Iconic Concierge Fall 2022

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New Year’s Eve at Fairmont Empress

You’ve waited for this. Now it’s time to gather those who mean the most to you and share an experience like no other. Eloquently ring in the New Year in Fairmont Empress’ most historic Ballroom. This year, in classic formal fashion, Fairmont Empress’ New Year’s Eve Event will involve black-tie attire, cocktail upon arrival, live entertainment and a four-course seated dinner. December 31. 8:00pm - 1:00am. Tables of six to 12. $329 per adult plus taxes and gratuities.

Make it a Staycation and Save on Fairmont Gold Luxury is waiting on Fairmont Gold. Our hotel within a hotel is perfect for those looking for highly personalized, extraordinary experiences. From the exclusive first floor reception and private concierge service to the secluded terrace boasting stunning views of the Inner Harbour, Fairmont Gold is the best luxury travel experience. Book the Go For Gold offer and enjoy 20% off accommodations, complimentary parking, deluxe continental breakfast and evening canapés. visit fairmont.com/empress to reserve or call 250 384 8111

VELA Wealth ardently promotes family wealth and well-being for Canadian business owners and professionals.

We purposefully plan, execute and preserve your unique plan, driven by your vision of life and business success for you and your family, your community and your legacy.

Dare to know more

publisher’s

it’s been a busy summer!

yes, the summer came late this year but it made up with warm and sunny days all the way into october. it was also a summer that saw many of our favourite events come back after three long years of hiatus and now, as the days are getting shorter and with temperatures dropping, we are looking forward to the upcoming indoor events.

after an amazing trip to italy in the summer of 2021, we went on another journey to europe, this time to the northern part of croatia. the istrian peninsula may not get the same attention as the southern part of the country, however, it truly stuns with an abundance of beauty. from crystal clear water, wonderful historic cities, delicious food and wine to wonderful people, this was another epic journey for the books. we actually also combined this trip with a visit to munich, germany. there, we not only followed an invitation to the bmw museum, we actually picked up a stunning convertible to explore munich, its surrounding areas and for our drive to istria and kvarner. a fascinating six-hour drive which brought us from germany through austria, slovenia and italy, to croatia. yes, five european countries in just a few hours. how’s that for bragging rights?

shortly after we went to print with our summer edition, it was announced that vancouver has been named a michelin guide destination, with confidential inspectors visiting local restaurants already for a while. while names of restaurants under consideration have been kept a secret, we truly hope that this edition’s restaurant recommendation, st. lawrence, has made the list.

we hope that you will enjoy reading this edition. have a fabulous fall & winter season!

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A Goat’s Dream ...

It was definitely a special treat driving a beautiful BMW 8 Series convertible under the dark summer sky in Istria. There’s simply no better motoring experience than driving without a roof over your head, especially in a stunning location such as Istria. It’s an incredible feeling to become one with nature, and suddenly, the journey is as much fun as the destination.

The sun on your face, the smell of the sea, the forests, and the delicious food driving by one of the roadside restaurants. When you have a convertible you will look for opportunities to drive. It really amplifies a beautiful day. And not just chicks dig it - clearly, goats love it, too. Yep, we just had to :)

olaf robrecht publisher olaf@iconic-concierge.com

THE WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL LUXURY SUV

Fastest. Most powerful. Best handling. Three accolades the DBX707 was born to claim. Not by blindly chasing benchmarks, but each one achieved as part of our legendary pursuit of performance. As British Columbia’s only certified Aston Martin dealership, we offer unmatched client experiences and a variety of manufacturer approved services. Our Brand Ambassadors look forward to showcasing our prestige collection of vehicles and guiding you according to your unique needs.

www.iconic-concierge.com

Old Town Rovinj (Istria, Croatia)

OLAF ROBRECHT olaf@iconic-concierge.com

ROBBIE DICKSON

JASON SARAI

NATALIE LANGSTON

DR. OLIVER FINLAY

SEAN KOLENKO, DR. OLIVER FINLAY, JULIE-ANNA VOGEL, JIM GORDON

KEVIN UY, JOSH NEUFELD, VIRANLLY

BILL ROBERTS

YADA-YADA MEDIA please contact iconicconciergemagazine@gmail.com

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dream TEAM

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 20 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.

OAKLEY CHAN sourcing specialist

A true entrepreneur since a young age, Oakley is the president of the OCHK Group of Companies, with offices in Richmond and Hong Kong. He has a penchant for identifying the needs of businesses and individuals and providing innovative solutions that challenge the norm. He is at the fore front of new developments, products, and technologies and does not shy away from putting ideas into reality.

CRAIG STOWE luxury events

Craig is recognized as Vancouver’s #1 creator and producer luxury events bringing together affluent buyers and sellers of luxury brands in an engaging business social setting. He is the Founder and President of Luxury Alliance Group, Luxury & Supercar Weekend, Hublot Diamond Rally, PorscheRally, TennisLoveChampagne and Global Spirits Festival.

NATALIE LANGSTON lifestyle editor

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.

AMIR MIRI

luxury real estate specialist

Proudly serving Vancouver’s luxury hous ing market, Amir is known as an expert negotiator with a firm commitment to customer service. His global connections with high-net-worth and ultra high-networth individuals and families give him an edge and set him apart in the highend real estate market. Amir has been in the Top 1% of Realtor’s in Greater Vancouver since 2020 and #1 Realtor at Royal Pacific Realty Corp. since 2020.

KEITH TRUSLER dean of fine foods & spirits

Co-founder of Modern Whisky, a curator of rare Single Malts and luxury tasting experiences. Keith was a Brand Ambassador for numerous Luxury Brands. A veteran of the restaurant industry in Vancouver, he 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.

DR. OLIVER FINLAY sport, health & fitness

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 hu man performance & sport’s impact on community, he highlights the industry’s latest & greatest developments.

GEZ MCALPINE imbibing authority

Prior to working with some of the most highly regarded luxury spirits in the world, Gez operated some of the world’s best drinking establishments from Melbourne to Los Angeles & Vancouver. He is a WSET level 3, Gold Certified BNIC Cognac educator, Multiple time global cocktail competition finalist, and most importantly truly passionate about spreading the word of premium spirits.

JASON BOUDREAU CFP, CLU

wealth advisor

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.

JULIE-ANNA VOGEL travel consultant

Always on the road, Julie inspires others to explore on and off the beaten path. Having traveled to more than 100 countries, she shares her experiences on www.julieabroad.com and uses her skills as a travel advisor to help create dream getaways. Follow her in uncovering the ‘must-dos’ of the world’s coolest cities in her column “A Gentleman Abroad”.

JIM GORDON LEETA LIEPINS city experts

They are the Hosts & Producers of the weekly, national TV show, “Our City Tonight”, which can been seen Sundays at 10:30pm on CHEK TV. Each week they showcase Vancou ver’s entertainment, nightlife, music, fashion, business, automotive, food & wine. You can also see past episodes on the “Our City Tonight” YouTube channel.

EVENT HORIZON

A PARTNERSHIP FOUNDED IN SUSTAINABILITY.

Bentley Motors and The Macallan have revealed the ground-breaking design of The Macallan Horizon – the first limited edition single malt whisky being created by the brand collaboration.

Reflecting the sustainability core that’s at the heart of the partner ship together with a joint purpose of innovation, the prototype of The Macallan Horizon fuses traditional craftsmanship, recycled materials and an exclusive horizontal design which “defies the traditional verti cal aesthetic of a whisky bottle and reflects the horizontal trajectory of the automotive world.”

In homage to The Macallan’s acclaimed Six Pillars – the foundation stones of the brand that account for its distinctive single malt whiskies - The Macallan Horizon incorporates six unique upcycled, repurposed or ethically sourced materials which are integral to The

Macallan and Bentley Motors: Repurposed wood from The Macallan and Bentley; repurposed copper, including a portion sourced from former The Macallan copper stills; aluminum recovered from the Bentley manufacturing process; and ethically-sourced leather from the local Scottish supplier Bridge of Weir, known for their “fine automotive leather.”

Very little is known about the content of the bottle. According to the press-release “the final component will be a “very special single malt whisky.” It continues, “The Macallan Master Whisky Maker Kirsteen Campbell developed the flavour profile for the whisky following a visit to Bentley Motors in Crewe, where she observed first hand their shared passion for creativity, craftsmanship and innovation.”

If you would like to find out more, both about the bottle and its content, you will have to wait for a few more months. The Macallan Horizon will launch in Summer 2023. Also - Don’t drink and drive.

IXOOST MERCEDES-AMG GT SPEAKER

Bespoke audio system company iXOOST, which crafted sound systems from Formula 1 and Lamborghini Aventador exhaust pipes in the past, now delivers an official AMG Performance Luxury Audio speaker inspired by the Mercedes-AMG GT.

The audio system, housed in a carbon-fiber monocoque chas sis with a front that is designed after the Panamericana grille with anodized aluminum accents and the Mercedes emblem, has four one-inch tweeters and two six-inch woofers, with a 2×125 Watt amplifier. It covers the fre quency spectrum between 60 –22,000 Hz, is compatible with Bluetooth 4.5, and integrates a Digital Signal Processor. €19,900 / US$20,500 www.ixoost.it

ASTON ARC-52

Scotch whisky brand Bowmore just launched its ARC-52 single malt whisky, a 52-year-old ex pression served in a decanter crafted in partnership with luxury vehicle brand Aston Martin. Only 100 of the futuristic decant ers will be available worldwide, and very few will come to Canada.

C$125,000/750 ml www.bowmore.com

WAYNE ENTERPRISES WATCH WINDER

Created by Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Wayne Enterprises is a sophisticated lifestyle label featuring luxury products and experiences inspired by DC’s Bruce Wayne, man-about-town, and hero of Gotham City. In a collaboration with Kross Studio, the Wayne Enterprises x Kross Studio Watch Winder “takes its cues from Bruce Wayne’s sophisticated taste, infused with mystery and purpose.”

The powerful winding engine sits in a stand-alone custom brushed black anodized aluminum base and detects the presence of a watch through an infrared sensor.

CHF 1,990. www.kross-studio.com

PERLÉE TOI & MOI SECRET WATCH

Three secret watches reminiscent of its romantic toi et moi jewel lery have joined Van Cleef & Ar pels signature collection, Perlée (‘beaded’).

Set on open cuffs, made up of rows of golden beads, the mother-of-pearl watch dials are hidden by swivelling covers of ornamental stone while a second stone cabochon adorns the bangle. Prices start from £7,800/ US$9,000. www.vancleefarpels.com

L’EPÉE 1839 TIME FAST BUCHERER BLUE

L’Epée, famous for its finely crafted clocks that range from the traditional to the fanciful, is mostly known for its collaborative efforts with MB&F, resulting in some of the most original table clocks ever made. This time, though, L’Epée teams up with high-end retailer Bucherer to create a unique series of the Time Fast clock, shaped like a singleseater race car from a bygone era.

Made of an aluminium body and finished in signature Bucherer Blue, the time is visible on the left-hand side of the 40cm long and 4.7kg heavy car. The two black and white cylinders for the hours and minutes rotate as time progresses. The entire in-house move ment is wound by pulling back the car simi lar to a friction toy car. The power reserve is 8 days. Limited to 18 pieces.

33,000.

PRODRIVE RACING SIMULATOR

Prodrive is actually a legendary motorsport name that has found success in building some of the best rally cars on the planet, including the legendary Subaru Rally cars that Collin McRae piloted to victory in 1995. This racing pedigree lead them to create one of the best plug-and-play racing simulators on sale today.

Sculpted by design house CALLUM and featuring a carbon fiber tub that floats in a canopy made of 16 layers of birch wood, the simulator uses a 49-inch AOC Dual-QHD 5k resolution curved monitor, a me chanical pedal box, and is powered by a bespoke simulator computer with a 12GB GeForce RTX graph ics card and 16GB of memory. The price of getting one of the best racing simulator experiences possible?

VAONIS HYPERIA SMART TELESCOPE

Following the release of the Stellina telescope in 2018 and the Vespera model less than a year ago, telescope maker Vaonis recently introduced Hyperia, a brand-new, ultra-powerful scope.

Standing 2.10m tall, the motorized Hyperia is made from zicral, an aerospace industry alloy, and weighs 75kg. It features a 24 by 36 full-frame back-illuminated Sony IMX455 monochrome sensor with a 61-million pixel resolution and “91% quantum efficiency”, paired with a massive 1050mm f/7 apochromatic triplet lens.

Vaonis designed the Hyperia to be modular and up gradeable over time, so users can replace the existing sensor with the latest technology on the market as it be comes available. US$45,000.

MANLY

“ denzel WASHINGTON

MY MOTHER USED TO TELL ME MAN GIVES THE AWARD, GOD GIVES THE REWARD. I DON’T NEED ANOTHER PLAQUE.”

Denzel Washington at the Los Angeles premiere of “Unstoppable” held at the Westwood Village Theater.

photo: © Starfrenzy

DENZEL HAYES WASHINGTON, JR. was born on December 28, 1954, in Mount Vernon, New York. He is the middle of three children of Lennis “Lynne”, a beauty parlour owner and operator from Georgia, and a Pentecos tal minister father, Denzel Washington, Sr., from Virginia.

Denzel Washington attended Pen nington-Grimes Elementary School in Mount Vernon. He first took the stage around the age of seven, appearing in a talent show at a local Boys & Girls Club. “A safe place keeping me out of trouble,” Washington, who was not allowed to watch movies by his par ents, was later quoted. It was a rebel lious stage in his life, and several of his friends went to prison. At age 14, his parents divorced and his mother, re sponding to his behavioural problems, took him out of Elementary School and sent him and his older sister to the pri vate preparatory school Oakland Mili tary Academy in New Windsor, New York. Washington later said that it was this decision that had changed his life. “I wouldn’t have survived in the direc tion I was going. The guys I was hang ing out with at the time, were nice guys, but the streets got them.”

Washington then attended Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, from 1970 to 1971, before enrolling at Fordham University, where he discov ered acting and earned a BA in Drama and Journalism in 1977. He later won a scholarship to the American Conserva tory Theater in San Francisco, and af terwards worked with the Shakespeare in the Park ensemble.

Shortly after graduating from Ford ham University, Denzel Washington made his screen acting debut in the 1977 made-for-television movie Wilma and in 1981, he had his first Hollywood appearance in the comedy A Carbon Copy. A number of off-Broadway pro ductions and television movies followed, but the actual breakthrough came when he starred as Dr. Phillip Chandler in NBC’s television hospital drama St. Elsewhere (1982-1988), where Wash ington was one of only a few AfricanAmerican actors to appear on the series for its entire six-year run. Several televi sion, motion picture and stage roles fol lowed, such as A Soldier’s Story (1984), Hard Lessons (1986) and Power (1986).

However, it was 1987 that should give Denzel Washington attention when he played real-life South African apartheid martyr Steve Biko, in Richard Attenbor ough’s Cry Freedom, a role for which

he received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Only two years later, in 1989, Washington won his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of a defiant, selfpossessed ex-slave soldier in the film Glory. He starred in two more movies that same year, The Mighty Quinn and For Queen and Country.

Having his name out and being rec ognized for his acting abilities, Denzel Washington had a busy schedule in the 1990s, adding several notable films to his portfolio, including Spike Lee col laborations like the jazz outing Mo’ Bet ter Blues (1990) and biopic Malcolm X (1992), for which he received another nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor. That same year, he es tablished his own production compa ny, Mundy Lane Entertainment. Other projects included the successful thriller The Pelican Brief (1993) alongside Julia Roberts, and the role of the lawyer of a gay man with AIDS, portrayed by Tom Hanks, in the 1993 film Philadelphia.

In Crimson Tide (1995), directed by Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, Den zel Washington stars with Gene Hack man, while in 1996, in Courage Under Fire, he is seen opposite Meg Ryan. The same year, Washington appeared with Whitney Houston in the romantic com edy The Preacher’s Wife. Another Spike Lee film, He Got Game, followed in 1998, the same year that saw him star in the supernatural horror film, Fallen Two more movies followed in 1999 - The Bone Collector alongside Angelina Jo lie, and The Hurricane

At the 57th Golden Globe Awards in 2000, Denzel Washington received his second Oscar, this time for Best Ac tor in a Leading Role in The Hurricane. In 2001, an Academy Award for Best Actor for the cop thriller Training Day followed. The following year, he di rected his first film, the well-reviewed biographical drama Antwone Fisher, in which he also co-starred.

The next few years, Washington ap peared in a series of thrillers that per formed generally well at the box office, including Out of Time (2003), Man on Fire (2004), The Manchurian Can didate (2004), and Spike Lee’s Inside Man (2006), co-starring Jodie Foster and Clive Owen. Deja Vu, a time travel movie, was released the same year.

Denzel Washington starred in two movies in 2007. First, in Ridley Scott’s American Gangster, followed by The Great Debaters (2007) with Forest

Whitaker, for which he once again stepped behind the camera. The de cade ended with Tony Scott’s 2009 film The Taking of Pelham 123 (a remake of the 1974 thriller of the same name).

Heading into 2010, Washington starred in both his fifth and final col laboration with director Tony Scott, The Book of Eli, a post-apocalyptic actiondrama set in the near future, as well as in the action film Unstoppable, about an unmanned, half-mile-long runaway freight train with dangerous cargo. His 2012 performance in Flight, a movie about an alcoholic airline pilot facing investigation for his part in a plane crash, then won him the nomination for an Academy Award for Best Ac tor. Washington also co-starred in Safe House (2012), for which he got paid $20 million, preparing for his role by subjecting himself to a torture session that included waterboarding. Several other movies followed, including 2 Guns (2013), alongside Mark Wahlberg, and The Equalizer (2014), an action thriller film directed by Antoine Fuqua. The Magnificent Seven, a remake of the 1960 western film of the same name, hit theaters in 2016, the same year he re ceived the Cecil B. DeMille Award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Associa tion at its annual Golden Globe telecast. Later that year, Washington directed the film Fences, co-starring Viola Davis and based on August Wilson’s play.

A praised performance for the legal drama Roman J. Israel, Esq., led to nominations for a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award and an Academy Award, Washington’s ninth Oscar nomination overall, and his sixth for Best Actor. In 2018, he reprised his role in his first sequel, The Equalizer 2.

In 2021, Washington portrayed the titular character in the film adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, and directed the drama A Journal for Jordan Denzel Washington is married to ac tress Pauletta Pearson since 1983; they have four children.

“YOU PRAY FOR RAIN, YOU GOTTA DEAL WITH THE MUD, TOO. THAT’S A PART OF IT.”

New Bentayga Extended Wheelbase

A new era in Bentley well being.

To celebrate the arrival of the New Bentayga EWB, a stunning First Edition is available. Subject to a limited production run, it combines many of the most desirable options available for the car with a package of eye-catching details found only on Bentley First Editions.

On the outside, exterior First Edition badging identifies the car – a theme that extends inside, with First Edition badging on the veneered fascia, as well as First Edition embroidery on the seats. Unique First Edition Contrast Stitching adorns the seats and, depending on your choice of veneers, gleaming metal overlays can be applied to the fascia and waistrails in the front and the rear.

As well as all the standard features of the New Bentayga EWB Azure, the First Edition includes premium features such as LED Welcome Lights, the Bentley Diamond Illumination and Naim for Bentley – arguably the world’s best in-car sound system.

Contact Bentley Vancouver for more information.

Horacio Pagani could not have picked a better location for the world premiere of his new Hypercar, the Pagani Utopia. After more than four thousand stylistic drawings, ten scale models, one wind tunnel model, two 1:1 scale models and countless ideas, research and experiments on eight complete prototypes for a team effort that lasted more than six years, Pagani’s third creation was unveiled in Milan, Italy, accompanied by the music of the Symphony Orchestra of the Milan Conservatory.

The Utopia, which will be limited to only 99 samples, is built on Pagani’s familiar carbotitanium monocoque, featuring front and rear tubular alloy steel subframes. It derives its power from a bespoke Mercedes-AMG 6.0-litre biturbo V12 with 864 bhp and “a prodigious” 1100Nm of torque, mated to an automatic Xtrac transmission with helical gears, or, “to match the wishes expressed by Pagani enthusiasts”, a real seven-speed manual transmission.

Inside the cabin, the US$2.2 million supercar is as avant-garde as it can get, following Horacio Pagani’s love for gorgeously machined aluminum. The steering wheel has been machined from a solid block of the light metal, and, in good old Pagani fashion, the driver will shift gears with an exposed gearshift mechanism.

Yes, all Utopias have already been accounted for, but seeing as how the Huayra and especially the Zonda received numerous special editions, we may witness the launch of a series of derivatives. www.pagani.com

out & about

BMW VIP LAUNCH EVENT - THE 7 BRIAN JESSEL BMW

Ringing in a new era of electric mobility, this time in its most luxu rious form, Brian Jessel BMW on September 23rd introduced the 7th generation of the 7 Series, the pinnacle of the BMW lineup. And may we say in the most stylish manner!

Under glittering chandeliers, lined with candelabras, hundreds of real candles and strands made out of thousands of crystals, BMW’s most luxurious and advanced product was truly presented in style. Across from the all-electric i7 in a wonderful two-tone paint scheme, the twin-turbocharged 760i xDrive thrilled in a blacked-out look with M Sport package.

Inside, opulent materials such as sumptuous leather, glass, open-pore wood and stainless steel elements elevate the design far above any other BMW.

The spectacular evening also saw performances by GOH Ballet Academy, featuring two original pieces of choreography, inspired by the innovations of the BMW i7.

THE FIRST-EVER BMW XM

2022 marks the 50th anniversary of BMW M GmbH but in all these years, the famous M division has actually only built one car - the iconic M1 supercar from 1978. All other ‘M cars’ have been built around cars the company had otherwise sold in other forms. The allnew BMW XM changes it all. Not only is it the brand’s second-ever dedicated car, it is also the imprint’s firstever dedicated SUV and the first ‘M’ to deploy a hybrid powertrain. It is also the most powerful BMW ever built.

While the looks of the XM have been toned down compared to the concept car, the aggressive design with its enormous pair of kidney grilles and narrow two-part headlights is still unmistakable. BMW enthusiasts will notice several details reminiscent of the BMW M1, such as the accent trim running along the body, the BMW logos engraved into the flat rear

window, the roof with its center indent and the eye-catching louvred structure of the sculptural rear lights.

The expressive style of the XM’s exterior design continues inside the cabin, available in four different trims with the option of a new Vintage leather for the upper sections of the instrument panel and door panels. The sculptural headliner is quite unique with its three-dimensional prism structure, photo mount-style border and 100 LED units for illumination.

The M HYBRID drive system in the BMW XM delivers an overall output of 480 kW/653 hp, combining a 4.4-litre twinturbo V8 with an electric motor integrated into the eight-speed M Steptronic transmission. It sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.3 seconds. If 644 horsepower is not enough, a trim called Label Red with 735 hp and 735 lb-ft of torque will be added to the model range later in 2023. Prices start at C$220,000.

BRIAN JESSEL BMW 2311 Boundary Road Vancouver

DESIGN REVOLUTION: BENTLEY MULLINER BATUR

Bentley Motors has recently unveiled the Bentley Mulliner Batur – a new two-door grand touring coupé limited to 18 series pieces that embodies the start of a design revolution at Bentley

Created by Director of Design Andreas Mindt and his team, the Batur is a showcase of a new design DNA that will ultimately guide the design of Bentley’s future range of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs).

The collection of just 18 series examples of the Batur is the latest project by Bentley’s in-house bespoke and coachbuilding division, Mulliner, and succeeds the Bacalar –a run of 12 individually specified, designed and handcrafted Barchettas that relaunched coachbuilding at Bentley. Like its predecessor – the Bacalar – the Batur is named after a beautiful natural body of water. Lake Batur is an 88m deep, 16 km2 crater lake in Kintamani on the island of Bali, Indonesia, and provides nutrient-rich water to both local hot springs and agriculture.

The Batur will also be the most powerful Bentley yet, with a 740+ PS version of the iconic, hand-assembled 6.0-litre twin-turbocharged W12 engine that has metaphorically and literally powered Bentley’s success for the last two decades. As the engine enters its twilight years as part of Bentley’s Beyond100 transformation journey to being fully electrified, the Batur forms the first part of a celebration of the W12’s extraordinary power, torque and refinement. Engine performance will be matched to the most advanced Bentley chassis ever, with speed-tuned air suspension, electric active anti-roll control, eLSD, four-wheel steering and torque vectoring.

All 18 examples of the Batur have already been reserved. Each one will be designed collaboratively with each customer, guided by Mulliner’s in-house design team and then be handcrafted over the course of several months in Mulliner’s workshop at Bentley’s carbon neutral factory in Crewe.

BENTLEY VANCOUVER 1770 Burrard St Vancouver

Aston Martin has chosen the 2022 Monterey Car Week to unveil the spectacular DBR22 for the first time: A V12-engined two-seater coach-built design concept, celebrating the marque’s extraordinary bloodline of open-cockpit sports racers.

The creation of the DBR22 design concept is the latest in a long line of extraordinary projects expertly handled by inhouse bespoke division, Q by Aston Martin, which this year celebrates a decade of building exclusive cars for the world’s most discerning customers. Iconic one-off commissions such as the Aston Martin Victor, and low-volume specials such as the Vulcan - limited to 24 examples worldwide, and the Vantage V600 - limited to just 14, are truly magnificent examples of these collaborations. It seems only fitting then, that the DBR22 design concept should also form the basis of

a production reality example for an ultra-exclusive number of Q by Aston Martin customers.

By mating the classic art of coachbuilding with advanced materials and cutting-edge manufacturing technologies, DBR22 is a perfect blend of design purity, engineering precision, heart-pounding performance and true passion stretching over the marque’s rich 109-year history.

Powered by a 5.2-litre V12 Twin-Turbo engine, the DBR22 offers breath-taking performance; peak outputs of 715PS and 753Nm providing sufficient propulsion to accelerate from a standstill to 100km/h in just 3.4sec and on to a top speed of 319km/h. With nothing but the slipstream between the driver and this epic engine’s unforgettable twelve-cylinder howl, the DBR22 promises to be an intense sensory stimulation.

ASTON MARTIN VANCOUVER 1770 Burrard St Vancouver

THE WINGMASTER: ZENVO TSR-S

Zenvo is Denmark’s only car company and has been building cars since 2007. In small quantities. Over its lifetime, less than 25 cars have left the factory in Præstø, so seeing one on the road is a very unique and rare experience. At this year’s Luxury & Supercar Show, Zenvo Automotive made its public debut in Canada with recently appointed Zenvo Canada dealer, Weissach Group.

On display was the company’s 1,177 bhp Ishvid Perlemor (white) TSR-S, a combination of both their TS1 GT and previous TSR model. The hypercar has a flat-plane 5.8-liter, twin-supercharged V8 enginebuilt by Zenvo itself - concealed within a sophisticated carbon fibre body. It catapults the TSR-S to 100km/h in 2.8 seconds and passes the 200km/h barrier from

standstill in 6.8 seconds, equalling the McLaren Senna.

What stands out, however, is its massive rear wing which moves up to 20 degrees to the left or right as you steer through the corners. Called a ‘Centripetal wing’, it tilts in the opposite direction of the steering wheel to increase downforce on the car’s inner side and forwards to aid deceleration when braking.

“We are incredibly excited for the next chapter of the Weissach journey,” says Asgar Virji, president and CEO of Weissach Group. “Over 40 years ago, we had a simple vision to create a destination for cars that we love and wanted to focus on cultivating special relationships with our clients – as we expanded the supercar market here in Vancouver. Canada is a supercar heaven and ready to embrace all Zenvo Automotive has to offer.”

DE LA CRÈME CRÈME CRÈME

MONTEREY CAR WEEK

Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

t is North America’s most prestigious auto show, celebrating history-making cars from the past, the present and the future. A ten-day-long event on the California Coast, Monterey Car Week features nearly 30 car events including car shows, races, and auctions. More than a thousand cars were up for auction, with several hundred competing.

The Car Week finally concludes with the worldfamous Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, where 200 of the best collector cars in the world roll onto the legendary 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links, hoping for one of the handful of awards in recognition for style, technical merit, and historical accuracy.

This year’s Best in Show was a 1932 Duesenberg J Figoni Sports Torpedo (top), owned by Lee Anderson of Naples,

Florida. His first win and the seventh for a Duesenberg, the honour rewards years of work: The car was split in two in the 1960s - its body was removed from the chassis and attached to another Model J - and Anderson searched for the missing half for decades before piecing it back together.

BMW MUSEUM MUNICH

If you love cars and automotive history, and if you are looking for an unforgettable experience when visiting Bavaria’s capital, a visit to BMW Museum and Welt is a must. Located just a stone’s throw away from the iconic BMW Headquarters, the museum takes you on a stroll through automotive history and gives a fascinating glimpse into the future of mobility. There’s something for all ages.

Shortly after the opening of the BMW Headquarters in 1973, the BMW Museum right next to the “Hochhaus” opened its doors. The current Mu seum, however, was radically redevelopment starting in 2004, and reopened in 2008. It now combines the former museum bowl with a neighbouring lowrise building, bringing the total exhibition space from an original 1,000 square metres to 5,000 square metres, boasting sufficient space for the presentation of about 120 exhibits.

Envisioned as “a road in an enclosed space”, the visitor is led through the exhibition on a path that introduces the rich history of the brand. The original bowl has been reserved for temporary exhibitions, whereas the low-rise building provides space for an extensive theme park with seven exhibition houses along the route through the museum, measuring approximately 1,000 metres in length. The tour route has been designed with no crossroads and takes the visitor to all 25 exhibition areas.

COMING UP! THE ‘DEZERVATOR’ VEHICLE LIFT AT BENTLEY RESIDENCES MIAMI

Wouldn’t it be the ultimate in lifestyle and convenience if you could just drive into the lobby of your building, and ascend up to your apartment whilst sitting in your vehicle? There, high up in the sky on the top floor of the building, it would join the other cars in your collection. Sounds like a scene from a sci-fi movie? Actually, it will soon be reality, thanks to the new Bentley Residences Miami’s new ‘Dezervator’ lift.

The Bentley Residences will feature four ‘Dezervators’; a unique elevator design, conceived by Bentley’s partners at Dezer Development, with the ability to transport cars to the top floor of the 749 ft building. Each lift features a hydraulic system which pinches a car by its tyres to pull it on top of a robotic shuttle system, which in turn transports a car up or down an elevator shaft enclosed by glass, offering a full panoramic view, to the correct storey.

Each resident will have a personal three or four-car garage within their apartment, complete with the option for EV charging amenities, offering private, convenient and secure storage for their car collections, right up to the 61st floor. RFID stickers will be placed in all residents’ own cars, which will be automatically scanned on arrival into the building, triggering a sophisticated lighting system to guide the driver to the correct Dezervator to reach their own floor. The technology in place recognises this ID and takes them directly to their residence, without the driver having to step out of their vehicle or even press a button.

Prices start from US$4.2m. Completion is expected in 2026.

LUXURY & SUPERCAR CARS AND HOOPS CHARITY FESTIVAL

As so many other events in 2020 and 2021, one of Vancouver’s favourite shows, the Luxury & Supercar Weekend was cancelled both years. This year, however, Luxury & Supercar teamed up with the Cars and Hoops Charity Festival. An exciting one-day festival at the Richmond Olympic Riverside Plaza, the event attracted many car enthusiasts, basketball lovers, and families of all ages.

Whilst inside the Olympic Oval teams were competing for the basketball trophy, outside a large selection of luxury cars, supercars, exotics and classics were waiting for the visitors. From Aston Martin, Ferrari and Lamborghini to McLaren, Rolls-Royce, Porsche and Mercedes, the much-anticipated event didn’t disappoint. Highlights included the public debut of Zenvo Canada, who showcased a white TSR-S (see separate article), which also won the ‘Top Hyper Car’ award the same day. Lucid Motors presented the luxurious Air Grand Touring, and Cadillac Canada unveiled their all-new electric SUV, LYRIQ.

The show also introduced a special preview of the cars for the 2022 Black Diamond Rally (December 3) and the 2023 Diamond Rally (May 20 & 21).

out & about

photography: Blake Jennings, John Neaime

out & about

LE DÎNER EN BLANC

At the last minute, the secret location is revealed to thousands of friends who have all been patiently waiting to learn where the iconic “Dîner en Blanc” will take place. After a threeyear hiatus, the legendary all-white pop-up dinner party finally returned on August 18th, 2022, starting with a pre-party at Vancouver Club before guests walked over to the same location where it started 10 years ago - Jack Poole Plaza.

“Bringing back the sense of camaraderie, community dining, music, the arts, and, frankly, fun was very important to us,” says Jordan Kallman of event organizer The Social Concierge. Looking at the ‘sea of white’ that congregated at the iconic venue with its epic views of the harbour, almost 2,300 guests of the sold-out soirée couldn’t agree more.

As soon as the sun started setting, and with the live DJ taking over, Jack Pool Plaza then turned into the biggest outdoor dance floor of the summer. vancouver.dinerenblanc.com

photography:

THE CUP

“Come Get Fancy!” On Saturday, July 23, 200 The Cup (formerly known as The Deighton Cup) returned to Hastings Racecourse after 3 long years of waiting. The event, which began in 2008 and celebrated its 11th anniversary on July 20th in 2019, is known as Vancouver’s most stylish event of the summer and so organizers once again asked you to ‘grab your finest fascinator and best silk bow tie’ and to join the 12th edition of “Vancouver’s answer to the Kentucky Derby”.

Touted to be bigger and better than ever, the organizers kept their promise. In addition to the typical trackside VIP booths, eight local restaurants served some delicious treats, the Vancouver Club took over a big section and a cigar lounge invited connoisseurs to some smoking pleasure.

In collaboration with presenting partner Orbiiit, the annual Style Stakes again awarded the best-dressed attendees with a fanciful chance to win a $10,000 grand prize. Congratulations to Andrew Terrado!

We don’t have the exact number but our guess is that close to 10,000 stylish people followed the call to The Cup.

& about

CROATIA

“A north breeze came up from the sea and brought with it the scent of freshly ploughed ground: the scent of red clay, that there is no other like it.” -- F. Tomizza

EXPLORING THE BEAUTY OF ISTRIA AND THE KVARNER RIVIERA

Nowhere else on the Adriatic can claim such a stunningly diverse range of landscapes as Croatia. Located in the northwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula with a long coastal strip along the Adriatic Sea, the member of the European Union is a small yet highly geographically diverse crescent-shaped region that borders several countries. Up north, it touches Slovenia, Hungary and, within the hollow of the crescent, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Finally, in the south, the Mediterranean country touches on Montenegro, giving Croatia a kaleidoscopic sweep of scenery, offering something for everyone, from rugged mountain peaks and sprawling forests to glittering wetlands and a total of 1,244 islands.

A land with ancient history, passed between kingdoms, empires and republics for thousands of years, Croatia was part of Yugoslavia for much of the 20th century, before it joined the Euro pean Union in 2013, making it an ancient nation yet a very young nation-state.

Although Dubrovnik, nestled between the Adriatic and the Dinaric Alps in the country’s south gets most of the attention, we instead decided to explore the northern peninsula of Istria and Kvarner. “A true treasure trove and a melting pot of different cultural influences”, it offers a nice Mediterranean climate, crystal clear waters and ancient walled towns with Venetian palaces, forts with Roman columns, Slavic churches and Viennese mansions. One of the lesser visited areas in Croatia, it is certainly one of the most impressive ones with gorgeous beaches on a coastline of almost 540 kilometers, picturesque old towns and a cuisine that includes fantastic wines, truffles and some of the best olive oils in the world.

You can create your own route, or you can follow in our footsteps, starting in the northern part of western Istria. We recommend a minimum stay of 2 nights per location.

POREĆ

Poreč is a popular summer resort with a historic old town and a 6th-century Euphrasian Basilica complex, famous for its gem-studded Byzantine mosaics. Some 6 km inland and just a short 15-minute drive from Poreč, the Baredine Cave is one of the most famous caves in Istria, notable for its stalactite formations.

ROVINJ

Less than an hour south of Poreč, we made Rovinj our first overnight stay in Istria. An important fishing port on the peninsula, Rovinj is a photographer’s dream and famous for its iconic Old Town with its evident Venetian influence, tightly-packed colourful houses and medieval streets. Stroll the waterfront with its many restaurants

and cafés, and visit the many unique galleries and boutiques on Grisia street, Rovinj’s artistic corner that is heading up towards the dominant feature of the town’s skyline, St Euphemia’s Church. The 18th-century church holds the title of the largest baroque church in Istria.

There is a lot to see and do in and around Rovinj, from diving to one of Europe’s most interesting shipwrecks, the Baron Gautsch, to a visit of the nearby islands of St Andrew and St Catherine. The “Golden Cape”, one of the most beautiful natural spaces on the coast of the Istrian Peninsula, is just south of Rovinj, and offers some beautiful sandy beaches and a seafront promenade. And if you love wine and olive oil, make sure to visit the Meneghetti Winery, or, as we did, stay at their luxurious Wine Hotel.

MAY WE RECOMMEND ...

The Place to Stay ...

Grand Park Hotel Rovinj

Dine For ...

You Simply Have to ...

TOP: A Culinary Extravaganza at Michelin-star restaurant Agli Amici Rovinj. The dining experience begins at you own personal lounge, across from your table, where a mixologist creates the perfect cocktail accompanied by some delicious hors-d’oeuvres. The actual menu was created by Chef Emanuelle Scarello and is an exquisite combination of flavour and visually stunning presentation.

Cap Aureo

Puntulina

Santa Croce

Baredine

Grand Park Hotel Rovinj

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UNPARALLELED LUXURY & STUNNING VIEWS

The Grand Park Hotel Rovinj, the newest jewel in the Maistra Collection, is nestled in a fragrant pine forest on the seafront overlooking Katarina Island and the charming Old Town of Rovinj.

Designed by the renowned Italian architect Piero Lissoni and 3LHD Studio, Grand Park offers 209 luxurious rooms and suites, some of which spread over 173 sq.m. and even offer a private plunge pool in front of the balcony.

For the utmost in luxury, privacy and comfort, guests can even rent a whole private wing of

the hotel, including a suite, 3 guest rooms and private hallway, covering a total of 300 sq.m.

Grand Park Hotel Rovinj is a celebration to fine dining where guest can enjoy 7 different restaurant and bar concepts, including the signature restaurant Cap Aureo or Michelinstarred Agli Amici with a menu by the renowned Italian chef Emanuele Scarello.

Not to be missed is the Albaro Wellness & Spa, featured in the “top spas of the world” list. The concept was inspired by the combination of albaro, the powerful mast of the traditional Rovinj fishing boat, sturdy enough to beat

the waves and the open sea, and the secrets of medicinal herbs of Istrian Terra Magica. Occupying 3,800 square meters, it is the biggest spa of its kind in Istria. It extends over two floors of the hotel, with indoor and outdoor areas, including three outdoor pools located on the top floor of the hotel featuring stunning views.

On the grounds of the hotel connected to the marina, guests can shop in exclusive boutiques and dine in a collection of restaurants. The picture-perfect, vibrant Old town of Rovinj and the century-old forest park are only steps away.

WINE COUNTRY

Istria is not only the country’s gastronomic heart but also arguably Croatia’s most exciting wine region, producing a diverse range of wines from notable indigenous varieties.

Divided into “White”, “Grey” and “Red” regions, “Red Istria” has the most vineyards. Ask your waiter to pair your food with local wines, and make sure to visit a winery such as Meneghetti, cultivated in an ecologically sustainable manner with deep respect for nature.

Our recommendation: the white wines Malvasia and Muscat, and red wines Terrano and Borgonjared.

PULA

Situated on the tip of the Peninsula, you will reach Pula, the largest city in Istria, in less than an hour from Rovinj.

It is known for its protected harbour, beach-lined coast and Roman ruins, including the first-century Roman amphitheatre. Its imposing outer walls are second only to Rome’s Colosseum. In the city’s Old Town, you will find Byzantine chapels mixed with Venetian townhouses and Habsburg palaces.

MAY WE RECOMMEND ...

You Simply Have to ...

Stop when you see the open grill at a roadside restaurant and try ROASTED SUCKLING PIG. A simple and delicious lunch. A WINE TASTING. Croatia has some amazing reds and whites. Visit the PULA ARENA. Spend some time on one of the beautiful BEACHES and enjoy the crystal clear sea.

Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery

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SERENITY, TRANQUILITY AND EXCLUSIVITY

As the iron gates of the Meneghetti estate open, the magic is about to begin! Meneghetti is a symbol of luxury, an oasis of peace and quiet surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, with its winery, an outstanding restaurant providing highly personalized service, and premium, world-renowned and awardwinning wines and olive oils.

Meneghetti welcomes anyone seeking peace, quiet and high-end service. The Wine Hotel & Winery, a member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux, is a delightful luxury hotel with luxury rooms and suites, contemporarydesigned one and two bedroom residences with a private terrace and garden, and villas with three bedrooms, a living room, as well as a terrace, garden, and a private pool.

The Meneghetti restaurant invites guests to a modern interpretation of traditional Istrian cuisine where the dishes are creatively presented and expertly made, prepared from fresh, authentic, and local ingredients chosen seasonally. Throughout the day, Oliveto Restaurant & Lounge Bar offers cocktails and a casual lunch by the pool in a relaxing atmosphere overlooking the Meneghetti vineyards.

TOP:

Boutique Hotel Alhambra

H H H H H

Amajestic sea-facing luxury ho tel, made up of of two neigh bouring turn-of-the-century villas that have been intercon nected with a new modern building, Bou tique Hotel Alhambra & Villa Augusta offers the utmost in luxury in Mali Lošinj.

Members of Virtuoso and prestigious Small Luxury Hotels of the World and with Les Clefs d’Or concierge service, the hotel and villa har moniously blend the historic charm of sophis ticated Art Nouveau architecture with contem

porary design into a unique space that exudes warmth and discreet luxury. Surrounded by a meticulously designed park, each detail, from the rooms to the beach, has been crafted to provide guests with maximum comfort and ul timate pleasure. From marble bathrooms, Mu rano glass chandeliers and custom artwork, the list of luxurious amenities is long.

Culinary afficinados will find their piece of heaven in the world-class Alfred Keller Restau rant, awarded one Michelin star and featured in the renowned Gault Millau guide. Each course

is accompanied by sommelier-selected wines from Keller’s rich wine cellar with more than 660 top quality labels. Alhambra Cube Spa, de signed to restore balance and harmony between the mind and body, has an indoor seawater pool, and just a few steps down from the promenade, the hotel’s private beach awaits with stylish sun loungers and parasols.

For the utmost in luxury experiences, Bou tique Hotel Alhambra even offers a door-todoor taxi flight service, or a private ground transfer with a Mercedes.

Hotel Bellevue

H H H H H AWARD WINNING LUXURY AND WELLNESS SANCTUARY

From the outside, the Bellevue hotel is minimalistic, boasting sleek designs with white hues. From the inside, the hotel opens to a large and lavishly decorated atrium with Italian designer furniture, exuding a unique airiness and comfort.

Spacious rooms and suites await the hotel’s guests, with the sea-facing ones enjoying sweeping views over the bay. Suites include private hot tubs on the terrace, an extra bathroom and Caffitaly coffee machines.

A wide stone staircase descends from the main building, connecting it to the tree-lined seaside promenade and its private beach area with superb view of the bay.

At the end of the 19th-century, Čikat was recognised as a “healing location” due to its specific microclimate, making it especially popular among the Viennese aristocracy.

Today, this noble tradition continues with the Spa Clinic and Spa Garden, named Croatia’s Best in 2020, World’s Best Hotel Spa 2021 as announced by the prestigious World Spa

Awards, and winning also Europe’s Best and Croatia’s Best Hotel Spa the same year.

After receiving the Wine Spectator “Best of Award of Excellence”, the hotel’s Matsunoki Japanese fusion restaurant has been awarded a Michelin Plate, a recognition that indicates that the facility is on its way to its first star.

The elegant Restaurant Bava, the Lounge Bar Alto Rosso as well as a pool bar and a beach club offer additional experiences of summer indulgence using fresh, locallysourced ingredients, and first-class quality.

ISLANDS OF CRES AND LOŠINJ

Our next stop was Mali Lošinj, the biggest town on the island of Lošinj, which is part of the Cres-Lošinj archipelago. The islands are connected by a small bridge, and to get to Lošinj, we took the ferry from Brestova to Porozina on Cres. Considering that it is a very short 20-minute journey, the ferries operate quite often and we didn’t need a reservation.

Leaving the ferry, a thrilling 9km drive along a narrow road, winding up the hills and shared with trucks and RVs, brings you to a scenic lookout. From here, a very scenic drive will get you to Mali Lošinj in about an hour and a half.

Mali Lošinj, the largest town on Lošinj Island, is set at the apex of a long natural harbour and ringed by graceful and gently weathered residences telling the story of the flour ishing area of the 19th century when the elite from Austria and Hungary gravitated to the island, known for its ‘healthy air.’ Some of the grand residences have been restored, even housing luxury hotels such as the 5-star Bou tique Hotel Alhambra, an Austro-Hungarian villa overlooking the tranquil waters of Čikat Bay. Together with its neighbouring 5-star sister-hotel, Bellevue, it is the perfect location to relax, enjoy, and to explore Mali Lošinj and its surroundings.

MAY WE RECOMMEND ...

The Place to Stay ...

To Dine For ...

You Simply Have to ...

for

of

beaches

Mali Lošinj

Amadria Park Hotel Milenij

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THE GRANDE DAME OF THE KVARNER RIVIERA

Set in a historic, Habsburg-era villa and framed by landscaped gardens, the Hotel Milenij offers five-star luxury paired with Opatija’s most popular terrace on Lungo Mare promenade with stunning views of Kvarner Bay.

The Amadria Park Group has a long history of providing Croatian hospitality, blending tradition and heritage with contemporary luxury, innovation and elegance. Today, the privately owned group owns six hotels in Opatija alone.

Hotel Milenij blends the spirit of the historic

tradition of the Kvarner Riviera with contem porary design and decorations.

The southern part of the hotel, built as a luxurious villa in 1836, became Caffé Principe Umberto in 1898 in honor of a visit from the Kingdom of Italy’s Prince Umberto. In 1908, the famous Viennese architect Carl Seidl designed the old part of today’s Hotel Milenij as an upgrade of the existing villa.

A dance hall was added in 1924, with fres coes painted by Viennese painter Karl Ludwig Hassman. This hall is now home to the hotel’s fine dining spot, Restaurant Argonauti, where

the Greek mythology-themed artwork can still be seen.

The hotel’s own Wagner Caffé terrace and bar serves aperitifs, desserts, artisan ice cream in exotic flavours or their own hand-crafted Cho co-branded pralines.

Drawing on the wellness tradition of the late-1900s Austro-Hungarian royalty, the firstclass Milenij Spa offers several treatments and high-quality cosmetics.

Hotel Milenij has 96 luxurious rooms and spacious suites up to 60m², providing a sense of royal influence, tranquility and grandeur.

OPATIJA

Our last stop on this amazing trip was in Opatija. Still part of the peninsula, Opatija is a magnificent coastal town on the Kvarner Gulf. We took the same ferry, this time from Porozina back to Brestova, and then drove the 30km along the stunning coast to nearby Opatija. A fashionable resort in the 19th century, officially declared a climatic health resort for the aristocracy, this magnificent coastal town is dotted with Habsburg-era villas.

Today, Opatija is an elegant tourist destination and one of the most popular wellness and health tourism destinations in Croatia. Many cultural and entertainment events, beautiful public gardens, an illuminated 10-km-long coastal promenade (“Lungomare”), and many excellent restaurants and indigenous taverns make Opatija a must-stay when visiting the northern part of Croatia.

Good to know...

How to get here ...

There are several ways to get to Istria, especially as you will most likely go through either Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich or London airport. From there, you can either fly to Zagreb, Croatia’s capital, or straight to Pula airport, the biggest interna tional airport in Istria.

However, with its convenient location, we may have an even better idea for you: Instead of “only” visiting Croatia, how about showing off a bit and starting the trip in Italy?

Trieste, Italy, is only 35km from the Croatian border! Even Venice is less than a 3-hour drive. We even added a few more countries as we started our trip in Munich, Germany, arriving on a very convenient Air Canada/ Star Alliance flight directly from Vancouver. So you can start in the Bavarian city flanked by the Alps, and indulge in some sausage, cabbage and beer extravaganza, before picking up a rental car, heading out on a 6-hour journey that will bring you through Austria, Slovenia and even Italy, before reaching the northern part of Croatia.

Talk about bragging rights – 5 countries in a day, where else can you do that?

The best time to travel ...

... is in summer, from June to September. Especially on the coast, you can enjoy lots of sunshine and temperatures between 25 and 30 degrees.

The local currency is ...

The euro! Unless you travel before the end of 2022. Croatia will become the 20th member of the eurozone on January 1, 2023 and adopt the euro (which will replace the kuna).

MINI SUB MEDULIN, CROATIA

Mini Sub Medulin is a newly started business using a unique underwater environmentallyfriendly diving scooter.

The tour begins in the marina in Medulin, just minutes from Pula or around 45 minutes from Rovinj, where we were welcomed by the captain and his crew.

On the boat ride to one of the islets, we were introduced to the scooter, which does not require any diving skills or scuba gear. Instead, it uses an air pocket that forms in the helmet of the submarine, fed by an oxygen tank. In theory, the battery and the oxygen allow you to stay underwater for up to 3 hours, although the actual underwater experience is around 25 minutes, guided by a professional diver.

It was an amazing experience and a whole new way of exploring the marine life and the ancient roman settlements, of which some now rest at the bottom of the sea.

And for lasting memories, we even received several video clips and pictures of our diving tour. Highly recommended!

When we discussed this trip with BMW back in 2020, we had originally asked for the powerful M8 Convertible. 2 years later, with fuel prices almost doubled and facing a 2,000km road-trip, we decided to instead give the 2022 BMW 840i xDrive M Convertible with its 335-hp turbocharged inline-six-cylinder, a chance. We did not regret it!

Offering a powerful look with its M Sport package, it has a lavishly appointed interior with leather covering most every surface and all the infotainment gadgetry expected in a high-priced grand tourer. And when it comes to delivering on the German Autobahn, it does so with

a supremely quiet ride and surprising power. We also managed to fit all our suitcases and bags in the trunk and under the windscreen on the back seats, even with the top down, and, speaking of the softtop, it truly showed its outstanding quality and noise insulation when we drove through a heavy 15-minute hail-storm in Slovenia. Thumbs-up! We loved every moment in the 8 convertible, and with an average of only 8.4L on 100km, it definitely helped with the current gas prices. However, if you prefer the prodigious power of a twin-turbo V8, you may want to check out the 523-hp M850i.

A Bavarian in Croatia BMW 840i xDrive M Convertible

MINI SUB MEDULIN

Riva, 52203, Medulin, Croatia www.waveboat.hr info@waveboat.hr

ULYSSE NARDIN

BLAST RAINBOW TOURBILLON

Housed in a 45mm black DLC titanium case, the Ulysse Nardin Blast Rainbow features a total of 50 rubies and sapphire baguette gemstones, which are studded on its bezel and indexes. Powered by the Calibre UN-172 with silicium technology, the 50m water-resistant Blast Rainbow takes inspiration from the iridescent rainbow of colours produced by the material. The UN-172 movement is an evolution of the hand-wound UN-171 and has a three-day/72h power reserve. The Blast Rainbow is a limited edition of 50 pieces and comes with a waterproof velvet rubber strap or a black alligator strap, both with a black DLC titanium and ceramic deployant clasp. The retail price is CHF 85,000.

TRILOBE UNE FOLLE JOURNÉE

A young independent brand first imagined in 2013, Trilobe introduces a third timepiece after the “Les Matinaux” and “Nuit Fantastique” with their rotating, deconstructed indications. The impressive Trilobe “Une Folle Journée” offers a display that is still based on eccentric, rotating discs, yet these are now floating over the base plate. The display consists of three concentric indications: The hours are shown on the periphery, then the minutes and finally, in the centre, the seconds. Inbetween, a free view shows the mechanics underneath. All of it is now housed under a domed massive 10.2mm sapphire crystal. Available either in black or blue the watch is worn on a colour-matched alligator strap closed by a pin buckle. EUR 21,500.

TUDOR

PELAGOS 39

This new model joins Tudor’s family of technical divers’ watches which, up to now, has only been available with a 42mm case. The new Pelagos 39 is a slimmed down, more wearable 39mm x 11.8mm unisex watch, crafted from satin-brushed grade 2 titanium with luminescent ceramic composite monobloc hour markers, a rapid adjustment system for the clasp and a diver’s extension. The Pelagos 39 is equipped with Manufacture Calibre MT5400, certified as a chronometer by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC). Waterproof to 200m. Titanium three-link bracelet as well as a complimentary black rubber strap. C$5,170.

CORUM

BUBBLE X AIIROH

French street artist Aiiroh created the artwork for the new 47mm Bubble, crafted in stainless steel with black PVD coating.

It uses two different dial appliques that add dramatic depth and dimension. The automatic caliber CO 082 with 42hrs of power reserve can be seen through a transparent sapphire crystal on the case back. Water resistant to 100 meters.

Limited edition of 88 pieces. CHF 7,200.

BULGARI

OCTO FINISSIMO SEJIMA EDITION

Designed for Bulgari by Japanese architect Kazuyo Sejima, this Octo Finissimo is sure to thrill lovers of minimalist style. Available in a 360-piece limited edition. US$ $14,100.

IN TIME

THE LATEST NEWS FROM SWITZERLAND ...

Over the last few weeks, our inbox got bombarded with news coming from Switzerland. Here are some of our favourites... [top row] Arnold & Son Luna Magna Platinum Meteorite. Limited edition of 28 pieces. CHF 70,900 | [center row] H. Moser & Cie Streamliner Tourbillon Vantablack. The dial is made of the blackest black available, 99.965% of all light is absorbed. CHF 109,000 | Frederique Constant Classics Heartbeat Manufacture. Rose gold. Limited to 93 pieces. CHF 16,995. | [bottom row] Louis Vuitton Tambour Twenty 41.5mm. Limited edition of 200 pieces. US$17,800. | Omega Speedmaster X-33 Marstimer. Designed to track time both on Earth and on Mars. Solar compass. C$8,700.

H.

Frederique

out & about

THE SPEEDMASTER ‘57 EVENT OMEGA BOUTIQUE VANCOUVER

In 2013, OMEGA introduced the famous Speedmaster ‘57, emblematic of the first, revolutionary Speedmaster design, which was launched in 1957 for racing car drivers and engineers on the track.

In 2022, coinciding with the 65th anniversary of the Speedmaster it returns with a Master Chronometer upgrade and a slimmer profile. The new 40.5 mm collection consists of eight stainless steel models, all offering a streamlined look with iconic heritage touches such as the unique Broad Arrow hands and a tachymeter scale on the bezel.

On September 29, 2022, the OMEGA Boutique Vancouver invited friends of the brand to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Speedmaster, together with its ambassador, Canadian television personality and actor, Antoni Porowski. A great opportunity to catch up with likeminded watch aficionados and to see the newest models in the watchmaker’s collection.

JUST SMILE!

A yellow circle, two oval eyes, a wide upturned mouth ... The Smiley, drawn by Franklin Loufrani just over 50 years ago, has become an established symbol in the collective consciousness. It serves as the embodiment of positivity, joy and sharing and has played a major role at the heart of pop culture across several creative generations. Celebrating the iconographic Smiley, Richard Mille’s newest timepiece took three years to develop.

The bezel and caseback of the RM 88 are crafted from ATZ white ceramic, known for being one of the hardest materials in the world, next to diamonds, with high resistance to scratches. For contrast, the caseband is made of 18-karat 5N red gold.

Around the Smiley’s radiant face, several colourful handcrafted micro-sculptures are placed. A blossoming flower, a pineapple, a blooming cactus, a pink flamingo, rays of sunshine and a brightly-coloured rainbow.

The RM 88 is powered by the new skeletonized in-house CRMT7 automatic tourbillon movement with up to 50 hours of power reserve.

The RM 88 Automatic Tourbillon Smiley is available in a limited edition of 50 pieces. CHF 1,100,000.

Make Better CONNECTIONS

OVOU is set to change how people make in-person connections. The Vancouver-based company is entering its third year in business and already has some of the biggest brands in North America using OVOU cards as their primary method of sharing and exchanging contacts.

The founder, Reza Varzidehkar, was seeking ways to differentiate himself when meeting and prospecting for clients for his marketing business back in 2017. He came across QR codes and NFC technology and started to use them as a way of sharing and exchanging contacts. Like many others before him, he knew that business cards are old and he wondered why no one has disrupted this

practice already. As he began using his prototype NFC card he realized why so many companies failed in this space before him. It was never an issue of technology but rather an issue of people adopting a new way. Someone had to package the product in a way that makes the experience more seamless, something that Reza felt he had the strength to do so. It wasn’t until Apple’s an nouncement to support NFC reading in 2019 that Reza saw an opportunity to change how people network.

OVOU was officially launched on February 20th, 2020. Reza came up with the idea of the #100events journey, challenging himself to attend 100 networking events in 100 days to better connect with the business community and understand the problem he was solving at the time. During his network ing marathon, Reza was exposed to a larger problem that professionals are facing when networking. “People want to connect with who you are, not what you do” he recalls as he met hundreds of people who by default introduced themselves with their job titles during his networking experience. He set out to build a product that allows people to

share a fuller and more impressive image of who they are when they first meet, to cultivate a stronger connection.

Bootstrapping his way through, Reza single-handedly took OVOU from the ground to 7 figures. He worked round the clock in every position in the company, until he secured his lead management, through a connection made at the 100 events. Fast forward to today and OVOU is a global company, with staff in 8 countries and no signs of slowing down.

As in-person network ing not only returns but thrives, OVOU is looking to establish itself within the world of high-value connections, grow ing social capital, and human connection beyond your job title. OVOU is continuing to innovate beyond their smart business card to provide a solution to inperson networking and connection management.”

So how does the OVOU card work?

OVOU is a Smart Business Card that uses a QR code and NFC (Near Field Communication) to share a profile that the user has created on the OVOU website. It can include a name, company profile, all contact information including social media accounts and more. The owner can change this information at any time! To forward the contact information,

all it takes is to either tap the OVOU card on the client’s phone or have them scan the QR code. It will open the full profile on their phone, they can instantly save it, and also share back their own information with you.

OVOU currently offers several different options, which can be customized with the client’s name and a company logo.

Scan the QR-code and let Reza Varzidehkar show youhow the OVOU ard works!

The Ultimate Navy/Naval Warfare

Stand out amongst a sea of navy suits with a subtle check pattern such as this Belgian windowpane. The fineness of the merino fibres and the unique top-dyeing process from the legend ary House of Dormeuil lends a depth of sheen unseen from any other wool. Pair this with a textured tie with Shantung Silk elements for a perfect blend of ruggedness and refinement.

MODERN DAY

HUNTER

ESSENTIAL AUTUMN GEAR FOR THE MAN ON A MISSION

In ancient times, summer playtime was merely the warmup for autumn. As the weather cools, an inner beckoning calls for us to get to work. It’s harvest season. It’s time to hunt.

Equip yourself this season with a wardrobe that will attract the success you seek.

The Hunter

Inspired by the specialised kit used by modern-day hunters that allows them to be seen by other humans but remain invisible to wildlife, this Blaze Orange Officer’s Coat is sure to stand out. Milled from Shetland wool by Caccioppoli, this iconic piece is sure to stand up to the elements. It pairs beautifully with any colour, especially darker navies and earth tones like this Mocha Glen Check. Be sure to design it with genuine horn buttons for a masculine appearance.

Fall

Layered Up

The cooler weather allows a luxury almost impos sible in the summer: layering. While they may seem like completely different species, earth tones always pair well with bold colours, and solids play well with patterns. A Banker Collar on a Bengal Striped shirt works to add another layer of sophistication, while a complementary flannel vest supplies warmth and comfort. Complete the look with handcrafted topgrain leather Oxfords and a lining that resonates with your soul.

Powerful Pinstripes

Nothing states back to business like a pinstripe suit. Given current-day dress codes, the serious stripes can be dialled back by crafting it in a warm flannel wool, and paired with our comfortably soft Merino wool turtleneck sweater.

Rugged Yet Refined Corduroy. This 70’s iconic fabric has reposi tioned itself as a mainstay due to its durability, warmth and comfort. The versatility of a cor duroy suit as standalone trousers or as a sports jacket worn with our signature custom denim makes this a Fall favourite amongst stylish men. Pair it with our Tenamo Bamboo-blended shirts for the ultimate in comfort and ease of wear.

In Style!

PACO RABANNE

1 MILLION PRIVÉ

Classified as a woody oriental fragrance full of contrasts, Prive opens with a combination of blood mandarin and cinnamon that then builds into a heart of tobacco and myrrh. 1 Million Prive envelops you as you wear it...

DOLCE & GABBANA

THE ONE

A mix of woody and creamy notes, The One offers spicy heart notes which invoke a festive vibe while the base notes create a sweet vanilla tobacco accord.

THE BEST FRAGRANCES FOR THE

KILIAN BLACK PHANTOM

One of the best winter colognes for men, Black Phantom consists primarily of synthetic edible notes such as honey, vanilla and chocolate. A woody gourmand that pleases everyone.

EMPORIO ARMANI STRONGER THAN YOU

Launched in 2017, this is one of the best fall and winter colognes and has become a pillar of the Armani fragrance line. A mix of spices, fruit and warmth. Comfort in a bottle.

DATE FOR MEN

COLDER MONTHS

PERFUMS DE MARLY CARLISLE

Sunny and radiant, this sensual fragrance is built around a sandalwood theme that is warm, with a hint of vanilla, whilst both soothing and rich.

après ski

“The Fruity opening is the flirtiness on a date, the laugh and smile, the rich mids through patchouli and cardamom brings the seduction, then we have the immortally masculine oud, and super sexual vetiver.”

What is LUXURY?

by SEAN KOLENKO

"

The continued rise of technology has given us unprecedented access to goods and services that, only a handful of years ago, seemed out of reach or, in some cases, outright impossible to obtain.

We can now order food from renowned restaurants, right to our door. With the click of a few buttons, we can get picked up and dropped off most anywhere we want. And we can shop the latest seasonal collections from the most celebrated global fashion houses on numerous e-commerce platforms and marketplaces.

But with so many options at our fingertips, what, then, is luxury today? How do we define luxury in a world where access to the best of the best gets easier and easier?

In an era of extroardinary access, true luxury has grown to be more than just a quality good or high priced transaction. – it Is a thoughtfully curated experience”

At Sarai Bespoke, this is a question we ask ourselves routinely. And what we’ve come to realize is that luxury is not just obtaining a piece of clothing or ordering a delicious meal.

True luxury, rather, is the experience that surrounds those things: the time people take out of their busy day to slow down and get away from their daily grind, the connections we make while conversing over a coffee or a cocktail, and, finally, the production of a truly one-of-a-kind garment.

Making Time

Although our most valuable commodity, time can often feel in short supply. Work, errands, kids...the demands of the day are plentiful.

That’s why the chance to slow down, decompress, and focus on a creative endeavor like design is so important to the luxury experience.

We cultivate this feeling at Sarai Bespoke by offering exclusive appointments for our clients, ensuring a unique, elevated, and focused experience at our Gastown showroom. Over a finely-crafted espresso or a classic cocktail – and, as always, with some tunes on the record player –everyone that comes by gets to sit and take a load off, enjoy sweeping views of the Vancouver harbour, and immerse themselves in a time dedicated solely to them before they head back out into the world.

Connecting with the Community

Of course, that unique environment always spurs conversation and connection. And that’s critical to the modern luxury experience as well: we want to get to know one another, understand your specific garment needs, and your unique personal style, so we can co-create pieces that make you look and feel your best.

Too often – almost always, in fact – shopping is a one-way street. You find a piece, you try on the piece, and you buy the piece. But the modern luxury experience calls for more. That’s why we take the opportunity to connect and forge a relationship that moves us beyond the transaction, beyond the simple purchase, to a place of true partnership.

Exclusively, yours...

And the end result? Refined garments made with the highest levels of craftsmanship and quality, in precisely the fit and design the client wants. Whether they be for the office, travel, or a wedding, these are truly custom garments, with each unique design detail decided upon before it gets made.

There simply won’t be another exactly like it.

Continued Evolution

Over time, the modern luxury experience will surely come to include other facets that further enhance and shape how we share time, connect, and create with our community. We’re excited to see what comes next – the more unique offerings we can provide, the more unique the experience will be.

Because that is what true luxury is: an all encompassing, thoughtfully curated lifestyle experience.

make her wait

CHANGING LIVES

FROM SCRATCH

OF THE KITCHENIN & OUT

BRIAN CURIN

CO-FOUNDER/ CO-CEO & PRESIDENT LITTLE KITCHEN ACADEMY

BY DR. OLIVER FINLAY

IC: In fifteen words or less, who are you and what do you do?

BC: Brian Curin, husband, proud dad, and Co-Founder/Co-CEO & President of Little Kitchen Academy.

IC: Tell us about Little Kitchen Academy and what is the guiding purpose behind the organization that you have built with your wife, Felicity, over the last 5 years.

BC: LKA is the first-of-its-kind Montessori-inspired cooking academy for children ages 3 through 18, based on the belief that by empowering children with practical life skills and food literacy, we will create more educated, mindful, and healthy communities

globally. Based in Vancouver, the concept was co-founded by my self, my wife, a Montessori-trained, culinary expert, and vision ary, Felicity Curin, and social impact investor and entrepreneur Praveen Varshney. Part of our mission includes empowering stu dents to learn how they can make the world a better place through: How Can I Help? by Little Kitchen Academy, LKA’s signature philanthropic program and supporting Crisis Text Line, The Glob al FoodBanking Network, Kids Help Phone, and One Tree Planted. In addition to charitable partnerships, we have forged strategic global brand partnerships with Iron Chef Cat Cora, AeroGarden,

BIRKENSTOCK, ChefWorks, Emeco, ChopValue, Welcome Industries, and PRISE Inc.

Little Kitchen Academy’s flagship ven ues are located in Vancouver, B.C., and Los Angeles, California. We have nine locations open across Canada, Los Angeles, and Port land, and have recently inked development deals to open over 240 locations in Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Oregon, Texas, Washing ton, and Canada. Additionally, we recently launched our Meet Me in The Kitchen pod cast, to share intimate, unexpected stories that explore the common threads of human ity and illuminate what brings us together, which can be found on Apple Music, Spotify and at LittleKitchenAcademy.com.

IC: You launched Little Kitchen Academy after many years of success grow ing businesses in the food and beverage and retail sectors through a franchising model. Please can you tell us what you like about that model and what are the challenges with it?

BC: Much like as a family we approach life, with care of self, care of others and care of environment, franchising enables likeminded people to come together and make an impact at an accelerated pace. For us, we get to share the gift of LKA globally, with partners that have the same purpose-driven mission that we do and that believe in our vision. Franchising allows for people to be part of our vision by getting into business for themselves with best-in-class systems, sup port, and guidance, so that they are confident in the fact that they are not on their own. The challenge is to find the right people who want to be partners in our business for the right reasons and who can execute in their local communities delivering our brand promise and experience.

IC: What unique challenges have you encountered in growing Little Kitchen Academy, that were different to any of the other businesses you’ve previously built and what lessons have you learnt in overcoming them?

BC: LKA is a purpose-driven company and with that comes a lot of passion, stubborn ness, and education. Every decision made comes from the heart and is very personal. We have forced a new business category into the market, and this takes repetitive conver sations, educating our community as to why this is essential, and finding the right people to join us.

IC: Both Felicity and you are huge advocates for creating environments that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. In cities such as Vancouver where the economic and social pressures contrib ute to significant inequality of access to resources between and within commu nities, how is Little Kitchen Academy working to provide opportunities for

children from all socio-eco nomic backgrounds to access such valuable education?

BC: We know that LKA is for EVERY child, but not every family has the means to enroll. We connect with many organiza tions to open the opportunity up to those children but simply pro viding the classes isn’t enough. We need to educate the families too on the choices they need to make to pay for nutrient dense ingredients and develop the un derstanding of how to make great decisions. It’s vital that they have the CHOICE to make but many families in our communities don’t have a choice.

IC: The COVID pandemic created new factors and ex acerbated the prevalence of existing factors in our soci ety that contribute to men tal health problems, which have effectively precipitated a subsequent mental health pandemic. How have you seen that pres ent on the ground with young people at Little Kitchen Academy and can you explain how the work you do is helping address some of these issues?

BC: During the first few weeks of re-opening after the government lockdown we saw the changes in our students. Young children who didn’t feel safe outside of their parents’ arms, curious ones feeling nervous to touch things, and the older, more social students desperate for face-to-face connection. Having an envi ronment that is free of judgement like LKA, we are going to meet every child where they are at and that is very necessary in support ing their personal development. A beautiful Montessori term is “Follow the Child”, and we understand that to mean ‘step back, ob serve with love and let the child show you what they need.’ We practice it daily and our students can feel it.

IC: Food plays such an integral role in forming and developing our social rela tionships. I often feel that European cul tures embrace this aspect far more read ily than in North America, where eating is often seen as a very functional activity. Have you seen the children that come to Little Kitchen Academy improve their ability to socialize as well as just develop their understanding of the nutritional benefits of creating healthy meals?

BC: The LKA food philosophy is very sim ple. We follow the oldest, wisest woman on the planet - Mother Nature. Our job is to dis cover what is in season, what is local, create wonder as to where it came from, add science to change it so it tastes delicious, and sim ply celebrate a child when they CONSIDER

these aspects. When we empower children to make these choices, they build confidence, connection, and curiosity. Learning the sci ence behind food substitutions required to accommodate food intolerances, cultures or simply taste preferences is powerful. You can’t eat eggs? What do eggs do in the reci pe? What can we use instead? This thinking can remove biases that are formed through lack of understanding.

IC: How do you feel social media con tributes to our relationship with food in the current day and age. What impact does this have and how can we leverage the benefits of social media, whilst miti gating the negative influences, to create positive change in this area?

BC: LKA has decided to embrace social me dia as a power tool. We can’t beat it, so let’s find the opportunity that it creates. We are all constantly barraged with advice on what we should and shouldn’t be eating, what we should or shouldn’t look like. Let’s take this opportunity to talk about taking care of our selves by making choices that are important to us! There are as many food philosophies as there are types of apples and it certainly isn’t a one-size-fits-all. We also love to take on the fun TikTok food trends and in learning how to make dishes that are all over our so cial media gives some of our older students a ‘social currency’, so to speak. They may not be on the winning team, the student council leader, or the coolest dresser in school, but they can talk about the latest food trend and how they have learned to master it!

IC: Over the next five years, what would success for Little Kitchen Academy look like to Felicity and you?

BC: Having a Little Kitchen Academy within reach of every child is success. Seeing our community containers on school properties in un derserved communities, our curriculum entering school systems and empowering children to make decisions that are important to them is success. Watching our students come back as instructors. Seeing our franchise partners create jobs. The potential for success is endless and we are so excited to celebrate every step of the way! Our vision to be come the global leader in teaching practical life skills and food literacy to children to promote a more educated, independent, and healthier society…is already starting to take shape.

IC: You are surrounded by some exceptionally talented people with some impressive culinary skills. Have your own personal skills in the kitchen improved along the way?

BC: Ha! I pride myself on surrounding myself with incredible people, my wife Felicity being the most incredible. This allows me to focus on what I do well both in and out of the kitchen…mostly out of it. I have become a better human because of LKA and have dramatically improved the welcome I receive when I venture into the kitchen. Most notably, my knife skills have certainly improved.

IC: As we already mentioned, one of those exceptionally tal ented people that you work with is your wife, Felicity. What are the best bits about working together? …And what are the more challenging aspects???!

BC: The best bits are countless. We love to celebrate each other’s strengths. We are so proud of the team we have built, and the impact we are making in every class. As anyone who owns their own business will know, there are good days and difficult days. We have each other to lean on. We are each other’s number one fan. The tough times are when we can’t “leave it at the office”. And when we disagree…thank you George Clooney for Casamigos!

IC: What do you enjoy most about your work?

BC: Knowing that I’m doing something that is bigger than me, will outlive me, will make my daughters proud, is changing lives from scratch for this generation and those to come, and selfishly, seeing my wife’s vision and passion come to life.

IC: Aside from growing Little Kitchen Academy, you are a men tor to other local entrepreneurs in the city. Which local start-ups should we be keeping an eye out for and why are you excited by them?

BC: Yes, I serve as a director on the boards of ChopValue and In cisive Genetics. Both companies and founders are equally purposedriven in totally different industries. One is redefining the term waste to resource, one chopstick at a time, whilst the other is transforming the field of genetic medicine by being at the forefront with its novel Incisive Delivery System for gene editing therapy. Both companies are having, and will continue to have a positive global impact on our lives.

IC: What 4 words would your closest friends use to describe you?

BC: Driven, Resilient, Kind, Excitable.

IC: Thank you, Brian. I always enjoy our conversations and en joyed meeting the team on my visit to the LKA “Nest” recently. It must be such a positive environment to be immersed in on a regular basis.

BC: I am surrounded by strong, passionate, and kind women at the Nest…yes, I’m the only local male on our team. We encourage collab orative work, having fun, and always putting our student’s first. Best part? It doesn’t feel like work. Daily, we hear “I love this place”, “I have never worked in an environment like this and don’t ever want to leave” or, the best so far, “I’m going to die with you and Felicity”, and we actually believe this to be true!

IC: …and finally, here are our ‘Completely Unrelated, but Nev ertheless Entertaining Standard 10 Questions’…you ready?

BC: Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, so let’s go!

IC: You lose everything you own. How do you rise like a phoenix from the ashes?

BC: With forgiveness for myself and others, and by being fueled by the amazing people that I get to call my family and friends.

IC: We finish this interview and as you step outside, you find a lottery ticket that ends up winning you $20 million. What do you do?

BC: I would do what I could to find the person that lost it and hope they split it with me!

IC: You can invite 5 people for a dinner party…and the guest list isn’t restricted by the confines of time and mortality. Who joins you for dinner and why?

BC: My wife Felicity because she is my simply the best at any dinner party. My three daughters Gabby, Bronwyn, and Gwen, because they are incredible women whom I cherish every second I get with. My late dad, to let him know that I love him and for him to meet his miracu lous granddaughters and daughter-in-law. And, Larry David, because I think we might be related or maybe I think we would just get each other. And yes, I know math, but family first always.

IC: What was your first car, what do you drive now and what is your dream car?

BC: 1984 Toyota 4Runner, Polestar 2, 1974 Ford Bronco…electrified.

IC: What one piece of advice would you give to your 16-year-old self?

BC: Don’t be such an asshole, don’t be so hard on yourself and don’t change a damn thing because you have one hell of a life to live.

IC: Who would play you in a movie about your life?

BC: Jason Bateman

IC: Where is your favourite travel destination and why?

BC: Versailles. It was a place that I had never been to and on my first visit, it was the place that I felt at true peace, and I honestly think I may have been there in another time. We now visit on a frequent basis.

IC: Tell me your favourite joke…

BC: In private because it would not reflect well on LKA ;)

IC: Where is your favourite Vancouver restaurant?

BC: Autostrada, Vancouver House for the food, Dockside at Granville Island Hotel for the ambience.

IC: Complete the sentence: “Vancouver is a great place be an entrepreneur because…”

BC: “...it tests you at every turn and makes you stronger because of it.”

IC: Thank you, Brian. Keep up the great work you are doing with Little Kitchen Academy and beyond. You really do have such a positive impact on our community, and I look forward to seeing how wide that reach expands over the coming years as Little Kitchen Academy spreads its wings.

AGELESS LIVING

Longevity, the secret to living a longer and healthier life, is one of the key trends of the future. With previously unimaginable advances in the fields of science and technology, life expectancy has dramatically increased in most parts of the world, with recent studies making the case that we could live up to 150 years. The longevity industry is booming, shifting away from the traditional disease-focused para digm, instead addressing the root causes of aging and developing strategies to help live longer, healthier lives.

“Aging is inevitable. Feeling old doesn’t have to be.” That’s the guiding philosophy at Ageless Living, the next generation of innovative health care and wellness clinics in B.C. founded by Michael Forbes (BSc Pharm and MBA) and Dr. Jean-Paul Lim (MD Internal Medicine and Complex Care Specialist). With locations in Langley, Victoria, and Kelowna, Ageless Living brings together the best in medical-grade treatments, state-of-the-art technologies and cutting-edge scientific discoveries to help patients achieve optimal health results for body, mind and spirit — at any age.

Dr. Lim, who grew up in Toronto before moving to Vancouver, knows about the importance of a holistic approach to medical care in order to keep his patients healthy and well. He has kept at the forefront of healthy living by continuously educating himself on different health-re lated topics. “Health is best treated proactively rather than retroac tively,” he emphasizes. “In order to attain true health, one must build a solid foundation comprised of proper diet, exercise, a healthy mind, and nutrients before addressing other more complex issues. We have created Ageless Living to move past the conventional approach of sup pressing and repressing symptoms and to treat the root causes of a complaint with a multidisciplinary, solutions-based program.”

Studies have shown that wellbeing lies in our own hands. “80% of our health is influenced by how we live each day and how we care for ourselves,” Dr. Lim says, “and at Ageless Living, we bring together the guidance, tools and technologies to help you live better, longer.”

Helping you to Discover Your Best Self

At their longevity and vitality clinics, licensed medical staff and certified wellness professionals offer a wide range of per sonalized, holistic treatments, from the aesthetic to the thera peutic. With a particular emphasis on the mind-body connec tion to combat the signs and symptoms of aging, they employ an array of disciplines and approaches to health and integrate these into a comprehensive, cohesive, and customized patientcare model. The following treatments are currently available:

Hormone Balancing and Optimization

There are many rea sons why hormone imbalances occur, and they can start at an early age, affecting both men and women. Stress, lack of sleep, birth control pills, in flammation, pregnancy, post-pregnancy, diet, weight, menopause, perimenopause, and thyroid problems, the list is long and even includes COVID19-related brain fog, fatigue and low energy. It is important to supplement the body’s natural production and supply it with bio-identical hormones, which is what these Ageless Living pro grams will do.

Biohacking

A field of science based on keeping our bodies looking, feeling and working like they were when we were young, Biohacking

uses natural biology to ex ploit the healing potential of the mind and body and can improve stamina, recovery, mental acuity, and productiv ity, all while stimulating re generation. The treatments developed at Ageless Living will not only help clients have more energy, think clearer and process faster, they also make the body heal quicker and recover faster from injury, inflammation, and pain, and boost our immune function.

Skin Rejuvenation

Starting with an in-depth consultation and skin health analysis, the certified Ageless Living skin rejuvenation experts offer pa tients a wide range of treatments and plans for both cosmetic enhancements and clinical needs of the body and the face, in cluding Botox, soft tissue fillers, peels, hydrafacials, dermaplan ing and award-winning cosmeceuticals lines, to name a few.

“All our programs and treatment packages are individually tai lored,” explains Dr. Lim, “so it is important to start with our free consultation.” Alternatively, Ageless Living offers a quick and easy-to-use preliminary online Hormone Test where prospec tive patients can find treatment options for their symptoms and begin the discussion of optimized, holistic health.

innovations20 40 winks for

As society drew a collective deep breath after the first two years of dealing with the outbreak of the COVID pandemic, there was a noticeable shift towards focussing on mental and physical health and wellbeing both in and out of the workplace. Millions resigned from their roles, in recognition of the fact that long commutes and hours sat at a desk in service of a boss that was ambivalent to their needs was no longer how they wanted to spend the best years of their lives.

As the tech and venture capital worlds collided to create a boom in a wide range of AI-informed and immersive Web 3.0 technologies, the coincidental timing with the global spotlight on health, the gaze shifted quickly to the fields of recovery, sleep, and longevity. An embryonic industry, that over the last ten years has seen the meteoric rise of such products, brands, and services as FitBit, HeadSpace, and Therabody, has consequently experienced a recent boom in start-ups eager to join the billiondollar movement.

Last year, The Big Sleep, an article I wrote about the importance of sleep and the simple steps that can be taken to improve quality of sleep, garnered more interest and comments than any other article I have written for Iconic Concierge. It quickly became apparent that most people I know have issues with their sleep and the reasons each gave were wide ranging. Knowing how

by Dr. Oliver Finlay

partial our readers are to gadgets and hacks, I thought I’d scour the market for some of the latest innovations in tech, materials and nutrition that can support the habits and practices I shared in The Big Sleep and get to work reviewing some of them.

PREPARING FOR BED

Before you slip under the covers, there are several key steps you can take to prepare your body and mind for a restful night. For most of us, our days are a whirlwind of to-do lists, deadlines, and tightly timed meeting schedules. Consequently, by the time the evening comes, our stress levels are high, and our brains are over-stimulated. Whilst some people turn to yoga or a gentle walk to wind down, others prefer to relax in front of the television or with computer games, which doesn’t necessarily help reduce the levels of the stress hormones, cortisol or adrenaline, coursing around our bodies. This matters because on a physiological level both cortisol and adrenaline block the body’s natural production of melatonin, the hormone that helps with the timing of your circadian rhythms, which you can think of as your 24-hour internal clock.

Sleep expert and Associate Professor of Sport and Exercise Science at La Trobe University, Australia, Dr Matt Driller, underlines the importance of observing your current daily light exposure

and understanding how that impacts your circadian rhythm. Our forefathers went to bed when it got dark and got up when the sun rose but our 21st century lifestyles aren’t conducive to synching with our body clock, and so we need to consider the impact of artificial light on our brains and put strategies in place that help manage the disruptions.

Whilst there are melatonin supplements available, they are known to interact with other medications, cause side effects and cause drowsiness in the morning. Additionally, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine reported that over 70% of melatonin supplements contained significantly different amounts of melatonin than what was listed on the label, whilst some also detected the unreported presence of the controlled substance serotonin, which is used in the treatment of several neurological disorders.

As an alternative, there are natural products that you can take that promote relaxation, reduce the levels of circulating cortisol, and promote the body to secrete melatonin. These products tend to contain tart cherry juice (which naturally contain melatonin and tryptophan, which helps the body produce melatonin), ashwagandha (reduces cortisol), magnesium bisglycinate (which helps relax the mind and muscles), valerian root and passionflower (which both modulate GABA secretion, a neurotransmitter that is involved in sleep regulation). Additionally other products provide key omega 3 oils that reduce inflammation and support brain recovery whilst you are resting.

My experiences with sleep supplements were mixed. I found some wonderful tasting concoctions, that did indeed help me feel more relaxed and sleep well. However, some of them demand ingesting not-insignificant volumes of fluid shortly before bed and so I was soon getting up more frequently in the night to empty my bladder!!

juice, magnesium bisglycinate and GABA and after a few days, I certainly felt I was drifting off to sleep more quickly. [www. niyama-wellness.ca]

Niyama Wellness: Sleep Like Buddha comes in capsule form and contains passionflower and tryptophan to promote sleep. I did feel it supported a deeper sleep but during the first week I did notice my mouth was very dry during the night and in the morning. [www.niyamawellness.ca]

MUD\WTR: :rest is a delicious rooibos chai, with turmeric, cinnamon , ashwagandha, valerian root, passionflower, reishi and turkey tail mushrooms. It promotes relaxation whilst also containing some potent anti-inflammatory ingredients to support recovery. As the evenings started to cool, I enjoyed a warm drink in the evening but had to drink it a couple of hours before bed to ensure the relaxation it induced was not countered by the need to get out of bed in the middle of the night. [MUDWTR.com]

Purica: Evening Calm is another warm drink base but what I liked about this is it only required an espresso-style shot, so the fluid volume was quite low. It also contained ashwagandha and reishi, to relax the body and mind. [Purica.com]

Purica: Magnesium Bisglycinate is again a warm drink base that has an effervescent raspberry experience, and I really liked the effect this had on reviving my tired legs after a long day on my feet or an evening gym session. [Purica.com]

BrainLuxury: DELTA has been developed to support deep sleep by providing the precursor nutrients that enable the natural creation of melatonin and serotonin. It comes in a test-tube style container and contains omega 3 and other fatty acids, tryptophan, vitamins D and E, zinc, and magnesium, which promote calm and sleep onset, extends deep sleep, and supports neuroplasticity. It’s a citrus taste, thanks to the natural lime and lemon juice and I definitely slept deeper with this, whilst feeling energised in the morning, but it does need to be kept refrigerated, which makes it difficult for travel. [BrainLuxury.com]

and overstimulation create a bias towards sympathetic nervous system activation, which makes it physiologically harder to focus, meditate, relax, or sleep.

Apollo: Neuro is a wearable device that emits a gentle vibration, which prompts the secretion of the hormone oxytocin. This increases parasympathetic activity and allows the body to relax into a calmer state. I used this at various points in the day but a couple of hours before bed I used the Relax and Unwind setting and then in the hour before bed switched to the Sleep and Renew setting. You can use it in during the night, but I don’t like having things on my wrists or ankles in bed. This certainly became more and more effective with continued usage, although the battery life is not long, and the app had some glitches. [ApolloNeuro.com]

BLACKROLL: Mini Foam Roller quite surprised me, as it looks rather unimpressive…it’s just a small foam roller, but it’s perfect for rolling out your feet and in just spending 5 minutes doing that as I brushed my teeth before bed, it allowed me to ease out the reflexology point that is related to the adrenal gland and is always sensitive after a stressful day. [BLACKROLL.com]

IN BED

This section particularly focusses on some of the advances in material technology out there that help minimise light, reduce noise, regulate temperature, and provide the ample amount of spinal support. I tried ear plugs, clothing, pillows, sheets, blankets, and mattresses and was amazed by the advances in materials since I last invested in my bed.

Niyama Wellness: Hey Relax Magnesium

Powder is very tasty, with natural pineapple flavour and contains tart cherry

Aside from the nutritional supplements, there is also some interesting technology out there that has an impact on the nervous system by helping to restore balance between the parasympathetic branch (which promotes a state that allows us to rest-and-digest) and the sympathetic nervous system branch (that prompts us into fight-or-flight in response to acute stress). The chronic stress many of us experience through the demands of work

LIGHT REDUCTION

Unfortunately, I needed more time here, as I was unable to trial some of the products that I was particularly interested in from Sheex and TheraCrown. But come chat to me in a few weeks and hopefully I’ll have some more insight here.

NOISE REDUCTION

QuietOn: QuietOn 3 earplugs were perhaps the biggest surprise package

for me, as I notoriously hate sleeping with earplugs in. However, these noisecancelling ear plugs not only reduced the ambient noise, which any of you living in downtown Vancouver apartments will attest to but were so comfortable that I often had to check they were still there.

[QuietOn.com]

TEMPERATURE REGULATION

Cozy Earth: Linen Bedding, made from 70% viscose from bamboo and 30% linen were, quite simply, the most impressive of all the impressive products I trialled. The pillowcases and sheets were so cool and breathable to the extent I haven’t overheated once since I put them on my bed, despite this trial starting in the heat of the summer. They are wonderful and I just wish I had more than one set!!!

[CozyEarth.com]

Rest: Cooling Comforter is made using a remarkable material called EvercoolTM, that feels cool to the touch and wicks moisture away from the body. No more sweating under blankets or duvets, this is a fantastic lightweight cover that certainly helped me stay cool throughout the night.

[RestDuvet.com]

BLACKROLL: Ultralite Blanket is another comforter that deserves a mention. It’s made from Celliant®, which regulates the body temperature and transforms body heat into full-spectrum infrared energy.

This improves the quality of sleep and promotes muscle recovery during sleep. I didn’t overheat with it and as a bonus, it packs into a well-designed carry bag that makes it small enough to travel with. [BLACKROLL. com]

GhostBed: Faux Down Pillow is a very comfortable pillow that matches the comfort of my more traditional downfilled pillows but has a microfibre gel fill that makes it breathable and stopped my head getting hot. It’s also allergen and dust-mite free, which for someone that can get quite congested with certain pillows, was a big relief. [GhostBed.ca]

Dagsmejan: NattcoolTM Sleep Wear, was another surprise for me. Without aiming to share too much information, I have always slept naked to prevent overheating. However, the NattcoolTM material is 8x more breathable than cotton and transports moisture away from the body 3x more effectively. It conformed to my body, and I didn’t get tangled up or feel restricted in any of the items, t-shirts or shorts. Habit-changer. [Dagsmejan.com]

POSTURAL SUPPORT

Brooklyn Bedding: Spartan Mattress has won awards for mattresses most suited to athletes, and I can see why. I’ve been reticent to leave my coil-springed mattress behind in favour of the foam mattresses out there and I was hesitant to trial this, but I needn’t have worried. It’s described as a hybrid mattress, so it does have zoned coils, providing enough lumbar support but there are also 2 layers of memory foam that give additional contouring. The reason it has won the awards is that it incorporates Far Infrared Ray (FIR) technology into the cover, which draws heat away from the body, before converting it to infrared energy and reflecting it back to improve blood flow, aid muscle recovery and promote a more restful sleep. I was concerned this would cause me to overheat but an additional cool tech panel helps maintain the ideal sleep skin temperature of 88°F. [BrooklynBedding.com]

BLACKROLL: Recovery Pillow is yet another example of exemplary German design, that focusses on simple design innovation as opposed to fancy technology to create incredible products, that at first don’t look all that remarkable. My first impression was that the pillow was too small and that my head would fall off in the night. My second impression was coloured by my negative experience of other memory foam pillows which have each given me neck ache. The design incorporates different contours and

heights into a breathable memory foam, so the pillow works for back, front and side sleepers alike. The foam is supportive, doesn’t over-heat and ensures the size is big enough for a comfortable night’s sleep, whilst being small enough to roll up into its travel case to take on the plane. I’m so impressed with this company!! [BLACKROLL.com]

ON WAKING

AYO: AYO is the world’s first circadian health wearable, which uses LEDs emitting blue light, mounted in a spectacle top frame. The device can be worn for a short session in the morning to help the align the brain’s biological clock, by stimulating the light-responsive cells and boosting wakefulness, mood, immune and metabolism. Whilst I wouldn’t wear them in public, these are easy to use and certainly helped boost my energy levels first thing. [GoAyo.com]

BrainLuxury: GAMMA, a more recently released product than DELTA, has been developed to support brain neuroplasticity and focus. Like DELTA, GAMMA has a citrus base and is packaged in a test-tube style container, that requires refrigeration. I really liked this and did feel it helped my morning productivity, which can be a little sluggish some days. [BrainLuxury.com]

REVIEWING & MONITORING SLEEP

One of the most competitive areas in the sleep technology sector is the monitoring of sleep, which is understandable because without understanding the current quality of your sleep, it is hard to know whether you need to do much to improve it. Additionally, if you can’t evaluate changes in response to interventions, how do you know if your efforts are being well directed?

Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most controversial areas of the sector. Lab best tests are, not surprisingly, the gold standard and the variability between the products on the market is significant. This is because there are different methods of collecting data, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, whilst each company has its own proprietary algorithms to analyse and interpret the data. Thus, the strength of the sleep evaluation and subsequent recommendations depend on the quality, validity, and reliability of the raw data and how appropriate the algorithms that interrogates that data are.

Withings: Sleep Tracking Mat, slips underneath your mattress at chest level, and uses advance sensor technology to monitor your sleep cycle, heart rate, and any snoring. You get an arbitrary sleep score in the morning, which reflects how long you slept, how long it took

to fall asleep, how many interruptions you had during the night and how regularly you go to bed at the same time. I liked this because I didn’t have to wear anything, and the results were clearly illustrated. [Withings.com]

WHOOP: 4.0, is a wristworn band that tracks your blood oxygen levels, skin temperature readings

and heart rate metrics (rate, resting rate and variability) to help build an understanding of your body and its responses to your lifestyle choices. Using AI, it builds a picture of your sleep behaviours, calculates how much you need and suggests when you need to go to bed based upon when you need to get up. It can also wake you at an appropriate time in your sleep cycle that is close to when you need to get up. The depth of data and the ability to relate activity levels to sleep and recovery requirements is fascinating for a scientist like myself, but I don’t love having to wear something on my wrist the whole time and I already wear a watch during the day. Having two items taking up my physical real estate was annoying. Additionally, there may just be too much information for some people. [WHOOP.com]

Apple: iWatch, is, as you’d expect, another wrist worn device that, like the WHOOP, uses LEDs and photodiodes to capture biometric data. As it’s a watch, it doesn’t take any getting used to, but again, I wouldn’t normally wear it in bed. The data reports aren’t as insightful as WHOOP, which may appeal to some people, whilst not satisfying others. [Apple.com]

Now, here’s the problem. None of the three devices agreed with the other and so, without being able to test these in a lab, comparing their data to the gold standard, medical grade equipment, I just don’t know who to trust. The best research papers I found on the topic highlight issues with every device but concur in the observation that the Oura 3, a ring wearable, is currently the most accurate solution on the market for sleep monitoring. I was unable to trial one of these for this study.

To this extent, sleep consultant, Anna West’s advice aligns with the conclusion I shared in my previous article, which is that the basics of sleep hygiene, sleep duration, routine and environment are the foundations upon which you should build your sleep habits. The technology is a bonus and as I discovered, you only have two wrists and a finite bandwidth to delve into app reports, so you can’t use everything.

I’d advise you get the basics right, then find a couple of products that help resolve the critical environmental issues you have and increase your understanding of their impact at a level that makes sense to you

There is a fine balance between becoming more aware and intentional about your sleep and becoming obsessed, which is actually more likely to create sleep disruption.

GI F T B ASK E T S Christmas

out & about

TRACTION CONFERENCE

JW MARRIOTT | PARQ VANCOUVER

Technology leaders, top-tier VCs, and speakers from some of the fastest-growing companies from around the globe came together for the Traction Conference on August 10 & 11 at JW Marriott Parq Vancouver.

From what started in 2015 as a small tech conference held in a nightclub in Vancouver, Canada, Traction has emerged as one of the top 10 tech marketing conferences in North America, with a growing community of over 100,000 entrepreneurs and innovators. The in-person conference made a come-back after a hiatus of two years due to the pandemic and proved to be a massive success with over 1,000 attendees from 60+ different international cities and 45 speakers taking the stage with fireside chats, panel discussions, and keynote sessions covering various topics ranging from fundraising, scaling, product strategy, customer success, fundraising, developer relations and much more.

In addition to top-notch content, networking sessions and delicious food, start-up founders also got a chance to meet investors with exclusive ‘founder-funder matchmaking’ sessions.

Thanks to Traction, downtown Vancouver got a $3-million economic bump, including direct spending by organizers, sponsors, and delegates during the event. This figure will continue to grow into 2023 as deals and partnerships signed at the conference are finalized.

The line-up of speakers included:

• Anu Bharadwaj, COO, Atlassian

• Mike Knoop, Co-founder & President, Zapier

• Jeff Titterton, COO, Zendesk

• Oji Udezue, Head of Product, Twitter

• Karl Sun, Co-founder and Board Chair, Lucid

• Sara Hicks, COO, Mailchimp ... and many more

THE

GUIDE TO WHAT’S NEXT IN THE ELECTRIC WORLD

VW GEN.TRAVEL

Volkswagen’s all-electric powered Innovation Experience Vehicle (IEV) is a real prototype that drives autonomously (Level 5) and gives a realistic outlook for the mobility of the coming decade. Klaus Zyciora, Head of Volkswagen Group Design, explains: “The GEN.TRAVEL offers us a glimpse of the travel of the future. It shows us what autonomous driving will look like in the future. The GEN.TRAVEL embodies the visionary design of beyond tomorrow for the mobility of tomorrow.”

The GEN.TRAVEL has a unique, modular interior concept that can be customized for each journey. Depending on the configuration, up to four people can be transported. For business trips, the conference setup with four comfortable seats and a large table in the middle of the interior provides relaxed surroundings. www.vw.ca

THE RICE ROBOT

A cute mix between Star Wars’ R2D2 and Pixar’s WALL-E, Rice is equipped with light sensors, depth cameras and ultrasound sensors to avoid obstacles and can manoeuver freely around multi-story hotels and shopping centers. The compact robot by Rice Robotics is already providing a range of services at venues in Hong Kong and Japan. In Hong Kong, Rice delivers drinks at HFT Lite Cafe and works as a bellhop at the Dorsett Wanchai hotel. In Tokyo, it delivers snacks to employees at SoftBank Group’s headquarters from the building’s 7-11 convenience store. Rice Robotics also developed Jasmine during the pandemic, which replaced Rice’s delivery compartment with a tank of sanitizing solution and used two spray nozzles on her head to disperse disinfectant. Portal is the third robot, mainly used to patrol malls and hospitals.

THE SKYFLY TECHNOLOGIES AXE

London (England) based company SkyFly has opened pre-orders on a two-seat personal eVTOL aircraft called the Axe. Scheduled to begin customer deliveries in 2024, the company expects people to use the aircraft for daily commuting, shopping and leisure air travel. The all-electric version of the aircraft has a cruise speed of 161 km/h with a range of 160 km. With the hybrid-electric power source, the range is expected to be 320 km. SkyFly is taking pre-orders at a base price of £150,000 (US$175,000) with the range-extended version adding another £50,000 (US$58,300). A “last-resort ballistic parachute” will set you back an additional £20,000 (US$23,300).

THE 90KM/H INMOTION V13 CHALLENGER

This unicycle is fast, very fast, and set to redefine the limits of an EUC wheel. Providing quick electric mobility while still being portable and easy to stow at the rider’s destination, early electric unicycles were rather slow, but as time has gone by, the industry has hailed faster and more potent electric single-wheelers that push the limits of speed.

The all-new V13 Challenger from InMotion boasts to be the fastest in the world. It runs on a 126V system voltage and can deliver a constant 4,500W, or around 6 horsepower.

THE BIANCHI E-ARCADEX

This new Bianchi e-Arcadex flagship electric gravel bike was built on a full carbon frame with a geometry that, according to the manufacturer, ensures you can cycle comfortably over some of the roughest, most technical terrain. It can ride on tires up to 700x45c in width and has the capacity to carry up to 20kg of additional luggage on the frame. A 85Nm, 250-watt Bosch Performance Line CX mid-drive motor provides the power. The removable 500Wh battery charges in four hours, and has a range of 115km. Starting at 6,249 Euros.

The V13 has 90 mm of suspension travel, a touchscreen panel for menu selection, two charging connections for faster recharging, USB-A and USB-C connectors for charging smaller devices like phones and action cameras, and a rolling handle for pulling the 50kg unicycle along when not in use. Delivery starts in December 2022. C$5,999.

THE DACIA MANIFESTO

The Manifesto is Dacia’s latest concept car, presented as the perfect embodiment of the Romanian brand’s values. It embod ies the “less is more theme” by deleting body panels like doors, windows, or a windscreen. And who needs two headlights if one provides all the light you need? Tailored to people seeking an adventure and being immersed in nature, the interior is washable and the seat covers can be removed and turned into a sleeping bag. The manifesto also incorporates a Bring-Your-Own-Device approach, which fully integrates a smartphone into the dash board and on-board computer. www.dacia.com

THE ZEVA Z2

THE NOORDUNG E-BIKE

Slovenian bicycle maker Noordung has released its latest innovation, the only cruiser bike in the world with a carbon fiber frame! Based on the café racer culture and tradition, the stylish e-bike is even equipped with a detachable 300Wh battery that doubles as a Boombox that can play 100 hours of music, controlled by the user’s phone. And for those running low on power, two USB ports can charge phones or other devices on the go. The E-bike also has air pollution sensors that alert drivers whenever they are in a heavily polluted area. The company says the bike has a range of up to 60km and that it takes around three hours to fully charge the battery. The limited First Production Series is €6,990. www.noordung.com

THE ELECTRIC DODGE CHARGER DAYTONA SRT

It’s in the name ... and although it is still just a concept at this point, word is that the car “is very close to production.” If so, then the two-door electric Dodge Charger will be powered by the new 800V Banshee propulsion system, which is more powerful than the engine of a Hellcat. It will be loud, too! Dodge actually put an exhaust on the vehicle that emits ... sound. “The Charger Daytona SRT Concept voices a 126 dB roar that equals the SRT Hellcat,” Dodge writes in its announcement. You can listen to it when you scan our QR-code. We hear the company is targeting a 2024 release date for its first American eMuscle. www.dodge.ca

ZEVA has unveiled the design of its new aircraft, the ZEVA Z2, a wingbodied eVTOL aircraft for cargo and emergency transport. It borrows several elements from the company’s Zero concept, including the distinctive discshaped wing carrying one pilot and small cargo loads. The final aircraft is expected to have a range of about 80km on a single battery charge, with a top speed of 260km/h. The company hopes to receive an FAA airworthiness certificate in two years and to deliver the first aircraft by 2025 for the personal transportation market. www.zevaaero.com

THE MEYERS MANX 2.0

They say legends never die, and the Meyers Manx is driving proof: Being reborn for the third time, the iconic dune buggy this time comes back as a pure electric vehicle. It’s been fifty-five years since the original made its first appearance, and now the Manx 2.0 Electric brings all the adventurous, off-road fun of the original, but powered by a battery instead of an air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle engine hanging out the back. The Manx 2.0 will have two battery options: a 20.0-kWh battery with a claimed 240km of range or a 40.0kWh battery with 480km of range. Pricing for the Manx 2.0 has yet to be released, but the first 50 ‘Beta’ buggies will ship in 2023, with deliveries for finished production cars starting in 2024.

THE XIAOMI CYBERONE

Weeks before Elan Musk showed his Tesla Optimus prototype, Chinese brand Xiaomi introduced the world to their bipedal humanoid robot, CyberOne. The 177cm tall and 52kg heavy robot performed a promising demo when it joined Lei Jun onstage at the launch event in early August 2022, greeting the CEO and taking a selfie with him.

According to Xiaomi, CyberOne has a top speed of 3.6km/h, just below average walking pace, a vision system for navigation with depth-sensing at distances of up to eight meters, and can “perceive” human emotion. Although CyberOne seems to be more of a platform for broader R&D efforts, Lei Jun said that a CyberOne would most likely cost between 600,000 to 700,000 yuan (~ US$90,000-US$100,000).

VÄSLLA PEDAL E-BIKE

Swedish mobility startup Vässla just introduced their latest e-bike. True to Scandinavian design it shows a minimal, clean approach that seeks to combine functionality with beauty. There are no exposed wires or buttons and it is using a single frame tube instead of a conventional front triangle. The Vässla Pedal is said to provide mobility for all members of the household, thanks to a one-size-fits-all approach. It is equipped with a 250W hub motor that offers 45 Nm of torque and a removable battery with “100km on a single charge with a top speed of 32km/h.”

The Vässla Pedal includes IoT connectivity and comes with an app for digital unlocking, real-time tracking, alerts of theft attempts, and history of bike rides. It is available now for preorder at an MSRP of €2,990 with deliveries expected in March 2023. www.vassla.com

THE CARACAT

A mix between a caravan and a catamaran, the Caracat has been developed by German company Schneider Caravaning.

On land, the Caracat needs to be towed by a truck or an SUV, but on water, two pontoons swing out or retract and as a boat, it can now propel on its own thanks to an 8 to 15 horsepower Torqueedo electric motor. Caracat is available in three sizes, 6.6m (66), 7.6m (76) and 8.6m (86).

Pricing starts at €130,000 (around $128,000, depending on the current exchange rate) for the smallest model.

www.schneidercaravaning.de

THE LIVEWIRE S2 DEL MAR

Harley-Davidson’s spin-off has announced that it is ready to start taking reservations for the production version of its new S2 Del Mar electric motorcycle. It is the first bike using LiveWire’s ARROW platform that’s supposed to be scalable, depending on the intended use of the bike. L1 and L2 charging options are standard, as is a 10.5 kWh battery pack. L2 charging is said to bring the battery from 20 percent to 80 percent in 75 minutes, and the motor is supposed to provide the equivalent of 80 horsepower. MSRP for the S2 Del Mar is US$16,999 (the Canadian price tag has not been announced yet). Delivery is expected in the spring of 2023. www.livewire.com

THE NIU SQI

NIU has been making a name for itself in China and parts of Europe thanks to its affordable and accessible electric two-wheelers. The new SQi looks like a motorcycle, but is in fact an electric moped with pedals that work similarly to a standard bicycle. Its 400W electric motor can provide assistance to speeds of up to 25km/h, and with either a 20 or 24Ah battery pack the company says you can travel between 64 to 75km on a single charge. It is also loaded with modern-day tech such as smartphone connectivity. The price will be around US$1,400. www.niu.com

THE XPENG G9

This mid-size electric SUV, the Chinese brand’s fourth production model, is using the new-generation XPower 3.0 powertrain system with China’s first 800V high-voltage mass-production SiC platform. As a result, XPeng claims the G9 will be able to charge up to 200km of range in five minutes, with a maximum energy efficiency of over 95%.

There are three variants: RWD Standard (78.2kWh LFP battery pack. CLTC Range 570km), RWD Long Range (98kWh lithiumion NMC battery pack. Range 702km), and 4WD Performance (98kWh lithium-ion NMC battery pack. Range 650km). Developed with international markets in mind, deliveries to Europe are expected sometime in 2023.

THE DONGFENG WARRIOR

Chinese company Dongfeng has officially launched a new off-road brand called Mengshi (Warrior). The ‘M-Terrain’ (SUV) and ‘M-Terrain S’ (a single-cab pickup truck) concept cars are full of bold, aggressive straight lines and sharp edges with small headlights, a huge bumper, and a giant grille, suggesting they are good for off-road use.

Apparently, two versions are planned. One with 800kW (1,070 hp), a 140-kWh battery, and a 500km range, and an EREV version, with 600kW (816 hp), that will have a 65.88-kWh battery for 800km of range (with a range extender).

They are said to go into production in 2023.

out & about

SOIRÉE BY SARAI

THE KENT

You have to look for a “Brick building with a blue dot on a black door.” What sounds like a prohibition-type location was in fact the only information, other than “around 534 Cambie Street”, that was given to the invited guests of another one of Jason Sarai’s exclusive events.

Once arrived, guests were treated to a nice surprise. The Kent is a very cool brickwall-lined venue that spans over 8,000 sqft. A wide open space with a private collection of art and designer furniture, it was indeed the perfect place for a cocktail party “in good style.”

“An exclusive lifestyle experience amongst great company”, the evening was another wonderful get-together of people who celebrate fashion and enjoy great conversation with like-minded people. We can’t wait for the next Soirée by Sarai!

THE TRANSPOD FLUXJET

ULTRA-HIGH-SPEED TRANSPORTATION AT OVER 1,000KM/H

A groundbreaking Canadian innovation promises to enable drastic improvements in carbon footprint, travel time, and ticket price compared to existing transport options.

TransPod, the startup that is building the world’s leading ultra-high-speed ground transportation system (the TransPod Line) to disrupt and redefine passenger and cargo transportation, unveiled the FluxJet, an industry-defining innovation that transforms the way we live, work, and travel.

Based on groundbreaking innovations in propulsion and fossil-fuelfree clean energy systems, the FluxJet is a fully electric vehicle that is effectively a hybrid between an aircraft and a train. Featuring technological leaps in contactless power transmission and a new field of physics called veillance flux, the FluxJet travels in a protected guideway at over 1000 km/h – faster than a jet and three times as fast as a high-speed train.

The FluxJet will operate exclusively on the TransPod Line, a network system with stations in key locations and major cities, featuring highfrequency departures designed to enable fast, affordable, and safe travel. Most recently, TransPod confirmed $550M US finance and announced the next phase of an $18B US infrastructure project to build the TransPod Line to connect the cities of Calgary and Edmonton in Alberta.

Preliminary construction work, including the environmental impact assessment, has begun. This critical project will create up to 140,000 jobs and add $19.2B to the region’s GDP throughout construction. Once the TransPod Line is in operation, it will cost passengers approximately 44 per cent less than a plane ticket to travel the corridor and reduce CO2 emissions by 636,000 tonnes per year.

“All the hard work over the past few years has led to this milestone moment where talk is becoming a reality. The technology is proven, and we have the confidence of investors, governments, and partners to continue pushing forward to redefine transportation effectively,” said Sebastien Gendron, co-founder and CEO, TransPod.

At TransPod’s July 2022 unveiling event in Toronto, a scaleddown FluxJet was featured in a live demonstration showing its flight capabilities. The almost 1-tonne FluxJet vehicle demonstrated a take-off, travel, and landing procedure within its guideway.

“This milestone is a major leap forward,” said Ryan Janzen, cofounder and CTO, TransPod. “The FluxJet is at a nexus of scientific research, industrial development, and massive infrastructure to address passengers’ needs and reduce our dependence on fossilfuel-heavy jets and highways.”

“TransPod completely changes the game with ultra high-speed, zero-emission passenger travel and freight transportation between major gateway cities,” said Yung Wu, CEO of MaRS Discovery District. “It is time for bold action from our policymakers, investors, and operators to support the commercialization of made-in-Canada innovations like TransPod, to win in the multi-trillion dollar global innovation economy.”

Air Canada just recently announced a pur chase agreement for 30 ES-30 electric-hybrid aircraft under development by Heart Aero space of Sweden.

The revolutionary regional aircraft, expect ed to enter service in 2028, will generate zero emissions flying on battery power and yield significant operational savings and benefits.

Under the agreement, Air Canada has also acquired a US$5 million equity stake in Heart Aerospace.

“Air Canada has taken a leadership position in the industry to address climate change. The introduction into our fleet of the ES-30 elec tric regional aircraft from Heart Aerospace will be a step forward to our goal of net zero emissions by 2050,” said Michael Rousseau, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada. “Already, Air Canada is supporting the development of new technologies, such as sustainable aviation fuels and carbon cap ture, to address climate change. We are now reinforcing our commitment by investing in revolutionary electric aircraft technology, both as a customer for the ES-30 and as an equity partner in Heart Aerospace.”

The ES-30 will allow Air Canada to serve regional and commuter routes more sustain ably, providing low-emission connectivity to

ZERO EMISSIONS FLYING

AIR CANADA TO ACQUIRE

ELECTRIC-HYBRID AIRCRAFT

local communities over the medium-to-long term. It will be capable of carrying 30 passen gers seated three across (in a 2X1 configura tion), with a galley and lavatory. Air Canada has placed a purchase order for 30 ES-30. ”

Air Canada is a strategically important part ner for Heart Aerospace. The company has one of the world’s largest networks operated by re gional turboprops, and it is also a progressive, future leaning company especially in the green transmission,” said Anders Forslund, founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace. “With the ES-30 we can start cutting emissions from air travel well before the end of this decade.”

The aircraft will be powered by lithiumion batteries, and will be quieter, have better operational parameters, be more reliable, and have a smaller environmental footprint than conventional turbo-prop aircraft. It will also be equipped with reserve-hybrid generators that can use sustainable aviation fuel. Fully loaded, the ES-30 is projected to have an all-electric, zero-emission range of 200 km. This can be extended to 400 km with power supplemented by the generators, and up to 800 km if the load is restricted to 25 passengers. Charging time for the aircraft is expected to be 30-to-50 min utes.

MAIDEN FLIGHT: ALL-ELECTRIC COMMUTER

Washington-based Eviation’s eye-catching, vaguely spaceship-like electric airliner ‘Alice’, recently celebrated its maiden flight. With just the test pilot on board, the 9-passenger (plus one or two pilots) plane flew two loops around the airfield in Moses Lake, Wa., at about 3,500 feet altitude before landing eight minutes later in front of a small number of onlookers invited by Eviation.

“What we have done is made aviation history,” says Eviation’s president and CEO, Gregory Davis. “This is about changing the way that we fly. It’s about connecting communities in a sustainable way. It is the first radical change in aerospace propulsion technology since we went from the Super Constellation to the Boeing 707 — from the piston engine to the jet engine — and now to the electric motor.”

Once the production version enters service, which Davis expects to be in 2027, Eviation wants it to have a 200-mile “useful range” on a full charge, enough to fly from Seattle to Portland. Several companies have already placed their orders, including DHL which ordered 12 aircraft in a cargo configuration.

PROJECT LE MANS

AN 90M SUPERYACHT INSPIRED BY LEGENDARY RACE ICONS OF THE PAST

Anthony Glasson of design studio M51 Concepts has unveiled a new 90-metre concept called Project Le Mans. Inspired by the design of some classic Le Mans race cars of the 1970s, the yacht’s profile is sporty and aerodynamic, with smooth and clean lines. All staircases are hidden inside the superstructure to keep with her clean appearance. A three-colour paint scheme, reminiscent of the legendary Martini and Gulf liveries, with a bright white covering the majority of the hull, further resembles the racing stripes on race cars.

Meanwhile, the elegant interior of Le Mans pairs gloss black, natural wood and stainless steel. Guests are able to move around with ease, thanks to an internal elevator that provides quick and easy access to any part of the yacht. Starting at the top, the sundeck features a large outside jacuzzi and a dancefloor inside. The upper deck sports a 12-person outdoor table for al fresco dining, and right below on the main deck, a counter-flow swimming pool, and a beach club with unfolding sea terraces to port and starboard await. Other amenities include a fully equipped gym, sauna, steam room, massage room and private cinema, making full use of the size of the yacht. The bow of Project Le Mans also includes a helipad and recessed seating areas to enjoy the views underway or a sunset at anchor.

Project Le Mans is able to accommodate up to 12 guests and comes with a spacious master suite that stretches across the full 13.8-metre beam of the concept, and includes large windows, an island bed and a generous lounge and vanity table., Two VIP staterooms and four twin cabins are waiting for the guests, while the yacht is also able to host the crew across two cabins.

Matching the racing theme and livery of the yacht, Project Le Mans comes with a custom tender. www.m51concepts.com

ST LAWRENCE

The Magic of Québécois and French Cuisine

For acclaimed and well-travelled chef Jean-Christophe (J-C) Poirier, St. Lawrence represents more than just the culmination of a career spanning more than 25 years — it’s a homecoming in every sense of the word.

A heartfelt homage to his heritage, formative years spent in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec and early experience in renowned Montréal restaurants, St. Lawrence is as much J-C’s story as it is a celebration of classic French fare and a thoughtful exploration of the distinctive gastronomic identity and culture of Les Québécois.

After honing his skills under celebrated chef Normand Laprise at Toqué!, J-C voyaged west in 2004 and worked with Rob Feenie at Vancouver’s Lumière before forging an eightyear partnership with local hospitality group Kitchen Table Restaurants and opening such acclaimed restaurants as Pizzeria Farina, Ask For Luigi and Di Beppe.

Since launching St. Lawrence in 2017, J-C has led the restaurant to rave reviews, critical acclaim and numerous accolades including Best Restaurant and Best New Restaurant at the 2018 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, the No. 4 spot on enRoute’s 2018 list of Canada’s Best New Restaurants and Chef of the Year, Best Restaurant, Best Gastown and Best French titles at the 2019 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards. The restaurant was also singled out for the No. 2 spot on the 2020 compilation of Canada’s Top 100 Restaurants, after being ranked No. 20 on the 2018 list, and was named as one of Monocle Magazine’s 50 Favourite Restaurants in the World in its 2019 Drinking & Dining Directory.

Joining J-C in the kitchen is Chef de Cuisine Colin Johnson, who was born and raised in Nottingham, England and started his career in hospitality in his teens. Colin showed a passion for French cuisine early on and continued his career in London, at Bibendum with Simon Hopkinson and at the Greenhouse with Gary Rhodes. He has been a part of the St. Lawrence team since 2017. Asked about his work, Colin mentions the fresh ingredients from trusted suppliers and the collaborative and creative work environment as his favourite parts at St. Lawrence. Guests of St. Lawrence may also point out his Pâté en Croûte.

“A meal without wine is like a day without sun”, Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, author of The Physiology of Taste, once said, which is where David Lawson comes into play. The sommelier and Directeur Adjoint at St. Lawrence began his hospitality career in Canada’s Capital, though the seasoned hospitality veteran has worked at restaurants across the continent. No matter where he travelled, he missed the culture of his home region along the Ontario-Quebec border.

David’s passion for lively and energetic wines made by skilled low-intervention winemakers is showcased throughout the wine list and he’s excited to share his expertise, and French-Canadian roots with diners.

“Where food, drink and atmosphere combine for a transportive dining adventure unlike any other”, St. Lawrence offers a marriage of classic French cuisine and the gastronomic identity and culture of Les Québécois.

At the time of this writing in late September, St. Lawrence had transitioned from their late summer to the fall menu. “You should know that fall is my favourite season and always has been,” J-C Poirier explains. “It’s the colours, the aromas, and the shift into cooler temperatures and fall flavours.” The dishes are using some of his favourite ingredients, from sunchokes, celeriac, squash, venison, Labrador tea and apples, and the menu includes a Herb Crusted Venison Loin or Chicken Ballotine stuffed with veal sweetbreads. You will find the apples in the Apple Mille-Feuille with candied bacon & Labrador tea pastry cream, to name but a few of the amazing dishes, rooted in tradition, history, and pride of place.

As the Table d’Hôte menu changes with the seasons, we can only encourage you to add St. Lawrence to your list of must-try restaurants.

Tickets for the seven-course menu include a choice of starter, main and dessert, with optional add-ons for the table. Tickets are released monthly.

So there you go - at its heart, St. Lawrence showcases time-honoured traditions in an elevated yet approachable space where food, drink and atmosphere combine for a transportive dining experience unlike any other.

For us, simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication.

-- J-C Poirier

MUNICH

Neuschwanstein Castle

The inspiration for the archetypal Disney castle, this 19th-century palace was commissioned by King Ludwig II of Bavaria and sits perched on a mountain about an hour from Munich. And although there are a few stretches of autobahn where it is legal to put the pedal to the metal and drive at top speed, we highly rec ommend using southern Germany’s picturesque ‘Romantic Road’ (Ro mantische Straße) which will lead you through charming towns and castle-studded valleys.

When asked which cities in Germany they would like to visit, people usually put Berlin with its thriving nightlife scene and edgy art galleries on top of their list. Munich, however, is often just seen as the home of the Oktoberfest with people dressed in lederhosen and dirndl, eating pret zels, sauerkraut and sausage and dancing to folklorist music. Let us assure you, there is more. So much more! Which we found out during our recent week-long visit.

A nonstop flight from Vancouver, the city of 1.5 million with its royal heritage offers a cosmopolitan city life paired with charming Alpine tradition. Its compact city centre is easy to navi gate, offering everything from luxury shopping, and modern and historic masterpieces in more than 80 mu seums and many world-class galler ies, to neo-classical architecture and some of the best dining experiences.

We decided to stay at Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski, the grand dame of Munich’s luxury hotel scene.

Situated on one of Europe’s most prestigious addresses, Maximil ianstrasse, the 5-star hotel dates back to 1858 and is surrounded by high-end boutique stores featuring the biggest names in fashion, and jew ellery. It is within easy walking distance to the city’s most beautiful sightsee ing spots, including the Bavarian State Opera, the Marienplatz Central Square with its neo-Gothic Town Hall, the Frauenkirche Cathedral and yes, the world`s most famous tavern, the Hofbräuhaus.

In fact, we only asked the concierge to bring out our beautiful BMW 8 Se ries convertible (hey, it is Munich after all!) twice: Once, to follow an invitation to visit the stunning BMW Museum (see separate article) and then to visit one of the most iconic castles in the world, Neuschwanstein.

Head over to “The Gentleman Abroad” for more insider tips and reasons why you should definitely visit Munich!

GENTLEMAN

Julie-Anna Vogel | www.julieabroad.com

EDITION 11 - MUNICH, D

AH... MUNICH… the home of monks (they founded the city). Where Oktoberfest began (as an out-of-control wedding party), where Jimmy Henricks smashed his first guitar and where beer is a breakfast drink. Where Einstein worked as a beer hall electrician, BMW has its own zip code, and the oldest building is not the expected church or stately home - but a toilet. 500-year-old purity laws still dictate the ingredients of beer, the tech university has a 4-story slide that helps students save time and escalators move faster during Oktoberfest. Gentlemen extraordinaire Freddy Mercury and Mark Twain called it home. Yes, Munich is so much more than beer - so here are a few ideas for the curious man about town ...

MARIENPLATZ - The heart of the city. Pedestrianized, look for the neo-Gothic Town Hall, with its world-famous Glockenspiel (chimes) in the tower, the Fischbrunnen (fish fountain) and Mariensäule, a tall column topped with a golden statue of the Virgin Mary, the patron saint of Bavaria.

DALLMAYR - Once the “Purveyor to the Royal Court”, the history of Dallmayr dates back three centuries. Today, it is still family-run and one of the leading names on the German coffee market. Visit their delicatessen store with departments on several floors, and enjoy their Bar & Grill or the fine-restaurant, Alois.

RESIDENZ MUSEUM - This former royal palace is the place to see how the truly wealthy once lived. While the treasury and the Cuvillies Theatre draw the biggest crowds, the Relic Room with its collection of ornately decorated bones is the most macabre and fascinating. Special permission was granted by the Pope to allow their collection. Fraud abounded, 4 museums, including this one, claim to have the head of John the Baptist.

VIKTUALIENMARKT - For anyone even remotely interested in food, a visit to this former farmer’s market is a must. Over 140 stalls are selling everything from Bavarian classic sausages to flowers to the most exotic fare. Established by King Max I Joseph in 1807 and located near the Marienplatz, Viktualienmarkt is a perfect snack stop.

EISBACH - The birth place of river surfing back in 1972, this standing wave is the Everest for surfing enthusiasts. Everyone waits their turn; stay too long and you’ll lose respect from the crowds who watch this expert only event. The average ride is 30 seconds. For the less experienced try the wave near the Zum Flaucher. Board & wet suit rentals are available.

FRAUENKIRCHE - The symbol of Munich and one of the tallest buildings for some amazing views of the city. A 2004 referendum states no building can exceed its height. Step in the devil’s footprint - the wily architect out foxed the king of hell who had guaranteed funding of the cathedral if it was built without windows. Jörg von Halsbach cleverly designed the interior so the devil couldn’t see the windows from where he stood. By the time he figured out the ruse, it was too late, and the church had been consecrated.

KOCHERL BALL - Back in 1880, servants were only allowed to meet early on Sunday mornings. They had to be home to prepare breakfast for the master. This crack of dawn time was a chance to dance, relax and have fun. By 1904, these revelries had been banned for immoral behavior. Revived as an annual rather than weekly event, the ball now takes places the 3rd Sunday in July at 6am! But get their before 5am and in 19th century costume to secure a good seat.

left, clockwise) FRAUENKIRCHE | KOCHERL BALL | VIKTUALIENMARKT | EISBACH | RESIDENZ MUSEUM

Welcome to Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski, centrally located on the historic Maximilianstrasse in Munich’s Altstadt district. It is situated in the immediate vicinity of galleries, theatres, the State Opera and the city’s most elegant fashion, jewellery and accessory retailers. It is the ideal place to stay to make the most of the vibrant city of Munich, whether you are here for a business trip or a city break.

Part of the Kempinski luxury hotel group since 1970, Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich is one of the world’s oldest grand hotels. Since 1858, guests from around the world have been enjoying the unique flair and glamorous elegance of this hotel originally built at the behest of King Maximilian II. It was built to provide adequate

MUNICH

accommodation for visitors from around the world. In the course of history, King Maximillian II’s “noblest hotel in the city” became a port of call for statesmen, actors and artists from the four corners of the earth.

As soon as one enters the impressive hotel lobby, the unmistakable charm of this venerable hotel becomes palpable. The golden yellow light cast into the lobby through the glass dome is warm and intense. Described by many as “one of the most famous salons in Europe”, the hotel lobby is a meeting point for hotel guests while also serving as Munich’s “most beautiful living room” where people come to take afternoon tea together.

All 245 rooms and 60 suites at Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski Munich combine on-trend design and tradition in a completely new way. Every room is unique and inspired by the splendour of the era of

King Maximilian II, the royal House of Wittelsbach and the flair of Maximilianstrasse. Wood and glass in combination with modern elements dominate the aesthetic of many rooms and suites. In the bathrooms, tasteful marble meets colourful mosaics or high-tech televisions recessed into heatable mirrors. One especially eyecatching feature is the paintings by “Old masters” taken from Munich’s Pinakothek galleries and hung on the walls of the rooms.

Schwarzreiter Tagesbar and Schwarzreiter Restaurant have been enriching Munich’s culinary scene since 2015. Here, in a contemporary and lightfilled interior guests enjoy an interpretion of Young Bavarian Cuisine by Maike Menzel, who is Germany’s youngest Michelin-starred chef. Menzel and her team place the utmost emphasis on regionality and innovative lightness. Young, seasonal and fresh, away from the classic Bavarian image and

yet still inspired by traditional dishes - this is what guests can expect.

At Jahreszeiten Bar, our guests will find a drink menu that is a blend of tradition and innovation, encompassing the best drinks of the last century. Only selected, premium-quality spirits and liqueurs are used, as well as exclusive vintages and limited editions of champagne and its ilk.

The Kempinski Cigar Lounge by Zechbauer, the most exclusive place for connoisseurs of cigarettes, cigarillos and pipes in Munich, offers the world’s best cigars around the clock, no matter what time of day or night.

Kempinski The Spa is a journey inspired by the European cycle of the seasons. The wellness sanctum includes a sauna, steam room and heated indoor pool. Guests can also enjoy a workout in the gym.

by Natalie Langston www.natalielangston.com

W WHAT WOMEN WANT...

YOUR SEASONAL SHOPPING GUIDE

Fall is the time to reset and organize your mind and your home for the busy holiday season ahead. After a carefree summer it’s nice to spend some time getting grounded. For me, comfort and relaxation are everything this season, inside and out. And there’s no better time than to treat your significant other and show your gratitude. Showing your loved one you care and appreciate them is a sure way to get those cozy fall cuddles! Here are some suggestions to give gifts of calm and comfort heading into those chillier months.

TABOO PLATFORM TALL BOOT

These boots are classic and so comfortable. With the platform style and soft leather they’re ideal for wearing all day and compliment almost any fall outfit. Wear them over pants or with a dress and immediately any outfit has an elevated style. Classic black pairs with anything, offering a timeless look. My tip: these run a bit small, order 1/2 size up.

Retails for $2,190.00

Available at Nordstrom

CLE DE PEAU - THE FOUNDATION

The Foundation now comes in twenty-five shades, so every woman can find her perfect match. This luxurious foundation improves resilience and youthful density, smoothing and firming the skin while activating natural radiance. The Foundation is an easy one-step to feeling fresh and beautiful for up to 24-hours with the makeup lasting and moisturizing effect.

Cle de Peau The Foundation retails for $350.

Available at cledepeaubeaute.ca and Holt Renfrew.

VIRGINIA FLORAL PRINT LONG SLEEVE SLK MIDI DRESS I am LOVING the trend of long, floral dresses. In one piece, you get incredible style and comfort. This playful print mixes the perfect shades for fall while still bringing some colour into the season. The puff sleeves, a flounced waist and ruffle detail elevate this look making it perfect for business or ca sual and SO comfortable. Pair with the Taboo Platform Tall Boot and you’re out the door in no time.

Price $1,331.00

Available at Nordstrom

“IF YOU THINK

ROSES ARE

CLE DE PEAU - LA CREME

Nourish your skin! Skincare is so important as the air turns colder and harsh. Finding the right product to repair, regenerate and protect is essential. This anti-aging night cream targets the skin’s natural regenerative potential overnight to maintain a supple, youthful appearance. This luxuriously smooth cream targets dark spots and fine lines to reveal softer, clearer and firmer looking skin. It feels so gor geous on my skin and is the perfect end to any nighttime routine. The price tag is high but it’s worth indulging!

La Crème retails for $700 and is available at cledepeaubeaute.ca.

ALEXA LEATHER & GENUINE SHEARLING TRENCH COAT

Comfy, cozy and stylish - yes please! I love that you can wrap yourself in this coat, over anything and you’re going to look chic even though you’ll feel like you’re still in your robe! The genuine leather is incredibly soft and the fur cuffs are a perfect blend of trendy and timeless. This coat goes from day to night keeping you warm and fashionable no matter where you’re heading.

Retails for $2,535.00 Available at Nordstrom.

LOBA SMART PILL ORGANIZER

While looking after your outsides it’s just as important to look after your insides! Remembering to take pills or supplements can be a huge mental load. Loba is the first wifi-connected pill and supplement organizer and app. It blends function, tech and elegant design to support better health and wellness while taking away the need to remember. Loba glows in the colour of your choice when it’s time to take supplements. It’s a gor geous product that fits the aesthetic of any kitchen, bathroom, bedroom or office.

Loba pill organizers come in white and black.

Retails for $175.00

Available at shoploba.com

The Ultimate Romantic Getaway

With the leaves turning and the summer crowds gone, there’s no better time to get out of town. Treating yourself and your special someone to a wine tour is the perfect way to stock up on wines ahead of the holiday season. To really impress, check out the Heli Tour and Wine Tasting at Phantom Creek Estates in the South Okanagan. Take in the stunning views during a one hour flight across the Okanagan Valley’s lakes and vineyards. You’ll land for a private tour exploring the extensive historic vineyards on the Black Sage Bench, the Golden Mile and the Similkameen Valley. In addition to tasting, you’ll see curated art installations and learn about a premiere winemaking process and natural farming.

If you like to keep your feet on the ground try the Founder’s Cellar experience. This tour takes you through the history, terroir, sustainable farming practices and winemaking philosophy. You’ll explore two levels down into underground cellars through to the Founder’s Cellar, where you’ll enjoy a meticulously curated fivecourse menu tastefully paired with exclusive wines from the cellar.

Top your touring and tasting experience off by spending the night at Spirit Ridge luxury hotel in Osoyoos. Enjoy incredible accommodations, spa and golf options as well as views of the glittering Osoyoos lake and endless vineyards.

Heli Tour and Tasting: Starts at $475 per person Founder’s Cellar: $255 per person (minimum 4 people or $1020 spend) Book at www.phantomcreekestates.com

by Dr. Oliver Finlay

ARTS & MUSIC VANCOUVER’S ICONIC ART SCENE IN REVIEW

Kits Point certainly has looked a little naked these past two summers, devoid of the familiar red and white tented village that has adorned Vanier Park over the previous 32, and become synonymous with the institution which it accommodates, Bard on the Beach. Fortunately, thanks to its loyal sponsors, provincial funding and avid supporters, its stages opened once again between early June and late September for season 33, headlined by the oft revisited Bard favourite, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Othello-influenced Harlem Duet and the classic Romeo and Juliet, have provided further Shakespeare-inspired entertainment.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Directed by Scott Bellis, this latest production of A Mid summer Night’s Dream references the style of the 1920s, chosen to highlight the historical similarities reflected be tween that era and this, in relation to military conflict, civil unrest and a health pandemic. The magic entwined within this tale centres around the collision of characters that re side in the neighbouring worlds of Athens’ military society and the fairy realm of its nearby woods.

As the great military commander, Theseus (played by Ian Butcher) navigates a challenging prenuptial to Hippoly ta (played by Melissa Oei), he is called on to mediate a dis pute between Egeus (played by Joey Lespérance), and his daughter Hermia (played by Heidi Damayo) over whether she should marry her love, Lysander (played by Olivia Hutt), or Demetrius (played by Christopher Allen). Meanwhile, the rulers of the fairy realm, Oberon (played by Billy Marchens ki) and Titania (played by Kate Besworth) are also in dispute over the custody of a child, which precipitates an unrest and disrupts the harmony that normally exists between the spirit world and the natural world. When a group of trades people, preparing a play to honour the wedding of Theseus and Hippolyta, decide to rehearse in the woods, the scene is set for the three groups’ stories to intertwine and create a series of misunderstandings, confusion, conflicting egos, and romantic twists, catalysed by Oberon’s mischievous fairy fixer, Puck (played by Sarah Roa).

The polished production, which had initially been intended for the stage in 2020, was a colourful and musical delight, with a mix of humour at a family level, alongside the delivery of subtle double entendres to entertain the adults in the audience. Welcome back Bard on the Beach and congratulations on welcoming your 2 millionth patron through the gates.

After crossing paths at a concert in 2006, Jason Mraz and Raining Jane start ed collaborating in 2008 and have been amassing a significant collection of cowritten songs ever since. Mraz’s latest tour, to promote his recently released album Lalalalovesongs, celebrates his greatest hits, as well as sharing the new songs that have stemmed from this collaboration. Consequently, the Vancouver set opened with the female folk-rock four-piece performing four songs, before Mraz joined them on-stage to perform Let’s See What the Night Can Do.

Without doubt, this was probably one of the most heart-warming concerts I’ve ever had the pleasure of attending, with the general ambience being one of a night in with some extremely lovely friends, and the fuzzy feeling never let-up.

Over the years Mraz has earned Platinum and Multi-Platinum sales in more than 20 countries and tracks like Living in the Moment, Lucky and Have It All had the remarkably diverse audience singing along. The comfortable on-stage dynamic between Mraz and Raining Jane, created a sense that no-one was taking themselves or their craft too seriously and exuded vibes of fun, love and happiness. It may sound cheesy, but by the time the Queen Elizabeth Theatre had been treated to, arguably Mraz’s most loved hits, I’m Yours and I Won’t Give Up, I’m confident that everyone whistled their way home in a far happier state than when they arrived.

Jason Mraz & Raining Jane

“A truly incomparable dynamic range.” – Rachel Chien

At the beginning of August, Lord Huron burst onto the stage at the Orpheum to a hero’s welcome. The band enjoy a cult following, bordering on the fanatical, and it was clear that the majority of the audience had been eagerly awaiting this gig. It’s not unusual for bands gracing venues like the Orpheum or the Queen Elizabeth Theatre to play the majority of their setlist to a seated crowd that politely taps their feet and claps their hands in time to the beat. Not Lord Huron. From the first bars of Time’s Blur, the whole stalls section was on their feet and as Not Dead Yet (which sounds like a collaboration between The Killers and Elvis) started up, they were singing along boister ously to each line.

From the relentless pace of tracks like Ancient Names (Part 1), or (Part 2) for that matter, through to more “Old West” inspired offerings, such as Love Me Like You Used To, or to the slower hits, including I Lied, which featured a stunning solo by Misty Boyce, Lord Huron was at one with their ador ing fans. This was flow state in action and was so intoxicating that by the time the show drew to a close with the band’s bestknown classics Meet Me in the Woods and The Night We Met, I was also looking forward to their next Vancouver date.

Launching into fall, Bear’s Den played an intimate gig at the Vogue, which felt very personal as the band interspersed their set with a couple of acoustic songs. Having released their latest album, Blue Hours earlier in the year and a new single, Stitch in Time last month, this was an opportunity to showcase some of their newer work, including Shadows and Spiders.

The band is best known for their deep introspective composi tions portraying powerful human emotions and unplugged the mics and amps for their moving performance of Sophie. Crow, an other track that reflects on loss and grief was, however, followed immediately by the more uplifting feels of The Love We Stole, and Please Don’t Hide Yourself Away, which was written for the com edy TV show, Trying. Following Above the Clouds of Pompeii, the band left the stage, only to reappear in the middle of the floor for one last acoustic number before closing the night with a rousing rendition of Agape. This was a beautifully staged evening and one that was warmly welcomed by the audience, which interacted ap preciatively throughout.

To learn more about the 34th Bard on the Beach Festival Season, which will run from June to September, 2023, go to: https://BardOnTheBeach.org

To see the upcoming concert line up and buy tickets for MRG Live shows, including Sons of the East, BONEY M featuring Liz Mitchell and Fletcher, go to: www.MRGLive.com/events/Vancouver

For Live Nation’s next gigs, including Pet Shop Boys, Dave Matthews Band and Smashing Pumpkins, go to: www.livenation.com

Lord Huron

Bear’s Den

music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies.

-- Edward Bulwer-Lytton

Our

CITY CITYtonight!

by Jim Gordon & Leeta Liepins

HEADING INTO FALL...

“THE VOICE” – SARAH JERROM

She is a Canadian singer/songwriter who has been creating wonderful music for two decades and continues to attract critical praise from around the globe. Her latest CD, Dream Logic, is a collection of original songs (Things That Came Out of the Sea is our favourite) recorded by her contemporary jazz quartet also known as Dream Logic – a tribute to director David Lynch, whose work she admires. Jerrom is at her best when she creatively has no genre boundaries to hold her in, something her latest CD illustrates. And the voice, it can lead you on a musical journey enhanced by the musicians backing her. Sarah Jerrom is an artist who deserves to be heard by more music lovers. www.sarahjerrom.com

“THE READ” – MY PLACE IN THE SUN BY GEORGE STEVENS JR.

His career has been legendary, made more unique by the fact that his father was a legend too. George Stevens Jr. grew up in the “Golden Era” of Hollywood watching his father, Oscar-winner George Stevens Sr. direct classic movies like Swing Time (1936), Gunga Din (1939) The More the Merrier (1943), A Place in the Sun (1951), Shane (1953), Giant (1956) and The Diary of Anne Frank (1959). When “Jr” was old enough (after work ing with his dad on some of those mov ies), he started directing and producing as well, including over 300 short docu mentaries for the United States Infor mation Agency. He also founded the American Film Insti tute, created of the AFI Life Achievement Award, and The Kennedy Center Honors. Now George Stevens Jr., at 90, has written his story (including that of his theatrical/filmrich family dating back to the mid-1800’s) called My Place in the Sun. It’s a fascinating account of life in another era of Hollywood and JFK’s Washington. The main takeaway for us is how much father and son loved and respected each, a rarity in Hollywood memoirs. www.georgestevensjr.com

The Iconic Concierge Magazine version of the weekly TV show, “Our City Tonight”, which can be seen Sundays at 10:30pm on CHEK TV. You can follow them on Instagram, Facebook Twitter & YouTube @ourcitytonight

“THE EVENT” – CABARET BIJOU

Just in time for the winter season comes Cabaret Bijou, Cana da’s only gourmet dining experience meets cabaret-style show. Running Oct 19th, 2022 – March 5th, 2023 at Vanier Park, Cabaret Bijou will be “an opulent feast for the senses,” says Artistic Director and the show’s Creator, Scott Malcolm.

From the gourmet side of things, Executive Chef Sean Reeve (The Mackenzie Room, Collective Goods, Say Mercy!) has cre ated a four-course menu sure to equal the visuals guest will encounter from the world-renowned artists. www.cabaretbijou.com

“THE CLASSIC” – HY’S STEAKHOUSE & COCKTAIL BAR

Happy 60th Anniversary to one of Vancouver’s most iconic restaurants! To say the Canadian hospitality industry has been subjected to difficult times in the past decade is putting it lightly. Some classic places have not only stood the test of time but done it with aplomb in an ever fickle industry.

Hy’s Steakhouse and Cocktail Bar truly is a legend already but continues to stay relevant and popular. Opening their doors in 1962 and remaining in the same space on Hornby Street for 60 successful years, this restaurant is renowned for expert service, excellent steaks, delectable seafood, and all of the classic cock tails together with an enviable wine list.

This award-winning spot has won the hearts of fine dining afi cionados for generations and shows no sign of slowing down. www.hyssteakhouse.com

AN EXPERT NEGOTIATOR WITH A COMMITMENT TO INCOMPARABLE SERVICE

Coming from a family of real estate investors, architects, and interior designers, real estate runs in Amir’s blood giving him an intimate understanding of all sides of the real estate industry. He takes great pride in what he does and strives to uphold his long-established family reputation of integrity and quality in real estate. This pride leads him to continually update his skills and understanding of the marketplace, giving him a commitment and understanding rarely found in the industry.

Amir’s positivity and commitment to incomparable service are evident in his track record. He is known for making his clients his top priority. Taking the time to fully understand his clients’ needs, Amir utilizes his ex pert negotiation skills to broker the best deals possible for his clients. From first-time homebuyers to prop erty investors, Amir will provide expert guidance and personalized solutions.

LUXURY SERVICE FOR A GLOBAL CLIENTELE

An expert in the Vancouver real estate market with a Dual Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Hotel Manage ment and Tourism from Manchester Metropolitan University and IMI University in Switzerland, Amir has the education and experience to deal with the most elite global clientele. Working in management in the world’s most exclusive luxury hotels including the Four Season hotels and resorts, Kempinski hotel groups, Intercon tinental Hotel Group, and Starwood hotel group, Amir was loved by clients and admired by fellow employ ees. Working day and night to serve clients, Amir knows that a flexible schedule is necessary to serve global clients.

THE COMPETITIVE EDGE

Vancouver ranks as one of the best places in the world to live; this means its real estate market is exclusive and you need to choose a representative with a competitive edge. Amir utilizes his intimate knowledge of this city and wide network of connections to ensure the best deals possible for his clients. Amir’s Persian background and language skills, as well as his experience in luxury service in Canada, China, Dubai, and Iran, will give you an edge in the exclusive luxury Vancouver real estate market.

HONESTY AND INTEGRITY

An animal-lover and avid football fan, Amir’s commitment to honesty and integrity with clients and atten tion to detail in business dealings give him a competitive edge in the exclusive Vancouver real-estate mar ket. Amir understands the sacrifices you make to get the home you want; that’s why he treats every deal as if it were his own and every client as if they were a member of his family.

Beds | 3 BATHS | 2,005 SQ.FT.

Known as one of the finest residential buildings, VANCOUVER HOUSE, represents sophisticated living in style & luxury. Exceptional views meet en viable amenities for a lifestyle of comfort, privacy, & security. Enjoy panoramic views of English Bay, Stanley Park, & Lions Gate Bridge. The unit is ab solutely immaculate, w gorgeous hardwood floors, high ceilings, generous walls, beautiful wood cabinetry, & an open layout that invites congenial gatherings. Boffi chef’s kitchen featuring Miele ap pliances & a custom Corian Island. World-class amenities: concierge, security, gym & pool. Live in the heart of downtown, only moments from iconic landmarks & shops, restaurants & entertainment.

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A stunning contemporary south-facing home with ultra-luxury meets everyone’s dream house expec tations. 0.58 park-like private acres nestled in the prestigious lower British Properties. Over 8,400 sq ft of living space on 3 levels. Fully automated openconcept living with 6 bedrooms, 7.5 bathrooms, and a chef-inspired kitchen and wok kitchen with super thick granite countertops and Sub-Zero & Wolf appliances. High Vaulted ceiling with the extensive use of floor to ceiling glass. Have your summer activities on huge private patios and a swimming pool. Enjoy yourself in the spacious rec room with a full wet bar, wine room, home theater, private fitness studio, and spa.