HudsonMOD - Travel Issue - March 2015

MARCH 2015

WHEELS UP with Kenny Dichter

+ Stop & Watch:

BASELWORLD 2015

Sir Richard Branson IS UNITING THE WORLD THROUGH TRAVEL

JOﾃ記 ROBUCHON THE CHEF OF THE CENTURY

hudsonmod.com

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INSIDE M A RCH 2 015

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26 FEATURES 42

The Chef of the Century

Chef Joël Robuchon reflects on his humble beginnings and how he became a Michelin Star-winning chef.

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Uniting the World Through Travel Sir Richard Branson’s entrepreneurial foundation, Virgin Unite, allows individuals to travel to exotic places while serving a community in need.

A Tale of Five Exotics

These five exotics debuting in 2015 and beyond will undoubtedly capture the attention of auto aficionados.

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Fashion Trends: The Golden Globes

The Golden Globes kicked off a promising 2015 awards season with breakthrough trends in the fashion world.

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HUDSONMOD.com DECEMBER 2014

DEPARTMENTS 12 THE PUBLISHER

36

16 CONTRIBUTORS

38 COVET

18 EXPERIENCE

68 EVENTS

22 WATER

76 THE SCENE

26 STATEMENTS

78 THE QUOTE

32 SHELTER

80 ENCORE

TASTE

Audi Truth in Engineering

Discover.

Audi Meadowlands, powered by Benzel-Busch, is the fastest growing Audi dealer in northern New Jersey located just minutes from the Lincoln Tunnel.

• An unparalleled response to requests.

• We are proud to provide superior attention to detail.

• We assure our clients of the ultimate personalized automotive experience.

• We offer a free pickup and delivery and an optional Audi loaner car when you service your vehicle.

• Your personal Account Representative.

Family owned and operated, for over 40 years, as a premium brands dealership, Benzel-Busch has maintained a reputation for honesty, integrity and trust among its many valued customers.

Whether your needs are sales or service related, visit Audi Meadowlands to meet with your own personal account representative and begin to define your journey with us today.

Audi Flagship Dealer Certified R8 Dealer New Vehicle Sales 425 Route 3 East, Secaucus, NJ 07094 Service & Certified pre-owned Sales 4700 Westside Avenue, North Bergen, NJ 07047

audimeadowlands.net 888-726-0650

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THE PUBLISHER

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

Jason Lembo and Shannon Steitz with Scott DeCarolis and Bruno Guarini of Driven By Purpose.

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HUDSONMOD.com MARCH 2015

Concourse d’ Elegance on September 27th in support of the Eric Trump Foundation and the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Recently, I also had the honor of meeting and working with the founder and board members of Home for Good Dog Rescue, a nonprofit organization who has saved over 3,300 dogs from high-kill shelters in the South providing them all with a second chance for a loving home.

This organization is near and dear to me as well as the entire team at HudsonMOD as we recently welcomed another exceptional (and furry) member to the organization. Hudson Maddie, a Labrador and Shar-Pei mixed breed, has a oneof-a-kind charisma and is extremely loving. Please visit homeforgooddogs.org to learn more.

Sincerely, Shannon Steitz, President & Publisher

CHARLES PALMISANO

H

ERE IN THE NEW YORK metropolitan area, we have just started to catch a glimpse of warmer temperatures and sidewalks that are free of snow and ice—all indications to suggest that spring is finally on its way!

While HudsonMOD is in full swing with an amazing line-up of issues and events in store for our readers and advertising partners, we begin this year having formed a strategic joint venture with Driven By Purpose, this area’s most exclusive and premier exotic auto club. The club’s mission to support philanthropy through premier, luxury lifestyle events closely mirrors the philanthropic initiatives of HudsonMOD, together creating a major driving force (no pun intended) in the New York/New Jersey area supporting many groups in need.

Together, we will produce and support many events and strategic programs inclusive of Trump National’s

MASTHEAD LIFE WELL LIVED

MARCH 2015 VO L U M E 4 , N U M B E R 1

hudsonmod.com

@HudsonMOD

Shannon Steitz Publisher DESIGN DIRECTOR Wilbert

Gutierrez

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Amanda ILLUSTRATOR Isabella

Wong

Bannerman

SENIOR EDITOR Mike

Banka

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Nicole

Fonzino

LIFESTYLE EDITOR Joumana DESIGN EDITOR Vanessa

Kidd

Deleon Bournias

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Dom Miliano, Simon Murray, Eric Dahler, Wendy Tait, Ryan DePersio LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHER

Charles Palmisano

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Christopher Burns EVENTS MANAGER

Maria Falzo MARKETING ASSOCIATE

MEET GEORGE BRESCIA

Taylor Bevilacqua SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE

Gina Palmieri SALES EXECUTIVES

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR

Lauren Mena WEB DEVELOPER

UDSONMOD is

excited to announce another addition to our ever-growing luxury-lifestyle family. George Brescia has been named our new fashion editor. Having previously worked alongside such heavy hitters as Donna Karan, Bergdorf Goodman, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger, George has his finger on the pulse of fashion.

Over the course of more than 25 years, he has amassed an extraordinary track record in the fashion industry. Currently, he is a celebrity stylist, image consultant, columnist, author, TV personality and red carpet analyst.

“HudsonMOD delivers the best in world travel, cuisine, leisure and fashion, and I am excited to bring my favorite glamorous, timeless fashion and style picks to readers

in the northern New Jersey and New York City metropolitan area,” George says.

Last August, Simon & Schuster released George’s book Change Your Clothes, Change Your Life: Because You Can’t Go Naked. He describes how transforming your wardrobe leads to a more positive lifestyle.

Recently, George guest-starred on NBC’s New York Live! and Fox 5 to discuss the fashion trends at this year’s Golden Globe Awards, as well as HSN’s The List with Colleen Lopez to discuss the trends buzzing around DKNY Jeans. Besides making such appearances, George hosts his own online web show called Dress Up! with George B. Style, providing viewers with an inside look at the styles of such celebrity actors as Kate Baldwin, Jefferson Mays and Shuler Hensley.

George’s inimitable voice will be featured in every issue of HudsonMOD, a true treat for fashion buffs.

Larry Volmer ©2015 by MOD Media, LLC All rights reserved ISSN# 2167-6151

For advertising inquiries call 973.249.6157 or email advertising@hudsonmod.com For all editorial inquiries contact editorial@hudsonmod.com For subscription information and customer service contact circulation@hudsonmod.com HudsonMOD is published by MOD Media, LLC

JASON LEMBO Chief Executive Officer

SHANNON STEITZ President

MOD MEDIA, LLC info@modmedia.com 973.249.6157

modmedia.com

11 PARK STREET, SUITE 2F MONTCLAIR, NJ 07042 41 WATCHUNG PLAZA, SUITE 507 MONTCLAIR, NJ 07042

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HUDSONMOD.com MARCH 2015

COURTESY OF NINA DU NCAN PH OTOGRAPH Y

H

Chris Pellegrino, Christine Wood

243 East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450 • Tel - 201 857 5757 • e-mail - ridgewood@clivechristianinteriors.com

ridgewood.clivechristianinteriors.com

CONTRIBUTORS

| Eric Dahler After boating on the Hudson River and the Narragansett Bay as a child, Eric Dahler developed a serious affinity for yachting.

Now, with a 25-year career in the industry, he has made a name for himself among many prestigious yachting companies. Eric serves as a yachting broker for Camper & Nicholsons International and previously worked for Bartram & Brackenhoff. In 2008, he founded the luxury membership club Vintage Elite, which serves as a networking and philanthropic company for high-net-worth individuals interested in the private-yachting industry. Sail the sea with Eric in this issue’s “Water” article.

| Isabella Bannerman Isabella Bannerman began her career by winning a cartoon contest promoted by the San Francisco Bay Guardian. She was an animator on television shows, including MTV programs, Pee-wee’s Playhouse and the popular ‘90s Nickelodeon show Doug. She has contributed drawings to Glamour and the New York Times, as well as to the comic strip Six Chix. You can find Isabella’s latest drawing, of Richard Branson, on “The Quote” page, done exclusively for HudsonMOD.

| Chef Ryan DePersio Ryan DePersio is one of northern New Jersey’s top-rated chefs. He owns Fascino, an Italian eatery in Montclair, New Jersey that he operates along with family members, and manages NJPAC’s Nico Kitchen + Bar. Last year, Ryan opened another restaurant on Jersey City’s waterfront called Battello, offering a mix of seafood and Italian dishes. His cooking talents have been featured on the Today show and the Food Network’s hit program Chopped. Now, Ryan is taking his talents to HudsonMOD. Read his take on the ultimate dinner party in our “Taste” section.

| Dom Miliano Dom Miliano is an expert when it comes to exotics, which is why HudsonMOD is thrilled to have him on board for this issue. As a car enthusiast, Dom has been photographing and writing about luxury autos for years. His photographs have appeared in several auto publications, including Cavallino, Porsche Panorama and Autoweek.

Currently, Dom is the editor of Motorsports Community Newsletter.

Check out his “Tale of Five Exotics” featured in our “Wheels” section.

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HUDSONMOD.com MARCH 2015

POSSESS WHAT YOU MOST DESIRE.

Call 973-265-0899 or visit the sales office – 17 Park Place, Mountain Lakes, NJ LegacyOf MountainLakes.com

The Legacy has redefined what luxury is all about. Exquisite design and superb Mountain Lakes’ schools in the most prestigious location in Morris County, N J. It is our crowning achievement.

the luxury carriage series from $574,900

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A N E L E G A N T CO L L E C T I O N O F L U X U RY TOW N H O M E S .

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

The Life

EXPERIENCE

SALAMANDER RESORT & SPA

By SIMON MURRAY

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A

S THE SUN PEEKS ABOVE the blue-green foothills of Middleburg, Virginia and burns off the morning mist, birds sing and grasshoppers break out into a morning concerto. Mostly, though, there’s a hushed silence typical of a new day here. Until the stillness is broken by a whinny echoing across the grounds of the Salamander Resort & Spa, that is. It seems to carry for miles. Hooves pound the dirt as horse and rider gallop. This is, after all, horse country, and what better way to discover Old Dominion than on horseback?

Set on 340 picturesque acres, the much celebrated, recently opened Salamander Resort & Spa is the quintessential Appalachian experience. The resort, nestled in the rolling foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains (so named for the abundance of spruce and fir that contributes to the hue, a deep shade of cobalt), is located in the historic village of Middleburg. Lying smack in

The Life EXPERIENCE

20 HUDSONMOD.com MARCH 2015

wine dinners and classes.

And then, of course, there are the horses.

In a region where U.S. Olympic riders train nearly year round, Salamander Resort & Spa has built one of the finest equestrian facilities and programs. The services range from private rides, riding lessons and carriage tours through the serene landscape and town, to full-service boarding facilities in a stunning 14,000-square-foot stable.

For businesses looking for team-building

experiences, the Equi-Spective program is a lesson in synergy. For a dose of serenity, there’s yoga in the stable—and for the adventurous, yoga on horseback. With Great Meadow approximately 15 minutes from the resort, visitors can revel in the twice-annual Virginia Gold Cup steeplechase race events.

During the summer, they can spend evenings enjoying Twilight Polo in a setting that provides hooves-pounding excitement, all as the sun sets on a majestic blue countryside.

J USTIN KRIEL

the middle of Virginia’s famed horse country and lush vineyards, Middleburg is 40 miles from Washington, D.C. and a 35-minute trek from Dulles Airport.

The peace and seclusion of this region, America’s horse and hunt capital, has attracted everyone from President John F. Kennedy and Elizabeth Taylor to Robert Wagner and Oliver North. Massive estates, with names such as The Meadows and Heathfield, have been built here.

Inspired by these historic homes, the Salamander Resort & Spa features 168 luxurious rooms and suites. Guest rooms look out on scenic views of the Virginia countryside or the property’s Grand Lawn.

For the business person, an executive desk and private seating and dining area combines with exclusive privileges to tee off at one of the area’s premier private clubs, Creighton Farms (featuring a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course). With such amenities, the question “Business or pleasure?” is rendered pointless.

The property features a 23,000-squarefoot spa with one-of-a-kind features such as outdoor treatment terraces and a spa courtyard. Along with being family-friendly, the resort—in keeping with its hunting theme—is one of the few dog-friendly hotels in Virginia. Even if Fido is less big-game hunter and more big-couch sloucher, rest assured that the in-room dog amenities include a comfy bed, food and water bowls, organic treats and a special toy that will have the family’s favorite darling feeling pampered from head to tail.

Served throughout the day and evening, small plates of Culinary Director Todd Gray’s Piedmont-inspired cuisine are paired with featured Virginia and international wines. Gray is Executive Chef of Washington, D.C.’s acclaimed Equinox Restaurant.

You’ll have to decide whether to take a walking tour of one of the more than 50 local wineries or lounge at the resort’s Gold Cup Wine Bar, which hosts select area winemakers each month and offers tastings,

PRINCETON + REDBANK OPENING SPRING 2015

south moon under MONTCLAIR | WESTFIELD | WOODCLIFF LAKE

RESORT 2015

SOUTHMOONUNDER.COM

The Life WATER

By ERIC DAHLER

FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW 22

HUDSONMOD.com MARCH 2015

T

HE FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW celebrated its 55th year in 2014. The largest show of its kind in the world, it provides an extraordinary experience for those new to boating as well as seasoned yachtsmen and industry professionals. The event showcases some of the most sought-after super yachts for sale and charter, catering to a wide range of budgets. There’s also a dizzying display of the latest boating accessories, “tenders and toys” (including amphibious boats, personal submarines and jet packs providing personal watersport adventures), and elite yachting lifestyle accoutrements such as luxury helicopters and supercars from the likes of Ferrari, Maserati, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce and BMW. Topping things off are exclusive soirees and nighttime cocktail receptions, making “FLIBS” both an industry trade show and a major socializing event for the global yachting elite.

COURTESY OF ROSCIOLI YACHTS

80-foot Donzi by Roscioli Sportfish. Yacht available for shared ownership program through YES Yacht Executive Solutions.

OYSTER PERPETUAL COSMOGRAPH DAY TONA

rolex

oyster perpetual, cosmograph and daytona are trademarks.

The Life WATER

Sir Richard Branson’s Sailing Super Yacht The 32-meter (105-foot) luxury catamaran, Necker Belle, made an appearance after a few years’ hiatus. Its exuberant owner had been calling it home ever since his residence on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands suffered fire damage from a Hurricane Irene lightning strike. When S/Y Necker Belle departed Florida, the yacht and crew transported donated supplies to Antigua coordinated

by YachtAid Global (www.YachtAidGlobal.org). The donations went to needy children and families in the aftermath of Hurricane Gonzalo, which hit the island last October. Necker Belle is available for charter in the stunning waters of the British Virgin Islands for $80,000 per week plus expenses. Included are accommodations for up to 12 guests and a speed boat with wakeboard, plus such activities as game fishing, scuba diving near ancient shipwrecks and watching movies in an open-air cinema.

Sealegs International An innovative company called Sealegs International, Ltd. showcased its versatile, revolutionary and incredibly fun amphibious boats. Sealegs produces a line of 20-25–foot outboard powered tenders that integrate full amphibious capabilities via three wheels that fold up and down hydraulically and are powered on land by a separate onboard 2-stroke Honda engine. These remarkable crafts bring a new dimension to boating by allowing the crew of super yachts to extend their lifestyle to previously secluded, unreachable locales. Guests and provisions are easily transported from water to land for the always-fun beach picnic or dinner party.

Built in New Zealand, Sealegs boats are seaworthy, durable and very high quality. They have been produced for a variety of military and police applications as well as recreational purposes. More than 900 boats have been delivered worldwide since 2003.

Valuable Income Income-producing and tax-saving strategies are often overlooked when purchasing a luxury asset. Owning a super yacht and reaping the rewards could be much less impactful on your net worth than you might think, especially if you combine several proven asset-management strategies and revenue-generating programs (including but not limited to charter). Boutique asset-management firms focusing on yachts and other luxury assets customize solutions to maximize all legitimate tax benefits and generate substantial revenue opportunities for owners. YES Yacht Executive Solutions, based in Fort Lauderdale, was at FLIBS and is one such specialized advisor that views clients as partners. The firm applies unique industry and asset class expertise tailored specifically to the needs of yacht owners in order to make the lifestyle more rewarding. YES provides greater prosperity for yacht owners with “net-worth neutral” and even profitable yacht ownership.

The yachting industry has rebounded strongly from the recent global recession and is enjoying record new construction and brokerage sales of super yachts as well as smaller sail and powerboats, plus marine-related products and services. This shift is nowhere more evident than at FLIBS. Coastal communities from Palm Beach and the Keys as well as across the country are enjoying the extraordinary lifestyle experiences that drive the industry’s continued growth and success.

116-foot Azimut 2012, available via YES Yacht Executive Solutions.

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COU RTESY OF YES YACHT EXECUTIVE SOLUTIONS

Following are highlights from the recent 2014 show, which took place in early November.

The Life STATEMENTS

| Blank Slate Leather Moto Boot This rugged motoinspired boot is crafted in rich leather and detailed with cool zippers for an edgy look.

Comfortable and chic: an irresistible combo.

HIS

By GEORGE BRESCIA

LADIES!

THE GUYS APPRECIATE FINE gifts too, and Kenneth Cole knows exactly what the “He” in your life wants. Having begun his career learning about fine leather goods and shoemaking from his father, Kenneth Cole has dedicated his life to giving men and women the freshest designs and looks while adhering to the highest standards of quality and old-world excellence. When I shop for the men who are my clients, I always walk them over to Kenneth Cole. After all, that’s where I’d want someone to get presents for me.

| High Impact 27" Upright Suitcase This ultra-roomy suitcase will be a frequent flyer's best friend. It has a lightweight durable exterior and plenty of handy pockets. Plus, there are eight wheels so it can roll in any direction.

Stylish and practically flies by itself.

Bond! James Bond!

| Calf Hair & Leather Convertible Duffle Bag Crafted in smooth leather and luxurious calf hair, this bag easily converts to a backpack with stowaway straps so you can get to your destination with ease. Gives “carrying your baggage” a good name.

This ultra-sleek watch is crafted in cool black metal and finished with modern chronograph movement and a black dial.

Timely and timeless... a nice partnership. Run, don’t walk to get this watch. Tick-tock!

Kenneth Cole products can be found in fine stores everywhere.

Additional information is available at www.kennethcole.com.

26 HUDSONMOD.com MARCH 2015

COURTESTY OF VERDURA COU RTESTY OF KENNETH COLE

| Black Chronograph Watch With Black Dial

Need to furnish a new home?

Our passion is helping you create an environment in your home, which brings your modern visions to life! Our turnkey designer packages will aid in creating your own personal oasis. *Furniture can be sold separately.

MIAMI | NEW YORK | LOS ANGELES | HOUSTON | CHICAGO | ATLANTA | DALLAS | SAN FRANCISCO | TORONTO

The Life STATEMENTS

HERS

GENTLEMEN!

WHEN I NEED exquisite jewelry for my celebrities and socialites, I take a trip to Verdura. For the perfect combination of class and originality, it’s Verdura every time. Here are some items you could gift with a box of Teuscher champagne truffles or a bouquet of orchids and not feel ashamed in the least.

| Feather Bracelet

| The Sashed Heart brooch

comes from the same jewelry mold as the Indian Headdress Tiara made in 1956 for Betsey Whitney, wife of Jock Whitney, for his presentation as American ambassador to Queen Elizabeth II at the court of St. James.

first commissioned by Tyrone Power for his lovely wife Annabella is being recreated for the first time since its appearance in 1941 to commemorate Verdura’s 75th anniversary. It’s the ultimate present for your leading lady.

| The Scarf Necklace is being recreated for the first time since being designed by Verdura in 1941 at the request of Dorothy Paley Hirshon.

It features no diamonds “to make it suitable for daytime wear!” Imagine. A scarf made of emeralds! What will they think of next?

Verdura is on display at the company’s New York Flagship Gallery at 745 Fifth Avenue, as well as select stores. For more information, visit www.verdura.com.

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is a centered trio of sapphire, emerald and amethyst in high relief surrounded by rubies, diamonds, aquamarines, garnets, citrines and peridot.

It’s set in 18-karat gold on a hinged cuff of black enamel over gold. This is a limited series of 200 sold in pairs or individually, engraved with the registration number and “Verdura New York 1939.” These are the same iconic Maltese Cross Cuffs that Fulco designed for Coco Chanel, becoming her signature.

COURTESTY OF VERDURA

| The Theodora Cuff

GET THE HAIR YOU WANT.

82 West 12th Street New York, New York 10011 Tel: 212.255.3579 | Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 7pm | Private Bookings Available www.ryandariussalon.com THE D IFFERENCE BE T WEEN O RD IN ARY AN D E X TR AO RD IN ARY HAIR BEGINS WITH E XCELLENCE AN D E XPERIENCE.

One of the most popular destinations in Italy, Florence offers stunningly beautiful vistas, like this one from Piazzale Michelangelo.

Create the Ultimate Destination Wedding

BY NICOLE FONZINO

30 HUDSONMOD.com MARCH 2015

YOU AND YOUR FIANCÉ LOVE THE IDEA of having a destination wedding, but you don’t know where to begin. The thought of finding a venue and vendors overseas while dealing with a different time zone can be overwhelming. Here are a few considerations that will make the process easier: HIRE THE RIGHT PLANNER. Whether you plan a small fête or a grand affair, it’s important to hire a qualified planner. Take the time to pre-screen the one you are considering and make sure you’re not their first destination-event client. Lots of logistical and cultural considerations go into a destination wedding, and it’s important for your planner to be aware of them. This will be the point person for every contact at your destination, the one who will help keep you on track with budget and timing. Let your planner also track items you want at your reception and hunt down vendors when they don’t return messages.

TRAVEL DIRECT. Always plan a direct flight. This way there is no chance for you or your luggage to get stuck at some airport hours from where you are supposed to be. Letting security personnel and flight attendants know it’s your wedding dress in that package you’re carrying will get you some special love.

Say your vows on a bridge overlooking the canal that runs through the picturesque French town of Annecy.

SHOW THANKS. Your guests have traveled a long way to celebrate with you, so remember to thank them with great welcome bags filled with local snacks and water to keep them energized. Add a thank-you note along with an itinerary of wedding events.

BE ADVENTUROUS. Provide your guests with local options for eating, sightseeing and excursions. If you’ve had the opportunity to visit the locale, give them a list of your favorite spots.

CAPTURE THE MOMENT. Memories and photos are what you will take away with you. A great photographer will preserve in portraits and candids the joys you experienced on one of the most special days of your life.

HUDSONMOD SAT DOWN with one of the top wedding planners, Meena Lee-DePasquale of 5th Avenue Weddings & Events, to get her expert perspective on the premier wedding destinations for 2015.

FLORENCE, ITALY: Located in the center of Tuscany, it gives you the best of the city and country. With gorgeous views everywhere, couples can choose a relaxing, countryside affair or a full-scale production in the city.

ANNECY, FRANCE: Nestled on Lake Annecy in the French Alps, it’s an amazing spot where you can enjoy incredible dining and afternoon boat rides while you take in a view of the Alps. This small city is located just 30 minutes from Geneva, Switzerland.

PUNTA MITA, MEXICO: If you’re looking for a luxury area in Mexico that’s private and not your typical tourist location, Punta Mita is the place to go. Among its attractions are gorgeous secluded white sand beaches and extraordinary personal services.

Have a beach wedding on the golden sand in Cairns, Queensland in Australia with the ocean in the background.

CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA: Perfect for adventurous couples who are ready to dive into the Great Barrier Reef. The amazing bath-like water is ideal for exploring and relaxing.

For more information on how to plan your destination wedding, contact www.5thAvenueWeddings.com.

HUDSONMOD.com MARCH 2015

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The Life SHELTER

By VANESSA DELEON

W

HETHER I’M decorating a home, a jet or a yacht, my choice of luxury dinnerware has to fit the ambiance.

For the home, I can’t go wrong with the Silversmith Dinnerware Collection by Michael Aram, featuring elegantly polished hand-hammered metalwork and fine white Limoges porcelain imported from France. It has a strong, timeless look enhanced by circular bands of silver. After studying India’s traditional metalworking, Aram honed his skills in New Delhi. The techniques he learned enabled him to lend elegance to

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HUDSONMOD.com MARCH 2015

his handcrafted tableware pieces. This set looks fabulous at the casual breakfast table, and is even more impressive if you add in the organic versatile square weave mats.

The beautiful grey bamboo tablemats are the creation of New York designer Sandy Chilewich. She’s been crafting innovative textiles for the home for more than a decade. Her tabletop mats are available in a variety of vibrant colors that provide an instant modern flair.

The Maltese Falcon mega-yacht designed

by German hydraulics engineer Wilhelm Pröiss is a 289-foot super cruiser that leaves you breathless. The yacht’s contemporary

Elegant and timeless: Michael Aram’s Silversmith Dinnerware Collection.

CHILEWICH , MICH AEL ARAM

LUXURY TABLESCAPES

The Life SHELTER

Mille Nuits Baccarat crystal Flutissimo by Mathias: perfect for an evening toast.

Dining statement par excellence: Versace Dedalo plate by Rosenthal.

Mille Nuits Baccarat Clear crystal tall glass by Mathias: grace combined with clarity.

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BACCARAT, ROSENTHAL

The Versace House of Design partnered with TAG aircraft interiors to create the ultimate yin-yang balance in jet design.

The Airbus A319 can accommodate up to 16 passengers. Black and white reigns in the interior. Huge armchairs are embossed with the Versace signature. In the dining room, a rectangular black glass table accommodates six.

The Versace Dedalo dinnerware by Rosenthal is what I favor here. It has a silver Greek motif over fine white china.

Rosenthal has been in operation for more than 175 years, offering the finest in dinnerware and collaborating with designers from all over the world.

Choosing the ideal combination of dinnerware, crystalware and flatware can be daunting, especially with so many beautiful designs available. Then again, this is all part of the fun.

All of the fine pieces I’ve highlighted here are available through Michael C. Fina in New York.

CHILEWICH , MICH AEL ARAM

decor adorned with beautiful solid teak tables makes a bold classic statement. The interior and exterior design is the work of Ken Freivokh. My favorite section is towards the stern. A beautiful 360-degree strong dome glass in the center with a sleek polished chrome edge roundtable comfortably accommodates 10 people.

For this remarkable vessel, my choice of dinnerware comes directly from France’s premier design house, Hèrmes. Called Chaine D’ancre, this pattern features a platinum anchor chain that contrasts beautifully on the white china.

For crystal ware, I go with Baccarat, a French institution dating back to 1764.

Baccarat’s keen sparkling clarity in hand-blown glass, such as that seen in their Monaco glassware, lends grace and grandeur to the dining experience. The champagne flute is available in midnight that complements any toast beneath evening skies.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

MARCH 19–22, 2015 PIERS 92 & 94 55TH STREET AT T WELFTH AVENUE NEW YORK CITY THURSDAY OPEN TO DESIGN TR ADE & VIP TICKET HOLDERS FRIDAY–SUNDAY OPEN TO DESIGN TR ADE & PUBLIC

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: PHOTOS BY SCOTT FRANCES; PIETER ESTERSOHN; ROGER DAVIES; ERIC PIASECKI; PIETER ESTERSOHN

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The Life TASTE

By RYAN DEPERSIO

A

ANYONE WHO KNOWS

me realizes that when I cook I don’t just cook. I give the ultimate dinner party.

When you invite the ones you love into your home and serve them a home-cooked meal, the experience should be totally magical.

The wine flows and laughter fills the house.

My grandmother Rose was fantastic at making anyone feel at home. Ever since I was a child, she and my mother Cynthia taught me to keep things simple and fill everyone’s belly with happiness. Another tip of the hat goes to my mentor Jean Georges, who (when it came to a recipe) told me to “keep it sexy.”

As I make preparations for my day of entertaining, I am sure I have the right helping hand: a good sous chef. My wife Stephanie is my sous chef for the day and we collaborate on everything from menu, wine selection and cleanup to the selection of fragrance for the house.

Upon arrival, we greet our friends with hor d’oeuvres: a wooden board of cured meats, artisanal cheeses, spreads and crackers, all made perfect with a chilled glass of Prosecco.

It’s a classy start to an amazing meal.

Once everyone is comfortable, I bring

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out a chilled seafood salad, a mix of fresh jewels of the sea: shrimp, clams, mussels, calamari and peekytoe crab, tossed in basil and a peperonata (a condiment used all over Italy). Simple and clean flavors. I keep things casual, serving it family style with a Mauritson Sauvignon Blanc. This wine has a perfectly balanced acidity and pairs wonderfully with this dish.

After the crowd has been warmed up with meats, cheeses and a light dish, I like to finish with something bold: grilled ribeyes with rosemary oil and roasted fingerling potatoes. Grilled to perfection, this tender meat will win over anyone who enjoys a good steak. The fragrance from the rosemary oil infuses the ribeye and potatoes, making this selection a total winner. My pairing for this has to be a big wine. My friend Clay Mauritson makes one of the best wines to eat steak with. His Mauritson Rockpile Cabernet Sauvignon has finesse, full of dark fruit and earthy spice. When I wash down a ribeye with this wine, euphoria sets in.

I leave dessert to my wife Stephanie, a gelato maven. Her vanilla bean gelato with balsamic- and sugar-tossed strawberries is the ideal finish to my ultimate dinner party.

What You Will Need: 1. When serving cheeses and meats, use small four-inch plates (preferably square) so your guests can grab a few items and walk around with them. This size will fit on a mantle or small coffee table if guests want to set them down as they go for a little more Prosecco. If you’re crafty, buy colored twine and mini chalkboards at an art supply store and make charms containing your guests’ names. That way they won’t mix up one another’s glasses.

2. Serve the seafood salad family style to keep things casual. Give each guest a sixinch round plate set with a ten-inch plate beneath. When you grab the smaller dirty plate the clean plate will be ready for the next course. Again, serve the ribeyes and fingerlings family style. Slice the steak for easy serving.

3. Serve the gelato in a coupe glass. That way, when you toss the strawberries in sugar and balsamic, your guests will see the drizzle down the inside of the glass.

4. Overall, you’re looking at three different dishes and four different glasses, one each for champagne, white wine and a red. (Try to go with a larger cabernet glass to allow your wine to breathe and make it easier for guests to swirl.) Glass number four is the coupe for dessert.

DEVON DEPERSIO

MY ULTIMATE DINNER PARTY

The Life COVET

By SIMON MURRAY

BASELWORLD 2015:

STOP & WATCH

I

T’S A NEW YEAR and a new

you. Time for a new watch.

Baselworld is the epicenter of the haute horological community. The event, scheduled for March 19 in Basel, Switzerland, is a veritable mecca for showcasing the world’s newest and snazziest timepieces.

But what if you want to buy a new timepiece right now? Here’s welcome news: you don’t have to wait until March 19. Many of the world’s most celebrated watchmakers descended on Geneva, Switzerland (another cradle of horological craftsmanship) on January 19-23 for the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH). Turning 25 this year, SIHH is arguably the world’s most exclusive watch fair. Unlike Baselworld, it is invite only.

SIHH guests are given a tantalizing look at some of the timepieces set to hit the market in 2015. Below are some of our favorites.

| FOR HIM: The Modern

Roger Dubuis Excalibur Automatic Skeleton Dubuis was born in Geneva, and all of his complications have been stamped with the Poinçon de Genève (Geneva Seal).

In other words, they guarantee patents that embody quality and performance. At SIHH this year, Dubuis dubbed 2015 “the year of the astral skeleton,” meaning the Excalibur Automatic Skeleton is the first automatic movement with micro-rotors to emerge from the manufacturer. Featured in numerous designs and finishes (one includes a double tourbillon; another is drenched in pink gold), here’s what rings clear after watching the timepiece’s movement: the future is now.

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Sebastian Cruz

Often it’s the smallest thing that makes the biggest difference

www.tessutodesigns.com

The Life COVET

| FOR HER: The Modern

Piaget’s Altiplano For sleek, modern timepieces, look no further than Piaget.

And for modern timepieces that invoke a minimalist interpretation, look no further than Piaget’s Altiplano collection. While not as flashy as other modern complications, the allure of Altiplano’s ultra-thin watches is found in the details that give them a powerful identity. Clean lines, sumptuous gold and an understated dial, combined with extremely slim baton-type hour-markers swept over by slender hands, make it perfectly ergonomic. It also can be fitted with a gem-set bezel, because a little flash can be fun.

| FOR HIM: The Traditional

Blancpain Villeret Grand Date Though technically it didn’t debut at SIHH, Blancpain’s newest grand date collection was released in advance of Baselworld.

After seeing it, one word comes to mind: refined. The grand date complication, both elegant and practical, is now for the first time available in the classically styled Villeret collection. Key Villeret signature elements have been woven into this timepiece, which includes a red gold 40 mm double pomme case, opaline dial with applied Roman numerals, red gold hands and a clear sapphire case back offering a view of the finishing of the movement and its honeycomb-pattern oscillating weight.

Completing the ensemble is a chocolatebrown alligator strap.

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| FOR HER: The Traditional

Baume & Mercier Promesse This timepiece celebrates everything glitz and glam. Drawing from a legacy dating back to 1830, Baume & Mercier created Promesse, an ode to elegance, in 2014.

This year, they have set the bar even higher, fitting this piece with 61 diamonds on a steel 34 mm-diameter case. Its intensely feminine aura radiates from the white mother-of-pearl bezel, emphasizing not only its oval design but also the tone of the silver-colored dial with its guilloché décor.

Consider the presence of Roman numerals at the compass points, and compare against the diamond-set indexes. It’s Swiss made, as if you had to ask.

“ OF THE

JOËL ROBUCHON TAKES THE UPTOWN CROWD DOWNTOWN

BY JOUMANA KIDD JOËL ROBUCHON HAS RECEIVED more Michelin Stars than any other chef in the world. His 17 restaurants in Bangkok, Bordeaux, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, London, Macau, Monaco, Paris, Singapore, Taipei and Tokyo have earned 25 Michelins altogether. Robuchon was named France’s Chef of the Century by the prestigious Gault Millau restaurant guide in 1989, the same year he opened his restaurant, Jamin. Shortly afterward, he received his first Michelin star and followed it up by receiving an additional star in each of the next three years.

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”

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Chef Robuchon comes from humble beginnings. He was born April 7, 1945 in Poitiers, France as one of four children of a bricklayer. Working as a cook in the Mauléon-sur-Sèvre seminary, he thought about entering the service of God. Instead, the 15-yearold Joël found his way to gastronomy as an apprentice at the Relais of Poitiers hotel, starting off as a pastry chef. In 1966, Robuchon became the official chef of Le Tour de France, enabling him to travel throughout the country and learn a variety of regional techniques.

In 1973, at the age of 28, he was appointed head chef at the Hotel Concorde Lafayette. At 31, he won the Meilleur Ouvrier de France for his craftsmanship in culinary arts.

The master chef has said he is dedicated to living life and cooking food thoughtfully and healthfully. He took an early retirement in the 1990s after witnessing many of his colleagues and friends suffer from too much stress in their line of work. His solution was to walk away from two Michelin-starred restaurants to have a less stressful life. He then traveled to Japan to cook, where he worked with lighter fare and more delicate flavors and ingredients.

Robuchon has hosted culinary television shows in France and published several cookbooks in French, two of which have been translated into English. He collaborated with Dr. Nadia Volf, a medical professor, on the most recent one, called Food and Life. The cookbook is the end-product of many conversations the two likeminded food lovers had over the years. Their attitude toward healthy eating favors balance over restraint. “It’s not about cutting calories or fat,” says Volf. “It’s about responding to the needs of the body and composing a nourishing, wholesome meal. The aim of the book is to inspire people to enjoy food, not to have such limited diets.”

Robuchon has mentored Gordon Ramsay and Michael Caines, and Eric Ripert worked with him for quite some time before he was ready to make his own name in the United States with Le Bernardin. Coming out of his self-imposed retirement in 1994, Robuchon opened a restaurant bearing his name. The Joël Robuchon restaurant on Avenue Raymond Poincaré was awarded Best Restaurant in the World by the International Herald Tribune, but he didn’t stop there. In 2003, the first L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon opened its doors in Paris, in the 7th arrondissement, and simultaneously in Tokyo. These became the flagships of a fleet that launched an assault on la haute gastronomie.

The L’Ateliers were Joël Robuchon’s culinary playground for his “open kitchen” concept, where chefs experiment and create, working on new ideas and fusing different dishes in front of customers who are seated around a high bar that surrounds the main stage where all the magic happens. This presentation immerses guests in a dining experience where they are part of the action, separated by a counter between kitchen and main dining area.

It’s an approach that has made Robuchon the most influential French chef of the post-nouvelle cuisine era. Although known for his relentless perfectionism, he says there is no such thing as

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the perfect meal (one can always do better). He was instrumental in leading French cuisine away from the excesses (and excessive reductionism) of nouvelle cuisine. In particular, his cuisine was seen as harking back to a more authentic, even bourgeois French cuisine or cuisine actuelle, which focuses on making each ingredient taste of itself. Drawing his inspiration from the simplicity of this cuisine, he led the way in creating a more delicate style respectful of natural food ingredients. In the 21st century, this interest has extended to a fresh look at vegetarian fare.

Robuchon loves to travel, and his journeys take him to other cultures where he invariably is inspired to express himself with a new restaurant. This is what he did when he explored the gustatory world of Japan, and it happened again when he opened an Atelier in Mumbai, impressed by the locals’ skills with spices and vegetables.

“Vegetarian cuisine is becoming more and more important,” he says. “I think it is the wave of the future as more people begin to eat

(Top): Decorated in blacks and reds and Madagascar wood with a large area for counter seating, the St. Germain L’Atelier typifies Robuchon’s concept of “touching the kitchen.”

(Bottom): Dining room seating in the St. Germain location.

vegetarian, which is why I opened in Mumbai: to learn. I’m using products that have healthy properties. There are always vegetarian dishes on my menus.”

Indeed, in fall 2015, this Chef of the Century will bring his L’Atelier to Lower Manhattan’s business district, an area that Tom Wolfe dubbed the domain of the Masters of the Universe. Chef Robuchon describes the space on 250 Vesey Street in the shadow of the World Trade Memorial as a L’Atelier with a direct street view into the restaurant. Robuchon likes to maintain consistency, so the menu overseen by Chef Christophe Bellanca and Managing

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Le thon and la nicoise platings are staples of the L’Atelier menu that prompted one English food critic to enthuse “possibly some of the most exquisite seasonal French cooking currently in London.”

Director Patrick Gioannini will be in sync with the menus of the other Ateliers.

For example, Joe Warwick in the book Eat London says of that city’s L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Covent Garden: “...the ground floor is a low-lit combination of black and red that makes it look like a giant bento box at battle with an ‘80s cocktail bar. Customers sit along a sleek shiny counter and eat small plates of possibly some of the most exquisite seasonal French cooking currently in London.” Donald Strachan of Frommer’s says of the restaurant: “...for the most dramatic effect, eat at Atelier’s counter. Here you can watch the theatre of the chefs producing tapas-style dishes, small bombshells of taste as in beef and foie gras mini-burger; pig’s trotter on parmesan toast; and the signature egg cocotte with wild mushroom cream, all wildly inventive and beautifully presented.

The à la carte menu follows the conventional three-course approach, using superb ingredients.”

How will the new downtown location build on Chef Robuchon’s open kitchen concept?

As a free-standing restaurant in more than 10,000 square feet, L’Atelier has ample room for the counter and table seating. Adding to the interactive ambience will be a bar and lounge. The New York spot will share many of the design elements of the L’Ateliers in London and Paris, including color palette, seating and ambience. As with the other L’Atelier restaurants, the seating is laid out around an open kitchen, with the entire floor of the building decorated in black and red.

Managing Director Patrick Gioannini elaborates: “Blacks and reds and wood from Madagascar, similar to the Paris one on the Boulevard St. Germain, with a large area for counter seating” typify the essence of the Atelier concept of “touching the kitchen.”

There will be tables by the windows and a private room that seats up to eight people. A lounge bar area will be added. It will serve burgers and salads, and then on the ground floor, there will be a bakery that will open in the morning and serve croissants, pastries and sandwiches. A terrace that looks out on the marina will serve wine and beer.

Robuchon’s decision to locate in Lower Manhattan, says Patrick

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Gioannini, was confirmed when he flew in to see the space, with its views of the boats and the Statue of Liberty. Being from France and with the historical connection to the statue, what else could he say but, Ooh la la?

What is Robuchon’s assessment of the downtown crowd that will congregate at the new location? What will compel the uptown devotees of his cuisine to make the trek? For one thing, there is the lively activity of the area’s post-911 renaissance, local people who have their own downtown enclave. There are also the tourists who come to see the memorial area with the Freedom Tower and a retail mall opening nearby featuring several French stores. “It will all link together well,” says Gioannini. “It is a very exciting time to be here at the second birth of downtown.”

Chef Robuchon spoke recently about his new dining venture in the Big Apple.

Tell us about the decor of the new place.

It is designed by Pierre Yves Rochon, who has designed most of the Ateliers around the world. This restaurant will be similar to the one on St. Germain in Paris. We will use the red and black decor and wood, creating a warm, welcome feeling.

What do you hope the vibe will be?

I hope the vibe will be the same as in my other Ateliers around the world: conviviality with the theatrical aspect given by the open kitchen.

You have been quoted as saying that New York is your favorite city in the world. What is it about New York that you love?

I truly love New York and the people living there. I love the energy and spirit in this city. I also must confess that I love shopping, and New York is one of the best places to do this.

What will your new menu feature? Any surprises for New Yorkers? I hope it will have the kobe-and-foie-gras Le Burger.

It will be a typical Atelier menu with all the signature dishes that made it a success, and of course my burger will be available.

The new Lower Manhattan L’Atelier will offer la fraise, le caviar and other signature dishes that have made Robuchon’s menu an international success.

You’ve made reference to a health-conscious movement.

“Vegetarian cuisine is becoming more and more important as more and more people begin to eat vegetarian,” you said when you opened your restaurant in Mumbai.

I’ve always been very concerned about health and its relation to food.

In my own life, I have become more health conscious. And yes, because of opening in Mumbai, I’ve gotten more into vegetarian dishes.

You started working in a seminary as a young man. Were you contemplating being a priest? Imagine a world that would never have had you as the Chef of the Century. What are your thoughts about that honor?

Yes, I wanted to be a priest because my parents did not have enough money to pay for the architectural studies I wanted to pursue. Being Chef of the Century is a great achievement for me, but it also pushes me to keep on going and continue to have the highest quality and work level.

Have you seen any of the American cooking competition shows, like Top Chef or Hell’s Kitchen? Have you been a judge on one or would you consider it?

I was a judge on the French Top Chef. I think it’s a good show that lets young people know what our work means and pushes them to consider entering this profession that lacks able hands now.

You reference your team often. Who comprises this team and what are the most important traits you look for?

I want people who are dedicated to their work, have passion for it and feel every time they cook it’s as if they are cooking for their girlfriend or mother.

Will you be coming to New York for the opening?

I’m always present when I open a new restaurant. Remember, I love to travel. I’m sure I’ll see you there.

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Uniting the world

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Through

(Left): Richard Branson high-fives children while on a connection trip to South Africa.

(Top Right): A nighttime view of Necker Island, versus a daytime view of the island’s landscape (Left). (Bottom Right): A view of the Moroccan mountains in Kasbah Tamadot.

Travel IMAGINE YOURSELF IN A REMOTE VILLAGE

in the South African bush, working shoulder to shoulder with a woman who has waited several years for her children to attend a school close to home, a school you helped build.

Or maybe you’re in the British Virgin Islands discussing how to leverage your influence for good with an iconic movie actress, a world-renowned English poet and a politician who has the passion to change the world.

Perhaps you’ve been introduced to a young entrepreneur in Jamaica who is practicing his elevator pitch by reciting it to you, believing the advice you give will help secure the bank loan he needs to get his business off the ground.

Regardless of the locale, these are moments you will remember and cherish for years to come.

Over the past 10 years, Virgin Unite, the

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entrepreneurial foundation of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, has developed a series of once-in-a-lifetime trips that offer an intoxicating mix of picturesque travel and a deep sense of purpose. These soulful experiences have all the allure of a traditional vacation (discovering new places, indulging in delicious cuisine, taking time to relax and unwind) while also allowing you to participate in something worthwhile and rewarding.

When you think of that Virgin magic, you need only look at the group’s founder Sir Richard Branson to see what sets these trips apart. As founder and chairman of the Virgin Group, one of the world’s most recognized and respected brands, Richard has spearheaded Virgin’s expansion into many diverse sectors, including travel (air, ground and even outer space), telecommunications, health and renewable energy. His hard work and dedication are manifested in the more than 200 Virgin companies operating worldwide that employ 50,000 people in 29 countries.

Although his list of accomplishments rivals anybody’s, one could argue that a milestone came a little more than a decade ago. In 2004,

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Richard brought together the Virgin communities globally and established Virgin Unite with the purpose of harnessing the group’s entrepreneurial energy to tackle tough social and environmental challenges. He brought on the brilliant Jean Oelwang as CEO (and now Virgin Group Partner) and reinvented how people live and work in the world by revolutionizing the way businesses, government and the social sector collaborate. Already Virgin Unite has achieved remarkable results, from the incubation of initiatives such as the Elders, the Carbon War Room and the B Team to supporting young entrepreneurs from every corner of the world. Because Richard and the Virgin Group cover 100 percent of the overhead expenses, the donations the group is able to secure go directly to where they’re needed most: supporting frontline initiatives.

One way Virgin Unite strives for continued success is through its annual purpose-driven travel series. A few times a year, a small number of individuals spend unrivalled time with Richard himself on a meaningful journey in an exotic setting. Virgin Unite’s mission is twofold: to raise money for frontline projects and to inspire

guests to take action in mobilizing global efforts aimed at systematic and sustainable change. Trips in this series fall under one of two umbrella categories: Leadership Gatherings on Necker Island, where guests listen to world-renowned experts discuss global challenges and brainstorm new ways to create opportunities for a better world, and Connection Trips, which provide an opportunity for participants to immerse themselves in the local culture and work on the frontline with Unite and its partners.

Leadership Gatherings

JACK BROCKWAY, PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY VIRGIN LIMITED EDITION

Richard invites an intimate group of entrepreneurs, philanthropists and business leaders to Necker Island, his family home in the British Virgin Islands, a few times each year to listen to a panel of inspiring speakers and learn from one another. Each Leadership Gathering

has its own social or environmental theme. A forthcoming gathering is entited Disrupting for Good, a trip in May that features education and creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson and environmental thoughtleader Johan Rockstrom. Regardless of the theme, the overarching goal is always the same: to devise entrepreneurial approaches to create opportunities for a better world.

This opportunity to be part of a group of likeminded individuals

2015 Available Leadership Gatherings: April 19-23: Be Good. Do Good for Life May 16-20: People, Planet & Profit May 20-25: Disrupting for Good

(Left): The Virgin Unite crew entertains children during a connection trip to South Africa. (Top Left): An aerial view of Ulusaba, Richard Branson’s private game reserve in South Africa. (Top Right): An exquisite dinner on Necker Island’s Rooftop Terrace.

(Bottom Right): A view of the beautiful outdoor pool at Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco.

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Connection Trips

Connection Trips are a more highly immersive cultural experience.

Guests are brought to the very heart of Virgin Unite’s and its partners’ frontline work, where entrepreneurial ideas are driving change in locations such as Morocco, South Africa and Jamaica.

This experiential approach to travel offers the unique opportunity to connect with local wisdom, traditions and day-to-day life. It’s a chance for participants to witness firsthand how challenges are confronted and overcome by passionate individuals and local ambassadors in often very adverse circumstances.

While each of Virgin Unite’s Connection Trips has its unique flavor, all aim to inspire on three levels: to celebrate and foster the unique spirit of the country, to demonstrate how businesses can place people and planet at their core, and to showcase the possibilities and potential of the global village and its inhabitants.

One of the most powerful 2015 Connection things about the Connection Trips: Trip are its dynamic young April 24-28: entrepreneurs, such as those Morocco associated with the Branson November 4-8: Kenya Centres of Entrepreneurship in November 9-13: Johannesburg, South Africa and South Africa Montego Bay, Jamaica. Connection Trip guests not only spend time at Branson Centres listening to pitches, reviewing budget templates and commenting on marketing campaigns, but also visit the entrepreneurs’ places of business and, in some cases, homes. Guests gain unique insight into how Virgin Unite’s investments aid support communities to help themselves.

The result of this collective experience of mentoring and coaching among guests and young entrepreneurs are close and lasting bonds.

In keeping with Richard’s philosophy of “do good, have fun,” guests stay in fabulous accommodations, including the impressive and award-winning array of Virgin Limited Edition properties such as magical Ulusaba (Richard’s game retreat in the Sabi Sands Reserve) and the breathtaking Kasbah Tamadot (located high above Marrakech, in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco). In November 2015, Virgin Unite will take guests to Mahali Mzuri, Virgin Limited Edition’s newest addition to its collection of worldwide properties, a 12-tented safari camp in the Kenyan Bush. The first of its kind, this Connection Trip to Kenya once again joins a laudable purpose with excellent accommodations and fun.

Whatever the setting, guests inevitably return home with a newfound sense of purpose that can come only from making a positive impact on other people’s lives.

TAKE AIM PHOTOG RAPHY, JACK BROCKWAY, PH OTOS SUPPLIED BY VIRGIN LIMITED EDITION

and expert speakers who are a force for good makes for an incredible experience. All work and no play has never been Richard’s motto, though, and afternoons are left free for guests to experience all that exquisite Necker Island has to offer: lavish accommodations, breathtaking scenery, wildlife at every turn, tennis, yoga and watersports galore.

Sometimes Virgin Unite partners with other organizations to cohost a Leadership Gathering and demonstrate how collaborations achieve shared goals more efficiently than independent initiatives.

In other instances, Virgin Unite is approached by groups, businesses or individuals who, like Richard, believe “every great movement in the world starts with a tiny group of people who simply refuse to accept a situation.” These various entities seek to effectuate a Leadership Gathering so they can introduce their goals and capabilities to Virgin Unite. If the synergies align, Virgin Unite works with the group to determine an appropriate theme, identify a wish list of powerful presenters and handle logistics for the private group’s Leadership Gathering.

Leadership Gatherings present a forum for a one-of-a-kind experience that blends the magic of Necker Island with Richard’s entrepreneurial wisdom and the collective spirit of all those in attendance to develop ideas for change. Richard tells an illustrative story of a group that achieved a monumental result. Inspired by the role elders play in traditional societies as sources of advice, wisdom and experience, Richard and his friend Peter Gabriel brought their idea for a new leadership model to Nelson Mandela. Just like that, the Elders was born.

Virgin Unite 24902 Community

Ideas change minds, but people change the world. Taking this philosophy to heart, Virgin Unite has cultivated a remarkable likeminded community of entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and business and inspirational leaders from every walk of life whose goals are to learn, inspire and work together. As an organization that reaches around the globe, the community was aptly named Virgin Unite 24902, after the length of the Equator in miles.

Members start their journeys by reflecting on what they can contribute both as a professional and an individual. Sharing Virgin Unite’s view that entrepreneurial ideas paired with the right people

has the power to create a better world, Virgin Unite 24902 members contribute their resources, time, skills and connections to develop entrepreneurial ideas to benefit people and our planet.

As the community continues to grow, so do the opportunities and benefits afforded its members. Being part of the Virgin Unite 24902 provides access to inspiration, learning, collaborations and opportunities that truly make a difference.

To learn more about Virgin Unite, its trips or its global initiatives, visit www.virginunite.com or email interested@virginunite.com.

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A Tale of

Charles Dickens wrote of the “best of times and the worst of times” in his classic A Tale of Two Cities, but after seeing the exciting exotics that several car manufacturers have in store for us in 2015 and beyond, you can forget about that “worst of times” nonsense. By Dom Miliano

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Five Exotics

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Let’s start our tale of five exotics with Ford’s stunning, showstopping new GT.

HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY? DEBUTING AT THE 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the soon-to-be-American-made Ford GT drew crowds and praise like paparazzi to a Kardashian. Besides being a complete surprise to the not easily impressed automobile scribblers in attendance, the most likely reason for the Ford GT buzz is that it’s head-turningly beautiful. Famous photographers call great images “second lookers.” Well, the styling of America’s new exotic dream car is a “fourth looker” and more. Everywhere there’s something fascinating to cast your eyes on.

Fortunately, the Ford GT’s beauty is not skin-deep. Boasting a full, Formula 1-like carbon-fiber monocoque and body shell, and powered by a mid-engine twin-turbo V6 said to deliver more than 600 horsepower, this is no poser. All of that power is mated to a racecar-bred 7-speed dual-clutch “paddle shift” transaxle.

That kind of kit will get you down the road in a hurry. When the driver is challenged with the twisty bits, the Ford GT’s pushrod suspension—also race-bred—and active aerodynamics, including a dynamic rear wing/air brake, should help the skilled pilot make short work of the curves. It stands to reason that all that “go” has

to come with a whole lot of “stop.” Standard on the Ford GT are 20-inch carbon-fiber wheels shod with super-sticky Michelin Pilot Super Sport Cup 2 tires exclusively designed for the GT. To complement those huge wheels and tires, Ford has blessed its new GT with right-off-the-racecar carbon-ceramic brakes, ensuring safe, secure and fade-free stopping power for the street and track.

Flipping up the GT’s gullwing doors, drivers and passengers are greeted with both luxury and high-tech appointments: deeply contoured bucket seats, carbon-fiber accents and the latest in electronics. No penalty box, this!

The only gripes heard at the Detroit introduction were about the engine. Ford boasts that their new GT’s V6 Twin Turbo is based on the same race-proven engine architecture powering Ford’s IMSA Daytona Prototype. According to Ford’s press release, this nextgeneration 3.5-liter EcoBoost unit features a wide powerband with impressive time-to-torque characteristics, meaning no dreaded turbo lag. Grey beards (such as yours truly) have opined that a car this spectacular should be powered by a honking V8.

You can’t run out and buy a Ford GT today. Regular production is scheduled to coincide with the 50th anniversary of their 1-2-3 win over Ferrari at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford’s last Ford GT sold in the $140,000 range and has held its value. Expect the new model to sell for considerably more.

FORD GT

MSRP TBD

ENGINE 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6

HP 600 hp

TRANSMISSION 7-speed dual-clutch transaxle

0-60mph 3.2 sec

TOP SPEED 200 mph

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ACURA NSX

MSRP

ENGINE

HP

TRANSMISSION

0-60mph

TOP SPEED

$150,000

V6

550 hp

9-speed dual-clutch

3.8 sec

190 mph

PLEASE DON’T CALL IT A HONDA ANOTHER WINNER AT THE Detroit show was Acura’s reborn

NSX. Forget everything you think you know about Hondas: things like small, fuel efficient and good for commuting. This new Honda—sold under their luxury brand name Acura—is not your soccer mom’s Honda. While harkening back to the old NSX last seen on these shores in 2005, this new NSX is bigger, faster, more technically advanced and, yes, you guessed it, a hybrid. And surprise, surprise, it’s made in the U.S.A. To quote an Acura representative, “It’s just badass—in a luxury kind of way.” Like the Ford GT, the NSX is a mid-engine, V6 supercar with an estimated 550 (or maybe a bit more) horsepower. However, unlike the Ford, the NSX will also have three electric motors. One is out back driving the rear wheels and two are up front to give what should be wicked acceleration. Even though there are no press tests yet, we can safely predict it will be quick.

To get the power to the ground, NSX has a 9-speed, dual-clutch (DCT) paddle shift transmission. While the technical details of how a dual-clutch transmission works are beyond most of us, the end result is blazingly fast up shifts with the computer doing engine “blips” to ensure smooth meshing of gears during down shifts.

One of the technically exciting things about gas/hybrid cars like the NSX is that their electric motors not only provide better acceleration, but also contribute to higher braking efficiency.

Instead of just generating heat on deceleration like regular brakes, the stopping process channels power back into the electric batteries.

While the exterior design is modern and fresh, it’s not as “in your face” as the Ford GT’s. In person, the NSX has classic low and wide

proportions paying homage to the original NSX. Acura calls the NSX a “human-centered supercar,” and interior design project leader Johnathan Norman claims that the NSX was designed from the inside out with an uncompromising focus on the driver. He adds, “Like the original NSX, we created a ‘Human Support Cockpit’ that provides exceptional driver control, visibility and packaging, but further advanced to meet the extreme performance expectations of a modern supercar.”

As with the Ford GT, you can’t buy an NSX right now. Dealers will begin taking orders this summer with deliveries planned for late 2015. There’s no announced price yet, but you can guess it will start in the mid-$150,000 range.

See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me... Today, the Ford GT and the NSX are what software developers call “vapor ware”: lots of great ideas and promises, but nothing you can actually buy. If, however, you actually want an electrifying exotic now, there are several available that will help you scratch that itch.

THERE’S STILL NO SUBSTITUTE AS AN ALMOST 40-YEAR OWNER of a Porsche, the new 918 Spyder Hybrid would be my first recommendation. It touches all of the bases with features and performance that, just a few years ago, would have made it capable of winning just about any race in the world. And it’s fully drivable on the street.

Going over the numbers, you will find a proper 4.6-liter, 8-cylinder engine located directly behind the driver. It delivers nearly 600

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PORSCHE 918

MSRP

ENGINE

HP

REVOLUTIONS

0-60mph

TOP SPEED

$845,000

4.6-liter, 8-cylinder

608 hp

9,150 rpm

2.5 sec

214 mph

horsepower, but two electric motors (front and rear) boost that number to nearly 900 in Parallel Full Hybrid mode. The amazing 7-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) unit drives all four wheels.

Because the 918 Spyder has a claimed top speed of 214 mph, it comes with “Active Aerodynamics.” A three-level wing extends and diffusers open to improve stability at Indy 500 speeds.

Its 6-piston front and 4-piston rear carbon-ceramic brakes are augmented by a hybrid braking system tied to the two electric motors. Zero to 60 mph, using computerized launch control, is done in a staggering 2.5 seconds. But since it’s also a hybrid, Porsche claims an EPA rating of 67 mpg.

Race-proven carbon fiber is used in the chassis, but the interior is quite civilized with air conditioning, a high-end sound system and enough leather surfaces to send a PETA member into apoplexy.

Need this stunning performance? Figure a cool million dollars to start before hitting the options list.

BMW i8

MSRP $137,000

ENGINE 3-cylinder turbocharged

HP 357 hp

REVOLUTIONS 5,800 rpm

0-60mph 4.2 sec

TOP SPEED 160 mph

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BMW DOES IT AGAIN ANOTHER AMAZING EXOTIC available now is the BMW i8. This all-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid takes a different approach to high performance from the others on our list. The engine is a 3-cylinder turbocharged, 357-horsepower unit, putting out 420 lb.-ft. of torque, accelerating zero to 60 mph in just 4.2 seconds. The power reaches the road through a complex 2-speed automatic transmission up front for the electric motor and a 6-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel–mounted paddle shifters for the rear wheels.

Despite how complicated that sounds, it works seamlessly.

BMW has devised a unique process for all of their hybrid vehicles called LifeDrive vehicle architecture, which builds a cocoon around driver and passenger. Inside the i8’s Life Module, high-end amenities meet high-tech efficiency. No, it’s not your walnut-accented, old English sportscar luxury. This is 21stcentury luxury with carbon fiber, brushed aluminum and leather

LEFERRARI

MSRP

ENGINE

HP

REVOLUTIONS

0-60mph

TOP SPEED

$1.4 million

6.262-liter V12 that spins

788 hp

9,250 rpm

< 3 sec

210+ mph

surfaces everywhere you look, feel and sniff.

The i8 can be driven about 15 miles on just the battery and electric motors before the gas engine kicks in. In fact, BMW claims you can accelerate to 75 mph just on electric power. Fuel mileage is estimated in the 75-mpg range, depending on which of four driving modes you select.

The BMW i8 plug-in hybrid offers futuristic styling, supercar performance, economy-car fuel mileage and BMW cachet for approximately $137,000 before dipping into the options booklet.

While that is no small chunk of change, compared to the other hyper-exotic cars in this report, it seems like a bargain.

CATCH ONE IF YOU CAN THE LAST CAR in our five-car tale is the exclusive, maybe elusive, LaFerrari. This is the latest model in Ferrari’s quest to build the world’s “best of the best” sports cars. Starting in 1984 with the 288 GTO and continuing with the F40, F50 and the Enzo, the Maranello-based manufacturer has incorporated into LaFerrari everything it has learned from more than six decades of racing.

First, forget three-, six- or even eight-cylinder engines. LaFerrari comes with a proper 6.262-liter V12 that spins, dentist drill–like, up to 9,250 rpm, generating 788 horsepower. That’s the most ever from a non-turbo Ferrari. The gasoline engine is mated to an electric motor via their Formula 1-derived HY-KERS technology, bringing total power to almost 950 and torque to 663 lb.-ft. That’s power enough to propel the approximately 3,000-lb. LaFerrari from zero to 60 in a half-tick under 3 seconds and to more than 120 mph in fewer than seven. On the racetrack, speeds well over 210 mph can be achieved, if you have both the courage and, even more important, the skill.

As with all of the other new hyper cars here, LaFerrari has a

carbon-fiber monocoque, this one coming directly from their Formula 1 racing laboratory. The LaFerrari “tub” or chassis is so strong that Ferrari claims it is 20 percent lighter and 25 percent stiffer than the impressively stout Enzo chassis, contributing to its superior road-holding characteristics.

It should come as no surprise that LaFerrari has a seven-speed paddle shift transmission since it was the Italian automaker that first introduced the technology to racing in its Formula 1 cars.

Brakes are also carbon-ceramic composite affairs from Italian maker Brembo, but they incorporate regenerative technology to channel electric power back into the HY-KERS battery system.

Inside, LaFerrari can feel a bit cramped, even compared to the tight confines of the Enzo. This owes to the design decision to decrease frontal area, thereby improving aerodynamic efficiency.

LaFerrari may not be your first choice for a cross-country trip.

One reason: there is virtually no luggage space. However, drivers report it’s comfortable enough for day-to-day driving and can deliver an astounding 20 to 24 mpg due to its hybrid technology.

Despite all of its world-beating temptations, Ferrari will make only 499 of these spectacular sportscars. Because of their rarity, tradition says only loyal Ferrari customers will get a chance to buy one. So, unless you have bought lots of new Ferraris, are international royalty or a movie or sports celebrity, the likelihood that a LaFerrari will sit in your garage is probably zero. In fact, by now, each one may already be promised to a customer. With a base price starting at $1.4 million and an options list that could easily add many, many thousands, the customer base is probably very small.

Did we list every luxury hyper car? Of course not! Don’t forget the McLaren P1, the Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 and the Ferrari F12berlinetta. As I said, we’re not living in the “worst of times” at all!

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FASHION TRENDS:

The Golden Globes

BY GEORGE BRESCIA

The new year is upon us, and with it come resolutions and a desire for personal improvement. The new year also brings a deluge of award shows, from the Golden Globes to the Grammys to the Oscars.

Anyone who knows me knows I absolutely love award showsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; and not because I like to dish on who looked the worst in her illchosen designer gown. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve all been in that situation where we saw a dress or suit we just had to have, that looked great after. It happens to the best of us. I love award shows because they are the chance to celebrate the people who truly owned their style and body in a perfect ensemble.

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COURTESY OF GUCCI

when we tried it on in the store, but not-so-great in the pictures

ATELIER VERSACE, Š 2 015 W IREIMAGE

(Opposite page): Julianne Moore in Givenchy Haute Couture

by Riccardo Tisci. (Left): Kate Hudson makes another bold outfit choice by wearing this white, cutout Atelier Versace gown.

(Right): Reese Witherspoon appears radiant in her silver Calvin Klein gown.

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(Left): Naomi Watts in a yellow Gucci columned gown with a striking Bulgari Serpenti necklace. (Right): Diane Kruger wore this Emilia Wickstead silver sparkle ‘Jennifer’ dress from their S/S 2015 collection to this year’s Golden Globe Awards.

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COURTESY OF GUCCI

Fashion at the Golden Globes kicked off what promises to be a gorgeous and expressive 2015 awards season. We’re seeing some definite trends right from the start, and it will be fascinating to see how these develop in future award shows and what they mean for fashion in general.

A lot of pressure is placed on actors and actresses to make a statement on the red carpet, and it’s no secret actresses are scrutinized more than their male counterparts. The ladies have to put a lot of work into what they bring to the carpet and into how they deliver it. When I’m dressing performers for award shows, film openings or Broadway opening nights, I want to know what they’d most like to say with their clothes. What aspects of their personality do they want their looks to express? This is a difficult question for many people, but sometimes you see someone who gets it just right.

Take Julianne Moore at the Globes in her silver and black custom-made Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci. She was just stunning. In Still Alice, based on the book by Lisa Genova and one of two films she was nominated for (the other was Maps to the Stars), she plays a professor struggling with Alzheimer’s disease.

It was a huge year for her, and she needed to come to the Golden Globes with a look that guaranteed attention. Normally if a redhead is going to do a metallic, I prefer gold, but I thought the dress on her was perfection. The way the color cascaded from silver to black, the texture, the addition of the feathers to add warmth and movement…

On top of that, her makeup (with dark smoky eyes) and simple straight hairstyle beautifully complemented the dress. Adding Chopard jewelry helped her pull the whole look together.

One of my favorite expressions when I describe a dress or a look is “sexy/sophisticated.” By that, I mean clothes that bring out the best in your body, no matter your shape or size. Kate Hudson on this year’s Golden Globes red carpet was the epitome of sexy/ sophisticated. In her clinging winter white Atelier Versace gown, she touched on so many trends of the upcoming season: white, cutouts and backless dresses. Kate is always bold in her choices, and this dress was no different. You could see the confidence oozing from her every time she moved.

Naomi Watts brought on a fantastic yellow Gucci columned gown with a cinched waist, hitting another trend this season with what some might call a daring color. Daring or not, I thought this gorgeous dress hit the mark. For starters, who can go wrong in Gucci? And with her beautiful blond hair, yellow was such a striking choice. It brought so much light to her, and that is the key. Light! Light! Light!

She finished (or rather started) the look with that luscious Bulgari

diamond Serpenti necklace. She was positively radiant.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t single out Lilliana Vazquez. Full disclosure: I collaborated with her for the Golden Globes. However, I’m totally objective! She wore a fantastic white, long-sleeved cutout gown

by Janine Rhodes. Janine is a new designer just breaking into creating for celebrities on the red carpet. Although we love all of the designers we’ve seen and talked about for years, it’s great to see new artists emerging. Janine custom-made this gown for Lilliana. One reason I love custom (when you’re able to do it) is a designer can take an already imagined creation and shape it to highlight the best of your body. Choosing Janine for Lilliana made perfect sense. As her career continues to blossom, why shouldn’t she wear a hot new designer? She makes a statement with not only the look, but also the name. Perhaps best of all is that the dress was extremely camera friendly, important to Lilliana. Lots of pictures were taken that night and we wanted her to look brilliant in all of them.

“One of my favorite expressions when I describe a dress or a look is ‘sexy/sophisticated.’ By that, I mean clothes that bring out the best in your body, no matter your shape or size.”

Many of my clients tell me it’s great to see these beautiful trends taking shape on the red carpet, but difficult implementing them in their personal everyday style. We’d all love to stroll down Fifth Avenue in a Gucci gown or go to dinner wearing Versace, but how does this translate to our own clothes?

Take concepts you see on the red carpet into your own wardrobe.

Are you a fantastic dark brunette? Perhaps you should wear a fitted white dress with a low back. Accentuate your form with something that highlights what you love most about your body, rather than covers it up. Do you love metallic but worry it’s too much for you? Try pairing a simple top with a dark metallic skirt and a pair of high heels.

One of the simplest trends to follow is color. Have I mentioned I love color? Try combining that bright yet simple yellow ruched dress you see on the rack with soft makeup and simple gold heels.

Sometimes it’s hard to know what to change, but one New Year’s resolution that works is this: if you change your clothes, your new year will have a fresh start. It’s not always easy to know where to look for the perfect new clothes to reinvent yourself or rediscover a part of yourself that you’d forgotten, but style is worth the effort.

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Designers to Watch For One of the most exhilarating things about the fashion industry is that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always evolving.

Designers rotate in and out of the limelight, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exciting to see the newest creations everyone is dying to wear to award shows. Here are a couple of designers I work with who are making more and more of a splash on the red carpet.

Jonathan Tinkle, otherwise known as the ingenious mind behind the fashion company Jonathan Blake, is a new and upcoming designer based in Houston, Texas.

He began his fashion career in 2012, and his designs are absolutely gorgeous. At the time of his launch, he was only 21 years old. Incredible! His gowns for women are elegant, stunning and classic.

COURTESY OF GUCCI

A stunning red, silk crepe gown

by Jonathan Blake covered in silk organza roses.

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(and whom Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve called friend for many years) is Rolando Santana.

Although his creations have been on the red carpet before, we will be seeing more and more from him in the future. Watching his mother create dresses is how Santana fell in love with design. Since launching his own designs in 2009, he has had his dresses pictured in several publications, including Vogue and Elle. We have not seen the last of him, thank goodness!

(Top): Jonathan Tinkle stepped into the fashion spotlight with his brand Jonathan Blake at the young age of 21. (Below): Rolando Santanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s designs have stepped out onto the red carpet before, but we will see more of them in the future.

COU RTESY OF JONATH AN BLAKE, COURTESY OF ROLAND O SANTANA

COURTESY OF GUCCI

Another designer I have been working with

This blue Rolando Santana gown is part of his spring 2015 collection.

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GETAWAY GEMS:

Aroundthe-World Escapes

BY NICOLE FONZINO

TULUM, MEXICO TUCKED AWAY ALONG the Caribbean Sea just south of Cancun sits Tulum. Recently, this beach town has grown tremendously in annual visitors, who come to experience the less-busy atmosphere. Travelers are now discovering the secrets Tulum holds. It’s an exquisite seascape town filled with trendy storefronts and beautiful beaches that compete with those of its popular neighboring cities. It also possesses some of the best-preserved Mayan ruins in all of Mexico.

NICE, FRANCE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

BALI, INDONESIA

A SMALL TOWN nestled in the French Riviera, Nice is one of the most visited cities in all of France. Filled with many popular museums (including the Matisse Museum), Nice feeds the desires of traveling art buffs.

Visit Le Chateau to get a spectacular view of the French Riviera or roam the Rue de France Pedestrian Zone to shop and dine.

If you run out of things to do—which we highly doubt—you can explore neighboring towns, including St. Tropez and Monaco.

THIS TRANSCONTINENTAL city (located half in Asia and half in Europe) brims with many years of historical sights due to its legacy of three empires: the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. Istanbul offers an experience not found anywhere else along the Sea of Marmara. Filled with magnificent mosques, local bazaars, Turkish eateries, and postcard views, this beauteous city’s long-standing history unravels through your entire journey.

ONE OF 17,000 islands in Indonesia, Bali stands out due to the adventures it offers.

From the white sandy beaches to its tropical-like atmosphere, guests are able to explore a multitude of activities such as hiking the rainforest, snorkeling coral reefs, sunbathing and visiting the city’s Buddhist temples. Let’s not forget about the picture-perfect views. The only worry you’ll have during your stay is which adventure to try first.

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CROATIA

BAY OF ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

CROATIA’S CLEAR blue water draws people to the cities along the Adriatic Sea, but it’s the outstanding scenery that makes them stay. Travel to Korcula to explore the famous olive groves or walk the cobblestone streets to see the defensive walls in Dubrovnik. Delve into Croatia’s magnificent scenery at Plitvice National Park, where you can discover natural waterfalls. Once you’ve explored Croatia, you’ll understand why it’s one of the most coveted destinations.

NEW ZEALAND is home to some of the world’s most extraordinary travel destinations. Among them is Bay of Islands, located hours south of Auckland.

Enjoy a scenic helicopter flight over the island’s beautiful landscapes or take a boat ride under the Hole in the Rock landmark when the tide is right.

Swim with dolphins, hike mountains or sunbathe on the beaches. Whatever you choose to do, Bay of Islands satisfies both serenity-seekers and adventurous types.

HOME TO SOUTH AFRICA’S oldest wine estate Groot Constantia, Cape Town is a premier destination on the African continent.

Perched on the tip of the African border surrounded by the South Atlantic Ocean, Cape Town provides guests with an offbeat exotic vacation. Take a safari day trip to the outskirts to experience wild animals in their natural habitat, venture to the top of Table Mountain or visit Cape Point’s beaches. A trip to Africa’s Mother City is sure to quench any thrill-seeker’s thirst for adventure.

LAKE COMO, ITALY

RAILAY BEACH, THAILAND

MILAN, ITALY

THE LAKE COMO area of northern Italy is often associated with actor George Clooney’s residence. However, the beautiful scenery undoubtedly speaks for itself. You can explore the lakeside towns by foot, take in the sight of Mount Barro, sail on the lake, visit spas or relax on the nearby beaches. Regardless of which activities you engage in, soaking in Lake Como’s calm, serene atmosphere will have you yearning for a villa of your own.

IF YOU’RE LOOKING to hit the beach this summer, skip the Jersey Shore and travel to one of Thailand’s best-hidden secrets. Accessible only by boat, this tropical island offers some of the best scenery in Thailand. Visitors who travel to Railay Beach can rock-climb tropical mountains, snorkel clear waters, explore the island or simply enjoy the relaxing atmosphere the island provides, a musthave luxury while on vacation.

MORE THAN 20 MILLION people are expected to visit the Italian city in 2015 to attend the World Expo, a six-month exhibition dedicated to innovations with the theme “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.”

Visitors experience an all-encompassing understanding of Italian culture, yet with a modern twist. From savory foods to freshly pressed wines as well as must-see attractions including the famous gothic Duomo and views of the Swiss Alps, Milan has it all.

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EVENTS

THE VALERIE FUND

O

n Friday, November 21, 2014, HudsonMOD served as the exclusive media sponsor for The Valerie Fundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Annual Thanksgiving Ball Gala. The event, held at the Hilton Hotel in Short Hills, NJ, marked the 23rd year the foundation has hosted this esteemed gala to raise substantial funds for the treatment of children with cancer and blood disorders. Guests participated in a high-end silent auction, enjoyed a luxury assortment of dinner and dessert, and helped celebrate The Valerie Fundâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two honorees, Brian Fuhro and Stephen Sands.

Heather and Evan Ginter

Wes and Melissa Girnius

Guest with Valerie Fund Ambassador Monique

Chris and Louise Burns

Valerie Fund Ambassadors Gabby, Elle and Charlotte

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Valerie Fund Ambassador Karisma

Valerie Fund Ambassadors and the Morristown Valerie Fund Center Staff

CHARLES PALMISANO

Valerie Fund Ambassador Andrew with his dad Eric

Dr. Stephen Sands, The Valerie Fund Director of Psychosocial Services and honoree

Bob Silver, Valerie Fund Ambassador Sameed and Barry Kirschner (Executive Director of The Valerie Fund)

Brian (The Valerie Fund Treasurer and honoree), Cynthia and Matthew Fuhro

Merrie Bernstein and Jason Lembo

CHARLES PALMISANO

Violinist

Valerie Fund Ambassador Briana with John Elliott from CBS Channel 2 New York

Guest, Rosemary Mattson, Lindsay Hamernick, Olivia Pallotto, Gretchen Lerach and Merrie Bernstein (The Valerie Fund Board Chair) View more pictures online at hudsonmod.com/the-valerie-fund-thanksgiving-gala

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EVENTS

“UNLOCK A NIGHT OF LUXURY”

AT AIRES JEWELERS

H

udsonMOD served as the exclusive media sponsor and co-host of the “Unlock a Night of Luxury” event, which was held at the Aires Jewelers’ showroom in Morris Plains, New Jersey on December 11, 2014. Celebrated by more than 100 guests, the evening was dedicated to Aires’ loyal customers. Guests were able to preview the latest luxury autos from Paul Millers’ Bentley and Rolls-Royce, eat delectable hors d’oeuvres by Sage Catering, sip on wine provided by Pour & Pedal and participate in an assorted luxury raffle.

Scott Waldman, Shannon Steitz and Jeff Kudrick

Kim Clarkin and Ron Arends

George Pillajo, Brian Kelly, Shannon Steitz and Scott Waldman

Ari and Cindy Amador, Ronni Bellino and John De Martis

The Pour & Pedal team

The HudsonMOD team

The Aires Jewelers team

View more pictures online at hudsonmod.com/aires-jewelers-holiday-event

70 HUDSONMOD.com MARCH 2015

CHARLES PALMISANO

Geroge Pillajo, Brian Kelly, Tamara Grove and Chris Miele

EVENTS

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S

O Michael, Stephanie, Brenda, Larry and Stephen Grafas

Violinist

Shannon Steitz, Stephanie Grafas and Michael Plante

Name Someone to identify this caption

Danielle Gregor, Stephen Grafas and Andria Fusco

Alexa Liberti, Dan Pine and Susan Liberti

CHARLES PALMISANO

Rae Vella Yurecko, Susan Liberti, Dan Pine, Brenda Grafas, Stephanie Grafas, Larry Grafas, Alexa Liberti and Barry Carney

n January 11, family and friends of Stephanie Grafas gathered at Tiffany’s inside the Mall at Short Hills to enjoy an intimate Sunday brunch. Grafas, who is from Millburn, NJ, was the highest bidder for this luxury event at HudsonMOD’s Concourse for the Kids back in September 2014. Guests were able to enjoy decadent fare prepared by Lawrence Craig as well as sip on drinks and coffee. Each guest was given a Tiffany’s gift as the event came to a close. The ladies received a necklace from Tiffany’s Atlas collection, while the men left with a money clip.

View more pictures online at hudsonmod.com/breakfast-at-tiffanys

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EVENTS

HOME FOR GOOD DOG RESCUE

O

N SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, Home for Good Dog Rescue, a nonprofit animal rescue organization, kicked off their Almost Home campaign, which will establish a state-of-the-art wellness center for rescue dogs in South Carolina.

Prospective donors, volunteers and dog foster parents attended the event, which was celebrated at the Aresty residence in Far Hills, NJ. Guests were offered hors dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;oeuvres and cocktails, while families of the adopted dogs shared their rescue stories. To donate, please visit homeforgooddogs.org.

Patti Aresty, Richard Errico and Jill Vander Sterre

Home for Good Dog Rescue supporters with rescue dogs

Coleen Hylson-Smith and Janet Dorman

Robert Burnett and family

Patti Aresty

Guest

Tony Siragusa

Jill and Dirk Vander Sterre, Jennifer Holland, Michelle Holland, Dr. Richard Altamura and Jason Lembo View more pictures online at hudsonmod.com/hfgdr-almost-home/

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HUDSONMOD.com MARCH 2015

JEREMY SMITH

Anthony Ellenbogen, Eileen and Tom Caramanica

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Skylight

First Preview Date: March 13 Opening Date: April 2 John Golden Theater, New York City $75-$105 London’s sold-out production of Skylight makes its revival on the Broadway stage.

Starring Carey Mulligan (The Great Gatsby) and Bill Nighy (Love Actually), this play focuses on a couple trying to re-spark interest in each other who find out they have changed through the years. Written

by David Hare and directed by the Tony Award–winning director Stephen Daldry, Skylight serves its audience an entrancing story of reconnecting with the past.

|

Winter Chef Series

March 15 and 22 at 12:30 p.m.

Sagaponack, New York $75 Have you ever wanted to go behind the scenes at an upscale restaurant to see the chef work his or her magic? The Winter Chef Series, hosted by the Wölffer Estate Vineyard, lets you do just that. With two dates scheduled for March, the chefs du jour (Christian Mir and Colette Connor) show you how they prepare these luxury dishes and give you the recipes. When all is said and done, you and the other guests get to relax and enjoy the dishes. Voila!

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Celebrity Food and Wine Show

The Orchid Show: Chandeliers

March 22 from 1-4 p.m.

Clifton Inn, Tenafly, New Jersey $65 Hosted by Giants of Generosity (a nonprofit organization benefiting local communities in need of emergency-relief funds) and BMW of Tenafly, the Celebrity Food and Wine Show features a cooking competition, silent auctions, live music and a cooking demonstration by Maneet Chauhan from the Food Network’s hit TV show Chopped. Proceeds benefit the Food Bank of Englewood.

February 28-April 19 New York Botanical Garden Join the New York Botanical Garden as it hosts America’s largest orchid display. This exhibit marks the first time in the show’s history that the orchids will fill several conservatory rooms. These spaces will be filled with thousands of orchids, including cymbidiums, phalaenopsis and cattleyas, as well as rare and endangered orchid species. This extraordinarily colorful chandelier exhibit will leave guests yearning for springtime.

The New York Auto Show

Bjork

April 3-12 Jacobs Javits Center, New York City Every March, New York City auto enthusiasts celebrate the New York Auto Show, one of the biggest auto events in the city. Visited by thousands, the exhibition showcases some of the most luxurious exotics from around the world. Held at the Jacob Javits Center, the New York Auto Show exhibits the LeMay Museum, an American car museum, custom and exotic autos, tours and much more.

March 8-June 7 Museum of Modern Art, New York City The Museum of Modern Art’s newest exhibition, Bjork follows the worldrenowned musician’s career over the past two decades. The MoMA exhibition is filled with concert costumes worn by the singer, music, videos, a 3D film experience and more. This installation is a must-see for the Icelandic singer’s fans, as well as music lovers in general.

JOHN HAYNES; COURTESY OF WOLFFER ESTATE VINEYARD

The Life SCENE

WONDERWALL STUDIOS BY MERCURY COLLECTION; MSG ENTERTAINMENT

Luxury Technology Show March 12 4-9 p.m.

Metropolitan Pavilion, New York City Join RAND Luxury as it hosts the second annual Luxury Technology Show. The finest high-end brands showcase their most up-to-date electronic advancements. Guests of this invite-only event test out these electronic novelties firsthand and talk with exhibitors about the devices. Items on display include timepieces, aviation and yachting electronics, jewelry and much more.

| Hudson County CASA’s 9th Annual Wine Tasting

Friday, March 27 6-10 p.m.

Battello, Jersey City, NJ The nonprofit organization Hudson County CASA hosts its 9th Annual Wine Tasting event at the luxury restaurant Battello on the Newport Waterfront in Jersey City. Guests are treated to a silent auction, hors d’oeuvres, a wine tasting of more than 90 different bottles by Cork (a premium wines and spirits company) and much more. All proceeds benefit children in foster care in Hudson County.

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Architectural Digest Show

March 19-22 Piers 92 & 94, New York City Architectural Digest hosts its 14th Annual Architectural Digest Show this spring at Piers 92 and 94 in Manhattan. During this four-day exhibit, guests can view and shop more than 300 luxury design brands’ products, including furniture, kitchen, bath, lighting and other accessories.

Among the brands displayed are Miele, Boca do Lobo, DuBois collection and Creative Touch. Other events include book signings, Q&A panel discussions with top design experts and a presentation

by Architectural Digest’s Editor-in-Chief Margaret Russell.

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New York Spring Spectacular

March 26-May 3 Radio City Music Hall $46-$100 New York Spring Spectacular is the newest musical production to hit Radio City Music Hall. The show stars many notable celebrities, including Whoopi Goldberg, Derek Hough, Laura Benanti, Bella Thorne and Mia Michaels. The story follows three New Yorkers whose lives collide, and features 3D visual effects, new Rockette routines and a celebration of popular NYC places. This fun-filled performance will make you treasure the “City That Never Sleeps” more than ever.

HUDSONMOD.com MARCH 2015

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THE QUOTE

12

Number of restaurants in the United States awarded the prestigious three-star honor from the Michelin Guide.

14,087,341

Number of passports issued in the United States in 2014.

$147

MILLION Price spent on an East Hampton home, making it the most expensive home sold in the United States.

200 MILLION Number of bottles produced

by New York wineries each year.

$83,200

‘‘

$100 million

Price a New York City penthouse sold for, making it the most expensive deal on the market.

Cost per night for the Royal Penthouse Suite at the Hotel President Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland.

20 million

Number of people the New York Times predicts will travel to Milan for the 2015 World Expo.

’’

Wine, like life, is meant to be enjoyed.

– Sir Richard Branson

$450 MINIMUM

Amount you will pay per person to eat at the Michelin Guide threestar eatery Masa in New York City.

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WHEELS UP

M

GX LAB, TEQUILA AVIÓN, Juice Press, Tour GCX Partners, Action America, Wheels Up. Each of these companies has one thing in common.

Kenny Dichter launched or invested in all of them.

A true entrepreneur, Dichter has always called himself a “man of the people.” Born with natural, personable talents that can help one succeed in business, Dichter has had no problem using his skills to convert ambitions into a very solid reality.

Although he has his hands dipped into many companies, Dichter is known for his bold ventures in aviation. He began his first milehigh enterprise, Marquis Jet, in 2001, where he initiated the firstever fractional jet card. In 2010, he sold his billion-dollar company to Berkshire Hathaway’s NetJets. Now, Dichter has returned to aviation with Wheels Up and has big plans to grow this private luxury company to surpass the success of Marquis Jet. When Dichter isn’t expanding Wheels Up’s luxury-aviation fleet, he is advocating for several philanthropic organizations. He chairs the Council of Advocates at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital and lends a hand to other organizations such as the Jack Martin Fund and his own personal Action America. HudsonMOD spoke with Dichter about Wheels Up, Action America and what the future has in store for him.

“

Wheels Up offers exclusive access to a private fleet of King Air 350i’s, the SUV of the sky.

”

By NICOLE FONZINO

Q: What’s the concept behind Wheels Up? A: We’re a membership-based private aviation company that democratizes private aviation by offering very reasonable initiation fees and monthly dues. Our primary airplane, the King Air 350i, is the flying SUV; it’s the SUV of the sky. It’s the most economical, durable airplane in the world.

Q: How is Wheels Up different from your previous company Marquis Jet? A: Marquis Jet and NetJets have significantly higher buy-in costs than Wheels Up. Think of when the flat-screen television was invented. It might have been $5,000 and now they’re a few hundred dollars at Best Buy. We’re dramatically lowering the cost of entry into private aviation with Wheels Up. Q: How do you envision Wheels Up in five years?

A: We will be at 10,000 members, with a couple of hundred airplanes and a very powerful mobile application.

Q: You co-founded the nonprofit organization Action America with Tim Armstrong, the CEO of AOL. Why did you decide to get involved in this organization after September 11?

A: Tim Armstrong had lunch with [former NYC Mayor] Mike Bloomberg, and Mayor Bloomberg said he wanted to see people get more involved around 9/11, more involved around New York City, giving back and volunteerism. Tim told me about his lunch and I said we should put something together. In response, Tim and I co-founded Action America. It’s a platform we look forward to supporting for many years down the road. It’s really about people taking action—action is in the name—and it’s something that Tim and I are both about.

Q: You are on the board of other organizations as well. How do those roles differ from the one at Action America?

A: Whenever I get involved in a charity, no matter what my role is, that role is really the same. It’s moral support, to financially help as much as I can, and to help fundraise.

Q: Define luxury.

A: One thing we really sell at Wheels Up—you know, we don’t sell airplanes, we don’t sell concierge services—we sell time. So, what is someone’s time worth? I think the ultimate luxury is control of your time and control of your schedule.

Q: What single piece of advice would you give to people starting out as entrepreneurs?

A: Everybody says, “Don’t give up.” I’ll say it’s the three T’s for any young entrepreneur: things take time.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WHEELS UP

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