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CONTENTS 10
10 Las Verandas Hotel & Villas Tropics Luxury &Adventure 22 Across Africa by Private Jet Abercrombie & Kent Vacations 32 Modern Retreat on the Mediterranean Verdura Golf & Spa Resort 38 Abode Villa on Lake Michigan 48 Foraging Chiltern Firehouse 50 Cuisine Carso
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56 Dining DRG Concepts
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60 Health & Wellness Resort Zoetry Paraiso De La Bonita 64 Entertainment Cavalia Odysseo 74 Automobile Mercedes AMG GT S 76 Yacht Logica 147-01 80 Fragrance Bentley Infinite Intense
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81 Timepiece Cartier Crash Skeleton
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MODERN LIFESTYLES WWW.MODERNLIFEST YLES.T V
Y O U R
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SPRING ISSUE 2015 PUBLISHER Timothy Miller EDITOR IN CHIEF Mercedes Genesis FOOD & TRAVEL EDITOR Richard S. Pollak WINE & SOCIAL EDITOR Andrew Chalk FASHION EDITOR Aman Sharque AUTOMOTIVE EDITOR Jim Sherman GRAPHIC DESIGN Tim Chase SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT Madwest Media ASSISTANTS Madison Nicole, Adam John
PHOTOGRAPHY Brett Bulthuis, Danny Campbell, Michael Dirham, Jeremy Shelby, Rose Loggi
ADVERTISING SALES Timothy Miller • tim@madwest.com
ON THE COVER
WWW.MODERNLIFESTYLES.TV MODERN LIFESTYLES is published by Madwest Media, LLC. Frisco, Texas
PRINTED IN THE U.S.A. Modern Lifestyles is available FREE on your smartphone, tablet and computer at www.modernlifestyles.tv. All advertising is subject to publisher approval before acceptance. Modern Lifestyles reserves the right to refuse any ad for any reason. Advertiser’s warrant and represent that the descriptions of the products and services advertised are true in all respects. Modern Lifestyles assumes no responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Modern Lifestyles, Madwest Media, LLC, its officers, directors, employees and agents make no recommendations as to the purchase or sale of any product, service, or other items. All views expressed in all articles are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Modern Lifestyles. Modern Lifestyles is a trademark of Madwest Media, LLC. Copyright ©2015 All rights reserved. Reprinting, in whole or in part, is expressly forbidden except by written permission of the publisher.
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Luxury
& Adventure in the tropics WORDS & PHOTOS Las Verandas Hotels & Villas 10 ModernLifestyles.tv
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Las Verandas Hotel & Villas
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ong considered a dream destination among divers, snorkelers and water sports enthusiasts, the tropical island of Roatรกn now also offers travelers an exclusive luxury resort, golf and residential community. Las Verandas Hotel and Villas had a soft opening on March 1, 2013 and will ultimately feature 60 luxury rooms and suites, along with 32 freestanding villas, each with its own infinity pool available for purchase offering unobstructed views of the beach and the Caribbean. ModernLifestyles.tv 11
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uests have access to a private 1,000foot crescent-shaped white beach, two large infinity pools, two specialty restaurants and bars offering Ca r i b b ea n / A m e r i c a s fusion cuisine and a private function room with terrace overlooking the Caribbean. Guests staying at this new, luxury resort have access to a variety of adventure activities and water sports across the lush, tropical island and its surrounding waters. “Even by Caribbean standards, Roatán is a cut above,” says J. William Sharman, Jr., chairman of Destination Resorts, Ltd. “As a lush island with white sand beaches, serene turquoise waters and balmy weather, Roatán brings new meaning to the term tropical paradise. We are proud to have opened the first premiere, luxury resort, spa and private villa complex in Roatán to cater to discerning travelers exploring the attractions of the island.” 12 ModernLifestyles.tv
Las Verandas Hotel and Villas basks in the natural beauty of Roatรกn, surrounded by rainforest-covered hills, white sand beaches, crystal blue waters and glowing sunsets. ModernLifestyles.tv 13
Las Verandas Hotel and Villas’ design draws from the natural beauty of the Bay Islands in everything from the fabrics used to the terra cotta flat tile roofs to the uniquely decorated, spacious bathrooms. Designed by the legendary father-son duo, Pete and Perry Dye, The Black Pearl is Roatán’s first and only championship golf course. The 18-hole, 7,200-yard course is set within the island’s rolling hills with stunning views of the Caribbean and is ideal for golfers of all levels. Available for sale are 32 two- and three-bedroom, fully-furnished beachfront villas, offering unobstructed views of the beach and ocean. Owners enjoy full access to all resort amenities. All of the interiors of the resort villas are an extension of the island’s tropical splendor with high white-washed walls, ceilings with stained wood trusses, French doors and lush landscaping. Las Verandas Hotel and Villas basks in the natural beauty of Roatán, surrounded by rainforest-covered hills, white sand beaches, crystal blue waters and glowing sunsets. The resort rests on the North Shore with the Mesoamerican Reef just beyond, creating a playground where guests can enjoy diving, snorkeling, kayaking and fishing. The typical catch ranges from deep sea marlin, wahoo, tuna, and sailfish
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to a vibrant array of reef species including snapper, grouper, amber jack, as well as bone and permit in the exotic flats. Or, they can simply relax on the beach or around one of the infinity-edge pools that overlooks the reef. Visitors may even spot whale sharks and sperm whales near Utila, a neighboring island. “The Caribbean is known for catering to travelers who enjoy balmy weather, white sand beaches and serene, turquoise waters,” Sharman says. “To add a dose of adventure to the traditional Caribbean vacation experience, we wanted to offer guests a chance to explore the thrilling destination of Roatán in new and different ways. Whether it is ziplining over lush rainforests, spotting a whale shark while kayaking, swimming with dolphins or catching a sailfish, Las Verandas Hotel and Villas offers guests a bold new take on the traditional tropical getaway.” Adventure activities available to guests staying at Las Verandas Hotel and Villas include: Fishing Professional and novice fishing enthusiasts will appreciate the diversity of fish life (including snapper, mackerel, marlin, tuna, grouper, amber jack, barracuda and wahoo), the crystal turquoise waters and stunning coral reef of Roatán. Small open boats can be rented for half of a day or a full day,
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for light trawling along the reef, and larger boats can be rented for deep sea fishing adventures. An activities coordinator on staff can also arrange private guided trips for hotel guests seeking reef or deep sea adventures. Kayaking Kayaking is a great way to see the reef-border coast and experience the clear waters and scenic shores of Roatán. Guests can rent kayaks and explore the island at their own pace or join a guided kayaking tour. Ziplining Ziplining is a thrilling, yet safe, way to experience the diversity of the island’s lush rainforests and terrain from a unique viewpoint. Individuals or groups are guided through the striking scenery and landscape of Roatán with tours arranged by Las Verandas Hotel and Villas. Scuba Diving & Snorkeling Roatán is a scuba divers’ dream destination, known for its extraordinarily vibrant reef setting and colorful fish. Guests have access to the best dive sites the island has to offer. Those interested in snorkeling will be taken to the best spots to experience the wonders of the Caribbean Sea. Assistance is available with diver’s certification courses and gear rentals.
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Golf For guests who prefer land sports to water sports, the Black Pearl Golf Course, which is adjacent to Las Verandas Hotel and Villas, offers stunning tropical scenery combined with a challenging course. Designed by the legendary father-son duo, Pete and Perry Dye, The Black Pearl is Roatán’s first and only championship golf course. The 18-hole, 7,200-yard course is set within the island’s rolling hills and is ideal for golfers of all levels. Dining options include Las Pergolas Restaurant & Bar Las Pergolas Restaurant & Bar offers Caribbean fusion fare with influences from the Middle East, Thailand, India and Vietnam as created by CIA-trained Executive Chef Javier KeeHam Hernández. Signature dishes served at Las Pergolas Restaurant & Bar include Fish Tacos, Ceviche Medley (fresh catch served in three versions) and Butter Poached Lobster. The menu showcases local lobster, shrimp, stone crab and an array of fresh fish including wahoo, snapper and grouper. The menu is updated seasonally. The restaurant offers a total of 140 seats, including 3,490 square feet of indoor seating and1,735 square feet of outdoor seating. Guests may also dine at the underground wine cellar, which offers a private dining area for parties of up to 12
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people and expansive views of the Caribbean. The restaurant’s design was inspired by Honduran and local island elements. Many of the materials used to build the restaurant were sourced locally, including custom-designed clay tiles, Honduran Cana Brava pergolas and Honduran Santa Maria mahogany and teak hardwoods for ceilings and floors. The restaurant’s color palette offers bright white hues accented with brilliant colors. Las Pergolas Restaurant & Bar offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day, in addition to brunch on Sundays. Palapa Bar & Restaurant Las Verandas’ Palapa Bar & Restaurant serves the pool area with Caribbean-inspired bar menu items such as Jerk Chicken Salad, Ceviche Blanco, Shrimp Wrap, Palapa Burger and more. Roatán is approximately a two hour flight from the U.S. mainland. Las Verandas Hotel and Villas is located just fifteen minutes from the Roatán International Airport (RTB), which receives direct flights from Houston, Miami, and Atlanta via United, American, Delta and TACA. There is direct service from Newark seasonally, as well as Canada via regular charter flights.
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The resort rests on the North Shore with the Mesoamerican Reef just beyond, creating a playground where guests can enjoy diving, snorkeling, kayaking and fishing. ModernLifestyles.tv 19
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Across Africa by Private Jet
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PHOTO Abercrombie & Kent - Abercrombie & Kent’s Private Jet
orld-renowned, luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent has given the traditional African safari vacation a seriously glamorous upgrade. In 2015, the best way to see all that the beautiful countries of Africa have to offer is via private jet. After two sold out departures last year, another group of 40 world travellers will join on a privately chartered jet to visit seven countries in 19 days. Guests will come face to face with mountain gorillas in Uganda, drive alongside herds of elephants in Botswana, ride in hot air balloons over the Serengeti, and at the end of the day, go home to a tree house villa in Zambia or a luxurious tented camp in Tanzania. The PHOTO Philip Schedler / Abercrombie & Kent Picture - Library Outdoor food and beverage table at Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero in Chobe National Park, Botswana 24 ModernLifestyles.tv
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Boeing 737 and full flight crew will be ready for them in the morning. “Travel by private jet allows guests to experience far more than they could on a conventional itinerary – and with greater ease and access,” says Abercrombie & Kent President Phil Otterson. “Our guests understand the value of this, which led to our 2014 Private Jet Africa departures selling out in just weeks and generating long waiting lists.” The accommodations on Abercrombie & Kent vacations are always top of the line. Guests can relax in some of the most exclusive and unique camp sites on the continent and dine at exotic locations accompanied by local groups such as the troop of Maasai tribal dancers in Tanzania and the local choir at Victoria Falls. A&K’s Travelling Bell Boy® personally handles the guests’ luggage and has it waiting for them at their next destination. A top ranked Tour Director will lead guests on their nearly 5,000-mile journey, assisted by a Tour Manager and local guides, who can lend additional expertise and insight.
PHOTO Ron Dahlquist - Bali, Indonesia ModernLifestyles.tv 25
YOUR
PHOTO Abercrombie & Kent Picture Library - The nymphaeum in Jerash, Jordan
Itinerary
Ethiopia | Ancient Churches 2 Nights – Explore the remarkable rock-carved churches of Lalibela, where a local priest shares the history of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Learn about the discovery and archaeological significance of “Lucy,” one of the world’s most important early human fossils. Meet local dignitaries at a private cocktail reception. Uganda | Mountain Gorillas 3 Nights – Set out with an experienced forest guide in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in search of a gorilla family. Watch them forage, play and interact in their natural habitat. Meet the local Batwa people for a chance to talk, hike and engage in a mock hunt with the traditional hunter/ gatherers. Visit a local hospital supported by Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy, which ahs reduced infant mortality by 50 percent. 26 ModernLifestyles.tv
PHOTO Sanctuary Retreats - Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp within the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda
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Tanzania | On Safari in the Serengeti 3 Nights – Experience the Great Migration in the Serengeti. Share stories of the day’s remarkable sightings over gourmet bush dinners at a private, luxury tented camp. Witness a Maasai tribal dance and meet researchers helping to conserve cheetahs and lions. Zambia | Victoria Falls 3 Nights – View Victoria Falls by helicopter, the best way to appreciate its staggering scale. Walk hand-in-trunk with an elephant during a once-in-alifetime encounter. Meet with locals in Nakatindi Village to learn firsthand about their day-to-day life. Relax during a sunset cruise on the Zambezi. Botswana | Wildlife Along the River 3 Nights – Search for wildlife on guided game drives in Africa’s most elephant-rich park on an unforgettable Botswana safari. Cap each evening with a tranquil cruise down the Chobe River.
PHOTO Charlie Grieves-Cook - Mobile camping in Kenya ModernLifestyles.tv 27
Namibia | Desert Dunes 2 Nights – Cruise Walvis Bay on a private boat, keeping watch for birds, seals and dolphins. Explore the desert dunes, the setting for a feast of a lifetime, complete with sparkling wine delivered by parachute and a performance by local musicians and fire spinners.
PHOTO Aqua Expeditions - M/V Aria luxury cruise ship sails on the Northern Amazon River in Peru
South Africa | The Finale 1 Night – Take in panoramic views of Cape Town from the top of Table Mountain. Enjoy a performance by the Cape Minstrels during sundowners on scenic Signal Hill. Gather for a gala farewell dinner on a private island.
PHOTO Sanctuary Retreats - Guests watch a native performance at the Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp within the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda 28 ModernLifestyles.tv
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“Africa: Across a Continent by Private Jet” will depart on February 20, 2015 and return on March 10, 2015. Based on double room occupancy, price per person starts at $82,995 and the price for a single supplement guest starts at $15,995. Visit www. abercrombiekent.com to find out more information, review the fascinating photo galleries and reserve a spot on the African safari of a lifetime. Itinerary and travel details provided by Abercrombie & Kent. Join the world of A&K by following them on Facebook (LINK: http://www. facebook.com/abercrombiekent) and Twitter: @AKTravel_USA (LINK: http:// www.twitter.com/aktravel_usa)
PHOTO John Briggs - Maasai people perform the Adumu, or “jumping dance,” at Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania ModernLifestyles.tv 29
PHOTOS Courtesy of Rocco Forte Hotels
Modern retreat on the Mediterranean
Verdura Golf & Spa Resort 32 ModernLifestyles.tv
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et along nearly one and a quarter miles of private, southwest Sicilian coastline, Verdura Golf & Spa Resort is a modern, luxury Mediterranean hotel, built in 2009. Four restaurants, five bars, two Kyle Phillips’-designed golf courses, a 65 ½-yard infinity pool, six clay tennis courts and a world class spa will keep guests at the Rocco Forte hotel busy against the stunning, uninterrupted backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea and comfortable, contemporary accommodations welcome them home at the end of the day. The hotel’s minimalist and contemporary architecture strikingly contrasts the old-world style of Sicily, while the spacious beach-facing suites blend seamlessly into their environment with their natural color schemes and use of natural materials. Sicily’s newest upscale resort and a all-year-round golf destination, Verdura Golf & Spa Resort offers more than 568 acres of private luxury and activities for the whole family to enjoy, when they’re not out exploring the beautiful island of Sicily and its ancient treasures. Accomodations Verdura Golf & Spa Resort’s total 153 rooms and 50 suites are spacious and feature a balcony, a king bed, satellite TV and large, private bathrooms. Some rooms have private courtyards and terraces overlooking the sea. Room amenities include a yoga mat, beach bag, towel and bathrobe so that guests can travel light. There are 11 banquet, meeting, convention or special event facilities at Verdura, including an auditorium, ballroom and open air ModernLifestyles.tv 33
amphitheater with a capacity of 500. The closest airport to the resort is Palermo International Airport, approximately 80 minutes by car. Sicily has two other airports as well, Trapani Airport on the west coast and Catania Airport on the east. The resort concierge can arrange private cars from the airports and Verdura has its own helipad for guests wishing to arrive by helicopter. Golf A free shuttle transports guests to Verdura’s three world-class golf courses and facilities. The East Course and West Course are both 18-hold, Par 72 championship courses designed by notable international golf course design firm Kyle Phillips Golf Course Design. Golf World Magazine ranked the East Course #62 out of all the golf courses in Europe in 2011. For the 2012 Sicilian Open, professional golfers played on Verdura’s Championship Course, a composite route of the best inland and seaside holes from the East and West Courses. A third nine-hole course, the Short Course, is home to the Verdura Golf Academy led by Golf Director Niall Cameron and a team of PGA professionals who offer a variety of lessons and programs for adults and children. Course amenities include a chipping area, club rentals, a driving range, food and beverages available for purchase, a practice bunker, a pro shop, pull carts and a putting green. Golfer’s dress code is golf-oriented, relaxed resort wear. No denim is allowed and shoes should be specifically designed for golf with soft spikes or flat tennis shoes. Course hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the summer and 7 a.m. 34 ModernLifestyles.tv
to 5 p.m. in the winter. Activities Practice your favorite sports, learn something new, or explore the island with Verdura’s many lessons, courses and excursions available to guests of all ages and abilities. Enjoy the pure blue water with water sports including waterskiing, wakeboarding, windsurfing and sailing or stay on dry land at the Sunball Tennis Academy, which hosts guest tournaments, special tennis camps and events with famous former professional players. Guests compete against hotel staff in a friendly weekly soccer match at the resort’s full-size soccer pitch, a perfect facility for team training that hosted the German national team as they trained for the 2010 World Cup. Children ages five to 16 can participate in the resort’s Juventus Summer Training Session with the world’s best soccer coaches coming from the Italian soccer team’s entourage. Take a bicycle on routes within Verdura’s grounds and along the coast to experience the Sicilian landscape. Learn the secrets of authentic Sicilian cuisine at cooking lessons from Verdura’s own celebrity chef or executive chef and then pair it with the perfect cocktail from a mixology class or a wine introduced by the resort’s sommelier. Explore Sicily with ease from Verdura, to the Baroque seaside town of Sciacca’s ancient sights and churches, a 20-minute drive west, and the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, a 40-minute drive. The island’s capital, Palermo, can be reached in just over an hour and the Aeolian, Aegadian and Pelagian islands can be reached by helicopter. From sky diving to wine tours to private flights over the island, Verdura helps guests ModernLifestyles.tv 35
schedule any activity they desire and also offer custom excursions, including wine tours, culinary tours and walking adventures. Spa Relax at the luxurious 43,000 square foot, award-winning Verdura Spa offers a menu of treatments, massages, health and wellness classes, cosmetic services, sauna access and fitness opportunities. The calm, pristine space centers around an open-air courtyard with a hammam (a Turkish bath), thalassotherapy pools, saunas, a gym and a terrace spa bar, which serves healthy drinks and snacks. Treatments are focused on four key areas: anti-aging, detoxifying, fitness and thalassotherapy, which utilizes seawater and sea products rich in beneficial elements and nutrients. The Verdura Spa uses organic local ingredients in their treatments, including cold-pressed plant oils, seaweed mud, marine salt and fresh botanical extracts. There are 12 different types of massages available including Sicilian Aromatherapy, lymphatic massages, bio-energetic massages, shiatsu, reflexology, Swedish massages and 30-minute head or foot massages. The spa offers a large variety of facial and body treatments; some use organic raw natural materials and plant products like the olive seed scrub, some focus on the use of anti-aging formulas, some use biophysics and bio-diagnostics to give skin more energy and some use marine minerals, harnessing the properties of seawater in its various forms. Three total body programs are also available at Verdura Spa: Energy, which features a Foot Massage, Aroma Stones Massage and a Sicilian Head Massage; Relaxing, which includes a Relaxing Massaging, 36 ModernLifestyles.tv
Hydrating Facial Treatment, Eye Contour Treatment and a Sicilian Head Massage; and Detoxification, which includes a Body Salt Scrub, Detox Body Wrap and a Detox Massage. Pairs massages for mother and daughter duos, father and son pairs or partners are also available. Classes at the spa include meditation, personal training, pilates, spinning, stretching, weight loss, wellness and yoga.Visitthestylistsandcosmetologists at the nail bar and hair salon. Meet with the medical professionals at Vita Health and join a bespoke program combining the latest integrative medical techniques, natural therapies, exercise program and a menu designed by a Michelin-starred chef and an expert nutritionist. The four Vita Health programs – Better Ageing,
Detoxification, Stress Management and Weight Loss – are available on a one-week basis and are customized according to the client. Vita Health guests enjoy daily access to the spa’s four thalassotherapy pools, 25-meter indoor lap pool, gym, fitness studio, 11 treatment rooms, beauty and hair salon, double-height hammam, steam rooms, relaxation rooms and more. Dining Under the leadership of Michelinstarred Executive Chef Fulvio Pierangelini and Manager Felipe Espinoza, the restaurants and bars at Verdura Golf & Spa Resort provide guests with a variety of dining and drinking options. Amare - A beach restaurant with a light, fresh fare; open seasonally. Buon
Giorno - Casual restaurant with a breakfast buffet and dinner menu created specifically for younger guests. La Zagara - A la carte restaurant with a seafront terrace. Liolà - Romantic cliffside restaurant, open seasonally, that serves authentic Italian fare. La Granita Bar - Serving cocktails, fresh tapas or casual meals on terraces overlooking the infinity pool and Mediterranean. Oasi Bar - Restaurant on the hotel’s private beach offering fresh juices, coffee, cocktails and light snacks. Pool Bar - A selection of light snacks, casual fare and cocktails by the pool. Torre Bar - Healthy snacks, fresh juices, happy hour cocktails and afterdinner drinks are served overlooking the golf course and the sea.
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Abode Classic Meets Contemorary on Lake Michigan 38 ModernLifestyles.tv
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et against the bluffs that lead to the steel blue water of Lake Michigan, stands a nearly 100-yearold, Italianate villa designed by the prolific American architect David Adler. The 15,000-square-foot lakefront home was designed in 1916 by Adler for Chicago banker and attorney Charles Pike, and his wife Frances. With 21 rooms, six of them bedrooms, and a majestic courtyard paved with stones from the beach, the small estate in Lake Bluff, Ill. has a grand appearance, but cozy feeling – and a stunning view of Lake Michigan.
PHOTOS Brett Bulthuis ModernLifestyles.tv 39
Thirty-five Chicago-area designers and landscape architects collaborated on the home to bring it to its current contemporary state with one-of-a-kind features. Chicago interior designer Summer Thornton created the colorful library nook and Barbara Theile, of the Susan Fredman Design Group, designed the dark wood kitchen. Melissa Edelman, whose Highland Park, Ill.based company, Antiquaire, sells exquisite European antiques, created the grey mudroom with a unique floor made of pennies layered by hand. 40 ModernLifestyles.tv
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The breakfast room sitting area was designed by Jeannie Balsam, with a repurposed vintage ladder serving as an Êtagère. Kendelle Cornette created the floral bathroom with upholstered fabric, rather than paint or wallpaper. Using elm timbers for the desk and shelving, Michael De Piero designed a beautifully minimalist office and bedroom combo.
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The villa’s grander façade faces the lake, rather than the street, a reminder of a time when wealthy visitors would have traveled up the North Shore by boat or yacht to dock at the edge of the Pike’s property. The lawn leading up from the lakefront is lined with classical sculptures reminiscent of ancient Rome. There are also lush, beautifully landscaped gardens next to the columned loggia. The vibrant, California-inspired outdoor furniture brings this old world estate into the modern era.
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Doctors Yoonok and Hi Kyung Kim purchased the villa in 1984 and reportedly filled the hallways and parlors with antiques. They put the house on the market in 2006 with an asking price of $15 million. It was purchased in March 2012 for a final sale price of $4.1 million, after the Kims cut their price to $5.59 million. The property has been featured in a number of books and media publications and was the filming site for the 1981 film “Four Friends.�
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The Toughest Restaurant Reservation in England WORDS Andrew Chalk “Not a single evening table for two this whole month Sir” I was told by the reservations agent. “Do you have anything at lunch?” I, almost plaintively, enquired. “I have a 1:30pm on Wednesday, but it is at the counter so you will be sitting side-by-side, not opposite each other”. I took it. I had snagged a place at Chiltern Firehouse, the toughest restaurant reservation in London. I felt like The Anointed One. After all, the restaurant critic at the prestigious U.K. national daily newspaper The Telegraph could not get a place “before 2079” he said and resorted to pulling a PR favor to get in once to review it. The London Evening Standard even published a guide to getting in. However, Beverly Drive was there, incognito and paying our own way to boot. Why the popularity in a city with so many good eating places? That is down to its celebrity-watching factor. For reasons I know not, in its brief one-year life Chiltern Firehouse has become the vittles shed of choice for the likes of Kate Moss, George Clooney, Lindsay Lohan, Bill Clinton, Guy Ritchie and British Prime Minister David Cameron (with wife Samantha). Non-celebs go there to see what celebs they can spot. Rumor has it that Clooney is even looking at a $40m house just round the corner. On the occasion of the visit by myself and the moll there was no one more famous than me, unfortunately, so we were consigned to focus on the food. The chef is former Michelin star wunderkind Nuno Mendes, a graduate of El Bulli, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and Wolfgang Puck. His esoteric creations
at Bacchus and Viajante have made him something of a pied-piper for lovers of the food avant garde (all foams and dusts). At Chiltern Firehouse he has toned that down a mite, while retaining a recognizable style. Hardline celeb spotters look down on seats at the counter. We loved it. Just over a judiciously aligned midface-height glass partition we could see chefs assemble ingredients into the dishes that would shortly be our meals. Table and booth dwellers sit on two sides of the open kitchen in a room cleverly outfitted with mirrors that fool the eye about the size of the space and maximize celeb spotting ability. A ceiling coated with the mesh of fire hoses helps to absorb noise in the 100-seat plus area that used to be the fire truck garage back when this was a working fire house (pre-2005). The designers, Paris-based Studio KO, put a lot of thought into the ModernLifestyles.tv 49
space. Owner, U.S. hotelier and restaurateur André Balazs, best known perhaps for New York’s Mercer Hotel, is the creative mind behind all this. The starter de-rigeur is Crab-Stuffed Donuts ($11 for four for the table) which are more of a spherical profiterole oozing with briny crab sinews from the icy waters off the Cornish coast and all dusted with coral. In lieu of an amuse bouche at lunchtime the diminutive size of these gems is enough to get ones appetite cocked and loaded. An appetizer of smoked eel ($22) came with slices of boiled potato, batonets of apple and a blob of barely piquant horseradish sauce. The subtlety of the smoke was the winning taste sensation here. The moll chose Seared Squid ($24) for her appetizer. I have always been baffled by the popularity of this mollusc which has the neutral flavor of tofu without the latter’s ability to absorb other flavors (and took the occasion to admonish her on her choice). To be fair, Firehouse kept the shards of the body al dente and provided vegetal interest with herbed fregola, nasturtium and parsley. I promised myself to try the steak tartare ($26), which has become another house signature, on a future visit. My main course of monkfish ($42) cooked over pine with puffed barley (like a pearl barley on steroids) and fennel was a competent rendition of this tasty fish but the moll’s Chargrilled Iberico Pork was a winner and pitched just right for the winter season. It was served with chestnuts and a mixture of braised and raw Brussels sprouts. While I am unconvinced that the texture and flavor contrast of the two preparations of sprouts possessed enough range, this vegetable is always a copacetic accompaniment with pork. We hit a side of fries (as we did at every restaurant on our trip, in a quest to find the world’s best). Firehouse’s are 50 ModernLifestyles.tv
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above average, but cooked in vegetable oil which does not impart the character of duck or beef fat. This is surprising as Mendes’ chef de cuisine, Dale Osborne, was formerly with Heston Blumenthal whose recipe for fries is outstanding (in Dallas, Graham Dodds’ fries at Hibiscus are a ringer for Blumenthal’s). A dessert of homemade milk ice cream with honeycomb and local honey was far too small. If it had been served in a helping the size of a mixing bowl I would still not have shared. It was that good. The wine list and service was exceptional, although the prices are high. My purchase of a glass of 2010 Riesling Smaragd ‘Loibenberg’, Tegernseerhof from Wachau, Austria ($26) in the bar got me noticed (Riesling drinkers are all certified insane) and the sommelier came up at dinner to swap wine stories and sample some off-list bottles such as a 2010 Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Clos des Brusquières. All this cost a pretty pound ($500 for two) but you could do it for $300 with less of a wine splurge. We left via the pretty courtyard that leads to the gate staffed by a uniformed doorman. Outside, the paparazzi waited to remind us of the celebrity haunt that we had just visited. Maybe my next reservation will be after a whole new bunch of celebs emerge -- if I make it today.
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CARSO
Anthony Bombaci • Stylish Mediterranean
WORDS Andrew Chalk I was delighted when I heard that Anthony Bombaci was to be the execuchef of the Hilton Dallas/Plano Granite Park. It meant that Hilton was committed to food quantumly beyond the standard hotel fare and that Bombaci, who has kept the Hilton Anatole’s food operations sans SĒR humming smoothly until now, had a marquee restaurant added to his portfolio of the other food and beverage outlets (plus banquet 52 ModernLifestyles.tv
service) at the new hotel. At a recent media event I finally got a chance to experience the new hotel and sample the food. Carso is easily accessed via a door right by the complimentary valet stop. One step into the room and you notice the careful contrivance in the design. Lots of contrasting surfaces of white stone (redolent of the Hill Country), chocolate colored wood and sparkling metal offset by the soft fabrics of the chairs. Lots of nooks
and pass-throughs deceive the eye about the room being a cube. It feels sophisticated and comfortable. The large bar area on the other side of the lobby echoes many of these themes but is more open, presumably for sports TV viewing. The importance of a Bombaci placement is that he was the man who put Nana at the Hilton Anatole on the national map. It was consistently one of the highest regarded restaurants in town for over eight years. Prior to his stint at the Anatole he worked at Michelin-starred restaurants in France and helped create one as chef de cuisine at Enoteca in Barcelona (named Enoteca Bombaci during his tenure). Iberico Ham At Carso, Bombaci had substantial input into the content of the menu. Nonetheless, the mandate requires the food to fit a price range and familiarity profile that does not allow for all the esoteric ingredients or artistry that were his stock-in-trade at Nana. The theme is Mediterranean, encompassing multiple cultures from that vibrant part of the culinary world. Pastas sit alongside hummus and Iberico ham, lamb shank and scallops. Of course, there is the mandatory steak. We started with two delightful and straightforward appetizers (or small plates as they are named on the menu). Sumac Hummus and Red Onion ($7.25) offered wispy light hummus to be plopped onto pita bread. Iberico Ham ($15.25) took slices of the ham and scrunched them into a mound. It was accompanied by a bisected heirloom tomato that simply oozed
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flavor from every cell of its being. Some crispy toasted ciabatta bread, still warm, provided a carrier for all this. A Heath Robinson contraption alongside (not shown for public safety reasons) offered two olive oils to drizzle on the bread, although it wasn’t explained what the difference was between them. Undoubtedly, the high point was the Iberico ham with its nutty flavors and complexity (not just the one-dimensional saltiness that is too prevalent with cured pork charcuterie). Watermelon Feta and Mint Salad The Watermelon, Feta and Mint Salad ($9) exhibited the expert grasp of combinations that Bombaci’s food showed at Nana. The watermelon delivered sweetness, the feta saltiness and the mint added complexity. Simple to prepare, delicious on the palate and visually impressive too. We sampled three ‘main plates’, albeit in mini-portions. Sea Scallops ($19.75) came with green olives, celery and fregola. The latter in larger diameter balls than you might usually find, and they were lightly browned from being sautéed when reheated. This turned out to be as close as we got to a pasta dish. Again, it was simple in preparation but reflected careful conception as the various components melded into the whole. Sea Scallops Shawarma Half Chicken ($23) raised the game. This intensely seasoned and long-roasted chicken was moist and flavorful beyond what one would expect. The green chile pesto (actually zhough, a spicy Yemeni paste made of green chile, cilantro, parsley, cardamom and
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olive oil) and tahini added accent and interest. Put this down as one of the biggest winners on the menu. Chicken with attitude. Shawarma Half Chicken Lamb Shank cooked sous vide and served with figs, almonds and goat cheese ($24.25) was ideal for the cold winter day. Lamb Shank The wine list is surprisingly good, and larger than I would have expected. There are about 100 selections, most from the U.S. with a smattering from popular categories outside (e.g.
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Champagne, Argentinean Malbec) or one offs such as South African Sauvignon Blanc. There are even five (well chosen) wines from Texas. 18 wines are also available by the glass. The craft beer list needs work. There are only three selections and not only is Molson-Coors Blue Moon wrongly listed as a craft beer but none of the offerings is local. Isn’t there a place called Franconia Brewing Co. ju Overall, Carso is a significant addition to Plano/Frisco dining and comes recommended. ModernLifestyles.tv 53
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DRG CONCEPTS DOWNTOWN DINING DEVELOPMENT
WORDS Richard S Pollak PHOTOS DRG Concepts
The Downtown Dallas independent DALLAS CHOP HOUSE BRINGS LIFE dining scene has been revitalized over TO DOWNTOWN SCENE With one of the only street level patios in downtown the last few years with the growth of DRG Dallas,the Dallas Chop House sets the environment for a fabulous outdoor drinking and dining experience. The open Concepts. This creative dining force has air bar serves both the outdoor and indoor patrons prior seating for dinner. The restaurant decor is sharp, warm, built totally unique establishments that to inviting and created to appeal to the downtown lifestyle. appeal to the diverse culinary tastes of My first order after being seated was the Double Steak Flight for $198. Featuring eight ounces of Akaushi Wagyu the urban dweller scene downtown. NY strip, both the 21 and 60 day aged rib eye, herb roasted bone marrow, bacon-onion jam, a parsley pickled Shallot Salad, Cilantro Chimmichurri and Himalayan Salt. I was one of only a few fortunate guests granted a sneak a peak of their world famous dry-aged steak room. It was specifically created with a wall of Himalayan Salt to intensify the dry aging process.
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DOUBLE STEAK FLIGHT
DELICIOUS SELECTIONS OF MEAT & SEAFORD THE BONE-IN “’COWBOY”’ RIBEYE
TEXAS FAVORITE 24 OZ BONE IN “COWBOY” RIBEYE
The most famous Texas cut of beef is certainly the 24 ounce bone-in “Cowboy” ribeye. This favorite slab of western beef is always perfectly prepared in their high intense oven to bring out the maximum flavor while keeping the bone intack for even more richness. The presentation is all about the beef. The Dallas Chop House serves more “Cowboy” bone-in ribeye than any other steakhouse in downtown Dallas.
DALLAS CHOP HOUSE PREPARES SEAFOOD AND OTHER MEATS
The entire menu is diverse beyond beef. The kitchen kicks out a fabulous, sautéed Arctic Char with pearl cous cous, Moroccan ratatouille, golden raisins, pine nuts, and lemon emulsion. We tried the red wine braised Wagyu Shortribs with vanilla-parsnip puree, smoked tomato-horseradish compote and the Divers Scallops on curried sweet potato puree, hearts of palm, baby bok choy,and chili-pineapple salsa. There was also half roasted Vital Farms Chicken that had locally produced Trxas smoked cheddar Gristmill Farms grits and tomato braised collard greens. For accompaniments there was Maytag and Applewood smoked bacon butter, black truffle-herb butter, Hollandaise Sauce, Bearnaise Sauce, Cabernet Au Poive, Horseradish Crème Fraiche, Maytag Blue Cheese Crust, and Jumbo Lump Crab Oscar (which I added to my steak flight for contrast). The sides were illustrious with a mac & cheese, mashed, loaded Sea Salt or twice baked potatoes, and grilled jumbo asparagus.
DON’T FORGET THE DESSERT
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DALLAS FISH MARKET
THE FRESHEST FISH ENTREE OF WILD SALMON
Dallas Fish Market is DRG’s oldest Restaurant concept and its most creative. The award-wining Seafood restaurant is a modern statement as the best Seafood destination in Downtown Dallas. Everyday the freshest catch is prepared by an acclaimed team of Seafood Chefs. The restaurant boasts an innovative approach to seafood in a stunning and stylish setting.
CASUAL LUNCHTIME TEXAS STYLED LOBSTER ROLL
We started our meal with appetizers of Prince Edward Island Mussels and Ahi Tuna Tartars. For our main courses, we selected the Ginger, Miso, White Soy Marinated Line Caught Swordfish with Basmati rice, cashew, green apple Madras curry nage. In addition we has the Scallops with Cauliflower Three Ways cauliflower puree, roasted cauliflower, raw cauliflower salad. Our final entree was the Pan Seared Scottish Salmon with braised bok choy, green curry nage, and red curry foam. The sides were three Cheese Mac & Cheese, Brown Butter Roasted Cauliflower, Braised Bok Choy, 8 Pommes Dauphine, Garlic Sautéed Spinach and Ginger with Onion Basmati Rice.
THE MOST INVENTIVE FRESH SUSHI IN TEXAS
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CHOP HOUSE BURGER
The Chop House Burger is DRG’s fast casual concept for the busy lunchtime feeding frenzy AND THE downtown Dallas city dwellers. An upscale Burger joint that offers top quality ingredients along with their natural Beef.
THE FAMOUS BURGER AND BOXED FRIES ON A TRAY
Fast service is a daily routine for CHOP HOUSE BURGER to handle the high demand for their namesakes for lunch
WILD SALSA
THE SECRET TO THE CHOP HOUSE BURGER
In the Mexican tradition of Dia De Los Muertos, families gather The Chop House Burger has all the sandwich mainstays with a for a celebration of life with food and drink.This is the theme to few wonderful extra surprises available. There are a multitude of the Wild Salsa concept unique toppings to make everyone’s Burger their own! The Ahi Tuna and green Falafel Burgers with Tzatziki, pickled Cucumber and Hummus are their most uniquely famous. THE MARQUEE JALAPENO INFUSED MARGARITA The famed WILD RITA is a sensation of roasted Pineapple DRG Concepts has made a name for itself by developing the and Jalapeno infused Tequila. At Wild Salsa, the Bar is famous for Downtown Dallas Dining scene. No longer just a few fast places for lunch. Urban dwellers can now fulfill their food cravings in its Tequila flights with over 100 selections modern, creative and extraordinary dining downtown.
DUCK, SWEET POTATOES, CORN, DUCK CHICARRON
Everyday is a celebration of traditional high quality Mexican food and hand crafted cocktails. Wild Salsa brings the regional tastes of Mexico from Street Tacos to fine dining entrees like Lamb Shanks Barbacoa. The made from scratch menu offers freshly sourced ingredients to eat and unique libations to drink.
THE MILE HIGH MEXICAN SALADS AT WILD SALSA
The Wild Salsa plays host to a busy lunchtime crowd of downtown workers and shoppers. On the weekends, Wild Salsa is a casual Hacienda for the locals
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ZOETRY PARAISO DE LA BONITA RIVIERA MAYA TRULY “THE WELLNESS SPA & RESORT” WORDS RICHARD S POLLAK Zoetry Paraiso De La Bonita is truly THE Wellness Spa & Resort. For the twelfth consecutive year, it has received the AAA Five Diamond Award as the premiere boutique resort in Riviera Maya for its total health conscience getaway. You experience gourmet dining, a spacious Spa, luxurious suites spread over fourteen lush green acres. Just a 30 minute executive limo ride from the Cancun International Airport begins a total indulgent escape. As you arrive at this exclusive resort, you are personally greeted by one half dozen staff members who handle your every need with the words, ”welcome home.’’ 60 ModernLifestyles.tv
The hotel is located in a protected national park with the world’s second largest Coral Reef just off shore nestled within the private solitude of these majestic boundaries of the exclusive La Bonita residential compound. Member of Leading Hotels of the World, their one and two bedroom suites are all ocean front with private terraces. You are within 200 yards of your own private beach and the First certified Thalasso therapy Spa in North America. The Wellness Center spans over 22,000 sq. ft with an exclusive salt water therapy pool. With a 5,000 bottle wine cellar AAA Five Diamond Award winning La Canoa restaurant features “La Cuisine de Los Soles®- Cuisines of the Sole.” An organic vegetable and herb garden on property provides the freshest, locally produced ingredients to the resort’s gourmet restaurants. After creating a personal friendship with Executive Chef, Antonio Torres, he insisted on personally preparing all of my dinners. I was overwhelmed that he prepared my daily dining instead of ordering off the menu. Over the course of 3 evenings, I was indulged with his personal presentation of each and every course which featured such off the menu
selections as Veal Cheeks, Braised Leg of Lamb, Mexican shelled Crab, Goose Foie Gras and Russian Caviar. All the ingredients came from his own personal stash. It is this kind of personal attention that makes Zoetry so very unique. After three days of total food nirvana, I have to say that The most surprising and refreshing course of all was his Raspberry and Basil Cold Soup that looked just like my Jewish mother’s borst! Once a week, Executive Chef Torres gets out of his five Star/five Diamond La Canoe Restaurant. He heads outside to the Pool to prepare a 50 lb dish of his world famous Paella for the entire Resorts’ lunch! Its exciting to watch Chef Torres, a dead ringer for TV Food Tour Guide Anthony Bourdain, and a much better Chef to prepare this Spanish feast. It was most entertaining to watch the Chef add Premium Mexican Beer and Fresh Ripe Tomatoes (of course from their own gardens) to the recipe while Zoetry’s Food & Beverage Director Alberto Torre, a Spaniard gets irritated by the Chef ’s non traditional addition of ingredients. It is a no-no to add such ingredients to an authentic Spanish Paella. I was honored to be given the Golden Spoon by my new Culinary comrade to sample the first taste of his Paella and give the final approval. I was so thrilled and yet intimidated by the request that I could barely speak a word and just gave it a big thumbs up. I could not spit out the words that it needed a little more Saffron and Black Pepper! While all the AM Resorts have excellent dining and services, Zoetry is their Marquee Resort with two restaurants poolside to cater to any and all of the Zoetry guests desires. The unique Sikil Bar is a poolside Sushi and Ceviche oasis in the shade. The freshest fish are masterfully prepared and can be served while you lounge on your oversized recliner poolside or by the cool Ocean breeze patio below the Palm trees. Serving the freshest raw fish served Japanese style as rolls and Mexican style as a marinated beach appetizer. There is regularly over a dozen servers at the Pool to ensure your drink is never empty or your plate not picked up immediately! The El Chiringuito Beach side Grill is just footsteps away from Zoetry’s white sandy beaches and creates masterful Pizzas and Grilled meats for lunch and even for the LA CANOA fine dining at dinner. Using native Hardwood Zapote and Mesquite Wood for the grill. El Chiringuito is the Pool/Beach side Restaurant with amazing grilled selections. Steaks,Ribs,Burgers and 5 hand tossed Pizzas like a Thai or California Club and 7 Calzones like a Hawaiian or Mexican are served Poolside at your oversized lounge chair ModernLifestyles.tv 61
The large fresh water and unique Spa saltwater swimming Pools offer a multitude of ways to enjoy a revitalizing experience. At the Pool, the Zoetry concept features an in-water chaise lounge and below surface Jacuzzi spa. You can enjoy the sun soaked stunning private beaches for a total relaxation. With Zoetry’s exclusive personal beach side services, you feel the luxury of your stunning ocean solitude or you can experience the premier sailing,snorkeling ,diving and most unique aquatic services in Mexico. Zoetry is the first and only certified Thalasso Spa in North America with a blend of ancient health traditions and modern wellness services. The Thalasso spa’s outdoor salt water pool is at a perfect 80-87 degrees creating the ideal temperature for the body to absorb the marine waters rich minerals just like a therapeutic treatment in a Jacuzzi or Aquagym. COMPLIMENTARY CATAMARAN SUNSET SAIL The complimentary Catamaran Sunset Sail is one extra that you will not find anywhere else in Mexico. In addition, there are dining, private rental, and charter fishing options to satisfy the mood. The snorkeling along the Coral Reef is one of the most scenic in the Gulf with challenging ecoaquatic adventures through lagoons and caves. THE EXCLUSIVE GRAND CORAL GOLF COURSE With a breath taking view of the Caribbean Sea, the Grand Coral Riviera Maya Golf Course offers a magnificent challenging 18 hole course with complimentary green fees. The Golf club includes a Fitness Center, Swimming Pool, Jacuzzi, Sauna and Steam bath for the ultimate post play relaxation. DESTINATION DESIGNED SUITES There are ninety, one and two bedroom all ocean-front guest suites on property. Each have an international themed decor inspired by the personal travels of the ownership to exotic cities of the world. I had the fortune of staying in the BALBEK SUITE, which I googled to find out that it was either in Indiana or Lebanon. The Mediterranean inspired decor made our trip look and feel like we were in a modern day Casbah. The ground floor suites have their own outdoor pool, the upstairs suites have large terraces. There are two daily turndowns and fully stocked complimentary gourmet snack bar and premium liquor bar services. The Grand Bathroom in each suite is a master size Boudoir the size of most economy hotel rooms. With a lavish sunken 2 level Pool as your tub and 2 level 62 ModernLifestyles.tv
quadruple headed shower. The in room amenities are the luscious Bvlgari brand with every bathroom lotion and gel imaginable. There is also an abundant closet for your significant other to fill with all her bikinis. The double sinks are Romantique Gold and sparkling accented marble like a Spa inside your suite. As you look over the creamy white sand dunes of La Bonita’s private beaches from your ground floor suites’ Pool, you can only vision the solitude of paradise. Each of the unique ground floor Villas Pool is completely private for a late night dip! The spectacular view while floating in the cool waters makes for the perfect setting for the bubbly, wine or liquor which is provided in your all-inclusive in suite Bar or just a quick call away to the concierge for a special delivery 24 hours a day! While there are so many amenities and services to experience its always wonderful to retire to a night at the Casbah! At the end of your magnificent stay at the luxurious Zoetry Wellness and Spa Resort, each and every member of the staff bids you a special, ”come back soon!”
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Cavalia Odysseo
A FANTASY RIDE
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“If Walt Disney were still alive, he might create a show as magical as Cavalia’s new Odysseo. But it wouldn’t be better than the wonderful world mastermind Normand Latourelle has created under his Big White Top.” The Miami Herald
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Odysseo: Larger Than Life
The horse has marked human history and progress more than any other animal. Horses have taken us to the ends of the earth, enabled us to build bridges between cultures and expand civilization. It is the beauty and harmony of this ancient relationship, this meeting of two worlds – those of horse and man – that inspired the creators of Cavalia’s second show, Odysseo. As friends, partners and inseparable performers on stage, 63 horses and 46 artists lead the viewer on a great journey in yet another world – a world of dreams – where, together, they discover some of the planet’s most unforgettable landscapes.
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With this new creation, Cavalia marries the equestrian arts, stage arts and hightech theatrical effects at never-beforeseen levels. A veritable revolution in live performance, Odysseo comprises a list of superlatives: the world’s largest touring big top, the biggest stage, the most beautiful visual effects, and the greatest number of horses at liberty. The creators of this new ode to the horse made the decision to indulge their wildest artistic ambitions. Their gamble paid off: Odysseo pushes the limits of live entertainment by creating a larger-thanlife show that sends hearts racing, but it is also a feast for the eyes that succeeds in delivering the spectacular with soul.
Scenography,Visual Effects
To give life to this extraordinary equestrian adventure, Cavalia created a 1,626 square metres stage, in the middle of which rise two hills each three storeys tall. Some 10,000 tons of rock, earth and sand are trucked in and then sculpted to create the vast space of freedom where humans and horses come to play in complicity. Above the stage hangs an imposing technical grid capable of supporting 80 tons of equipment including, a full-sized merry-go-round, far beyond anything attempted to date on any touring show and
comparable to the best-equipped theaters of Las Vegas, London or New York. Odysseo is a show unlike any other on the planet. This unique theatrical production is a grandiose multidimensional show. Spectators are taken to a live Hollywood-style movie set while the touching interactions between human and horse are at the heart of the action. Layers of mesmerizing decors combined with gravity-defying acrobatic and areal stunts and the staggering effects created by stateof-the-art scenery makes this humongous stage a feast for the eyes. To enhance this
breathtaking experience, the production presents a splendid voyage with extremely high-definition computer graphic images, transporting the audience across the world’s most beautiful landscapes. To project these breathtaking graphic backdrops on an immense cyclorama the size of three IMAX screens, Odysseo uses projectors as powerful as those illuminating the grandest movie theaters. But whereas a cinema has only one projector, Odysseo uses 18 simultaneously. This live multi-dimensional voyage is a veritable revolution in live entertainment production.
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World of Dreams and Fantasies
The dream begins in a misty, enchanted forest where horses graze and frolic under a sky of rolling clouds and a setting sun. Horses, riders, acrobats and musicians embark on a soulful journey that leads them from the Mongolian steppes to Monument Valley, from the African savannah to Nordic glaciers, from the Sahara to Easter Island. Throughout this grand voyage, spectators discover urban stilters and applaud the prowess of a troupe of African acrobats. Viewers are mesmerized by horses powering angelic aerialists in a four-person silks act that takes them into the skies. To the sound of an African harp called a Kora, audiences witness the
beauty of 15 horses lying on sand dunes awaken. They will likewise appreciate the beautiful liberty number, uniting purebred Arabian horses directed by inaudible vocal commands from their kneeling trainer. The scenes follow the seasons and their attendant wonders. At times, the horses and people in this fabulous caravan become too numerous to count. The Odysseo epic wraps up with a fantastic crescendo as the stage is inundated with 300,000 litres of water in just a few minutes. A vertiginous virtual waterfall overhangs the resulting lake, in which horses, riders and artists join to frolic, leaving behind them the traces of their splashes and an astonished audience.
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A Show that Feeds the Soul
Although the audacity, inventiveness and monumental scope of Cavalia’s new creation may boggle the mind, the essence of this magnificent equestrian odyssey lies elsewhere. Beyond the impressive technical display and equestrian and acrobatic numbers that are unlike anything ever seen on stage, Odysseo is first and foremost a work that feeds the soul. In these difficult, troubled times, Odysseo offers up something gentle, even tender. The poetry flowing from this grand adventure shines a light on a more humane world where human and horse may live in harmony. For just a few hours, the spectator sets off to discover new horizons, the limits of his imagination, and gets to experience a waking dream in a world where beauty, serenity and hope reign.
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The Odysseo Big Top
Standing 38 meters tall, the White Big Top is a traffic-stopping addition to the skyline of each city Odysseo performs. When visitors enter, they are immediately transported into a lavish and intimate environment reminiscent of any permanent theatre. Following the instant success of the first Cavalia show in 2003, Latourelle began to dream of how to break through the limitations of a big top tent. The biggest challenge was to open up the performance area. Latourelle knew that such unprecedented flexibility would allow him to showcase more horses and acrobats to create mind-boggling scenes. This involved removing supporting masts from the stage, a common staging issue in tent shows. A specially-designed big top
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was created in Europe, where the weight of the structure shifted from masts to three arches above the tent. The Italian firm Canobbio, in collaboration with Artistic Director Normand Latourelle, designed the tent and supervised construction. Asteo of France and Genivar of Canada supervised engineering operations. The arches that support the massive structure were built by Show Canada. More than twice the size of the structure created for Cavalia’s original production, the White Big Top is the size of two NFL
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football fields. The 1,626 square metres stage, larger than a hockey rink and the 15 meters wide backstage area offer a vast playground for more than 30 cantering horses. The grandiose stage also offers incredible possibilities for large-scale staging. A total of five tents comprise the Odysseo village. The White Big Top houses the stage and backstage, seating and lobby areas under a single roof. A Rendez-Vous tent hosts VIP ticket holders for dinner, an open bar and photo opportunities
with the artists. This package includes a private tour of the stables and the best seats in the house. The horses live in a climate-controlled stable tent complete with showers, tack shop and a blacksmith department. Between the stables and White Big Top, the Warm-Up tent is where the riders rehearse with the horses before and after the show. This area also includes wardrobe, makeup and dressing areas for the two-legged artists. A staff kitchen tent prepares more than 600 meals daily.
FUN FACTS
•Odysseo features 63 horses of 11 different breeds including the Appaloosa, Arabian, Canadian, Holsteiner, Lusitano, Oldenburg, Paint Horse, Quarter Horse, Spanish Purebred (P.R.E.), Warmblood and Lipizzan. •The horses are from Spain, Portugal, France, The Netherlands, Germany, The United States and Canada. •There are 46 artists - riders, acrobats, aerialists, dancers and musicians. •The artists are from around the world including the United States, Canada, Brazil, France, Belgium, Guinea, Russia, Spain, Ukraine, Japan and Poland. •There are 350 costumes and 100 pairs of shoes and boots in the show. Artists may have up to seven different costumes. •An artist may have no more than 30 seconds to do a quick costume change between numbers. •A team of 13 dressmakers, one property master, one designer and one shoemaker worked in the Cavalia studios to create the costumes. •Materials used in the costumes include linen, silk, cotton, leather and some imitation fur. The use of natural fibers gives the clothes sheen and lets them fall in a way that synthetic fibers simply cannot match. •The costumes are adapted to the artists’ needs, especially those of the acrobats and riders, to facilitate their onstage movement while not compromising their appearance. •The on-tour costume department consists of one wardrobe person and three dressers who launders, mends and cares for the costumes. At times during the show, they juggle 15 simultaneous wardrobe changes. They have two sewing machines, one shoe-repair machine and one overlock machine. ModernLifestyles.tv 73
At Only $130k, the Mercedes-AMG GT S Is Aggressively Priced for a Vehicle of Its Type and Pedigree
Mercedes and AMG showed off the Mercedes-AMG GT S in Los Angeles and Detroit recently but the pricing details were unveiled. However, we now know the Mercedes-AMG GT S will be priced starting at $129,900, making it one of seventeen MB models over the $100,000 mark. “The all-new 2016 Mercedes-AMG GT S is an achievement of intense passion and beauty for the senses: breathtaking performance, scene-stealing looks, and a growl that intimidates the road itself,” the car’s website says. The car is loaded with features like remote keyless start and entry, parking assist, memory seats, a rearview camera system, and a collision prevention system. On the outside the car is sleek and curvy with LED headlights and red brake calipers. Under the hood there is a 4.0 bi-turbo V8 engine that churns out 503 ponies and goes from 0-60 MPH in 3.7 seconds. The Mercedes-AMG GT S will hit dealerships in April. 74 ModernLifestyles.tv
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Logica 147-01 Superyacht
This Superyacht Continues to Make Waves The 146-foot yacht was designed by Viareggio. The exterior is designed in such way to maximize deck space without sacrificing a spacious interior. The deck features an 18-foot swimming pool, plenty of room to catch some sun, and a hot tub.
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The interior features six cabins, including a VIP cabin and a master suite. The dining room can accommodate 12 people. Materials used in the interior include stainless steel, ebony, glass, and oak. The interior was designed by Martin Kemp Design.
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The Logica 147-01 yacht is also environmentally friendly. It has a RINA green plus certification, meaning it can even voyage out to conservation waters without worry of disturbing the environment.
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Bentley Fragrances Bentley has created a new fragrance line for men who want to smell as luxurious as their Bentleys are.
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There are two fragrances to choose from. Bentley Infinite has a natural citrus smell with hints of lavender and cedar. Bentley Infinite Intense is designed to last longer and offers a more intense experience, hence its moniker. It features many of the same aromas as Bentley Infinite but kicks it up a notch with nutmeg, elemi, Siam benzoin, and other spicy scents. Bentley partnered with renowned perfumer Nathalie Lorson to create the line. The fragrances come in a heavy glass bottle and features Bentley’s classic logo. Pricing detail are expected to be announced closer to the April 2015 launch date.
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The Cartier Crash Skeleton is essentially a remake of Cartier’s iconic 1967 watch by the same name. It features the same quirky, Dali-esque design base as its predecessor: A curvy, asymmetrical platinum case. The brand had to get creative in order to fit the movement in the unique case. The exposed caliber system has a completely original layout that maximizes space. The dial also reveals the inner workings of the watch. Bridges finished in satin make up the roman numerals, while the hands are crafted from blued steel and the crown from cabochon sapphire. The watch will be a limited series with just 67 unites being made. It is priced at $82,500, though an alternate version with a paved case is available for $150,000.
Cartier Crash Skeleton The Cartier Crash Skeleton, a uniquely designed timepiece, was revealed to the public for the first time at the 2015 Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie.
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