + F1 AUSTIN CELEBRATING THE US OPEN in New York City, Members enjoyed exclusive entrée to the best in tennis and experienced a mixology class at Dear Irving with host Alex Ott. DURING THE COVETED F1 WEEKEND, Club guests convened in Austin for an exclusive VIP Formula One racing experience.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPHER SCHULTZ AND 16K AGENCY

—— ROW 1: Paul and Susan McBride, Kathryne and Kevin Reeves, Gina Bach, Mike Seiman and Kwest Deloney, Darcy and David Fischer. ROW 2: Vicky, Katie and Jim Jacoby, Patricia Lowe, Liane Duncheskie and Noelle Burton. ROW 3: an F1 “commute”; behind the scenes at the race; Scott Fisher, Amy Fisher, Staci Mantegazza, Sergio Mantegazza. ROW 4: Joe George, Owen George, Kelly George, Allison Truett, Trey Truett, Kim Cullum, Rod Cullum, Paul McConnell, Linda McConnell, Stefanie Cochran, Jeff Cochran, Rob Milo, Kimberly Milo, Sergio Mantegazza; The all-important pit stop.

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PARTING SHOT

—— Above, clockwise from top left: Grand Teton National Park; the largest bull moose in the Tetons, named Soshone; Guardsman Pass in Park City; a bison in Yellowstone National Park.

POINT OF VIEW Club Member and photographer DJ Brooks captures the spirit of the west.

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