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M A G A Z I N E
The
FAMILY ISSUE FEATURES
82 | 90 | 94 | 104 |
EYES WIDE OPEN Maria Bello brushes off labels and says “hello” to happiness. By being herself, activist and actor Bello creates a new norm for what it means to be a family.
TOYS GONE WILD Parents and toy companies work toward ending the hypersexualization and gender discrimation of juvenile entertainment.
CONCRETE CHIC No matter corporate or sporty, the fashion world is embracing both. Crisp white and soft neutrals highlight the woman who does it all.
A LIFE WITHOUT KIDS Author Amanda Chatel is not interested in having kids and she is here to tell you that opting out of motherhood is okay.
MUSES & VISIONARIES MAGAZINE MandVmag.com
e m i l b u S & h s e r u Refr o t n o c e y e r . u e y yo e n a f o k n i l b a a k s n in a o s i V h t Elisabe Available on visoanska.com and amazon.com
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INFORM
INSPIRE
50 |
21 | THE GOODS
54 |
Carefully curated wish lists
26 | EYES & EARS
56 |
A cultural roundup of new releases
33 | GADGETS & GEAR
Tech items ahead of the curve
58 |
34 | UNPLUGGED
The Mediterranean welcomes a new cruise ship to its waters
BIG PICTURE
News from around the world
MASTER CLASS
Claudine and Honza Lafond stay centered with yoga
Pg. 21 Pg. 42
BUSINESS UNUSUAL
From exercising to baby duties, there is a concierge at your service
IN THE LIFE OF
Artist Asher Jay uses her creativity to save the animal kingdom
42 | GLOBE TROTTING
Enchantment Resort and Casa Monica encapsulate their surroundings
Pg. 33
Pg. 25
IMPACT
Pg. 25
NURTURE
110 |
RAISE YOUR GLASS
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MAKING WAVES
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CROSSWORD PUZZLE
78 | ON THE COUCH
125 |
R.S.V.P.
81 | GROWING PAINS
136 |
VISIONS
66 | PROJECT ME
Pg. 29
Bright ideas for a better you
68 | GATHERINGS
Amy Osaba brings summer to the table with foraged flowers Answers to life’s social dilemmas A mother takes a time out from her daughter
Pg. 54
Pg. 57
Heidi Murkoff proves the importance of motherhood South Florida women to watch M&V’s word fun
Highlights and happenings Pastor Amy Butler on the church of the future
ON THE COVER MARIA BELLO SHOT BY M&V IN LOS ANGELES PHOTOGRAPHY BY FRANCESCO GASTEL MAKEUP BY CAMILLE CLARK; HAIR BY PHILLIP CARREON STYLING BY CECELIA FOSS
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ove is complex. We can debate whether it is chemistry, emotion or an act of will, but we can probably all agree it is an underpinning of our lives and the critical ingredient for growing our families. And the label “family” is a generous one, relying on our hearts to determine its application. No one understands this notion better than this month’s cover story Maria Bello.
Equal parts activist and actor, Bello was an easy choice for our second annual FAMILY issue. I spent a few days with her in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake on a learning trip with women activists from the Women Donors Network and Bello’s organization WeAdvance. She was refreshing, authentic and committed to work on the ground in the devastated country. Years later, I was captivated by her honest essay printed in The New York Times (Nov. 29, 2013). She wrote about falling in love with a woman who was her best friend, accepting those feelings of attachment and partnership and understanding the real meaning behind a modern family. “Maybe, in the end, a modern family is just a more honest family,” she wrote. In between her schedule of speaking engagements for her book Whatever…Love Is Love, where she further shares her journey of discovery about partnership, love and family in an unconventional life situation, Bello met our team in Los Angeles. Photographer Francesco Gastel (the nephew of famed fashion photographer Giovanni Gastel) hosted the photo shoot at his home, once the former residence of musician Stevie Nicks and 1920s silent film star Vilma Banky. Lesley McKenzie captures Bello in “Eyes Wide Open” on page 82. Rounding out our family issue, writer Amanda Chatel shares her deciding factors behind her life without kids. Chatel is part of a growing trend of women who are saying no to having their own children but yes to being super aunts and world-class individuals (page 104). Then it’s off to the provocative world of children’s toys. “Toys Gone Wild,” page 90, offers a look at how toys, dolls and action figures aimed at girls often promote gender inequality and stifle the creativity of young girls. These stories have one great common denominator—that the ‘norm’ is always changing and it’s often for the better. Here’s to families,
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Publisher ERIN ROSSITTO Creative Director MOLLY GREENE Editorial Director LOLA THÉLIN + Copy Editor LINDA CULBERTSON Home & Gatherings Editor ANNETTE JOSEPH Contributing Editor JODI BELDEN Crossword Editor MYLES MELLOR Staff Writers DR. RAMANI DURVASULA, MARGERY GORDON, BECCA GREENE, TONI NAGY, STYLIANA RESVANIS Contributors REV. AMY BUTLER, AMANDA CHATEL, LINDA CULBERTSON DANIELLE AND LAURA KOSANN, LESLEY MCKENZIE, MARIA TETTAMANTI Photographers GIO ALMA, FRANCESCO GASTEL, CHRISTINA WEDGE Illustrator ROLLIN MCGRAIL Interns AGNE NUMAVICIUTE, JONATHAN URBINA Chief Operating Officer ROY ASSAD 561.515.4552 ext. 800 roy@magazinemv.com Operations Manager NICOLE FAHRENHOLZ 561.515.4552 ext. 805 nicole@magazinemv.com Account Executives SARAH SCHEFFER 561.515.4552 ext. 815 sarah@magazinemv.com WENDY YALLALY 561.515.4552 ext. 812 wendy@magazinemv.com + Advisory Board BEVERLY COGAN, BARBARA DIXON, MICHELLE FEUER, SCOTT FOGARTY, AMY LAGAE, BETH NEUHOFF, ELISABETH TRETTER For editorial or advertising correspondence Muses & Visionaries 319 Clematis St., Suite 510 West Palm Beach, FL 33401 info@magazinemv.com | 561.515.4552 | MandVmag.com
CONTRIBUTORS FRANCESCO GASTEL was born and raised in Milan, Italy, and currently resides in Los Angeles. His mother Minnie Gastel Cirri was a successful fashion journalist in Europe. It was she who introduced him to his passion for photography at a young age. Gifting him with an upbringing in Milan’s fashion culture, he developed a diverse love for visual arts. Follow him on Instagram @francescogastel.
LESLEY MCKENZIE is a lifestyle expert focused on the worlds of style, beauty, food and travel. In addition to her role as the deputy editor of California magazine C, she also contributes regularly to the likes of The Hollywood Reporter, Women’s Wear Daily and Ultratravel. Born in Scotland and raised in the Swiss Alps and the Arabian Desert, she currently calls Venice Beach, California, home. Follow her on Twitter @lesleymckenzie.
JODI BELDEN is a freelance fashion editor, stylist and blogger who was born and raised in South Florida. After attending the University of Florida, she moved to NYC to pursue a career in fashion journalism. She spent seven years at ELLE contributing to the beauty and fashion departments, specializing in fine jewelry and watches. Since moving back to Florida, she has rediscovered her love for nature, words and the beauty of stillness. Follow her on Instagram @polishingup.
Miami-based celebrity and fashion photographer GIO ALMA’s images have illustrated the covers and pages of publications and advertising campaigns around the world. Winner of the 2014 Black & White Spider Awards in the fashion category, Alma is known for getting the best out of each subject he photographs and being keen on creating images based on original concepts and ideas. Alma offers his services pro-bono to shoot advertising campaigns for charitable organizations who work for children, health, environmental or animal preservation, as well as entities that spend more than 60 percent of their budgets on non-profit programs. Follow him on Instagram @gioalmapics.
AMANDA CHATEL is a writer who divides her time between NYC and Paris. She’s written for a whole slew of lady blogs, including Bustle, The Frisky, YourTango, and YouBeauty. When she’s not doling out sex and relationship advice, she can be found on a terrace somewhere in the world dreaming of sangria. Follow her on Twitter @angrychatel.
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M A G A Z I N E
Behind-The-Scene PHOTOS A day with activist and actor Maria Bello on her M&V cover shoot held at a private Los Angeles residence.
Were You Spotted by M&V?
Neutrals, anywhere, ANYTIME Film alert! An extra look at this month’s fashion shoot photographed on the streets of downtown Miami and inside the JW Marriott Marquis Miami.
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INSPIRE “I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end.”
Gilda Radner
INSPIRE
The GOODS “I am drawn to an easy effortless style of dressing, because while it looks thrown together, in reality it’s hard to pull off. Film stars of the past such as Ali MacGraw and Catherine Deneuve and model Lauren Hutton seemed to have it down perfectly. I don’t know if it was the individuals or just a simpler way of life but I long for that essence.” —Jodi Belden, M&V contributing editor
Tom Ford Men’s Leather Gold T-Bar Buckle Belt $840 tomford.com
THE INSPIRATION
Image Skincare Ageless Total Pure Hyaluronic Filler $51 imageskincare.com
Pearl Love Jewelry Pearl Stud Earrings $145 pearllovejewelry.com
Valentine NYC Shang-A-Lang Bra $52 valentinenyc.com
Kingsman Pine-Printed Wool and Silk Pocket Square $95 mrporter.com
Jennifer Fisher Cigar Band $160 jenniferfisherjewelry.com
Bulova Double Wrap Watch $185 bulova.com
Equipment France Signature Shirt $218 equipmentfr.com
L’Oreal Paris Elnett Spray Hairspray $14.99 lorealparisusa.com
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INSPIRE
The GOODS “I am unequivocally obsessed with the Maldives, a tropical nation in the Indian Ocean composed of 26 coral atolls. It was a bucket list item and I finally checked this exotic trip off my list last year. When packing for this off-the-beaten-path getaway, these are the goods I have in mind—think stunning, colorful and cool pieces—just like the see-through waters of the kaleidoscopic Indian Ocean.” —Maria Tettamanti, blogger of TheWordyGirl.com
Fendi Edged Zig Zag Optyl Cat Eye Sunglasses $495 saksfifthavenue.com
THE INSPIRATION Missoni Woven Knit Head Wrap $248 intermixonline.com
Delfina Delettrez Eye & Pearl Single Earring $560 thewebstermiami.com
Khirma Eliazov Andre Bucket Bag $1,495 khirmaeliazov.com
Courtney Lee Collection Luna Neon Earrings $295 loveandpieces.com
Ruby Mint Colony Towel $78 ruby-mint.com Mara Hoffman Electrolight Reversible Printed Swimsuit $245 net-a-porter.com Edie Parker Lucite clutch $1,195 edie-parker.com
Drybar Hot Toddy $30 thedrybar.com
Cartier Calibre de Cartier Diver Watch Price available upon request cartier.us
Valentino Espadrille Wedge Sandal $695 valentino.com
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Angela Reynolds
RESIDENTIAL INTERIOR DESIGN
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INSPIRE
The GOODS “We love LeRoy Grannis’ surf photography. He chronicled California’s surf culture in the ’60s and ’70s and captured the Technicolor explosion of the surf scene. This particular photograph—the Malibu Lineup, 1967—is a favorite of ours because it perfectly evokes the mood of summer.” —Danielle and Laura Kosann, The New Potato founders
THE INSPIRATION
Taschen LeRoy Grannis: Surf Photography of the 1960s and 1970s $20 barnesandnoble.com Stella McCartney Cat Eye Acetate Sunglasses $320 net-a-porter.com
Saint James Naval II Top $135 lagarconne.com
Lisa Marie Fernandez The Genevieve Bonded Bikini $315 lisamariefernandez.com
J.Crew Skinny-Striped Tote $128 jcrew.com Williams-Sonoma Curing Salt $10 williams-sonoma.com
Orlebar Brown + Emilio Pucci Whippet Baidera Toucan Swim Short $315 orlebarbrown.com
Treestump Woodcrafts Cheeseboard & Spreader $115 barneys.com Vans Solid Canvas Classic Slip-On $45 vans.com
Nouvel Studios Big Apollo Tumbler $30 barneys.com
Ancient Greek Sandals Thais Snake Slides $330 ancientgreeksandals.com Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast Iron $274 macys.com
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The LATEST on the ARTS & CULTURE SCENE
3 x 3 x 3, 1965, Sol LeWitt
Art
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citywide immersion in cutting-edge contemporary art, the Time-Based Art Festival (TBA) puts a Pacific Northwest spin on the experimental extravaganzas that activate public plazas and historical sites of European cities. The Portland Institute of Contemporary Art (PICA) is celebrating its 20th anniversary during the 15th edition of TBA Sept.10-20. Performance art, multimedia installations and informal late-night happenings take place at some dozen venues across the city over those 10 days. Visual art exhibitions remain on view into October. Boundary-stretching headliners include the musical fusions of Ukrainian quartet DakhaBrakha, Japanese-American duo Aki Onda and Akio Suzuki, and Okwui Okpokwasili’s one-woman show Bronx Gothic. Inventive theatrical productions feature otherworldly sets from Paris in Philippe Quesne’s La Mélancolie des Dragons and via Norway in the ritualistic Night Tripper. pica.org/tba
Accession V, 1968, Eva Hesse
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LeWitt devised rigid principles for his systematic placement of smooth geometric shapes, while Hesse turned to new industrial compounds like latex and fiberglass, molding raw materials to suggest the human body. At times she contained and contrasted those organic forms with boxy structures more typical of LeWitt, and he eventually embraced her curves. The wiggly lines LeWitt first drew in 1970, as a tribute to Hesse days after her death at 34 from a brain tumor, loosened over the following four decades into the unruly Scribbles of his final years. Both estates have loaned artworks and postcards they exchanged, punctuated with LeWitt’s legendary 1965 letter that encouraged Hesse—and countless creators since—to persevere at a critical crossroads. This oft-quoted message underscores the importance of mutual support and intellectual discourse among peers. addisongallery.org
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Ukrainian quartet DakhaBrakha
Olga Zahrevska
ubtle threads connect a pair of pioneering artists in Converging Lines: Eva Hesse and Sol LeWitt, Sept. 12 to Jan. 10 at the Addison Gallery of American Art on the Phillips Academy campus in Andover, Massachusetts. Throughout the 1960s, their platonic bond strengthened amid a tightknit circle in Lower Manhattan who debated tactics to reinvigorate the process of painting and sculpting.
INSPIRE
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he familial visions of seven artists find a temporary home in Tampa this fall when the University of South Florida Contemporary Art Museum hosts A Family Affair. The artists explore how individual identities are shaped by domestic dynamics, ancestral lore, cultural traditions, inherited socio-economic status and gender roles, and the genetic intermingling of ethnic, racial, physical and internal traits.
Many works are the product of inter-generational collaboration. In their Progeny series, Deborah Willis, an acclaimed photographer and scholar of African-American portraiture, merges visages with her son Hank Willis Thomas, also a renowned artist. LaToya Ruby Frazier faces her mother and grandmother against the unadorned setbacks of the post-industrial Rust Belt. Jamaican-American Renee Cox casts members of her blended clan in staged scenarios that upend racial stereotypes. Jacolby Satterwhite animates his schizophrenic mother’s sketches for unrealized inventions into 3D constellations that orbit his alter ego, a live action figure clipped from performances he choHuxtables, Mom and Me, 2009, LaToya Ruby Frazier reographs in NYC. Kalup Linzy also directs his own diva persona in melodramatic art films and an online soap opera in which the Central Florida native and USF alumnus stars as the matriarch and some of her fictional descendants. In addition, videos by Linzy, Satterwhite and Frazier loop in the museum’s galleries throughout the show’s run Aug. 28 to Dec. 12, and the 2014 documentary Through a Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People (co-produced by Willis) screens on campus Sept. 17.
Courtesy of Corine Vermeulen/Susanne Hilberry Gallery
Visiting artist Corine Vermeulen will spend the semester developing a collective snapshot of life on the urban margins in Picturing Families in the University Area Community by using her camera to capture the students’ neighbors at home, on the street, and in temporary “walkin portrait studios.” The Dutch photographer has been exchanging family portrait sessions for civic anecdotes since she started inviting residents in her adopted hometown of Detroit onto a makeshift set inside a foreclosed house six years ago. By commissioning a similar illustrated history on its Tampa turf, and adding dispatches from Vermeulen’s progress to the other six artists’ kin, the museum is increasing visibility of a diverse disadvantaged population while expanding its own family circle. ira.usf.edu —Margery Gordon
PJ & Goats, 2011, Corine Vermeulen
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Art Cross of Suffering: (left to right) blind veteran, WWII, Germany; battlefield, Ardennes Offensive, Mezieres, Belgium
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ar may be a common denominator, but not a necessary evil in the eyes of Bettina WitteVeen (left). To persuade the public to see it from her perspective, she forcefully brings the harsh realities of war home to former military facilities. It took her seven years to gain access to the building at the Brooklyn Navy Yard where American troops were hospitalized from the Civil War to World War II. Her artwork is the first to occupy the protected landmark. Finally authorized to stage an installation Sept. 12 to Oct. 24 in only a portion of the dilapidated building, limited to 60 people at a time, she says the “worn down” institution is “like an injured body, and I bring that out of it.” When We Were Soldiers…once and young is a “visual poem” composed of images from nearly every war America has entered since the 1850s, primarily black-and-white photographs WitteVeen has mined from archives, juxtaposed with color landscapes WitteVeen has shot over two decades at battlefields on four continents and island nations. She prints some entirely in vivid orange or red tones, amplifies crimson poppies that bloom where blood has been spilled (and that produce the opiates veterans take to dull the physical and emotional pain), and subtly darkens shadows with tiny brushstrokes. “I am not altering any of the historic content; I don’t insert anything that isn’t already there,” WitteVeen explains. “I think that beauty opens you up,
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The Battle: (left to right) former demilitarized zone, Quang Tri Province, Vietnam; battlefield, Operation Overlord, St. Mere Eglise, France; UH-1 Iroquois helicopter, Mekong Delta, Vietnam; US Special Forces, 1964, Vietnam
but [my work] is neither sentimental or nostalgic.” This installment is part of the artist’s global series “The Heart of Darkness,” following her 2008 exhibition at a former WWII bunker in Berlin. Raised near the largest American military base in Germany, WitteVeen felt trauma reverberate through generations. European territories have more visible scars than the U.S., yet after 30 years in New York City, she observes that, “America has been more at war than it hasn’t been at war. My installation is about how the experience of war changes you forever.” Inside the entrance to the Brooklyn naval hospital, the artist has hung a portrait of American Red Cross founder Clara Barton. Former treatment rooms document graphic injuries and honor healers. The hallway is immersed in a montage of combat scenes and cold quarters trace the evolution of robotic weapons. In the basement, evidence of civilian casualties inhabits ominous cells, while the corridor is lined with tall crosses symbolizing sacrifice and redemption. Toward the end of the installation, visitors enter a chapel, where the soothing sounds of Bach cantatas play. It is a sacred space to recover, reflect and reach conclusions. “I have no illusion that I’m going to end warfare,” says WitteVeen. Still, her Buddhist philosophy drives this humanitarian mission to elicit empathy by sensitizing audiences to the consequences of defending land and liberty. “Pacifist solutions for world problems need to be achieved by making knowledge and by making choices. I really believe that the truth sets you free.” bettinawitteveen.com —M.G.
INSPIRE
Books You don’t have to be in the single digits to enjoy books with pictures. Revamp your coffee table with these beautiful tomes that are part beauty and part edification.
Licht by photographer Andreas von Maltzan offers a fresh perspective on familiar locations. His work is discussed in the context of Nicéphore Niépce, French inventor of photography, who described his images as heliographs, or light drawings. Through unstaged photographs, many taken at night, von Maltzan makes light and shadow the stars. Each image is a mesmerizing scene that pulls the viewer in and becomes transformed into an abstract work of art. teNeues, Aug. 15
Wildlife photographer Federico Veronesi moved to Kenya in 2007 and has spent the interim years living in a tent in the Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, immersed in the lives of African animals and their environment. In his first book, Light and Dust, Veronesi shares the dramatic portraits captured as he followed his subjects through extremes of terrain and weather on their unremitting quest for survival. Rizzoli, Sept.15
Underwater, Maldives, 2009, Photo ©2015 Andreas von Maltzan; Zebras, copyright Rizzoli; Ladychips, Nicolas Brulez; Egyptian Blue Lily and Citrus, copyright Taschen 2015.
Photographer Nicolas Brulez, known to Web surfers as The Tattoorialist, documents modern tattoo culture through fashion portraits of people on streets around the world. Brulez now showcases his innovative work in The Tattoorialist: Tattoo Street Style. Spend some time with this book, and it is not surprising that he has a professional career as a psychiatric nurse. His photography captures the diversity of individuals and the way in which their body art is a visual expression of their inner being. Mitchell Beazley, Sept. 1
Belgian-born Pierre-Joseph Redouté was the official courts draftsman of Queen Marie Antoinette and a favorite artist of Josephine Bonaparte. His impeccable illustrations of flowers and other plant specimens were born in the most noble of places and are now available to the masses in Redouté: Selection of the Most Beautiful Flowers. The work, authored by historian Werner Dressendörfer and professor H. Walter Lack, marries exquisite reprints with informative narratives. Taschen, Aug. 1
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Music
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A live performance by Postmodern Jukebox
M&V: Postmodern Jukebox songs feature many musical styles. What’s your musical background? BRADLEE: I’m mostly self-taught on the piano. I stopped taking lessons because I couldn’t find a way to stay interested. Then when I was about 12, I heard [George Gershwin’s] Rhapsody in Blue. I didn’t know anything about jazz or ragtime, but I heard this sound and was really interested. That led me to [research] New Orleans artists such as Louis Armstrong. Then I’d sit by the piano, play the CDs and try to figure out how to make sounds that I was hearing. After high school, I moved to New York City to become a jazz pianist but found it was tough to reach people through jazz. Yet when I took songs that people already knew, they would respond to that. M&V: Is Postmodern Jukebox a band or a project? BRADLEE: It’s hard to define. It’s not a band because it’s always different people. PMJ is a working cast made up of about 50 performers. There’s a touring production. Plus I post a new video every Thursday on my YouTube channel. M&V: Are you the only arranger, or do cast members help? BRADLEE: Any good project is a collaboration, but I guide the process. I have a lot of talented people—some of the best in the world— at my disposal so it’s cool to incorporate their ideas. M&V: How long does it take to rearrange a song? BRADLEE: There have been times where we have a recording session and three hours to come up with an idea. Somehow we are able to start and finish it in a few hours time. More realistically, I sit with it
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hank goodness for YouTube. It has launched countless careers, from baker Rosanna Pansino to beauty guru Bethany Mota and pianist Scott Bradlee. A few years ago Bradlee posted a short clip of himself playing a ragtime medley of ’80s hits, and boom: stardom! The video’s success was the initial impetus behind Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox (PMJ), an insanely talented cast of about 50 recurring and guest vocalists, musicians, dancers, and everything in between, who perform retro versions of popular songs. For instance, Miley Cyrus’ We Can’t Stop became a vintage 1950s doo-wop, while Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines is rearranged into a bluegrass barn dance rendition. Swing, Motown, blues, ’70s soul. Meghan Trainor, Macklemore, Nicki Minaj, Backstreet Boys— no musical era or artist is off the table for this group. It’s a musical time machine, to say the least. This August PMJ heads to Australia and New Zealand to tour.
for a couple of days. I may bring in a singer to work with and help edit parts. Then by the end of the week, we’re ready to bring in the band and record. M&V: Exactly how did YouTube launch your career? BRADLEE: It started when I was having problems finding work as a jazz player. I knew I had a unique idea—taking modern songs and arranging them into ragtime or jazz. I uploaded a video of me doing just that, and it went viral. I’ve been on YouTube for five years now. M&V: Your story is special because you’ve had success without a record label. BRADLEE: Absolutely. There was no record label involved, no kind of corporation or outside funding; it was all self funded. Over time, our videos started to churn out money, which we used to launch a touring production. We’re grateful to the fans for spreading the word about us because they’re the ones that made it happen. M&V: Why do your songs resonate so much with listeners? BRADLEE: It taps into nostalgia. Everybody likes the idea of being transported to another era. I think it has to do with an appreciation for Hollywood glamour, the old school classic way of life. M&V: What’s next for PMJ? BRADLEE: I want everyone in the world to experience PMJ. I want to show people that real music is alive and there is nothing like experiencing live music. I believe it’s something that has been lost nowadays due to productions, Auto-Tune and things like that.
INSPIRE
Films
RICKI AND THE FLASH
MISTRESS AMERICA
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irector Jonathan Demme is a master of many genres, from the broad comedy of Married to the Mob to the classic thriller The Silence of the Lambs and rock-doc Neil Young: Heart of Gold. So who better for Demme to team up with than fellow genre chameleon Meryl Streep. Ricki and the Flash (written by Oscar winner Diablo Cody) is the story of singer-guitarist Ricki Rendazzo (Streep) who left her family decades ago for a life on the road with her rock band. She returns home after a family crisis in an effort to show support but is met with the hurt and anger that her absence has caused. In a way, it’s a late in life coming-of-age story: Ricki tries to earn the forgiveness and trust of her children, though it goes against her flippant nature to do so. Tonally, the film is a mix of drama and dark comedy with live musical performances by Streep and her band throughout. Kevin Kline (who starred with Streep in Sophie’s Choice) plays Ricki’s ex-husband. Eighties heartthrob Rick Springfield plays her bandmate/boyfriend, and Streep’s own daughter, Mamie Gummer, portrays her on-screen daughter. In theaters Aug. 7.
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riter-director Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale, Margot at the Wedding and Greenberg) and his leading lady muse/cowriter Greta Gerwig team up again with a follow-up to their 2012 critically acclaimed collaboration, Frances Ha. Indie screwball comedy Mistress America premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Socially awkward college freshman and aspiring writer, Tracy (played by Lola Kirke) has a hard time adjusting to life on her own in New York City until her future sister-in-law Brooke
THE INTERN
(Gerwig) takes Tracy under her wing. Brooke is a dazzling, confident fast-talking whirlwind of a woman who seems to have NYC in the palm of her hand. It’s a character that the capable Gerwig plays with the whimsy of free jazz but also with a depth and grounded realness bubbling below the surface of Brooke’s curated carefree persona. The two women end up on a One Crazy Night style adventure in Connecticut where antics abound, but the humor is anchored by the well-developed characters at the heart of this story. In theaters Aug. 14.
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ancy Meyers (writer-director of Something’s Gotta Give and It’s Complicated) is known for her romantic comedies, which often center on women of a certain age. The Intern explores the relationship between Jules and Ben, played by Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro. If you think a romantic love story between a young woman and a man old enough to be her grandfather sounds more like Woody Allen’s territory than that of Meyers, you’re correct. The love story here is that of a friendship. Jules is the CEO of an online fashion company who hires retired widower De Niro to be her intern as part of a community outreach program. What transpires is an unlikely and touching bond between the two. Part of the fun of the film is watching De Niro play an old school, class act who has to interact with his man-child co-workers. He’s a throwback of another era trying to relate to 30-year-old dudes who still play video games. Rounding out the workplace ensemble are Rene Russo, Andrew Rannells, Adam DeVine and Anders Holm. In theaters Sept. 25. —Becca Greene
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Gadgets & gear
1. PhoneSoap Charger $59.95 phonesoap.com Your smartphone is a veritable petri dish for bacteria. The PhoneSoap Charger uses two UV-C lights to sanitize and kill germs living on the phone’s surface while charging your phone. It takes about four minutes and is compatible with most phones. 2. Qwerkywriter $399 qwerkywriter.com Welcome back clickety-clack. Breathing new life into vintage typewriters, Qwerkywriter is a fully mechanical keyboard that connects to your desktop computer, iPad or tablet via Bluetooth. 3. Ringly $195-$260 ringly.com Stow your smartphone and don your cocktail ring. Using an app connected to your phone, the ring alerts you to messages and sends customized notifications through light and vibrations. Choose from a selection of four semi-precious stones in an 18k gold matte setting. 4. Hydaway Bottle $20 hydawaybottle.com Stay hydrated during your adventures. This water bottle features a collapsible design that, when full, holds up to 21 ounces of water. When empty, it collapses flat and fits anywhere. Available in two sizes and six colors. 5. Tocky $49.99 nandahome.com Hitting that snooze button one too many times? Tocky is the answer. The alarm clock rolls off of your nightstand and plays recorded sounds or uploaded MP3s as it runs away. 6. Coravin 1000 Wine Access System $299 coravin.com No need to save your favorite wine for the perfect moment. This innovative design allows wine connoisseurs to enjoy wines by the glass without pulling the cork. Using a long, narrow needle, Coravin accesses the pour and pumps argon gas into the space where the wine once was.
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SIZE
does matter Windstar Cruises’ all-suite power yacht Star Breeze journeys through the Mediterranean waters while guests get a carefree travel experience. By Linda Culbertson
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INSPIRE
f you’ve sworn off cruises because of past excursions on super-sized ships, the Star Breeze experience will change your mind. You’ll find nirvana on this ship, whose inaugural four-day journey through the South of France and into Italy took place in early May. Measuring 440 feet from stem to stern, Star Breeze classifies as a ship but maxes out at 212 passengers. Its ratio of 140 staff to 212 guests equals utter spoiling, which means waiters, bartenders and crew remembered our names (and our drinks).
Life On Board The Star Breeze bears no resemblance to the often-gaudy décor of today’s big ships. The lighting is warm, the atmosphere casual and the appointments tasteful. Our ocean-view cabin had the smallest floor plan—a spacious 277 square feet—and contained a comfy queensize bed, roomy living area with a couch and two chairs, a bar and mini-fridge. The bathroom had two sinks, multiple shelves, a large medicine cabinet and a full-size tub and shower. Towels, linens and pillows—all perfectly fluffy, luxurious and firm, respectively. The pièce de résistance? A walk-in closet, big enough for my 6-foot-4inch husband. One of the important components of a cruise is the food, and Star Breeze’s food was painstakingly prepared, artistically presented and absolutely delicious, all overseen by corporate executive chef Michael Sabourin, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. Breakfast offerings included made-to-order items like eggs Benedict and
omelets, and a buffet with fresh fruits, smoothies, pastries, smoked salmon and frequently replenished hot items. The lunch buffet was equally expansive. Dinner was usually five courses, all intermingled and often creatively named. After the amuse bouche came salads and soups, sorbets, entrees and desserts to satisfy every taste. For meat lovers, think quail, bison and lamb. For fish lovers, there’s blue crab, lobster and salmon. Vegetarians also had plenty of drool-worthy choices. The WindSpa offers a variety of hair, face, body and nail treatments in a peaceful environment. Their menu also includes fitness and wellness activities such aspersonal training, nutritional consultation and yoga. I indulged in a bamboo massage. Smooth bamboo stalks soaked in oil are heated and rolled over the skin to loosen muscles and allow for better access to deep tissue. Soon after the session started I asked (begged, really) to extend my time from 50 minutes to 75 minutes. A heavenly experience.
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Unplugged CRUISE
Nice, France
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fter a pre-cruise adventure that included a stop in Barcelona and a drive along the French Riviera, we arrived in Nice two days before the Star Breeze was set to sail. Once settled in our Airbnb apartment, we walked the two blocks to the Mediterranean and Nice’s finest hotel, Le Negresco (hotel-negresco-nice.com). Built in 1913, it houses an extensive art collection, furniture and other relics dating back to the 17th century. We sat in the hotel’s piano bar after ordering “Porn Star Martinis,” served with a Champagne chaser. A day on our own in Nice included strolls along its narrow streets and public gardens and walks along the beach on Promenade des Anglais. We had lunch at Le Café des Fleurs (lecafedesfleurs. com) in Nice’s Old Town market, where we could see the café’s underground wine cellar through a glass floor pane. Tired after our exploration of Nice’s shops and streets, we rested in the open plaza at the 13th century Cathédrale Sainte-Réparate (cathedrale-nice.fr), and sampled ice cream from the legendary Fenocchio Maître Glacier (fenocchio.fr).
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INSPIRE Monaco
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e awoke the first morning of our journey in the Port de Monaco, just seven nautical miles northeast of our port of departure. I always assumed that Monaco and Monte Carlo were one in the same, but Monte Carlo is just one of five geographic areas in the Principality of Monaco (population 37,800). Covering just .78 square miles, it is the world’s second-smallest country, yet boasts one of the world’s highest per capita income. While eating breakfast on Star Breeze’s veranda, we admired neighboring yachts anchored in the harbor. The closest was the 230-foot Amadeus, owned by Louis Vuitton chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault, the world’s fourth wealthiest person. Next to it was the 380-foot Atlantis II, built for Greek shipping magnate Stavros Niarchos to outshine the 325-foot Christina O, owned by his rival, Aristotle Onassis. We were in good company.
Monte Carlo
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he Star Breeze planned a special evening in Monte Carlo (visitmonaco.com) for its guests: a cocktail party and cabaret show, a French-themed dinner, Champagne and dessert at Monte Carlo’s Le Café de Paris and a visit to The Casino de Monte Carlo. Surprisingly, citizens of Monaco are not permitted to gamble in the casino (casinomontecarlo.com). It is said that it was built to bring in money from outside of the principality, not to recycle money that was already there.
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Unplugged CRUISE Eze, France
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he medieval village of Eze (population 2,600, elevation 1,400 feet) sits on top of a rock mountain about six miles outside of Monte Carlo. Most of our trek to the top was by foot. Eze (eze-tourisme.com/en) encircles the ruins of a 12th century castle, so every twist and turn on the rock and cobblestone route revealed a unique vista. Flowers, cacti and centuries-old sculptures decorated our path all the way to the summit where we found Eze’s Jardin Exotique and spectacular views of the Mediterranean, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Nice below.
Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Camogli, Italy
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he peninsula of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat is home to the museum and gardens at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild (villa-ephrussi.com/en/home). Heiress BĂŠatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild (1864-1934) ordered the construction of the Italian Renaissance-inspired villa in 1907. She began using it as her winter residence in 1912, and filled the estate with her extensive and diverse art collection. Nine themed gardens surround the villa, each with a unique design and accents.
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amogli (population 5,800), a 20-minute boat ride from Portofino, is a charming coastal fishing village. We arrived just in time to witness preparations for the annual Fish Festival of Saint Fortunato. Along the narrow streets and portside promenade, children and families assembled large wooden structures from scrap wood, which would be filled with fireworks and lit in a bonfire competition during the festival. And then there is the world’s largest frying pan (according to Guinness World Records, almost 30 feet from the edge of the pan to the end of the handle) where about 30,000 servings of fish are fried and given to festivalgoers for free.
Portofino, Italy
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ortofino is the quintessential port on the Italian Riviera: Richly-colored, tightly-packed, multi-storied homes are staggered along the coast overlooking a marina with boats randomly anchored in the blue water of the Mediterranean. From the marina, a lengthy climb up stairs and paths led to Castello Brown (castellobrown.com). The 15th century fortress contains beautiful hand-painted tiles on the walls and stairways and large windows situated all around the castle’s circular tower with views of the water and port.
Unplugged CRUISE Portoferraio (Elba), Italy
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ocated in the Tuscan Archipelago, the island of Elba has the best of everything we love when looking for get-away-from-itall travel—beaches, mountains, countryside, simple lifestyle, friendly locals and not too many tourists. We visited La Chiusa estate (tenutalachiusa.it/introduction.php), a vineyard and winery nestled in the mountains of Elba, overlooking the Mediterranean and Portoferraio. Napoleon Bonaparte slept here—twice. From the entrance to the 46-acre estate, there are rows and rows of meticulously groomed grape vines and olive trees. Our hosts prepared a table of cheese, breads and spreads and provided generous samples of a variety of reds and whites. My sweet tooth drew me to the schiaccia briaco, also known as “tipsy cake” because it is made with red dessert wine. On a tip from Star Breeze’s activities director, I visited an Acqua dell’Elba shop in Portoferraio to sample the island’s signature fragrance. The Archipelago line was divine, so I left with a souvenir bottle (acquadellelba.it).
Rome, Italy
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he first time we visited Rome, we couldn’t wait to get there. This time was different. Our arrival in one of my favorite cities meant that this no-worries, no-hurries, carefree, freestyle cruise had come to an end. We made the best of it by going back to our Hotel Teatro di Pompeo (hotelteatrodipompeo.it), which sits above the ruins of an ancient theater dating back to 55 B.C., and re-visiting the captivating Largo di Torre Argentina. Built between the second and fourth centuries, B.C., it is one of the oldest ruins in Rome (largoargentina.com).
In addition to Mediterranean cruises, Windstar’s destinations include the Greek Isles and Turkey, Northern Europe, the Caribbean, Central America and French Polynesia. Please visit windstarcruises.com, call 800-258-7245 or e-mail info@windstarcruises.com for additional information.
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Unplugged GLOBE TROTTING
INSPIRE ENCHANTMENT RESORT SEDONA, ARIZONA enchantmentresort.com
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n my daily life I make myself promises that often go answered: ‘I’m not going to stress so much. I’m going to eat healthier. I’m going to take that yoga class and start to meditate.’ Yet while in the fold of Enchantment Resort, my typically forgotten mantras became effortless. Enchantment is a 70-acre resort, located five miles northwest of Sedona, Arizona, surrounded by wilderness and the majestic red rocks of Boynton Canyon. It is also home to Mii amo, a world-class destination spa boasting an organic gourmet kitchen and a killer list of dreamy spa services aimed to promote the healing of mind, body and spirit. I arrived late in the evening. Being an east coaster with jet lag, I woke up the next day with the sun rising over the awe-inspiring majesty of the natural landscape. I enjoyed a fresh breakfast at the resort’s signature restaurant Che-Ah-Chi overlooking the canyon before attending WOGA, a 7 a.m. class that combines power walking and yoga. I hadn’t even been at Enchantment for 12 hours and already my resolutions were coming true. For an hour, we walked vigorously around the resort, stopping at particular points in the canyon to engage in nature-inspired yoga postures, a great way to get the lay of the land and the blood flowing. After WOGA I continued to center my spirit, this time with the Morning Ritual, a guided 15-minute meditation where guests acknowledge their intention for the day. This daily ceremony is held in the heart of the spa, the Crystal Grotto. This dome-shaped room is a meditation space with a red earthen floor, a tree-trunk fountain and four crystals aligned with the north, east, south and west points. During the summer solstice, the sunlight passes through the opening in the roof and pierces the energy-emitting crystals. And then the impossible happened—I became Sporty Spice. I found myself mountain biking, taking solo treks through the canyon and hiking up to experience a Vortex, a spiritual location where the energy facilitates mediation and healing. People report twists of kinetic energy that are felt if you stand in these sacred spots. I was open to experiencing this phenomenon. With my mind open and my eyes closed, I stood quietly and waited. Unfortunately, I felt nothing, except fatigue from the hike. But I wasn’t disappointed because the view from the top was breathtaking and well worth the climb. One of my favorite experiences was a private guided hike led by Roy Julian, arranged by the resort. Julian is a local naturalist and ethnobotany enthusiast. He is a wealth of knowledge about the history of
Boynton Canyon and its flora and fauna. He even brought an assortment of traditional native tools, edible powders and foods that he and his wife make from the surroundings. The area is home to some of the most scenic trails, which are some of the most fantastic ways to uncover Sedona’s natural beauty. Originally the area was inhabited by the Yavapai and Apache, indigenous people in Arizona. Yet even today, the land seems unspoiled and raw. I couldn’t help but imagine myself stepping on earth that had not been traversed since a family of Yavapai lived in that very spot. On my last night I got to experience a must-do at the resort, Tastefully in the Raw, a dining experience for Enchantment Resort guests who desire a do-it-yourself kind of meal within the comforts of their casita. Guests order from a list of meats, seafood, veggies and more, which are delivered to their casita along with one of the property’s top chefs. For a few hours we drank delicious wine as we watched CheAh-Chi’s Executive Chef David Schmidt execute an exceptional meal and learned a few cooking tidbits along the way. A strong proponent of sourcing local ingredients, Schmidt allows locally grown produce and cheese from expert Arizona craftsman to play a major role in his menu development. I have always wanted to travel to the land of the roadrunner. And at Enchantment I found the perfect place to de-stress. Ripe with spiritual energy, natural beauty, and a staff with the perfect balance of attentive availability and the courtesy to allow you be alone and recharge your batteries, you’ll have a hard time leaving. —Molly Greene HIGHLIGHTS SEVEN CANYONS GOLF CLUB Located on 200 acres, the Seven Canyons is a par 70 course surrounded by Sedona’s red rock formations and Coconino National Forest. Enchantment Resort’s newest amenity is for play exclusively by registered resort guests and Seven Canyons club members. Seven Canyons debuted their new clubhouse in April 2015. DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH PRIVATE CLASS Explore Boynton Canyon Trail on bike with Enchantment Resort’s Diamond in the Rough program, a two-hour women‐only mountain biking class. Female instructors teach guests the basic skills and techniques needed before hitting the trails in and around the resort. INTENTIONAL AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE This relaxing massage begins with choosing a desired intention, paired with powerful essential oils for a dry‐brush exfoliation, light, flowing massage and warm body wrap. For more information, check out enchantmentresort.com M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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Unplugged GLOBE TROTTING Casa Monica Hotel St. Augustine, Florida casamonica.com
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rowing up with New Orleans in my backyard, I learned there are three factors that make up a great vacation spot: good food, interesting people and creative cocktails. I found all three, plus a few more perks—the nearby Atlantic Ocean, for instance—at Casa Monica Hotel in St. Augustine, Florida. The town is our country’s oldest city, founded by the Spanish in 1565. Oil tycoon Henry M. Flagler arrived in the late 1880s, giving the charming town new life and exquisite hotels. Located in the heart of the historic district, Casa Monica is surrounded by all the charm St. Augustine has to offer. Restaurants, bars and boutiques are within steps of the hotel’s front entrance. Pieces of Spanish history are found around every corner garnering a hint of Spanish charisma for the area. Across the street is Flagler College, whose main building and grounds are the former Ponce de León Hotel built by Flagler in 1888. The Casa Monica property itself was originally built the same year. Back inside Casa Monica, the Spanish influence continues. Gold accents parade the red carpet in every room and suite while red velvet tufted headboards hover over white-pillowed beds. My room overlooked the outdoor pool, which is a necessity during the summer months. After a day of walking, I needed a reprieve. It was time for the Poseidon Spa and its soothing nautical color scheme and Moroccan ambience. For my spa experience, I chose a full body treatment consisting of a face massage, body masque and hot stone massage—only a small sample of what the spa has to offer. I woke up to the sound of my massage therapist’s voice and my growling stomach. While fully relaxed, I was hungry—something the spa couldn’t fix. Formally known as Costa Brava at 95 Cordova, the hotel restaurant hosts a Spanish Mediterranean dining journey for guests through its unique twists on small plates. For dinner I ordered the New York strip, which was accompanied by a black garlic agrodolce sauce, broccolini and bleu potato crisp. To say it was delicious would be a huge understatement. With a happy stomach, I had no other choice than to wash it all down with one (or two) of the many cocktails on the Costa Brava menu— making me feel right at home. —Jonathan Urbina
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INFORM “I cannot stress enough that the answer to life’s questions is often in people’s faces. Try putting your iPhones down once in a while, and look in people’s faces. People’s faces will tell you amazing things. Like if they are angry, or nauseous, or asleep.”
Amy Poehler
Big picture NEWS AND REPORTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD The Healing Power of Art
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xArt is so transformative that it is nothing short of therapy. The nonprofit organization brings original contemporary art by the likes of Jeff Koons, Will Cotton and Michele Oka Doner to hospital waiting rooms, pediatric wards and corridors. It’s the brainchild of Diane Brown, who herself underwent a CAT scan a few years back and found her mind occupied and comforted by imagining a Matthew Rudrine painting. The concept behind RxArt is that hospitals are by nature uninspired, sterile environments and do not impart a warm fuzzy feeling, which is conducive to healing. Diverting the attention of patients through visual art stimulation can inspire positive thoughts, which in turn bring relief and hope. rxart.net
studies
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oo much economic dependence in a relationship may lead to infidelity, according to a study printed in the American Sociological Review. The study’s findings, based on data gathered between 2001 and 2011 from more than 2,750 heterosexual married couples between the ages of 18 and 32, show that women who are totally dependent on their husband’s income are five percent more likely to cheat on their husbands. Men in the same situation are 15 percent more likely to have an affair.
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As part of the RxArt, artists Trenton Doyle Hancock and Jason Middlebrook painted the wall at the Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital located in Houston, Texas.
Turning On The Light for Good
he month in which a baby is born does more than determine their zodiac sign. It could pose significant disadvantages in terms of educational skills and development of certain diseases and conditions, based on the findings of two separate studies published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. The first study evaluated data from 7,267 British children and found that those born in June, July and August received lower teacher ratings in terms of language, behavior and progress in school. This may be attributed to the birthday cutoff for entering school (Sept. 1 in the U.K.), because kids born during the summer are almost a year younger than peers. The second study, performed by Columbia University Medical Center researchers on more than one million patient medical records, identified a link between birth months and 55 diseases. Children born in May and July showed the lowest overall disease risk while children born in October and November had the highest risk.
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ights come on with the flip of a switch, but not everyone can afford that luxury. Aiming to bring light to rural villages in developing nations is Brighter Today, a program created by NYU student Mansi Prakash when she was in high school. The nonprofit provides eco-friendly, compact florescent (CFL) bulbs to households that typically use a 60-watt incandescent bulb, which costs less but burns out quickly and is not energy efficient. In comparison, the 11-watt CFL bulb has a life span of three to four years and is 80 percent more energy efficient than the standard 60-watt. Families can repurpose the money saved toward other necessities such as food, education and healthcare. Prakash was selected as a Resolution Fellow at the Clinton Global Initiative University Conference in 2014. She also developed a partnership with Philips Lighting, who sponsors the CFL bulbs. Next up is Prakash’s Light for Life—currently in testing—which will bring free, clean and sustainable power to light up homes for a lifetime through a device fabricated from readily available materials. brightertoday.org
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✈
A resident in India who received benefits of the Brighter Today program.
INFORM
✈ #HallofFame versus #HallofShame
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his is one hashtag war we stand behind. Since its launch in 2013 by Gina Glantz, GenderAvengers calls attention to the gender imbalance in public dialogue (conferences, panels, roundtables, top ten lists and more). Recently, the community launched an app called GA Tally that allows people to publicly call out panels and events where women are either well represented or underrepresented. Some recent #HallofFame recipients include Fast Company’s The 100 Most Creative People in Business 2015 list, which consisted of 53 women and 47 men. In comparison, The New Yorker was shamed for having 47 illustrated covers in 2014 with only three drawn by women. genderavenger.com
Jazzy Women Are Hopeful for Equal Footing
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he Marsalis family is synonymous with jazz. They have been strutting their musical genius since Ellis, the patriarch of the family and the father of modern jazz, started playing the piano in the mid-1940s. With four equally talented sons, the family has been bestowed with many accolades, from successful teaching positions to Grammy wins, but no family is above reproach. Case in point: Wynton Marsalis, co-founder of the jazz program at Lincoln Center in NYC in 1987. The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO ) became a constituent of Lincoln Center in 1996. Historically, the band is known for not posting jobs and handpicking members. In 2000, writer Lara Pellegrinelli interviewed Marsalis for an article about Frederick P. Rose Hall, the current home of JLCO. She asked him about the lack of female orchestra members. He replied, “I hire orchestra members on the basis of merit. The more women we have playing jazz, the higher the level of playing gets, the more they audition, and the more women are going to be all over. It will be just like classical music.”
percent during blind auditions. Yet even if the JLCO recognizes blind auditions, it could still take years to see a female member. The turnover is low for the 15-piece band. In the meantime, Seeling encourages everyone to work on a local level by writing letters about the cause to universities, camps, music festivals or centers, sharing the message via social media or even joining a JazzWomen and Girls Advocates rally. “I can’t do this alone,” Seeling says. Jazz has been a boys’ club for too long. Let’s help this great art form get with the times. —Agne Numaviciute
It has been 15 years since that article, and still no female instrumentalists have joined the 15-piece band. Supposedly, there’s hope on the horizon, thanks to the vocal efforts of JazzWomen and Girls Advocates, a group that promotes the visibility of women and girl jazz instrumentalists. At the helm is Ellen Seeling, founder of the Montclair Women’s Big Band and trumpet and ensemble teacher at UC Berkeley, who also runs the Girls’ Jazz and Blues Camp in Berkeley. “Jazz is the most gender segregated music art form in the world today,” says Seeling. “I don’t know why. It’s a long culture of being a total boys’ club. It’s hard to wrap your head around it in this day and age that the premier jazz ensemble in the world, which is funded by public money and sponsored by the city of New York and Lincoln Center, would be practicing this type of gender discrimination with impunity.” On April 29 JazzWomen and Girls Advocates hosted a rally during the JLCO Jazz Gala. Their voices were heard. JLCO recently agreed to be more transparent in its hiring of new musicians by implementing public job postings and blind auditions, which can make a huge difference. A 2001 study found that the probability of woman advancing to the next round in the audition process increases by 50
The saxophone section of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, circa 1940s
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BEING IN CONTROL HA S N EVE R B E EN M O R E E XC ITING BEING IN CONTROL HA S N EVE R B E EN M O R E E XC ITING
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*MASERATI QUATTROPORTE S Q4 BASE MSRP $102,500, NOT INCLUDING GAS GUZZLER TAX, DEALER PREP AND DESTINATION CHARGES. DEALER PRICE MAY VARY. TAXES, TITLE, REGISTRATION FEES AND ADDITIONAL OPTIONS NOT INCLUDED. ©2014 MASERATI NORTH AMERICA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. MASERATI AND THE TRIDENT LOGO ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF MASERATI SPA. MASERATI URGES YOU TO OBEY ALL POSTED SPEED LIMITS.
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Master CLASS
Claudine & Honza Lafond
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C
laudine and Honza Lafond would have you believe that the couple that practices yoga together, stays together, and then goes off into the sunset to conquer the world. For them, this is relatively true: Their relationship, practice and brand are rooted in yoga. “We make a conscious choice to support one another in our dreams and will patiently flesh out all options and ideas,” explains Claudine Lafond, originally from New York City and now living in Sydney with Honza, her husband of seven years. Practicing alongside each other for years, the couple launched YogaBeyond® in 2012. “We wanted to create a brand built on the practice of yoga, trust and community.” The next chapter of their brand evolved in 2014 with the creation of Acrovinyasa™, a practice that takes yoga from earth to air by combining elements of Vinyasa, Acroyoga and inversion training. Thus far, the Lafonds have 30 certified teachers with upcoming teacher trainings in California and Bali. “We are both clear about wanting to connect with the community. This brand has become our identity. In a world where everyone is seeking a sense of ownership, acceptance and belonging, we truly feel that we have found our home in the world of yoga.”
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INFORM M&V: There’s often language about “the child” in yoga yet the practice requires concentration and focus. How do the two connect? LAFOND: These two are different but are intrinsically linked! Yoga most certainly requires focus and concentration, but most of us spend our mental capacity in a practice focusing on all the wrong things. The beauty of staying connected to the youthful, carefree spirit of the child within is that we stay tapped into the innocent, nonjudgmental and curious part of ourselves. We are all guilty of being hard on ourselves in a yoga practice or meditation if it doesn’t go as we had anticipated. A child will generally just laugh at what doesn’t go well, shrug their shoulders and begin to play and create new stories within minutes. M&V: What type of yoga would you suggest for a newbie? LAFOND: For anybody who has yet to discover yoga, we would recommend starting with Hatha or slow Vinyasa. Begin with a gentle practice and a skilled and friendly instructor who will give you the understanding and confidence you need to grasp what the practice is all about. M&V: These days yoga is downright trendy. Does this diminish the true philosophy of yoga? LAFOND: We feel yoga is here to stay. The fact that there are now millions of practitioners all over the planet can only be a good thing. The fact that yoga is available in gyms, health centers, hospitals, old age homes and other places makes it so much easier for people to get moving and begin to increase their awareness and happiness within themselves on some level. The history and philosophy of yoga may get lost amongst many these days, but we also believe that people receive information in a myriad of ways. Some are still drawn to studying Sanskrit while others prefer to focus on the esoteric, new age elements of the practice. The ancient texts of yoga are modernized by many teachers who make it [more] relatable for current practitioners. Whatever draws you to yoga is a wonderful thing.
REDUCE STRESS: bridge pose, Savasana, meditation and Pranayama (deep breathing) SOOTHE SORE BACK: seated and reclined spinal twists, child pose, standing and seated forward folds REENERGIZE: Back bending poses, triangle pose, shoulder stand pose HELP FALL ASLEEP: Viparita Karani (legs up the wall pose), reclined bound angle pose, reclined twist BURN FAT: chair pose, extended side angle pose, tiger curl pose
M&V: Are there tricks to bringing that calmness into everyday life? LAFOND: You will remember whatever you need to remember and whatever you don’t wasn’t that important. The simplest way to call upon those golden nuggets that you hear in class—your ‘aha’ moment—is to breathe. It’s as simple as that. When you become conscious of your breath, you start to think more clearly and remember the important things in life and in yoga, such as staying calm even if someone else is getting heated and aggravated. If we choose to listen, yoga has so many gifts to offer us. Recognize the things that are out of your control and accept situations and people for who they are. The more we push against life, or a yoga posture, the more resistance we’ll face.
TIPS & ADVICE Health reasons to start yoga today You will start to improve your circulation and get more connected to your body. You will learn how to breathe better, which will improve everything. Yoga will improve your posture, will benefit your sleeping patterns and make you feel happy. A few yoga stereotypes that are untrue Yoga is about stretching. Yoga is for older people and women only. Yoga is a religious practice. You need to be flexible to start yoga. Three ways to ensure the quality of a yoga class is top notch It’s hard to know ahead of time if you’re stepping into a good quality class unless it’s recommended by someone you trust, but here are a few helpful hints: Find a teacher that you resonate with and can speak to comfortably. The teacher should ask about injuries in the room, offer modifications and give ample time (at least five minutes) for Savasana at the end of the practice. The overall feel of a space is really important too. The temperature, fragrance, cleanliness, decor and music choice all contribute to a great quality yoga experience.
INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW FOR MOTIVATION & ADMIRATION @LAURASYKORA She’s a very down to earth mama and kind of sassy with her commentary at times. Laura has become a close friend, and we are inspired by her progress and creativity with the camera. @CUCHIRA This woman is so fierce and fluid! We are blown away by the way she navigates through space. She is feminine and strong and has created her own stream of yoga through dance. @MICHAELFRANTI We have become good friends with Michael and see him as a powerful agent of change in the world. He practices what we preach in his music and in his life.
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Business UNUSUAL
At your service Entrepreneurs carve out a niche for hyper-specialized concierge companies to service clients always on the go. By Styliana Resvanis
Serving Up Service Gone are the simple days of concierges recommending restaurants and calling cabs; nowadays, the hotel and travel industry is upping its customer service game with specialized offerings such as wedding social media management and bucket list vacation planning. But the rise of the personal concierge has paved the way for niche offerings at home, too, with companies shaping services around pet parents, avid exercisers, mothers-to-be, homeowners and more. “Everybody’s trying to squeeze 36 hours into a 24hour day,” says Katharine Giovanni, founder of the International Concierge and Lifestyle Management Directory and a concierge trainer and consultant with Triangle International. “Instead of [technology] making our lives easier, we’re even busier than before because we take our office everywhere we go,” she says, noting there are specialized concierge services for nearly every task and tax bracket. “[The] concierge is saying, ‘Let us do the things you have to do, so you can do what you want to do.’”
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Designer Previews
Growing Momentum
Donna Paul wants to make you feel at home, and she’ll connect you with the designers to make that happen. For a flat fee of $250, she meets with clients as many times as it takes to pinpoint their budget, style and project scope. She then constructs a tailored list of designers and architects she represents and helps clients choose the perfect person for the job. “Websites can’t talk to you; they can’t take care of you and they can’t think the way I can,” says Paul, a former design journalist. Although Designer Previews was established in 1984, she took over the interior design concierge service in 2012. Since then, she’s helped facilitate projects for brands such as Tiffany & Co. and residential spaces such as prewar apartments in New York City and laid-back beach houses in South Florida. “The home is ultimately our haven,” Paul says. “Fundamentally, we all want whatever home we’re in to be reflective of us.”
Despite the decreasing demand for concierge services during the recession, companies dove into the industry because there were few barriers to entry, according to a 2014 report from market research company IBISWorld. With annual revenue of $318 million, the industry will likely continue growing over the next five years, the report reveals. The industry is poised to become more high tech via virtual services and mobile apps. Companies such as text messaging service Magic and hotel giants such as the Ritz-Carlton and Marriott are testing the waters.
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INFORM
Bed Rest Concierge
SIN Workouts Personal trainer Vanessa Martin aims to get you and your calendar in shape with SIN Workouts. A $350 base monthly fee includes customized classes and instructor recommendations, weekly consultations and workout itineraries with reservations at boutique fitness classes in New York, Miami, Chicago and Boston. A la carte options range from wakeup calls, alerts for upcoming workouts, SIN trainer accompaniment and post-workout juice delivered to the locker room. Martin came up with the idea of SIN, an acronym for Strength in Numbers, in 2012 when she worked for a residential fitness design and management firm and discovered that residents preferred group classes if she handled scheduling and logistics. Today the company is stretching into new cities and countries, launching a youth division and partnering with hotels to serve traveling clients. “Our focus is to create this program for our clients where they wake up in the morning and they don’t feel anxiety or hesitation toward their workout—they look forward to it,” Martin says.
With Bed Rest Concierge, Stephanie D. Johnson hopes to keep clients’ lives running while they rest. The maternity concierge company was born in Dallas in 2011 when a then-pregnant Johnson was prescribed 26 weeks of bed rest. “I’m a type-A woman,” says Johnson, who spent 15 years in corporate finance. “I don’t understand what can’t, don’t, no and stop mean.” From installing car seats and designing nurseries to running errands and providing pampering services, the company aims to give moms-to-be comfort and control. With packages starting at $595, the business serves clients nationwide through satellite and franchise locations. Ironically, there’s little rest for Johnson, whose services don’t cease when the water breaks. Bed Rest Concierge offers post-birth services such as babyproofing, grocery shopping and diaper delivery.
C h a n n e l i n g Yo u r I n n e r C o n c i e r g e Forming a successful business includes determining pricing and finding a niche. Pricing strategies include flat rates, monthly fees, hourly charges or per-service fees. To identify a target market, research existing companies, evaluate your interests and consider specializing in an industry you’re familiar with, Katharine Giovanni suggests. Those who become concierges are often already viewed as information powerhouses, and experts at multitasking. “You never say, ‘That’s not my job.’ Everything is your job,” Giovanni says.
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Asher Jay
INFORM
Creative Conservationist and 2014 Emerging Explorer for National Geographic J o b : I lend a creative voice of advocacy for our collective wild future. E d u c a t i o n : I pursued fashion designing, branding and marketing at the Parsons School of Design in New York,
clearly a highly relevant degree for a National Geographic Explorer with a career in wildlife conservation and humanitarian work. Honestly though, fashion gave me the focus, discipline and work ethic that helps me deliver on nearly impossible deadlines.
A h a m o m e n t : The BP oil spill. It was the moment I realized I had to participate more substantially. Signing petitions and recycling were simply not enough for me. T a l e n t s & t r a i t s : I seldom perceive limits to my learning curve; everything I dabble with contributes uniquely to how I do what I do. Last year I got into improv, belly dancing and field photography. This year I am into standup, French, West African dance and flying lessons. M a t e r i a l s u s e d i n a r t : The issues I describe in my work are multi-dimensional, so I resort to multimedia to convey their complex narrative arcs. The raw material that is most ubiquitous in the age of man, the Anthropocene, is garbage, so I often collage with trash, from newspapers to plastic packaging. B a c k g r o u n d n o i s e w h i l e c r e a t i n g : Music. I listen to a diverse range of genres, from Haitian voodoo to the latest hip-hop, but while the tunes may vary, I always commit to dancing a lot when I create. To me, movement is an essential part of making art.
O f f i c e l o c a t i o n : My office is where I am. I am like a dung beetle for work. I carry it with me wherever I go. A d m i r a b l e a r t i s t s : The creatives who have shaped my internal landscape—Antoni Gaudí, Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Gustav Klimt, Robert J. Lang, Nacho Duato, William Wordsworth, John Keats, Issey Miyake, Alexander McQueen, and last but not least, Dr. Seuss.
F a v o r e d e x h i b i t i o n : The exhibit I spend the most amount of time in annually happens to be on the fourth floor of the American Museum of Natural History in NYC—the dinosaur wing. Nothing puts my life in perspective and helps me center the chaos within like deep time and dinosaurs.
I m p a c t f u l q u o t e : The one that put me on my current path is by Her Deepness, Dr. Sylvia Earle, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence: “A picture is worth a thousand words, but an artwork like yours is worth a thousand pictures. You have a unique voice, get involved now. Never quit.” Yo u r m o s t p r i d e f u l a r t w o r k : The first one I created for a public rally: Hydrocarbon Hospice. Its silhouette-driven composition, minimal color ways and strong narrative focus have shaped all the works I have created since then.
M u s t - f o l l o w s o c i a l m e d i a a c c o u n t s : On Twitter, @PetPardons because it uses social media to have real
time impact in saving the lives of animals on death row. On Instagram, @OMGLiterallyDead because I can’t believe I didn’t think of bringing a skeleton to life first. M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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In the Life of What is your spirit animal? It’s a whole totem pole of wild personality quirks that I emulate, so my spirit animal is a chimera stacked as follows: scorpion mouse (independent, nocturnal, howler), dart frog (self confident, pulls off bright hues), honey badger (don’t give a…), African Grey (expressive, inquisitive), topped off by the serval (extremely intelligent, notorious for getting into mischief). I am pretty sure I also have corvid in me, as crows are phenomenal problem solvers.
What is the reaction you hope your art conveys? When people experience my work, I want them to stop, think and ask themselves questions until they get to a place where they know how they feel about an issue—endangered species or pollution or illegal ivory trade. Not every work is going to get every person who sees it to become involved. However, at least by getting these messages out to the public, there will be greater awareness and the ability for people to make a conscious decision. When people are informed, they can no longer use “not knowing” as an excuse for not getting involved in the problems that threaten the entire human race. They have to accept the responsibility of making a choice—to improve the world or to turn their back on the planet, which will foster human survival or human extinction.
Do you ever find yourself at a creative roadblock? The roadblock is the starting gate. Trying to unite a modern world of ever-changing technological advances, social movements, fashion trends and a constantly distracting digital landscape with an irreplaceable and finite wild world keeps my art as fresh as the changing culture of society. Because people, communication and ideologies change, I must adapt my methods of reaching the masses in a way that will have an emotional impact on them and recruit them to a consciousness of compassion and concern for the larger picture of the wild world upon which our very existence depends.
Why is art an effective way to promote animal conservation? Art translates across cultures, and it does not require any subtitles. Art is the oldest universal language available to me; it is as inherent to me as the wild. The wild is where I, we, come from. Wild and art both transcend tenses: It was a part of our past, it is an extensive part of our present, and it should be preserved and part of our future. Art has the capacity to bring the story forth from science, to touch all senses, to evoke authentic emotion and to inspire action. Art is the most effective way to promote anything, not just animal conservation.
Deep Rooted Truths; opposite page, Her Horn Costs my Future; a close up of handdrawn postcards by Jay.
What struggles do you encounter in your career? There is no clocking in and clocking out; it is a 24/7 commitment. My professional life is as expansive, responsible and inclusive as I make it daily. It means having to be strong, to hope even when things feel hopeless, to figure out how to make ends meet even when there is no money coming in, to know how not to get swept up in the highs of success or lows of failure, to stay centered and sane no matter how the trajectory unfolds.
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What is the most satisfying part of your job? Everything—even the parts that are annoying, like dealing with paperwork, lawyers and accountants—is part of the process and progress, so I don’t pick and choose. It’s a privilege to be able to do what I do. I get to dive; I get to hang out with lions; travel extensively; innovate and collaborate with some of the most brilliant minds of the 21st century; and fight for a collective wild future.
Why is conservation an important part of your life? The real question is why isn’t it an integral part of everyone’s life?
What is life as an explorer? The life of an explorer is uncertain and involves braving the unknown with utmost confidence, but as most explorers would admit, that’s where the excitement lies, just beyond blind panic, past paralyzing fear and around the corner from crippling physical and emotional breakdowns.
What is one aspect of your job that would surprise people? A lot of high profile nonprofits, corporations and individuals have tried to take advantage of and failed to value my contributions. It’s amusing to me how people can find the money to spend on a designer dress for a gala and yet cry “poor” when it comes to compensating an artist or even a speaker for their work in the same evening.
What is your life philosophy? I believe in an expansive, inclusive life. Who says you can’t do it all? Who says your job has to end at 5 p.m. and that you can only fulfill your bucket list after you retire? We each get 80 to 100 good years on this gorgeous planet. I intend to make the most of it, to live fully, to give without restrictions, to love without expectations, to enrich the world with every breath I draw. None of us get a second chance at now, so what are you waiting for? Make it count! This moment is all I need to contribute.
Comfort comes in
many colors
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NURTURE “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.”
Corrie ten Boom
Project ME CARVE OUT TIME FOR YOURSELF. M&V’s ROUNDUP of IDEAS & PRODUCTS for SELF-CARE. By Jodi Belden
Mink Technology has undoubtedly changed our lives for better or worse. Grace Choi is making a case for the better. Choi uses technology to boost not just “likes” but also self-confidence. The inventor of Mink, a 3-D makeup printer, Choi felt like an outsider when shopping at beauty stores, unable to find the best lipstick color or the perfect shade of eye shadow. She felt her tastes didn’t match up with the beauty products that were available. Through Mink, Choi wants women to feel empowered in their choices and have the ability to get what they want, instead of what the makeup industry dictates. How does it work? You select a color from any image; it can be from the Internet, Instagram, nature, etc. Send the image to your Mink printer and select lipstick, lip gloss, eye shadow, blush, nail polish, brow powder and out pops your custom color. The possibilities are endless, just like your imagination. hellomink.com
Moon Juice It’s hard to grab people’s attention these days, but sex always seems to do it. Moon Juice doesn’t rely on cheap tricks; it relies on magic. A California holistic food pantry and apothecary created by Amanda Chantal Bacon, the company produces mystical tonics, juices, milks and snacks aimed at enhancing nature’s healing powers. There are seven moon dusts, each for a different area of the body, mind and spirit. Sex Dust is an aphrodisiac warming potion—mix with any hot or cold liquid—made of wild crafted ingredients including Cistanche, Ho Sho Wu, Cacao, Maca, Epimedium, Schizandra and Stevia. The dust promises to deliver fertility as well as deeply enjoyable sex. As you can imagine, it’s one of their best sellers. moonjuiceshop.com
DreamItAlive Almost everyone has made some type of vision board in their life. Maybe you called it a collage, and you probably spent months collecting old magazines to cut up and paste. What if you could bypass the arts and crafts aspect and focus on the vision? DreamItAlive allows you to create and edit a Dreamboard from anywhere and share with family and friends, all while raising the funds to actually turn those dreams into realities. Created to help people unlock the full potential to live their best lives, the site offers tons of inspiring material and social engagement, all for free. dreamitalive.com
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NURTURE
Slow Factory Scarves In our fast-moving and over-populated world, sometimes we need a humble reminder that we are part of something bigger. Just look up and you will see a vast universe of possibilities. This is what Celine Semaan Vernon had in mind when she imagined Slow Factory Scarves. The limited edition pieces merge high-resolution digital prints of NASA images with the highest quality Italian textiles available. As a child, Celine felt comforted by the presence of the stars, a feeling she infuses in her designs, allowing customers to get, quite literally, lost in space. slowfactory.com
GirlsJustWannaHaveFunds Who doesn’t love a good play on words? And this one isn’t just funny, it’s smart. GirlsJustWannaHaveFunds.com is a passion project turned media company from Ginger Dean, a licensed psychotherapist who started the website back in 2003 to help tackle the money issues that kept emerging in her private client sessions. As she says, “I write about money issues women would rather not talk about,” and with 90,000 views per month, it’s obvious she is onto something. Dean is helping women break bad habits and old stereotypes by conquering financial fears head on. girlsjustwannahavefunds.com
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Gatherings
Late Summer Fête By Annette Joseph Photography by Christina Wedge
T
he name Amy Osaba carries a lot of weight in the floral design and wedding world, but some may know her from the stage. Today she is the creative director and owner of the eponymous floral and event design company based in Atlanta, Georgia. Osaba was a ballerina for the Joffrey, Cleveland/San Jose and Atlanta ballet companies in an earlier career. When she retired, she dabbled in creative mediums and found comfort and ease working with flowers. Osaba admits it’s probably the result of a childhood spent playing on her grandmother’s day lily farm. It was the right move. A career in floral design allowed her to mesh her passions for nature and movement. Her designs are often featured on HGTV, OnceWed and Design Sponge and have made her a popular pin topic on Pinterest. As the end of summer neared, Osaba hosted a kid-friendly afternoon fête in her Atlanta loft. The hostess, who has an affable way with people, set the tone for a warm and gracious gathering. The party started with a signature cocktail named the Mango Champagne Float, and Osaba, a mother of three boys, prepared a tasty organic blackberry mocktail for the children. A clever bow and arrow craft project for the children captured the attention of the adults as well. Osaba knows how to set a theatrical scene. Our main table was covered in coral charm peonies, blue delphinium and yellow orchids, as well as poppies, ranunculi, oranges, tulips, sweet pea, fritillaria, hellebores, rose hips and jasmine. Fruit adorned the center of the table like an Italian still life. Clementine segments served as holders for the handwritten place cards. Modern candelabras and votives illuminated the table. A foraged branch, a signature Amy Osaba touch, became a leafy garland floating over the table. We were treated to an end-of-summer menu, which included butternut squash soup, tomato tartlets and focaccia with arugula and balsamic vinaigrette. For dessert, a caramel apple strudel bar was passed around the table by one of Osaba’s dashing young sons. Discover more of Amy Osaba’s floral and event design world by visiting amyosaba.com.
Annette Joseph is the author of Picture Perfect Parties (Rizzoli), the guide to flawless, stylish and effortless entertaining. Visit MandVmag.com for additional recipes and behind-the-scene images.
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Gatherings Mango Champagne Float
Mango Blackberry Float
Serve one scoop of mango sorbet in a Champagne coupe. Top with Champagne.
Serve one scoop of mango sorbet in small glassware; a 4-ounce size is ideal. Pour blackberry soda on top.
Butternut Squash Soup Serves 8 • • • • • • • • • •
3 butternut squash, sliced in half, seeds removed then cubed 6 tablespoons olive oil 2 Granny Smith apples, cored and chopped 1 medium shallot, diced ½ yellow onion, diced 1 cup diced celery 1 teaspoon kosher salt 2 teaspoons dried thyme 4 cups vegetable stock 1 cup water
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a non-stick baking mat. In a large bowl, toss the squash with three tablespoons of olive oil and salt and pepper to taste. Place the squash onto the baking sheet with its skin side down. Roast in oven for 45-50 minutes, or until flesh is tender and skin begins to turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow the squash to cool. Once cooled, use a spoon to scoop out the flesh, place into the mixing bowl and then set aside. In a large cast iron pot heat the remaining three tablespoons of olive oil on medium-high. Add the apples, shallot, onions and celery and sauté until tender, about six to eight minutes. Add the salt, thyme and cooked squash. Then the vegetable stock. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the soup from the cooktop, and let stand for an hour to cool. Ladle the soup in batches into a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Pulse until smooth. This recipe can be prepared up to two days in advance. Store in the refrigerator. Reheat when ready to serve.
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NURTURE Tomato Tartlets Serves 8 To make the crust • 2 cups all-purpose flour • ¾ cup butter cut into cubes • ½ tablespoon salt • ¼ cup ice water Use a stand mixer bowl fitted with a paddle. Pour flour, butter and salt into the bowl. Pulse until pebble-sized crumbs appear; continue to pulse, and add water through the chute until dough comes together. Note: Ingredients should form a soft ball of dough. If not, you may need to add little more water.
To make the tomato filling • 12 small tomatoes about 2- to 3-inches in diameter • 3 tablespoons olive • 1 teaspoon sea salt • 3 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves • ¼ cup Parmesan Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough and place onto eight 3.5inch tartlet pans. Gently use a fork to prick small holes on the bottom of the dough. Sprinkle each bottom with about one tablespoon of Parmesan. Slice the tomatoes crosswise into ¼-inch slices. Place the slices into the tartlet pans in a circular pattern. Sprinkle olive oil and salt over the tartlets. Place on a cookie sheet and into the oven for 30 to 45 minutes until crust is golden and tomatoes are caramelized. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves. Serve the tomato tartlets warm.
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Gatherings Focaccia with Arugula and Balsamic Vinaigrette
Serves 6 to 8 To make the balsamic vinaigrette • ¼ cup olive oil • ¼ cup lemon juice • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar • Salt and pepper Whisk the olive oil, lemon juice and balsamic vinegar in a bowl until well combined. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. This vinaigrette can be prepared three days in advance. Place in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Bring it to room temperature and shake before serving. To make the focaccia • 6 cups flour (for a healthier option, use four cups white flour and two cups wheat flour) • 2 packages fast-acting dry yeast • 1 cup olive oil • 1½ teaspoons salt • 1 cup warm water • 4 cups arugula In bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine warm water and yeast. Let proof about 10 minutes. Add the flour, oil and salt. Add more warm water if the mixture is too dry. Place dough in an oiled bowl and knead. Form the dough into a large ball, cover tightly with plastic wrap and let sit for at least an hour to rise. Punch down the dough; rewrap and allow to rise for another hour. Preheat a pizza stone in a 500 degree oven. On a floured surface, form the focaccia with your hands. Place the dough on the stone and bake for 10 minutes. Pull from the oven and allow the bread to cool for about 10 minutes. Place arugula on top, sprinkle with the vinaigrette and serve.
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NURTURE Caramel-Apple Crumb Bars Makes 16 to 18 bars • • • • • •
2 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled and cubed into ¾ inch (about four medium apples) 2⅔ cups all-purpose white flour 1⅔ cups quick-cooking oats (not instant oats) ⅔ cup light brown sugar, packed ¼ teaspoon salt 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray coat a 9×13 pan, preferably glass, on the bottom and sides. Combine the flour, oats, brown sugar, salt and butter with a rubber spatula or better yet, with your hands. The mixture should end up as coarse crumbles. Press half of the crumbled mixture firmly in the bottom of your prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes and then set on a wire rack. While the crumb mixture is baking, make your caramel sauce. To make the caramel sauce • 1 cup heavy whipping cream • ¼ cup light corn syrup • ¾ cup light brown sugar • ¼ teaspoon salt • ¼ cup all-purpose white flour • 1½ teaspoon vanilla extract In a heavy medium-sized saucepan, combine the cream, corn syrup, brown sugar, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Do not leave the pot! Adjust the heat so the mixture is at a light boil. It should boil for about six to eight minutes or until it reaches 244 degrees on a candy thermometer. Immediately remove the pot from the heat when it reaches the desired temperature. Stir in the flour and mix until evenly combined. Stir in the vanilla. Add the apples evenly over the baked crumb mixture. Then pour the caramel sauce over the apples, trying to disperse the caramel evenly. Top the apple and caramel with the last half of the crumb mixture. Bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees or until the edges turn a little darker than the center. Transfer to a wire rack and carefully run a butter knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the caramel from around the sides. Let stand until completely cooled and then cut into bars. This recipe was borrowed from Nancy Baggett’s The All-American Cookie Book.
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Gatherings Bow and Arrow Craft Project
Materials • Scissors • String • 12-inch thin wooden sticks • Feathers • Foraged branches • Felt • Glue sticks • Rubber bands • Washi tape
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To make the arrow Wrap washi tape around the first three inches of one end of the branch. Cut the felt into (2) twoinch triangles. Glue the felt triangles together at the washi end of the stick to form the arrow. Use a small feather to embellish the bottom of the arrow and tie off with a piece of the rubber band. To make the bow Attach the string to the top of the branch with a rubber band. To form the bow, bend the branch slightly, then attach the string to the other end of the branch with another rubber band.
On the CoucH
Ask Dr. Ramani
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We hosted a party at our house, and a couple brought two bottles of wine as a hostess gift. There was enough beer, wine and liquor to go around so my wife and I never opened their bottles. Then they left with the bottles! We were dumbfounded. Is this appropriate behavior? I was so shocked I didn’t say anything but really wish I had.
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A
Those must have been special wine bottles, and even though you were tempted by them, they were never truly yours. They were a gift, and as such, they are optional. It is good manners and good form to bring a gift to a dinner party, but it is not a requirement. If you enjoy the couple’s company, then don’t play Miss Manners. Chances are if you call them out, your relationship will become awkward at best. They may feel embarrassed, and in retaliation, call you petty. Save the friendship and file them under “cheap” or perhaps even “clueless.” Next time you go to their house, bring the cheap stuff. Next time they come to your house, open their gift immediately. If the couple doesn’t matter to you, then why play hostess police? Save your energy and don’t invite them again.
NURTURE
Q A
Q A
I agreed to run in a marathon with a friend. We’re two months into our training plan, and I’m hating every minute of it. Early morning runs, sore muscles, meal plans—it’s not for me. If I was doing this on my own I would quit with no regrets, but I feel terrible leaving my friend to tackle the training and the race by herself. Guidance, please! Marathons are metaphors—an opportunity to tackle a significant challenge and make some lifestyle changes. I am guessing there were days you hated high school but you didn’t drop out. Take a step back and reflect on the elements of the training that make you uncomfortable. Is it waking up at 4:30 a.m.? Eating a certain diet? There may be some aspects of training that can be modified to make it a bit more bearable and even enjoyable. At a minimum, communicate with your friend about it. Don’t keep training and grow to resent her; you could harm the friendship. Determine if you can come to a middle ground and make some modifications. A compromise may allow you to make it to race day, and there is no rule saying you have to finish the race. The first mile of this race, however, appears to be communication and flexibility.
Q A
While cleaning her room, my daughter found an old check given to her for her 2014 high school graduation. Of course, she wants to cash it, but I think it’s rude this late in the game. Who’s right? In the midst of the graduation and all of the hoopla, she made a mistake, which happens. I think the bigger gaffe is that the gift probably went unacknowledged. If the check came from someone she knows well, the most prudent course of action is for your daughter to reach out to that person. She should acknowledge that she found the check after misplacing it, express her gratitude, and say that she deeply regrets not sending a thank you note. That may be enough to get a response back and for the person to say, “Great. Hope you enjoy it!” It also offers the person the chance to make sure there are sufficient funds to cover the check. It’s an honest error, and for a recent graduate, every little bit counts. Use it as a teaching tool rather than as a punishment.
My cousin, who is like a sister to me, is marrying her boyfriend of two years. My family is on the fence about him, mainly because we’ve had little interaction with him. We don’t know him, his family, or anything about his life. So I ordered a background check, and now can’t get over what I’ve learned. I imagine he has not been honest with my cousin or she would not be marrying him. How do I confront her with this piece of information without admitting to the background check? I know she will be upset no matter what. Is there a way to deliver a softer blow? Should I accept my consequences? I did it out of love! Thanks to the Internet, everyone is a detective these days. Your actions are not unusual, but now you must follow through with them. If the information places her at significant risk such as an illness or something dangerous, then you must tell her. No exceptions. Not sharing the information could result in significant hardship or distress for her later. Assess the level of risk of the information and elect the family member she trusts most to gently break the news. Be prepared for anger. She’ll either feel angry because she already knew a part of this secret or because she feels ganged up on. She may even cut off her family, which could mean isolation and vulnerability to the possible dishonesty of her fiancé. In turn, be aware that there may be a larger context to this secret, which you may not know or understand. It is inevitable that your cousin will be hurt, but it’s a part of life, and could end up saving her from far greater anguish down the road. Ultimately, all you can do is tell her and give her time while continuously letting her know that the family is there for her.
Dr. Ramani Durvasula is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Santa Monica, California, and professor of psychology at California State University, Los Angeles, where she was named outstanding professor in 2012. She is the author of You Are WHY You Eat: Change Your Food Attitude, Change Your Life.
Submit your questions to editorial@magazinemv.com. M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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Is it bad that I didn't miss you?
here are a lot of assertions that we are expected to make to be in step with social norms. I am supposed to say, “I love my parents,” “I would die for my family,” and “Excuse me” if I fart. As the mother of a child, I am beholden to say, “I miss my child desperately when I am away because she is the joy of my life and the light of my loins.” But here’s the thing: I was gone for five days from the munch, and I'm sure I didn’t miss her at all.
I don’t go away often, so those days when I thought about me and my needs were seriously epic. I was hundreds of miles away, and having a break from being a responsible mom was as satisfying as burping after drinking soda too fast. It made me realize how emotionally taxing it is to always have someone else on your mind, to be constantly worrying about them, and making sure they are OK. It is like munch is a fascist dictator of my brain and heart. Of course, it’s not her
On top of that, I didn’t think about her that much either and it felt awesome. Is that such a bad thing? Does that make me a terrible person and mother? For the first 15 months of munch’s life, I was with her every minute of every day. I’m sure every mother can relate. I documented those early years on my blog. There is a meticulous account of every detail of her life, including the consistency of her stool once food was introduced. Now that the munch is four years old, there is more autonomy for us both. We have our own lives, separate from each other. Munch goes to school, has a babysitter, spends time with family. Yet even though I do have physical freedom in my everyday life, what I do not have is mental freedom. I am always thinking about where she is, who is picking her up, what food she ate, does she have her raincoat, is there an extra pair of shoes in her bag, and are they the right shoes because my kid is neurotic and crazy? So while I was on my five-day hiatus, I also came to not miss the tantrums, the yelling in my face when I don’t give her a third piece of chocolate, the shoe throwing, the stink eye, the refusal to wear warm clothes. Basically, anything that resembled toddler rage or a developing human, I didn’t miss.
aren’t apart from each other for very long. That phone call with my kid further reinforced the truth of how the physical separation between us is only increasing as she ages. The attachment of those baby years is no longer, and now our relationship will have to withstand distance. Munch and I are going to grow farther apart because her life will take her away from me at times, as will mine. We can’t be together every moment of every day. Our journey is changing; we now have to stay emotionally connected especially when we are not in each other’s faces. There is a certain beauty of loving someone so much you yearn for them. Munch missed me because I have been the anchor of her life and represent love, safety and security. Yet soon she will crave independence and want to get away from me. Our roles will change. One day I will be the one desperately missing her and will call crying. She will be like “Ugh, Mom, again! Thank God I am away from her so she can stop writing about me for five minutes.” But the joke’s on you future munch because I will continue writing even about that phone call. You won’t be able to escape me!
fault! Actually it is sort of her fault; she is demanding. But I mainly blame the biological and psychological bond of motherhood because it’s intense. On day three, the munch was missing me, so we spoke on the phone. She was crying and wanted me to come back early. My defense mechanism kicked in. I distracted her and got her laughing. Although I was momentarily sad that munch was sad, it was also amazing to speak to her on the phone. Naturally, it’s something we never do since we
When I got home my kid was so happy to see me that I teared up. She hugged, kissed and told me how much she loved me. I felt honored to mean so much to this precious person. I was humbled by how much I adored her, and how lucky I was to have this tiny, tyrannical human in my life. I held munch in my arms knowing that every moment, even the hardest ones, are profound because of the depth of our love. Then she got mad because I wouldn’t let her watch My Little Pony, and I started planning my next trip. Toni Nagy is a writer for Huffington Post, Salon, AlterNet, Elephant Journal, Hairpin, Thought Catalogue, Yoga Dork, and her blog tonibologna.com. She lives in New Hampshire where she is raising hell and her child.
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Eyes Wide OPEN THE DARINGLY IN LOVE MARIA BELLO SAYS GOODBYE TO LABELS. By Lesley McKenzie Photography by Francesco Gastal
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hen Maria Bello penned an essay about family for The New York Times’ beloved Modern Love column for Thanksgiving 2013, she didn’t realize the domino effect that would result from putting her heartfelt musings on partnerships and love into words. “Most people who read it didn’t know it was me who wrote it, which is interesting,” says Bello of the groundbreaking piece in which she professed her romantic love for her best friend, Clare Munn. “I hate the term ‘coming out,’” says Bello, who refused to label herself bi-sexual with the declaration, “Coming out what, right? As straight? As Catholic? What does that mean, exactly? How about, it’s sharing a truth about yourself with the world because you’re inspired to do so?” Within the first hour, the story garnered more than 272,000 Facebook hits, and an outpouring of comments from readers who closely identified with Bello’s fluid interpretation of family. “I realized there was a bigger conversation to be had,” she says. This spring, the discussion deepened with Whatever…Love is Love: Questioning the Labels We Give Ourselves (Dey St. Books), Bello’s first book and New York Times best seller, in which she explores the concept of labels through a series of thought-provoking personal essays. “My hope is it will inspire people to look at the labels in their own lives and accept, embrace and create ones that make them feel the best of who they are and to get rid of the ones that make them feel disempowered,” she says.
Bello went on to major in peace and justice education at Villanova University and worked at the Women’s Law Project in Philadelphia. After moving to New York to cut her theatrical teeth, then 23-yearold Bello co-founded her first nonprofit in 1992—The DreamYard Drama Project in Harlem—which provides underserved youth with arts education. By the time she moved to Los Angeles, Bello was volunteering in international disaster zones, from Nicaragua to war-torn Bosnia. She also briefly worked with nonprofit Save the Children. As Bello’s activism star began to rise, so, too, did her on-screen status. Bello quickly entered the cultural mainstream with parts in television shows including ER and the short-lived Mr. & Mrs. Smith, before earning Golden Globe nominations for starring in the likes of The Cooler opposite William H. Macy and alongside Viggo Mortensen in A History of Violence. Bello also landed plum roles in Adam Sandler’s Grown Ups and Grown Ups 2, and more recently in Prisoners with Hugh Jackman, Paul Haggis’ Third Person and McFarland, USA with Kevin Costner.
“My hope is my book will inspire people to look at the labels in their own lives and accept, embrace and create ones that make them feel the best of who they are and to get rid of the ones that make them feel disempowered.”
It’s a fitting statement for the multi-hyphenate, who has never been one to color inside the lines. A mother and award-winning actress, Bello’s work extends off-screen to include human rights and activism—a passion, she says, which was instilled in her at a young age. Hailing from Norristown, Pennsylvania, Bello was raised Roman Catholic by her father, Joe, a contractor, and mother, Kathy, a nurse, whom she credits with teaching her the art of compassion. “Her whole life, all she wanted to do was be of service and help people,” says Bello, who now lives in Los Angeles. “Nursing is her way of doing that. She continues to do that and inspired all of us to use what we have in this world, in this lifetime, in this body, to give what we can.”
Since stepping into the spotlight, Bello used her newfound voice in Hollywood to draw increasing attention to the global plight of women, which she witnessed firsthand in her role as a humanitarian. “I started meeting extraordinary women in extraordinary circumstances. Like women who were in the refugee camp in Bosnia because they had been raped and their significant others were killed. I started interviewing them and finding not that there were so many differences between us, but seeing that there were so many similarities—common threads and connections between women all over the world. The conversations usually revolved around our children, men and love lives, and hair, fashion and makeup,” she says laughing. In 2009, Bello was nominated one of Variety’s most powerful women in Hollywood for her activism with women in Darfur, Sudan, adding to a long list of distinctions, which include being a Vital Voices Global Ambassador and a member of the Clinton Global Initiative. ➤
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“I started meeting extraordinary women in extraordinary circumstances. Like women who were in the refugee camp in Bosnia because they had been raped and their significant others were killed. I started interviewing them and finding not that there were so many differences between us, but seeing that there were so many similarities.�
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Feature MARIA BELLO
“The biggest thing I learned is that if I continue to question, if I fully comprehend and take in the terror and beauty of living in the question mark then I will be more myself and more alive.”
These days, Bello is as at home in Hollywood as she is in Haiti, which she first visited in 2008 alongside friend and filmmaker Paul Haggis. “People go there and either they are terrified and hate it, or they love it and can never be released from it. The [latter] was my experience,” she says. Following the country’s devastating earthquake in 2010, Bello found WeAdvance, a nonprofit dedicated to educating and empowering women. The nonprofit started out with a clinic based in the Cité Soleil slums outside Port au Prince and has now been morphed into We Advance University, a collection of free educational video lessons to Haitians. “Humanitarianism, in my view, is no different from my being a human being. For me it’s the same thing. If I’m a human being and have love, connection, energy, compassion, how could I not be a humanitarian?” It’s a philosophy Bello has also instilled in her 14-year-old son, Jackson, whom she had with her former husband, TV executive Dan McDermott. Though he hasn’t read her book, Jackson is proud of his mom, she says. “When it first came out, many of his friends said, ‘It’s so cool your mom has a book.’ I told him there were things in it he might not want to read—there are sort of sexy details in it. He was like, “‘I don’t care. You’re my mom. I don’t judge you.’” It was Jackson who also gave Bello the inspiration for the book’s title; as outlined in her Modern Love piece, when Bello told her son, then 12, that she had fallen for her best friend, he responded, “Mom, love is love, whatever you are.” As Bello gears up for a European getaway with her son this summer, a visit to Haiti this fall, and roles in upcoming films, including the James Wan thriller Demonic, Max Steel, and 2016’s The 5th Wave with Chloë Grace Moretz and Liev Schreiber, she also reflects on a newfound realization made through the process of writing her book: the importance of living in the moment. “The biggest thing I learned is that if I continue to question, if I fully comprehend and take in the terror and beauty of living in the question mark then I will be more myself and more alive,” she says. And the most fitting label for her right now? “Truthful,” smiles Bello. “My label is truth.” ■
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Life Changes When Life Changes You Need a Professional
RESOLVE
REBUILD
RESTORE
4440 PGA BOULEVARD 6TH FL PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL 33410 ● 561.472.0805 L H U D S O N @ H U D S O N F A M I LY L A W . C O M ● WW W . H U D S O N F A M I LY L A W . C O M
Feature TOYS
Toys Gone Wild
IAmElemental
FAMILY
There’s An Ample Supply Of Plumped Lips, Voluptuous Breasts And High Heels In The Toy Aisle For Girls. Parents And Companies Are Fighting For A New Norm. By Lola Thélin and Jonathan Urbina
Think about the last gift you purchased for your niece or nephew. Or a present for your pregnant friend, or the last item you bought your son or daughter. Was it pink? Was it blue? Was it a toy? Was it a plumped lip, bootylicious doll or a rugged superhero action figure? Was the superhero for your daughter, or did you go the traditional route by gifting it to your son? In recent years, parents, privately-owned toy companies and even children themselves have been voicing concern about toys, dolls and action figures that elicit gender bias, promote gender inequality and stifle the creativity of young girls. Rightfully so. Last year Oregon State University released a study exploring the influence of fashion dolls and found that playing with Barbie could limit girls’ career choices. Past research shows that the way fashion dolls are dressed communicates messages of sexualization and objectification to girls. But in an age where store aisles are clearly delineated by gender stereotypes, where girls are limited to sexy dolls, and where a profitable business quarter rules, can the public convince a $22 billion toy market to change its ways? Shockingly, yes, but as it is with most causes, the turnaround is slow and the fight constant. “As a parent, I’m concerned about the research that shows that portraying women in the media and, by extension, the toy world in an unrealistic way negatively affects the way that girls perceive themselves, leading to lower self-esteem and body image problems, affecting social behavior, and even discouraging young women from entering certain professions. So, we set out to do something about it,” says Julie Kerwin, CEO of IAmElemental, a series of female action figures funded via Kickstarter and launched in 2015. IAmElemental and its creators hope to inspire girls (and boys, too) to be their best, most powerful selves by sharing action figures based on real-world heroism. Based on a theme (Courage) and a muse (Joan of Arc), the first series conveys messages about character and
empowerment. “We didn’t dumb down the concepts—these figures aren’t Betty Brave and Patty Persistence, for example. Just like how the Periodic Table of Elements are the building blocks of all matter, in the IAmElemental universe, the Elements of Power are the building blocks of character,” explains Kerwin. The action figures’ powers are a breakdown of the theme courage: bravery, energy, honesty, industry, enthusiasm, persistence and fear. Then there’s the look. “If you go looking for a woman in the superhero section, you’re in for a surprise. The breasts are bigger than the heads. The bums are wider than the Grand Canyon, and if you want your female superheroes to sit, their legs splay far and wide,” says Kerwin, who admits her team spent hours and hours analyzing the breast-to-hip ratio, the torso and the butt. “Thanks to the heavy overuse of Photoshop, which erases real women and replaces them with Barbie-like imitations, the denigration of women on low-cost reality television programs—and yes, even the tarting-up of iconic figures like Strawberry Shortcake and Holly Hobbie, as well as the more recent example of Disney’s Brave—[can lead to] girls and boys internalizing messages about what it means to be a perfect woman, which are completely unattainable because they aren’t real,” says Kerwin. Sadly that ideal enters the lives of children who in turn interpret what it means to be “perfect.” Think about it: Children are sponges. By ages four and five, they’ve developed motor ability, mastered basic grammar, are able to differentiate between responsibility and guilt, prefer to play with other children and are competitive. Surrounding young children with unrealistic portrayals of beauty could harbor the obsession and expectation of obtaining a certain look. “I think an unrealistic doll is a habit. More arrive every year to copy the successes that have come previously,” explains Alice Taylor, ➤
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Lottie
CEO of MakieLab, a UK-based company that creates 3-D printed toys and games. Earlier this year, a parent-led social media campaign titled Toy Like Me went viral. The parents called on toy companies to provide more diversity in kids’ toys, particularly toys that teach children to understand and appreciate disabilities. MakieLab responded in a huge way, rolling out canes, glasses, hearing aids, birthmarks, wheelchairs and other features on its website. “It feels great to be able to show that it can and should be done, which means that those same companies—big, rich corporations—really have no excuse to continue to say, ‘No.’ It’s an important social issue that mustn’t be written off as ‘not directly profitable,’ especially by those who can afford it,” says Taylor. Other companies that are stepping up to the plate are Lottie and Lammily. Launched in 2012 in the UK, the Lottie doll has a childlike body and doesn’t wear makeup or heels; her interests range from fossil hunting to recycling and horseback riding to ballet. Last year Nickolay Lamm created Lammily, a doll using standard human body proportions to promote realistic beauty standards. His crowdfunding campaign received 19,000 preorders. Now available, the doll stands at 11-inches. Parents can also purchase a sticker pack of scars, acne, cellulite, freckles and moles. Another media sensation is Sonia Singh’s Tree Change Dolls. Singh, a mother who lives in Tasmania, Australia, conceived the idea of repurposing discarded dolls to appear more realistic. She removes the painted on faces of Bratz dolls and applies a fresh face without the
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GoldieBlox
MakieLab
exaggerated pouty lips and excess makeup. “I receive a lot of stories from young women who tell me they loved their dolls as children, [but] those dolls also set an unrealistic standard of beauty for them, and that they wish to avoid this for their own children,” says Singh. Originally started as a two-person hobby for Singh and her mother, who makes the clothes, Tree Change Dolls is expanding, and Singh hopes to fulfill the global need for the dolls. “I didn’t set out to make a statement but I seem to have triggered a global conversation about the suitability and style of children’s toys,” says Singh. She may have also jolted Bratz and its parent company MGA Entertainment to take a long hard look at itself. According to a press release dated early June 2015, MGA hired an agency to handle the relaunch of the Bratz doll line. The company is rumored to be launching new dolls based on the STEM curriculum (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), called Project Mc2. It is allegedly partnering with Awesomeness TV to create global, original live-action YouTube series for tweens. At the time of M&V’s print deadline, the Bratz website was under renovation; a phone call to MGA provided no additional feedback. Of course, the conversation doesn’t stop at the hypersexualization of a toy. The gender bias is an equally important issue. More often than not, toys labeled “for girls” leave little career inspiration or aspiration. The study by Oregon State University showed that girls who played with Barbie thought they could do fewer jobs than boys could do. Aurora M. Sherman, an associate professor in the
FAMILY
Lammily
IAmElemental
School of Psychological Science at OSU, claimed toys aren’t likely to alter children’s career paths but they can change the way children see their future. The lack of construction and engineering kits for little girls motivated Debbie Sterling to change the market. “Kids are so impressionable, and we have this opportunity to put games, toys and characters in front of them that will shape the way they see the world. For every time we tell a girl she looks beautiful, imagine what a difference it would make if instead we told her she looks capable,” says Sterling, CEO of GoldieBlox, a construction toy and book series launched in 2012. The toy startup made a splash last year when it won a competition for a 30-second commercial spot during the 2014 Super Bowl. It beat out 15,000 companies in a public vote. The mission of GoldieBlox is to produce toys and games that are as intellectually stimulating for girls as they are for boys. Sterling found her inspiration for the project when she became more and more bothered by the lack of women in her classes at Stanford. Through research, she noticed a distinct play pattern for girls and boys. “Boys like to build for the sake of building; they’ll build it up and smash it down, all day long. Girls, on the other hand, are really drawn to stories and characters. They want to know, what are we building? Who’s it for? Where is it? What’s the story behind it?” Thus Sterling created a character named Goldie, a girl engineer, who goes on adventures and along the way, solves problems by building simple machines.
BEFORE
AFTER
Tree Change Dolls
The moral of these stories? Parents and companies should be looking at the bigger picture—the messages being subconsciously sent to children through the realm of toys. Companies have an opportunity to create games, toys and characters that shape the way children see the world and how they aspire to exist in the world. “Many girls love pink; we aren’t debating that. We’re not even saying they shouldn’t dress up like princesses if they choose,” says Sterling. “We just believe that girls are more than princesses. We’d love to see a tool belt thrown in with the lace.” ■
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Concrete Chic Easy neutrals, lightweight materials and autumn hues are perfect for the woman who mixes work with play. Photography by Gio Alma
Ralph Lauren jumpsuit YSL heels Alexis Bittar jewelry
Brunello Cucinelli sweater, dress and necklace Chanel booties Tiffany & Co. bracelet
Vince dress Chanel sneakers Tiffany & Co. bracelet
Peserico cardigan, top and skirt Chanel booties
Alexander McQueen dress Chanel gladiator sandals Tiffany & Co. bracelet
Akris Punto jacket and dress YSL heels Alexis Bittar jewelry
Christian Dior dress Jimmy Choo heels Alexis Bittar jewelry
Alexander McQueen dress YSL heels Alexis Bittar jewelry Fashion/art director: Molly Greene Model: Anggie Bryan, Wilhelmina Models, Miami Makeup/hair: Chell Love, Ted Gibson NYC Photo assistants: Miguel Ostos, Menny Sanchez Set assistants: Nicole Fahrenholz, Jonathan Urbina Clothing provided by Saks Fifth Avenue, Palm Beach Shot on location at the JW Marriott Marquis Miami
Feature childfree No interest in kids? You’re not alone. Author Amanda Chatel shares why she opted out of motherhood. The situation may not be for everyone but it’s a growing trend. More importantly, it’s a decision that works for Chatel, and it should be respected.
I
always assumed I would have kids. As a child, I envisioned myself married, most likely by my mid-20s, and being so close to my sister, thought for sure that having two daughters would be ideal. I never questioned it and never thought that I wouldn’t have kids, because it was just what I thought women did: grew up, got married, and had children. Despite these assumptions for my future, I didn’t particularly care for kids. As I got into my teenage years, I’d babysit. Unlike my sister who was also babysitting at the time and loved it, I hated it. I couldn’t stand to be around children. I found them boring, annoying, and lacking any redeeming qualities whatsoever. According to my mother, I’d grow out of it. One day that motherly instinct would kick in and like her, I’d find myself aching to have a child of my own. At 35, I’m still waiting. Sometimes I struggle with the fact that I don’t want children. I don’t understand why this is the case. I was raised in a family where I wanted for nothing. My parents were loving, doting, and after 40 years of marriage they are still together and very much in love. My sister, who’s just 18 months younger than me, is married with two small sons. Just as it was with our mom, she has found her calling. She’s a phenomenal mother. She’s patient, loving, and has a high tolerance for the occasional tantrum that kids under the age of five are prone to throw. When I visit, I deal as long as I can, then retreat to the guest room to work, or at least that’s what I tell them. It’s as though I can only handle so much, even when they’re behaving like angels, I have to step away to do my own thing, or, more realistically, hide under the desk to take a breath that doesn’t involve 30 questions. ➤
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Feature childfree
Don’t get me wrong; I love my nephews. I think they’re the most interesting and fascinating people I’ve ever met. So this adds to my confusion over my lack of desire to have kids of my own. What sort of woman doesn’t want kids? “I think I’m too selfish and vain,” says Randi Newton, writer and sober companion. “I’m getting close to 40 and finally getting my life together; physically having a human baby would cause something chemical to happen in my brain and probably make me crazy.” Newton, 34, lives in New York City, is married to a filmmaker, and like me, has never felt the need to procreate. “I’ve never once had baby lust. When I see pictures of baby animals though, I lose my s--- and want to adopt an animal.” Colleen Bailey, a 31-year-old broadcaster in Anchorage, Alaska, has never experienced “baby fever” either. “I spent most of my adult life being ambivalent to children,” explains Bailey. However, unlike Newton, Bailey and her husband did try to have a baby at one point. “After three lost pregnancies and only expensive fertility treatments ahead of us, we made the choice to stop pursuing children as an option for our future… and adoption was not something either of us was interested in,” she explains. “But when I got pregnant the first time, I was really excited about becoming a mother. Now, I have reverted back to being irritated at all children everywhere.” According to recent statistics, a record number of women are not having children. As Time magazine reported, 49.6 percent of women between the ages 25 and 29 in 2014 didn’t have kids. Although that percentage drops to 28.9 for women between 30 and 34, the fact is that a woman opting out of motherhood isn’t as uncommon as it used to be. It’s also a pattern confirmed by the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2012, the percentage of childfree women between 15 and 44 was
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46.5 percent, but by 2014, it was 47.6 percent. While demographers weren’t surprised at the dip in birth rates during the recession, the reason that they keep dipping is open to speculation. I like to think these numbers mean that not only are women realizing there’s more to life than motherhood, but also that I’m not alone.
I used to have a hard time admitting to the selfishness aspect, but since it’s true, I don’t see the point in hiding it. I have no desire to put my life on hold for another human.
For me, in addition to the lack of maternal instinct, it comes down to freedom and, as Newton points out, selfishness. I used to have a hard time admitting to the selfishness aspect, but since it’s true, I don’t see the point in hiding it. I have no desire to put my life on hold for another human. I want to sleep late on Saturdays, and if the mood strikes, I want to jump on a plane and go someplace else. I divide my time between New York and Paris, with summers in Barcelona, and live life on my terms. I don’t need a child to validate my existence; I do that every day on my own. As much as my parents were hoping for a granddaughter, and even though my nephews would love to have cousins—I’m their only hope for such a thing—everyone is sort of resigned to the fact that it’s not happening, and honestly, it probably shouldn’t. “Once as an April Fool’s joke, I told a friend I was pregnant,” Newton tells me. “Her first response was to encourage me to not have
the baby, and then she said, ‘Please tell me this is a joke.’ I didn’t take it personally.” Some women are just not meant to be mothers, and those who know them well are likely to agree. I know many women who have children think that a woman like me is a monster. Having written about this topic before, I have mistakenly glanced at the comment sections and seen feedback from mothers (and fathers). I have been told that I’m sad, that I will never realize what love is until I have children, and only in procreating will my life have meaning. I think for these people it is somehow unimaginable that a woman would break out from the mold that society has prescribed for her. When a woman doesn’t abide by the “rules” of our society, it’s as if she throws things for a loop, and those who have gone along, living their life exactly as convention has dictated are somehow angered. Who is that woman to do things differently? Doesn’t she see this is how things are done? It is her duty to have a child! That is what women do! We live in a world where living and letting others alone to live as they choose is clearly a faraway utopia. Those who have played the game feel it’s their place to meddle, pass judgment, force their opinions on those who think differently and, ultimately, scold them by telling them their life is nothing without children. According to them, as a woman without children, I have no purpose. I disagree. I have a career, I’m married to a man I love, and I have, if I do say so myself, a beautiful life. Maybe someone with such a life should share it with a baby, but in my humble opinion, that beauty will cease to exist if I do. I don’t think I should force something that isn’t there, and I definitely don’t think I’d be doing either a baby or myself a favor by having one just so I can regret it later. I highly doubt my opinions on the matter will change, but if they do, I’d prefer to regret not having them, than regret having them. ■
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IMPACT “If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.”
Anita Roddick
Raise Your Glass
MOTHERHOOD the Ultimate SISTERHOOD
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magine contributing to the well being of 40 million women. That’s basically Heidi Murkoff’s contribution to the world, and that number steadily grows with every updated edition of her pregnancy guidebook What to Expect When You’re Expecting. The book was published in 1984 and has since sold more than 40 million copies in 30 languages. It was the first pregnancy guide of its time, and thanks to its week-by-week instructional format, it became a hot commodity. The book was dubbed the “pregnancy bible,” making Murkoff the high priestess of the pregnancy world. She claims she had “an ‘oops’ pregnancy and an ‘oops’ career. I never set out to write a bestselling book; that wasn’t my mission. My mission was to help other parents sleep better at night than we had.”
Through the years Murkoff maintains the relevancy of her book with updates. Along with knowledge received from physicians with whom she consults, she uses personal information she learned through her pregnancies with children, Emma and Wyatt. What to Expect When You’re Expecting’s fifth edition will be published next year. (And the 2012 film of the same name featuring Jennifer Lopez? Yes, that was loosely based on Murkoff’s book.) In between new editions, Murkoff and her husband Erik operate What to Expect Foundation, which they launched in 2005. “We started the foundation because every mom deserves to know what to expect,” says Murkoff. Accompanied by a website (whattoexpect. org) and free app, the foundation’s goal is to deliver information and support to mothers who lack resources. Murkoff’s foundation work has taken her to Bangladesh, India, Egypt and Turkey. Last year while attending the International Medical Corps’ (IMC) annual gala, Murkoff met guest of honor Grace Losio, a midwife being honored for training other midwives in South Sudan, a country with prolonged internal conflict. “First thing I knew I needed to do that night was hug her—I literally stalked her in a room full of hundreds of attendees so I could have that honor. The second thing I knew I needed to do was visit her and see her work.”
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Weeks later, Murkoff traveled to South Sudan with IMC, which is dedicated to saving lives and relieving suffering through health care training, relief and development programs. “There is really no other way to express the experience—it was life changing and mission expanding,” says Murkoff, who witnessed a mother safely deliver a baby after enduring a 15-mile walk to the clinic. She also helped with midwife training, which included men too. “In a nation where boys as young as 12 are kidnapped and turned into soldiers, the impact of a shift to men as nurturers could be monumental.” The IMC experience is only a small dose of Murkoff’s motherly outreach. She has partnerships with the United Nation’s Foundation for the Universal Access Project, which promotes reproductive health among women, and with 1,000 Days, an organization dedicated to improving nutrition for mothers and children during the first 1,000 days after birth. A few years ago a friend asked Murkoff to help with a baby shower for the expecting mothers in Fort Belvior, Virginia. This was the first time Murkoff attended a military event for pregnant mothers and it set the course for her to want to do more. Shortly after, her foundation teamed up with the United Service Organizations and the Department of Defense to create a similar baby shower event called Special Delivery, which travels on and off military bases throwing baby showers. “What to Expect has shown that wherever in the world you live, no matter what your religious, racial, cultural, political profile, we all share an emotional bond,” says Murkoff. Connecting with mothers and encouraging a sisterhood among them has always been at the core of Murkoff’s work. This July she again proved that. The What to Expect Foundation and their partners launched the first annual #BumpDay—a day where women were asked to post photos of their baby bumps to generate pregnancy awareness. “Bumps of all ages, stages, colors, cultures, styles of dress and undress, showing that—as I always say—motherhood is the ultimate sisterhood.”—Jonathan Urbina
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—Heidi Murkoff
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Photo by Matt Beard
What to Expect has shown that wherever in the world you live, no matter what your religious, racial, cultural, political profile, we all share an emotional bond.
Murkoff with grandson Lennox, who graced the cover of the latest book edition of What to Expect the First Year.
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Making WAVES
©Daniel Azoulay
©Daniel Azoulay
Dance that Unites
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ome people mistakenly view ballet as elitist or mundane, when the art form is actually a soul-stirring experience. Lourdes Lopez is breaking through these audience barriers one ballet at a time. Since taking over as Miami City Ballet’s (MCB) artistic director in September 2012, Lopez has dedicated her time to connecting more with the community. “We are not [these] unknown, monotone, dancers on a hilltop,” says Lopez, whose third season with MCB is highlighted by the company’s 30th anniversary (2015-2016). “We are here because of the community. The art form belongs to everyone. It’s like a movie: You go and sit down, and ballet is there to reveal something to you. What will the experience be? It could be happy or somber, melancholy or hopeful. You have to be able to feel something to want to come back.” Originally from Cuba and raised in Miami, Lopez left for New York City at the age of 11 after winning a full scholarship to The School of American Ballet. She joined the corps de ballet of New York City Ballet at 16, became a soloist in 1981 and a principal dancer in 1984. She is the last generation to have worked under the direction of choreographer George Balanchine. Upon retiring at 39 in 1997, she accepted a TV position as a cultural arts reporter despite a resume filled with only dancing experience. “Ballerinas have the tools—determination, focus, will, tenacity, discipline—to succeed at whatever they choose to succeed in. Dancers should never be scared of embarking on a different career. I was brought up to say yes to everything. An opportunity comes to you, and you go for it. You’ll figure it out along the way.” For MCB’s 30th anniversary program, Lopez’s vision is set on the past, present and future, merging ballets that the company was once known for with pieces that are a nod to the future. For instance, Program I highlights acts two and four from Swan Lake, one of the most famous of all ballets, with the contemporary ballet Viscera, created on MCB by choreographer Liam Scarlett. This merging of eras is highlighted throughout the season. “Every season is a journey and a relationship between the dancers and the audience, which is strengthened throughout the year. If you only attend one program then you won’t understand a program’s impact, or how a dancer can grow or change during a season.” The 20152016 season concludes with the reimagining of the classic A Midsummer Night’s Dream by teaming up with visual artist Michele Oka Doner for original costumes and sets, and playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney for dramatic direction. “We are taking a masterpiece and, with permission from the Balanchine Trust, we’ve set it in a very different time and space. We’re recreating it but the text of this ballet remains impactful.” With Lopez’s progressive leadership, MCB is poised to continue its cultural takeover. On the heels of last year’s Canada tour, which earned standing ovations, the company will tour in Chicago, New York City and Minneapolis this season. “Ballet companies absorb the DNA of their community. Miami is on the cusp of a cultural renaissance. There’s a vibe, an energy and a creative spirit that is bubbling and getting global attention. Our dancers represent that.”
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IMPACT
Igniting the Power of Art
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ur penchant for art started some 540,000 years ago when Homo erectus ancestors carved art onto shells. The infatuation is still going strong. Just last May, Pablo Picasso’s 1955 painting Les femmes d’Alger (Version O’) fetched $179.4 million in a Christie’s auction, yet the power of art goes much further than its notable numbers. Its true power lies in its ability to connect communities and open doors. “I find that art is a wonderful bridge of communication, whether from culture to culture, artist to viewer or heart to heart,” says Stella M. Holmes, a Miami-based documentary filmmaker and arts education supporter. Raised in Argentina in a bicultural family, Holmes turned toward art at a young age when she longed for a deeper connection with others. “I was living with the feeling of being an outsider. Art offered me a way to find myself.” As an adult, she has dedicated her life to cross-cultural understanding through art, most recently with the inauguration of the Stella M. Holmes Art Research Center, a facility within the University of Miami’s Lowe Art Museum. “I’m drawn to community efforts that expose students to the wider world, so that they will be culturally aware as well as academically well-trained, and to [community] programs that help students who face difficult challenges in their young lives find the inner strength to overcome them.” One of Holmes’ goals is to help others connect with art as well. She is a supporter of the university’s ArtLab, a unique program that
provides students with hands-on experience in curating museum exhibitions. “This sensual experience will add depth and meaning to their intellectual understanding of a work of art and the culture that produced it.” The students’ exhibitions also offer Holmes a storyboard for her work as a filmmaker. For instance, the 2013 ArtLab exhibition focused on the Guna people in Panama and their right to wear molas, colorful appliqued textiles sewn into blouses. In A Journey to the Soul of Guna Yala, Holmes captured the UM students traveling to the San Blas islands to meet the Guna women. “One of the reasons I became a documentary filmmaker was to make these encounters more available to everyone. Art is a visual medium, and I felt that film is the perfect way to make that connection.” She is also producing a second film for her West Encounters East series tentatively titled The Fragility of Tradition, which captures a modern Japanese father passing down traditions to his daughter amid her life in a contemporary society. As an businesswoman, Holmes keeps three guiding principles in the back of her mind: First, surround yourself with people who give good advice in areas where you don’t have expertise. Next, think like a boss and behave like a lady, and lastly, be humble, a tip Holmes picked up from researching Picasso. Chances are if Picasso knew his net worth, he would probably downplay it. “He often used to visit museums to see what other artists were doing. He was very humble in that respect.” —Lola Thélin
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ACROSS 1 Creatively exciting 6 Yahoo’s CEO, Marissa 9 Cupid’s weapon 10 Shining brightly, very intelligent 12 Cheerleader cry 13 Spiritual tranquility (two words) 17 Long in Big Momma’s House 18 Quiet! 19 “Friends in ___ Places” (Garth Brooks tune) 22 ___ wire 23 “Where is the Love” singer Roberta 26 Weisz or Maddow 27 Literary “plain Jane” 28 Uncertain 30 Type of raise 31 Mexican artist Frida 34 International humanitarian, Jordan’s Queen ____ 36 Miranda, in “Sex and the City” 37 First name of an Indian landmark 39 Shriver or Sharapova 40 Rhode Island and Connecticut, in Washington D.C. 43 Philosophical 45 Exists 46 Prime ___ 47 Voice 48 Fed chairwoman, Janet
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1 Vision 2 Big tennis first name 3 Deep down (two words) 4 Suffuse, as with color 5 Xmas spoiler 6 Famous area in Washington D.C., with The 7 Wine label info 8 ____’s Chris steak house 11 One of the Bobbsey twins 14 Little sip 15 Seek answers 16 Bashful companion 19 American Hustle star
ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND ON Page 129 20 Pennsylvania Avenue sight (2 words) 21 ___ MacGraw Love Story co-star 23 Tina of 30 Rock 24 La Scala highlight 25 French for this 29 Reflexology massage (two words) 30 Coffee order 32 Trailblazing coder in WWII, Grace _____ or Easy Rider star 33 “Crazy” singer Cline 35 Top Bollywood star and former Miss World, Aishwarya 38 Jaden and Willow’s mom 39 French for sea 41 Compete 42 Common soccer score 44 Emotional intelligence, abbreviation M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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IMPACT
R.S.V.P. 27TH ANNUAL GLORIA AWARDS
THE MS. FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN CELEBRATED ITS 27TH ANNUAL GLORIA AWARDS AT THE PIERRE HOTEL IN NEW YORK CITY ON MAY 11, 2015. SIX HONOREES WERE RECOGNIZED AS “WOMEN OF VISION” AND THE EVENING BENEFITED MS. FOUNDATION GRANTEE ORGANIZATIONS. M&V WAS PROUD TO BE AMONG MANY ESTEEMED SPONSORS.
1. Luvvie Ajayi, Janet Mock 2. Gina Barreca, Gloria Steinem, Teresa C. Younger 3. Teresa C. Younger 4. Kathy Nijamy, Samia Finnerty, Alyson Palmer 5. Members of the Asian Women's Giving Circle 6. Janet Mock, Marie C. Wilson 7. Teresa Younger and the Ms. Foundation's Founding Mothers 8. Gloria Steinem, Dorothy Pittman Hughes
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IMPACT
R.S.V.P. LOUIS VUITTON JOINS MIAMI’S DESIGN DISTRICT
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF LOUIS VUITTON AMERICAS ANTHONY LEDRU WELCOMED GUESTS TO THE NEW LOUIS VUITTON SPACE DESIGNED BY JAPANESE ARCHITECT JUN AOKI IN COLLABORATION WITH MIREI UCHIBE. THE STORE INCLUDES A THIRD FLOOR ART GALLERY WITH VIP PAVILION AND A LANDSCAPED ROOFTOP COURTYARD.
1. Anthony Ledru, Marc Spiegler, Craig Robins 2. Bernice Steinbaum 3. David Simkins, Marc Spiegler, Nathan Browning 4. Luli Ballestrin 5. Erica Phillips, Andres Fanjul Jr. 6. Anna Sherrill, Sofia Joelsson 7. Julia Medvedova, Yeliz Titiz, Tamara Medvedova 8. Anthony Ledru, Tatiana Silva
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R.S.V.P. 18TH ANNUAL TRIUNFO! AWARDS THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF PALM BEACH COUNTY CELEBRATED THE “BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST” AT ITS 18TH ANNUAL TRIUNFO! CELEBRATION AT EAU PALM BEACH RESORT ON MAY 16, 2015. GUESTS WERE ENTERTAINED BY THE KIKI SANCHEZ SALSA PROJECT, AND A GROUP OF GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
1. Carmen Gonzalez, Stefanie Gonzalez, Caressa Gonzalez 2. Caressa Gonzalez, Monica Martinez-DeVoursney 3. Andre Varona, Kim Varona 4. Ralph Diaz, Bobby Gonzalez 5. Frederico Nogueria 6. Mr. and Mrs. Brockelman 7. Gloria Siew, Gabby Cruz 8. Martha Reyes, Vanessa Reyes, Rita Lombardo 9. Frederico Nogueria, Jean Magrella
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IMPACT STOP! CANCER LUNCHEON BENEFITS PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH STOP! CHILDREN’S CANCER OF PALM BEACH COUNTY, INC. HOSTED THEIR ANNUAL LUNCHEON ON MAY 8, 2015 AT LOST TREE CLUB IN NORTH PALM BEACH, BENEFITING PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH LED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, SHANDS PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY DEPARTMENT AND MIAMI CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL.
1. Kelly Brodner, Nicole Jezerinac 2. Katie Stalcup, Barbara Paschal 3. Allie Nicklaus 4. Carrie Deitz, Hannah Deitz 5. STOP! Children’s Cancer board members and their mothers and daughters who modeled the Bloomingdale’s fashions 6. Pietro Bonacossa, Dr. Steven Melnick, Dr. Stephen P. Hunger, Barbara Nicklaus 7. Kristen LeFevre, Mary Lou Desmond, Jeannie Coudert
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Dr. Fredric Barr proudly supports
KidSanctuary Campus is committed to improving the lives of children in foster care by providing safe homes and offering brighter futures. Celebrating the Opening of the new Boys Cottage - Summer 2015 Enrichment Center Groundbreaking 2016
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IMPACT
R.S.V.P. M&V CELEBRATES PARTNERSHIPS
MUSES & VISIONARIES MAGAZINE HONORED PARTNERS WITH A COCKTAIL EVENT HOSTED AT DELRAY SANDS RESORT IN HIGHLAND BEACH ON JUNE 18, 2015.
1. Nicole Fahrenholz, Christine DiRocco, Lola ThĂŠlin, Jana Lechmanova 2. Wendy Yallaly, Roy Assad, Mia Hewett 3. Molly Greene, Karen Hurley 4. Jurate Numaviciene, Irina Rothenberg, Deborah Bensimon 5. Erin Rossitto, Sandra Palmer 6. Angela Saulino, Elsa Buchholz 7. Sarah Scheffer, Andria Holmes 8. Chuck Smith, Linda Haserot, Stephen Chrisanthus 9. Randy and Christie Maale
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Jove Kitchen and Bar at the Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach Kitchen Limoncello Italian Grill -FPQBSE -PVOHF BU 5IF $IFTUFSmFME Maison Carlos Meat Market Morton's The Steakhouse - West Palm Beach Morton's The Steakhouse - Boca Raton PB Catch Pistache French Bistro Ruth's Chris Steakhouse - North Palm Beach Ruth's Chris Steakhouse - Boca Raton Ruth's Chris Steakhouse - West Palm Beach Sandpiper's Cove at Old Port Cove Season's 52 - Palm Beach Gardens Season's 52 - Boca Raton Talay Thai The Cooper The Melting Pot Boca Raton Temple Orange at Eau Spa Palm Beach Resort and Spa Texas de Brazil The Bistro Jupiter The Italian Restaurant at the Breakers For a complete listing visit FlavorPB.com
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IMPACT
CCE LUNCHEON A MILESTONE EVENT
THE NONPROFIT CENTER FOR CREATIVE EDUCATION, WHICH IS REINVENTING EDUCATION THROUGH THE ARTS, CELEBRATED ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH ITS ANNUAL SPRING LUNCHEON HELD AT A PRIVATE PALM BEACH HOME APRIL 8, 2015. CHAIRMEN TALBOTT MAXEY, THOMAS QUICK AND TRICIA QUICK LED THE EVENT ALONG WITH HONORARY CHAIRMEN MAURA ZISKA CHRISTU AND SUSAN MILLER.
1. Mark Cook, Danielle Hickox Moore 2. Lauri Welteroth, Bruce Helander 3. Eileen Berman, Pamela Miller 4. Bettina Anderson, Morgan O’Connor, Maya Sandberg, Rebecca Noejdh 5. Joanna Myers, Susan Miller 6. Lola Thelin, Nicole Fahrenholz 7. Grace Meigher, Lia Reed 8. Laura Evans, Jim Diack 9. Thomas Quick, Emilia Fanjul, Kenn Karakul, Tricia Quick
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IMPACT
A C hurch for Today’s Changing Times
T
he church is dying. Read any article on the challenges of church growth or the rise of the religious “nones,” or even attend a pastors conference, and this trend of decline, especially across the mainline church, is clear to anybody paying attention. Listen to these prognosticators and it might lead one to believe that this is the worst time to take the helm of one of the most prominent mainline churches in the country. So many have asked me why I chose to become senior minister at The Riverside Church: Was it prominence, promotion, prestige? No. I’m here because I see another story unfolding, and I so desperately want to be part of a hopeful conversation, imagining a future we can’t yet see. The Riverside Church, located on the edge of Harlem in New York City, has a long and impressive story of intertwining progressive Christianity with social justice, human rights, current events and the community that surrounds us. Influential voices from the likes of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, and countless others have spoken from this pulpit. For decades, when The Riverside Church spoke to the great challenges and obstacles facing our country, people listened and responded to calls for justice, for unity, for peace, and for living out the radical call of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, love for God and love for neighbor, in our world. But the world around us is changing, and the church is no longer automatically the center of our communities, its leaders no longer the voices we turn to for guidance or truth. Many in my world are dismayed and disheartened by this obvious decline; I see it rather as an exciting time of opportunity! The church will not die because people need community, and because all of us long for a place to ask deep and hard questions about our lives.
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Because I believe that, this time of opportunity is an invitation to ask what the future of faith communities looks like. The church is not dying, but it is changing. And we have the opportunity to be a part of that change, to figure out what it looks like to respond to a constantly shifting world that still needs the message we bear. What a scary, but exciting place to be! This is why I came to The Riverside Church, and this is what I hope will be the substance of my leadership here: to have a hand in in-
spiring change, to create opportunities for spiritual growth, to be part of God’s work of reshaping a church into a transformed and transforming community. Watching and living transformation here isn’t easy, but it has already offered me moments of wonder and awe: the thrill of living faith, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen!
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