Iconic Concierge Summer 2021

SUMMER 2021

COMPLIMENTARY

ICONIC

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR THE AFFLUENT GENTLEMAN

CELEBRITY

SPIRITS

THE MEATLESS

BBQ

AIRSPEEDER

TAKING MOTORSPORT TO THE SKY

IS A

THE WATCHES OF

ULYSSE NARDIN

HYBRID THE BETTER CHOICE?

CHARGED - A BATTERY-POWERED WORLD

XPLORE

W E

A R E

U L Y S S E

Diver 44mm Starting at USD 7’900.

N 40° 45’ 31’’ W 73° 58’ 43’’

Villa San Michele, Firenze

Feel New Again...

YOUR JOURNEY TO WELLNESS BEGINS HERE.

1.877.275.1556 WWW.SPARKLINGHILL.COM

publisher’s LETTER

somewhere in-between...

a normal and ‘the new normal’, that’s how it feels these days. we just entered phase three of bc’s four-step plan for safe reopening, which means masks are recommended as opposed to mandatory and that we can dine in larger groups again. even fairs, festivals, and trade shows will make a comeback. it is now a time where we may have to face the discomfort of personal proximity after social distancing for so long, but these steps pave the way for a much-needed return to what is so important to many of our businesses. at iconic concierge, we are very much looking forward to finally bringing the whole team back together for meetings and social events. we have also postponed several travel stories that we can hopefully start to plan for once again, although, with many countries still facing major challenges and air traffic only just starting to service the bigger cities on a more regular basis, we will most likely have to wait for 2022 to embark upon the next big adventure.

olaf robrecht publisher olaf@iconic-concierge.com

however, with unusually warm temperatures in late spring and travel restrictions easing within our province, we were able to hit the road for a few interesting experiences, from a big test-drive with three hybrids into the interior, to visiting some small boutique wineries, on a quest to find the perfect summer beverage. and although ryan reynolds and george clooney were unable to join, we still had a good time sampling their spirits to answer the question of whether we pay for the name, or for what is actually in the bottle. finally, a new and exciting multi-page column will now be a permanent addition to the magazine. ‘charged’ will introduce you to what’s new and what’s cool in the world of electricity!

follow us on instagram

a heatwave ...

So we picked one of the hottest days in Canadian history to go on a drive from Vancouver to the South Okanagan ... for lunch. Well, actually, it was for a review article about hybrid cars and a photoshoot at Phantom Creek Estates winery, but with the temperatures reaching up to 46C in the shade, working outside in the direct sun had certain side effects. Whilst Robbie would only leave his air-conditioned cockpit for the minute the camera shutter was released, our very own Doc Finlay experienced an adrenaline-fuelled boost to his muscles, moving product in Phantom Creek’s distribution centre in record time! All joking aside - it was a great day and leaving Vancouver after the lifting of our provincial travel restrictions felt as if we were finally heading out on another adventure.

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ICONIC CONCIERGE

The Continental GT Speed The Ultimate Grand Tourer.

Exhilaration and refinement, reimagined. The new Bentley Continental GT Speed is a grand tourer that harnesses raw emotion. Featuring a powerful W12 engine and a bold design, the new Continental GT Speed puts immense thrill and drama at the heart of the drive.

This is adrenaline, accelerated.

Contact Bentley Vancouver for more details.

1770 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC, Canada | 604.730.8998 | bentleyvancouver.ca

BENTLEY VANCOUVER

vol. 20 [2021]

ICONIC CONCIERGE

www.iconic-concierge.com ICONIC CONCIERGE VANCOUVER

SUMMER 2021

COMPLIMENTARY

ICONIC

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR THE AFFLUENT GENTLEMAN

CELEBRITY

SPIRITS

THE MEATLESS

BBQ

SUMMER 2021

AIRSPEEDER

TAKING MOTORSPORT TO THE SKY

THE LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE FOR THE AFFLUENT GENTLEMAN

Cover_outside_newsize.indd 1

IS A

THE WATCHES OF

ULYSSE NARDIN

HYBRID

THE BETTER CHOICE?

CHARGED - A BATTERY-POWERED WORLD 2021-07-11 7:32:13 PM

On the cover: ALAUDA AIRSPEEDER

PUBLISHER:

OLAF ROBRECHT olaf@iconic-concierge.com

AUTOMOTIVE EDITOR:

ROBBIE DICKSON

FASHION EDITOR:

JASON SARAI

LIFESTYLE EDITOR:

NATALIE LANGSTON

HEALTH & FITNESS EDITOR: CONTRIBUTING WRITERS:

PHOTOGRAPHY: COPY EDITOR: DESIGN/ LAYOUT: ADVERTISING SALES:

DR. OLIVER FINLAY JASON BOUDREAU, KEITH TRUSLER, DR. OLIVER FINLAY, JULIE-ANNA VOGEL, DR. CHRISTIAN BRIX, JIM GORDON TODD DUNCAN BILL ROBERTS YADA-YADA MEDIA please contact iconicconciergemagazine@gmail.com

iconic_concierge Iconic Concierge is published by

Printed in Canada.

All rights reserved. No part of Iconic Concierge Magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject any editorial or advertising material. The views expressed in Iconic Concierge are those of the respective contributors and not necessarily those of the publisher or staff.

Although all reasonable attempts are made to ensure accuracy, the publishers do not assume any liability for errors or omissions anywhere in the publication or on the website. Iconic Concierge reserves the rights to ads produced for advertisers.

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ICONIC CONCIERGE

The most thrilling subscription to ever get delivered to your door.

Introducing Porsche Drive Porsche Drive’s monthly subscription service allows you to experience the ultimate thrill of a sports car at the touch of a button. With insurance and maintenance included, and concierge delivery directly to your door, you can enjoy the freedom of matching a Porsche to your lifestyle.

To learn more, visit porschedrive.ca © 2021 Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd. Porsche recommends seat belt usage and observance of traffic laws at all times.

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG is the owner of the Porsche Crest® trademark.

dreamT E A M

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 forefront of new developments, products, and technologies and does not shy away from putting ideas into reality.

CRAIG STOWE luxury events

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.

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ICONIC CONCIERGE

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

GEZ MCALPINE

lifestyle editor

imbibing authority

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.

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.

MALCOLM HASMAN

JASON BOUDREAU CFP, CLU

luxury real estate specialist

wealth advisor

Malcolm Hasman is respected as the industry leader in the marketing of Greater Vancouver’s premier luxury real estate and offers the most effective and successful marketing platforms available in the industry today. Simply put no other real estate agent, over the past 25 years, has sold more of the city’s premier luxury properties than Malcolm.

As the founder of VELA Wealth, Jason is fuelled by watching clients fulfill their vision of life success for their family, community and legacy.

Focusing on inter-generational wealth transfer, life insurance, legacy and estate planning, he advises successful entrepreneurial families on how to make meaningful choices at the intersection of their life and their wealth.

KEITH TRUSLER

JULIE-ANNA VOGEL

dean of fine foods & spirits

travel consultant

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.

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”.

sport, health & fitness

DR. OLIVER FINLAY

JIM GORDON LEETA LIEPINS

Having traveled the globe, working with pro teams & athletes in sports environments as diverse as F1, EPL soccer, NHL & ATP tennis, to attain peak performance, Oliver arrived in Vancouver for his PhD, exploring how the World’s best sports teams manage change initiatives. Passionate about human performance & sport’s impact on community, he highlights the industry’s latest & greatest developments.

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

city experts

ICONIC CONCIERGE

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CONTENTS

/ summer 2021 /

COLUMNS

FEATURES

AUTOMOTIVE

8

22

16

18

Innovative Timepieces for Free Spirits

The Rolls-Royce Boat Tail

26

36

2021 is the Year of the Green Watch

The Amazing Jounrey of a Porsche 964

34

42

The VIVO X60 Pro+

Experiencing the BMW Plug-In Hybrids

53

46

What’s New in the Electric World?

2021 Cadillac Escalade Premium Luxury Platinum

62

48

How Events are Emerging from the Hiatus

The 6X6 Hellfire

66

56

A Water-Filtering Floating Pool

58

Publisher’s Letter

The Specter Journal You Want This!

53

Charged!

What’s New in the Electric World?

68

What Women Want

Forget Chocolate and Roses!

78

The Gentleman

They Should Have Taught You This In School

80

The Manly Man Al Pacino

86

Magnetic Success Pillars of Top Producers!

90

In-Style!

Summer Fragrances

92

The Gentleman Abroad London, UK

110

Our City Tonight!

Celebrity-owned Spirit Companies

112

Real Estate

Vancouver Dream Estates

Ulysse Nardin

The Colour of Green

Better Than Apple & Samsung?

Charged!

The Show Will Go On!

Over to you, Vancouver!

70

A Glorious Legacy

Once Upon A Time In ....

The Best of Both Worlds

Expand Your Entourage

Apocalypse Now

Rimac Nevera

Quintessential

Dream Destinations

2021 Porsche Cross Turismo

84

COVER

Get ready!

Don’t Panic...

Are You Experiencing Hair Loss?

96

Drinking with the Stars

Celebrity-owned Spirit Companies

102

22

Ulysse Nardin

Innovative Timepieces for Free Spirits

53

Charged!

What’s New in the Electric World?

Real Men Don’t Eat Meat The Rise of the Plant-Based Burger

106

Divine Wines

South Okanagan Boutique Wineries

DESTINATIONS

70

Dream Destinations

PERSONALITIES

62

ROYCE CHWIN

CEO Destination Vancouver

65

Jordan Kallman

Co-Founder, The Social Concierge

14

ICONIC CONCIERGE

Get ready!

WATERCRAFT

74

Better Be A Billionaire

The Cost of Owning a Superyacht

76

Lurssen Madsummer | SOMNIO

92

The Gentleman Abroad London, UK

102

CONTENTS

22 53

96

58

42 74

ICONIC CONCIERGE

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ICONIC CONCIERGE

A GLORIOUS LEGACY THE ART OF COACHBUILDING: THE ROLLS-ROYCE BOAT TAIL

The Rolls-Royce Boat Tail confirms coachbuilding as a permanent fixture within the future portfolio of the luxury car maker.

Coachbuilding has been an integral part of the Rolls-Royce story, and the Boat Tail marks the return to these roots, offering an opportunity for the select few to participate in the creation of truly unique automobiles. It is the culmination of a four-year collaboration with three clients who were intimately and personally involved at each step of the creative and engineering process. “With Boat Tail (...) we have created a trio of exceptional cars which, although they share a common body style, are each imbued with the unique, highly personal imprint of the commissioning patron, thereby telling differing stories.

Boat Tail is unprecedented. Boat Tail is a distinct counterpoint to industrialized luxury,” says Alex Innes, Head of Rolls-Royce Coachbuild Design. At US$28M, this picnic-friendly convertible is believed to be the most expensive new car of all time, and was reportedly commissioned by none other than Jay-Z and Beyoncé (note the bottles of Armand de Brignac, Jay-Z’s luxury champagne brand.)

At the press of a button, the deck opens into a “hosting suite.” On the right side is a full set of dishes and silverware, and on the left are a double refrigerator, a set of Champagne glasses, napkins and other essentials for enjoying the owner’s favourite vintage of Armand de Brignac.

ICONIC CONCIERGE

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HERMÈS AIRTAG

ULYSSE NARDIN X BEAU LAKE

There is nothing luxurious about Apple’s new AirTag, and so the tech giant announced a partnership with Hermès.

Born out of a shared love for water and exploration, a new collaboration between Swiss watchmaker Ulysse Nardin and Canadian luxury waterside experience manufacturer, Beau Lake, has emerged.

Limited to only 15 sets, it comes with a chronometer, presented on a blue rubber strap with Beau Lake featured on a titanium accent plate, and a corresponding Ulysse Nardin branded paddle board, inspired by Gibson guitars and 50s surf culture.

Arriving in three versions — Key Ring, Bag Charm, and Luggage Tag — each Hermès AirTag is available in either heritage Fawn Barénia calfskin or smooth Swift leather with contrasting saddle stitching.

Each tag is also etched with Hermès’ iconic Clou de Selle motif.

US$16,300 per set. www.ulysse-nardin.com www.beaulake.com

The AirTag is available in classic orange, Bleu Indigo, or Fauve.

The Key Ring, Bag Charm, and Luggage Tag retail for C$449, C$379, and C$579, respectively. www.apple.com www.hermes.com

LUXURY GO GAME Baccarat, the French luxury brand internationally recognized as a leader for high-end, exclusive crystal products, introduces a new collaboration with Marcel Wanders Studio. With his imaginative style, light-hearted universe and joy of living, Marcel Wanders studio has designed several glamorous game sets.

Synonymous with serenity and considered a sacred art in China, Go has been reimagined by Marcel Wanders Studio. The collector’s item is a limited edition and has the goban made in inlaid marble with crystal stones.

US$25,000. www.baccarat.com

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ICONIC CONCIERGE

BALENCIAGA SHOE BAG Drawing inspiration from classic running shoes and featuring mesh, shoelaces, and faux leather in its construction, the SneakerHead Top Handle Bag is the latest launch in Balenciaga’s line of exclusive handbags pioneered by the brand’s creative director, Demna Gvasalia. It comes in two sizes, small and medium, and three colourways: blue and gray, black and white, and pure black.

C$2,750 (small)

C$2,890 (medium)

www.balenciaga.com

THE BRITISH SPY DB5 WALL SCULPTURE You don’t have to be On Her Majesty’s Secret Service to become the owner of this DB5 nose display for your living room. In fact, you will most likely be able to pick it up yourself right here in BC! The guys behind TheQcar recently introduced this spyful fiberglass display with functional LED flash in the spinning Gatling gun headlights. And yes, there is actual machine gun sound, too! Does the license plate rotate through the UK, France and Swiss plates? Of course it does! And there are even more options....

Starting at US$10,000. More TheQcar gadgets will follow soon.

www.theQcar.com

FOR YOUR YACHT: BUGATTI POOL TABLE Good for you should you have this problem: How to play pool on a yacht when the sailing is not as smooth as it should be? Introducing the ultra-luxurious limited-edition Bugatti pool table, designed and engineered in partnership with Spain-based IXO. It is actually meant for yacht-owners and is constructed with machined aluminum, titanium and carbon fiber to ensure the utmost attention to lightweight rigidity.

It can even be equipped with a servo-driven system that makes use of a gyroscopic sensor, enabling the pool table to accommodate for movement when on a yacht and allow for playing no matter what the conditions.

That’s exactly what you are looking for? Then hurry only 30 examples will be made! US$300,000. www.ixocarbon.com

VIRITECH APRICALE HYDROGEN Another hydrogen fuel-cell hypercar has emerged, this time from UK-based startup Viritech. The Apricale with its Koenigsegg-type window- and roofline will serve as a flashy demonstrator for the startup’s hydrogen technology and will be built in limited volumes.

According to the company, the Apricale is being developed to produce 1100 horsepower and has a driving range of around 500 miles (804 km).

The limited edition car will sell for around £1.5 million. Viritech plans to sell its fuel cells to other automakers for passenger cars, transportation vehicles, aircraft, and boats. www.viritech.co.uk ICONIC CONCIERGE

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AIRLANDER

THE RETURN OF THE FORGOTTEN AIRSHIP FLYING SHIPS! The idea of a powered airship that can lift and maneuver in any direction against the wind has fascinated mankind for centuries. Reality began with the brothers Montgolfier. In 1783, after they had built a larger paper-lined silk balloon which lifted 6,562 feet into the air, they welcomed the very first passengers - a sheep, a rooster, and a duck, who then flew for eight minutes in front of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and the French court. The same year, the very first manned flight carried two human passengers, and, just a few months later, seven passengers to a height of 3,000 feet.

aircraft ever built by mankind, accidentally caught fire and was destroyed.

The first real rigid-framed passenger airship crashed on its test flight in 1897, before, in 1900, military officer, Ferdinand Zeppelin flew his first airship in Germany, carrying five passengers. It was the prototype of many subsequent models, culminating in the 245m long (longer than three Boeing 747s placed end-to-end) Hindenburg, which was widely considered the future of air travel. Zeppelin even established a regular transatlantic service, offering luxurious double-berth cabins capable of accommodating 72 passengers, as well as lavish dining rooms and lounges. There was also a writing room, bar, promenades for aerial views, and, considering its balloon was filled with hydrogen gas, unbelievably, a smoking room.

The Airlander is a Hybrid Air Vehicle with the aim to travel further, to more places, with less impact. According to the manufacturer, it will be available with up to 100 seats in a hybrid-electric configuration from 2025, delivering up to a 90% reduction in carbon emissions compared to other aircraft, with a zero-carbon allelectric version following by 2030.

Zeppelin covered a total of 308,323 km in the first year with 2,798 passengers but disaster struck in 1937 when on her first flight to North America, the largest

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ICONIC CONCIERGE

After the Hindenburg crash, airships were mainly used by the military for surveillance purposes and carry cargo transport, and for promotional purposes at big events. Soon, however, you may be able to fly on an airship on a regular basis again.

As concern over climate change and rising temperatures grows, flight-shaming has become a thing. With the Airlander 10, a UK based company has presented an unexpected potential solution that may bring back the airship.

The airship has a top speed of 130 km/h and compete with long-haul flights or routes already well-served by high-speed rail connections. Instead, it will focus on connecting cities a few hundred miles apart, like Liverpool and Belfast or Seattle and Vancouver, producing only a small fraction of the emissions of current air options. It will also be useful for island nations and remote areas, as it is not reliant on airport infrastructure and can land on land, sand, water or ice, thanks to its retractable pneumatic skids.

H E A R T O F F U S

BIG BANG e UEFA EURO 2020™

“The UEFA and EURO 2020 word, the UEFA EURO 2020 Logo and Mascot and the UEFA European Football Championship Trophy are protected by trademarks and/or copyright of UEFA. All rights reserved.” Manufactured under license by Hublot

T I O

ICONIC CONCIERGE

N

BOUTIQUE VANCOUVER

1080 Alberni Street • Tel. 604 559 8883

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innovative timepieces to free spirits, since 1846 Founded in 1846 in Le Locle, Switzerland, Ulysse Nardin is one of the finest Swiss luxury watch brands on the market today and recognised as a pioneer for securing thousands of patents, unveiling numerous firsts and accepting countless awards.

The Nardin family legacy in watchmaking began in 1820 with Leonard Frederic Nardin. His son, Ulysse Nardin was also passionate about the craft and founded his namesake brand in 1846, when he was only 23 years old and driven by a desire to create outstanding horological timepieces. Obsessed with a desire to create the most accurate horological masterpieces, he used the opportunity of his access to the then newly opened Astronomical Observatory of Neuchâtel to test and refine the accuracy of his first timepieces. In 1876, the very first Ulysse Nardin marine chronometer received a Gold Medal at a contest in Geneva. It was the same year that Ulysse Nardin passed away at the age of just 53. His son Paul-David Nardin took over at the helm of the brand, intent on following in his father’s footsteps in the pursuit to become the ultimate supplier of accurate marine chronometers.

In 1893 at the Chicago World’s Fair, Ulysse Nardin won the first prize with a marine chronometer

DIVER LEMON SHARK

SKELETON X CARBONIUM GOLD

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ICONIC CONCIERGE

and a pocket chronometer, establishing the brand as a trusted maker of chronometers to the American watch market. Ulysse Nardin went on to experiment with new technologies and materials, constantly increasing their accuracy and perfecting their movements, securing several patents on the way throughout the final decade of the 19th century.

In 1904, Ulysse Nardin began supplying marine chronometers to the Japanese and Russian navies. Paul-David Nardin also introduced the first Swiss lever escapement and received his third patent for a chronographic timing wheel. The brand was constantly growing and had to expand their manufacturing facilities to satisfy the increasing demand. Later that same year, US President Roosevelt launched a competition to find “Torpedo Boat Watches”, which was to be held the following year and Ulysse Nardin watches was awarded one of the top seven nominations out of 31 entries. Winning the accuracy contest demonstrated dependability to the US Navy and within just a few years, Ulysse Nardin became an official supplier. The watch case backs were engraved with the watch number along with the words “U.S. Navy”, and a decades-long relationship between the brand and the US Navy commenced.

In 1916, another milestone was set when Ulysse Nardin became one of the first brands to exhibit at the Basel Watch Fair, displaying the new movements for the first UN wrist watches. During the 1930s, Ulysse Nardin unveiled another highly accurate horological masterpiece and the new split-second pocket chronograph could measure tenths of a second. Over the following decades, innovations such as this saw Ulysse Nardin regularly winning awards for its chronometer watches.

Beginning in the 1960s, the mass production of quartz movements flooded the market and Ulysse Nardin, like many Swiss brands, had to restructure in order to accommodate the new trend.

Patrick Pruniaux, a watch enthusiast since his teens, is the new Chief Executive Officer of Ulysse Nardin.

In 1983, a new era of Ulysse Nardin began. Rolf Schnyder and a small group of investors purchased the brand to bring an end to 5 generations of family ownership.

Schnyder was experienced in the manufacturing of watch components and was convinced there would eventually be a renaissance of mechanical watches. His plan

FREAK X RAZZLE DAZZLE

NEW DIVER CHRONOMETER

ICONIC CONCIERGE

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was to revive Ulysse Nardin’s position atop the Swiss watch industry with new and innovative watches. In 1985, Ulysse Nardin unveiled the Astrolabium Galileo Galilei which was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most complicated watch ever made. It joined a trinity of some of the most coveted watches in the world, adding the Planetarium Copernicus, a wristwatch that represents time through the movement of the planets in our solar system and, in 1992, the Ulysse Nardin Tellurium Johannes Kepler, a tribute to the namesake German astronomer. Another masterpiece was the Limited Edition San Marco, a minute repeater with jaquemarts. It was to launch a whole new category of complications for the brand.

At the dawn of the new century and with the introduction of the new Freak, Ulysse Nardin was once again ahead of the game. The watch, with its revolutionary 7-day tourbillon carousel, was appropriately christened for ignoring many of the traditional foundations of mechanical watchmaking and did not rely on a traditional crown for winding the movement or setting the time. The Freak, which holds several patents related to the incorporated technology, was also the first watch available with silicium components and inspired many other top brands to explore the technology.

Over the next couple of years, other innovative masterpieces followed, which included the Westminster carillon tourbillon jaquemarts watches, and the Sonata, the first wristwatch to offer a melodic chime alarm sound and setting, which was seven years in the making.

In 2009 the Executive Moonstruck was introduced and displayed all of the moon phases and tides around the world.

SKELETON X MAGMA

Rolf Schnyder died in 2011 but his spirit, his leadership, and the quest for innovation lived on, with Ulysse Nardin introducing the UN 118 manufacture movement with Diamonsil technology a year later. The brand also introduced several other movements, launched the Marine Chronometer manufacture movement and acquired the Swiss dial and enamel artisan house of Donze’ Cadrans SA. In 2014, Ulysse Nardin was acquired by the Kering Luxury Watches and Jewelry Group, and in the same year introduced the UN 150 manufacture chronograph movement. In 2015 the Anchor Tourbillon escapement with constant force was unveiled and consequently won the prestigious first prize in the tourbillon category at the Grand Prix Horologerie de Geneve.

In 2017, Patrick Pruniaux joined Ulysse Nardin as Chief Executive Officer and opened a new chapter with the X concept, the Executive Free Wheel Tourbillon, the Mega Yacht and more.

This year, in 2021 Ulysse Nardin celebrates 175 years of accuracy and innovation and will with no doubt continue to push the boundaries in the 22nd century.

The DIVER NET is a concept watch in which each trim element is as environmentally friendly as possible. The case and bezel are made out of recycled fishing net.

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ICONIC CONCIERGE

At Ulysse Nardin, tourbillon chronometers are derived from an art that traces back to the end of the 19th century, when in1899, Albert Pellaton Favre (1834-1914) built the first tourbillon entirely by hand. Under Rolf Schnyder, who served as the head of the company since 1983 and for over 30 years, some of the most coveted watches in the world were introduced, and today Ulysse Nardin carries on the tradition of its legacy, endlessly developing new tourbillon masterpieces, including the Free Wheel Tourbillon (above) and the Blast Hourstriker Tourbillon (assembly pictures on the right).

DOWNTOWN VICTORIA 1102 Government St. Victoria, BC

METROPOLIS AT METROTOWN 4700 Kingsway, Suite 1130 Burnaby, BC

250.382.2040

604.430.2040

“Do you believe in UFOs?” To celebrate its 175th anniversary, Ulysse Nardin www.lugaro.com takes clockmaking into the realms of imagination. UFO contains all of the company’s horological history in one single object...and it is simply out of this world!

ICONIC CONCIERGE

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THE COLOUR OF

MONEY 2021 IS THE YEAR OF THE GREEN WATCH

JAEGER-LECOULTRE REVERSO TRIBUTE

The iconic Reverso goes green, and it looks surprisingly stunning.

The combination of the Art Deco lines of the watch and a rich shade of green with lots of depth make this Reverso one of our favourites.

US$8,750

GREEN, not necessarily mean, but definitely a horological machine! Suddenly, we see – green. A truly underrepresented colour, it has been overlooked in the watchmaking world for years. Until now. Maybe it is the pandemic and the whole “back to nature” movement that came with it, or the fact that one may connect it to wealth, money and success, but if there was a trend that was identified at this year’s Watches & Wonders (see Spring edition), it was that just about every brand featured a watch with a green dial, bracelet or at least some green accents on the bezel.

Some have it all. Brands are finally getting more adventurous and creative with their designs, and collectors are loving it. So do we.

If you want to be trendy, you better add some green to your outfit. And if you need some inspiration, look no further, we are here to help. Here’s our pick of the best green watches to breathe new life into your collection.

BVLGARI

OCTO L’ORIGINALE A very iconic watch, the Octo with the green face is one of the most stylish timepieces to carry the Bvlgari logo.

CAD10,150.

ROLEX

SUBMARINER “THE HULK” 116610LV A true collector’s item, the “Hulk” features a ceramic green bezel and green dial, making this unconventional Submariner outstanding in style over the classic black version. It has been discontinued, so be prepared to pay a hefty premium should you find one.

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BREITLING

BENTLEY PREMIER B01

A sporty green dial makes this 42mm stainless steel Breitling a stylish yet practical watch not just for for the sport or car enthusiast.

PANERAI

GLASHUTTE ORIGINAL

TAG HEUER

Popular (not just) among military personnel, the classic Radiomir features a dark green dial in perfect contrast to the numbers and hands.

CAD10,150.

The handcrafted dial of the PanoMaticLunar graduates from an intense dark green in the center to black at the edges. Red gold on a green alligator strap. US$20,500.

The Calibre Heuer 02 is already one of the most iconic timepieces in history, but adding a green face to it is just brilliant. Limited to 500 pieces. US$6,650.

RADIOMIR PAM995

PANOMATICLUNAR

MONACO

TUDOR

BLACK BAY FIFTY-EIGHT Tudor is making a huge comeback, and its first-ever precious metal watch, this 18k yellow gold timepiece is perfectly paired with the green dial and matching bezel ring insert and the additional complimentary green and gold fabric strap.

CAD19,310.

HUBLOT

MP-09 TOURBILLON BI-AXIS GREEN 3D CARBON

The new Hublot MP (Manufacture Piece) 09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis 3D Carbon 49 mm, is limited to only 8 pieces in a striking solution-dyed green 3D carbon case on a matching structured rubber strap. Manual-winding, mechanical calibre with a 5-day power reserve and bi-axial tourbillon with a full rotation every minute for the first axis and a second rotation every 30 seconds for the second axis. CAD250,000.

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RADO

CAPTAIN COOK BRONZE

Known for their minimalistic ceramic timepieces, this diver’s watch with a bronze case and green dial truly stands out. Too bad they didn’t add a green leather strap. CAD3,400.

U-BOAT

DARKMOON

The Green SS Soleil’s case is filled with a special oil, creating an optical effect of a more intense colour.

CAD1,290.

ZENITH

DEFY 21 URBAN JUNGLE

Housed in a 44 mm khaki green ceramic case the green-coated mainplate and oscillating weight of the El Primero chronograph movement perfectly match. US$14,500.

H. MOSER & CIE.

MECCANICHE VENEZIANE REDENTORE

SEAMASTER 300 MALACHITE

The Streamliner Centre Seconds in steel and Matrix Green fumé dial is a strikingly minimalistic timeonly stainless steel watch with an integrated single-link bracelet.

CHF 19,900.

The olive green Redentore features an olive green dial with diamond silver cut polished markers and hands and a green leather band. Best of all, at CAD650 this automatic watch doesn’t break the bank!

A tribute to the ocean, this Seamaster sports a stunning emerald green malachite dial and a green leather strap. Available in stainless steel and 18K yellow gold.

CAD39,200 (18K gold).

STREAMLINER

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OMEGA

RISK IS THE REWARD The first watch brand to embrace the world of sailing, the Corum Admiral collection celebrates its nautical origins. With its unique 12-sided case and nautical pennants as hour markers, it is instantly recognised the world over.

ADMIRAL 45 OPENWORKED TOURBILLON MONTECRISTO - www.montecristo.ca CHATEAU D’IVOIRE - www.chateaudivoire.com Montreal, QB - 514.845.4651

CLASSIC CREATIONS - www.classiccreations.com Toronto, ON - 416.222.0405 LA MINE D’OR - www.laminedor.ca Moncton, NB - 506.857.1980

CORUM-WATCHES.COM • @CORUMUSA (954) 279-1220 • info@cwjbrands.com

JACOB & CO.

ASTRONOMIA ALEC MONOPOLY

This collaboration between Jacob & Co. and street artist Alec Monopoly will only see 9 pieces of the luxury watch and jewelry brand’s alteration of their outstanding high complication flagship model.

Sharing space with the four main sculptures (The Monopoly Man; Scrooge McDuck; a dollar sign and Money Wings) is the iconic Astronomia movement with its four unique complications powered by the exclusive Jacob & Co. manual winding caliber JCAM10 with 365 components and a 60-hour power reserve. The exposed vertical movement has four extended arms, each containing a complication.

US$600,000.

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CORUM

10TH ANNIVERSARY GOLDEN BRIDGE AUTOMATIC COLLECTION Easily the strongest legend in the Corum lineup, though, is the Golden Bridge watch with the world’s first-ever in-line baguette movement that was first released in 1980. Just over 30 years later, in 2011, Corum released an automatic version of the in-line movement that also took the world by storm.

Now, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Automatic Golden Bridge, Corum releases four models with avant-garde case, offering a dramatic view of the movement thanks to the panoramic sapphire crystal.

They include a titanium and 18-karat gold model in a limited edition of 150 pieces, and a full titanium version in an edition of just 50 pieces. Each of these two materials is also offered with diamonds set on the case. Just 100 pieces of the diamond-set titanium-and-gold version will be produced, and only 25 of the diamond-set titanium watch will be made.

The 194 parts Corum Caliber C0313 has 40 hours of power reserve. Water-resistant to 30 meters. Alligator strap.

Prices: to be announced

ICONIC CONCIERGE

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KROSS STUDIO

SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY Now this is truly a slam dunk of an horological masterpice. In anticipation of Space Jam: A New Legacy, Swiss watch-manufacturer Kross Studio has teamed Bros. Consumer Products to create a limited-edition of 10 high-complication masterpiece with its in-house mechanical movement houses a spate of Space complex mechanics under a sapphire crystal dome.

the new movie, up with Warner tourbillons. The Jam motifs and

The central tourbillon cage towers over the piece, covered with an open-work basketball-like structure that reveals its regulator below. Every detail of the watch invites you to get up and be ready to slam anytime just as the hour hand which turns into a free throw lane or “key”, a marked area on a basketball court surrounding the basket, filled with white blue emission SuperLuminova.

Watch winding and time setting are done via the “D-ring crown” on the case back and the “Time Set” push button, placed at 3 o’clock on the edge of the watch. The watch comes in a functional art piece, crafted in wood and aluminum and shaped like a basketball. US$100,000.

FRANCK MULLER SKAFANDER

Franck Muller presents another exclusive timepiece the Skafander. This unique diving timepiece, which was introduced in 2018 but put on hold until recently, adapts the watchmaker’s emblematic, iconic and now renowned tonneau shape. Getting its name from “scaphander”, an archaic term for a diving suit, the Skafander is available in several versions: titanium, 18 carat rose gold and stainless steel.

Powered by an automatic movement with 42 hours of power reserve, and a water resistance up to 100 meters, the Skafander has a partially open-worked dial and an inner rotating bezel. The bezel rotates with a pair of pushers on the side of the case: the pusher at eight advances the bezel in one-minute increments, while the upper pusher at ten does the same in larger, five-minute steps. In between sits the “Lock” button to disengage the adjustment mechanism and lock the bezel.

Available in several different colours. Rubber strap with folding buckle. CHF 14,800 (appr. US$15,000).

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CLASSICALLY ASTON MARTIN. THE DB11.

Turn up the heat this summer and experience the most powerful and efficient ‘DB’ production model in Aston Martin’s history. The iconic and unmistakable 2021 DB11.

Limited units available now at Aston Martin Vancouver.

#101-1770 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC, Canada | 604.734.2905 | astonmartinvancouver.ca

VIVO X60 Pro+

BETTER THAN APPLE AND SAMSUNG? DO YOU REMEMBER THE DAYS WHEN THE PHONE WE COULD TAKE WITH US WAS CALLED A MOBILE PHONE? AND WAS USED TO, WELL, MAKING AND RECEIVING CALLS? WELL, THOSE DAYS ARE LONG GONE...

TODAY, it is called a smartphone and it does pretty much everything, from taking pictures, monitoring your fitness, translating, reminding you of appointments, locating stores and doing your banking, navigating and helping you order whatever you desire. You can play games on it or watch movies, and Siri or Google will answer all of your questions. It is a genie in disguise. Oh, right...it can still make and receive phone calls. But that’s not how and why we decide which phone we will buy next, is it?

Recent research about best-selling smartphones has shown that North America loves Apple, whereas Europe, the Middle East and Latin America are dominated by Samsung. But when looking at the country where most smartphones are made, China, we see a whole different picture. We have heard of Huawei, but what about Oppo and Vivo? Exactly. So we went on a mission to find one of those lesserknown brands that can stand up to the almighty Apple and Samsung flagships. And we found it! Introducing the Vivo X60 Pro+.

Headlining their X60 series, the Android 11-based Pro+ has an impressive spec sheet. It comes with a powerful Snapdragon 888

chipset, 5G, 12GB of RAM and 256GB of builtin storage, and a dual-curved 6.56” AMOLED display with 1080p and 120Hz refresh rate, all housed in a stylish aluminium frame with a vegan leather-covered back. But it really is the camera module that makes it stand out.

The Pro+ has a Zeiss-branded quad-camera system, featuring four focal lengths and a 5x zoom. The top lens is the 48MP ultrawide one – and it sits on a real gimbal! Next down is the

The close-up abilities are excellent, too, and we found that we can be as close as 2cm to the object, getting crystal-clear results. Finally, the low-light image quality. Wow! The X60 Pro+ has some Night Mode capabilities we really haven’t seen before. Vivid colours and fine details without any real noise. And then we put it on a tripod and took a picture of a dark room at midnight with almost no light coming through the windows from surrounding buildings. The exposure took 30 seconds – but the result was stunning!

Bright and clear as if taken in daylight. We could even read the text on the magazine we placed in the picture.

Finally, videos and the gimbal. The Vivo X60 Pro+ records video up to 8K30 with its main camera. The quality is on par with other flagship smartphones and yes, the gimbal makes a difference and gets rid of those walking shakes, resulting in essentially flawless footage.

Not cropped but a separate picture, taken at 60x zoom (circle). A tripod is recommended.

main 50MP 1/1.3” sensor size camera followed by and side by side, the two telelenses with 50mm and 125mm focal length and 5x zoom.

Branded for ‘Professional Photography’ we had to find out if this camera can really beat the flagship models of the big players. Spoiler-alert – it can and it does, at least in several categories.

The camera app on the phone is straightforward and simple to navigate. It has a Pro mode that lets you tweak all photographic parameters with all four camera lenses, and the typical Auto modes, plus video. We took pictures in all light situations and we got very appealing results with almost no noise in any of the photos.

Detail is excellent and dynamic range is wide.

The periscope 5x zoom literally lets you read the headlines on your neighbour’s newspaper in the building across the street. Yes, we tried.

This picture was taken around midnight, in a fully darkened room. We used a tripod and put the camera in Night Mode. The exposure time was ~30 seconds. The text on the magazine is crisp and sharp!

Overall....

The X60 Pro+ really has an amazing camera, but we like it for a lot of other reasons, too.

It has the perfect size, look and feel, is very fast and comes with a lot of features that are not life-saving but nice to have, such as the ambient light effect which lights up the edges of the display for notifications. It also charges to full in just 40 minutes! Oh, and the phone quality is excellent, too! Just saying ...

Price: the X60 Pro+ sits a bit lower than its competitors but with its main markets in Europe, Asia and the Middle East you will have to do some online research.

THE NEW

BUGATTI CERAMIQUE EDITION ONE www.bugatti-smartwatches.com

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ONCE UPON A TIME IN...

THE AMAZING JOURNEY OF A 1992 PORSCHE 964 CARRERA C2

“The ‘mother lode’ finally struck at about 11:30 PM on Thursday, July 25th, 2013!”

photography: Stephan Bauer | www.stephanbauerphoto.com

David Boyko remembers it as if it was yesterday, and what sounds like the beginning of a new spy-thriller, is actually part of his quest to find what he considered to be the ultimate aircooled Porsche 911. But let’s start at the beginning...

There is definitely some motor oil coursing through David Boyko’s veins. Born in Winnipeg and now living in Kelowna, Boyko has always been a car enthusiast with a special love for European automobiles, mainly the iconic 911 from the Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer. “I had four 80’s G-Series 911s between 1985 and 1999,” he tells us, “but with my retirement looming in 10 years, I decided to put the ‘toys’ aside until then and our planned move to Kelowna.”

For the 14 years after selling his fourth 911 in 1999, Boyko’s enthusiasm focused on visiting car shows and chatting with fellow Porsche gearheads. “Then, in 2013, I had retired in Kelowna and my wife and I were going to a car show in Penticton. En route, I spotted what looked like an 80s slate grey 911 Turbo parked on a frontage road along the highway with a “For Sale” sign adorning its windshield. I told my wife I was going to stop and have a look on the way back. I think at that point in time she knew the Porsche bug had bitten me again!”

The 911 Turbo turned out to be a 1976 911 with welded on Turbo flares, and although Boyko was not interested, he chatted at length with the owner who also happened to recreate seatbelts and harnesses for vintage cars. “He ended up making me a cool belt out of seat belt material while we were there, and the label designation stated “1965 Porsche 911” - the first year the iconic number was used!”

At this point David Boyko had made his decision, he wanted another 911 and the hunt started that very same evening. He quickly compiled a list of what he was looking for and decided upon the 911 G-Series with which he was familiar. A coupe, clean, with no accidents and original paint. As for the colour, anything but white and no blue interior. He was also looking for cars with less than 100,000km and, most importantly, a full work history and documentation. After a week of searching western Canada and the west coast of the USA, nothing came remotely close, other than project cars requiring major

restoration and engine work, and so, Boyko decided to shift his attention to what he felt was actually a better 911 generation, the 964. It had to be a 1992-94, model C2 Coupe with 5-speed transmission, meeting the same criteria he had earlier identified, plus sport seats and limited slip. Several cars showed up in Vancouver, but after some research, each revealed various issues. And then, on said Thursday, July 25th, 2013, he decided to check some websites one more time before calling it a day.

“I clicked on Craigslist San Francisco and the very first ad I opened was for a 1992 Carrera C2 in north San Jose. The first picture opened up, and I knew this was the car!”

Even though it was almost midnight, Boyko emailed the owner and got his phone number.

“I told him I would call him first thing the next morning and already apologized for all the questions I would have for him.” Don Nguyen, the owner of the 964, put a checkmark aside all of Boyko’s questions and emailed more pictures while still on the phone. “I asked him if he would be ok with a PPI, and when he agreed, I had the next problem: who could do an honest inspection for me?”. After some research, a shop in San Jose called Mobile Works West,10 minutes away from where Nguyen lived, was hired for the job. “Turns out the owner of the shop, Tom Amon, is a mobile Porsche mechanic, and so he checked out the car the very next morning. It passed with flying flags with only minor adjustments to be made. And the owner of the car even paid for the inspection.”

Needless to say, Boyko was over the moon.

He called the owner to sign the deal. “He said he’d call me back. Talk about sitting on pins and needles, not knowing what his answer was going to be.” When the call came in the next day, the owner had changed his mind and wanted to keep the car. “I was shocked, but in a way not surprised. I know what it feels like to part with a special car and so, I told him that I understood but to please call me should he ICONIC CONCIERGE

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change his mind.” They talked on the phone several more times, and every time the owner apologized for letting him down.

A couple of months later, Boyko and his wife embarked on a trip to San Francisco, which had been planned long before the 964 came into the picture. Included in the trip’s itinerary was a one night stay in ... San Jose!

“Sometimes things are just meant to be, and so I called Don Nguyen and he immediately invited us for a dinner, after which I even got to drive the 964.” However, the visit would do nothing to change Nguyen’s mind. Or so Boyko thought. Less than a week later, having just returned to Kelowna, Boyko opened his emails to find a oneline message from Don Nguyen, which read, “It’s yours.” The car was in Boyko’s garage just a few weeks later.

“I was over the moon, I knew I had found something really special and I drove it a couple of times before putting it away for the winter.”

Boyko then used the long winter evenings to piece together the history of the car and even managed to find the original owner. “He told me that he had bought it new when he was 55 years old, and that he traded it in for a Porsche Panamera in 2011, which he described as his ‘biggest mistake’, and one that he still regretted.” Boyko sent him a few pictures of the car, but unfortunately the gentleman passed away before the two could meet in person.

Soon after acquiring the 964, a friend of Boyko’s, based in USA, saw pictures of the car and told him of someone who would be very interested in buying it. It transpired to be Porsche factory race team driver Patrick Long, who had a hard time finding the right 964. Boyko had no intention of selling his pride and joy, but in 2015, while attending the Porsche Rennsport Reunion V at Laguna Seca, they crossed paths. Boyko asked if Long had found a 964, to which he replied that he had

but he was still keen to see pictures of Boyko’s 964. “He was very interested and asked me if I would sell it to him but I said ‘Sorry, just got it, not for sale!’ and that is my Patrick Long story.”

Early in David’s ownership of the 964, a friend of his in the U.S. had seen pictures of the car and told him that he knew someone who would be very interested in buying it. It turned out to be Porsche Factory Race Team driver Patrick Long, would had a hard time finding the right 964.

Obviously, the car wasn’t for sale but in 2015, while attending Porsche Rennsport Reunion V at Laguna Seca, David and Patrick Long crossed paths.

David told him that he had heard that Patrick was looking for a 964 and asked if he had found one. He did, but asked David to show him some pictures. “He was very interested and asked me if I would sell it to him. I said “Sorry, just got it, not for sale!” and that is my Patrick Long story.”

2019 was shaping up to be like previous years for Boyko and his 964.

Short back road outings, a few car shows and some basic maintenance.

The demand for mint 964s had grown considerably, and 5-speed C2 Coupes were very desirable and sought after.

Thanks to Porsche specialists ‘Singer’ and their ‘Re-Imagined’ Porsches, the once unloved 964 911 was now a star in the air-cooled Porsche world. One evening, Boyko called a friend in Long Beach, California. “We spent hours on the phone. He knows everyone down there, even drives by Jay Leno’s to talk cars, knows the guys at the Peterson Auto Museum and wants to introduce me to Magnus Walker. No idea why you want to, though,” Boyko laughs.

“But he knows Bruce Meyer really well, the Founding Chairman of the Peterson Museum, and Bruce owns the legendary RUF YELLOWBIRD #001.

Now THAT is someone I am interested to meet!” His friend asked if he could forward Boyko’s phone number as he

Automotive photographer Stephan Bauer so perfectly staged David Boyko’s former Porsche 964 under the shimmering neon lights of L.A. that Porsche decided to offer an exclusive poster set consisting of two motifs.

Dimensions: 70cm x 50cm Available at shop.porsche.com

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had someone who was really interested in the 964, however, he wasn’t expecting what happened next. Within hours, his phone rang, which precipitated two weeks of numerous daily phone calls and emails, during which Boyko found himself repeating that the car was not for sale.

Boyko was, however, reminded of his own journey to find the car, and had always vowed that “if” he would ever sell it, he wanted it to go back to the West Coast. Noah eventually flew up to Kelowna with his wife and after a short 3 hour visit, he drove the 964 1,700 miles to its new home in West Hollywood, accruing more miles in one trip than Boyko had driven in the 6 years that he had owned it.

Now residing in LA, a city with many Porsche enthusiasts, the 964 received a lot of attention. One person who saw the car was renowned automotive photographer, Stephan Bauer, who was intent on taking some night shots of the 964. The pictures that accompany this article are the result of the night they took the car for a tour in and around the city.

But that’s not the end of the story. “I knew the photographer was known and very connected, but that my car would not only get featured on social media and as part of a story about the photographer in a magazine, before then ending up as an official poster, available on the Porsche website, now that is just unbelievable,” David Boyko smiles. “This was meant to be!” And needless to say, David has the prints framed and proudly displayed in his den, along with many other Porsche collectibles.

We have a feeling this is not the end of David Boyko’s love for the famous German auto brand. “What an amazing story, and I could not be happier that it is in good hands. But best of all, I made many new friends and can’t wait to make another trip to California, see the car again and hook up with all the people that this 964 helped connect me to.”

And who knows, maybe David finds another 911 on that trip that makes it into his garage and starts a new story.

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2021 Bentley Continental GT V8 Starting at $254,594.00 2021 Bentley Continental GT W12 Starting at $275,894.00 2022 Bentley Continental GT Speed TBA

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

EXPERIENCING THE BMW PLUG-IN HYBRIDS

It really is a first world problem. You own a supercar but now you need a second car so you can take the dog to the beach, buy more than just one bag of groceries, and take the family on a weekend away. Furthermore, after watching another documentary on Netflix about how we are destroying this planet in record time, you actually feel bad about the gas-guzzling 2-seater in the garage which, let’s be honest here, makes no sense at all. So, now you have another chance to reduce your carbon footprint.

2311 Boundary Rd Vancouver, BC (604) 222-7788 www.BrianJesselBMW.com

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ICONIC CONCIERGE

Clearly, electric is the way to go. Or is it? Do you really want to deal with the issue of having so few charging stations once you get outside the bigger cities?

Possible line-ups and longer charging times? And, if you really want to head out for the great outdoors, there may not even be any chargers available

2021 BMW 330e xDrive Sedan 2.0-litre 4-cylinder 184hp 113 hp electric motor total output: 292 hp | 310 lb-ft of torque 8-Speed Sport Automatic Transmission w. Paddles 0-100 km/h: 5.8 seconds | top speed: 224 km/h Electric range: 58 km

4,717 mm From $58,900

combined fuel consumption: from 1.8 l/100 km combined power consumption: from 16.7 kWh/100 km combined CO2 emissions: from 42 g/km (provisional figures)

2021 BMW X3 xDrive 30e 2.0-litre 4-cylinder 184hp 113 hp electric motor total output: 292 hp | 310 lb-ft of torque 8-Speed Sport Automatic Transmission w. Paddles 0-100 km/h: 6.1 seconds | top speed: 210 km/h Electric range: 55 km

4,722 mm

combined fuel consumption: from 2.1 l/100 km combined power consumption: from 16.4 kWh/100 km combined CO2 emissions: from 49 g/km (provisional figures)

From $62,900

2021 BMW 530e xDrive Sedan 2.0-litre 4-cylinder 184hp 109 hp electric motor total output: 292 hp | 310 lb-ft of torque 8-Speed Sport Automatic Transmission 0-100 km/h: 5.9 seconds | top speed: 235 km/h

4,973 mm From $70,900

at all. The solution might just be the best of both worlds – a hybrid! In an attempt to answer this question and try to find the perfect second car, we decided to test three models from the same manufacturer, all with the very same BMW TwinPower Turbo 4-cylinder engine. The BMW 3 Series sedan, the bigger 5 Series sedan, and the X3 SUV. Here’s how we did this: we started at 8am at the Brian Jessel dealership on Boundary Road, and made a reservation for lunch at Phantom Creek Estate Winery, in Oliver, where we would have to load 12 cases of wine into each car but still have enough room for 2 passengers. On our way we would be switching cars so we could compare them in terms of comfort and handling, and once back in Vancouver we would also be able to calculate which one had the best fuel economy.

combined fuel consumption: from 2.0 l/100 km combined power consumption: from 14.1 kWh/100 km combined CO2 emissions: from 46 g/km (provisional figures)

WHAT IS A “PLUG-IN HYBRID”?

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) combines a combustion engine, an electric engine and a high-voltage battery. The electric technology carries you through urban traffic, for example on your daily commute to work, and when embarking on longer journeys, you have the convenient range of the combustion engine. It really offers the best of two worlds, allowing a reduction in fuel consumption and subsequent CO2 emissions, whilst the interaction between the two systems also offers additional performance and power thanks to the instant torque provided by the battery during acceleration. A plug-in hybrid can be charged from a socket, a wallbox or at a public charging station, and achieves its maximum efficiency with a fully charged battery.

WHAT ADVANTAGES DOES A PLUG-IN HYBRID OFFER? Among the benefits for the driver of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle are an almost silent driving experience in purely electric mode, in addition to the performance and fuel economy enhancements achieved from the electric engine.

In many cases and especially whilst driving in the city, you will

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words, to heat the battery and interior. Or to cool them down in summer. It not only saves you energy for the journey, but means that, with an optimally temperature-conditioned battery, you have an added degree of efficiency from the outset.

DRIVING THE BMW-HYBRIDS There are only a few things that reveal the fact that this is not your typical BMW. First, there is no engine sound when you push the startbutton, because just as with an electric car, the hybrid starts in electric mode. Also, the familiar BMW driving modes have been extended by including a HYBRID ECO PRO driving mode, which serves to optimise the efficiency of drive, comfort, light and air conditioning functions. The Forward View Assistant is a special feature of this mode and shows you situational tips for more efficient driving in the Head-Up Display or the updated BMW Live Cockpit Professional.

Other than that, driving a hybrid is very similar to driving a conventional automatic car, so there’s little compromise on performance. When we left the dealership, the combustion engine kicked-in for the first time when we took the ramp to the highway.

From then on, driving constant speeds of around 100 km/h, it would take over for the majority of the remaining distance. It was actually a very interesting experience, and learning how to drive in a more fuel efficient manner and how to charge the batteries while driving was fun. BMW offers several screens on both the interactive LCD cockpit and the centre screen that illustrate the live performance and how the systems interact with each other. Hitting the brakes – you will harvest energy that is stored in the batteries, and then, when exceeding certain speeds, the fuel consumption visibly goes up. And as we decided to stay close together, all cars starting with a full tank and fully charged, it was easy for us to compare the data when we stopped for breakfast, at the winery and yes, when filling up the cars.

manage to cover the majority of your routes electrically, resulting in significant savings compared with a combustion engine. Then, if the battery charge or capacity is insufficient, or if you decide to take the highway for long distances or excursions with the family, the combustion engine is automatically activated to meet the need.

THE PERFORMANCE OF A HIGH-VOLTAGE BATTERY Yes, temperature affects the performance and capacity of the battery. This is why it is important, especially in winter, to “precondition” the car during charging operation – in other

SO WHICH CAR WON? Well, if when judged solely on our initial quest to find the car that was able to fit the most cases of wine, it would be the X3. Although the trunks of all three cars are smaller compared to their combustionengine siblings due to the extra space taken up by the batteries, the X3 managed to hold 9 cases, whilst both the 3 and the 5 Series would only accommodate 5. So, if you really wanted to transport 12 cases, and have room for the extra passenger in the rear, the X3 is your car. In terms of fuel efficiency, the 3 Series expectedly beat the bigger and heavier 5 Series and X3, but not by a lot. And, as for which car we enjoyed the most, the unanimous vote was for the 5 Series with its more luxurious cabin and finish. At the end of the day, it really all depends on what you are looking for, and if neither of these three models suits your needs, BMW offers a full range of plug-in hybrid models, all the way up to the luxurious 7 Series sedan.

To test-drive a plug-in hybrid, just call (604) 222-7788 and book an appointment at Brian Jessel BMW.

PHANTOM CREEK ESTATES Sitting on the sunbathed Black Sage Bench near Oliver, BC, overlooking the valley down to Lake Osoyoos, Phantom Creek Estates is the South Okanagan’s newest & most anticipated winery. From the start, the winery has been guided by the long-term vision of building one of the leading family-owner wineries in Canada. Phantom Creek produces wines that celebrate and speak to where they are grown. All of the Estate vineyards are certified organic and in the process of biodynamic certification and

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the wines are crafted by an influential international winemaking team – Olivier Humbrecht MW, Philippe Melka and Mark Beringer.

Make sure to visit this exceptional winery with its multi-level hospitality centre, the new indoor and outdoor restaurant and the 500-seat amphitheatre, on your next visit to the area. www.phantomcreekestates.com

EXPAND YOUR

ENTOURAGE 2021 CADILLAC ESCALADE PREMIUM LUXURY PLATINUM

Gaz-guzzler? Well, the Escalade is a big car, and a 6.2L V8 doesn’t really cry ‘economic.’ However, we were pleasantly surprised to see an average fuel consumption of 13L/100km on our 800km test-drive (70% highway/30% city).

A LEGEND REIMAGINED IN ANTICIPATION OF YOUR ARRIVAL, the new 2021 Escalade greets you with a dramatic light show. The front Daytime Running Lamps pulse twice, the rear LED Light Blades illuminate from bottom to top twice, the door handles show a thin LED stripe and the puddle lamp with the Cadillac Crest appears and ensures that your shoes and clothes stay clean.

Inside the cabin, the Cadillac Crest illuminates on the back of the huge 96.6cm (38”) Curved OLED Display.

Before we open the doors, let’s have another look at this reimagined icon, available in five distinct trims. Our Escalade is the fully-loaded top-of-the-line Premium Luxury Platinum, priced at CAD124,000. The first impression - yes, it is big. In fact, it is bigger than ever. And should you opt for the 5,76m long ESV (ours is not), you will get an extra 20.3cm, resulting in additional room for the third-row and the cargo area, which now has a segment-leading max of 4,044L. The front makes another bold statement with a massive grille and thin, stylish headlamps with an etched Cadillac logo. The rear is equally dramatic with massive 3-foot full LED taillights that have the Cadillac Crest moulded into the Light Blade.

Step inside and take a seat. The industry’s first curved OLED display with twice the pixel density of a 4K TV wraps around you. Even the rear mirror is a screen and, combined with the HD Surround Vision, is very helpful when parking the car.

The heated and ventilated seats have massage settings, and if you want the most amazing sound, opt for the AKG Sound System with 36 speakers throughout the cabin. Even your headrest has built-in speakers, and an intercom system with front and rear microphones makes sure that you can have a normal conversation even with third-row passengers.

The 2021 Escalade features augmented reality-enabled navigation, an optional night vision system and you can even decide to have Super Cruise, the first true hands-free driving-assistance feature for divided and compatible highways. You will also find several intuitive driver assistance systems, including Front Pedestrian Braking, Rear Cross Trafic Alert and Automatic Emergency Braking.

The Escalade comes as standard with a 6.2-L V8 with 420 hp and 460 lb-ft and varies the number of cylinders from two-cylinder operation to the maximum power of all eight cylinders. A 3.0 L Turbo Diesel is available as well.

If you want to find out more, explore the 2021 Cadillac Escalade with Cadillac LIVE, a real-time, interactive virtual showroom tailored around you and the car. A LIVE ambassador will help you answer any questions you may have. Just scan the QR-code.

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APOCALYPSE N NO

THE 6X6 HELLFIRE

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Should you be looking for the perfect vehicle in which to survive the apocalypse, look no further! Just check out the namesake Ft. Lauderdale, Florida-based Apocalypse Manufacturing’s newest creation, HellFire. The most aggressive piece the company has built to date, the HellFire is a highly modified, six-wheeled and lifted Jeep Gladiator that sits on an entirely new chassis. It comes with either a 500 HP 6.2L Chevy LS3 V-8 engine, mated to a high-performance eight-speed automatic transmission from a RAM 3500 heavy-duty truck, or a 707 HP 6.2L V8 Hellcat engine. You want a twin-turbo diesel? Not a problem, the base model comes with a 3.0L diesel with 460 FT LBS of torque. And instead of a free-spinning extra axle, the HellFire has a fully functional and selectable 4 or 6 wheel drive-mode with a 1:1 power transfer ratio.

Each Apocalypse is fitted with a 9,500 lbs winch, quarter-inch-thick full steel windshield armour, power side steps, removable roof and doors, full-time rearview camera/mirror display, LED headlights, and a custom marine-grade hand-stitched leather interior. You can upgrade to 40-inch tires, a thermal night vision system to spot those zombies, and pretty much anything else you may find necessary for your survival. The vehicles exterior is fully protected by a three-part Kevlar coating.

The company has built over 70 Apocalypse 6x6 trucks, and is currently putting the finishing touches on a few beasts that will soon hit the sand dunes of Dubai. The price for your Apocalyptic survival toy will start at US$150k for the Turbo Diesel, US$175k for the Corvette LS3 option, and handing over at least US$195,000 will put you behind the steering wheel of the Hellcat-fired version. www.Apocalypse6x6.com

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INTERIOR

TRENDZ 1 BRING YOUR RIDE TO THE NEXT LEVEL CUSTOM-MADE FLOOR MATS

Make your interior stand-out with a set of bespoke floor mats. We can match it to your interior, add logos, text, even your signature! The sky is the limit!

2

AMBIENT LIGHTING We can either update or add to your exisiting factory interior lighting, or create a whole new ambient lighting experience. Enhance the cabin design, illuminate the door or dash trim, cupholders or speaker surrounds. Tailored to your needs!

3 BESPOKE UPHOLSTERY Your seats are worn or look dated?

Not a problem, we can help. Let us design the perfect style for your car, in leather or Alcantara, with contrast stitching, embroidery or embissing. We can even do your steering wheel!

FIBER OPTIC STAR CEILING

4

We have installed numerous unique star ceilings with up to 1,500 individual stars. We can even create your favourite constellations, or logos! They twinkle, can change colour and can be dimmed or turned off for a factory look.

5 CUSTOM AUDIO SYSTEMS Your car-stereo lacks in sound quality? Not a problem! We have the solution, from simply updating the factory speakers to a complete bespoke sound-system with custom installation solutions, light effects and more!

AUDIO

SECURITY

RADAR

UPHOLSTERY

A BESPOKE TAILORED EXPERIENCE PREFERRED SHOP FOR AREA27

Inc Ridez 13395 76 Ave Surrey, BC 604.593.0363 www.incridez.ca info@incridez.com

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE ELECTRIC WORLD

ON THE COVER

AIRSPEEDER AND EXA RACING Please meet ... the Alauda Airspeeder Mk3, an aircraft developed by and with the help of a world-class team of technical experts, engineers and designers from F1, performance automotive and civil and military aviation backgrounds. It draws its design inspiration from the classic forms of racing cars from the 1950s and 60s and is the world’s first flying electric racing car.

At maximum power the craft delivers 320kW, equalling an Audi SQ7 performance SUV. The Audi weighs 2,500kg while an Airspeeder racing craft (without pilot) weighs just 130kg. It can lift a weight of more than 80kg, proving the viability of the powertrain for piloted races. Acceleration from 0-62mph takes 2.8 seconds and the Speeder can climb to 500 meters. It can turn with extraordinary speed when compared to a traditional fixed-wing aircraft or helicopter. The Mk3 vehicle has a thrust-to-weight ratio of 3.5, which exceeds that of an F-15E Strike Eagle (thrust-to-weight ratio of 1.2), one of the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world. The rapid hairpin turning potential has been compared to that of a Formula 1 car, generating up to 5Gs, with the added capability to manoeuvre vertically.

EXA is Airspeeder’s first racing series. Up to four teams with two pilots per team will compete in three individual events across the globe through 2021.

The pilots are drawn from aviation, motorsport and eSports backgrounds and will remotely control their Speeders from a simulator environment that mimics the dynamics and ergonomics of the Mk3 cockpit environment. The courses are electronically governed, Augmented Reality enabled sky-tracks.

The first human piloted races have been scheduled for 2022.

www.airspeeder.com www.exaseries.com

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REGENT SEAGLIDER This new electric aircraft will be a faster way to commute between cities and coastal communities. It takes off and lands on water like a float plane, but then glides just above the surface at speeds of up to 290 km/h and boasts a range of up to 290km. Once the Seaglider has landed, it switches to a foiling boat, operating at speeds of up to 70 km/h.

“The efficiency of coastal transportation will be a hundred times greater with Regent,” according to Mark Cuban, the investor and owner of the Dallas Mavericks. Cuban is part of the Founder Fund, a group of companies and investors that led Regent’s latest financing round. Regent, which has received almost $500 million in provisional orders from ferry companies and commercial airlines, says the Seaglider will require half the operating costs of a traditional aircraft, and with much less noise and zero emissions. www.regentcraft.com

E1 RACEBIRD POWERBOAT RACING Meet the RaceBird! The 7m long RaceBird is specially designed for foil-to-foil racing and is capable of reaching speeds of up to 50 knots (93 km/h or 58 mph), with pilots showcasing their skills using tight and technical circuits located close to shore in the heart of urban areas. Inspired by nature and birds hovering above the water, it features an outboard motor, enclosed safety canopy, and hydrofoil technology for minimum drag and maximum energy efficiency.

Being lifted above the surface will not only improve performance, but also promote close and competitive racing with a reduced wake when following an opponent.

Learn more about E1 at www.E1Series.com

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FLITEBOARD ELECTRIC SURFBOARD This must be the coolest outdoor fun toy for the summer! An electricpowered hydrofoil, an electric surfboard that raises you up out of the water and gives the illusion of flying, its new Series 2 model reaches a top speed of almost 55 km/h, while being emission- and noise-free.

With a powerful marine battery, the Fliteboard can last for two hours on the water and has a maximum range of 50 km (based on a 80kg rider). If you want to carve through the water this summer, visit their website and have USD18,000 ready to leave your bank account. www.fliteboard.com

CITROEN AMI No, this isn’t a car! Yes, it has four wheels and a steering wheel, but the Citroën Ami is actually designated as a quadricycle, dodging a whole host of regulations needed to be classed as a car. The tiny car quadricycle is only 2.41 metres long and its 5.5-kWh lithium-ion battery charges in three hours on a 240volt charger. According to Citroën “it has a heater, and two people can travel side by side comfortably.” The Ami can travel at speeds of up to 45 km/h; and has a range of about 70 kilometres. And whilst it seems the US may get it, there is as yet no word of its arrival in Canada.

SUPER AIR NAUTIQUE GS22E A first of its kind, the Super Air Nautique GS22E is an electric towboat for the ultimate on-water experience. In collaboration with sister company Ingenity Electric, Nautique created a boat that delivers optimal performance for watersports activities in an eco-friendly package. Built onto the already popular Super Air Nautique GS22 platform, this new GS22E offers multiple seat configurations for up to 11 guests and plenty of storage space. A single charge of the 124 kWh battery will deliver 2-3 hours of watersport fun.

From USD292,000. www.nautique.com

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RIMAC NEVERA What a success story. It was 2009 when a young Croatian man by the name of Mate Rimac started his own company, developing electric drivetrains and battery systems. The company’s first car, the Concept One, was the world’s fastest production vehicle and in March 2018, Rimac unveiled its second model, the C_ Two. The same year, Volkswagen group subsidiary Porsche Engineering Group GmbH acquired a stake in Rimac to form a development partnership, alongside other owners including Hyundai Motor Group and Camel Group. Today, Rimac has 850 employees, produces KERS hybrid battery systems for Aston Martin’s new sports car, the Valkyrie and for Koenigsegg’s Regera. Meanwhile, the Automobili Pininfarina Battista is said to be based on the same architecture as the C_Two and uses a Rimac powertrain. Recently, Rimac announced a 55% acquisition of Bugatti (see below).

The Nevera The successor to the Concept One, the Nevera, is the production version of the C_Two. After three years of development, the car has an entirely new design with butterfly doors and four updated electric motors giving it a combined 1888 bhp and 1741 lb ft. The carbon fibre body construction results in a total weight of 1,950 kg (4,300 lb), including the battery packs. The Nevera claims to be able to accelerate from 0–97 km/h (60 mph) in 1.85 seconds and achieve a top speed of 415 km/h (258 mph).

“We have now unveiled a car that pushes the hypercar market to a higher level,” says Mate Rimac, who will test and sign off each one of the 150 Neveras that will be built at a starting price of around USD2.4 million. www.rimac-automobili.com

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Electric Bugatti Chiron?

The next chapter: Rimac and Bugatti are combining forces to form a new company, Bugatti Rimac. Both will continue to operate as separate brands, retaining their existing factories and distribution networks, however, they will be combining resources and expertise. Mate Rimac has confirmed that the combustion engine will live on in an all-new Bugatti model that we’ll see before the end of the decade. It will be “heavily hybridised and be sold alongside a second Bugatti model line that will be fully electric.”

THE VOLOCOPTER It is done! German aviation start-up Volocopter (Daimler AG/ Mercedes-Benz is a main investor) will launch its first air taxi services in Singapore, following two years of “close collaboration” with the city and a successful test flight. The emission-free aircraft takes off and lands vertically. Each autonomous electric drone can carry up to two passengers. In partnership with the Economic Development Board of Singapore (EDB) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), the start-up plans to launch air taxi services in the Southeast Asian city-state within the next three years. www.volocopter.com

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QUINTESSENTIAL [adjective; “representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class”]

2021 PORSCHE TAYCAN CROSS TURISMO

THE ALL-ROUNDER AMONG ELECTRIC SPORTS CARS In 2019, Porsche sent out a key signal with the debut of their first all-electric sports car, the Taycan sports sedan. Now, two years later, the manufacturer is expanding the product portfolio with the addition of the versatile Taycan Cross Turismo version, thereby continuing to be pioneers of sustainable mobility. One in three of all vehicles Porsche delivered in Europe in 2020 had an electric powertrain, and by 2025, half of all the new vehicles leaving their plants will have an electrified drive – either fully electric or plug-in hybrid.

Like the Taycan sports saloon, the Taycan Cross Turismo benefits from an innovative electric drive with 800-volt architecture. The new high-tech chassis with all-wheel drive and adaptive air suspension also ensures uncompromising dynamics off-road. With 47 millimetres more headroom for rear-seat passengers and up to 1,212 litres of load capacity, loaded via a large tailgate at the rear, the Cross Turismo is a true all-rounder.

Four derivatives of the Taycan Cross Turismo are available immediately from launch. The Performance Battery Plus with a total capacity of 93.4 kWh is always fitted as standard. The model range comprises the following: The Taycan 4 Cross Turismo with 280 kW (380 PS), overboost power for Launch Control 350 kW (476 PS), acceleration 0-100 km/h in 5.1 seconds, top speed 220 km/h, power consumption (WLTP, combined) 26.4 – 22.4 kWh/100 km, range (WLTP) 389 – 456 km. MSRP $119,900.

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The Taycan 4S Cross Turismo with 360 kW (490 PS), overboost power for Launch Control 420 kW (571 PS), acceleration 0-100 km/h in 4.1 seconds, top speed 240 km/h, power consumption (WLTP, combined) 26.4 – 22.6 kWh/100 km, range (WLTP) 388 – 452 km. MSRP128,000.

The Taycan Turbo Cross Turismo with 460 kW (625 PS), overboost power for Launch Control 500 kW (680 PS), acceleration 0-100 km/h in 3.3 seconds, top speed 250 km/h, power consumption (WLTP, combined) 25.9 – 22.6 kWh/100 km, range (WLTP) 395 – 452 km. MSRP $178,000.

The Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo with 460 kW (625 PS), overboost power for Launch Control 560 kW (761 PS), acceleration 0-100 km/h in 2.9 seconds, top speed 250 km/h, power consumption (WLTP, combined) 26.4 – 24.4 kWh/100 km, range (WLTP) 388 – 419 km. MSRP $218,000.

The high-tech chassis with all-wheel drive and adaptive air suspension comes as standard on all four models. The optional Off-Road Design package increases ground clearance by up to 30 mm. This means that the Cross Turismo can also be driven on mixed surfaces and uneven tracks. The standard Gravel Mode improves suitability for driving on rough roads.

For further information, please contact: PORSCHE CENTRE VANCOUVER | 688 TERMINAL AVE | 604.736.7911

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PORSCHE EBIKE “The wheel. Reinterpreted.” At least that’s what Porsche say about their new Porsche eBikes Sport and Cross, designed by Studio F. A. Porsche and developed in cooperation with the German premium eBike manufacturer ROTWILD. It “expands the Porsche e-mobility concept, which began with the Taycan.” The Porsche eBike Sport is designed as a companion for the adventures of everyday life – through cities, in the countryside, for business and pleasure. It has a full-suspension carbon frame, electronic SHIMANO 11-speed gear shift and a powerful SHIMANO motor with assisted pedalling speeds of up to 25km/h. C$14,872. The eBike Cross has a hydraulically adjustable seat post, perfectly equilibrated mountain bike tyres, mechanical SHIMANO gear shift and a MAGURA brake system.

C$11,825.

Porsche Centre Vancouver | 688 Terminal Ave | (604) 736-7911

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SONDORS EV

DAYMAK SPIRITUS

The Sondors EV has been in development for a while, and it has been rather quiet lately when it comes to updates, but the company says that the stylish front wheel drive three wheeler is going through its pre-series phase now. It offers two front and one back seat, a 480 km range and a 0-100 km/h acceleration in just over five seconds. There is no confirmed date for a first delivery. www.sondorselectriccarcompany.com

Canada, the land of three-wheel electric vehicles. After Vancouver-based ElectraMeccanica, the Spiritus by Torontobased Daymak Inc. is a 2-seater that comes packed with features, from solar panels to a regeneration system, and Daymak’s own patent pending wireless charger. The Spiritus comes in a Deluxe version (from US$19,995) with a range of 300 km and an Ultimate version (from US$149,000) with a range of 480 km and acceleration to 100 km/h in 2 seconds. www.daymak.com

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SONDORS X METACYCLE “The future of riding in its purest form” is what Sondors is promosing riding their electric motorcycle will feel like. The unique bike features a cast “exo-frame” with a sleek, narrow profile, and a battery that consists of just over 4000 Wh of EV cells for a greater life-span and more continuous power. A compact charger (8 x 4 x 3 inches, 7 lbs) comes with the Metacycle, and at up to 15A/1.2 KW, it will allow a complete charge from a standard home outlet in 3 hours and 45 minutes, with a typical charge to 80% in around 2 hours. Top speed is 125 km/h. The range is up to128 km. Delivery is expected by the first quarter of 2022. US$5,000. www.sondorsx.com

VERGE TS

KYMCO REVO NEX

It started out as a protoype by Finnish company Verge Motorcycles in 2018 and is now in its final iteration with its motor hidden in the rim of the hubless rear wheel. Rated for 80kW (107hp), the motor delivers a breathtaking 1000Nm (735 lb-ft) of torque which helps the bike achieve a 0-100 km/h in under four seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 180 km/h. The US$26,950 TS is currently available for pre-order. www.vergemotorcycles.com

Produced in Italy, the RevoNEX is Taiwanese Kymco’s first production electric motorcycle. The six-speed street bike will accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, 100-200 km/h in 8.7 seconds. It will hit its top speed of 204 km/h in 11.8 seconds. The RevoNex comes with Metzeler Racetec RR tires, Brembo brakes, and an Öhlins suspension.

Price and delivery dates: tbd www.kymco.com

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THE SHOW WILL GO ON! HOW EVENTS ARE EMERGING FROM THE HIATUS IC: In fifteen words or less, who are you and what do you do?

RC: Destination Vancouver CEO. A collaborator thriving on solving business problems to create growth and transformation.

partnerships to increase our competitiveness and secondly, we market and promote the destination, creating reasons to visit and stay longer. Both development and promotion efforts are aimed at growing Vancouver’s visitor economy responsibly and sustainably employing a people, planet and profit approach.

Whilst I was trying to figure out my next move, I was fortunate to meet someone who worked at the Canadian Tourism Commission based here in Vancouver.

They were looking for a Brand Manager on a three-month contract and the rest, as they say, is history. I really found my purpose within the tourism industry.

The strategy and key outcomes determine which partners we work with and how we work with them; tourism is an ecosystem comprised of industries and stakeholders. The City of Vancouver is an incredibly important partner and stakeholder when it comes to events, for example. It’s critical we work closely together to inform and advocate on new tourism events, like Formula E, at the same time as supporting the rebuild of our outstanding global event reputation. That’s an example of development.

IC: You started in your role one week before the pandemic shut the country down. Do you see this a curse or a blessing in disguise?

ROYCE CHWIN | CEO DESTINATION VANCOUVER IC: For those that aren’t aware, what role does Destination Vancouver play in supporting events in the city and what are its relationships with the City of Vancouver, the other regional tourism organisations in the province and the provincial tourism corporation, Destination BC? RC: We’ve become a “destination management organisation”, which means we approach what we do in two core strategic ways. Firstly, we develop experiences or

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As it relates to attracting conferences or leisure travel, we partner with the province (Destination BC), the country (Destination Canada), national airlines, private businesses, hotels, and attractions etc. to promote our city, which in turn creates and drives demand.

IC: Where are you from and how did you get involved in the tourism and marketing industries?

RC: I’m originally from Vancouver. Ironically, I applied for a job in tourism when I was in my early twenties but wasn’t hired.

So, I took a different path within retail, hospitality, operations and marketing, and joined an angel funded start-up created by two university grads. However, the venture never turned out as expected.

RC: I choose to see this opportunity as a blessing. As I mentioned earlier, I like solving business problems, to create growth and transformation and the pandemic created numerous opportunities to do both. The timing couldn’t have been better to re-think the role of tourism in this city and the larger role it can play in managing and attracting business.

At the same time, that’s part of the challenge. We’re coming off the heels of five consecutive years of industry growth – things were going great. But, as for so many people and companies, the pandemic forced us to stop, reflect and reconsider our core purpose. COVID 19 stopped our industry in its tracks and reinforced its importance to the economy and to people’s lives. The journey ahead to rebuild our sector will tough, yet exciting!

by Dr. Oliver Finlay I don’t consider tourism to be the end goal but rather I like to ask what the industry can do to support multiple sectors. I see tourism as a social and economic catalyst of transformation in that it sets us up to bring the right players to the table, to provoke bold conversations, which continue the transformation of Vancouver for future generations.

IC: What do you see the challenges and opportunities that face Vancouver as we emerge from the restrictions of the pandemic?

The Deighton Cup

RC: It took our industry to virtually disappear in order to finally become visible. Our biggest challenge is to rebuild the sector in stronger, more sustainable ways.

In 2019, tourism was worth $14B, attracting 11 million visitors and yet, today, we are still recovering from the impact of the pandemic and subsequent losses which rocked us in 2020. We estimate that $9.8B was lost to our visitor economy, reducing the GDP by $5.8B and with 70,000 FTE jobs lost, $4B was lost in income, which had the knock-on effect of reducing tax contributions by $2.6B at all three levels of government. This is the direct impact.

The indirect impacts also affected the service industries, food producers and all the stakeholders that support our industry. It’s a massive ripple effect.

The challenge ahead is the transition from a pandemic to a manageable epidemic, which means rebuilding consumer confidence in travel and tourism. We must also ensure that once again, our local residents, and communities feel confident of being this great city’s #1 advocates and inviting their friends or family for a visit. We must also get our global student population back in school, living in, learning in and experiencing this great city, so that hopefully they become the next wave of advocates.

Our conference and business travel contributions are substantial - $2.6B annually. A great experience for conference attendees builds advocacy and a positive reputation, which serves to create a pipeline of business for years to come.

Ultimately, I’m optimistic we are about to round this next critical corner. Vancouver has a fantastic tourism industry, with really incredible and passionate partners.

But it does start at the local level by getting residents to begin visiting their own backyards, and shopping local. As restrictions ease, we must get Canadians travelling again and, ideally before the summer ends, our Canada/US border opens, along with international travel.

airport which permits global connectivity, several excellent, drivable ski resorts, a burgeoning wine region, a beautiful coastline and nature, actually draws people away from our incredible city. In addition, we have capacity constraints when trying to attract visitors and we’re net negative for hotel room inventory over the last few years even though visitation and demand has been growing. We need to responsibly reverse that trend.

Whilst events, conferences, business meetings and leisure visitors all compete for space, Vancouver is built on a very defined and finite multi-use footprint. Therefore, all season space is at a premium and the city must balance the competing and connected interests of its residents and businesses. We’ll always have this tension to work through as we invest and build a vibrant, world class destination.

IC: How are your working to remove some of those obstacles and how do you aim to support those in the events industry who have often found it far easier to plan, permit and execute projects in other cities, such as Toronto, than at home in Vancouver?

IC: Historically, what do you perceive as the biggest obstacles that events have had to overcome in order to achieve sustained success in Vancouver?

RC: With a mandate to develop and promote our destination, we’ve never been set up better to support our event and festival producers. As such, we’re creating a new business unit within Destination Vancouver specifically designed to partner with event and festival producers, the City of Vancouver and other community and industry partners. By creating a common, more integrated thread of collaboration, we feel we could collectively navigate many of the issues that dogged the creation and sustainability of events in the past.

RC: Let’s face it, we’ve got a world class

IC: What are some of the key criteria

Fortunately, Vancouver is in a strong position to rebuild its visitor economy, thanks to its global reputation, world class airport and convention facilities, and a downtown core that is starting to regain its vibrancy.

you are looking for when seeking to attract new events to the city?

RC: First and foremost, events are about improving the quality of life for residents and communities. We can’t forget that every time we host an event, we’re in someone’s community. We must ask whether these events support Vancouver’s destination brand as a welcoming, vibrant, progressive destination. Transactionally, are these events supporting local business?

Beyond that, every event has its unique proposition, which we must work out how to support and promote. An event can be a strong representation of our community values, and that creates a powerful narrative about our destination which attracts an engaged audience.

IC: If there were no limits to possibility and no restrictions, what one event would you most like to help bring to Vancouver?

RC: Great question, although I’m not sure that it’s about one event. Success for me would be a pipeline of events that are planned and ready to go, which help grow and sustain the tourism industry - events that are transformative, presenting themes and experiences that are recognized best in class globally.

I’d really like to see how we could build on the momentum that Destination Vancouver created by hosting a monthly call with 70+ of the city’s event and festival producers.

We’ve never had them connect in this way before, sharing experience, wisdom and ideas. I have so much appreciation and respect for the work that our event and festival producers do. How could we build off and enable this powerful, newfound network to animate our city, over 52 weeks of the year? What kinds of new and interesting partnerships could be forged, that

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foster the creation of events and festivals that become attractive locally, regionally, and internationally? That kind of collaboration builds destination competitiveness that would result, if done right, in an everimproving quality of life for residents and transformative experiences for visitors.

IC: Over the next five years, what would success in your role look like to you?

RC: Success would be a “Team Vancouver” approach to rebuilding our visitor economy and the triple bottom line benefits that will be generated by those efforts: people, planet and profit. I’d love to see Vancouver continually recognised as one of the top global destinations thanks to that balanced approach allied to its holistic and progressive philosophy that honours its community, visitors and environment.

IC: What do you enjoy most about your work?

RC: I like solving problems and bringing the right people to the table to confront the challenge. It’s not about ego but about a common goal. In a business mindset, collaboration to me is about creating competitive advantage. As I often say, we’re in the people business, but what we do is tourism. I love the power of tourism and, when managed responsibly, how it can transform people and destinations. The responsibility to promote your hometown is a real honour.

IC: What 3 words would your closest friends use to describe you?

RC: Humorous, focused, thoughtful.

IC: Thank you Royce! We are looking forward to crossing paths over the coming weeks and months, and we look forward to seeing some great events come to life in the city.

RC: Thank you for your interest in profiling this great industry, and important sector to our economy. I look forward to crossing paths with you at a future event!

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

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RC: One of the things I have absolute control over is mindset. There’s an excellent book by Dr. Carol Dweck who explores the power of mindset. It really resonated with me. How we frame our challenges is 9/10ths the battle and it’s the same mindset that I apply when looking at the rebuild of our tourism industry.

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?

RC: I’ve often thought this: I’d continue to work for at least one more year and donate my pay to charities of our choice.

We’d also help out family, celebrate with friends, and invest. Oh, and buy a Porsche.

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?

RC: Robert Davidson (an indigenous artist for whom my mum worked for a while), Winston Churchill (who personified leadership under great pressure), Steven Wright (delivery and smart humour), Emily Carr (a BC pioneer), and Jacinda Ardern (New Zealand’s Prime Minister, who’s getting it done). Oh, and, of course, my wife! Our table fits six….

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

RC: My first was a 1973 Dodge Dart, 4-door with a slant 6, bias ply tires and black vinyl bench seats. Cream in colour, we called it the “Creampuff”. It was a fun car! Now we have an Audi Q5.

I love cars, so this last part is tough. I’ll frame it this way. Our family owns a 1964 Chevelle Malibu Super Sport convertible.

We’re the second owner as of January of 1965, when my dad bought it from a guy he worked with. I grew up with this car and it holds lots of memories; I love it! The other car, would be a Porsche, as I’ve been a fan of the 911 for as long as I can remember…although practically, it would have to be a Volcano Grey Macan GTS. IC: What one piece of advice would you give to your 16-year old self?

RC: Ok… let’s go!

RC: Focus on a positive mindset.

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

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

ICONIC CONCIERGE

RC: Robert Downey Jr. IC: Where is your favourite travel destination and why?

RC: That’s really tough to answer, although we love to travel in Canada. I once had a wild polar bear encounter in Churchill, Manitoba…he was no more than a foot from my face, separated by safety bars and glass, we had eye to eye contact. My wife and I spent 3 days aboard the Canadian Navy frigate, HMCS Vancouver, sailing with the Canadian Navy from San Francisco to Esquimalt and it was one of the highlight trips of our life – incredible! We were invited to be part of the CLaS (Canadian Leaders at Sea) program, and given our deep respect for those that serve, it was an honour getting to know our sailors in their real working environment. All of that to say, my wife and I are drawn in not by traveling per se, but by the life experience that travel brings, through connecting with locals, the history and real experiences.

It’s those opportunities that draw us to the destinations we’ve been to around the world, influencing and shaping our views and values.

IC: Tell me your favourite joke…

RC: When going out for dinner and the server is pouring a glass of wine I’ll often say with a very straight face “oh, just to the top please”. That often gets a quizzical look and then some laughs.

IC: Where is your favourite Vancouver restaurant?

RC: Naming one would get me in trouble for sure! Vancouver is one huge restaurant and that’s one of the things I love about being downtown. I love the diversity of cuisine and the talented makers who bring our food and beverage scene to life – brilliant!

IC: Complete the sentence: “Vancouver is a great place to host an international event because…”

RC: …it’s a city like no other, created with an innovative spirit, set in natural beauty and one of the most cohesive and supportive hospitality networks in the world; a place to transform your idea into reality.

IC: Thank you Royce! It has been really enlightening to learn more about your work and we are excited to see what the new chapter for Destination Vancouver means for the events industry in Vancouver.

ences for how we organize ourselves to solve problems. In the past, we preferred strong leaders and structured hierarchies.

Today, the biggest problems attract large communities, decentralized and flat power structures, and fluid teams. Not only are we more community-driven as an industry, but we demand more from how those communities look and operate. We desire diversity, strive for inclusion and welcome togetherness in solving the big problems.

ICONIC CONCIERGE spoke to Jordan Kallman, co-founder of The Social Concierge, and asked for the industry insider’s perspective on our collective emergence from social isolation and what challenges and opportunities lie ahead for the live events market.

JK: For anyone in an experience-driven industry, be it tourism, gatherings or live events, there has never been a more novel moment in time than the pandemic. We have spent nearly two years “socially underground” and the bunker doors are opening. We are not only emerging, ready to charge into the social jungle, but we enter a world undergoing three major underlying changes. The first, is the collapse of status quo thinking and legacy ways of doing things. You can see this materializing in many examples; the redesign of our stalled social circles, our quick embrace of remote working, the change in how advertising media works, and even the extended duration of our travels. The second, and likely most impactful, is that the live events industry is undergoing a complete digital transformation to the same degree that publishing, music, and television have before it. I have been saying that the live experience economy had its “Napster moment”. And three, we are collectively changing our prefer-

Why am I excited? Because we have a social jubilee coming in strong, and the experience economy’s sails are full of transformational wind. There has never been a moment quite like this.

Economically speaking, there is no doubt the events industry will take a few years to transition back to pre-pandemic highs. And in fact, certain segments of the live events and tourism markets may never fully recover. Habits have changed, and the impacts of a climate crisis are bearing down on us. Is it ethical to fly across the globe for a conference, meeting or festival when you can get the information you need virtually?

We have yet to see how a question like this represents the habitual changes we may make as a collective society. The exciting news is that no matter what, our innate social needs will drive us to find the experiential outlets that make us whole. And the digital transformation of live experiences is not zero-sum. In fact, it is infinitely additive. And we will have an ever-expanding plate of options to fill our social appetites. Unfortunately, this will likely result in an overall, slower economic recovery and a stagnation of certain niche segments of the industry.

It will also mean the hyper growth of others.

towards the nearest and most frequent social experiences. The other half are taking it a lot more slowly. Ultimately, it will take time to shake the comforts of the pandemic and the social anxieties of returning to full swing social lives. If you are producing events for younger people, you likely won’t see much pushback.

If you are bringing older generations together, expect resistance. But how long will the honeymoon be, and what happens after? Big questions. I have very few answers.

Unfortunately, the reopening of our region came too late to save our summer season of large-scale festivals. Instead, at Social Concierge, we are focused on a range of boutique experiences that bring our closest circles together in extraordinary, intimate settings. Plus, there is so much opportunity at the intersection of community-building, technology and experiences. In this vein, we have a few new ideas that will soon transition to experiments. As always, our circles can expect some level of innovation in our next set of projects. And of course, summer 2022 will be packed with the big hit events we are known for!

The Deighton Cup The Deighton Cup

The events industry will have to wait and see whether consumers, attendees, guests and participants are going to flock back immediately. Early signs are really positive. Half of us are in a full sprint

JORDAN KALLMAN Diner En Blanc ICONIC CONCIERGE

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OVER TO YOU, VANCOUVER!

WHY WE NEED NEW YORK’S WATER-FILTERING FLOATING POOL CONCEPT

Yes, that is just a rendering and yes, the real pool doesn’t exist - yet. But just a few weeks ago, this futuristic floating swimming pool called “+POOL” has been given an official location.

Approved by the city of New York, it will drop anchor on the Lower East Side waterfront just north of the Manhattan Bridge. Completion is expected within two years.

Long in the planning and initially launched as a Kickstarter campaign, the cross-shaped swimming area is not only designed to let people swim in the middle of the East River, it will also provide guests with over 1,000,000 gallons of clean filtered water daily.

Floating pools have been built before, but none of them actually uses the water that surrounds them. Rivers are often simply too dirty, making them potentially hazardous for swimmers. The solution sounds simple: Why not clean the water

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with a filtration system before it goes into the pool? Which is exactly what +POOL will do.

The non-profit organization’s engineers have used software developed by the USA’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create a membrane filtration systems that will be able to treat 285,500 gallons of saltwater. The water will attain swimmable standards while cleaning more than 1,000,000 gallons daily, providing a public, recreational space for New Yorkers to enjoy.

All that is missing to give New York this unusual landmark, is funding. The organization estimates that up to US$25 million will be needed to build the pool, and has started to raise both private and public capital to make the project a reality. Several other cities have already signalled interest in the concept, and we think that +POOL would be a great solution for the ‘dead end’ of

False Creek in front of Science World.

The levels of pollution are high in those waters and above what is deemed safe for swimmers. Spring runoff and waste pumped out by boaters who anchor in False Creek have spiked contamination levels in recent years, and although the city has implemented enforcements, we doubt that we will see people swim in False Creek in the foreseeable future.

“We actually were in touch with the Parks Department in Vancouver several years ago,” says Kara Meyer, Managing Director of +POOL. “They were interested in allocating money for feasibility testing of a concept like ours.”

So, Vancouver, maybe it is worth looking into this again, now that the organization has built a prototype and has engineered and tested the filtration system? It would add a lot of recreational value to this thriving part of our city, leaving more than enough room for boaters and paddlers.

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“IF YOU THINK CHOCOLATE AND ROSES ARE GOOD ENOUGH, THINK AGAIN !”

by Natalie Langston www.natalielangston.com

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WHAT WOMEN WANT...

YOUR END-OF-SUMMER SHOPPING GUIDE! The world is opening up again and we’re stronger than yesterday!

This challenging year has taught us that strength is in numbers and whenever you can offer a helping hand, you do.

We pulled together a few items to help you practice self-care, support others and act as tokens to remind you of your power & strength!

SUPPLE SKIN All this intense weather and being trapped inside (I swear one day it was “off with the heat and on with the A/C!”) has wreaked havoc on my skin. Sulwashoo has formulated their Bloomstay Serum specifically for dull and dehydrated dermals. It’s infused with antioxidant rich green plum blossoms which reduce the visible signs of aging and help relieve skin exhaustion. Plus, it features five fruit and seed compounds to boost elasticity. Plum blossoms bloom in the harshest of cold weather to signify beauty, resilience and strength. That sounds like a positive sentiment and reward for what we’ve all endured throughout Covid.

Sulwhasoo Bloomstay Vitalizing Serum.

Available at Sephora. Retails for $192.

LASTLY, LIGHT I love this Chiffon Summer Dress in Berry Red. It’s breezy, vintageinspired and features puff sleeves. Red is the colour of life, health, vigour, courage and love- if there was ever a time to celebrate being able to strut down a sidewalk, it’s now.

Chiffon Summer Dress in Berry Red $198USD. Available on www.rachelparcell.com

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ALL-SEASON SUNNIES Oversized sunnies are a wardrobe staple any time of the year, and as usual, Jimmy Choo is on the ball. A master of the oversized ratio whether you’re on a patio, at the beach or bundled up with a scarf come Autumn, the Tavi Gold Brown’s mix rose grey and gold metal to pair with any outfit and feature flattering square-eye frames. Plus, the gradient effect shows off your “smize” while hiding tired under-eye bags.

Jimmy Choo Tavi Gold Brown Sunglasses $430.

Available on www.jimmychoo.com

SUPPORT FOR FEMALE ARTISANS & EMPOWERMENT Another token of endurance to be shared at home or back in the office is The Aroma Mosaic diffuser by Saje x The Little Market. The Little Market is a female lead non-profit, fair trade shop on a mission to promote economic independence and self-sufficiency of women artisans. This beautiful, hexagon & gold foil detail diffuser is a great talking point for how we can support physical, emotional and environmental wellness for all.

Saje x The Little Market Aroma Mosaic.

Available at Saje, retails for $98

SYMBOLS OF RESILIENCE Delicate reminders of our strength are powerful tokens to carry with us in our day-to-day lives. Paris Jewellers is a proudly Canadian-Vietnamese women-owned and operated company focused on customer service, community partnerships and supporting women. They are donating 20% of the net proceeds from their Resilience collection to The Frontline Fund, which represents over 165 hospitals across Canada that are battling Covid-19 from the front lines.

Tennis Bracelet with 1.00 Carat TW Of Diamonds In 10kt Yellow Gold $2,299.00.

Available on www.parisjewellers.ca

THE PERFECT CARRY-ON Lambert is a Quebec-based company run entirely by females… so it’s understandable their knowledge of what women need is so on point.

Their Sidney bag is made from vegan leather and has well-located pockets designed to give you access to content on the bottom without needing to shuffle around everything that’s on top. Imagine digging around at an airport and not ending up with a mess of clothes to refold! Live the dream.

Lambert SIDNEY travel bag $189.99.

Available on www.designlambert.com

ICONIC CONCIERGE

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Worth the

Wait!

PUNTA CANA Punta Cana, the easternmost tip of the Dominican Republic, is known for its 32km stretch of beaches and clear waters.

Soaring coconut trees loom over a range of resorts, from luxurious spa hideaways to tropical golf retreats. This is what vacation dreams are made of.

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Worth the

Wait!

ROME The “Eternal City” is Italy’s capital and a memorial to the creative imagination of the past.

Beautiful buildings, a warm climate, incredible food, and thousands of years of history are waiting for you to explore.

ICONIC CONCIERGE

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Worth the

Wait!

DUBAI Dubai (United Arab Emirates) is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations and known for luxury shopping, ultramodern architecture and a lively nightlife scene. Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, dominates the skyscraper-filled skyline. At its foot lies the Dubai Fountain, with jets and lights choreographed to music. Dubai will be hosting EXPO 2020.

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Worth the

Wait!

BARBADOS Barbados is the most easterly of the Caribbean Islands. Surrounded by crystal clear waters, Barbados has something for every kind of traveller: the foodie, the explorer, the historian and the adventurer! And a trip to Barbados wouldn’t be complete without sampling some of the country’s world-famous rum.

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BETTER BE A BILLIONAIRE THE COST OF OWNING A SUPERYACHT We love showing you the newest, most outrageously expensive superyachts. And let’s face it – don’t we all dream of owning one? Travel the world in ultimate style, visiting the most beautiful places, often only accessible by boat? Watch the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Monaco from your upper deck while crew members make sure that your glass of champagne is filled and the caviar keeps coming. Be part of an elite club with the likes of Jeff Bezos, who just took possession of one of the world’s most expensive yachts, estimated at $600 million.

where in the world.

Ok, so let’s say you just made a fortune selling your company, you sold those bitcoins you got for 12 bucks a coin not too long ago, or you found that enchanted bottle with the genie and you are now lucky and rich enough to splash a couple hundred million dollars on your ultimate toy. That’s fantastic, good for you – but be prepared to dig even deeper and have at least 10% of the purchase price available for maintaining your yacht. Annually!

Yes, that’s right, as so often it is not done with simply making a purchase, and going back to Mr Bezos’s new vessel, he may face around $60 million in maintenance and operating costs EACH YEAR! Oh good, you made it back and yes, you read that right.

Around 10%. Let us explain... and let’s remain a little more reasonable and assume that you got a great deal on a 150foot yacht, for $25 million.

© Ken Freivokh Design

This 140m superyacht project by Ken Freivokh Design comes with a full beam garage for up to six large limousine tenders and beach-landing craft. A 14m pool transforms into a floating dock for the main guest tender, and two helipads are on standby for the owner and the guests to arrive. In the evening, a full-sized IMAX cinema brings movie nights to a whole new level.

He is not alone, the world has never had so many billionaires and when the pandemic hit, many of them decided that it is time to buy a superyacht rather than another estate some-

The majestic NORD superyacht was built in 2021 by Lürssen Yachts, Germany.

Measuring 142m with a volume of 10154 GT, she sleeps up to 36 guests. photography: Tom Van Oossanen

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According to a few yacht brokers that we talked to, a superyacht in the 150’-200’ range will set you back around $100k in insurance, and depending on how far you travel, fuel can add a cool mill to that. And that’s just the beginning. You want to have a great captain and a really good crew. The man or woman at the helm can make up to $200k a year, and the rest of the crew will bring the total close to another million dollars. And don’t underestimate the cost of onboard communication. It is not your typical inter-

net bill you will get for all your surfing and movie streaming. So account for around $70k which will make sure that you are up-to-date with what happens in the world.

Also, as most superyachts don’t spend more than a few months of the year at sea, docking fees are another factor and our research shows that you’d better have around $350,000 a year put aside for just having the yacht at port.

Finally, most superyachts are not a great investment, especially when purchased new. Yes, depreciation is another big factor.

So by now, are you rethinking your possible dream purchase? Well, there may be some good news for you, too. It is worth acknowledging that while the privilege of having your very own superyacht is extremely costly, you may be able to recoup some of the costs if you are willing to share your boat. We are talking about chartering it out. Our research has shown that chartering a yacht for 10-12 weeks per year will cover the operating cost of most yachts. Or, as we were informed, just calculate that for every week you want to spend on your yacht, you should rent it out for one more to break even.

British yacht designer Andy Waugh introduces the 175m Acionna world-cruising superyacht. Amenities include a full-size squash court, helicopter hanger and a 20-metre indoor pool. Included in her eight decks is a colossal double-height main saloon with panoramic curved glass overlooking the main aft deck pool.

And there you have it, the cost of being acknowledged as someone who has made it. But hey, you will have an experience unlike any other, meet some of the elite and will have the ultimate vacations. No, really, we just wanted to make sure you got the numbers right. Oh, now you wonder how much that private jet will cost you that you just ordered? Well, that’s a story for another edition ....

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photography: Jeff Brown

LÜRSSEN MADSUMMER Now that we have told you how much it will cost to own your own superyacht, maybe let us show you a more affordable alternative - charter! The contemporary 311’ (95m) Madsummer has a crew of up to 28, sleeps up to 12 guests in 10 cabins, has a 12-metre pool and jacuzzi, a massage room, a cinema, as well as two tender garages and a helipad. With a cruising speed of 16 knots, a maximum speed of 18 knots and a range of 6,000nm from her 300,000 litre fuel tanks, she is the perfect combination of performance and luxury.

Oh, right, the cost. You can charter Madsummer for €1,600,000 (appr. US$1,898,880) ... a week.

THE 222M ‘PRIVATE RESIDENCE SUPERYACHT’ The SOMNIO is yet another way to avoid the cost of buying and maintaining your own superyacht. Designed by Winch Design and Tillberg Design of Swedenill, the largest superyacht in the world combines the “benefits of superyacht ownership” with the service and amenities of “the world’s finest hotels”, offering “39 exquisitely high-end apartments” units that start at a whopping US$11 million. “By invitation only”, those fortunate enought to have been chosen can then purchase a home on one of six apartment decks and decide on features such as a personal kitchen, a gym, a library, inside-outside dining spaces and dressing rooms. Amenities on board will include a 10,000-bottle wine cellar and tasting room, a choice of restaurants and bars and an onboard beach club featuring water-sports facilities. A full concierge service will be available for both at-sea and land-based needs. The whole project is currently under construction at a shipyard in Norway and projected to cost almost US$600 million upon its completion in 2024.

“Owners will share a truly unique lifestyle at sea, with a hand-picked crew and a never-ending global itinerary of carefully selected destinations and experiences befitting a yacht of this nature,” Somnio co-founder Capt. Erik Bredhe, who previously oversaw “The World”, which is currently the only residential vessel at sea, says. Residents of the yacht liner will collectively decide about the itinerary for the year. And if this is the solution for you, maybe head over to www.somniosuperyachts.com and hope for an invitation.

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The Gentleman

They should have taught you this in school....

by Dr. Christian Brix

HOW TO LOSE YOUR DREAM GIRL ...

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ell, you did it, you found a way to attract the girl of your dreams, and you couldn’t feel any luckier. You may be one of the few who have had that amazing fortune, and I can say from experience that there is no greater joy than looking over at the girl you love and recognizing that she is, in your eyes, perfectly perfect for you.

Now is your chance to either take that love and care for it like Mr. Miyagi does his bonsai tree, or completely let it slip away. To lose the girl of your dreams, just follow this guide:

Let’s just call it what it is, an argument; you are pretty much always right anyway.

So what is the point of letting her talk too much? Her beautiful little spirit that gets pushed down a little bit more with each argument needs to stay down to avoid pain for you in the future.

When she walks into the room, dressed so well she takes your breath away, even if it seems like she doesn’t care, she wants you to notice how gorgeous she looks, and she wants to hear you tell her. Don’t do it! It’s better to just notice quietly and tell her that you are now going to be late because it took her so long to get ready.

If you truly love her, make sure you don’t tell her too often.

When she is in pain, whether it is something really Don’t ever just grab her around the waist big, or just a bad day at work, the while she is busy doing something else best thing to do is try to solve her and tell her that you feel so lucky to have problem as quickly as possible. She “Never hold her her in your life. It will seem too clingy has friends if she just wants to “vent.” head in your anyway.

The problem needs to be fixed, and her pain needs to be seen as “silly” and hands and look Forget to choose her every single day. “dramatic.” her in the eyes Wake up in the morning, say good morning, and get in the shower. She If you don’t take any other piece of to tell her she probably doesn’t want a kiss or cuddle advice, and you are committed to losing anyway... morning breath, right?? this girl, at least take this one with you: is the best thing never hold her head in your hands to ever happen in and look her in the eyes to tell her Freedom...too much freedom is a bad thing. she is the best thing to ever happen your life.”

Make sure you keep tabs on her, her in your life. It’s just too intense and friends, and the people she works with. seems a bit needy. Gratitude is too You can never be too careful. There is a great chance attractive, and she will never leave if she knows how lucky someone is dying to steal her away from you, so make you feel. sure she knows how jealous and insecure you are.

Shakespeare said “the course of true love never did run If you might be smarter or more successful smooth.” The truth is that even with your dream girl at financially, it is important for her to be reminded of your side, you and she will still make mistakes, and you that whenever possible. will still have pain. That IS love.

She might not want to feel like you love her as she is, and that what she brings to the relationship is 10 times more It’s the ups and downs that give love life! What matters valuable than all your books and money. is who you want to be for her. We want to be a man who knows who he is, what he wants, and that he is a true DON’T LISTEN to too much of what she says. catch. But at the exact same time we have to be the man Your dream girl might find it annoying when you really who is humbled and completely grateful that this amazing hear what she needs to be happy, and there is nothing and perfect girl chose him. worse than remembering the little seemingly meaningless things that bring a smile to her face.

The man who doesn’t know why she chose him, and he is perfectly happy to It is always important to remain as mysterious as not ever ask. possible.

If you share your fears and your real feelings with her, it Dr. Christian Brix will just be ammunition for her to use against you later.

Dr. Christian Brix is a writer, a gentleman, and a More importantly, you will look like a huge wuss, and Chiropractor living in and loving Kelowna B.C. there is nothing worse than that. Also...no crying. Ever. www.brixfamilychiropractic.com

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THE

MANLY MAN

“

I don’t regret anything. I feel like I’ve made what I would call mistakes. I picked the wrong movie, or I didn’t pursue a character, but everything you do is part of you and you get something from it.”

al

PACINO ACTOR | FILMMAKER

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Al Pacino at the 35th Annual AFI Life Achievement Award celebration photo: S_Bukley

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ALFREDO JAMES PACINO was born on April 25, 1940, in the East Harlem neighborhood of New York City. The only child of Italian-American parents who divorced when he was two years old, he grew up with his mother in her parents’ home in the tough neighbourhood of the South Bronx.

Known as “Sonny” to his friends in his often troublesome teenage years, he started smoking and drinking at age nine. His teachers would describe him as intelligent but never motivated at school, but he showed ambition in sports, and an interest in acting.

At age 16 he won an admission to the prestigious High School of Performing Arts in Manhattan, but dropped out after just one year. An argument with his mother over his decision to pursue acting made him move to Greenwich Village at the age of 19. He took on several low-paying jobs but was often unemployed and at times, homeless. But the occasional off-Broadway play would keep his motivation alive, and when he joined the Herbert Berghof Studio, he finally found himself on the right path.

In 1962, his mother died at the age of 43. Al Pacino was 22 and when his grandfather passed away the following year, he had lost the two most influential people in his life.

Pacino joined the Actors Studio, an organization of professional actors, theater directors, and playwrights, at age 26, and studied acting under coach Lee Strasberg, whom he credits for staying focused on his dream.

After a few smaller productions, Pacino won an Obie Award for Best Actor in It’s Called the Sugar Plum. Soon after, Martin Bregman became Pacino’s manager, a fruitful partnership of which Pacino says it really launched his career. In 1969, he received rave review for his Broadway debut, Does A Tiger Wear A Necktie? and even won a Tony Award for it. He won a second Tony Award for The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel and continued performing on stage throughout his career, with his last performance in the Broadway play China Doll, which closed in 2016.

After his success on stage, Paccino made his screen debut in 1969 and took his first leading role in The Panic in Needle Park (1971).

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In 1972, Pacino’s life changed when director Francis Ford Coppola cast him for The Godfather. Competing for the role of Michael Corleone with Jack Nicholson, Robert Redford, Warren Beatty, and the lesser-known Robert De Niro, Coppola had to convince the studio executives that Pacino would be best suited for the part. It was the right decision. Not only was the Mafia saga a massive success and won the Academy Award for best picture, it also earned Pacino numerous accolades, including his first Oscar nomination. Today, The Godfather is widely considered to be among the greatest films of all time.

However, angered over being nominated for the Supporting Acting award, he boycotted the Academy Award ceremony. He noted that he had more screen time than Marlon Brando, who won Best Actor.

In the wake of The Godfather’s success, Pacino quickly became a sought-after leading man. In 1973, Scarecrow and Serpico solidified his standing as Hollywood’s new shooting star, and in the same year, he reprised his role as Corleone in The Godfather: Part II. It received as many accolades as its predecessor.

In 1975, Pacino starred in Dog Day Afternoon and received a nomination for Best Actor, followed by a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for 1977’s Bobby Deerfield. Two years later, his fourth nomination for Best Actor followed for ...And Justice for All, but it was Dustin Hoffman who took the award for Kramer vs. Kramer, a role that Al Pacino had declined.

In the early 1980s, Al Pacino’s career hit a rough patch. Cruising, a controversial film that provoked protests, and Author!

Author! were both critical and popular disasters, and only Brian De Palma’s Scarface in 1983 stood out, seeing Pacino return to the high-intensity type of character that had made him famous.

In 1985, Revolution was another flop and made Pacino leave the big screen for the next four years.

Pacino returned with Sea of Love in 1989, his biggest hit in years, before he once more took on the role of Michael Corleone in The Godfather, Part III (1990). The same year, Dick Tracy was released, and with Frankie

“You need people who can tell you what you don’t want to hear.” and Johnny (1991) and Glengarry Glen Ross (1992) he added another two wellreceived movies to his portfolio. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Glengarry Glen Ross, but it was Pacino’s portrayal of a blind man in Scent of a Woman (1992) that won his first Oscar for Best Actor, making him the first male actor ever to receive two acting nominations for two movies in the same year, and to win for the lead role. Other notable films of the 1990s were Carlito’s Way (1993), Heat (1995), Donnie Brasco (1997), Any Given Sunday and The Insider (both 1999).

Christopher Nolan’s Insomnia (2002) started Pacino’s new Millennium, the HBO miniseries Angels in America (2003) for which he won his third Golden Globe, and Two for the Money (2005). In 2006, Al Pacino received the AFI Life Achievement Award, and finished off the decade with Ocean’s Thirteen (2007), 88 Minutes (2007), and Righteous Kill (2008), once more alongside Robert De Niro.

A second Emmy Award and a fourth Golden Globe Award, both for You Don’t Know Jack, started the 2010s and Wilde Salomé, a 2011 American documentary-drama written, directed by and starring Pacino, would become “his most personal project ever”. n 2012, 2012, President Obama awarded Al Pacino the National Medal of Arts.

After several unremarkable movies, Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood (2019) was his last movie, but he will return as a fictional Nazi hunter in the second season of Hunters, and will return to the screen with Ridley Scott’s House of Gucci.

WATCH IT! Robert De Niro and Al Pacino Have an Epic Conversation |

by GQ

Advertisement

IS THIS VANCOUVER CLINIC

ELIMINATING

THE NEED FOR HAIR TRANSPLANTS?

ARE YOU EXPERIENCING HAIR LOSS? You are not alone! If you find that your hair is thinner than it used to be, join the club. Already by the age of 35, approximately 66 percent of men will have experienced some degree of hair loss, and by the age of 50, you are doomed as almost 85 percent of men show significantly thinner hair.

Thinning hair and hair loss is a common experience as we age, especially among men. Hair loss happens for a variety of reasons. It can be as simple as stress from your work or personal life. Medications can also cause your hair to shed prematurely, but according to the American Hair Loss Association, 95 percent of hair loss in men is caused by androgenetic alopecia, often caused by genetic and hormonal factors.

But did you know, there is a non-surgical option that uses your own blood to restore and repair thinning hair?

Dr. Christopher Pavlou is a leading expert in skin care and medical aesthetics here in Vancouver, and has looked into solutions for hair restoration. Having used PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma), a technology using a patient’s own blood, for skin rejuvenation, he found that it is also a very effective way to treat thinning hair and hair loss.

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What exactly is it?

PRP therapy is nothing new. It has been used since the 1980s for problems such as healing injured tendons, ligaments, and muscles. PRP is a three-step medical treatment in which a patient’s blood is drawn to extract the PRP and then injected into the scalp where hair loss/thinning is present. Platelets are the components of our blood that contain multiple growth factors and nutrients. This procedure stimulates new growth of the hair.

How does it work?

Technique: Micro droplet injection or meso gun therapy A sample of your blood is spun in a centrifuge, which separates the highly concentrated plateletrich plasma from the other components of the sample. When injected into the scalp, platelet rich plasma releases growth factors, causing increased tissue rejuvenation and growth. This procedure is unique because your own natural tissue is used to rejuvenate yourself without foreign substances or surgical intervention, eliminating the risk of immune rejection or complications.

How long does this procedure take?

Procedure Time: 45 minutes – 1 hour The actual procedure takes between 45 minutes to an hour. First, the blood is drawn, typically from the patient’s arm. It is then put into a centrifuge to get separated into three layers: Platelet-poor plasma, platelet-rich plasma and red blood cells. Only the platelet-rich plasma is then drawn up into a syringe and injected into areas of the scalp that need increased hair growth. All this with zero downtime to the patient.

How often do I have to repeat it?

Results: Gradual improvements over time and with several treatments.

The patients will see gradual improvements over time and usually require three treatments 4–6 weeks apart, after which maintenance treatments are required every 4–6 months.

Are there possible side-effects?

The PRP therapy uses a patient’s own blood and therefore, there is no risk for getting a communicable disease. As anesthetics are used, the patient will have to let the doctor know in advance if there are known allergies to anesthetics.

There you go. An innovative solution to help you avoid hats, shaving, scalpels or a comb over - contact the clinic right here in your city.

For a custom consultation the experienced team at Skin Technique in downtown Vancouver is available to help with recommendations and education about all their innovative treatments and medical grade skin care products.

They are always available to help you choose the best treatment for your individual needs.

Dr. Christopher Pavlou, MD

1046 HAMILTON ST, VANCOUVER, BC 778-945-7505 info@skintechnique.com www.skintechnique.com

@drpavlou

Skin Technique

/doctorpavlou

Magnetic

photography: TODD DUNCAN STUDIOS

uccess S

PILLARS OF TOP PRODUCERS

A

ny top producer in sales will admit that while the grind creates momentum, building a magnetic personal brand around positive relationships and trusted expertise has awarded them with exponential results and staying power.

“My team has been expanding to meet the massive influx of demand.” says Sherlock Yam, Partner, Mortgage Broker and Business Development for one of the top-producing mortgage teams in Canada: Win Lui Group, DLC Clear Trust Mortgages. “Years of nurturing our relationships with top Realtors and helping them look like Rockstars to their clients has absolutely exploded our business. People know they will get unbeatable rates, quick turnaround times when other banks are telling them it takes 5 business days, and getting their complex financing needs met when they get referred to us is how we shine.”

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Sayed Najibi, Principal of the awardwinning Sayed Najibi Group, agrees.

“Earn Trust Before Business - it’s a promise our team lives by. It means to equip our clients with all the right facts and information in order to facilitate the best decision for them. Oftentimes you need to go beyond what’s in front of you and look at the whole picture... to see the factors that are outside of your own role that may affect your client.“ Mr. Najibi reflects briefly on his previous career as a financial advisor and mortgage specialist at one of Canada’s largest financial institutions and adds: “Facts are nothing without genuine care for your people. It is through open and honest engagement that a connection to one’s true values are uncovered.”

“It’s about reading between the lines... to ask the right questions, then listen for and actually hear what isn’t explicitly being said.” adds William Chen, Managing Partner of Surmesur Custom Menswear in Vancouver. “For example, a new client books into our showroom wanting to get measured for a custom-tailored grey suit. He’s seen Harvey Specter wear one on SUITS, and wants to be like him. But without understanding this client’s personality, lifestyle, or professional goals, it would be a disservice to him to just match a fabric swatch to a photo of Harvey.”

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“In the case of Mr. Yam, he needed something that could keep up with his action-packed schedule. It needed to have all-day comfort and breathability, convey credibility, while also communicating his social side and his innovative solutions. We paired him with a lightweight wool with natural stretch from the House of Dormeuil, in a traditional Hearthstone Grey but with a subtle Glen Check that was perfectly proportioned to his body.”

“For Mr. Najibi, the aim was to stand out from the crowd with a Prince of Wales Check in Granite Grey to reflect his respect for tradition, complemented with a subtle Aubergine Windowpane representing his embrace of cutting edge technology. We utilized the slightly oversized pattern to pronounce his larger-than-life presence, and given his equally busy lifestyle, Dormeuil’s renown Exel Collection was tapped once again.”

With such similar core values, dedication to their crafts, and a commitment to win-win relationships, it’s no wonder top producers such as these modern gentlemen gravitate towards each other.

Surmesur Vancouver

1012 Mainland St. | (604) 424-8555 vancouver@surmesur.com @surmesurvancouver

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In Style!

ARMANI CODE ABSOLUT This seductive fragrance features a Tonka Bean base, which is iconic to the Armani range, Rum Accord, and vanilla. An unforgettable scent, with a spicy and sophisticated touch. You won’t want to miss this fragrance - “it’s for the confident man who favours the bold.”

DOLCE & GABANNA LIGHT BLUE POUR HOMME With its top notes of bergamot, mandarin, and grapefruit, this woody scent captures the fresh, spicy, and sensual scents of the Mediterranean. The spirit of summer, whether it’s for the beach or the office.

The Best Fragrances For CALVIN KLEIN ETERNITY FLAME FOR MEN Ah, an eternal flame! Fruity and aromatic, spicy and passionate.

This could be the one!

DUNHILL SIGNATURE COLLECTION ARABIAN DESERT Inspired by the glinting sun on the Arabian desert, this Dunhill fragrance is a sleek scent for the modern man.

Peppered with spicy saffron, it has a rich masculine feel to it.

PRADA L’HOMME PRADA WATER SPLASH A refreshing and zesty scent for any man. Notes of ginger on a woody base. Trust us ... this one makes summer even better!

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PACO RABANNE INVICTUS LEGEND Be the champion at any occasion - this scent was made for the man of glory. Woody at the core, its top notes are sea salt and grapefruit. Comes in a glass flacon made for winners!

C

The Summer

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Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

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VIKTOR & ROLF SPICEBOMB NIGHT VISION Turning heads wherever you go, this enchanting fragrance has some zest with citrus top notes on a cedarwood and Tonka bean base.

THE

GENTLEMAN

by Julie-Anna Vogel | www.julieabroad.com

ABROAD

EDITION 6 - LONDON, UK AH... LONDON…Home of The Queen, a sub species of mosquitoes that live in the dark of the underground and don’t need water to lay eggs and one of the most diverse populations in the world, over 300 languages are spoken. Where the Olympics have been hosted 3 times, where 8 people were killed in a beer flood when a huge vat exploded in 1814 creating a tsunami down Tottenham Court Road, 5 underground stations are named after pubs including Angel and Elephant & Castle and Big Ben is actually a bell not a clock. Once upon a time people flocked to watch the inmates at the Bedlam Asylum for entertainment there is now so much more to fascinate the modern gentleman.

CORE BY CLARE SMYTH - It is the hot table you must beg, bribe or steal to get. Clare just won her third Michelin Star… the food is art on a plate and staggeringly delicious. The service is formal and attentive; also friendly and fun. The room is lovely, the wine list fantastic… truly the perfect combination for a memorable meal.

www.corebyclaresmyth.com JAMES SMITH & SONS UMBRELLA - This store is virtually unchanged since 1857 when the second Mr. Smith moved the shop to Oxford Street and started using Mr. Fox’s lightweight steel frames in his umbrellas. Rumored to be the inspiration for Mr. Ollivander’s wand shop in the Harry Potter books, the base of the umbrella is cut to be the perfect height for each the owner. www.james-smith.co.uk

RUFFIANS - THE place for award winning haircuts, beard trims and a cutthroat shave. Experience old fashioned barber service in a whole new way with great customer service, an in-house whisky bar (or coffee, if you’d prefer), well designed space and professionals who are trained to the hilt.

www.ruffians.co.uk

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THE LUGGAGE ROOM - This one is part speakeasy (you have to knock on a door to get in) and part great hotel bar known for its Prohibition era cocktails, dapper bartenders and stunning interiors. It’s located in the actual old luggage room of the Marriott Grosvenor Square.

www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/londt-london-marriott-hotel-grosvenor-square

N. Peal - This is THE place for cashmere since 1936, whether you prefer their classic or more trendy styles anything from this wonderful shop reeks of elegance. Their art deco Burlington Arcade flagship is THE store to go to, the quality and selection is the same at all their stores but this one is just so gorgeous. Saville Row is only steps away if you need a bespoke suit to go with your cashmere.

www.npeal.com/pages/flagship-store NIGHT KAYAK - Taking a night kayak from Battersea to Greenwich is a unique way to explore the city from the water. Best in spring and fall when it’s not too cold and evenings are darker, the three-hour trip is a chance to see the Parliament Buildings, St Paul’s and Tower Bridge all lit up while getting a bit of exercise. Bring your own flask. secretadventures.org/adventures/night-kayak-across-london

(top) Ruffians | Core by Clare Smyth | (middle) James Smith & Sons | Night Kayak | Core by Clare Smyth (bottom) N. Peal | The Luggage Room

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Forbidden Spirits www.forbiddenspirits.ca

From the Heavens, For the Taking “In the beginning, there was the apple, plucked from the branch by roguish hands. There were Adam and Eve and the serpent conspiring in the Garden of Eden, to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, to taste the most delicious and Forbidden of all fruits.”

SPIRIT LOVERS can rejoice in the discovery of FORBIDDEN SPIRITS’ line of premium VODKA, GIN and BRANDY; they offer a sublime tasting experience at their Kelownabased distillery and tasting lounge, Forbidden Spirits Distilling Co. located only 15 minutes from downtown. Open for tastings 7 days a week, with live music offerings every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, a visit to the distillery is a must-do for locals and visitors alike. Following a scenic drive through the Okanagan countryside, visitors arrive at the still-new tasting room surrounded by a picturesque landscape comprised of lush picnic grounds, horse country, and Ambrosia apple orchards.

The Ambrosia apple, named for the mythic sustenance of the gods, is the most essential local ingredient used to craft Forbidden Spirits’ Forbidden Vodka. And like the Ambrosia-driven Forbidden Vodka, each of Forbidden’s lineup of craft spirits is made from local, BC-grown apples.

the type and amount of flavour. Multiple distillations and filtrations further purify the spirit. A quality vodka provides very subtle hints of the best aspects of the raw material used; this is where the distiller’s skill comes into play. With both our Forbidden Vodka and Rebel Vodka most people can identify a subtle undertone of apple.

The distilling team works carefully to capture the purest essence of BC’s finest produce and local botanicals.

Each batch of vodka, gin, or brandy is handcrafted from start to finish, with 25+ distillations, to achieve the purest final product.

Gin is essentially vodka that is infused with botanicals and re-distilled so that the botanical oils and flavours are carried over into the distilled spirit. There is more variety in crafted gins than commercial gins. If you’re looking for something distinctive or more flavorful, craft gin is the way to go. The best way to determine whether you would like a particular gin is to visit a distillery or market where you can taste it for yourself.

Rebel Vodka, one of the most popular offerings at Forbidden Spirits, and available in select BC liquor stores, is distilled 25 times before bottling, while Forbidden Vodka, their most premium product, is distilled 50 times (for reference, mass-produced vodkas are distilled only two or three times). The difference can be tasted in a velvety mouthfeel and pure, lush flavour.

3 QUESTIONS WITH A MASTER DISTILLER Master distiller Alastair Richards is one of the masterminds behind the Forbidden Spirits portfolio and we asked him to share what makes these products so special.

What should a spirits lover look for when buying vodka or gin?

Raw materials, process, and application should be considered when deciding which vodka to purchase.

Vodka is considered a neutral spirit, however there will be some flavour characteristics carried over from the source raw materials. The materials and process determine

What do you think makes Forbidden Spirits special?

The apples used to make Forbidden Spirits’ premium products are fermented and distilled within 1km of where they are grown. Every step of the process, from cultivating fruit to bottling, is entirely controlled by us.

This level of care and attention is carried over to all Forbidden Spirits practices and results in high-quality products.

What is the most exciting product in the Forbidden Spirits portfolio, and why should people look for it?

Forbidden Vodka represents the purest form of distillation and captures the true essence of the apple and the process. If you can’t come visit our tasting room in Kelowna to try Forbidden, give our Rebel Vodka a try, it is now available in selected Liquor Stores across the www.forbiddenspirits.ca province.

• • • • •

1 ½ oz Rebel Vodka 1 ½ oz Forbidden Syrups Lavender Lime simple syrup Cocktail foaming drops Cocktail bitters of choice Lavender sprig

Add 1 ½ oz Rebel Vodka, 1 ½ oz lavender lime syrup and 4-6 drops of cocktail foamer to a cocktail shaker, shake for 30 seconds.

Add ice and shake again for another 30 seconds. Strain into a tumbler, add 3 drops of bitters of your choice on top of the foam and swirl with a toothpick. Garnish with a freshly picked lavender sprig.

Heavenly Cocktails from Forbidden Spirits

Top-quality vodka and gin must be enjoyed in style with a mix of quality ingredients. Source them locally from trusted producers and enjoy in great company on a summer day.

• • • • •

REBEL SOUR EVE’S ENVY

6 fresh basil leaves 1/2oz Forbidden Syrups Lime simple syrup 2oz Eve’s Original Gin Club Soda to top up Fresh basil leaf or lime wheel to garnish

Muddle 6 basil leaves with ½ oz lime syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add ice and 2oz Eve’s Original Gin. Shake well for 30 seconds.

Strain into a martini glass, filling the glass to halfway. Top up to 3/4 with club soda. Rub a basil leaf around the rim of the glass and lay a fresh basil leaf at one the side of the glass or hook a lime wheel over the rim.

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jay-z

D’USSE V.S.O.P. Cognac Much of Jay-Z’s steadily growing fortune can be attributed to the spirits industry.

D’USSE is a joint venture with Bacardi, and has grown nearly 80% yearly.

Jay-Z also recently sold 50 percent of his champagne brand Armand de Brignac/Ace of Spades, to LVMH for an estimated $300 million.

drinking stars

QUEST FOR A LEGEND

with the

What do Drake, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Kendall Jenner have in common?

They are incredibly famous, but they also make money from your liquor cabinet!

No doubt, many of the big stars out there like to drink their alcohol. These days, however, it seems that part of being a celebrity is having your own liquor. And with ‘own’ we really mean it. Yes, there are many celebrities who are ‘ambassadors’ of certain brands, endorsing the product, sometimes adding their name and maybe even some impact on what ’s in the bottle. However, dwayne johnson are these stars really behind the product, do they like it? Or is it just a big cheque they receive for lending their name, celebrity status, and social media presence to turn attention to and catapult a brand from zero to cult in little time?

There are many companies using celebrities who are known for an expensive taste to promote wine and champagne, others have those who party hard endorse some hard liquor, whilst those big names who

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All images are copyright to their respective owners

william h. macy

A:

Q:

Woody Creek Distillers ‘Shameless’ Star William H. Macy is not only promoting Colorado-based Woody Creek Distillers’ new rye whiskey, he also became an investor in the brand. In a new campaign, Macy stars as fictional troubadour Willie Creeks, armed with his trusty ukulele and a glass of whiskey.

are known for a healthy lifestyle will promote products low in calories.

So which celebrities have gotten into the business?

We have done some research and have picked 18 celebrities who have their own alcohol brands.

And we then picked 4 of those brands for our very own sampling session, trying to find out if they are actually worth drinking.

So, which ones from this list did you know are celebrity owned, and which ones have you tried?

kate hudson

So how do you distinguish those who just hop on the bandwagon for the paycheck from those who care about the product?

Well, maybe the difference is the moment these celebrities get the entrepreneurial spirit (yes!) to actually invest in the company, buy one or start one from scratch, taking time out of their artistic careers to make artful beverages. And then again, some of these celebrities will use their big names to push the brand and promote it with themselves being part of the media-campaign, whilst others stay low-key and you may have enjoyed their brands without even knowing it.

xx jamie fo

Brown Sugar Bourbon The Golden Globe winner just recently became the new owner of BSB, a spirit company first launched in 2016. According to a press release, Foxx will lend his entrepreneurial spirit to further the brand’s expansion, as well as guiding the creative direction.

King St. Vodka The actress named her vodka after her former home on King Street in New York City. The gluten-free vodka is crafted with alkaline water and 7x distilled for purity in Santa Barbara, California, and aligns with Hudson’s health-conscious lifestyle.

Aviation Gin Ryan Reynolds invested in Aviation Gin and became its brand ambassador in 2018. In 2020, the gin company sold for US$610 million but Reynolds will remain the public face of the brand for the next few years.

ryan reynolds

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photo: Avaline/ MEGA

dan aykroyd

George Clooney Casamigos Tequila One of the fastest growing tequila brands in the world started as an idea between George Clooney and Rande Gerber while they were in Mexico.

Developer Mike Meldman joined and the brand launched in 2013 to manufacture tequila for their personal use with no intention of taking the company public. Well, in 2017 the company sold for $1billion,

Drake Virginia Black Whiskey Drake launched Virginia Black in 2016 in collaboration with beverage and spirits curator, Brent Hocking. The idea for the brand was based on the “style, fashion, and music of the 70s,” where “nightlife was truly nightlife,” according to Hocking.

The glass bottle which looks more like a high-end champagne was created to also appeal to women.

Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie Miraval Wine Few people know that when Brad Pitt and his then wife Angelina Jolie bought the 500 hectare Château Miraval in Côtes de Provence in 2011, they also became the owners of the wine estate and took an active role in the production process.

When the first 6,000 bottles of rosé were released

All images are copyright to their respective owners

brad pitt

photo: Serge Chapuis pour Miraval

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drake

sarah jessica parker

dia z

on

er m ca

Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson

Teremana Tequila Teremana is on its way to becoming one of the fastest growing celebrity spirits in history.

Founded by Johnson and his partners, and launched in March 2020, it uses 100% blue agave from the Jalisco highlands. Available as Blanco and Reposado.

in 2019, they sold out in only 5 hours.

Dan Aykroyd Crystal Head Vodka We had the pleasure of meeting Dan Aykroyd when he introduced his now iconic skull-shaped bottle of ultra-premium vodka, blended with pristine water from Newfoundland. Now, more than 10 years later, the additive-free quadruple-distilled and seven times filtered vodka has won numerous awards and is available in three varieties.

Kendall Jenner 818 Tequila Model and reality star Kendall Jenner joined the club and recently announced her latest venture, 818 Tequila, her first solo business venture outside of modeling. There are three different types in her collection: Añejo, Reposado and Blanco.

Cameron Diaz Avaline Wine In 2020, actress Cameron Diaz and her friend, fashion site Who What Wear founder Katherine Power, launched the wine brand Avaline. They currently offer white, red and rosé wines, as well as a sparkling rosé, made from organic grapes grown without synthetic pesticides, added sweeteners or chemicals.

Sarah Jessica Parker Invivo X Wines The “Cosmopolitan-sipping Carrie Bradshaw” (Sex and the City) is a shareholder in the New Zealand wine company Invivo & Co. Parker creates her own signature wines, a Sauvignon Blanc and a rosé, and is involved in every aspect of the new wine.

photo: hello@drink818.com

kendall jenner

george clooney

Jay-Z: D’USSE V.S.O.P. COGNAC It is a very cool bottle, looking more expensive than it actually is, and will be a nice addition to your bar collection. It is also a decent cognac with a good profile of wood, raisins, orange, and some nutmeg. The taste unveils hints of spices, almonds and cinnamon, with honey and dried fruits to finish it off. We wouldn’t rave about it, but it is an easy and enjoyable sip.

Ryan Reynolds: AVIATION GIN We are not sure if it really “revolutionized the gin industry in America”, but Aviation Gin actually surprises us. It is a very smooth and easy to drink gin. Aviation has a nice aroma that shows some lavender, and the taste is spicy and sweet, with notes of juniper pine, cinnamon and a hint of smoke. Perfect for cocktail lovers who actually like to taste their gin while drinking it!

to DRINK, or NOT to DRINK...

No, that wasn’t really a question for us, but what we were eager to find out was, is it just the celebrity name behind the brand that you will pay for, or if you will actually get a beverage worth all the buzz? We picked 5 different spirits and put them to the test.

George Clooney: CASAMIGOS TEQUILA We have been to Tequila (Spring 2019 edition) and the Casamigos Blanco reminds us of the more natural tequilas we sampled. It shows a mix of sweet agave, light citrus and just a hint of vanilla. Very nice!

Dan Aykroyd: CRYSTAL HEAD VODKA Even without knowing that this is a celebrity-owned company, you can’t help but buy the distinct, skull-shaped bottle. Additive-free and crafted from either Canadian corn (Original), British wheat (Aurora) or Blue Weber agave (Onyx), it is even filtered through layers of Herkimer diamonds. We are not sure if that makes a difference, but what we can say is that it is a great, smooth vodka, and especially the semisweet blue agave one has a nice herbal touch to it. We like it!

Dwayne Johnson: TEREMANA TEQUILA Teremana isn’t white-labelled. Destilería Teremana de Agave actually makes small-batch, handcrafted tequila on site. Made from 100% Blue Weber agave and aged in former bourbon barrels, the premium Reposado has the earthy, vegetal aromas of baked agave, mixed with a hint of smoke. We taste vanilla, butter and some black pepper.

Not our favourite but still a solid Reposado.

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“A truly incomparable dynamic range.”

– Rachel Chien

S H O W C A S E P I A N O S . C O M

REAL

DON'T

photography: TODD DUNCAN STUDIOS | models: POLINA STRINGINI; PERSIS KHAMBATTA

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MEN

EAT MEAT!

THE RISE OF THE PLANT-BASED BURGER ICONIC CONCIERGE

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Meat alternatives from companies such as Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods created a real hype and are clearly designed for both vegetarians and meat eaters. They are now staples at many fast food chains and restaurants and are intended to look, feel, and taste like a traditional burger.

Some of them go as far as to mimic the look of ground beef, and yes, they even ... ‘bleed.’ Once grilled, they are heartier, juicier, and, well, meatier, than their predecessors, which is why meat producers are seeking legal recourse to restrict the words “meat” and even “burger” to their own products.

Plant-based burgers are nothing new.

Veggie patties have been on grocery store shelves for years but haven’t ever tried to compete with their real meat counterparts. Mostly black bean, mushroom or lentil based, they actually looked and tasted like it, too. They were a niche product, made for and marketed to vegetarians. Recently, though, new vegan patties are being promoted to the wider population, to the extent that most of us are now aware of many of them, with many having likely even tried some.

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Consequently, we felt it was time to give these new plant-based burgers a try. We picked patties from the two main contenders, Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat, alongside two local BC producers, Vancouver-based Modern Meat and Victoria’s The Very Good Butchers, and tastetested them. We decided to do two separate semi-blind tastings. The first tasting would present the burgers to our ‘tasters’ straight from the grill, without telling them which patty they would be sampling. Then, we would grill more patties and create a good looking burger with all the typical fixings.

So did these options fool our meat-lovers?

You will find out in a bit.

THE IMPOSSIBLE BURGER Dietary characteristics: vegan; gluten-free Per serving: 240 calories, 14g fat (8g saturated), 9g carbs, 3g fiber, >1g sugar, 370mg sodium, 19g protein

It was noticeable that even from the moment our grill-master put the patties on the barbecue that Impossible Meats gained an experiential head-start. The presentation of their burgers, which we found right next to real meat burgers in the fresh meat coolers at the store, resembles real raw ground beef, complete with bright red “blood” and little white particles of fat, whilst it even sizzled like beef on the grill.

The Impossible Burger was clearly the favourite in this respect. All tasters were impressed with the flavour straight from the grill, and so it came as no surprise that prepared in a burger with ketchup, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and cheese, it unanimously was called a perfect burger.

You should know…

The founder of the company, is a former vegan biochemist, who discovered heme, a hemoprotein that he claims is the key to the “bloody” taste of red meat. Other GMO techniques are used for modifying ingredients.

THE BEYOND BURGER Dietary characteristics: vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, non-GMO Per serving: 260 calories, 18g fat (5g saturated), 5g carbs, 2g fiber, 0g sugar, 350mg sodium, 20g protein

As with the Impossible Burger, Beyond Meat’s patty tries to give the exact experience and look of a real burger. They were sold frozen but, once grilled, they became crisp on the outside, yet juicy and pink within. All of our tasters found the look and

the flavour of just the patty appealing, and agreed it could have fooled them. Put in a burger bun with all the fixings, the “could” have fooled turned into a “would” have fooled.

fers many other plant-based products, including meatballs, ‘crab’ cakes, gyoza and even vegan sauces and remoulade. www.themodernmeat.com

THE VERY GOOD BUTCHERS BURGER You should know...

Yes, this one ‘bleeds’, too, but this time it is beet juice. Beyond Burger is still seen as a “high-tech” alternative, using new technolgies to simulate the look and taste of beef. The “marbled white fat” for example is made from coconut oil and cocoa butter.

THE MODERN MEAT BURGER Dietary characteristics: vegan, gluten-free, soy-free and non-GMO Per serving: 170 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated), 18g carbs, 4g fiber, 0g sugar, 330mg sodium, 14g protein

The patties from Vancouver’s Modern Meat look very meat-like but our tasters pointed out that straight from the grill, they were not as convincing as their US alternatives. However, once prepared as a burger with all the fixings, the Modern Meat burger made up the lost ground and got the thumbs up!

You should know....

Modern Meat’s products are made without any fillers, additives or preservatives.

The company proudly points out that their local chefs work in kitchens, not labs, to curate high-protein, nutrient-rich plant-based products, and that their “ultimate aim is to introduce consumers to plant-based meat alternatives that are truly healthy and nourishing for your body.” Modern Meat also of-

Dietary characteristics: vegan; non-GMO Per serving: 210 calories, 8g fat (1g saturated), 13g carbs, 5g fiber, 2g sugar, 380mg sodium, 23g protein

Victoria’s contender attracted differing opinions when the patty was served straight from the grill. It lacks the “real beef” look and one taster noted a smoky taste. Even when prepared with the bun and all the fixings, the appearance was not as convincing as with the contenders, but again, the overall taste satisfied our jury.

You should know...

The Victoria-based company became wellknown after they appeared on the ‘Dragon’s Den’ and now offer quite a variety of plant-based products, including sausages, taco stuffer, ribs,and even salmon alternatives. Using organic veggies and spices including beets, carrots, old-fashioned mustard and tahini, they quickly attracted a large following. www.verygoodbutchers.com

Some final notes…

Given that what we eat directly impacts our overall health and wellness, our nutrition is a critical part of a healthy life. And with many documentaries raising awareness of animal cruelty, statistics suggest that each year in the US alone, more than 9 billion animals are raised and killed on factory

farms. This presents a wide range of problems, from increasing antibiotic resistance to contributing towards the climate crisis, and consequently, meatless products are now also being touted as a strategy to help save the planet. Therefore, in order to appeal to people who really like the taste of meat, the idea of creating plant-based burgers that look, feel and taste like ‘the real deal’, is definitely not a bad idea.

In terms of nutrition, most meatless burgers are actually a good source of protein, and comparable to beef and poultry. Some companies, such as Impossible Burger, also add vitamins and zinc, found in animal proteins, whereas others use beans, which are in themselves a good source of zinc and iron. However, if you enjoy the red juicy centre of the patty and the meaty taste, you may find these patties to be too processed, high in saturated fat, and often with high levels of sodium.

The bottom line is ... yes, plant-based burgers are definitely better for the planet.

They reduce the dependance on animals, and their production requires considerably less water and generates substantially less greenhouse gas emissions compared with traditional beef burgers. Are they better for our health? Read the labels, check the ingredients, and, if you can pronounce them, it is a good sign.

As for our tasters ... they told us that they enjoyed the opportunity to test and taste these meatless patties and that when made into a burger with all the fixings, they didn’t really miss the real meat at all.

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words: Dr. Oliver Finlay

photography: Vanessa Vorbach

Divine

Wines A

S SMALL SOCIAL GATHERINGS over barbecues, garden parties and picnics start to creep their way back into our calendars, the question of selecting a suitable summer wine becomes a pertinent topic of conversation. Whilst lockdown statistics illustrated that social isolation did little to quench our love of wine, there’s something a little more magical about corking a bottle under a topaz blue sky, however, not all wines scream to be sipped in the sunshine. Sunny weather demands a drink that will refresh.

Given the ongoing restrictions on international travel, allied to the drive for rebuilding the economy at home, we ventured to the Okanagan to some boutique wineries, that had won recent acclaim for at least one of their varietals, with a focus on sustainable viticulture and a preference for producing small lots of high-quality wine. Our quest – to find refreshing wines that favour fruit-forwardness, low tannins and thirst-slaking acidity.

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Terravista Vineyards are producers of smalllot specialty white wines, located on the Naramata Bench. Owners, Dallas and Eric Thor, have sought to simplify their viticulture practices since acquiring the property in 2019, with the aim of reducing their energy and water consumption.

The vineyard location, with a southwestern slope allied to till sediment and stony soil characteristics are well suited to Spanish varietals such as Albariño and Verdejo and their aromatic white wines have a crisp acidity.

2020 Fandango ($29) blends Albariño (56%) with Verdejo (44%) and is on its 10th vintage. It is a lively, fruit-forward wine, with a medium body and an invigorating, bright palate. Think citrus, tropical fruit, melon and green herbal notes on the nose, with a pinch of ginger spice. www.terravistavineyards.com

great location and started building a winery. Purpose built from the ground up, in the middle of the vineyard, the winery is completely off-grid, relying on 100% solar power.

Gorgeous Gamay Noir ($28) was the most refreshing red we encountered on our tour. Served chilled, it is light, fruity with aromas of violets, accompanied by tastes of cherry and red plum. www.heresthethingvineyards.com Pentâge was founded by Paul Gardner and Julie Rennie who bought the acreages in 1996, after leaving their respective careers in engineering and business. The Vistaridge and Dirty Dozen Vineyards, located on the Skaha Bench in Penticton, have been planted with over 20 varietals and the small lot philosophy allows the winery to experiment accordingly, whilst staying true to their commitment to make excellent, elegant and well-balanced wines. The winery has a natural rock cellar, whose temperature is naturally regulated, which helps reduce energy consumption, whilst the low-yield, hands on approach to viticulture further contributes to creating a sustainable winery.

2015 Rousanne/Marsanne ($31) has an old-world character, the aroma suggested burnt sugar and stone fruit, whilst on the palate, its full-bodied, oaky characteristic accompanied flavours of stone fruit and citrus with a mild minerality. www.pentage.com

Little Engine Wines was founded in 2011, when Steven and Nicole French left their careers in the energy and education sectors and moved to Naramata. Little Engine Wines are passionate about creating wines that reflect the tradition and culture of sustainable practices, using precise pruning, canopy management and cluster thinning techniques. Only the best grapes make it to production, where minimally invasive winemaking techniques ensure the wines display depth, character, elegance and finish.

2020 Silver Sauvignon Blanc ($32) is a medium-bodied, crisply dry vibrancy, lemon, vanilla passionfruit and gooseberry flavours, and a wonderfully fresh aroma of lemon, quince and fruit blossoms. www.littleenginewines.com Covert Farms Family Estate is a fourth-generation, family run farm, that converted 140 acres to organic production, upgraded the vineyards and started a winery in 2005. Gene and Shelly Covert implement organic and regenerative farming practices of minimal soil disturbance, utilising multispecies cover crops, rotating a diverse range of crops and integrating livestock to ensure the sustainability of the farm for future generations to enjoy. The wines are certified organic and vegan and are crafted with minimal intervention, using natural fermentation when possible.

2020 Sparkling Zinfandel ($29) is a fabulous summer option, whose appearance belies the petillant natural technique of winemaking, which involves the grapes undergoing natural fermentation in a stainless-steel tank, before being gravity fed into bottles, where fermentation is finished without intervention. The unique wine reveals layers of bright fruit, with a natural complexity and lovely minerality. www.covertfarms.ca Here’s the Thing Vineyards was founded by Jamie and Leah McDowell upon deciding to leave their successful careers in Vancouver and move to the Okanagan.

Following advice from their friends who owned a neighbouring winery, they bought a small property, in a

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Tasting Room • Tours • BLOCK ONE Restaurant • Events OPEN YEAR ROUND

17101 Terrace View Road, Lake Country | 250.766.3408 | 50thparallel.com

Elephant Island Winery was established in 1999 by Miranda and Del Halladay in partnership with Miranda’s grandmother and have continued to make the fruit wines that her grandfather Paul had a passion for when he first farmed the orchards. Alongside the winery, the couple have also developed the Naramata Cider Co. 2019 Reserve Chardonnay ($33) is a limited production reserve, and barrelled for 12 months in new French oak, the aroma is of fresh apple and rose blossoms and is round and rich, yet fresh in the mouth. www.elephantislandwine.com Rust Wine Co is a new vinous project (currently transitioning to organic viticulture), born out of some of the oldest vineyards in the Okanagan Valley, planted in the late 1960s. The wines are sourced from five vineyards located throughout the region, each characterised by distinctly different terroirs, climates and exposures to sunshine. Winemaker, Ryan DeWitte is enjoying a burgeoning reputation for creating distinct expressions from the same varietals, such as their Syrah, grown in each of the acreages.

2020 Gewürztraminer ($22) is sourced from the one of the oldest blocks of vines in the Okanagan Valley, planted in 1973 along the Golden Mile Bench and it lights up the nose with notes of ginger and florals, with an unctuous mouthfeel 2020 Rosé ($25) 100% Syrah from the Black Sage Bench and is very berry forward and has a light, dry style. www.rustwine.com

The unique topography and climate of the Okanagan creates a wine growing ecosystem that is uniquely diverse in the type of varietals that can thrive throughout the region. Most established winegrowing areas are renowned for a few species at most, whilst our Canadian desert produces a range of wines that belies its small area. We were fortunate enough to learn so much about the wine produced on our doorstep, thanks to the generous nature of the proprietors and staff in the wineries we visited, who were each happy to take the time and share their love of the grape. We highly recommend supporting these wineries and the others that are raising the industry in BC to such great heights.

CITY tonight!

O ur

by Jim Gordon & Leeta Liepins

Open seven days a week from 11:30 am to late for dine-in restaurant and bar service.

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

GIOVANE BACARO

1029 W. CORDOVA STREET, VANCOUVER

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604-687-9887

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WWW.GIOVANEBACARO.COM

photos (4): Jonathan Thompson Photography

SINCE ITS INCEPTION, the Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel has offered guests a wide array of dining options. Very recently they added another option for guests located at lobby level. Giovane Bacaro is a Venetian inspired café/ restaurant offering Northern Italian cuisine. Having been to Italy a number of times, including the beautiful city of Venice, we were very excited to try this new place. The overall setting is casual yet intimate, courtesy of award-winning interior designers Ste. Marie Studios who should be applauded for creating this relaxed style. The extended room includes a metre-long forcola, a wooden oarlock used in Venetian gondolas. The Manager, Matthew Morgenstern, remarked as he led us to our table, “You come here and make it what you want.” On this late afternoon what we wanted was a few drinks and snacks or cicchetti, but it would become much more thanks to Chef Scott Korzack’s (Ask For Luigi, Autostrada, L’Abattoir).

We began with two aperitivi, a “V&T” (Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth, Tossoni Tonica) and a “Lambrusco Spritz” (Lambrusco, Averna Amaro, grapefruit juice, soda), along with olives marinated in evoo, spices & citrus, Asiago Vecchio with extra virgin olive oil, and Buffalo mozzarella with dried tomato & basil. To complement these bites, the wine director CassandraBEN HOWARD

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Mosher has created a wonderful wine list with something for everyone’s taste. Great selections from Northern Italy can be found along with several selections for BC. We sampled the Albarino “Infinite Zest” Stag’s Hollow 2020 from the Okanagan and Valpolicella Classico, Brigaldara 2019 from Venice.

Brad, our attentive server, surprised us with the superb Beef carpaccio a la Harry’s with peas, piave vecchio, (enough for two) and Prosiutto di Parma with figs in balsamic. Something we hadn’t noticed when first glancing at the menu was a delicious grilled cheese sandwich which was also sampled. Our final two courses were the Moscardini; baby octopus, white beans, saffron, olives, & preserved tomato and the Linguine di mare with snow crab, B.C. spot prawn bisque, semi-dried tomato & basil.

General Manager, Mark Taylor, (Cibo Trattoria, Siena) and his team should be proud of what they have created with this cozy oasis. It was a wonderful few hours to enjoy some delicious food, cocktails, and wine. Dining at Giovane Bacaro gave us even more reasons to long for a return visit to one of our favourite countries in the world but in the meantime we had a little glimpse and taste of a getaway right in our own backyard.

EXCLUSIVE VANCOUVER DREAM ESTATES

WORLD CLASS WATERFRONT ESTATE RESIDENCE

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WEST VANCOUVER - $24.8 MILLION -

THIS WORLD CLASS WATERFRONT GATED ESTATE RESIDENCE IS SITUATED ON ITS OWN PRIVATE PENINSULA with spectacular ocean and island views, sandy beach and approximately 500 feet of natural shoreline.

Extensively renovated in 2005 - 2008, this four bedroom, seven bathroom luxury residence is uniquely positioned and stands alone as one of the largest and most impressive waterfront estate properties in Greater Vancouver.

Clean, contemporary, modern and inviting with spectacular views though vast walls of glass and fold away doors, the home is bright and open. A large limestone entrance halls leads to entertainment size principal rooms featuring 16 foot ceilings and a feature fireplace, formal dining area for up to 16 guests and a sensational SNEIDERO kitchen boasting 12 MIELE and SUB ZERO appliances and a 14 ft white Italian STATUARIO marble island. A comfortable adjoining family room offers glass walls into the indoor boat house and serene water and island vistas.

On the upper level an extraordinary large master suite with

private, walk-out ocean side terrace features a walk in dressing area and beautiful private bathroom. There are three additional bedrooms and a privately situated guest suite.

Many additional features of this exceptional 8800 sq. ft. residence include extensive concrete construction, aqua thermal and hot water heating, air conditioning, LITE TOUCH integrated lighting and a sophisticated security system with monitored cameras, silent sun shades throughout and hot water radiant heating. The home features a sensational KALEIDESCOPE LA SCALA Media/Theatre room that is truly incredible.

The private beautifully landscaped seaside terraces feature a resort style glass-tiled infinity Swimming Pool, Jacuzzi and full Resort Spa – changing room and shower with steam room.

The entire property is professionally landscaped and illuminated at night with dramatic effect. A large gated motor court and 4-5 vehicle garage are conveniently situated with direct access to the home.

This irreplaceable oceanfront estate is situated on a most prestigious, private gated street with only 14 exclusive homes.

MALCOLM HASMAN www.malcolmhasman.com

VANCOUVER’S TOP SELLING LUXURY AGENT Angell Hasman & Associates (Malcolm Hasman) Realty Ltd.

1555 Marine Drive, West Vancouver

604.290.1679

Residence Size: 8,445 SQ FT | Lot Size: 21,205 SQ FT | 4 Bedrooms | 4 and 3 Half Bathrooms | Garage: 4-5 Vehicles | $24.8M

EXCLUSIVE VANCOUVER DREAM ESTATES

A MAGNIFICENT 1.74 ACRE ESTATE RESIDENCE 13283 56 AVENUE, PANORAMA RIDGE, SOUTH SURREY

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- $9.98 MILLION -

LOCATED IN SOUTH SURREY’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS PANORAMA RIDGE ENCLAVE, this grand-scale estate residence sits majestically on a private almost two acre park-like estate with gated driveway, manicured gardens and wonderful ocean views.

Designed by one of Vancouver’s most respected architects, this Classic European Inspired Mansion boasts over 14,400 square feet of expansive living space on three generous levels.

Exceptional quality and design, impressive stonework and hand crafted mill work create a luxurious eleven bedroom, eleven bathroom family residence with formal Grande Foyer, large entertainment size Living and Dining Rooms, garden side Music Room, richly paneled Office and Study. A large Gourmet Chef’s Kitchen adjoins a breakfast bar and casual daily Eating areas and large Family room all providing walk-out access to the poolside side terraces including a covered summer BBQ and Dining area with fireside outdoor lounge.

Upstairs, a lavish Master Suite with a beamed barrel ceiling enjoys spectacular ocean views, private Sitting area with fireplace, dressing rooms and a sensational marble bathroom.

Four additional children’s bedroom suites as well as a second Master or Guest Suite is in a private wing on the main level.

The lower level resembles a 5-star Resort with a fully equipped exercise Gym with private Spa, Wet Bar and Media Room, temperature controlled walk-in Wine Room and a World Class Home Theatre!

The professional landscaped grounds enjoy extensive night lighting with evening ambiance that is simply outstanding.

This one of a kind dream estate is located conveniently in the heart of this most sought after and prestigious neighborhood, only minutes to schools and shopping and 30 minutes to Vancouver International airport.

MALCOLM HASMAN www.malcolmhasman.com

VANCOUVER’S TOP SELLING LUXURY AGENT Angell Hasman & Associates (Malcolm Hasman) Realty Ltd.

1555 Marine Drive, West Vancouver

604.290.1679

Residence Size: 16,398 SQ FT |

Lot Size: 1.74 ACRES | 11 Bedrooms | 11 and 2 Half Bathrooms | $9.98M