Life Lessons From the Iconic Diane von Furstenberg
Empowering Wisdom From Julie Andrews + Jane Fonda
The InspÄŤr-ed Life: Luxury Living At Its Finest
The Cultural Riches of Carnegie Hill and Beyond
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Diane von Furstenberg
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Discover Inspīr Senior Living, a new Upper East Side community fusing wellness with luxury.
Inspire 2021 content produced and provided by Purist magazine and Cristina Cuomo, Ray Rogers, Ben Margherita, Gabrielle Echevarrieta and Peter Davis. All rights reserved. Inspīr Carnegie Hill, 1802 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10128 For more information, please call 646.907.1500.
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: MARTIN SCHOELLER THIS PAGE: COURTESY OF INSPĪR SENIOR LIVING BACK COVER: COURTESY OF INSPĪR SENIOR LIVING
CONTENTS 4 AN ICON TURNS 85: JULIE ANDREWS
Lessons in discipline, perseverance and living in the spotlight, from the legendary Julie Andrews
5 GET MOVING
The link between fitness and mental acuity
6 LIFE OF JANE FONDA
Inside the mind of actress and activist Jane Fonda
8 PURE INSPIRATION:
DIANE VON FURSTENBERG
Famed designer Diane von Furstenberg on the strength she inherited from her mother, and her new book, Own It: The Secret to Life, an alphabetized guide to living authentically
12 THE INSPĪR-ED LIFE
An exclusive tour inside Inspīr, New York’s game-changing luxury residence in Carnegie Hill: five-star dining, entertainment, wellness, fitness, and white glove service included.
22 AROUND TOWN
An insider’s guide to Carnegie Hill, a hub of vintage New York City architecture and world-renowned cultural institutions
As the world bounces back from a difficult time, we get some much-needed inspiration from Jane Fonda, Julie Andrews and the future of luxury living at Inpīr—Manhattan’s game-changing residential building. Get ready to be inspired! INSPIRE magazine speaks with ageless style icon Diane von Furstenberg, whose lustrous life as a fashion designer and New York cultural powerhouse has changed not only the runway but has revitalized the city itself from the ground up, from the HighLine to her now-famous DVF Awards. We also profile Hollywood legends Julie Andrews (who has a rose named after her!) and Jane Fonda, the Oscar-winning political activist who has never been more active on screen and on the streets, where she continues to protest for what she believes in. As these power women look to the future, we give you the ultimate insider’s tour of the future of living well: Inspīr, Carnegie Hill’s newest, buzzed-about luxury residential building. Inspīr is a true game-changer in the worlds of health and wellness, cutting-edge design and fine dining. Living at Inspīr is like calling a five-star hotel home sweet home—all in the hub of one of Manhattan’s most-soughtafter neighborhoods, surrounded by cultural institutions like the Met and the Guggenheim, not to mention the best shopping on the planet. Get ready to be Inspīr-ed!
–The Editors
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JULIE ANDREWS TURNS 85 AT 85, THE BRILLIANT AND BELOVED CINEMATIC SUPERSTAR JULIE ANDREWS OPENS UP ABOUT HER ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER, HOW GIVING BACK BRINGS HER JOY AND REVEALS HER FAVORITE THINGS. BY CRISTINA CUOMO
CC: Is that a motto to live by? JA: It’s certainly something to aim for if you want to be a part of this wonderful thing called show biz. Opportunities will come when you least expect them, so do your homework. If you want to be good, then keep working at it, and be ready. CC: What has been the best surprise in your career? JA: My first big break was a big step. I was a young singer, just learning how to sing, but I had a rather unusual range, and the first show I ever did in London catapulted me into public awareness. It was just a revue in a London theater, but it did bring me to everyone’s attention. The next big step was going to Broadway, which was a huge learning experience. And then the third step was going to Hollywood. They seemed to come in those categories; I didn’t mix them all up at once. I toured endlessly around England when I was a kid, and then my teens. Then six years or more on Broadway. And then, very fortunately, Disney came calling, so to speak. CC: Has there been a preferred medium? JA: No. If you think about it, on stage all of you is present and showing, and you start at the beginning and finish at the end of every performance. In film, it’s close-ups and medium shots and long shots, and you can film out of sequence. In fact, one always films out of sequence. They are very different mediums, but both are hugely delicious and satisfying. I love working with an audience, because that’s something you do literally for the one performance, and it’s shared between you and that particular audience. They don’t know that you—hopefully—were good the night before, or might be good the night after. They want that particular performance for themselves, and so that’s the 4 INSPIRE
kind of shared thing you do. Film is probably a lot more careful, but a lot more of a gamble. You don’t have the chance to run it through from start to finish, and you pray that you’ve made the right choices. But it is exciting. CC: Of the films you’ve made, what are your favorites? JA: I loved making Victor/Victoria because it was such a breakthrough at the time. I loved making S.O.B., a very dark comedy that my husband [Blake Edwards] also wrote and directed, and a little film he made called That’s Life! An early film I made about the war, The Americanization of Emily, was written by Paddy Chayefsky and shot in black and white. But obviously, you can’t not include The Sound of Music. Thoroughly Modern Millie was wacky and adorable to make. CC: How do you feel about being such a legend? JA: I don’t think about it. Truly, I don’t. I’m a mum most and foremost. I have five kids and 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, and that keeps me pretty busy. I just feel very fortunate. I’m a very lucky lady, with a lot of hard work thrown in. CC: “My Favorite Things” is one of my favorite songs. What are some of your favorite things? JA: Oh, easy. Believe it or not, pruning my roses in my garden, my lovely two dogs that keep me company and take care of me, my family. Not in any order. Music of all kinds—I love classical most of all, but I love jazz and I love my own songs, anything with Jerome Kern, Stephen Sondheim. CC: You have a rose named after you. JA: It’s a small, very English rose and it doesn’t do well in America, sadly—the climate is not suitable, or something. Thank God that didn’t apply to me. CC: What lasting impact do you hope to have? JA: As you grow, as you age, as you learn, I think I’ve discovered that it’s the giving that matters. I don’t think about lasting impact. That’s for other people to decide, but what I do is give, and make people feel great. That’s my delight. I
PORTRAIT COURTESY OF JULIE ANDREWS
CRISTINA CUOMO: You have a quote on your personal website: “The amateur works until they get something right—the professional works until they can’t go wrong.” JULIE ANDREWS: It was something that was taught to me by my singing teacher many years ago, and I’ve never forgotten it.
Dr. Wendy Suzuki, PhD
GET MOVING WENDY SUZUKI, PHD, WHO HELMS THE NEW BRAINBODY PLATFORM AT INSPĪĪR, DETAILS HOW TO STIMULATE BRAIN HEALTH WITH AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE.
MATT SIMPKINS
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s a professor of neural science and psychology at New York University, I am on a mission: to spread the word that physical activity— that is, simply moving your body—is the most transformative thing you can do to improve your brain today, and the best thing you can do to protect your brain for the future. Why do I call it transformative? It is the only lifestyle change that you can implement today that will stimulate the birth of brand-new brain cells in a brain structure, the hippocampus, critical for our ability to form and retain new long-term memories. These new brain cells not only help the hippocampus work better—which means your memory works better—but more importantly, the more new brain cells you generate in your adult life, the more your brain is protected from both aging and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s in the future. Think of your brain like a muscle: The more you exercise it, the larger and stronger it gets, and the better it will withstand normal aging as well as the neurodegenerative diseases that come at all of us as we age. Physical activity also improves the function of yet another brain area, one that is highly susceptible to age-related cognitive decline and to neurodegenerative diseases. This brain region is the prefrontal cortex, and its health is vital
for the ability to perform such tasks as focusing attention and making clear decisions. Best of all, you don’t have to wait weeks or months to reap the rewards. Studies in my lab and other labs have shown that even a single workout can significantly improve mood, focus and reaction time immediately after your workout, and those improvements can last for hours. For these reasons I refer to exercise like a supercharged 401(k) for your brain. Jump into a regular exercise routine or ramp up the one you already have, and it will not only protect your brain from aging and neurodegenerative disease in the future, but you will enjoy the immediate brain-boosting benefits of exercise after every exercise session. What could be better motivation than that? Wendy Suzuki, PhD, is a professor of neural science and psychology at New York University and co-founder and CEO of the AI-based health-tech company BrainBody (brainbody.io), which quantifies exercise-enhanced brain functions. Prof. Suzuki also serves on the advisory board of INSPĪR Carnegie Hill, the flagship residence under the Maplewood brand of luxury senior living in urban markets, which will soon open on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. With BrainBody, Suzuki leads a series of pilot programs throughout the Maplewood senior living communities, quantifying the effects of physical activity on the cognitive functions and mental health of its buildings’ residents. This collaboration is producing one-of-a-kind individualized data on the effects of exercise on the brains of seniors. I
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JANE FONDA TWO-TIME OSCAR WINNER JANE FONDA, THE ACTRESS AND OUTSPOKEN POLITICAL ACTIVIST (WHO ALSO FLIPPED THE FITNESS WORLD AROUND IN THE ’80S WITH HER FAMOUS JANE FONDA'S WORKOUT) IS STILL STEALING SCENES ON SCREEN WHILE TAKING TO THE STREETS TO FIGHT FOR WHAT SHE BELIEVES IN. HERE, PRODUCER PAULA WEINSTEIN SPEAKS WITH FONDA AND DIRECTOR SUSAN LACY, WHO DOCUMENTED THE STAR’S INCREDIBLE LIFE IN HBO’S BINGE-WORTHY SERIES JANE FONDA IN FIVE ACTS.
PW: And Jane? As I look at the film, I certainly admire it a lot. I think it’s wonderful. We’re in a very big moment of transition in terms of the next generation of feminists. This is a perfect switch here. What do you hope young women will take from the film, and was that part of why you decided to tell it after writing your book? JANE FONDA: I wish I had seen a documentary like this when I was younger, because I believe it would have made me think about the importance of not just drifting through life like a waif in a stream, but really putting your oars in the water and trying to determine what direction you want to go in. This film shows that you don’t have to get stuck where you are. You don’t have to settle for what people tell you you’re supposed to be, or how men define you. You can keep moving. But it has to be intentional. I think that’s one of 6 INSPIRE
the biggest messages for young girls. Also, that they’ll go after you if you’re an activist, but you can survive. I mean, I’m here. PW: Susan, the film is interestingly structured in five acts. What made you make this choice? SL: The notion of acts is actually embedded in Jane’s book, as she said when she left Ted [Turner] and decided to write her memoirs, she wanted to understand her first two acts. She says it in the film, too, about her third. So acts were in my head and when I started making the film, I realized that often in making portraits of artists, who have really made a major cultural impact, the third act is hard. It’s usually sad and the decline. And I thought, “The act Jane’s in right now is every bit as interesting as the first.” PW: It’s way better. SL: It’s way better, exactly. You’re [Jane] the opposite of what many of us call the third-act problem. PW: Jane, did you have any feelings about it? JF: I thought it was really smart. It’s not how I divided my book, but Susan discovered that it’s a gender journey, so that’s how she divided it up. I appreciate it. PW: I found it very bold. But I want to remark, as a feminist and friend, that one of the things Susan did in the film, is really make it clear that Jane led these transitions. SL: At the root of this story, there is a through line of integrity and bravery. You might have been, as you’ve said in your book, defined by men, but nobody told you to go to Vietnam except you.
@SUE_K91
PAULA WEINSTEIN: Susan, why now? What motivated you to make this film now? SUSAN LACY: I read Jane’s book, My Life So Far, when it came out 13 years ago while doing a series I created, called American Masters, and I was always looking for good stories, particularly about women. I strongly believe that you shouldn’t make a film about a great artist if you don’t have the material to tell the story with. There is something in Jane’s story that everyone can relate to, whether it’s difficulty with a parent or child, insecurity, body-image issues or unfaithful husbands. Her candor about these things and unrelenting honesty, including looking at her foibles and mistakes, is such an inspiring journey to self. That’s what this film is about.
JF: Yeah, they did. SL: You were encouraged to go, I know, by people to use your celebrity to help bring attention to what was going on, but you made those decisions. You chose your path. And I don’t think you give yourself enough credit through most of the telling of your story. JF: Well, when I was about to turn 60, I was married to Ted Turner, and realized, “Oh, my God. This is gonna be the last act.” Now, I think I’ll live longer than 90 because if Gloria’s [Steinem] gonna do it, I’m gonna do it. I used to ask, “Gloria, why do you want to live to 100?” And she said, “Because I want to see how it all turns out.” SL: What was going on with you at the moment that made you write the book, and be willing to spend all that time digging so deeply? JF: I didn’t want to be like Columbus, who didn’t know where he was going when he left or where he’d been
SL: There’s a wonderful scene where Jane talks about doing Barbarella, which she didn’t want to do at first, but Roger Vadim convinced her she should do it, and he directed her in it. JF: He wanted me to do a striptease for the opening credits and he promised me that the letters in the credits would cover everything. He lied. I was so nervous that I got drunk, really drunk, on vodka. Then when we went to watch the film the next day, a bat had flown between the camera and me, so we had to do it over again. What you see in the film now is the same thing with a hangover. [Laughs] SL: But it was in France that you became politicized, meeting with a lot of soldiers. Also, Simone Signoret, who was very involved in the student protests, and Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. JF: Simone Signoret was a great movie actress in France.
“I didn’t want to be like Columbus, who didn’t know where he was going when he left or where he’d been when he got back. I wanted to figure out where I’d been, so I’d know where I was going.” when he got back. I wanted to figure out where I’d been, so I’d know where I was going. I researched myself. It’s something I highly recommend and it requires things like carefully looking at photographs, talking to other people and trying to figure out who your parents were. Why did they act like they had duct tape over their eyes? Why couldn’t they reflect you back to yourself with love? Who were their parents and why did they behave the way they did? That’s what I started to do. I didn’t know there was a word for it, “life review,” that psychologists encourage people to do. It transforms you because you realize it had nothing to do with you. It wasn’t your fault. If they couldn’t love you, it was their problem. You can forgive them because you understand bad behavior is the language of the wounded. You have to break the cycle and move in a different direction. Right now, older women are the fastest-growing demographic in the world and we’re living a whole adult lifetime longer than our parents and grandparents did. It’s good to be a late starter. I’m a late bloomer, and I’m really glad. Everybody’s born whole, but does anybody get through childhood in one piece? I don’t think so. But it’s good that way, because then when you get older, you actually feel when you begin to move into yourself again. It doesn’t just happen. You have to be intentional. You have to work at it, study, meditate—you have to do a lot, but it can happen.
She befriended me when I went to France and took me under her wing. She used to take me to anti-war rallies where Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir would speak. She never proselytized; she would just expose me. After I became aware of what was going on in Vietnam because I had spent time with soldiers who were resisters, I went to Paris and was confused about what to do. I went to Simone’s home in the country and I remember ringing the bell and her opening the door and saying, “I’ve been waiting.” SL: I think for as much as you learned from the men you were married to, they learned a lot from you. Each of them has said at the end, “This was the love of my life. I fucked up.” In the first section, as a child in the Santa Monica Mountains, you talk about looking through the window of a home nearby, and seeing what you thought was a family. Do you think much of your life has been a quest for that? JF: I’ve never thought about it. I guess so. I think it’s because of my son. He always loved having a big family, so I’ve tried to create a big family for him. SL: I do think that you’ve been looking for that. I mean that’s my interpretation anyway. It may not be conscious, but that you were building toward a life with a family. And look at the family you have now. JF: I know—and I’m single! I’m so happy! It’s just me. I live in a place now that’s all mine. I INSPIRE 7
THE A-LIST
DAVID NEEDLEMAN
IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT LIFE IS THE GREATEST TEACHER, AND DIANE VON FURSTENBERG HAS LIVED HERS TO THE FULLEST. IN AN ENLIGHTENING NEW VOLUME, OWN IT: THE SECRET TO LIFE, VON FURSTENBERG SPELLS OUT THE TRUTH FROM A TO Z, WEAVING YEARS OF WISDOM INTO DICTIONARY DEFINITIONS. OFFERING PERSPECTIVES ON WORK, LOVE, FAMILY AND EMPATHY, THE BOOK TAKES THE SELF-HELP GENRE UP A NOTCH, PACKAGING IMPORTANT LESSONS INTO EYE-OPENING PROSE. HERE, SHE SHARES HER A GAME.
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ords have power. We must use them carefully. They create energy, define us, impact our lives and the paths we take. My mother was strict about using the right words, and she loved to use and create aphorisms—a habit I inherited. When I was first approached by my editor to do a book on these “fragments of truth,” I immediately accepted. Sharing my experiences, knowledge and wisdom is my favorite thing to do. At my age it is allowed and hopefully inspiring! To achieve this task, I picked words that speak to me most and reflected on their meanings. To put order into my thought process, I decided to organize them as a little dictionary. It was going to be a fun and light exercise on the verge of being frivolous. But as I was in the midst of writing, the COVID-19 pandemic happened, and with it, home confinement and a new reality. All of a sudden, every word, every sentence took on a whole other dimension, and everything became deeper, more meaningful. Like everyone else, confinement forced me to pause and made me reevaluate who I was and what mattered most. Whether personally or in my business, I had to confront what was not right anymore and accept what had to change. I had to face all the difficulties I was encountering and own them. To OWN IT is to accept the truth and deal with it, however unpleasant it may be. It is about being InCharge. It is the secret to life. To be InCharge is not an aggressive statement. It is first and foremost a commitment to ourselves. It is accepting and standing for who we are. We own our imperfections, they become our assets; we own our vulnerability, it becomes our strength. To be InCharge is the core of our power. It is the shelter we carry, the home inside ourselves. Once we achieve that, we are able to connect, expand, inspire and advocate. Aware. Alive. Awake. All three words embody OWN IT. INSPIRE 9
ABUNDANCE Although abundance is rewarding, it can be overwhelming and become greed if not combined with generosity and gratitude. Knowing how to share makes all the difference. AUTUMN Autumn is the glory that comes after a full, juicy summer with its magnif-
ADVENTURE Adventure is the discovery of the unknown. It is expanding our journey of learning and going beyond what is familiar. ADVOCACY Fight for the good, and the bad will disappear. Standing up against violence, abuse and inequality, we must look for the light and build around it. Finding empathy inside us will help shift humanity. Advocacy is using our voice. It is our duty and a privilege to do so. AROMA Aroma is a pleasure of the senses. The smell in the air, the perfume of the flower, the spice in the sauce...a touch of it makes all the difference.
ALONE Being alone is NOT being lonely. It is being whole...it is where we find our strength and our full potential. Being alone is the best way to reboot. See SOLITUDE.
ASSUMER Assumer is the French word for owning it.
AUTHENTICITY Nothing is more attractive and powerful than authenticity. It is the essence of who we really are and so much better than any imitation. ALLURE Allure is the mysterious aura that happens when our external image matches our inner being. To have allure comes naturally with self-awareness, acceptance and the independent spirit of owning it. AGE Age is the map of life...made of memories, stored images, emotions and experiences. Aging needs to be celebrated every moment, every day, every year. Age is the proof of having lived. Living and loving our age is OWNING IT! 10 INSPIRE
ATTITUDE Attitude is everything—it is waving the flag of owning it.
icent shades of reds, vermilions and yellows. It shows off the richness of the leaves, yet when we go close, we find the fragility of their dryness. It is like discovering the early wrinkles on a face...the reflections of a life lived. We must embrace them! ATTENTION Once we pay attention to details and to others, our lives become richer. It’s like adding colors to a drawing, turning it into a painting. Or, walking into a forest, some people will see trees. Others a universe.
AFFIRMATION Affirmation is the GO button for DO IT. Focus on the intention, mean it, and go. ANGER Anger is the toxic demonstration of disagreement and suffering. It should be acknowledged and then released as a motivation to improve the situation. ADDICTION When pleasure becomes prison, it is addiction. APPRECIATE To appreciate is to savor the moment. I
COURTESY OF PHAIDON
AWARENESS Awareness is full presence and consciousness. It is knowing who we are, where we are, and noticing everything around us. It is seeing, hearing, feeling. Awareness is assessing the gratitude of being alive. It is making an accurate, honest assessment of where we are in our journey. As a young girl, I wanted to show that I was strong, so I did not smile much and acted tough. Later I discovered that showing my vulnerability does NOT reveal weakness, and that a joyous laugh and a smile can show strength too. As I became more aware, I felt more comfortable sharing who I was.
Diane von Furstenberg: THE PERSON WHO INSPIRED ME MOST THE LEGENDARY FASHION DESIGNER SHARES HARD-WON WISDOM ON FINDING INNER STRENGTH AND SELF-LOVE.
COURTESY OF DIANE VON FURSTENBERG
Von Furstenberg’s mother, Liliane Nahmias, instilled values of self-love and authenticity.
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y mother, like all mothers, had a big influence on me. Eighteen months before I was born, she was in the German concentration camps—she weighed 49 pounds and could not move. She did survive, however, and went back to her family in Brussels, Belgium, where her mother fed her bit by bit until six months later she had gained a normal weight. Her fiancé came back from Switzerland and they got married. Doctors had told her she could not get pregnant for at least three years; nine months later I was born. “God saved me so I could give you life…by giving you life, you gave me my life back. You are my torch of freedom,” is
what my mother wrote to me for every birthday. That can be a heavy burden…but I took it. My mother taught me that fear is not an option, to never be a victim, and that the most important relationship in life is the one you have with yourself. That is how I lead my life and what I taught my children and my grandchildren: In order to like yourself, you must be totally honest and not delusional. In order to like yourself, you must be demanding and never lie. In order to like yourself, you must be strict. But you can also wink at yourself and smile at your shadow. You are your own strength! I
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THE INSPĪR-ED LIFE
WELCOME TO THE FUTURE: THE CUTTING EDGE INSPĪR, MANHATTAN’S FIRST LUXURY RESIDENTIAL BUILDING BRINGING THE ABSOLUTE BEST IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS, AWE-INSPIRING DESIGN AND WORLD-CLASS CUISINE—ALL IN THE HEART OF CARNEGIE HILL, THE CULTURAL HUB OF NEW YORK. BY PETER DAVIS
Inspīr’s sun-filled SkyPark & Lounge, featuring picturesque skyline views.
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ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF INSPÏR SENIOR LIVING
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isitors walking into the glamorous lobby of Inspīr Carnegie Hill feel as if they are checking into a five-star hotel. From the double-height ceilings to the Roman travertine marble flooring to the dramatic Seguso chandeliers and a marble-topped bar sourced from Carrara, Italy, every element of the space defines modern luxury and comfort. The expansive lobby sets the stage for the entire Inspīr experience, a first-ever in the world of senior living. Imagine if your living experience was like staying in one of New York’s most beautiful, high-end hotels replete with every amenity and 24/7 on-site licensed nursing right in the middle of Manhattan’s always exciting cultural hub? Welcome to Inspīr. Inspīr is the brainchild of CEO and President Gregory D. Smith who has been successful in the hospitality business for decades and founded Maplewood Senior Living in 2005. Smith’s innovations at Maplewood have made him a trailblazer in senior living and he knew that Inspīr would be his boldest project to date. “We wanted to create something that would feel different and unique—with more culture, more healthcare, more lifestyle,” Smith explains with passion. "We strive for the very best for our residents.” For the 23-story architectural masterpiece, a LEED-certified building, Smith, who always has his eye on breathtaking design, chose world-famous, award-winning Handel Architects. Numerous open spaces, like the SkyPark & Lounge on the 17th floor, bring the vibrant, green outdoors inside, a true oasis in the sky with the soothing scents of sage, lilac and rose sweeping through the beautiful rooms and outdoor terrace—a perfect place to dine, meet with family and friends or relax with awe-inspiring views of the city and the East River. Cozy up in front of the double-height copper-and-marble fireplace, have a drink or an espresso at the expansive, dramatic bar, adorned with red onyx inset walls, or just relax with a book on the massive openair terrace surrounded by palm and fig trees, clematis vines and ferns, lavender and Okame cherry. As Frank Fusaro of Handel Architects says: “This is about connecting the indoors to the outdoors—and people to life.” Overflowing with natural beauty, stellar design and a serene calmness above the bustling New York streets below, The SkyPark & Lounge will be both your private social club and a space to relax and unwind in luxury. Like Inspīr’s public spaces, the apartments—studios, onebedrooms and two-bedrooms—feature the best of the best in design. Every apartment boasts stunning floor-to-ceiling INSPIRE 13
windows with bird’s-eye views of either the East River or the dramatic Manhattan cityscape. And every detail has been taken care of, from custom millwork accented by brushed chrome to natural white oak flooring, Calacatta marble showers and mosaic tiling, as well as premium stainless-steel appliances. And if the Architectural Digestworthy design wasn’t enough, every apartment, like the entire Inspīr experience, is equipped with the latest smart technology, ensuring that every need— from health care to dining to concierge services—is simply a tap away. Inspīr is just steps from New York’s cultural institutions, world-class restaurants and shopping, yet one might never want to leave the building, which offers numerous activities, sumptuous dining rooms and amazing educational and immersive experiences. An elevated culinary experience is one of the most exciting elements of life at Inspīr. There are two on-site restaurants to choose from: 1802, which offers fine dining in a formal room with natural light and luscious greenery; and Onyx, the bistro-style venue on the 17th floor, the upper level of SkyPark. Inspīr’s esteemed Italian chef Giovanni Maffei, a graduate of the French Culinary Institute, has curated menus with a focus not only on delicious meals culled from the absolute best food purveyors, but on health. Maffei’s dishes take direct inspiration from the planet’s Blue Zones (regions having the highest concentrations of centenarians) and the Mediterranean diet of nutrient-filled foods boosted with vitamins. “Food is the fuel for life,” says Maffei. “Food affects our moods, our strength and our health in general. My goal is to incorporate energy-packed healthy ingredients into every dish, so that the residents at Inspīr feel good and have the energy they need to live active, full lives.” Menus crafted from the best farm-to-table local sources change seasonally and meld local influences and the finest ingredients with global fusion cuisine. One fun example is Maffei’s famous Salmon Pizza, which marries two New York favorites: pizza and bagel with lox. “We use salmon that has been flown in from the best farms in Scotland especially for Catsmo Artisan Smokehouse in upstate New York,” Maffei explains. “The salmon is smoked over oak. We top the base with cream cheese, Satur Farms’ wild arugula, avocado, fresh garlic and red onion.” In addition to innovative, indulgent dishes like banana soufflé pancakes at brunch and chocolate truffles for dessert, healthy choices are bountiful at Inspīr. Think refreshing smoothies like kale and pineapple with mint, and another with strawberry, banana and peanut butter. Maffei is also excited to bring his vast 14 INSPIRE
Each studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom residence is equipped with state of the art appliances, floor-tocieling windows and sleek, modern design details like chrome and gold marble.
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“We wanted to create something that would feel different and unique—with more culture, more healthcare, more lifestyle. We strive for the very best for our residents.” —Gregory D. Smith, CEO and President of Inspīr
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Inspčr’s vibrant amenity floor features an art studio, extensive library, lush garden terrace, luxurious salon and entertainment theater.
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Inspīr’s staff aims to support the health of residents using a holistic approach. In addition to movement-based offerings, like yoga, water aerobics and personal training, gourmet cuisine from on-site restaurants provide essential nutrients for an active, energetic lifestyle.
knowledge and experience with fine food to residents with weekly chef demos. “We will make a variety of foods like fresh pasta, acai bowls, delicious smoothies with high nutritional value, and even homemade cheese,” he says. “We will also explore healthy alternatives to favorite dishes using plant-based ingredients like nuts to substitute for dairy and meat.” I On par with the dining experience are the invigorating, cutting-edge health, fitness and wellness programs. Inspīr’s Integrated Care Model (ICM) is an interdisciplinary, team-based, person-centered approach to whole-person health and wellness. ICM is built on a philosophy of vibrant, intentional living and meaningful connections using the expertise of medical professionals across multiple disciplines so that residents have the best care possible. Inspīr’s onsite geriatrician, Claire Davenport, MD, MS, explains what makes Inspīr boldly stand out. “A deep difference between Inspīr and other senior living providers is the level of integration with a major health system,” she says. “Inspīr 18 INSPIRE
not only sought to improve the overall interconnectedness, they went one step further. With their relationship to The Mount Sinai Hospital, they are ensuring that clients are supported at home to maintain their health and wellness in order to avoid unnecessary hospitalization, to stabilize transitions of care, and to support healing when major health events happen. As far as I know, to have the freedom of residing at a senior living community while having direct access to an entire health care system is unheard of. This level of integration is indispensable to securing a new era of what is possible in assisted living facilities.” The offerings at Inspīr strengthen a commitment to leading a healthy, active and rewarding life. The indoor heated saltwater pool features ceramic mosaic tiles and Roman travertine marble with a stunning Bisazza mosaictile feature wall and custom-made teak benches. Steps away is the state-of-the-art fitness center with top-tier personal trainers and wellness coaches who specialize in senior care and are always available. Take classes like yoga,
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”Providing care is more than our job. It’s our passion,” says Brian Geyser, APRN-BC, MSN, chief clinical officer of Inspīr.
water aerobics, core conditioning, brain fitness, dance, tai chi and many others. There are also health-literacy educational programs and a Defying Gravity Fall Prevention Program. A life-enrichment director and life-enrichment coaches will create an individualized life-enrichment plan for each resident. You’ll not only feel your best, but also look your best: The salon and spa offer beauty treatments as well as holistic wellness experiences. Your invitation to be pampered and feel your absolute best is always just a click or call away. And when you want to explore the city, a Mercedes house car is available daily, as are a 24-hour concierge and doorman staff. Located on Manhattan’s famously stylish Upper East Side, Inspīr is a pleasant walk away from museums like the Guggenheim and the Met, an array of theaters, art galleries and world-famous shopping. Inspīr has strong, unique relationships and partnerships with colleges and universities, providing exclusive programs to learn and grow. And all of this can even be experienced without ever leaving home with Inspīr’s innovative roster of musical performances, art shows and live-streamed lectures, classes and discussion groups. Inspīr ensures that you will never feel more connected to the cultural heart of the city. Tantamount to the elevated living experience of Inspīr is health and wellness. Brian Geyser, APRN-BC, MSN, the chief clinical officer of Inspīr, says it best: “Providing care is more than our job. It’s our passion.” The location of Inspīr was chosen with health in mind. The best health care delivery systems in the world are right in the neighborhood, from NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center to Mount Sinai to Lenox Hill Hospital. Residents’ health care is completely customized to fit the exact needs of each individual. You can maintain relationships with personal doctors as long as you wish, and Inspīr’s on-site physicians are available to consult on anything at any time. Smart technology keeps you updated and connected to your health and ensures your family is also connected—all using Inspīr’s up-to-the-minute proprietary innovations. There are three different Inspīr wellness programs that are designed for the “whole self” to support everything you are and strive to be. “Sol” is a flexible, tiered program for residents who desire assistance with personal care and might require intermittent enhanced-care services. “Oceana” is an allinclusive memory care program designed specially for residents with dementia or other cognitive impairments. “Terra” is an all-inclusive enhanced-care program for residents with chronic enhanced care needs who may require ongoing skilled nursing services. And with on-site nursing and health services— pharmacy, rehab, dental, podiatry, audiology, laboratory, imaging services—and both palliative and hospice care, along with a clinical director (RN) and an on-site 24/7 registered nurse, residents’ health needs are taken care of at all times with the best care available. It’s simply peace of mind: knowing your needs will be met today and every day into the future. I INSPIRE 21
AROUND TOWN FROM ICONIC DESIGN TO REFINED CULTURE, CARNEGIE HILL IS A RARE GEM IN THE HEART OF NYC. BY GABRIELLE ECHEVARRIETA
ART & CULTURE Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum This breathtaking design feat conceived by renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright sits proudly at the edge of Central Park, and houses an ever-evolving collection of impressionist, modern and contemporary art. The unique cylindrical layout beckons guests upward on a journey through levels of paintings, sculpture and multimedia pieces, including those by Picasso, Degas and Gauguin. Described as a “temple of the spirit” by the museum’s first director, artist Hilla von Rebay, the Guggenheim works to infuse cultural ideas from across the globe, educate art lovers and preserve iconic pieces. Current exhibitions include Away from the Easel: Jackson Pollock’s Mural, a deep dive into the auteur’s most recognizable works, and The Fullness of Color: 1960s Painting, a vibrant trip through the avant-garde midcentury works of Helen Frankenthaler, Morris Louis and more. A monument to late 19th- and early 20th-century modernism, the ongoing Thannhauser Collection features creations by Claude 22 INSPIRE
Monet and Vincent van Gogh. For socially distanced enrichment, the Guggenheim offers a calendar of at-home learning and creative opportunities. guggenheim.org The Metropolitan Museum of Art The largest museum in the United States sits at the center of Carnegie Hill, a collection of over 2 million works housed in a stately beaux arts-style building spanning nearly a quarter mile. Organized by 17 curatorial departments, The Met contains works from almost all European masters, ancient Egyptian artifacts, antiquities, musical instruments, costumes, weapons and armor, and holds an array of African, Asian, Oceanic, Byzantine and Islamic art. A day at the Met exposes visitors to 5,000 years of history, fueled by a mission to encourage and develop New Yorkers’ connection to fine art and incorporate artistic values into everyday life. In addition to the museum’s permanent collection, a revolving lineup of exhibitions offers new perspectives on historical moments. The New Woman Behind the Camera, on display July through November 2021, highlights the revolutionary female photographers who captured the social and political transformations of the 20th century. Goya’s Graphic Imagination follows painter Francisco Goya through decades of artistic evolution, and will feature works from Madrid’s Museo Nacional del Prado and the Biblioteca Nacional de España. metmuseum.org The Jewish Museum
Located in the landmark Warburg mansion along Museum Mile, the Jewish Museum is regarded as the first Jewish cultural institution in the United States. Over 4,000 years worth of art, relics and contemporary treasures serve as tangible expressions of the global Jewish experience. The museum aims to utilize this extensive collection as a mode of cross-cultural dialogue and emotional connection. A captivating lineup of lectures, performances and family programming further
DREW PATRICK MILLER; THILDA LINHOLM/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO; COURTESY OF THE JEWISH MUSEUM
Nestled among the bustling streets of Manhattan, Carnegie Hill is both a tranquil time capsule celebrating the beauty of centuries past, and a modern destination teeming with artistic flair. Named after the home of steel industry pioneer Andrew Carnegie, the neighborhood—spanning from Central Park to Third Avenue and from 86th Street to 96th Street—embodies the milestones that have shaped present-day New York City. Streets are lined with a plethora of architectural styles, from Civil War-era clapboard houses to late 19th century row houses, early 20th-century mansions, remnants of industrial revolution wealth, and quintessential prewar apartment buildings. Carnegie Hill is regarded as a “village” within the city. The congestion of Midtown seems miles away when one strolls down the manicured tree-lined blocks dotted with baby carriages, joggers and dog walkers. Young families breathe life into the traditional landscape, drawn to the area by prestigious educational institutions—including the Spence School and the Dalton School—and its A+ safety rating awarded by Areavibes. Those eager to explore the dynamic community can tour these landmarks embodying the ethos of Carnegie Hill:
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS;©CAMERON DAVIDSON CORBIS
informs the educational journey the museum offers, and can be utilized both in person and online. Currently, Scenes from the Collection, an amalgamation of over 600 works from antiquities to contemporary artwork, uses thematic elements to explore centuries of Judaic culture. In the Constellations exhibit, the intersections of art and society are expressed through the lens of Jewish history, traditions and values, featuring artwork from Andy Warhol, Kehinde Wiley and more. Eighty pieces from the museum’s collection of nearly 1,050 Hanukkah lamps, the largest in the world, is now on display through 2022, sourced from four continents and six centuries of artistic production. Ottoman Empire, Eastern European and Italian art from the Masterpieces and Curiosities: The Benguiat Collection includes a newly restored Torah ark curtain from Istanbul (ca. 1735) and an ornately embroidered silk eighteenth-century pillowcase for the Passover Seder from Bulgaria. thejewishmuseum.org Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Exploring 240 years of design aesthetics, The Cooper Hewitt museum is housed in Carnegie Hill’s most prominent landmark, the Andrew Carnegie Mansion. The English Georgian-style estate, the first residential building in the United States constructed with a steel frame and an Otis elevator, was revamped into the Cooper Hewitt and opened to the public in the 1970s. The museum’s collection consists of architecture, sculpture, woodwork, metalwork, pottery and more. Items encapsulating global political history include matchbooks, bags and porcelain from the Soviet Union, plus a chair used by Abraham Lincoln during a visit to the Cooper Union. While the museum’s public programs will take place exclusively online until further notice, virtual resources, such as a downloadable 3D-printable model of the mansion, are available to design enthusiasts. The Design at Home YouTube series teaches DIY methods for creating traditional Indonesian textiles, posters, ‘zines and the potato stamp pattern, popularized by designer Eva Zeisel. cooperhewitt.org LANDMARKS Edith Fabbri House The pinnacle of Italian Renaissance-revival architecture, this townhome was built by Edith Shepard Fabbri (daughter of Margaret Louisa Vanderbilt Shepard, a granddaughter of Cornelius Vanderbilt) and her husband, Ernesto Fabbri, an associate of J.P. Morgan. The residence is marked by
a brilliant red brick and white marble exterior, embellished iron gates and a library featuring historic panels from the Palazzo Ducale di Urbino in Italy and an Aeolian Opus 1398 organ from 1916. Edith’s wish of transforming the home into a retreat house was brought to life in 1949, with the mansion now operating as the spiritual institution House of the Redeemer. The home has also hosted an annual chamber music concert series, featuring world-renowned artists like clarinetist Stanley Drucker and the late cellist André Emelianoff. 7 E. 95th Street Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir Named after former first lady and NYC resident Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, this decommissioned reservoir is nestled in Central Park steps from the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Encircled by the park’s famed bridle path, this bucolic escape from the urban hustle and bustle is lined with fragrant Yoshino cherry trees. The reservoir has been featured in cinematic classics, including Woody Allen’s Hannah and Her Sisters, The Devil’s Advocate, Marathon Man, and Sex and the City. Ogden Codman House One of the last three residences built in the 1910s remaining on East 96th Street, famed architect Ogden Codman Jr.’s home is integral to Carnegie Hill’s design history. Constructed in 18th-century French Renaissance Revival style, Codman’s estate is built of limestone and features wrought-iron balconies, dormer windows and a porte cochère gateway to a courtyard and garage. Once home to the exclusive Nippon Club, the building now operates as the Wetherby-Pembridge School. 7 E. 96th Street George F. Baker Houses Designed by Delano & Aldrich, a visionary 20th-century architectural firm, The George F. Baker houses consist of several adjoining residences on Park Avenue in Carnegie Hill. The family compound, one of the last in the city, embodies the 19th-century neoclassical aesthetic. Built to endure the tests of time, most of the homes’ original fixtures have been preserved, including sinks, toilets, furnaces and an elevator. The Russian Orthodox Church now owns the corner building of the complex, 75 East 93rd Street. The complex’s carriage house at 69 East 93rd Street, which boasts a colonnade of eight stone columns, is now headquarters for Classical American Homes Preservation Trust (CAHPT), which also owns and maintains 67 East 93rd Street. I INSPIRE 23
THE CONNECTION YOU NEED RIGHT NOW.
AND ALWAYS. Amid this 23-story architectural masterpiece that is Inspīr, you’ll find opportunities to explore your passions and find new ones. On-site healthcare and proprietary wellness practices. Dramatic open spaces and exhilarating dining experiences. But the most essential thing you’ll find is also the most intangible. It’s the feeling of connection you need right now, and always.
Reserve your future today. Call our Inspīr care professionals at 646.907.1500 or visit inspirseniorliving.com/contact-us
1802 Second Avenue | New York, NY 10128