SUMMER 2014
ICONIC
Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Le Petit Prince”. Ref. 5010: “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.” These words have assumed a meaning beyond their literal sense. And when Antoine de Saint-Exupéry put them into the mouth of his little prince, he probably knew already that we need only turn our hearts to the stars in all their brilliance to recognize our dreams. Making them come true, however, calls for men with the courage of a Saint-Exupéry. By becoming a professional pilot, he not only fulfilled a boyhood dream but was also inspired by flying to write his literary masterpiece and international bestseller, “The Little Prince”. Reason enough for IWC to honour his life’s work with the Big Pilot’s Watch Edition “Le Petit Prince”. The watch has a chapter ring recalling the elegantly reduced design of the cockpit instrumentation in classic aircraft. An image of the little prince, whose imagination, sincerity and openness took people’s hearts by storm, is taken up as an engraving on the back of the case. In the same way that Saint-Exupéry – pilot, poet, and pioneer – gifted the world a story that tells of human strength and goodness, IWC gives us this watch as a reminder to live out our dreams.
IWC PILOT’S. FLY YOUR DREAMS.
UNIQUE MASTERPIECES FOR UNIQUE MOMENTS
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publisher’s LETTER
it was a busy summer!
from fashionista events such as the deighton cup and the pacific polo cup, to car rallies, outdoor concerts, sports events and car shows - the summer months in vancouver are never boring. we took part in several of the events and attended most others. and even now, where the days are shorter and temperatures have dropped significantly, there is still lots to do in the city. those of you who follow us on social media have heard about the coast2coast challenge. robbie and olaf embarked on a week-long trip from vancouver to halifax. needless to say - lots happened along the way. you can read the full story in this edition. we are also thrilled to have had the opportunity for an exclusive interview with giorgio armani, who recently opened the first armani/casa store in all of canada right here in vancouver. most of us immediately think about clothing when we hear his name but there is more, a lot more.
olaf robrecht publisher olaf@iconic-concierge.com
the rest - well, see for yourself. we think we pretty much covered it all. from watches to space hotels ... where else do you find this? cheers!
did you see us ...? We have been busy! We had a presence at many events this summer, from Vancouver to Whistler, the Okanagan Valley and even ... Toronto and Los Angeles. It is always great to meet our readers and to hear what you like (or don’t like) about the magazine. Quite often it is you, our readers, who give us ideas for upcoming editions, or who let us know about new gadgets and whatever else could be of interest for the magazine. You can also always contact us through social media, or by email. We love to hear from you! See you ... at one of the upcoming events.
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BAR REFAELI by Chen Man
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Spirit of Big Bang Moonphase. Case in 18K King Gold set with 204 diamonds. Self-winding movement displaying big date and moon phases. White rubber strap.
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ICONIC CONCIERGE
vol. 14 [2019]
www.iconic-concierge.com
On the cover: Giorgio Armani
PUBLISHER:
OLAF ROBRECHT olaf@iconic-concierge.com
AUTOMOTIVE EDITOR:
ROBBIE DICKSON
FASHION EDITOR:
JASON SARAI
LIFESTYLE EDITOR:
NATALIE LANGSTON
HEALTH & FITNESS EDITOR: CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:
PHOTOGRAPHY: COPY EDITOR: DESIGN/ LAYOUT: ADVERTISING SALES:
OLIVER FINLAY JASON BOUDREAU, KEITH TRUSLER, AMANDA WOOD, JESSE DEAN COOK, BILL DROSSOS, JULIE-ANNA VOGEL, DR. CHRISTIAN BRIX, JIM GORDON KEVIN UY MIKE STRAUS YADA-YADA MEDIA please contact iconicconciergemagazine@gmail.com
iconic_concierge Iconic Concierge is published by
Printed in Canada.
barberandco
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barberandco.com
All rights reserved. No part of Iconic Concierge Magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising material. The views expressed in Iconic Concierge are those of the respective contributors and not necessarily those of the publisher or staff. Although all reasonable attempts are made to ensure accuracy, the publishers do not assume any liability for errors or omissions anywhere in the publication or on the website. Iconic Concierge reserves the rights to ads produced for advertisers.
NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE.
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2020 BMW 7 Series.
Come meet your new love. The new 7 Series is now at Brian Jessel BMW.
BRIAN JESSEL BMW
2311 Boundary Road (at Lougheed), Vancouver 604.222.7788 | brianjesselbmw.com
dreamT E A M
OLAF ROBRECHT publisher
An entrepreneur who is always on the lookout for new projects he is passionate about, Olaf has run several businesses since he came to Canada 18 years ago. These days you will find lifestyle and car magazines as well as a design & marketing company connected to his name, although he might be better known for his little collection of spirited automobiles.
ROBBIE DICKSON chief gear head
Born in England, Robbie is a selfstyled entrepreneur with a passion for exotic cars, boats and watches. He owned pretty much every car you can imagine although he still calls a Lotus Elise he once owned his favourite. Tracked extensively, Robbie claims it was “the most affordable fun you can have with your clothes on ...”
JASON SARAI
bespoke stylist & fashion editor When Jason found the world of bespoke suiting and styling, he had little choice but to turn it from a passion project into his life’s work with Style by Sarai. He has gone from being fashion advisor for family and friends, to the trusted bespoke stylist for professionals and grooms-to-be, by enhancing their confidence and helping them become their own style icon.
CRAIG STOWE luxury events
Craig is recognized as Vancouver’s #1 creator and producer of luxury events bringing together affluent buyers and sellers of luxury brands in an engaging business social event setting. He is the President of Luxury Alliance Group, Luxury & Supercar Weekend, Porsche Rally, Hublot Diamond Rally and VP of Partnerships for Pacific Polo Cup.
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NATALIE LANGSTON
AMANDA WOOD
lifestyle editor
creative muse
Natalie is an accomplished Canadian TV Host and Lifestyle Expert for Global BC, Breakfast Television + JRfm. Fitness & Health Reporter for BC Living. Freelance journalist and Emcee with a passion for all things Fitness, Fashion and Fun. Volunteer and Spokesperson for Dress for Success Vancouver, member of Ladies Who Lunch Global Network for female entrepreneurs and Style Ambassador for the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards.
Amanda Wood is a professional jazz and pop singer, social influencer and real estate assistant to Jesse Dean Cook. She is soulful, sexy and sophisticated with a passion for travel and living life to the fullest. Amanda contributes to Iconic Concierge in many forms from writing, editing, modeling and general creative input.
JESSE DEAN COOK
JASON BOUDREAU CFP, CLU
luxury real estate specialist
wealth advisor
Having worked as a Global Executive for a multi-billion dollar corporation, Jesse has a decade of international business experience and is now one of the top luxury real estate agents based in West Vancouver. He truly cherishes the relationship he has with his clients, helping them navigate the process of selling and buying their spectacular residential properties.
As the founder of VELA Wealth, Jason is fuelled by watching clients fulfill their vision of life success for their family, community and legacy. Focusing on inter-generational wealth transfer, life insurance, legacy and estate planning, he advises successful entrepreneurial families on how to make meaningful choices at the intersection of their life and their wealth.
KEITH TRUSLER
BARRY McNABB
imbibing authority
wine expert
The Brand Ambassador for Pernod Ricard’s Luxury Brands for several years now, Keith is a veteran of the restaurant industry in Vancouver and has extensive experience as a bartender, mixologist and chef. As a Connoisseur of spirits and wine, he tirelessly pursues the finest dining and imbibing experiences the city has to offer.
It was a bottle of 1989 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet that changed his life. That was in 1990. The addiction to wine was set. And the journey to know everything and anything about wine. Today, after many travels to all notable wine regions in the world, Barry has a broad knowledge of the nuanced interplay between food and wine.
sport, health & fitness
OLIVER FINLAY
JIM GORDON LEETA LIEPINS
Having traveled the globe, working with pro teams & athletes in sports environments as diverse as F1, EPL soccer, NHL & ATP tennis, to attain peak performance, Oliver arrived in Vancouver for his PhD, exploring how the World’s best sports teams manage change initiatives. Passionate about human performance & sport’s impact on community, he highlights the industry’s latest & greatest developments.
They are the Hosts & Producers of the weekly, national TV show, “Our City Tonight”, which can been seen Sundays at 12:30pm on City TV. Each week they showcase Vancouver’s entertainment, nightlife, music, fashion, business, automotive, food & wine. You can also see past episodes on the “Our City Tonight” YouTube channel.
city experts
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CONTENTS COLUMNS
COVER
AUTOMOTIVE
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20
18
28
Elegance Exceeds Style
The Insanly Beautiful Interior of the DeTomaso P72
Publisher’s Letter
The Specter Journal You Want This!
30
Giorgio Armani
FEATURES
Mesmerizing
54
The Quail
36
A Motorsports Gathering
The Most Iconic Movie Watches Of All Time
Luxury & Supercar Weekend
It’s Movie Time
60
84
40
62
Forget Chocolate and Roses!
A Masterpiece by Armin Strom
The new BMW X7 and 7 Sedan
The Manly Man Daniel Craig
What Women Want
Minute Repeater Resonance
The Magnificent 7
86
42
66
Vacouver’s Iconic Art Scene in Review
A Watch by Grand Seiko
The Harley-Davidson LiveWire
Arts & Music
Godzilla 65th Anniversary
An E-Volution
98
43
68
Fragrances for Men
The new Omega Aqua Terra
The Triumph Rocket 3
In Style!
Ultra Light
100
78
Toronto, Canada
The “Hodor” Incat Crowther Catamaran
The Gentleman Abroad
A Toybox on the Ocean
102
82
Candid Conversations with Leaders
Jewellery for Him and Her
Creating Impact
Not Just for Christmas!
104
90
They Should Have Taught You This In School
Opening Soon? Space Hotels
The Gentleman
A Space Odyssey
106
95
Vancouver Dream Estates
Digital Audio Players
Real Estate
108
Real Estate
West Vancouver
110
The Sound of Music
AVIATION
Home Bar Essentials
88
112
DESTINATIONS
The Negroni
Our City Tonight M8 Bistro & Bar
The Falcon 6X
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Oh, Canada!
The Big Coast2Coast Challenge
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/ fall 2019 /
ICONIC CONCIERGE
Size Matters
EVENTS
34
Rosso Corsa Red Party
44
Hublot Loves Art LA
46
The Pacific Polo Cup
48
Armani/Casa Grand Opening
50
The Deighton Cup
52
Le Diner En Blanc
60
Luxury & Supercar Weekend
52
Le Diner En Blanc
CONTENTS
34
18
50 52
78 60
68
90
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Mesmerizing The Insanly Beautiful Interior Of The DeTomaso P72
NO, WE WON’T SHOW YOU THE CAR. Although - the team around Norman Choi, the Hong Kong businessman who introduced us to his amazing Apollo Intensa Emozione when we visited the city, did an amazing job with this interpretation of a classic 1960s racecar. The P72 may borrow some lines from a Ferrari P3/4, maybe even an Alfa Romeo 8B, but it also clearly an homage to the P70, a project started by company founder Alejandro de Tomaso, Carroll Shelby and designer Peter Brock back in the 1960s. Unfortunately, the project was halted but then reintroduced with the help of coachbuilder Ghia. Renamed the “Ghia-De Tomaso Sport 5000,” it made its public appearance at the Turin Motor Show in 1965. Now, and perfectly timed to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of DeTomaso, the brand is back, starting with the incredible P72. “The P72 evokes the spirit of Alejandro de Tomaso, the brand and the eras that this car represents,” says Norman Choi. Only 72 will be made, using the carbon chassis originally developed by AMGsupplier HWE for the Apollo IE. And yes, if you want to see it - there is a picture in this edition’s article about the Monterey Car Week. But this article is about the incredibly stunning interior which takes a minimalist design approach with minimal tech intervention and
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complexity. You won’t find another supercar other than a Pagani that has such a fascinating interior. It’s almost as if a jeweller and a watchmaker were given polished copper to bring visions from a world of Jules Verne to life. Just look at the manual gearbox levers with the open, exposed linkage... The P72 will start at US$ 850,000, which is almost a bargain compared to the Paganis, Koenigseggs and Bugattis that cost well over twice that. www.detomaso-automobili.com
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GIORGIO ARMANI words: Olaf Robrecht
Elegance OVER THE COURSE of his 40-year career, his name has become synonymous with style and sophistication. Giorgio Armani, born in Piacenza in the Emilia Romagna region in Italy in 1934, has changed the world of menswear like no other and has created an empire that goes well beyond the world of fashion. Giorgio Armani first enrolled in the Department of Medicine in Milan but decided to follow his passion and pursue a career in fashion. In 1957 he worked as a buyer for a department store in Milan where he learned about fashion, design and marketing, before becoming a trainee in the atelier of Nino Cerruti in the early 1960s. In 1973, and with the help of his friend and business partner Sergio Galeotti, Armani started his own design office in Milan. He collaborated with various fashion houses, and just
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Exceeds Time
two years later, in 1975, he launched ‘Giorgio Armani’. Armani quickly garnered attention in the fashion world, in particular for his deconstructed suit jackets. Another milestone for the label was the 1980 Hollywood film American Gigolo, in which a young Richard Gere got a lot of
attention for his tailored Armani outfits. But Armani is more than just clothing. A lot more. Since launching his namesake label in 1975, Armani has overseen the growth of his brand from ready-to-wear fashion and a signature menswear line to a luxury fashion empire that includes the Giorgio Armani, Giorgio Armani Privé, Armani Exchange and Emporio Armani apparel lines alongside accessories, footwear, jewellery, cosmetics, sweet delicacies and - home decor. ARMANI/CASA Armani/Casa is a furniture and home collection label, which launched with an interior design collection and a flagship store in Milan in 2000. The brand just recently opened their first Canadian Armani/Casa store here in Vancouver, on 1656 West 2nd Avenue.
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Armani collaborates with Rubelli for his luxurious fabrics and the Molteni Group for state-of-the-art kitchens, sold under the Armani/Dada label. Armani/Roca is yet another partnership, which provides Giorgio Armani with bathroom concepts. One not-so-surprising place you’ll find the Casa line? Armani hotels. ARMANI HOTEL Yes, you can travel and stay in style in one of Giorgio Armani’s hotels. Currently, there are two fabulous hotels. The first Armani Hotel opened in 2010 in Dubai within the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. In 2011, the second Armani Hotel was introduced in Milan, just a few steps from the renowned La Scala theatre and the historical district of Brera.
involved are you these days in the corporation? Do you focus on a certain brand or product line? Which parts of the Armani group still have your very own personal signature? Surely, you have a team of designers work for you? But are there certain areas that are 100% “Giorgio Armani”? GA: I like to have control and I’m a workaholic: over time, my passion and involvement have grown instead of diminished, because the brand’s project has become broader and more
We feel honoured for having had the opportunity to do the following exclusive interview with Giorgio Armani. IC: Of all the categories that the Armani brand covers, what are you most passionate about? With all the successes there must have been failures. Would you mind sharing the one endeavor you would wish you would not have started? And the lesson you may have learned along the way?
IC: A creative mind never retires. How
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IC: We now have Armani/Casa here in Vancouver, and I would translate Casa with ‘at home’. A popular saying, “Home is where your heart is”, is this what Armani/Casa stands for? To offer people products to create their own unique home? GA: I firmly believe that your home represents you; it’s an expression of your personality, just as much as the clothes you wear. It should suit the individual living there yet be able to welcome others, while telling the story of who you really are. I’ve put down roots in various places across the world, wherever I felt at home; where I felt at ease and at peace. And I like to think that my homes are able to describe me. For me, “feeling at home” means feeling warm and peaceful, like a safe haven for the body and the mind. With Armani/ Casa, I offer my clients the chance to do the same with my very own style.
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GA: I’ve come to understand that every lesson learned throughout life is useful— even every stumble, because from your mistakes you gain useful experience to improve the present. Even though l always thoroughly considered the most important choices I’ve made in life. It’s just part of my nature. Everything I do has always given me passion and continues to do so. My personal commitment and work ethic have been well rewarded, and together with consistency and determination, they’ve produced great success.
GA: I don’t set limits for myself. I started with clothes, but now with interior décor, sweets and hotels, I’ve dived into various areas of lifestyle, bringing them all together with coherence and my vision of style. This is why I don’t set limits: my idea of sophisticated naturalness can vary in an infinite number of ways. In life, my aim is to dedicate more time to myself, but it’s an objective that I’m seldom able to achieve.
Armani Hotel Milano well-structured; we have expanded into areas besides fashion. I like to share my perspective on various matters. I have valuable collaborators for every aspect of the business, but I’m always the one who gives the final approval. I love consistency, but I certainly don’t lack the ability to surprise and astonish. IC: Looking forward - is there anything you still want to achieve? What comes next for Giorgio Armani, the brand, and for Giorgio Armani, the person?
IC: Did you design your own furniture for your homes before Armani/Casa? Was this maybe what started the idea of your own furniture and accessories line? GA: A basic, sleek lamp: that was the first décor piece I designed, for both my offices and my home. I’ve always had a total, comprehensive vision of style and for a long time, I toyed with the idea of broadening my aesthetics, but it took many years to offer an actual interior design collection because it wasn’t the right time and I preferred to wait. Almost 20 years after the launch of the first
collection in 2000, I still see Armani/Casa as a wonderful opportunity. A field in which I can experiment and create objects and spaces that reflect my philosophy and my aesthetic. IC: Armani/Casa now has stores all over the planet. Do you design furniture with certain cultures in mind? Meaning - do we find different furniture in different countries? Or is this design a “uni-cultural” approach, appealing to the senses regardless of culture? GA: The approach is my own. I offer my style to the public; it’s a style that has no geographic boundaries because it derives from a careful synthesis of multiple aesthetic components. Simplicity truly speaks to everyone; I’m a firm believer in that. IC: You started certain partnerships with and for Armani/Casa. Such as Armani/Roca or Armani/Dada. Are you still the person behind the design? GA: The work is carried out together with individuals on my team with specific expertise in interior design. The partnerships arise through meeting with companies in the field that share my approach and vision and that I believe can bring my ideas to life. IC: Although we have enjoyed a few drinks at Bamboo Bar in the Armani hotel in Milan, we have never stayed at one of the Armani Hotels. Which will change in late November when we stay at the very first Armani Hotel, which opened in 2010 in Dubai. What was your drive, your intention, behind opening your own hotels? GA: I was one of the first designers to become interested in the hotel industry, because I believe that hotels transform style into an experience. I explored an opportunity, applying the same principles of my fashion to a field that was new to me and adapting it into a significant and gratifying challenge. The world of hospitality is perfect for depicting style as a lifestyle and engaging the consumer in a unique, complete experience. However, at the same time, it is also a very demanding sector, in which the most important aspect is the quality of service. Throughout my journey, I’ve met people that have enriched me and have been a huge inspiration, such as Nobu Matsuhisa, with whom I opened Nobu Milano in 2000, and the team at Burj Khalifa Dubai, where I opened my very first Armani Hotel in 2010, with my second following in Milan in 2011. IC: Which cities are next on the list to get Armani Hotels? GA: There are plans in the works, but right now all I can tell you is that there is a huge request for new locations. IC: Now - the furniture that we will see at the hotel are they from Armani/ Casa or do the furniture from Armani/ Casa originate at the hotels? Meaning: Do you design furniture for Armani/ Casa first, and then the furniture is used for the hotels, or do you design for the hotels first, and then you may find them at Armani/ Casa? Or are these two totally different lines? Can a ICONIC CONCIERGE
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guest at a hotel actually order the same bed he/she was sleeping in? GA: All of the furniture that decorates my hotels is part of the Armani/Casa line. They are designed as stand-alone pieces and then used for the rooms and common areas of the hotel. Clients can order what they want for their own homes. IC: Obviously, we would love to welcome you here, in Vancouver. Have you ever been to the city? It has changed over the last few years and due to its location, the proximity to mountains, the ocean, even a desert, makes it one of the most desirable places to live. Is there a chance that we may welcome you at some point? GA: I visited Vancouver many years ago during a work trip to the United States that I decided to extend to Canada. It is a truly special place; a unique one I’d like to visit again. But I never have the time: running a company like mine is a venture that engrosses me completely. IC: We all love the beautiful things in life, from fashion to art, from masterpieces of horology to vintage automobiles. Are you a collector? And, as you surely travel the world, is there a favourite place for you? GA: I love beautiful things, of course, but I’ve never been one to shop like there’s no tomorrow. I like watches, but I’m not a fanatical collector. I own a few that I like to wear. I much prefer a décor piece to put in my home: a Chinese vase, a hand-woven rug or little souvenirs of the places I’ve been. Objects that I can enjoy in private, without any fuss or show. I still travel, but less than in the past: for the short holidays I allow myself, in Pantelleria and Antigua; or for important events. And then I go to Paris for Haute Couture. I have homes in a few major cities: I like to be comfortable when I’m away from Milan. IC: The excellence and uniqueness of Italian creativity and international style are the identifying features shared by Giorgio Armani and Rubelli, who celebrated the 10th anniversary of their collaboration this month. How did the partnership start in 2009? GA: It started with a very natural meeting: a convergence of style and the
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pursuit of quality. We approached Rubelli and, through discussing a possible collaboration, an affinity emerged that made everything possible. Thanks to Rubelli, I was able to rediscover ancient manual loom techniques used in fabrics and rugs. They are details that, for me, make a world of a difference and reveal a sense of refined elegance. IC: Fashion and furniture: How does Rubelli translate and transform the creative mind of Giorgio Armani into ‘haute couture furniture collections’? GA: For me, decorating a space is no different than dressing a person. The tool is different, not the approach. I’ve always been interested in the subtle balance between naturalness and refinement, between sophistication and simplicity, between the details and the finished product. Rubelli is able to interpret all of this with exquisite craftsmanship, with precise manual work, replicating unique designs and patterns for me. IC: We know that Giorgio Armani loves elegant Art Deco references and Japanese figurative art, as well as the animal print patterns and timeless chequer pattern. Where else do you get your inspiration from? GA: From everything. I’m captivated by art that expresses a strong taste for synthesis. In my work, I have always drawn inspiration from travelling, art, architecture or photography, but also from simply observing what is around me. Then during the creative process, I rework all of the various elements and their charm according to my personal taste. Over the years, I’ve developed an aesthetic sense based on an idea of discreet, timeless elegance; it is precisely this idea that guides all of my projects, even in the field of interior design.
IC: Another piece we see in the collection, the Levante decorative modular screen (also showcased at Armani /Casa Vancouver) uses a fabric called Larissa. How is it made? GA: The Levante modular screen is composed of two canaletto walnut wood panels that can be lined with fabric on both sides. The Larissa fabric features a Japanese landscape enhanced by the light weight and width of the panels. The design was inspired by a hand-painted velvet dating back to the early 20th century, which was then replicated on cotton grosgrain using digital techniques. The subdued colour palette creates an even more natural effect. IC: You have limited edition pieces, such as the Logo Lamp **, limited to 200 pieces, all signed by you. Why are certain pieces ‘limited’ and do they come with some sort of certificate that authenticates them? GA: They are special pieces, kind of like the couture of my interior design. They are all signed and numbered: real collector’s items that encapsulate my idea of style. I find that when you offer the public something that is extremely sought after, you create a very strong bond. IC: Mr. Armani, thank you very much for taking the time for this interview.
IC: Regarding the famous limited edition lacquer Club Bar Cabinets, can you tell us more about the artisans who work on it and their special techniques? GA: The Club Bar Cabinets * require 92 hours of work from two artisans who paint the Ocean Lacquer design. It is an Armani/Casa exclusive that uses hand-painting techniques to recreate the transparency of the water. Each piece is therefore one-of-a-kind. I consider the artisans who create these pieces to be true artists.
* CLUB OCEAN LACQUER - Limited edition of the Club cocktail cabinet, released in a series of only 50 numbered and signed pieces completely hand made. ** LOGO LAMP - This table lamp was the very first product ever designed for Armani/Casa, back in 1982, by Giorgio Armani himself. The satinated black metal structure features a double lampshade in the shape of a truncated pyramid, made in ivory metachrylate.
CELEBRATE YOUR NEXT VICTORY
#DareWinCelebrate
Maxim Gotsutsov - Partner Leicht Vancouver | Germanhaus A collection of premium and luxury European lifestyle brands, Germanhaus is an award-winning kitchen design studio where elegance meets function and harmony. Maxim Gotsutsov takes pride in a carefully curated design process for his clients, combining Bauhaus design with a modern vision that transplants seamlessly into their home, integrating kitchens with living and dining rooms. LEICHT/ GERMANHAUS 1654 W 2nd Ave Vancouver, BC V6J 1H4
(604) 781 5955 www.leichtvancouver.com
Nora Szeleczky - Director Armani/Casa Canada Nora Szeleczky is the Director of the new Armani/Casa Vancouver boutique, helping her clients create a distinctive atmosphere through a combination of products that range from furniture and furnishings to accessories, dĂŠcor and fabrics, carefully selected for their compatibility in terms of shape, material and colour, and all displayed within a bright but softly lit environment. ARMANI/CASA 1656 W 2nd Ave Vancouver, BC V6J 1H4
(778) 957 2272 www.armanicasa.ca
NESMUK DIAMOND STUDDED KNIFE If you want to bring some bling to the kitchen, we have the solution for you: For a whopping US $40,000 you’ll get what is believed to be the sharpest knife created in the last 3,500 years. (Not to mention one of the most expensive knives in the world.) The knife’s handle has a construction consisting of 8 diamonds and comes beautifully packed with an included diamond ring.
Don’t forget it at the jobsite! Form meets function and luxury with this durable measuring tape. Held in a sturdy sterling silver case, this luxurious design features textured diamond-point accents on the tape measure’s clip. The actual tape measure is made from stainless steel with a sterling silver pull and, most importantly, measures 15 feet in imperial and metric. C$1,750.
www.nesmuk.com
www.tiffany.ca
BUBEN&ZORWEG ILLUSION DELUXE
SENNHEISER ORPHEUS
This prestigous stand-alone safe is unlocked by way of a fingerprint or a transponder chip and immediately raises its contents elegantly upwards. Presented by the B&Z Boutique inside LEISURE CENTER VANCOUVER , this intelligent winding system and multistorage safe is equipped with 2 TIME MOVER winding units and 2 pivoting storage drawers. The BUBEN&ZORWEG signature clock movement is showcased on top of the presentation pillar. This piece can be customized to your TIME MOVER interior specifications and exterior finishes and colors. C$47,300. Leisure Center 950 Homer St., Vancouver
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Apparently 10 years in the making, the new Sennheiser HE1 Orpheus is considered to be the Holy Grail in the world of audiophile headphones. Priced at US$59,000, the set includes a built in case for the headphones, oxygen free copper cabling and fine German leather. www.sennheiser.com
AWAKE RÄVIK ELECTRIC SURFBOARD It’s all about electric these days. This new premium electric surfboard by Swedish company Awake is set to redefine what you thought you knew about surfing. The board is designed to travel at speeds of up to 30 knots (that’s 35 mph or 56 km/h) and can hit those speeds in around 4 seconds. In water! Weighing 35 kg and measuring 1.79 m (5’10”), the Awake RÄVIK is comprised of a streamlined, hydrodynamic carbon fiber shell that houses the jet propulsion and enough Li-ion batteries for 40 minutes of carving up the water. Appr. US$20,500. www.awakeboards.com
SENTURION LUXURY CAR KEYS What do you buy the person who has everything? The answer might be ... the supercar on the wrist; the most luxurious and unique car keys available. London-based Senturion Key creates some stylish yet functional wristwear that syncs with your supercar and acts as its key. The ultimate statement in luxury lifestyle, Senturion wristwear uses the latest radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology to become your beautiful new car key. Using precious metals, the finest leather and four-billion-year-old meteorite to handcraft the range, the picture shows the limited edition S177. It offers the same bracelet that doubles as a key fob in either white or yellow gold, but with extra security elements, more striking visuals and plenty more customization options. It works for supercars including Aston Martin, Bentley, Ferrari, Rolls Royce, McLaren, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Porsche. Each bracelet takes over 100 hours to make, because technicians take apart the driver’s key fob and miniaturize it to include it in the wristlet. Prices for Senturion keys start at £15,850 (US$19,500) with a bespoke S177 setting you back a whopping £211,500 (US$260,000). www.senturionkey.com
BILLIONAIRE MONOPOLY We don’t know if Bill Gates and Warren Buffet play Monopoly on a Geoffrey Parker set, but if so, they would have invested up to US$860,000 (alligator leather board). A bit more affordable, the pictured Dauphin calf leather set starts at around US$11,000 (sterling silver playing pieces). Add another $4,000 if you want to go solid 18ct gold for the playing pieces. This is almost a bargain compared to the most expensive Monopoly set ever made, encrusted with rubies and sapphires. It was put together by San Francisco jeweler Sidney Mobell in 1988. With solid gold houses and hotels, and diamonds in the dice for pips, this game was worth $2 million. www.geoffreyparker.com
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THE
MANLY MAN
“
The idea of regretting not doing this seemed insane to me. Sitting in the corner at a bar at age 60,
saying: ‘I could’ve been Bond. Buy me a drink.’ That’s the saddest
place I could be. At least now at 60 I can say: ‘I was Bond. Now buy me a drink.
daniel
Craig | ACTOR |
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Daniel Craig is wearing the OMEGA De Ville Hour Vision Blue with blue dial, a blue hour track and 18K white gold hour, minute and seconds hands. photo: OMEGA
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DANIEL CRAIG is most famous for his role as James Bond - and this after struggling to kick start his acting career for nearly two decades. When he took over the part of the world’s most famous spy, he was the first actor in the role to be born after the start of the film series (You Only Live Twice, 1967), also making him the first Bond actor to be born after Ian Fleming died in 1964. Although Craig faced immediate public backlash, criticism (“too old“ and “too blond”) and even boycotting campaigns when his name was announced as the sixth actor to play Ian Fleming’s British secret agents, succeeding Pierce Brosnan, his performance in the film not only scored rave reviews from critics and the public but also earned him a 2007 BAFTA nomination for best actor in a leading role – the first for any Bond actor. His depiction moving away the image from an outdated slick, pretty-boy stereotype, adding intensity and vulnerability while at the same time creating a darker and more complex, never-before-seen 007. Craig humanized him. Today, having just wrapped up filming the 25th chapter in the 007 franchise, No Time To Die, Daniel Craig is praised as the best Bond ever. He is also the one who financially rejuvenated the franchise. His Casino Royale debut was so acclaimed that the movie earned $599 million and became the highest-grossing James Bond movie in the entire series at that time. While his second film, Quantum of Solace, fell short with “only” $586.1 million, Skyfall, which premiered in 2012, skyrocketed to $1.1 billion, becoming the highest-grossing film in the entire series and the 25th highestgrossing film of all time. Craig’s fourth Bond film, Spectre, premiered in 2015, came in at $880 million worldwide. And although we all remember Craig saying after filming Spectre that he would rather “slash my own wrists” than sign on again, it seems that No Time To Die will see Daniel make his final outing as the iconic Secret Service agent. PRE-007 Born in Chester, Cheshire, England, March 2nd, 1968, Daniel Wroughton Craig enjoyed going to the theater
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with his mother and sisters, and “kind of fell in love with the idea of acting, shouting a lot and dressing up and all that.” He began acting in school plays at the age of six, and was introduced to serious acting by attending Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre with his mother. Craig moved to London when he was 16 to join the National Youth Theatre. He worked part-time in restaurants to finance his training and later on, after multiple attempts at auditioning for drama schools, he secured a place at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama at the Barbican, where he graduated in 1991 after three years of study under Colin McCormack. His first screen role was in 1992 in The Power of One, followed by Angels in America in November 1993. Also in 1993, Craig was featured in two episodes of the American television shows Zorro and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. Over the next two years he was featured in several movies and TV series’ but it was his part in the 1996 BBC drama miniseries Our Friends in the North that is considered his breakthrough role. The serial drama enjoyed great critical reception and won several major awards in the year following its broadcast, including two British Academy Television Awards, two Royal Television Society Awards and four Broadcasting Press Guild Awards. In the same year, Craig guest starred in an episode of the HBO horror anthology series Tales from the Crypt and was featured in the BBC television film Saint-Ex. His first lead performance was in the Franco-German drama Obsession in 1997, and his first appearance in a blockbuster Hollywood-movie was alongside Angelina Jolie in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), based on the video game series Tomb Raider. The film was panned by reviewers and Craig later admitted to only accepting the role for the paycheque, but it was a hit with viewers—Tomb Raider debuted at No.1 at the box office and became the highest-grossing video game adaptation to date. His name was out and with an impressive performance in 2002’s Road to Perdition alongside Paul Newman, Daniel Craig had finally
I’m definitely not satisfied about my career. I don’t know how you can be, it’s the very nature of things.
made his way on to the A-lists of some of the biggest movie producers. In 2003, he portrayed poet Ted Hughes in the drama Sylvia, which also starred Gwyneth Paltrow, and in 2005, Craig worked with Steven Spielberg in the highly-acclaimed drama Munich. Around the same time he worked with Spielberg, rumors had begun about Craig becoming the next James Bond. The rest is history. OUTSIDE OF BOND Craig continued working on nonBond film projects, such as the 2007 science-fiction thriller The Invasion, next to Nicole Kidman, with whom he also starred in the same year’s fantasy film The Golden Compass. 2008 saw him join Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell in the Holocaust-based Defiance, and in 2009 Craig made his Broadway debut in A Steady Rain, alongside Hugh Jackman. In 2011, Craig stared with Rooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Cowboys & Aliens and Dream House. More recently, Craig played in another big screen thriller, Logan Lucky (2017), and in 2018, he starred in Kings, a drama set around the time of the 1992 L.A. riots. PERSONAL LIFE Craig married his co-star in Dream House, Rachel Weisz, in 2011, and welcomed a daughter in September 2018. It is Craig’s second marriage.
Daniel Craig filming a scene for NO TIME TO DIE with a classic Aston Martin V8, first seen in a Bond film in 1987’s THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS. photo: MGM
out & about FERRARI ROSSO CORSA RED PARTY HUBLOT VANCOUVER BOUTIQUE
The Hublot Vancouver Boutique turned red on Wednesday, September 11th, as Ferrari of Vancouver celebrated an exclusive Rosso Corsa Red Party, an evening of supercars and rare timepieces. Guests were welcomed by several of the supercar manufacturer’s newest automotive dreams, joined by a classic Ferrari Testarossa. Inside, the Hublot boutique presented their signature timepieces in their main showroom, while the upstairs lounge had been transformed into a cool bar, dominated by ‘anything red’ with displays of the Hublot x Ferrari collaboration - some of the Swiss brand’s rarest limited edition timepieces. Cocktails, champagne, delicious canapés and cool beats mixed by DJ Pri rounded up the first Rosso Corsa Red Party in Vancouver.
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IT’S MOVIE TIME!
THE MOST ICONIC MOVIE WATCHES OF ALL TIME
A
s the world’s best billboard, the silver screen has introduced and established many characters sporting watches and fashions that, as a result, have gone on to experience unprecedented success or longevity.
What sets a watch apart as an accessory to define a character is the fact that it says a lot about a lifestyle, how much money the person spends, possibly some family history and, quite often, a personality. For those reasons, it is very important for a movie maker to get it right. A Sylvester Stallone in The Expendables, or as John Rambo, simply can’t
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wear a sleek thin golden wristwatch. And for 007 it is almost vital to sport an obscenely flashy wristwatch. Take Back to the Future – what is more believable than to send Marty McFly back in time wearing wearing an iconic calculator LCD watch of the 80s? Enjoy our look back at some of the most iconic movie watches of all time. Did we miss any? Let us know ...
Skyfall (2012) Daniel Craig wears the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean 600M
Connery as Bond on his missions in films such as From Russia with Love, Goldfinger, and Thunderball.
Vesper Lynd: “Rolex?” James Bond: “Omega.” While James Bond originally wore a Rolex, the honour of the official watchmaker for 007 lies with Omega since 1995. Starting with Casino Royale, the current 007, Daniel Craig, has only worn Omega models such as the Seamaster Planet Ocean 600m 42mm.
LeMans (1971) Steve McQueen wears the Heuer Monaco Chronograph
James Bond – Dr. No (1962) Sean Connery wears the Rolex Submariner 6538 James Bond and watches. And although in modern times the likes of Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig were outfitted with Omega watches, the original 007, Sean Connery, was sporting a Rolex. The ref. 6538, which was first produced sometime around 1953, would actually accompany
in PVD-coated stainless steel with a day/ date indicator, chronograph registers at 12 o’clock, six o’clock, and nine o’clock, and a tachyometer scale, Men in Black (1997) Hamilton Ventura XXL
In what is arguably the most famous automotive racing film of all time, Steve McQueen wears a Swiss Heuer (long before the company became TAGHeuer) Monaco with a dark blue dial with a silver and red tint. It has been said that McQueen chose the piece from a selection of timepieces presented by Jack Heuer himself.
A true avant-garde timepiece, the Hamilton Ventura XXL was a great choice for Earth’s intergalactic police force in the sci-fi film series Men in Black.
Top Gun (1986) Tom Cruise wears the Porsche Design Orfina 7176S
The 80s. Watches had a display, some came with games, heck, there was even a TV watch. The watch Marty McFly wears is a Casio with an 8 digit calculator, a stopwatch, auto calendar and – alarm! We hear it even tells time.
No, not a Breitling or IWC. Tom Cruise was wearing the Porsche Design Orfina 7176S with a self-winding Lemania caliber 5100
Back To The Future (1985) Michael J Fox wears the Casio CA53W Twincept Databank
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Doctor Strange (2016) Benedict Cumberbatch wears the Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Perpetual
When Baldwin’s character mentions that his watch is worth more than the one sales guy’s car, he flashes his Rolex Day-Date as a symbol of his success and power..
As some sort of a wizard with the ability to control the tides of time, the use of the gorgeous Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Perpetual for Dr. Stephen Strange is actually very appropriate.
Aliens (1986) Sigourney Weaver wears the Seiko Giugiaro 7A28-7000
Expendables 3 (2014) Sylvester Stallone wears the Richard Mille RM 032 Ti The third instalment breaks with the Panerai tradition. This time, Stallone can be seen wearing a $125,000 Richard Mille RM 032 in titanium. Stallone and Richard Mille actually started a collaboration back in 2014 which resulted in the million dollar RM 25-01 Tourbillon Adventure watch. Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) Alec Baldwin wears the Rolex Daydate
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They wear watches in 2179? Well, Ellen Ripley does and it seems she is a fan of mid-80s timepieces. The timepiece drawn by DeLorean designer Giorgio Giugiaro is a Seiko Speedmaster Chronograph with vertical stopwatch pushers placed inside the asymmetrical case extension. Ghostbusters (1984) Dan Ackroyd and Bill Murray wear the 1983 Seiko M516 Voice Note Who ya gonna call? Exactly! Three out of four Ghostbusters wear a Seiko M516 Voice Note which was capable of recording messages either eight or four seconds long thanks to the internal 16KB solid state RAM memory . Wow!
Apocalypse Now (1979) Martin Sheen wears the Seiko 6105 The Seiko 6105 actually has a lot of realworld history and was extremely popular during the Vietnam War amongst U.S. servicemen for both its style and durability. Seiko recently built a recreation of it with a modern movement, called the Seiko SRP777K1. Batman Begins (2005) Christian Bale wears the JaegerLeCoultre Reverso Grande Date Val Kilmer first wore a Reverso JaegerLeCoultre in Batman, and it reappeared on the wrist of Christian Bale in the Dark Knight trilogy. The model worn in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight was the Reverso Grande Date. What makes it the perfect watch for Batman is that it has two sides - its steel back can be flipped to protect the face of the watch. Bruce Wayne, Batman ... get it?
She can be yours
cialiscanada.ca xcitecanada.ca
Armin Strom
MINUTE REPEATER RESONANCE Two complications, resonance and minute repeater; two verticallystacked independent movements; two forms of resonance (oscillators and sound propagation); two independent mainsprings in one barrel; and two top development teams in Armin Strom (resonance) and Le Cercle des Horlogers (repeaters). The Minute Repeater Resonance is not simply a masterpiece, it’s a masterpiece twice over! Inspired by the Bern’s centuries old chiming tower clock, the Minute Repeater Resonance is limited to just 10 pieces in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Armin Strom manufacture. Masterpiece 2 highlights both the phenomenon of resonance and the sonorous chiming of the time by placing all of the action up front and center on the dial side. Activated by a slider on the left side of the case band, two handpolished hammers at 11 o’clock and 1 o’clock respectively chime the hours and minutes on two three-dimensionally curved gongs encircling the hour/minute subdial. The hammers are visually and technically balanced by the two independent regulators – one for each of the two movements – at 5 o’clock and 7 o’clock. The case is in Grade 5 titanium for optimal sound transmission (and comfort), and its 47.7 mm diameter allows for a generous volume for the sound to propagate from. The sonorous chimes are also enhanced by attaching the gongs directly to the case. A specially developed security system maximizes ease-of-use by protecting the minute repeater from accidental damage by blocking operation during time-setting and winding. Fully visible between the two oscillating balances is Armin Strom’s patented Resonance Clutch Spring – the key to Armin Strom’s mastery of resonance – and the result of three years of intensive research and development.
Don’t make her wait
While it has been long known that resonating coupled oscillators in watch and clock movements improves accuracy, less known is that resonance also conserves energy. Armin Strom’s laboratory testing has revealed gains in precision of 15-20%. Under a virtually invisible sapphire crystal dial, the dual balances oscillating in synchronization and the two hammers striking the time, the Minute Repeater Resonance stages an unparalleled horological spectacle for both the eyes and the ears. CHF 380,000.
cialiscanada.ca xcitecanada.ca
Grand Seiko
Godzilla 65th Anniversary Limited Edition Godzilla? Yes - Grand Seiko and Godzilla share an unlikely but common history. Godzilla made its debut in Japan in 1954 and it was in this first Godzilla film that the creature appears in Ginza, the birthplace of Seiko, and destroys the famous clock tower which rises above the Wako store, a retail establishment of Seiko’s that first opened its doors in 1952 You can say that the strength of the Grand Seiko watch is met with the power and force of the king of monsters and with it a brand new creation in the sport collection is born. The creature makes its fierce presence on the watch in a number of ways. Godzilla’s signature roar and the “heat ray beam” that it shoots from his mouth to strike his opponents is expressed in the rays of the red dial. The design of the hands as well as the Lumibrite on the hands, hour markers and bezel, and the high definition dual-curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating all allow for enhanced legibility making it the perfect watch for any sports situation. The lug of the case has a flat surface without distortion by Zaratsu polishing and hairline finish. It is a case design that gives a impression the power and force of the king of monsters. Finally, the shark strap in red resembles Godzilla’s skin. The watch will be available as a limited edition of just 650 pieces. US$12,500.
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Omega
Seamaster Aqua Terra ‘Ultra Light’ The “weight is over!” As the name suggests, this ingenious sports watch is designed for less weight and more comfort during competition. Developed with OMEGA’s own leading athlete and ambassador, Rory McIlroy, the ergonomically designed “Ultra Light” is built for sporting comfort and fashioned from an alloy called Gamma Titanium, a strong yet lightweight material used in the aeronautical industry. The use of Gamma Titanium is a first for OMEGA. As is the push-in, push-out telescopic crown, which can be stowed inside the case when not in use. Presented on a black rubber strap, the watch includes a sandblasted grade 5 titanium dial featuring the iconic Aqua Terra stripes. When worn on the additional sporty fabric strap, the watch weighs just 55 grams. This 41 mm Aqua Terra makes bold use of red on the aluminium seconds hand, Seamaster logo, quarter hour markers and strap stitching. The watch is powered by the OMEGA Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 8928 Ti, the brand’s first movement built from titanium. Available in one of three colors: red, blue or green. Omega is taking reservations right now. In stores from early 2020. Price: CAD$60,800.
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out & about HUBLOT LOVES ART CHATEAU HANARE, WEST HOLLYWOOD
It was a very special night at Chateau Marmont’s Japanese Restaurant, Chateau Hanare in West Hollywood. On Thursday, September 26th, Hublot North America President Jean-François Sberro had invited a small group of people to an exclusive ‘Hublot Loves Art’ cocktail and dinner in the presence of Hublot Ambassador, Maxime PlesciaBüchi. The tattoo artist and founder of ‘Sang Bleu’ presented the latest Big Bang Sang Bleu II collection with its more finely-chiselled lines, conveyed in three dimensions. An expression of the passage of time, the hands - two elongated diamonds and an arrow - are stylised fragments of tattoos, set above a hypnotic chronographic movement. Thank you for having us, we truly enjoyed this amazing evening.
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out & about
PACIFIC POLO CUP SOUTHLANDS RIDING CLUB One of Vancouver’s favourite summer events, The Pacific Polo Cup at the Southlands Riding Club is a fast-paced polo mixed with amazing food, crafted cocktails, Champagne, luxury automobiles, DJs spinning the latest tunes, and fashionable attire. On Saturday, July 13th, the annual fundraiser for the non-profit Southlands Riding Club society welcomed the glamorous crowd to the 6th Polo Cup. Under a deep blue sky, fashionistas and fans of the ‘Sport of Kings’ came together to watch a pair of afternoon exhibition matches, with participants coming from across Canada, the U.S. and South America. Holders of VIP tickets were treated to a gourmet buffet on one side of the field, while on the other side spectators enjoyed a champagne and cocktail bar and lounged on picnic blankets and hay bales. Guests took to the grass at intermission for the traditional divot stomp. Mark your calendar: The 2020 Pacific Polo Cup is on Saturday, July 11, 2020.
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out & about GRAND OPENING GRAND OPENING ARMANI/CASA BOUTIQUE
photography: Jonathan Evans
On Tuesday, September 24th, Armani/Casa officially opened the doors to the new Vancouver showroom in the Armoury District on 1656 West 2nd Avenue, making it the very first Armani/Casa store in Canada. A wonderful and very stylish evening with delicious canapĂŠs, cocktails and wine, introducing the Vancouver team and the new Armani/Casa collection. All Armani/Casa showrooms across the globe have had the personal involvement and approval by Giorgio Armani himself.
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THE NEW BMW X7: NO COMPROMISE. The new X7—a family-sized Sports Activity Vehicle that doesn’t forget why you chose a BMW. Nimble handling you expect from a BMW, with room for up to seven passengers. Kick that belies its roomy capacity. And elegant touches that tell the world you don’t compromise.
The new BMW X7.
BRIAN JESSEL BMW
2311 Boundary Road (at Lougheed), Vancouver 604.222.7788 | brianjesselbmw.com
out & about
THE DEIGHTON CUP VANCOUVER’S MOST STYLISH EVENT When champagne bottles pop with horses rounding the bend, when stores sold out their inventory of fedoras, fascinators, hats, ascots and bow ties, then we know that the most stylish event of the summer is just around the corner: The Deighton Cup! It is a fashion show par excellence, and on Saturday, July 20th, The Deighton Cup returned for a day of fine food, craft cocktails, live entertainment and adrenaline-pumping races. Celebrating the 11th anniversary of the fancy event, Tyson Villeneuve and Jordan Kallman of the Social Concierge, and Parade Agency founder Dax Droski, welcomed a recordbreaking crowd to the Hastings Racetrack. But let’s face it - the the Deighton Cup is not about the action on the racetrack , it’s all about what’s happening in the stands! Style and fashion rule for the day, and the competition for the Style Stakes BestDressed Awards had never been bigger. This year, you could even pre-register online. The best-dressed man and woman were finally chosen by a panel of industry judges and fellow attendees. Until next year! photography: Charles Zuckermann
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out & about
LE DINER EN BLANC GEORGE WAINBORN PARK, YALETOWN photography: Jonathan Evans
In 1988, Parisian François Pasquier invited a group of friends to congregate and dine together al fresco at the Bois de Boulogne, instructing them all to dress in white so that they could find each other. 31 years later and Dîner en Blanc enjoyed its 8th year in Vancouver, hosted by Social Concierge. As is tradition, diners of all ages and backgrounds assembled at various points around the city, before being transported to George Wainborn Park, with the location having been kept a secret until the evening itself. As with so many other tables, the Iconic Concierge table hosted an eclectic community of people including friends, family members, young beaus, vintage souls, successful entrepreneurs, business executives and students. Invited by table leader, Oliver Finlay, guests enjoyed an experience themed around ‘sustainable BC’. Chef Trevor Bird (Fable Kitchen) served up a feast, combining locally sourced and responsibly farmed ingredients, on plates and platters designed by ChopValue, crafted from up-cycled bamboo chopsticks collected from Vancouver’s various sushi restaurants. Local businesses including Devil May Wear, Tyrock Barclay, BDirty, Native Shoes, YYoga and LuluLemon also generously contributed to the guest experience.
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From 15-18 August, during four action-packed days, California celebrated the legacy and the future of the automobile, paying homage to its ongoing influence on the modern world. Attracting an array of international manufacturers, competitors and spectators, the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering and the Pebble Beach Tour d’Elegance® presented by Rolex, showcased beautiful, pioneering and innovative vehicles. The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering hosted 6,000 guests as automobiles and motorcycles competed to reach the Rolex Circle of Champions. The garden party atmosphere, showcasing vintage and futuristic cars, global cuisine and fashion, takes place annually on the greens of The Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel. This year, the launch of the Bugatti Centodieci, the debut of the Acura Type S Concept and the US reveal of the Lotus Evija, made headlines as manufacturers looked to the future. As the day drew to a close, the 1931 Stutz DV 32 Convertible Victoria by Le Baron was honoured as the 2019 ‘Rolex Best of Show’.
A Motorsports Gathering Celebrating Automotive Design & Engineering Monterey Car Week 2019
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CRÈME DE LA CRÈME LUXURY & SUPERCAR WEEKEND
IT WAS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY of Canada’s premier luxury lifestyle outdoor event, showcasing the finest in luxury cars, super- and hypercars. A “Pebble Beach of the North”, VanDusen Botanical Gardens played host to one of the most expensive car shows in years, with several mouthwatering masterpieces such as a Bugatti Veyron, a McLaren P1, and not one, but three Pagani Huayras. One of them was the limited edition BC Roadster, which sells for US$3.4 million. The real star of the event, though, was the electric 1,900 hp Pininfarina Battista, which can be yours for a comparatively small sum of US$2.5 million. Vancouver’s SR Auto Group celebrated their 25th anniversary with an amazing display of rare and iconic supercars, including the mentioned Bugatti Veyron Sang Noir-edition, a Koenigsegg Agera RS, Pagani Huayra, a Ferrari F40, and a second-generation Ford GT. Porsche and BMW brought some exceptional vehicles to the show, and so did many others. There was even an amphibious light-sport airplane, the ICON A5, on display. Our apologies that we can’t show all these fantastic vehicles - you simply have to come and see for yourself. So don’t miss next year’s Luxury & Supercar Weekend on September 12 & 13, 2020. Check www.luxurysupercar.com for updates.
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photography: PROJECT604 | M.G.REVIEWS | EJ NICKERSON
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BMW X7: PROMISE.
orts Activity Vehicle that BMW. Nimble handling you or up to seven passengers. ty. And elegant touches that mise.
The new BMW X7.
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7
THE MAGNIFICENT Clearly, Robbie misunderstood when we suggested taking the 7 out to enjoy the day. Granted, when we said it, we didn’t mention that we were talking about the brand new X7, BMW’s luxury flagship SUV. We also left pretty fast so that we could make our tee time. So he ended up chauffeuring our 3 lovely ladies to brunch in the BMW 7 sedan, spending a fortune on champagne and shopping, while the rest of us enjoyed some biking and a round of golf. Sorry, Robbie (and sorry, ladies). But you had some fun, didn’t you? … didn’t you? PHOTOGRAPHY: Kevin Uy
MODELS: Mia Claman | Carmen Chung | Polina Stringini ... and Teddy, the dog
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Luxury Reinvented - 2020 BMW 7 sedan
It’s back: the 2020 edition of the BMW 7 Sedan has arrived, and it has some serious improvements hiding inside. First of all: The classic BMW kidney grille is now 40 percent bigger to match the grille on its sportier brother, the 2020 BMW X7. The grille’s active air flap control means the adjustable vanes only open when the engine requires more cooling air. Plus, this revised version of BMW’s most successful 7 Series to date features extensive design, tech, and powertrain changes that make this class-leading luxury car an entirely new experience. The latest edition of the 7 Series features design updates that touch almost every area of the body, including the front bumper, completely redesigned hood, headlights, front fenders, rear bumper trim and rear lights. The more modern design cues flow into the rear of the new BMW 7 Series, providing a more horizontal effect with the LED, three-dimensional rear lights and the 5mm wide light strip that extends across the full width of the tailgate and connects the rear lights with each other. As for technology, this luxurious Bavarian Tech-Fest comes with a wide range of new features, including BMW’s new voice assistant for the infotainment system, optional laser headlights, a digital gauge cluster, and the latest iDrive 7.0 software. New optional active-safety features include the Extended Traffic Jam Assistant, which allows the driver to take his or her hands off the wheel at up to 60 km/h while it manages steering, acceleration, and braking and uses a camera to make sure the driver is still paying attention to the road. The 7 Series is available in 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 740Li xDrive and M760Li xDrive versions. At 5,250 mm in length, the 750Li is the roomiest sedan BMW, offering class-leading rearseat legroom. The 740Li has a 3.0L turbocharged inline-six that delivers 320 hp, while the two 750 variants come with a 4.4L twin-turbo V8 that outputs 445 hp. The M760 has a 600-hp V12 that propels it from 0 – 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds. Call Brian Jessel BMW at (604) 222-7788 for your test drive.
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The Magnitude of Elegance - 2020 BMW X7
BMW’s long-anticipated first-ever X7 three-row crossover is finally here! They call it the pinnacle of the X Sport Activity Vehicle lineup, and at 5151 mm in length, 2,000 mm wide and 1,805 mm tall, and with a wheelbase of 3,105 mm, it is the largest model of the BMW X family. The X7 offers outstanding powertrain options and chassis technology, plus generous levels of space in each of its three rows of seats, a luxurious ambience and advanced equipment features, to deliver unparalleled experiences for the driver and passengers. The largest kidney grille ever together with the slim twin headlights extending up to it, emphasize the width of the car and create presence. When viewed from the side, the large windows and long, flowing roofline hint at a spacious interior. The rear doors are longer than the front doors, making it easier to get in and out of the second and third row seats. The rear is broken up by the slim LED rear lights and where the 7 sedan features a connecting light strip the X7 has a stylish chrome bar. Borrowing partially from both the smaller X5 SUV and the luxurious 7-series sedan, the rich interior is well-appointed, tech-packed, and very spacious. A digital gauge display and a large 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen dominate the dashboard. A 10-speaker audio system, integrated navigation, onboard Wi-Fi, and a wireless smartphone-charging pad are all standard. The X7 offers space for seven people in total. The standard second row configuration offers seating for three (alternatively, two individual Captain’s Chairs can be specified) while the two passengers in the third row can settle into full-size seats. In either standard or optional configuration, the second-row seats in the X7 slide fore and aft through 145 mm of travel. The X7 launches with a choice of two updated gasoline engines. Heading up the range is the BMW X7 xDrive50i, with an extensively updated 4.4-liter V8 engine. A 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, found under the hood of the new BMW X7 xDrive40i rounds out the model line-up. All engines channel their power through an eight-speed Steptronic transmission, while BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive is on hand to ensure that power is transferred into secure progress – on or off road. For further information and for booking a test drive, please contact Brian Jessel BMW at (604) 222-7788. www. brianjesselbmw.com
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AN EVOLUTION THE 2020 HARLEY-DAVIDSON LIVEWIRE If you listen closely, you can hear the screams of thousands of bikers out there. Yes, dear Harley-Davidson enthusiasts, the days of that unique stereotypical V-twin “potato-potato” sound may be over soon! The LiveWire, Harley-Davidson’s very first battery-powered motorcycle, is now for sale and can be yours for the Canadian MSRP of $37,250. But maybe there is hope - as Harley-Davidson says that the bike “is designed to produce a new signature Harley-Davidson sound as it accelerates and gains speed; this new futuristic sound represents the smooth, electric power of the LiveWire™ motorcycle.” For those of you who are still with us, here are some specs: 105 horsepower and 86 pound-feet of torque ; 0-100 in 3.5 seconds and a pretty disappointing range of 177km [235 km in the city and 113 km at 113 km/h during sustained highway use].
BACK TO THE FUTURE BMW Motorrad has pulled the cover off their latest two-wheeled vehicle, an electric motorcycle concept, known as the BMW Motorrad Vision DC Roadster. There is no doubt that the electric motorcycle market has been on an absolute tear these last few years, and other than the less-than-exciting C evolution scooter, the silence from Munich has been almost deafening. Until now. Although still a concept, the new Vision DC takes the profile of a cool futuristic roadster and combines it with BMW’s signature boxer twin architecture with two ribbed horizontal elements positioned over the electric battery. We doubt that we will see the Vision on a production line anytime soon, but there’s some hope we’ll see a similarly configured EV from BMW in the near term. Revealed at the same event, BMW’s NextGen in Munich, was the Vision M Next Concept coupe: a new, electrified two-door that shares a lot of its styling details with the i8 mixed with some of the iconic M1. Powered by a four-cylinder gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain producing a total output of 600 horsepower (441 kilowatts), zero to 100 kilometers per hour is a blistering 3.0 seconds, with a top speed of 300 kmh.
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WHEN TRIUMPH launched the legendary Rocket III in 2004, it was the largest-capacity production motorcycle on the market. It had a huge 2,300cc engine with more muscle, presence and torque than any of the competition. Over the years, Triumph added several models to the Rocket lineup, including touring models, roadster models, and classic cruiser-style variants. But time has come for a brand-new Rocket - the new 2,500cc, 165-hp Rocket 3 R and Rocket 3 GT line-up.
With the world’s largest production motorcycle engine at 2,500cc, the new Rocket 3s deliver more power, 11% up on the previous generation, and an incredible 163 pound-feet of torque - the highest torque of any production motorcycle you can buy with 221Nm @ 4,000 rpm. Combining imposing muscular stance and magnificent style, the highest levels of technology, Triumph’s classleading handling, all of the Rocket’s world-renowned presence and all-day easy riding capability, the new Rockets are in a class of their own. The new Rocket 3 is available in two versions: the R (pictured) and the GT. The R is an aggressively styled muscle roadster with less bodywork, and a single seat option, while the GT offers more comfort, a laidback cruiser riding attitude and even more effortless touring capability. Prices weren’t available at time of print but we hear the Rocket 3 will start at US$29,000.
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SIZE MATTERS THE ALL-NEW 2,500CC TRIUMPH ROCKET 3
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THE BIG COAST2COAST CHALLENGE
Oh, Canada!
2 CONVERTIBLES | 8 PROVINCES | 6,100 KM | 1 WEEK ... and only 1 rule: THERE ARE NO RULES!
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If you want to see the most spectacular places in the world in just one day, you have to go to ... Las Vegas. If you want to cross Canada in a week ... you better have a really good reason for it ... I don’t know why I had to think about Chevy Chase and National Lampoon’s ‘Vacation’. “Hey look kids, there’s Big Ben, there’s Parliament...” I was sitting in my car on the second day of this road-trip from Vancouver to Halifax when this scene popped into my mind, realizing that with up to 1,200 km a day there would be no time at all to stop, explore and enjoy the cities along the way and all they have to offer. The only extra time we would spend would be at gas stations, and in a hotel bed. Memorable pictures? Grab the camera and slow down a bit. “Kids, there’s Big Ben!” Just great. What a stupid idea .... Obviously, it was Robbie who was hit with a pure stroke of genius when he created the “Coast2Coast Challenge”. “I have an idea – I will challenge you to drive through Canada, from coast to coast! And we only have a week to do it.” Even worse, he thought it would be great to do it on a budget. $15,000, for which we had to buy a car and pay for gas and accommodation. Let me be honest here – I actually liked the idea. It sounded like a fun road trip. We decided to go on this journey in July which should provide for good weather, and established a few rules to make it a bit more competitive. There would be days where the last to arrive at a destination would have to pay a penalty. And, once you reached your budget, whatever you spent from that point on we would have to pay to the other driver, adding money to his budget. By March, both of us had purchased a car. We had decided it needed to be convertibles, and so Robbie got himself a mint 1987 Mercedes 560SL, imported from the US, while I decided to go for a mint local 2001 BMW Z3 3.0. And no, Robbie did not get his all-original super-low-mileage SL for less than $15k. To his defence, he had found one, but knowing that he wanted to keep the car after the drive I encouraged him to go for this 1987 one. More expensive, he would blow his budget just buying it, but he agreed to a penalty of $2,000 which would go on top of my budget. Plus – from the first day on, each and every dollar he would spend he also had to pay to me. Quite the deal, right? I was still almost a thousand dollars away from my limit, but once I reached $15k I, too, would have to pay Robbie. His $2,000 and all the other money coming in was considered ‘spending money.’ At the end of the trip, we would find out who spent less, and would therefore be crowned the winner.. ICONIC CONCIERGE
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Before we headed out, both cars went in for a big inspection and we also took some equipment along, including some basic tools, water, a tire repair kit with a small compressor etc. And then, on Monday, July 22nd, the journey started. We met in Hope and the first day would bring us to Golden, BC. DAY ONE Vancouver – Golden, BC 710 km Did you know Golden lies in the Mountain Time Zone? An hour ahead? We only realized this around Kamloops on our first stop when the ETA seemed to make no sense. Yes, a small pocket in BC is actually part of a different timezone. The Z3’s trunk is definitely not the biggest.
We don’t have to tell you much about this first drive. We filled up the cars in Hope (Robbie used 87 to save some money...) and when Robbie’s car stalled I got a little bit of a head start. Via the Coquihalla we passed Kamloops heading towards Salmon Arm. A big accident, just a few kilometres before Salmon Arm, saw the highway closed and Robbie found some backroads and got back in the lead. We both had to fill up and Robbie got worried seeing smoke come from underneath his car. Well ... blasting the A/C on high for 4 hours will result in quite some condensation which dropped on some hot engine parts. Thus the ‘smoke.’ Robbie beat me to Golden by around 10 minutes ... but who cares. I had the extra 2k in my pocket and decided to drive a bit more, checking myself in at the Chateau Lake Louise.
would have loved to visit the 35,000-square-mile region with its towering, misshapen, ochre-coloured rocks and endless grassy fields, often referred to as the Canadian Badlands. The Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site where digs are still underway, is part of it. Well, we didn’t have the time, but at least we saw the world’s tallest teepee in Medicine Hat ... as it is close enough to the highway to see it driving by. In the early afternoon we crossed the border to Saskatchewan and it was around that time that I learned an important lesson: The tank of the Z3 is pretty small! 50 litres. And with gas stations sometimes more than a hundred kilometres apart I almost ran out of fuel with only 2 litres left in the tank when I finally reached a gas station. Yes, again I arrived last, this time in Regina. And rules were that whoever is last that day has to pay the other a $250 penalty. Robbie even got creative trying to find some sponsors to make some extra cash. No kidding. But hey – Robbie, too, had to pay me whatever money he spent that day, plus the ticket, and so I opted for the wonderful Autograph Collection Hotel Saskatchewan. And with it, I had spent the extra 2k in just 48 hours ... DAY THREE Regina – Winnipeg, Manitoba 565 km Today’s drive would bring us to Winnipeg, Manitoba. A rather short drive with just 565 km, there was no penalty for a late arrival. However, the day didn’t start as planned, at least not for me. My car made some weird noise when I started it, and
DAY TWO Golden – Regina, Saskatchewan 1,050 km A wonderful morning. The sun was out, the lake shimmered like a diamond, the mountains looked more majestic than ever and I thought I would have a nice head start leaving from Lake Louise. Turns out Mr Dickson got up very early and so I was quite surprised to see him 30 min later – pulled over by the cops. Fantastic! A ticket is considered extra spending and so he had to pay me the same amount. What a great start to a day! A quick picture and off I was. In the lead! My mood changed a bit later when I found myself in heavy traffic in Calgary. I must admit I have never really spent time there other than at the airport. And so I trusted my GPS. Robbie, however, is really familiar with the city and knew a way around, getting him back in the lead. Once the city was behind us, Robbie around 20mins ahead of me, we encountered what people had told us: An endless, really endless straight highway through the flat prairies. Very scenic, though. And if we would have had some more time we
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Ticket-time. Robbie became quit the collector ....
If this trip was anything, then it was ‘scenic.’
after just a few meters it simply stopped and wouldn’t start again. The reason? Two pretty ripe bananas that Mr Dickson had stuffed into the tailpipes. Beverly Hills Cop must have been a favourite movie of his in the 80s... Back on the endless straight highway, driving along some pretty colourful poppy fields and kilometer-long trains, we made a quick stop in Portage la Prairie to take a picture of the World’s Largest Coca-Cola can, before heading into Winnipeg in the afternoon. Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba, has its downtown core and
historic site at the intersection of the Red and Assiniboine rivers. Old warehouses have been converted to shops and restaurants, with many parks dedicated to festivals, concerts and exhibits. Just around the corner, the Exchange District is known for its well-preserved, early 20th-century architecture and numerous art galleries. Robbie announced he would stay at some cheap motel ... and forgot that the Fairmont was welcoming us that night as Winnipeg is the official longitudinal “Centre of/ du Canada” sitting at 96 degrees 48 minutes 35 seconds. And what a welcome it was ... they had actually created a cocktail “Coast2Coast” in honour of our adventure which was to become part of their menu for the week. ICONIC CONCIERGE
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Behind a shopping center in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, you’ll find the “world’s largest” Coca-Cola can.
From bananas in the tailpipes to penalties, such as sleeping in the cheapest motel ...
DAY FOUR Winnipeg – Thunder Bay, Ontario 721 km Ontario, here we come! And with a little bit more than 700 km to drive we decided there should be a penalty for the last to arrive in Thunder Bay: He would have to sleep in a cheap motel and would only get ten bucks for dinner, whereas the winner would sleep at the luxurious The Courthouse Hotel. And off we were – quickly finding out that the highway is two lanes, and that the speed limit is mostly 90 km/h. At times we had several trucks, RVs and other cars ahead of us, trying to pass wherever it was safe (and legal, of course!) My luck left me halfway to the destination: Just 2 cars apart, Robbie made it through a construction zone before the friendly road worker put up the STOP sign right in front of me. And no whining helped ... I had to wait. For 25 minutes! On top of that, I almost ran out of gas again ....and arrived second in Thunder Bay. Ok, last. At least my neighbours at the “Budget Inn” had a fantastic time that night (reminder: always bring earplugs!) ... and Robbie made sure to send me a few pics of his suite. Thanks, buddy! DAY FIVE Thunder Bay - Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario 704 km I got a cute passenger! The next morning when I walked to my car I found a little ‘Olaf’ toy attached to my grille. And Robbie had a good laugh .. which wouldn’t last too long. Remember when I said it is mostly a 90 km/h speed limit in Ontario? Ticket number two for our British friend ... and some extra
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cash in my pocket. Leaving Thunder Bay you have two options: You can either take Highway 11, or drive around Lake Superior. We decided to do the latter as it seemed to be more scenic, and made Sault Ste. Marie our destination for the day. Winnie the Pooh is Canadian! No, really, he is! When we drove through White River we couldn’t help but notice the town sign and just a bit further down the road, a big Winnie the Pooh sculpture right next to the highway. Over 100 years ago, White River bid farewell to a little black bear cub that became an orphan when a hunter killed her mother. She was found by a trapper who brought her into White River (which apparently was a fairly common thing to do in 1914. Some vintage photos show pet bears leashed and posing with family members). But back to our bear. The trapper sold it to a soldier by the name of Harry Colebourn who was on a stopover heading for Val Cartier, Quebec and then on to his native of England. Harry came to Toronto when he was 18, and later moved to Manitoba, making Winnipeg his hometown. Harry decided to name the little cub “Winnipeg” after his hometown. “Winnie” quickly became a pet for the soldiers, sleeping under the cot of her master even after they reached the Salisbury Plains in England. When Harry was told that he would soon be relocated to France he realized that Winnie would not be able to accompany him, so he made arrangements to keep her in the London Zoo. Winnie soon became a favorite attraction and Harry visited her whenever he was on leave. He officially donated Winnie to the Zoo on December 1, 1918.
Winnie captured the hearts of many visitors to the Zoo, among them A.A. Milne and his son Christopher Robin Milne, who added “Pooh” to Winnie’s name. A.A. Milne started to write stories about a loveable bear in his children’s books based on that bear in the Zoo, making Winnie the Pooh one of the most loved bears in the world.
Prix of Formula One, the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the Just for Laughs festival. And, let’s face it, this more than 300-year-old city is simply beautiful. The Lachine Canal, the Notre-Dame Basilica, Habitat 67, the street art and the thriving Old Town with its boutique shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. And then there is the food ...
Winnie lived a long, full life in the zoo, and died on May 12, 1934 when she was 20 years old.
DAY SEVEN Montreal – Saint John, New Brunswick 920 km
DAY SIX Sault St. Marie – Montreal, Quebec 1,056 km This morning Robbie boasted that he had managed to book a room in one of the most luxurious hotels in Montreal, our stop for the night, at a fantastic discount. And that it was their last room. Big mistake ... as the first thing I did when I got into my car was to call that hotel in Robbie’s name ... and cancel the room! He wasn’t in the best mood that night. And I was back in the (money-) lead. Montreal At a population of 1,7 million, Montreal is the second-most populous municipality in Canada and was ranked the 12th most liveable city in the world and the best city in the world to be a university student in. It also hosts the Canadian Grand
We were getting closer to our final destination! Today we would hopefully reach Saint John on the Bay of Fundy on the Atlantic Ocean. I was in the lead and also arrived first in Saint John. The Saint John City Market is in an 1876 building and houses food and craft stalls. It is Canada’s oldest continuing farmers’ market. On the waterfront, you will find the historic Market Slip area with its intriguing blend of historic and modern architecture and style, incorporating the old brick façades of the warehouses that used to line Market Slip over a century ago. These days, many shops, pubs and restaurants welcome the visitors, and it is the location for events such as the Saint John Beer Festival. NEXT STOP - HALIFAX!
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Saint John – Halifax 414 km
WHY? JUST ... WHY? IN OUR OWN WORDS ... ROBBIE DICKSON
The last day! Today we would reach Halifax ... and other than some unforeseen issues there would be nothing that could cost me the win. Or so I thought... Robbie still claims that he slept that night in his car, getting almost even in our spendings. We have to believe him. But even in that case, I would have spent less on fuel than him. So he came up with an evil plan. For him to have a chance to win I would have to pay the penalty for arriving late in Halifax. But at only 414 km something would have to really slow me down. And so he found my car in the parkade and let air out of my tires! He knew I had a small compressor but that it would take quite some time to fill the tires. Plus, I still needed gas whereas he had still enough in his way bigger tank, plus an extra jerry can. That Mercedes trunk is huge! So, yes, he slowed me down and he had more than just a head start. We arrived in Halifax in the afternoon and treated ourselves to a nice hotel (the Marriott Waterfront) and a fantastic lobster and champagne dinner at the fabulous The Press Gang Seafood Restaurant. And can you believe that, after a week, more than 6,100 km and crossing 8 provinces and 5 time zones ... the difference that made the winner was ... 20 bucks?! Conclusion It was a stupid idea ... so much could have gone wrong. And it made no sense at all, other than that we can now say we crossed Canada in two convertibles in a week and had lots of fun doing it. Which is reason enough to call it an epic trip!
Why a Coast2Coast trip? I’ve done many long road trips in my life, but Canada has 6 time zones, it’s a truly massive country and so driving from one end to the other just seemed like the stupidest idea that we actually wanted to do just once in our lifetime for no good reason other than being able to say “we did it” I personally wanted to make it across in a car that meant something to me and add some element of risk just so that as every mile went by, there was never a guarantee the next one would come so easy just to keep me on my toes and give the accomplishment a little more respect. Why did you choose your car? My car is one I always admired and wanted when I first learned to drive, I couldn’t afford one when I was 17 but promised myself one day I will. The 560SL Mercedes is known to be a rock solid car with great reliability, and it’s really German not like Olaf’s fake German car that was built in South Carolina. But the car is still a 32 year old machine, and you never know what could go wrong. Hence why I packed the car with a full set of tools and equipment to be able to repair it if something were to go wrong, not that I’d know how to but I did fix all my own cars back in the day when I was poor. Having done the drive now I’m even more impressed at how well this oldie coped with 10-12hrs of driving per day. The car also performed without any problems too, giving me so much more respect for this classic car that will just go up in value. Well maybe not mine now I just added another 6,200km for no good reason other than to avoid airline food. Oh and next time you are wondering why it costs $1k to fly to Toronto, take into consideration that I spent $1,070 on gas to get that far, so stop your whining and get on the plane. I will. Mercedes-Benz R107 1971 – 1989 237,287 built The R107 was produced by Mercedes-Benz from 1971 through 1989, being the second longest single series ever produced by the automaker. They were sold as the 280 SL, 300 SL, 350SL, 380SL, 420SL, 450SL, 500SL and 560 SL. Robbie’s car is a 1987 560SL, the most powerful model offered in North America. It was built from 1986 to 1989 and exclusive
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to the USA, Japanese and Australian markets. Engine: 90° 5.6-liter 8-cylinder-V engine (four-stroke), front-mounted Max. Power: 227 hp (169 kW) @ 5200 Fuel tank capacity: 85 L (22.5 US gal) Gearbox: 4-speed automatic; rear wheel drive Dry weight: 1,660 kg (3,650 lb) 0-100 km/h: 7.8 seconds Top Speed: MSRP 1987:
140 mph (225 km/ h) US$48,000
OLAF ROBRECHT Why a Coast2Coast trip? I think it was shortly after our trip to Shanghai when we were wondering what would or should be next on our list. When it came to the summer months I mentioned that our summers are actually so nice that it is almost stupid to leave. That’s when Robbie said “so why not stay? Why not see Canada?” And to do it as a little challenge and in just one week adds some fun to it. So have we seen Canada now? No, not at all. This country is truly massive and offers everything, from oceans to mountains, from deserts to the prairies. But we got a glimpse of its diversity ... and we can now say “yes, we did it!” Why did you choose your car? When it came to the challenge it was actually all about a cheap but very reliable car with a great fuel economy. My original pick was the Mercedes W123, more specifically the 300TD Turbodiesel. It would have been perfect. You can sleep in it, it is iconic, and the engine is considered to be one of the most reliable ones in the world. But when I mentioned it to Robbie he immediately realized
how brilliant this choice was ... and he changed the rules to “convertible.” I found this 2001 Z3 3.0 more or less by accident, here in Vancouver, and it just so happened that it came with the right price tag. I am actually amazed how well it handled, and I think it is a perfect summer toy that will most likely only go up in value, especially with the 3 litre engine. The only “cons” I learned about on this road trip are a pretty small trunk and, should you plan to drive in rather remote areas, the small gas tank. BMW E36/7/8 – Z3 1995 – 2002 279,273 built Based on the E36 3 Series platform, production began on September 20, 1995 in Greer, South Carolina, USA. The 6-cylinder engines were later introduced in 1996. A removable hardtop roof was available as an optional accessory. Olaf’s car is a 2001 E36/7 3.0.
Engine: Max. Power: Fuel tank capacity: Gearbox: Dry weight: 0-100 km/h: Top Speed: MSRP 2001:
3.0 L 6l DOHC 24 Valves 170 kW (228 hp; 231 PS) @ 5,900 rpm 50 L (13.5 US gal) 5-speed ZF 5HP19 automatic 1,260 kg (2,778 lb) 6.0 seconds 155 mph (250 km/ h) US$55,900
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A TOYBOX ON THE OCEAN The Spectacular “HODOR” Incat Crowther Catamaran superyachts in the 200 to 500 foot range, naval architects have to get more and more creative. Take the Hodor, the just recently finished “superyacht support vessel.” Wait, what? Yes, the Hodor, built by Spanish builder Astilleros Armón and designed by Australian naval architects Incat Crowther, is meant to support the new 87-metre Feadship superyacht Lonian.
THIS 66.2-METRE CATAMARAN must be the world’s largest floating toybox. Just have a look at the collection of jet skis, tenders, ATVs and bikes - not to forget its own submarine and the colour-matching Airbus H145 helicopter. To still the thirst of the world’s ocean-loving billionaires for
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Incat Crowther, better known for designing high-speed catamaran ferries than creating luxury vessels, sees the Hodor as the first of a new breed of “shadow cats” designed to make the storage, maintenance, launch and recovery of superyacht toys as efficient as possible. They worked closely with Lonian’s owner for a fully customised solution, utilizing the ship’s vast amounts of deck and storage space. Hodor features a helipad compliant for helicopters of 6
tonnes and up to D-value of 16 metres, and can accommodate five tenders (the largest one is 17 metres in length), jet skis, quad bikes, even a submarine garage, plus a large complement of crew, staff and support equipment. The tenders and the submarine can be launched both from the upper and main decks, thanks to a large knuckle boom and twin beam cranes.
a mix of double and twin staterooms. Propelled by two main engines, Hodor will reach her top speed at 22.5 knots, and can travel 5,500 nautical miles at a cruise speed of 14 knots. The catamaran platform allows fuel savings of around 40%, and thanks to a special exhaust cleaning SCR system, greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced.
A large reception room, finished to a yacht standard, sits forward of the helipad, allowing guests to be transferred in comfort between helicopters and tenders. The port hull door allows guest access and is directly connected to the VIP lounge via a guest staircase. The starboard hull door is reserved for crew operations, and water access is possible via two stern platforms. The yacht’s dive equipment is fully integrated with compressors, NITROX and O2 facilities, and a fully equipped hospital with decompression chamber has been integrated as well. Other specialized spaces are dedicated for fresh and frozen food storage, additional storage for the mother vessel, waste treatment and general and spares stores. Hodor can accommodate up to 20 crew members on-board in ICONIC CONCIERGE
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Christmas ...
NOT JUST FOR
Ladies and Gentlemen - you shouldn’t need ‘a special day’ to cherish your partner. Yes, Christmas is coming up, but how about creating a day filled with romance and love, just because? Buy some flowers, invite your significant other for a nice dinner or a spa-experience, and tell your partner how much you love her or him. Obviously, a nice and unexpected gift will be the icing on the cake. But what to get? Lucky for you, we spent some time with our friends over at Lugaro and put together a few items that will make for a big surprise. And be sure to pick two ...after your ‘just because’ gift, you’ll still need something for Christmas!
FOR HIM
IWC PILOT’S WATCH TOP GUN The IWC TOP GUN watches take their name from the Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Program in the U.S. Navy. They are specially designed with robust materials, such as ceramic, titanium and for the first time Ceratanium®, an innovative material developed by IWC, to meet the specific requirements of elite jet pilots. Pictured: IW389101, Chronograph. 44.5mm. CAD$9.950.
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CANADIAN DIAMOND & TITANIUM CUFFLINKS A pair of fabulous cufflinks never goes out of style! These Canadian diamond & titanium cufflinks are available in blue and green. CAD$400/ pair.
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OMEGA SEAMASTER DIVER 300M Since 1993, the Seamaster Professional Diver 300M has enjoyed a legendary following. This 42 mm model is crafted from stainless steel and 18K yellow gold, and includes a blue ceramic bezel with a Ceragold™ diving scale. Calibre 8800. 42mm. CAD$12,200.
PARK ROYAL SOUTH METROPOLIS AT METROTOWN DOWNTOWN VICTORIA
LUGARO.COM
FOR HER PARK ROYAL SOUTH METROPOLIS AT METROTOWN DOWNTOWN VICTORIA
LUGARO.COM
OVAL SAPPHIRE AND DIAMOND PENDANT 18K white gold pendant featuring a 3.29 carat oval cut CGL certified blue sapphire, accented by 1.76 carat total weight baguette cut diamonds. Pendant includes certificate from CGL. CAD$9,650.
FOREVERMARK DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY RING 18K white gold diamond anniversary ring featuring a 0.10 carat ideal square Forevermark diamond, accented by 1.44 carat total weight diamonds.Ring includes Forevermark diamond certificate. CAD$4,600.
DIAMOND STAR STUD EARRINGS One pair of diamond star stud earrings in 10k yellow gold set featuring 0.44 carat total weight round brilliant diamonds. CAD$488.
PEAR SHAPE RUBY DIAMOND HALO RING 18K white gold halo ring featuring a 3.03 carat nonheat treatment pear shape ruby, accented by 0.52 carat total weight diamonds. Ring includes CGL full certificate. CAD$26,500.
OMEGA DE VILLE PRESTIGE The De Ville Prestige collection is characterised by pure styling with timeless luxury finishes. This model features a champagne dial with a silk-like pattern and an opaline finish. The hands are gold-plated and the hour-markers include six gold-plated diamond holders as well as gold-plated Roman numerals. CAD$8,250.
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“IF YOU THINK CHOCOLATE AND ROSES ARE GOOD ENOUGH, THINK AGAIN !”
by Natalie Langston www.natalielangston.com
W
WHAT WOMEN WANT...
YOUR FALL SHOPPING GUIDE Fall is here and winter is just around the corner which means bundling up, stepping out, and braving the cold. To make the most of the season, I’ve handpicked all the essentials your chilly babe will need from wardrobe must-haves to self-care. And speaking of self-care, why not treat her to a romantic BC getaway where you can pick up some amazing vintages for the wine collection in idyllic Osoyoos.
INSTANT PUMPING CREAM BY OMORVICZA As the months get colder it becomes tougher to keep up that dewy glow which seems to come so easily in the summer. As soon as the indoor heating comes on my sensitive skin just starts to fall apart! Dryness and cracking are no joke, and staying hydrated is the key to anti-aging and maintaining that fresh look all year round. Luckily I discovered Omorvicza’s Instant Plumping Cream. Its luxe texture is packed with Sodium Hyaluronate filling spheres which work overtime to replenish the skin’s moisture overnight. Collagen boosting and skin plumping - It’s like getting a facial (and counteracting the effects of that last glass of wine) while you’re sleeping. Available at Nordstrom. C$285
PARK & FIFTH ROSEWOOD DRESS Hello bombshell! Gala season is fast approaching and I always like to have a showstopper at the ready. This slinky black number from Park & Fifth is a head turner that will put her on the best dressed list at any event. A modest neckline is offset by a sexy slit in the front and barely-there back. The perfect balance of class and sass. Top the look off with some shimmering jewels and you’ll have her feeling like Julia Roberts à la Pretty Woman. Available at Park & Fifth in Vancouver. C$280
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BUNGALOW 5 EDWARD CHAIR NATURAL One of my favourite pieces for fall, it provides a lovely warm, harvest feel. Designed as an homage to the iconic original, the Edward is elegant and understated. It is sleekly crafted with sustainably-harvested Cape Lilac Mahogany and has a beautiful classical design. A hand-woven rattan back and hand-cast brass sabots and arm caps provide unique, stylish details. Available at CF Interiors. $1,383.
PRADA CROC-EFFECT LEATHER ANKLE BOOTS The sophisticated older sister to those beloved Dr. Martens we all had in high school. The combat boot is back in a big way and is being shown paired back to everything from satin slip skirts to denim. Crocodile embossing gives these Prada boots a rich texture that makes them eye-catching but versatile. I can think of so many outfits that would be perfect if only I had these! I love it when trends intersect with practicality, and these thick-soled boots are the perfect fall companions come rain or shine. Shoes that I can actually run around in? Sign me up! Available at Net-A-Porter. $790.
PARAJUMPER “TANISHA” COAT Keep your girl chic and bundled in this special edition Parajumper parka. It’s a well-known fact that outerwear is the star of any cold-weather wardrobe, and I’m always looking for an exciting new style to stand out come fall. This wool-bodied parka is the perfect elevated update to her every-day puffer jacket. Take it from weekend ski getaways to dinners in the city, it checks all the boxes. Available at Holt Renfrew and Sporting Life. $1,445.
The Ultimate Romantic Getaway OSOYOOS & THE OKANAGAN One of BC’s (not so hidden) gems, the Okanagan Valley makes for the perfect destination to recharge, relax and inspire romance. With every twist of the road a vineyard more sprawling and beautiful than the last seems to unfold. Home to some of the natural wine scene’s most exciting newcomers and veteran winemakers alike, this valley has something for every kind of wine lover. No wine trip to the Okanagan is complete without a visit to Poplar Grove. The views are some of the best in the valley and it makes for such a special setting. The restaurant, Vanilla Pod, offers custom food and wine pairings and the dining room was made for romance with soft lighting and elegant interiors. Take home some of their exclusive wines that can’t be bought in liquor stores and save them for a special occasion back home.
Poplar Grove Winery & Vanilla Pod Restaurant
For a laid-back lunch I recommend stopping by Cannery Brewing. Their in-house brewery offers a casual alternative to wine tastings and it’s a great place to relax and settle in for the afternoon. They have lots of locally produced, fresh bar snacks to pair with their beers. If your lady is like me and in search of plant-based options, dining without sacrificing flavour can be tough when travelling. But herbivores can let out a sigh of relief because the Okanagan has no shortage of amazing vegan-friendly spots. The Hooded Merganser is one of them. Overlooking the Okanagan Lake, it boasts local ingredients harvested from its very own farm!
Spirit Ridge Resort
Covert Farms is an organic farm that offers private tours of the farm in their retro 1952 Mercury truck. It’s one of my favourite spots to visit and makes for such a unique afternoon spent with someone special. The vegan charcuterie is to die for, especially when paired with their sulphate free wines. Stay in style ... at the Hyatt Spirit Ridge Resort, overlooking Osoyoos Lake. Amenities include the Solterra Desert Spa, a fantastic restaurant, pools, a 9-hole golf course, riding stables and more.
The Hooded Merganser
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ARTS & MUSIC VANCOUVER’S ICONIC ART SCENE IN REVIEW by Oliver Finlay
Towards the end of September, Maestro Otto Tausk returned to the stage at the Orpheum to lead the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra into their 101st season of performances. After a warmly received debut season, characterised by Tausk’s passion and verve, there is a palpable excitement for the upcoming program, which commenced with a World Première of Bekah Simms’ ‘Is it now?’, commissioned by the VSO and dedicated to the memory Hugh Davidson. The evening continued with soprano, Adrianne Pieczonka, performing a selection of Schubert’s songs, adapted for an orchestra, before reaching a thunderous climax with a powerful rendition of Mahler’s Symphony No.1 in D Major. Much of the anticipation surrounding the season ahead, and indeed looking ahead through to next summer, is founded upon some of the incredible collaborations that have been arranged, which can be described as truly world class. Just one week after the season opener, Daniil Trifonov, one of the most celebrated pianists in the world, accompanied the orchestra to perform a memorable interpretation of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.3 in D Minor, Op. 30. This performance showcased his incredible talent for countering such incandescent power, with such deft tenderness and feel. There are times in our lives where we are privileged to be in the presence of true greatness and Trifonov’s display of phenomenal technique, allied to focused stamina, left an indelible impression on everyone in the theatre. Given the beautiful portrayal of Rachmaninoff’s haunting ‘Isle of the Dead, Op.29’ and contrasting magic of Scriabin’s ‘The Poem of Ecstasy: Symphony No.4, Op.54’, which comprised the first half of the evening, the Orpheum bore witness to one of its finest evenings in recent memory. In July, The Orpheum played host to another celebrated pianist, this time of a jazz persuasion, when Live Nation presented Norah Jones. Whilst never renowned for her audience interaction, Jones has an ability to turn even the biggest of venues into an intimate setting. Using the opportunity to showcase mesmerising new songs such as ‘Just a Little Bit’ and ‘It Was You’ from her recently released album ‘Begin Again’, Jones and her band settled into their groove, recreating a vibe more akin to a jazz club than a theatre. Classic Jones numbers, such as ‘Sunrise’ and ‘Come Away With Me’ were as polished as they were welcomed and covers, including Neil Young’s ‘Don’t Be Denied’, added extra flavour. For more information on the September - November season at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, including the Masterworks’ series, Symphonic Nights at the Movies and Kids’ concerts, go to www.VancouverSymphony.ca
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As the kids started to get ready for a return to school, ‘Death Cab For Cutie’ enjoyed a perfect late summer’s evening at Stanley Park’s Malkin Bowl and treated their faithful fans to a fantastic revisit of their back catalogue, after a seven year wait to see them live in Vancouver. On the eve of the release of ‘The Blue EP’, which includes a track entitled ‘Kids in ’99’, a tribute to three children who were victims of the Olympic Pipeline explosion in their former hometown of Bellingham, the band revisited tracks from all of their previous albums. From the moment lead singer Ben Gibbard and his band mates took to the stage with the opening ‘I Dreamt We Spoke Again’, their energy and enthusiasm were reflected by the gathered crowd. ‘Black Sun’ and ‘I Will Possess Your Heart’ were both particularly warmly received whilst, perhaps not surprisingly, the encore set of ‘I Will Follow You Into the Dark’, ‘When We Drive’, ’Tiny Vessels’ and ‘Transatlanticism’ drew a chorus of voices from the grassy banks of the bowl to provide backing accompaniment to Gibbard’s final offerings. With everyone finally resigned to the passing of summer, the fall concert season gathered momentum, as Live Nation invited ‘Of Monsters and Men’ to close out the North American leg of their ‘Fever Dream’ tour at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Arena at UBC. ‘Fever Dream’ is the third studio album from the Icelandic band and could arguably be described as having evolved to encapsulate a more expansive and perhaps more manufactured sound, which has grown from their original folk-rock roots. Whilst the sound that characterises songs such as the opening ‘Alligator’ could be deemed to nicely fit the setting of an arena tour and the dance-orientated ‘Wars’ brings a new dimension for the collective, reflecting Hilmarsdóttir’s decision to compose some tracks on a computer, the opening bars of ‘Little Talks’ provided the impetus for the crowd to take to their feet and engage with the performance. Shortly afterwards, they reflected the mood of ‘Waiting for the Snow’ by lighting up the arena with a snow storm of cell phone torches, whilst ‘Dirty Paws’ provided further excuse for a sing-along before the band closed their tour with ‘Yellow Light’. For more information on upcoming concerts promoted by Live Nation, including The Who, Bastille, Hozier, Jason Mraz and The Black Keys, go to www.LiveNation.com
TASTINGS
.
HOLIDAY EVENTS
.
CORPORATE DINNERS
Experience extraordinary wines against a flawless Okanagan Valley backdrop. Inspired by local farms and gardens, reserve your table at CHAOS Bistro or book your holiday or corporate event with us. Come for the wine. Stay for the food.
BISTRO HAPPY HOUR . LUNCH . DINNER H O L I D AY . C O R P O R AT E E V E N T S
2 50 . 766 . 5522 Lake Country, B.C. e x n i h i l o v i n e ya r d s . c o m
THE ULTRA WIDEBODY JET INTRODUCING THE FALCON 6X
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A CLASS ALL ITS OWN. With the new Falcon 6X, Dassault Aviation redefines the private jet travel experience, creating a new category: the ultra widebody business jet. With a cabin height of 6-feet, 6-inches, a length of 40 feet, 4 inches and a cabin width of 8 feet, 6 inches, the Falcon 6X has the tallest and widest cabin in business aviation. It will seat 16 in three lounge areas, allowing for all kinds of configurations, and has 155 cubic feet of luggage space.
business aviation industry.
The aircraft has a range of 5,500 nautical miles (10,186 km) and a top speed of Mach .90. It is capable of flying at Mach .85 for non-stop flights up to 5,100 nm (9,445 km), including Moscow to New York, Paris to Beijing, Los Angeles to London. At its long-range cruise spped of Mach .8 you can go directly from Los Angeles to Geneva, Beijing to San Francisco or Moscow to Singapore. In addition, the 6X is very stable at the speeds and angles required at smaller airstrips with runways of less than 3,000 feet, making takeoffs and landings safer and quicker.
As for technolgy, the Falcon 6X cockpit is equipped with the latest generation of Dassault’s award-winning avionics suite. The EASy III design reflects input from Falcon operators — for example, the ability to quickly power up and power down all systems with the touch of one button. The 6X also features proprietary technologies such as the award-winning FalconEye Combined Vision System, which provides unprecedented situational awareness for flight crews, and FalconSphere II, an integrated Electronic Flight Bag solution that reduces the time and effort of preparing missions.
All of this in style: The Falcon 6X cabin has been designed to achieve a contemporary look that matches the superior comfort you expect from a jet of this caliber. Flowing, uninterrupted lines enhance the feeling of space and de-clutter the cabin, with room to spare for virtually any configuration. Natural light will infuse the interior via 30 huge windows and a galley skylight—the first in the
Should you like to take the helm you will love the cockpit: Four large windows provide exceptional, wide-angle visibility. The glare shield is even shaped to give pilots an expanded field of view.
Dassault says the Falcon 6X program is well into the manufacturing phase and on track to complete assembly of the first aircraft by early next year. First flight is scheduled for 2021, with deliveries expected to start in 2022. The price is expected to be around US$47 million.
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A SPACE ODYSSEY OPENING SOON? THE FIRST SPACE HOTELS
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Aurora Station is being billed as the world’s first luxury hotel in orbit. It plans to welcome its first guests in 2022, with the station’s launch happening in 2021.
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The Von Braun Station
ARE YOU DREAMING of gazing upon our home planet from space? Enjoy 16 sunrises in a day? Well, you might get lucky ... IF US-based space technology start-up Orion Span will really open the very first ‘luxury space hotel’ in 2021 - and if you have some spare lying around: US$9.5 million, to be exact. In return you will receive a three-month Orion Span Astronaut Certification (OSAC) program and a 12-day space adventure in the fully modular space station at a height of 200 miles above the Earth’s surface in Low Earth Orbit. The station is around 12 feet wide and 35 feet long and can host six people at a time, including two crew members, making it more of a B&B rather than a hotel. There won’t be artificial gravity, so you will be floating around, taking part in research experiments such as growing food while in orbit or playing zero-gravity ping pong. The hotel will orbit Earth every 90 minutes, which means guests will see around 16 sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours. It sounds a bit fishy to you? Well, Orion Span has a team of space industry veterans who together have more than 140 years of human space experience. They are accepting reservations for future stays on the station. The $80,000 deposit is fully refundable and allows you to secure a spot on the waitlist, company representatives said. But Orion Span isn’t the only venture to offer you a new definition of outer earthly luxury. Just 3 years later, in 2025, the second luxury space hotel is about to open, offering accommodation for 100 guests.
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THE VON BRAUN STATION Bending the Rules of Gravity With a 623-foot diameter, the Von Braun Station consists of 24 individual modules outfitted with life-support systems and sleeping accommodations. The Gateway Foundation, the company behind the project, claims that the rotating wheel will create a gravitational force similar to the one felt on the moon. They say that the station will feature much of the same technology used on the International Space Station, but that its artificial gravity will make both longand short-term stays much more pleasant. They will even offer low-gravity basketball, trampolining and rock-climbing facilities. The Gateway Foundation plans to sell modules as private residences, rent out others to governments for research purposes and turn the remaining units into a luxury hotel that offers “restaurants, bars, musical concerts, movie screenings, and educational seminars.” Are you still with us? Good - there is more. They call it Gateway - “a destination hotel, a low Earth orbit cruise ship, or a city in space with a spaceport.” The “first important step to colonizing space and other worlds.” The Gateway Foundation hopes to eventually offer “field trips” to other space stations (which they hope to open by 2030) ... or the moon. The only question we have is ... how the heck do we get up there? Anyone have Richard Branson’s or Elon Musk’s cell number?
“Playing on the action on a Fazioli is like a massage for a pianist”
– Rachel Lam
W W W . S H O W C A S E P I A N O S . C O M
THE
SOUND of MUSIC
BY BILL DROSSOS
Today I’m not talking about exhaust systems or anything that will lower your lap time. What we are discussing in this chapter is getting the most out of your vehicle’s audio system. In particular we are going to look at the High Resolution Digital Audio Player or the hi-res dap. The hi-res dap is a simple, elegant solution to all your hi-fi listening needs. It allows you to store music from every source that you have, in a lossless format, while simultaneously being able to connect to every audio system or device you own. It can connect by Bluetooth, Wifi, 2.5mm 4 conductor, 3.5mm 3 conductor common ground, and by micro USB. Video vs Audio Over the past 30 years it’s been quite easy to see the difference in the quality of video image with the advancement of television. You can basically divide TV resolution into three categories; standard definition, high definition, and ultra high definition. Standard
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definition for years was available through the cathode ray tube television by means of the NTSC signal which was 30 frames per second with 480 interlaced scan lines. Current HD TV signals are available as 1080i, 720p, 1080p formats in order of higher resolution. The latest and greatest is Ultra High definition represented, and currently marketed, as 4K, with the potential for 8K in the not to distant future. So why are TVs relevant to the discussion about car and home audio? While there has been a steady and obvious progression towards a better TV picture, what we have seen relating to audio sources for the most part has been the exact opposite. Consumers are happily trading quality for convenience when it comes to the source and storage of their music. Primarily it was the maximum storage capacity of early digital devices that required file compression in order to accommodate a reasonable amount of music. Early solid state digital storage devices had limited memory capacity and music needed to have smaller file sizes in order for it to fit. For illustrative purposes we can use television resolution to compare audio formats. We can think of CDs and records as being the equivalent of HD TV, mp3s, satellite radio and iTunes as being the equivalent of standard definition, and high resolution audio as being the equivalent of 4K & 8K TV. Have you ever seen what a nice new HD TV looks like when a standard old 480i analogue signal is fed into it? It usually looks terrible. This is why TV stores will often demo their best TVs with the highest definition source signal available, often this will be a 4K blue ray video. File Size When you look at the various digital audio formats the differences are obvious in amount of memory space that they occupy. I have had the opportunity to compare the same album as an iTunes file, a lossless wav file from a CD (44.1kHz 16 bit) and as a high resolution audio file (196kHz 24 bit). The highest quality MP3 has a bitrate of 320kbps, whereas a 24bit/192kHz file has a data rate of 9216kbps. Music CDs are 1411kbps. This in turn meant that the album mentioned had an approximate iTunes file size of 125 megabytes, a lossless CD wav file size of around 700 megabytes, and the hi-res audio file required 2.6 gigabytes of memory for storage. The above comparison clearly illustrates why early
smartphones and iPods/mp3 players required smaller music files in order to store a reasonable amount of music. A first generation iPhone would not even be able to store a single hi-res album with its standard built in memory. Modern Hi-res DAPs have solved the storage problem thanks to the ever increasing capacity of micro SD storage cards. Current DAPs can accommodate two 256 gigabyte micro SD cards as well as having up to 64 gigabytes of internal storage space. This will easily accommodate 300 hi-res complete albums or 1,200 wav CD quality albums. If you need more memory you can always store more music on additional SD cards. Imagine a stack of records or CDs as high as your ceiling stored on something the size of your thumbnail. An added bonus is if your DAP were to become damaged you could simply remove the SD cards and install them in a replacement DAP. Audio Quality The question most often asked is, “can you really hear the difference”. The short answer is definitely yes. The reality is that, just as some people have better eyesight than others, others have better hearing. It also depends on the quality of the audio system through which you’re sourcing audio. With a decent quality Hi-Fi system the average listener can tell the difference when the resolution increases by 4 or 5 times. It is easy to hear the difference between an iTune file and a lossless CD wav file, and it is also true between the lossless wav and the hi-res 192kHZ 24 bit. It becomes more difficult to tell the difference when the resolution is already high and the difference is narrower, for example 96kHzAstell & Kern SP1000M 24 bit and 192kHZ 24 bit. Of course, the quality of the original studio recording and the skill of the sound engineers also factor into this equation. Hi-res audio is made from the original studio master tapes for the most part, well at least the good music that you and I listen too is stored and originated this way. There are more and more great albums becoming available for download this way on various websites like HD Tracks. In some cases the original studio recordings have been remastered and converted to digital files at the highest possible resolution. Modern luxury and performance car manufacturers have some fairly high-end audio systems as factory options. These systems are designed and optimized for the interior design of the car they are in, and have many other vehicle functions already integrated. Many of these systems are engineered by boutique audio companies like Bose, Bowers & Wilkins, Infinity, Kenwood, Alpine, Sony, Meridian, Kef, Burmester, Bang & Olufsen, Mark Levinson, Harmon Kardon, Lexicon and others. These systems are the audio equivalent of the new 4K and 8K ultra HD televisions. If you are listening to them with satellite radio or your iTunes, you aren’t even coming close to experiencing the potential of these systems. Recently Ford announced that they would be teaming up with Sony to offer Hi-Res DAP integrated systems in future high end audio system optioned vehicles. I would expect other brands looking to bolster their luxury image will soon follow suit. Why the DAP? A little while back I started to notice that many new vehicles
that came with high end Audio systems were no longer offering a simple CD player. When I took delivery of my ZL1 this was the case and for the first couple months I was happy to listen to the free satellite radio through the 9 speaker Bose system. Occasionally I would listen to the very few songs I have stored on my phone. The music sounded okay but I felt that something was lacking and that maybe the Bose wasn’t what it was all cracked up to be. One night a song came on the radio that I had the original CD recording of at home. I dug out my old CD, my old CD Sony Walkman, a 3.5mm acg cord, and plugged the Walkman into the auxiliary input in my center console. I then proceeded to play the same song I had just previously heard on the radio. Wow! What a difference! I was really impressed by the factory Bose unit, the music was alive and sounded even better than I remembered it! I then realized that I had a stack of CDs almost as high as my ceiling, and it wouldn’t be practical to try to stuff them, along with the Walkman, into the glove box. It made me look into digital audio players, and I quickly discovered the hi-res variety. These are available from Onkyo/Pioneer, Fiio, Sony, Astell & Kern, Shanling, and others. I compared features and availability, as well as product reviews and tests, and decided to order a Pioneer unit. Pioneer and Onkyo are basically the same company and have similar models and features. I then began the task of using my home computer to convert my CD collection into lossless wav files and store on my new DAP. Shortly after purchasing the unit I decided to buy and download my first hi-res audio file from HD Tracks. The DAP that I purchased has twin digital to analog converters and a two channel headphone amplifier built in. It also has programmable equalizer built into the unit. This allows me to have one equalizer optimized for my car, another equalizer optimized for my headphones, and yet another optimized for my home system. Coupled with the near limitless storage
and multiple connectivity options this truly was the solution I was looking for. I also saved money by electing not to renew my satellite radio, which sounded bad anyways. Final Thoughts If you have read this far through this story, then chances are you appreciate good music, and great audio. This is the first step towards becoming an audiophile. While few of us truly are audiophiles, we probably are old enough to remember when new music arrived in the form of a vinyl disc. There was always that one friend that had that Hi-Fi stereo system and top of the line turn table. I vividly remember what it was like when you would get your friends together to listen to a new album, start to finish, A side and B side. Those albums, on the Hi-Fi, always seemed to sound better the more you turned up the volume. Maybe this was due to the analog technology of the day, maybe we just enjoyed simple pleasures more in a world less complicated. I am happy to say, at least from my own experience, that the hires DAP did more than just present itself as an elegant solution for my musical source and storage problems. It has also served as a time machine transporting me back to a time when the subtleties and intricacies of music were a joy to discover. Do your own research, it’s a joy to crank the volume again. Maybe a Hi-Res DAP belongs under your tree this Christmas! Let us safe you some time. These are our Top Recommendations: 1. Budget Pioneer XDP - 02U 2. No Limit Astell & Kern SP1000M 3. All Around Fiio M11
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In Style!
YVES SAINT LAURENT Y An authentic and bold creation, Y Eau de Toilette redefines masculinity in a clean, powerful fragrance. Y represents a balance between freshness and strength, like Monsieur Saint Laurent’s iconic white t-shirt underneath a tailored black jacket.
JV X NJ RED Bold and intoxicating, capturing the mood of the city at night. A fragrance with an alluring hook of Cuban rum that is charged by energizing bergamot and carbonated coffee.
BLEU DE CHANEL Be unexpected! A tribute to masculine freedom in an enigmatic blue bottle. BLEU DE CHANEL is the fragrance of a man who refuses to blend in or be bound to rules. Its composition reveals the spirit of a man who chooses his destiny with independence and determination.
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MUGLER ALIEN MAN Electrifying. With Alien Man, men find their inner strength and achieve their dreams. Halfgod, half-man, experience an extraordinary adventure where serenity meets power. FYI: The Osmanthus flower in MUGLER’s Alien Man is handpicked in China and carefully selected.
SPICEBOMB NIGHT VISION Lights off! Bold. Dark. Sensual. “Where fiery black spices and green fusing freshness meet an addictive twist to seduce even in the dark.” Spicebomb Night Vision is an explosive contrast of green fusing freshness and addictive black spices.
In Style!
The Best Fall Fragrances For Men
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THE
GENTLEMAN by Julie-Anna Vogel | www.julieabroad.com
ABROAD
EDITION 2 - TORONTO, CANADA AH! TORONTO! …. Where Babe Ruth hit his first professional home run, over 180 languages are spoken and 25% of Hollywood movies are made. Named the most multi-cultural city in the world by BBC radio, there are more than 8000 restaurants that please any food craving. Running through the center of town and beyond, Yonge Street is the longest street in the world (as opposed to highway). A house without a mail box it probably hides a transformer, Torontonians like things to look nice. Whether exploring St Lawrence Market, skating on one of 54 outdoor rinks or attending a premier at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) there is plenty to keep the erudite gentleman amused. BISHA HOTEL - Lenny Kravitz designed a whole floor for this much needed, hipper than hip new hotel in the heart of the entertainment district. His 2 story, 2000 square foot Bisha Suite is the ultimate place to stay for anyone who has ever dreamed of being a star when stars were truly stars! Luxury, comfort and more style that you can imagine… the bathroom belongs in a magazine, the in-suite bar houses vintage glassware and Maestro Dobel tequila and the outdoor terrace is perfect place to indulge. Try and drag yourself to the 44th pool. It is open to guests all summer. If you can’t stay the night at least the visit the super sophisticated Mr. C Lobby Bar… $1 oysters, half priced champagne and live music every Tuesday. www.bishahoteltoronto.com
OPUS RESTAURANT - The food is fab but go for the best wine list in Canada, ranked top 91 in the world by Wine Spectator. Owners and brothers Tony and Mario have been collecting for more than 30 years. They have more than 52000 bottles in their cellar. They will send you the wine list in advance so you can take you time choosing. Or just ask… one of them is always managing the front of house and they know the list cold. www.opusrestaurant.com
HARRY ROSEN - Started by Harry himself (his son now heads the business but Harry still keeps his hand in as an advisor) in 1954. The company spends more on training than any other retailer in Canada; the staff really know how to fit a suit. Harry’s is the place to go for men’s clothing; they have exclusive rights to many top designers including Tom Ford. Into social media before there was social media… the famous ‘Ask Harry” ads have been running since 1961. The Bloor Street Flagship store has everything the well-dressed man doesn’t yet know he needs. www.harryrosen.com/en/
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HOCKEY HALL OF FAME - Ay, it’s Canada; hockey is the national sport. This museum houses its history. It’s also interactive…You can shoot a real hockey puck at a simulated Carey Price or play goalie against a virtual Sydney Crosbie; then share your results with the world. Every Canadian has at some point dreamed of raising the Stanley Cup above their head. It is the ultimate Canadian trophy though the last time a Canadian team won was in 1993. When it’s not on the road it lives here. www.hhof.com
A TOI - COC aka Coffee Oysters Champagne is a pretty cool place to grab a glass, a cup or a slurp. It has the largest bubbly list in the city. But it is really just a front for A Toi, the Roaring 20’s Paris style hidden party room in the back. Chef Chris Wilkinson serves an upscale spin on classic bar food, think popcorn sweet breads, steak & bones (marrow that is), carrot terrine and the obligatory burger. Muddled cocktails are where they earn their stripes; great craft beer and champagnes are also on the menu. Known for great music at all hours, the late night DJ takes things up a notch. No photos allowed which is refreshing in an Instagram driven wor ld. www.sipshucksip.com THE EDGE WALK AT CN TOWER - The world’s highest hands free walk on a building. Prove your stripes by doing a full circle along the 5 foot ledge 116 floors above the ground. 6 people at a time are harnessed to an overhead rail… Test their limits by leaning back over nothing but air and a great view. Start to finish, including training, take 1 ½ hours and comes with video proof. www.edgewalkcntower.ca
WHERE SOPHISTICATION MEETS SPECTACLE
80 Blue Jays Way, Toronto | 416-551-2800 | bishahoteltoronto.com
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by Jason Boudreau
CREATING IMPACT Candid Conversations with Leaders in Life, Business and Philanthropy
Conversations with Leaders in Life, Business and Philanthropy”, we will be sharing with you the intimate conversations with dynamic, successful and accomplished people, who also have very big hearts and a deep passion to leave the world a better place for future generations. Our first candid conversation is with Dr. Peter Legge. Peter is the Chairman and CEO of Canada Wide Media, the largest privately-held publishing company in Western Canada, a company he co-founded in Vancouver in 1976. Peter is a world-renowned speaker and an author of 23 Canada best-selling books. Through Canada Wide, his family and Peter’s own direct efforts, millions of dollars have been raised and donated and countless hours of service have been spent over the past four decades. He believes that yes, we can all write cheques, yet we can all raise far more money and do much greater good than any cheques we can individually write using our influence and connections and sharing our time and talents. Peter is truly a leader in the Vancouver community and exemplifies what it means to be a philanthropist.
Dr. PETER LEGGE, O.B.C., O.St.J., K.C.S.J., F.C.G.A., O.St.S., M.A., B.B.A., C.S.P., C.P.A.E., HoF, LL.D (Hon), D.Tech.
W
WHEN YOU HEAR the word philanthropy, what comes to mind? Writing a large cheque to a charity? Donating a piece of art for a fundraiser? Gifting appreciated shares of a company you’ve invested in to a foundation? While we all choose to define philanthropy in a manner personal to us, the word itself originates from the Latin meaning, “love to mankind”. In
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editorial,
“Creating
Impact,
Candid
Peter was born in 1942 in London, England and, like so many accomplished Canadian businesspeople, immigrated to Canada with his family as a child. At age 12, Peter’s father sent for him and his mother to come to Canada after having been there for some time, searching for work and a place to settle the family for a better life. Peter and his mother crossed the Atlantic onboard a ship from Southampton, England, bound for New York City. They then made their way to Seattle, Washington by Greyhound Bus and finally landed in New Westminster, BC via train from Seattle. To begin our conversation I asked Peter about where his desire to give back came from. He immediately shared with me a story about an instance with a perfect stranger in Seattle, when he and his mother arrived after their long, cross-country journey on the Greyhound from New York. “I was so hungry after that bus ride”, Peter explained, “all I wanted to eat was a burger, chips (his British word for French Fries) and a Coke. The problem was, my mom was literally, flat broke. She had almost no money, yet she bought me the burger, chips and a Coke and had hot water to drink for herself”.
Peter then shared, “all of a sudden, this woman comes up to our table. She said she’d like to pay for my meal, and she did. That was a moment that lit a SPARK inside me about the generosity of the human spirit and it has stuck with me ever since”. Within his own family, Peter shared that his most important influence was his dad. “When he first came to Canada to set up a new life for his family, he would work picking berries, serving at soup kitchens, anything to make ends meet”, Peter described.
in giving back to the community and that if his daughters observed what he and Kay did, that those values they exemplified would become their own values and continue on to live within them.
Find a need and fill it! Join a committee, get involved! It’s about serving others and helping your fellow man. You can’t “out-give” and philantrophy is not all about the money.
Soon after Peter and his mom arrived from England, Peter’s dad had a contract lined for a job in Kitimat that ended up falling through. Peter shared, “in that moment, my dad declared that Canada was a failure and it was time for everyone to go home. Then, that same day the contract fell through, he saw an ad for Gilley Brothers in New Westminster. He decided he would give it one last shot. He shined his shoes, put on his best clothes, walked in and “sold himself” as the right man for the job. They hired him right away and he stayed there for 25 years until he retired”.
Throughout the conversation with Peter, it was evident that he has a deep passion to help others in any way he can. At one point, he asked me a question that really made me think differently about how to give. “Tell me this”, Peter said, “what if a business in your building is struggling and they need 1000 sheets of Xerox paper or some other office supplies? Give it to them! If you think about the root of the word philanthropy it’s “help mankind”. Giving Xerox paper to your business neighbour, that’s philanthropy!”
“He was a man of his community”, Peter said. “When he first came to New Westminster, he joined the Lions Club, Kingsmen, Rotary, and other service clubs. This is where he built many life-long friendships and business relationships. The I can raise far more community named him “Mr. New Westminster” and when he died, money than any cheques over 1000 people came to his I could ever write. (...) funeral”, Peter shared, “I believe, I always say to people they came to say “THANK YOU asking for donations, BERNIE”, thank you because you gave back and built this I can give you $5,000 community!” Observing what his or I can give you space father did, how he gave back and for an ad that goes to how many lives he touched truly 100,000 readers. That’s ignited Peter’s “servant spirit”.
philanthropy!”.
Fast forward to his adult years, Peter married Kay and they had three daughters, Samantha, Rebecca and Amanda. Today, both Samantha and Rebecca are actively involved with Canada Wide Media, making it a true family business. During our lunch together, Peter shared that over the years in business, he focused on Canada Wide playing an active role
Peter also shared that utilizing Canada Wide’s incredible business network has helped to “multiply” the giving effect through business as a leverage point for doing good. He explained to me that “I can raise far more money than any cheques I could ever write. Over the years, Canada Wide has given millions of dollars of ad and page space to organizations looking to raise money. I always say to these people asking for donations, I can give you $5,000 or I can give you space for an ad that goes to 100,000 readers. That’s philanthropy!”.
As Peter described it, at the core of philanthropy is a “servant’s heart”. As humans we innately want to give and help others, it’s why we feel so good when we do and receive nothing in return. In closing our time together, I asked him what he would share with young people today regarding philanthropy and giving. His response was “find a need and fill it! Join a committee, get involved! It’s about serving others and helping your fellow man. You can’t “out-give” and philanthropy is not all about the money”.
Peter’s last statement was one that stuck with me. We need the money to make things happen and, perhaps more importantly, we need the people with “servant hearts” to mobilize that money and make the future of this planet a bright one for generations to come.
JASON BOUDREAU CFP, CLU WEALTH ADVISOR Principal & Founder - VELA Wealth www.velawealth.com
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The Gentleman
They should have taught you this in school....
by Dr. Christian Brix
Just For The Ladies: WHAT DOES A GENTLEMAN WANT? have had many people ask me about this article and why I always seem to be writing for men. I realized it was true, so this issue is just for the ladies out there. Here is the good news: Instead of the usual “how to meet or please a great girl,” the following is a list of what a great guy might be looking for! Take it or leave it, but if you are dealing with a real man, this will help: Now is your chance to either take that love and care for it like Mr. Miyagi does his bonsai tree, or completely let it slip away. To lose the girl of your dreams, just follow this guide:
Your “thing” - Being driven and passionate is also one of the most appealing things about a great woman. It isn’t necessarily about money, but more about having something that really gives you purpose, and gets you excited when you talk about it. Laugh a little - If you have a good sense of humor and have no problem laughing at yourself, it shows you are confident. We love a girl who can take it as well as give it out! Did you just look at her? - Part of being the “cool” girl is realizing that you can have some trust and confidence in your man. Being jealous and insecure about other girls in his life can make both of you insane. Start with trust, and if he breaks it, by all means go ahead and blow up his car.
Know who you are - We want a girl with confidence. There is nothing sexier than a girl who knows who she is, and is comfortable with it. Don’t pretend you are free of “No matter insecurities (because we all have some), but make sure they aren’t dictating who what a woman you are! As my friend Loyal says, “own it!” looks like, if Your circle - There is nothing sexier than a girl who values her family and friends above all else. You could lose everything in your life, and those are the people who will be there for you. How a girl treats her loved ones is a great insight into how she might treat her man.
she’s confident, she’s sexy.”
Join in – Even though guys like their “bro time,” it is also great to be with a girl who will hang out with the guys, come watch our sports sometimes, and can just hang out. Maybe even drink a beer??
Top Secret - This one is a bonus. We want to know you are thinking about us in “that” way when we aren’t - Paris Hilton around. Without getting too graphic, a sexy text, a subtle picture or a hint of what may be waiting when we get Turn down the tramp - When you are choosing your home will drive a guy crazy… in a good way. outfit, think “classy and sexy.” A gentleman is still a man, and you know he loves what may be under that outfit, but the mystery is the best part. A very wise (I assume French) philosopher named Paris Hilton once said: Sweat pants? - With that being said, another (probably “No matter what a woman looks like, if she’s confident, more important) consideration is how a girl looks when she’s sexy.” she is in “chill” mode. Can you leave the house with no make-up and your hair up? You are beautiful... it’s okay It may be the most intelligent thing she ever said because it is completely true. What we really want is YOU… to relax sometimes! not some made-up version of you that is controlled by insecurities or afraid to be bold. Less of the lush - Most of us like going for a few drinks at our favorite places. Make sure that for you, a “few While we should strive to always be better, make sure drinks” doesn’t mean you are slurring, stumbling, and you love yourself exactly as you are on annoying by the end of the night. We aren’t at a high school keg party anymore. that journey. There is nothing sexier. Have a brain! - Long gone are the days when acting like a valley girl ditz was a great way to get attention. A real man wants a girl with a real opinion, something interesting to say, and who knows at least a bit about what is happening in the world.
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Dr. Christian Brix Dr. Christian Brix is a writer, a gentleman, and a Chiropractor living in and loving Kelowna B.C. www.brixfamilychiropractic.com
M A G N I F I C E N T LY P R I VAT E MOUNTAIN ESTATE 7 4 2 5 T R E E T O P L A N E | P R O U D LY L I S T E D F O R $ 1 1 , 9 9 9 , 0 0 0 F O R S A L E S I N F O R M AT I O N | W W W. 7 4 2 5 T R E E T O P L A N E . C O M
Engel & Vรถlkers Whistler
EXCLUSIVE VANCOUVER DREAM ESTATES
THE HOTEL GEORGIA PENTHOUSE RESIDENCE | DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER
T
- $35.8 MILLION -
THE HOTEL GEORGIA PENTHOUSE sits majestically 48 floors above the city below and defines the ultimate sophisticated lifestyle, ideally situated in the heart of Vancouver’s downtown business district, just steps to the city’s most select restaurants and most exclusive shopping. This World Class luxury residence provides over eight thousand square feet of indoor outdoor living on one expansive level boasting 360 degree unobstructed city, ocean and mountain views with five walk out terraces including an outdoor summer lounge with gas fire and covered outdoor heated dining terrace with built in BBQ. Enjoy large entertainment size principal rooms, providing a sophisticated and luxurious lifestyle, all on one expansive level. Exquisite design, master craftsmanship and luxurious finishes blend seamlessly to create an international masterpiece while embracing the security and convenience of today’s most upto-date technology. Generous in scale and intimate in comfort, this is a residence designed foremost as a home: inviting, warm, private and spectacularly beautiful.
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Entertainment size Living and Dining areas feature an adjoining Billiard Room, Wet Bar and a temperature controlled glass Wine Storage. A privately situated Den or Study has direct access from the main Entrance Foyer and a sensational International Kitchen with large serving island is ideally situated with adjoining Family room and daily Eating area. A beautiful Master Suite with his and her separate Dressing Rooms and En-Suite Bathrooms is truly in a class all of its own. Three additional Bedroom Suites are privately situated for family or guests. Additional features include floor to ceiling windows with power shades throughout, air conditioning, CRESTON automation and state of the art security access to the building and residence. Together with the Hotel Georgia this World Class Penthouse enjoys 24 hour on site concierge, a resort style indoor swimming pool with spa, gym and secured gated parking for four vehicles. Nothing compares to the exclusivity of living at the Five Star HOTEL GEORGIA with its distinctive and alluring European Grandeur in the heart of this most prized location.
MALCOLM HASMAN www.malcolmhasman.com
VANCOUVER’S TOP SELLING LUXURY AGENT Angell Hasman & Associates (Malcolm Hasman) Realty Ltd.
1555 Marine Drive, West Vancouver
604.290.1679
Completed in 2019 | Floor Size: 7,236 SQ FT | 4 Bedrooms | 6 Bathrooms (4 and 2 half) | 4 Car Garages | $35.8M
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West Vancouver DISCOVER THE LUXURY AND BEAUTY OF ONE OF CANADA’S MOST EXCLUSIVE AREAS
by Amanda Wood and Jesse Dean Cook
The Greater Vancouver real estate market can easily be called a “Buyer’s Market” at this time. I find myself fielding questions almost daily about where I would suggest the best place to buy a luxury residential property is. I always take the time to go through my client’s needs and wish list but time and time again I find that West Vancouver really does tick all of the boxes.
W
I myself work in West Vancouver and call the North Shore my home. I know every street, trail and beach entrance that this beautiful area has to offer.
West Vancouver was originally a ferry-access only, humble resortstyle beachside enclave. In 1931 A.R. Guinness of the British Pacific Properties group bought 4,000 acres of land for a mere $75k and put an additional $1m into infrastructure. They had a clear vision of what the future held for the area which included the prestigious Capilano Golf Course and Club House, constant expansion of new neighborhoods and amenities including helping to finance the building of the Lions Gate Bridge in 1938. They also created Park Royal, Canada’s first covered shopping “mall” in 1950. Renowned landscape architects the Olmsted Brothers who created the world-famous Central Park in Manhattan, NYC designed the plans for the first 1,000 acres of developed land in 1933. Since then the area of West Vancouver has grown and diversified into what it is today… an ever-changing example of the very best of luxury and natural beauty combining together for the ultimate lifestyle. I’ve created a “Buyers Guide” to help you understand the different neighborhoods and all the beautiful attributes that West Vancouver has to offer.
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British Properties Views, Views, Views!
The British Properties are the ever-expanding original parcel of land which is still owned and operated by the British Pacific Properties group. Perched above the highway, the ocean views from this area are absolutely breath taking. Beautifully designed mega mansions are partnered with a respect for green space and future plans for diverse housing options. The exciting plans for Cypress Village makes this area a top pick for most.
Ambleside Closest Proximity To Downtown and the Lions Gate Bridge, Fabulous Shopping and Restaurants.
Ambleside has a laid-back neighborhood feeling. There is a strong tie to community and incredible access to both downtown and the entire North Shore. Park Royal Shopping Mall, the seawall, restaurants and playgrounds make Ambleside an incredible place to reside. New development continues to keep Ambleside an exciting and also comforting place to live. Dundarave Easy Access To The Village, Seawall, Close-Knit Community.
Dundarave is a quiet, beautiful seaside village where people stop to talk with you and neighbors quickly become friends. The seawall provides the perfect opportunity for natural interactions and you can hear many languages and see many smiling faces when everyone comes out for a sunset stroll. The village between the 24th and 25th block of Marine Drive has all of your needs covered from groceries, liquor store, dry cleaner, restaurants etc and Park Royal is just a few minutes’ drive away. The West Vancouver Community Centre and Seniors Centre are both state-of-the-art facilities which continue to re-affirm that wonderful community feeling through their diverse programming and public events. West Bay/Westmount/Altamont Estate Sized Lots, Privacy, A Mix Of Waterfront With Partial Views. These three areas often have lot sizes triple that of other areas. Privacy and exclusivity are attributes of value in these areas.
Altamont is often referred to as the “Shaughnessy of the North Shore” featuring beautiful estates but not a lot of views. West Bay features incredible waterfront properties, mature trees and
historical homes on large lots. Westmount has a wonderful community feeling with many family homes and a mix of mega mansions featuring both water views and privacy. Caulfeild/Rockridge Family Friendly Community, Close To Nature (beach, hiking trails), Wide Variety of Property Types.
These two areas are well known for their incredible schools and family friendly neighborhoods. It’s not uncommon to see people out walking their dogs or families with their kids on their bikes all interacting in the streets or even having block parties. Many outdoor enthusiasts are drawn to the area as well because of the proximity to the world class hiking trails and beach access without having to sacrifice proximity to downtown if needed for work or events. These two areas really seem to “have it all.” West Vancouver has some of the most exciting, cutting edge, impressive and incredible residential houses available anywhere in the world. Every style of home and neighbourhoud is truly available to the discerning buyer.
If you would like to explore these options further or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I love where I live, and I love what I do, and it would be my pleasure to help guide you in your next real estate sale or purchase.
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PART 2 By Keith Trusler
Home Bar Essentials THE NEGRONI
WELCOME BACK ladies and gentlemen! Now that we’ve got our signature Old Fashioned down to a sexy science and our Manhattans are stirred to perfection every time, let us build on our repertoire with the iconic aperitif cocktail the Negroni. The story goes back to 1919 at the Caffe Casoni in Florence Italy, where the legendary Count Camillo Negroni liked to get his drink on. His pal Forsco Scarselli ran the bar. At the time the Americano cocktail was already widely popular, a low abv combination of Italian Vermouth and Campari on ice topped with soda. The Americano lacked the kick the Count wanted so he asked his pal Forsco to ditch the soda and fortify the drink with a shot of gin. 100 years later the Negroni is still an essential restaurant cocktail, the perfect pre-dinner libation.
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The recipe is as easy as they come. Three ingredients in equal proportion poured over ice, gently stirred and garnished with an orange twist. From this basic recipe your favorite bartender or ‘mixologist’ can apply a near infinite number of variations from adding a touch of amaro or grapefruit bitters to barrel aging it by the batch. The possibilities are endless but it’s tough to beat the classic recipe. Just like Italian food the beauty lies in its simplicity. When you’re choosing a gin for your Negroni keep in mind the Campari is going to dominate the flavor profile of this drink. Go ahead and use a $60 bottle of craft gin if you want but I’ll be saving mine for martinis. A dry London style gin like Beefeater is perfect for a Negroni. Now let’s look at a couple of variations, craving a bit of oak flavor but don’t have a barrel lying around that you can pre-batch 5 liters
of cocktail in and let it rest for a month? Well it just so happens that there’s people out there who are very good at making an aged spirit you may have heard of before, it’s called whisky. Mind blown right? Swap out the gin for bourbon or rye and you have got yourself a Boulevardier, and it is a damn delicious drink! Want a little smoke on there, try a peated scotch. What the hell, try it with mezcal if you want to go totally crazy. Now back to where it all began, the Americano cocktail should be served long making it one of the ultimate brunch or afternoon sippers with a low abv and lots of soda water. A cocktail that actually helps hydrate you? Crazy. Once again, equal parts Campari and sweet vermouth over ice, top with soda and garnish with an orange slice. Here is where the story gets rich. Some busy night somewhere, some bartender in the weeds accidently grabs an open bottle of Prosecco instead of Pellegrino. He tops off an Americano with the sparkling wine and the Spagliato is born. And the world becomes a better place. Meaning ‘my mistake’ in Italian, the Spagliato is a classy alternative to the played-out Aperol Spritz. Campari was created in 1860 by Gaspare Campari in Novara Italy, west of Milan in the Piedmont region. The iconic carmine red color originally came from crushed cochineal insects which
Another play on the classic Negroni, substituting gin for mandarin blossom vodka. Or how about a Spicy Mulled Negroni? Try it - it is delicious!
For those of you willing to be adventurous ... how about a mezcal negroni? Or use whisky. It offers innovative twists on old standbys, providing smokey takes on alltime classics that are ideal for those who like to make their mark on the tried and true.
is still used in certain markets. The strong bitter flavor comes from chinotto fruit, which is used in many bitter Italian liqueurs; and the bark of the Cascarilla shrub. Aperitif liqueurs are said to stimulate the taste buds and the stomach, preparing one for the meal to come. Cheers!
The ‘famous mistake’ - the Negroni Sbagliato uses sparkling wine instead of gin.
You want to learn more about the Negroni? Then here’s a must-read for you: The Negroni: Drinking to La Dolce Vita, with Recipes & Lore Hardcover: 176 pages Publisher: Ten Speed Press A history of one of the world’s most iconic cocktails--originally an Italian aperitivo, but now a staple of craft bar programs everywhere--with 60 recipes for variations and contemporary updates.
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CITY tonight!
O ur
by Jim Gordon & Leeta Liepins
The Iconic Concierge Magazine version of the weekly, national TV show, “Our City Tonight”, which can be seen Sundays at 12:30pm on City TV. You can also see past episodes on the “Our City Tonight” YouTube channel and follow them on Instagram & twitter at: @ourcitytonight @jimgordontv @lifewithleeta
Lunch (Tues-Fri, 12-3pm) Dinner (Tues-Sun, 5:30pm-late) Brunch (Sat-Sun, 10:30am-3pm) Happy Hour (Tues-Sun, 2-6pm)
M8 BISTRO & BAR
3 – 1010 BEACH AVE.
M8 BISTRO & BAR (pronounced “mate”), is located just below the Burrard Bridge, along the Seawall, steps from Beach Avenue, and has been part of the Vancouver dining landscape for over a year. The warm, mid-September evening we visited this cozy spot allowed us the option of the patio for dining, with a wonderful view of Granville Island. Shortly after our arrival, we were greeted by Owner and Executive Chef, Xin Mao. He came to Canada from China at 18 and put his time in at Cin Cin and Cioppino’s before colaunching MoMa Bistro in 2014. For Chef Mao, the menu at M8 is a combination of two culinary worlds he loves – China and Italy – infusing results that make the food unique. “If you like food from those countries,” Chef Mao told us humbly, “then you must come try our creations”. And with that he headed back to the kitchen to create what would be a spectacular night of food for “Our City Tonight” team.
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604-620-9586
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www.m8yvr.com
Our server, Thanasis, or “Tom”, had our cocktail starters to us right away, having gone with his suggestion: the M8 Spritz and M8 Cosmo. Both perfect for an early fall evening. Our first course, and one of their signature dishes, was Grandpa Zhang’s Shimeji Mushroom Tempura, with warm kale salad, wakame and truffle aioli. “This is from my grandfather,” Chef told us, pointing at the delicious tempura. “Growing up, it was a dish he always made for us, I just included some additional culinary skills to this great dish”. This was followed by a fresh Beet Salad, with Ricotta mousse, candied walnuts, arugula, and osmanthus vinaigrette.
After we chose a red from Kelowna and a white from France (both delicious wines and not expensive), Chef Mao stopped by to get our thoughts. We both expressed our pleasure about the food to that point, and how the selections were the perfect amount for sharing, somethingBEN HOWARD
D
he acknowledged as a main theme at M8. While the next course was being prepared, we talked more about the early years in a person’s career as a Chef, and also just the early years in one’s life. Like the thoughts shared to us by other chefs talking about their childhood years growing up around the family kitchen and the food they enjoyed, Chef Mao talked a lot about his early years growing up in historic Chinese city of Luoyang. “I went to the streets, to the cooking in the streets,” he told us, “when I was 13 and 14 I didn’t have a summer job, I spent my time learning about the cooking in the streets”. A few more dishes came our way before the night ended, first the unique crisp chicken Skin, with balsamic glaze, salted egg yolk, chili, jalapeno, and cilantro. It is one of Chef Mao’s favorites. Boiled first to rid the skin of its fat so as not to be too greasy, then made crispy, almost LEON BRIDGES like a potato chip. This was followed by dry aged crispy duck breast, with confit duck terrine, soybean and preserved mustard green cassoulet. Finally, the lamb belly, which was seasoned perfectly. “This is typical street food in China,” Chef Mao told us, “I like to BBQ the fat then have it cooked slowly on charcoal with (he says teasingly) a secret ingredient.” As the sun was setting on the patio, we left M8 Bistro & Bar full and content with the meal we had enjoyed. Another column about chef who took food memories from his youth - everything from his grandfather’s cooking, to the food cooking on the streets – and ended up creating an incredible and unique restaurant in Vancouver.
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