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See Her, � Hear Her Eva Longoria became famous for her appearance on TV and in movies, but her strong activist’s voice may be winning her more fans than her celebrity.
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Outside of the studio, Longoria leads organizations like the Latino Victory Project, the Futuro Fund, Eva’s Heroes, and the Eva Longoria Foundation.
s part of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15, Variety and Variety Latino launched the “Power of Latinos: 20 Most Influential Stars List,” spotlighting the most successful Latino film and TV actors in Hollywood. Those who made the list of 10 men and 10 women didn’t get there solely because of professional accomplishments; the criteria included how influential and appealing the celebrities are within the Latino community. Eva Longoria was in the top five, along with Sofia Vergara and Jennifer Lopez, and it’s clear why: no one on that list is more dedicated than Longoria to giving Latinos a voice in U.S. politics. “I am beyond humbled,” Longoria told Variety Latino, reacting to her inclusion on the list. “I love being a part of the Hispanic community just like I love being a part of the women’s community. I feel like we need more Latinos in decisionmaking positions in all industries, not just entertainment.” In case you don’t keep up with Longoria’s career outside of Hollywood, here’s a little summary of just some of her accomplishments: as one of seven Californians named to the post of co-chair of Obama’s re-election campaign in 2012, she helped President Obama secure 73 percent of the Latino vote; she lobbies wholeheartedly for immigration reform; and she’s initiated the Latino Victory Project to raise funds for candidates. She is the founder of the Eva Longoria Foundation, which helps Latinas and their families improve their futures through education and entrepreneurship. And she knows about entrepreneurship firsthand: Longoria has also been a successful restaurateur with her eatery, Beso, in Hollywood, California (and later, Las Vegas). She has authored a best-selling cookbook, Eva’s Kitchen: Cooking with Love for Family and Friends (available on amazon.com). She’s been paired up with Food Network Chef Michael Symon to promote a Lay’s potato chip contest, “Do Us a Flavor,” challenging consumers to submit new flavor ideas in return for cash prizes. And behind the camera, she’s an executive producer on the Lifetime series Devious Maids, as well as the documentaries Harvest and Food Chains. Longoria has stated that her defining moment in life came when, before becoming famous, she met Dolores Huerta, the labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the National Farmworkers Assocation (later it became the United Farm Workers). “She said to me, ‘Hermana, one day you’re going to have a voice. Be sure you have something to say,’” Longoria recalls. “I just never forgot that.” November 2014
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“[Mitt Romney] would raise taxes on middle-class families to cut his own—and mine. That’s not who we are as a nation, and let me tell you why: Because the Eva Longoria who worked at Wendy’s flipping burgers— she needed a tax break. But the Eva Longoria who works on movie sets does not.”
Photo:
Stan Honda
— Eva Longoria, in her speech at the 2012 Democratic National Convention
Obama Campaign co-chair Eva Longoria speaks to the audience in Charlotte, NC, on the final day of the 2012 Democratic National Convention.
Longoria does indeed have a voice, and she’s most passionate when she’s using it to effect change in the country. She may have made her name as an actress, first on soap operas and later with the Golden Globe-nominated role of the scheming adulteress Gabrielle Solis on the crazy popular—and just plain crazy at times—Desperate Housewives, which ran for eight seasons from 2004 to 2012, and appeared in a dozen and a half movies, some silly, others noteworthy—but of late it’s her role as a political activist and powerhouse in Democratic politics that’s piquing the public interest most. “I’ve always been politically active,” Longoria told The Daily Beast. “I’ve been involved since Clinton ran in ’92, volunteering, going door-to-door, canvassing, phone-banking… And coming from the state of Texas—the country of Texas, I should say—I’m definitely at the forefront.” “Eva is so much more than a celebrity who occasionally lends her name to causes,” Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)—whom Longoria campaigned for during his Senate run last year—said in a statement. “Eva immerses herself in the pursuit of social and political justice. She knows the issues, is a great strategist, and is willing to sacrifice popularity for her larger sense of purpose.” Longoria has been instrumental in encouraging more Latino and Latina political participation, and to getting more Latinos elected to local, state, and federal offices—and she isn’t slowing down for the 2014 midterms. Longoria has been working mainly behind the scenes, in voter registration, fundraising, getting out the vote, campaign events, and—in a not so behind-the-scenes effort—social media. She’s also been an active supporter of Voto Latino, an organization geared toward Latino Millennials, since its inception in 2008. As co-founder of the Futuro Fund, she helped raise more than $32 million from more than 100,000 Latino donors for Obama’s reelection. And though she clearly has political muscle, when asked 58
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if she has any personal political aspirations, Longoria wrote in The Hollywood Reporter two years ago: “Would I ever run for something? God, no. I have more power as a citizen. Once you become a politician, your hands are tied. I’d rather have a voice.” For the time being, it looks like Longoria doesn’t have time to consider running for office, even if she wanted to. “Ninetynine percent of my time right now is devoted to helping Latinas through educational programs,” she said, referring to the Eva Longoria Foundation. She also has her hands full with Eva’s Heroes—a nonprofit she co-founded to help people with special needs—and promoting Food Chains, a Human Rights Watchendorsed documentary focusing on the unfair treatment of U.S. farmworkers that she executive-produced. Then there is her acting—she has certainly not given that up; in fact, this year alone, she appeared in Frontera alongside Ed Harris, Amy Madigan and Michael Peña, and she has upcoming the indie film Visions; the drama Any Day, co-starring Kate Walsh and Sean Bean; and Refugio, in which she plays a horse acrobat who joins the circus in Mexico in an effort to heal a broken heart. But as fiercely dedicated as she is to her causes and as busy as she is on both sides of the camera, Longoria is not all work and no play. In August, she was caught on camera zipping around town with her boyfriend, Televisa president Jose Antonio Baston, on a Vespa; a month later, in September, the two hit Miami Beach with friends. Longoria even Instagrammed a photo with the caption, “I love my Miami family! @LiliEstefan @Gloria Estefan @emilioestefanjr @katedelcastillo.” Which is not surprising. After all, this is the woman who once said, “I don’t regret anything I ever do or say. I don’t like to live my life being censored. I like to say what I feel, and I think people respect that because you’re honest.” It’s a motto that obviously is serving her well.
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In the living room, a velvet-type chenille tufted sofa from Phyllis Morris of Beverly Hills is accented with bright throw pillows. Hand-forged solid bronze and brass lamps were made in France.
A pair of crystal chandeliers and a marble stairway with a custom black iron railing highlight the grand foyer.
W
hen Dawn Causa was asked to design a ground-up home with her longtime Weston clients, she knew the challenge was vast but the reward would be exciting. After working with the couple—the wife is American, the husband is Cuban American—for about 18 years on a variety of projects, Causa was eager to tackle the interiors of their two story, 14,000-square foot home created by Stofft Cooney Architects and built by Albanese. The couple had lived in the same Weston area for 20 years and knew what they wanted for their new house. With an exterior created in clean Mediterranean design, Causa spent the greater part of three years working her magic inside. “I worked a great deal with the wife, who loves beautiful and refined things,” says the designer, who owns Causa Design Group in West Fort Lauderdale. “While she likes elegance and glamour, I wanted their home to be timeless, like an Oscar de la Renta dress. It had to look fine 10 years from now.”
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The dark wenge wood island top adds a bold contrast to the all-white kitchen, with cabinets from Artisans’ Guild in Naples, Florida. ABOVE RIGHT: A hightop table and barstools are the perfect fit in the 10 x 18-foot wine cellar, which has Venetian stucco walls and French vanilla marble floors. OPPOSITE: Causa created the crotch walnut bar with its Calacutta Macchia Oro marble top. The pearlized leather barstools come from Christopher Guy; across are a matching Baker table and chairs. ABOVE:
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The 6-bedroom (one is a maid’s quarters with an apartment), 10-bath home, completed at the end of last year, is indeed a marvel of fine craftsmanship. With crystal chandeliers, upscale fabrics, French Vanilla marble flooring and Venetian stucco walls, it is both beautiful and sophisticated without being ostentatious. “The interior is clean classical with a touch of Mediterranean, especially the loggia,” says Causa. “The home is not over the top. Merging the inside was easy with the stone exterior and dark stained woods.” The main challenge Causa faced was working with the intricate detail throughout the large home. There are custom columns in the living room, an exquisite fireplace mantel, a grand foyer and stairwell with custom-designed railings, a domed ceiling and a temperature-controlled wine cellar, among other things. And the home is fully automated. “It took time to do things right, but I wanted the couple to enjoy the beauty of their home,” says Causa. “With scale, proportion and balance, I sought to bring the dream and function into reality.” Some rooms were complex and colossal. For example, the kitchen was huge—“a monster,” as the designer so aptly describes the space. It took a great deal of thought to make things work. Since the owner does a lot of entertaining and caters
large events, the room had to look spectacular but also function well. “I brought in companies from Naples and the state of Ohio to make it glamorous and beautiful yet user-friendly,” she says, adding that the countertop has a built-in steamer. “I did a one-of-a-kind design with warm, clean cabinets and mother-of-pearl backdrop with crystal fixtures.” In the large living room used for formal entertaining, Causa worked through the challenges. When she couldn’t find a piece that worked, she designed it herself, like the parson’s-style table in onyx with a silverleaf base. Where there was too much fuss, she figured out ways to hide it. “I reduce wall acne,” she deadpans. In the entertaining area adjacent to the living room, Causa custom-designed the crotched walnut bar, one of the most beautiful woods in the world. She knew the piece would have to function in several arenas. Since the husband’s office and the couple’s home theater space are located nearby, different people would use the bar for specific reasons. “Having couples over for dinner, or guys coming to the husband’s office then going to the bar for drinks and cigars, are frequent happenings here,” says Causa. “It had to work for all of the functions.” The wine cellar adjacent to the dining room has solid iron doors and mahogany cabinets. The clients like different wines and champagnes and hold
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BELOW: A Christopher Gray bed with a velvet headboard and crystal brocade pillows dominates the spacious master suite, which has motorized window treatments and a beautiful sitting area. FAR RIGHT: This night exterior shot of the back of the house is of the courtyard and dining terrace. Urns and fountains complete the dramatic setting.
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frequent tastings in their home. “They are well traveled in Europe and California and have a second home in Utah,” says Causa. “They are sophisticated in their tastes.” The outside terrace is another ideal spot for entertaining. Off the living room, the space is elegant and romantic, and looks at the courtyard and fountain. While seated, guests enjoy mesmerizing lake and rose garden views. With its ambient lighting, the terrace is a perfect place for nighttime soirees. Upstairs, the 1,800-square-foot master suite is soft and serene. The area outside of the chamber is a rotunda with a bridge area where the couple can look across to the guest bedroom and down to the staircase in the grand foyer. It’s a tranquil oasis amid glamorous furnishings, including a bamboo fiber rug that is plush and kind to the touch. “When the wife walked on it, she was in heaven,” says Causa. “It is super yummy.” But the suite’s showpiece is the closet. It has sliding shoe racks, three-way mirrors, clever lighting and special storage areas. “This space is beyond your dreams,” the designer laughs. The wife’s master bath is also a standout. Under the domed ceiling and Baccarat chandelier is a gorgeous soaking tub that was custom made in Ohio. There is a separate shower enclosure, and the plumbing fixtures are made of nickel and solid rock. While every room in this large home exudes a gorgeous elegance and soft glamour, nothing is overdone. The husband and wife are sophisticated in manner yet down-to-earth and family oriented. And the home is a clear reflection of both. “The wife always looks beautiful, it is like she and her husband and their house share the same qualities,” observes Causa. “They are each refined and timeless, warm and inviting. Never ostentatious.” Both husband and wife are thrilled with their new digs and love coming home to relax in its different spaces. While Causa says she doesn’t have a specific look and always designs for the client, she definitely knows what works. She is blessed with an artistic touch. “I design the art that my clients live in,” she says. The artistry of this home speaks for itself.
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White Hot & Cool As the temperatures start to dip, wrap yourself in the season’s softest hues and textures. Photographed by Gio Alma/@gioalmapics/gioalma.com Styled by Marcela Alma/@marcelopolis/marcelaalma.com
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Bishop-sleeve blouse by Zac Posen; at Neiman Marcus, Village of Merrick Park, Coral Gables. White wool shearling jacket by MMissoni; at MMissoni, Aventura Mall. White slim-leg Cady pants by Versace Collection; at Bloomingdale’s, Aventura Mall. Sparkling web collar by Tasha.
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dining guide classic Italian dishes featuring homemade pasta and “the best Pomodoro this side of Naples,” according to Travel & Lesisure. VIGNETOS ITALIAN GRILL — 1342 SW 160th Ave., Weston, 954.660.0470; vignetos. com. The weekday lunch menu features create-your-own-pizzas, while the dinner offerings include baked pastas such as lasagna and penne Romano, classic pasta like spaghetti, and veal, chicken, beef and seafood dishes with authentic Italian flavors.
International BAR ZEN — 250 Racquet Club Road, Weston, 954.389.3300; bonaventureresort and spa.com. Inside the Bonaventure Resort and Spa, Bar Zen servies up snacky foods like rock shrimp salsa cocktail, chicken tenders, burgers and salad. La cote — 4441 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, 305.674.4710; fontainebleau.com/web/dining/ la_cote. Inspired by the Cote d’Azur, this open-air seaside resto offers flavors of the French Riviera using Florida’s fresh local ingredients.
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Mazza Mediterranean Cuisine — 15749 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines, 954.436.9997; mazzarestaurant.com. This little space inside a strip center belies the dining experience to be had here, from the pita triangles with an addictive garlic dip to shawarma, kabobs, moussaka, and lamb chops. SUGARCANE — 3250 N.E. 1st Ave., Miami, 786.369.0353; sugarcanerawbargrill.com. Executive Chef and partner, Timon Balloo, was recently nominated by Food & Wine as “The People’s Best New Chef,” while the restaurant itself was tapped as a semi-finalist for Best New Restaurant by the James Beard Foundation. If that’s not reason enough to check it out, we don’t know what is!
Mexican GOURMET mariachi — 2210 Weston Rd., Weston, 954.384.4473; mariachigourmet.com. Tableside guacamole is just the beginning of a great night, thanks to this restaurant, one of four in a chain that has been family owned and operated for 17 years. Combining the best of Mexican and Spanish cuisine, choose from classics like enchiladas con mole, lechon asado, ropa vieja, paella and much more.
MERCADITO — 3252 NE 1st Ave., Miami, 786.369.0430; mercaditorestaurants.com/ midtown This gourmet Mexican joint in Midtown doesn’t disappoint with their creative twist on typical Mexican dishes. With nearly a dozen taco varieties, four kinds of guac, and three ceviche options, there’s something for everyone. Their hand-crafted cocktails and lengthy list of tequilas are a can’t-miss.
Seafood Billy’s Stone Crab — 400 N. Ocean Drive, Hollywood, 954.923.2300; billysstonecrab.com. The parking situation is a drag, but that doesn’t stop locals and visitors alike from waiting in their cars to get their “in” at this longtime old-school favorite, which is packed every weekend night. Fresh seafood is the main draw, but there are also steaks and other options; a comprehensive wine list, and a lively atmosphere indoors as well as tables right on the edge of the water, where boats pull up filled with hungry diners who get to avoid the parking issue. BONEFISH GRILL — 4545 Weston Rd., Weston, 954.389.9273; bonefishgrill.com.
Tıme to sell the house. Time to enjoy a 70-foot terrace and summer kitchen overlooking the river, the park and the ocean.
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Time to enjoy over 2000 sq. ft. of luxe living, with everything from a Subzero/Wolf kitchen to a sexy “wet room” bath. Time to enjoy a 40,000 sq. ft. private club, with everything from gym and spa, to boat slips and lap pool. Time to enjoy the unique lifestyle of living on a tranquil river in the heart of an exciting city. Time to lock in pre-construction 2 and 3 bedroom prices from the $600’s to over $1 million. Time to visit the waterfront sales gallery now open, across the river from George English Park and Galleria, just north of Sunrise Boulevard. Temporary entrance at 1180 N. Federal Highway, Call 954.233.3288. Preview at riva-condo.com
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2761 Executive Park Drive Weston, Florida 33331 La Dolce Vita Where the River Meets the Park.
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