LX Fort Wayne Fall/Winter 2013 by LX Publications

heartsonfire.com

from the publisher

Welcome.

Bradley Gough Diamonds is thrilled to once again bring you LX Fort Wayne, an artistic fashion and lifestyle magazine. Within its pages, you will find unique and captivating stories, artistic photography, lifestyle features and more. In this Fall/Winter edition, we showcase photographer Berry Behrendt, as he has gloriously captured the essence of Audrey Hepburn for our “Behind the Lens” feature. And that’s just the beginning. Read about the globe’s leading hoteliers across the world in the “Best New Luxury Hotels.” Celebrate an iconic automobile, the Porsche 911, that was introduced 50 years ago. Also meet Pedro E. Guerrero, the personal photographer of possibly the most famous architect the world has ever known in “Documenting Genius.” Locally, we feature “Tying a Pink Ribbon...How To Help A Friend Through Breast Cancer,” where Stephanie Gough reveals her own experience with breast cancer. Plus we are excited to share a special feature on Fort Wayne’s Historic Embassy Theatre. We enjoy seeing you each time you visit us and we look forward to hearing your stories and being part of your life’s special moments. As we walk through the days of this season, know that you can count on us at Bradley Gough Diamonds to help you choose the perfect gift. We have been serving the local jewelry needs of the community since 1982 and we’re proud to offer only the finest designer jewelry in Fort Wayne. Please enjoy this issue of LX Fort Wayne. Warm wishes to you and yours, Bradley Gough

S C AL AR E CO L L EC TI ON

Features

inside

Community 16 Tying a Pink Ribbon 60 Embassey Theater Story Jewelry 10 Mikimoto Pearls 36 Gift Guide Photography 19 Behind the Lens of

Berry Behrendt: A Tribute to Audrey Hepburn

54 Documenting Genius: Pedro

Mikimoto Pearls

Bradley Gough Diamonds Gift Guide

E. Guerrero

Lifestyle 29 50th Anniversary of the Porsche 911

Travel 46 Best New Luxury Hotels Libation 34 Champagne: Fine Anytime Holiday 65 Wassail

Behind the Lens of Berry Behrendt: A Tribute to Audrey Hepburn

29 50th Anniversary of the Porsche 911 7

cover on on thethe cover

Publisher BRADLEY GOUGH Associate Publisher ERIN LANE Editor JON ROBERTS Featured on the cover is the work of international fashion, beauty and portrait photographer, Berry Behrendt. Behrendt has gloriously captured the essence of Audrey Hepburn for our exclusive "Behind the Lens" feature on pages 19-27. (Featured jewelry: Hearts On Fire Ring, Mikimoto Pearls)

Senior Designer ANGIE HALTER Project Coordinators NICOLE HIGGINS ASHLEY ANDERSON COURTNEY DRENTH

LX: a coffeetable magazine LX® Magazine is published by LX Publications, LLC, 524 North Main Avenue, Suite 110, Sioux Falls, SD 57104. LX® accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and or photographs and assumes no liability for products or services advertised herein. LX® reserves the right to edit, rewrite, refuse or reuse material, is not responsible for errors or omissions and may feature the same content on lxmagazines.com, as well as other mediums for any and all purposes. Copyright © 2013 LX Publications LLC. All rights reserved. The entire contents of LX® are protected by copyright© and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of LX Publications, LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part or storage in any data retrieval system or any transmission by any means therefrom without prior written permission is prohibited. LX® and LX® Magazine are trademarks™ of LX Publications, LLC. 8

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Mikimoto History With these words, Kokichi Mikimoto realized his dream of creating the world’s first cultured pearl in 1893. Today, over a century later, our founder’s vision endures. Mikimoto is the world’s foremost producer of the finest quality cultured pearls and a leading designer of exceptional jewelry. When Mikimoto’s homeland of Japan experienced increased foreign trade in the 1800’s, natural pearls became more treasured and coveted than at any other time in history. As a result, the pearl oysters indigenous to the waters surrounding Mikimoto’s hometown of Ise-Shima were soon over-harvested to the point of near extinction. Believing that pearls should be protected at all costs, Mikimoto initiated extensive research on oysters and the process of culturing pearls. His goal: devise a methodology that would entice oysters to create pearls, assuring that women everywhere could experience the gem’s unsurpassed beauty. For Mikimoto, it was the beginning of a lifelong passion, one that would require all of his time and resources. Many years later, after many failures and on the brink of financial ruin, Mikimoto finally succeeded. The day he had been waiting for came on the 11th of July in the year 1893. In the company of his wife Ume, he raised one of the bamboo oyster baskets out of the water, opened an oyster and discovered a shining pearl. For the first time in history, a human being had created a pearl. As the news of this marvelous discovery traveled, the name Mikimoto became synonymous with pearls throughout the world.

Portrait of Kokichi Mikimoto; 1927

Today, Mikimoto is among the world’s most elite luxury jewelry companies and is represented in major international cities including Tokyo, Paris, Moscow, Hong Kong, London, Beverly Hills, New York City, Las Vegas and Costa Mesa – California. Mikimoto offers only the finest cultured pearls available and ensures the legacy of Kokichi Mikimoto will live on for generations to come. Pearl History Whether offered in romance or taken in victory, a symbol of chastity or a mystical aphrodisiac, the pearl’s iridescent luminosity has bewitched for centuries. The gem of nobility and royals, movie stars and high society, pearls have symbolized wealth and good fortune since the 4th century BC. The ancient Greeks insisted pearls be part of the wedding ceremony believing they would not only ensure marital bliss but also, and perhaps more importantly, prevent new brides from crying. India’s Mughal Emperors studded the breast plates, harnesses and headpieces of their elephants’ and horses’ battle armor, succeeding in evoking awe from both friend and foe. Pearl-encrusted finery has been discovered in royal tombs on every continent, but it was the ancient Romans who gave this jewel of the sea history’s most decadent moment. After accepting Cleopatra’s wager that she could consume the wealth of an entire nation in one meal, Marc Antony watched as she removed a pearl earring, crushed it and drank from her golden chalice the powder with her wine. Renowned for their displays of wealth and therefore privilege, nobility during the Renaissance entwined pearls in their hair, embroidered them to their gowns and studded them on their boudoir pillows. The modern, chic elegance that this luminous gem has bestowed even until today can forever be accredited to the French couturier who released women from their corsets with her ‘little black dress’. Coco Chanel believed a woman should never 10

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A special tool used to measure the diameter of pearls

be without her pearls and the jewel has remained the design house’s signature to this day. Elizabeth Taylor, indisputably the world’s most glamorous collector of gems, owned pearls of every size and color. The piece with the most provenance was La Peregrina, a pear-shaped pearl the size of a quail’s egg first owned by King Ferdinand V. She received this extravagant bauble as a gift from Richard Burton in 1969 for agreeing to be his valentine. Even today, pearls of extraordinary beauty continue to be highly prized and coveted. Design Mikimoto designers work tirelessly to create jewels that emanate a feeling of classic elegance. Elegance at Mikimoto means preserving our legendary heritage, while adapting and remaining relevant to today’s clientele. The Mikimoto aesthetic is never trendy: our in-house visionaries design jewels that transcend seasonal trends, destined for timelessness and to be enjoyed by generations. As the world’s premier pearl jeweler, the pearl must be the focus of all Mikimoto jewels. Each individual pearl tells a story and our designers must listen carefully to determine each one’s destiny. Diamonds and other precious gems are added as accents to balance the pearl; however, Mikimoto’s guiding philosophy is that nothing should distract from the luminous beauty of nature’s most precious gift.

A delicate wax mold is carefully created to nestle a Baroque South Sea cultured pearl ring.

At Mikimoto, quality, design and craftsmanship converge in jewels of extraordinary style. They express both the best of contemporary fashion trends and a timeless, eternal elegance - a perfect balance of tradition and innovation. With time, each piece grows in classic appeal, adding to its allure. From the mysterious birth of a pearl to the painstaking care in harvesting, sorting and matching … the creation of Mikimoto jewelry requires the utmost technical skill and artistry at every phase. The jewel springs from the designer’s imagination, and is magically transformed by intricate craftsmanship that brings the idea to life. Skilled craftsmen work in concert with the designer, using a range of demanding techniques to produce the distinctive Mikimoto look. The Mikimoto aesthetic evolved as a skillful blending of European manufacturing techniques with traditional Japanese crafts such as decorative metalworking. This style originated from Mikimoto’s own factory, established as the first factory in Japan making pearl jewelry on a commercial scale. Since then Mikimoto has become one of the few jewelry brands in the world that handle everything from materials procurement to design, manufacturing and sales—an integrated approach still important to Mikimoto today. Adopting various techniques since its establishment, Mikimoto boasts several notable achievements in the history of modern Japanese jewelry making. Absolute attention to detail results in jewelry admired and treasured around the world, for generations past and generations to come.

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Above: Every pearl is assessed by the strictest quality grading standards. Below: Kokichi Mikimoto measuring a pearl; circa 1951. The Pearl King continued investigating means of culturing beautiful pearls until late in life. His scientific achievements helped to make pearl farming in Japan a worldclass industry.

As a mere three to five pearls out of every one hundred harvested are deemed worthy to carry the Mikimoto name, when you wear Mikimoto, you are assured of the finest pearls in the world. Quality Standards Founder Kokichi Mikimoto was tirelessly devoted to maintaining the highest standards of quality and eliminating inferior pearls from the global market. Today, the luster of Mikimoto pearls, their elegance and refinement, can be directly attributed to our founderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dedication to quality. As the Originator of Cultured Pearls, Mikimoto maintains the strictest standards by following a proprietary grading system that measures the quality of each and every pearl. This is the only formal grading system found in the cultured pearl industry. Each pearl is unique, but there are five essential characteristics by which all pearls can be judged in order to determine their quality and value: luster, surface perfection, color, shape and size. As a mere three to five pearls out of every one hundred harvested are deemed worthy to carry the Mikimoto name, when you wear Mikimoto, you are assured of the finest pearls in the world. The Mikimoto Trademark Mikimoto jewelry is identifiable by our trademark: either the outline of an oyster or the Mikimoto name engraved on every jewel. This can be found on the clasp, ring shank or earring back. The Mikimoto trademark is your assurance of the highest standard of quality and integrity.

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2013 marks

120th Anniversary Akoya Cultured Pearl Necklace $15,000

MIKIMOTO'S 120TH ANNIVERSARY To commemorate the anniversary, Mikimoto has created three distinct strands of necklaces, each made of Mikimoto’s finest pearls. The specially designed 120 pearl strand necklaces embody the company’s tradition and dedication to quality and beauty established over a century ago. “These 120 pearl strands represent each milestone in our brand’s 120 year history” says Meyer Hoffman, COO of Mikimoto. “Each pearl symbolizes a moment in our past where we’ve taken our founder’s vision to the next level. With this anniversary, we honor the rich legacy that Kokichi left us while looking forward to the future.” The first design is comprised of 120 Akoya cultured pearls and represents the original pearl that Kokichi cultured in 1893 off the waters of Toba, Japan – a feat that brought him one step closer to fulfilling his dream of women everywhere experiencing the unsurpassed beauty of the pearl. This unique Akoya strand will feature an 18k white gold clasp accented with beautiful royal blue enamel lacquer crafted by skilled artisans in Japan. The second design, made of multi-colored Black South Sea cultured pearls, celebrates the breathtakingly rare type of pearl that Kokichi first cultured in 1914 using a new technique that helped Mikimoto expand cultivation into the waters off of Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Tahiti. The rich dark colors of the pearls range from slate grey, silver and pistachio to peacock green and midnight black with overtones of green, rosé or blue.

120th Anniversary Multi-Colored Freshwater & South Sea Pearl Necklace $33,000

The third strand consists of 120 multi-colored South Sea and Fresh Water pearls and marks Mikimoto’s mid 20th-century expansion into the international market that helped shape the company’s enduring legacy. This necklace is comprised of Golden South Sea, White South Sea and Pink and Peach Freshwater cultured pearls. Both of these exquisite strands will fasten with a paisley motif version of the iconic Mikimoto clasp that is exaggerated in size to accentuate the necklace.

120th Anniversary Multi-Colored Black South Sea Strand $30,000

Ac ro s s f ro m Je f fe r s o n Po i n t e 2 6 0 . 4 3 6 . 9 3 0 0 • w w w. b r a d l ey go u g h . c o m

Tying a Pink Ribbon... How To Help A Friend Through Breast Cancer

By Lyndon Conrad Bell

At Bradley Gough Diamonds these days the holidays are sweeter, the twinkling lights have a bit more sparkle, and there’s a new appreciation for life, love, and the concern of dear friends. Two years ago, just prior to the start of the holiday season, Bradley Gough Diamonds’ Stephanie Gough got the message every woman dreads. Stephanie was diagnosed with an early stage of breast cancer. By now, we’ve all seen the pink ribbons and we all know the statistics—one in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer over their lifetime. Of that number, one in 36 will die from it. So, while being diagnosed isn’t a death sentence per se, it is nevertheless a particular concern. In Stephanie’s case, our story has a happy ending—she is now cancer free and doing fine. What’s more, the experience revealed just how many loving and supportive people she has in her life. Says Stephanie; “I was so blessed to have a great support system; my faith, excellent medical care, a loving and helpful family, wonderful friends; and the very dear people who work at Bradley Gough Diamonds.” She is also particularly grateful to her physician and the staff at Fort Wayne Oncology for their excellent service, warmth, and kindness. Doctors agree this is one of the most important aspects of recovery. Being surrounded by positive people who show they care goes a long way towards helping someone beat the disease. Stephanie’s case is a good example for anyone who knows someone with cancer and is wondering what he or she can do. "When we find out bad news regarding our health, I think the first thing we ask ourselves is why me?" Stephanie says. A person of faith, she believes God has a plan for us all and we impact those around us. For example, after a tough round of chemotherapy— having lost her hair but not her spirits—Stephanie stopped into the bank to make a deposit. The teller, a young woman in her late 20’s, with two young children, upon seeing Stephanie’s shiny bald head confided she too had found a lump but was too scared to go to the Doctor. After a lengthy conversation, Stephanie convinced the young woman to tell her doctor. This helped her make a decision that might well have saved her life. After all, early detection is key to surviving the disease.

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...the best thing you can do when a friend is diagnosed with breast cancer is to continue to be their friend. According to Stephanie, it’s not about grand gestures— it’s about the little things. She says; “My husband was so wonderful. He went to every doctor’s appointment, which was at least once or twice a week. He even stayed home with me after my chemo treatments. My son and daughter-in-law cooked our evening meal every Sunday, while friends took turns making us dinner during the week. One friend came over and wrapped our holiday gifts for me, and another wrote me a delightful get well rap song.” When someone you love is diagnosed with breast cancer, it can be hard to know what to do. Just as in Stephanie’s case, having friends and family on hand to provide support is really important. Thing is, each woman’s needs are different, and they can change over time. When Stephanie was first diagnosed, more than anything else she needed reassurance. Then, when she started chemotherapy, her needs evolved. For this reason, the best thing you can do to help a friend with breast cancer is call her and let her talk. Sometimes she’ll just need a sympathetic ear. As for what to say; simply ask a question. “How are you?” Do not try to downplay what she’s going through by saying: “You’ll be OK”. Just empathize with her and let her know you care and hope she’ll be OK. Sometimes, she might not want to talk about it at all. When you call, ask a question that will let her talk about whatever she wants; “How’s it going today?” is an open-ended question she can field however she prefers. Stephanie’s friends did a lot. One of her treatment days coincided with a promotion their store runs called “Men’s Night Out”. Bradley’s presence at the event is imperative. Further, it can keep him away from home for up to 15 hours. Still touched by the memory, Stephanie tearfully recounts; "That day, our friends took shifts and stayed with me until late that evening. I will never forget how my neighbor who works out of his home came over to check on me after Bradley left to go back to work. He stayed until his wife—who is a nurse—came over after her shift at the hospital. She then stayed with me until Bradley came home." The people who work at the store pitched in too. They even worked extra hours during the holidays so Bradley could take Stephanie for chemo treatments every two weeks. They also sent him home with lots of cooked meals, get well cards, and baskets of goodies. Never underestimate the value of good home cooking (if you can cook). “The day I came home from the hospital, we had seven meals dropped off by friends,” Stephanie says. “This really touched our hearts—and saved us a lot of stress and worry about dinner. Further, it really cemented for us just how grateful we are to have so many caring friends.” Be aware of how you treat your friend. It will be very difficult, but try to avoid treating her differently as much as possible. In trying to be sensitive, many people wind up treating their friend like a delicate orchid—when what they really want to do is live as normal a life as possible. If they’re strong enough, encourage them to go out and get fresh air. Take them for drives, and if they were athletically oriented, try to engage them in as much physical activity as they can take. Another thing you can do is form a support group from among mutual acquaintances. Stephanie: “A very dear friend and I started a support group of women who have had breast cancer. We have 14 women meeting for lunch once a month. In supporting each other, we have developed such wonderful friendships.” As we’ve seen from Stephanie’s experience, the best thing you can do when a friend is diagnosed with breast cancer is to continue to be their friend. For more, visit www.cancer.org/cancer/news/when-your-friend-has-breast-cancer

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pendant from the kwiat star collection

behind the lens of berry behrendt By Lyndon Conrad Bell

a tribute to

audrey hepburn

Photographer Berry Behrendt Styling Wouri Vice Market Editor Ade Samuel Makeup Sonja Yaso Hair Andreas Schoenagel, Artist Management (using EZ Keratin) Photographers Assitant Anna Dilthey Model Rachele Schank, Women Direct, NY

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Berry Behrendt, born in Hamburg, Germany, started his career as a photographer after touring and recording as a musician in Europe for several years. His distinctive style won him considerable demand quite quickly. In short order, Behrendt received assignments to shoot fashion and beauty spreads for a number of well-known European and American magazines, including German Vogue, Soma, Vibe, Essence and Sunday Telegraph Magazine. Behrendt has also produced images of musical artists such as Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Moby, Busta Rhymes and Bootsy Collins. While he maintains a Hamburg office, Behrendt has also lived and worked in New York City since 2001. To learn more about the man, his work and what happens behind the lens of Berry Behrendt, we commissioned him to shoot this series of photographs so we could discuss them with him in detail.

Fashion inspires me, sure, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really more about the personality of the model, which I choose based on the assignment. - Berry Behrendt

Top Enekyo Pants Gucci Shoes Edmundo

Dress Blumarine Necklace Fenton Fallon Bracelet Larucci

LX Magazine: Clearly you were going after an Audrey Hepburn theme with this shoot; please describe the process you went through to create these images. Berry Behrendt: As soon as I learned what we were trying to accomplish, the film Breakfast At Tiffany’s popped into my head and became our theme. With the Hepburn theme, we had a terrific head start because explaining to the stylist, makeup artist and hair stylist what we were going after was very easy. Everybody in fashion knows Audrey Hepburn, so we were off and running in pretty short order. LX: What did you see in this particular model that made her right for the shoot? BB: I met Rachele on another shoot I was doing and thought of her right away when this project came up. She has an outgoing personality that works particularly well for what we were going after. She’s very friendly and very lively. Even before this assignment, I had already seen an Audrey Hepburn-esque quality in her. Rachele really made the shoot. In fact I conceived the project with her in mind, so the shoot just sort of evolved around her. LX: What is the foundation of your photographic approach? BB: Fashion inspires me, sure, but it’s really more about the personality of the model, which I choose based on the assignment. My approach is also driven by the theme. You have to make sense of the clothing first, or the jewelry or whatever it is you’re featuring. Beyond that, you just have to impart a particular feel to the images. My overriding goal is to always try to do something interesting with the person I’m shooting. Ultimately, my work is driven more by the person in the image. LX: These photographs have a very definite look and feel to them, even if I didn’t know you shot them all, I would know they were all shot by the same photographer. In other words, you have a clearly identifiable style. How did you develop it? 22

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Dress Novis

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BB: Thanks for saying that. Honestly, I’m actually always debating with myself if I truly have a style. These days, there are so many photographers out there; it’s difficult to stand out. One of the things that concerns me these days is for so many photographers out there now, their work all looks the same. It’s almost as if photographers are becoming somewhat interchangeable to a degree. I’m not saying I’m any better than anyone else, but I really try to make my work look different somehow. Having been doing this for more than 20 years now, I have learned in most cases the style is dictated by the client. Of course, I like to think the nature of the look I achieve is why my clients come to me. That said, you must have a variety of ways to get there. The main thing is I do what I do, and I make sure I like what I do. Typically, if I like it, others do too, and this seems to work consistently for me. Most of all though, I try to have a believable relationship with the model—and see that relationship conveyed in the finished photographs.

Turtleneck & Pants Moschino Hat Patricia Underwood Necklace Fenton Fallon Earrings W29

Dress Furne One Gloves Sermoneta Earrings Circa 66

Fur & Feather Boas Adrianne Landau Gloves Caroline Amato Earrings Fenton Fallon

Hat Patricia Underwood Top Enekyo Pearls Mikimoto

LX: What’s your background? Did you study photography formally? How did you decide to become a professional photographer? BB: Actually, no, I didn’t study photography formally. I was a working musician for a while and started in photography as an assistant for an established photographer to supplement my income. In doing so, I learned enough to take on small assignments on my own. After a couple of years of doing this, people started seeing my work and asking me if I could shoot things for them. Truthfully, photography just sort of evolved into my career. LX: Coming up, who were some of the photographers you admired? How did their work influence yours? BB: Richard Avedon, Cecil Beaton, Irving Penn and many of the other classic photographers have informed my approach. This particular shoot was definitely inspired by Avedon’s work with Audrey Hepburn. There are a number of young contemporary photographers I enjoy as well. And while their work is completely different from mine, I still find inspiration in what they are doing. LX: What was your first professional assignment? BB: My first assignment was for the photographer for whom I was assisting. It actually came about by happenstance. He was off skiing in the Swiss Alps when this big catalog shoot came in. He couldn’t get back in time, so I had to shoot it for him. Doing that shoot forced me to take responsibility for producing images for the first time. From doing this, I learned I could take the responsibility—I could actually execute a shoot. When you’re the photographer, it’s your responsibility to make sure everyone on the set is instilled with the confidence the work will turn out well. That shoot was my baptism by fire so to speak. LX: Describe your dream assignment. BB: Honestly, every assignment I get is a dream assignment these days. I really love to work. A client who respects what you do and is happy with the pictures you make is the absolute best. This, for me, is a dream assignment. I also like photographing interesting people from a variety of fields; musicians, politicians, actors—fascinating people I’d like to get to know. I suppose that qualifies too. More than anything else though, I really like what I do, so any chance I get to do it is a dream come true.

A Tradition of Brilliance

By Lyndon Conrad Bell

In September of 1963, the world got its first glimpse of what would become the most successful sports car the planet has ever known. Over seven generations of steady development, the Porsche 911 has continually evolved in a manner in which there can be a straight line drawn between the first Porsche Type 901 show car and todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Porsche 911 50th Anniversary Model grand touring/sports car.

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When the 911 was initially shown at the 1963 Frankfurt Auto Show, it was called the Porsche Type 901. The people running the French car company Peugeot objected, declaring their company had established the rights to use three-number model designations with a zero in the middle. Rather than get caught up in a prolonged legal battle, Porsche replaced the zero with a one. When the car went on sale in 1964, it was billed as the Porsche 911. Porsche has applied the principle of continuous evolution to the 911. In other words, rather than remaking the car from scratch every five to seven years, Porsche works to improve some aspect of the car every year, altering its aspects only to improve the performance of the model. As a result, the overall mechanical layout of the Porsche 911 is essentially the same as it was on that first Type 901 introduced in 1963. Further, the profile of today’s car mimics the original car’s almost perfectly. In fact, the shape has become so iconic, it is immediately recognizable as a Porsche 911—whether you’re looking at the 1963 car, the 1983 car, the 2003 car or today’s 2013 car. Interestingly though, the 911 is actually an evolution of an even older model, the Porsche 356, which was introduced in 1948. Although truthfully, if you want to go all the way back, both of those cars owe their powertrain layout and overall shape to the Volkswagen Type 1 originated by Dr. Ing. Ferdinand Porsche—the namesake of the company and one of the most prolific automotive engineers of all time. 30

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For the record, it is POR-sha—not “PORSH”.

Porsche is credited with creating the first gasoline electric hybrid automobile; one of the earliest purely electric automobiles; the Volkswagen Beetle; and the Mercedes-Benz SS/SSK range of automobiles—in addition to some of the most formidable racing cars of his time. As remarkable as all of that is, his crowning achievement—the one towering over all of the others— is the creation of the Porsche sports cars. Except…Ferdinand Porsche didn’t do the 356, nor did he do the 911. Porsche’s son, Ferry, did the 356 based on the rear-engine/rear-drive Volkswagen Type 1 (also known as the Volkswagen Beetle) his father created to fulfill Adolf Hitler’s desire for an affordable automobile for the German people. So, while we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Porsche 911 this year, the truth

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of the matter is the car’s lineage goes all the way back to 1931. Development of the actual 911 started in 1956, under the direction of Ferry Porsche. The other people key to the development of the car were Porsche’s automotive stylist son, Butzi Porsche, body engineer, Edwin Komenda and powertrain engineers, Hans Tomala and Ferry’s nephew, Ferdinand Piech—who joined the project in its latter stages to do some finishing work on the engine. Where the 356 used a swing arm rear suspension and a horizontally opposed air-cooled four-cylinder engine mounted behind the passenger compartment, it was decided the 911 would use an independent rear suspension setup to improve handling. For more power, the new car would employ a horizontally opposed air-cooled sixcylinder engine.

From its original displacement of 2.0-liters and 130 horsepower, the 911’s engine has grown to as much as 3.8-liters. Further, it now employs liquid cooling and has produced over 400 horsepower in production applications. Turbocharged racing versions have produced in excess of 1000 horsepower. As much a trademark of the car as the Porsche badge on its nose, the aural signature of the 911’s flat-six engine is uniquely distinctive. It can be argued quite successfully the Porsche 911 is more than a grand touring/sports car. It is an icon around which a cult-like following has developed. The people who love the 911 are so fanatic about the model they will literally spend hours arguing with other people about the correct pronunciation of the company’s name. For the record, it is POR-sha—not “PORSH”.

Much has been written and discussed about the secret of the success of the Porsche 911. To date, in excess of 300 books have been produced about the car. Further, new tomes are published each and every year. The car has been examined from every conceivable angle. However, the answer to the question of the success of the 911 is actually very simple. The Porsche 911 is unique in the automotive world. Like no other automobile, it seamlessly combines opposites. With a 911 you get sportiness and everyday usability, tradition and innovation, exclusivity and social acceptability, design and functionality. Since 1963, some 820,000 copies of the model have been built over seven generations. More than just the most successful sports car in the world, the Porsche 911 is also the most successful sports racing car human beings have ever known. In addition to competing on racetracks, the 911 has also been modified for rallying purposes and proven quite successful in that area of motorsport as well. Ferry Porsche described the exceptional versatility of his masterpiece quite succinctly when he said; “The 911 is the only car you can drive from an African safari to Le Mans, then to the theatre, and onto the streets of New York.” Thanks to its continuous evolution, the Porsche 911 comes just about as close to perfection as any car will ever get. With that said, the next one will be even better, and the one following it will be even better still. What we have in the 2013 Porsche 911 is the culmination of everything the world’s most successful sports car company has ever learned about building cars—all contained in one model.

Champagne: Fine Anytime by William Anderson

he “Devil’s Wine,” as the monks who created it dubbed the volatile spirit, has become the staple of our celebrations, an object of affection and obsession for rappers, crucial for the christening of ships, a bartender’s secret weapon in scores of dazzling cocktails and has secured its place in our culture as the highlight of high society. In the world of spirits, champagne is a relative newcomer with a short history, but this effervescent elixir has had little trouble garnering popularity and status amongst vinophiles and cocktail connoisseurs worldwide.

The Champagne region of France has been producing grapes and exquisite wines since the Romans first planted vineyards there in the fifth century, but it wasn’t until Benedictine monks living there accidentally created le vin du diable by introducing a small amount of sugar to the wine before corking. When bottles began exploding in their wine cellars, the monks began wearing heavy iron masks before checking on their fermentations to avoid injuries from exploding bottles. The legendary monk Dom Perignon is often credited with the discovery of champagne, but documentation of champagne and the fermenting practices it requires predate Monsieur Perignon by several decades. He did, however, pioneer a practice still in use today: a wire net used to secure the cork to the bottle to prevent the pressure from prematurely popping the top. His dedication to this spirit and pioneering methods helped foster its popularity and paved the way for sparkling winemakers around the world. In his honor, French winemaker Moët et Chandon created a champagne as legendary as the monk, and it has become one of the most prestigious and sought after champagnes in the world. “Dom is popular mostly because of its rarity – the fact that it’s hard to get,” explains Beau Vondra, representative for a large food and spirits retailer. “They limit the amount that they make, and as a result, a lot of high-end champagnes will only produce 500 to 900 cases per year. Supply and demand drives the price up.” The demand for luxury champagnes has grown exponentially in recent years. Vondra’s store has seen increased demand for Dom Perignon and Cristal, the vin de choix of rappers, movie stars, and celebrities. While some may balk at the price tag, Vonda would remind them that with it comes a rarity, an age, and a mastering of the art of champagne-making that is rivaled by none. Still, he notes that high end champagnes owe much to pop-culture for their popularity.

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For consumers who might be in the market for something a bit more modestly priced, the champagne industry offers a wide variety of options from various vineyards, and a seemingly endless range of options based on taste and price. The Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia explains the range of sweet to dry champagnes: Doux is the sweetest of all champagnes with over 50 grams of sugar per liter, and scaling towards the dryer, less-sweetened end are demi-sec, sec, extra dry, brut (the most popular type of champagne with less than 15 grams of sugar per liter), extra brut, and brut natural (with less than 3 grams of sugar per liter). Tom Slattery, the general manager of a wine and spirits store, says that he gets asked questions about champagnes and sparkling wines more often than most products.

“Champagne used to be such an exclusive drink, reserved for celebrations, but adding it as a mixer allows it to be casually enjoyed in an every-day fashion.” “It’s one of the most misconceived products on the market, when really it’s just wine with a bubble,” Slattery explains. “The regionality of champagne is more important than the various styles. It is one of the most misunderstood products on the market, probably because of the generic use of the term.” Most American consumers refer to all sparkling wines as champagne, when in fact it is not true. Champagne, by law, is a term that can only be applied to wines produced in the Champagne region of France. America, however, is certainly becoming a more prominent player in the sparkling wine industry, as John Thuringer, a fine wine specialist for Republic National Distributing Company explains. “What really put American sparkling wine on the map was Schramsberg,” he notes. “Nixon brought it on his trip to China in 1976. This marked the first time that an American President had used a non-French sparkling wine at an official White House function. The wine was such a hit that it has been used by every President since.” Nestled in the heart of Napa Valley, Schramsberg is a pioneer in the American sparkling wine industry and is a leading producer of fine sparkling wines worldwide. Those less discerning about dryness, sweetness, or regionality may enjoy one of the many popular champagne-based cocktails that have been increasing in demand at bars and restaurants in recent years. Taking things a step further than your average mimosa, a Flirtini is a martini made with vodka, Cointreau, champagne and pineapple juice. Another popular use for champagne is in a bellini, or, “The Italian Margarita.” A delightful blend of frozen peach nectar, white wine, champagne and rum, finished with a hearty swirl of sangria, a bellini is the perfect after-dinner cocktail. “It satisfies both men’s and women’s taste buds,” explains Nicole Webster, a banquet manager with much experience in mixology. “Champagne used to be such an exclusive drink, reserved for celebrations, but adding it as a mixer allows it to be casually enjoyed in an every-day fashion.” While cocktails like these strive to incorporate champagne into an average night out, many still consider champagne something to be consumed in celebration. You might not find the average American family sitting down with a bottle of brut over dinner, but weddings, birthdays, holidays and promotions offer the most popular opportunities to lift spirits with bubbling elixir. For these occasions, people will always turn to champagne to commemorate and celebrate; however, as Thuringer notes, bars and restaurants are onto something by adding champagne to featured cocktails. “The direction is there where there are so many affordable whites that it doesn’t have to be reserved for holidays and special events,” Thuringer says. “Champagne is fine anytime.”

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Bradley Gough Diamonds

Gift Guide BYZANTINE CROSS Sterling Silver And 18K Yellow Gold Ancient Bronze Byzantine Cross Framed Pendant With Linked Chain $695

CHATHAM 14K White Gold 7.10cttw Chatham Blue Sapphire And .72cttw Diamond Cuff Bracelet $9,500

CHERIE DORI

BASTIAN

14K Yellow Gold Blue Lagoon Turquoise And Yellow Sapphire Pendant $1,895 (chain sold separately)

Sterling Silver Multi-Oval Blue Topaz Ring $325

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YAEL 18K White Gold/Yellow Gold 5.07cttw Emerald with 1.84cttw Diamond Earrings $27,500 18K White Gold/Yellow Gold 4.86cttw Emerald with 1.39cttw Diamond Pendant $21,500 18K White Gold/Yellow Gold 5.87cttw Emerald with 1.10cttw Diamond Ring $18,500

MIKIMOTO PEARL 18K Yellow Gold 8x7mm Akoya Pearl Strand with 8mm Studs Special Edition $3,990

BELLE Ă&#x2030;TOILE

YAEL 18K White Gold/Yellow Gold .89cttw Fancy Yellow Diamond With .76cttw Side Diamond Ring $15,885

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Sterling Silver Galaxy Turquoise Enamel CZ Ring $225 Pendant $225 Bangle Bracelet $450

DANCING DIAMONDS 14K White Gold .07cttw Diamond Heart Pendant $380

DANCING DIAMONDS 14K White Gold .50cttw Diamond Figure Eight Pendant $1,575

DANCING DIAMONDS 14K White Gold .30cttw Diamond Pendant $1,275

DANCING DIAMONDS 14K White Gold .62cttw Diamond Circle Earrings $1,750

KWIAT 18K White Gold 1.32cttw Diamond Pear/Round Shaped Sunburst Eternity Band $4,500

DIADORI 18K White Gold And Rose Gold Natural Pink Diamond With .27cttw Diamond Engagement Mounting* $5,950

IDDEAL STAR 14K White Gold 1.00cttw Diamond Halo Split Shank Bridal Ring $3,750 14K White Gold Stud Earrings starting at $1,750

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HEARTS ON FIRE 18K White Gold Beloved Diamond Necklace starting at $1,850 18K White Gold Beloved Diamond Stud Earrings $2,450

HEARTS ON FIRE 18K White Gold Lorelei Bloom Diamond Pendant $2,250

HEARTS ON FIRE 18K White Gold Beloved Open Gallery Engagement Ring starting at $3,850

TACORI 18K White Gold .77cttw Diamond Halo Petite Crescent Engagement Ring* $6,875

GELINABACI 14K White And Rose Gold .28cttw Diamond Channel Set Tension Mounting* $4,650 14K White Gold .75cttw Diamond Pave Tension Mounting* $7,695

VERRAGIO Two Tone .55cttw Diamond Ring* $5,170

TACORI 18K White Gold .43cttw Diamond Petite Crescent Engagement Ring* $4,675

VERRAGIO Two Tone .40cttw Diamond Ring* $4,125

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TACORI TACORI Sterling Silver And 18K Yellow Gold Clear Quartz Over Neo Turquoise Dangle Earrings $590 Necklace $620

Sterling Silver And 18K Yellow Gold Black Onyx Dangle Earrings $330

DEBBIE BROOKS iPhone Black And White Flower Case $48

DEBBIE BROOKS Frog iPhone/Wallet Wristlet $98

LUXURY PEN Pink Swarovski Crystal Pen With Swarovski Element Top $35 40

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KABANA 14K Rose Gold Pink Mother of Pearl and Diamond Dangle Earrings $4,395

TACORI Sterling Silver And 18K Yellow Gold Clear Quartz Over Red Crystal Dangle Earrings $460 Sterling Silver And 18K Yellow Gold Clear Quartz Over Red Crystal Ring $410

TACORI Sterling Silver And 18K Yellow Gold Oval Briolette Cut Black Onyx Link Dangle Earrings $420

ASHI 14K Rose Gold/White Gold/Yellow Gold 1.00cttw White Diamond/Yellow Diamond Fashion Ring $5,595

ASHI 14K Rose Gold/White Gold/Yellow Gold .70cttw White Diamond/Yellow Diamond Pendant $3,275

MIKHAIL 14K White Gold Pink Tourmaline and Diamond Ring $3,700

ASHI 14K Rose Gold/White Gold/Yellow Gold 1.00cttw Diamond Fashion Ring $4,950 www.bradleygough.com

ROBERTO COIN 18K White Gold Diamond Inside/Out Hoop Earrings starting at $2,380 41

MAURICE LACRIOX Men’s Pontos Chronograph Titanium Orange Accented Watch $3,980

ORIS Limited Edition Men’s Stainless Steel Oris Calobra Le Chronograph Automatic With Black With Red Accented Dial On A Black And Red Leather Strap Watch $3,900

MAURICE LACRIOX Men’s Masterpiece Calendrier All Blue Watch $8,900

ORIS Men’s Stainless Steel Oris Big Crown Day/Date Black Dial With Brown Leather Strap Watch $1,650

MICHELE Ladies Stainless Steel Mini Diamond Deco White Mother Of Pearl Watch On Stainless Bracelet $1,595

MICHELE Ladies Stainless Steel Serene Moonphase Diamond Case Watch With Leather Strap $1,995

ROBERTO COIN 18K Yellow Gold/White Gold/Rose Gold Pois Moi Single Row Bangle Bracelet starting at $3,900 each 42

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SWISS ARMY

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Men’s Rose Gold Tone Chronograph Black Dial With Brown Leather Strap Watch $1,695

BULOVA ACCUTRON Ladies Stainless Steel Chronograph with Diamond Dial And Bezel Watch $1,495

SWISS ARMY Men’s Night Vision Black Ice Green Dial With Green Rubber Strap Watch $695

BULOVA ACCUTRON Ladies Rose Gold Tone And Stainless Silver Dial And Diamond Bezel Watch $399

BELLE ÉTOILE Sterling Silver Tigris Black And White Enamel CZ Cuff Bracelet $695 Pendant $325

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BEST NEW

HOTELS By Martin Sayers

The world may still be in the grip of recession but the globe’s leading hoteliers don’t seem to have noticed. A range of high-end resorts across the world have recently opened and offer no compromise in terms of location or facilities.

Palais Namaskar - Morocco Palais Namaskar in Marrakech is one of the newest pretenders to the title of Morocco's most luxurious hotel. This spectacular Moorish building is nestled between the Atlas Mountains and Djebilet Hills, and offers immaculately kept grounds studded with lakes, ponds and scented gardens, as well as a variety of outdoor baths, heated swimming pools and Jacuzzis. Rooms, suites and villas are available for booking, as well as two multibedroomed ‘palaces’ that include private kitchens, swimming pools and 24hour butler service. The hotel even has its own liveried private jet that is on hand to collect guests from any airport around the world and fly them directly to Marrakech.

Palais Namaskar

Palais Namaskar 47

Hotel Burj Al Arab

Hotel Burj Al Arab - Dubai

This new hotel in the billionaireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playground of Dubai has been designed to resemble a billowing sail and at around 700 feet tall, dominates the skyline. The 28 double-story floors of the hotel accommodate 202 luxury suites, with prices ranging from $1,000 to over $28,000 per night. Chauffeur driven RollsRoyces are on offer to all guests and each floor of the towering structure boasts its own reception desk, while a team of butlers provides 24-hour service. Private shoppers are on hand to ensure that guests can benefit from Dubaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legendary shopping scene without leaving the resort and the hotel, which features six signature restaurants and its own private beach. 48

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The Shangri-La at The Shard - London

London’s most anticipated luxury hotel opening for many years has been legendary Hong Kong hotelier Shangri-La’s contribution to the incredible skyscraper known as ‘The Shard’. This new building, designed by architect Renzo Piano, is the tallest in Europe standing 70 stories tall and is scheduled to open this fall. The hotel is the first new-build, five-star hotel in the Central London area in over a decade. With 202 deluxe guest rooms, averaging more than 452 sq. ft., The Shard will be amongst the largest in the city — introducing a new standard of ‘suite-style’ accommodation to the British capital. Facilities include a Champagne bar situated on level 52, which boasts spectacular views over the River Thames and the city of London.

The Shard

Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti - Tanzania

Set in the heart of Tanzania’s famous Serengeti National Park, this property has a collection of rooms, suites and private villas that enjoy views over unspoiled wilderness. The setting offers guests the opportunity to get close to wildlife in a safe and ecologically responsible environment while still enjoying the height of luxury.

Four Seasons Safari Lodge

Featuring contemporary African architecture sympathetic to the natural landscape, the centerpiece is a two-story great house that offers several dining options with indoor and outdoor seating, which is connected to guest accommodations and a spa by elevated wooden walkways. The hotel’s large infinity pool overlooks an active watering hole that is regularly visited by a herd of elephants. St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort

St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort - USA

Heralded as the ‘most anticipated luxury hotel opening of 2012,’ the new St. Regis resort in Miami is certainly an attractive option for anyone who wants to vacation in Florida. Each of the hotel’s 243 rooms and suites features glassenclosed balconies that offer floor-to-ceiling panoramic views of the beach and ocean beyond. The location doesn’t get any better as far as Miami is concerned as the hotel is perched oceanside in the exclusive Bal Harbour district, directly adjacent to the world renowned Bal Harbour Shops and just minutes from the buzz and vibrancy of South Beach.

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Ballyfin - Ireland

Nestled at the foot of Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Slieve Bloom Mountains, Ballyfin is a Regency-era mansion that was once the family-seat of the Cootes family before being run as a school. After falling into disrepair, the site was bought by developers and the house underwent eight years of meticulous restoration before opening as one of Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most luxurious hotels in 2011. Just fifteen guest rooms are contained within this huge house, which boast 600-acres of parkland containing a lake, ancient woodland, garden buildings, follies and grottoes.

The Alpina Gstaad The Alpina Gstaad

The Alpina Gstaad – Switzerland

This luxury hideaway in the heart of the Swiss Alps represents the first luxury hotel to be built in the exclusive ski resort of Gstaad for over 100 years. Although new, the hotel has been built in traditional Swiss style, with all the stonework handcrafted by local stonemasons. Alpine herbs and flowers have been planted in the lush gardens that surround the property. The Alpina boasts attractions such as a wine tasting room, a cigar room, a private cinema and a 25-meter indoor lap pool, while its spectacular location ensures incredible views of the surrounding mountains from every room. The hotel will also host the first Western European location of the renowned Japanese restaurant MEGU.

Palace Hotel Tokyo – Japan

This contemporary Japanese hotel occupies the most enviable position in Tokyo – right next to the moat that guards the Imperial Palace, home of the Japanese royal family. The 23-story property cost $900 million to build and the 290 guest rooms are all built on the palace side of the building to offer uninterrupted views across the Imperial gardens.

Palace Hotel Tokyo

Guests can also avail themselves of seven restaurants, the first Evian spa in Japan and an in-house shopping mall that features seventeen high-end retail outlets.

Palace Hotel Tokyo

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Amanzoe - Greece

The Amanzoe is perched on Greeceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Peloponnese peninsula and boasts 38 guest pavilions that are all built on different levels to ensure privacy and allow for uninterrupted views across the sparkling Aegean. Each pavilion has its own courtyard featuring marble walls and a private terrace, while guests also have access to the hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s private beach, as well as restaurants, a library and an art gallery.

Dusit Thani - Maldives

New hotel openings tend to go unnoticed in the tourist Mecca of the Maldives but the Dusit Thani Maldives is something special. Encircled by a reef that supports an abundance of marine life this exclusive resort is housed on its own private island and is also close to Hanifaru Huraa â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve renowned as a feeding ground for manta rays and whale sharks. The complex also boasts the largest swimming pool in the Maldives, while guests are able to enjoy a unique spa experience thanks to the Devarana Spa, which features six treetop treatment pods nestled amongst the leaves high above the island. Amanzoe

Dusit Thani Maldives

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Documenting Genius Architectural Photographer Pedro E. Guerrero By Lyndon Conrad Bell

Faced with the prospects of a future career as a bilingual clerk at a department store or a carryout boy at a supermarket, 20-year old Pedro Guerrero left his childhood home in Mesa, Arizona to learn a craft at which he would be accepted for who he was, rather than what he looked like. His quest took him to Los Angeles, where he enrolled in the Art Center College of Design. Fate has a way of leading us to our destinies, and for young Pedro, fate chose the path of photographer. Without a hint the field would become a passion for him, Guerrero enrolled in photography classes there, largely because he had no experience in any of the disciplines offered. Well, that and all the other classes were full. Guerrero says after exposing his first roll of film, developing it and printing his first image, he knew photography was what he’d be doing for the rest of his life.

Thanks to that realization, we have some of the most beautifully crafted and carefully detailed photographic images of some of the 20th century’s most gifted American architects— including Frank Lloyd Wright—but we’re getting ahead of ourselves.

In 1939, Frank Lloyd Wright hired 22-year-old Pedro Guerrero as his resident photographer, the start of a collaborative bond that would last until Wright’s death in 1959.

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Guerrero studied photography at the Art Center; however by his own admission, he was in all probability, the worst student the school ever had. The Art Center College of Design was geared for commercial artists, and while Guerrero ultimately became quite celebrated for his commercial work, he was more intrigued by art photography. In fact, an administrator at the school once told him that even though Guerrero had come there to learn, he was defying the school to teach him. Whether Guerrero was already aware of his own path, a rebellious individual, or a combination of the two is difficult to say. But ultimately, he became disillusioned with the school. After studying there for only two years, Guerrero returned to his home in Arizona. Still working with his cameras, but moping around the family home, Guerrero’s father—who had been following the career of Frank Lloyd Wright—suggested young Pedro go to see Wright and inquire as to his needs for photographic services. Guerrero knew very little about Wright, other than the fact he was an architect. Further, Guerrero knew very little about architecture. He had seen a photograph of Wright, and he had also seen a photograph of Wright’s Pennsylvania house, “Fallingwater”. But other than that, he really didn’t know much about the man. This, as it turned out, was quite fortunate.

Guerrero said if he’d had an inkling of how accomplished Wright really was, he would have been embarrassed to go see him. So it was a highly inexperienced and wholly unaccomplished 22-year old Pedro Guerrero introduced himself to Frank Lloyd Wright—one of America’s most revered architects—as a photographer. Which, by the way was the first time he’d ever introduced himself that way in his life. However, it wouldn’t be the last. With an extremely thin portfolio—but excellent timing— Guerrero was invited to come in and show Wright what he could do. By his own admission, Guerrero had the world’s worst portfolio. The school had tried to train Guerrero to be a commercial artist, but he had focused on fine art instead. Because of this, his portfolio contained such jewels as an image of a girl and a dog, as well as a dead pelican on the beach with a beer can. Fortunately though, Guerrero had also done quite a bit of artistic female nude work, which intrigued Wright. The two developed a rapport and within 15 minutes Wright had invited Guerrero to start work—that very day. What Guerrero didn’t know at the time was Wright’s previous photographer had just eloped with one of the apprentices, leaving Wright without photographic services.

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With a charge to photograph everything he saw on the site, because everything there was important to Wright, Guerrero was hired as Frank Lloyd Wright’s photographer. An almost unbelievable situation, Guerrero’s good fortune really demonstrates the extreme value of timeliness—as well as being willing to work for very little money. 55

Guerrero said Wright told him the pay wasn’t much, but he could live at Taliesin West and use Wright’s camera. Guerrero later found out the pay wasn’t anything, but he said it didn’t matter—after all, look where he was. Working for Wright was the equivalent of getting a postgraduate degree in commercial photography. Interestingly though, the direction Wright gave Guerrero was very minimal. All he told Guerrero was he wanted to recognize the work as his own. Wright eschewed bird’s eye views, worm’s eye views, and abstract views. He wanted to see the work the way he drew it. Given Wright drew from a sitting position, this meant Guerrero shot from eye level more often than not. Further, as much as possible, he shot Wright’s designs in their entirety because Wright wanted to see as much of the architecture as possible in one shot.

© Pedro E. Guerrero Archive Taliesin West: This was one of Guerrero most dramatic photographs of Taliesin West. This 1940 view of the drafting studio shows the extravagance of the reflecting pool, designed to add both beauty and utility.

After Mr. Wright’s death, Architectural Forum assigned Guerrero to photograph the house in Bethesda, Maryland, he had designed for his son, Robert, in 1953. © Pedro E. Guerrero Archive

Fortunately, this nicely dovetailed with Guerrero’s vision, so he found Wright quite easy to please. For Guerrero, the buildings were essentially large sculptures and he photographed them on that basis.

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When World War II started, Guerrero served as a photographer for the Army Air Corps. Upon returning, he resumed his work with Wright. However, his photography had by then also attracted the attention of a number of other architects—as well as fine artists. Sculptors Louise Nevelson and Alexander Calder commissioned Guerrero to document their works, as did architects Philip Johnson and Marcel Breuer. Still, out of loyalty to the man who gave him his first break, Guerrero avoided working for a lot of different architects until after Wright died in 1959. A number of prominent magazines also gave Guerrero assignments based on his work with Wright. These included Architectural Forum and Harper’s Bazaar, as well as House and Garden. He also authored a number of books—among them; Picturing Wright: An Album from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Photographer and Pedro E. Guerrero: A Photographer’s Journey.

In 1962, Guerrero traveled to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to photograph the functional kitchen of the fabled Julia Child.

Swathed in her plaid shirt, Indian vest and trademark scarf, sculptor, Louise Nevelson gazes at her artwork.

Alexander Calder posed with a stabile named Sabot (French for shoe) in 1976 in front of his huge Saché studio.

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The Historic

EMBASSY THEATRE By Barb Richards

A crown jewel of Fort Wayne is the historic Embassy Theatre. Built in 1928, the theater was known as Fort Wayne’s largest movie palace, vaudeville house and was host to many stars who performed on the famous Embassy stage. Besides movies and live performances, the Embassy is home to the Grande Page Pipe Organ, one of only four in existence, built by the Page Organ Company of Lima, Ohio. Behind grand drapes and balcony railings in the main theater are 1,300 pipes that make the music. “Miss Page” as she is affectionately called, continues to be played at concerts, silent movies and at the Embassy Theatre’s Festival of Trees holiday event. First named the Emboyd in 1928, the stage featured acrobats, comedians, magicians and musicians. For more than 25 years the biggest and brightest stars of stage and screen graced the Emboyd stage: Tony Bennett, Doris Day, Red Skelton, Louis Armstrong, Lawrence Welk and many others would perform annually. One of the Emboyd’s biggest claims of fame is a young comedian who had his very first emcee job on the stage in early 1930s. The comedian’s name? Bob Hope, who remained a good friend to the Emboyd for many years. Over time, television and “talkies” slowly eroded the popularity of silent films and vaudeville acts. The theater was sold to an amusement company in 1952 and renamed the Embassy. The Grande Page organ was rarely played in those days but a small group of organ enthusiasts came together to become the unofficial guardians of the organ and still to this day lovingly maintain the organ and tune the pipes on a weekly basis. One local musician, Buddy Nolan, was part of that group and in 1963 he played the first concert on the restored Grande Page Pipe Organ from midnight to 2:30 a.m., beginning the tradition of Nolan’s famed Theatre Organ at Midnight concerts. Despite the late hour, Nolan’s concerts were a tourist attraction for theater organ lovers from neighboring states. Today, the Embassy hosts a Buddy Nolan Tribute concert, each spring, albeit at the more reasonable hour of 2 p.m. When community members learned that the theater and its Grande Page organ were going to be demolished in order to build a parking lot, local activists joined together in the 1970s and formed the Embassy Theatre Foundation. In 1974, they raised the $250,000 necessary to save the building from the wrecking ball and began to restore the building and their beloved theater. And that’s when the hard work really began. Volunteers bought coal with their own money to feed the furnaces to keep the pipes from freezing. They fixed the leaking roof and cleaned coal dust from the plaster walls and lobby. Community leaders worked on a long-term plan and, in 1975, Buddy Nolan played another of his famed organ concerts as a fundraiser and filled the house to capacity. Since then, the theater has once again become a popular arts venue for Broadway shows, national tour companies and concerts. The Fort Wayne Philharmonic calls the Embassy its home. In addition, many weddings and receptions take place in the lobbies of the theater and former Indiana Hotel. Today, the Embassy ranks in the Top 100 of worldwide performing arts venues in ticket sales.

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The Down the Line concert series is an Embassyâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;originated event featuring local bands performing the most popular songs from legendary bands. The Embassy offers three Down the Lines: Down the Line Hard Chord, Dec. 28; Down the Line Classic, Feb. 22, 2014; and Down the County Line, May 17, 2014. Photo courtesy of 4Ever Photography.

The historic Grande Page Pipe organ, one of only four of its size ever made. The organ is played regularly at the theater during silent films, concerts and events. Photo courtesy of the Embassy Theatre.

Beautifully decorated trees adorn the lobby of the Embassy Theatre during the annual, Festival of Trees. November 27 through December 4. Photo courtesy of the Embassy Theatre.

One major fundraiser, the Festival of Trees was started in 1985. The first year the festival raised more than $46,000, enough to restore and renovate the front lobby entrances to the theater. The Festival of Trees is still held annually and is the largest fundraiser hosted by the theater. The festival features beautiful decorated trees, a Santa Land area for the children to visit with Santa and stage performances from local dance and theatrical companies. This year, the Festival of Trees will open on November 27, during the Night of Lights Celebration in downtown Fort Wayne.

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Five years ago the theatre added animated holiday windows, reminiscent of the famed “Wolf and Dessauer” windows that amazed and delighted Fort Wayne children for years. The department store was purchased in the mid-1960’s by a national chain and the decorated windows were no more. But in 2009 the theatre utilized the Indiana Hotel windows to recreate animated holiday scenes that now once again delight area children. The windows are “unveiled” during the Night of Lights celebration. The Embassy is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and much work has been done to preserve and restore its historic and architectural beauty. In the mid-1990s, the first two floors of the attached Indiana Hotel were renovated and the theater stage was enlarged. The third floor of the hotel was renovated in 2009 as a pedestrian corridor connection the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel and the Grand Wayne Center. And now the Embassy is getting ready to grow again. The Embassy board of directors developed a plan for the remaining four floors of the hotel, which have sat unused for more than 40 years. After seeking input from local commercial developers, economists and community stakeholders to determine best use of the space, the board and staff created A Vision for the Embassy, a comprehensive plan that makes full use of all remaining undeveloped spaces in the Embassy. A Vision for the Embassy includes: • A two-story ballroom seating more than 300 • Fort Wayne’s first public rooftop garden space for events and receptions • Performance rehearsal space for local and traveling artists • An Embassy history center where the public can access archival materials • A learning center that will serve as a hub for a rapidly growing slate of Embassy educational programs • AND MORE: Improved concessions/bar spaces, additional restrooms, new dressing rooms and improved public spaces throughout the entire building “Renewed interest in downtown redevelopment provided the Embassy with an opportunity to move forward with plans that will enhance our current business model – we rent the building for shows and special events – and expand our capacity,” said Marla Peters, board of directors president. “Due to our busy schedule and limited rental spaces, we currently turn away many public and private events. This plan allows us to stick to our successful business model and gives us more spaces for the community.” The Embassy is busy raising funds for this $10 million dollar project and hopes to start construction next summer. To date, the organization is more than halfway to this fundraising goal. Interested companies or individual can find out more by contacting Kelly Updike, Executive Director, at 260.424.6287. In addition to the capital campaign, the Embassy maintains a busy programming schedule. Go to www.fwembassytheatre.org for a comprehensive and up-to-date listing of shows and concerts. Support the Embassy through a membership that provides you with the benefits of advance ticket purchasing and priority seating. Corporate partnerships also are available. The Embassy theater and hotel lobbies are available for private events, including weddings, receptions and parties. Contact Kyle Snare, Special Events Director, for details. And the Embassy offer tours of the historic theater and the hotel, which also can feature a miniconcert on the Grande Page Organ. Brian Gallagher, Sales Director, can be contacted to book a group tour.

The Embassy Theatre lobby, as viewed from the mezzanine level, is the scene of many weddings, receptions and parties. Photo courtesy of Steve Vorderman.

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Keeping A Past Tradition Alive Wassail (pronounced WAHS-ul or wah-SALE) - It’s a noun, a verb and even a salutation. The word comes from the old Anglo Saxon ‘wes hal’ meaning to be whole, in good health. By the 12th century, it had become the salutation you offered as you raised your glass for a toast. photo: AGfoto

Also known, Wassail is a time-honored drink served during the winter holidays, including Christmas, New Year’s Eve and Twelfth Night (concluding the Twelve Days of Christmas). It is especially popular in northern European countries, where it originates. It’s a hot drink that is made with holiday ale or hard cider with sugar and rich spices like cinnamon, clove, ginger, nutmeg and sometimes even includes baked apples. Traditionally it is served in a large bowl, known as a wassail bowl. These bowls were originally hand-crafted from wood, pewter or silver. You may have heard the Christmas song “Here We Come A Wassailing” and wondered what wassailing is. Wassailing is an old English customary ceremony that involves singing and drinking to the health of trees, to ensure a good cider apple harvest for the following year. But many wassailers just skippped the trees, and instead went singing door-to-door, exchanging good wishes about the neighborhood with a bowl of drink— much like caroling today. It was a way of celebrating the season and toasting to friends, so the wassail bowl has become something of a symbol of community good will and hospitality. Most commonly, Wassail resembles cider in our modern day. However Wassail can refer to a mulled wine. Mulled wine, usually a red variety and infused with cinnamon, cloves and citrus, is also a seasonal favorite because of its warming qualities. Other liquors have known to been added to versions of mulled wine like vodka, rum and brandy.

As you gather with loved ones, keep the tradition alive by pulling out a big pot or a slow cooker, simmer up a batch of Wassail and enjoy the sweet, warm and comforting smells of the season. “Cheers. Wassail.”

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