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The Secret of My Success

For Sale: One Chef, Perfect Condition

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Contents 26 “I want to be known as someone who enjoyed the moment” Vikram Chatwal, hotelier.

28 38

28 The Constant Gardner

Chris Gardner, broker.

30 “We’re all dancing to Madonna”

Michelle Peluso, CEO.

32 What to Carry 34 How to Dress

37 High-end Audio 38 Glorious Timepieces 40 Secrets of the Boudoir 42 The Secret of Your Success Robert L. Frank, journalist and author.

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Cover image of Jimmy Wales © Jill Greenberg/Corbis Outline

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Contents 44 Something Wiki This Way Comes Edit this page. Three little words, but what a miracle they have wrought for Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia.

134 “I sold candy out of my locker in junior high” How Jeff Fluhr went from schoolboy entrepreneur to multimillionaire in seven years.

58 Two’s Company Malin and Moore – the not-so-odd couple of restaurant entrepreneurship – are just hitting their stride.

160 The Secrets of Your Success Robert L. Frank, journalist and author.

68 Love Thy Neighbor Canada’s wild frontier and patchwork of peoples have created a country that is decidedly different.

16

58_ MIKE MALIN & LONNIE MOORE: THE NOT-SO ODD COUPLE

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GEHRY’S STUNNING VISION OF ARCHITECTURE AS ART: THE MARQUES DE RISCAL

58 72 Colorado Gems

54

The luxury home market is alive and well, especially in Colorado.

82 Hot Property Years after its candy-colored dusting of deco, Florida is still at the cutting edge.

78 A Piece of Heaven With fractional ownership, the opportunities are almost endless.

54 Very Gehry El Hotel Marqués de Riscal: Frank Gehry’s dazzling vision of architecture as art.

94 The Passion of the Porteños Buenos Aires will seduce you faster than a tango twirl.

102 Travel Snapshot St. Kitts: it’s getting better all the time.

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Contents 106 36 Hours in San Francisco & Napa Valley Fun, fun, fun in the sun, sun, sun.

110 Travel Snapshot Martinique: a slice of France set down in the tropics.

114 Destination Istanbul 130 Deal Me In

A dream of a city, part Arabian nights and part cosmopolitan – and so cool they should call it iStanbul.

How to win at poker? Ask the experts.

88 The Cool Breeze 122 The World is Your Oyster Let a global concierge go to work on your behalf and enjoy life’s pearls.

Keep the summer alive this fall with floating chiffons and easy layers. Take me where the wind blows.

142 Art for Art’s Sake If you like a picture, buy it. If you want a collection, ask an art advisor.

148 Hunting the Truffle Imagine a perfect winters day deep in the Oregon countryside...

152 For Sale: One Chef, Perfect Condition Want a super chef in your kitchen? Pick your favorite (and be prepared to pay).

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The Editor’s Note Welcome to the Club If you are sitting comfortably… we’ve traveled the world for you this issue, finding the very best places to extend your summer. It’s always lovely to travel, but knowing you have left rainy days behind is just that little bit, well, cooler.

Not that we have ignored the realities of life, we haven’t. Reading around, you could be forgiven for thinking business is the latest in a long line of things to be tagged ‘the new rock and roll’.

At 100Thousand Club we have always thought that way. There are the stadium fillers (IBM as Bruce Springsteen?), the behemoths who play to the same crowds year-after-year (why else did RadioShack sponsor the Rolling Stones?), and the new kid whose fresh take re-energizes a flagging market (too many to mention).

We have been lucky enough to speak with a few of the glittering stars rocking business arenas up and down our country – from Wiki-visionary Jimmy Wales to upstart restaurateurs Malin & Moore – their collected words of wisdom are in these pages. You don’t need to put their pictures on your wall.

We’ve also got our usual portfolio of prime property, stunning travel destinations and the beautiful things that have inspired us this issue.

There’s more, of course. But I’ll let you discover it for yourself.

Enjoy the magazine,

Adam Burns, Editor-in-Chief

Adam Burns at Goldbrick House, Bristol, UK www.goldbrickhouse.co.uk. Clothes courtesy John Anthony www.john-anthony.com

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Contributors• Autumn’07

ASTRID PERKINS

HERB PALMER

ALEXI LUBOMIRSKI

“Buenos Aires is magical,” says Astrid

Like his sailing yachts, Herb Palmer stands

Alexi Lubomirski (The Cool Breeze, p88)

Perkins (The Passion of the Porteños,

tall among his peers. A co-founder of

grew up in Paris and London, moving to

p94). And she should know. A well-trav-

Caribbean Yacht Charters, Herb claims he

Botswana with his mother and English step-

eled travel writer (rarer than you might

is also president of the Martinique chapter

father. It was his stepfather who gave him his

think), Astrid has covered Helsinki, Paris,

of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society – which

first camera at the age of 11. Lubomirski

Tokyo and Des Moines, amongst others, for

means his tales are as tall as he is. Herb’s

worked with Mario Testino for four years,

such magazines as Condé Nast Trav-

guides to the very best of St Kitts and Mar-

during which time he met his girlfriend, the

eller, Maxim and Destinations. But Ar-

tinique can be found on p102 (What St.

model Jacquetta Wheeler. He has shot fash-

gentina is her favorite and it’s capital city

Christopher Did Next), and p110

ion stories and celebrity covers (Renee

her favorite place. “I am always happy

(Coco Creole). “There’s more to the

Zelleweger, Cate Blanchett, Gwen

here, there’s a passion to the people that

Caribbean than rum punch. But only if you

Stefani, Demi Moore and Catherine

you don’t get anywhere else. And it’s in-

want it.”

Zeta Jones) for Harper’s Bazaar and The Face.

fectious.”

For Brooke Duthie (Jeff Fluhr, p134), photography is a way to ex-

says. “But that’s always when the best money’s to be made.” Few peo-

plore the world and connect with people, to find the empowering qual-

ple can have been so certain about their careers as Dani Alves (Jeff

ities that we all share. “I strive to live in the moment and to capture

Fluhr, p134). “I did my first interview for the local newspaper aged 8.

those moments in a way that expresses the spirit, emotion and energy

I interviewed my uncle, a firefighter.” Alves was hooked and has since

of the subject.” Paul Lipnicki’s (Love Thy Neighbor, p68) musings

gone on to interview such luminaries as Newt Gingrich, Richard Bran-

on property have appeared in magazines and papers around the world,

son and Charles Prince. Her writing has appeared in Business 2.0,

including Living Etc., Homes & Gardens, The Financial Times

Forbes and The Times of London, amongst others. With a doc-

and the Wall Street Jounal. His love affair with bricks and mortar

torate in art history and 25 year’s experience building fine art collec-

began late – “I was teaching in the Mid-West and I thought, ‘I wonder

tions for individuals and corporations, Abigail Asher (Art for Art’s

how much this college would be worth to a developer?’ I’ve been find-

Sake, p142) is one of the world’s most sought after and well-respected

ing out ever since”. Jenny Rioch (Colorado Gems, p72) has lived

art consultants and a partner in Guggenheim, Asher Associates.

in Colorado all her life and written about it since she was a cub on The

“What if somebody wants to add a picture to their collection I don’t

Denver Post. She’s also a successful property developer with a string

like? I just say no. But if they really, really love it, I can’t stop them

of successful projects under her belt. “These aren’t easy times,” she

from buying it.”

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T H O U S A N D

C L U B

Information Editor-in-Chief ADAM BURNS Chairman SPENCER GREEN Chief Executive Officer JAMES CRAVEN Finance Director LIN ROWE

Business Development Manager JONATHAN SELLICK

Senior Designer ANDREW HOBSON

Web Services Coordinators ALLIMALAR RAMACHANDRAN, ARUN M, KUMAR SWAMY

Design Assistants PRADEEP KUMAR PADMANABHA, NAGARAJ PS, GS RANGANATH Contributing Writers REBECCA GOOZEE, HERB PALMER, ASTRID PERKINS, JULIA PUPPE Contributing Photographers/Illustrators STERLING DAVIS, BROOKE DUTHIE, TIM MOSSFORD Production Manager WEI KEE Production Coordinators HANNAH DRIVER, KATIE EVANS Client Services Manager MICHELLE BAKER Project Director ANDREA SIMONS Business Development Director CAMESIA FEARON Property Director, Caribbean & Mexico SARAH-EVA CARLSON Director, Communications HARLAN DAVIS Director, Fractional Ownership division MELISSA DIAS Lifestyle Portfolio Director MICHELLE QUINN-LACISTE

www.100thousandclub.com

Circulation Manager BEN KELLY

Data Services Manager NITIN SHIVARAJ

Designers ZOË BRAZIL, MICHAEL HALL, HOLLY WHITE, SARAH WILMOTT

C L U B

Lifestyle Communications Director MADELEINE MURPHY

Assistant Editor AMANDA VLASTAS

Senior Designer (Web) JAMES WEST

T H O U S A N D

Property Director, Canada SHAUNA LAZZARO

General Manager (North America) KATHRYN REEVES Subscription Enquiries +1 212 904 0888 www.100thousandclub.com General Enquiries info@100thousandclub.com Letters to the Editor letters@100thousandclub.com Printer Calev Print Media 333 S Miami Avenue, Unit 101 Miami, FL 33130 Tel: 305.672.2900 www.cpmprint.com 100 Thousand Club (Vol. 1, Issue 3, Q3 2007) is published four times a year by GDS Publishing. All rights reserved.

GDS Publishing, Inc. 33 Whitehall Street, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004, USA. Legal Information The advertising and articles appearing within this publication reflect the opinions and attitudes of their respective authors and not necessarily those of the publisher or editors. We are not to be held accountable for unsolicited manuscripts, transparencies or photographs. All material within this magazine is © 2007 100Thousand Club.

Head Office GDS International, Queen Square House, 18-21 Queen Square, Bristol, BS1 4NH, UK Tel: +44 117 921 4000.

Fax: +44 117 926 7444.

E-mail: info@gdsinternational.com

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Be Inspired by... The Hotelier, Etc.

V

Vikram Chatwal cannot help but be charming. He is a Wharton grad that parties with supermodels, a model that acts, and a hotelier of international renown. “Some people wear different hats. I wear different turbans,” he laughs.

“ I want to be known as someone who enjoyed

THE MOMENT ”

Vikram Chatwal once declared his intention to become the world’s first Sikh billionaire, but he’s since changed his mind (“I’m going to stop at $950m”).

Following convention has never been his thing.

Chatwal went from Wharton to Wall Street to modeling for a fourteenpage shoot in Vogue photographed by famed fashion photographer, Ellen von Unwerth. His turbaned appearance catalyzed a series of modeling stints and decadent travels; including Helmut Newton’s memorable eightieth birthday party in Monaco.

He has simple tastes – “Good red wine. Hip hop. And The Simpsons: I have to see it once a day! The Simpsons is an anti-depressant for me” – yet owns the tastefully ornate Dream hotels, with their deliberately wild public areas.

During his bachelor days, his brightly colored turbans were a familiar sight in New York clubs. He famously dated Kate Moss and sports an impressive array of tattoos, including a ‘G’ inspired by the supermodel Gisele Bundchen. But following his lavish wedding (300 guests were flown in on chartered jets for the celebrations, which lasted three weeks and were spread over three cities), things have gone quiet on the Chatwal front.

That’s about to change. Three hotels in three years is the plan, starting with this year’s gorgeous Dream Bangkok, followed in 2008 by the “subdued and classic” Lamb’s Club in midtown New York and yet another Dream, this time a Downtown outpost in the Meatpacking District.

Move over Andre, the chic Sikh is back at his best. n

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Be Inspired by... The Broker, Etc.

Chris Gardner is the stuff of legend. In 1982, he was just another go-getter in the training program at Dean Witter’s San Francisco office, making $1,000 a month. He was also homeless and a single parent. Gardner never gave up and now...

Th

e

GARDNER At 18, Chris Gardner graduated from high school and joined the Navy. He left the service in 1974 to work at a veterans’ hospital in San Francisco. He wanted more, but didn’t know where to look until a red Ferrari stopped by.

It’s a fitting epiphany. Gardner wanted everything the Ferrari epitomises: wealth, style, an easy, graceful power. He asked the owner what he did for a living. “Stockbroker,” came the reply, and Gardner determined to become one too.

The millions of people who have watched Gardner’s life story on film – in the Will Smith starring ‘The Pursuit of Happyness” – or read about it in the book of the same name, know what happened next.

Prepare to hear more from Chris Gardner.

He already has an agent at William Morris, a literary agent at Zachary Shuster Harmsworth, a publicist with Rubenstein PR, and a speaking contract with Keppler Speakers.

He started at the Dean Witter training program. His girlfriend decided motherhood was not for her, and Gardner began raising his son alone. The boarding house where Gardner lived did not allow children, and for a year he and Chris Jr. slept where they could – cheap hotel rooms in West Oakland, a shelter at a church in the Tenderloin, under his office desk, even, on occasion, the bathroom at the Bay Area Rapid Transit MacArthur station.

It’s in the past, but it will always be him. Gardner worked his way up and started a brokerage, Gardner Rich. (There is no ‘Rich’. He picked the name because he considers Marc Rich “one of the most successful futures traders in the world”). He bought a Ferrari, he dresses impeccably and he wears two watches, one on each wrist, to make sure he’s always on time.

He pays his debts: giving an internship – and then a college scholarship – to a young woman from the wrong side of Chicago. And now he wants to become a household name like another of his role models: “Oprah did okay. She’s helping people, and she’s making a ton of dough.”

He’ll do it. The story starts here. n

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Be Inspired by... The Travel Agent, Etc.

“TO MADONNA ” WE’RE ALL DANCING

Michelle Peluso is a hard woman to pin down. Maybe that’s not surprising, considering she’s the CEO of travel giant Travelocity and a born entrepreneur.

Michelle Peluso has often taken the road less traveled. She graduated from Wharton and turned down all job offers to go study philosophy on a scholarship at Oxford University in England. Enlightened, she returned to take up a role at the Boston Consulting Group but opted out of business again to go to Washington, D.C. to serve as a White House Fellow and Sr. Advisor to the Secretary of Labor.

Each move was down to an “entrepreneurial spirit” and, inevitably, Peluso returned to her first love. “My father was an entrepreneur and my grandparents were

“We need more women in corporate America and in the senior ranks. I’m very excited to encourage women. I think the business world is a wonderful place to build a career.”

entrepreneurs. When I was young, I taught swimming lessons in my backyard instead of flipping burgers to make money.” Business got its hooks in young.

“I went to Russia when I was 15. There was a lot of political instability, challenges, and restrictions at that time, but it was fascinating because you’d walk into a bar and you’d still hear Madonna. People would do just about anything to buy the jeans that you were wearing. It was a fascinating experience – learning about how the global economy works and how it creates bonds between us.”

Peluso watched her dad successfully build an environmental engineering company and remembers especially watching him at company picnics “because I could tell how enormously proud he was of the company’s success and the jobs it provided for the community”. She knew then that she wanted to build a business herself.

“I think it’s imperative that over the course of your professional life you take risks as individuals. All of us have dreams, but we never get very far unless at some point, we believe, we create and just be fearless. It’s only when we push ourselves that we stand a chance of realizing our potential. Don’t live on the sidelines. It’s no place to spend a life.” n

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Michelle Peluso image by Francis Hills

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W HAT TO CARRY...

32

King Louis Louis Vuitton’s first claim to

luxury travel because – when only the elite traveled – the

fame was at a job packing crinolines

company’s codes were set. There have been wobbles along

for Empress Eugénie. He opened a

the way – LV tuile carrier bag anyone – but the brand has

Paris store in 1854 and his son

always rediscovered its sense of purpose: the Eole,

Georges created the family business that captivated

Keepall and Damier Azur pictured here encapsulate all

movie stars and maharajahs in the 1920s, creating hefty

that’s great about it. Smart, strong and with an indefinable

travel cases for stately steamer travel, then light bags for

sense of purpose. To travel with a Vuitton is to be going

the jet set in the 1950s. Vuitton is synonymous with

somewhere. www.louisvuitton.com

100 Thousand Club

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O BJECTS OF DESIRE...

of the Boudoir

Going out or staying in, indulge in a little decadence – it’s good for the soul. NARS Monoï Body Glow II is a deliciously scented daily moisturiser. NARS macerate the Tiare flower (Tahitian gardenia) in refined coconut extract for naturally fragrant, instantly luminous skin.

Jean Patou’s Joy is our favorite for-

gotten floral. It needs to be remem-

03

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bered. Delicate, light and the

Ylang Ylang flower to boost its

amond eternity band (perhaps the

red) and Black Dahlia (left) are vi-

essence of hope, it was created by

well-known aphrodisiac properties.

most coveted piece of jewelry we’ve

brant, scintillating fragrances with

Henri Alméras for Patou at the

Belle En Rykiel is the new fra-

had in the office) and diamond

just enough sweetness to softness

height of the Great Depression.

grance from Sonia Rykiel. It is

heart pendant. They call it Collec-

the astringent edge.

We’re not saying it led us out of

clean and fresh with a beautifully

tion Un Peu D’Amour, we’re calling

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those dark times, but it must have

balanced sensuality. Let loose the

it fantastic. This month, we believe

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helped. Agent Provocateur’s Sen-

power dresser in you. Sasha Pri-

that D.L.& Co make the world’s

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sual Ylang Ylang massage oil is all

mak have their best collection in

best candles – and we’ll keep on

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about pleasure – its heady aroma

years, and these are our two favorite

believing it until we’re proved oth-

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the result of steam distilling the

pieces: an 18kt white gold pave di-

erwise. The Lady Rhubard (right,

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04

08

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05

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H O W TO LIS TEN . . .

The Sound of Angels The concept behind high-end audio manufacturer mbl’s 101E Radialstrahler loudspeaker is simple, but brilliant: like a musical

instrument, the Radialstrahler radiates the sound waves in all directions – and not only in one direction like conventional speakers. What does that mean? It means a concert hall in your living room. Forget that these speakers have won all of the awards, that their modern yet timeless styling and jewelrylike finish mean you want to look at them as much as listen to them. Take your favorite record and hear it reborn in a breathtaking combination of high resolution, believable soundstaging, convincing tonal balance, and airy, soaring musical delicacy. www.mbl-germany.de

100 Thousand Club

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Sea monsters

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G LORIOUS TIMEPIECES...

02 01

03

01 www.tagheuer.com

02 www.corum.com

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These bad boys love the water nearly as much as you do – as

The double-notched screw-lock

limited and numbered edition of 250 pieces. Stunning. The

practical, polished and technically superb as a classic Riva.

crown is protected by a vulcanized

Breitling Chrono Avenger M1 claims to be the world’s most

The new season TAG Heuer Aquaracer has been specifi-

rubber case extension. Another

extreme chronograph. Its titanium case, screw locked crown,

cally designed for sailing races and tested by China Team, a

race-specific design comes cour-

decompression valve and magnetic pushpiece mean water re-

challenger for the America’s Cup. Available in a blue or an-

tesy of Girard Perregaux’s Laure-

sistance to 1000 meters – which means it will push as hard as

thracite dial, and with added diamonds for those who like to

ato USA 98, in partnership with

you. The Ernst Benz Great Circle ChronoScope in polished

roll. The Corum Admiral’s Cup Challenge 44 is a chunky

BMW/Oracle Racing. Big, bold,

stainless steel is a true monster. At 47 mm, you’ll have no

blend of delicious rose gold and high performance materials.

colorful, and only available in a

problems reading the time, whatever the conditions.

05

04 06

03 www.girard-perregaux.com

04 www.breitling.com

06 www.ernstbenz.com

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H O W TO DRESS...

E

Exclusive, Exquisite Tom Ford offers a new world of menswear built on a vision of deeply personalized luxury. His

evening wear is made in Italy by artisan

craftsmen, and it shows. Look at these fantastic pictures: the details, the materials, the ruffles, the shoes‌ They say that all the girls love a sailor; they love a handsome pirate more. www.tomford.com

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01

02

03

04

05

06

Ford’s clothes have been shaped by the human hand. As

01 U-cut waistcoat 02 Black dress trousers with

he says: “style is most potent when it is least complicated.

silk carriage line 03 Black velvet dinner jacket 04

Finely made things add meaning and grace to life.” These

Red velvet dinner jacket 05 Dandy shoes 06 White

clothes exist to make getting dressed more pleasurable.

silk dress shirt

100 Thousand Club

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The Secret of Your Success

Robert L. Frank, journalist and author.

Interview Paul Harris

The rich aren’t just getting richer, they are becoming financial foreigners, creating their own country within a country, their own society within a society, and their economy within an economy. They are creating Richistan.

The name comes from a chance meeting I had a few years ago at a yacht show in Florida. I was walking along the docks, marveling at hundreds of giant boats parked in the marina. I got to talking with a yacht owner from Texas, and as he looked out

The story of the butler boom is the story of all that has changed about American wealth over the past 15 years. It’s not just a tale of more rich people needing more butlers, though that’s a big part of it. It’s also the story of a new culture of wealth. Just as new butlers need training, so do the New Rich. over the boats he said: “You look at all these boats and you’d think everyone was making loads of money. It’s like it’s a different country.” The words stuck with me.

The wealthy have their own health-care system (concierge doctors), travel system (private jets, destination clubs) and language (“Who’s your household manager?”). a mouse, instead of a broom. It all seemed normal at the time. But then I ‘Affluent’ is Richistani for ‘not really rich’. You need about $10m

thought about it, and I wondered, how did our lives get like this?”

to be considered entry-level rich these days.

The trick is to spot when prosperity turns to excess. When a large Take the case of Bob, a real-estate tycoon and ranch owner in the

amount of people make a lot money very quickly it’s a sign you are near

Far West. Bob, his wife and two kids live on 800 acres of land with

the top of the market.

10,000 square feet of living space. He sums up his new life with a story about a mouse: “The other day we saw a mouse in the house. Before, I

As John Kenneth Galbraith once said, “Of all the classes, the

would have just got a broom and got rid of the thing. But now it’s different.

wealthy are the most noticed and the least studied.”

I e-mailed the household manager. He called a pest-control firm, and the pest-control firm caught the mouse. Then the household manager directed two other staff members to dispose of the mouse. That’s five people to catch

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Robert L. Frank’s book “RICHISTAN: A Journey Through the American Wealth Boom and the Lives of the New Rich” is out now. Published by Crown Publishers, a division of Random House Inc.

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The

Outlaw Jimmy

Wales Edit this page. Three little words, but what a miracle they have wrought. Just about every entry on Wikipedia.org, the online encyclopedia, invites visitors to fiddle. Everyone predicted that mob rule would lead to chaos. Instead it has led to what may prove to be the most powerful industrial model of the 21st century: peer production. Wikipedia is proof that it works, and Jimmy Wales is its prophet.

Author Tom McNichol

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J

Jimmy Wales may have created the

world’s largest encyclopedia, but he can’t keep his inbox in order. In the back of a black London cab, careening from one high-powered meeting to the next, Wales sits hunched over his Sidekick.

Jimmy Wales images by Jill Greenberg

WALES viz2:1Aug

If his e-mail were run like Wikipedia,

Wales’ pride and joy, he’d have thousands of strangers reading and editing it for him. Instead, he’s struggling to find messages from such Wikipedia fans as Peter Gabriel and Richard Branson.

“Bono was complaining that I wasn’t

returning his e-mails,” Wales says, not looking up from the tiny screen. “It turns out, they were in my spam folder.”

Bono’s e-mail messages in with the junk? That’s just one sign that Wales has arrived. Being the founder of one of the signature Web 2.0 applications – a user-generated encyclopedia that’s now 42 times bigger than the Encyclopaedia Britannica and viewed seven billion times every month – can open a lot of doors.

But Wales isn’t in London to hobnob with the rich and famous. He has a bigger challenge: spinning his Internet fame into Internet gold.

The irony of Wikipedia is that, although it was founded by a former securities trader and experienced entrepreneur, it has yet to make anyone rich. Wikipedia was launched in January 2001, long before such upstarts as MySpace (2003) and YouTube (2005), but Wales built his site without a mechanism to capitalize on its success.

Had it not been set up as a nonprofit – free of advertisements and promotions –Wikipedia could easily have generated hundreds of millions of dollars in ad revenue. Wales, an Ayn Rand small-l libertarian, figured that user devotion could be harnessed to make Wikipedia-like

“Bono was complaining that I wasn’t returning his e-mails.

It turns out, they were in my spam folder”

products that bring in a buck or two.

So Wales decided to find out – one cautious step at a time. In October 2004 he co-founded a for-profit company, now called Wikia, with Angela Beesley, one of a handful of Wikipedia contributors who now collect paychecks from Wikia. (There are still only five employees on the payroll of the Wikimedia Foundation, which administers Wikipedia).

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“I’m sort of like a British monarch.

I have steadily declining powers over time”

programmers to help improve them. As Wales describes it, the Wikia search engine will rely on human intelligence to do what algorithms can’t – give commonsense search results.

The news that Wikipedia was going to take on Google with a collaborative software model hit the tech trade press like a bombshell (“Jimmy Wales will destroy Google,” wrote veteran online publisher R.U. Sirius).

Wales had to struggle to damp down such enthusiasm for a project that wo years later Wales stepped down as foundation chair.

T

was barely off the ground and is unlikely to produce anything tangible

Last June he hired Gil Penchina, an angel investor and

for several months.

ministrative part of running a company,” Wales admits.

encyclopedia project, the site’s obscurity covered a multitude of sins.

former eBay vice president, to be Wikia’s CEO and set up

But as Wales soon discovered, he’s now playing the game in a dif-

offices in San Mateo, Calif. “I’m not real good at the ad-

ferent league, thanks to Wikipedia’s high profile. In the early days of the

What he does offer is the vision thing, and the vision behind Wikia

“When we first launched Wikipedia, most of the entries really weren’t

is pretty simple: Use the wiki model – and Wikipedia’s most depend-

that good,” he recalls. “The entry for Africa was something like ‘Africa

able volunteer editors – to build moneymaking websites. Advertising is

is a continent’. But nobody really cared for the first three years. We could

provided by Google AdSense, with the click-through revenue funneled

fix things without anyone paying attention.”

to Wales and his investors. If those sites draw even a fraction of

That’s all changed. “I can’t do anything quietly anymore,” he says.

Wikipedia’s more than 160 million monthly unique visitors, Wales could

“As soon as I mentioned the search project, we got a huge rush of peo-

soon be as rich as he is famous.

ple getting in touch with us. All sorts of people who have been thinking

In keeping with Wales’ low-key style (he flies coach, drives a

about how to improve search have come out of the woodwork. I didn’t an-

Hyundai – he sold the Ferrari – and admonishes people to call his cell

ticipate that. But now I think, ‘Wow, the world is kind of waiting for this.’”

phone sparingly when he’s in Europe, since rates there are so high), the early entries in the Wikia stable are fairly modest.

The world is waiting for Wales in more ways than one. His London cab screeches to a halt, and he’s off to the BBC for a series of radio in-

In December, however, Wales announced – as a casual aside – that

terviews. Despite a few awkward questions about some of the strange in-

Wikia would produce an open-source search engine, a kind of user-gen-

accuracies in Wikipedia’s entries (more on that later), this BBC

erated alternative to Google. Unlike Google, which guards its secret

interview, like most subsequent ones, turns out to be something of a love

search algorithms as tightly as Coca-Cola guards its soft-drink formu-

fest; one listener e-mails the station to say that Wikipedia “is one of the

las, Wikia will make its search criteria transparent and invite outside

few that fulfill the vast potential of the Internet.”

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Wales and the Internet pioneers: Wikipedia (Jimmy Wales), Craigslist (Craig Newmark), Flickr (Caterina Fake), Wordpress (Matt Mullenweg), Digg (Kevin Rose), Netvibes (Traiq Krim), Blogger/Odeo (Evan Williams), Writely (Sam Schillace), del.icio.us (Joshua Schachter), Last.fm (Martin Stiksel), Technorati (David L. Sifry), Feedburner (Dick Costolo), Bebo (Xochi Birch). Photo: Patrick Fraser/Corbis Outline

N

othing in Wales’s past quite prepared him for the place

The switch to wiki turned out to be the breakthrough Wales needed. The

he finds himself in today. He began his career in aca-

newly named Wikipedia launched on Jan. 15, 2001, and quickly surpassed

demia, earning a master’s degree in finance from the

Nupedia in size and reach. “After about two weeks on the wiki model, we

University of Alabama and later teaching the subject

had accomplished more than we had in two years,” Wales recalls.

at Indiana University. From 1994 to 2000, he was a research director

Wikipedia is famous for tapping into the wisdom of the crowd.

at Chicago Options Associates, a futures and options trader. By betting

What’s not as well known is how small the core crowd actually is. Half

on fluctuations in interest rates and currencies, he made enough money

of all edits on the English-language Wikipedia can be traced to just more

to take a few years off and explore the business opportunities offered

than 1,000 people. Wikipedia is better at getting a handful of people ut-

by the Web.

terly obsessed with a project than at mining the expertise of the millions

His first effort was a search portal called Bomis, which created and

who use it.

hosted Web rings around popular search terms – including, not surpris-

Which raises questions about the business model on which Wikia is

ingly, a lot of adult themes. His second was a free online encyclopedia

based. What if those core users were contributing precisely because it

project called Nupedia. But its growth was hampered by strict top-down

was a nonprofit project? Will they contribute with the same enthusiasm

rules on who could contribute content to the project. “It just didn’t work,”

if they’re building a network of community sites for the enrichment of

Wales says. “It wasn’t much fun for people.”

Jimmy Wales & Co.? Why would any user who is not being paid go to the

In an effort to jump-start Nupedia, Wales turned to the wiki, a sys-

trouble of building a site on Wikia?

tem that had been developed in 1995 by computer programmer Ward

CEO Penchina answers with a question of his own: “Why do people

Cunningham as a fast way to build public knowledge bases. Cunning-

play basketball when NBA players get paid? People contribute because

ham’s software let visitors to a site add, delete, and otherwise manipu-

it’s fun, because they want to share, because it’s social, or to show their

late Web content, typically without needing to register.

expertise.”

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“Why should someone read the Wikia site about 24 rather than the Fox network fan site?” asks Wales. “Well, for one, our site is much big-

travel guide. Wikia is also about tapping into the wisdom of the crowd, even if it sometimes results in more crowd than wisdom.

ger; it has a lot more information. But more important, if the show starts

Then there’s the nascent Wikia search engine. Larry Sanger, who

going south, or someone gets hold of a leaked script, is the network site

helped create Wikipedia before leaving the project in 2002, says this isn’t

going to let people write about that? The free license part of Wikia lim-

the first time Wales has considered such an idea. “Jimmy has been trying

its our control. If the community gets mad at us, they can just leave and

to organize people to fill up a search database since before Wikipedia

take the content with them. That alone keeps the relationship honest.”

started,” Sanger says. “He’s tried a few different ways, and no way that he’s tried so far has worked. There’s a pretty good chance this won’t either.”

L

ate in the day, we find Wales at the London School of Eco-

Wales concedes that he has a long slog ahead of him. “The first thing

nomics and Political Science. He’s about to give a lecture to

we put up is probably going to suck,” he says. “But we’ll put something on

a group of eager graduate students when one of the school’s in-

the front page that says, ‘Yes, we know this sucks, but see if you can make

structors bounds up to shake his hand. “I’ll give you a brief in-

it better, and check it out again in a few months.’ My motto is ‘Release early,

troduction before you go on,” he says, waving a piece of paper. “Just a bit

release often.’ A closed beta is just not my style.”

of biographical information that I downloaded from Wikipedia.”

A look of mild alarm crosses Wales’s face. “You’d better let me have a look at that first,” he says. Sure enough, Wales’s own Wikipedia entry contains an error, misstating his date of birth.

The error, which stems from a mistake on Wales’s birth certificate, is something of an inside joke among hard-core Wikipedians, who keep deliberately reintroducing it despite Wales’s best efforts to correct the record.

Questions about the trustworthiness of Wikipedia’s entries – and, indeed, any user-generated content – haunt Wales wherever

The notion of Internet denizens building a better

“Jimmy Wales will destroy Google” R.U. Sirius

he goes. The most famous incident may be the 2005 entry that iden-

search engine than Google does, at first, seem preposterous. Then again, the idea of building a gigantic online encyclopedia on the goodwill of strangers seemed crazy once. Wiki creator Cunningham saw profit potential in his invention right away, though he couldn’t figure out how to make it work as a business.

“But we’re in a different situation now,” Cunningham says. “The Web touches so many people that a wiki-based business can work. People really understand the power of wiki.”

tified former Robert Kennedy confidant John Seigenthaler Sr. as a possible

Nowhere is that clearer than at the end of Wales’s hectic day in Lon-

suspect in the murders of RFK and his brother. That error prompted Seigen-

don. The Wikipedia king enters the Montague Pike, a crowded pub on

thaler to denounce Wikipedia as “a flawed and irresponsible research tool”.

Charing Cross Road, for drinks with Britain’s key volunteer editors.

But user-generated is also user-corrected, and Wikipedia manages

There’s a flurry of excitement when Wales makes a late arrival. Cameras

to flourish despite its flaws. “People take issue with individual aspects of Wikipedia all the time,” Wales says. “But it’s kind of hard to hate the general idea of a free encyclopedia. It’s like hating kittens.”

For all its high-profile mistakes, Wikipedia isn’t actually that inaccu-

flash, glasses are raised, flesh is pressed.

But before long, a curious thing happens: The Wikipedians begin to ignore Wales. Half a dozen small discussions break out, each one a tiny wiki community come to life.

rate. Its heaviest users patrol the site like guard dogs, watching for vandal-

The irony of the wiki world is this: The larger and more successful

ism and combing out unsourced facts. A 2005 study by the journal Nature

it gets, the less its founders have to do. “I’m sort of like a British

found that the typical Wikipedia science article contained only slightly

monarch,” Wales says, smiling. “I have steadily declining powers over

more errors than similar articles in the Britannica. (Britannica has disputed

time.” British royals also make a lot of public appearances, then sit back

Nature’s claim.) The venerable printed compendium, meanwhile, commits

and rake in money from their large land holdings.

many more sins of omission. Wikipedia boasts 5.3 million articles, while Britannica, even including its online versions, has only 120,000.

Wikia’s business model neatly sidesteps the inaccuracy issue.

Whereas an encyclopedia focuses on facts, Wikia is a vehicle for passion

If Wales is successful in building his vast virtual wiki empire – wiki fan sites, wiki search engines, wiki hosting – his analogy may be more accurate than he thinks. For the wiki king, the true power may lie in bringing people together so they can rule themselves.

and opinion. There is some content overlap between Wikipedia and Wikia, but the latter reads more like a cross between a fan site and a

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Tom McNichol is senior writer for Business 2.0 Magazine.

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El Hotel Marqués de

Riscal, located in the heart of Spain’s

Rioja wine region,

continues architect Frank Gehry’s

dazzling vision of

architecture as art.

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maller than Gehry’s trademark Guggenheim

S

stone used in bold, rectilinear sections to mirror both

Museum in Bilbao – but with more punch

the soft coloring and the solidity of the church.

per pound – El Hotel Marqués de Riscal is

The final design for the hotel, which offers 43

extraordinary, a tangle of pink and gold tita-

uniquely shaped rooms with a view, comprises two sec-

nium tagliatelle that spills over gloriously warm sand-

tions connected by a spectacular suspended footbridge.

stone columns and a dizzying network of steel joists.

A rooftop lounge makes the most of the panoramic

“Small projects are usually the engine of innova-

views, while the existing 1,200m² wine cellar – the hotel

tion, and it is important to keep a balance between

was build on an old bodega – has been converted into

them and the larger, urban projects,” explains Edwin

a banqueting venue with a capacity of 400.

Chan, project designer at Gehry Partners. “The

The whole building is raised above the site on

clients wanted a chateau for the 21st century, visible

columns, which allows the space underneath to be

across the entire valley, with views of the impressive

used as an entry plaza. Once again, Chan saw the po-

medieval church in Elciego.”

tential for impressive views of the vineyards and the

The importance of the hotel’s relationship with the

church of San Andres in Elciego, which is framed by

church determined to some extent the choice of mate-

the two wings of the hotel and the elevated bridge that

rials used in its construction – the aforementioned sand-

links them.

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Details Worth going? Definitely. This is a spectacular marriage

Should I eat out? No need; the restaurant is run by

of state-of-the-art technology and hotel keeping at the

local chef Francis Paniego, whose work combines mod-

highest level.

ern Spanish cuisine with the classic Riojan cooking he learned from his mother. Paniego trained at El Bulli, so

Okay, when should I go? Late September to early Oc-

expect dishes such as foie gras custard, Iberian-ham

tober for a fantastic view of the grape harvest.

ice cream and sweet tomato tartar with cold garlic cream soup.

Where do I watch it? On one of the many outdoor decks. The contrast of the avant-garde building with the

I love wine. Good, because the hotel’s Caudalíe

surrounding countryside is exhilarating.

Vinothérapie Spa offers wide variety of ‘wine therapy’ massages and treatments. You can finally bathe in the

Best room? The Gehry Suite has a private terrace with

stuff.

views of the winery, village and countryside.

GEHRY 100 Thousand Club

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Lonnie Moore (left) and Mike Malin (right) have their finger so tightly on LA’s pulse they could be Hollywood’s heartbeat. And they juggle.

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Two’s

Interview by Rebecca Gozee Photography Stirling Davis

M

Company

Batman and Robin hit the bad guys; Tom and Jerry hit each other. Malin and Moore – the not-so-odd couple of restaurant entrepreneurship – are just hitting their stride.

My first impression of Mike Malin and Lonnie Moore is that they like to have fun – lots of fun. Constantly laughing and joking, easy to talk to, and with a pirate glint in their eyes, it is not hard to see how these two have become top dogs of Hollywood’s hot spots.

Malin and Moore (Mike and Lonnie isn’t working for me. It sounds

a little, um, folksy) met over 15 years ago as counselors at a camp in the Catskills. “Lonnie had worked at the camp the summer before and he had his little cool kid posse,” says Malin with a grin. “He was running the show and I had to get in with his crew.”

Moore took him in – “I said, ‘hang out with us and you’ll be cool’” –

and they’ve never looked back.

Both moved to Los Angeles, Moore for college and Malin to pursue

his career as an actor. Both did well, in his traditional way, perhaps Moore more so, but neither was happy. They dreamt of a bar, and that meant maxing the credit cards and dropping flourishing careers – by now, Moore was a programming executive at NBC and UPN. “We just jumped off a cliff,” says Malin. “There was a point of no return when we

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started building the place. We were in too deep with money and we had to succeed no matter what. There was no turning back. We were just going to make it happen, whatever it took.”

In 2001, whatever it took opened the West Hollywood bar, Belly.

Malin relentlessly promoted the bar while he was on CBS reality show Big Brother. His hustle, the food, décor and staff meant Malin and Moore’s first risk paid off: Belly was a complete success, receiving rave reviews from LA Times, Los Angeles Magazine and ZAGAT guide. It became the entertainment industry’s hangout of choice and was packed night after night by young Hollywood.

With Belly a success, the dynamic duo decided on their next adventure. They corralled a host of famous investors, including Ashton Kutcher, Chris Masterson (Malcolm in the Middle) and Dule Hill (The West Wing), and opened their first restaurant: Dolce Enoteca e Ristorante. Sexy ambiance, friendly yet unpretentious service and a world-class dining experience made it another overnight success.

Did they think it would be so popular? “We had a feeling,” says Moore. “We’re always somewhat cocky going into these things so we knew it would be successful, but did we think it was going to be the juggernaut that it was? No, I don’t think either one of us expected that.”

Ketchup: simple food in a stunning setting

The bit now firmly between their teeth, Malin and Moore opened their next venture in 2004, Geisha House, which proved to be even

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Dolce Enoteca e Ristorante – the restaurant that started it all

more lucrative. A sexy and sophisticated Japanese-themed restaurant, sushi bar and sake lounge that embraces all of the fiery, subtle and honey-sweet flavors of Japan in a stunning environment, Geisha House continues to draw huge numbers of people and media attention from around the world.

A year later the portfolio was in full bloom. Bella Cucina Italiana, just a block from Geisha House, opened first, followed, in 2006, by the revamped and reopened Hollywood nightclub Les Deux – which quickly became the place to show face for those in the know. Moore & Malin opened two additional locations of Dolce in Reno and Atlanta before opening Ten Pin Alley in Atlanta, a new twist on the traditional bowling alley, and Ketchup, a contemporary American restaurant on the bustling Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. Geisha House opened a second outpost in Atlanta, within the same complex as Dolce & Ten Pin Alley.

Malin and Moore have their finger so tightly on LA’s pulse they could be Hollywood’s heartbeat. The whole thing looks so easy. Is it?

“It’s easy just to turn up for a few hours a night and shake a few hands,” laughs Moore. “You’ve got to put in those 12 to 20 hour days.

Unclog a toilet or reprimand a waiter. It’s not glamorous.” But it must be fun? “Maybe three hours of the day are fun. The other 10 are necessary to a successful business.” “No-one’s going to care as much as you do,” adds Malin.

Malin and Moore have consistently reinvented for their various projects, from exotica to homecooking and back again. “We never wanted to throw all our eggs in one basket,” says Malin. “We have tons of ideas – but Sexy ambiance, friendly service and world-class dining are all on the menu

we’re not just idea guys, we like to see things through. Other restaurateurs will concentrate on one type of cuisine or one genre, we want to do a lot of different cuisines.” What links their places is not food, but feeling.

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Malin & Moore’s trademark sense of style is evident in all of their projects

Can Malin and Moore retain their sense of style as their reputation grows? The pressure may be mounting but Moore is staying calm.

Perhaps this is true of Los Angeles, he speculates, but as they branch out to other cities it’s not so much about the “cool” as the quality.

These boys have big plans.

“In LA it’s the nature of the beast,” he laughs. “You have such a fickle audience. They are…” “Self-entitled?” Interjects Malin (it’s a common occurrence during our interview, the finishing of each other’s sentences, correcting phrases. It’s by turns funny and sweet). “They are a self-entitled audience, and these taste makers that want to be the first one in as soon as the restaurant opens, have opinions before they even step in the door.” Moore puts his faith in the product and the service that they provide, adding: “All we can do is put our best foot forward and keep our fingers crossed.”

The celebrity following that Malin and Moore enjoy is undeniably why they have become so well known in the realm of hospitality, but is it important to them? “In a commercial sense, not at all,” says Malin. “A lot of people really hang their hat on celebrities but there are so many regular people in the world that are going to make you rich.” “And that’s money with a lot less headache – believe us!” Laughs Moore.

Are they in danger of biting the hand that feeds? Surely the investors they have chosen to do business with are celebrities, so what difference has that made to them? “It gets people there once but, ultimately, the only way people are going to come back is if we have great food and great service. We focus on that and let the celebrity thing sort of take care of itself,” says

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Moore. “It can work against you,” Malin points out. “Some

A Few Of Their Favorite Things

people won’t come to your restaurant because they think they’re not cool enough or maybe they think they’re too cool and wouldn’t go to, say, Ashton Kutcher’s restaurant.”

“It is definitely a nice bonus but it’s not something we

Q. Where is your favorite restaurant (aside from your own)?

Malin. In Los Angeles it’s Big Wang’s Moore. Chick Fil-A in Atlanta

mention the first time we talk about the restaurants,” says Moore in a let-that-be-the-end-of-that style. Malin, of course, cuts in: “The difference with us versus some other high pro-

Q. And holiday destination?

Moore. Vegas

file restaurants is that our celebrities are investors, they aren’t owners. They don’t factor into any decision-making.”

If Malin and Moore’s list of achievements is enviable al-

Q. Best purchase?

Moore. Mike’s first helicopter!

ready, it’s about to get worse (or better, of course, especially if you’re hungry). They are planning on opening three new restaurants in Huntsville, Alabama at the end of this year and then places in Dallas, Las Vegas and Orange County. If

Q. Place to spend your spare time?

Malin. Vegas is easy for us. It’s a 55-minute flight and it has great restaurants, great clubs, great weather, pools, girls – it’s all wrapped up in one.

anyone can do it Malin and Moore can. And if they need some help, I think ‘Malin, Moore and Goozee’ sounds good.

Q. Which is your favorite restaurant in the Dolce Group?

Malin. Dolce – because it was the one that started it all Moore. It’s a tough one but Ketchup – the one we’ve just opened, it’s whimsical and the food is just really simple American comfort food

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Canada’s wild northern frontier, which has etched itself into the national psyche, and its distinct patchwork of peoples have created a country that is decidedly different – and a property market that defines ‘hot’.

Author Paul Lipnicki

LOVE THY NEIGHBOR

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f you haven’t been to Canada, you’re missing

It has also got one of the planet’s hottest property

out. According to Lonely Planet: “Those expect-

markets. While investors have been gunning for poten-

ing Canada to be a blander version of the U.S.

tial big returns in the emerging markets, Canada has

should check their assumptions at the door.” It’s

been quietly going about its business of providing stead

the edginess between Canada’s indigenous, French and

annual gains. “Canada’s property market has been

British traditions that gives the nation its complex three-

ticking along like a well-tuned engine, posting average

dimensional character. Add to this a constant infusion

annual price increases of five to 10 percent for the past

of US culture and a plethora of traditions brought by

three years,” says Kate Pernacchio of Imoinvest.

migrants, and you have a thriving multicultural society living in some of this planet’s finest scenery.

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“In many respects, Canada is a model property market where demand and supply are in balance. In St-Laurent en

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01_Vancouver: consistently rated as one of the most livable cities in the world by international surveys

02_Vancouver waterfront is a model property market, where demand and supply are in balance

03_Canada’s stunning northern frontier has etched itself into the national psyche 03

02

Victoria The capital city of the province of British Columbia and home to approximately 345,000 people, Victoria is located on the southeastern tip of Vancouver Island overlooking the Strait of Juan de Fuca. People from afar are drawn to its Mediterranean-style climate, beautiful surroundings, year-round golf season and generally relaxed pace of life. Fueled by one of Canada’s hottest economies, Victoria is experiencing a booming real estate market. Its combination of old-world charm and modern-day city style makes it one of North America’s most desirable places to visit, live, work or play.

Bas in Montreal flats go for around $320,000,” Pernacchio

Crescent Beach

continues. “Property bought as buy-to-let could bring in an

Located on the tip of White Rock, which borders the

estimated $3,600 in monthly rent in the summer months.”

United States and the District of Surrey, British Colum-

Where should you buy? According to Sotheby’s In-

bia. The magnificent beachfront, with multiple restau-

ternational Realty, the following areas are super-prime.

rants and shops, is the most widely known and enjoyable landmark of the City. White Rock boasts an affluent and

Vancouver

friendly community along with a warm dry climate that

The largest city in the province of British Columbia

offers more hours of sunshine than Vancouver. Adjacent

and the third largest city in Canada with a population of

to the Douglas border crossing, one of the busiest border-

over 600,000. Vancouver is surrounded by water on three

ing crossings in Canada. Surrounding Crescent Beach

sides and nestles alongside the Coast Mountain Range. In

and White Rock is Surrey, one of the fastest growing

addition to being home to spectacular natural scenery and

major cities in Canada. Easy and convenient access.

a bustling metropolitan core, Vancouver boasts one of the mildest climates in Canada. It’s a two-hour drive north

Whistler

of Seattle, Washington and two hours south of Whistler.

Located in the heart of the Coast Mountains, a

Consistently rated as one of the most livable cities in the

short distance inland from the Pacific Ocean, Whistler

world by international surveys. A beautiful place to live.

provides a Canadian west coast mountain experience

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04_The new Hollywood Hills? Evangeline Lilly relaxes in the Rockies

that includes snowy winters and moderate temperatures. This world renowned ski resort will host the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains offer the highest lift-serviced vertical and the largest terrain of any ski area in North America, with large alpine bowls, forested glades and ski runs that last forever. Part-time home to approximately 9,100 second-home owners from around the world, and 4,500 seasonal residents. With overnight and day visitors, Whistler’s per day population averages 31,351 in winter 04

and peaks at approximately 45,000.

Salt Spring Island Toronto

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Nestled in the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver

Toronto, the fifth largest city in North America, is

and Victoria, Salt Spring Island is renowned for its cre-

commonly referred to as the world’s most multi-cultural

ativity, relaxed lifestyle and scenic, natural beauty. The

city. 140 million people (roughly 40 percent of the US

largest of the Southern Gulf Islands, there is plenty, and

population) live and work within a day’s drive to Toronto.

nothing, to do here. The seaside village of Ganges offers

The cultural, entertainment and financial capital of

a wide variety of restaurants, boutiques, studios and en-

Canada with such diverse neighborhoods as Little Italy,

tertainment. Popular with boaters, kayakers, hikers and

Greektown, Chinatown, Little India, The Gay Village and

beachcombers, the island also boasts two golf courses

the Fashion District. Toronto offers everything you can

and a fine arts theatre. Three ferry terminals and a con-

possibly think of and more. It is headquarters for six of

venient float plane service to Vancouver make this an

Canada’s top insurers and Canada’s five largest banks.

easy place for weekend getaways. n

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Colorado Gems The housing market may be in a bit of a funk with home prices not rising as fast as they did a year or so ago, but the luxury home market is alive and well, especially in Colorado.

Author Jenny Rioch

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ccording to the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, the luxury home market is booming. They would say that, I hear you cry – and correctly – but there’s more to the story than PR puff.

The most expensive house sold in 2006 was in

Alpine, New Jersey, about five miles from Manhattan.

The English-style 10,000 square foot mansion on 63 acres with pool, tennis courts, and guest cottages sold for $58 million to the CEO of Advanced Photonix Richard Kurtz (the seller was Henry Clay Frick II). The Institute expects that figure to be broken this year.

But the real money sits just below the top, and a jet jump from NJ. Today the average price of a single-family home in downtown Aspen is $4.9 million. In 1977 it was $130,634. While not every Colorado town is headed for Aspen-like glory, there are many hidden gems that offer outdoor fun and the very real prospect of homeprice appreciation.

“Really, it comes down to the fact that Colorado is a very attractive place to live and land is a limited commodity,” says Bob Kray, a Crested Butte-area real estate

also boating on nearby Navajo Lake and skiing at the

agent. “There is a finite amount of space that can be

Wolf Creek Ski Area, while golf is a popular warm-

developed in the future, making the existing property

weather pastime.

more valuable.”

Colorado properties benefit from location and space

What’s next? Plans are underway to build two new

For those who want to avoid suffering the pangs of

hot springs resorts on the San Juan River, with a luxury

“if only” regrets, here are three up-and-coming moun-

hotel and timeshare units on the drawing boards. A river-

tain communities to consider buying property in now.

front restoration project was recently completed, and the town is in the middle of its first downtown master plan to

Pagosa Springs (Archuleta County)

address the current and expected growth. Meanwhile,

Set in a southwestern Colorado river valley on the

Red McCombs, the owner of the Minnesota Vikings, con-

west side of the Continental Divide, the Pagosa Springs

tinues his years-long battle to build a resort development

area has earned the surrounding county of Archuleta the

next to the ski area.

title of second-fastest growing in the U.S. The population almost doubled between 1990 and 2000 to 9,898.

Housing: The potential attracted a California company that specializes in recreational properties. It re-

Amenities: The mineral-rich Great Pagosa Hot

cently bought all the vacant lots that it could get its hands

Springs have attracted people to the area for centuries.

on in a 1980s-era development north of town – about 300

Today, kayaking and fly-fishing on the San Juan River,

in total, according to town manager Mark Garcia. After

which runs right through town, is a big draw. There is

sitting empty in the aftermath of the Colorado oil bust of

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the mid-1980s, the 12 new subdivisions in Pagosa Lakes

sorts in the East. The family has already worked with

have been steadily filling. The average median price of

developers to add new condominium properties. Last

a single-family home in the first eight months of 2005

fall, 80 of those condos at the newly revived base area,

was about $188,570, an increase of 24 percent from

in the range of $600,000 to $1 million each, were pre-

about $152,500 five years ago. Large, multi-million dol-

sold in one day.

lar luxury homes are also on the market. “It’s gone totally crazy,” says Garcia. “I wish I’d bought a lot more property than I did.”

Crested Butte (Gunnison County)

Eye on the Bottom Line An Aspen Alps Road property sold in August 2007 for $2.88 million more than its purchase price two years ago. The seller bought the property for $4.365 million.

Amenities: An authentic Victorian mining town located at the end of a canyon, Crested Butte has always been known for its serious skiing but its growth has been

Housing: The Victorian architecture won Crested

somewhat stunted by its end-of-the-road location. Still,

Butte designation as a National Historic District, which

the area’s aspen-studded meadows, big mountain vistas

brought with it restrictions on growth. Increased demand

and annual wildflower festival have attracted devoted

has driven the average median condo price up 63 per-

fans who have maintained its laid-back sense of com-

cent since 2000, and single-family home prices have

munity, warmth and friendliness to newcomers.

grown even faster. The median price in the first eight

What’s Next? New life has been breathed into the

months of last year was $320,685, up 76 percent from

town and the ski resort, located two miles out of town,

$182,500 in 2000. That trend is expected to continue

since the resort was bought in March 2004 by Tim and

as the area is thought to have considerable growth po-

Diane Mueller, who elevated the struggling Okemo

tential. Still good value in relation to other so-called

Mountain Resort in Vermont to one of the top ski re-

name brand resorts.

Stunning décor echoes the wild outdoors

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Heaven

wning your own island or even a

A more sensible approach to privacy and

house on an island is quite the

exclusivity has long dwelled with fractional

investment. Forget (if you can)

ownership – the fastest-growing segment of our

It’s the perfect approach for buying abroad.

the millions you spend to ac-

property market – and destination clubs or pri-

For example: the complications of home own-

quire the property and consider this: import-

vate residence clubs. Clubs such as Exclusive

ership in Paris has thwarted more than a few

ing construction materials can cost up to

Resorts and Ultimate Resort have residences

attempts at American pied-à-terre seekers.

$4,000 per hour. Finding people who are will-

on islands, meaning that you’ll get to vacation

The high cost of Parisian real estate, the ar-

ing to build on the secluded island, even more.

in privacy, for a fraction of the price that island

cana of French property law, and the unfeasi-

owners are paying. And if your property appreciates, so does your share.

A Piece of

Fractional ownership is the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. property market, but it is also being adopted around the world. The opportunities are almost endless.

What is fractional ownership?

In essence, fractional ownership is the shared ownership of a property. Usually, the title deed is divided into fractions ranging from a quarter to a twelfth. This gives you the right to stay in the property for the corresponding fraction of the year. You can also sell your fraction whenever you choose. A management company runs the property and each fractional owner contributes to an annual maintenance fund.

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More than bricks Fractional opportunities don’t stop with real estate. Purchase fractional ownership in a yacht and you’ll be entitled to luxury services for your alloted time, rent payments should you not decide to use your time, and luxury services during your time.

Like purchasing real property, if the overall value of the yacht increases, the owner gains increasing equity in the yacht.

At Ocotalito Resort & Spa, fractional interest is also available on a 34’ Gamefisherman Walk Around boat for the sport-fishing enthusiast. This includes

bility of a second home an ocean away have combined to keep

a captain, mate and provisions for the trip.

prime homes deferred for all but a select few.

Fishing on and off the coast around Costa

Fortunately, the fractional concept travels well –in this case,

Rica’s Playa Ocotal is some of the best in

by way of Italy, where several properties – among them the

the world. Marlin, Sailfish, Yellow Fin Tuna

Cologna della Via in Anghari, the Borgo di Colleoli outside Pisa,

and Mahi Mahi are so plentiful that most

and the Castello di Casole near Siena – have been offering a slice

anglers will experience that “catch of a

of Tuscan sun. Because the companies offering fractional inter-

lifetime”. Now that’s a good investment.

ests in Parisian apartments can be incorporated in the United States, buyers can effectively sideskirt the various entanglements of French law.

Ocotalito Resort & Spa is one of only very few offering fractional ownership in Costa Rica. The prices for these fractional purchases start at $140,000 for 1/8th ownership or six weeks per year. Fractionals are available as “fixed” periods of six consecutive weeks, or as “rotational” where 1/8th interests rotate in consecutive two-week periods throughout the year.

At Ocotalito, fractional owners receive all of the benefits and privileges of full owners, but additionally receive some unique amenities including use of a Land Rover during their weeks on site, the ultimate mode of transportation to get to the extreme activities Costa Rica offers. Unused weeks can be placed into the rental program and a luxury residence exchange club will be available where owners can exchange a few weeks for the use of similar homes and villas at selected destinations world-

“For people who want to have an easier life – and make a good investment out of their holidays”

wide. Fractional owners placing 70 percent or more of their weeks into the rental program will also receive all of their HOA fees and utilities paid by the rental management company.

The overwhelming majority of properties available to purchase fractionally are new-build villas or apartments. So, if you want to renovate a ruined tower at the top of a hill in Italy with no roads or electricity, fractional ownership is not for you. Leave it to the people who want to have an easier life – and make a good investment out of their holidays.

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ADVERTISING PROMOTION

I

f lifestyle was a season, it would take you to Costa

Other factors are innate. There is no ‘off season’ in

Rica, proclaimed by newbies and loyalists as ‘the

temperate Costa Rica. Year-round calm weather nour-

last best place’. If lifestyle was an experience, it

ished with afternoon rain showers for six months of the

would draw you to Sunset Hill overlooking Playa

year are complimented by immunity to the ravages of

Ocotal on the western-most Pacific Coast, named for the

hurricanes. Its naturally protected coastline cannot be

breathtaking sunset nine nights out of 10. If lifestyle had

devastated by the same storms that frequent the Ba-

an address, it would be Ocotalito Resort & Spa carved

hamas and Virgin Islands.

into the ocean-facing side of Ocotal Bay with its

For years, the secret of Costa Rica’s extraordinary

panoramic vista of the coastline, a giant mural of ever-

surroundings, peaceful government relations and gen-

changing colors and natural beauty.

uinely welcoming natives remained well guarded, the

Many of the factors that contribute to Costa Rica’s

destination of choice for sophisticated travelers. Early

allure are a result of farsighted governmental actions

adaptors discovered the beauty and calm of this pristine

60 years ago. In 1948, the Costa Rican government

country decades ago. Some of them came here for the ad-

disbanded its military, establishing itself as a neutral

venture – surfing that rivals Hawaii and the Baja, active

country, and reinvested the funds in improving the

volcanoes that sputter and spew eco-entertainment 24/7

country’s healthcare system and education. As a re-

and jungles that are a natural habitat for some of the

sult, Costa Rica has the most educated population and

world’s rare and endangered species. Others experienced

progressive medical care system in all of South and

Costa Rica’s Gold Coast and knew that they had to make

Central America.

the region’s rich attributes known to the rest of the world.

The Last Best Place Ocotalito Resort & Spa, Playa Ocotal, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

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ADVERTISING PROMOTION

A Master Suite private Jacuzzi and outdoor summer

Ownership in Costa Rica Foreigners are able to purchase, own and receive full rights to property in Costa Rica, a right protected by the Costa Rican Constitution and recorded in the National Registry (Registro Nacional). Buyers can also buy Title Guarantee from internationally recognized title insurance companies.

In Costa Rica there are two very distinct kinds of property, titled and concession. Most coastal properties are concession properties. This means that the owner has a lease with the Costa Rica government for a specific period of time, from 20 years to 99 years. Multiple lease terms can be acquired. Typical lease terms are 20 years. Most concession properties have an established zoning plan which will restrict the concession holder to building only what the zoning plan states. So long as the concessionaire pays the annual dues on the concession, and conforms to the zoning plan, the property is secured.

Costa Rican corporations can possess concessions and foreigners can own Costa Rican corporations. Additionally, corporate shares and books can be held in a Trust.

kitchen are included in these three bedroom, 3.5 bath units finished in great detail, from designer furnishings to fine bed linens.

The Clubhouse will provide dining facilities along with a fitness center, boutique retail space and headquarters for the Ocotalito’s Lifestyle Concierge, a 24/7 service provided to all guests including room service, personalized shopping and tour and activity scheduling.

Phase I of Ocotalito Resort & Spa – including an infinity-edge swimming pool and gated 24-hour security – is scheduled for completion mid-2008. Phase II will host an additional 42 units at an elevation just above the Phase I residences. Still in the planning stages, the design of this hotel-style building will arch six stories over the view to the Bay with terraces that offer lighthouse-like views of the ocean. From the terraces you can hear the call of Howler monkeys at dawn and dusk and the gentle lapping of the waves on the beach.

Ocotalito Resort & Spa will operate as a luxury condo-hotel, a reflection of the high level of interest from owners who want to create rental income as well as equity from their properties. This use is encouraged by the Costa Rican government, which has put an emphasis on visitor and tourist development to boost the nation’s economy. Exponential growth in the Guanacaste area has made Ocotalito and other Pacific-

This explains the 200 construction workers swarming the nearly five acres that makes up Ocotalito Resort & Spa

side developments the beneficiary of an enormous share of Costa Rican marketing dollars.

early each morning. As the sun sets each workday, progress here is visible as 36 luxury villas in Phase I of the entire de-

For more information contact Randy Wahlberg, Ocotalito

velopment rise up out of the ground. The three-story resi-

Resort & Spa. Tel: 888-440-9496 ext 82. E-mail:

dential buildings are situated on the lower terrace of the

info@Ocotalito.com. Web: www.ocotalito.com.

parcel’s steep terrain and surround the 8,000-square-foot Clubhouse, the centerpiece of the community.

The architecture – a masterful assembly of thickwalled buildings and terracotta-tiled rooflines – is a statement in luxury, integrating classic seaside village composition with Tuscan influences. And yet the very reason Ocotalito Resort & Spa exists, as a retreat from life’s urgencies, a soulful, restorative place where nothing is denied, is evidenced in the state-of-the-art conveniences complete with comprehensive communications connections.

8,000-square-foot Clubhouse: centerpiece of Ocotalito Resort & Spa community

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Hot

PROPERTY The International Herald Tribune recently ran a headline article about the European influence on property development in Florida. Years after its candy-colored dusting of deco, America’s best loved holiday destination is still at the cutting edge. Joel Schuster rounds up the hotspots.

Florida Keys A series of islands stretching more than 150 miles southeast from the

is hard to beat. A big city, Miami’s flashy skyscrapers combine with Miami Beach’s Art Deco treasures to create an architectural display wor-

Florida mainland, the Florida Keys have distinctive characters but share

thy of a major metropolis.

a natural tropical beauty and a laid-back lifestyle.

Waterfront Homes: The greater Miami area offers a seemingly

Waterfront Homes: If you yearn for waterfront property, it’s here. The

boundless variety of choices in luxury waterfront living. On Miami

keys are an island chain, and a disproportionately large number of lux-

Beach, from South Beach to Bal Harbour (see sidebar), luxury condo-

ury homes front either on the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay, or the Gulf

miniums line the oceanfront, with luxury private homes largely found on

of Mexico.

the Intracoastal waterway. On Key Biscayne, luxury condos offer dra-

Weather: For a semi-tropical climate with balmy breezes and few sharp

matic ocean vistas while luxury homes tend to provide spectacular views

fluctuations in temperature, this is about as good as it gets. The average

of the Miami skyline across Biscayne Bay. Between Miami Beach and

temperature in the Keys in January is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In August,

Miami, magnificent homes and estates, running the architectural gamut

it climbs to 84.8 degrees Fahrenheit.

from Spanish-Mediterranean to modern, can be found on private islands

Culture: In historic Key West, there’s an intermingling of cultures per-

accessible from several of the causeways. In downtown Miami, luxury

haps unique in all the United States. From Caribbean art galleries to the

condos featuring breathtaking Bay and/or city views line Brickell Av-

nightly sunset party at Mallory Square in Old Town, the living is always

enue. In Coral Gables, private waterfront communities like the 200-

interesting.

acre Gables Estates provide boaters with direct access to Biscayne Bay with no bridges.

Miami For sheer excitement, Miami’s multicultural melange of people, languages, ethnicities and races makes for a sophisticated urban tempo that

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100 Thousand Club

Weather: Sunny almost every day, the average January low is only 58.7 and the average July high is 89.9. Rainfall is generally brief, yet it rains – at least a little – about 129 days of the year.

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Florida: where cutting edge design meets curved edge deco

Culture: As home to the Florida Grand Opera, the New World Symphony, the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra and the Jackie Gleason Theater of the Performing Arts, Miami’s cultural life is vibrant indeed.

Amelia Island Located 29 miles north of Jacksonville airport on the Atlantic Coast, the residents of Florida’s northernmost barrier island co-exist in harmony with its old majestic oaks, tidal marshes and secluded beaches.

Boca Raton

Waterfront Homes: Amelia Island’s 13 miles of pristine beaches,

Boca Raton has been a jewel on Florida’s East coast since the 1920s.

framed in places by 40-foot high dunes capped by sea oats, rank among

Today, the city is synonymous with the good life, a center of affluence and

the most beautiful in America. Luxury estates and condos can be found

sophistication in a lush, tropical environment.

on the oceanside, and premier waterfront property also is available on the

Waterfront Homes: Beyond the luxury oceanfront homes found on

Intracoastal Waterway side of the island.

the beaches of Boca Raton and a half-dozen adjacent communities

Weather: Surrounded by water, Amelia Island tends to enjoy tempera-

along the barrier island, a tremendous surge in real estate develop-

tures three to five degrees cooler in the summer and three to five degrees

ment has occurred around the Intracoastal Waterway. Prestigious wa-

warmer in the winter than those reported for Jacksonville International Air-

terfront communities featuring both single-family homes and

port. The annual average mean temperature for the Island is 69.9 degrees.

ultra-luxury condominiums offer an opulent lifestyle on both sides of

Culture: Fernandina Beach, located near the north end of the island, hosts

the Intracoastal.

its annual ‘Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival’ the first weekend of each May,

Weather: The climate for Boca Raton is tropical, with an average low

attracting hundreds of artists, artisans, and craftsmen from across the coun-

temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit and an average high temperature

try. The island also hosts the Amelia Island Jazz Festival, the Amelia Island

of 84.

Chamber Music Festival, and the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.

Culture: Boca Raton offers a variety of cultural activities. Residents may choose among six live theaters, the Harid Conservatory, the Boca Pops, the Museum of Art, and the Boca Ballet. In Delray Beach, the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens provide unique events.

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St. Petersburg Poised at the southern end of a peninsula, the city of St. Petersburg – with its grace, style, and old Florida elegance and sophistication –

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Florida is working hard to lose its retirement tag. There are properties to suit all tastes

looks east and south across Tampa Bay. To the west, islands strung like a necklace from Belleair Beach to St. Pete Beach provide miles of spectacular waterfront along the Gulf of Mexico.

The Beauty of Bal Harbour The St. Regis Resort & Residences are upping the chic

Waterfront Homes: The city of St. Petersburg has blended business,

count in South Florida’s most exclusive enclave, Bal Harbour.

sports, entertainment, the arts, education, hospitality and residences into

Located on the white, pristine sands of the Atlantic Ocean

a vibrant downtown. Luxury condominiums like those at Vinoy Place

directly across the street from the legendary Bal Harbour

provide elegant residences with views of Tampa Bay within walking dis-

Shops – ranked “the number one shopping center in the U.S.”

tance of BayWalk, an entertainment/retail complex. To the north, towns

by Women’s Wear Daily and home to 100 flagship stores in-

like Belleair Bluffs bordering the Intracoastal waterway, Belleair Beach,

cluding Hermes, Gucci, Prada, Dolce and Gabbana, Chanel,

Belleair Shores and Clearwater Beach offer premier waterfront estates on

Louis Vuitton, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus – the St.

the Gulf of Mexico and the Intrracoastal Waterway. Tierra Verde, an is-

Regis Resort & Residences promise to be “a pre-eminent ad-

land that lies where Tampa Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico, is a paradise

dress for the finest luxury living in Miami-Dade County.”

featuring both upscale condominiums and luxury estate properties.

Weather: The ‘Sunshine City’ holds a Guinness World Record for log-

Find out more: stregisbalharbour.com

ging the most consecutive days of sunshine – a stretch lasting 768 days that began in 1967. But on average, you can only count on 361 days of

86

sunshine per year – and an average temperature of 73.7 degrees Fahren-

boasts that it is the cultural hub of central Florida. The 2,000-seat Ma-

heit. January’s average low temperature is 50 degrees, while July’s av-

haffey Theater for the Performing Arts is host to the Florida Orchestra,

erage high is 90.

touring Broadway shows and contemporary performers. The city also has

Culture: Downtown St. Petersburg is a tropical haven for the arts. With

a unique ‘Public Art’ collection that has put many of Florida’s outstand-

six museums (including the world famous Salvador Dali museum), scores

ing artists on display in public buildings, parks, recreation centers, water

of galleries and an active performing arts community, St. Petersburg

towers, highway entrance ramps, fire stations and libraries.

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Styling by Amanda Bellan at Morgan Lockyer and Photography by Jonathan Glynn-Smith

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Coat, Burberry (www.burberryusaonline.com)

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The

GreatOutdoors Get back to nature in style this fall.

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Tan fur coat, to order Alexander McQueen (www.prada.com) Silk chiffon dress, and thin scarf Burberry Prorsum (www.burberryusaonline.com)

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Dark green beret Margaret Howell (www.margarethowell.co.uk) Coat, Burberry (www.burberryusaonline.com)

Vintage Coat, Alice Underground, Lower Broadway, Soho, NY

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s o 単 e t r o P

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T h e P a s s io n

o f th e

lopments, e v e d w e n k c r sli l. cture to supe e it h rc a ic n o n a tango twir a th r te From ic s fa u o will seduce y Buenos Aires kins Per Author Astrid

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judge it to be eternal as water

“I

Ralph Lauren, Hermes, Cartier and the top

meantime, upscale industry and social insiders

and air,” wrote the genius

five-star hotels in the city, Alvear Palace Hotel,

confirm Faena’s hotel projects will soon be

Jorge Luis Borges about his

Palacio Duhau-Park Hyatt and the Four Sea-

sharing space with players such as Mandarin

hometown, Buenos Aires, a

sons. This is the playground for local sophisti-

Oriental and the Ritz-Carlton.

shimmering, bustling reflection of the

cates, the ones who lunch at the traditional La

Also making international news, Palermo

dreams that millions of European immi-

Munich, pause for a cocktail on the patio at La

Viejo, a neighborhood that has become BA’s

grants brought with them in the late 18th

Biela, meet at the Jockey Club and shop – and

hotbed for design and fashion. Packed with the

and 19th centuries. These settlers tried to

shop – at Tramando (avant garde fashions),

young and the creative, this is where you might

recreate their homeland here on the vast

Rossi & Caruso (exquisite leathers), and Patio

bump into Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal,

Pampas and in many ways they succeeded.

Bullrich (everything else, this being BA’s must

model Carolina Kurkova and the crème de la

Porteños, as those who live in Buenos Aires

luxe shopping mall). Recoleta is where so-

crème of local and international art, music and

are known, are often described as “Italians

cialites such as Brooke de Ocampo and Don-

design. Its labyrinth-style grid proved the per-

who speak Spanish and dress British”.

ald and Ursula Hess have chosen to live, and

fect streetscape to hide the Bush sisters from

Fully recovered from the 2001 economic

where the Al Maktoum family, Pedro Almodó-

the paparazzi, and their neighborhood hotel,

meltdown, the city is currently riding a wave

var, Robert Duvall and Henry Kissinger pre-

Home, which is owned by British music pro-

of optimism and popularity. As always, this is

fer to stay.

ducer Thomas Rixton and his charming argen-

the place to find the best beef in the world and

Other frequent visitors such as Tori Burch,

tine wife, Patricia, remains the place to be. Its

an ample supply of Argentina’s wonderful Mal-

Chris Getty, Sarah Ferguson and Austin Hearst

fabulous pool and garden have proved to be a

bec wines, and tango music can still be heard

have fallen for the newer, flashier Puerto

magnet (or “home away from home”) for trendy

wafting out of windows, but today Buenos

Madero. Specifically, Faena Hotel + Universe,

30-something Londoners and New Yorkers and

Aires is thriving with new restaurants, hotels,

a combination of hotel, apartments, restaurants

the connoisseur porteño set.

shops, festivals, museums and social events.

– including a cabaret – all designed by

However, those who are looking for the

Philippe Starck and created by Argentine fash-

city’s true soul should head to its southern side

ion icon, Alan Faena.

and the historic quarter of San Telmo. The

With its usual passionate, chaotic and unpredictable spirit, it has been attracting affluent American crowds, with a 60 percent growth

The pioneer of this new sleek part of the

Spanish-style Plaza Dorrego remains a must on

in this market in the past year alone. It is hot:

city, Faena keeps adding real estate projects

weekends, this being home to one of the

arguably hotter than ever.

based on his provocative sense of design and

world’s largest – and certainly most colorful –

The epicenter of elegant Buenos Aires re-

hedonistic lifestyle, promoting it all as the “Art

antiques market. Few people know, though,

mains in La Recoleta, a cluster of chic streets

District”. Look out for his second hotel and

that with a careful eye you might find some

that speak of the city’s Belle Époque golden

residential building – slated for 2010 – this

fabulous vintage clothing, often overlooked

era. Avenida Alvear is its most palatial avenue,

one, which will include an Exhibition Hall, an

alongside valuable antique furniture and jew-

where recently Ermenegildo Zegna and Fer-

expansive park, and an ultra modern marina,

els. Ralph Lauren and family took a peek last

ragamo opened shops alongside Armani,

to be designed by Sir Norman Foster. In the

January, followed by Paul Smith in March.

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100Thousand Club Manual: El Gato Negro Corrientes Avenue 1669 – Downtown +54 (11) 4374 1730 www.egn.com.ar A great secret in the city. An Art Nouveaux spice shop, with a bar-bistro to taste many of its delicatessens, teas and coffees. Try the cardamom Bavaroise.

Duhau

When to Go

Be prepared

Buenos Aires is a year round destination but spring and summer are ideal.

October, November and December are the favorite months for the jetsetters and socialites.

Depending on the season, pack light or warm, but always pack elegant. Leave the expensive jewelry at home. Save the casual outfits for the countryside.

Hire a personal driver or be prepared to walk the city a lot. Traffic can be chaotic during rush hours.

FOOD & DRINK Ruffina Sucre 646 – Bajo Belgrano area +54 (11) 4782 9490 New restaurant in town. Stylish and spacious. Fabulous pastas and grilled pizzas.

A favorite of the local beauties.

Avenida Alvear 1661 – Recoleta +54 (11) 5171- 1340 It’s located in the Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Hotel. Best wine selection in town.

International cuisine. Elegant and warm.

Lizzie’s Cavia 3090 – Palermo +54 (11) 4803-8454 www.lizzies.com.ar Where ladies lunch and elegant couples dine. Good sushi and international menu.

SHOPPING Cabana Las Lilas 516 Alicia Moreau de Justo - Puerto Madero +54 (11) 4313 1336 www.laslilas.com Ranked amongst the world’s greatest steakhouses. The beef comes from the grandchampion Herefords from Las Lilas ranch.

Gardiner Costanera Norte & La Pampa +54 (11) 4788 0438 Glamor and comfort by the River Plate. Ideal for a lunch with a view. Sophisticated and creative menu. Beautiful garden.

Patio Bullrich Posadas Street between Libertad and Montevideo www.shoppingbullrich.com.ar This mansion has been associated with wealth and refinement since 1867.

Historically an auction house, it’s now a modern (and trés chic) shopping mall with two very popular cafes.

Malba Museum Café Av. Figueroa Alcorta 3415 – Palermo +54 (11) 4808 6500 The local chic gathering spot for lunch or evening coffee. Sleek, hip and delicious.

And inside, the Latin American art museum.

Brasserie Petanque

Casa Cruz Uriarte 1658 – Palermo area +54 (11) 4833 1112 www.casa-cruz.com One of the city’s chicest restaurants. You feel like you are entering a nightclub.

Inspired in a 1940s New York men’s club.

Eclectic menu with interesting and exotic ingredients. Great bar scene. Local and international crowd.

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Defensa 595 – San Telmo +54 (11) 4342 7930 A French Brasserie in the Heart of Buenos Aires historic neighborhood. Large, casual and delicious. They have a wide selection of world beers.

Dominga 5618 Honduras – Palermo Hollywood Palermo +54 11 4771 4443 www.domingarestaurant.com A beautiful hideaway in Palermo. It’s half sushi bar and half eclectic bistro. It attracts Palermo’s fashionably bohemian crowd.

Closed on Sundays.

Arte Etnico Argentino El Salvador 4600, Palermo Viejo +54 (11) 4833 6661 www.arteetnicoargentino.com Through it store/gallery AEA aims to promote high quality Argentine arts and crafts. Most of its products are made by the Quichua-santiagueño people, an ancient culture in Argentina’s oldest province. Rich, naturally dyed weavings and hand-hewn wooden basins. Unique.

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Buenos Aires Home Hotel Honduras 5860 – Palermo +54 (11) 4778-1008 www.homebuenosaires.com Great pool, garden and spa. Friendly and trendy. Great location and good service.

Faena Hotel + Universe

Tramando Rodriguez Pena 1973 +54 (11) 4816 9422 www.tramando.com The most innovative fashion and concept store in the city. Luxury with amazing creativity and textile expression. Located in a sophisticated mansion with a back garden. Personal fittings can be arranged for haute couture. Not to miss.

Indias Argentina +54 (11) 4832 0232 www.indiasargentina.com.ar A unique store with soft and creative knitted and leather fashions. All natural fibers, all hand woven. Sweaters and handbags mixed with fabulous rugs and blankets.

HOTELS Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires Avenida Alvear 1661 +54 (11) 5171 1234 buenosaires.park.hyatt.com Only a year old. Built in what it used to be one of the most spectacular mansions in the city. Great location in the heart of Recoleta.

Classic and chic.

Martha Salotti 445 – Puerto Madero + 54 (11) 4010 9000 www.faenahotelanduniverse.com The Philippe Starck hotel is the hip spot.

Intense nightlife. All about the visual experience. Sadly, not so much about the service.

MUSEUMS MALBA Av. Figueroa Alcorta 3415 - Palermo 54 (11) 4808 6500 www.malba.org.ar Private collector and businessman Eduardo Constantini created this unique museum for the city. Artwork from Frida Khalo, Siqueiros, Berni, Torres Garcia and the best masters of the 20th century in Latin America. Rotating exhibits and private guided tours.

Museo Xul Solar Laprida 1212 www.xulsolar.org.ar Dedicated to preserve and diffuse the work of the genius argentine artist Alejandro Xul Solar. Created by his wife. The building was designed by the Architect Pablo T. Beitía, inspired by images from Xul Solar’s artistic production. In 1998 the building was selected as semifinalist for the Mies Van der Rohe Prize for Latin America.

Museo de Bellas Artes Avenida del Libertador 1473 www.mnba.org.ar It’s permanent collection holds the most emblematic symbols of artistic history in Argentina. It has an active schedule of rotating exhibits and cultural activities.

Tango Whether you want to dance, or just watch and listen, return home with a flavor of tango. Spectacular shows can be seen at Rojo Tango, at Faena Hotel + Universe. Reserve at: +54 (11) 5787 1536).

The real Milongas can be experienced at Parakultural (Scalabrini Ortiz 1331 4342 4794 / 4832 6753 – Monday through Friday from 9pm to 4am). And the best orchestras can be enjoyed at Torquato Tasso (Defensa 1575 - +54 (11) 4307-6506).

IF YOU’RE THERE, YOU MUST… Visit the countryside Get out of the city and live like a gaucho, with a twist of style. Take a polo lesson with a pro, do some yoga or learn how to cook the perfect “asado”. Only 45 minutes from Buenos Aires, the best option is Los Colores in the heart of the Polo area (+54 11 5775 0306 – loscolores@gmail.com)

The Argentine Polo Open One of the top social events in the country.

Local and international crowds gather between November and early December to see the best polo players (and polo ponies) in the world. www.pololine.com

Alvear Palace Hotel Avenida Alvear 910 +54 11 4804 7777 www.alvearpalace.com A landmark. Opened in 1932. Widely rated as one of the best hotels in the world. If you are not staying, at least go for brunch on Sunday.

Fly to the Wine Region Charter a private plane to Mendoza for two days minimum. Stay at Cavas Wine Lodge (www.cavaswinelodge.com) or the Park Hyatt. Indulge in their “wine spas”. Visit the famous Malbec producing vinyards. If you like it (and you will), become a winemaker with The Vines of Mendoza by buying a bit of their best land and having them ship you your production a year later (www.vinesofmendoza.com).

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St Christopher ST CHRISTOPHER

According to legend, St. Christopher, the patron saint of travellers, was killed

as a martyr by the Roman emperor Decius. His namesake Caribbean hideaway, however, lives on. And it’s getting better all the time

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K

itt is an old-fashioned abbreviation for Christopher, and it must have seemed like paradise to its discoverer Christopher Columbus. The patron saint of travellers is

a fitting namesake: the smooth white sandy beaches and crystal blue waters heavenly after months cooped up in a Spanish galleon. Thankfully you can powder your toes in a relatively short hop from the U.S.

Where to stay There may be more expensive, but you won’t find better than Nisbet Plantation Beach Club. Nisbet is the Caribbean’s only luxury plantation inn located on the beach. This intimate hideaway is the ancestral home of Fanny Nisbet, the ever-faithful wife of British naval hero Admiral Horatio Nelson. An historic resort with only 36 rooms spread over 30 lush beachfront acres; Nisbet underwent a complete renovation in 2006.

We say: Impeccable service at the best hotel on the island time forgot.

Beaches There are so many beaches on St. Kitts that you can always find somewhere to suit your mood. Those on the

Shopping

Sun up or sun down,

south part of the island are white and sandy, while those

Pelican Shopping Mall on St. Kitts is the main shop-

St. Kitts is one of the

to the north are gray volcanic ash. Traditional Carib-

ping destination with many exclusive stores and boutiques,

most beautiful places

bean beauty or surreal calm – take your pick.

such as Ashbury’s, Cameron Galley and Kate Design. The

on earth

We say: Frigate Bay, Friar’s Bay, Sand Bank Bay, Cockleshell Bay: try them all.

market on Sunday mornings is a thrilling experience.

We say: The best buys are the local handicrafts in the markets and from the street vendors. Crime is low in

Attractions

St. Kitts, so browse at your leisure.

Berkeley Memorial Clock and Brimstone Hill Fortress are the most photographed attractions on St. Kitts, and for

Nightlife

good reason. Brimstone Hill is one of the best preserved

The Turtle Beach Bar and Grill has a party atmosphere

forts in the Caribbean and affords an exceptional look into

all day long. Mr. X Shiggidy Shack is known for its siz-

the past. Independence Square used to be the slave market

zling music at the Thursday-night bonfire parties and it’s a

and Half-Way Tree marked the boundary between French

must-stop on locals’ unofficial Friday night liming circuit of

and English control. The Carib Rock Drawings are also a

Frigate Bay bars. But the favorite place on St. Kitts is still

reminder of the ancient peoples that once lived here.

Bambi’s, which is where you will find most of the locals.

We say: Travel into Mount Lianingo, an extinct volcano along a trail that winds through a tropical rainforest.

We say: Head to Keys Cigar Bar, a surprisingly lowkey, classy hangout, with cushy sofas, highback straw chairs, chess-set tables, and superlative selection of aged rums and cubanos (as well as top Dominican and Nicaraguan brands). n

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11 a.m. Arrival

11:30 a.m. Check In

12:30 p.m. Lunch

2:00 p.m. Shopping

Skip the lines, hassles and de-

For relaxed luxury in the heart of

A true favorite of San Franciscans,

SF has all the high-end shopping

lays: go private with Flight Op-

the city, choose Four Seasons (757

Boulevard (1 Mission Street – 415-

you would expect – Hermes,

tions (www.flightoptions.com).

Market Street – 415-633-3000).

543-6084), in the historic Audiffred

Chanel, Dior, Saks Fifth Avenue,

Choose from over 140 aircraft

Their specialty suites offer plenty

Building, continues to amaze under

Gumps and Thomas Pink are all

tricked out for comfort and

of space, sweeping views of the

Chef Nancy Oakes’ and designer Pat

conveniently located in and around

picked for performance, safety

city and a soaking tub with room

Kuletos. Its reputation as one of the

Union Square, a charming park and

and reliability – including the

for two. The attached sports club

bay area’s best means an impressive

cultural center – and some of the

Hawker

Hawker

has private trainers and yoga and

menu offering fresh seafood and in-

world’s chicest art galleries. Try

850XP/900XP, Cessna Cita-

pilates instructors who will cater

novative American fare. Try: seared

Christopher-Clark

tion X and Embraer Legacy

to any of your fitness needs. Or

day boat scallops; char rare buffalo

Russeck,

600. Fly into San Francisco’s

choose refined elegance with the

carpaccio. Across the street in the

Ianetti and Meyerovich for a fantas-

International Airport in style.

Mandarin Oriental (222 Sansome

stylish Hotel Vitale is Americano

tic fusion of old and new. You’re as

Street – 415-276-9888); the Ori-

Restaurant and Bar (8 Mission

likely to pick up a Picasso, Renoir

ental suite features exquisite or-

Street – 415-278-3777), which faces

or Matisse as a Warhol, Lichten-

nate details and a private terrace

the newly remodeled Ferry Building.

stein or Dali. All shopped out? Grab

from which you can see every one

Chef Paul Arenstam uses the best

a quick coffee or a bite in Maiden

of San Francisco’s celebrated

fresh, local and organic produce to

Lane, a quaint little alley lined with

landmarks.

stunning effect. Try: salt cod-stuffed

European-style bistros.

400XP,

artichokes with lemony aioli.

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In…

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Weinstein,

Art,

Pasquale

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Fun, fun, fun in the sun, sun, sun

San Francisco & Napa Valley

5:00 p.m. Spa

7:30 p.m. Drinks

9:00 p.m. Dinner

11 p.m. Nightclub

In Chinese myth, Monkey had to

In 1939, hotelier and owner,

Gary Danko (800 Northpoint at

Back in the day, 430 Mason

escort a monk across the country

George D. Smith decided the

Hyde Street – 415-749-2060).

Street was home to a speakeasy

for any hope of tranquility. You

penthouse suite of the InterCon-

Award winning chef Gary Danko

only accessible by secret code.

should head to Nob Hill Spa (1075

tinental Mark Hopkins Hotel

has created SF’s most sophisticated

Now it’s an ultra-cool, ultra-ele-

California Street – 415-474-5400)

would be better as a glass-

fine dining experience. His epony-

gant lounge and nightclub called

in the Huntington Hotel. It’s a lot

walled cocktail lounge – and for

mous French restaurant offers a 3-

Slide Speak Easy (415-421-

closer and the amenities rock: in-

that we should all be grateful.

5 course prix-fixe menu and a

1916) with bottle service, a baby

door infinity pool, fireplace, steam

The Top Of The Mark sky-bar

selection of over twelve hundred

grand piano and – when we were

room and an outdoor lounging area

(One Nob Hill, 999 California

wines from fifteen different coun-

there – much late night dancing.

with a stunning vista of the city

Street – 415-392-3434) boasts

tries, and vintages from over three

Why Slide? Because the front

and bay. The many body treat-

near 360-degree views of SF, in-

centuries. Gary likes choice: his

door is a serpentine slide de-

ments on offer include deep tissue,

cluding the Golden Gate Bridge,

cheese cart features up to twenty

signed by Playground designs.

Swedish massage, hot stone, thai

Fisherman’s Wharf, and Alca-

cheeses from around the world.

Enjoy.

massage, reflexology, aromather-

traz. If that doesn’t make your

apy or acupressure. And if you

head spin, try the 100-Martini

want to monkey around, private

menu.

treatments are available for couples in the VIP Spa Suite.

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36 H

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10:30 a.m. Brunch

12:00 p.m. Napa Valley

1:00 p.m. Vineyard 1

3:00 p.m. Snack

Relax, refresh and refuel in

Rent a traditional limo or cruise

Hall Rutherford (56 Auberge Road

If the vino goes to your head, make

style with a Sunday Jazz

in a classic 1947 Packard con-

– 707-967-0700) is a private win-

for Julia’s Kitchen at COPIA (500

Brunch at the Terrace at the

vertible with Antique Tour Lim-

ery dedicated to the production of

First Street – 707-265-5700) and

Ritz Carlton (600 Stockton

ousines (www.antiquetours.net).

rare and single vineyard red wines.

take a pleasant stroll through their

Street – 415-296-7465). The

Head over the famous Golden

It’s reputation among connoisseurs

edible presentation gardens, de-

hotel’s opulent Terrace Court-

Gate Bridge into the rolling hills

means you’ll need reservations, but

signed with fruit trees, blueberries,

yard serves a vast alfresco buf-

and endless vineyards of wine

the guided tour includes 14,000

currants and citrus, edible flowers

fet brunch – including caviar

country, approximately 90 min-

square feet of caves and Ruther-

and herbs, before eating. Try: the

station, freshly made blinis,

utes outside of the city.

ford Hall’s extensive art collection

Sonoma artisan foie gras; crispy

and a made to order egg and

– all the while tasting some of its

veal sweetbreads.

omelet bar – to the sounds of

most prestigious wines.

San Francisco’s finest jazz musicians. Fill up, you have a long day of wine tasting ahead!

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Hours 4:00 p.m. Vineyard 2

6:00 p.m. Vineyard 3

9:00 p.m. Departure

Robert Mondavi (Highway 29 – 1-

The brand new Round Pond Es-

Home time. Have the limo make a

888-RMONDAVI) was one of the

tate Winery (875 Rutherford

quick stop at your hotel to grab

first wineries in Napa Valley.

Road – 707-302-2575) blends

your bags and head back to your

Nominated and inducted into the

simple elegance with state-of-

private jet home. Relax and enjoy

Vinters Hall of Fame by the Culi-

the art design. Round Pond

the comfort, privacy and conven-

nary Institute of America, it is still

wines are the latest endeavor

ience with Flight Options and rem-

pioneering new methods of vini-

from Round Pond Estate, a fam-

inisce on a whirlwind 36 hours in

culture. A 75-minute tour of the

ily-owned and run working es-

one of the world’s most beautiful

winery offers a fascinating insight

tate of vineyards, gardens and

cities and the fantastic wine region

into the dark arts of fermentation,

orchards. Already renowned as

just 90 minutes from her beating

barrel aging and bottling.

a premier artisan producer of

heart. Be sure to wear some flowers

world-class extra virgin olive oil

in your hair…

Is this the best 36 Hours in America? Let us have your ideas: letters@100thousandclub.com

and premium red wine vinegars, the winery is a welcome addition to Napa Valley. The olive mill, which is across the street, is also available for tastings and shouldn’t be missed.

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Martinique is somewhere we have dreamed of finding since our year out, traveling around a very wet Gascony during the worst summer on record: a slice of France set down in the tropics.

We say: Wonderful luxury, great service and beautiful grounds tucked away behind a banana plantation.

Beaches All of Martinique’s beaches are open to the public. Steer clear of the Atlantic waters – except in the area of Cap Chevalier and the Caravelle Penin-

M

artinique has been called the ‘Island of Flowers’ and

sula – unless you’re an expert swimmer. Soft white-sand beaches are south

visiting here is like visiting an old city in France. Is-

of Fort-de-France; to the north, the beaches are silvery black volcanic sand.

landers wear Paris fashions and eat croissants. But the

We say: Anse Tartane, on the wild side of the Caravelle Peninsula.

Zouk music pouring out of tape players, bars and night-

Untouched, local, stunning.

clubs is a constant reminder that Martiniquans have a culture of their own, solidly based on West Indian Creole traditions.

Attractions La Savane is a beautiful garden in the heart of Fort-de-France.

Where to stay

Nearby Cathedale St. Louis is an impressive iron building. Pointe du

Hotel Cap Est Lagoon Resort And Spa is situated on the seafront

Bout has a quite stunning botanical gardens, Parc des Floralies. Or the

overlooking a lagoon with crystal-clear water. This property consists of

Petrifed Savannna Forest in Ste. Anne where the petrified volcanic boul-

18 beautiful villas with 50 truly delightful, inviting suites. More than

ders look like logs.

half have their own private swimming pool and open-air shower. The

We say: Visit the ruins of St. Pierre, which was destroyed by a vol-

hotel also has two restaurants, a lounge bar, a Guerlain spa and a very

canic eruption. The area off the coast is popular with scuba divers with

fine swimming pool.

12 wrecks under the sea.

Shopping People and tourists from other islands come to Martinique for shopping. Hey, it’s French. There is a wealth of malls and small boutiques where you can find delights that you would only expect to find in Paris.

We say: Love to recommend the street vendors – and we do – but the boutiques here are fabulous.

Nightlife It’s only a cliché because it’s true: when the sun goes down Martinique comes alive. True, there’s a worrying trend towards owners who sing – La Villa Créole owner, Guy, and Valentina of Sapori d’Italia – but when the lobster is this good, who cares.

We say: L’Amphore is the best place to let your hair down to funk, soul, and disco plus international music from the 1970s and 80s. The dress code is strict: no shorts, bandanas, or sandals. And you’ll need a reservation at weekends.

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DES TIN ATION W IS TAN BUL

Romantic land of legend – crumbling ruins, ancient mosques, lavish palaces, smoky bazaars, belly dancers, dark cafés – and vibrant metropolis. A dream of a city, part Arabian nights and part cosmopolitan: and so cool they should call it iStanbul

Author Amanda Vlastas

e passed on the overdone luxury destinations this year and opted for Istanbul. We wanted comfort and extravagance paired with innovative exploration, and it didn’t disappoint.

Istanbul has been fascinating travelers since the seventh century,

when the Greeks were in charge and it was known as Byzantium. Its history is rich but, like the plastic starlet, it’s all on show. Thankfully Istanbul doesn’t want for a facelift; it has aged beautifully.

The Romans called it Constantinople when they were in

charge; the Ottoman Empire christened it Istanbul and the name, if not the Ottomans, stuck. Istanbul has been a Turkish city since the birth of the Turkish republic in 1922 and those years of history – the Roman ruins, Byzantine churches and magnificent Ottoman-era mosques – provide a glorious backdrop to any trip.

Geographically Istanbul is a mutt, straddling both Asia and

Europe. It’s another unique attribute, filling in behind the manmade cityscape with stunningly diverse landscapes. From Marmara Sea in the south to the Black Sea in the north, this is must-see land.

Turkey’s economy has strengthened after hopeful negotiations cleared a path to the European Union, giving both Turks and foreigners the confidence to invest here. Istanbul is the city of choice for elite travelers seeking something a little more exotic than Hawaii and already it shows – little pockets of wealth are spreading slowly up and down the Bosphorous River like gold poohsticks.

Thirty minutes from Atatürk International Airport is Ritz-Carlton’s Istanbul outpost, located in the stunning Dolmabahçe quarter in the heart of the city. The hotel’s graceful and understated Ottoman theme continuedinoursuite,whereexquisitefabricsdressedgold-leafedbeds and cobalt blue Iznik tiles pooled into deep blue reflection in the marble bathrooms. Even the turndown service was a Turkish delight – in-

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steadoftheusualchocolatemint,abarofscentedoliveoilsoap,apumice stone and a sachet of fresh lavender were placed on our bed.

The view from our balcony was stunning, but we wanted to be out in the bustle of Istanbul. A quick check in with the Ritz-Carlton’s ‘Event Specialist’ pointed us in the right direction: the lavish restaurant and supper-club Ulus 29, owned and designed by husband and wife team Metin and Zeynep Fadilliogu.

Metin and Zeynep serve perfect Turkish cuisine, an exquisite combination of Mediterranean and Arabic influences, in a perfect example of the rising affluence in this area. Ulus 29 is accessible only by private boat, with stunning views of the city and river, and does not cater to the average tourist. By day it’s part oasis, guests sunbathe in fabulous comfort by the swimming pool, sipping Turkish iced tea or lounging among traditional drapes and colorful pillows from the Grand Bazaar. By night, models and businessmen head to the canopied dance floor to groove alongside Turkish socialites.

There is no shortage of shopping in this city (unsurprising as Turkey has given us fashion designers Rifat Ozbek and Hussein Chalayan). The highly fashionable 19th-century quarter, Nisantasi, is probably the best of Istanbul’s most exclusive shopping districts, boasting designer shops including Gucci, Armani, La Perla, Stella McCartney, Sisley and Valentino. Nisantasi is also famous for its art galleries and art nouveau apartment buildings. It is home to many noteworthy figures from the Turkish jetset and is mainly tourist-free, but Saturday night turns into a mini catwalk for the fabulous and you might snap a paparazzi or two.

The Asian side of the city is equally impressive. Bagdat Caddesi is a tree-lined home for Burberry, Rolex, Escada and Louis Vuitton, international and local cuisine, high-end bars, cafés and luxury car dealers. These and sea views of the Princes’ Islands make it an area no one visiting Istanbul should miss.

Istanbul is re-emerging as one of Europe’s hippest cities. The amazing thing is how unEuropean it feels

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The nine islands that make up the Princes’ Islands, whose name derives from the princes sent there in exile during the Ottoman period, are a few miles off the Asian coast in the Sea of Marmara. Buyukada, the largest of the Islands, boasts lush flora, pine forests, turn of the century wooden mansions and unsurpassed views of Istanbul. Cars are banned, so you travel by horse-drawn carriage. From the Marmara Sea, magnificent views of the Leander’s tower, the Asian part of Istanbul, the historical peninsula and the Topkapi Palace can be seen. Charter a private yacht and sail into a memory few have experienced.

Back on dry land, the attractions of Istanbul can seem

a long day’s exploring. These baths date back to ancient

endless, but make sure you catch The Blue Mosque with its six

Greece and are a cleansing tradition consisting of herbal

minarets, wondrous domes, and interior that glows with a holy

steam bath, body scrub, soap lathering, and massage. The

azure. The mosque was built in the 1600s and is a tour de force

Laveda Spa at our hotel also offered “Caviar Therapy”, a 90-

from famed architect Sedefkâr Mehmet Aga. From here it’s a

minute intensive moisturizing experience, the Sultan Royal’s

few minutes’ stroll to Hagia Sophia, the greatest church in

six-hand massage – applied by three masseuses – and the

Christendom until St Peter’s Basilica went one louder a thou-

Citrus Detox Reviver.

sand years later. With so much to see, we almost missed the

There are several other options in the city for luxury revi-

Hippodrome, once the scene of Byzantine chariot races, ath-

talization, including the spa at the Four Seasons, the Ciragan

letic events, victory celebrations, and political activities.

Palace Kempinski Spa and the Bosphorus Spa & Wellness

There is no place on earth like Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar,

Centre at the Swissotel. But if you want to experience a tradi-

and you cannot possibly explore all of its alleys, shops and

tional hammam with the locals, the Cagaloglu near St. Sophia

cafes in one visit. Approximately 4000 shops offer authentic

is one of the most famous. It has separate sections for men and

silk tunics, fine scarves, spices, pashminas, rugs, and silver

women and dates back almost 300 years.

belts as well as intricate and one-of-a-kind jewelry. You will

After decades of economic depression and military dom-

find fabrics and products in rare and outstanding array – but

ination, Istanbul is re-emerging as one of Europe’s hippest

the Bazaar does not give up its treasures easily. Don’t be

cities. The amazing thing is how un-European it feels. From

afraid to haggle, it is expected and all of your friends will

the five-star accommodation, shopping and cuisine to its

envy your discoveries…

world-famous landmarks and genuine culture – this city of-

When Istanbul’s indescribable energy gets too much, there is the hammam, a traditional Turkish bath, bliss after

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fers something so rare it’s almost unique in a holiday today: a genuine experience. You won’t regret it.

Take a boat over the Bosphorus to Ulus 29 for stunning views of the city and river

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100Thousand Club Manual: HOTEL Ritz-Carlton Istanbul – Suzer Plaza, Elmadag, Askerocagi Cad. No: 15 34367 00 90 212 334 4444 www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Istanbul One of the top places to stay in Istanbul, the Ritz Carlton exudes Ottoman inspired luxury with its superior suites. Club level offers a private concierge for all of its guest’s requests. Suites have stunning views of the Bosphorus river.

Swissotel the Bosphorus Bayildim Caddesi, 2 Macka - Besiktas 00 90 212 326 1100 www.swissotel.com/istanbul/ Luxury on the European banks of the Bosphorus. The hotel sits in the gardens of the Dolmabahce Palace, the last residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Includes 16 restaurants with a spa and wellness center.

Movenpick Hotel Istanbul Buyukdere Caddesi 4. Levent 00 90 212 319 2929 www.moevenpick-hotels.com/hotels/Istanbul Located in the business district, the Movenpick Hotel Istanbul is a 5-star boutique business hotel equipped with nine different meeting rooms and fitness center. Plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from.

Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul Tevkifhane Sokak No. 1, SultanahmetEminönü, 00 90 212 638 8200 www.fourseasons.com/istanbul/ Once a Turkish prison, the Four Season’s Istanbul offers several elegant accommodations. Choose the presidential suite for its three private terraces and stunning views of the Sea of Marmara and Princes’ Islands.

FOOD

Fusion food from legendary New Zealand chef Peter Gordon is dished up throughout four floors of this 103 year-old art nouveau building.

360 Istanbul

Banyan Ortakoy

Misir Apt, Istiklal Caddesi 309/32, Beyoglu Phone: 00 90 0212 251 1042 http://www.360istanbul.com This Euro-glam dining spot serves an eclectic mix of cuisine in an art deco glass penthouse.

It is the place ‘to see and be seen.’

Changa, Siraserviler Caddesi 87/1, Taksim Phone: 00 90 212 251 7064 http://www.changa-istanbul.com

Salhane Sok. 3, Muallim Naci Caddesi, Ortakoy Phone: 00 90 0212 219 6011 http://www.banyanrestaurant.com On a huge terrace overlooking the fishing village of Ortakoy, Banyan is well known for its Asian cuisine and live jazz performances at sunset.

Dilaras Abracadabra Mesrutiyet Cad 130, Beyoglu 00 90 0212 245 8808

This innovative restaurant cooks up an eccentric menu from organic and seasonal food bought fresh daily from the markets.

Perfect for anyone with exotic tastes.

DRINK AND DANCE Ulus 29 Adnan Saygun Caddesi Yol Sokak 1 00 90 212 358 2929 www.club29.com To get to Club 29 you must cross the majestic Bosphorus river. Once across, cutting-edge music, a mix of Western and Oriental beats, provides the soundtrack for this ultra-hip lavish nightclub.

Babylon Çintemani Restaurant Suzer Plaza, Elmadag, Askerocagi Cad. No: 15 34367 00 90 212 334 4444 www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Istan bul/Dining/Çintemani Çintemani Restaurant, named after the Ottoman design motifs, offers an inspired fusion of Mediterranean and Ottoman cuisine. Try a Turkish wine from their vast collection. All day dining.

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Seyhbender Sokak 3, Asmahmescit, Tunel 00 90 212 292 7368 www.babylon.com.tr One of the city’s most lively music venues, Babylon stages top international acts from the jazz, world, reggae, electronica, and Latin music scenes five nights a week.

Vareli Saraphanesi Oteller Sok. 7-9 Asmali Mescit Mahallesi, Tepebasi This Byzantine, atmospheric wine bar stocks a wide range of Turkish wine with live music nightly. Open until 3 a.m.

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Istanbul SPAS

Eating grilled fish sandwiches on Galata Bridge

The Spa at the Ceylan InterContinental

Eat grilled fish sandwiches on Galata Bridge Several fish and seafood restaurants are assembled on both sides of the lower walkway of the celebrated Galata Bridge, connecting the east and west halves of Istanbul. Pick one and enjoy one of life’s finest little moments.

Asker Oca ı Cad. No:1 Taksim 00 90 212 368 4444 http://istanbul.intercontinental.com.tr/lang_e n/saglik_kulubu/ Indulge in one of eight premium treatments, including detox or volcanic stone massage.

MUST DO’S Cross through continents By boat from Eminonu in Europe to the Kadikoy district in Asia. Sailing through the Bosphorus at dusk, you'll have amazing views of the minarets of the medieval Suleymaniye Mosque, the Galata Tower, the vast dome of the Hagia Sophia and the majestic walls of the Topkapi and Dolmabahce Palaces.

Drink Turkish tea Lavede Spa Suzer Plaza, Elmadag, Askerocagi Cad. No: 15 34367 00 90 212 334 4444 http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties /Istanbul/Spa Perhaps the most deluxe spa in Istanbul.

Various massages and treatments. The essence of lavishness.

In one of the many tea or coffee houses – both drinks have played an important role in Turkish lifestyle and culture for centuries. Coffee connoisseurs expect their coffee to be heated slowly over charcoal embers for 15 to 20 minutes, the copper coffee pot being frequently taken away from the fire to prevent overheating, a layer of foam coating the top.

Teahouses are found in every park, village, town square, seaside, hilltops and any conceivable place with a view.

Go to the Spice Market And, unlike Bill C, inhale. Sells spices and herbs, dried fruits, nuts and seeds.

Smells incredible. Saffron is one of the most popular spices and makes a great gift for cooks.

GETTING THERE Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport is located to the east of the city and serves millions of domestic and international passengers through its two terminals each year.

Turkish Airlines www.thy.com American Airlines www.aa.com British Airways www.britishairways.com

WHEN TO GO The best times to visit are in the spring (March-May) and fall (SeptemberNovember) when the sun’s rays are more forgiving and the crowds of tourists are less evident.

V.S.O.P. Bar Marmara Hotel Taksim - Taksim Meydani, 00 90 212 251 4696 Located in the library of the elegant and refined Marmara hotel, this five-star bar specializes in brandy and Irish and Scotch whisky.

RC Bar at the Ritz Carlton Suzer Plaza, Elmadag Askerocagi Cad. No 15 00 90 212 334 44 44 www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Istanbul/ Dining/RCBar An exclusive collection of single malt whiskies and an extensive selection of fine cigars. A perfect place for an after dinner drink. Or perhaps before. Midafternoon anyone?

Blackk Muallim Naci Caddesi 71, Ortakoy 00 90 212 236 7256 www.blackk.net Blackk made its grand appearance last year and entices a hip, sexy crowd with its monochromatic theme and top tunes.

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D

o you get what you want

you,” says Ben Elliot, Founder of one such

“We offer businessmen, celebrities, musicians,

from life? The possibili-

service, Quintessentially. This includes travel,

and all the people who live a life in different

ties are endless. You

events, restaurants, estates, wine, art, shop-

places their own account manager in any of

could have a pair of blue

ping, entertainment, health and beauty. “For

those places, getting you the best deals, but

Indian peacocks deliv-

busy, brilliant, demanding, successful people,

above all giving you inside information.”

ered to your door, or take

that’s exactly what they want.”

What is more, while PAs will take time off

Oyster

Deep Flight Aviator Pilot training in the

I have an assistant, I hear you cry. They

Caribbean. Fancy a break from the heat and hus-

might book your flight to Fiji, get you a great

tle of summer? A trip to the North Pole will offer

rate at a hotel in Tokyo, organize dinner in

With 24 offices across Europe, the USA,

you a refreshing change of scenery. Front row

Dubai and maybe even private access to the

Asia, the Middle East, and South Africa, Quin-

tickets to Live Earth or the next Harry Potter pre-

Louvre. But does your PA know where has the

tessentially is a growing concern, launching

miere in New York? As Carole King sang, all

best wines in Bordeaux, or where to go for a ro-

services such as Quintessentially Reserve, a

you have to do is call...

mantic walk in Rome?

luxury destination guide, and Quintessentially

over Christmas (and so they should!), your global concierge is available all year round.

The question is who? The answer is a

“Many people have personal assistants,

Qube, its online members’ community. In ad-

global concierge service. “If you become a

many feel they’re included in some places, but

dition, the company regularly throws glam-

member, you are going to have a large team of

you can bet your bottom dollar on a global

orous parties, like the official after-party for the

advisors who are experts in all of the different

basis that’s not entirely true,” emphasizes El-

amfAR gala dinner at the exclusive Eden Roc,

areas our membership operates in looking after

liot, the debonair ex-boyfriend of Jade Jagger.

Hotel du Cap near Cannes, with a guest list

The World Is Your

Author Julia Puppe

Have you ever wanted to take a camel to your next garden party? Or go diving for oysters in Australia? Let a global concierge go to work on your behalf and enjoy life’s pearls.

THINGS YOU CAN DO new:1Aug

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that included Sharon Stone, Harvey Weinstein,

anything less than the best. We do not

Mario Testino, and Robin Williams.

search for deals or bargains,” she says. But

Wherever you are and whatever you want

if you are looking to purchase Apaloosa

taken care of, companies like Quintessentially

Horses from Germany or artwork from the

exist to make life easier, richer and fun. Much

Smithsonian, call Elias.

more fun – like the time a member requested a

Insider knowledge differentiates the good

goat dressed as a French maid to be delivered to

concierge from the exquisite. Consider that

the south of France. He was planning a stag

you will spend between a quarter and a third

night in Cannes and wanted the “maid” to be

of your life in bed: wouldn’t you like to know

waiting at the airport for the stag party to arrive.

what brand of mattresses you will be lying

“We’re only limited by your imagination and our

on, or the type and quality of the linens and

imagination. We’ll do anything as long as it’s not

pillows you will snuggle up to, next time you

immoral or illegal,” promises Elliot.

are away from home?

“The number of millionaires throughout

You may not know which hotels live up to

the world grows every year by seven percent. It

your high expectations, but Global Luxury Liv-

is unquestionably a growing market,” states

ing (GLL) members do. GLL’s hotel question-

Exceptional Means Founder Merle Elias,

naire was developed by Bob Evans, former

who aims to offer VIP treatment to high-net-

President of Paramount Studios, who based the

worth individuals and time-stretched exec-

questions on his knowledge of the special needs

utives. “To me, luxury living means never

and requirements of celebrities on location

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Why I Joined

shoots and vacations. Some of GLL’s top-rated

Jennifer Trahan joined Club Sportiva

hotels include Le Mélézin in the French Alps,

because of a growing “personal enthu-

Le Metropole Palace in Monte Carlo and The

siasm” for cars. “Club Sportiva seemed

Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur.

like a great way to build my knowledge

Treat yourself to that extra bit of luxury

and experience with cars, meet great

and support a good cause at the same time.

people with the same interests and

GLL, the concierge service for philanthro-

ships. And a rare silver blue Lamborghini

generally have a great time.”

pists, charges $100,000 per year in the form

Murcielago, and a sapphire blue Aston Martin

“I have driven the Lotus Elise and

of a tax-deductible donation to a charity of

DB9 Volante with saddle brown leather and

the 69 Jag E-type, so far – unique cars

your choice, approved by GLL. In return, the

mahogany wood interior, to name just three

that I would not have driven otherwise.

real-time online service provides access to a

gems from the club’s 80-car fleet.

“My personal car is a Mercedes

comprehensive database of information that

Club Sportiva members get the keys to a

C32 AMG but I have aspirations to own

includes luxury shopping, hotels, restau-

private multi-million dollar car collection,

a classic or two somewhere in the fu-

rants, villas, yachts and fashion houses

soon to include a Ferrari 550 Maranello and a

ture. My dream is a 1950s Porsche 356.

worldwide. And if you are too busy to plan

Maserati Quattroporte. The club will also de-

“There is nothing chauvinistic

your journey, a GLL concierge will sort it all

liver a moustache with its Ferrari 308 for all

out for you.

Magnum P.I. fans, or cut cucumber sand-

about the club at all. There are a lot of women out there that appreciate the

All? One thing even the best concierge

beauty and craftsmanship of cars. And

may struggle with is getting hold of a new Fer-

if someone isn’t very confident in their

rari F430 Coupe. The waiting list for the 490

Torbin Fuller, the Club’s founder, believes

technical abilities to drive a high per-

horsepower adrenaline junkie’s dream is at

the benefits of his timeshare approach are ob-

formance car, the club starts every

least two years. If you feel the cold sweat of

vious: “In two simple words, flexibility and va-

member with a one-on-one driving in-

withdrawal breaking out on your forehead,

riety. If somebody wants to go out and drive an

struction lesson, which is fantastic.”

maybe it’s time you joined Club Sportiva. They

Aston Martin DB9 Volante, they’ll typically

have one of the $240,000 bright red rocket

have to spend $190,000 or more to buy one.

wiches in the glove box of its Bentley, if that’s what you want.

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With Club Sportiva, once you’ve become a

Such rallies might take you for a tasting to

member, you simply call up and reserve the car

D.R. Stevens’ and on along scenic mountain

for next weekend.”

roads to Caymus Winery, both high-end wines

Take your special someone on a romantic

owned by Club Sportiva members. From there

getaway in a red Ferrari F355 Spider with tan

on to dinner at Carneros Inn in Nappa and along

leather the week afterwards. Then carve the

the Pacific coast to Marin Headlands to watch

twisty mountain roads of San Francisco Bay

the sunset – all in your favorite vehicle. What

with a sunshine yellow Lamborghini Gallardo

more do you want from a fine summer Sunday?

three weeks later. “It’s an all-wheel drive with

The industry is burgeoning. Two more car

a V10 engine,” raves Fuller. “That will get

share companies, the Classic Car Club and

your adrenaline pumping.”

Van Horssen Group, opened in late 2005,

The club is focused on like-minded peo-

along with different smaller clubs all offer-

ple. Every member, amongst them legendary

ing the pleasures and thrills of driving a

racer Mario Andretti, NFL Hall of Famer

classic or exotic sports car without the com-

Dave Casper and Apollo 12 astronaut Dick

plications of ownership. All you need do is

Gordon, has an interest in cars. “It’s the cars

pick the right one for you.

that get people to join, but once they are in

The same is true for your global concierge

the club they have fun when they take the

service. Let them find the oysters, open them,

time out to join us for dinner, an evening of

and serve you the treasures. And if you feel

fine art, a cigar night, or poker night. The

like it, ask for the salty and savory Speciales

road rallies are probably the most popular,”

de Normandie, or the softer and smoother Bre-

reckons Fuller.

ton – because you can.

100 Thousand Club

“The club is focused on like-minded people”

100KUS2_333 Sherbrooke:SEPT06

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A DV ER T IS I N G PR O M OT I O N

A COMPANY IN FLIGHT

A

How Flight Options is transforming private-jet travel At a time of widespread flight delays and cancellations, long security and check-in lines, and mounting overall frustration with commercial flying, private-jet travel is gaining in popularity.

While not within the reach of everyone, private-jet travel is within

reach of many who have yet to discover its numerous benefits, such as increased time efficiency. There are no lines; the jet provider is on your schedule; and you gain access to many smaller airports that the commercial airlines simply cannot service.

Flying with the best Flight Options, LLC, a Raytheon company, was not the first entrant into private-air travel and it may not be the largest – but it is the best.

Flight Options is experiencing increasing interest among many business travelers who are reexamining private-jet programs.

What sets Flight Options apart is its clear vision for the future; ongoing innovation and leadership; and unwavering commitment to safety, service and viability. With programs that provide customers with more flexibility, value, innovation and personal service than ever

Flight Options offers more flexibility than ever before across a

before, Flight Options is the industry-leading model for delivering the

range of programs including JetPASS Ultimate Travel. A unique ‘tiered

highest level of luxurious service and time-savings to its clients.

pricing’ structure provides JetPASS Ultimate Travel members with

Today, Flight Options operates the most streamlined, effective and efficient private-jet fleet under a single corporate umbrella in the

a single account to access light, midsize, and large-cabin aircraft at variable prices depending on when they wish to fly.

world. With programs specifically designed in response to consumer

The introduction of Aircraft Management Services rounds out the

feedback, Flight Options delivers a complete service experience to its

complete spectrum of private-jet services offered by Flight Options. “Our

Owners and Members each and every time they fly.

unparalleled experience in managing and maintaining one of the world’s largest private jet fleets makes Flight Options the perfect match for

Building on strengths Flight Options recently introduced a new, fresh look and theme,

One of Flight Options’ greatest strengths – and a key indicator of

‘We Give You More’, designed to emphasize its unique position as the

its commitment to safety – has always been its maintenance network.

only provider of a complete spectrum of private-jet services.

In fact, the company has the largest dedicated maintenance network in

“Though we’re nearly ten years old, Flight Options is a very new

all of private aviation. Flight Options employs more than 400 highly

company in every respect,” says CEO S. Michael Scheeringa. “Our branding

trained professionals, who ensure that the Company’s aircraft are

initiative celebrates extraordinary developments that have led us to become

maintained to the highest standards in the industry. This standard of

the most customer-focused private-jet company in the industry. I invite all

excellence has been recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration

business and leisure private-jet users, as well as commercial travelers, to

(FAA), which has awarded Flight Options its Diamond Certificate of

experience first hand a travel experience that gives them more.”

Excellence for two years in a row.

provides customers of Flight Options with more

Over the past several years, Flight Options has increased the

value than ever before. This program allows owners to utilize from

efficiency and effectiveness of its fleet by modernizing its aircraft.

80 percent to 120 percent of their annual allocated hours while only

Flight Options now flies 140 best-in-class aircraft of just four types:

incurring management fees for hours they actually fly.

the Hawker 400XP, the Hawker 850XP, the Cessna Citation X, and

Fractional First

TM

128

owners looking for an aircraft management partner,” says Scheeringa.

100 Thousand Club

100TC_FLIGHT_OPTIONS_CO.indd 128

24/8/07 15:14:06

The Details Fractional FirstTM features include: - No Taxi-Time Deductions – Fractional FirstTM is the only program that bills for, but does not deduct, 2/10 of an hour for taxi time, per flight, from your share hours.

You get more air-time, more value, and more flexible contract terms (without the fine print).

- Distance-Based Pricing – Only Fractional FirstTM provides an additional discount for longer flights. This is especially advantageous for coast-to-coast flights, and is another way Flight Options gives you more value, however and wherever you fly.

- Flexible-Use Option – Are you unsure how many flight hours you will need, per year? The Flexible-Use Option lets you fly from 80% to 120% of share hours purchased each year and pay management fees only for hours flown.

- Transparent Fuel Cost – With Transparent Fuel Costs, you receive more simplicity and value. Quite simply, owners pay what Flight Options pays for fuel. No markups, no confusion.

- Extended Service Area – Owners only pay for the cost of fuel for the repositioning leg of flights outside of the Primary Service Area. It’s another way you receive more convenience and value.

JetPASS Ultimate Travel features include: - Access to three different cabin sizes with just one membership.

- Variable hourly rates based on aircraft type as well as time and day of travel.

- Round-trip discounts.

- Unused balance is fully refundable.

- No asset purchase.

- Fuel surcharge included.

- Access including all of Mexico, Bermuda, and virtually all of the islands in the Caribbean without ferry fees.

the Embraer Legacy 600. The average age of Flight Options’ aircraft is just six years. This modernization has provided economies of scale that allow for operational

These unmatched features have made JetPASS Ultimate Travel the most popular

efficiencies and consistencies that other providers

membership program in the industry. All it takes to become a member of this

simply cannot deliver.

unique program is a deposit of $100,000 ($35,000 for those who are currently Flight

And the Company continues to break ground in the area

Options’ fractional Owners). This program is risk free, as the unused portion of the

of safety. In 2005, Flight Options became the first fractional

deposit is fully refundable.

provider to initiate a pilot safety reporting program that encourages reporting of any safety concern without risk of

More information is available at www.flightoptions.com or by calling 877.703.2348.

punitive action. It remains one of the only private-jet travel companies participating in this type of program and has expanded it to include maintenance personnel.

As a result of Flight Options’ solid reputation for placing safety first, the FAA chose it as the only fractional provider to participate in the development of the Safety Management System (SMS). The SMS is expected to be mandated by the FAA for all U.S. air carriers in 2009.

The Company is now able to share best practices and improve the safety of all U.S. air travelers. n

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Deal Me In

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Poker has always been more than a game. A cultural icon raised in the spit and sawdust saloons of the Wild West, and currently being enjoyed by all echelons of society. Get involved.

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U

Author Julian Rogers

Unless you have been marooned on a desert island or residing under a rock for the past five years you cannot have failed to notice

poker becoming the hottest game in town. Forget Cowboys playing Fivecard stud in the smoky backrooms of seedy bars, anybody and everybody is locking horns across the felt.

What has fuelled this poker explosion? Texas Hold’em, the variation of the game du jours, has had an undeniable effect. It may sound like a wrestling move, but this version is said to ‘take a minute to learn, a lifetime to master’. Scratch beneath the surface and you will uncover a myriad of intricacies and nuances that hooks players for years.

“The complexities of the game only reveal themselves to you as you play more,” reveals Annie Duke – a young professional poker player and mother-of-four who has amassed almost $3 million in tournament winnings alone. “When you first start you don’t even realize all the levels and the depth of thought that goes into playing well. You don’t start to unpeel those layers until you have played a lot.” Does Duke feel she is still learning every time she is dealt a hand? “For sure, I still think I’m terrible,” she says with a chuckle in her voice.

Jack Black and Adrien Brody battle over the cards: confirming that poker is indeed the hottest game in town

Another major catalyst behind poker moving mainstream is the internet. There are now dozens of sites where players from all over the world can bet and bluff against each other 24/7. The table, chips and cards may be digital, but the money is real enough.

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Duke prefers the interaction of live play, but

MEET THE PROS

admits the sheer convenience and speed of online poker makes it an attractive alternative, especially for players looking to improve.

VANESSA ROUSSO (Lady Maverick)

“When I started playing cash games live I might be getting 35 hands an hour with a good

“I think pretty much anyone has the

dealer. On the internet you can play four, six,

potential to be a profitable low limit

eight, or more tables at once and there is no

player. High limit and top-tier pros, how-

human dealing so the game is so much faster.

ever, do have a little something extra.

This mean you can be getting 60-70 hands per

The most common mistake that new

hour, per table. You do the math.”

players make is that they do not fold

It also means that players are getting younger.

nearly enough. Poker is just as much sav-

Duke says players are now peaking in their

ing bets as it is winning them.”

twenties – not their forties. In the past you would have found yourself up against a table of stone-faced veterans, today you are more likely to face a bunch of assured 20-somethings in

DANIEL NEGREANU (Kid Poker)

ubiquitous sunglasses and baseball caps.

The game is quicker, the players are more di-

“Educate yourself; it doesn’t have to

verse and the audience is measurably large.

cost you any money to learn. You can play

Television was never going to be far behind.

for free online or read one of the many books out there on the game. If I were to take on a student, I would absolutely insist that they start out learning online. It’s less intimidating and you can save your hand history information because it’s much easier to analyze past play and see where mistakes are being made.”

BARRY GREENSTEIN (Robin Hood) “The game is better than the players.

No one will ever truly master poker. We will always make mistakes, no matter how good we get. Mistakes come in all

“I definitely feel that poker can be an inexhaustible source of study and mastery of the sport is one of the utmost of elusive endgoals. I am not sure ‘mastery’ of poker is even possible”

categories. What is the most common mistake in chess: the player doesn’t move the right piece to the right spot. In poker, beginners don’t make the right response to their opponents’ actions.”

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Steve McQueen as The Cincinnati Kid. If playing poker made you this cool, it would be illegal

Poker has always made good drama – all trembling hands and sweating top lips wreathed in cigar smoke – now it’s for real. Cameras capture each player’s cards and tics, giving viewers at home a unique insight into a professional’s way of thinking. And many of the TV tournaments have wallet-busting prize pools too, with the winners often taking home over $1 million dollars.

At the daddy of them all – the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event tournament – Jerry Yang, a Californian psychologist who had been only been playing for two years, scooped first prize and a whopping $8.25 million in prize money.

Learn from the best If you have a taste for the game and want to learn more, some pros offer private lessons for beginners and those wanting to take their skills to the next level. Duke and her brother – Howard Lederer, also a professional player – both tutor at regular poker training camps.

Duke has coached the likes of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon – two Hollywood actors who have since shown sound proficiency in the game.

What are the key skills? Duke: “It is very important to be objective about why you lose and why you win, otherwise you won’t be able to improve. Some players attribute losses to bad

“The complexities of the game only reveal themselves to you as you play more” – Annie Duke

luck and wins to skill. When you lose there will be some bad luck involved but you need to

ety of hands, which is a recipe for losing. The

turned down much more than that simply be-

go back through the hands that you played and

problem is that if you are limping you are not

cause I’ve become too busy,” he reveals non-

figure out if you could have lost less.”

taking any of the power in the hand, which is

chalantly. “One hour, isn’t enough time to make

And the most common mistakes that amateurs

really bad play.”

someone a great player, but it would certainly

make? “The first is that they play way too many

Armed with this knowledge I try and tempt

help.” Can poker be taught? “I could teach nine

hands.” Duke says you should be looking to

a pro. $5000 for one hour of intensive coaching

out of 10 people how to be winning poker play-

fold 70 to 80 percent of your starting hands.

– surely that’s plenty? Daniel Negreanu, a fa-

ers. At what level depends on how much card

“The second is they don’t raise enough. What

miliar face on the high stakes circuit, doesn’t

sense they have, but to teach someone how to

you get is people limping into pots with a vari-

think so. “The $5000 is a nice offer, but I’ve

win at the lower limits would be rather easy.”

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He was a schoolboy entrepreneur who dropped out of Stanford Business School. Then he started a business and made $310 million in seven years. How did Jeff Fluhr get it so right?

Author Dani Alves. Images Brooke Duthie

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1 00 Thousand Club

Life’s pretty good for Jeff Fluhr.

He’s 33 and a new father. Six months ago he sold the company he started just six and a half years previously to online auction giant eBay for $310 million.

Fluhr is a classic entrepreneur – it’s in his blood. His maternal grandfather started a women’s clothing shop in Manhattan 40 years ago, which his mother now runs. Aged 12 he bought a neat toy on a weekend away that he couldn’t buy locally, so he called up the Boston-based manufacturer and became a distributor. The relationship only went sour when they discovered his age several months later. Then he sold candy out of his locker in junior high. “I would buy candy wholesale and then sell it to other kids at more of a retail price,” he laughs. “I was always trying to make extra money, and I was always interested in business.”

I wonder if it was just to raise extra money. Was there a nascent drive? “I think it was a little of both. It provided me with some extra cash to have more flexibility at that age, but it was also a challenge. I probably found it kind of fun and exciting as well.”

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Ticket to Ride His interest in business “drove” him to the University of Pennsylvania and its Wharton School, where he studied business and engineer-

junior analyst, “which was crazy, you know, the classic 80-100 hour workweeks.”

ing. “That was a great education,” Fluhr recalls. “I learned a lot about

He learned a lot in a short space of time – picking up tips on fi-

engineering and computer science, solving problems, analytically look-

nancing a company, setting up capital structures for companies, fore-

ing at problems, and trying to arrive at solutions on the engineering side.

casting business, given market conditions and competitive landscapes

On the business side, I learned a lot about companies and financial state-

and market size, “evaluating business generally” – and took that expe-

ments, finance, accounting.”

rience to Thomas Weisel Partners.

The basics? “The stuff that’s great to know for any business career, but also for doing something on your own.”

Typically, Blackstone had focused on companies where there was a steady cash flow, lower growth and more history. A lot of times these

In the summer between his junior and senior years, Fluhr worked in

were manufacturing or industrial companies. Thomas Weisel ticked

the M&A group at Smith Barney (now part of Citibank). It stood him in

another box. It focused on companies where there was more growth,

good stead: straight out of college he was taken on by Blackstone as a

and often this meant technology.

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I always tried to always think like a fan. Everything we did at Stub Hub was about solving a consumer problem – we had a mantra we called ‘fans first’ – and that was absolutely key to building the brand.

It has to be fun. If you are going to do something for 10-15 hours a day, every day, there has to be some sense of excitement.

We got an e-mail from a grandfather who had taken his grandson to his first game, and the grandfather was terminally ill. He was saying how meaningful it was. Things like that, you just say, “Wow, we’re helping”.

“It’s really all about being willing to take a risk, persevering, and trying to seize opportunities”

A

t this point, Fluhr decided to go back into education and signed himself up to the graduate course at Stanford.

Fluhr’s story takes us back to his undergraduate years. Penn won

Here, according to the Wall Street Journal, “Jeff Fluhr and a classmate

the Ivy League for basketball and Fluhr – with a bunch of his fraternity

entered a competition for the best new business plan. Their entry, called

brothers – decided to go support the team in the first round of the NCAA

Needaticket.com, envisioned a centralized website where people could

Tournament in New York. The only problem: he didn’t have tickets.

auction off extra tickets.” Fluhr was so convinced that the concept would work, he dropped out.

136

“About an hour or two before the game, I went to the parking lot, and there were people wheeling and dealing, selling and buying tickets.

“We were in our first year at Stanford, and the two of us had spent

I got into the mix, and I bought some tickets. Unfortunately they weren’t

time talking about doing something entrepreneurial after business

in the same section as my friends. So I found another set of tickets that

school.” Fluhr talks quickly, I notice, especially when he’s excited. This

were closer, bought those, and sold the original ones.”

next section shoots out like shook-up cola. “The annual Stanford Busi-

Years later, the memory crystallized. Fluhr’s classmate and eventual

ness School business plan competition was coming up, and it was right

company co-founder had been a season ticket holder for the Lakers. He

around the first quarter of 2000. I think the executive summaries for the

was very familiar with the concept of having tickets that you can’t use all

business plans had to be in by the middle of February. We started talk-

the time (“people don’t go to 81 games”), and a lot of times they’re the

ing about the ticketing space, and both of us had stories to tell.”

best seats in the park.

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“It really started to make sense, as we started talking, that this is a

Hub, was up and running by November 2000, focused on the San Fran-

large market. There are a lot of tickets being bought and sold in this kind

cisco Bay area. Until it’s purchase by eBay, StubHub – this simple so-

of secondary market for sporting events, concerts, and the theater. Yet it’s

lution to a common problem – was the eighth-fastest growing private

a very fragmented market, very inefficient, and not very consumer friendly.

company in the U.S.

It was a market that we felt, seven years ago, was ripe for change. And the Internet was a medium that really could have a significant impact on it.”

StubHub gets wins across the board. The season ticket holder can sell the tickets he or she can’t use. People who want those tickets can buy

Convinced they had hit on a winner, Fluhr pulled Needaticket.com

them. And the team wins because they’re able to fill a seat – with some-

out of competition and turned his back on Stanford. He started talking

body who might eat pizza or a hotdog – that would otherwise have been

to industry executives, to people in the sports industry, the music in-

empty. The fit with eBay is obvious (in fact, Fluhr used to describe the

dustry, and the concert industry, to some old colleagues at Blackstone.

company as “sort of like an Ebay for tickets”).

He started the hard grind of networking to raise some capital, and by that summer had “a little bit” over a half-million dollars.

Fluhr hired a team and built the first version of his online ticketing agency that fall. A rudimentary version of the company, now called Stub-

“Historically you had to know somebody, or be a VIP who was important or rich, to get certain tickets at certain times to live events. We democratized the whole business” – Fluhr on StubHub

What made the business such a success? “Consumers no longer had to wheel and deal in the parking lot. They didn’t have to worry about getting counterfeit or fraudulent tickets, and they knew we would guarantee the transaction. That’s it.”

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“We had a lot of happy customers. That positive feedback was a highlight for me”

Building a brand Of course there’s more to it than that. StubHub got the branding right and landed some great, high profile names.

“Deals with artists from Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, the Eagles, and many others were nice to have,” says Fluhr.

“They weren’t a need-to-have, but they were nice to have.”

I’m interested in the branding. It’s a key component of consumer businesses, but its also the one thing Fluhr’s CV is a little light on. He laughs: “A lot of real brand people cut their teeth at some of the big consumer product companies, like Proctor and Gamble or Clorox. I’ve never really had that.” But he knew what to do – hire, and hire well. Fluhr hired people he could learn from and I tried to figure out what was important in building a consumer brand, how to shape it, and really talk to the consumers.

I

imagine he enjoyed that ‘competitive’ learning. “Absolutely. It is always more exciting when you’re learning in the

working hours at the start were long and is grateful for the break his suc-

game. If you’re learning from a textbook, and you’re not really ap-

cess has afforded him, even though he’s spending much of it changing di-

plying it at the same time, not only is it less exciting – I think it’s

apers and wishing his son would sleep a little more.

also more difficult. Whereas if you’re in the mix, and fighting against com-

“I’m trying to have some of that work/life balance people talk about.

petitors and the various forces that come into play when you’re trying to

I’m taking some time off and doing some things I enjoy, like playing golf

build a company, it’s real time, and it’s sink or swim.”

and tennis.” And traveling.

Clearly Fluhr is a swimmer. In 2006, he was named to Sports Busi-

“I spent three weeks on the East Coast at the start of the year. I spent

ness Journal’s 40 under 40 list. Did he feel he’d made it at that point?

a week in Santa Barbara and a few days in Tahoe. I’m going back to the

For the first time in our conversation, Fluhr hesitates. Was it a highlight?

East Coast for three weeks soon. I’m going to Europe. I’m hoping to go

“When I was running Stub Hub, we would get – certainly not 100 percent by any stretch – but we would get a lot of happy customers who would send us e-mails. That positive feedback was a highlight for me.

Will he be back? “Yes, of course. It’s just a question of what. I’m in the early stages of starting to think about it.”

Historically you had to know somebody, or be a VIP who was important

Is he afraid of failing this time? “Failures can happen. But if you’re

or rich, to get certain tickets at certain times to live events. We democ-

persistent, you might fail a couple times, but you just try again. And

ratized the whole business.”

eventually, I think, if you try hard enough, and you’re smart enough, you

Jeff Fluhr is fiercely intelligent, funny, and a (very) fast talker. It’s

138

to Hawaii in November.”

can succeed. It’s really all about being willing to take a risk, persever-

clear that StubHub was important to him – though he genuinely wishes

ing, and trying to seize opportunities.”

it well – but so is getting his life back on an even keel. He admits his

Spoken like a true entrepreneur.

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rique R. Felgueres Jr., president & CEO of Vistas International Mexico describes the property as, “The most luxurious project in the Mexican Caribbean. Playa Mujeres is a unique beachfront gated community with all the amenities that a sophisticated buyer can expect.”

Vistas International Mexico is a Miami-based real estate company fo-

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people understanding the homework and the due diligence that we go through, that our goal is to establish the ultimate development. It starts with a vision first and delivering quality.”

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Art sake for arts

Pictures (this spread) by Martin Barre

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global market with many newly emerging artists and movements. And when that happens, they call for an art advisor.

“In the 1960s, it was clear what was avantgarde. It was clear what the difference was between pop art as an innovative art and other kinds of more traditional representation. It was clear what minimalism was,” says Allan Schwartzman, art advisor and contemporary art curator, who helped start the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York. “Back then, it was evident who were the leading artists, and it was not that difficult to identify who were the great ones of those movements.”

Things have changed, says Abigail Asher of Guggenheim, Asher Associates: “It’s about understanding who are the great artists of our time.

Historically, they’ve already been defined for you. But it’s become a huge amount of work to keep track of today’s marketplace – what’s trad-

Like any cultural experience, art has value. If you like it, you can buy it – but if you want a collection, that takes time and effort. An art advisor can help.

ing, what’s being exhibited, and which museums to check.” It is, in short, a full-time job.

“There are four major centers producing contemporary art: New York, Berlin, London and Los Angeles,” says Edward Goldman, art

Interview by Katharina Opahle

et’s be clear from the start: if you

L

advisor and critic for the Santa Monica public

have no emotional interest in art,

radio station KCRW (who admits that even he

buy property. But if a work allows

misses certain exhibitions in LA’s galleries,

you to see the world through some-

museums, universities and art schools). “The

one else’s eyes; if you feel drawn to particular

art scene is so immensely large and can be very

pieces and find others objectionable; if, in

intimidating for newcomers. For someone who

short, you enjoy art for art’s sake and can draw

decides to collect art and can only afford a cer-

more from a sketch than the bottom line, reach

tain amount of hours per week, an art advisor

for the checkbook.

can speed up their process of learning and in

Of course it’s not that simple. There is an in-

much friendlier terms.”

creasing amount of collectors these days, which

Let’s face it: art is a shifting sand. Vintage

means you have less time to decide on a piece

photography, for example, was under-valued

because someone right behind you wants it too.

when Thea Westreich of Thea Westreich Art Ad-

Technological advances have also had an impact

visory Services predicted the importance of pho-

on the way business is done in the art world. Im-

tography as an art form. “Many of the people

ages can be e-mailed to clients instantaneously,

with whom we worked, who were buying vintage

and sellers aren’t necessarily prepared to wait

photographs for $150,000, are now sitting on

for two weeks to get a reply.

photographs worth up to $3 million.” Take a

Even collectors with long experience and distinct tastes are finding it harder to track a

good look in the mirror and ask yourself: would you have known?

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Is there a golden rule? “What we look for is what we

“I don't think any serious advisor or collector can

feel will engage the client within their aesthetic and emo-

look at art independent of money nowadays, even though

tional sensibility,” says Westreich, adding: “Some people

sometimes financial value perverts aesthetic value. One

are touched by color and form. Others like a little bit more

has to be a financial analyst as well,” says Schwartzman.

psychology in their art. The key to a great advisor is to give

“You’re moving money from one asset to another

the collector the best of what it is that they might like.”

Few artists produce great art consistently. “If you

when you buy a painting,” says Asher, who believes that only now are people realizing art is an investment class.

look at five white paintings by Robert Ryman of the same date and the same dimension, they’re not all the same

Getting started

painting,” explains Schwartzman. “People who are

Asher starts by taking her clients around the muse-

spending their lives in the field, looking at art, thinking

ums to try and get a sense of which area they would like

about art and accessing art, are probably in a better po-

to collect in. Contemporary, post-war, early modern, im-

sition to help people achieve a comfort level that what

pressionist? There’s plenty to choose from.

they are wanting to buy has value.”

“You try and get a sense from them of what their eye

Ah, value. Art has gotten very expensive, and even

responds to, of what is speaking to them,” explains

people who don’t worry about money worry about value.

Asher. “Is it abstraction? Is it literal objectivity? Is it re-

Collectors want to evolve and exercise their own taste,

alism? Is it objects? It can take some time to get a feel

but only the very brave don’t care that their transac-

for them. And then you start showing them catalogs, and

tions are wise ones.

you get a sense of which direction they want to go, and then you start to slowly form the collection.”

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In the 1960s, the difference between pop art as an innovative art and other kinds of more traditional representation was clear. Things have changed and you have to understand who are the great artists of our time

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How to collect

All our advisors agree that an ‘instant’ collection will

Usually, Schwartzman believes, the things that we

not be interesting in the long run. Collecting, as

are attracted to, especially when we don’t know much

Schwartzman points out, should be a lifetime pursuit. His

about art, tend to be the things that don’t have as much

typical clients, he says, are people who explore their own

staying power. And often the things that last are the

identities through the art of other people. Naturally, this

things that we couldn’t see at first, or even the things that

takes time.

we find most abrasive or most difficult to like.

What makes a collection interesting is how people

“I learned a valuable lesson when I started working

specifically collect artists, and how they combine them

in the art field,” Schwartzman remembers. “There was

with other artists’ works. “To me,” says Schwartzman,

an exhibition of Gilbert and George in New York around

“it’s really not about who are the top ten artists. It’s ob-

1980. I really found the work objectionable. After about

viously about collecting great artists, but it’s about col-

a week I had spent telling people what I disliked about

lecting specific, meaningful works and works by different

it I realized that that was interesting work, that if I had

artists that resonate with one another.”

such a strong reaction there was something meaningful going on there and I should pay attention to it.”

A good example is Gerhardt Richter. Some collectors are interested in his representational work; others focus on the abstract pieces; others may combine both styles. “Then there’s the number one bullseye work by

“You try and get a sense from the client of what their eye responds to, of what is speaking to them. Is it abstraction? Is it literal objectivity?

Is it realism? Is it objects? It can take some time to get a feel” Abigail Asher

Richter, which would be a representational painting

“What we look for is what we feel will engage the client within their aesthetic and emotional sensibility. The key to a great advisor is to give the collector the best of what it is that they might like” Thea Westreich

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from the mid-1960s, anywhere from ’64 to ’66, based upon a black-and-white photograph,” says Schwartzman. “So if I’m creating a collection of masterworks and there’s room for one Richter, I would probably go looking for that.”

The point is, five collections can portray the same artist in five different ways; and each of those, Schwartzman believes, would end up being more interesting than having the one masterwork by Richter. “Having his bullseye painting is missing the point of this particular painter,” says Schwartzman.

Asher looks back on the collections she has put together, like the cubist collection with Picasso, Gris, Braque, and Sevigny for one client. Or the one for a venture capitalist from the Midwest, who liked American modernism, paintings of the Stieglitz school including Edward Hopper, Charles Sheeler and Georgia O’Keefe.

One of her New York clients collects Alexander Calder and artists who influenced him, like Miro. But what if you want to add a picture to your collection the advisor doesn’t like?

“I just say no,” Asher laughs, then adds: “I can say to them, it’s not a great work of art, I don’t think you can

prices will go up. For Toni Scott, a sculptor who’s carv-

get your money out, this is not what I would be doing with

ing marble, jade, and Douglas fir, prices depend on

that amount of money. But if they really, really love it, I

the size of her pieces.”

can’t stop them from buying it.”

Goldman says the investment question is impossible.

What makes a great piece of art? “The artist has to have a clear distinct style” – Margaret Danielak

“With contemporary art, no one can say with certainty

Art investment

what is a good investment. It’s all speculation. I’m trying

What makes a great piece of art? Margaret Danielak

to persuade people to invest the most available resources

of DanielakArt chooses the artists she represents ac-

that they have, their time and their soul, into spending

cording to the same criteria any collector should look out

time looking at art and learning about it. I started with the

for: “The artist has to have a clear distinct style. They

Greek and the Roman antiquities and Renaissance art

need to create new work consistently and have adequate

when I was a student. Today, I’m very passionate about

inventory. I’d be interested if they won major grants and

contemporary art. The knowledge of art definitely helped

awards, and what their credentials are. With whom did

me to see contemporary art through the prism of Euro-

they study? Where did they go to school? Are there al-

pean civilization.

ready collectors for their work? And have they been exhibiting for at least five years?”

“If someone approaches me and says he has several million dollars he wants to invest in art and wants to be

What about the prices – who decides them? “Pricing

sure that he has a good return on it, I will tell him to

work is always very difficult,” admits Danielak. “It has to

buy some good Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci draw-

do with previous collectors and what they paid for the

ings, at least early Matisse and Picasso, that definitely

work. Again, if you’ve won any awards, that will affect

holds its value.”

the price of the work. If the artist dies, that will defi-

I said it at the start, but it’s worth repeating: if you

nitely affect the price. If you’re talking about contem-

have no emotional interest in art, buy property. Art is an

porary work, if it’s gotten into a major collection the

investment, but the gains aren’t always financial.

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Eat us and praise the

Truffle Tips Refill any holes you dig or ground you disturb as it allows the truffle to re-grow.

A fresh truffle will last for less than a week before losing its distinctive aroma.

�

Lord

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n ancient Egypt the wealthy ate their

I

an abundance of wild truffles similar to those

truffles coated in goose fat. The Ro-

of Europe and with the perfect climate for cul-

mans thought they had therapeutic

tivation of the renowned French truffles. James

and sexual qualities, making them ex-

Beard, the late food expert, believed that ma-

tremely popular among the noble classes.

ture Oregon white truffles could easily be sub-

But the same heavy musk that enticed one

stituted with their European counterparts.

race put off another, and in the Middle Ages,

Best of all, finding the Oregon truffle re-

the truffle vanished from dining tables across

quires little more than a rake, a pinch of luck

the Western world. The Church felt its exotic

and a great deal of patience. In Europe you

qualities were satanic.

need a female pig.

This tuber of temptation reappeared in the

The smell is the truffle’s most distinctive

mid-1800s, in another age of abundance and

feature: a heady combination of musk, nuts,

wealth. Alexandre Dumas, whose appetite for

and ozone. Leave a truffle in with some eggs

adventure extended beyond his novels and into

for a day or two and eggs will take on its flavor.

the kitchen, wrote: “The most learned men

The odor also contains the sex pheromone of

have been questioned as to the nature [of the

boar saliva – hence the pig, which will snuffle

truffle], and after two thousand years of argu-

a truffle in seconds.

Imagine a perfect winters day deep in the Oregon countryside. The sky is blue, the air is crisp, the leaves crunch underfoot, and you are hunting a smell.

Where To Go Arblaster & Clarke Arblaster & Clarke offer a “gastronomic experience” in Auxerre, Northern Burgundy. Enjoy a fascinating presentation on the Burgundian

Author Rebecca Goozee

truffle and then set out on a morning’s truffle hunt with a local “trufficulteur” and his dog.

There follows a four-course truffle-themed

ment and discussion their answer is the same

Unfortunately, the sow is likely to eat her

as it was on the first day: we do not know. The

precious finding, so truffle trained dogs are now

truffles themselves have been interrogated,

more common in Italy and France. They are

and have answered simply: eat us and praise

being introduced to Oregon in place of rakes.

the Lord.”

Hunting for truffles is quite therapeutic.

lunch, prepared by local Michelin-starred chef, Jean-Luc Barnabet.

+44 173 026 3111 www.arblasterandclarke.com

Today, you will still find the most expen-

Transfixed on your own little patch of earth, the

sive truffles in France and Italy. The Tuber

atmosphere becomes electric with anticipa-

La Casa del Trifulau

melanosporum (black truffle), named for the

tion. There is no sound but a light breeze mov-

La Casa del Trifulau (literally “the home of the

Perigord region in France and the Tuber mag-

ing the branches of the trees and the

truffle picker”) is a unique truffle picking experi-

natum (white truffle or Alba truffle) for the

occasional snap of twigs or crunch of leaves

ence in Piedmonte, Italy the location of the white

Piedmont region in northern Italy and, most fa-

from a fellow treasure seeker. Sometimes, it

truffle – explained by the trifulau as having a

mously, from the city of Alba, are the most

can be better to get on your knees and use

power “afrodisiaci”, a sort of “Viagra naturale”.

highly esteemed. (A three-pound rare white

your fingers to rake through the soil – a jolt

After a guided tour and truffle hunt with dogs

Alba truffle was sold for $160,000 in Novem-

of adrenalin running through you every time

there’s a truffle tasting with local fine wines.

ber 2006 to Hong Kong property tycoon Sir

your fingers brush an acorn. Then a clod of

Gordon Wu).

earth that’s slightly springy to the touch, and

+39 347 299 1832

you hold it to your nose, and it’s all been

tuber.pico@virgilio.it

worth it.

www.lacasedeltrifulau.it

In the mysterious world of the truffle, however, change is afoot. Oregon is blessed with

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A Simple Pasta Dish with Shaved White Truffle The food equivalent of bespoke Armani: stylish, rich, understated and luxurious.

A handful of dried Italian porcini 2 tablespoons butter 2 cups cream Fettucine for two 1 fresh white truffle The Ankhura

For a more complete package you could visit The Ankhura, a spectacular family-run farmhouse

1-1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan Salt and pepper

bed and breakfast in the heart of Tuscany. Their Tuscan Truffle Affair package includes a truffle hunt (complete with Ugo, the wonder dog), truffle cookery class and visit to Italy’s only truffle museum in nearby San Giovanni d’Asso.

Soak the porcini for 20 minutes in warm water to cover, then squeeze dry (reserve the soaking liquid).

Heat the butter in a large sauté pan or skillet until melted. Add the mushrooms and cook until golden. Stir in the cream and soaking liquid; cook until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Currently available through Select Italy: 800-877-1755 http://selectitaly.com

Boil enough water for the Fettucine in a large saucepan. When it’s boiled add salt. Italians say the water should be as salty as the Mediterranean. Let the water boil again and add the Fettucine. Boil until al dente, drain and add to the sauce.

Stir the Fettucine through the sauce until coated. Add the cheese and season to

Shirewood Farm Shirewood Farm in Oregon for a guided truffle hunt followed by a fabulous multi-course truffle-based meal at the lively and elegant Marche Restaurant in Eugene.

541-953-8506 info@shirewoodfarm.com www.shirewoodfarm.com

When To Go Oregon November through March, although Oregon whites are often found in April.

Italy Almost any time! January to March the winter black truffle, May to November the summer black truffle and September to December the finest white truffle.

France October through February.

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taste. Shave the truffle over and serve immediately.

Dedicated to a Finer Wine World In picturesque southern Tuscany, nature unfolds its bounty. At historic Castello Banfi our microclimate and 29 different Mediterranean sub-soils create a constellation of vineyards, enabling us to research and pioneer noble grapes for our Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino and Super Tuscans. Our wines express the purest and most natural Tuscan character.

My family invites you to enjoy our award-winning wines and visit us at our medieval 12th century Castello Fortress. Dine in our Michelin-star Ristorante, partake in wine and cooking classes with Michelin-starred chefs, and pamper yourself in the luxury of our artistically restored rooms and suites at Il Borgo Castello Banfi.

Cristina Mariani-May Family Proprietor

Enjoy an Extraordinary Tuscan Experienc

11 Consecutive Years It aly’s Premier Vineyard Est ate - VinItaly ♌

First Winer y in the World Awarded International Recognition for Exceptional Environment al, Ethical & Social Responsibility (ISO 14001 and SA 8000)

castellobanfi.com

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O For Sale

One Chef, Perfect Condition Author Geri Montes

You may never play baseball with Barry Bonds or get yogic with Madonna but if you want a super chef in your kitchen all you have to do is pick your favorite (and be prepared to pay).

Our current love affair with celebrity chefs and cookbook authors (come on, we’ve all got our favorites) shows no sign of abating. Food is important again, the stuff of national debate, and chefs are its champions. Perhaps unsurprisingly, therefore, it is becoming popular to have a cookery lesson with a famous chef, or even have them cook for you in your own kitchen.

For the nervous dinner party host, the latter option is all of your Christmases at once.

But it’s not just for the culinarily impaired. This is a serious step up from using a catering company, promising an intimate, effortless experience. Like most things that cost a lot of money, it can be completely priceless.

If you want to take some of the credit, Francois Payard, owner and executive chef at Payard Patisserie and Bistro, is available for at-home baking classes. Payard will teach you how to make his signature chocolate pudding cake, lemon tart and biscotti, so you can really wow your guests with dessert.

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Rick Tramonto: “Cooking in someone’s home is always a wild card”

100 Thousand Club

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Softcape, hardscape, landscape and other items featured in and around the model homes are decorator suggestions and not included in the purchase price. The Tides is included in an Assessment District and a Communities Facilities District, Associations supported by its residents, maintain common areas and facilities for a monthly fee. Ask your Sales Counselor for details. Crystal Cove is a planned community developed by Irvine Community Development Company LLC, an affiliate of The Irvine Company LLC.

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At Home Francois Payard Description: Payard teaches students how to make his signature chocolate pudding cake, lemon tart and biscotti.

Cost: Starts at $3000 www.payard.com

Rick Tramonto Description: Will cook for guests in their own kitchen.

Cost: $10,000 minimum, plus accommodation, transport, food, wine, china, service tramontocuisine@aol.com

David Myers Description: Will cook for guests in their own kitchen.

Cost: $10,000 minimum 310-659-7708 www.sonarestaurant.com

David Myers: “I love cooking in private homes.

Sona is literally picked up and delivered”

Or go a step further and stun your guests with gastronomic perfec-

blueprints, equipment lists and photographs of your kitchen. “Cooking in

tion. Celebrated, Michelin-starred quality chefs, including Rick Tra-

someone’s home is always a wild card,” smiles Tramonto, “if you are not

monto, Thomas Keller and David Myers will come to your house and

100 percent on the ball you could wind up trying to plate an eight course

cook up a storm in your kitchen.

meal for 12 people in someone’s garage next to their Bentley!”

of parties, it’s a lot of fun to really blow people’s minds in their own kitchens

T

and dining rooms.” Tramonto’s most memorable cooking “gig” was for 10

For one recent 50th birthday party he prepared a nine-course tasting

people, including Sean Connery, at the Prime Minister of Croatia’s home.

menu, plus he organized gift packages for the guests to take home and

Tramonto, executive chef and partner at Osterua di Tramonto, Tramonto’s Steak & Seafood, RT Lounge and Tru is one chef who thoroughly enjoys cooking for private parties: “I love cooking at people’s homes because it is very intimate – you get to interact with a smaller group of people in an informal setting,” he smiles. “And the sky is the limit when you do these kinds

You pay for quality like this. If you want Tramonto in your home it

homas Keller of French Laundry in Yountville, California and Per Se in New York city is also available for

private events, although he limits himself to 10 per year.

Keller’s specialties include cornet of marinated Atlan-

tic salmon, sabayon of pearl tapioca with oysters, and seyruge caviar.

next morning breakfast pastries for the hosts.

will cost $10,000 per day plus all products, wine, service, china, travel,

David Myers, owner and executive chef of Sona restaurant is an-

hotel and meals for him and his sous chefs, and you will need to provide

other chef who really enjoys the experience: “I love cooking in private

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Back to school If you want to impress guests with your own bad self, David Bouley, chef and owner of two top New York restaurants, Bouley and Danube (with two and one Michelin stars respectively), has recently opened a test and demonstration kitchen.

The fully equipped, state-of-the-art kitchen is a superb environment in which to learn professional cooking techniques and recipes.

Details Classes are $175 per person and include instruction, food and wine tasting and recipes to take home.

212-693-7490 www.davidbouley.com For a more inclusive package, Patricia Wells’ five-day course in Provençe, France offers some fancy French cooking techniques in the heart of the countryside at Wells’ 18th century Provencal home. She also teaches courses in Paris if that’s more your thing. She says: “It’s a great vacation.

You come and everything’s been taken care of for you. It’s ready-made and attractive to people who are very, very busy.”

Details Five days of hands-on cooking as well as guided visits to markets, vineyards, shops and local restaurants, sharing in the food, wine and culture of the region. Cost: $4500, not including lodging or airfare www.patriciawells.com

homes. It’s a way to be closely connected to guests, it’s a much more

She loves to fly us out to where her family is vacationing to have us cook

intimate event than a restaurant. Sona is literally picked up and deliv-

for them. They really love it. They really get the Sona experience.”

ered to their homes.”

If you want a handcrafted, completely individual, one-off dining

Sona is a seasonally spontaneous modern French restaurant and

experience, having a celebrity chef in your home may be the answer

Myers ensures that his guests receive the same high quality when he

to your prayers. Put down your tongs and pans, cut loose the apron

comes to their homes. He won’t name the favorite person he cooks for

strings, and join your guests for a guaranteed social and gastro-

but says she is “a very wealthy guest who dines at the restaurant weekly.

nomic success.

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24/8/07 15:18:18

Love food, will travel You can have a chef cook in your home, but with ‘Beck at Banfi’ you cook with a chef in the home of great food.

Beck at Banfi is a culinary expedition to the heart of Italy with Heinz Beck, Rome’s only Michelin three-star chef and one of only five in the country.

Limited to no more than fourteen people, the trip includes three nights at the recently opened Castello Banfi – Il Borgo, nine rooms and five suites designed – from pergola-covered cloister garden to breakfast nook – by Italy’s preeminent interior designer, Federico Forquet.

“Beautiful food, good wine, great company in stunning surroundings. All expeditions should be like this.”

Il Borgo is a 17th century hamlet nestled alongside the medieval fortress of Castello Banfi on its eponymous estate in Montalcino, Tuscany.

As well as lunches and dinners each day at the estate’s informal taverna and other charming local restaurants, the estate visit culminates with dinner prepared by Castello Banfi’s chef Guido Haverkock, an early protégé of Beck who earned Castello Banfi’s “Castello Banfi is the ideal microcosm to understand the very

own Michelin star within a year of its opening.

The group will then travel to Rome for an

heart of Tuscany. We will literally

overnight stay at the stellar Cavalieri Hilton Hotel,

absorb this environment, nurtured

perched atop Monte Mario with breathtaking views

by our hosts with the same

of the eternal city, and a farewell dinner by Chef

attention they lavish on their wine

Beck at his own La Pergola rooftop garden.

n

making and cooking” – Chef Beck

Beck at Banfi runs from October 28-31 and November 25-28. The all inclusive package, starting from the Castello Banfi estate in Montalcino, Tuscany and including transportation from Castello Banfi – Il Borgo to the Cavalieri Hilton in Rome, is 3,000 Euros (approximately US$4,000) per person based on double occupancy, or 3,800 Euros (approximately US$5,100) for single occupancy.

For reservations and more information contact Kate Morgan (kmorgan@banfi.com, 516-686-2542) or Lars Leicht (lleicht@banfi.com, 516-686-2532), or visit www.castellobanfiilborgo.com.

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The Secret of My Success I’m always thinking of the woman when I’m creating the products.

I have to satisfy her and it’s not easy. She’s like Giuseppe Verdi said, “la donna mobile”, she’s always changing her mind. I think of the actress, I think of the secretary, I think of the school teacher, I think of the career woman, and I’m creating product that I believe will enhance their personality and make them feel as exciting as any shoe could.

I go to my stores and other stores that carry our products and I meet the ladies who buy the shoes. It’s the only way you can get close to the market. You can’t do that in a studio, designing with no outside influence whatsoever.

At least I can’t. I believe in listening to my customers.

Why do shoes inspire such devotion? It’s a brainwashing thing. The first story that really appeals to a little girl is the Cinderella story – a goal built around a fabulous pair of shoes. Little girls grow up with that and the shoe, therefore, has this wonderful appeal from day one.

To this day, I can say: nothing has been created that makes a good pair of legs look great, or a great pair of legs look fabulous, better than a high heel shoe.

True shoe crazy people really don’t know how many pairs they own.

I’m sure when they told Imelda Marcos she had 3,700 pair of shoes, half of which were never worn, that she just denied it like she couldn’t believe it.

Appearance doesn’t rule my life, but I really think that it is an indication that you care for yourself and you believe in yourself, and you’re maybe meticulous about things, which are all part of the way I live and run my business.

Nobody’s ever written down “the golden rules” of footwear but I think by instinct most women learn – and they really should if they haven’t – that a shoe is an extension of your personality. If you are wearing a shoe because Vogue told you to, but you really hate yellow, you won’t feel good in that shoe. A little bit of shopping, a little bit of being fussy, and you will find shoes you love, whether they be sandals, flip flops, casuals or the most sexy evening shoe that you can imagine.

I think they made “fashion” and “passion” rhyme because they go together. You either love it or become a doctor.

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Stuart Weitzman, maker of fine women’s shoes. Interview by Adam Burns

OPENING OCTOBER 2007

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100KUS3_The Ritz Carlton Istanbul

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