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S A Y - K O // D E S I G N S
WE AR SSE KO, S E N D A W OMAN TO COL L E G E
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TRAVEL
The Issue FEATURES 76 |
THE LITTLE SHOP THAT COULD
84 |
THE WELLNESS CRUSADER
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LAB NOTES
Lauren Conrad and Hannah Skvarla are almost three years in with The Little Market, an online marketplace dedicated to female artisans to help raise them out of poverty.
Wearing her heart on her sleeve, Donna Karan is dedicated to the spiritual belief behind Urban Zen, a foundation and lifestyle brand preserving education and culture.
Business ensembles take a sharp turn with modern-day forms and striking tones set against the background of a neuroscience institution.
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BALANCING ACT
106 |
THE EXTRAORDINARY HOUSE OF ILANA GOOR
Selected for an artist-in-residency program at Utah’s Zion National Park, photographer Benjamin Rusnak captures the contrast between humans and the natural world.
The individualistic journey of Ilana Goor is traced through her museum-home amid the Mediterranean landscape of Tel Aviv, Israel.
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muses & visionaries MAGAZINE
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INSPIRE 21 |
THE GOODS
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EYES & EARS
30 |
GADGETS & GEAR
32 |
UNPLUGGED
38 |
INFORM 44 |
Carefully curated wish lists
BIG PICTURE News from around the world
48 |
A cultural roundup of new releases
Tech items ahead of the curve
Panama City, Panama, is ripe with idyllic shores and a burgeoning culinary scene
MASTER CLASS Sara Laschever brings her ‘best practice’ negotiation strategies to the table
52 |
BUSINESS UNUSUAL
54 |
IN THE LIFE OF
GLOBE TROTTING Get crystal clear at NYC’s Baccarat and Caribbean classic with Jamaica’s Tryall Club
Hotels do away with mass market art to strengthen their property’s identity
JetBlue pilot Anna-Maria Kymalainen welcomes you aboard her Airbus A320
NURTURE
IMPACT
60 |
PROJECT ME
112 |
RAISE YOUR GLASS
62 |
GATHERINGS
There’s peace, love and togetherness among Nashville’s creative locals
114 |
MAKING WAVES
ON THE COUCH
119 |
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
120 |
R.S.V.P.
136 |
VISIONS
68 | 70 |
Bright ideas for a better you
Answers to life’s social dilemmas
GROWING PAINS Multigenerational travel pits parents’ interest against children’s wishes
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Anne Taintor’s humorous products tackle domestic stereotypes
Women to watch
M&V’s word fun
Highlights and happenings Dejha Carrington fuses public art and technology to expand the cultural terrain ON THE COVER
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LAUREN CONRAD & HANNAH SKVARLA SHOT BY M&V IN SANTA MONICA, CA PHOTOGRAPHY BY YONI GOLDBERG STYLING BY TARA SWENNEN MAKEUP BY AMY NADINE HAIR BY KRISTIN ESS
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Letter from the Publisher
M A G A Z I N E
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f I had to rank the month of August, I am sorry to say it would come in at 11 out of 12 (only to be outdone by January because of the exasperating expectation that we should all be reflecting on how to reinvent ourselves in the new year). For me, August means my focus has already drifted away from summer as I organize my kids’ fall schedules, watch the gorgeous produce selection shrink at the market and lament that I have no more new episodes featuring my favorite funny women, Mindy Kaling and Amy Schumer. A great trip is one way to add some positivity to the month, but I don’t have any trips planned. The one good thing August has going for it is the Olympics. At least I can watch the U.S. women’s gymnastics team kick ass for half the month as they compete in Rio. Of course there is always living vicariously through others. And wow, we have uncovered some cool happenings for this issue that certainly satisfy—or maybe incite—wanderlust mixed with admirable endeavors. Our cover women and entrepreneurial friends Lauren Conrad and Hannah Skvarla are combing the world—most recently Thailand—for marketable products that tangibly benefit the women artisans who create them. Beloved designer Donna Karan tells us about blazing a new altruistic path with company Urban Zen in Haiti. We reach for the sky with JetBlue pilot Anna-Maria Kymalainen and land in Nashville for a gathering that pays homage to the area’s enviable farming community. The world is full of great possibilities, and I hope this issue widens your eyes and curiousity to experience new cultures and perspectives. Top to bottom: This month’s fashion shoot featured an all-women team and was shot at the sophisticated Max Planck Institute of Neuroscience in South Florida. We also traveled to Santa Monica, California, to meet The Little Market founders Lauren Conrad and Hannah Skvarla.
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Publisher ERIN ROSSITTO Editorial Director LOLA THÉLIN
+ Art Director MONICA ISAZA-DEAL Chief Copy Editor LINDA CULBERTSON Copy Editor STYLIANA RESVANIS Assistant Manager, Fashion, Editorial ZLATA KOTMINA Contributing Editor JODI BELDEN Staff Writers DR. RAMANI DURVASULA, SHANI GILCHRIST, MARGERY GORDON, JONATHAN URBINA Contributors DEJHA CARRINGTON, LINDA CULBERTSON, KRISTIN ESS, DANIA GAZZALLA, ELIZABETH CHAMBERS HAMMER, AMY NADINE, BENJAMIN RUSNAK, DANA SHEMESH, BRI SOFFA, TARA SWENNEN, JENNIFER RIEK Photographers CHELSAE ANNE, YONI GOLDBERG, SALLA JOKINEN, MEGAN JONES, BENJAMIN RUSNAK, LINDSEY WHIDDON Crossword Editor MYLES MELLOR Illustrator ROLLIN MCGRAIL Interns CHLOE KRAMMEL, TAYLOR MITNICK, FALLON PORTER Chief Operating Officer ROY ASSAD 561.515.4552 ext. 800 roy@magazinemv.com Director of Operations NICOLE FAHRENHOLZ 561.515.4552 ext. 805 nicole@magazinemv.com Account Executive LEILA MANCINI 561.515.4552 ext. 813 leila@magazinemv.com ALEXA PONUSHIS 561.515.4552 ext. 808 alexa@magazinemv.com
+ Advisory Board BEVERLY COGAN, BARBARA L. DIXON, MICHELLE FEUER, SCOTT FOGARTY, AMY LAGAE, BETH NEUHOFF, KATERINA PEREZ, JAN PLANIT, 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
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CONTRIBUTORS YONI GOLDBERG is a Los Angeles-based photographer and cinematographer whose fashion clients include Redbook, Guess and Kohl’s. He also recently handled photography for Lauren Conrad’s party planning book Celebrate, an instant New York Times bestseller. As a cinematographer he worked on SMILF, a Sundance award-winning short film, and recently finished work on a series for TCM’s new production company, Super Deluxe. As part of The Little Market, he has traveled with Hannah Skvarla and Lauren Conrad to meet with and photograph artisans worldwide. Follow him on Instagram at @lastyoni.
BENJAMIN RUSNAK is an editorial and commercial photographer. For 14 years he documented poverty in the Caribbean and Latin America for Food for the Poor Inc. and also worked as a newspaper photojournalist for nearly 10 years. Rusnak won the Gordon Parks Award in 2008 and received the InterAction’s Effective Assistance Humanitarian Photography Award in 2010, among many other honors. Rusnak grew up in suburban Washington, D.C., where he developed an interest in topics beyond American borders and a passion for the plight of those less fortunate. He lives in South Florida, with his wife and fellow newspaper refugee, Susan Bryant. Follow him on Instagram at @benjaminrusnak.
CHELSAE ANNE SAHLMAN is a West Palm Beach photographer who specializes in look book advertising, portraits and lifestyle and fashion photography. She fell in love with photography at a young age and has been making art with her camera ever since. She graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University with a degree in film and art and is married to local artist Evan Sahlman. Her photographs have appeared in Lux Magazine, The Scout Guide and Better Homes and Gardens (China edition). Her work has also been used in social media campaigns for various clothing companies, including American Eagle, Madewell, Marshalls and T.J. Maxx. When she is not making beautiful photographs she can be found drawing, painting, video editing and playing with her two Bengal cats. Follow her on Instagram at @chelsaeanne.
MONICA ISAZA-DEAL, known to most as POPA, is an art director originally from Colombia. She is the newest member of Muses & Visionaries magazine. A graduate of the Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, where she met her husband Scott. Isaza-Deal is the mother of two boys, Conor and Lucas. A self-proclaimed sun and fitness lover known for her upbeat personality and positive outlook on life, she is excited to bring a fresh look to M&V. Follow her on Instagram at @popaideal.
DANA SHEMESH is a freelance writer based in Atlanta. A native of Tel Aviv, she frequently travels to Israel with her husband and two boys. Shemesh is the PR and communications director for the Israel Ministry of Tourism Southern Region and is a former documentary producer at CNN, where she produced segments for Anderson Cooper, Christiane Amanpour and Soledad O’Brien. She has written for CNN.com, BBC, The Associated Press, Travelgirl magazine, PLATE Online, Jezebel magazine, the Inquisitr news website and The Jerusalem Post.
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i
INSPIRE “Everybody’s a train wreck in their own very special way. But there’s something wildly freeing about someone who’s unapologetic, who knows they’re a wreck and doesn’t even try to hide it, just bulldozes through life.” Melissa McCarthy
The GOODS
INSPIRE
“Texture is a huge part of fashion, but it tends to always be a compliment of color. I love the way sculptor Colleen Carlson brings drama to texture, devoid of color, relying solely on her talent to convey a tactical feeling.” —Jodi Belden, M&V contributing editor
Zara Flats with Metal Detail $49.90 zara.com
Fujifilm Instax Mini 8 Instant Camera $70 urbanoutfitters.com
The Inspiration James Perse Open Back Skinny Dress $195 jamesperse.com Henry London Edgware HL25-M-0013 $160 henry-london.com
Eugenia Kim Cassidy $395 eugeniakim.com
Nars Highlighting Blush in Albatross $30 narscosmetics.com
Vince Modern V Stamped Lizard Small Shoulder Bag $345 vince.com
Alexander Wang Circular Hole Midi Skirt $195 alexanderwang.com
Converse Chuck Taylor All Star leather $70 converse.com
Johanna Ortiz Off the Shoulder Tulum Top $550 modaoperandi.com
Boohoo White Paneled Mesh Swimsuit $32.35 asos.com
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INSPIRE
The GOODS “When it comes to leaving home for parts unknown, I’m drawn to spaces that are thoughtfully appointed and inspiring, while remaining comfortable with a sense of familiarity. The Library Suite at The Connaught in London strikes the fine balance of incorporating contemporary sensibilities while remaining true to its traditional self. The floor to ceiling walls of interesting books and carefully curated art make this space in a city in which I spend so much time, truly feel like home.”
Karen Walker Helter Skelter in Crazy Tort $250 karenwalker.com
Clé de Peau Concealer $70 cledepeaubeaute.com
—Elizabeth Chambers Hammers, owner of BIRD Bakery, San Antonio
Hammers photo by Lilianna Story
Chloé Eau de Parfum 1.7 oz. $105 nordstrom.com Franco Mondini-Ruiz The Goya Gown Inquire for price aptglobal.org
The Inspiration
Rebecca de Ravenel Les Bonbons Earrings $275 rebeccaderavenel.com
J Brand Photo Ready Maria High-Rise $189 jbrandjeans.com
Assouline Valentino: At the Emperor’s Table $150 assouline.com
Beoplay H8 Headphones $499 beoplay.com Mophie Juice Pack iPhone 6 Plus / 6s Plus $99.95 mophie.com
Bamford Botanic Sugar Polish $58 net-a-porter.com
Gianvito Rossi Cap-Toe Pumps $745 barneys.com
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Eyes & EARS
The LATEST on the ARTS and CULTURE SCENE
W
hile paper is common ground for human expression, from mundane notes to sublime drawings, the medium is usually relegated to a supporting role in the art world. Yet summer stock reveals its range as handmade paper headlines a rare touring show. New York City’s sole paper mill dedicated to this fine art form is marking its 40th anniversary with Pure Pulp: Contemporary Artists Working in Paper at Dieu Donné (dieudonne.org). The Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking on Georgia Tech’s campus (ipst. gatech.edu/amp) in Atlanta hosts the exhibition through Aug. 5. The show travels back to Manhattan for a Sept. 8 – Oct. 16 run at the Dedalus Foundation (dedalusfoundation.org).
(far right) Be Zany, Poised Harpists / Be Blue, Little Sparrows, 2002, Jane Hammond (above) Amidst the future and present there is a memory table, 2013, Firelei Báez
(above) Portrait (Woman I), 2015, Natalie Frank (left) Shazam (Black and Phosphorescence), 2009, E.V. Day
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This sampling features just 20 of the many artists Dieu Donné has invited to explore the unpredictable potential of papermaking over the last 15 years. “Studio collaborators” guide residents through innovative approaches to ancient methods and experiment with fresh techniques to adapt their individual approaches from sculpture, painting or printmaking to the plant fibers beaten into a pulp that resembles mushy oatmeal. This shape-shifting substance can mimic paint when dyed with pigments, yet responds to touch in distinctive ways that enable special effects. In 2013 Firelei Báez evoked watercolors with delicate trails radiating an otherworldly aura around faceless silhouettes, whereas Natalie Frank used a similar marbling tactic last year, but built a thicker surface akin to oil paint applied to her portraits in vibrant dabs. Artists whose repertoires incorporate collage often embed paper with traditional textiles, photocopies or foreign particles such as the shredded dollar bills, plastic bags and horsehair Jon Kessler mashed up with digital photos in 2008 to distort well-known faces. Printmaker E.V. Day splayed a fishnet bodysuit to stamp its wild web into Shazam (Black and Phosphorescence), her 2009 “compressed sculpture.” Other artists have fleshed out this third dimension by wadding up pulp or molding damp sheets around objects such as chain links to cast intricate shapes. The array of contours and textures created from this chameleon material is bound to leave an impression. —Margery Gordon
INSPIRE
Art Top: ©Inge Morath/Magnum Photos; ©Ed Ruscha, Courtesy of the Artist; ©Bernard Plossu, Courtesy of the Artist and Eaton Fine Art, West Palm Beach, Fl; Justine Kurland, courtesy Mitchell-Innes & Nash Gallery, New York; ©Stephen Shore, courtesy of the artist and 303 Gallery, New York. Opposite page: All images courtesy of the artist and Dieu Donné; Báez image courtesy of Collection of the Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art at Hamilton College/photograph by Jason Mandella.
T
he road trip has been a quintessential American rite of passage since Lewis and Clark surveyed the new frontier as the 19th century dawned. Fifty years later, Walt Whitman declared independence with “I take to the open road,” coining a turn of phrase, which resounds with the freewheeling spirit that now propels automotive adventures. Portable cameras and private cars lay well beyond Whitman’s horizon but became inseparable companions on interstate routes in the early 1900s. “Travel itself began to heighten experience and sharpen the senses in ways that would permit the world to strike the viewer as images,” writes David Campany in The Open Road: Photography and the American Road Trip. “The camera would both record the road trip and help define it.” This symbiotic relationship deepened through westward migration during the Great Depression and the spread of roadside amenities in the 1940s, preserved by native talents including Berenice Abbott, Esther Bubley, Walker Evans and Edward Weston. These masters paved the way for the 19 photographers Campany assembled in the book published by the Aperture Foundation (aperture.org), which organized a companion exhibition that the Detroit Institute of Arts (dia.org) hosts through Sept. 11.
Golden Nugget, Las Vegas, Nevada, Inge Morath, 1960
Phillips 66, Flagstaff, Arizona, Ed Ruscha, 1962
New Mexico, 1980, Bernard Plossu
Robert Frank sets the scene with frames from “the visual study of a civilization” he embarked on 60 years ago. The Swiss émigré sharpened his focus on the sidelines: spectators at parades and Hollywood premieres, segregated trolley passengers and pallbearers, marginalized transsexuals and overlooked laborers. Ragged flags and glowing jukeboxes are recurring symbols in The Americans, Frank’s travelogue first published in 1959 and still the standard-bearer for wayfaring photographers. Tourist attractions and commercial signs mark another European photojournalist’s 1960 voyage from New York to the Nevada set of The Misfits, the last film completed by Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe. Inge Morath’s The Road to Reno wasn’t published until after she died in 2002, when Magnum Photos honored her 50 years with the agency by establishing an annual award for young female photographers exposing social issues (ingemorath.org).
Claire, 8th Ward, 2012, Justine Kurland U.S. 97, South of Klamath Falls, Oregon, July 21, 1973, Stephen Shore
New generations seek alternate pathways at the culmination of The Open Road. Justine Kurland follows her breakout cinematic sequences of runaway girls with Highway Kind (2007-2014), mining rustic and urban landscapes for chance encounters and characters on the fringes. Roaming back roads with her son aboard a customized old van, Kurland revisits the car culture that inspired Ed Ruscha to document Twentysix Gasoline Stations in 1962 and Joel Meyerowitz to shoot through his windshield at man-made and natural resources colliding in Still Going (1967-1976). This photographic road show parks at the Amarillo Museum of Art in Amarillo, Texas, (amarilloart.org) from Nov. 4 to Jan. 1, 2017, and the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida, (mfastpete.org) from Feb. 11 to June 4, 2017. The portfolios are spurring restless shutterbugs to share outtakes from their own albums on social media for a collective #OpenRoadTrip (tagboard.com/OpenRoadTrip), mapping a virtual itinerary that puts a 21st-century spin on Whitman’s prophetic commandment, “Out of the dark confinement! Out from behind the screen!” —M.G.
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L
aura Kimpton knows the power of words. As a young student she struggled with dyslexia, and letters can still strike her out of order on first glance. Yet this communication challenge has driven the artist and designer to express universal sentiments in bold visual terms embraced by an expanding constellation of communities. Monumental Words emerged in 2010 with the sculpture spelling out MOM, an apt point of origin emblematic of the interconnected humanity at the heart of the Burning Man Arts Festival (burningman.org) that spawned the series. Kimpton’s phrases are a beacon in the Black Rock Desert for 50,000 people who converge on “La Playa,” a settlement rebuilt each summer in Nevada for this celebration. At her first Burning Man experience 10 years ago, Kimpton met artist Jeff Schomberg and started envisioning installations for the next edition. Collaborating on works ever since, though now divorced, they still team up with fabricators to forge the hollow steel letters perforated with Kimpton’s signature bird outline in repeated rows that lighten the load and cast shadows across the sandscape. The 12-foot-tall words stand out among dozens of outsized sculptures ignited around a towering effigy at the culmination of Labor Day Weekend. After the man is reduced to ashes, woman remains standing, muses Kimpton, whose creations survive the flames intact to find permanent homes elsewhere. DREAM was plucked from last year’s quadrangle of sculptures completed by LIVE, BE and OK to lay the cornerstone for a new public art program in Arlington, Texas. The Grand Hyatt San Francisco added Kimpton to its collection of Bay Area artists with Rainbow LOVE on Union Square, honoring the city’s legacy of free love at a reception in June during Gay Pride. This November, West Palm Beach unveils BE ART at innovative parks planned for the CANVAS Outdoor Museum Show (canvaswpb.org).
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Portrait by Jaz Fabry
Artist Laura Kimpton
The annual pilgrimage of “burners” from Silicon Valley has exposed Kimpton to investors like Robert Zangrillo, broadening her lexicon with a commission to herald his firm’s redevelopment of Magic City Park, where one of Miami’s oldest tourist courts began sheltering motorists in 1929. MAGIC debuts at Burning Man’s 30th anniversary, Aug. 28 to Sept. 5, set apart from Kimpton’s main site squared off by the words EARTH and HOME and the signs @ and # bordering a candelabra-branched steel tree to heighten revelers’ awareness of our endangered environment. A new twist on mood lighting empowers participants to adjust the hue, intensity and pulse, dramatically illuminating @Earth#Home. “Burners” already engage with the open-ended words on emotional
INSPIRE
Art and physical levels. First-timer and entrepreneur Marc Bell observes, “I loved how people interacted with her work, climbing all over it, taking pictures. It’s like art meets jungle gym.” A red-coated LOVE recently was placed on Bell’s Boca Raton estate, where it will greet guests at his annual Thanksgiving eve benefit for SOS Children’s Villages fostering youth of Broward and Palm Beach counties.
“A bird has been in every piece of my art since my dad died 15 years ago,” Kimpton explains (laurakimpton.com). Uncanny encounters with blackbirds and hawks deepened a kinship nurtured by her bird-watching mother. The species that foreshadows death and rebirth in many cultures symbolizes her father’s presence while telegraphing her free spirit. Spreading that message through accessible designs, her fashion collection She’s Got Wings launched in December at a Miami Beach pop-up store selling goldtoned necklaces strung with her stylized bird motif or BE, ART or EGO branded in block type and athleisure apparel printed with images from her mixed-media works.
DREAM by Laura Kimpton at the 2015 Burning Man
Peter Ruprecht
Bell lined up Kimpton as the latest artist featured at the SLS Hotel on South Beach for the party he co-hosted in December 2015 with fellow Boca-based investor Marc Leder during Art Basel Miami Beach. Kimpton seized this opportunity to introduce the full range of her eclectic output, from a capital M and flickering 18-foot tree along on Collins Avenue to a poolside gallery showcasing the whimsical way she has repurposed objects since childhood, combining vintage toys and typewriters with gilded cages and trophies. Her collages layer discarded book pages, sheet music and photographs painted, stenciled or studded with avian graphics clipped from paper sources or the sheet metal of her trademark letters.
A rendering of Kimpton's @Earth#Home for the 2016 Burning Man
The flagship boutique opens Aug. 13 in Fairfax, a Northern California town where she and her daughter tend several acres of “the hippiest place in the world besides Woodstock.” The store’s interior is spray-painted with a nature scene by Ian Ross, a rising street artist she once taught photography at a local high school. The lifestyle line simultaneously goes live at shesgotwings.com with new products like umbrellas. A cluster of stainless steel bumbershoots hangs at the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art (hvcca.org) in the group show WORD (on view until Dec. 17), incised with biblical terms whose negative connotations turn positive as literary text rains down and birds fly up. This installation extends the metaphor from Kimpton’s open-air statements: “The bird is in the word, but the bird is living free from the neurotic mind, living in a meditative state.” —M.G.
Kimpton's Rainbow LOVE at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco
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Eyes & EARS
Films The Founder
It’s time for the most all-American biopic ever. The Founder, directed by John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side) and written by Robert Siegel (The Wrestler), gives viewers an inside look at how McDonald’s, a small-time burger stand in California, became the new American church. Originally opened as McDonald’s Bar-B-Q in 1940 by brothers Dick McDonald (Nick Offerman) and Mac McDonald (John Carroll Lynch), the drive-in morphed into a revolutionary 30-second-service restaurant, selling only nine menu items, in 1948. The film stars Michael Keaton (Birdman) as Ray Kroc, a struggling milkshake machine salesman who discovers the restaurant in San Bernardino, California, when he sells his equipment to the brothers. Kroc falls in love with the business concept and dreams of taking the restaurant national. The film depicts Kroc weaseling his way into the brothers’ company and urging them to franchise—although McDonald’s online history timeline says the brothers were looking for a franchising agent. When the brothers seem hesitant, Kroc takes the “business is war” approach, gaining control of the company by doing whatever it takes and eventually creating a food empire. As the movie’s tagline reads, “He took someone else’s idea and America ate it up.” In theaters Aug. 5
Southside with You
Southside with You is a sweet, flattering portrayal of one of the most well-known couples in the world: Barack and Michelle Obama. Although director and writer Richard Tanne’s charming romance is a fictionalized film, it was pieced together based on available public domain articles, films and books documenting Michelle and Barack’s non-date in 1989. Newcomer Parker Sawyers portrays Barack, while Tika Sumpter plays Michelle. The film begins by showing Barack as a recent transplant to Chicago, completing an internship at a prestigious law firm under the supervision of adviser Michelle Robinson. Under the guise that she is accompanying him to a nearby church only to listen to locals discuss a stalled plan for a community center, Michelle agrees to meet outside of work. Barack conveniently schedules to pick up Michelle a few hours before the community meeting and suggests killing time with a trip to the Art Institute of Chicago and other sights. Throughout the day, Michelle denies all romantic implications—reminding both of them she is his adviser—yet their common passion for civil rights, discovered through an inspirational speech Barack delivers during the church meeting, and a discussion about the possibility of going into politics strengthen their bond. Whether the film is meant to be a love story or well-timed propaganda, it’s hard to deny the movie’s feel-good vibe. It leaves us wanting to experience such mutual respect and connection on a first date. In theaters Aug. 26
Movie reviews by Taylor Mitnick
Queen of Katwe
Disney creates magic again, this time with the triumphant true story of a young girl raised in the slums in Uganda who becomes a world chess champion. Based on Tim Crothers’ award-winning book of the same title, Queen of Katwe shines a light on how determination, confidence and support can turn the unlikeliest person into a heroine. Portrayed by Madina Nalwanga, 9-year-old Phiona Mutesi meets a missionary who teaches local children how to play chess and empowers them to use the game’s skills— concentration, strategic thinking and risk-taking—in their everyday lives, advising the children to learn “how to make a plan.” David Oyelowo (Selma) takes on the role of chess mentor Robert Katende, while Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave) plays Phiona’s mother Harriet, who at first is reluctant to allow her daughter to pursue the game for fear of disappointment. Equipped with a natural aptitude for chess, Phiona, coached by Katende, goes on to win local competitions, such as the 2007 Uganda women’s junior championship. In 2010 she travels to Russia for the Olympiad to compete to become an international chess champion. The riveting story proves that with guidance and belief, one can overcome adversity. In theaters Sept. 23
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INSPIRE
Books Illustrator and graphic designer Ann Shen chose some of the baddest women in history—and that is “bad” in the very best sense of the word—to feature in Bad Girls Throughout History: 100 Remarkable Women Who Changed the World. From Joan Jett to Marie Curie, these women left a lasting mark on the world through their accomplishments as artists, scientists, activists and more. Each profile is accompanied by a striking portrait handpainted by Shen that captures the essence of these change-makers. This collection of essays and images is the perfect gift for those inspired by revolutionary women past and present. (Chronicle Books, Sept. 6) Feminist Fight Club: An Office Survival Manual (for a Sexist Workplace) by New York Times columnist Jessica Bennett is the guide every working woman needs as she navigates her career in potentially shark-infested waters. Women are outpacing men in earning college and graduate degrees, but professional gender-based obstacles are still intact—perhaps just a little more subtle. Bennett packages practical information and advice in a hilarious wrapper and offers readers new workplace vocab words like ‘manterrupter’ (the guy who interrupts you while you’re speaking) or ‘bropropriator’ (the one takes credit for your ideas). (Harper Wave, Sept. 13) Camille Aubray’s charming Cooking for Picasso is set in the spring of 1936 in the French Riviera village of Juan-les-Pins, where Pablo Picasso is secretly renting a villa after extricating himself from life in Paris. Seventeen-year-old Ondine Belange is tasked with delivering meals to the artist from her family’s café, where she cooks with her mother. Her adventures in self-discovery as a woman and a chef hit their stride as a result of this chance encounter. Decades later, Ondine’s American granddaughter Celine follows the trail of her mother’s mysterious stories to discover there may be a family treasure buried in years of art, food and intrigue. (Ballantine Books, Aug. 9) The Perfect Girl by Gilly Macmillan is a riveting story that delves into the mind of a teenager and what it means to have a “second chance” when your disastrous mistake happens early in life. Zoe Maisey is a music prodigy responsible for an accident that killed three teenagers. The reader meets the protagonist upon her release from juvenile detention and after the unraveling of her family, a new marriage for her mother and a chance at picking up where she left off as a rising concert pianist. But another tragic event reveals layers of dark secrets roiling around Zoe’s fragile life. (William Morrow, Sept. 6)
Tama Janowitz’s collection of short stories, Slaves of New York, published in 1986 with a nod from Warhol on the back cover, captured the ’80s New York City art scene in all its eccentricities. Janowitz is to Gen X what Lena Dunham is to millennials. In her memoir, Scream: A Memoir of Glamour and Dysfunction, Janowitz turns her razor sharp insight on her own life. She recalls the literary world of the ’80s in which she was immersed and forges ahead to the quirks of middle age in a small upstate New York town where a teenage daughter and mother with dementia play central roles. (Dey Street Books, Aug. 9)
From acclaimed writer Juan Gabriel Vásquez, comes Reputations, a novel about artistturned-political cartoonist Javier Mallarino. With pen and ink, Mallarino is one of Colombia’s most powerful influencers, capable of altering the political fabric of his country. On the evening of a celebration to mark his decades long career, a young woman emerges alongside incidents from his past that onerously link the personal and political. Memory becomes the channel through which this public persona is forced to reevaluate his life and work and question who he has become. (Riverhead Books, Sept. 20)
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Gadgets & gear
INSPIRE
TECH OUT
1.
What's HOT 1. Snorkl 2.0 $179.99 thesnorkl.com The Snorkl may look awkward, but its underwater abilities are impressive. Available with a GoPro mounting option, the anti-fog mask equips swimmers with prolonged breathing under water through a patented breath circulation concept and offers 180 degrees of panoramic vision.
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2. iKlips DUO $79 (32GB), $99 (64GB) adamelements.com Life keeps our devices full and in need of additional storage. External storage device iKlips DUO fills the void. Built with USB and Lightning connectors, it easily and securely shares music, photos and work projects among all your Apple devices. 3. Bluesmart Carry-on $399 bluesmart.com Why shouldn’t your suitcase do more than carry your clothes? The Bluesmart Carry-on is the world’s smartest travel gadget that can be tracked anywhere in the world by 3G connectivity. If that’s not enough, it features a snazzy Bluetoothenabled remote lock, a built-in battery charger and a scale.
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4. Noke Padlock $69.99 noke.com Remembering a lock combination is a thing of the past thanks to Noke’s smart padlock, which connects to any Bluetooth-enabled smartphone (iOS, Android and Windows). Through an app, users can manage multiple locks and create custom settings. 5. Blockhead $19.95 tenonedesign.com Apple can’t always get it right. Case in point? Its standard Mac power adapter sticks out of the wall by three inches and doesn’t stay put. Designed by Ten One Design, Blockhead snaps onto an existing charger, allowing it to sit flat against the wall and minimizing accidental slips when you just can’t bear to unplug.
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5.
Unplugged panama city
Tarina Rodriguez
By Jonathan Urbina
PANAMA CITY, PANAMA When someone mentions Panama City, Panama, does anything come to mind besides a certain canal? It may be time to retrain your brain, because this cosmopolitan city is a hub of trade and immigration, a hot spot for tropical fashion with an urban influence, and a blend of west meets east in food, language and architecture. The Central American country is easily one of the best vacation spots to offer a little bit of something for everyone in the family, especially the history buff.
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HISTORY
Depending on whom you ask, Panama City is celebrating either its 497th birthday or its 17th. Why the discrepancy? The Republic of Panama has a colorful past, painted with conflict, perseverance and triumph. It was founded in 1519 by the Spanish governor Pedro Arias de Ávila. Fast-forward to 1989, when the U.S. invaded Panama City to oust Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega, taking control of the Panama Canal and its surrounding land. It wasn’t until Dec. 31, 1999, that the land was returned to the country.
GOOD EATS
Two things are guaranteed in Panama City: fresh ingredients and flavorful dishes. Start your day with freshly picked fruit and a cup of café con leche like a true Panamanian. Or grab a beef-stuffed empanada from the nearest café to get a taste of what your “abuela” (grandmother) would feed you. For lunch, head deep into Mercado de Mariscos, the local fish market near downtown, for made-to-order ceviche and deep-fried yucca fries. Be prepared for an insane amount of ceviche options featuring catches of the day like octopus, shrimp and clams. Most impressive is how the culinary cultures of other countries that travel through the canal have rubbed off on Panamanian cuisine in the most delicious ways. If all that good food isn’t enough, the coffee alone is worth the visit. Café Unido located in the Casco Viejo neighborhood is a local coffee roaster and serves the most delicious cappuccino.
INSPIRE
The Westin Playa Bonita
LAP OF LUXURY
The first thing you’ll want to do when you arrive is take in the dark blues of the Gulf of Panama, and luckily The Westin Playa Bonita offers that view as does many of its 611 rooms. Located on the Pacific side of the country and a mere 10-minute drive from the center of the city and 20-minute drive from Tocumen International Airport, the $100 million property is mounted directly on the coastline. While there is beach access to the Pacific Ocean, the low tide makes it hard to swim, so most guests prefer to indulge in one of the four freshwater infinity pools, children’s area included, just steps away from the shore. Dining options are plentiful with seven restaurants; my favorites were the Oasis Bar and Lounge for its delicious mojitos and the Tierra Y Fuego for its surf and turf. The Sensory Spa by Clarins is nothing short of cutting edge with its herbal sauna and amethyst steam room. Travelers with deep pockets should look into the resort’s Casa Naga, a 25,000-square-foot mega-villa.
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Unplugged panama city
PANAMA CANAL
Panama has been a hub for trade since the completed construction of its man-made canal system in 1913. This 48-mile canal provides a connection to 1,700 ports from 160 countries and makes it possible to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean without traveling around the entire tip of South America. Locks along the canal raise and lower waterlines so that ships can move from one body of water to the next. Over the course of a year, the canal rakes in millions of dollars in revenue for the country and will bring in even more with the recent addition of a third set of locks. The Panama Canal Museum provides an in-depth history lesson, but of course seeing the vessels navigating the locks is the best way to understand the marvel. Miraflores Locks Visitor Center offers a commanding view.
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INSPIRE
Casa Naga of The Westin Playa Bonita
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Panama City is definitely old meets new. Casco Viejo is the city’s old quarter, made up of some 50 blocks of colonial-era buildings and brick streets. Original Spanish architecture and historical landmarks like La Catedral Metropolitana, Arch Chato and Palacio Presidencial line the streets. As an added bonus to the quarter’s unmasked charm, take a tour led by ex-gang members to get a rare look at an area once riddled with violence. Created by a former gang member who graduated from a local reintegration program, The Fortaleza Tour arranges walking tours through former gangs’ stomping grounds. For a look at the metropolitan lifestyle, downtown takes the cake as the go-to spot for towering skyscrapers, bright city lights and beautiful skylines. Architect Frank Gehry designed its biodiversity museum, and in 2014 the city inaugurated Central America’s first subway system, which cost almost $2 billion. Differing from Casco Viejo’s emphasis on history, downtown provides a glimpse of the capital city’s modern landscapes.
Tarina Rodriguez
Tarina Rodriguez
Mark Aumann
The Fortaleza Tour
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Unplugged panama city
Bridge of the Americas
SEA STATUS
Positioned between Costa Rica and Colombia, Panama is one of the few countries that enjoys both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Black sand frames dark blue Pacific waters on one side, while crystal clear waves brush up against Caribbean white shores on the other. A short bus ride takes vacationers on a day trip to either side of the country. Port city Portobelo on the Caribbean side is dotted with Spanish fortresses and is home to Iglesia de San Felipe’s Cristo Negro, the famous wooden Black Jesus statue.
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INSPIRE NIGHTLIFE
Sarah Tyler
If you enjoy after-hours festivities, Panama City is the place for you. At night the city turns into a lit-up social scene for tourists and locals of all ages. Downtown, you can experience Panama City’s take on Miami’s South Beach—super luxe and cosmopolitan. In Casco Viejo, the best places to party are bars with rooftop access. You’ll not only feel the fresh ocean breeze, but you’ll also spot the luminous downtown skyline reflecting off the Pacific Ocean. Tántalo has a great rooftop for this. Ocho y Medio plays just the right mixture of reggae and hip-hop to get the dance floor covered.
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Unplugged GLOBE TROTTING Baccarat Hotel & ResidenceS New York City baccarathotels.com
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very now and then a new hotel comes along that makes you question what you loved so much about your old favorite. After my first stay at the Baccarat Hotel & Residences in Midtown Manhattan I knew I had found my No. 1 New York City overnight spot, and it had spoiled me forever. This is the first hotel and global flagship for Baccarat, the legendary 250-year-old French crystal company. Fittingly, the façade is a spectacular crystal-like curtain that refracts the sunlight during the day and glows alluringly from within at night. More than once, I deliberately passed up the elevator that moves guests from the sleek entry up to the lobby on the second floor to take in the perpetually burning 4-foot fireplace at the front door (meant to evoke the furnaces at the manufacturing facilities in France), the massive crystal floor lamp worthy of the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles and a wall veneered with 2,000 LED-lit Baccarat glasses that create a hypnotic light show. The abundant eye candy is matched by spectacular service. The 114 rooms and suites—designed by Paris duo Patrick Gilles and Dorothée Boissier—take up the first 12 floors of the hotel and embody modern luxury. The décor consists of crisp white fabrics, cool platinum tones, dark espresso furniture and minimal touches of the iconic owner’s signature red. The rooms are rich with crystal elements, from the sparkling wall sconces to the weighty martini glasses in the well-stocked bar. There are loads of modern features, with 21st century tech discreetly tucked away, including a television artfully concealed in a showpiece wall mirror. I found the master remote, a cellphone look-alike that regulates everything from climate to mood lighting, hidden in a large leatherbound book on the nightstand. My favorite area at this gem of a property is the Bar at Baccarat, located on the second floor off the main social area, the Grand Salon, with three massive gleaming chandeliers, candlelit tables and
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sophisticated leather seating. In the evening the mood is seductive. The cocktail menu ranges from refined classics to inventive elixirs—although I am partial to a simple glass of Champagne enjoyed in one of the bar’s gorgeous crystal flutes. Of course each drink has its own special crystalware. Looking to impress a date? Ask the skilled bartenders for Le Roi, a $375 cocktail made of Nolet’s Reserve Gin, Grey Goose VX, Lillet Rose and grapefruit zest. When the weather is nice, you can sip cocktails on the expansive terrace that overlooks the Museum of Modern Art across the street. I have enjoyed the larger Grand Salon on a number of occasions, both during stays and as a place to meet with business associates. There are light bites throughout the day (the gougères are addictive), glass cases housing exquisite pieces from the house of Baccarat for some visual diversion and wellheeled clientele in attendance. The hotel’s Chevalier restaurant, named after Baccarat’s longtime creative director Georges Chevalier, is a noteworthy dining experience. The well-curated menu features forwardthinking French cuisine by Michelin-star chef Shea Gallante in a chic atmosphere. For guests seeking more solitude, the first fullservice spa by ultra-luxe skincare brand La Mer is one level below ground. Although I was not able to squeeze in a treatment during my last stay, I did take time to enjoy the elegant pool with its large black and white tiles, reminiscent of a ballroom floor. The quiet alcoves with luxurious daybeds are a perfect place to escape for some “me” time. It is so pleasant to be at this hotel that it is easy to forget you are at the epicenter of Manhattan culture, with the MOMA across the street, worldclass shopping on Fifth and Madison avenues and the Theater District just a few blocks away. I am certain Baccarat crystal company founder King Louis XV would make this eponymous hotel a home away from home. —Erin Rossitto
INSPIRE
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Unplugged GLOBE TROTTING The Tryall Club Sandy Bay, Jamaica tryallclub.com
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aa gwaan? (A common greeting in the Jamaican Patois language meaning, “What’s going on?”) The answer: Sun-dappled days at The Tryall Club. Lush, tropical grounds overlooking the sea. A private chef, butlers, housekeepers, gardeners. Delectable, locally sourced meals. Luxurious accommodations. I’ve traveled all over the Caribbean, and nothing tops my experience at The Tryall Club. The ride from the Montego Bay airport was a typical island experience: touristy resorts and shops and sidewalks crowded with cruise ship passengers. I found nothing touristy as I approached The Tryall Club and meandered up a winding road from the club entrance at sea level to the six-bedroom Point of View villa, perched high atop Barnes Hill. The Tryall Club, a AAA Four Diamond estate that was once a booming sugar plantation and later a coconut plantation, opened in 1957 and today is home to 90 privately owned villas. To preserve its spectacular views and privacy, the club is limited to a maximum of 100 villas, many of which are available to rent by the week. Mordecai, the resident parrot, gave me the once-over as I entered my villa Point of View, and my eyes feasted on its alfresco design, rich mahogany furniture, natural stone floors and stunning view of an infinity pool against a line of trees and the sparkling blue Caribbean Sea. The property seamlessly intertwines indoor and outdoor living areas for a tropical feel throughout. My bedroom—the master suite with eight doors and 15 windows—received a constant sea breeze. The room’s outdoor shower overlooks densely forested hills and valleys with no human or building as far as my eye could see, making me brave enough to indulge in this rare, refreshing luxury. So I did, more than once. The master is connected to four of the other five bedrooms by a long portico that leads to outdoor dining and living areas, the pool, gardens, a gazebo and a sloping hillside that ends under lush almond trees, knitted together by comfy hammocks that have “nap” written all over them. So I did. Although it was tempting to lounge by the pool all day, I opted to hike the property’s historic aqueduct, led by the club’s environment and conservation manager, Shaku Ramcharan.
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INSPIRE
The aqueduct fed water to the sugar plantation once upon a time through a 200-year-old water wheel that still turns today. The unspoiled beauty of the rugged trail—clumps of timber bamboo, crystal clear water rushing through the aqueduct’s narrow channel, rivers we crossed by jumping rock to rock—is a testament to Tryall’s well-deserved Green Globe Gold Status certification for sustainability in the travel and tourism industry. I woke the next morning with a muscle hangover from the hike, which was cured by a Tryall masseuse during an in-room massage. Lunch under the bamboo pergola in Tryall’s organic garden is a must. My hearty appetite was fully satisfied as I enjoyed crisp veggies, perfectly seasoned lamb chops, fish kebobs, jerk spring rolls, grilled shrimp and a fresh banana/papaya smoothie. Another lunch option is The Beach Café—the perfect spot to rest after a morning jog, swim or croquet game. If you’re looking for romance, then a candlelit dinner on the private beaches is the way to go. For guests staying at villas that do not have a private beach, dinners can be arranged on Tryall’s beach or in the gazebo. Imagine soaking up the sea breeze while a chef prepares succulent seared snapper on a bed of mashed potatoes, green beans and carrots, drizzled with olive tomato butter sauce. Cap off the evening with homemade coconut ice cream and a fudge brownie sprinkled with roasted coconut shavings. Bonfires can also be set up on the beaches upon request. There’s also the option of candlelight dining under the stars at Tryall’s Great House Restaurant. And while leaving this paradise is tough, I recommend venturing off-site to discover some Montego Bay treasures: Doctor’s Cave Beach Club (so named for its believed healing) powers; the historic town of Falmouth; and the Hip Strip, Montego Bay’s “Main Street.” To party properly in these parts, locals and tourists go to Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Friday night and Pier 1 Saturday night. Back at the compound, I decided there is every reason to come back for a visit. Tryall has something for everyone, including a golf course that undulates along the coastline, tennis courts, watersports and a kids’ club. Or maybe a more lasting commitment to this Caribbean oasis is in order. After all, there is room for 10 more villas. Now to come up with a villa name. —Linda Culbertson M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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PA LM B E AC H GA R D E N S LEGACY PLACE S AT U R D AY & S U N D AY A U G U S T 2 7 TH & 2 8 TH
Join us for our Grand Opening Weekend. You’ll find more than 11,000 ingenious storage and organization products in 16 lifestyle sections and all the expert advice you need to live organized. And, we’ll give away prizes every hour on the hour, including a $1,000 elfa® space makeover with installation plus Contained HomeSM Service*, on both days! It’s simply an experience you don’t want to miss.
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INFORM “Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, ‘She doesn’t have what it takes.’ They will say, ‘Women don’t have what it takes.’” Clare Booth Luce
Big picture
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NEWS AND REPORTS
from around the world
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fifty thousand. That’s how many elected seats, from the federal to county level, the United States has across the country—and, more or less, how many elected officials govern everything that affects our lives. Now guess how many of those 50,000 are women and people of color? The Women Donors Network (WDN), a community of women philanthropists, spearheaded the tedious task of computing a comprehensive mapping of the race and gender of those seats. The results show that 90 percent of elected leaders in this country are white and 65 percent of elected leaders are men. In other words, white men hold four times as much political power than any other demographic. “But the real demographics of our country, one of the reasons we’re known globally for our diversity, show 37 percent of our population is people of color and 50 percent of our population is women,” explains Jessica Byrd, a D.C.-based strategist who focuses on the intersection of social justice and electoral politics.
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The quality that I look for is a person who has integrity, knows their neighbors, cares about them and fights really hard.
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Byrd, who previously ran the candidate recruitment program for the nonprofit called EMILY’s List, now operates Three Point Strategies, an organization that works with people of color—voters, candidates and political operatives. “There is a huge population of working-class people and working-poor people who are affected every single day by our government, yet our political process shows that there is only 1 percent that is represented at the table in the highest power of office,” she says. Byrd’s foray into the political world happened as a child: She watched her mom serve as a poll worker for 30 years. “We lived in a low-income, working-class neighborhood, but my mom never made me feel like that meant I couldn’t be a part of the conversation,” Byrd says. It’s time to inspire more women and people of color to get involved. Here’s what you need to know.
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Get past the barriers Social, political and historical barriers prevent women, people of color and low-income folks from running for office. “We have a rigid three-district team process that creates the maps in this country, which essentially inform which districts will include which groups of voters, pulling huge groups of people of color together, so that they can only vote for one type of person,” Byrd says. “It becomes a less competitive seat, and that’s known as gerrymandering.” Then there are the gatekeepers, defined as anyone in the political arena who gets to say who is a good candidate. “These are the folks who manage the endorsement process and manage who gets the resources,” she says.
You are a viable candidate Some political attributes can be taught, such as how to make the right connections and how to break through certain psychological inhibitions, one example being the notion that political fundraising is not about you selfishly asking for yourself but instead asking about a person to facilitate an opportunity. What can’t be taught is honesty, according to Byrd. “The quality that I look for is a person who has integrity, knows their neighbors, cares about them and fights really hard,” she says.
Black women are needed Black women make up only 3 percent of elected seats across the country, yet they outvote all other groups in the Democratic Party. “Black women are 70 percent of the black community that votes, but that hasn’t translated into a political fix,” Byrd says. “In the last 17 years, we crafted incredibly important legislation without black women in the United States Senate, even health care reform.” One key issue is Planned Parenthood. “Rich women go to their doctors and have the necessary resources,” she says. “Abortion services in this country are largely sought by low-income women. Planned Parenthood and other community clinics are a safe haven for women of color. If we don’t have those voices [in political positions] to say, ‘The people in my district go there, people who look like me, my child, my cousin, my niece,’ then those are the people who get left out.”
INFORM THE INS AND OUTS OF WORKPLACE CULTURE
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Most of us want to be good coworkers, but consider this: helping others with their workload could hurt your job performance. Michigan State University researchers found that being a “helper” in the workplace can cause physical and mental exhaustion, which can lead to reduced effectiveness. Thus, while it’s nice to be a good team member, consider how you might be sacrificing your own productivity. There is also a lesson for “help-seekers”—ask for assistance sparingly! Researchers from Florida State University warn of two workplace factors that can lead to cognitive decline as individuals age. One is an unclean workplace (for instance, mold, lead and even loud noises) and the other is an unstimulating work environment. Better brain health means employers need to keep it clean and offer employees opportunities to learn new skills and tackle new challenges. The research showed the latter is particularly true for women.
Support these women This past June two women stepped up to the plate: Kamala Harris of California and Donna Edwards of Maryland, both black women who ran for senate seats in their states. Harris won her race. “Harris is considered one of the brightest, progressive minds in our country,” Byrd says. Unfortunately, Edwards did not. “Edwards is one of the only candidates I’ve seen at the national level who is able to openly talk about racial injustice, reproductive rights, economics justice and environmental justice, at the same time.”
Mothers of the Movement Sometimes people are forced into the spotlight, such as the Mothers of the Movement, a group of women whose children were killed through gun violence. This group includes the mothers of Trayvon Martin and Eric Garner. “They speak about how we don’t have a clear view of our issues as black people and how it’s often times when tragedy strikes that we take a harder look. What motivates me is the strength I see from black women across the country who persevere through the odds.”
Good news for young workers who have difficulties restricting their social media use to off-hours: Researchers at Nanjing University in China found that a little bit of social media use during the day can be positive for the younger post-college set because it boosts creativity and provides an outlet for stress. It’s all part of the need for coping mechanisms as young people face the realities of work and getting over naïve career expectations. We know American women working full time are paid 79 percent of what men are. A recent report by the American Association of University Women reveals some of the nuances behind the 21 percent gender gap. Check this out: • The wage gap is worse for mothers and only grows with age. • The gap is worse for women of color. • Because of the gap, women struggle to pay off student loans more than men. • At the current rate, the gap won’t close for more than 100 years. • In 2014 the pay gap was smallest in Washington, D.C., where women were paid 90 percent of what men were paid, and largest in Louisiana, where women were paid 65 percent of what men were paid.
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presenting sponsor The West Palm Beach A&E District is a centralized collection of inspiring arts and entertainment venues; art and history museums; galleries; libraries; performing arts companies; and art education institutions. Situated in the heart of South Florida’s most progressive city, the District includes more than 20 distinct and distinguished cultural destinations that form a defining industry cluster. The A&E District enhances the appeal of West Palm Beach as a visitor destination, drawing attention to its status as a vibrant city illuminated by its beauty and range of creative expression.
PROMOTING OUR DIVERSE ARTS, CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATIONS Brought to you by the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority
DISCOVER WHAT
INSPIRES
YOU Upcoming Events Giverny: Journal of an Unseen Garden
Lunch with Javier Sanchez, Executive Chef – Renatos
NOW – OCTOBER 30 Norton Museum of Art 1451 S Olive Avenue
SEPTEMBER 11 The Society of the Four Arts 2 4 Arts Plaza
Wine Glass Class at The Blind Monk
Sunday on the Waterfront
AUGUST 1 The Blind Monk 410 Evernia Street #107
SEPTEMBER 18 Meyer Amphitheatre 105 Evernia Street
19th Annual Member’s Juried Exhibition AUGUST 27 – OCTOBER 29 Palm Beach Photographic Centre 415 Clematis Street
DOWNTOWNWPBARTS.COM
Keep an eye out for more upcoming events #wpbARTS
Master CLASS
Sara Laschever
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magine a world where women and men earn the same income for the same amount of work— this idea is not groundbreaking. Women have historically earned less than their male counterparts, and Sara Laschever envisions a future where the wage gap doesn’t exist. Through her writing, Laschever continuously fights to bring the wage gap conversation to the forefront and prioritizes educating women on their worth. With books like, Women Don’t Ask: The High Cost of Avoiding Negotiation—and Positive Strategies for Change and Ask for It! How Women Can Use the Power of Negotiation to Get What They Really Want, Laschever has proven to women that strong negotiation skills can be the best weapon in the fight for equal pay. —Jonathan Urbina
M&V: Your research and books show that many women lose out on higher pay simply because they do not ask. Why do women not assert themselves more? LASCHEVER: As a society we don’t like women to be too aggressive. Men don’t like [aggressive women] and, sadly, research shows other women don’t like them either. Negotiation is perceived, rightly or wrongly, to require aggressive behavior. As a result women shy away from it, fearing that negotiating on their own behalf—asking for what they want—will actually damage their chances of professional success. M&V: Negotiating pay in the workplace can rattle the nerves of even the most confident women. What are some tried and true strategies? LASCHEVER: Women should research their value in the marketplace and the salaries of other people with similar credentials, experience and talents. Without solid research women tend to be very bad at estimating their own worth, and typically aim too low. Men tend to aim much higher. But when women do their research, they ask for the right amount and they have hard data to show that what they want is appropriate and fair. Not only is this good for making a strong argument, it also helps women feel more confident about asking for what they want.
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INFORM
M&V: Why is it important to know your sense of worth? LASCHEVER: That’s what your employer wants to know: What will he or she be getting by hiring you? You need to be able to explain this clearly and persuasively in terms that will be relevant to this particular employer. What do they need? M&V: What’s the best way to avoid a negotiating disaster? LASCHEVER: Role-play. Get together with a trusted friend or colleague, brief this person thoroughly about the negotiation and what you’re worried about, and play it through several times. Ask for feedback on what you’re doing that may make you seem less likable (e.g., tapping your foot nervously, frowning when you’re thinking hard or using off-putting body language). Then run through the negotiation again. Practice speaking in a relaxed and upbeat manner, making warm eye contact, smiling and using more open body language. This kind of role-playing will also help you prepare unruffled responses to negative feedback and move the conversation away from conflict. M&V: What should a woman consider before asking for a raise? LASCHEVER: Do you have a good fallback position if your employer says no, such as another job offer, the chance to switch careers or admission to a good MBA program? Does your employer have a good fallback position if you walk away, such as another person lined up who is equally talented to fill your shoes? If you have a good fallback position, it strengthens your hand and weakens theirs. If they don’t have a strong fallback position (i.e., they’ll be stuck if you walk), that also strengthens your hand. If the reverse is true in both cases, your position is weaker and you should proceed with more caution (maybe ask for less).
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Women should research their value in the marketplace and the salaries of other people with similar credentials, experience and talents.
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Master CLASS
Six Rules to Negotiating 1. Assume everything is negotiable—not just salary and promotions, but anything that could help you get the training, opportunities and experiences you need to progress or make your life easier and help you become more productive. 2. Identify your short- and long-term professional goals so you can align what you’re asking for with what you really want, not what you think you’re supposed to want. 3. Do your research so you know what to ask for, who to ask and when to ask. 4. Get yourself in a good mood before you walk into the room. 5. Ask in a nonthreatening way. 6. Explain how giving you what you want will be good for your employer, not just good for you.
What’s hurting you? You versus your talent … 1. Start by asking human resources if they track wages by gender. Although it may be hard to identify discrimination in your individual circumstances, data across the organization will show if there’s a pattern. 2. Go to websites like payscale.com to find ranges of compensation in your region for your position and see how you compare. 3. Ask a trusted colleague or more senior person in your organization what he or she thinks someone in your position with your talent, experience and credentials should be earning. 4. Ask a male peer in a comparable position if he’d be comfortable sharing how much he’s earning.
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Another tip by Laschever: Watch Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk: Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are.
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WHERE SEXY MEETS STEAKHOUSE
MeatMarket.net
Business UNUSUAL
DE FACTO
Galleries
Hotels and artists collaborate to bring guests a whole new experience.
By Jennifer Riek
A
rt is reframing the boutique hotel business and then some by no longer serving as just an ornamental element of hotel design but part of the property’s identity. Out are the quintessential, mass-produced copies of art, and in are one-of-akind photographs and artworks that capture the vibe and soul of a hotel. Such is the sensory experience at the Faena Hotel Miami Beach. The new hotel considers itself a large-scale exhibition due to the excessive amount of murals, chandeliers and fine art exhibiting throughout the property. “Art has become a key part of the visitor experience because it can offer a unique story, a sense of locale and inspiration,” explains Rachel Berg, partner of Museum Editions, a New York City art consulting company. “The ‘art hotel’ has become another respected place for artwork to live.” The trend might be vital to the future of all businesses. For instance, dentistry office Spodak Dental Group of Delray Beach, Florida, showcases an in-house gallery installation valued at more than a million dollars on its walls. Whether for extra profit or purely aesthetics, art is impacting all industries.
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T h e Ve n d u e The Vendue in Charleston, South Carolina, represents an immersive art experience. Its walls are adorned with rotating exhibitions of vibrant contemporary pieces. The hotel takes no profit from the sale of the work but instead aims to establish itself within the local art community and inspire guests at every turn. “A lot of people are intimidated to walk into a museum or a gallery,” says Emily Rigsby, the hotel’s art director. “Having it in a hotel makes it more casual, comfortable and more available to the public. People are able to have more of a response to the work.” This year, the hotel was selected to host the New York Academy of Art’s collection, which was crafted by faculty and alumni. Upon hearing about the show, multiple guests elected to extend their stay at the property, according to Rigsby.
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INFORM ❰❰ O l d N o . 7 7 H o t e l & C h a n d l e r y Provenance Hotels’ public relations director Kate Buska and her team faced a conundrum when they first approached the idea of building the Old No. 77 Hotel & Chandlery in New Orleans. Provenance, whose portfolio includes art hotels in Seattle and Portland, wanted to capture the spirit of a city already established as a mecca for art and music lovers. “It was hard to pin down something that was going to resonate for a long time,” Buska says to showcase the flavor of The Big Easy, the team collaborated with the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, a tuition-free art high school, and Where Y’Art, an art gallery that curates and sells work from local artists. The hotel purchases work from second- and third-year students at the center to decorate guest room walls, while pieces from Where Y’Art are on display and for sale in a gallery. Although the Old No. 77 takes no direct profit from the art, which ranges from sculpture to prints and original paintings and photography, Buska explains it’s an investment that helps the property compete with big-name hotels. In addition items such as handcrafted notebooks to perfume by NOCCA alumni and local artisans are sold in the Chandlery. “What we do as a hotel is try to create an experience where if you go to a city, you’re going to have a better view of it for having stayed with us,” Buska says. “If you have time to explore, we can point the way. If you don’t, you still feel like you saw more of New Orleans.”
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Carlton Arms Hotel
The economic decline of the 1970s hit New York City hard. In 1984, the Carlton Arms Hotel, once a bustling speakeasy, begged for a makeover. The employees—mostly artists— answered the plea with their paintbrushes. All 54 rooms were revamped by aspiring and established artists, and five rooms are redone annually. The artists design sprawling and diverse murals and are paid in supplies and publicity. “It’s a different beast for sure,” says Canadian artist James Zirco Fisher, who designed the Heart Chamber at the hotel in 2011. His room, 9B, expresses a steampunk-meets-Edgar-Allen-Poe vibe and includes a trapdoor where visitors leave notes and treasures. “The art isn’t for sale, so the money factor isn’t there. This is more about enhancing peoples’ experiences in the city as opposed to enhancing where they already live.” According to manager John Ogren, the Carlton Arms has never advertised and relies on word of mouth and editorial coverage. “A few hotels like this exist in San Francisco and LA, but it’s mostly unheard of in the U.S.,” Ogren says. In an age of constant building and bettering, it’s an ode to Old New York. M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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In the life of
EDUCATION: Associate degree in Professional Pilot Technology and Associate of Arts degree APPROXIMATE HOURS YOU’VE FLOWN: 6,313 BACKGROUND NOISE: Lots of air traffic control chatter FAVORITE “IN THE AIR” MOMENT: Two years ago, when I was taking off in a JetBlue A320 with my sister Pia as my captain. We’ve flown corporate jets for more than 12 years, but flying at a major airline together for the first time definitely takes the cake. FLYING SENSATIONS: Precision, grace, freedom, joy IDEAL FLIGHT PATTERN: Day trips. I spent my entire 20s flying everywhere and seeing everything. Now I love trips that get me right back home—Providence, Rhode Island; Barbados; San Jose, Costa Rica; Port of Spain, Trinidad; and Cartagena, Colombia. Less traffic equals fewer delays. Occasionally I pick up an overnight trip to Los Angeles to visit friends or San Francisco to enjoy the food. NUMBER OF BUTTONS IN THE COCKPIT: Each airplane is different, but in the Airbus A320, we have a combination of approximately 571 buttons, switches, levers and handles. HIDDEN TALENTS: Cooking. Food is one of my greatest passions. Hosting dinner parties and sharing memories over delightful meals is my absolute favorite thing to do. I also play a couple of musical instruments. WORDS TO LIVE BY: “Happiness is a way of travel, not a destination” by Roy M. Goodman. IN YOUR PILOT BAG: Enough clothes, toiletries and makeup to get me through one night in case we have a mechanical issue and I can’t get home; a bathing suit just in case that overnight stay happens to be on a Caribbean island; my company-issued iPad for navigation charts, manuals etc.; and my passport. JETBLUE SNACK: It sounds so lame, but I’m a huge fan of our little water bottles and chocolate chip cookies. JOB PERK: Being able to fly to Finland and around the world for a small fraction of the price is amazing, and catching free rides on domestic flights is by far my favorite part of it all.
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Anna-Maria Kymalainen
INFORM
Photography by Salla Jokinen
Pilot and Airbus A320/321 First Officer for JetBlue Airways; duties include flying, navigating, communicating and ensuring safety of flight at all times M&V: With more than 6,000 hours clocked, what are some of your most memorable flying experiences? KYMALAINEN: Recently my sister and I flew together again, but this time it was a JetBlue chartered flight with Marie Claire magazine for the publication’s first Power Trip, a pop-up summit in San Francisco. To be among these 100 amazing, accomplished women and to fly them across the country to their events was truly a remarkable experience and one we will never forget. In 2011, just before starting at JetBlue, I went to Mojave, California, for training at the National Test Pilot School. I spent a few days flying upside down, spinning inverted in an old fighter trainer. I absolutely loved it and to this day I get giddy thinking back to those days. Another memorable experience is the day I earned a captain position on a Learjet 60. M&V: Are there any special airports to take off from or fly into? KYMALAINEN: St. Martin for landings. It never gets old having a crowd at the beach waiting for us to fly in. Runway 7 in San Jose, Costa Rica, for takeoff. We are surrounded by high terrain and we get to fly this tight right-hand turn to climb out of there; it’s always fun to hand fly it. There is also something so cool about flying into Aspen.
M&V: Only 6 percent of pilots are female. How are you exposing more girls to the possibility of flight? KYMALAINEN: Children are always welcome in our flight deck to say hello during boarding. Especially if a little girl standing by the door is hesitantly peeking in, I always make sure she feels encouraged to come in and take a closer look around. If I’ve flown the flight, I like to say goodbye to our customers when they’re deplaning. Many times by just standing there and being visible to the young girls getting off the plane, you see their excitement. I hope that triggers them to think of all of their possibilities. Most women don’t think of flying as a possible career because they haven’t seen enough women doing it. Also, working for JetBlue I get to participate in events the company hosts for young women. Our Fly Like a Girl events encourage and expose them to many careers in aviation. M&V: Tell me about your aviation-minded family in Finland. KYMALAINEN: My father worked for Finnair, the Finnish national airline, as the director of heavy maintenance for 25 years. With his master’s in aeronautical engineering and aerodynamics, he even brought work home at the end of the day by building a small experimental helicopter in our garage when I was a little girl. M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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In the life of Two of his three daughters ended up as pilots, and our brother acquired the same master’s degree in aeronautical engineering and aerodynamics.
day” always makes you feel like you’ve won a small battle for all the underestimated women out there. We can do anything.
M&V: The flight attendants M&V: You’ve mentioned your must love having you on board. sister. Tell me about her. Any stories from them? KYMALAINEN: It was my KYMALAINEN: A flight atsister Pia who took the first leap. tendant told me a customer had She enrolled in flight school complained to her during the in the U.S., ventured out into cruise phase of our flight; he was the flying world and became a unhappy the pilots had not said continuous aviation inspiration anything about the flight. She in my life. For many years as a kid thought it was a little strange I observed her corporate aviation and didn’t initially put two and career closely, always wishing I two together because she knew could one day follow the same I had made our required anpath. My deciding moment came nouncements. Shortly thereafter as I was lying in a hospital bed she realized the passenger was in the Delray Medical Center waiting to hear a man’s voice. after a severe car accident during As I made my final announcemy senior year of high school. I ment to the cabin regarding our expressed my deep hopes, dreams, descent and arrival information, doubts, fears and apprehensions of the flight attendant walked back becoming a pilot to my big sister. to this same gentleman and said, Anna-Maria (right) and her sister Pia It was at that moment that her “Do you hear that pretty voice encouragement, empowerment on the PA system? That is your and trust in me gave me the confidence to go for it. I realized pilot speaking.” This time the customer was speechless. during those four days in the hospital that we have this one life—this one chance—and I didn’t want to waste it. M&V: What are your everyday environmental struggles? KYMALAINEN: Even though our standardized procedures M&V: What kind of comments do you hear from passengers keep our job flowing exactly the same on every flight, adjusting after they learn that their pilot was a woman? to another person’s attitude can present a challenge. I encourage KYMALAINEN: The most bizarre: As I stood in front of the people getting into this industry to “be the person you would flight deck door saying goodbye to customers, a gentleman want to fly with.” A positive attitude goes a long way in any looked at me and said, “Did you have to do anything on this work environment, especially a very close one. flight or do you just get to stand around?” I was speechless. Even though a woman is wearing a tie and a full pilot’s uniform, M&V: What is the most satisfying part of your job? many still assume she is a flight attendant. KYMALAINEN: When we overcome the challenging days with tough weather. Whether it is snowstorms, heavy rain showers The friendliest responses from passengers: “Did YOU just land or strong winds, we stick to our procedures, experience and this thing?” followed by a high-five and a handshake as they exit. gut instincts to maneuver through whatever challenges come It is a pleasure surprising people on a regular basis, but I wish it our way. It is the best feeling when you put the teamwork, wouldn’t have to be so surprising. Also, seeing the excitement experience and instinct together and the flight is executed in a of moms and how they get their kids to look up and see that safe, swift manner. Of course making a super smooth landing there was a woman flying the plane. Having a customer tell always makes any pilot feel great because let’s face it, we are you to their own surprise, “Wow, you can fly me around any always getting graded on our landings alone.
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INFORM
M&V: What is one aspect of your job that would surprise people? KYMALAINEN: I don’t think many people realize that the two pilots in the flight deck take turns flying the airplane. It is wonderful when passengers thank the captain, but many first officers get left out when it comes to customer gratitude because many don’t know it was the co-pilot who did the flying on that particular flight. Call it a coin toss: Who wants to fly first today? M&V: What roadblocks did you conquer to get where you are today in your career? KYMALAINEN: The opportunity is there for anyone who has the passion to pull through the challenging moments. For many the initial roadblock may be financial. That’s why in lieu of going to a big four-year university with an expensive flight department, I enrolled at a community college with an aviation program closer to home. I chose to take out the student loans but I lived at home to minimize cost. I acquired the same aviation education but for much less money. In hindsight, taking on my own financial responsibility made me that much more determined to succeed so that I could one day pay it back.
M&V: What was the most rigorous part of your training? KYMALAINEN: The most rigorous part of my training was becoming captain-certified on a private jet I flew for seven years. Even though I knew that airplane inside and out, the process of gearing up to be evaluated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the aircraft system knowledge and flying normal and non-normal (emergency) procedures can get anyone’s heart racing. In spite of our fear of failure, we have to step up our game and adjust to perform at the next level. We work hard and before you know it, the next level becomes our “new” normal. M&V: How do you continually train as a pilot? KYMALAINEN: We call it recurrent training. Even after acquiring our initial pilot certificates, our training never ends. Essentially the FAA requires that we re-qualify for our position annually through a series of simulator sessions that address non-normal emergency scenarios along with aircraft systems and operational knowledge. There are always new things to learn and areas where we can advance our skill set. M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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NURTURE “Sometimes we need to stop analyzing the past, stop planning the future, stop figuring out precisely how we feel, stop deciding exactly what we want, and just see what happens.� Carrie Bradshaw, Sex in the City
Project ME
CARVE OUT T I M E for
YOURSELF
pr o du ct s f or
SELF-CARE By Jodi Belden
Function of Beauty Need to amp up volume, protect color-treated hair or reduce frizz? A plethora of products exist to personalize your hair care regimen, but Function of Beauty takes personalization to a new level, allowing patrons to customize shampoo and conditioner formulations. Complete an online hair profile by selecting hair goals, scent preference and identifying hair type and structure. Function of Beauty will send you one of 450 million possible formulas. As your hair needs change, so can the product; adjusting your profile takes seconds. There is nothing lacking in the company’s experience: The website and online functionality are a design lover’s dream—a design lover with good hair days ahead. functionofbeauty.com
Shrink Sessions Tone your body and expand your mind. This is the philosophy behind Shrink Session Workout, a fitness program developed by Erin Stutland, who mixes mantras and movement to get you the body you want and the life of your dreams. I discovered her through her free biannual Say it, Sweat it, Get it challenges. For the first time, I actually looked forward to working out because it made me feel good, not just physically, but mentally. The workouts are a combination of yoga, cardio-dance, kickboxing, life coaching and affirmations that shrink your thighs and expand your heart. Stutland truly has a gift for pushing people to achieve their best, and with her digital program she can help you in the comfort of your own home. shrinksessionworkout.com
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Juicero Juicing made its way into our homes, but not quite into our hearts. While the health trend is credited for curing a myriad of ailments, it’s a huge time commitment. First, you make a trip to the local farmers market. Then you prep and wash the produce. The actual juicing follows, and then comes the hardest and worst part: cleaning up. All that changes with Juicero, the world’s first at-home, cold-press juicing system. You need the Juicero machine and one of the five juice-ready, produce-filled packs, all made from fruits and vegetables recently picked from certified organic farms. Place the pack in the allocated space and close the door. The press squeezes out the produce in the pack. The best part? No cleanup. juicero.com
Mahabis & Allbirds Shoes have a reputation for being more fashionable than functional, but these footwear companies offer innovation that meets style head on. Mahabis (right; mahabis.com) is a luxury unisex slipper brand based in London that mixes European sensibility with a modern approach to style. The slippers are made in Portugal with an Italian TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) sole. The brand embodies the idea that small changes to products that we use every day can make a huge impact on our experience and make life better in the process. After realizing the numerous benefits of Merino wool, Allbirds (left; allbirds.com) co-founder Tim Brown couldn’t understand why it hadn’t been used in footwear before. The sustainable resource minimizes odor, regulates temperature, wicks moisture and makes for one comfortable shoe. This is a trend we hope other footwear designers will follow.
Betterment & Ellevest Everyone wants to make smart investment decisions. Targeting the younger generation and women, Betterment and Ellevest make conversations about money responsibility cool. Betterment (betterment.com) allows you to invest online with low-cost index funds in an automated fashion. This model is serving young people who want to invest but are deterred by stuffy offices and patronizing advisers. Another platform aims to change what has been a maledominated industry. Ellevest (ellevest.com) is a website focused completely on redefining investing for women. The co-founder is Sallie Krawcheck, a legend in the finance world, former Citigroup CFO and advocate for empowering women to take control of their money.
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Gatherings
Splendor
on the
Farm
At the dinner table are Jordana Claudia Nicholson and husband Trent, who lend a curated eye to telling the story of farmers in Bells Bend, Tennessee; Celeste Greene, who inspires with her event styling; Hannah Messinger, who nurtures a passion for local food; and Charles Hunter III of the Salted Table Co., who cooks the most amazing meals— this evening included—using as much locally sourced produce as possible. “I wanted to get the chance to have us all meet to talk about the future of a growing Nashville and how we want to responsibly share local farming, local food and thoughtfully sourced goods,” says Christie Craig says, owner of floral design studio The Farmer's Florist.
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NURTURE Photography by Lindsey Whiddon
T
hese days it’s hard to ignore Nashville, Tennessee, and its bubbling creative juices. But it’s the land on the outskirts of the city that is truly whimsical thanks to Bells Bend, an agricultural community that thrives by supporting the local food movement in metropolitan Nashville and its restaurants while staying true to its roots. This rural 18-square mile area, encompassed by the Ushaped Cumberland River, is home to farms, young farmers and nature lovers alike. Perched on a hilltop is Whooping Crane Farm, family-owned for four generations and now in the hands of Ellen Jacobson. A handful of fellow farmers share its 80 acres of farmland. “We all end up taking care of the place and loving it like our own,” explains Christie Craig, owner of floral design studio The Farmer’s Florist, who met Jacobson during a farming apprenticeship. The experience generated Craig and Jacobson’s interest in agritourism and prompted them to think about how to highlight the local land and talent. “We brainstormed about creating an experience around Whooping Crane to share what we love so dearly about our community, Bells Bend,” explains Craig, who lives across the street from the farm with her fiancé at Six Boots Growers’ Collective, a 4-acre biodynamic community-supported agriculture farm. The Whooping Crane farmhouse has seen a few transitions over the decades, most recently an update to its kitchen. “It’s the marriage of modern and clean with traditional farmhouse elements to help tell the story of the home’s history,” Craig says. “It was important to focus on using the best materials to keep the farmhouse looking beautiful and elegant for generations to come.” To celebrate the space and highlight the local community, Craig and her fiancé, Will Tarleton, hosted an intimate dinner to curate good conversation around all of the new elements. M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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Gatherings Taking cues from the property’s quirks and using seasonal accents from flower farmers, Craig designed a springtime table runner with clippings of boxwood (“bringing in that ‘old home’ scent”), coral bells foliage found on the grounds and arrangements curated with peonies, ranunculuses and herbs.
Collaboration is part of the game in Nashville. Craig sought Corsair Distillery and its owner Darek Bell, “one heck of a creative Whiskey maker” whose malt house is hidden away next to Whooping Crane Farm. The cocktail of choice, the Wax and Wane, contained all the fresh herbs currently on the farm and paired perfectly with the dinner menu, created by Hunter. “I’ve never seen someone take our produce and lamb and turn it into gorgeous works of art,” Craig adds. “Charles [Hunter] brought all of that hard work full circle; something we could finally share with our friends.”
WAX AND WANE Ingredients 2 ounces Corsair Ryemageddon Whiskey 1½ teaspoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice 1½ teaspoons Demerara simple syrup 4 dashes Angostura bitters 1 egg white 6 basil leaves 1 sprig of rosemary, for garnish 1 sprig of cedar, for garnish
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Add all ingredients except your garnishes to your shaker, followed by ice. Shake and double strain into a glass over ice. Then add garnishes.
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“I wanted to get the chance to have us all meet to talk about the future of a growing Nashville and how we want to responsibly share local farming, local food and thoughtfully sourced goods.” —Christie Craig (left, with Will Tarleton)
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Gatherings
Whooping Crane Farm FIRST
massaged kale roasted sweet potatoes pickled radish caramelized spring onions thyme vinaigrette
SECOND herbed lamb caramelized cabbage roasted radish apple & mint tapenade pan jus
THIRD
rosemary butter milk cake braised strawberries citrus chantilly edible flowers
Despite original plans to set the Whooping Crane Farm table outside and frame the view of the cattle in the bottomland, a storm whippedFIRST through the area, massaged kale forcing theroasted hostsweet topotatoes improvise and pickled radish move thecaramelized event spring intoonions the dining room. “Wethyme took advantage of vinaigrette the storm’s sultry tones and kept the dinner SECOND intimate with just herbed lamb candlelightcaramelized illuminating the table,” cabbage roasted radish Craig says. “We mostly gathered apple & mint tapenade in the kitchen—with drinks in pan jus hand as friends often do—while THIRDfor just little pestering Charles rosemary butter milk cake samples of what was to come.” braised strawberries
COCKTAIL corsair's oatrage whiskey fresh squeezed lemon juice basil, rosemary, cedar demerara angostora bitters egg white
thank you @whoopingcranefarm @thefarmersflorist @sixbootscollective @thesaltedtable @corsairdistillery @wildnativeco @jordanaclaudia #whoopingcranefarm
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citrus chantilly edible flowers
COCKTAIL corsair's oatrage whiskey fresh squeezed lemon juice basil, rosemary, cedar demerara angostora bitters egg white
thank you @whoopingcranefarm @thefarmersflorist @sixbootscollective @thesaltedtable @corsairdistillery @wildnativeco @jordanaclaudia #whoopingcranefarm
NURTURE ROSEMARY BUTTERMILK CAKE WITH BRAISED STRAWBERRIES & LEMON CHANTILLY CREAM Rosemary Buttermilk Cake 4 eggs (room temperature) 2 cups granulated sugar 1 cup whole fat buttermilk 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped ¾ cup vegetable oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (Nielsen-Massey recommended) 2½ cups all-purpose flour 2¼ teaspoons baking powder Pinch of kosher salt Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine eggs and sugar in a mixing bowl and blend with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy, about two minutes. Slowly add the buttermilk, rosemary, vegetable oil and vanilla extract to the mixture until combined. Set aside. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add heaping spoonfuls of flour mixture into the wet ingredients until completely combined. Do not overmix. Batter should leave light ribbons across the top when draped from a spoon. Evenly pour batter into two 8-inch greased and floured baking pans or a Bundt cake pan. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes.
Braised Strawberries 3 cups moscato wine 1 teaspoon kosher salt ½ cup white granulated sugar 2 pounds strawberries, stemmed Reduce wine by half, then add sugar and salt and stir until dissolved. Add strawberries and allow the mixture to cook on low heat for 45 minutes or until strawberries start to lose form and give their color. Let the mixture rest at room temperature for an hour before serving over the top of your cake. Lemon Chantilly Cream 2 cups heavy whipping cream Zest of 2 lemons Dash of kosher salt Combine all ingredients into a chilled stainless steel cooking bowl (or use a standing mixer or hand mixer). Wet a kitchen towel until damp, set your bowl on top and with one hand tilt it to an angle. Using a wire whip, begin stirring the mixture slowly in one direction. As you become more comfortable, pick up your speed to incorporate air into the mixture, which will cause the cream to thicken. You are finished when the cream will hold to the whip without slipping off; be careful not to overwhip or it will be chunky. Note: If you opt to use a standing, you will notice the mixture thickens much more quickly, so don’t walk away. Taste for salt, because I prefer the cream to be slightly salty and lemony to balance the sweetness of the berries and cake. Recipes provided by Charles Hunter III, of Salted Table Co., Nashville
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On the CoucH
Ask Dr. Ramani
Q
A
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I have two teenage daughters, ages 15 and 17. The oldest is going to be a high school senior and her sister will be a sophomore. They are extremely close, so much that my youngest almost exclusively hangs out with her sister’s friends. I worry that when my oldest daughter and her friends leave for college next year, my 15-year-old will feel alone. What can I do to minimize the impact? Transitioning from high school to college can raise a variety of challenges for siblings, but don’t put the cart before the horse. There are many missing variables: Where will your older daughter attend college? What changes lie ahead in your younger daughter’s high school life? Adolescence is a time when people are growing in a thousand different directions. Your younger daughter will make new friends. You may even encourage her to participate in extracurricular activities to help expand her social circle. Even though her sister and friends are graduating, some of them may remain geographically close enough to sustain the friendships. Also, cellphones, video chatting and social media make staying in touch easier than ever. Instead of spending time worrying about the transition, encourage your daughters to enjoy their time together and be confident that the pieces will fall into place when the transition happens. Let your 15-year-old go along on campus visits and help her sister get settled in at college. If your daughters want to express their anxiety about the upcoming changes, encourage them to talk it out and be there for them. These transitions are part of life, and given how close your daughters are, this is simply a new chapter in their relationship.
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NURTURE
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Is there an age when it’s appropriate for children to be brought into parents’ will and estate-planning discussions? Should our children know this information or even have a say in who would become their legal guardian? Estate and trust planning is essential for any parent. However, unless you or your husband is presently ill, or there is another impending issue, such as a military deployment, this planning is like insurance—preparing for something that is unlikely to happen while your children are minors. For children under age 16, you should make the most appropriate decisions for your children based on your knowledge of their relationships with others in your world. You’ll need to have conversations with possible guardians to ensure their thoughts are in line with your planning. Keep in mind younger children may not be able to grasp that this is a hypothetical conversation, which may result in unnecessary anxiety and fear. As your children approach the end of high school, you may want to reassess and perhaps bring them into the conversation, but this may vary based on children’s personalities and the nature of the arrangements. If it is a de facto assumption that grandparents, aunts or uncles would be the guardians, further conversation may not be necessary. It’s likely inappropriate to have a child under the age of 18 weigh in on major fiscal decisions such as his or her parents’ estate. If there is a large trust or other bequest, older adolescent children can be prepared for that, but you will also want to enlist trusted family members and advisers to provide guidance should the estate transfer hands before your children reach adulthood. It may be far more important and useful to assess your children’s college and career aspirations so you can plan accordingly for educational costs and communicate such decisions to executors and named guardians. My husband has no interest in traveling, and it’s becoming an issue for me. We’ve been married six years, have no children and are fortunate to have disposable income. He doesn’t travel for work and has no fear of flying. When I press him about it, he says he enjoys being home when he has time off. There are so many places I want to see, and I would like to see those places with him. Do you have any suggestions for how I might change his mind, or should I just start traveling alone? Could traveling alone cause us to drift apart? Some folks are just homebodies—it’s a temperament and a preference. The best “journey” for the two of you is to find a compromise. Create a wish list destination each year that resonates with both of you and plan that trip together. If the planning process is smooth, the trip is enjoyable and your husband is able to weigh in and explore his interests, you may actually infuse him with a bit more wanderlust. Another option is to choose a few destinations that are meaningful to you and take a trip with friends, affinity groups (e.g., tour groups, cultural travel groups or adventure groups) or by yourself. Traveling alone is not necessarily a bad thing—it may allow you to get to know a place on your terms and take great photos that may galvanize your husband’s interest in visiting the destination with you in the future. If you force the issue with your husband or avoid traveling because he won’t go, it is a recipe for resentment. If your relationship is strong, healthy and committed, there is no reason to think that some time away will cause you to drift apart. If anything, you will miss him and reconnect when you return. And then perhaps you can compromise by scheduling a few “staycations” as well.
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A girlfriend of mine looks to me for advice on many aspects of her life, from problems at work to issues with her kids. But I can count on one hand the amount of times she has actually taken my advice. I’m not even sure why she keeps coming to me if she doesn’t find my ideas useful. I want out of this counselor-type role but how can I without offending her? Keep in mind that people sometimes aren’t looking for solutions; they just need to vent. You may be her sounding board, not her fixing board. Being a friend means “being there,” and while it can be frustrating to watch someone make the same mistakes over and over again, they are her mistakes to make, and you as her friend may simply be her soft and safe place to land. Instead of offering solutions, try offering empathy (e.g., “Sounds like you are going through a tough time.”) Empathy can go a long way in helping someone cope. If she asks you directly for a concrete solution, offer one or simply step back and say, “I’m not sure I have any good advice on that—that’s a tough one.” Offering a solution that is not taken is like giving a gift that someone never uses: It’s the thought that counts.
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 and Should I Stay or Should I Go? Surviving a Relationship with a Narcissist.
Submit your questions to editorial@magazinemv.com.
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Growing pains
Tempering Expectations: Sometimes the trip of a lifetime isn’t quite so for the kids By Shani Gilchrist
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ryant, my youngest son, has never been shy. He loves a party and will do anything to be at the center of it all. While he’s definitely the people-person of the family, the telltale sign that Bryant is particularly interested in someone is when he asks, “Have you been to London before?” If he’s especially eager to impress, he’ll follow the question with, “I’ve been to London!” before anyone has a chance to answer. Bryant has been idealizing his favorite city since we spent a summer there when he was a toddler—right around the time his little neurons were kicking into absorbent overdrive. My husband was establishing an office there for his business, so we settled into a little house near Wimbledon and immersed ourselves in a lineup of cultural excursions, day trips and other activities. Bryant was delighted by it all—the Diana, Princess of Wales’ Memorial Playground, Buckingham Palace and the Tube had him gasping with joy every time we visited. His favorite, however, was our neighborhood playground, which quickly
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became part of our daily ritual. On weekdays it was a pleasant spot speckled with parents, nannies and small children, and most mornings Bryant and his brother, Jack—who was five at the time— climbed the structures and built sandcastles in the unusually warm summer heat. For Jack, those weekday visits to the park and our day trips were pretty much the extent of his enjoyment, which saddens me a bit even now, three years after the fact. On the weekends, our neighborhood park overflowed with additional families from many neighborhoods, especially from parts of London lacking in green space. The Saturday after our arrival coincided with the beginning of a historic heat wave throughout England and Wales, and the playground at King George’s Park was one of the few in the area with a sprinkler feature—needless to say it was packed. Jack ended up having his first (and thus far, only) fight when some rough boys started teasing him. That encounter set the tone for the rest of his London experience, and no amount of
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Many parents dream of showing their children the world, but if we’re honest with ourselves we’ll admit that for all our good intentions, our reasons are a bit selfish.
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museum visits or romps through the countryside—or even an amazing weeklong day camp at King’s College School—could convince him that his parents hadn’t planned the trip exclusively for his torture. The only time he was able to sustain a smile for more than 30 minutes was when my husband and I took him to Legoland Windsor Resort, which seemed like a day designed exclusively for our torture. My expectations for the London trip had me envisioning Jack and I holding hands and skipping through the British Museum. Because my youngest was still “Baby Bryant” in our eyes, I’d pictured him as a passive participant, and yet out of all of us he holds onto the idealist portrait of the trip the most and still asks when he can go back. We even decorated his “big boy room” in a Union Jack theme at his insistence. Many parents dream of showing their children the world, but if we’re honest with ourselves we’ll admit that for all our good intentions, our reasons are a bit selfish. We want to see the world refreshed and renewed. We want to experience international travel through
our children as much, or more, than we want to experience it with them. For this reason, I’ve found it best to temper the expectation that either of my boys will agree with me on what makes a trip of a lifetime. It’s impossible to predict exactly what a child will take from a trip abroad, and therefore it’s often best to open a period of family travel—international or domestic—with an activity chosen by the kids (within reason, of course). Now that we use this philosophy, we’ve found it increases the chances that everyone in the family retains a resilient, positive attitude and an open mind. After all, as grown-ups we already understand that one bad run-in with a grumpy waiter or an unwelcoming local doesn’t typically linger throughout the entire trip. Opening on a positive note will turn this idea into a lesson to carry on vacation and through life. Shani Gilchrist is a critic, essayist and freelance journalist, exploring the arts and issues around race and culture while roaming the Charleston peninsula with her husband and two sons. When she has spare time, she enjoys horses, discovering new restaurants and dabbling in photography. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @shanirgilchrist.
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The Little Shop That Could
College friends turned business partners Lauren Conrad and Hannah Skvarla empower women artisans by bringing their beautiful goods to a wider audience through online marketplace thelittlemarket.com. By Lola ThĂŠlin Photography by Yoni Goldberg M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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Feature The LiTtle Market
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What if every day was International Women’s Day, and around the world women empowered one another? That’s the spirit behind The Little Market, a social enterprise co-founded by college friends Lauren Conrad and Hannah Skvarla. Boutiques and e-commerce stores selling social goods are booming these days, yet The Little Market (TLM) stands out for multiple reasons that go beyond the fact that one of its founders is a recognizable face. “There is a design element and styling of the products that we believe sets us apart,” Conrad explains. “We want to make sure these are pieces we personally would want to put in our homes or give as gifts.” This means traveling around the world to Nepal, India, Thailand or Mexico to meet and work one-on-one with female artisans—even if those artisans live in a remote village on top of a mountain.
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“Often we’ll see a piece, whether it’s an amazing textile or art piece, and while we love it, we just don’t know where we would put it in our homes,” Skvarla says. Rather than simply purchasing the items and reselling them, TLM partners with artisans by acting as an adviser. The items—pillows, quilts and stuffed toys— are created with Conrad and Skvarla’s input on the color scheme, pattern or even which creature to use as inspiration for a stuffed animal. Some products, such as glassware and ceramics, are purchased as is. “There’s something so special about an artist using a technique that’s been passed down for generations. We’re trying to preserve that and also make it more marketable—make it an item that is usable for people,” Skvarla says. Conrad and Skvarla met in 2008 while attending the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, where Conrad M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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studied design and Skvarla focused on merchandise marketing. The two traveled overseas with Skvarla’s uncle, a human rights attorney who opened the young women’s eyes to human rights violations and the firsthand challenges faced by many living outside of the U.S. “Launching TLM [almost three years ago] with Lauren allowed us to help people in a different way,” says Skvarla, whose humanitarian experience includes working with the nonprofit Human Rights Watch. Skvarla and serial entrepreneur Conrad sought the knowledge of experts in international development and the fair trade nonprofit Global Goods Partners to learn how to create sustainable partnerships across the world and how to navigate potential pitfalls. One of the greatest challenges has been teaching artisans not to undervalue their products and instead price products to include hourly wages and cost of materials and transportation. “We’ve learned that oftentimes items sold in the tourist marketplaces are underpriced so much that the artisans are losing money,” adds Conrad, who also oversees her brand, which includes fashion lines Paper Crown and LC Lauren Conrad, online destination laurenconrad.com, and novels
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and styling books—most recently Lauren Conrad Celebrate. “We want people to understand that everything about this company [TLM] we are doing as ethically as possible. That’s an important message. Lauren and I don’t take salaries,” Skvarla explains. A member of the Fair Trade Federation, TLM focuses on building sustainable partnerships with female artisans, who can in turn help their families rise above poverty. “We’ve seen time and time again that when women have control of the money, situations are different. That’s when the kids go to school. That’s when domestic violence decreases. This is why we focus on women,” Skvarla adds. Although the moniker “fair trade” is often casually tossed around, it translates to strict guidelines and criteria for partnerships. TLM pays up front for all products, which helps the artisans work out the cost of material. “For the trip where we drove six hours into the mountains, we did so because often these artisans have other groups representing them that end up taking a cut. We want to pay the artisans directly, and we want to confirm they are working in a co-op that is supporting them,” Skvarla says. “That’s our commitment to these women. We M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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“There’s something so special about an artist using a technique that’s been passed down for generations. We’re trying to preserve that and also make it more marketable— make it an item that is usable for people,” says Skvarla.
take the time to figure out how long it takes to create a product and how to pay them properly and fairly.” Adhering to the criteria means patience. It took nearly two years to find fair trade cotton quilts; now TLM works with two groups, one from Bangladesh and the other from India, who employ women who have escaped sex trafficking. Conrad and Skvarla, who typically take two trips a year, traveled to Thailand in June. Prior to these trips Skvarla and director of operations Caitlin Beas research artisans and schedule meetings, but a lot of the partnerships are happy
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accidents. “We stumble upon many great finds. Once we get to a city, it’s easier to talk to people and find local artists because a majority of the groups we look for don’t have access to markets. They don’t have access to the internet. That’s really who we are looking to help: people who can’t sell their goods without a platform like The Little Market,” Conrad adds. The website represents anywhere from 16 to 23 countries, and Skvarla is in product development talks with at least 25 other groups. Not every partnership is international, however. Two of TLM’s artisan partners are GAIA Empowered
Women and Prosperity Candle, whose mission is to improve the lives of women refugees in the U.S. by providing employment opportunities, job training and important resources. A storefront is a likely option for TLM as well. “There’s such intricate detail and love that go into these pieces. When you actually hold them in your hand, they are so much more valuable,” Conrad says. Like any company, TLM has hit its fair share of roadblocks, from complications with bank transfers to expensive and unpredictable shipping. In fact, one year the company was awaiting a shipment
of Easter bunny stuffed animals from Peru when a transportation strike hit. But despite the challenges, it’s all part of helping these women artisans gain independence. “I believe for a lot of people [the challenges] kept them from doing this [kind of work]. Even when we originally wanted to launch, everyone said, ‘Good luck; it’s not going to work.’ There are so many reasons why it shouldn’t work but we said, ‘Challenge accepted; we’ll just do our best,’” Conrad says. “Like any good business, we want to grow slowly and learn in our first couple of years. I am really proud of where TLM is but I’m not surprised by it.” M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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Feature urban zen
A problem-solver who dresses and addresses others throughout the world,
DONNA KARAN embodies the true meaning of passion. By Lola ThĂŠlin
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hen Donna Karan announced her departure from her selfmade empire, shock waves rippled through the fashion world. This is the businesswoman who created a billion dollar empire from nothing, starting with the launch of Donna Karan International in 1984 and followed by DKNY in 1989. Yet on June 30, 2015, Karan announced she was leaving the company, stepping down as chief designer and CEO. In due time we learned that ‘out’ only meant out of that particular game. Only a handful of fashion designers have achieved the game-changer status Karan is awarded: Her designs, blending sensual with comfortable, helped women embrace their curves rather than hide them: “I’ve always worked to make clothes flattering, which means elongating the body by accentuating the positive and deleting the negative,” she explains. Her success may make her departure from the fashion world hard to understand, but this is Donna Karan, who last year landed at No. 31 on Forbes’ inaugural list of America’s richest self-made women. To put it simply DKI and DKNY are not her last career hurrah.
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“I had been juggling my passion and commitment for my two worlds— Donna Karan International and Urban Zen. Those close to me know how much I wanted Urban Zen to grow and thrive.”
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The most important fact is that this wasn’t a sudden decision. Although an emotional moment, it was a long time coming. “I had been juggling my passion and commitment for my two worlds—Donna Karan International and Urban Zen—and it was challenging. Those close to me know how much I wanted Urban Zen to grow and thrive. DKI is a grown child and runs so well on its own. UZ is a young one and needs me to be there and be focused,” she says, about Urban Zen, a multi-pronged business concept that includes a lifestyle brand that helps artisans build self-sustaining businesses and a foundation.
Saturday (ovarian cancer), among others. Urban Zen is yet another extension of herself and her heart. In fact very much embedded in UZ are the spirits of two people close to her: her husband and business partner Stephan Weiss (d. 2001) and friend Lynn Kohlman (d. 2008), a photographer, model and DKNY creative director. Both faced cancer and untimely death. During their time at hospitals, Karan noticed a missing piece in the country’s health care system: the lack of integrative medicine. No one gave personal touches or paid attention to the patient’s mind, body and soul.
Karan has always woven philanthropic pursuits into her daily fabric and is deeply involved with Seventh on Sale (AIDS), Elizabeth Glaser’s Kids for Kids (pediatric AIDS) and Super
Thus Karan launched the Urban Zen Foundation in 2007. Within a few months of its debut, the foundation donated $850,000 to the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York
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City for a yearlong study about integrating Eastern healing methods with traditional medical practices. From there, the foundation’s Urban Zen Integrative Therapy (UZIT) was launched. “From the start of Urban Zen, we’ve had three interrelated initiatives: preserving culture (the past), integrative health care (the present) and empowering children (the future),” Karan says. “Preserving culture speaks to learning from the past wisdom of those before us; our wellness initiative is about ‘putting the care in health care’ as practiced from our Urban Zen Integrative Therapist program; and our education goals are to integrate mind, body and spirit into the school system.” Since its initial Beth Israel program and the 100 graduates it trained in its first year, UZIT has trained
and certified more than 700 participants at varying levels nationwide. “We did a study at Beth Israel Medical Center and calculated that the effects of having our UZITs on hand resulted in a savings of $900,000 on just one floor,” Karan adds. Real-world adversity fueled Karan’s desire to give when Haiti suffered a catastrophic earthquake in 2010. After the quake, Karan and Urban Zen mobilized a coalition of hoteliers, fashion, music and entertainment influencers to support Haiti. Known as Hope, Help & Relief Haiti, this next evolution of Urban Zen raised funds for temporary housing for some of the 1.5 million people displaced by the quake and provided support for international emergency relief workers. “I flew down to better understand the situation and available resources, and M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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Feature urban zen Urban Zen connects
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mind, body and spirit, a philosophy I try to work and live by every day.
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that’s when I really fell in love. Among all the devastation, the island itself was beautiful, but even more so were the people. Their spirit, vibrancy, energy took my breath away. Where others saw great problems, I saw great promise and potential. I still do.” In June 2014 an e-commerce division was launched for the Urban Zen brand that includes Haitian-made products. “Conscious consumerism is a trend for a great reason—people care. They want to do better. You educate by example and create the desire for others to follow your lead,” Karan explains. The UZ program supports numerous Haitian artists and artisans. The vetting process, which ensures the hiring of talent that follow fair trade practices, involves a network of people and organizations, including the Clinton Global Initiative, which helps UZ develop and support Haitian business opportunities for U.S. consumerism. Other times, Karan follows her gut. Some UZ-supported artists emerged as a result of the designer seeing their artwork and going out to find the person behind the piece. Her trustworthy Haitian circle introduced her to a handful of “amazing artisans and guardian angels,” including graphic artist and painter Philippe Dodard, accessories designer Pascale Theard, artisan Carolina Sada, social entrepreneur Shelley Clay, ceramics Marie-Therese Dupoux and accessories designer/businesswoman Paula Coles, to name a few. As the Urban Zen network grew, so did Karan’s vision. She revisited the needs of UZ and realized it was time to create a space in Haiti for artisans to meet, collaborate and learn: “a true vocational center. I dreamed of having a Parsons School of Design in Haiti,” she says. Inspired by Parsons School of Design in NYC, her alma mater and where she also sponsors an MFA program, Karan brought Joel Towers, executive dean of Parsons, and Alison Mears, dean of the School of Design Strategies, together with artisan Paula Coles and director of
UZ Partnerships Marni Lewis, for a meeting of great minds. In June 2015 Design, Organization, Training Center for Haitian Artisans (D.O.T.) opened its doors. Based in Port-au-Prince, D.O.T. is a partnership between the Urban Zen Foundation, the New School’s Parsons School of Design and Coles; it further instills UZ’s mission for the preservation of culture and education. Under the Parsons Design Fellowship, created with the foundation, three Parsons design students (current, graduate and post-graduates) have the opportunity to work at D.O.T. for six to eight weeks in the summer. The school has five full-time employees and hosts approximately 300 artisans, designers and visitors per year. A true marriage of philanthropy and commerce, Urban Zen is a work in progress. “We’re still very early into this, but we’ve created the opportunity and training for growth,” Karan says. “We sell many of the items in our Urban Zen stores to raise awareness of the incredible work coming out of D.O.T. We’re moving toward a soulful economy, where our purchases help support our beliefs because it benefits others, including the individuals and communities who make the product.” A true sign of Karan’s urge for real change, she hopes UZ becomes a model for other businesses on how to use creativity and commerce to further the philanthropic causes people care so much about. “Urban Zen connects mind, body and spirit, a philosophy I try to work and live by every day,” she says. “In many ways, Urban Zen has been the most creative thing I’ve ever done. We collaborate, communicate and connect with many people around the world, and that alone is beyond inspiring to a creative soul like me. If Urban Zen is the most creative thing I’ve ever done, it’s also the most challenging because there’s no road map for what we’re trying to do. Every day is a learning and growing experience.” M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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Lab Notes Sharp business attire is paired with modern-day forms and striking tones to create sleek ensembles for the office. Photography by ChelsAE ANNE
Welcome to Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience. Shot on location in Jupiter Florida, the institute hosts scientists who dedicate their lives to understanding the structure, function and development of the brain by analyzing its genetic, molecular, cellular, circuit and behavioral makeup and developing technologies to make these discoveries possible.
Brunello Cucinelli shirt, vest and culottes; Jerome C. Rousseau heels; Celine purse; Tamara Comolli jewelry
Akris Punto dress and jacket; Kat Maconie heels; Yara Bashoor tote; Tamara Comolli jewelry
Opened in 2012, MPFI holds the highest-ranking LEED certification, which recognizes it as a premier example of green building in categories related to energy sustainability.
Alexander McQueen dress; Julian Hakes London heels; Tamara Comolli jewelry
Carolina Herrera blouse; Alexander McQueen skirt; Tom Ford sunglasses; Jerome C. Rousseau heels; Tamara Comolli jewelry
MPFI has helped to raise Palm Beach County’s recognition in the life sciences community worldwide with more than 70 international collaborations and nine Nobel laureates having presented in the area as a result of their efforts.
Dolce & Gabbana blazer and pants; Jerome C. Rousseau heels; Tamara Comolli jewelry
There are 83 Max Planck Institutes around the world. This is the only Max Planck Institute in the United States and outside of Europe.
Marni sweater; Ralph Lauren slacks; Jerome C. Rousseau heels; Tamara Comolli jewelry
Art & Fashion Director: Zlata Kotmina Photography: ChelsAE ANNE, West Palm Beach Model: Mariana Downing, Wilhelmina Modeling Agency, Miami Makeup: Bri Soffa, West Palm Beach Hair: Dania Gazzalla, West Palm Beach Set assistants: Chloe Krammel, Taylor Mitnick
Special thanks to the Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Jupiter, Florida, and Helena Decker for their generosity; as well as Saks Fifth Avenue, Palm Beach, for clothing and accessories; Fifth Avenue Club associate Courtney Dudek, of Saks Fifth Avenue, Palm Beach; Kiosk, Esplanade at 150 WORTH, Palm Beach, for shoes.
Stella McCartney dress; Jerome C. Rousseau heels; Tamara Comolli jewelry
A marriage of science and art, MPFI displays a number of microscopic images, including this one of white blood cells titled “Caught in a Net.�
Rag & Bone dress; Jerome C. Rousseau heels; Adees Co. backpack; Tamara Comolli jewelry
Feature NATIONAL PARKS
Balancing Words & photography by Benjamin Rusnak
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A visual conversation addressing the tension between exploring and protecting the natural world
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or 14 years I documented poverty in the developing world for a large aid organization. During my time off, I sought—and found—solace and strength in the canyons and deserts of the American West. I believe those landscapes can heal a soul and help us face our emotions. Last September I was selected for an artist-in-residency program at Zion National Park near Springdale, Utah, an environment of sandstone canyons carved out by the Virgin River. I faced a daunting challenge. More than three million people visited the park in 2014 alone, most with a camera or smartphone in hand. Iconic photographers also have captured scenes of this extraordinary place. What could I add to the visual conversation that was different than everyone who explored this terrain before me? 2016 marks the centennial of the National Park Service (NPS). I read the original 1916 congressional act that gave the NPS two conflicting mandates: “to conserve” and “to provide for the enjoyment of ” our national treasures. For a century the NPS has struggled with finding that balance between preservation and development. Capturing this delicate balancing act on film became the driving force behind my month at Zion.
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I created two bodies of work: one of natural beauty and one of humans interacting with nature. Afterward, I paired a similar or contrasting image from each body of work to create a series of stacked diptychs. I hope the combination says something more than either image could say alone. I used a panoramic film camera because the long, narrow frame evokes a cinematic feel that speaks to me. That choice meant I couldn’t evaluate my shots as I progressed through the month. I didn’t even know if I could pair the images in a meaningful way until I returned home and processed 105 rolls of film.  Thankfully, all the planning, consideration and detailed mental notes during hours of hiking produced enough images to create the diptychs. The process was a surprising discovery, as images unexpectedly lined up together. I believe these images illustrate a complex story of the importance of preserving the wilderness and our complicated relationship with these wild lands.
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There is a poster on all of the Zion shuttle buses with a quote by legendary conservationist Edward Abbey: “Nature is not a luxury but a necessity of the soul.� In stark contrast flash flooding killed seven hikers in the park during my residency, punctuating the endless beauty of the landscape with the ferocity and unforgiving purity of our wild lands. These images from this single park reflect the universal challenge of experiencing and protecting the natural world. M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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Feature ilana goor
The Extraordinary House of Ilana Goor A sacred place lies on the shoreline of Tel Aviv, Israel, and it’s open to the public. By Dana Shemesh
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lana Goor does not like to rest on her laurels, and just shy of her 80th birthday, she shows no signs of slowing down. One of Israel’s most notable personalities, Goor was recently recognized with a lifetime achievement award by the city of Tel Aviv-Jaffa for her lasting contribution to the community as the owner, collector and curator of the Ilana Goor Museum. The museum welcomes tens of thousands of visitors every year and remarkably, is entirely funded by Goor. In addition to running her museum and various exhibits, she mentors struggling and otherwise unknown artists by featuring their works in her museum and providing a conduit for potential collectors and buyers. “I wake up every morning at 6 a.m., well before my staff arrives,” says Goor, who splits her time between her Upper East Side condo in New York and her residence inside the museum in the ancient seaside city of Jaffa, adjacent to Tel Aviv. A selfproclaimed perfectionist, she is strict in maintaining every detail according to her vision. “Every nail on the wall, every picture, every piece is mine,” she explains. “I say where it goes.” Her private residence is a compact and neatly appointed wing of the museum, where she holds court among some of her favorite pieces, out of public view. The room takes in the natural light of her private courtyard, overlooking the sea and port of Jaffa, the village that once served as a port and epicenter for trade in the ancient Mediterranean Sea. M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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The building that houses the Ilana Goor Museum was built in fame.” She has befriended celebrities and politicians, including 1742 and is believed to be the first Jewish home constructed Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Bill Clinton and outside Jaffa’s walls. The home also served as an inn for Jewish every presiding Israeli prime minister during her adult life. pilgrims who came by ship from Turkey and docked at Jaffa’s The silver-haired former beauty queen exudes a no-nonsense, port. In the 1800s, the building was transformed into a utilitarian style reminiscent of American author Gloria Steinem. factory for soaps and perfumes made from olive oil, at that “I am a very real person,” she says. “I don’t get impressed by time a major export from the region. Goor names or money. I get impressed by people purchased a portion of the building while “Every nail on the wall, who make a living in an honest way and living in New York, having the vision of one have pride in what they do. Unfortunately, every picture, day turning it into a museum and returning they don’t do it much today; they want to every piece is mine. to her homeland. After extensive renovation have the money and go.” and preservation of the historic building, she I say where it goes.” opened the Ilana Goor Museum in 1995. Goor was born in Tiberias, a northern Israeli city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, to a prominent It should go without saying that Goor has lived a rich life, from family of doctors and artists. She takes pride in the fact that she her friends to her sense of signature style (a crisp white button- was self-taught, having never acquired a formal education in the down shirt and wide bronze cuffs). Goor has worked with arts. She spent her formative years as an artist and a collector in giants in the art and design world, including Donna Karan and the U.S., but Goor is true to her native land and people; she was Andy Warhol. The arched entry to her residence is a mosaic of born Jewish in Israel. Goor arrived in the U.S. in her 20s after photographs spanning her life and career—a veritable “hall of marrying an American businessman and gained prominence in
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the ’70s when she designed a custom line of ornate belt buckles for clothing retailer Bloomingdale’s. She later went on to create functional furniture using a mix of glass, bronze and other metals. The California Museum of Science and Industry in Los Angeles hosted her first one-woman exhibition in 1972. Her work has been exhibited at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and the Museum of 20th Century Art in Vienna, among others. Goor shows me to her small kitchen, a natural enclave of her 16th century abode where she prepares coffee and tea. She points to a glass container of instant coffee—a staple in every Israeli household and business. Bothered by the dull screw top lid, she created a pewter lid for the coffee container. Art should be functional, she explains. The artist and collector abhors political correctness and is unapologetic in her artistic judgment. “How do you judge good from bad [art]? If you can still look at it after two or three years, that means it’s good,” she explains, comparing the process of choosing a piece of artwork to buying a dress for a party—while
you might make an impulsive decision in the store and choose the trendiest of dresses, the next day you might question your selection. “But a beautiful black dress, a classic … always holds up,” she says. From sacred to vulgar, ancient to modern, the concept of “found art” are featured prominently throughout the permanent exhibit of the museum. There is a room dedicated to African and South American art. A statuesque, life-size replica of a horse—which was likely once a part of a circus or carnival— overlooks one of the vast courtyards. Yards away, a 2,000-yearold remnant from an ancient Phoenician port creates a circular opening to a breathtaking vista of the Old City. Another section of the museum houses ancient art with JudeoChristian themes: ornate crucifixes amid medieval biblicalthemed etchings and stacks of luggage cases that pay homage to the building’s history as an inn. On the ground level, there’s a display case with handcrafted jewelry, belt buckles and small metal and bronze penis-shaped figurines. Above all, Goor prides herself on building a showcase that’s accessible for all walks of life to appreciate, combining art, design and history. M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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IMPACT “If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month.” Theodore Roosevelt
Raise Your Glass
A COMEDY ROUTINE Unlike Any Other By Lola Thélin Photography by Megan Jones
E
ver heard of using comedy as a weapon? It’s one of the greatest powers of a wordsmith and one of the hardest to accomplish—a verbal magic trick, if you will. Humor allows us to address subjects that typically have walls of defense, revealing an unexpected point of view. It’s a technique tried by many and mastered by few. “I’d love to see things change to the point where humor about gender roles will no longer be funny,” says artist Anne Taintor, “but for the foreseeable future, we’re going to need to laugh to keep from crying.” Taintor has been perfecting jokes for more than three decades. “Some of my themes seem to be, unfortunately, timeless,” she says, adding that gender inequality is an ever-popular topic. “Even in countries with industrialized economies, there continues to be a largely unspoken assumption that women, simply because of their gender, will perform the lion’s share of the unpaid labor involved in running a household and caring for a family.” These subjects are an endless source of material for Taintor. In fact, they helped her launch, maintain and grow her business, Anne Taintor, Inc., and land her creations in 3,000 stores in the U.S. and a dozen other countries. The everyday products Taintor creates—collaged with midcentury advertisements and captions—are cult classics, even inspiring the inevitable copycats. On a flask, two women in cocktail attire ponder, “Who is this ‘Moderation’ we’re supposed to be drinking with?” A coffee mug bears the image of a woman in an apron holding a broomstick while revealing a secret: “I don’t want to brag, but I’m pretty mediocre at housekeeping.” On a birthday card a woman warns, “Yes, ladies, you can have it all! But bear in mind that most of it sucks.” “I am still completely blown away at how strongly people seem to resonate with my work,” expresses Taintor, who sold her
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first products in 1985 and releases 40 to 50 new designs each year. Her artistic technique remains the same: She cuts and pastes from printed material dating from the ’30s, ’40s and ’50s. The shelves in her studio are lined with copies of Ladies’ Home Journal, McCall’s, Woman’s Home Companion, Good Housekeeping and even old gardening manuals and vintage hairnet packages. “I’ll use any image I can reasonably assume to be in the public domain.” For many years Taintor operated in New Mexico before moving back to her home state of Maine. Her shipping warehouse is in Massachusetts, while her office is in Brooklyn, New York. “It would be easy enough to run the business [in Maine], but I have such an amazing staff in Brooklyn. I’d move the business again only if everyone in Brooklyn suddenly quit. They’d better not. I also have a graphic design team in California,” she says. Taintor launched a caption contest in 2010 for fans wanting to try their hand at caption-writing, and the contest produced such great results that it’s ongoing on AnneTaintor.com. Art and drawing have always been an important part of Taintor’s life; a collage animation class at Harvard University steered her toward this particular art form. “I started doing collage seriously when I was a sophomore in college, and I’ve always found cutting to be very relaxing.” She admits it would be more efficient to design on a computer but prefers to use scissors. And whether she’s working on her business creations or her personal art, collages and humor remain strong elements. “I’ve always been interested in the human form, and my [personal] collages riff on that interest,” she says. “A frog head with dancer’s legs, leaping among bouquets of roses; a 17th century courtesan with a sea lion’s head, roaring in a garden; a hero with a snake’s body flying to the rescue—it’s totally liberating for me to work on these collages. Since I’m
IMPACT
“
I admire women who create the lives that work for them, women who are a bit adventurous and who are unconcerned with being judged and women who speak their truths even if they don’t get to choose their paths.
”
not reproducing them, I don’t have to research copyrights, and I can use anything!” Her art heroes are Hannah Höch, Bruce Helander and Fred Stonehouse, who specialize in similar genres, and Kurt Schwitters, the late master of collage. Taintor’s products give rise to questions: Is she a man-hater? Is she snarky? Who is she laughing at? No, she is not a manhater; the majority of her designs point out the absurdity of some gender constructs, often aimed at women. She thinks snarky is an inaccurate description of her products, and implies being snide and critical. “My aim is to make people smile at themselves, not smirk at others. Just last week, I met a woman who told me that she and her sister had been exchanging my cards and magnets for 20 years as their shorthand way of saying, ‘This is what my day was like.’”
she married immediately. “She and my father assumed that she’d be responsible for the home,” Taintor says of her mother. “I don’t think Mom wanted to be a lawyer, but I’m pretty sure she didn’t want to be a housewife, either. I always had the sense that she was frustrated and perhaps even a bit resentful.” Despite their conventional roles the couple raised five unconventional children. Taintor is simply toasting women who speak their truths and choose their paths. “I admire women who create the lives that work for them, women who are a bit adventurous and who are unconcerned with being judged and women who speak their truths even if they don’t get to choose their paths.”
Like most artists Taintor’s life calling can be traced back to her childhood influences. “My parents had a subtle and slightly wicked sense of humor, and both were very creative with words.” Their lives followed the era’s social norms: Her mother graduated from law school in 1951 but never practiced; instead, M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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Making WAVES
LILY TSE
Coming Clean
L
ily Tse’s dream of reforming public health has been in the works since age 11, when doctors diagnosed her mother with breast cancer. A second round of cancer hit when Tse was in her 20s, and she remembered the draining battle her mom had already fought. Out of curiosity and love, she began researching possible causes of breast cancer and came across Annie Leonard’s Story of Cosmetics, which examines the pervasive use of toxic chemicals in everyday personal care products. “The more I delved into [the topic], the clearer it became that I needed to develop a tool to help empower and inform consumers about the products they buy,” explains Tse, the creator of Think Dirty®, an app that evaluates ingredients in cosmetic and personal care products and identifies potential dangers such as possible carcinogens and allergens. To gauge interest, Tse attended a New York hackathon, an event where computer programmers collaborate with project managers and graphic designers to create new software. Her app idea didn’t take home a prize, but then a few months later she found another hackathon competition in Toronto. “I made a bet with myself: If I win, it’s a signal that other people are interested in this and I’ll pursue it full time,” Tse says. It seems a lot of people were interested as Tse won first place in the It’s a Start competition, and since then, her app has been recommended by multiple news sources and bloggers. Think Dirty launched three years ago and offers more than 350,000 product evaluations with dozens, if not hundreds,
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of new additions each month. App users submit brands and products they’d like to see graded, and companies themselves submit their ingredient lists to Think Dirty. The product evaluation is deduced from reliable sources—Health Canada, U.S. Food & Drug Administration, European Medicines Agency, Environment Canada, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other government and not-for-profit agencies—along with Tse’s advisory board comprised of professionals in the fields of biochemistry, biology, environmental health and chemical engineering. “Each ingredient listed on the product label or manufacturer’s website is evaluated for documented evidence of potential carcinogenicity, developmental and reproductive toxicity, allergenicity and immunotoxicity,” Tse says. Rising consumer awareness drives Think Dirty’s success. “Consumers are definitely far more conscious of what they are eating and putting in their bodies compared to five years ago,” Tse says. “They prefer organic, vegan, cruelty-free and natural products made out of simple ingredients that are easy to read.” To meet consumer needs, Think Dirty now offers a monthly beauty box filled with reviewed and vetted products curated from sources, business partners and personal scouting. And while business is booming, Tse’s eye remains on her long-term goal: She hopes to see a shift in the cosmetic, personal care and beauty industry to include healthier formulations for products and more transparency for consumers. —Taylor Mitnick; interview by Zlata Kotmina
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IMPACT
Making WAVES
Trading a Spade for a Heart
W
hat’s in a name? Definitely an identity. Perhaps a fashion brand. Such is the case for Kate Valentine, formerly known to the world as Kate Spade. Valentine had a name change to separate her identity from the brand Kate Spade. Many people wondered where Valentine was hiding after she and husband Andy Spade sold their first company, Kate Spade (then under the Neiman Marcus Group), to Liz Claiborne, Inc. in 2006. “Some people didn’t even think I lived in New York anymore; that’s how much I loved doing what I was doing,” Kate Valentine says. “I got to go home and spend time with my daughter [Frances]; I had waited very long to have her. I was 42, and now she’s so involved with school and after-school activities.” Cue the return of Kate, who may have a different moniker but is still the woman with a sunny personality and divine eye for accessories. Her new endeavor is Frances Valentine, a brand dedicated to shoes with a few select handbags. “I am drawn to accessories that can reinterpret an outfit,” she says. “I can wear the same outfit to a thousand parties, but no one realizes if you have a different pair of shoes or necklace.” Frances Valentine has significant meaning for her family. Frances is not only her daughter’s name; it is also the name of her grandfather, father and brother, who spelled
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Jaime Beck
KATE VALENTINE
Francis with an i. Valentine was the middle name of her maternal grandfather, who was born on Valentine’s Day. The company is fortified in family even further through partnerships: She regrouped with her husband Andy Spade and former partners Elyce Arons, who co-founded Kate Spade in 1993, and Paola Venturi, who served as design director for Kate Spade. The combination of family support, the team’s significant experience, and independence from investors means less pressure. “We’re starting out the way we started the first time,” Valentine says. “People expected us to come out much bigger, with an entire lifestyle brand.” The result is handbags and shoes that aesthetically scream Kate. There are pom-poms, bow ties, polka dots and stripes available on francesvalentine.com and at retailers such as Nordstrom. “We’ve been able to keep it small, tight and edit out what we don’t think is necessary in the collection. There must be a feeling of, ‘I want to have you.’” The true success of Frances Valentine lies in the family’s ability to spend quality time together. It was a conscious decision that Valentine be able to balance work with welcoming her tween daughter home from school and attending extracurricular activities. The two recently traveled to Milan for a work trip that coincided with Frances’ spring break. As for the married couple, they keep one another balanced at work: “He sees the whole picture, and I am really detail-oriented,” Valentine says of her husband. “For us, this [business] time around, it’s about the culture. It was working with people that we really wanted to work with.” —Taylor Mitnick; interview by Lola Thélin
IMPACT Brain Juice DOWN 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 7. 8. 11. 12. 15. 16. 19. 21. 22. 23. 25. 26. 28. 30. 31. 32. 35. 38. 39. 41.
Where “The David” can be seen Travel routes Endangered cat Site of the Getty and the Armand Hammer Changdeokgung Palace site Fontainebleau is one Acapulco’s setting Time memorialized with a sculpture on Omaha Beach Biblical City, formerly on the Euphrates river Take a wrong turn Lunch orders You, to close friends and family in France Old whaling island off Cape Cod City nicknamed “Auld Reekie” 2016 Olympics site Went ashore Region at the mouth of the Pearl River Romantic flower Canadian province, for short Salad cheese Title role for Ben Kingsley Place for a gondola Big part of a crocodile Carte start Rumpus
ANSWERS AVAILABLE AT MANDVMAG.COM/IMPACT/CROSSWORD16
ACROSS
1. Booking choice 6. Take for a ride 9. Florida fruit, Dutch King Day color 10. Famous wine region 13. Word with cycle and angle 14. Verifies, a booking for example 17. Take off 18. Off-roader’s track perhaps 20. St Augustine was this cathedral’s first Archbishop 24. Airline’s home base 27. E.M Forster book title word 28. Site of Joan of Arc’s demise 29. See as a tourist
31. Military officer, major, lieutenant colonel or colonel, for short 33. Vineyard in France 34. Ancient city in Lombardy 36. Mo. named for a Caesar 37. You might enjoy it in the afternoon at Harrods 38. Java city founded by the Dutch 40. “The ___ Maja” (Goya painting) 42. The A in IPA 43. Green shade 44. Saw 45. Place to stay
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R.S.V.P. The Journey to Self-Sufficiency Dress for Success Palm Beaches hosted its 3rd annual Style 4 Hope luncheon on March 11 at the Kravis Center Cohen Pavilion in West Palm Beach, Florida. The event celebrated the organization’s achievements in promoting women’s economic independence. Proceeds benefit job readiness and career development programs.
Colleen Fitzgerald, Diane Wilde, Michele Wilde
Barbara Rodriguez, Paget Kirkland, Kelly Fanelli, Jenna Corey
Joan Williams, Robin Kirberney, Bernadette O’Grady
Felicia Matula, Marli Medeiros, Liz Torres, Shawna Price
Even Lyon, Dot Graham
Lola Thelin, Christine DiRocco, Nicole Fahrenholz, Debra LeVasseur
Chrissy Shore, Lucy Carr
Gina Sabean, Dave Baker LILA PHOTO
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IMPACT Celebrating Kids and Creativity The Center for Creative Education marked its 21st birthday at its Annual Spring Luncheon held at a private residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on April 13. The organization offers a groundbreaking program that helps students in high poverty and low performing schools meet standards in academic subjects through artistic learning. Attendees enjoyed the musical story Peter and the Wolf, brought to life by students and teaching artists.
Kenn Karakul, Bettina Anderson
Talbott Maxey, Mario Nievera, Maura Ziska Christu
Pauline Pitt, Carol Mack, Nataly Langner
Burt and Sallie Korman, Peggy and Rick Katz
Michelle Vogel, Susie Dwinell
Ellen Sosnow, Jean Sharf, Julie Connors
Laura Evans, Jim Diack
Students and guests at display tables CAPEHART PHOTOGRAPHY M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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R.S.V.P. Improving the Lives of NYC Girls Over 300 guests gathered for Girls Inc. of New York City’s annual luncheon on April 28 at the Metropolitan Club. Comedian Caroline Rhea served as Mistress of Ceremonies for the event that raised over $500,000 to support the organization’s work providing life-changing programs to at-risk girls throughout the city.
Amber Tolliver, Pamela Maraldo
Caroline Rhea
Courtney Gailano
Elaine Bell, Pamela Maraldo, Gisselle Yepes, Ivette Morales, Jasmine Barr
Ashley Gregory
Leslie Thompson, Elissa Brenner, Aly Gradone, Jenna Crespi, Candice Miller, Marcella Guarino, Jessica Press
Dr. Adriana Leone
Kyung-Ah, Elaine Ball, Courtney Adante
Julie Macklowe
Katie Lee
Kira Faiman, Jasmine Barr, Sari Sloane Keledjian
Laurie Gelman
Stephanie Ruhle and daughter Drew Hubbard
Jackie Sackler
Toni Citera, Vanessa Nadal, Toni Tsvetanova
Christiane Lemieux
Diana Picasso
Juliette Longuet PATRICK MCMULLAN ©PATRICKMCMULLAN.COM
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IMPACT The 7th Annual Solving Kids Cancer Spring Celebration The 7th Annual Solving Kids Cancer Spring Celebration was held at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City on May 16. The event was highlighted by Good Morning America news anchor Amy Robach serving as the Mistress of Ceremonies and ten young survivors receiving awards for their courage and strength in facing cancer. The organization, started by two fathers who lost children to pediatric cancer, allocates 100 percent of donations to find, fund and manage clinical trials and scientific programs that will strengthen the science and discover a cure.
Amy Robach
Carolina Herrera, Donna Karan
Angelina Jolin, Christine Mack, Helena Skarstedt
John London, Oliver London, Maxwell, Scott Kennedy
Calysta Bevier
Victor Cruz
Gold Star winners
Aljandro Donoso
Tony Shafrazi
Michelle Hollander, Erin Rossitto
Jason Pierre-Paul PATRICK MCMULLAN ŠPATRICKMCMULLAN.COM M A N D V M A G . C O M M&V
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Visions dejha carrington
Photos left to right: Justin Namon; Henri Clifton
Dejha Carrington
has redefined her life in search of a more purposeful journey. She settled on supporting emerging talent and their extra-sensory interactive art. By exposing the medium to people of all ages with different interests, Carrington is spearheading new conversations within her community.
I
n 2014, I asked artist Jessy Nite to design a Valentine’s Day postcard for our new contacts and old friends; for the people whose friendship we wanted to cultivate; and for those with whom we hoped to reconnect. Inside it read, “Let’s make something together.” Perhaps Oprah’s words address the point more directly when she said, “Speak your life into existence,” because mailing those postcards was the first step toward claiming the creative control and artistic agency that had been missing from my journey. After having a successful PR career steeped in the brilliance of artists, watching the sheer courage in which they put their ideas and beliefs into the world was a necessary reminder to redefine the quality of the contribution I wanted to make to my community. In this new iteration, I aimed to move the needle in a way that would include meaningful collaborations, cultural programming and artistic installations that foster diversity, social justice and arts access, and that make an aesthetic statement grounded in cultural awareness and acceptance. Last winter, I teamed up with Montreal-based composer and longtime friend Kelly Nunes to create a performative architecture installation on the façade of the iconic InterContinental Miami hotel. Newt Miami: Experiments in Light, Color & Sound used abstract animation, original music and mobile technology to connect viewers from various locations throughout the city in a shared, sensory experience. This public art initiative posed questions about the ways in which people interact with their surroundings, such as “Can a light that transforms a night sky also transform a community?” or, could we “elevate a structure into a participatory work of art?”
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Beyond the visual success of Newt, we found ourselves speaking to residents in the neighborhood about their ideas for revitalizing the area; attracting younger audiences interested by the cellphone component of our project; and sharing the intimate details of our conceptual, funding and production processes to help inspire more local creative entrepreneurship. In a similar effort to connect with under-recognized audiences, I cofounded FADE TO BLACK, an annual arts initiative for artists of color that takes place during Art Basel Miami Beach week and aims to offer a platform for networking, exchanging ideas and celebrating a shared diaspora. Now in its fourth edition, FADE has sparked new opportunities between artists and curators—most recently, a passionate panel discussion was held on the intersections between art and social justice. Having “spoken it into existence,” this path has taken me to unexpected places—personally and professionally—and has allowed me to support the artists and ideas I believe in through social practice, community programming and public relations. And while bridging the gap of communication among artists, audiences and issues always demands engagement and understanding, expanding my creative approach has ultimately freed me to design the context and spaces in which these conversations can make an impact. Living fully expressed like this, to me, is akin to finding my artistic voice.
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