Vol. 4 #2 | March 2018
Lea
Salonga on
Theater, Song & Family
HI-TECH
THE LATEST FOR YOU & HOME
TRAVEL
IRELAND AT ITS BEST
REAL ESTATE BEST BUYS IN TOWN
FASHION
MUST-HAVE STYLES
DINING
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Contents
11
FEATURES 8 11 44 48
From The Publisher Lea Salonga: On Theater, Song & Family Through The Lens With Annie Watt Tech Talk
16
FASHION & BEAUTY 16 Must-Have Fashions 18 Spring Beauty Boost
TRAVEL 20 24 27 28 30 32 34
Delight Your Senses In Ireland Portugal: Europe’s Best-Kept Secret Barbados: The Jewel of the Caribbean The Spa At Norwich Inn Santa Fe: A Year-Round Destination Natchez, MS: Moonlight, Magnolias & More The Two Sides Of The W Fort Lauderdale
20
REAL ESTATE & HOME DECOR 36 38 40 42 50 53 56 58
Notes From DB Brooklyn’s Best Citizen 360 Designing Ways North Carolina Luxury Living A FiDi Gem The NYC Rental Game—Exposed Spotlight: Celia Sawyer
2 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
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Contents
60
HEALTH & WELLNESS 60 62 64 65
Spring Awakening The Quest For True Self Desserts With A Healthy Fusion Tame Bad Breath
FOOD & DRINK 66 68 70 72 74
Demarchelier: Artful Fine Dining Jade Sixty 5 Great Irish Pubs Peru Meets Japan In Midtown The Bootlegger: A Las Vegas Jackpot
66
THEATER & ARTS 76 78 80 82 84 86
On Stage On The Big Screen On The Small Screen MvVO And The Future Of Artists SoHo Art Gallery Makes A Splash Vinyl Visions
84
NEW YORK, NY 88 90 92 94 96
Entrepreneur’s Corner: Michelle Risa My New York Story Charlotte St. Martin Time Out With Stephen Carlile Bradford Bernstein: Making The American Dream Come True Dating in NYC
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90
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OUR CONTRIBUTORS DAVID PORTER A proud native son of New Jersey, David A. Porter is a freelance writer, journalist, and editor. A graduate of Rutgers University, he earned an MA in English and an MFA in Creative Writing at San Francisco State University. David provides content to a number of clients in New York and abroad, including advertising copy, blog posts, brochures, by-lined articles, case studies, op-eds, press releases, proposals, speeches and website text; he also edits full-length works by academics and novelists. David is working on his first collection of short stories, Protracted Adolescence, a collection of poems, Ghost Season, and a non-fiction book about music, 20,000 Things I Love. He lives on the Upper West Side with his wife, interior designer Antigone Michaelides, and his son, Leontios, a rambunctious yet unbearably adorable second-grader. GRETCHEN KELLY Gretchen Kelly has been to over 80 countries in a 15-plus year career as a travel writer. She became a travel writer after working as a publicist for David Bowie. She and Bowie would talk about travel and at one point Bowie (who told her he “loved her way with words”) encouraged her to start a career as a travel writer. She quit her job that week and has since specialized in visiting places connected with films and TV shows. “My first movie-related travel journey was to Jordan in the places where Lawrence of Arabia was filmed,” Kelly remembers. “I took the famed soundtrack with me on a Walkman and played it while I rode a camel through Wadi Rumm.” Kelly lives in Queens, NY (near her writing partner Michael Alpiner who also writes for New York Lifestyles) but is considering traveling with the Remote Year program so she can file her stories from a pool in Bali. JENNY PETERS Jenny Peters has covered the entertainment, lifestyle and travel worlds as a freelance journalist for many years. Her credits include writing on film, celebrities, and lifestyle for USA Today, AARP.com, Variety, New York Magazine, to name a few. She is the former editor-in-chief of Brentwood/Distinctive Living magazines and held the same post for Scene magazine. She is a founding and voting member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, who present the Critics’ Choice Awards every January honoring the previous year’s finest in cinematic achievement. Her favorite places to be: sipping wine in the middle of a vineyard or simply strolling the streets and soaking in the atmosphere of one of the world’s great cities.
Vol. 4 #2 | March 2018 President / Publisher BILL MASON Editor-in-Chief Patricia Canole
Art Director Eric Duncan
Entertainment Editors Jenny Peters, Lori Simmons Zelenko
Fashion/Beauty Editor Ann Lawlor
Features Editors Clint Brownfield, Ruth J. Katz
Lifestyle Editor Griffin Miller
Real Estate Editor Daniel J. Bollinger
Special Projects Editor Norah Bradford
Chief Photographer Annie Watt Contributing Writers Shari Bilt Boockvar, Chloe Carmichael, Ph.D., Scott Cuollo, Lee Gabay Dr. Peter Kalellis, Gretchen Kelly, Denise Mercedes, Ellis Nassour Dr. Mazen Natour, Ted Owen, Darren Paltrowitz, Jeannie Pawlowski David Porter, Anne Raso, Charlotte St. Martin, Gerrie Summers Jeff & Stephanie Sylva, Susan Traub, Nadine Wynn, Stacey Zable Executive Vice President of Sales LYLE SELTZER Sales Bill Mason Sr. - Director of New Business Development Brett Caldwell - Director of Integrated Sales and Marketing Gary Albanese - Senior Sales Director of NYC John Miller - Director of Sales - Travel Michael Stulmaker - Director of Sales - Real Estate Director of Operations Kurt Nesheim
Advertising BLUE VISTA 725
Internet Presence Scott Cuollo, Richard Austin
Magazine Distribution The Garrido Group
New York Sales Office (646) 259-2651
Editorial/Sales Fax (212) 202-4888
For subscriptions, address changes or back issues, call: (646) 259-2651 newyorklifestylesmagazine.com Facebook: /NYLifestylesMag Twitter: @NYLifestylesMag Instagram: @NYLifestylesMag All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue is expressly forbidden without permission of the publisher. Printed in the USA. New York Lifestyles Magazine is published 10 times annually. © 2018 New York Lifestyles Magazine
Cover Photo by Raymund Isaac
FROM THE PUBLISHER
et me say the month of March is full of wonderful events, celebrations and special days that create memories for everyone. One occasion that immediately comes to mind is spending time with family and friends celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th. On this day it seems all New Yorkers are celebrating the Irish as the best parade marches up Fifth Avenue, listening to the sounds of bag pipes, and let’s not forget enjoying a traditional Irish meal of corned beef and cabbage (it originated in America, but created by the Irish).
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For the sports-minded, some of the best college hoops are played during March Madness right down to the Final Four’s “One Shining Moment.” So get those brackets ready! We also kick-start baseball with our favorite hometown teams getting warmed up at Spring training for another exciting season of hot dogs, peanuts and cracker jacks. I recently just learned about another special day which falls on March 28th and called “Something on a Stick Day.” This year I want to not only participate, but I would also like to put it to the test for all of our readers. Please email me a photo and a description of your favorite or unique food you have ever eaten on a stick! You never know—I might share some of them in my column next month. Of course, I would be remiss if I did not mention Hollywood’s biggest night. I have a date with Oscar on March 4th when I’ll be glued to my TV screen watching one of the most anticipated events of the year. Next day water cooler conversations of “Did you see what happened at the Academy Awards last night?” always provide good banter for at least another day or two. By the way, spoiler alert, my pick for Best Picture is definitely Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri. Lastly, before I wrap up I want to mention that March 23rd is National Puppy Day. It’s a special day to recognize the unconditional love puppies give us, and the joy they bring into our lives. We at New York Lifestyles Magazine thought this would be a perfect time to recognize our four-legged friends and launch our new quarterly publication Pet Lifestyles Magazine included with this issue. PLM features a beautiful array of celebrity pet spotlights, pet fun and fashion, and even pet health and wellness. We hope you enjoy it! You can also view everything on its new online website at petlifestylesmagazine.com. Have a great month and I look forward to hearing from you with your comments and any suggestions you would like to see on the pages of NYLM and PLM. Erin Go Bragh,
-Bill Mason
Publisher
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FEATURES
By Ellis Nassour
livier and Tony Award winner, Disney Princess, recording artist, and international concert star Lea Salonga has returned to Broadway in the exciting revival of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s Once On This Island. It’s a love triangle set on a storm-ravaged Caribbean island with the lure of tropical rhythms and first romance. And there are gods—God of Water, Mother of the Earth, and Demon of Death. Salonga, a poor villager, named Erzulie, has the most enviable transition. She becomes the Goddess of Love. It’s an apt role for the beloved native of the Philippines who at age 17 was plucked from relative obscurity by producer Cameron Mackintosh and director Nicholas Hytner to star as Kim in Miss Saigon in the London West End premiere. The musical is set during the Vietnam War when Kim takes a job in a dive bar frequented by war-weary soldiers dreaming of the day they can get home. She has an affair with a well-meaning soldier, who after the birth of their child, wants to bring her back to the States. ©Raymund Isaac
MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 11
©Raymund Isaac
12 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
Lea Salonga in Annie
A STAR IS BORN
There was overnight stardom and critical acclaim. Suddenly, she was “The Pride of the Philippines” and a national treasure. However, nothing could have prepared Lea Salonga for the lifechanging events of being cast in Miss Saigon. “There was pressure. What could compare to opening a major musical on London’s West End and performing before the Queen of England? But I was disciplined, thanks to all the years I had done theater back home. The culture shock was the big thing. I had Mom with me, but homesickness set in. “Heading to New York and Broadway,” she continues, “there was some fear. I’d heard stories of how fast-paced and notorious it could be. But the minute I stepped off the plane and started rehearsals, I knew it was where I belonged. I didn’t have a life, however. I did the show, which had its share of shattering moments, took my bows, and went home to bed.” She credits her mother Ligaya for guiding her down the right career and life paths. “Mother never heard the word ‘impossible.’ She shaped my determination to succeed at what I wanted to do and helped turn me into a strong-willed person. I believed I had talent and was ready to go for it, but Mom kept telling me, ‘You’ve got to make sure you really have it.’” Lea Salonga in the Sound of Music in Manila
On Miss Saigon: “Heading to Broadway there was some fear. But the moment I started rehearsals, I knew it was where I belonged.” THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT
Long before becoming an award-winning actress, Lea had been entertaining audiences in clubs and in concert not only in her native Philippines but also throughout Asia and in the U.S. She’s been performing since age seven and had her first album at 10. “We peddled my music, going from music store to music store. It didn’t happen overnight. What does? Then, the orders were coming in—more than we ever imagined.” Around the same time, she made her professional stage debut as one of the children in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I. This was followed by a number of musicals including snagging the coveted role of Annie. With bestselling records, she had the name recognition of hosting her own national variety TV show Love, Lea. Naturally, her parents stressed the importance of education. “Mom told me it was something no one could take away, that it would shape the way I look at things. I also learned that intelligence wasn’t everything. If you want to succeed, preparation and perseverance are important.” Lea heeded her mother’s words, and began studies in pre-med. In fact, she wanted to be a dermatologist, which might account for her ageless beauty and flawless complexion. Taking note of that, in 1991, People Magazine chose her as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World. “I’m blessed,” she says. “I’m Asian, but the youth gene runs in my family. I’m in a great business, doing what I love to do. It doesn’t feel like work, so there’s little stress.” MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 13
PRIZES HER PRIVACY
However, success did come with a price, she admits. “It took one thing I prize—privacy. As I’ve gotten older, I’m better with it. I quite enjoyed the anonymity of Los Angeles, where we’d visit and where I had my introduction to Disney.” She voiced the songs of Princess Jasmine in Aladdin as well as the title character in Mulan. Remembering her mother’s dictate about education, she took time off to continue her studies, tackling philosophy and European history at Fordham University. However, she never stopped singing and had sell-out engagements at the posh Café Carlyle, 54 Below, and Town Hall. Broadway was never far away though. She appeared in Les Misèrables (as Eponine and Fantine) and the revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song. In 2012, she co-starred at San Diego’s Old Globe in the new musical Allegiance, which addressed the internment of Japanese Americans in 1941 following Pearl Harbor. It won local Best Musical honors, broke box office records, and had a four-and-a-half month Broadway run.
Lea Salonga Cinderella Asia Tour 2008
A GLOBAL SENSATION
Lea is always amazed at how popular Broadway shows are received overseas. One of her favorites was in the role of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and notes, “Over seven months, we did five cities in mainland China, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Seoul, Singapore, and Thailand—all in English.” More recently, in the Philippines, she played Grizabella in Cats and appeared in Fun Home to great acclaim.
“I also learned that intelligence wasn’t everything. If you want to succeed, preparation and perseverance are important.” 14 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
The performer becomes a bit embarrassed when acclaimed as a groundbreaking actress/singer from the Philippines. “Many others, either native born or American-Filipino, broke the ground for me!” She remembers well the intense worldwide search for the role of Kim in Miss Saigon. The subsequent frenzy when she made her London debut (1989), winning an Oliver Award, along with co-star Jonathan Pryce was overwhelming. “I never thought I’d win,” she explains. Subsequently, she and Pryce repeated their roles on Broadway in 1991 and won Tonys. “I was 17 when I auditioned in Manila,” states Lea, “Eighteen when I went to London, and 20 when we played Broadway.” However, nothing quite beats the memory of her initial audition call back. Salonga came prepared. She knew the songs. When she finished, they’d found their Kim!
Lea Salonga at The Tonys
THE NEXT GENERATION
It seems music runs in the Salonga family. Daughter Nicole, 11, may be destined to follow in mom’s footsteps. Performing in school plays since age five, she’s a violinist in the school orchestra and under scholarship at Kids Act Philippines. She’s also appeared solo at some concerts. Recently, she wrapped her first professional role—playing Alice in the Manila production of Matilda. Salonga says, “Wait and see. She enjoys singing, but may be inclined to visual arts. My husband was quite an artist when he was younger, and we have cousins that are animators and illustrators. That’s also in her gene pool.” With her mentoring spot in the Philippines on The Voice, writing a newspaper column, concert schedule, and being a mom, how did she find time to return to Broadway in Once On This Island, where she’s set to play into June. “You carve out the time, especially when it’s something you want to do,” explains Lea. “This is my first time doing the show, but it’s been a favorite for a long time. When asked, I couldn’t see any way of passing the opportunity by.”
My mother never heard the word impossible. She shaped my determination to succeed and helped turn me into a strong-willed person.
BROADWAY’S SWEETHEART
Once On This Island lead producer Ken Davenport notes, “Lea is a Disney Princess and Tony and Olivier actress, not to mention an inspiration to people, especially young girls, around the world. For me, her voice is what love sounds like. She is the perfect choice for our Goddess of Love!” Lea says the musical deserves an intimate setting. “But don’t come expecting a copycat of the original. When you enter, you really feel you’ve left New York City behind and are in the tropics. The design is a great way to tell his enchanting story.” Musically, the show only has five band members. However, much of the music is provided by the cast, who pick up broken glass and items displaced by the storm and create instruments from them. According to Lea, performing in the round delivers a new dimension to the story as the cast, often goes into the audience, drawing members into the story. Lea’s life is nonstop. She and her husband of 14 years Robert Chien have homes here and in Manila. We wondered with all the travel and work involved, how do you keep it together? Lea explained, “It’s only difficult if the two of you don’t have any idea of what you’re in for. From the very beginning, I’ve had nothing but Rob’s blessing and encouragement. I can never forget when he told me I was in a position to inspire people and he’d never take that away from me. I married the right guy!” Lea Salonga has long been considered a treasure, and not only in the Philippines. She has a very dedicated following. “And, of course, in concert fans want to hear the Disney songs. My goal is to be the best representative of my country as I can be.” She’s done that spectacularly— and won our hearts! •
Lea Salonga in Once On This Island
Ellis Nassour writes on the entertainment business. He’s a veteran of The New York Times, New York Daily News, and Playbill; the author of the definitive biography Honky Tonk Angel: The Intimate Story of Patsy Cline and the hit revue Always, Patsy Cline. MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 15
FASHION & BEAUTY
MUST-HAVE FASHIONS By Ann Lawlor
ith warm weather on the horizon, it’s time to assess what is really going on in your closet. To help you, we searched for some new trends to add to your fashion sense. TRENCH APPEAL
While it sounds pretty basic to get a good trench coat for Spring, this season the options are endless especially from Nobis. The Justice Trench is waterproof and breathable, windproof and DWR (that’s durable water repellent) coated. Info: us.nobis.com.
POWER PASTELS
Shades of season should all be on your color radar. The always favorite Aqua Blouse from Domenico Vacca is crafted with 100 percent silk using the finest fabric. Nail the look with ready to wear and accessorize with your favorite jewelry piece. Info: domenicovacca.com.
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IN THE BAG
Fun shapes and bright colors are the new season trend. Take Domenico Vacca’s Julie Small Leather Bag which will take you from AM to PM in style. Info: domenicovacca.com.
FRINGE BENEFIT
Accessories have the power to instantly update every look this season. While a shoe may not seem like the most practical choice, add a little fringe and it will work hard to complete your fashion look. One fine example is Manolo Blahnik’s Francamaria in Champagne Satin. It’s the perfect party shoe. Info: manoloblahnik.com.
TAILORED LOOK
The return of tailoring is the single biggest trend right now. Whether it’s for a pant suit or simply pair a blazer with a white tee and vintage denim, the look is modern. Here, the Epicea Blazer from Anne Fontaine. Info: annefontaine.com.
SHADE APPEAL
What is the one item every celebrity will never leave home without? Of course, a pair of sunglasses! Enjoy MODO Sun Style 455 in Purple—the Pantone color of the year!—which combines lightness and Titanium strength. The feminine butterfly shape will have you thinking of Hollywood red carpets. Info: modo.com.
MAKE A STATEMENT
This highly polished 18K yellow gold piece from Dana Bronfman features a circular cutout pattern on this Chrysocolla Cabochon Ring; it’s encircled with a .13 carat halo of diamonds. The best feature: it’s light to wear due to the height of the ring. From Dana Bronfman. Info: danabronfman.com.
FANCY FEET
This year Brian Atwood—best known for the sexiest shoes around—welcomes Spring with Garden Party. The Cappuccino Nude footwear boasts top-to-bottom leather florals. Info: brianatwood.com. Also available at saksfifthavenue.com. •
CELEBRATE THE DATE
Memorialize one of life’s milestones with this exquisite gold cuff bracelet. The Shahla Karim 14K Gold Birthstone Cuff No. 2 is flanked with stones on each end—customizable with birthstone of choice. Great as a gift or why not add to your own jewelry collection. Info: shahlakarimi.com.
MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 17
FASHION & BEAUTY
SPRING BEAUTY BOOST By Ann Lawlor
pring is in the air. After months of static cling hair, dark makeup tones and chapped lips, we’re ready to break out some beauty goodies. Feel the same? There is a lot to be excited about from skin care, makeup to fragrance, too! CHRISTIE BRINKLEY
Lip Beautifully Moisture-Rich Lipstick Pamper and delight with these iconic shades with stay-true color. The non-feathering, nofade formula hydrates with a single-stroke. Info: kohls.com.
BEING BY SANCTUARY
Salted Caramel & Macadamia Body Scrub leaves skin feeling soft and smooth. Loaded with exfoliating macadamia nut granules and a simply delicious fragrance, your skin will feel indulged— and good enough to eat. Info: sanctuary.com.
18 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
LAURA MERCIER
Boheme Chic Eye Clay Palette The clay-like textures apply beautifully with a unique, wet-feel that seems to melt onto skin. Also included is the Air-light Setting Powder to prolong wear for up to eight hours. Info: lauramercier.com.
STOWAWAY COSMETICS
Multi-Stick Trio Get ready in a flash with the new trio of multi-sticks in Coffee, Cream, and Sugar. Sculpt, contour and frame your face with Coffee; brighten, correct and highlight with Cream; and add luminance and glow with Sugar. Info: stowawaycosmetics.com.
BIOEFFECT
Volcanic Exfoliator removes dry, dead skin cells which results in skin that’s soft and refreshed. The clarifying facial exfoliator contains Icelandic micro-crystalline lava, apricot kernels, and salicylic acid that deep cleans thoroughly. Info: neimanmarcus.com.
T3
SinglePass Wave is the latest curling wand equipped with T3’s patented digital SinglePass technology; it continuously measures and maintains even temperature for fast, uniform results without the unnecessary damaging heat. It’s the perfect go-to for travel. Info: t3micro.com.
BOND NO. 9
Spring Fling An ultra-feminine sister scent to Bonds classic New York Fling, it’s an up-to-date floral-on-floral bouquet with notes of lily of the valley and passion flower combined with a fruity tinge. A refreshing scent for all of your Spring days (and nights). Info: bondno9.com.
MAKE UP FOR EVER
U ltra HD S oft Ligh t High ligh ter A chieve a luminous complexion with this highlighter which can be worn alone or mixed with foundation. The soft radiant liquid is available in four shades to perfectly match all skin tones. Info: makeupforever.com.
HONEST BEAUTY
Younger + Clearer Clarifying Toner gives your face a healthy glow powered by witch hazel and apple extract. From Jessica Alba’s beauty collection, use before applying makeup for a super look. Info: honestbeauty.com. •
LA PRAIRIE
White Caviar Crème Extraordinaire offers a new level of moisturizing cream and works to banish dark spots and other discolorations. The outstanding formula delivers the most effective, skincare experience as it illuminates the skin within two weeks. Info: laprairie.com.
MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 19
TRAVEL
DELIGHT YOUR SENSES IN IRELAND By Clint Brownfield
reland, it’s the one place on earth that heaven has kissed with melody, mirth, and meadow and mist.” - Irish Blessing I love the approach into the Shannon Airport. It was the way I first arrived in Ireland back in the1990s, and after several trips to the Emerald Isle, I’ve never been disappointed. Looking down, I’m always amazed at just how green it really is. Recently, some pals and I would savor some of the best experiences that Ireland has to offer—for first-time visitors and travelers like myself who have been there many times before. For the first few days, we would be pampered at Dromoland Castle Hotel and Country Estate (dromoland.ie), a 5-star luxury property in County Clare that dates back many centuries, when it was the family seat of the O’Brien family. Historically, the name O’Brien is about as big as it gets in this neck of the woods. If your idea of a vacation is to live better than you usually do at home, then Dromoland Castle will fill that bill. Here you can pretend you are a member of the family who inhabited Downton Abbey whose primary occupation was to enjoy each day as much as possible. Flights from the New York are quick and easy, but you can get any resulting kinks ironed out via a relaxing massage at the hotel’s spa. Then myriad activities await—golf, archery, fishing, clay shooting, and falconry, to name a few. And of course, there is just plain old relaxing in the sumptuous rooms and suites. The food at Dromoland is some of the best you will ever savor—produced by Executive Chef David McCann and his talented crew.
TIME TO EXPLORE
Every county in Ireland has unique attractions, but County Clare is a particularly enticing pot of gold at the end of the travel rainbow. Coastal areas can be viewed along the county’s stretch of the Wild Atlantic Way. At nearly 1,500 miles, it’s the world’s longest marked coastal drive. The crown jewel here is the famed, and truly stunning, Cliffs of Moher, which attract around 1.5 million visitors each year to take in the views and learn about the Cliffs at the interactive visitors’ center. You might want to do as we did—visit the Cliffs when it’s slightly off-season to avoid the crowds and have more elbow room. 20 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
Dromoland at Dusk
Nearby is an area called the Burren, with its moonscape-like terrain and seemingly lack of vegetation. Not true, as you will discover at the Burren Perfumery (burrenperfumery.com), where your sense of smell will be delighted by sampling nearly 20 types of perfumes created from local plants and flowers. Small containers of roasted coffee beans are offered to guests to sniff so they can cleanse their olfactory palates and go on to the next scent. The perfumery also features a charming tearoom that offers tasty homemade Irish cakes and pastries. Ask for their fruitcake recipe! Sadie Chowen-Doyle, who runs this family business, is just one of the talented and dedicated businesswomen we met along the way. Falling into this category is another charmer, Birgitta Hedin Curtin, who operates Burren Smokehouse (burrensmokehouse.com), which produces a tantalizing variety of smoked salmon products. Visitors are welcome to sample the wares as they learn about how these locally raised and caught-wild taste treats are produced. And, just down the road, do stop in at her husband Peter’s watering hole, The Roadside Tavern. He whipped up another local invention just for me—Irish coffee, just what I needed to propel me through our rigorous day of sightseeing in County Clare. That night, we forged on to enjoy another area staple—dinner and a show at Bunratty Castle (shannonheritage.com), a 15th-century tower house where guests are given a glass of honey-based mead upon entry. In ancient times it was believed that honey was the secret to successful conception. Newlywed couples were encouraged to consume honey for the first month of marriage—from moon to moon, thus, the term honeymoon was coined. Ireland is full of fables like this.
LIVE LIKE ROYALTY
Leaving County Clare was a bit sad, but we soon perked up, when we were picked up early one morning by our new best friend, Ronan Ganter, proprietor of Gantours (gantours. ie). If you are daunted by driving on the left side of the road while shifting gears—missing some of the sights along the way, then Ronan is your guy. Gantours can drive up to 12 people through any number of itineraries— with expert insight into what you are seeing.
Park Hotel Kenmare
GET COOKIN’ You could easily spend an entire vacation at Ballymaloe House, Co. Cork. Not only is its converted manor house a fabulous place to stay, but it’s also home to one of the best culinary schools in the world—The Ballymaloe Cookery School. Here, guests can sit alongside full-time students who are enrolled in programs to train them to enter the international world of food preparation. Family run, Ballymaloe has rightfully taken its place among the places to visit while in Ireland. The hospitable folks here can point you in the direction of local farmers markets. So many times, we only get to meet fellow tourists while on vacation. But to meet the locals, both vendors and shoppers, farmers markets are the way to go—especially if you’re a foodie. Check out the school of cookery’s website for a wealth of recipes, including Irish brown bread and stew. For more information on Ballymaloe House and Cookery School, visit ballymaloehouse.com.
For the next few days, we would be staying in and dining at properties that are members of Ireland’s Blue Book (irelands-blue-book.ie). If you are a member of the “one percent,” you will feel right at home staying in these luxurious properties. If you are not, then this is your big chance to live it up in these magnificent mansions, castles and converted manor houses that dot the Irish countryside and towns. There is a rigorous process for a property to be admitted into this august group—around 70 properties in all. Even if you’re not staying in a member property, most welcome you into their incredible dining rooms and restaurants for a meal. And we did just that, enjoying very memorable lunches at the Mustard Seed, Co. Limerick and Castle Durrow, Co. Laois. That night we checked into the Park Hotel Kenmare (parkkenmare.com), Co. Kerry, where we literally lived in the lap of luxury—overlooking a gorgeous lake. The hotel is justifiably famous for its extensive collection of art and antiques. Just out the front gate we instantly fell in love with the town of Kenmare where we strolled the streets and poked in and out of shops selling antiques, books, and items made in Ireland. You could easily spend your entire vacation here!
MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 21
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
The Mustard Seed Food
The next day, our first stop was in Midleton, Co. Cork, for an eye-opening tour of the famed Jameson Distillery (jamesonwhiskey.com). It’s a fun way to learn how this potent potable is created and aged and then sample the wares. There’s great shopping, too, in its very impressive gift shop. Take a credit card or two. Our last stop was a two-night respite at another Blue Book property— Barberstown Castle (barberstowncastle. ie), Co. Kildare, about 15 miles away from the hustle and bustle of Dublin. Dating to the 1500s, it features impressive meals in the original castle area as well as more casual dining in the airy Garden Bar, where Head Chef Bertrand Malabat uses fresh local organic ingredients whenever possible.
The Merrion Hotel Bar
Our very memorable final day was spent in Dublin. I’d been there many times before down through the years but had somehow missed visiting the Guinness Storehouse (guinness-storehouse.com)—where for centuries this unique dark beer has been produced. You can see the structure from far away and immediately become intrigued with what awaits inside. It has been designed to resemble a multi-storied mug of Guinness—with a foamy head on top. Visitors are offered guided tours that spiral up to the top and along the way learn how Guinness is produced—with a few sips along the way. Recipe cards are available so you can add a little Guinness to your home cooking. On top is a 360-degree glass observation area where more samples can be consumed as you look at the city of Dublin down below. I suggest you do this first thing so you can see how Dublin is laid out. As for sipping, you can always pretend it’s 5 PM.
O u r lu nch t hat d ay w as anot he r memorable meal—in the newly opened Garden Room restaurant at the 5-star Merrion Hotel (merrionhotel.com), one of the best hotels in the world. Comprised of four historic Georgian townhouses, in addition to modern additions, the hotel also has the second largest art collection in Ireland. You don’t have to be a guest at the hotel to dine or take tea in one of its beautiful venues. Fortified, we made our way to Trinity College and viewed one of Dublin’s principle attractions—The Book of Kells, a 9th-Century illuminated manuscript of the Four Gospels, written by monks in Latin. Only 4-5 pages are on view at a time. For more information on Ireland and all its magic, visit tourismireland.com. • 22 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
Dublin Street Scene
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TRAVEL
PORTUGAL
EUROPE’S BEST-KEPT SECRET By Ruth J. Katz
aving visited glorious Portugal several times, I already knew that this slice of the Iberian Peninsula offers delicious food, wonderful wines, interesting history and sightseeing, and a warm and gracious people. But until this last trip, I had no idea the Portuguese had such a good sense of humor: While passing an office building in Chiado in Lisbon, I spotted a message on an entryway glass door, which admonished: “Hi, my name is glass!” That tongue-in-cheek warning sign endeared the country to me even more, and this past trip—to Lisbon, Sintra, and the Algarve—further cemented my love of this under-appreciated sliver of a country. LISBON
The Cidade das Sete Colinas (City of Seven Hills) presents vertical challenges, so if you want to see the old city on those hills with a native’s eye, book a tuk-tuk tour and leave the driving to someone else. The hotel concierge at the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade, arranged a grand tour with a very knowledgeable driver-guide. This is the best way to soak in the palaces of the Bairro Alto to the shops in Baixa to the great vistas from the Graça neighborhood (one of Lisbon’s oldest suburbs, atop the city’s highest hill), and to Chiado, one of the city’s best shopping areas, with a mix of old, established emporia and new, fashionable boutiques. (It is also worth noting, that along the Avenida Liberdade, right outside the hotel, are all the most luxurious boutiques.) 24 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
Lisbon-Belem Tower
Do not miss the A Vida Portuguesa shop on Rua Anchieta, as it vends all things Portuguese, including the best triple-milled soaps, fine spices and olive oils, all manner of cork products, and many surprising handmade goods. The hotel also arranged for a singular walking tour and our savvy leader started us off at a popular, street-side watering hole, where it is de rigueur to sample the legendary ginja, a Portuguese liqueur made by infusing ginja berries (sour cherry) with sugar; a single shot and you are fortified for a half-day walk. During a free afternoon, I vegged out at the Tivoli’s gorgeous spa, where you can revel in the brand’s heritage of combining innovative techniques and holistic therapies, heightened by a stimulating Vichy shower and pampering attendants. Another afternoon, I hopped over to the Belém neighborhood in southwestern Lisbon, where the Torre de Belém (The Belem Tower, completed in 1521) keeps watch on the Tagus River harbor. Nearby is the majestic, monolithic Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries). Inaugurated in 1960, it commemorates the 500th anniversary of the death of the fêted Henry the Navigator. Nearby, housed in the celebrated Jerónimos Monastery, is the fabulous Museu Nacional dos Coches (Coach Museum), a true marvel. Afterward, reward yourself with a stop at Antiga Confeitaria de Belém, a former sugar-cane plant. Now a bakery, it cranks out 10,000 of the much beloved Pastéis de Belém, an ambrosial egg-custard tart. Along any walking tour, you will note the charcoal and white decorative mosaic-patterned sidewalks (calçada Portuguesa). These hand-executed pathways are exquisitely wrought in basalt and limestone and are a hallmark of this city and of other Portuguese settlements around the world. Do not leave Lisbon without a visit to the amazing Calouste Gulbenkian Museum and its gardens. With over 6,000 objets amassed by the collector, holdings include everything from Egyptian, Greco-Roman, and Islamic art, as well as pieces from the Far East and the West, to the decorative arts, sculptures, books, paintings, and a dazzling collection of René Lalique, purchased directly from the artist.
THE ALGARVE
The hustle of Lisbon melted away as I settled into a languid pace in the Algarve (the Portuguese Riviera), at the Anantara Vilamoura Hotel, a lush, sprawling, modern complex, awash with gorgeous fauna and flora and adjacent to the verdant Arnold Palmer-designed Dom Pedro golf course, where the Portuguese Open is played. There is something for everyone here and as the local population of half a million mushrooms to 1.5 million in high season, it seems “everyone” has discovered the lure of the Algarve. The hotel offers a kids’ club, so adults can enjoy their time away while the little ones are kept busy with crafts, planting herbs in the garden, and other adventures; adult pastimes might include a cooking class, a hot-air balloon ride, wine-tastings, tennis, biking, or boating, as the area is home to Portugal’s largest marina. The Adventure Guru scheduled a municipal market tour to the Mercado Loulé, over 100 years old, where fish, spices, oils, chocolates, cork products, marzipan, herbed salts, and mouth-watering baked goods are among the tempting mix. We picked up many requisite ingredients for our Spice Spoons Cooking Class (an Anantara signature activity) and returned to Vilamoura, where we prepared a flavorful luncheon—seafood salad, fish stew, prawns with chorizo, rice pudding à la Portuguesa—under the supervisory whisk of the chef. Following that tasty meal, I once again tested Anantara’s famed spa, and enjoyed a deep tissue massage and the “adventure” shower, with its colored lights. The next day’s big escapade was a Jeep tour, first to local villages, including Faro, and then into the interior of the Algarve, where the dusty terrain is punctuated with fig, kumquat, clementine, and banana trees and even quince and wild strawberries. Late in the day, we were treated to a taste of native grapes, with the hotel’s Wine Guru, António Lopes (voted Best Sommelier of Portugal in 2014), who introduced us to many regional rarities, including the Dao, which he noted is “Chardonnay-like but with soul” and the Baga, which produces a more tannic wine. I capped off the day with dinner at Ria Restaurant, a fish-lover’s delight—bountiful seafood prepared with Portuguese flair and flavor.
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MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 25
SINTRA
The town of Sintra (a UNESCO World Heritage site) showcases some of Europe’s most splendid examples of the whimsical and colorful architecture of Romanticism. Arguably, the most popular day-trip destination from Lisbon, Sintra is host to three million visitors a year (local population is about 400,000). Situated within the bucolic Parque de Sintra-Cascais, the landscape offers dense, forested mountains that give way to the rugged coastline. There is plenty of opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy hiking, cycling, and challenging rock-climbing. Sintra also has historic monuments and sites to visit and numerous palaces (from picture-perfect, opulent mansions to castles in near ruins). Not to mention, fine dining (think more amazing seafood) and shopping. (Tip: Look for white port, not found too often in the States, and the even rarer and new-to-market, rosé port.) One palace not only worth visiting (the lush grounds are open to the public), but moreover, staying in, is the Tivoli Palácio de Seteais, a grand hotel that has been painstakingly restored to its former magnificence. In fact, there is so much history associated with the palace, that the Minor Hotel Group, the parent company of this Tivoli hotel, has a historian available, to share the story and secrets of the manse with guests. The opulent and ornate public spaces are dotted with frescoes, tapestries, lavish patterned carpets, prized antique furnishings, and even a treasured piano, built over a hundred years ago by the renowned German master, Steingraeber & Söhne.
Sintra-Palacio da Pena by António Sacchetti
You can feel like an 18th-centuy monarch, yourself, by scheduling one of the hotel’s Dining by Design meals in a splendid galleria, where you will be waited on by period-dressed service staff, as a musician plies a harp. (There is even harp music at breakfast!) You can also arrange for a meal (and a wine tasting) in the hotel’s dedicated and comfy wine room. Two palaces are a must to visit: The colorful Palácio da Pena, an example of Romantic architecture unrivaled in these environs; it almost looks as if Disney had decided to construct a few Magic Castles and cobble them together. Completed in the mid-19th century, the palace boasts marvelous history and eclectic suites and rooms, including a kitchen that will boggle the mind, as is so sophisticated for its time. The other is the Gothicstyle National Palace, the best-preserved medieval Royal Palace in Portugal. Inhabited almost continuously from the early 15th century to the late 19th century, it, too, features a marvelously advanced kitchen, ornately painted ceilings, a room replete with wall-size pictorials of historic scenes rendered in Portugal’s illustrious Azulejo tiles, and a chamber dubbed the Swan Room (look at the ceiling). No trip to Sintra is complete, without a stroll around the old city, up its charming, cobbled walkways, chockablock with restaurants, bars, and shops selling Portugal’s fine wares Tivoli Palacio Seteais Exterior
For more information on Portugal, go to visitportugal.com. •
Tivoli Palacio Seteais Public Area
GETTING THERE Fly to and from Portugal on TAP Air Portugal (flytap.com), the flagship carrier airline of Portugal, voted Best Airline in Europe for the seventh consecutive year by the readers of Global Traveler Magazine. Business Class offers very comfortable flat beds, soft quilts, delicious Portuguese wines and cuisine prepared with Iberian flair. Both Tivoli and Anantara hotels are part of the Thailand-based Minor Corporation (minorhotels.com), with properties on five continents, and today, one of the largest hospitality and food conglomerates in Asia, boasting a network of some 2,000 eateries and hundreds of retail stores, in addition to its 150-plus hotels. © Ruth J. Katz 2018 All Rights Reserved
26 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
TRAVEL
BARBADOS: THE JEWEL OF THE CARIBBEAN
t’s the easternmost island WHERE TO STAY in the Caribbean that has The Elegant Hotels Group features a both the Atlantic Ocean and collection of luxury hotels and resorts in Caribbean Sea encompassing Barbados offering satisfying choices for couples as well as singles and a “stay i t s s h o r e s . A n d w h i l e i t s families, in one play in many” feature. Here are a few distinctly British influence is of their offerings: very much apparent, there is a Cove: All Inclusive romantic real sense of fun and adventure Crystal hideaway with luxurious accommodations here. in hotel rooms and spacious suites designed It would be difficult to visit here and not become entranced with the wealth of natural beauty. If you’re feeling energetic, follow hiking trails through tropical rain forest, past sugarcane fields and over verdant rolling hills. Another possibility is to visit the subterranean Harrison’s Cave. Savor the spectacular sunsets on the beach and don’t forget to try delicious local specialties such as sea eggs and flying fish.
IMMERSE
with modern décor along with sweeping balconies. Other notable offerings include complimentary watersports and a new coffee and wine bar. The numerous restaurants range from casual to fine dining experiences.
Tamarind: Offers a perfect family beach getaway with 104 contemporary and spacious hotel rooms and suites designed with vibrant tropical touches. Activity offerings include a full selection of complimentary motorized and non-motorized water sports along with an Aqua School providing free lessons in waterskiing, tubing, banana boat rides, sailing, snorkeling and water trampoline. Stays include a full buffet breakfast in the Sugar Cane room with a variety of fresh fruits, sweet pastries and an omelette station.
INDULGE
Colony Club: Luxury island retreat comprised of 96 luxury guestrooms and suites featuring fine mahogany finishes and marble bathrooms. Many rooms have four poster beds and a balcony or patio with beautiful views. The rooms feature luxury amenities from espresso machines to yoga mats. An extensive array of island tours are offered along with snorkeling excursions, the chef-guided “Bait to Plate” fishing trip. Enjoy a luxurious shopping excursion at the nearby outdoor mall. •
INSPIRE
An island of firsts Warm Caribbean sea on one side, the bracing Atlantic on the other, it can only be Barbados: the tropical paradise boasting luxurious hotels, UNESCO sites and culinary delights at the captivating Oistins Fish Fry. Famous for George Washington’s only foray outside the US, it’s the only colony that founded its own colony, Charleston, and home to the western hemisphere’s oldest Jewish synagogue, Nidhe Israel Synagogue.
To plan your next vacation go to visitbarbados.org Visit Barbados
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TRAVEL
THE SPA AT NORWICH INN By Jeff & Stephanie Sylva
urrender to the indulgence—we deserve it!” was our mantra during our recent visit to the elegant and welcoming The Spa at Norwich Inn. Located in the tranquil woods of eastern Connecticut, this Georgian Colonial manor, with its classic red brick façade, presents an impressive first impression. And behind this façade awaits the means for you to surrender as well. Built in 1929 and formerly known as The Norwich Inn and Spa, the resort has had a long history of indulging guests, many with celebrity status. In 1994 the Inn and Spa were purchased by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe. The Tribe’s commitment to continual expansion and improvement resulted in $15 million renovations completed in 2000. The Inn’s 100 guest rooms and villas, spread over the estate’s 42 acres, were refurbished resulting in a Spa twice its original size, making it the East Coast’s largest spa at the time. This renovation and expansion also brought a new name to the facility— The Spa at Norwich Inn. Today overnight guests can experience a wealth of amenities even on days when they are not enjoying a spa treatment. Avail yourself of all of the spa’s facilities, as well as the daily complimentary Afternoon Tea and Scones and late afternoon Wine Tasting—a perfect welcome for arriving guests.
PAMPERED PERFECTION
As the new name suggests, the focus here is on the Spa. Finding tranquility and rejuvenation here is easy. Spa Director Marie Mozzi told us the goal for 2018 is for total integration of all aspects of wellness—“a redefining of health and wellness.” Thirty-seven treatment rooms, a well-equipped fitness center, indoor pool, relaxation room, sauna, steam room, hot tub, and salon, combined with the Spa’s extensive menu of treatments and services, product lines, fitness classes, and activities, make for some serious pampering. Your day of indulgence may start with the Morning Meditation Class followed by a Signature Massage and a Signature Facial; the Spa provides 17 styles of massage and 13 facials on their menu. Then enjoy a peaceful repose in the relaxation room before taking lunch at the Spa’s Juice Bar. 28 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
PLANS TO PLEASE
You should have no trouble finding a package plan—whether as an overnight visitor or day guest—that suits your needs. A wide selection of Overnight Packages includes the Country Getaway Retreat, the Personal Escape Plan, and Rejuvenation. Two new Overnight Promotions, Stay and Spa and Overnight Renewal, are also available. Try a treatment like the Milk & Honey Body Wrap that features some of the resort’s honey from its resident apiary. The honey is also used in some of the chef ’s recipes and sold in the gift shop. Day Spa packages include one or more spa services depending on the package selected, a fitness class, lunch in Kensington’s, full use of the Spa facility, and a variety of daily complimentary amenities.
DELIGHTFUL DINING
Do you like the idea of visiting a spa, but you’re not exactly thrilled with a lean spa cuisine? Rest assured, dining at The Spa at Norwich Inn is a gastronomic delight. The main restaurant, Kensington’s, serves three meals each day; our dinner was nothing short of outstanding. We strongly recommend starting with the sinfully delicious Amaretto Shrimp, lightly fried with Amaretto, Lime, and Candied Walnut Dust. Because of its popularity, it has remained on the menu for well over a decade. Our entrees included an evening special of Black Sea Bass with a Mango-Cilantro Salsa, and a menu mainstay, Scallops Madison - Jumbo seared scallops accompanied by a Blue Crab-Potato Knish, Spinach, and a Smoked Tomato Coulis. As a nod to the conscientious spa-goers, all menu choices have nutritional info as well. Another option is Ascot’s Pub, which boasts a much more creative menu than typical pub fare. Be sure to order the Black and Bleu Burger, and the Curry Roasted Cauliflower with Harissa Aioli—both incredibly delicious. The bartenders here are quite adept at concocting some very interesting libations, many with a clever twist on a classic cocktail. Wine lovers will find an appealing selection of wine flights sure to make your cocktail hour exciting.
AREA ATTRACTIONS Although you may never feel the need to leave the bucolic surroundings, there are many things to do within a short drive. The Mohegan Sun Casino is a 5-minute drive from The Inn, and Foxwoods Resort Casino is also nearby. There’s also Mystic Aquarium, Mystic Seaport (the nation’s leading maritime museum), and Downtown Mystic with more than 80 restaurants, eateries, boutiques, shops, and galleries. Mystic Whaler Cruises and Argia Mystic Cruises offer various day sailing and sunset cruises. For a little outdoor activity, Devil’s Hopyard State Park offers biking, hiking, birding, stream fishing, and picnicking. Mohegan Park also has various trails for hiking. For a short walk and some fascinating history, Fort Shantok is on the Native American land and was the first settlement led by tribal leader Uncas, a prominent and influential Mohegan leader. For a little seafaring adventure.
It won’t take you long to realize the essence of the resort is the impeccable service of the staff. Whether at the spa, in the restaurants, or from the front desk, everyone (change was to is) friendly, helpful, and professional. The Spa at Norwich Inn may make you feel like you’re worlds away, but it is less than a three hour drive from Manhattan. You can also take an Amtrak train to New London and be picked up by The Inn’s shuttle (prior arrangement necessary). For more information about The Spa at Norwich Inn, visit thespaatnorwichinn.com. •
Jeff and Stephanie Sylva are retired English and Social Studies high school teachers who have been freelance travel writers for over 28 years. They’ve been publishing in many national publications and who love to write about the great outdoors and, of course, travel. MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 29
TRAVEL
SANTA FE: A YEAR-ROUND DESTINATION By Clint Brownfield
arly the first morning of my trip to Santa Fe, I was having coffee on the balcony of my suite at Hotel Santa Fe (hotelsantafe.com) and noticed some movement during the early morning light. It was a coyote, loping along the sidewalk—crossing the street to the train station. Then, up in the sky, a hawk flew by. Amazing I thought. I don’t see these creatures in my Manhattan neighborhood, even though I live just a block from Central Park. I guess the coyote and the hawk were just trying to rustle up some breakfast! Exactly what I did, at the lounge on the club level of the Hotel Santa Fe—one of the best places I’ve ever stayed. With its adobe covered walls and spectacular native art collection, Hotel Santa Fe is the perfect place to begin your visit. The only hotel in downtown Santa Fe owned by Native Americans it’s within easy walking distance to the Railyard District and the famed Plaza, just a few blocks away.
EXPLORING THE CITY
The Plaza has long been the central point in Santa Fe, dating back when indigenous peoples began to take up residency. The Palace of the Governors on the Plaza’s northern side was the seat of government for centuries, locally and statewide. A new capitol building, just a few blocks from the Plaza, now serves as the state capital of New Mexico—our 47th state—admitted in 1912. It also has the distinction of being the highest state capital in the nation, with an elevation of 7,100 feet, sitting in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It’s also the oldest U.S. capital city—founded as a Spanish Colony in 1610. The sky that Georgia O’Keeffe loved is visible all over Santa Fe, because few buildings are taller than the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, just off the Plaza. Santa Fe also is home to the oldest known church in the U.S., San Miguel Mission. Other vantage points include Museum Hill. Here, at the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, Museum of International Folk Art, and Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, you can learn about the history of Santa Fe and environs via world-class permanent collections and special exhibitions. They overlook the magnificent Santa Fe Botanical Gardens—14 acres of native plants and trees and ones brought by early settlers to thrive in the semi-arid climate. You can also enjoy a lunch or brunch at Museum Hill Café. Great views and food at budget friendly prices. 30 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
FINE FARE
Of course, there are plenty of restaurants to whet your appetite. Yes, Santa Fe can compete with any destination—domestically or internationally. A visit to the Santa Fe Farmers Market, open year round, reveals to visitors the abundance of produce available in the Southwest. Vendors must live and produce their wares within a 100-mile radius of the city. Historically, New Mexican cuisine was based on a trinity of beans, squash, and corn. However, once Europeans began to settle in 1500s, wheat and other staples would gradually mix into the daily menu. An organization called Wander New Mexico offers tours of the restaurants in the Railyard District, where groups of about ten food fans can sample the wares of 3 to 4 restaurants. Stops may include samplings at La Choza where diners can learn about the differences between Mexican and New Mexican cuisine and also sample a margarita (or two). Handson classes are offered at the Santa Fe Cooking School just off the plaza where you can choose from some classes to learn how to make dishes from local ingredients, including chilies—the core of lots of New Mexican cuisine. Red chilies, green chilies mixed together are called Christmas, the term invented by a popular waitress at Tia Sophia, just off the Plaza. This local favorite is also credited with the concept called the breakfast burrito in the 1980s. This fabulous food (and drink) will fortify you for one of Santa Fe’s most fun pastimes—shopping. It’s practically an Olympic sport! Begin on the Plaza at the Palace of the Governors (now a state museum) where each day tribal artists sell their wares. Continuing around the Plaza, you can fortify yourself for more shopping at Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi (rosewoodhotels.com) for an unforgettable meal or stop at perhaps Santa Fe’s most famous hotel, La Fonda on the Plaza (lafondasantafe.com), which has long served as the social hub of the area. An inn of some sort has been on this corner of the Plaza since the 1600s and marks the end of the Santa Fe Trail. Another must-see in Santa Fe is Canyon Road, where more than 100 fine art galleries and artist studios line the one-mile street. This, along with hundreds of other venues, makes Santa Fe America’s third largest art market—after San Francisco and New York. New on the Santa Fe art scene is perhaps the most exciting new art installation in the world. It is Meow Wolf, located in a converted bowling alley, backed in part by resident/celebrity George R. R. Martin, author of Game of Thrones. The installation is an immersive experience that features the works of 150 artists.
When I got to New Mexico that was mine. As soon as I saw it, that was my country. I’d never seen anything like it before, but it fitted to me exactly. It’s something that’s in the air—it’s different. The sky is different, the wind different. I shouldn’t say too much about it because other people may be interested and I don’t want them interested. –Georgia O’Keeffe, 1977
New Yorkers figure prominently into Santa Fe today and its historic past. At well-known restaurants such as Terra Cotta Bistro and Cowgirl BBQ you can visit with the owners—all transplanted New Yorkers. The spectacular newly designed art mecca Site Santa Fe, was designed by Manhattan-based SHoP Architects. The centerpiece of another Santa Fe historic hotel, La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa (laposadadesantafe. com), is the Staab Mansion, which was built in the late 1800s by German immigrants who landed in New York before settling in Santa Fe—just like Georgia O’Keeffe herself. Who knows how she’d feel about her eponymous museum just off the Plaza, which is now one of Santa Fe’s biggest draws, visited by thousands of people each year from all over the world. Year round you can visit Santa Fe to hike, bike, ski, attend the opera in the summer and mingle with the locals (including the occasional coyote and hawk). All are welcome in Santa Fe. For more information on Santa Fe, visit santafe.org. • MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 31
TRAVEL
Natchez Grand
MOONLIGHT, MAGNOLIAS & MORE By Gretchen Kelly
ime has not stood still in Natchez, but you could forgive the traveler for thinking it had. Staying at an antebellum mansion that has transformed into a B&B or standing by the Mississippi and watching the massive America Queen riverboat glide by, it may seem as if little has changed since pre-Civil War days. But beneath the moonlight and magnolias exterior that appears to have remained intact, is a massive change in the way people in Natchez see themselves and interpret that vision to visitors. On a recent trip to the riverside city in Mississippi, near enough to New Orleans to drive there in about 2 hours, I dined with the new Mayor Darryl Grennell at the just-renovated and restored Brandon Hall Plantation (brandonhallplantation.com). This proverbial antebellum mansion is complete with live oaks, four-poster beds, ghosts and a great dining hall that looks like it came straight out of pages of Gone with the Wind. Grennell, a former Alcorn University Professor of Microbiology says that “transparency, inclusion and accountability” will be the touchstones of his new administration of this old American city (founded in 1716). He proudly points to his own mixed-race heritage and talks vibrantly about the efforts to transform a community known for its historically preserved antebellum architecture, into a city that tells the story of all of its inhabitants.
American Queen
ROLLING ON THE RIVER
Natchez is the county seat in Adams County, Mississippi, directly across the muddy Mississippi from Vidalia, Louisiana (home of Jerry Lee Lewis, by the way). Natchez grew to prominence in the pre-Civil War days when it was the center of a thriving cotton business. As locals are keen to point out, many of the stately mansions that line its streets both downtown and further out on the edges of its borders were owned by Northerners who had business interests in this major economic center. During the war, many locals were split on their loyalties, and some full-time residents even resisted secession from the Union of States. As Grennell pointed out, there was also a thriving community of free African Americans in the town. The William Johnson House run by the National Parks Service, is a 32 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
museum dedicated to a pre-war African American businessman who ran a barbershop business here as a free person and kept diaries on his life and experiences. Known throughout the country during the 30s and 40s as a center of preservation of the pre-Civil War architecture, Natchez gained fame for its annual spring and fall “Pilgrimage” events. These month-long celebrations of the city’s mansions continue today with open house invitations to view them complete with costumed guides in hoop skirts, traditional food, and music. Another must-see is the Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture which interprets the stories of African Americans in Natchez (including the story of the author and resident Right Wright).
LORE & LEGENDS
After an evening stay at luxurious Brandon Hall and a talk with the Mayor, I checked into the riverside Grand Hotel and spent several hours in this fascinating small museum on Main Street starting with a soul food cooked by the founders of the Natchez Heritage Cooking School. Jarita Frazier-King, her mother, and grandmother (who just turned 80) help visitors cook up their own version of grits, greens, and ribs with meat falling from the bone. Doing so diners learn the lore and legends that go along with foods traditionally grown and cooked by and for the enslaved workers of Natchez and then by their freed ancestors. Frazier also teaches nutrition at nearby Alcorn University and points out the abundant nutritional elements of the foods that plantation workers were allowed to grow for themselves. Afterwards, I toured the small museum and its rich and dense collection of artifacts, memorability, press clippings and more on the African American journey in Natchez.
Carriage in front of Grand Hotel
Another area that will soon be the site of an interpretive center is the Forks of the Road area in downtown Natchez, a large patch of green which was once one of the largest slave markets in the south. There are plans to build a comprehensive interpretive center here to add dimension to the mansion tours which have been the tourism staple of Natchez for decades. Eola at night
Fried catfish at Biscuits and Blues
Along with history comes more food and culture and Natchez is brimming with both. At a hearty dinner of catfish and pasta at Pearl Street Pasta we were treated to local music along with fresh caught fish and comfort food (and a few mint juleps for good measure). Natchez also has a recent cinematic history in its richly layered tapestry of tales. The city was the filming location for the Montgomery CliftElizabeth Taylor film, Raintree Country. Both Liz and Monty stayed in town at the once palatial and now unfortunately darkened and closed hotel Eola while filming. You can see the ghostly remains of what was scripted as Liz’s antebellum home in the film at the outskirts of town. It’s called the Windsor Ruins—a 30-minute drive from downtown Natchez. The ruins are the real skeleton of a pre-War plantation house. All that remains are the beautiful fluted columns, and some ironwork hung with Spanish moss and surrounded by encroaching kudzu. The Southern gothic atmosphere of the film is palpable here. The ghosts of Mississippi seem very much alive here but the real tale to be told is not a ghost story of Natchez, but the story of how its citizens are keeping its heritage alive and opening the telling to all of its people. For more information on Natchez, go to visitnatchez.org. •
Windsor Ruins
Gretchen Kelly writes on travel and hotels for The New York Post, TravelwithVal.com, Frommers.com, and many other websites and publications. She has appeared on FOX5’s Good Day New York, BBC Worldwide News and Bloomberg News. She’s been to over 80 countries. MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 33
TRAVEL
THE TWO SIDES OF THE W FORT LAUDERDALE By Stacey Zable
stay at the W Fort Lauderdale is all at once both hip and happening, beachy and relaxing. It’s one of the hottest spots on Fort Lauderdale Beach, with its evening theme nights and rooftop pool deck, but the hotel’s Bliss Spa and guest rooms provide quiet time just for you when you choose to escape the excitement. You decide on your own ideal vacation while at the 517-room property facing Fort Lauderdale’s white sands and the Atlantic Ocean, and the W Fort Lauderdale will provide the rest. A $55 million renovation of the W Fort Lauderdale was recently completed and touched every part of the hotel including its guest rooms, suites and residential suites, spa, and rooftop WET pool deck. James Beard Award winner Stephen Starr opened his second oceanfront restaurant at the property, El Vez, also as part of the renovation following the success of the hotel’s Steak 954. El Vez offers regional Mexican food, while Steak 954 is known for its dry-aged meats and fresh seafood. The soaring tower’s design was envisioned to resemble a sailboat. All guest rooms have water views, with see-through paneled balconies that make you feel as if you are sitting out on the sea. The many public outdoors spaces also exude the sense of sailing the ocean, which lies just feet from the hotel. The new décor was influenced by its location, mixing metallic details with an open layout.
TRENDY ROOMS & MORE
The large contemporary guest rooms, suites and residential suites are decorated in ocean blues and rose gold. The renovation brought new flooring, furniture, and accents to all rooms. The property’s “Whatever/Whenever” button on the phone is at the ready for guest requests from small to large. The focal point of excitement is the Living Room on the hotel’s fourth floor, which is also where guests check-in. 34 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
The expansive space is more than a lobby lounge, though as it name implies its seating does invite guests into a welcome respite to sit and mingle with friends. Here guests can simply order a signature cocktail, enjoy a morning meal at the breakfast grab ‘n go buffet, eat at the new Sushi Bar, or head out to the ocean-facing expansive terrace. Evening transforms the Living Room for nightly excitement offering a complimentary weekly line-up of programming for guests and locals. Each night of the week features a different theme with guests enjoying such treats as hand and arm massages, complimentary henna designs, live art demonstrations, and a DJ spinning tunes that run the gamut from Latin to ‘80s music, with live jazz kicking off the week on Sunday nights.
MAKE A SPLASH
The rooftop WET Deck overlooking the beach and ocean is dedicated to poolside fun with pulsating music, cocktails and food at the ready, and plenty of lounge chairs, umbrellas and day beds. The pool boasts a cool see-through wall on one side where underwater swimmers can have friends on the pool deck click them for Instagram-worthy moments. Fort Lauderdale Beach is across the street, with the hotel offering two lounge chairs and an umbrella complimentary for guests who prefer to spend their day in the sun on the white sands.
PAMPERING TIME
Quiet and relaxation is immediately felt when guests step into the hotel’s Bliss Spa. A menu of massages, facials, manicures and pedicures are designed to pamper guests. Men’s and women’s locker rooms and lounges start treatments off right with a brownie bar with complimentary treats. The W Fort Lauderdale offers other ways to decompress in the form of the FIT Fitness Center and complimentary beachfront boot camp and yoga classes. Living Room Terrace
For more information on W Fort Lauderdale, visit wfortlauderdalehotel.com. •
EXPLORING FORT LAUDERDALE The W Fort Lauderdale’s location is ideal for quick access to Fort Lauderdale Beach and a stroll along A1A for a choice of laid-back alfresco restaurants and beach bars. The popular Casablanca Café with ocean views pairs American and Mediterranean fare. The restaurant is in a restored historic home that dates back to the 1920s. Be sure to also explore Las Olas Boulevard’s 17 blocks of shopping, dining, nightlife and art galleries. A 10-minute drive brings you to such favorite restaurants as Louie Bossi for Italian comfort food, Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar for casual Mexican fare, and YOLO (You Only Live Once), known for its happy hour, Sunday brunch and Contemporary American cuisine. Shopping choices include such high-end clothing stores as Moda Mario’s flagship. A 10 to 15 minute drive from the W Fort Lauderdale also takes you to the NSU Museum in downtown Fort Lauderdale’s arts and entertainment district. Among the highlights of the museum’s impressive permanent collection of 6,000 works are the largest collection of paintings and drawings by American realist William Glackens and the largest collection in the U.S. of post-World War II avant-garde Cobra artists of Brussels, Copenhagen and Amsterdam. Also a short drive away, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts overlooking the New River in downtown Fort Lauderdale is the place to go for a night enjoying Broadway musicals, operas, ballets, concerts and more. For more information on Fort Lauderdale, visit sunny.com. MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 35
REAL ESTATE & HOME DECOR
NOTES FROM DB
550 Vanderbilt ©VUW Studio
By Daniel J. Bollinger
he winter months of any new year are usually quiet times for NYC real estate except for activity due to Wall Street bonuses. I typically write about the NYC real estate market here but what is happening in the financial markets is the real story these days. If you haven’t been watching, as of the time of this writing, the S&P and DOW futures have had a wild ride. The DOW has been fluctuating immensely, sometimes trading between 1,000-index point swings on a daily basis. From February 1st to February 9th approximately $5 trillion was wiped off the value of global equity markets. Two terms that are being used in the news to describe this activity is “volatility” and “correction.” A correction is defined as a decline of 10 percent or more from an index’s recent peak. Volatility is defined as something subject to rapid and unexpected change, especially for the worse. These two terms are being used to describe the financial markets these days and may be used to describe the NYC real estate market later this year.
AN UNPREDICTABLE MARKET
The NYC real estate market has been softening beginning in the fourth quarter of 2017 and continue to show signs of softening. Some statistics that support this claim are: In the third quarter of 2018 the median sale price of new developments dropped by 23 percent to $2.8mm. Manhattan has over 12,300 unsold condos in the new development segment consisting of built, under construction, and planned construction. Average listing discounts rose to 5.5 percent from 2.9 percent during this period in the luxury market. Combine these stats with the volatile financial markets and with Trump’s new tax plan, and I would say watch for this trend to continue. The era of “aspirational pricing,” or “completely ridiculous” pricing as I like to say should see its end this year. An excellent example of this is a recently sold triplex in Trump Place. On and off the market since 2012 (seven years), it recently sold for half of the original listing price ($75mm original listing price and sold for $36mm). Another good example of realism hitting the market is a 75-acre estate at 124 Old Mill Road in Greenwich, CT that was bought in 2010 for $24mm that is currently being listed for a loss at $22.5mm. A story in the commercial segment which may be a leading indicator of things to come is 666 Fifth Avenue. Purchased in 2006 during the build-up of the 2008 financial crisis for a record-breaking price ($1.2 billion), partners Kushner Companies and Vornado Realty Trust seem to be parting ways. In an abrupt reversal, Vornado has announced that it plans to sell its stake in this investment. Could it just be due to conflicting interest between the investors? Or is Vornado being proactive in their decision based on how the market is heading? We shall see. As I have stressed in previous articles I must reiterate: The sky is not falling. The world isn’t ending. NYC is possibly the safest city to invest in real estate regarding hedging against inflation and as a safe-haven for value retention. We simply need to come back down to reality with pricing (as the data suggests). 36 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
A GOOD TIME TO INVEST
It’s actually becoming a great time to invest in a luxury property. The market is softening. Owners are more receptive to realistic offers. As more development comes to market, this trend should continue. With mortgage interest rates rising this also creates a greater urgency to purchase before they rise more. As always I advise working with a buyer agent who knows the NYC market and especially knows the new development/luxury market. Speaking of mortgage interest rates rising: As I wrote in a previous column of Notes From DB, I advised potential buyers to lock into the current interest rate when getting pre-approved. If you had listened to my advice, you would be in a better position to purchase a property in today’s market environment. A good stat to remember when it comes to mortgage interest rates: every 1 percent increase in interest amounts to $100,000 in lost purchasing power for a buyer. • Daniel J. Bollinger Luxury Real Estate Expert Keller Williams Tribeca DJB@KWNYC.com danielbollinger.kw.com
REAL ESTATE & HOME DECOR
BROOKLYN’S BEST
550 Vanderbilt ©VUW Studio
By Daniel J. Bollinger
atch the subway to Brooklyn, where you’ll find two developments which are almost 75 percent sold. One is in Prospect Heights located at 550 Vanderbilt and the other, in Fort Greene, a twin building development at 171 South Portland and 164 South Oxford, better known as Oxford/Portland. Both addresses have great locations, thoughtful layouts, beautiful design details, and plenty of views. LOCATION
550 Vanderbilt This could be the best location in all of Brooklyn. A block from Barclays Center in the new Pacific Park neighborhood, this place is hard to beat. If you prefer to be in the center of the “action” then 550 Vanderbilt is your choice. Oxford/Portland This development encompasses two of the quietest streets in Fort Greene. A few blocks in one direction is Fort Greene Park, and in the opposite direction, you’ll find the center of Downtown Brooklyn. If you prefer to live on a quiet tree-lined brownstone block, then Oxford/Portland is for you.
DESIGN DETAILS
550 Vanderbilt Most notable about 550Vanderbilt are the impressive kitchens and baths. The kitchens have lovely warm hues with not only integrated cabinetry but overhead cabinets to maximize storage and space. Featuring an all Miele appliance package that vents out with Grohe fixtures. The master baths also have warm brown hues with Carrera marble. Large wet rooms with subwaytiled walls and a lovely linen closet are standard. Secondary bathrooms have lighter wood tones with sizeable gray tiling. Every bath in each unit features a different design. The steel sinks in the powder rooms elicit a design detail mention. Wet rooms in some units have impressive niches. They are penny tiled with a stainless steel border. It draws the eye. Other baths have a marble wainscoting design with subway tiles above it. The rich brown hues of the medicine cabinets and vanities are also impressive. Some medicine cabinets have a nice open shelf too. Oxford/Portland These twin sister condos offer some remarkable kitchen and bathroom designs including Bosch and Bertazzoni appliances. Counter space features beautifully striped Montclair Danby marble. Dornbracht fixtures come standard with fully integrated cabinetry in these classic white kitchens. The baths have Waterworks fixtures with great niche factors. Many bedrooms have en-suite baths. There are some windowed bathrooms and all match the kitchens with a classic white design. Since the twin development butts up against each other, this gives the ground floor units ample private outdoor space. 38 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
LAYOUTS
The most popular type of design in today’s new development is the open kitchen/living/dining room layout. Both developments have these kinds of plans in their units. There is plenty of natural light with almost floor to ceiling windows in 550 Vanderbilt and plenty of windows in Oxford/Portland units. High ceilings are another attraction in both developments with 550Vanderbilt featuring ceilings 10’6” and higher and Oxford/Portland featuring some soaring 14’ ceiling heights in penthouses; one penthouse even boasts a 20’ ceiling height in the kitchen. Oxford/Portland
PENTHOUSES
Oxford/Portland The duplex penthouse, at 171 South Portland, has an upstairs master bedroom with a terrace. The master bath in this unit has a huge wet room. This unit also has a balcony directly off of the kitchen and a private roof terrace. The penthouse at 164 Oxford features three terraces in total: one off the master bedroom, one off the kitchen, and a large balcony running the length of the entire apartment. The porthole windows are an excellent design detail given the 14’ ceiling heights. 550 Vanderbilt ©VUW Studio
AMENITIES
550 Vanderbilt This significant 278 unit ground-up development provides an excellent amenity package. Not only does it have the standard children’s playroom, concierge services, bike storage, and rooftop deck but it also has a sizeable 3,500+ square-foot gym. There is also a resident lounge with two full kitchens, a beautiful library with a fireplace, an outdoor area, a direct connection to the coming eight-acre Pacific Park greenspace, and more. One of the design details that make some of these amenities so impressive are soaring 18+’ ceiling heights. There is also a third party parking garage within Pacific Park. Oxford/Portland This boutique development consists of only sixteen units comprising both buildings. It has devoted all the space to the beautiful units and does not offer anything in terms of amenities.
RECAP
550 Vanderbilt The joint venture Greenland Forest City Partners and CookFox Architects can be thanked for giving 550 Vanderbilt such beauty within the newly developed Pacific Park. From the buildings’ façade to the interiors and the amenities this development is reshaping the face of a New Brooklyn rising. For more information on 550 Vanderbilt, visit 550vanderbilt.com. Oxford/Portland East River Partners and Barry Rice Architects have teamed up to bring a genuinely thoughtful twin sister condo offering with immaculate interiors that scores high marks in location, building, layouts, and design details. A fantastic opportunity to call Fort Greene your home on two of the most beautiful, quiet, tree-lined streets in Brooklyn. For more information on Oxford/Por tland, v isit oxfordp or tland.com. •
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REAL ESTATE & HOME DECOR
CITIZEN 360 By Daniel J. Bollinger
he Upper East Side’s Yorkville section is the home of a new ground-up condominium development nearing completion and called Citizen 360. Developed by Anbau and designed by SHoP Architects, it consists of 84 elegant units from one to four bedrooms which feature great design details. Residences are designed with five units per floor at the base, three units per floor in the middle, and tower units have two units per floor. SPA-LIKE UNITS
The tower units start on the 25th floor and feature three to four bedrooms. An emphasis on tranquility abounds in the units since the interiors were designed by Irish spa designers Clodagh. These units also boast high ceilings at 10’ 6” offering plenty of natural light. The window glass is an attenuated sound glass (for noise suppression) and UV-blocking to create an urban respite in your home. Pocket doors throughout and the central A/C provide for even more tranquility and quiet in combination with the glass panes. The kitchens are windowed with Italian smoked walnut custom cabinets throughout the eat-in chef ’s kitchens. Porcelanosa tiles on the counters and backsplashes are designed to look more like wallpaper than tiles, a unique design detail. Top notch appliances like Bertazzoni and SubZero make for a luxury design. There are also wet bars in some kitchens to accommodate the wine storage. Some excellent features to note: Open shelves on both sides of the stainless steel range hood (which vents out) with under mounted LED lighting. It’s an excellent design detail that opens up the kitchen area. Recessed LED lighting is in all rooms. Another design detail that isn’t noticeable but noteworthy: all living rooms have two junction boxes to support different furniture layouts for illumination and ceiling fan options. All bedrooms have en-suite baths and all three bedroom and up units have a large walk-in washer/dryer room with a huge utility sink. The master baths have honed Bateig Azul limestone floors with St Louis limestone walls. The tub has a great design detail as it is encased in Lacava stone and has a ledge for all bathroom essentials. But the element that steals the show is the custom Apaiser countertop that stretches almost the width of the bathroom and cuts through the glass wall of the large wet room. Inside the wet room, there is a niche cut out of the face of the extended vanity. I’ve never seen a feature like this in NYC to date. Add custom medicine cabinets with integrated lighting and custom fixtures by Clodagh and a new standard of Upper East Side luxury living has arrived.
THE FABULOUS EXTRAS
Amenities include a fitness center, a playroom, an art studio, an entertainment suite, a screening room, and a lounge with a catering kitchen. Clodagh has also brought us a wellness lounge with an infrared sauna. All amenities are located on the second and third floors of the development. Citizen 360 even has automated parking, a rare convenience in NYC. With its residential entrance positioned on tree-lined East 89th Street and beautiful design aspects brought to us by Clodagh, this new development has a lot to offer. Located in Yorkville on the Upper East Side it’s one of the most premier locations to live and raise a family. Anbau Enterprises and SHoP Architects have brought some great value to this area since units are priced at a few hundred dollars less per square foot than most other offerings in the area. A unique combination of value, luxury, spa-like interiors, and amenities. Citizen360 is a great new addition to the neighborhood. For more information on Citizen 360, visit citizen360.com. • 40 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
WESTPORT, CT $13,250,000 I MLS#99187927 Fran Burger, 203.209.6152
NORWALK, CT $5,250,000 I MLS#170024434 Michelle&Company, 203.454.4663
NAPLES, FL $4,795,000 I MLS#217036837 Christopher Braun, 239.572.2200
NEW CANAAN, CT $2,995,000 I MLS#4746464 Nikki McMann, 917.349.4763/Maria Miller, 203.858.3504
FAIRFIELD, CT $2,299,999 I MLS#170021489 Kate Cacciatore, 917.952.1195
LUDLOW, VT $2,000,000 I MLS#4657247 Katherine Burns, 802.999.3989
BLAUVELT, NY $1,950,000 I MLS#4727190 Ellen Hilburg, 914.772.5858
TIVERTON, RI $1,799,000 I MLS#1165771 Phyllis Ibbotson, 401.297.8450
WEST HARTFORD, CT $1,700,000 I MLS#G10233391 I Susie Hatch, 860.841.0866 & Bonnie Collins
REAL ESTATE & HOME DECOR
DESIGNING WAYS By Daniel J. Bollinger
ecently, in New York the Boutique Design Fair (bdny.com) showcased interior designers, architects, and hospitality owners/developers together with manufacturers and marketers of high-caliber design elements for hospitality interiors. Below are some of my top picks for design and new products. BAY ISLAND WOODWORKS (bayislandwoodworks.com) A renowned carpenter, a master woodcarver, and classically trained Honduran woodworkers have come together to transform genuine Mahogany and other exotic hardwoods into functioning works of art. They live and work in the Bay Islands of Honduras, where they elaborately hand carve and handcraft doors and furniture. Each piece is museumquality and application goes as far as the creative mind allows.
PARKLEX (parklex.com/usa) A manufacturer of improved wood products, Parklex interior finishes can be used for wet and drywall spaces, for regular and acoustic ceilings and high traffic hardwood floor areas, along with ventilated façade and rain screen applications for exterior use. Their interior panels can be used in very wet and humid spaces such as showers, spas and around pool areas with no harmful effects. JAMES MARTIN FURNITURE (jamesmartinfurniture.com) There’s no place like chrome. James Martin Furniture’s Beverly Collection is an homage to the Hollywood Regency style. During the “Golden Era” of Hollywood glamour (circa 1920 - 1950) luxury moved to embrace flashier finishes; lacquer, mirror, and chrome. The square base is fashioned from heavy gauge stainless steel and finished with a bright chrome finish. This petite Beverly vanity features a Bright White solid surface top and sink with an integrated shelf for storage of small items. The lower shelf is also crafted from a solid surface material, for the ultimate in high style—and easy cleaning. • 42 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
PIERMONT, NY $1,650,000 I MLS#4738285 Debbie Blankfort, 914.522.5426
DUXBURY, MA $1,599,000 I MLS#72239880 James Duffy, 508.816.9165
ARROWSIC, ME $1,500,000 I MLS#1327353 Kim Latour, 207.687.9663
STRATFORD, CT $1,499,000 I MLS#170049585 Carolyn Augur, 203.623.6239
FAIRFIELD, CT $1,399,000 I MLS#170029065 Denise Walsh & Partners, 203.650.1583
CAPE COD/PROVINCETOWN, MA $1,349,000 I MLS#21716606 Lee Ash, 508.237.6342
BARNARD, VT $1,250,000 I MLS#4659660 Susan Hickey, 802.353.5090
DUXBURY, MA $1,100,000 I MLS#72227981 Marcy Richardson, 617.513.2242
NEWTOWN, CT $1,049,000 I MLS#170044830 Connie Widmann, 203.856.6491
FEATURES
THROUGH THE LENS Photography By AnnieWatt.com
9TH ANNUAL CAREER TRANSITION FOR DANCER’S HEART & SOUL GALA
64TH WINTER ANTIQUES SHOW OPENING TO BENEFIT EAST SIDE HOUSE SETTLEMENT
2018 YOUNG COLLECTORS NIGHTWINTER ANTIQUE SHOW
Zac Posen
Ann Van Ness, Anka Palitz, Lois Pope Arie Kopelman, Coco Kopelman
Dance Town Barbara Cirkva-Schumacher, Drew Barrymore
Rob Russell, Anka Palitz, Dr. Omar Almallah, Cheryl Almallah
Wendy Whelan, Steven Caras, Anka Palitz
Chubb sponsored cocktails
Martha Stewart, East Side House Settlement in the South Bronx
East Side House Settlement
Rose Tarlow, David Geffen, Michael Bloomberg, Diana Taylor
Wendy Goodman, Jeffrey Caldwell, Lucinda May, Sam Dangremond
44 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
VICTORIA VINOKUR HOSTS WELLNESS & REAL ESTATE
Rachel Pouyafar, Victoria Vinokur, Halstead Property, LLC
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM
BRASIL-US E-VISA LAUNCHING!
Moya Carey, V&A Curator; Diana Quasha, AFV&A Chairman; Nicholas Coleridge, V&A Chairman; Jane Lawson, Development; Diana Seaton, Exec Dir. Brazilian Minister Of Tourism,Marx Beltrão,Anna Maria Tornaghi
Guests at the Murray Hill House, Apt. 8H
Beth Rudin DeWoody, Anne Pasternak, Brooklyn Museum Director
Marcelo Alves, the hostand Embratur’s President Vinicius Lummertz
Jillian Gilmour, Lady Lewinton, Sir Christopher Lewinton, Billy Guinness, Lucia Guinness, Nicholas Coleridge, David Gilmour
Taste of Brazil
Sara Kay, Deborah Froelich
Tricia Williams, Victoria Vinokur, Dr. Jack Mantione
Lady Sharon Sondes, Susie Elson, Chairman of the Society of the Four Arts
Vinicius Lummertz, Cindy Marinangel, Errol Rappapport, Cristina Rose, Gisele Lima
MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 45
BROADWAYHD PANEL SPEAK AT 2018 BROADWAYCON
Stewart F. Lane, Bonnie Comley, Lonny Price, Hal Berman, Gio Messale
PAINT YOUR HAIR BLUE BOOK PARTY
Andrea Cohane, Ryan Matthews, Sue Matthews, Corey Matthews, Bob Matthews
PALM BEACH JEWELRY, ART & ANTIQUE SHOW
Judi Parker, Terri Schottenstein, Virginia Gildea, Scott Diament, Melissa Parker, Gloria Herman, Barbara Zand, Blanche Napoleon-McCoun
Anne Akers, Nicole Leigh Morris, Jan Mercer Dahms, Sue Matthews Wally Sedgewick, Corrine Baker, Leah Lane
Attendees
Bruce Bierman, Polly Onet, Scott Diament
Lori Duckstien, Barbara Shaughnessy, Sue Matthews, Andrea Cohane, Jeanne Kingsley Christopher Smith, Pat Butler, Scott Snyder, Mitch Brown
Bonnie Comley, Stewart F. Lane, Gio Messale
Sue Matthews, Sharon Marantz Walsh
46 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
Gigi Benson, Harry Benson
ROBIN HAMBRO ART COLLECTION OPENING RECEPTION
SUNDAY AT THE INTERNATIONAL POLO CLUB IN WELLINGTON
WENDY J. SARASOHN AND JAMIE JOSEPH CO-HOSTED LESLIE COHEN’S THIS LOVE STORY WILL SELF-DESTRUCT BOOK SIGNING
John Klopp, Karen Klopp
Wendy Sarasohn, Leslie Cohen, Jamie Joseph
Jennifer Garrigues, Augustus Mayhew
Daphne Richards, Bill Richards Alexandra Dell, Kristina Dell, Leslie Cohen
Robin Hambro paintings
Donald and Sabrina Nelson, Marianna and Jack Abbate Robin Hambro paintings
Robin Hambro paintings
Christine De Lisle, Christine Biddle
Polo
Holly Oliphant, Anki Leeds, Julie O’Rourke
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FEATURES
TECH TALK By Ted Owen
he annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held in Las Vegas is the global showcase for emerging technologies which the manufacturers hope will change our daily lives. With some 20,000 products on display, it sets the trends for the year ahead—and beyond. Here, some stand-outs which just may change your life. CONNECTED
From refrigerators by Samsung to a voice-enabled toilet from Kohler your next home appliances will communicate with your phone or computer by app and by a digital assistant such as Google’s Home, Amazon’s Echo and Apple’s Homepod. Info: google.com/home, amazon.com/echo, apple.com/homepod
Google’s Home
Amazon’s Echo
Apple’s Homepod
Nvidia Big Format Gaming Display
VIDEO GAMING/VIRTUAL REALITY
Samsung The Wall
Nvidia Big Format Gaming Display (BFGD) offers serious eSports participants access to a 65” monitor with 4K quality resolution. Virtual Reality marches ever closer to our daily lives, and the HTC Vive Pro offers a 2018 headset without the need for cabling which is fast enough to provide a quality viewing experience. Info: nvidia.com and vive.com
TVs: LARGER, FASTER, BRIGHTER
My work on making computer gaming part of the 2024 Olympics echoes the Olympian ideals and which at CES 2018 appeared as televisions. Despite the 1990s forecasting the end of the TV, in 2018 it is all about size, resolution, and brightness. Samsung’s The Wall debuted as a 146-inch modular screen in 4K resolution. There was talk about 8K (do not reach for your phone to cancel that new 4K TV order!) and even screens which you can roll up courtesy of LG. Info: news.samsung.com, www.lg.com/ces 48 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
HTC Vive Pro
EASY DOES IT
Incredible as it may sound, no cables or adaptors are needed to recharge phones. That’s right! The release this year of phones from Apple using the QI system of inductive charging (the phone is placed on a mat to charge without the need to insert a cable) has led to a new way to charge up. Info: qiwireless.com
QI Wireless Charge
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
The Lishtot TestDrop Pro is a keychain-sized water pollution tester with the ability to upload data. This could be vital in developing countries for understanding how to prioritize improvements in water quality—or after natural disasters to ensure poor water does not compound a situation. Info: lishtot.com
Lishtot TestDrop
IMPROVE HEALTH
One of exciting trends of the year aims to help you achieve better health. From weighing scales which enable you to share a variety of information online with your health provider to the Nokia Sleep Sensor, which transmits data on your sleep quality to a phone app, is just the latest to improving your lifestyle—a game changer for life! Info: health/nokia.com/us/en/sleep For more information on the Computer Electronics Show (CES), visit ces.tech •
Nokia Sleep
Ted Owen is currently working to secure eSports for the 2024 Olympic Games. A serial video game entrepreneur, Owen has launched several innovative companies including Owen, Diaz & Altschul financed and early stage companies in the video game industry such as 3DO and Spectrum Holobyte. MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 49
REAL ESTATE & HOME DECOR
NORTH CAROLINA LUXURY LIVING By Nadine Wynn
o you dream of living and playing in one location? Well, here’s your answer. Lake Norman, North Carolina is situated within an easy commute to Charlotte and its international airport. It’s like living on vacation 365 days a year! Lake Norman is the second largest manmade lake in the state with 520 miles of shoreline. We have exclusive luxury communities such as Donald Trump’s resort community; The Point, which is in Mooresville; and The Peninsula community located in Cornelius— all offer award-winning championship golf courses, lakefront living, and fine dining. Investors love Lake Norman because of the affordable real estate and franchise opportunities available here.
SPORTS, THEATER, CULTURE & MORE
You will find all sports here: NASCAR, NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, PGA Golf tournaments, soccer and national fishing and equestrian competitions. You also have the National Whitewater rafting training center. You also have access to Broadway Theater Productions, music concerts, and numerous festivals.
LEAVE THE COLD BEHIND
Lake Norman’s average winter temperature ranges from 40 to 60 degrees which means you’ll never experience extremes. I tell my buyers it rarely ever snows; in fact, it’s an event to build a snowman. North Carolina does not employ the heavy snow equipment necessary to handle significant snowfalls. So if it does, we go buy up all the bread and milk, and just shut down the state and go out and play! Ideally located, Lake Norman is just 1.5 hours to the mountains and 3 hours to the ocean. We offer year-round golf, boating, and fishing. Charlotte and Lake Norman are proud to have state of the art medical facilities, exceptional colleges, world-class shopping and excellent fine dining with The Johnson & Wales Culinary Institute located right here in Charlotte.
50 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
And for job-seekers employment opportunities are abundant. The Charlotte Chamber of Commerce Major Employers directory boasts a list of 1,147 firms employing more than 676,000 people in the 16-county Charlotte region—everything from banking, airlines, healthcare, education, finance, high-tech, manufacturing, NASCAR, hospitality, retail and more. Housing construction in the Charlotte and Lake Norman region is booming! Lake Norman has much to offer anyone looking to move to an area where the living is more relaxed. Great location, job opportunities, and a climate that is ideal to downshift and improve your lifestyle. There is something for everyone on the water from $350,000 to $7 million. As an example: On a $500,000 home, annual taxes will range from $2,500 to $5,500 depending on the county. Now that we’ve piqued your interest, why not take a look? Lake Norman’s got it all. After all, living on the lake is a frame of mind: It’s a vacation every day of the year! For more information on Nadine Wynn and Team Nadine—rated #1 team for Keller Williams Realty—visit alakehome.com or call 704-806-6711. •
Lake Norman is conveniently located North of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Proud to be Keller Williams #1 Individual Agent in the Lake Norman region for 2016!
18000 Whispering Oaks Road Cornelius, NC 28031 Spectacular main channel waterfront lot with covered pier and rip-rap already in place. A fabulous sandy beach and incredible view make this lake lot one of the few prime lots left on lovely Lake Norman. This is a beautiful flat lot that you can buy now and build your dream home on later. Proposed artistic home to be built by Augusta Homes. MLS: 3335726 List Price: $2,200,000
Designations by the National Association of Realtors: Accredited Buyer’s Representative / ABR® ABR® education provides REALTORS® with what they need to stay competitive in today’s market and to represent buyers in this competitive market to the highest degree.
View Team Nadine’s Full Listings online: ALakeHome.com Nadine@TeamNadine.com • 704.806.6711 Nadine Wynn
19721 Bethel Church Road • Cornelius, NC 28031
DANIEL J BOLLINGER • New Development Expert • Knows NYC & Brooklyn • Relocation Specialist • Commercial Experience Contact Daniel for all of your real estate needs:
Daniel J Bollinger Licensed Real Estate Salesperson T: 646-677-0627 C: 718-662-9493 DJB@kwnyc.com 379 Broadway | New York, NY 10013
REAL ESTATE & HOME DECOR
A FIDI GEM By Daniel J. Bollinger
ocated in Lower Manhattan’s Financial District (FiDi), is 70 Pine Street which officially opened in 1932. This former AIG building’s history is as staggering as its height: It was the last skyscraper to be built in Lower Manhattan before the start of World War II and was deemed the tallest building in the area until the opening of the World Trade Center in the 1970s. Today, after a three-year renovation the 66-story property shines as the third tallest building in Lower Manhattan. With over 600 rental apartments and a 132 key residential hotel, Q&A, the building also encompasses Art Deco details that will impress. Because the FiDi district continues to evolve into a residential neighborhood, it has encountered some growing pains. To 70 Pine Street’s credit they are helping by leasing space Williamsburg’s Urban Market which is slated to open next year. The store will offer groceries, prepared foods and other necessities. The much-needed market is not only wonderful for residents of 70 Pines but the entire neighborhood.
MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 53
TOP OF THE LINE
The building offers studios-to-four bedroom apartment—all boasting open kitchen/living rooms. In fact, foyers are so spacious they can be converted into a small office/computer station. Most of the two-to-four bedrooms units are fashioned in the gallery style. All residences feature hardwood floors, gourmet kitchens with granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, Thermopane operable windows, and washer/dryer. Prospective renters have the option of choosing from three Collections: The City Collection is located on floors 11–31, many with a private outdoor space. The Tower Collection is located on floors 32-54 and boasts 12-foot ceilings; most have private terraces and all of them offer 360-degree views. Some apartments in this line have wraparound terraces. Finally, The Penthouse Collection comprises of 16 ultra-luxury apartments with the most panoramic views available. Since there are no layouts of these penthouse apartments online, one must schedule to see them. All of the apartments from top to bottom are well-designed and feature top of the line appliances and fixtures.
IT’S JUST THE BEGINNING
The Art Deco lobby is stunning. When the building officially opens, the public will be allowed to view the common areas. Don’t miss the incredible designs on the elevators. Residents will be able to keep fit with La Palestra which will offer 23,000-square-feet of state-of-the-art aerobic and strength training equipment. There will also be a dedicated Pilates and yoga studio as well as private massage and treatment rooms. Like its other outposts at The Plaza and Hotel Des Artistes, it will have a full array of personal and sports-specific training along with nutrition sessions, lectures, and seminars available. Also on the amenities menu: a bowling alley, golf simulators, and game/screening rooms including billiards and ping pong. One of the highly anticipated features is the opening of a restaurant/lounge which will be housed on the top floors and giving guests breathtaking views of New York Harbor, Brooklyn, Westchester, and New Jersey. 54 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
For more information, please visit: 70pine.com •
P r i v a t e C o v e w i t h Wa t e r f r o n t D o c k
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The penthouse at Oyster Bay
The Penthouse at Oyster Bay is the premier unit at the Lighthouse at Oyster Bay Beach Resort. The unit features 3 bedrooms, 3 full baths and each with its own balcony. Each balcony slider folds completely into the wall, the screens retract fully as does the drapery making the opening to the room about 12 feet. The layout of the entire unit affords a vista from every room and you will love the quiet and privacy of this special location. Natasha Laurent | CIPS Sales Associate/Rental Specialist RE/MAX Island properties Cell: 721 524 0640 Office: 721 544 4580
REAL ESTATE & HOME DECOR
THE NYC RENTAL GAME—EXPOSED By Daniel J. Bollinger
or anyone who has gone through the process of renting an apartment in NYC, he or she knows what a daunting task it can be. Bait-and-switch tactics, effective rent numbers vs. actual rent payments, missing addresses on apartment ads, and unethical brokers—all add up to a whole lot of stress for the apartment seeker. As a real estate professional, let me explain to you how the game is played. There are very few landlords who give out exclusive contracts on rentals. Most landlords give open contracts on their listings, meaning anyone who is a licensed real estate agent is legally allowed to advertise/market the landlord’s listings. This is why you don’t see many addresses advertised on open listings. It’s not that the agent wants to withhold information from you, it’s merely that the agent wants to ensure they get paid on the transaction for the time, effort, and money she/he has spent on advertising the listing and showing the apartment. This process makes it difficult for a renter to trust or commit to working with any individual agent, understandably, and that’s even before taking the broker fees into account. NYC is, unfortunately, one of the only markets in the country where fees are charged to the renter in a rental transaction. And those costs can be enormous, often up to 15 percent of the yearly rent. But there is one company that is making inroads in the rental game by not charging any fees to the renter and offering discounts on their moves. This firm is Loftey—a company committed to providing the most trustworthy and transparent transaction in the rental market today. New York Lifestyles recently had the chance to sit down with one of the partners, Ori Goldman, for a complete understanding of what Loftey stands for and how they are implementing this new game-changing strategy. Do you really not charge clients any fees when you work with them? That is correct. We don’t think it makes sense to take someone to a building they could have gone to on their own and then charge them thousands of dollars. If our clients wish to live in a no-fee building then we either get paid by the owner or we don’t get paid at all - we work for free if we have to. On top of that, we guarantee a rent reduction to make sure our clients are also saving. How did you come up with this new concept? My brother and business partner, Guy, worked as a licensed real estate salesperson at another brokerage. He witnessed firsthand all of the brokers who were using bait-and-switch tactics and misleading information to hook renters. We decided there had to be a better way. What made you decide to start the firm? We initially launched our site, and we weren’t sure if offering financial incentives without charging fees was enough to generate enough consumer demand for a real business. After we launched, we were getting too many requests for our small team, so we knew we were onto something. 56 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
After your brother told you about the devious practices in the rental market, what did you think? First, I thought it was alarming that people were charging these kinds of fees while most of what they were doing was illegal. Bait-and-switch are not allowed. That said, this sort of value proposition seemed challenging to execute. Who would trust us and wouldn’t everyone just think it was too good to be true? It has turned out that these are still some of our most significant challenges. Thankfully, now with thousands of happy renters who have saved close to $1 million in fees that would have otherwise gone to brokers, our brand is expanding and more New Yorkers want to take advantage of these free perks. How has Loftey managed to stay in business and grow? It’s all about doing what is best for the client. With companies like Amazon whose foundations are built upon sacrificing profit for a better experience, today’s consumer expects a highquality product. By providing financial value and working for free, our clients are much more loyal and are helping us spread our mission. In the long run, we feel this will outweigh the deals in which we lose money or work for free. How does your model benefit the licensed real estate salesperson? We have split up the traditional broker’s roles into two teams. We have a client experience team that helps to market our service as well as answer any questions that potential clients have and help prepare them for their apartment search. Once ready, our team of licensed salespersons physically go with the client to visit apartments while assisting them to eliminate fake listings and navigate the negotiation and application process. Our agents are working with a happier, more loyal client base and they didn’t have to spend half of their time marketing bait-and-switch apartments and crossing their fingers.
Ori Goldman
And your salespeople are doing well? Our closing rate for agents is over 50 percent. Consider the closing rate for most agents in the field is 3 percent. It’s not hard to see why our employee retention rate is so high. And more important to the salesperson/broker, he or she can be a more honest broker and doesn’t have to resort to misleading advertising or any bait-and-switch tactics. Loftey offers even more than just a “no-fee” rental. What else do you offer? We don’t charge additional fees such as credit check fees, processing fees, or any of those sneaky additional fees other brokerages charge. We also provide an extra service where a renter can choose from one of two financial perks: (1) reduced rent payments or (2) a free move (Loftey pays for the moving costs associated with your new rental). Are there restrictions of any kind when using Loftey? No, we work with apartments from any website, so even if a renter sees an apartment he likes on another website, they can just let us know, and we will verify the apartment (no bait and switch), and set up the showing to start the process for you. Do you work in all five boroughs? Yes! Our current website is dedicated to Manhattan since that is where we started, but we have expanded to Brooklyn and Queens (our website will be updated soon!) We can work on every rental listing in any and all of the five boroughs for our clients. Simply send us the rental ad, and we will work on it for you. For more information on Loftey, visit rentals.loftey.com (use promo code: DJBNYC). • MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 57
REAL ESTATE & HOME DECOR
SPOTLIGHT: CELIA SAWYER By Daniel J. Bollinger
elia Sawyer is a luxury interior designer for the uber-wealthy. With headquarters in London, England, Celia works globally with clientele from the Caribbean and Middle East to Russia. She has worked with Chelsea footballer Cesc Fà bregas, designed a groundup development on the famous The Bishop’s Avenue in London, and even custom designed the interior of a private Airbus A340. New York Lifestyles recently met with Celia to find out more about her fascinating career. Tell us about your luxury design services? I cover all aspects of interior design. For instance, we often get involved with developments from the start so that the interior is well orchestrated from the beginning. The concept of each room, the layouts, the lighting designs, the features in detail, fixtures, wall and floor textures, and all the soft furnishings when required later on. We even make some of our own bespoke furniture for clients (I designed a gold bath for one!). Quite often we also come in later and just do the pretty stuff, i.e., colors and furniture and even down to turn-key items for busy people such as the footballers, and artists and actors who are just renting for six months or a year. All of our work is in the luxury market, so whether it be large apartments, luxury houses, aviation or yachts, we work on them all. We also work in the commercial market, designing office areas for upmarket businesses, and have worked on a couple of hotel projects, which we wish to expand on this year. What has been the most significant project? It has to be the Airbus A340 designed for Middle Eastern Royalty. Quite challenging as I have only really designed much smaller aircraft before; however, it was fabulous to work on, lots of gold, lots of lovely fabrics and I could get very creative with lighting and materials and give it a unique look. With aircraft, you can push the design boundaries so much more as a lot of clients see this as their way of showing off their wealth and although it is a small market, it is very competitive with owners. 58 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
Would you say you have a particular design style? Oh yes, my design style is classical contemporary, glamorous, chic, sexy, inviting and warm! How do you approach a project? The most important person is the client. The first move is always to sit and listen to their requirements and understand their visions and what they desire, turning their dreams into practical day to day requirements. It can take some time, but this is key to creating great interiors that clients will love. Our company ethos is clear, distinct, and straightforward: to interpret our partners’ ideas, ambitions, and requirements with flair, passion, innovation and excitement, executing and delivering projects with diligent attention to detail and timely professional execution. What drew you to interior design? When I was a young girl, I used to love looking at show homes, fascinated with how they could make something look so perfect. My mother used to take me to look at many, and it was the start of my real fascination for interior design. How did you get started in design? I started by working on my own small project 25 years ago. I had saved hard and bought an apartment in central London of which I owned the roof space. Once I could afford it, I added another floor and modernized the apartment, and it had the most fantastic view of the London skyline. Once finished, I decided to sell and do it all again, as I enjoyed it so much, and once the agents came and viewed the property, they were so impressed with the design, they asked who did it! The apartment changed the selling price of the road, and many people saw it and asked me to design theirs, from then I eventually opened my own design practice 20 years ago. Where do you get your inspiration? Mainly from nature. I look at the way light falls, textures mix, and on the ground and how shadows form shape and depth. I re-create this with lighting. I might see long grass blowing softly in the wind, and it will inspire me to use a soft silk rug or carpet. A beautiful natural fossil shape will encourage me to design a spiral staircase, and it really is all about what is outside and all around us every day. Tell us about your current projects. Right now I am designing a thirty thousand square foot house in London for a client. I am also working on the most prominent
warship for the Royal Navy in their Officer’s Mess. These areas have only really been designed in a dull, bland way throughout time. I am on a mission to create something very special to raise morale and make them feel like they have gone somewhere really special in their time off. No one on board wants to feel like they are trapped in a utilitarian environment. Have your talents taken you to New York City? Yes, I designed a penthouse for a film director in NYC. However, I really would love to do more. London and NYC are on a par when it comes to the type of people who reside or stay there, so it feels a natural extension to be working there. Who are some designers you admire and respect? I have always been a real fan of the late David Collins, his Art Deco style is stunning, and I also love Lori Morris. She is one of my favorite designers; her style is very sexy with a balance of French classic and modern. Reymond Langton for yacht designing who is stylish and chic and likes pushing the boundaries. What’s your dream project? I would love to design a very chic hotel. I am a sucker for a welldesigned hotel and am continuously looking at how well they are designed when I stay in them, down to the bedding they use, the lighting and spatial planning. What are your other passions? I am in my 6th year on prime time National TV in a show called Four Rooms on UK Channel 4. In this presentation, I am the only woman of four dealers, who buy artifacts and collectibles from the public who come in with their goods. I enjoy this as sometimes I can find some fascinating and unique pieces for my clients’ collections. I also had my own prime-time TV show on BBC1, and BBC Worldwide called Your Home In Their Hands, where each week amateur designers took on homeowners in a design dilemma. The amateurs attempted to re-design some rooms in their homes. I must say that was challenging, as sometimes, the amateur designers ideas were somewhat bizarre and not all the homeowners were very happy! What are you planning to accomplish in 2018? My main aim, apart from keeping very busy with designing, is to collaborate with another designer in New York City, so that he/she can work on top projects in London and New York. Sometimes clients love to have an American designer in London, and I am hoping that the same happens in return with NYC wanting a British designer. It gives both parties an opportunity to expand across the pond! For more information on Celia Sawyer, visit celiasawyer.com. • MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 59
HEALTH & WELLNESS
SPRING AWAKENING By Gerrie Summers
pring: the season of rebirth. Whether its planting seeds in your garden or ideas for a new project at your job, Spring brings a burst of energy and desire to create something new. Time, energy and money are spent to “make-ready” your home or latest fashions, but just how much attention is given to your body and mind for the transition into the next season? We’re not just talking about cleaning the home where you reside, but more importantly your physical, mental and spiritual home—your body. The first step is to start with your home. Cleaning (with natural, eco-friendly cleaning products of course) helps remove toxins and dust from your environment, so you have fewer toxins entering your body—and less than your body needs to expel. Getting rid of the things that you no longer need, love, or no longer serve you, will also get clear the mental clutter, energize the mind, and bring fresh energy into your home. After tackling your environment, you’re ready to spring clean your body and soul.
DO YOU NEED A BODY CLEANSE?
Our bodies have a natural detoxification system, but it’s often impeded by the environment and what we eat—as well as the medications we take. Bouts of diarrhea, perspiring, and sneezing are ways in which our bodies repel excess toxins. Instead of heeding these signals, we often use antidiarrheals, antiperspirants, and antihistamines, which work against these natural processes. Fasts and cleanses help the body take a break from strenuous digestive work caused by toxic and taxing substances; usually by eliminating solid foods and focusing on healthy fluids and pure water. The rapid release of several toxins at once following extreme, or short-term detoxes, will cause the body to experience any number of conditions from headaches, lightheadedness, digestive issues, fatigue, skin rashes and other issues. Fasts and body cleanses should be avoided by individuals with certain health conditions and should be done only under the supervision of a medical professional. A wise word: If you have been overindulging and feel sluggish and need to do a fast or cleanse, do so gradually. 60 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
INTERMITTENT FASTING
Developing healthy eating habits that help your body’s natural, daily detoxification process is better than extreme diets and cleanses. Try intermittent fasting, in which you fast for 12 to 16 hours. For example, you stop eating at six in the evening and do not eat breakfast (breakfast, get it?) until six the following morning. This is easier than an extreme fast, mainly because you will be asleep during most of those hours. You can start out with a three-day clean eating weekend.
CHANGE THE WAY YOU EAT
Slowly change your diet by decreasing and eventually eliminating refined sugar, white flour, food additives that will slow down or obstruct detoxification. • Choose organic produce and meats to avoid pesticides and chemicals, which increase toxic load to the body. • You can choose to have mostly juices, teas and broth. Gabby Bern-stein, the author of Judgment Detox, likes to do a bone broth cleanse. “You can heal your gut and give your digestive system a break for a few days,” she says. “If you don’t want to drink broth for three full days you can add some steamed veggies and avocado.” Tip: If you have bone broth (or vegetable broth) for lunch, add a side of kimchee or sauerkraut for probiotics to provide gut-friendly bacteria. • Drink plenty of fresh purified or filtered water daily to flush out toxins, reduce headaches and constipation. • Try to eliminate caffeine. An okay substitute for coffee is green tea or try golden milk (made with turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, raw honey and non-dairy milk). • Eat only when hungry. Don’t overeat (puts burden on the digestive system). Eat slowly to break down your food thoroughly.
THE MORNING RITUAL
Rise and shine! Time to get your body feeling better than ever before. • Add dry skin brushing to your morning routine, just before your shower. It not only helps detoxify the skin by removing dead cells, but it also promotes lymphatic drainage and boosts blood circulation. Use a natural bristle brush with a long handle (for hard to reach areas). Starting at the feet, brush towards the heart, working your way up the legs, then hands and arms. Avoid the face. Then shower off impurities brought to the surface. • Follow with juice of a fresh lemon in a glass of warm water. This will aid in cleansing the liver and bowels. • Get at least 20 to 30 minutes of exercise a day for healthy digestion. Yoga has several poses that help with digestion such as forward folds, which are also useful for stress; twisting poses like seated twists stimulate the digestive tract and help boost the liver and kidneys to flush out toxins.
DETOX BOOSTERS Twin Lab Occuguard Blutein Protection c ont a i n s c a rot e n oi d s t o prov i d e antioxidant protection from eye-fatigue caused by blue lights (that prevent you from getting adequate sleep). Gaia Herbs Golden Milk with turmeric and ashwagandha root provides a healthy mix to add to your milk of choice to sip during quiet time. Culturelle Probiotics Pro-Well helps the digestive system work better, providing good bacteria plus omega-3 fatty acids. Wedderspoon Raw Manuka Honey K Factor 16 is certified organic and nonGMO. It’s not UMF rated but touts a “higher than 75 percent Manuka pollen count.”
DETOX FOODS
Be sure to include these foods in your daily menu. Here, some suggestions: • Make a daily salad of bitter greens like arugula, dandelion, mustard, and endive. These greens are good for aiding in the detoxification processes of the liver. Avoid store-bought salad dressing (high in sugar). Use olive oil and lemon juice. • Vegetables with phytonutrients (beets, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts) to stimulate detoxification enzymes. • Eat enzyme rich foods like pineapple, papaya, raw honey, mango, avocado, fresh vegetables, wheat grass juice, coconut water. • Foods with probiotics (Greek yogurt, kimchi, miso, tempeh, apple cider vinegar) help the digestive tract function and help remove the harmful bacteria and create good bacteria. • Use fresh herbs instead of table salt to season foods.
GET SOME QUIET TIME
Avoid mental toxins. Turn off all your devices and stay off social media. Instead, read something positive, take a walk in the park, take a bath, get a massage, do other calming activities. • Learn to meditate or simply take a moment each day to breathe in for a count of five and five out, focusing on the breath. • Get sleep! The liver is at its most active state at night, ridding the body of toxins. Strive for eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. Gerrie Summers is a freelance writer, specializing in travel, health, beauty, spas, and wellness. The former Multicultural Beauty Expert for About.com, she has written for numerous publications, including Real Health, For the Bride, Essence, Luxury Living, NY Daily News, FoxNews.com, and Everett Potter’s Travel Report. For more information on Gerrie Summers, visit gerriesummers.com. MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 61
HEALTH & WELLNESS
THE QUEST FOR TRUE SELF Dr. Peter Kalellis
ost people who seek therapy are looking for a solution to what appears to be a serious problem or they want a possible change in their life just to be happy. Obviously they are not happy with themselves or their current life. Unhappy individuals may need to change how they think, feel, and behave—or they may want to change another significant person in their life, be it a lover, mate, spouse, or family member. Here lies reality. Promises break like balloons, plans fall apart, love affairs carry no guarantees, and marriage vows are violated. Everything in life is at least a little bit broken or fragile. IT’S IN THE PAST
Our tendency is to think mostly of the hurts that we have experienced yesterday or last month or last year. There is no way that we can undo these hurts; they belong in our past. Books and movies can be edited, but events that occurred in the past cannot change. Our hope is that they have left with us some lessons of value. It is of emotional benefit when we can say goodbye to our past and let go of repressed feelings or thoughts—such as anger, judgment, frustration, and disappointment. To some extent, all of us have been wounded. All of us, from the moment we emerge from the womb, take spills, get dropped, get burned, get rejected, and are abused in physical and emotional ways. Nobody reaches adulthood without deep scars. These scars may be permanent, but they are not fatal. Daily life brings us to new levels of realization, not only about where we are but about who we truly are. Who is the real you and who is the real me? How we perceive ourselves and what is the truth about ourselves are areas we need to identify. Perceptions that may be influenced by early-life programming—from parents, teachers, peers or significant other adults—precipitate and dictate our choices. Our perception of who we really are needs to be tested. An individual who says, “I am what I am because of the way I was raised, or because of my ethnic or religious background, or because of things that happen to me,” believes that he or she has no other choice—that their character is indelible. Actually, their self-knowledge is limited. Accepting the truth about who we truly are is a challenge that results in emotional growth and better self-image.
SELF-KNOWLEDGE IS KEY
One of the best ways to gain accurate self-knowledge is to explore our current thoughts about ourselves. Upon awakening each morning, as we look in the mirror, what do we see or think of ourselves? Truly, those thoughts precipitate feelings about who we are, and we move on to design our daily life. Asking, “Who am I?” is an important question. Can you or I give an honest answer? This is a challenge. It’s important to be yourself, but the true self. We know the damage done by being false to ourselves and to others. But being your true self goes much deeper. Most people don’t know how much wisdom, peace and power reside in the true self. This is not the everyday self that gets mixed up with all the business of life, the true self is a deeper self. Before coming to know the true self, one must confront the false self that we usually spend a lifetime constructing and nourishing. The false self is what we present to the world. It is this self we want the whole world to revolve around. And to keep this false self requires a good deal of mental alertness. 62 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
TRUE OR NOT?
The trick is distinguishing what is our true self from what is not. If we had a switch that could turn off the everyday false self and turn on the true self, matters would be much simpler. But human nature is divided. In some moments we feel secure, accepted, peaceful, and certain. At those moments, we are experiencing the true self. At other moments, we experience the opposite, and then we are in the grip of the familiar everyday false self. The trouble is that both sides are convincing. A person with a true self promises something and fulfills his or her promise or in an honest way says, “I’m sorry I cannot do what you would like me to do.” A person with a false self may make a promise with enthusiasm and fancy words that could be believable, but cannot keep a promise. When we are under stress, feeling overwhelmed by major problems, crisis, doubts, and insecurity, the true self might as well not exist. We are experiencing a different reality colored by a defensive mind, resorting to our false self—trying to be convincing or using manipulation to win. At those dark and difficult moments, we try to get some outside perspective about what is happening. The qualities of the everyday false self and the true self are actually very different: In the quest for the true self, a person begins to appreciate and accept one’s personality and one’s life as an essential way that God calls us to be ourselves. As we move closer to becoming our true selves—the selves we are meant to be—the more loving parts of us are naturally magnified, and the more negative parts are naturally diminished. Once we learn to live our true self, we can never be satisfied with the false self again; it would feel silly and superficial. Look at the qualities of the true self: self-reliant, evolutionary, loving, creative, knowing, accepting, and peaceful. Whenever anyone is in crisis, whether the problem is a troubled marriage or difficulties at work or over the question of money, the person will make the best decisions by using these good qualities. Trust that information you uncover about your true self will in some way lead to a greater sense of peace and joy about yourself. • Dr. Peter M. Kalellis is a psychotherapist, marriage and family therapist, lecturer, and writer. He has a doctorate in clinical psychology and is the author of many books. He maintains his practice in Westfield, NJ.
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
DESSERTS WITH A HEALTHY FUSION
Fruit Nachos
By Shari Bilt Boockvar
hen it comes to chocolate and other desserts, it’s hard to find anyone who will say a bad word about these sweets. Who doesn’t love a chocolate ganache layered cake, or perhaps chocolate-covered strawberries? Most everyone is happy to indulge their sweet tooth. However, there are healthy alternatives that are just as satisfying. And, yes, they’re sweet, rich, creamy too. Read on for some ideas that demonstrate “everything in moderation.” STRAWBERRY GREEK YOGURT BITES
One of today’s most iconic desserts is chocolate covered strawberries. These, however, can be expensive, melt quickly, and the chocolate can be quite decadent. However, our yummy bites look just as delicious as the ones you buy at the store. Just wash and dry your strawberries thoroughly. Dip in any flavored Greek yogurt, which is thicker than regular varieties, and dip into sprinkles. Eat immediately or store in your refrigerator.
CHURRO FRUIT NACHOS
Most of us are used to having nachos with cheese, tomatoes, ground beef and other savory toppings. Dessert nachos are unique, and if you haven’t tried Mi Nina “Churros” Tortilla Chips, do so! I made a yummy dessert platter by merely chopping fruit, topping the nachos and sprinkling a bit of cinnamon and sugar on top. This is an easy and fun idea to bring as a guest to the next dinner party you are invited too.
CHOCOLATE LOVER’S DREAM
out the extra calories from ice cream. Mix 1 cup of cherry flavored Greek yogurt with a small handful of chips and fresh cherries. Top with chocolate sprinkles. Of course, you may change the flavors of Greek yogurt and use any combination of chips, nuts, seeds or your favorite toppings to your liking.
BANANA WHIPPERS
Try this cool and refreshing treat that can be made in 2 minutes! It’s a “go-to” for my family when we need a fast and easy breakfast. In advance, slice one banana and freeze (I like to keep many sliced bananas in my freezer so I can make this at any time). Put the following ingredients into a Nutribullet or blender: • 1 frozen sliced banana • ¼ - ½ cup milk beverage of choice (milk, almond, soy, etc.) • 1 - 2 tablespoons peanut butter Blend well. Add more milk if your mixture is too thick. When finished, add chocolate chips or any other mix-in items you desire.
RASPBERRY CANDY BITES
The holes in raspberries have an excellent purpose for candy lovers— Try this one with the kids as an after-school snack or dessert. they are perfect for stuffing an M&M or chocolate chips! These are cute Take one Enjoy Life Foods Cocoa Loco Chewy Bar and top to serve to kids or put a few on a plate when you need something sweet it with 88 Acres Dark Chocolate Sunflower Seed Butter and after a meal. • add a few sprinkles! The taste is similar to a delicious frosted brownie. The bars and sesame seed butter are nut free for Shari Boockvar, MS, RDN is a Nutritionist in New York and those who may be allergic. the Tri-State area. She specializes in nutrition counseling and consulting for weight control and fitness. Shari can be found CHERRY CHIP YOGURT “ICE CREAM” blogging on her favorite products and recipes at Facebook. I could eat ice cream every night and quickly go back for com/NutritionShari, Twitter.com/NutritionShari, Instagram: seconds. I use this healthier swap to add protein while cutting @NutritionShari, and www.NutrifactsForYou.com. 64 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
HEALTH & WELLNESS
TAME BAD BREATH By Mazen Natour DMD
e’ve all experienced it at one time or another. Halitosis is simply bad breath which can be caused by the food we eat such as garlic, onions, some spices, a bad stomach situation, etc. However, it is only considered chronic when bad breath is a constant, and people around us start to notice. If you’re anxious about your breath, there are several ways to clear the air. A visit to your dentist/hygienist can determine the cause. Bad breath is the third most common reason to visit a dentist, right after being in pain or having a cavity. Here are some tips to avoid and stop chronic halitosis:
FLUSH IT OUT
How? With our saliva which provides a continuous natural lubricant for flushing the bacteria that builds up after consuming food and drink. Saliva continually helps our mouths avoid dryness. Dryness leads to bacteria proliferating and sticking to the teeth, hence plaque, tartar, and leading to an unpleasant smell. When for whatever reason this flow of saliva is reduced, it paves the way for chronic halitosis. Naturally, at night our saliva flow is reduced, which is why if there is debris, we will wake up with chronic morning bad breath. There is also a reduction of saliva that is medication-induced. This is the main reason a significant percentage of seniors who typically take medications have bad breath. Saliva and lubrication help tremendously in preventing the proliferation of the bacteria causing bad breath, but the reason why some have it worse than others brings us to the next point.
REMOVE THE CULPRITS
This can be achieved with home care after every time we eat: brushing and flossing—and in some cases using a tongue scraper. Brushing helps to remove the film of plaque that builds upon and around teeth. Unfortunately, spaces between teeth are tight preventing proper cleaning with a toothbrush. Hence, the absolute necessity of dental floss which gets to those hard to reach areas and helps remove the food particles and the bacteria. Going back to the tongue scraper: Some of us have what is called a geographic tongue. The name seems scary, but it just means that the tongue is not flat and can have some fissures (cuts in the tongue which is normal). These fissures, unfortunately, allow hiding places for food debris and bacteria and contribute to the chronic bad breath. Mouthwash is a valuable tool. However, mouthwash will not be as effective in removing embedded bacteria. You need to either brush the tongue or sometimes use the tongue scraper to physically and mechanically clean it. Also, be aware that a lot of mouthwash contains alcohol which can turn into sugar—a superfood for bacteria growth.
A DENTAL CLEANING
There’s nothing like a good professional cleaning at your dentist every six months at the very least, and in a lot of cases for healthy gums, every four months. A routine dentist visit will make sure to leave the oral cavity cleaned from food debris and bacteria, polish the teeth, go over home care techniques, and look for potential problems or causes for complaints. For example, some patients complain that they have food that is constantly being stuck in one area and bothers them. It causes pressure, bad taste and it also bleeds when they finally get home and floss it. When the area is checked, we find that an old filling or crown has chipped creating a small gap with the adjacent tooth leaving room for food debris to get wedged and start causing trouble. In short, keep brushing and flossing at least twice a day (ideally after each meal). If you have low saliva flow that results in dryness in your mouth try and use some sugar-free drops that can stimulate saliva or some specific mouthwashes (such a Biotene) that helps lubricate and keep your mouth from drying up. Lastly and most importantly, keep up with your dental visits. The dentist will help keep your teeth healthy and help you maintain fresh breath. For more information on Dr. Mazen Natour, visit natourdmd.com. • Mazen Natour DMD, is a Manhattan-based Prosthodontist with more than 20 years of experience in implantology, cosmetic and sports dentistry, periodontics, and prosthodontics. He is a Clinical Professor and Director of the Implant Honors Program at New York University College of Dentistry – the world’s first Undergraduate Implant Program at the top-ranked Dental School globally. He is a Diplomat at the International Congress of Oral Implantology (ICOI), a Member of the Academy of Osseo Integration, American Dental Association, New York State Dental Association, and NYU Implant Alumni Association.
MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 65
FOOD & DRINK
DEMARCHELIER ARTFUL FINE DINING By Elizabeth Darwen
ne of the true joys of dining in this city is the abundance of menu options available from around the world. From ethnic street eats to elaborate Mediterranean cuisine, to the exotic flavors of India and seasonal New American, there are plenty of exciting adventures to be had in NYC. One cuisine that’s always on the top of our list, of course, is French. And although there are plenty of incredible restaurants that fill that category, one stand out is the Upper East Side’s bistro Demarchelier. Owned by artist Eric Demarchelier (brother of fashion photographer Patrick), it is now in its 26 th year. Born in Normandy, Eric opened the very first location of his eponymous restaurant the same year he first moved to New York City in 1978. After having moved from its original location on Lexington Avenue, Demarchelier re-opened in 1992 on 86th Street and happily still frequented by its regular diners. 66 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
MORE BOURGEOIS THAN BOHEMIAN
Demarchelier’s lively and cozy locale showcases a rotating collection of paintings by the owner which, by the way, are all for sale. “Customers often comment on the paintings being a nice addition to the dining experience,” he told us. But whether it’s the wellprepared food, the classic French bistro ambiance (complete with lace curtained windows) or maybe the fine art gracing the walls, it attracts a long list of A-listers including actor, director, fashion model and painter Matthew Gray Gubler and Tony-Award winning actress, singer and producer Christine Baranski. Alec Baldwin visits especially for the Coq au Vin, and Mel Brooks has been known to call Demarchelier “his office.” Every meal that leaves the kitchen aims to capture the essence of authentic French bistro fare. The family owned and run restaurant radiates a comfortable, colorful, warm and familial spirit that has made it a neighborhood fixture for a quarter-century. Ideal for a quick bite to eat, a romantic rendezvous, or a simple family meal. The traditional French menu is paired perfectly with a wide range of predominantly French wines. “We offer special monthly wines in addition to the regular wine menu, which originate from select family estates,” said Demarchelier.
CLASSIC BISTRO FARE
Scallops
Diners will find many familiar dishes on the menu, which are coupled with daily organic selections. “Demarchelier provides an array of all natural, grass-fed, organic options brought directly from nearby farms,” he said. Some of the restaurant’s organic options—which are sure to suit even the most health-conscious diner— include Organic Mesclun Salad with a choice of warm goat cheese; Organic Beet Salad with Crème Fraiche; Grass Fed Angus Burger served with choice of side and sauce; Organic Pork Chop with caramelized onions, apple and butternut squash gratin; and Organic Calf Liver with shallot sauce and Pommes Frites. From Demarchelier’s a la carte menu, you’ll enjoy appetizers including Onion Soup Gratinee, and Escargots with Garlic Butter. Signature entrees include such favorites as Moules Mariniere Au Vin Blanc served in a cream-enriched broth; Duck Confit served with a hearty mix of Tomato and Tarragon-scented Flageolets; and Pan-Fried Sole Meuniere, flour-covered, accompanied with wedges of Boiled Potato. Demarchelier’s dessert menu doesn’t disappoint and features flavorful dishes such as Tarte Fine Au Pommes, a flaky tart filled with warm apples and served with fresh vanilla ice cream; Crepe Suzette, a classic French pancake drizzled with Grand Marnier; a velvety and creamy Crème Brulée; and a decadent Chocolate Mousse Cake. To complement your dessert, why not select a digestif from Demarchelier’s select menu. A plentiful selection of coffee and teas are also available. The restaurant also offers a two-course prix fixe dinner menu including a complimentary glass of wine for $35; and a one course prix fixe lunch menu on weekdays.
DELIGHTFUL BRUNCH
Eric Dermarchelier
On the weekends, diners enjoy a classic French a la carte Brunch with all egg dishes featuring organic eggs. Choices include include Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise Sauce served with a choice of ham or salmon; a selection of Organic Omelettes; Pancakes; Classic French Toast; Smoked Salmon Plate; and Steak Tartare with a side of Pommes Frites. Also on the menu you might try the Bison Burger, Turkey Avocado Sandwich, Salade Demarchelier - a tempting chef ’s salad - or Grilled Salmon with Lentils. “Demarchelier has remained consistent throughout the years,” he says with an engaging smile, “both in terms of ambiance and menu.” Hopefully, this will continue for many more years. A votre santé! For more information on Demarchelier Restaurant, visit demarchelierrestaurant.com. • Steak frites
MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 67
FOOD & DRINK
JADE SIXTY By Anne Raso
ade Sixty makes for an easy spot to visit if you’ve just been shopping at Barney’s or staying at The Four Seasons. But no matter if you’re Uptown, Downtown, East Side or West Side, make sure to reserve a table for an exceptional dining experience. This elegant 175-seat eatery mixes Chinese favorites, classic steakhouse fare and sushi on one menu. In the kitchen are chefs Skinny Mei of Philippe and Jue Lan Club fame and Albert Diaz, a veteran of Zuma in both London and Miami. It’s a dining experience so magical with incredibly delicious menu options: Chinese classics including the world’s freshest vegetable Spring Rolls and Flat Noodles (aka Chow Fun) along with a variety of sushi and a classic 16-ounce aged Filet Mignon. This is a simple yet ingenious combo since these three cuisines are loved universally. Let us add right here that sometimes the different types of cuisines are intermingled resulting in one spectacular dish—a perfect example being the mega-popular pastrami dumplings (Jade Sixty may be the only place in the world to have them on the menu). 68 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
Lamb Chops ©Alexander Stein
Upstairs Dining Room ©Alexander Stein
TRADITIONAL YET CREATIVE
New York Lifestyles asked co-owner Stratis Morfogen how he decided to open a midtown restaurant combining all three classic cuisines. He replied, “As a huge fan of acclaimed steakhouses like Peter Luger’s and Smith & Wollensky, I wanted to create something that offers much more than the traditional mashed potato, creamed spinach and wedge salad—which is how the concept of Jade Sixty came to be. “I brought Executive Chef Skinny Mei with me to this new space. I also invited Chef Albert Diaz to oversee our kitchen. I knew that Chef Skinny had a wealth of knowledge in traditional Chinese cooking based on my experience and trusted him to bring that to Jade Sixty,” he said. “I thought it would be great to pair his style with Chef Albert, who is a seasoned creator of Japanese cuisine including sushi, sashimi, and crudo. It brings a unique dining experience to guests when you pair Asian classics like Peking Duck, Soup Dumplings and Spring Rolls with 45- to 60-day Aged Steaks. I find that guests prefer an even split between the steakhouse and Asian offerings.”
NOODLES & STEAK
Prices are very reasonable for upscale dining. A serving of four meaty Chinese style pork spare ribs is $14; a serving of four large scallion pancakes is $12. We highly recommend all the Chinese appetizers and noodles that we tried but the Flat Noodles indeed set new standards. If you have avoided Chinese Chow Fun-style noodles because they seemed chewy, these are “rock star” quality. Because they are freshly made, the texture is perfect (without being mushy). Skinny Mei’s self-invented Lobster Mei Dumplings seemed to be on every table during our visit, and you can count on Jade Sixty to have six different types of dumplings available (including ones filled with edamame for vegetarians). On the “health side” are 15 types of sushi; regular diners report that both the tuna and the salmon are their “go-to sushi” every time. Meat-wise, the aged prime Porterhouse may sound pricey at $54, but it’s 24 ounces and listed on the menu as serving up to four guests. As mentioned before, you never can go wrong with an aged filet mignon, and $49 is a fair price for a 16-ounce portion (most likely you will have some left over to take home). We had to ask Morfogen his favorite dishes on the menu as well as which ones seem to be most popular with customers. “My favorites are the Porterhouse and the Peking Duck Tacos. I thought the tacos would be a great alternative for smaller parties who are not looking to indulge in a full-sized duck. I find that the Jade Sticks, Pastrami Dumplings, and Spicy Tuna Maki Rolls are also a huge success with customers,” the noted restaurateur revealed.
MODERN COMFORT
Jade Sixty serves up artisanal drinks at the long bar located on the main floor: well-trained and highly creative mixologists satisfy the after-work crowd. The restaurant’s interior décor mixes “modern” with “comfortable,” and the red velvety fabric banquets are large and inviting. All attention grabbing are the ultra-high ceiling and Jetsons-style ceiling fixtures. We noticed that the dinner clientele were young and vibrant. We asked Morfogen what he thinks draws such a young crowd to Jade Sixty. “I would say, we have plenty of customers over 35 as well,” he remarked. “I think Jade Sixty is a hotspot for Millennials to grab a drink and share some plates after work, but I think it’s equally as enticing for older couples to come in and enjoy a date night before heading to the movies or after a day of shopping. I’ve met so many people from being in the restaurant business, and I think that people in their 60s and 70s are just as hip as Millennials, and that’s why we attract a multitude of ages.” The over-the-top success of such a new eatery not only resulted from the immediate interest of top-flight food media including the New York Times but Morfogen and partner Franco Moscato’s vast knowledge of the highly competitive New York restaurant business. And for good luck, every new restaurant that Morfogen opens has one particular dish on the menu that has a nostalgia factor for him. He explained, “I’ve been in the industry as a restaurateur for years, and one dish that I always take with me from one place to the next is the Baked Chopped Clams. These were initially made in my father’s Greek diners from 1955 to 1980, and I would watch people line up for them. To this day, the clams remain a top-seller, and the story behind them is compelling for customers.” For more information on Jade Sixty, visit jadesixty.com. • Anne Raso is a New York City-based freelance journalist. She is the former rock columnist for the Sunday New York Daily News and has contributed travel articles to Time Out New York and foxnews.com. Anne currently edits the lifestyle website luxelifenyc.com and contributes to Discovery Girls Magazine. MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 69
FOOD & DRINK
5 GREAT IRISH PUBS By Darren Paltrowitz
appy St. Patrick’s Day! Even if you do not have Irish roots, the odds are that you will find yourself reveling on March 17th. While New York is not short on great spots to grab a pint of Guinness, it can be somewhat difficult to pick a pub that has not only fantastic offerings at the bar but also delicious offerings from the kitchen. To help you with your 2018 St. Patrick’s Day planning, I spoke with representatives from five great Irish pubs and restaurants in Manhattan. THE DEAD RABBIT
Having been ranked in the #1 spot bar by Drinks International Magazine, this place has been the go-to drinking spot in the Financial District for both locals and tourists alike. “At The Dead Rabbit, we always team up with the best whiskey producers in Ireland, the best Irish musicians and focus on celebrating our qualities as opposed to other operators focusing on their quantities,” said co-owner Jack McGarry. “It’s very culturally important for us.” As for what to expect from The Dead Rabbit this March 17th, think tradition. “For us, St. Patrick’s Day is about celebrating everything great about Ireland, our hospitality, our inclusivity and our products. In Ireland, it’s much more of a family and friends affair,” explained McGarry, who noted that his favorite item on the menu is the Irish Coffee. As for what else is coming up for the acclaimed pub: “Lots…2018 is going to be a busy year for us. We’re expanding, opening up at 32 Water Street in a few months, which will almost double our square footage. Our own Dead Rabbit Irish Whiskey launches this month, and our second book is out soon. A third book An Irish Whiskey Lovers Guide to Ireland is due 2019.” As if that weren’t enough, McGarry continued, “We’re also building an events space for our second bar BlackTail, as well as an outside area in time for summer.” Info: deadrabbitnyc.com. 70 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
SWIFT HIBERNIAN LOUNGE
Established in 1995 by Danny McDonald and Mike Jewell—and later joined by Anthony Malone—Swift Hibernian Lounge is a low-key bar known for offering one of the finest selections of beer and Irish whiskey in New York. Named to the “Best Bars in America” list from Esquire last year, Swift also has oysters and sliders beyond its whiskey and pints. Further notable about the establishment is that it does not have a television, keeping the focus on the hospitality and overall atmosphere. While Swift’s menu for St. Patrick’s Day had not yet been decided as of press time, general manager Simon expects a fun crowd. “Last year was one of our busiest days in 22 years of business, so here’s hopeful Molly’s for a repeat.” He added, “As it’s a Saturday this year we’re expecting to be busy all weekend.” As per what else is coming up, Simon noted, MOLLY’S PUB & RESTAURANT SHEBEEN “Every year after St. Patrick’s we do a literary brunch, which is usually Known to refer to itself as “the most authentic Irish bar in New hosted by Colum McCann. It’s a nice alternative to the madness of York City,” Molly’s was founded in 1960. With a log-burning the big day. We ask people to come in and read from their favorite fireplace and sawdust on the floor, it’s renowned for its Shepherd’s Irish authors.” Info: swiftnycbar.com. Pie, Hamburgers, and Steaks—all for reasonable prices. Its original bar, as constructed from both wood and Honduran LILLIE’S VICTORIAN ESTABLISHMENT mahogany, is still intact all these years. Noted to “celebrate friendship the old fashioned way,” Lillie’s Victorian Establishment has locations in Times Square and Union Square. Co-owner Peter O’Connell considers Molly’s to be a “destination Named for British actress Lillie Langtry, Lillie’s was named “the bestpub.” He explained: “We are a conversation pub and do not do any decorated restaurant in NYC” by Buzzfeed in 2016. As co-owner special events or promotions.” In spite of treating St. Patrick’s Day Tommy Burke explained, “We’re proud to honor her legacy and like just another day at work, O’Connell expects a “full house” on wanted to create an establishment that combines ostentatious décor the 17th and recommends all to try their “award-winning 10-oz. with a down-to-earth ambiance. We want all of our bars to celebrate burger.” Info: mollysshebeennyc.com. these legendary pioneers and create destinations that welcome all.” St. Patrick’s Day holds a lot of significance to both Burke and coowner Frank McCole. “Coming from County Mayo and County Monaghan, St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday at home, but celebrating the Feast of Saint Patrick in New York City has become a memorable tradition for us.” He continued to tell us “our guests can kick back with a pint of Guinness. We will have special menus for St. Patrick’s Day with Irish classic comfort dishes.” Burke added that there is plenty more to be excited about from Lillie’s after March. “We have a new afternoon tea time at Lillie’s Times Square from Mondays to Fridays between 11 AM to 4 PM, featuring a classic tea selection, tea-infused cocktails, savory sandwiches, and sweets. It’s a great afternoon treat, especially for the Broadway and theatergoers during the week.” Info: lilliesnyc.com. Landmark Tavern
THE LANDMARK TAVERN
Patrick Henry Carley opened the Landmark Tavern, an Irish waterfront saloon, in 1868; there was no 12th Avenue back then. A family establishment and then some, the Carleys raised their children upstairs on the second and third floors of the building. One of the oldest continually operating establishments in New York, The Landmark Tavern is especially known for its classic Old World charm. “We are celebrating 150 years this year,” partner Donnchadh F. O’Sullivan enthusiastically pointed out. “For St. Patrick’s Day we will have Irish music playing all day, good atmosphere, and great food.” What sort of food, you ask? “Corned beef and cabbage, Shepherd’s Pie, Irish Bangers and Mash, Fish and Chips, Scotch Eggs and, of course, my favorite, New Zealand Lamb Shanks served with Roasted Red Potatoes, Peas and Carrots in Cabernet Mint Au Jus.” Info: thelandmarktavern.com.
Not all of these beautiful establishments require a reservation but do yourself a favor and research whether one may be preferable for your chosen locale. Where will you be celebrating? •
Lillie’s Times Square
Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident (and Long Island native) with over 15 years of entertainment industry experience. Darren’s writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Downtown Magazine, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Format Magazine, Businessweek, The Improper, the L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 71
FOOD & DRINK
PERU MEETS JAPAN IN MIDTOWN By Daniel J. Bollinger
eady for an infusion of flavors from Peru and Japan? Get ready for Kushiyake, and Chicken NanbanYamitsuki. Brush up on the Rocoto Chile. Acquaint yourself with Cancha, Oba and Leche de Tigre. These delicious choices can be found at Sen Sakana on 44th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues). The restaurant focuses on JapanesePeruvian cuisine. For devoted foodies, you may have experienced this cuisine from Nobu Matsuhisa—the Japanese sushi chef who happened to work in Lima for a while in the ‘70s. So, if you’ve ever experienced raw fish with yuzu and a pinch of Rocoto Chile paste (Nobu’s interpretation of Tiradito), or grilled skewers with spicy Anticucho Sauce, then you’ve tasted Peru’s unique Nikkei cuisine. As owner Allan Wartski recently said, “Sen Sakana brings together Japanese and Peruvian culture but this is not a “fusion” restaurant, there is a deep historical association here.” In the late 1800’s Japanese immigrants traveled to Peru. They found a new home and gave Peru the rigor of their cuisine. The Japanese and Peruvians shared the flavors and practices of their cultures, creating a new style of food: Nikkei Cuisine. Nikkei is an intense intercultural exchange, expressing the diversity of flavors born from the union of two age-old civilizations. The restaurant which opened last year on the West 44th b block is steps away from the Algonquin, the Royalton, and the Iroquois hotels. There is room for almost 200 people in the square bar up front, the main dining room with rows of light wood tables and chairs in neutral upholstery, and a raised mezzanine, and sushi bar. The six-page menu is extensive with categories distilled to appetizers, main courses, skewers and sushi.
UNIQUE FLAVORS
Savor Quinos Chaufa which combines pork belly, brown rice, plaintains, king oyster mushroom Onsen egg, and Oshinko and resembles a fried rice bowl. The Onsen egg yolk creates a binder and when mixed together is delicious. Or perhaps the Chicken Nanban will satisfy. The deep-fried black feather chicken breast is enhanced with quinoa, black vinegar sauce, aji tartare sauce. Perfectly prepared: tender and juicy and complements the crispy quinoa outer shell. The sushi pieces and rolls are spot on and sure to please. Maguro, Chu-Toro (medium fatta tuna, Nikkei wasabi), Botan Ebi (spotted prawn, chalaca, ebi miso), Unagi Hako (sushi rice, avocado, topped with fresh water eel, crispy quinoa, tamago) are just a few examples.Peru and Japan are well represented in the kitchen where Chefs Mina Newman and Taku Nagai create unforgettable dishes. Ms. Newman is a New Yorker who spent summers as a child in Chiclayo, the city in northwestern Peru where her mother was born. “Being of Peruvian descent, I have long awaited the opportunity to present the cuisine of my heritage 72 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
to New York diners, and it is with great pride that I’m finally able to do so.” As she explained bringing Nikkei Cuisine to the Heart of Manhattan is exciting. Chef Nagai, an Osaka native, is a veteran of Japanese restaurants in New York and Asia. He told us, “I am thrilled to be able to combine the cuisines of both mine and Chef Mina’s heritages to present true Nikkei style cuisine, for the first time ever, to the palates of New York. It’s an opportunity to showcase the flavors and techniques of both cultures that was created with the migration of Japanese people to Peru.” For those who may have difficulty deciding what to choose (yes, it can be daunting), I recommend the Nikkei Experience: a collection of Sen Sakana’s signature dishes. Indeed. Sen Sakana is a fantastic addition to our New York City food scene. •
TRAVEL
THE BOOTLEGGER A LAS VEGAS JACKPOT By Scott Cuollo
hen it comes to food, New Yorkers are a tough crowd. We have thousands of restaurants—from fine dining to casual bistro. Italian, French, New American, you name it...it’s here! New Yorkers are spoiled and one reason I believe when we do travel many of us have high expectations. But I wasn’t disappointed on my recent trip to Las Vegas when I discovered Bootlegger Bistro. Yes, I hit the jackpot! After hearing about “Mama” (she’s a young 100 years) who is head chef and owner, I had to get a taste for myself. Unfortunately, the night I visited, Mama wasn’t in the kitchen. Yet, a warm welcome from the moment my guest and I sat down made us feel at-home comfortable. The Bootlegger is the latest venture of a multigeneration family-owned Italian Restaurant firm that has been serving superb Northern Italian food for over 65 years. Our waiter was knowledgeable and attentive. We were served generous portions of Chicken Cutlet Parmigiana, perfectly prepared crisp and juicy, and the pasta was cooked just right. The “gravy” reminded me of home. The Osso Bucco (veal shank) was tender and served with saffron risotto, asparagus, tomatoes and zucchini. To end the meal Italian-style, why not a Cannoli (or two), or be truly decadent and try the Chocolate Lava (warm chocolate cake served with vanilla ice cream and sweet red wine sauce). On any given night you can find live entertainment in the main dining room, and you never know when a celebrity may decide to join in. There are also private dining rooms to host your own event (or is there a wedding in your future?): The Vegas Room and Copa Room make celebrating memorable. Planning to be in Las Vegas? Then head to Bootlegger Bistro (for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night snack). The 24-hour eatery will not disappoint. I n f o : 7 7 0 0 S . L a s Ve g a s B l v d . , bootleggerlasvegas.com. • 74 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
THEATER & ARTS
ON STAGE
A PERFECT THREESOME By Lori Simmons Zelenko
ood things come in threes this March as we take a look at these extraordinary musical performances lighting up the Great White Way. ROCKTOPIA
The Broadway Theatre Classical music meets classic rock sets the tone in Rocktopia which runs until April 29th. Putting strings and horns, the heart of a symphony orchestra, to the melodies and emotional resonance of iconic classic tunes like on Queen’s “We Are the Champions,” “Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd’s “On the Turning Away,” Rocktopia brings arena rock to an epic level. One-ofkind arrangements of the work of classical composers among them Ludwig van Beethoven, George Frideric Handel, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sergei Rachmaninoff and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky pairs up with theatrical, even operatic hits from favorite rock bands, Foreigner, Heart, Journey, Styx, The Who, U2 and more. Who’s making this magical combination? Rob Evan of the multi-platinum Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and Maestro Randall Craig Fleischer of the San Francisco Symphony. Together they created the completely original, spine-tingling musical arrangements by fusing rock and classical hits together, complete with insanely talented lead vocalists, a five-piece rock band, a choir of 30, and an orchestra of 20. Gorgeous, glamorous opera star Alyson Cambridge (The Merry Widow at The Met, Madame Butterfly, La Boheme, and Show Boat) exclusively shares with New York Lifestyles Magazine, “Rocktopia for me is all about changing lanes. I’ve always wanted to sing and perform in different genres. I am thrilled, honored, loving every chance I get to change people’s perceptions of opera. I want people to see that opera and classical music are cool, sexy, fun, and powerful.” For Alyson it’s “visceral, this great coming together of classical and rock music. It gets to your core! The passion, the excitement—Rocktopia is the perfect fusion!”
Alyson Cambridge
MY FAIR LADY
Vivian Beaumont/Lincoln Center Love, love, love Lerner and Lowe’s My Fair Lady. I don’t recall precisely how many times I saw the show much less how many times I’ve seen the movie, but I do know I remember the words to almost every song, and I am right there with Eliza believing indeed “I could have danced all night….” In fact, I am dancing my way over to the Lincoln Center production, and delighted at the thought of once again seeing this story of a Cockney flower girl who becomes the toast of London Town. Although the last revival was just twenty-five years ago, this time around it’s a breathless wait until the April 19th opening (previews start March 15th) Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under) is Eliza. She’s paired with Harry Haddon-Paton (Downton Abbey, The Crown) making his New York stage debut as Henry Higgins, the narcissistic professor. I am looking forward to seeing Diana Rigg (Victoria) as the Grand Dame Mrs. Higgins (Henry’s mother who helps show Eliza the ropes when it comes to high society.) Crazy about Diana Rigg since the days of TV’s The Avengers. Her ‘60s-sleek Emma Peel was a marvel back then, well before today’s Marvel superheroes. Based on the play Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw, the story of My Fair Lady is, as Diana Rigg explains, about “a young girl with ambition finding herself; it’s an absolutely wonderful message.” One, the cast believes, everybody can relate to. No doubt about that: the show has been a hit since 1956 when newcomer Julie Andrews took on the role of Eliza Doolittle and became a star. 76 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
Tony winner Bartlett Sher (South Pacific. The King & I) directs, and Tony winner Christopher Gattelli (South Pacific, Newsies) choreographs. Norbert Leo Butz (Catch Me If You Can, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), will play Eliza’s dad, Alfred P. Doolittle, a bold-faced bad boy (of a certain age) who is unabashedly and joyfully without a conscience. Her father may have sold her out (to Higgins for a few rounds at the pub) but no matter, Eliza is a sassy girl with integrity. In the end, life is indeed loverly.
CAROUSEL
Imperial Theatre Coming back to Broadway after more than twenty years is Carousel, the musical considered “one of the most hallowed works of the American stage” (The New York Times). Starring Tony winner Jessie Mueller (Beautiful, Waitress) and world-celebrated opera star Renée Fleming in her first-ever appearance in a Broadway musical with Tony Award nominee Joshua Henry (The Scottsboro Boys). The new production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s timeless musical showcases hit tunes including “If I Loved You,” “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Carousel is no merry go round as it deals honestly with the pain of love and loss. Boy meets girl, but this boy is a troubled carnival barker and the girl, well, it would appear she’s not destined for the likes of him. But true love knows no bounds. No conventional “Happily Ever After” brings one and all together. There’s the thrilling joy of first love, the pain of disappointment, the tragedy of loss, the wonder of a new baby and the beauty of a child turning into a woman. This dimensional tale unfolds under the close lens of a small factory town on the coast of Maine. Rodgers and Hammerstein elevate heartbreak to an epic scale with one of Broadway’s most famous, deeply emotional musical scores. Incandescent ballet sequences are choreographed by Justin Peck, resident choreographer of the New York City Ballet. Featuring some of the most beloved numbers in the American songbook, Carousel opens April 12 th with previews this month. •
Lauren Ambrose & Harry Hadden-Paton
Jessie Mueller
Lori Simmons Zelenko grew up in NYC skipping school to go to an afternoon of theater so it’s no wonder that she’s dedicated to telling the stories of Broadway to the New York Lifestyles audience. With an eye towards pop culture, she seeks to bring a point of view that’s fresh and fun. She is also a brand storyteller creating compelling marketing communications campaigns for start-ups and established brands. Her website is lsz-communications.com. MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 77
THEATER & ARTS
ON THE BIG SCREEN By Jenny Peters
ALL ABOUT THE ACTION A WRINKLE IN TIME Rated PG A Wrinkle in Time, the much-loved Madeleine L’Engle novel, blows onto the big screen in this ambitious (and expensive) adaptation from director Ava DuVernay (Selma) starring Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, and Mindy Kaling. It’s a time-twisting tale of adventure, as a teen girl (the adorable Storm Reid) searches for her scientist dad (Chris Pine), who has discovered a new form of space travel—and disappeared. She soon gets help from three otherworldly beings, and the search is on, as she begins a journey of both rescue and self-discovery. Chockablock with talented actors, eye-popping visuals and a story that has enchanted young readers since 1962, this one is a sure winner for all ages. GRINGO Rated R Crazy situations abound in this black comedy/ action thriller with an all-star cast. David Oyelowo leads as a fish-out-of-water businessman on a trip to Mexico, where all hell breaks loose. He encounters drug lords, mercenaries, beautiful women with their own agendas and more, as he gets pulled deeper and deeper into an inadvertent life of crime. Charlize Theron and Amanda Seyfried join in the nonstop mayhem, along with Sharlto Copley, Thandie Newton, and Joel Edgerton. The Edgertons make this one a family affair, as Joel’s brother Nash makes his feature film debut with Gringo. Paris Jackson (Michael’s daughter) also makes her film-acting debut here as well. READY PLAYER ONE Rated PG-13 Steven Spielberg returns to crowdpleasing adventure in Ready Player One, his long-awaited adaptation of the award-winning science-fiction novel by Ernest Cline. Set in a dystopian future, the fast-paced story follows a teenage boy as he searches for a missing virtual reality simulator that will win him a fortune. It’s a roller-coaster ride in and out of classic video games and movies, as he unlocks different worlds during his search. Think The Iron Giant (with Vin Diesel reprising the giant’s voice), Tron, The Lord of the Rings and more. Tye Sheridan stars, along with Simon Pegg, Mark Rylance, and T. J. Miller. 78 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
RED SPARROW Rated R Jennifer Lawrence portrays a Russian ballerina turned spy in this espionage thriller from Viennese director Francis Lawrence, who is no relation. But the pair worked together on three of the installments of The Hunger Games together; this time out, Joel Edgerton joins them as the American CIA agent who plays a cat-and-mouse game with her. Red Sparrow follows a complicated (and frankly too long) plot that involves intrigue, graphic torture, gory fights and the obligatory romance between the two spies from very different worlds. And while the pacing leaves something to be desired, there’s a satisfying twist ending that makes us more willing to forgive the more plodding moments that should have ended up on the cutting room floor. Jeremy Irons, Joely Richardson, and Mary-Louise Parker also star. TOMB RAIDER Rated PG-13 Seventeen years after Angelina Jolie brought Lara Croft to life in the original movie adaptation of the classic video game in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Alicia Vikander arrives in this complete reboot based on the new version of the video game series (that changed things up in 2013). But some things have stayed the same—in Tomb Raider, Lara Croft is still a tough-as-nails woman whose adventurer father has been missing for years. This Lara also goes in search of her dad, looking for a famous tomb on a mythical island. Vikander pumped up for this incredibly physical role, so look for her in tight tank tops throughout, showing off her biceps. Dominic West and Walton Goggins are her co-stars in this hoping-to-create-a-new-franchise action flick.
ANIMATED DELIGHTS ISLE OF DOGS Rated PG-13 We love Wes Anderson, the director-writer of favorites like The Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom and Fantastic Mr. Fox, which is his stop-motion animated feature from 2009. Anderson returns to stop motion with Isle of Dogs, a comedy set in Japan, as a boy searches for his lost dog Spot. Gorgeous animation and a host of familiar voices (Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Greta Gerwig, Scarlett Johansson, Liev Schreiber, and Courtney B. Vance) meld with Anderson’s unique storytelling voice to create a movie that cinema-goers of every age can love. SHERLOCK GNOMES Not yet rated What happens when garden gnomes come to life via the magic of animation? All sorts of adventures, of course! The cute little creatures are living a happy life in their London garden until tragedy strikes. But never fear, for there’s a supersleuthing gnome available to take on their case—he’s Sherlock Gnomes, a funny take on the original Sherlock and voiced by Johnny Depp. This film skews more toward kids than adults, but there are enough double entendre jokes to keep the grown-ups amused, too. Emily Blunt, James McAvoy, Maggie Smith, Mary J. Blige and Chiwetel Ejiofor round out the vocal cast. As a longtime freelance journalist, Jenny Peters covers beats that range from entertainment to lifestyle topics. She writes on film, television, travel, restaurants, wine, design, architecture, beauty, spas, cars, fashion and celebrity events for USA Today, AARP, New York Magazine and many other domestic and international outlets. MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 79
THEATER & ARTS
ON THE SMALL SCREEN By Jenny Peters
TENSE THRILLERS FOR THE PEOPLE ABC When Shonda Rhimes decides to dive into the world of American federal criminal prosecution, she doesn’t fool around. With For the People, she joins series creator (and Scandal story editor) Paul William Davies to create the newest TV crime thriller. Set in the Southern District of New York—where in real life, prosecutor Rudy Giuliani made his name by taking down Ivan Boesky and Michael Milken—For the People follows the careers of a group of new lawyers trying to learn the ropes in one of the most important courts in America. Jasmin Savoy Brown takes the leading role, with an ethnically diverse group of colleagues along for the ride, including Weam Keesh, Ben Shenkman and Vonde Curtis-Hall. INSTINCT CBS Alan Cumming (The Good Wife) plays an ex-CIA agent whose life is turned upside down when an NYPD homicide detective recruits him to help take down a serial killer. Normally a college professor in his new life, the lure of the chase pulls him into a new life, one that he never expected. Cumming’s supporting cast includes Bojana Novakovic, who is best known for her role in Shameless and John Mainieri, who both play the cops that convince him to use his spy talents to bring down the criminals that terrorize New York City. STATION 19 ABC Shonda Rhimes is basically taking over ABC Television, and that’s a pretty good thing. The creator of Scandal, Grey’s Anatomy and How to Get Away with Murder has two new shows hitting the airwaves in March, both under the umbrella of her Shondaland production company. Station 19 is the brainchild of Paris Barclay (the creative Emmy-winning producer-director behind Sons of Anarchy) and follows the lives of a group of Seattle firefighters. The actors in this emotional, action-packed show are not exactly household names—Jaina Lee Ortiz, Jason George, Grey Damon—but they are familiar faces who may just become a part of television history if Shonda Rhimes has yet another hit on her hands. THE MECHANISM (O MECANISMO) Netflix Crime returns to Netflix with the next project from Brazilian writer-director-producer Jose Padilha, the creator of Narcos. The Mechanism is another action-packed thriller, this time tackling the truth-based story of corruption at the highest levels of Brazilian government. It’s a thrilling drama that pits an ex-police deputy against the criminal mastermind who has created an incredibly lucrative and incredibly devious scheme to steal millions from the Brazilian people. Selton Mello and Carol Abras play the investigators determined to stop him; Enrique Diaz stars as the ingenious criminal. 80 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
THE TERROR AMC Return to the days of sailing ships in this historical series set in 1847. Ciaran Hinds (from Game of Thrones) and Jared Harris (Mad Men) portray Royal Navy officers assigned to find a way to navigate the Arctic’s Northwest Passage, but what they discover in those frozen waters are horrors that strike terror into the men aboard ship. History buffs and horror fans alike will find thrills and chills as this series helmed by famed director Ridley Scott. TRUST FX The story of the 1973 kidnapping of John Paul Getty III, the grandson of J. Paul Getty, one of the wealthiest men on the planet, was a headline-grabbing event that evolved into a sordid tale of callous disregard for family. As the billionaire oil magnate dragged his feet in a reluctance to pay the Italian Mafiosos who were torturing his grandson, the Getty family began to unravel. This chilling 10-episode series stars Donald Sutherland as Getty, Harris Dickinson as his grandson and two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank as the distraught mother of the teenage victim.
SCI-FI SAGAS KRYPTON SyFy Krypton heads off into space to Superman’s home planet, to a time long before the Man of Steel arrived on Earth. In fact, this sciencefiction action-adventure series follows not Superman, but his grandfather Seg-El, as the planet is plunged into the turmoil that eventually leads to its final destruction. Cameron Cuffe takes the lead role, while Georgina Campbell, Ian McElhinney and Ann Ogbomo also have key parts in this DC Comics vision of the beginnings of the saga. Watch for Shaun Sipos as Adam Strange, for he’s an Earthling who is on his way to Krypton, thus paving the way for Superman’s journey much later to Earth. HARD SUN Hulu It’s sometime in the near future as Hard Sun begins, a time when the planet is stressed to the point of permanent extinction. Starring Jim Sturgess and Agyness Deyn as detectives trying to keep control of the knowledge that the world is on its last days; however, knowing that truth is part of the danger they face. Created by Neil Cross, whose series Luther is one of the best things to come out of Britain in years, Hard Sun is filled with violence, fear and many mysterious questions. This makes it perfect for a popcorn-filled night of binge watching. • MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 81
THEATER & ARTS
MvVO AND THE FUTURE OF ARTISTS
“Manhattan” Letterscape by Ron Burkhardt
By Norah Bradford
ou may not immediately recognize the name, but Maria van Vlodrop’s mission of creating new opportunities for artists is groundbreaking. Her strategy is to connect artists with collectors, open doors to undiscovered talent, enlist the support of institutions, industries/brands, and to build a bridge between commerce and art that will benefit artists and art lovers. It’s a forwardthinking approach that incorporates new technology and business partnerships to develop innovative events.
“Worker” by Giancarlo Impiglia
SHOWCASING CREATIVE ARTISTS
Her most recent venture, AD ART SHOW, is emblematic of the MvVO Art mission. The backstory on this show began with Maria’s experiences in advertising and business development in both New York and Europe, where she worked for blue-chip brands including Pepsi, Haagen-Dazs, Toyota, and L’Oréal, as well as the tech sector. With a Master’s Degree from the London School of Economics and her life-long interest in art, it all led to the idea of a show dedicated to the artists following in the historic footsteps of Magritte, Rockwell, Toulouse-Lautrec, Hopper, Haring, and Warhol—who all worked in advertising. “Back in my advertising days, I admired the creativity of the artists in agencies. There’s tremendous talent there, and it’s time to give them the recognition they deserve in the fine arts realm,” said van Vlodrop.
A CELEBRATION OF DESIGN
In April 2017, Maria and her MvVO Art team—made up of advertising, marketing, promotion, and technology professionals—began reaching out to leaders in advertising, art, and media. The dual goal was to tap the rich pool of artistic talent in the ad world and to enlist significant companies and brands—NBCUniversal, SRI Fine Art Service, Neuhaus to name a few—in supporting this artistic endeavor. Last month, AD ART SHOW became a reality. Said van Vlodrop about the choice of location for this year’s AD ART SHOW, “Sotheby’s was an elegant and inviting environment for art lovers. It was also a beautiful setting for promoting luxury brands and creative companies and institutions.
For highlights of MvVO Art’s AD ART SHOW artists and their exhibits, visit Artsy (artsy.net/show/mvvo-mvvo-art-ad-art-show-2018). MvVO Art is currently exploring the use of augmented reality and other new technologies for upcoming events. Maria and her team are already planning more art events including AD ART SHOW 2019 with a waiting list of artist submissions from the inaugural edition.
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MvVO Art is currently collaborating with NYCxDESIGN—an upcoming event from the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). “This event is a perfect fit for MvVO Art as it celebrates the dynamic creativity of New York,” said van Vlodrop. NYCxDESIGN, New York City’s annual celebration of design, attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees and designers from across the globe. Taking place this year from May 11th through 23rd, the event celebrates a world of design and showcases over a dozen design disciplines through events taking place across the city’s five boroughs.
For more information on MvVO and Maria van Vlodrop, visit mvvoart.com. •
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THEATER & ARTS
SOHO ART GALLERY MAKES A SPLASH By Daniel J. Bollinger
or Israeli artist, Yosef “Jojo” Ohayon expanding his artistic footprint has been quite an experience. It began ten years ago with the opening of Jojo Gallery in Tel Aviv and last year went global with the opening of his second gallery located in Manhattan’s SoHo. The gallery’s eponymous artist told us the story of discovering his way into the art world. After nearly 20 years as a farmer near the Dead Sea, Jojo decided to pursue his real passion as an artist. However, farming techniques were not left behind. He brought them to the art studio. One of those techniques was the use of water-pressure-inflation, which shape metals into one-of-a-kind pieces of art, including chairs, coffee tables, wall sculptures and the like. Jojo discovered this after designing a machine to sort fruit on his farm. He noticed a large volume of water did not withstand pressure and swelled into the shape of a metal “cushion.” What began as a flaw in the farmer’s machine became the artist’s inventive technique in creating his art collection. 84 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
BOLD & BEAUTIFUL
In addition to the custom furniture and wall sculptures, Jojo creates expressive paintings, with each work characterized by its own personality. His work expresses bold vitality and human warmth, while deeply reflecting human hopes and dreams, aspiring to portray true beauty and harmony. As he says, “I want to make people happy.” His use of bright colors, shapes, and mediums undoubtedly brighten one’s mood. As an artist who chose to live near the Dead Sea, Jojo creates his works with a contemporary flair. His pieces are exhibited in dozens of galleries across the world with items being sold to buyers in Israel, the United States, Europe, Australia, and China.
ABSTRACT PAINTINGS
Jojo creates abstract pieces using a unique process called “action painting” method. By using bottles of paint with a hole cut out of the cap, his swift hand creates signature pieces.
WALL SCULPTURES
Jojo creates metal wall sculptures with clean, elegant lines. With his use of color, these three-dimensional works take the form of umbrellas, boats, musicians are some of his inspiration.
METAL FURNITURE
The artist’s new method of manipulating metal which he calls, “water-pressureinflating” creates chairs, coffee tables, and other pieces of furniture.
UNIQUE VASES
Jojo’s large, tall vases have been his trademark since the beginning of his career. His inspiration for these vessels comes from the wavy movement of the Dead Sea dunes. Each vase is created with either a metallic finish or a special ceramic coating. •
MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 85
NEW YORK, NY
VINYL VISIONS By Denise Mercedes and Jeannie Pawlowski
hat’s old is new again! The vinyl comeback is firmly re-entrenched among music collectors. And for native New Yorker Mark Yoshitomi, co-owner of Generation Records in the West Village, well, life couldn’t be better. Mark has been collecting vinyl since age 12. He’s a Punk Rock historian of sorts with an excellent knowledge base of underground music. Growing up and seeing a photo of the Sex Pistols and finding them cool was different from the classic-rock types his brothers and sisters enjoyed during the ‘70s. Fast forward to the ‘80s when he answered the call of the wild: Mark got a Sid Vicious spiky haircut, found band jacket patches, and began the quest of finding friends who enjoyed the same type of music. The catalyst year was 1986 when Mark started going to shows and HardCore matinees when he could get in (you had to be 16; he was 15). He started becoming familiar with the record business by working at Second Coming after high school graduation. Then, Generation Records opened up a couple of years later where Mark worked for seven years. He left to explore other endeavors before returning to the music scene as a professional record collector and businessman in 2017. Both experts and aficionados contend that to achieve that warm vinyl sound, all you need is a decent turntable and needle to enjoy a full fidelity listening experience. Mark agrees. We recently sat down the vinyl master to learn a bit more about turntables and more. Records took a backseat for many years to other platforms including cassettes and digital. When did the tide start to shift back to collecting vinyl albums? The last few years have changed the market. The internet killed physical media, but records have outlasted the cassette, CD, VHS tape, and DVD.
YOU’RE INVITED
Is the trend of owning actual records increasing? There are more people now devoted to vinyl. I think people enjoy owning a physical item that has a lot more benefits than an mp3 file. No one is asking to see their mp3s when they come over to someone else’s place. New bands, established bands want vinyl. How did Punk Rock and HardCore become your specialty? You and Generation Records are recognized as experts for these genres. I grew up in that scene and started going to shows in the late ‘80s. Most of the staff at the store has some background in the Punk/HC scene as well as by following the international punk scene too. Generation Records is an extraordinary place. How extensive are the collections of the genres of music you carry? It’s an independent record store with two floors dedicated to all forms of music—but concentrating on heavy Punk. Also available are Metal, Rock, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Disco, Freestyle, Reggae, Gospel, R&B, Soul, Funk, C&W, Classical and Opera. We cover it all. Since taking over, you have re-invented the store concept to include book signings that can coincide with a live performance for music artists. Tell us about some of the previous events you’ve held there. I started with Harley ‘Cro-Mag’ Flanagan’s book signing and live performance for Hardcore: Life of My Own then had Roger Miret’s book signing and live Stigma performance for My Riot: Agnostic Front Grit, Guts & Glory; and also Richard Hell’s Blank Generation LP re-issue signing. It’s been a combination of both old and new for sure. Tell us about your upcoming March 31st Link Wray 60th Anniversary of Rumble that you will be hosting at Generation Records. Link Wray is one of my favorite guitarists of all-time. Without Link Wray—and Chuck Berry—Rock ‘n’ Roll might not even exist. It’s an honor to have an event such as that at my store. I couldn’t be any more enthusiastic about it! For more information on Generation Records, visit facebook.com/generationrecords • 86 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
WHAT: G ener ati on Re c ords and MusicRealms.com invites you to The 60th Anniversary Celebration of RUMBLE 1958 - 2018 Hosted by Mark Yoshitomi in conjunction with Denise Mercedes and MusicRealms.com Guests of Honor Beth Wray Webb Live Performance by Chris Webb in a Musical Tribute to his Grandfather Link Wray with Nick Marden and JJ Meraz plus more special guests WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 2018 3 PM – 6 PM WHERE: Generation Records 210 Thompson St (between Third Ave, and Bleecker St.)
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NEW YORK, NY
ENTREPRENEUR’S CORNER By Daniel J. Bollinger
o you feel you have not accomplished all that you are capable of? Have you accomplished much but still feel unfulfilled? Do you feel that there’s something more? If you answered yes to one or all of these questions, then here is one solution. Michele Risa is here to help you find it. As CEO & Founder of Collaborative Solutions, Inc., and President of the Manhattan Holistic Chamber of Commerce, she works with thought leaders to help them identify their deepest aspirations. An internationally certified Conscious Business Change Agent (CBCA), she helps CEOs embody consciousness in such a way that they become natural change agents in a world that needs their talents, hearts, and minds. Michele hosts a popular global meditation on Conscious Business Innerprise. She contributed to the award-winning book, Conscious Entrepreneurs: A Radical New Approach to Purpose Passion & Profit and is a frequent speaker on radio, podcast, and TEDx. Since 1998, she has produced her cable TV show, interviewing successful conscious thought leaders to inspire others. Michele, who holds an M.A. in Psychology from Columbia University, is known as America’s Mindfulness Expert and has studied with Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Jean Houston, Ken Wilber and Kundalini Master Yogi Bhajan, among others. Game of Consciousness featuring Gamelatrons-Sonic Kinetic Sculptures by Aaron Taylor Kuffner
What inspired you to start your business? When making the most money ever, I felt miserable. Given how important money is in our culture and around the world, I was confused. Looking into the mirror, I had a heart to heart talk with myself and asked, ‘What do you want?’ That’s when I realized I had to believe in me and find my purpose and path. I then committed to helping anyone ready to step onto a different path and discover their authentic self and purpose. Break down what you teach your clients. I teach clients how to create a better life by focusing on their inner environment versus their outer, reminding them that they are the source of all they feel, think, say and manifest in their life. Understanding that is Step #1: I show them how. And how do you help your clients do that? What makes me effective at helping my clients succeed is my masterful skill of the inner game. Then they begin to see how all that occurs during their day offers feedback which they can use to tweak or improve their lives. We live in the best classroom—better than Harvard or Yale—yet we often miss those teachings and wise insights available to us.
88 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
How do you help people become aware of those teachings? There are infinite ways since what most supports me may not help you. However, to be brief, three truths apply to most of us: 1) When we slow down, we are more aware, for example, to hear not only what is said but what is not said by others and ourselves. 2) Since everything affects everything, look at all areas of life since those overlooked regions can offer the most significant insights. For example, how your relationship with the waiter at a restaurant may help you see the blocks in relationships at work. 3) If practicing the piano results in a better pianist, then practicing new, supportive behaviors will make those actions stronger and will become the new default state of being. What does one usually learn from this practice? Some real gems are learning who you are versus who you thought you were or were told who you are, developing a deep relationship with yourself and becoming a best friend. As a result, my clients learn how to love themselves unconditionally, which opens the door to loving others unconditionally. When you align with your heart, every aspect of life shifts, attracting into your physical life harmony, beauty, health, abundance, joy and heart-based relationships. What barriers do your clients face most often? The most common barrier is something I call The Shadow.
At the Women’s March
Michele with Humanity’s Team Worldwide Executive Director Steve Farrell and daughter
And what is The Shadow? The Shadow is something we don’t see; it’s negativity. Can you give us some examples? In summary usually not feeling good enough, unworthy, exploited, abandoned, or unwanted. In addition, not able to express needs and hanging onto physical things or emotional feelings. What do your clients usually learn? The most immediate benefit is healing, compassion, and forgiveness. The ultimate goal is to learn how to create a beautiful life regardless of outer circumstances. It begins with re-connecting to your authentic self, maintaining your heart-connection, and allowing your energy and heart to ripple out into the world, making a unique difference you’re here to make.
Member Committee for Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns-UN with Kurt Johnson
Is there anything else you are working on these days? I’m expanding my One-on-One Executive Coaching and have joined forces with Only the Source in San Francisco. We are in the midst of launching online courses and live events for self-discovery that will raise the consciousness and vibration of the planet so we can all flourish and thrive. I will have a limited number of coaching slots available, and I am very excited to work with a select group of people committed to actualizing their lives and giving their greatest gifts to the world— while, of course, feeling more energized, joyful and abundant than ever before. For more information on Collaborative Solutions and Michele Risa, visit collaborativesolutions.global. • MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 89
NEW YORK, NY
MY NEW YORK STORY By Charlotte St. Martin
rom my first year as President of The Broadway League over eleven years ago, I’ve nurtured a dream to bring every student in a public high school in New York City to a Broadway show before they graduate. When a colleague of mine, Tory Bailey, who’s Executive Director of the Theatre Development Fund, said to me one day that it should be the inalienable right of every New York student to see a Broadway show I knew I wasn’t alone in wanting to make this dream a reality. During seven weeks in the winter months and five in the fall, Broadway Bridges offers New York City public schools $10 tickets to select Broadway shows for 10th-grade students and their chaperones. We started off small with a pilot cycle that ran from January to March of 2017 and brought 1,000 students to one of eight shows. Last fall, we launched officially, drawing 2,500 students and chaperones to Broadway for five weeks between October and November. This winter, we will bring another 4,000 students and chaperones. And next fall 2018 will see us bringing even more. Our partners, Peter Avery and Paul King at the Department of Education’s Office of the Arts and Special Projects Theatre division and now the United Federation of Teachers are crucial in helping us connect with schools, build relationships, and reach more students in each cycle.
ENTER BROADWAY BRIDGES
This is an initiative that organizes commercial theater’s support of arts education and access while complementing the wonderful arts education work of our Broadway-based non-profit peers. Lincoln Center Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, Roundabout Theatre Company and Theatre Development Fund, all have robust, well-established arts education programs. Each one is unique and has its own approach to learning about different aspects of theater and reaches various demographic groups within the public school system. Taken together, they reach nearly 25,000 students. By supplementing their work with broader access to commercial theater, we bring in students who haven’t had the opportunity yet to attend a Broadway show and build on the excellent work our peers are already doing. Eventually, we hope to reach around 70,000 tenth graders by steadily bringing more students to Broadway each year. Early on in Broadway Bridges’ development, colleagues at Theatre Development Fund noted that 10th graders are, for the most part, the oldest students who have to be enrolled in school by law. Since we want to reach students before they leave high school, it made sense to focus on this group of students. Plus, teachers and school leaders have noted that 10th graders can experience a “sophomore slump.” A trip to Broadway offers a way to build engagement and excitement among those students. 90 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
Charlotte St. Martin
A PASSION FOR BROADWAY
I feel so passionately about this program for several reasons. We want to encourage the Broadway audiences of tomorrow first in New York City—and eventually around the country—because it’s good for everyone. Studies consistently show that students who engage in the arts—which includes attending live performances—have higher graduation rates and attain higher levels of secondary education. Of course, it’s also good for the theater business to have younger audiences who are from every background because we are building tomorrow’s audiences. I can tell you from the feedback we’ve received, that nothing inspires a young person to see a second Broadway show like seeing a first Broadway show! Another important reason we want to bring high school students to Broadway is to encourage them to consider working in our industry. Broadway generates 89,000 jobs in New York City alone. To put on a one-man show can take up to 400 non-performing professionals. These are good jobs, many of them are union jobs, and students can pursue them here at home or with performing arts centers around the country. Getting this program off the ground took a lot of work. To get it done, the League put together a task force of leading producers, theater owners, Broadway marketing professionals and our colleagues at Theatre Development Fund. The turning point in our planning came when one of our task force members (Damian Bazadona from Situation Interactive who runs the amazing Situation Project which works with high achieving middle school students) pointed out that students could use tickets for seats that haven’t yet been sold. We developed the program with the overriding philosophy that we should convert the equity in empty seats into an investment to help attract and nurture the next generation of talent, build future audiences, and encourage cultural equity for NYC schools. Broadway is a seasonal business; even during a record-breaking season, Broadway houses have more inventory during certain weeks of the year. During those weeks, producers of participating shows generously offer us deeply discounted tickets for weekday performances, including evenings. With the help of grants and funding from New York City, The Broadway League covers half the cost of those tickets plus fees. We end up paying about $13 per ticket subsidizing schools so that they only have to pay $10 per ticket.
THE LIGHTS OF BROADWAY
Happily, Broadway producers understand how vital this program is to our industry and our city. Shows that have participated in the program include A Bronx Tale, Aladdin, Anastasia, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Chicago, Come From Away, On Your Feet, SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera and Wicked to name a few. It’s an impressive list of productions that we’re so proud to be able to offer to students, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of Broadway League members. The theater is such a unique and powerful art form. When you’re sitting in the audience, you’re helping to make theater happen. Without an audience, our supremely talented performing artists and musicians are just people on a stage. To be able to share the magic of a live performance with young people is deeply gratifying. There’s nothing like getting a thank you note from a student who just attended their first Broadway show! • MARCH 2018 | NEW YORK LIFESTYLES MAGAZINE | 91
THEATER & ARTS
TIME OUT WITH STEPHEN CARLILE By David A. Porter
resh from performing in The Go-Between in the West End and as Nick in Eoin Colfer’s Noël at the National Opera House in Wexford, Ireland, Stephen Carlile joined us here in January 2017 to play Scar in The Lion King for the production’s 20th year and just recently signed on for another year. An accomplished tenor, he sang “Springtime for Hitler” as a member of the original London cast of The Producers and played Freddy Eynsford-Hill in a National Theater production of My Fair Lady, which gave him a chance to sing “On the Street Where You Live.” Married and living with his rescued Shih Tzu mix, Sugar (she joined us at our interview), he loves tooling around town on a CitiBike and Circle Line cruises. As for living in New York, he says, “you feel like everything’s possible, don’t you?” But he hasn’t yet found a great curry. How was your first year living in New York? I love everything about living here—even the extreme weather. I found the recent cold snap exciting. It was invigorating, wasn’t it? I enjoyed walking my dog down along the Hudson and seeing these chunks of ice floating downstream. I looked pretty eccentric during that time because I resorted to wearing two coats and two scarves—one kind of wrapped around my head—but no one batted an eyelid. My dog’s coat was more expensive than mine. She was nice and toasty—and looked very chic. My neighborhood, Hell’s Kitchen, is very dog-friendly. There are also lots of theater people kicking around. It feels like home now. 92 92| |OUR OURCITY, CITY,YOUR YOURLIFE LIFE| |MARCH MARCH2018 2018
Apparently, you enjoyed your first year playing Scar, and congratulate you on yet another year on Broadway. I was the only person who joined the company in 2017 last year—they are such a talented, welcoming group of people. Being part of the 20th Anniversary was very special—singing onstage with Elton John was a real highlight of my time here. I still love doing the show. I think it’s because of the response we get from the audience. One of my favorite moments is just before I make my first entrance—I can hear squeals and delight and wonder as these animals surround everyone in the auditorium. Julie Taymor is a genius. Photo by Joan Marcus
How do you manage the physical demands of the role, which includes performing in a rather heavy costume? I do have to go to the gym quite a lot, and the chiropractor as often as I can. Yoga helps. It’s all worth it because it’s a beautiful costume. I’m also pretty addicted to my voice steamer, which is one of those ceramic ones by Dr. Nelson. I’ve used it for years, and now I’ve got everyone in the cast using one. Do you see a lot of shows? Whenever we don’t have a Wednesday matinee, I’m at the theater. Seeing an inspiring production can fuel your work for the rest of the week. Laurie Metcalf in A Doll’s House, Part 2 was the best performance I saw last year. I was also lucky enough to see Bette Midler’s last performance in Hello, Dolly! As soon as she came on stage, there was a standing ovation. It was a true Broadway moment. What surprises you the most about living here? Brunch surprises me. It’s a big deal here, isn’t it? I find it confusing that a meal is still called brunch even if it’s at 4 PM on a Sunday. Brunch in London very much centers on breakfast-type foods. Here you could be eating pasta for brunch. I’ve embraced it. What do you miss the most about the UK? I miss my family a lot. And I miss lots of foodbased things. Like a Sunday roast in a proper pub. I’m also still on the hunt for a good curry in New York... We heard you play both tennis and squash. My mom was a coach and a tennis teacher, so I grew up playing tennis. I love Wimbledon. Those two weeks of my life are closed off, and I’m either in front of the telly or I’m there! I’m hoping to be back this year to go. I love squash, too, I remember I was at a dinner party and met with someone who also played the sport. I said, ‘I must warn you, I am actually quite good.’ We met up to play a game and well, it turned out he’d been taught by the sixth-best squash person in the world. He slaughtered me! • A proud native son of New Jersey, David A. Porter is a freelance writer, journalist, and editor. A graduate of Rutgers University, he earned an MA in English and an MFA in Creative Writing at San Francisco State University. David provides content to a number of clients in New York and abroad, including advertising copy, blog posts, brochures, bylined articles, case studies, op-eds, speeches and website text. He also edits full-length works by academics and novelists. David is working on his first collection of short stories, Protracted Adolescence; a collection of poems, Ghost Season; and a non-fiction book about music, 20,000 Things I Love. He lives on the Upper West Side with his wife, interior designer Antigone Michaelides, and his son, Leontios, a rambunctious yet unbearably adorable second-grader. MARCH MARCH2018 2018| |NEW NEWYORK YORKLIFESTYLES LIFESTYLESMAGAZINE MAGAZINE| |93 93
NEW YORK, NY
Bradford Bernstein On Air
BRADFORD BERNSTEIN MAKING THE AMERICAN DREAM COME TRUE By Anne Grenier
ttorney Bradford “Brad” Bernstein is a leader in the area of immigration law and among the most educated and exciting voices in his field. This “Super Lawyer®” offers expertise not only through his practice, the Law Offices of Spar & Bernstein but also as co-host of The Brad and Squeeze Show, which has been assisting immigrants in the Greater New York area and around the world via digital broadcast. Along with helpful tips for those seeking residency and citizenship in the U.S., the show welcomes questions (via phone calls or Facebook comments) in real-time. “The show’s team works tirelessly to churn out compelling stories of people all over the world chasing their American Dream,” says Bernstein. It is broadcast digitally via Facebook Live daily during weekdays, at 5:30 -7:30 PM (EST).
INSPIRING TALES
Take Antoinette Tuff, who saved hundreds of children after talking down a shooter at an Atlanta school four years ago. Since then, Antoinette has used her platform to write a book, Prepared for a Purpose, and share her unexpected journey to inspire others to find the hero within themselves. “Her message of faith and self-love left us moved to tears for nearly the entire segment,” he went on to say. Antoinette Tuff ’s inspiring true story was made into a Lifetime movie, Faith Under Fire starring Toni Braxton. On a lighter note, Jamaican-born recording artist Shaggy stopped by to discuss his journey to the American Dream. Bernstein explained how charitable the superstar was with the creation of the Shaggy Foundation and its flagship charity event, the Shaggy and Friends Music Festival, which benefits the Bustamante Hospital for Children in Kingston, Jamaica. Bernstein also remembers one of the first guests, U.S. veteran Hector Barajas, who was unjustly deported. “Eventually Hector used his experience as a springboard to start the Deported Veterans Support House for other veterans in Tijuana.” In another episode, former Real Housewife of New York, Aviva Drescher, discussed her family’s pursuit of the American Dream. It was with the incredible work she has done as the spokesperson for the One Step Ahead Foundation which provides access to prosthetic limbs for disabled children around the world. “All guests have been an incredible mix of inspiring, hilarious, and heartbreaking stories—but always compelling,” says Bernstein.
THE BEGINNING
The Brad & Squeeze Show was born 20 years ago when Bernstein started fielding questions on immigration on the radio. A good number of his listeners were those who lacked traditional access to legal assistance. David “Squeeze” Annakie was the radio DJ at the time and would join Bernstein on the air on Friday evenings for a five-minute segment on immigration. “We became fast friends and after I convinced him to let me handle his own citizenship situation, Squeeze was sold. By 2001, Squeeze and I had turned our 94 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
weekly five-minute segment into a successful one-hour daily radio show,” he told us. Then in 2017, Bernstein decided to broadcast the show live on Facebook from his phone, and a full professional studio quickly followed. “Today, the show is exclusively digitally broadcast on Facebook Live. I’ve had the privilege of helping hundreds of thousands of listeners and viewers with their immigration issues,” says Bernstein.
THE FIRM
After graduating from the University of Michigan in 1990 with a degree in Political Science, Bernstein enrolled at Brooklyn Law School, from which he graduated with honors in 1993. He then joined his grandfather Harry Spar’s immigration law firm, with the intention of eventually striking out on his own. Weeks after opening his private practice, however, a family health emergency brought Bernstein back to Spar’s firm, where he soon discovered a passion for immigration law. Bernstein became a partner in 1997, and upon his grandfather’s retirement in 2000, he took over the firm’s leadership. “Now more than ever, I operate on the belief that everyone has a right to the American Dream. I’ve devoted my life to helping those whose sole wish is to provide a better future for themselves and their children. In many ways, the U.S immigration policy is confrontational by nature and often assumes the worst of people, so being a voice and a champion for the underserved immigrant communities who often don’t realize how complex this process can be is extremely fulfilling,” he explains. “Every day, I’m reminded of the lives Spar & Bernstein has changed thanks to this firm’s relentless drive to securing immigrants legal status and reuniting families that have sometimes been apart for decades. For more information on The Brad and Squeeze Show, visit bradandsqueezeshow.com. For more information on the law offices of Spar & Bernstein, visit lawsb.com. •
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NEW YORK, NY
DATING IN NEW YORK CITY By Chloe Carmichael, Ph.D.
he New York City dating scene is notoriously challenging—but we’re also a city of 10 million people, so we’re quite full of great dating options! In my Park Avenue practice, I work with some of New York’s most selective singles as they work towards their goal of finding a meaningful lifelong relationship. KEEP IT BRIEF Singles today who are seeking a traditional, long-term relationship can sometimes be overwhelmed by the lack of structure and continuously changing social norms. These factors can make it hard to tell who shares your wish for a conventional relationship, and who could potentially wreak havoc with your heart. These guidelines are here to help you approach dating in a steady, measured way that lets you get to know people before getting too vulnerable.
THE NUMBERS GAME
Decide on a certain number of first dates you’ll have every week. The more quickly you hope to find someone, the higher that number should be. If you’re not seeing enough quality people, then knowing you still have to meet your weekly number will motivate you to either find better sources or confirm your expectations are reasonable: you don’t want to box yourself into a corner! The best number for you depends on your goals and sense of timing. If you keep your dates brief, it’s easier to hit your number without monopolizing your schedule.
BE DIVERSE
Just like job seekers who don’t limit themselves to one employment search engine, you should not limit yourself to one method of finding new dates. Use multiple dating apps, ask friends to set you up, be open to new faces when you’re out with friends, try matchmakers, join the singles group at your church or house of worship—do whatever it takes to make sure you go on a pre-set number of first dates every week.
Don’t spend more than 90 minutes on a first date. Part of determining if it’s a good date is finding out how the person handles follow up—why invest multiple hours on this before you even know if they’re any good at follow up? Before you spend big blocks of time, confirm if the person is any good at follow up (whether that means asking you out again, or answering your request for a second date).
NOT IN A BLITZ
New Yorkers tend to be focused, driven people with high expectations. Remember that you’re a special person, so why would you expect to find the right partner within just a few months of searching? Give yourself time to find the right person. Commit to date in a deliberate and focused way for 12 to 18 months before you have any real expectations of finding a potential life partner. If you see someone sooner, that’s great—but setting your expectations for the long game will make the process less frantic and stressful.
CONTROL YOUR MIND!
Don’t permit yourself to daydream for hours about someone you don’t know very well. If you have a vivid imagination, your brain may not understand the difference, and you could develop a distorted sense of trust for the person as if you’ve been spending hours of great times and building trust with them when in reality you hardly know them.
FIND YOUR ZEN
Don’t spend too much time trying to analyze someone who isn’t there (they don’t call, not available, etc.). Just move on quickly. That’s why you need to be going on plenty of dates, keeping first dates brief, not daydreaming too much. Don’t get too focused on any one person till they demonstrate a willingness and ability to form an excellent, reliable relationship. Dr. Chloe Carmichael is a clinical psychologist with a private practice on Park Avenue in Manhattan. She knows firsthand how it is to be single in the city, and she teaches her clients essential tips to get what they want. Her work has been featured on VH1, CBS, FOX5, Cosmopolitan, and other national media. Dr. Chloe is happily married and mother to a beautiful baby boy. Dr. Carmichael is the author of the recently published The 10 Commandments of Dating, available on Amazon.com in e-book format. 96 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | MARCH 2018
Feel free to take what works for you and tailor or disregard the rest. Many people who are seeking a long-term or lifelong partner struggle to find the balance between being open-hearted, yet also not becoming vulnerable too soon. The guidelines above have helped many people at my practice, and I hope they help you as well! For more information on Dr. Chloe Carmichael, visit askdrcc.com. •
Mahwah, NJ
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Saddle River, NJ
Saddle River, NJ
Arrowwood Estate
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